“I’m sure. Just don’t react when it happens.”
Giving a tiny nod, Fionn looked down at Dylon’s hand on his thigh again, grounding him in this maelstrom he’d found himself in; he swore to himself it was going to be the last time. Looking up as Penn sat down, Fionn realized what was coming next was going to be the hard part—listening to the bullshit his uncle’s lawyer was sure to spew.
“Mr. Walker, do you have any questions for Mr. Mallison?
“No, Your Honor.”
Nodding the judge said, “Thank you Mr. Mallison.” After the bailiff disconnected the video link, the judge said, “Mr. Anderson, you may call your next witness.”
“My witness is running late but will be here shortly. In order to prevent any delays, I would agree to Mr. Walker going ahead with his witnesses.”
Nodding, the judge said, “Mr. Walker, please call your first witness.”
Fionn’s eyes nearly popped when he heard Walker call his uncle to the stand.What the fuck?He scrawled a note to Penn, then scowled when he read the response telling Fionn not to worry.Right, it’s not his life on the line.Turning his attention back to Walker and his uncle, Fionn waited, anxious once more.
“Please state your full name,”
“Eideard MacDùghlas,” Fionn’s uncle answered.
“What relationship are you to Fionn MacDùghlas?” asked Walker.
“I’m his uncle. His father was my brother.”
“How close were you to your brother?”
“Very close. Artur was my best friend and I miss him terribly.”
“So, you were privy to the efforts of your brother and his wife in trying to have a child,” Walker asked.
“Yes…it was so sad. Every child they had died before the age of one. My brother was beside himself with grief,” Fionn’s uncle replied.
“I imagine when Fionn was born, your brother’s hope rose again.”
“Absolutely!”
“A boy to carry on the family name,” Walker stated. “Then what happened?”
“As it had happened before, the child died within a few months of his birth.”
Fury burned through Fionn’s veins as his uncle sat there lying under oath. Clenching his jaw, Fionn’s leg began tobounce and his claws extended, cutting into his palms as his hands fisted; he was hanging on by only the merest of threads. Then he heard Cody whisper in his ear as Dylon’s hand found its way to his thigh again, “Relax, Fionn. Your uncle is trying to force you to shift and reveal your white dragon. Don’t let that motherfucker win. His lies will be useful to you as we move along…just let him finish.”
Jerking his head around, Fionn saw no one. He glanced at Dylon who raised his eyebrows several times in quick succession and grinned. Smiling back, Fionn uncurled his hands, retracting his claws as his fury faded. Then, turning his eyes back to the witness stand, he saw the disappointment written on his uncle’s face.
Walker continued. “After the child died, what did your brother do?”
“He decided to name my son as his heir.”
“Why didn’t he and his wife continue to try to have a healthy child?” Walker asked.
“His wife, my sister-in-law, was told it was too dangerous for her to become pregnant again.”
“But she did, didn’t she?” asked Walker.
“Yes, several years later. It was a complete surprise to my brother.”
“Did she give birth?” Walker asked.
“Yes, another boy.”
