Sunset: Pact Arcanum: Book One Read Online Free

directed trial order of summary execution. Do you have anything to say in your defense before sentence is passed?”
    Nick folded his arms and stood his ground. “I claim justification under article three of the Rules of Engagement.”
    Scott scowled at him. “Acting in protection of life only applies to self-defense when your life is actually in danger. There is no weapon in this room sufficiently powerful to kill you, with the exception of the nuclear device itself, and you had ample opportunity to escape before detonation.”
    “Not my life,” said Nick. He pointed at Jeremy, who watched with fascination. “I was protecting his.”
    Scott glanced at Jeremy. “Article three doesn’t apply to defending humans.”
    “He’s not human.”
    Jeremy’s jaw dropped. “What?”
    “I think he’s one of us. More specifically, I think he’s one of you,” Nick said.
    Scott turned to Jeremy and scrutinized him. “I see no evidence of the Gift.”
    “You’re looking in the wrong place.” Nick shook his head. “I believe his Gift has been silenced in favor of an alternate configuration.”
    Scott’s eyebrows shot up. “The Celtic mutation?”
    “So I believe.”
    “Do you have any idea how long it’s been since the last confirmed case of the Celtic mutation coexisting with the full Gift?”
    “Fourteen years.”
    “And you think you found one of our Lost Brothers just in time to give you a pretext to prevent the massacre of the city of your birth? Isn’t that awfully convenient, Nick?”
    Nick shrugged. “Coincidence.”
    Scott gave him a calculating look. “Present your evidence.”
    “While I was speaking to the terrorist leader, I conducted an active scan of all minds in the building in case an opportunity to intervene arose.” He looked at Jeremy. “A few seconds after I touched his mind, Jeremy demonstrated high-order telepathy. He performed a deep read on his leader, which revealed her true motivations—revenge for the murder of her family in a gang-related crossfire with police almost ten years ago. I had already independently verified that motive by my own deep read.”
    Jeremy stared at him, eyes wide.
    “His latent ability most likely responded to the direct touch of another mind,” said Scott, continuing to ignore Jeremy. “But telepathy is predominantly a function of human genetics and is not exclusive to those with access to the Gift, silenced or otherwise. The court dismisses your argument.”
    Nick took a deep breath. “The Neural Shock spell I released was targeted at any human carrying a firearm. Jeremy is wearing a pistol on his hip.” All three men looked at the holstered weapon on Jeremy’s belt. “I did nothing to shield him from the spell, and he escaped its effects entirely.”
    Scott considered that. “The court reserves judgment until such time as the parameters of the spell are reviewed in detail and an alternate explanation is excluded. Present your next argument.”
    Nick met Scott’s eyes defiantly, straightening to his full six feet. “The last thing he did before the bullets started flying was quote the last line of the Words of Binding.”
    Jeremy frowned. “What are you talking about?”
    Scott pointed at him. “Please state your full name for the record.”
    “What are the Words of Binding?”
    “State your name, please,” Scott repeated.
    “Jeremy Kenneth Harkness. What is he talking about?”
    Scott spoke a few words in an unknown language, and then translated. “My eyes are open, and I am not afraid.”
    Jeremy’s face paled and he clenched his fists at his sides. “That’s nothing.”
    Scott stepped closer, maintaining eye contact. “They were the last words you were going to speak in your mortal life. Obviously, they have some meaning to you.”
    Jeremy set his jaw. “It doesn’t matter.” The words are mine. No one can have them.
    “My best friend is on trial for a capital crime, all because he saved your life. Don’t you think you owe it to