Chapter 140
Were frock werebit. Augustin was on his hout, his eyes flashing dangerously
at and make somn thing perfectly flour, he said, “My Lainh le not only carrying my heif Bat has proven herself invaluable in meliters at, bran and investigation, she discovered what your entre Council missed. Ite leaned forward, hands braced on the railing. I will not interne shynes treating he as an Küttider är an *fect. Is that inderstood?
The silence that followed was deafening. Most Elders looked at me with barely concealed contempt, though Sebastian offered a malf smile of
couragement.
Francis deared his throat. “We have copies of the letters now. Let us proceed.
The Elders passed the papers among themselves, faces growing grimmer with each page. Finally, Azalea addressed Theron directly.
Is it true what these letters claim? That you were threatened into framing Evanth Levenston?‘
Theron nodded, his chains clinking with the movement. “Yes, Elder. I was told to go to Forestvale and cause trouble, then make sure evidence pointed to Evanth. They said if I didn’t comply, my pregnant wife would suffer.”
And yet you only admitted this under questioning from…” Azalea’s gaze slid to me, ‘the Luna?”
My jaw clenched at her tone.
“The Luna didn’t force me to say anything, Theron replied. “She just asked the right questions.”
I noticed that Azalea didn’t ask if Augustin had forced him, revealing her bias. Bitch. Making a mental note to add her to my investigation list.
Sebastian stood, commanding attention. “Based on the evidence presented, the Council finds Evanth Levenston and Elder Quentor Westerfield Ashford not guilty of treason or conspiracy.”
I heard Quentor’s full name for the first time. His surname is Ashford? This seems to be one of those families that Alpha Elton mentioned to me last time the ones persecuted and suppressed by Augustine’s father. I silently made a mental note of this crucial detail.
The guards moved forward, unlocking their chains. Evanth’s shoulders slumped in relief, while Quentor maintained his rigid posture. They separated immediately, Evanth making his way to our box while Quentor returned to the Elder section.
Evanth slipped in beside Augustin, giving me a wary look that I returned. Our relationship was complicated at best, and I wasn’t ready to trust him.
“As for Theron Caudill,” Sebastian continued, “for the crimes of falsely implicating a royal family member and misleading the Elder Council, the punishment is beheading, to be carried out at dawn tomorrow.
My heart lurched. I grabbed Augustin’s arm. You can’t let them kill him, I linked him urgently. He told the truth in the end. If you execute him for that, no one will ever come forward with information again.
Augustin nodded slightly, then raised his hand as guards moved to take Theron away.
“Wait, he commanded. “I’m exercising my right to grant clemency.”
Evanth made a sound of protest beside him, which Augustin silenced with a look.
“Theron Caudill acted under duress, fearing for his mate and unborn child. While his actions were wrong, his eventual honesty helped uncover a greater conspiracy. I hereby commute his sentence and reassign him to Levenston Manor, where he will work under my direct supervision.”
“But the law- Azalea began.
“The law allows for mercy, Augustin interrupted. “And I would rather have honest men around me, even those who have made mistakes, than those who never admit to them.”
Azalea’s gaze shifted to me, her eyes burning with anger. She knew I had influenced this decision, and she clearly resented it. I met her gaze steadily,
1/2
Chapter 140..
refusing the intimidatent
need to find out what her probleni bì, 1 thought.
As the trial concluded and preple began to disperse, I noted which kiters seemed friendly and which hostile, Robertion on the only one who alone
semaine smile
Augustin’s hand found mine, squeezing gently.
ready thinking about our next steps. This was only the beginning
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