Chapter 19
Chapter
Nineteen
Bokkan
With my hands clasped behind my back, I stood in front of the magistrate . My shoulders were back and my spine straight, but I couldn’t stop the impatient lashing of my tail.
As soon as the mating rage faded, I knew what I would be facing. Just like I knew what Guldan would encourage me to do. I also knew my answer to his solution would be no.
I refused to pressure Leda.
She was alone in this realm and wanted to return to her own. I laid no blame on her. She had no bargain in Penumbra. No reason to remain here.
The magistrate was speaking to one of the males training at my estate, asking him questions about what happened with Karaj Darkblade. My focus was still on the look on Leda’s face when she realized she would be alone in my manor with no one but Masu as an ally.
It was the first time I saw true fear in her eyes, and the knowledge was torture. I never wanted her to fear for her safety or her future. As long as she remained in Penumbra, it was a reality she would deal with—that she was never truly safe from exploitation because she was human.
“Bokkan Stonesword, what shall you say in your defense?”
I refocused on the magistrate and saw that all eyes in the room were on me. Venna Bluesteel sat in the corner, smirking at me. As soon as my gaze caught hers, I knew that she had sent Karaj to my estate. However it played out, she knew she would have what she wanted.
Either I would sell Leda to Karaj, who would probably take her straight to Venna.
Or I would do what I had done—try to rip out his throat.
By the gloating expression on her face, I knew she was hoping for it to happen exactly as it had.
It left Leda unprotected in my home and me in a holding cell at the magistrate’s office.
“Karaj Darkblade came to my estate in an effort to purchase a human from me. A human who is here without a signed contract with a daemon or witch. She is my honored guest and thus under my protection. When I explained all this to him, he still tried to push me into selling a human who is not bound by contract. After I told him no again, he tried to grab her arm and pull her away from me. As her host, it was my duty to protect her. She had already expressed disinterest in going with him as a companion and said she was not interested in employment in his home. He still tried to physically remove her from my protection anyway.”
When I fell silent, the tension in the room grew. My argument was perfectly logical. If Leda were a female daemon, it would be the end of the matter. Unfortunately, I knew this would not be the case for a human female.
The magistrate looked down at the papers on his desk before glancing back up at me. “I have a sworn statement from the slave master in town who says he sold the female to your commander, Guldan, at the behest of the men training on your estate. It appears she does have a contract.”
“According to Leda, she was rendered unconscious and abducted from her home by imps in the human realm in the middle of the night. When she awoke, she was in the holding cells at the slave market. The slave master was unable to produce a contract for my commander or me when we inquired, so we took the human’s word, and I agreed to keep her as my honored guest until a way could be found for her to return home. ”
“I have a contract here, signed in her blood,” the magistrate said.
My eyes narrowed. “May I scent the document?”
He looked taken aback. “Why?”
“Because I doubt it is Leda’s blood, sir. Otherwise, why would the slave master not produce this contract when I asked for it days ago?”
It was clear the magistrate wanted to deny my request, but there was no legitimate reason. With a sigh, he held the paper out to his assistant, who brought it to me.
I brought the paper to my nose and inhaled deeply. Immediately, my nose twitched, and I shook my head.
“This blood does not belong to my guest, sir. She was injured not long ago, and I tended to her wounds. I am familiar with the scent.”
“Perhaps we should bring the human here and see for ourselves.”
My fists clenched behind my back, but I worked hard to keep my expression neutral. I could not show any weakness or emotion. To do so would give my enemies in this room too much power. It was bad enough that Venna had seen beneath my mask. Others did not need to be aware as well.
“I have given instructions to my men and staff to protect my human guest and to refuse anyone other than me entry to the estate.”
“I see.”
Movement at the back of the room caught my eye. As I looked toward it, I saw Guldan’s back as he left through a side door.
Godsdammit.
Until the magistrate released me, I had no way to stop him from whatever stupidity he was about to do.