A short-lived murmur swept the crowd before Callum got what he commanded.
His eyes moved back to Titium and he began.
“You are charged with treason, warrior. As your men stood with you when you challenged me, they face the same charge. You carried through this challenge and, in so doing, you injured your queen. I will remind you this was witnessed by a prince, a duke, the dowager queen and many of my personal Guard. I will now listen to how you plea as well as the pleas of your wolves.”
“I speak for myself and my wolves, your grace,” Titium replied, his voice ringing loud and strong and Callum again was reminded of how loathsome this duty was. Titium was a bad father but he was an excellent warrior, loyal to Mac, loyal to all wolves, strong, brave, confident and, until recently, noble.
“And how do you plea?” Callum prompted, feeling Sonia tense against him even as he tensed himself.
“We plead guilty, your grace,” Titium called, chin up, bearing proud in the face of the dire consequences that he knew would happen not only to him but to his men after giving this plea.
Another murmur swept through the crowd before Callum’s eyes sliced through it and it silenced.
He looked again to Titium and opened his mouth, his gut twisting, his chest burning.
Then he shut his mouth.
His eyes moved through the wolves on their knee behind Titium. He recognized only one. He was a wolf who had fought at his side though Callum couldn’t recall his name. He was young. He needed training with his teeth but he made up for it being excellent with his claws. Callum didn’t remember his name but he remembered he had not found his mate, not back then, sixty years ago. He had not, thus, started a family and if he had since, his children would still be mostly pups, his life with his mate barely beginning.
After the verdict, he would have no chance to be father to his children, if he had them, and his mate was right then in the stadium, facing Callum’s future.
His gut twisted sharper, the burn in his chest searing through him, he drew in breath, looked back at Titium and Sonia’s words rung in his head.
What it was, was your way because you are king.
Yes, and I believe that it was also once the way of my people to treat diseases by using leeches but they found another way that works a whole lot better so now they’re doing that.
Leaders who are trailblazers, who lead their people to better horizons, who do that with strength, wisdom and compassion are revered.
Callum stared at the wolves in front of him.
What it was, was your way because you are king.
You are king.
He was king.
“Rise, Titium,” Callum commanded, watched Titium’s body jerk in surprise and ignored the stunned murmur that swept through the crowd.
Titium took his feet but did so not taking his eyes off Callum.
“Your love for your daughter is honorable, your loyalty to her is as well and your wolves’ loyalty to you is the same,” Callum announced, ignoring Calder muttering, “Fucking hell,” at his side.
“That said,” Callum continued, “all of it was misguided, you acted on it and the result could have been disastrous.”
Titium’s eyes shifted to Sonia, remorse filled his features and he lowered his head.
A proud warrior stood in front of his king and queen, filled with remorse, swiftly taking responsibility for his actions, admitting his guilt, speaking for his wolves, bowing his head in defeat, awaiting judgment.
You are king.
Callum kept speaking and Titium looked back at him.
“However, my queen has grave concerns for you, your wolves and even your daughter, regardless of your actions and what pain they caused her.” He watched Titium’s lips part in shock as he felt Sonia turn rock-solid in his lap but he went on, “She has had my ear on this subject and she wishes for me to show mercy. I find this difficult; your claws drew my mate’s blood. But if she can forgive you for the damage you inflicted on her, then I can show mercy for your actions which were, indeed, treasonous but, I believe, if we had time for cooler heads to prevail, it would have had a different outcome.”
Titium blinked up at him as his wolves behind him swung their heads back and forth, glancing at each other and the murmur of the crowd swelled before it silenced when Callum kept speaking.
“Therefore, I strip you of your Governorship of Europe and your command of the European Armies. I sentence you to attend your sequestered daughter until she has been brought to her right mind. If that should occur, which is doubtful, you will stay at her side when she is released from sequester and while she quests for her mate. Only after her Mating will you be free to resume your life but you will not ever, while I rule, hold office or command men. Your wolves will not be eligible to hold office or assume a command for one hundred years. They will, prior to returning home, denounce fealty to you and announce it to me. You, Titium, will personally pay a fine of one million dollars to Canis which will be submitted to our war chest. Your wolves will each pay a fine of fifty thousand dollars for the same purpose.”