Time was not on our side, and the first thing I did was call Julie in the HR department of MegaManhattan Magazine to push my scheduled visit to Friday, citing a family emergency, which was completely true. I was planning to attend a hearing implicating my father in two murders, but I didn't tell her that.

I packed for our trip in record time, and we made our six o'clock flight with ten minutes to spare, arriving in Verona after a long, grueling journey. Upon touchdown, I called the delivery company in charge of my wedding dress and made sure it was on its way from Milan to Verona. Vincent and I were chauffeured to Adamo Ricci's home and given the lover's suite again. Terrance informed us, with a slightly upturned nose, that the high magister would not see us until we left for the hearing.

"What is that guy's deal?" I asked Vincent as we relaxed on the heavily-embellished four poster bed. "He acts like we're pond scum. Or is it just me he hates?"

"It's not just you," Vincent said as he arranged his hands behind his head. "Terrance is very protective of Adamo."

"You mean he has the hots for Adamo? That much is obvious, but why take it out on us? We're no threat to him."

"We're a distraction and he's a petty man." Vincent closed his eyes, preparing for a nap, so I did the same next to him, arranging my foot so it touched his. "You don't have to stop talking," he said.

"Okay." I tried to relax. I really did. The flight had been long and complicated, and my body felt exhausted despite all the sitting and waiting, but my mind would not stop running scenarios by me for analysis. "So, tomorrow Boris gives up his magister crown to Caleb," I said. "And since he and his son will be here for that, Boris invited himself onto the jury for today's hearing. What's with that?"

"It's a gross perversion of the judicial process," Vincent offered calmly, his eyes still closed. "At least we won't have to deal with Boris staying here. He's bunking at a hotel with another jury member, Stanhope. An annoying little turd."

Being a gollum, I figured there was nothing little about Stanhope, but I left Vincent's comment alone, and after a few minutes, he opened his eyes and caught me in their cool, hypnotic depths.

"Reese, I need to tell you something. I didn't want you to stress about it on the trip over, but now that we're here, you need to know."

"Oh, crap. What is it?"

"Deidra will be joining Marco at the hearing. He's bringing her in as his character witness. She also wanted to submit her petition to mate with me in person."

Ugh.

I threw my arm over my forehead and sighed up at the billowy canopy over our heads. "You're right. I would have stressed about it on the trip over. And I suppose they'll both be staying with Magister Ricci tonight?"

"That, I don't know." Vincent's phone chimed with a text, and he scowled as he read the message. "Apparently, our surprise witness ended up on the same flight with Marco and Deidra. Joseph just informed me that he's worried his journey to the hearing will be sabotaged."

Vincent typed in a return message as I read over his shoulder.

Take public transport if you're worried. Just get yourself to the hearing on time.

When the time of our hearing approached, the snooty houseman arrived at our door and led us into a hallway to await Magister Ricci. Abandoned next to a curio cabinet filled with antiquities, Vincent and I were drawn by the light of a yellow bulb to study the curious collection inside. Various relics had been precisely arranged on faded velvet fabric, and we spent a few minutes inspecting the pieces.

"Here's the other lapel pin," Vincent said soberly as he pointed to a replica of the pin currently sitting inside his pocket. "I wonder which magister wore it?"

"Here comes Magister Ricci," I said as I tugged on Vincent's coat sleeve. "Maybe we can ask him."

Vincent straightened to address the grand gollum, who swept purposefully down the hall in his white courtly attire.

"Adamo, it's a pleasure to see you again," Vincent said, extending his hand.

Adamo received Vincent's hand while locking him in a quizzical gaze. "If you had come strictly for Caleb's welcoming party, I would have no trouble believing this was a pleasure for you, but I would not count a hearing of such seriousness to be pleasurable."

"Party?" Vincent said as he returned Adamo's curious look. "I thought Boris had requested there be no celebration. He didn't even want family here to witness..."

Adamo waved his hand as if Boris' request was ridiculous. "There is always a celebration, and Boris is free to exclude himself if he chooses. We are holding it here, tonight."

"But the magister ceremony is scheduled for tomorrow," Vincent said.

"Oh, Vincent. It is perfectly acceptable to eat dessert before dinner."

Adamo smiled and Vincent nodded politely, although he appeared taken aback by the sudden addition to our itinerary. Adamo then turned his eagle-eyed gaze on me. "You are looking well, Reese. I hear you made a valiant attempt to defend your mating rights against Deidra Bourdain. I understand she is a tough one to beat."

