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As the thorns retracted, the frozen man eked out, “What gives you the right—”
“The Dusklands are mine,” she interrupted sharply. “I can do what you never could. Revitalize the land. Perhaps you heard the laughter outside on your way in? Or noticed the garden? It’s the first of many.”
The pounding cadence in his head that screamed for retribution...weakened as she spoke. Kaysar was unsure what was happening. Or how. Whatever it was...soothed his battered mind.
Micah scowled, saying nothing.
Chantel banged a fist on the arm of the throne. “With that settled, the First District Court of the Dusklands is now in session. The perfect Judge Cookie presiding. Micah the Former King, how do you plead?”
* * *
A CAULDRON OF rage boiled inside Cookie. What Hador and his brother had done to young Kaysar sickened her. The Winter king would be dealt with. Soon.
After her visions of Kaysar’s past, she understood him so much better. He stood beside her, a strong tower. And yet he’d never needed her more. Today, he settled his case. Tomorrow, she settled hers.
Had the peek into the past steered their future, as she’d feared? Oh, yes. Everything changed today.
Cookie frowned as the silence stretched on, everyone looking at everyone else for answers. She waved an imperious hand. “This is the part where you enter your plea, Micah.”
“Plea for what?” he demanded. “I plead for nothing.”
“You are charged with the crime of attacking the future and current king and queen of the Dusklands upon their arrival. Fair warning. I’m also the witness of the crime, so I’m going to be difficult to sway.”
Micah bellowed, “You are not the king and queen of—”
“So you plead guilty?” She scanned the room and nodded. “Everyone else heard guilty, yes?”
“We attacked the maddened king who randomly appears in the Dusklands to ravage our fields and destroy our beasts,” he spat. “The help and the hindrance we will hide from no longer.”
“Well. We didn’t learn the main lesson, I see. Do not screw with the evil king—his girlfriend might be worse.” She dropped her chin, pinning him with her stare. “Are you willing to war for these lands, Micah?”
“Yes,” he offered simply, making it clear he meant it. “I’ve only begun to fight, princess.”
“Your Honor,” she corrected him.
He frowned, his eyes narrowing. “I have resources I have yet to tap.”
“That’s good. Because so do I. I won’t back down, and I’ll never surrender. I will always protect what’s mine. No,” she added when he opened his mouth to respond. “Let me finish. You are hereby pardoned of your crime.”
When his brow furrowed, she explained, “You strike me as an honorable guy. Granted, I’m not an amazing judge of character, only an amazing judge. You fought for your land to the best of your ability, but you lost. Twice. You cannot give my people what they want and deserve, so I won’t return them to your care. Take the pass and be grateful I’ve cleared your slate. One day, we might be allies. But come at me and mine again, and the real battle begins.”
Thanks to her connection to the vines, she had no trouble flittering Micah to the swamplands. He could deal with the swamp monster she’d been hearing about.
With the first docket cleared...the time had come for the second and last. Kaysar’s choice, whatever it was, decided their relationship.
Her vines squeezed Hador so tightly his face mottled. “No need for a trial. The verdict has come in. Guilty as charged.” She cast her gaze to Kaysar. “You decide his sentence, baby. We kill him here, together, or I let him go today, so you can continue your vengeance tomorrow.”
Did he understand what she asked? The choice came with consequences, whatever he decided. Be with Cookie, or without her. They’d run out of side options.
If he needed the connection to his sister, so be it. His life, his choice. She would clear the path of debris, and offer him a future. But she wouldn’t be second or third place any longer.
Cookie judged herself worthy of more, too.
She purposely kept her features blank of any emotion, unwilling to sway his response.
Sweat dotted his upper lip. His gaze darted between Hador and Cookie. He aimed fury as his past abuser, and desperation at her. Anxiety rippled from him in waves.
Elation swelled in her heart as he stepped closer to her. Then he heaved a tired breath, and she feared the worst. He wasn’t ready to give up his quest for retaliation, was he? Not for her. Not even for himself.
Profound disappointment gave way to gut-wrenching hurt, but she revealed none of it. Smiling softly, she told him, “It’s okay. There is no wrong answer, Claw Man. What you want, you get. That is my gift to you.”
“Vengeance,” he croaked, his expression savaged. “Tomorrow.”
Sliced to ribbons, hemorrhaging inside, she held the smile and flittered Hador into the swamplands, next to a fuming Micah. Enjoy with my compliments.
