[Omg. I thought I posted. DDD8 BUT APPARENTLY MY POST NEVER SUBMITTED ALDGFGAIHLAKJHNSOBS.]
Jayari was there.
She'd been there as the tribunal set up in the center of the Banyur camp, where half the tribe had gathered in a semi-circle. At the circle's opening, Aharu and several other tribal leaders were gathered: the elders and respected warriors that served as his council. Ki'adan was forced into the center with the guard, who stood watch over him without compassion--
And standing next to her father was Jayari, who looked and felt oddly small right then. Usually so proud and straight-backed, she stood with one hand holding the opposite arm, her shoulders slightly rounded and head low.
Quite frankly, she would have been happy to take an arrow between the eyes right then.
Just put me out of my misery. Not only was half the tribe staring at her in judgment, not only had she had to endure her father's judgment, but now Ki'adan was there.
And she had to endure the guilt of what she'd agreed to doing.
Even though he'd said this was what he wanted, she still felt like she was condemning him.
Aharu took a step forward, face hard and cold. "Ki'adan, son of Dujarik, heir to the White Wolf Clan, you stand accused today of defiling Jayari, daughter of Aharu, heir to the Banyur tribe. What do you have to say in your defense?"
Jayari's face heated with mortification. She might not be shy at all about sex, at least not when she was around someone she wanted to be with like that, but hearing her father talk about it like that? After getting caught in the act by some of her tribesmen?
This was so, so painful already, and it was going to get worse, she knew.