The chamber falls silent, the shock of my words suspended in the air. I stare at the leaders, registering every flicker of surprise and disbelief on their faces. But they quickly mask it, giving me no further insight into their thoughts.
I recount the events as clearly as I can, describing the threats we encountered, the choreography of the fight, and the deaths that were a result, both my father’s and the mercenaries he hired. The leaders listen intently, their expressions neutral.
Ames tilts his head, his piercing blue eyes fixed on me. “Xavier Donovan, you’re admitting to killing your father, Edward Donovan. You understand the gravity of this confession, correct?”
“I take full responsibility for his death,” I say.
When I finish speaking, Benjamin steps forward to corroborate my story, adding his perspective and details I might have missed. Except the ones concerning Delilah.
Benjamin and Declan are longer my brothers-at-arms, they are my brothers for protecting my little raptor.
Daniel Kent nods slowly, absorbing everything we’ve said. He exchanges glances with the other leaders, a silent conversation passing between them.
“Your accounts are consistent,” he finally says. “The situation was dire, and it appears you acted in self-defense. Regardless, the death of a council member is a serious matter.”
Leonard Gage rises from his chair, his ever-present scowl in place “Given the extraordinary circumstances and the testimonies provided, we will deliberate on the appropriate course of action.”
We’re escorted out of the chamber and into a waiting room, the heavy doors closing behind us. I turn to Benjamin.
“Thank you.”
I can’t say more than that, but it’s enough. He nods at me, the situation too precarious for us to speak further. All I can do is wait and stare at my watch obsessively, monitoring Delilah’s heart.
Time drags on, and we sit in silence, each lost in our own thoughts. We’ve faced death and betrayal, and now we face judgment. The Order will not let this go unpunished.
After an hour, the doors open, and Daniel Kent reappears. “The council has reached a decision.”
We rise and follow him back into the chamber. I fist my hands at my sides, fighting the urge to get the fuck out of here and race back to Delilah. But I know a life on the run isn’t ideal. Whether it takes months or years, the Order will find us.
“Xavier Donovan and Benjamin McKenzie,” Leonard Gage begins, “the council has considered your testimonies and the circumstances surrounding Edward Donovan’s death. We recognize the exceptional nature of the situation and the motivation behind the actions taken. Therefore, we have decided that no punitive action will be taken against the McKenzie heir. Instead, he will continue to serve the Order, with renewed vigilance and commitment to its principles.”
Gage smiles. “But you, Xavier Donovan, will be punished. Instead of inheriting control over your father’s empire, that duty and privilege will go to your first cousin Liam Donovan.”
I nod, prepared for this type of outcome. The Order couldn’t allow me to rule my father’s empire after I killed him, or it’d encourage other crows to murder their leaders. That would be a gateway to chaos and dissension among the families. By stripping me of my power, I’ll be a cautionary tale within the society.
But outside the society, I’ll be Delilah’s.
Gage leans against the table, the movement drawing my attention back to the present. “However,” he says, his voicecarrying a note of finality, “there is a condition to this. The council has decided that you, Xavier Donovan, can inherit your family’s empire if, and only if, you marry and produce a male heir to continue the Donovan line. The future Mrs. Donovan has to be approved by the Order beforehand.”
The gravity of his words sinks in. This isn’t just about control of an empire; it’s about securing the future of the Donovan legacy and keeping me from Delilah. It’s a compromise, a way for the council to ensure continuity while testing my commitment.
Kent rises, his expression serious. “You have five years to meet these conditions, crow. If you fail, the empire will pass to Liam permanently.”
I nod slowly, my mind spinning with the implications. Delilah’s face flashes in my mind, causing a warmth to spread in my chest. What the Order doesn’t understand is that I’d give up everything for her.
My empire.
My wealth.
My life.
Without Delilah, I am nothing.
“I understand,” I say. “And I accept the council’s decision.”
Chapter 55
DELILAH
