Soul Resurrected (Sons of Wrath, #2) (61 page)

“Ah, but you are, Logan. And your father would be proud to call you his own.”

Ten agonizing minutes passed before the officials returned, and each retook their seats.

The high demon placed his hands atop the bench. “Our decision has been made. Having taken into account your Matron’s arguments, the charges of Amegation have been dropped. However, there is still the matter of an unjust impregnation of the human female. Mate or not, Eradis was disregarded in this case. Since you’ve decided not to plead guilty and choose, the Council has decided that the
child
must be destroyed.”

“
No
!”

The voice from behind sent chills down Logan’s spine, stiffening his back. His gaze swung around, and from the crowd, a figure rose, cloaked in a black robe.

No. Please, no
.

The black hood was pulled back, revealing her face. That face that Logan would kill for. Calla. Right there in the court.

His heart hammered, his breaths hastening as he swung his gaze back to the Orcosii.

“Seize her.”

As two Enforcers stormed to either side of Calla and grabbed hold of her arms, Logan lurched forward and growled. “I’ll rip your fucking heads off!”

“Watch your tone.” The high demon leaned forward, clutching the edge of the bench-top. “Bring the woman here.”

Calla made her way before the Council. She gave a furtive glance in Logan’s direction before directing her attention back toward the lords.

“How did you get inside the court? Only the blood of a royal would’ve granted your entry.” The high demon looked her up and down, as Logan’s focus shifted between him and Calla. “And you are clearly not royal blood.”

Calla entwined her fingers in front of her, a nervous gesture. “I almost didn’t, your honor.” Her voice hardly carried across the room. “A distraction gave me entry. I did not mean any disrespect. But the matter of my child-to-be was something on which I couldn’t stand by and wait.”

“Are you aware of the crimes this pregnancy represents to the Council?”

“I’m aware of what the pregnancy means to you. But I’ve committed no crime.”

Logan’s brow furrowed and he nearly sank to the floor with her words.

“This child is the first time I’ve felt alive,” Calla continued. “The first shred of light in a life filled with darkness. I refuse to believe such light is worthy of destruction.” She glanced down and held her small stomach that had yet to show signs of her pregnancy. “This baby saved me once. And I’m willing to give myself, my soul, to save it. I will fight with every last breath for the life that’s inside of me.” She leveled her stare on the high demon. “And so, if you must kill someone for the sake of your laws, take me after the child is born.”

“
No
!” Logan sidestepped in front of her and stared up at the officials. “I am at fault in this. Not her. Punish me. Send me to Obsidius. Torture me eternally. But spare both of them. I give myself to you for her and the child.”

“Silence!” The high demon nodded toward the guards, who seated Calla back on the bench, shackling her arms. “The female has broken our laws. However, she has offered up her own soul in exchange for the child’s.”

Every bit of breath
swooshed
out of Logan. He fell to his knees and, grabbing the dagger from his holster, sliced his palm and held it up so the blood trickled down his wrist. “I forsake
my
soul, in exchange for hers and the child. As Son of Wrath, I surrender to you the brand of Pain and Vengeance to use as you wish. And I will strike my own heart before this Council.”

“Logan!” Cefirina barked beside him. “You’ve no idea what you’re doing!”

“Even the soul of a demon prince is worthless to us. You’ve tainted the value of what lies beneath your bones.”

He slid forward on his knees toward the Council’s bench, but two enforcers moved to either side of him and one grabbed his arm.

“Please. I beg of you. Take me.”

Damn the shame that left him bowing his head, arm still clutched by the enormous demon beside him.

Who gave a shit?

Goddamn, he’d rather scrape his own heart out of his chest with a spade than think about anyone harming his woman or unborn son. “
I beg you
!” His voice thundered.

“Eradis is the binding of souls. The exchange of blood and the ultimate commitment! You have dishonored and trampled hallowed territory. The price is one soul.”

“If it is blood that binds, and commitment that seals them together, then he has committed no crime,” Cefirina said from beside him. “Her blood runs through him. As does his through her. And a male pleading to take his own life for the one he loves demonstrates no greater form of commitment, wouldn’t you agree?” Cefirina leveled her gaze on the high demon.

“The exchange of blood?”

“Yes.”

The high demon nodded to a woman who stood off to the side. “Verify.”

The tall, lanky female, dressed like a court clerk from the fifties, carried forth a bowl of liquid. The steam drifted upward as she set it before Logan and pulled a package containing a scalpel from the pocket of the apron she wore. After popping it from the packaging, she gripped Logan’s wrist, and with a quick slice across, the liquid hissed as his blood fell into the bowl.

The female then approached Calla and performed the same ritual, sending her blood hissing into the bowl, though the demon female paused while holding Calla’s wrist, as though examining the scars there. After carrying the mixture over to a booth beside the Council, she set the bowl atop and from somewhere on the other side, she produced a large white strip of paper and dipped it inside the bowl.

Two distinct lines, made up of small checkers-like squares crept up the paper, accompanied by the upward drift of steam.

The patterns of both lines mirrored one another.

The woman turned toward the Council, dropping her glasses down the bridge of her nose. “She speaks the truth, my lords.”

The high demon nodded. “Thank you.”

A long pause followed before the demon lord shook his head. “I’m afraid the blood is not enough. There must also be the binding of
souls
. This is what makes a
mate
. An eternal bond that cannot be broken. This did not occur prior to the pregnancy, as our laws dictate.”

