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Authors: Jessica Coulter Smith
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bond with her.”
The Prime Minister looked surprised. “Lafre will be brought in to face the consequences of her actions. However, that doesn’t change your situation.”
Bane swallowed hard. He’d known if anyone found out that he’d seen the murder that things would end badly, but it didn’t seem fair that he’d just gotten Ariana back only to lose her again. And yet, he knew he couldn’t fight the system. If the Prime Minister placed him under arrest, there was nothing he could do. It wasn’t like on Earth, where they had a court that would decide your fate. Instead, the Prime Minister would consult with the Arch Prime, the man over everything on Keshpa, and decide Bane’s fate. Even though they only had the word of Lafre, a woman they now knew had wanted to possess Bane at any cost, he doubted he would get away without a prison sentence. Possibly worse.
“May I at least speak with Ariana first? She and my brothers should enter Keshpa again within a few hours.”
“No. I think it would be best if your slave be moved back to the auction house so a new owner may claim her.”
Panic gripped Bane. “No! I beg of you, don’t make her go through that again. Allow one of my brothers to care for her. I’ll transfer ownership of her to Cael. Please. Let me do this. I’ll sign the documents right now.”
The Prime Minister studied him for a moment. “I suppose it can wait until your fate is decided, but before your sentence is carried out you must sign the documents. I will consent for you to do this as I can see you care for her very deeply.”
“I love her,” Bane admitted. “Had it not been forbidden, I would have bonded with her.”
The Prime Minister seemed to contemplate his words. “I realize our neighbor, Vaaden, has permitted this. However, our women are vastly different from theirs. Can you imagine the uprising?”
“It doesn’t stop me from wishing things could be different. I’ll just have to content myself with her being in my life; perhaps if I’m freed again one day, Cael will be kind enough to give her back to me.”
The Prime Minister was silent, and Bane figured that didn’t bode well for his future. Due to the severity of the crime he’d witnessed, it was quite possible he could be put to death. If that should happen, he only hoped Ariana didn’t despair and sink into a horrible depression like she had with her unborn child. He wanted her to be happy and have a long life, even if that life was spent with someone else.
Chapter Six
Ariana and Bane’s brothers had only been home for an hour when they were summoned to the Keshpan version of a court. Nerves attacked her as she wondered what was to become of the man she loved. They’d been given no clue as to what to expect, and not knowing was possibly worse than anything.
Cael gripped her hand, trying to reassure her, as they entered the large room. The Prime Minister sat behind an ornate desk with Bane standing before him. She started to rush to Bane’s side, but Cael kept a good grip on her and wouldn’t let her go. She frowned up at him, but he merely shook his head. Instead, they moved to stand off to the side where they had a good view of both the Prime Minister and Bane. Her lover looked haggard, as if he were expecting the worst-case scenario, and wondered if he already knew his fate.
If he was sent to prison, would she be allowed to tell him goodbye? And what would become of her? The mere thought of another man touching her was enough to make her shiver in revulsion. She would sooner end her life than endure that.
The Prime Minister drummed his fingers on the desk. “It’s with a heavy heart that I give this verdict, but after more than an hour of deliberation with the Arch Prime, I have little choice.”
Bane stiffened and Ariana fought back tears.
“Bane, you are hereby sentenced to death, to be carried out immediately. As previously discussed, you may sign your slave over to your brother, Cael, should
The Prime Minister looked surprised. “Lafre will be brought in to face the consequences of her actions. However, that doesn’t change your situation.”
Bane swallowed hard. He’d known if anyone found out that he’d seen the murder that things would end badly, but it didn’t seem fair that he’d just gotten Ariana back only to lose her again. And yet, he knew he couldn’t fight the system. If the Prime Minister placed him under arrest, there was nothing he could do. It wasn’t like on Earth, where they had a court that would decide your fate. Instead, the Prime Minister would consult with the Arch Prime, the man over everything on Keshpa, and decide Bane’s fate. Even though they only had the word of Lafre, a woman they now knew had wanted to possess Bane at any cost, he doubted he would get away without a prison sentence. Possibly worse.
“May I at least speak with Ariana first? She and my brothers should enter Keshpa again within a few hours.”
“No. I think it would be best if your slave be moved back to the auction house so a new owner may claim her.”
Panic gripped Bane. “No! I beg of you, don’t make her go through that again. Allow one of my brothers to care for her. I’ll transfer ownership of her to Cael. Please. Let me do this. I’ll sign the documents right now.”
The Prime Minister studied him for a moment. “I suppose it can wait until your fate is decided, but before your sentence is carried out you must sign the documents. I will consent for you to do this as I can see you care for her very deeply.”
“I love her,” Bane admitted. “Had it not been forbidden, I would have bonded with her.”
The Prime Minister seemed to contemplate his words. “I realize our neighbor, Vaaden, has permitted this. However, our women are vastly different from theirs. Can you imagine the uprising?”
“It doesn’t stop me from wishing things could be different. I’ll just have to content myself with her being in my life; perhaps if I’m freed again one day, Cael will be kind enough to give her back to me.”
The Prime Minister was silent, and Bane figured that didn’t bode well for his future. Due to the severity of the crime he’d witnessed, it was quite possible he could be put to death. If that should happen, he only hoped Ariana didn’t despair and sink into a horrible depression like she had with her unborn child. He wanted her to be happy and have a long life, even if that life was spent with someone else.
Chapter Six
Ariana and Bane’s brothers had only been home for an hour when they were summoned to the Keshpan version of a court. Nerves attacked her as she wondered what was to become of the man she loved. They’d been given no clue as to what to expect, and not knowing was possibly worse than anything.
Cael gripped her hand, trying to reassure her, as they entered the large room. The Prime Minister sat behind an ornate desk with Bane standing before him. She started to rush to Bane’s side, but Cael kept a good grip on her and wouldn’t let her go. She frowned up at him, but he merely shook his head. Instead, they moved to stand off to the side where they had a good view of both the Prime Minister and Bane. Her lover looked haggard, as if he were expecting the worst-case scenario, and wondered if he already knew his fate.
If he was sent to prison, would she be allowed to tell him goodbye? And what would become of her? The mere thought of another man touching her was enough to make her shiver in revulsion. She would sooner end her life than endure that.
The Prime Minister drummed his fingers on the desk. “It’s with a heavy heart that I give this verdict, but after more than an hour of deliberation with the Arch Prime, I have little choice.”
Bane stiffened and Ariana fought back tears.
“Bane, you are hereby sentenced to death, to be carried out immediately. As previously discussed, you may sign your slave over to your brother, Cael, should
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