"I'm not sure what your definition of valiant is, but I definitely helped earn money for a few bystanders. May I ask you a question about the lapel pin in this cabinet?" I said, pointing to the pin in question. "Who did it belong to before it became a piece in this display?"

Adamo leaned toward the glass, squinting his eyes and smacking his lips as he studied it. "That is a pin from a gollum order which was dismantled many years ago, but I have no idea who the owner was. All the pins were disposed of except this one... and one other." He straightened his back and captured Vincent in a soft gaze. "Has your father's pin ever turned up?"

"No. It has not."

"Ah, well. The memories we keep inside our heads are worth more than trinkets," he said, patting Vincent's shoulder in a friendly gesture. "Shall we be on our way? We are getting our first snowfall, and I suspect the roads will turn treacherous soon."

~ ~ ~

I had hoped never to see the inside of a gollum courtroom again, but here I was, facing a new set of magisters, including Boris Seacrest. Not a month ago, Vincent and I battled the pompous gollum in this very room. Now, he was sitting in a position of power, eager to exploit his magister title while he still had it. Favoritism appeared to run rampant through the council. I needed to stay alert and be prepared for anything. Advice Vincent gave me on our last visit to Verona.

Joseph arrived just after us, looking paler than a ghost and probably wishing he could vanish into the ether to escape his unfortunate fate. Still, the magisters greeted him warmly, offering him cafe, which he declined with a nervous wave. He didn't appear to need the caffeine. I recognized George from San Francisco among the friendly greeters, and he exchanged a chin jut with Vincent. Did Vincent have something to do with George returning to support our cause? Had favoritism played a hand in that as well?

Adamo made his entrance with self-induced pageantry, and his fellow magisters hurried to join him at the main table. Marco and Deidra were already seated there, and Marco stood to greet the high magister. Their exchange appeared cordial, although Marco's eyes were stuck in a perpetual squint, like his underwear fit him too tight. No doubt, his ass was already in a sling about the paternity thing.

My father appeared to know everyone in attendance, and the comradery he shared with the bulk of the room came across loud and clear. We were the accusers, the outsiders, and I watched Joseph's face blanch further as he looked on. I wanted to tell Joseph everything would work out. That his testimony would bring credibility to our allegations without jeopardizing his family's safety. Of course, I couldn't promise any of those things. We were flying into a storm on a wing and a prayer.

"Buon pomeriggio. Welcome everyone," Adamo said as he swooshed his robed arm toward the table. "Please, take your seats, and we will try to make this as painless as possible."

Vincent pulled a chair out for me, putting me across the table from George. I didn't know if the placement was intentional or a lucky break, but it was nice to have a kind face smiling at me. Two seats down from me, Marco and his evil niece looked like they wanted to slice me up and cremate my remains.

"Today we will hear the testimony of Vincent Valentino and Reese Kentwell," Adamo said as everyone settled in. "They have asked Joseph Tavares to join them as a character witness regarding allegations that the defendant, Marco Bourdain, has withheld information about his paternity and is, in fact, the rightful birth father of Reese Kentwell."

There were no gasps of shock at Adamo's announcement. Clearly, the magisters had been briefed.

"In addition, and more seriously, the allegation that Marco Bourdain is guilty of two counts of murder. One for Reese's birth mother, Gabrielle, and the other for Roberto Valentino, then magister of the Valentino domus. Vincent, you have the floor."

My own breathing punctuated the silence that followed, and I held my breath when I realized Adamo's gaze had flicked to me. Vincent stood and tugged on the lapel of his black suit jacket. His formidable frame could rival any of the magisters gathered around the table, although that might have been my biased opinion. Boris and Marco were pretty big guys, and I was starting to understand why Joseph had been afraid to share Marco's secrets. He struck me as the runt of the litter.

"I would like to address Reese's parentage first, since it is the lesser of the offenses," Vincent began. "In fact, I bring it up only because it adds to the transgressions Marco has perpetrated under the council's nose, placing responsibility on another to escape retaliation."

"And what proof do you have that Marco is Reese's true birth father?" Boris asked, his mustached-face pinched in judgment.

"A paternity test can be conducted easily at the council's request, but the ruse has been facilitated by several members of the gollum community who are willing to come forward and admit their involvement. Joseph Tavares is one of them."