“My Lord,” Cefirina said, giving an exasperated huff, “if I am able to demonstrate that the binding of these two souls did occur before the pregnancy, do you agree to relinquish all charges against this male?”

“Impossible. You cannot demonstrate a binding of souls. It is only through the Eradis that such a thing exists.”

“And yet, I
can
. One hour. I shall show you that these two are, in fact, bonded more deeply than any who’ve stood before you. And then, will you grant them emancipation from these charges?”

“Cefirina, I’ve no idea what you have up your sleeve. But as you are a highly respected female in this court, I’ve no choice but to grant your request. Should you properly demonstrate a binding of souls, we will release the charges against Wrath’s son, Logan.” He took a long breath and nodded toward Calla. “As well as the female and child. This court will adjourn in one hour.”

* * *

The cold dark holding cell, where Logan sat awaiting his fate, spurred memories of times past.

“Then, so it shall be. A half century to be carried out immediately. May the guardians of darkness show mercy on your soul, Gavius. As for you, Logan, you’ve killed one of our own. The pain of your punishment will haunt you for eternity.” The high demon official spoke past gritted teeth. “And will bury any joy or pleasure you’ve known up until now.”

Logan sat and prayed—prayed to the gods, any god that would make this right in the end.

The Enforcer appeared before his cell, opened the door, stepped to the side, and Logan rose from the floor and exited back to the court.

Every muscle in his body felt like jelly. His bones carried a chill that left him shivering.

Everything he loved rested on hope and faith—two things that never served him well throughout his life.

He stepped inside the courtroom, immediately seeking Cefirina.

She was nowhere.

His heart pounded in his chest. All would be decided in the next moments that followed.

A hush fell over the crowd as the Council filed in. The high demon was the last to take his seat, and his eyes scanned the crowd.

The click of a door traveled Logan’s spine and allowed him to release the breath he’d been holding. He craned his head in time to see the white flow of Cefirina’s long gown pass by. She held something black in her arms.

“What is this?” The demon spoke in a stern voice.

“My Lord,” Cefirina said, holding up the object she carried, “behold the binding of two souls.”

Logan stared at it long and hard. The cat?
What the hell?

“Logan’s soul was returned to him by the work of a very sloppy Zshula.” She cleared her throat. “As you know, only a
virgin’s
blood can bring back a lost soul. This animal is the product of two souls combined under the blessings of Logan’s father, Wrath. As in the Eradis, two souls under the blessings of the prince are protected and honored. You’ve seen and confirmed that it is this woman’s blood that runs through him. Therefore, it is these two souls combined in this entity—
before
her pregnancy.”

“Bring me this cat.”

Cefirina lifted the cat up to the high demon, but it hissed and evaporated into a shadow that moved across the floor until it materialized in Logan’s lap.

The demon gasped. “Shadow Walker!”

A grin spread wide across Cefirina’s face, as she glanced back at Logan and gave a wink.

That singular gesture shed a glimmer of hope.

Behind Logan, the crowd of witnesses shifted and mumbled.

“Your mother.” The high demon double-blinked. “Had you sexual relations during your bonding?”

Acids crept up Logan’s throat. He caught a glimpse of Calla’s focused stare, as he answered, “No, sir. Our arrangement was only for her protection.”

“So, no child was born of this …
union
?” His lip curled as if in disgust. The same disgust, no doubt, that churned in Logan’s gut at the thought of such an abomination.

“No, sir. No child.”

“Punishment must still be executed. Our laws exist for a reason. Verbrizh will be carried out immediately, after which final judgment will be given.” He motioned toward the guard. “As for the female, we must decide how to handle her punishment for entering our court.”

“My lord, if it pleases you, I’m happy to accept extra lashes on her behalf,” Logan said.

A wicked smile slid across the demon’s face. “It would most certainly please me.”

Logan nodded. A small price in his eyes for what he’d faced but a moment ago.

The guard nabbed Logan’s arm and tugged him to the center of the room, where he drew a circle on the dark floor. Once he’d finished, he stepped back.

Logan removed his shirt, his boots, and stripped down to his boxer briefs. The purpose of the punishment was to humiliate more than inflict pain. Though, there’d be plenty of that, too. After all, he’d blatantly disobeyed the laws—a slap in the face to the Orcosii court.

Taking his place in the center of the circle, Logan knelt. He stole one glance at the high demon before bowing his head and bracing his hands against the heat of the floor.

For a fleeting moment, his thoughts drifted to Calla, that she’d have to witness such a thing—until the first strike of the whip licked his back.

Like scalding grease poured over an open wound, flames spread beneath his skin, and Logan screwed his eyes shut. He’d endured the same punishment during his time in Obsidius. It’d been the reason his back carried all the small scars. The whip, made of thin, fiber-optic-type threads, penetrated on contact with demon flesh and sent electrical impulses to the nerve endings that caused searing pain—the kind that paralyzed males and made them wish for death.

“Fifty,” the high demon said.

“My lord—” Cefirina’s voice sounded urgent.

“The punishment stands, Cefirina. Fifty lashes for both him and his
female
.”

Gods, Logan would be useless after that, unable to do much more than writhe on his stomach for a few days—if he survived. The most he’d ever suffered was half the number lashes, for killing a prisoner in Obsidius, and the other prisoners thought him a walking miracle for surviving.

Another lash zapped right up his spine. It rattled his bones and left a resonating ache in his head. He sucked in a sharp breath, squeezing out a muttered, “Fuck,” on the exhale before another lash landed.