“Nina!” Jared growled.
Michael jerked forward, and arms burst from the long, black sleeves of cloaks behind him as hands held him at bay. Simultaneously, Samuel angled his body toward Jared in a protective stance. He didn’t crouch, as I had seen Claire do so many times before when she protected me. Samuel would not fight his brothers, but he wouldn’t allow them to harm us.
Claire leaned against my arm, and whispered in my ear. “Shut up, stupid. You’re not helping.”
“She should not speak here!” Michael said, jerking away from his allies.
“Enough,” Eli said, his voice calm and even. “Nina’s fate is affected. She is allowed an argument,” he said, looking to me. “Your thoughts have been considered. That will be all.”
For the first time, I didn’t feel Eli’s bias. I nodded quickly, showing my obedience with a small step back.
“Claire….” Eli said, moving the trial forward.
“The truth is, Isaac and Donovan were working with Shax, and they were there to kill Nina, in effect to kill Jared,” she said in her no-nonsense way. “Eli, it was going to be Donovan or Nina. Isaac or Jared. If you ask me, the best man won.”
Her words stung Michael, but he didn’t argue.
Eli’s eyes scanned the looming angels behind Michael. “Do any of your supporters wish to enter opinion?”
Michael shook his head. “It is my claim.”
“And what exactly is your claim?” Bex asked.
Michael’s eyes narrowed, staring directly at Jared’s younger brother. “That he murdered my son.”
Claire took a step forward. “Your son murdered Nina’s father.”
When recognition hit that Claire was speaking of my father, my knees buckled, and Jared tightened his grip to keep me on my feet.
“W-What?” I said, my voice barely a whisper.
Jared leaned into my cheek, his nose grazing my ear. “Donovan shot your father. Isaac was with him.”
My eyes widened, focusing on Michael. “You want to blame Gabe and Jared? You come here, interrupt our wedding day, yell at me, accuse us of murder, and your son was an accessory to the cause of all of this?”
Michael’s dark eyes darted from me to Eli.
Eli shrugged. “She has a point.”
Michael’s jaw dropped. “Isaac did not to deserve to die. He was a good son. He accepted the curse and honored his duties.”
“Michael,” Samuel said in his deep, firm voice.
Michael stepped toward Eli. “Gabriel’s son should be punished! He allowed his Taleh to kill my son! Rebecca’s son!”
Eli looked to the ground in thought. “Rebecca was unhappy with Isaac’s choices, was she not?”
Michael’s eyes flickered to each of us. “I demand Jared be punished for taking Isaac’s life.”
Samuel spoke again. “Michael….”
“Jared should be killed, and leave his Taleh to the savages,” Michael said, pointing to Jared.
“Michael…” Samuel repeated, this time with a low growl.
“An eye for an eye, Eli! I demand it!” Michael said, his fists balled at his sides.
“MICHAEL!” Samuel boomed. The earth trembled when he spoke, and my hands flew to my ears.
Eli watched the interaction between Samuel and Michael for a moment, and then spoke. “Okay. All right. I’ve heard enough from each side. Only one argument remains.”
We all looked to one another, wondering who was left.
“My apologies,” a warm voice spoke. It was a voice I hadn’t heard in a long time. A voice from my childhood.
Jared’s hand was still in mine, and the moment the voice could be heard, his hand went limp. “Dad?” he said.
I turned, seeing Gabe Ryel at the top of the chapel’s rock steps. He looked exactly as I remembered him: tall, his blond hair and piercing, ice-blue eyes glowing even from several feet away. A flash broke from the crowd and up the steps, and in the next moment, Claire was in her father’s arms, sobbing uncontrollably. She pressed her cheek against his chest, whispering something I couldn’t understand. Gabe bowed his head, spoke something back, and then he kissed his daughter’s forehead. They descended the stairs together, and approached Bex.
Gabe offered a small smile to his youngest son, who fell against him with a clap.
My mouth fell open, and I immediately searched Jared’s face for a reaction. There was none.
Gabe’s expression turned remorseful. “I’m sorry for your son, Michael. You and I are in unique positions…to know love for a child. You and I agree that if we could change the outcome, we would make it so.”
Eli reached out to Gabe. “It’s important to remember that it is in the height of adversary that we must come together. Michael, you’ve lost your son. Your widow has now lost her husband and her son. It is unfortunate.”
Michael bowed his head.
Gabe approached Michael, pulling him into his arms. “We need you on our side, Brother.”
Michael shrugged out of his grasp.
“Eli?” Michael pleaded.
Eli offered a small, comforting smile. “You already know the answer.”