Chapter 35 Fractured Alliance

Chapter 35 Fractured Alliance
Sienna's POV

The Assembly gave us one hour to decide.

Fifty-nine minutes now, and everyone was looking at me.

I didn't have answers. I couldn't even speak.

"We fight," Daemon said. "We can break through their lines."

"And go where?" Kael shot back. "They've surrounded us."

"Then we die fighting instead of on our knees."

"Some of us have children to think about."

"Don't use Lily as an excuse for your cowardice."

Kael's face went red. "What did you just call me?"

They were going to fight again.

My wolf body was too exhausted to stop it.

"Stop it," Claire said. "Both of you."

"He started it," Daemon said.

"I don't care. I care about surviving."

"There is no surviving unless we surrender."

"Surrendering is suicide."

"So is fighting."

They went in circles.

I looked at Lily and she was awake now, watching.

"Mommy's scared," she said quietly.

Everyone stopped.

"What?" Kael asked.

"Mommy. She's scared. I can feel it." Lily walked to me and touched my wolf nose. "She doesn't know what to do."

My chest tightened.

"She's a moon witch," Daemon said. "She shouldn't be scared of anything."

"Being powerful doesn't mean you're not scared," Lily said. "It just means you're scared of bigger things."

The words hit hard.

"We need a decision," Orion said. "The Assembly won't wait."

"I vote we fight," Daemon said.

"I vote we negotiate," Kael said.

"Negotiate what? They want Sienna dead."

"Then we offer them something else."

"Like what?"

"Information. Evidence of corruption."

Daemon laughed. "You think they care about corruption? They are the corruption."

Their voices rose.

The group was splintering.

And I stood there unable to do anything.

"Maybe we should ask Sienna what she wants," Claire said.

Everyone turned to me.

I wanted to shift back, wanted my voice.

But I couldn't.

Lily squeezed my paw. "Can you try to change back?"

I'd tried a dozen times.

But for her, I'd try again.

I closed my eyes and focused.

My bones started to crack.

Then something different happened.

The change kept going.

My wolf body shrunk and my fur receded.

I hit the ground on my hands and knees, human again.

"She did it!" Lily clapped.

I looked at my hands. They were shaking.

"Sienna?" Kael moved closer. "Can you talk?"

I opened my mouth. "How long?"

"How long what?"

"How long do we have?"

"Forty-five minutes."

Not enough time.

I stood slowly. My legs were weak.

"We're not fighting and we're not negotiating," I said.

"Then what?" Daemon asked.

"I'm surrendering."

The cave went silent.

"No," Kael said. "Absolutely not."

"It's the only way."

"It's suicide!"

"Maybe, but it's my choice."

"What about Lily?"

The question hit like a knife.

"You'll take care of her. You're her father."

"She needs her mother too!"

"She needs to be alive more."

Lily grabbed my hand. "No. You're not leaving me."

"Baby, I have to."

"No!" Tears streamed down her face. "We're connected. If you die, I die too!"

I looked at Dr. Helena. "Is that true?"

She hesitated. "I don't know. It's possible your death could kill her."

"So we don't know."

"No."

I looked at Lily crying.

I couldn't risk it.

"Then we all surrender," I said. "Together."

"They'll execute you anyway," Daemon said.

"Maybe, but at least everyone else lives."

"You don't know that."

"I know fighting gets us all killed for sure."

Kael shook his head. "There has to be another way."

"There isn't. Not in forty-three minutes."

The voice from outside spoke again.

"Forty minutes remaining."

I looked at each person.

"I'm going out there," I said. "Anyone who wants to come can. Anyone who wants to run can do that too."

"I'm coming," Lily said.

"Me too," Kael said.

"This is insane," Daemon muttered, but he nodded. "Fine."

One by one, the pack agreed.

I walked to the cave entrance.

This was either brave or stupid.

Probably both.

I stepped outside with my hands raised.

The Assembly army surrounded us.

A woman stepped forward.

"Sienna Voss," she said. "You're surrendering?"

"Yes. Me and everyone with me."

"Smart choice." She gestured and hunters moved in with chains.

They wrapped chains around my wrists and the magic burned.

They took Kael, Daemon, and Orion next.

They put different chains on Lily.

"What are those?" I demanded.

"Protective custody chains."

"She's staying with me."

"She's evidence. She goes where we say."

"No!"

But hunters were already pulling her away.

"Mommy!" Lily screamed.

I lunged but the chains held me back.

"You said if we surrendered, nobody would die!"

"Nobody will die," the commander said. "Yet. But the child stays in custody until the trial."

"What trial?"

"Your trial before the High Court. It begins tomorrow at dawn."

They dragged us to vehicles, separating me from everyone.

I was thrown into a transport with two guards.

We drove for hours.

Finally, we stopped.

The guards pulled me out.

I stood in front of a massive building carved from black stone.

"The Hidden Court," a guard said. "Where moon witches are judged."

They dragged me inside, down corridors.

We entered a courtroom.

Hunters filled every seat.

A throne sat at the front.

"The High Judge will be here shortly," a guard said.

I stood in chains, waiting.

Footsteps echoed.

A figure emerged.

She was ancient with silver hair.

Her eyes glowed the same silver as mine.

A moon witch.

She sat on the throne.

"Sienna Voss," she said. "Daughter of Eleanor. Last of the free moon witches."

I stared. "You're a moon witch. How are you judging me?"

She smiled sadly. "Because I'm the one who survived the purges by learning to serve them instead of fighting them."

"You betrayed your own kind."

"I kept our kind alive. There's a difference."

"Is there?"

"You're about to find out." She raised her hand. "Let the trial begin."