105
Tony
As David entered, my gaze fell on him and I felt my fury starting to boil. The curse that witch put on us was still in effect, as we couldn’t find another witch powerful enough, or willing to remove it. Matt went stiff beside me.
What the hell is he doing? Matt asked.
Trying to piss us off.
He sat down wearing jeans, a button up, and a blazer, a birthday sash draped across his chest, and a ridiculous paper crown perched on his head. Anger welled up within me. I could tell that he didn’t care about how disrespectful he and his liaison were being.
I narrowed my eyes at Trent. I had heard about him from our father. He met my gaze and wiggled his eyebrows as he relaxed in his seat. He was trying to agitate me, but I took a deep breath, and glanced at the panel.
Unfortunately, there wasn’t a single werewolf among them. A dragon shifter, a witch, and a human sat there, looking over their documents as the last two people of came in and sat down after exchanging words with David.
"Ladies and gentlemen, if we could have your attention, please," the dragon shifter on the panel called out, his deep voice commanding the room. "The mediation is about to begin."
The witch seated beside him nodded, her eyes scanning the room before she continued, "We understand that emotions may be running high, but we ask that everyone remain respectful and focused on finding a resolution."
The human representative, a stern-looking woman, cleared her throat and added, "We are here to ensure a fair and impartial process. Our goal is to find a mutually agreeable solution that benefits all parties involved."
The human woman glanced at both sides of the room. “Please note that we are in mixed company.”
I glanced at Matt who nodded as he picked up his glass and started to drink.
The dragon shifter spoke again. "We will begin by hearing opening statements from both sides. Each party will have the opportunity to present their case and outline their desired outcomes and grievances. We will then proceed with discussions and negotiations."
My gaze shifted to one of the women who was reading from the file that David had passed her. She glanced at Lucy’s parents.
“We’ll begin with Mr. and Mr. Chance.”
“We’re here to ensure the return of the young woman who was in our custody and resolve the cases being brought against us by the organization known as the Liberation Front.” I narrowed my eyes. “The charges are damaging our reputation. Given Mr. Bloodborne’s connections, we’re expecting his cooperation in dealing with them.”
David smirked. His eyes were taunting.
“This Council did gather this mediation in hopes to enlist Mr. Bloodborne’s assistance on that matter. Mr. Bloodborne?”
He smirked. “I was summoned, Council member. I have nothing to say other than I don’t intend to help them sweep this under the rug.”
He’s picking a fight, Matt said. I bet he wouldn’t be so confident if we were in a fight.
“You’re declaring your… intent to not assist?” The witch asked. Her tone was light, but her eyes were amused.
“That is correct.”
She looked down. “I understand that we have two representative from Liberation Front here as the actual other litigants?”
The taller woman nodded and sat closer to the table, passing the folder to her companion.
“Honorable members of the panel,” the woman’s voice was steady and assertive. She didn’t look at me as she spoke to the panel. “My name is Ivy Landing. This is my partner, Ruby Johnson, and we are here to represent the legal team from Liberation Front to represent Miss Lucy Graves as well as the other victims of the auction at which she was bought.
“Miss Graves is our primary litigant as she was not only sold against her will, held against her will, bought by Mr. and Mr. Chance, transported against her will, held against her will and has continued to suffer emotional and physical harm due to Mr. and Mr. Chance’s actions.”
Matt went still. I put a hand on his shoulder.
“Your reply, Mr. Chance?”
“That’s a lie,” Matt growled. “We’ve never harmed, Lucy.”
Ruby pursed her lips and opened the folder. “Council members, by your leave, may we ask a list of questions regarding Miss Graves time with Mr. and Mr. Chance? We have Miss Graves’ statements and her medical records, but perhaps giving Mr. and Mr. Chance an opportunity to speak would help clear the air?”
“That sounds reasonable,” the dragon said. “The Council reserves the right to ask additional questions as necessary.”
Ruby picked up her pen and met my gaze. “For the record, are these two people Miss Graves’ adoptive parents?”
