The hushed murmurs in the room explode into full-blown discussions, some of them heated. Justice Garcia stands, shouting for everyone to be quiet. Max, Luc and Nik jump to their feet but stay where they are. Max’s face is especially grim, but he forces a smile for me.
When the furore settles, Garcia takes her seat and turns to me.
“Now, 864. You have mentioned your pregnancy, and you were clearly heavily pregnant in the recordings you illegally released. Where are your children now?”
They don’t know about the twins. Why hasn’t Stone told them?
My body tenses, my voice cold. “Not here.”
Now Miller joins in, her painted lips twisting into a smirk. “Your children are the property of the government, 864.”
My pack erupt into snarls, and Miller’s face loses a touch of her smugness as she glances at them. “Settle down, or I will have you removed,” she hisses.
I stand. “My children are not property. And you willneverget your hands on them.”
Garcia hisses. “Insolence. This is a clear breach of the law.”
“The law is inhuman,” I shout, my body shaking. “It is evil. And if the evidence you have heard isn’t enough, then there is nothing that I can say to change your mind.”
Evans stands, gesturing for quiet.
“I believe Ms. Grey is right,” he says softly. “We have heard enough to make a decision. I don’t believe there is anything more to be gained by forcing her to relive any more of her experiences. Does anyone disagree?”
The Justices shake their head. I remain on my feet, my eyes finding Luc. He nods at my silent plea.
I’m ready to leave now.
Garcia holds up her hand. “Wait. There is something to consider. 864 was offered an amnesty by Senator Denver. Senator Denver does not have the legal authority to offer this, and so the amnesty does not stand.”
She smiles at me smugly. “864 should be taken into custody until the vote is concluded.”
Panic fills me, my body vibrating with terror as a whine slips out.No.
Denver steps forward, her face outraged. “This was discussed and agreed with Justices Johnson and Evans before being offered. No law has been broken!”
“The full Supreme Court must agree,” Miller shoots back smugly. “And we did not.”
Evans turns to her with a frown. “Justice Miller, we have not upheld that law in the past.”
“Then we should have,” Garcia says crisply. “Regardless, we are within our rights to take the omega into custody.”
“Like fuck you will!” Luc snarls. Max and Nik are right behind him as they jump over the wooden benches, moving to my side. Luc’s lips curl back as he growls at Senator Garcia, who pales. “Nobody is taking her anywhere. We came today in good faith.”
Max’s hand entwines with mine, and I grasp it gratefully.
“Max,” I whisper shakily, and he squeezes my hand. “You’re not going with them,” he promises. “I swear it, love.”
Justice Johnston stands. “Everybody needs to calm down. Garcia, Miller, this is not a reasonable course of action.”
“I disagree.” Garcia’s face is cold. “We stand in danger of our laws being seen as optional. Regardless of discussions here today, the law is the law. This omega cannot be seen to flout the authority of the government as though our laws can be followed by choice. We risk anarchy if we allow this ridiculous behavior to continue.”
“And we risk anarchy if we do not.” Imler’s voice is low, and even Garcia pauses. “You are being watched, Maria. Tread carefully.”
Garcia swallows as her gaze follows Imler’s to the cameras streaming our discussion to the crowds outside, realization flickering in her eyes.
“The law is harsh,” she protests, “but it is the law.”
Her voice is a little weaker now, and even Miller doesn’t speak up. Imler looks around, his eyes settling on my face.
