Chapter 12 Dominic The file was taunting me , sitting there . Tempting me to know what exactly the fiery young woman I should never have kissed had come up with . Her words had played over and over in my head for the past week . I tried to come up with something to say to her , something that would undermine everything she'd said , but I hadn't seen Renee since that day outside my office building . She hadn't left my mind for even a moment . And she was fucking right . I knew what Philip was like , and even if I hadn't before the Ceremony , he certainly showed his true colors now . Even if Renee and Tyler wanted to get married , I wouldn't grant my blessing on the union a second time . Tyler had shown a dark, ugly side of himself that I would never humor allowing to take possession of Rence . She deserved better . She deserved … a snow - capped wedding and a long , pure white fur cloak . She deserved winter blossoms coming alive across the Brightclaw Estate as the moon rose over head , words of devotion , love , and the Goddess to reach down and bless her union . I could see it , too powerfully , too brightly , as if I was standing at the altar on the Brightclaw Estate grounds the way I had so many years ago , but more real , more tangibly , until I could feel the moonlight singing in my bones the way it had when we'd kissed in that parlor . I growled at myself , scrubbing a hand over my face to erase the phantom of her lips against mine . Stupid . It was stupid . She was young enough to be my daughter . My daughter's best friend . Naive , too passionate to use good sense or patience , and …. utterly captivating . Delicious , too . The kiss still lingered - an irritation , a temptation , a mistake I couldn't bring myself to regret because she had tasted like the first sip of the finest wine after a long time without even a drop of water . Kissing her had awakened something in me I had long since thought dead . I tore my gaze from my reverie to look down at the file again . It was thicker than it should have been for a simple case thrown together in a week . Rence was a smart , resourceful young woman , but even the best lawyers tended to need two or three days to pull so much together . My assistant at the Judicial Panel office had delivered it all of a few minutes ago , but I knew the moment I saw it in her arms that it had been Renee's case . I didn't have to open it to know . I knew the Panel's coding system well enough to read it at a glance . Frostborne , Minor . Abuse . Alpha involvement . At first , I had been stunned , but now , I was just wary . I reached out to pull it closer , debating . I could excuse myself from the case , recuse myself from making a judgment on something that tangled me up in ways I didn't want to acknowledge . But that would require a reason . A good one . And being attracted to her ? Not exactly the kind of thing I could put into an official record . Besides , if Renee was as smart as I knew she was , she would eventually call upon me as a witness , and as a member of the Panel I would have to testify . I exhaled sharply , pushing back from my desk . What had that woman done to me with just a kiss ? Personal feelings had no place in the Court . I had sworn an oath to uphold the law , to not turn away from injustice or acts that undermined the order of the country . Philip's actions at the Ceremony had done just that , yet I was still hesitant to get involved . Hesitant to be party to her getting emancipated . She would be considered an adult in every sense of the word more so that she already was now . She wouldn't need anyone's consent to get married … and that snow - capped wedding seemed all the more real and intimate in my mind's eye . I hissed , shoving the thought away and standing . I snatched the file from the desk and headed toward the Court's hall , glancing over the summary sheet . I couldn't trust myself to read the rest of her case , not yet , and the walk always helped ground me in the weight of my position . With every step , I felt my mind pushing personal thoughts of Renee further to the back of my mind , but they were never quite gone . Today was the day . The car rolled down the street . The road was a bit rough , and each bump sent a jolt to my already frayed nerves . I was irritated , scratching at the walls to get this done as the next semester loomed closer . " Remember , Renee , composure . That's your most powerful weapon today . The Interpack Judicial Panel is …. traditional . " I huffed , knowing what he really mean . " They'll be looking for any sign of weakness , any hint of the hysterical female ' they so readily expect . They'll toss out your case at the first opportunity because of it ." I clenched my jaw , trying to suppress the rising tide of anger . I knew that . It was why my mother had a male lawyer represent her , as ridiculous as it was . " They're going to hear me . " They had to . " I can keep calm . " 1/2 Chapter 12 " I know you can , but they will push you , " he assured me , his voice firm but gentle . " Philip will push you . You must present yourself as the picture of reason . You must make Philip look childish by comparison . The case is strong , but prejudice has a way of being stronger . " I scoffed . " That's … not exactly my strong suit . " A flicker of a smile touched his lips . " It wasn't your mother's either , " he said softly , his gaze drifting out the window . " But she learned . And so will you . The carriage slowed , the imposing stone facade of the courthouse looming before us . My stomach twisted into knots . This wasn't just about me anymore . It was about every woman who had been dismissed , ignored , and betrayed by the very people meant to protect them . I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the battle ahead . I would not let them see me break . I would not let them dismiss me . I would make them listen . My stomach was nervous , but I stepped out of the car , my jaw tight , my hands clenched into fists at my sides . The courthouse loomed ahead , and with every step closer , I felt the weight of everything this case would mean for me press harder against my chest . I walked down the corridor , a few steps ahead of my companion , toward the Court's Hall . Philip was already in the hallway , huffing mad . He glared at me as I approached . I didn't look at him . I tried to open the door and he slammed his hand on in it . I didn't flinch . I didn't acknowledge him . I didn't need to - I could feel his anger radiating like a heatwave , thick with resentment and the desire to control me . I wondered for a moment if he was ever like this with my mother and what she tended to do about it . You're still trying to make a fool of me , " Philip hissed , his voice a low growl . " Parading around with some man like you have no shame . " I scoffed, barely able to summon the energy to be surprised . Of course , he thought this was about a man . He couldn't fathom that my world didn't revolve around one . Good . I needed him riled up . I'd apologize later . He sneered at me , " Wearing cheap clothes that look like they spent the night on the floor … What game do you think you're going to win looking like a whore ? " The man beside me cleared his throat but said nothing . It was a warning not to engage with Philip . I was grateful , because a whole speech was beating at my teeth . I wouldn't be borrowing my friend's suit if all of my things weren't at the Frostborne packhouse . And the suit wasn't wrinkled , it was just cheaper than any of my clothing . I said nothing . I didn't need to . The guards who were outside heard it all , and they would be oath bound to testify about this little exchange honestly if they were called . I glanced up , catching sight of the surveillance camera recording everything and forced myself not to smile . I turned to Philip , keeping my expression as neutral as possible . " If you could move out of the way ? I'd hate to keep the Panel waiting . " He flushed and flung the door open , sending it flying and slamming into the wall behind it . The sound , shook the air . Philip's eyes darkened , his lips pressing into a thin line . " You'll regret this , Renee . " Then , he stomped inside the courtroom ahead of me , and I took solace in knowing that he was the only one who was going to walk away today with any regrets . 2/2