Chapter 76: 74, The verdict

Jouko stood up and tried to look like he wasn’t half starving. He bowed towards the gods and the jury.

“My lord, my lady,” he addressed the gods.

“The things that you have been told here today have been taken out of context and twisted to make them seem like something they are not,” he continued.

“I am happy to hear that. Could you put things in the right context, please?” Absalom said.

“With pleasure, my lord. In the last five generations the Beloved One have been showing signs of weakness that, quite frankly, is dangerous,” Jouko said.

“How’s that?” Selene asked.

“They have been more restricting when it comes to interactions with humans. We have fewer ways to express our true nature. The council has put laws and restrictions in place to protect the weak humans from us. It’s a threat to my race,” Jouko told her.

“The Beloved One, would you like to respond?” Absalom asked.

“I would, thank you,” Adina said, standing up. She didn’t walk toward the gods or the vampire. She stood before her throne.

“It’s true that there are stricter rules in place now. And let us be clear about what we are talking about, killing humans. The reason we are limiting those activities is not because we are weak or want to cuddle the humans. It is because the humans have evolved,” Adina told them.

“Long gone are the times when humans could go missing without trace or suspicion. We are at a new age when almost every human can be tracked and traced by their authorities. If we went around killing humans like in ‘the good old days’, we wouldn’t be able to avoid being detected. And despite what Mr Eneberg says, humans are just as bloodthirsty as any of us,” she continued.

“If they found out that we exist, that they are not on top of the food chain, there would be a bloodbath. Especially if they find out that one of our species looks at them as food. Even if we were to win that war, the cost would be enormous. And as for being a threat to his race. There are other ways for vampires to live now days than to kill and feed on humans,” Adina finished and sat down.

Colin watched the vampires try several similar angles, trying to show that their actions were for the good of all magical creatures. Their defence needed to be something like that, as it was hard to deny their involvement when they had been caught with their hands in the cookie jar.

After a couple of hours, Jouko sat down.

“And what about you?” Selene asked the rogues.

One of them stood up, did a little half hearted bow towards the gods.

“They paid us, we did what they asked,” he told her.

“You were aware of who you were trying to harm?” Selene asked. The rogue shrugged.

“Didn’t matter, they paid well,” he said.

At least it was quick and easy, Colin thought.

The jury was led away so they could discuss what they would decide. Everyone else stayed seated and there was a soft murmur in the hall ass people talked. The two gods looked like statues. They sat perfectly still without speaking. Like they had gone into power-down mode, Colin thought.

‘How are you feeling?’ he mind linked Adina.

‘I’m fine, stop worrying,’ she told him, and he felt her thumb rub circles on top of his hand.

“How long do you think this will take?” Sean asked out loud.

“It could take an hour, or it could take a week,” Adina shrugged.

She had barely uttered the words when the jury came walking in again.

‘Is it good or bad that it was so fast?’ Sean asked in a mind link.

‘I don’t know,’ Adina said.

Everyone went quiet and all the focus was on the jury.

“Have you decided?” Absalom asked the jury.

“We have, my lord,” a vampire said.

“Were all the races in agreement?” Absalom asked.

“We were. All the jury members were in agreement. It’s a unanimous decision,” the vampire nodded.

“Then let’s hear it,” Selene smiled.

“We find the defendants guilty of all the charges presented,” the vampire said with a small bow.

There was a murmur in the hall for a moment. But as the gods stood up, everyone stopped talking again.

“It saddens me that my children would be responsible for such atrocities. I thought that your age would give you wisdom,” Absalom said. Colin could hear the pain in the god’s voice, and it surprised him.

“My lord, you must see the justice in what we did. We just wanted the Beloved One to be more powerful, to not neglect your children,” Jouko desperately said.

“No, my son. You thought you knew better than us, the gods. Do you not think that if we would have wanted the Beloved One to have eternal life, we would have given it to her?” Absalom told the vampire.

“We have decided that each of us will pass judgment on our own children,” Selene solemnly said.

“As the father of vampires, the one that granted you your wish all those years ago. I will pass judgment on you,” Absalom stood in front of the vampires.

“You have schemed to go against the goddess Selene’s will. You have tried to kill the Beloved One, you assisted in the murder of the previous Beloved One and her family and pack. Each of those defences are punishable by death. It is my judgment that all the vampires involved in these despicable crimes will be unable to feed. No blood or blood substitute will be able to nourish you,” Absalom said.

