The wolves wasted no time as dawn came and went, bringing about the dreaded darkness upon the day of Jamie's trial. Two large wolves knocked upon the door, awaiting with anti magic chains.

"That's not necessary, she's been nothing but peaceful," Rory growled, stepping between the officers and her wife.

Jamie sighed and pulled Rory in for a parting kiss. "It's better that I don't resist, fighting only showcases more of why they need to do it."

"But—"

"Rory," Jamie said, fixing her wife with a gloss-eyed stare. "Please. Don't make this harder." She extended her wrists, accepting the shackles that made her human form fall away to showcase her silver skin and pointed ears. "I'll be okay. Everything will be okay."

"By order of Counselman Talis, the Shadow is to come with a separate escort. There are suspicions that she may react poorly to the trial, including threat of violence," one of the wolves stated, straightening his bow tie.

"That's ridiculous why would he make that shit up?" Rory spat, crossing her arms in defiance.

The younger of the wolves looked down at Rory with pity. "He has you on tape, Rory. That display last night was a set up to get a rile out of you. There's nothing we can do about it."

Rory's face fell before turning stone cold, an expression Jamie had never seen before. "I understand. Thanks, James."

"We'll see you at the trial," James said gently and gestured for Jamie to follow him. "Walk slowly down the steps, I've heard these can make you a little tired."

Having a kinder wolf be her escort was more than Jamie could ask for as she watch Rory disappear from sight. She tripped on the last step, feeling suddenly heavy and exhausted. Jame's caught her arm.

"Take it easy, we still have a ways to go," he said, righting her and waiting a moment for Jamie to recollect herself.

Jamie nodded and let out a long breath. "Is there anything I should know before I go in?" The cold night air nipped at her skin, causing a shiver to travel down her spine. All it did was close in around like the dread that weighed heavily upon her heart. She was going on trial for something she did have a hand in. She might die tonight for something she couldn't control. Then Ain would be completely free to wander and chaos would befall werewolves and fae alike.

Letting out a long breath, Jamie tried to steel her resolve. She couldn't let Ain win. No matter what, she needed to get out of this alive, for Rory, for herself, and for everyone who would suffer in her absence. Her mother's spirit landed as a raven on a tree nearby, bringing about the smallest shroud of peace that she intended to cling to.

"The evidence they have against you has already determined the direction of the trial, I'm not sure there is anything that you can do to change it," Jame's said at last. "But perhaps if you explain why it happened they'll offer some grace and a lighter sentence? We all know there's more to the story, it's simply getting the court to understand that."

Jamie nodded. She was going to tell them everything, she was going to lay her soul bare, only then did she stand a chance. It was the scariest thing she'd ever faced, but she knew Rory would be there, and that was enough to give her the strength to continue forward.

She swallowed as they made their way to a large, stone building. It towered over her in the darkness, making her feel smaller than she already did. The doors swung wide to reveal the counsel of wolves standing alongside a table. A single chair was placed at the front of the room in view of a video chat with the fae counsel.

All eyes turned to look upon her in judgment.

Rory was in the corner of the room, surrounded by several larger wolves that kept a close eye on all her actions. There was a desperate plea in her eyes, begging Jamie to run.

Running never solved anything. It simply prolonged the chase. Jamie walked forward into the uncertainty of the future, holding her head high in hopes that this step would not bring upon her doom. She was directed to sit in the chair that everyone could see.

"All rise for the honorable councilman and judge, his honor, Talis," James called, hitting a stick on the floor Jamie hadn't seen him grab.

Everyone rose as Rory's father walked across the floor, the large shadow that followed after him was nothing short of terrifying, but even more so was the set jaw that declared he'd already sentenced her. He gestured for everyone to sit down. They obeyed.

"Jamie of the fae, otherwise known as Yemica, you stand accused of cursing and killing a member of our clan in addition to aiding a traitor in their plights. How do you plea?" Councilman Talis asked, his loud voice booming across the entirety of the room.

