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“That’s still really big.”
“That’s what she said.” Holter is standing in the doorway.
“Holter!” Annabelle jumps straight up in the air a foot or more, and she darts across the room to him.
“Belle.” He wraps his arm around her and pulls her into a hug quickly. “You did so great.”
She gives another curtsy and then does the steps from the docking ceremony to Holter. And laughs. “I didn’t think I was going to make it through.”
My stomach tightens. Holter is getting close to Annabelle, and I’m... not jealous. “Where did you go?”
“Where’s the commander?” Annabelle says at the same time.
Holter glances at me and back at Annabelle. His chin juts out. “I went to find Alder.”
“Alder?” Annabelle asks.
“Our dad.”
“Oh. But where is Nico?” Her eyes are wide. And I’m wondering where the hell Alder was. But I’ll ask Holter that in private later.
“I know he didn’t want to tell you.”
Her lip trembles, and she chokes out the words. “Did they execute him?”
“What? No. That’s not something that happens in the city.” Holter moves her braid to the back of her slim bodice.
I hold back my side-eye. Because it most definitely does. Defying a superior can get you killed anywhere. But Nico didn’t defy the admiral. The admiral probably agrees with him. Who knows? They’ve been gone for almost a year fighting the Vikings. While the governors do have control, they’re a different branch. “Nico was taken to the magistrate.”
“Oh, and what happens there? Why weren’t you there?” She turns first to me and then to Holter. “It doesn’t work so quickly at home. At least, I don’t think it does. I’ve only seen it on TV.”
I nod. “No one can be in with the accused and the magistrate except three witness-guards.”
“He doesn’t get a lawyer?” she asks.
“We don’t have lawyers.” I nod. She’s not going to like the rest of the process.
“Oh.” Her voice goes quiet. “Can the magistrate sentence him?” Red splotches are spreading up her skin.
“It’s okay. He’s fine for today. We should hear something soon.” Holter takes her hand in his. “Are you hungry? I can find us something to eat.”
“Augustine can do that.”
“Yeah, it’s his kitchen.” Holter crosses his arms over his chest, not moving from the spot at the end of the bed.
I march over to my sister’s closet and find Annabelle something comfortable to wear, dropping a set of casual leggings and a tunic on the edge of the bed. My sister’s mates have spoiled her, and she has enough outfits to never wear the same one twice. I smile at Annabelle. When the presents started arriving for Kai, I thought the males were nuts. But now I get it.
“Do you want me to help you take your gown off?” I mean it for her to be comfortable, but Holter glares. “I can leave the room. We both can leave the room.” I put my hand on Holter’s shoulder.
“I don’t need you to leave the room.” Her eyes flare, her inner mermaid rising to the surface.
“Castor?” My mother thuds down the hall like she did the year Kai lived here with her first two mates, before they moved downstairs. Mother’s bedroom is in the opposite wing.
Annabelle takes a big step backwards, away from me and Holter, like she’s been shocked.
Ophelia steps into the room, her ever-present smile on her face. “Oh good, you’ve found something to change into. We’re having a dinner soon enough. I do hope you can stay.”
Holter’s shoulders ease. “Actually, I was going to take Annabelle down to the apartment.”