“When you can’t take the existence anymore, you may raise your voice to me, and I will put you out of your misery. For the heads of each family and all the children of age, the sentence is death. It’s too kind for you, but I will not risk the life of our Beloved One to see you suffer,” he then proclaimed.

Absalom flipped his hand over, so his palm was up and the three vampires in front of him disintegrated into black dust. There was a loud gasp through the hall. Colin felt himself tens and both he and Sean moved in front of Adina.

‘You are both being ridicules. He isn’t going to hurt me, and even if he was, there is nothing you two could do about it,’ she mind linked. Colin didn’t care, neither did Sean, as both stayed put.

“It falls on me to pass judgment on the rogues,” Selene said in a mild voice.

“You did what you did for money. You had no hatred for the Beloved One. Which makes your crime all that much worse. My children, you should have more pride than to sell yourself to anyone that will pay. You should use the brains I gave you. I know you have them,” she sighed.

“My judgment is that all the rogues involved in the incidents described during this trial will be sentenced to death,” Selene said. She mirrored the hand movement that Absalom had made. The three rogues in front of them dissolved into a silver mist.

There was a stunned silence in the hall.

“I would say this concludes the trial,” Selene told them.

Both she and Absalom turned their backs to the hall and walked up to Colin, Sean and Adina. Colin and Sean were still standing in front of Adina.

“I told you they were adorable together,” Selene smiled.

“You were right,” Absalom nodded.

Colin didn’t like being spoken about like a child. But as these were gods, he didn’t want to give them that input. He just stood where he was.

“Thank you again for coming. We couldn’t have done this without you,” Adina told the gods.

“It was important for us to be here. We are sorry for what you have been put through, little one,” Absalom smiled.

“It’s okay. I have a good life now,” Adina said.

“And a new generation on its way. We will drop by once the little one is here,” Selene smiled.

“You are always welcome,” Adina bowed her head, Sean and Colin mirrored her.

“I can’t get over how cute you all look,” Selene squealed, and Absalom chuckled.

“Come, my friend, we have lingered long enough,” Absalom said to Selene.

“You are right. It’s time to go. Stay safe my lovelies,” Selene smiled and without warning they were gone.

Colin felt the air shift back to normal. It was like someone had released a valve and air rushed into a vacuum. Everyone relaxed a little. Erato walked up to them with a smile on her face.

“Things always get interesting when you stop by. I think we need to invite you more often,” she told them. Adina laughed.

“We are more than happy to stop by now and then,” Adina smiled.

They mingled for a while, Colin kept his arm around Adina and Sean held her hand. The three of them moved as a unit. Colin knew the danger was behind them, that they could relax a little. But Colin wasn’t there yet, neither was Sean.

The news about Adina being pregnant had gotten out and as she was starting to show, they got congratulations and well wishes. There were speculations if the pup would be the next alpha of the Black Moon pack or the next Beloved One.

Colin didn’t care. He loved the idea of a little girl, a copy of her mother, running around. But he equally loved the idea of a little boy. There would be time for more than one, he thought, and smiled.

‘What are you thinking about?’ Adina asked in a mind link.

‘Nothing. You really look beautiful today,’ he told her and kissed her cheek.

She sent him one of her sunshine smiles.

When they finally made it back to the car, they were all exhausted. Colin put his arm behind Adina and let his hand rest on Sean’s shoulder. Adina leaned against his shoulder and Sean pulled up her feet into his lap and started rubbing them.

“What now?” Mateo asked from the front seat.

“Now we go home and live our lives. We have two packs to run and pups to raise. I think we will keep busy,” Adina smiled.

“I love the sound of that,” Colin said and kissed the top of her head.

“Me too,” Sean said, kissing her hand.  

Colin had finally achieved what he had set out to do all those months ago. Adina was there to stay. She was happy and safe, and they were going to have a pup. And he had gotten Sean as well. That had been one of the most unexpected, but definitely the best, twists of his life.

Five years later

Adina’s POV

Adina was sitting, leaning against a tree at the edge of the woods on the spread-out blanket. She looked out over the training grounds where her two mates were teaching Jack the basic fight stances. He was only five, but he had inherited his fathers’ fighting spirits.

