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“Nico Portsmouth,” he says, making me feel like a schoolchild. “With what you’re accused of doing, if it were anyone else, I would recommend waiving the trial and going right to sentencing.” He glares over at me. “What’s your plea?”
“What are you accusing me of?”
“The list is long.” He holds up his tablet.
I nod. “And?”
“Not following a mission given to you by the governors.”
“Not guilty.”
He raises his eyebrows. “Mating a human without the consent of the governors.”
I grip my knee. Because technically I am guilty of this, but I did it in the moment, thinking I was saving her life. I still would have mated her if the battle had turned out differently, but it would have had a different track to it.
“Well?” He puts his tablet down on the table. “There is no maybe in this room. Either you caught a fish or you didn’t.”
“Guilty,” I exhale. It’s the truth.
“Causing endangerment to the nation by letting our existence be known.”
“Not guilty.” The governors sent us there. I was given the funds and the tech for this mission to have a land force. They knew that, in the course of capturing the Skyrothasian princess, we might become known to the humans. They wanted it bad enough to follow her to Boston. That’s on them. But today isn’t the day to tell them that. There will be a trial––of sorts.
He drops the tablet to the table. Clearly, he’s not happy with my answers. “As I said earlier, if this was anyone else, this proceeding would be over. But you’ve served the nation well in your thirty-odd years. And while there is no gray in guilty or not guilty, there is when we take in the sum total of your actions. There’s more...” He reads the rest of the charges, and one after the other, I say not guilty. His tablet clatters to the table again. “That’s all.”
I nod. All in all, there are fourteen counts, only one of which I admit to. It’s a little hard to deny the mark on Annabelle’s neck, and I would never want to. She’s more than the answer to our people’s issues. She is the answer to everything for me. I won’t deny her, even if it could save my life.
“You’re under house arrest until the trial. The panel of judges will convene and contact you.” His focus stays on mine. He’s not waiting for me to answer whether I want a trial or not. Granted, I’ve never been in this room before. But I’ve read the transcript of the commander I replaced. He went against the governor council too. I was promoted after his execution.
Broderick will make a good commander. And hopefully he will train a good second, so when he sits in this chair, my legacy will continue.
“I’m waiving your right to pass on a trial. I’ve heard enough about you. Two days. You’ll be summoned. Documents will be sent to”—he scrolls through his tablet—“Castor Drakos’s apartment. That’s your official residence when not aboard theCentauri, correct?”
“Yes, but it’s not an appropriate living situation for my mate.” I want to stay aboard theCentauri. But there’s no way they will let me. Not when the massive beast of a vessel can be operated by a skeleton crew. I’m not foolish enough to steal theCentauri, but my reputation might not let him know that. He’s glaring, but then so am I. The coral and steel chair I’m sitting on is digging into my back.
“The guards will escort you to the Glyden Dome, then. Find a place for your mate, and they will report it back to me.”
I nod to him. Two days. That’s usually how long before the judges convene. Our trials are different from those in the human world. Our judges can have a trial without the accused present if they choose. It’s not common, but it does happen. Especially if they think it’s an open and shut case.
I stretch my legs as I stand. Willingly, I walk over to the guards, nodding to one from the Stele Dome and another from Vitrom as well. They march me back to my apartment. It’s a long trip. Their government transport is ancient. I stare at a hairline crack in the pilot’s window. I suppose some might hope for it to break, allowing them to attempt a getaway. But to where? There’s nowhere for us to hide. Run to the Skyrothasians? Never been an answer. And the northerners? Not after the battles we’ve had over the years. Plus, those damn Vikings like a good war, and a military prisoner? No, I’d take my chances escaping the chasm. It’s much less dangerous.
“What are you smirking about?” the Vitrom guard asks.
“I’ll smile while I can.” I keep my focus on the crack instead of looking at him or watching the city go by. It’s only been a few months since I was last here. But when we pass the Zaffiro Dome, it’s got a new tower. Deep blue supports hold things up, the majority of the top is glass, and there are two smaller round domes on the side. And all their little garden domes are sprinkled farther away from them. “That looks like––”
“Yeah, it’s been nicknamed the blue balls.” The guard laughs.
I nod. It’s been a long time since I’ve been anywhere near the Zaffiro Dome. Although, I used to be good friends with one of them. Maybe even better friends than Castor.
I tap my foot in the puddle of water on the ground.
“You still remember how to swim?” The Stele guard laughs as he pilots us around the back of the city, taking us to the Glyden Dome.
“You’re letting me go?” I laugh.
“No. Not sure what’s going to happen to you. Did you really mate a human, and she turned into a mermaid?”
“Yes.” I interlock my fingers together on my lap. I don’t feel like talking, but this is how the word will spread that there are women who will turn into mermaids. This is how mating Annabelle makes a difference now. The change is going to come with these guards.