I narrowed my eyes. “Yes.”
“And for what purpose did you see fit to bring them here today?”
“They’re her parents,” I said. “They have a vested interest in her happiness.”
David’s eyes narrowed. He grew tense in his seat, but he didn’t speak. Trent took a note. His lips twitched as if he was holding back a smile.
“These would be the same parents who, by Miss Graves’ testimony, sold her to the auction from which you purchased her?” Her eyes narrowed. “Her adoptive father, being a man who attempt to kidnap her from outside of a bar you and your brother took her to on her eighteenth birthday?”
I narrowed my eyes at her. “It would seem that he was attempting to recover her after realizing his mistake.”
“And for what reason did you bring an eighteen-year-old woman to a bar in the middle of the night?” Ruby asked.
“It was her birthday.”
“For the record, Miss Graves is eighteen, three years too young to be going to a bar, known to serve a crowd more of your age.” Her eyes narrowed. “And how old are you and your twin brother?”
“We’ll be thirty in a few months.”
“And what interest could you have in an eighteen-year-old girl?” Ruby asked. “With no real education, no prospects, and not a single clue of how to navigate herself from your Estate to the nearest city?”
Our lawyer hissed. “You’re leading.”
“Am I?” Ruby asked.
“Perhaps, we’ll ask a different set of questions,” Ivy stated. “How often did you have sex with Miss Graves?”
“Often.”
“Did she ever ask for it?” Ivy asked. “Did you give her a chance to refuse it?”
“Lucy didn’t refuse us because she wanted us,” I said. “Don’t try to turn us into monsters for enjoying our relationship with her.”
“One built on a monetary transaction against her will?” Ivy asked. “How does that classify as a relationship?”
I glared at her. “It didn’t matter how we came to meet Lucy. We took care of her when she was sick. We gave her everything she needed.”
Ivy tilted her head. “Did you know her adoptive parents sold her to the auction?”
“She told us eventually.”
“And you never considered pressing charges on her behalf?”
“It wasn’t important. She was happy.”
Ivy bared her teeth, looking as vicious as a werewolf I had ever seen.
“Happy?” She hissed. “As I recall, happy people don’t run away from pleasant situations.”
“Lucy didn’t run away from us,” I said. “She was taken from that event. We’ve been trying to find her all this time, and you’ve been making it incredibly difficult.”
Ruby opened a folder and slid a page down the table toward the Council. “According to Miss Graves, she left that event willingly. A former associate arranged for her escape from the function and transportation away from the Chance brothers. She’s currently doing very well in her new circumstances.”
“We deserve the right to speak to her directly,” I said.
“As her legal representatives, it is our contention that Miss Graves was abused before coming into the custody of the Chance brothers,” Ruby said and sneered at me. “And was treated as little more than a pampered object for their sexual gratification. Miss Graves’ statements back this, and while she isn’t pressing charges regarding her treatment, the Liberation Front is pressing charges against them for human trafficking.”
I clenched my jaw and looked at David who continued to watch with cold calculating eyes. I looked up at the council.
“All Miss Graves wants is to live her life peacefully, pursue a productive future, and leave her past behind her,” Ivy said. “Her desire for peace is the only reason we are even humoring this mediation.”
“To what end?” The dragon asked.
Ivy pulled out a document and slid it forward. “This is a formal, binding agreement between Miss Graves and the Chance Brothers and their associates in which she will not pursue legal action against them in exchange for a formal city-radius restraining order. In addition they will cooperate with the authorities and give them all the information they have on the auction and any others they’ve attended. They will officially be consultants and contacts for Liberation Front’s efforts to fight trafficking in lieu of prison time.”
My heart plummeted. Stay away from Lucy? Our mate?
Never.
I looked at David.
“Mr. Bloodborne, what are your thoughts on such an agreement?”
“Miss Graves is a dear friend. And for everything she’s gone through since meeting them, directly at their hands and not…” He locked eyes with me. “I would rather see them in jail.”
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