Jamie swallowed. All she had to do was tell the truth. Maybe then they'd understand. "It's complicated. My sister is a poltergeist—"

"I didn't ask about the situation I asked how you plead," Councilman Talis stated, cutting her off. "Or should we listen to the evidence of your past self?" He placed a recorder on the table.

"That evidence was collected under the threat of death. Anyone in that situation would stay what was needed to survive," Jamie hissed. "It's lies."

The Counselman's eye twitched. "So you plead not guilty even after your recorded verbal admittance to doing these things? You deny what you said?" He got closer, invading her space. "Or are you lying like the skanky fae you are? Willing to do whatever you need to save yourself?"

"Objection! Using insults is petty and unprofessional," one of the fae councilmen stated. "Are you guilt or not, Jamie? It's a simple question."

But it wasn't a simple answer. It wasn't a yes or no. Technically she was indirectly involved, but it had been forced, it hadn't been a choice. She knew that. The fae would understand that. The wolves would not. It was clear Talis wanted revenge for his son. He would do whatever it took for her to be found guilty.

"Ain committed these crimes," Jamie stated. It was the truth. Whether they took it or not was not up to her.

Councilman Talis looked confused until one of the fae stated who Ain was and how she was connected to Jamie.

"She committed them yes. . . But while possessing your body which makes you equally guilty." He held up his hand to prevent the fae from interrupting and explaining otherwise. "It was your hand, your magic that cursed my—" The councilman paused, recollecting himself after his voice broke. "That cursed the Shadow." He cleared his throat and turned to the fae. "We have several eye witness' that place Jamie at he scene."

Several wolves stepped out from the shadowed over hang and nodded their heads.

The councilman pointed to them. "They place you there that night."

One of the fae's cleared his throat loudly, his blue skin glowing a tinge of red with anger. "You mean to admit that your clan was trespassing on fae grounds without permission!" He rose from his chair. "This ids an outrage. This is a broken treatie. Not only did the cursed wolf murder children, but you brought a force big enough to wipe out the entire sector and stood aside, letting it happen. What were your wolves doing there?"

"Nothing of your concern," councilman Talis said with a dismissive wave of his hand.

Another fae stood, his silver ears flapping. "It is our concern when you are endangering civilians."

The first looked dead at councilman Talis, fury evident in his gaze. "We call for a mistrial. Send Jamie back to us unharmed and we may consider forgiving your crimes."

"She murdered my son!" Councilman Talis cried, slamming his hands on the table, all professionalism completely gone.

"You son murdered two innocent, fae children!" The fae councilman shot back.

"He was under the curse of your precious fae. She's the one who made them kill him!" Councilman Talis argued, pointing an accusatory finger at Jamie.

"She was possessed and not at fault," the second fae spat.

All the wolves and fae fell into chaos as the argument continued, getting more heated by the second.

Rory slipped behind Jamie, taking off her chains. "We're leaving."

Jamie looked up briefly to see the entire group that had been guarded Rory bleeding on the ground.

"I've already made arrangements. This trial isn't going to end well, someone will get hurt if we stay. There's a ceremony that can stop Ain," Rory declared dragging her out of the building behind all the arguing patron's. "I've already contacted your father. He knows we're coming."

"How'd—" Jamie was cut off when several guards rushed forward to stop them.

Rory met them head on, throwing punches and swinging her blade. Two instantly fell. "Run Jamie! Meet me in the grove where the tree's kiss!"

It had once been their special meeting point when they were younger. Back when they hadn't been brave enough to live together. Jamie ran forward into the camp. She turned a curve to find Rory in wolf form at her side.

"Get on!" Rory called as the sounds of howls and alarms sounded off behind them.

Jamie climbed on quickly. Tree's whipped past as they ran far from the werewolf territory. But where were they going to go? The fae claimed they'd welcome her home, but she knew better. After what happened she would be imprisoned and studied like an animal. The werewolves would tear Rory apart for what she was doing, protecting and hiding a fugitive. There was nowhere to go, nowhere to hide.

An explosion tore through the air.

Rory cried out, falling forward and sending Jamie spraying.

When she looked up, she found the barrel of a gun to her chest and several human's surrounding them, eyes full of blood-lust.

Hunters.