“If I may,” Hyvin Berrr stated. “I have a fact to add.” Zalk nodded. “Present.”

Hyvin called forth the men who had been with Volder at Rever’s house. Brenda listened to Hyvin order them to recount what happened and how Volder had treated her. She sensed eyes on her but she didn’t look around at all those Zorn men, not wanting to acknowledge them. She felt damn uncomfortable being the only female in a room full of huge, alien men. She wasn’t afraid for her safety but as the details of her being stripped came out, she felt a blush heat her cheeks.

Hyvin Berrr stepped back. “I ordered Rever to put the human under his protection and he believed that Volder’s behavior was abusive. Rever, did you feel that the human woman was safe in Volder’s care?”

“No,” Rever growled. He turned his head to glower at Volder. “I did not. He doesn’t deserve her.”

“You do?” Volder snarled. “You mounted her, did you not? You have a bound human already and yet you took mine.”

Rever opened his mouth, showing teeth, and growled low. “I mounted her and emptied my seed in her many times. She is mine.” They snarled at each other.

Zalk roared. “Enough. Hold. You will control your tempers now.” Both men looked ready to fight but neither moved.

Zalk gave a sharp nod. “The law is clear. The human woman will be given to Volder but the charges against Rever are dropped. He feared for the safety of the alien.” Zalk glared at Volder. “You will treat the alien with all honors given to a bound Zorn woman. You will—”

“Never keep my woman,” Rever snarled. “I will come for her if you take her from me. We will settle this off Zorn where the law does not apply.”

“I look forward to it,” Volder sneered. “While you find transport to my ship I will mount her over and over.”

Rever roared, lunging at Volder. The guards moved fast, separating the enraged men. Rever’s chains were held by six men while another six surrounded Volder to keep him in place a good ten feet from where Rever was held. Both men glared at each other.

“Touch my bound and you will die painfully.” It was a promise and a threat issued by Rever. “One bruise on my woman, if I even scent fear on her, you will pay with blood and pain like you have never known.”

“She is promised to me!” Volder thumped his chest with his fist. “She was bound to my brother so by right she is mine.”

“Finally!” Vhon moved suddenly. “I demand to present facts,” he said loudly.

Everyone turned to look at the tall male. Brenda saw Hyvin Berrr’s face and he looked pissed off. “Stop, Vhon. This is a law meeting. This is no time for your pranks.” Vhon’s shoulders straightened, staring at his father while his lips pressed into a tight line. He looked away to focus on the judge. “Zalk, I demand to present facts. It will change your ruling. I was waiting for Volder to state the human was bound to his brother and now that he has, I am disputing his claim.” Zalk gave a nod. “Present the proof.”

Lips spread into a wide grin as Vhon turned to face Brenda. She was stunned when the man stared directly at her. He winked—his eyes were identical to Rever’s—a gesture she’d never expected from a Zorn.

“Did Valho mount you, human? Did he plant his seed inside your body?” Brenda felt her face flame and swore she could feel every male eye in the room on her while they waited for her to tell them if she had sex with Valho. She shook her head.

“Be clear,” Rever’s younger brother ordered her. “Speak louder so all may hear.”

“No,” she said loudly. “He was giving me time to adjust to him but he was killed before we ever had sex.”

Vhon turned around to grin at Zalk. “I state the fact that Volder has no claim on the human since a bounding to his brother never took place. She was unbound and therefore free to choose for herself which male to be with.” Volder snarled. “Valho took her with intent from her planet after she agreed to bound to him. She has admitted that. Bound or not I have the right to her.” Brenda silently pleaded with the older Zorn judge to look at her and see how badly she wished he’d rule that Volder had no claim. That would solve everything. Hope flared inside her that the nightmare was about to end.

“He has a good point,” Hyvin Berrr said quickly. “The bounding was not completed.”

Zalk refused to even glance at Brenda, completely ignored her as he seemed to contemplate the matter for a long minute. He took a deep breath. Brenda held hers, her heart pounding in her chest.

“The human agreed to bound, the law is clear and I rule Volder has a claim on her.” Slumping with disappointment, Brenda blinked back tears, her hope dashed. It isn’t fair, damn it. Hyvin Berrr looked pissed off but he didn’t speak. Brenda looked at Rever seeing the furious glower he shot at the older judge. Volder was the only one who appeared pleased with the ruling.

Vhon turned his head, staring down the aisle. “Allow them inside,” he called out to the men on the opposite end of it. “My other facts to present are out there.” Brenda had to shift to the left a little to see the door when it opened and wondered what other plan Rever’s younger brother had come up with to try to help them. He was trying and she prayed whatever else he wanted to introduce into the court proceeding would make Zalk change his mind.

She watched two more of Rever’s relatives come forward, one of them was Ral, the brother she’d met. The other man was almost a replica of Ral and Rever, obviously another brother. A terrified-looking uniformed Zorn male was being hauled in by Ral who held the Zorn by his arm and the back of his neck. The other brother was gripping a highly annoyed Tina by her arm.

“What is the meaning of this?” Volder yelled. “This isn’t fair if the facts being spoken come from his blood. They will lie to help him win.” Brenda recognized the uniformed Zorn being pushed forward as one of Rever’s guards from his house when they drew close enough for her to get a good look at him.

Ral forced the guard closer and then stopped him.

Ral looked furious. “You dare accuse me of telling a falsehood? You don’t even know why we are here or what is to be said, Volder. I am Argis Ral, a judge, and my honor is never in question. Speak of it again and we will fight.”