Page 58 of Guardian

“Not another word!” Barclay thundered. “How dare you act against the council’s vote? Do you have any idea what you’ve done by refusing an order? Not just refusing it, but doing the exact opposite?”

Barclay didn’t have to spell out the crime Logan had committed. Everybody in the room knew what it was.

“She deserves to live! She can help us. She’s drawn plans of the Underworld. Plans of a tunnel system.”

Barclay scoffed. “And what use would that be to us? We can’t enter the Underworld, so a map won’t do us any good.” He sighed. “We chose you, Logan, because we thought we could trust you with this. We’re aware that eliminating a person isn’t an easy thing to do. But you’ve done it before. This is not your first execution order. A mere twenty years ago, you killed a psychic in Detroit without flinching. Why can’t you do the same now? Nothing’s changed. This one is just as much of a danger as the one in Detroit was.”

Logan shook his head, remembering the older woman he’d killed back then. “That case was different. That psychic had already given into the demons. It was only a matter of days until she gave them something they could use to destroy us.” He’d had no choice but to kill her to save humankind. But now he had a choice. The choice to save Winter and help her on the right path, while protecting her from the reach of the demons.

“You, Logan?” Cinead shook his head. “I’d never have thought you could be swayed by a pretty face. You of all people. What happened to you? You’ve never questioned an order before.”

“Then maybe it was time I did.” Logan tipped his chin up. “Give this woman a chance. She deserves it.”

Several council members shook their heads. Murmurs rumbled through their ranks.

Barclay lifted his hand to demand silence. “The council voted. The guards will take you to a lead cell where you will await your trial for treason. We’ll find where you’re hiding Winter Collins.”

“You can’t do that!” Logan yelled. He looked at the council members. “Are you all just gonna stand there and allow an innocent to be killed? Are you?”

He caught Virginia’s look. There was regret in her eyes. And pain. He knew in that moment how she’d voted. Like Logan, she wanted Winter to live. She was on his side, but five other members weren’t. They were the ones he had to convince, and it was certain that Barclay and Cinead were two of them.

“Cinead, please! Have mercy on her,” Logan begged.

But the doors were thrown open in that instant, and several guards rushed in.

“Take him to the lead cell!” Barclay ordered.

Two guards grabbed him by the arms, one on each side. Logan tried to shake them off, but it was no use. He’d lost this round. He had to find another way.