Chapter 200 - Getting PAWlitical (1/2)

Jos buried her face in the wolf's soft fur. ”I can't do this. There is no way I can talk openly about our relationship to any degree...” Jos glanced around the room and to the large screen set up at the front of the courtroom. ”There are too many people here...” She whispered nervously.

Prometheus let out an exasperated sigh. ”Well, my child, I don't see that you have much option. The boy will be asked the majority of the questions anyways.” He said leaning back in his chair and tossing the file onto the table. When she still clung to the wolf nervously, he sat forward and patted her back. ”Just answer the questions as truthfully as you can, remember Themis and her daughters will know the difference.”

Jos nodded her head as some of the tension in her body began to ease. ”I... I'll try...”

Noting Jos was yet to brush off his hand, Prometheus smiled. ”That is all any of us can do, child.” He stood and nodded toward the group of council members filing in. ”I'm going to go speak with everyone else. Try to relax some.”

She nodded but didn't say anything else as the man walked away. Her eyes scanned over the room again landing on massive, familiar frame. Arei was standing at the back of the room talking with a man she'd never seen before. As if he'd felt her eyes on him, he turned toward her and smiled. Saying something else to the other man, they both began walking toward her. Jos watched as the man gave Arei a pat before taking a seat behind their box.

Arei bent and whispered into Jos's ear so that only she could hear. ”That was Father.” He nodded back to the man who winked at them when Jos turned surprised eyes toward him. ”The claim has been submitted and should be announced this afternoon or at the latest in the morning.” Arei glanced around the courtroom. ”Father is confident that one or more of the council members are working against you. He's sitting in on today's trial to see if he can figure it out... indirectly for now.”

Jos tented her brows. ”What do you mean indirectly for now?”

Arei sent her a wicked smile. ”There are ways of getting information, Kitten.”

”Oh...Oh!” Her eyes widened with realization. ”I don't think it needs to go that far.”

He shrugged, ”We'll see if you still feel the same after this hearing today.”

She frowned but before she could respond Prometheus was walking back to their box with Lamia following behind him. She watched as the two nodded to each other as they parted ways at the boxes. Lamia lifted a remote from the desk inside her box and pointed it toward the large overhead projector. Within minutes Russ's face filled the screen. He looked irritated and it was obvious he was arguing with someone else in the room with him, most likely Ry. Themis approached the front of the council box along with her two daughters on either side. Jos swallowed hard as the woman's irritated glare that had surveyed the rest of the room already, landed on her.

”Though for the life of me, I cannot see the point of this hearing today,” She lifted her hands toward the court. ”Yet here we are.” She directed her attention to Lamia. ”Lamia you will be representing Prince Russell Boosilis today, though he seems to have no complaint in matters being addressed here today.” She held her hand up cutting anything Lamia had to say off. Turning her attention to Prometheus and Jos, she continued. ”Prometheus, it seems you shall go against each councilman here before things are all said and done with this defendant, Joslyn Decker. Is there anything you would like to say?”

Prometheus stood and cleared his throat. ”I agree, there has been no crimes committed or current involvement between the parties-” His words were cut off as Lamia stood and spoke up.

”The hearing today is a matter of intent, My Goddess. It is for the courts to determine whether Joslyn Decker used her powers of seduction on the young prince and to what avail. Considering her position within his protective household, there is much to be suspected.”

Themis arched her brow at the woman. ”Then shouldn't the guardian also be present here today?” She turned her attention to Selena, who sat behind her. ”Shall you be summonsing her?”

Selena stood, a stoic expression masking her inner turmoil. ”There shall be no point. The fairy was sent away already for knowingly allowing such corruption.”

Themis nodded as Selena sat back down. ”How convenient.” She turned her attention back to Lamia. ”What does the prince have to say about these allegations?” She pointed toward the screen that showed Russ's angry but muted face. ”Obviously, he is being kept at a distance. Why, to test whether it is a form of seduction?”

Lamia nodded. ”Though after review earlier, I believe it is best I speak for the boy-”

Themis lifted her hand. ”No, I will hear the prince's own words on the matter.” She waited for several minutes, but when no one spoke or moved, she pinned Lamia with another irritated glare. ”Shall you unmute the screen, or shall we wait here all day?”

Lamia shot a nervous look at Selena as she lifted the remote and unmuted Russ.

”This is bullshit!” Russ yelled the second he was unmuted.

Lamia quickly lifted the remote and muted him again. ”As you can see, the young prince is still-”

Themis interrupted her. ”Unmute the boy. He is only expressing what half the court is feeling here today.” She turned her attention to the screen. ”Please give your account of your involvement and relationship with Ms. Joslyn Decker.”

Russ crossed his arms over his chest as he glared out over the court. ”This is ridiculous. She has been nothing but a loving, caring friend and companion to my sister and I since birth and our mother before then.” He pointed toward Jos. ”She is there as we speak clinging nervously to my sister! How the hell is that meant to cause damage to my kingdom?”

Themis rolled her eyes in irritation. ”What is your relationship and involvement with Ms. Joslyn Decker.”

”As you can see, not a damn thing at the moment.” He sputtered in aggravation.