Page 69 of Speak No Claim

“Yet you continued this affair.”

“Affair?” I chuckled. “I haven’t fucked her.”

“You’re out of line!” one of them shouted. “You will show this council the respect that is owed!”

My eyes lifted toward the voice. “Then perhaps you need to learn the definition of affair. I’m just spitting facts. I haven’t fucked her.”

Another second of silence before the same voice called out, “You kissed her.”

“Yes, that I did.”

“You were warned not to.”

“Yes.”

“And you did it anyway?”

I crossed my arms over my chest, bored already. “Yes.” I grinned. “And before you ask, it’s because I wanted to, so I did.”

The utter silence was deafening. I could hear it deep down into my bones.

“You chose to disobey an order from a council member, is that correct?”

I cocked my head to the side. “Yes, we just established that.”

“You find this amusing?”

I shook my head. “No. Again, I’m just laying out the facts like any good member of the Brotherhood would.”

“You seem to forget who you’re speaking to. The council does not tolerate defiance. You’re forgetting your blood oath to your Brotherhood.”

“No, I remember every word of it perfectly.”

“Then how about you remind us what you swore?”

I sighed. “Speak No Claim, Hear No Promises, See No Temptation.”

“But you’ve managed to forget all three for one girl, correct?”

“I didn’t forget. I made a choice.”

“A choice that goes against what you swore, and you show no remorse.”

“No,” I agreed. “I don’t have any regret for what I did.”

“You stand before the council and admit that?”

“You asked me a question. I answered it.”

“Will you do it again? Kiss her?”

I shrugged. “If I want to.”

“And what gives you the right to disregard what you’re ordered?”

“I kissed a girl. It’s not that deep.”

“You were forbidden to.”