She laughed as his little fist connected with Sean’s knee. Sean grunted loudly and pretended to go down. He wouldn’t win any awards for his acting, Adina thought. But Jack shouted in happiness and jumped on top of his dad. He was promptly lifted by Colin and placed on his shoulders to do a little victory lap. The warriors that were training stopped and cheered him on.

Adina smiled and shook her head. A light giggle from her daughter made her turn her head towards the tree line. Megan was waddling around with the unsteady gate of a three-year-old while looking at something and giggling.

Adina used her second sight and saw her daughter being flanked by a beautiful silver-haired woman on one side and a golden-haired man on the other side.

“Selene, Helios,” Adina greeted them with a nod.

“Adina,” they both smiled at her and then turned their attention back to her daughter.

Adina smiled and turned off her second sight. She knew her daughter was safe with the two gods. She had inherited her great, great grandmother’s gift and seemed to summon and talk to the gods as easily as she did her fathers.

The little pale blond girl was spoiled not only by her fathers, but by both of their packs. Adina had taught her to use her magic, and she was a natural at it. Adina was proud of her little girl. Her thoughts were interrupted by Julia and her daughter, Angela.

“Hi,” Adina said as they sat down on the blanket.

“Hi, it’s so nice here in the shade,” Julia said.

“It is. Did the trip go okay?” Adina asked. Mateo, Julia, and Angela had been to visit Julia’s parents.

“Yeah, they were as thrilled as always and showered Angela with gifts,” Julia smiled.

“She’s their only grandchild. It’s natural,” Adina said and handed Angela a juice box.

Angela was almost a year younger than Jack. But Jack, Angela and Jason’s and Clara’s twins, Desmond and Charles, were inseparable. They had formed a little squad that always seemed to be together. The four of them were very protective of Megan. They all saw her as their little sister, even though Desmond and Charles were only nine months older than her.

“Is she talking to her friends again?” Julia asked as she looked at Megan. The girl was sitting on a tree stump and looked at something they couldn’t see.

“Yes, Selene and Helios are talking to her,” Adina smiled.

“What are they talking about?” Julia wondered.

“I don’t know. It’s not my place to intervene. But she is happy, so I’m happy,” Adina said.

Mateo came walking with an armful of sandwiches. Julia and Adina helped him unload them. Sean walked over to them and kissed Adina before looking towards Megan.

“Is she busy?” he asked.

“For now,” Adina nodded. Sean sat down on the blanket next to Adina.

Colin came with Jack still on his shoulders.

“Mommy, mommy, I punched dad so hard that he fell over,” Jack told her as Colin put him down.

“I saw that, very nicely done. I’m proud of you, Jack,” Adina said, and gave her son a hug.

“Father said that when I’m all grown up, I will be able to beat both him and dad,” Jack then said, sounding excited.

“I don’t doubt it,” Adina agreed.

Jason and Clara came walking with the twins, and all four children sat down to the side in a circle. Colin sat down on the blanket and gave Adina a kiss.

“Megan, time to eat lunch,” Sean called to their daughter.

Megan snapped her head in their direction. She got up from the tree stump and waved before waddling over to her dad. Sean hoisted her up in the air and made her giggle.

“Have you had a fun morning, princess?” he asked her.

“Yes,” she giggled.

“Good,” Sean smiled and put her down.

“Megan, come sit here,” her brother called, and patted the spot between him and Charles.

“Oke,” Megan smiled and walked over to them.

As she sat down next to her brother, Adina couldn’t help but to smile at her children. They looked totally opposite of each other. Jack with his dark hair and grey eyes, Megan with her light blond hair and pale blue eyes. But they were a lot alike, and they had a strong bond. They reminded her of how she and her brother had been.

“What are you thinking about?” Colin asked her as he leaned into her.

“We have two amazing pups,” Adina smiled.

“That we do,” Colin agreed.

Adina was happy that things had been calm and drama free in the past five years. There was the occasional rogue attack. But nothing that wasn’t handled long before it became a threat to the pack. And there was the squabble between different packs, nests, and covens. But nothing that couldn’t be solved. They had a good life.

“You look happy, baby cake,” Sean smiled. Adina smiled back at him. She loved how happy and relaxed he looked nowadays.

“I am happy,” she told him.

---Authors note---

Thank you for joining Adina, Sean and Colin on their journey. I hope you have enjoyed it just as much as I enjoyed writing it. If you did, don't forgett to check out one of my other books. I hope you have a lovely day.

/Lina