Vincent came to stand behind Joseph, gripping the back of his chair firmly, as if offering his support. "Joseph was asked to carry the weight of Marco's paternity, protecting Marco from facing backlash from his mate and her domus, who we all know have zero tolerance for infidelity." Vincent looked pointedly at Marco as he continued his speech. "During a recent visit to the Valentino domus, Marco admitted his true paternity to Reese and then proceeded to condemn the Valentinos for not telling him about her when she was discovered in New York. I have now come to understand more about his true interest in Reese. He would rather she not exist, like her mother."

Marco held the poise of a man who was used to lying, giving nothing away through his penetrating hazel eyes, but he also said nothing, which spoke volumes as to his guilt.

"And you also assert, Vincent, that Marco is responsible for the death of Reese's mother," Adamo said. "Stating your recent conversation with a rogue demon named Titan as your impetus for that accusation."

A hushed grumble circulated among those gathered, but Vincent appeared unfazed by it. "That is correct, after which I contacted Joseph, who recounted what happened the evening of Gabrielle's death. His story matched Titan's."

"Are we taking the word of demons now?" Boris said, raising his bushy eyebrows at the other jurors.

"And a gollum's," George countered. "If we are looking for honest answers, I would take Joseph's word over any."

"Of course, you would," Boris shot back. "You and he are bound through his mate."

"Our friendship began long before he was mated to Corinne. We served together for four years."

"Yes, your service to your countrymen is commendable, George," Adamo said, taking over the reins. "Joseph would have been welcome on the council had he not been born after his brother, but let us return to the facts. Joseph, were you present for the death of the hybrid, Gabrielle?"

Joseph jolted in his seat, as if he was surprised to be dragged into the conversation. "No, I arrived on the scene when Titan was digging her grave. He told me she died at the hands of Marco Bourdain. Titan witnessed Marco slashing her wings with an adamantium blade, causing her to fall from a great height. Neither Roberto or Titan could get to her in time to save her."

"I see," Adamo said blandly. "Can you offer us anything more?"

Taking in a shaky breath, Joseph kept his gaze as far away from Marco as possible to continue his narration. "Titan said he followed Marco and Roberto to the abandoned factory where Roberto's body was later found. He watched the two gollums battle until Roberto was rendered unconscious, then he saw Marco set the building on fire. Titan remained hidden while Marco watched the body burn until it was unrecognizable. Then he left the site when the authorities arrived, returning to Gabrielle's body to bury her."

"I hope you're not falling for this bullshit," Marco said with a snort, addressing the jury without a hint of concern in his stony expression. "Joseph has been living with delusions ever since that tragic night. We all have."

Adamo responded to Marco's protest with an acknowledging nod. "Agreed. So, why has Joseph decided to come forth now? You are among friends here, Joseph, despite these pretenses we put on. Tell us... have you been coerced?"

While Adamo's gaze never left Joseph, almost every other face turned to stare at Vincent. Fucking hypocrites.

"Yes," Joseph said as he bit down on his lip. "But not for the reasons you think, or by the gollum you are quietly accusing. Marco has coerced me to do his bidding for the past twenty-five years. Ever since Elise was born and I was named the father. I took the fall for him, which put great stress on me and my mate, and I was willing to take his secret to my grave... until Gabrielle and Roberto's death."

Joseph finally glanced at Marco as he bravely pressed on. "A few months after the tragedy, Marco and I were spending the weekend at my lake house. I got angry with him and used my accusation as leverage. I told him I didn't want to be his patsy anymore and threatened to reveal the truth about his paternity if he didn't come clean. Our discussion came to blows, and he admitted to the murders when I pinned him between my pick-up truck and a tree. Even then, when I could have easily silenced him, he ranted like lunatic, promising to have every one of my family members taken out if I breathed one word of it. What could I do? I am not a monster. I let him live."

Before the magisters could react to Joseph's confession, Marco put in his bid. "Well, you have accomplished one thing, Joseph. You have destroyed my family just on the basis of my paternity. So, why sully your victory by spewing those other lies? Lies you cannot hope to prove."

"Actually, Marco, that is where you're wrong," Vincent interrupted as he walked casually behind Marco's chair, pulling the lapel pin from his pants pocket and setting the gold piece on the table. "I expect you recognize this object."