Page 72 of Microburst

Kole slammed the table and stood. “My uncle is—”

“You do not interrupt the judge in court, Mr. Conley,” she snapped. “That is a ten-thousand-dollar fine for contempt. It doubles every time you talk out of turn, and after five, it’s days in jail. Try me.”

His attorney pushed him to sit down and cleared his throat. “Forgive me, Your Honor, but you speak of being fair, but you didn’t fine the queen.”

The judge sat back and raised an eyebrow. “You’re testing my legendary patience, counselor. It’s a longstanding rule in my court that everyone gets one. One pass, and your client already received his. Stop trying to persecute thevictimof your client’s crimes in my court or you will end up in jail for the night to think about the mistake of upsetting me, understood?”

“Yes, Your Honor,” he mumbled and sat back down.

She locked back on the prosecutor. “Nothing about this is a normal case, but you focused on the wrong part of that. He needed to be held to a higher standard given his position, not a pass because he’s young or whatever other excuses people make for grown men that his life would be ruined. He ruined it by his choices.

“That was his fault. Pay the price for that or lose his head like others would.” She waited until he nodded before focusing on Kole, the back and forth honestly making my head spin a bit. “You are a danger to Thovudin, and you will finally be held accountable for something you have done. Court adjourned.”

She banged the gavel and somehow I kept it together even with everything swirling around me. I flinched when Treena rubbed my back in support and then took my hand to lead me out of there, acting like it wasn’t anything but being friendly.

The chief prosecutor caught up with me in the hall. “I really was trying my best, Your Majesty. I don’t know what happened with the judge switch-up and—I was the one who—”

“I know,” I whispered. “But she is completely right. I hope you learn from this and we can move forward to do better. All of us.”

And I truly meant that for myself as well, locking gazes with Hanna Conley in the hallway and deciding not to let go of what she’d done. Queen Rani’s words echoed through my mind.

“Boldness is how you will make it through your challenges. Remember that.”

Yeah, I really should.

19

Sagan

That was how I ended up in a room with Kole, Vex, Hanna, Fraser, and Maple.

Oh, and Belinda. Of course, Belinda came for the show and to cover me.

It was honestly silly to think otherwise, but no prosecutor or guards or court anyone, just the people involved. I opened my mouth but then sighed.

“He deserves to be here,” Fraser muttered, clearly understanding where my mind was. “This is his fight even if…”

We didn’t end up together.

I nodded and went to the door, opened it, and waved Onyx inside.

“Thank you. Just… Thank you.” He kissed my hair and stood behind Maple and Fraser, clearly understanding he couldn’t take front stage on this.

But all three of the Conleys were pissed at how blatantly he chose my side. Really? Behind closed doors when he did it openly in court?

Whatever.

“No cameras and this is locked to their minds?” I checked with Belinda. I bit back a smile when she shot me a look like she was almost insulted.

“We didn’t agree to that, Sagan,” Hanna bit out.

“And you don’t have permission to call me by my name, you fucking massively egotisticaljealousbitch,” I threw right back. It was hard not to laugh when Kole, Hanna, and Vex had matching expressions of mouths hanging open.

Then I saw Onyx did too.

“Okay, how long have you been holding that in?” Maple snickered.

“Since the first time I met her and she made some comment that she understood why a beauty like my mother would send such astoutdaughter away until I could blossom,” I answered honestly. I snorted when Vex looked at his mate like he’d never seen her before. “This is the biggest problem with your family and why I’m done.