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desperate.
    “G’baena, you need to confront your fathers,” Trey said.
    “What do her fathers have to do with this?” Devlin asked, sounding confused. He turned to G’baena. “What did they do?”
    She hesitated, hoping Ben and Trey would tell him the awful truth, but they both watched her, waiting for her to answer. She swallowed hard and then said the words in a rush. “They sold me to the slavers.”
    He rocked back on his heels a moment, almost like he’d been struck. She could feel his compassion and concern as he stepped closer and placed his hand on her arm. “G’baena, I’m so sorry. Your fathers should’ve been men you could trust, but if they sold you to slavers, they need to be held accountable.”
    “But they’ll kill them,” she said as she shivered in agitation. “They’ll execute them as an example. Won’t they, Ben?” She felt shock roll through Devlin at Ben’s solemn nod.
    “It’s the only way, G’baena,” Trey said sincerely. “If the Kings don’t act swiftly to bring justice upon those who deal with slave traders, things could quickly spiral out of control.”
    She could sense Devlin’s mixed emotions over what would likely happen in this situation. If she was interpreting him correctly, he wasn’t happy about the possible death sentence but seemed willing to support her regardless.
    “G’baena,” Devlin said quietly as he held his arms open for her. She flew into his embrace, tears flowing freely as she made a decision she hoped she could live with.
    “What will happen to my mother?” she asked Ben and Trey.
    “As long as she was not involved in your sale to slavers, we will make sure she is provided for. Your sisters, too.”
    G’baena hadn’t thought about her younger sisters in such a long time. It hurt so much to imagine what they were living through. Her fathers were ambitious, brutal, selfish men, not unlike the slavers working for Keytark, and a part of her feared that her sisters had been sold to slavers as well.
    “We can offer them sanctuary on the ship,” Devlin said confidently. “You need to do this, honey, not only for all G’trobian females but for yourself and your sisters, too.”
    Taking a deep breath, G’baena stepped out of Devlin’s arms and faced the two men she’d once been promised to and trained to obey. She wasn’t doing this for them, wasn’t doing it to please anyone. She was doing it because it had to be done and because she had a chance to protect women who’d never known a different life. “My mother and sisters were not involved. I’m certain of it. Just tell me what needs to be done.”
    Trey smiled softly as he stepped forward to touch her cheek. “You are an amazing woman, G’baena, and I’m very proud to know you.” His soft words started the tears flowing again. The last time she’d been praised like that was so long in the past that it almost felt like a lifetime ago. Ben glanced toward Devlin and stepped forward to take Trey’s place.
    “Anything we can do for you, you just need to ask.” And then he leaned forward and whispered into her ear, “He’s a good man. You’ve chosen well.”
    “Thank you,” she managed to choke out. As the two men left the room, Devlin pulled her into his arms once more.
    “I’m sorry you had to make such an impossible decision, but I promise to be there for you no matter what.”
    “Will you come with me to see the G’trobian Kings?”
    “Of course,” he said reassuringly as he ran a soothing hand up and down her spine. “I’ll always be here for you.”

    * * * *

    Always was a very long time, but somehow it didn’t seem long enough. He felt completely humbled by G’baena’s courage. He couldn’t imagine having to make a more difficult decision than the one she faced, but he believed she'd made the right choice. If her fathers were responsible for her being sold into slavery, then they needed to be punished. He wasn’t completely happy about the death penalty, but