Evon
Rager was enraged, out of control. I knew him to be Viken, but I had to wonder if he were part Atlan beast. When he became angry, it was as if he were possessed by some inner animal. That he protected me…
Out of the corner of my eye I saw Liam move toward him, but Bella, our fearless mate, wrapped her hands around Rager’s arm.
I remained motionless, ready to move quickly should he fail to regain control. But Bella’s touch, or perhaps her voice, snapped him back to himself. He still towered over Dravon, who remained sprawled on the floor. Blood seeped from my brother’s nose to his upper lip and he raised his arm to wipe the liquid away on his sleeve.
“Arrest this man,” Dravon shouted.
Two of the four guards surrounding us lowered their weapons and took a step forward. I raised my hand and stepped in front of Rager and our mate. “No. You deserved worse, brother.”
My brother scowled at me from his position on the floor as Thalia stepped out from where she’d been sitting and helped him back up. The moment his feet were solidly beneath him, he shrugged her off as if her touch burned. She stood to the side, glancing between our brother and Rager, her heart in her eyes.
I’d known for long months she wanted Rager for her own. Our decision to follow the new way, the kings’ way, and share a bride had killed her fragile hope. But she was hard, a true soldier, unlike our spoiled little brother. She didn’t act on her desires, kept them to herself, but I knew her well and her looks betrayed her. At least to me.
When the commander, our father, raised his hand, silence descended and I could hear nothing but my own racing heartbeat and Dravon’s ragged breathing.
“Lower your weapons.”
The guards did as he bid and stepped back. Bella crossed her arms over her chest, tapping her foot, and raised a brow at our father. The vision of our defiant little mate staring down one of the most powerful commanders of Viken would be burned into my memory for all time. Our beautiful Bella. Her courage made my cock hard and all I could think about for long seconds was grabbing her by the hair, shoving her up against the wall and burying myself balls deep until my seed power conquered her body, made her melt in my arms. Surrender. Although she was passionate enough I knew the seed power wasn’t really needed. She desired us enough without it. I wanted all that fiery intelligence, the steel in her spine, and I wanted her to bend in submission to me. To give it to me like the most precious gift.
Hard as iron, my cock throbbed and I had to swallow hard, take a deep breath and close my eyes to force the image from my mind as my father continued.
“Evon, your brother is correct. You know of the Chyron family’s link to the VSS. How can you believe in Liam Chyron’s innocence with such clear and damning evidence?” He inclined his chin to Bella, but he wasn’t finished. “I know your mate claims to be able to prove otherwise, and she’s certainly made an attempt to sway us.” Sway? She’d exposed some of his most personal secrets to a judicial panel. I tried not to roll my eyes at my father’s ability to be ever the diplomat. “The panel has agreed to allow you to try, Bella of Earth.”
He put an emphasis on the word “try” as if he knew Liam to be guilty and there would be no evidence otherwise.
Bella nodded, her chin lifted, her gaze direct. Most would cower and placate my father. Not Bella. “Tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow,” the commander agreed, then looked to me. “Tomorrow you will have to make a choice, son. When your mate is unable to prove her claims, Liam will be found guilty. And he will be executed.”
“No.” I refused to believe Liam was responsible. I knew him not to be. I had no proof, but I didn’t need it. I knew Liam.
“He’s a traitor.” Dravon wiped the blood from his face once more, smearing the red liquid over his cheek as he continued to bleed, and suddenly I wished Rager had struck him harder. Knocked him out. The stubborn little fool. “If you take his side, Evon, if you side with a traitor, you will no longer be my brother.”
Thalia gasped, but my father said nothing and I knew, with a sinking feeling in my gut, that he felt the same. I saw it in his eyes. He was waiting for me to step away from my mate, from my warrior brothers who would ultimately claim Bella together. For them. For a stilted version of patriotism. For a blindness that would drive a wedge in our family.
Liam and Rager turned to me. Rager’s expression was filled with annoyed disbelief. He’d never understood what it meant to belong to my family, the honor and the expectations. But Liam knew. All too well, for he’d defied his father, been disowned. He’d walked alone for many years and only now, in this moment, did I fully understand the price he’d paid. The deep sense of loss. He mourned something that was still alive.
Liam shook his head at me, the move nearly imperceptible. And that was the only reminder I needed. Even now, Liam protected me, protected our new family. He expected me to turn my back on him as his own father had, his siblings, even his mother. He wanted Rager and me to keep Bella, to make her ours. To keep the connection to my family.
Not today. No fucking way.
“Liam is innocent,” I said, holding my brother’s gaze. “I would stake my life on his loyalty. He would never betray us.” I took a step toward my brother, who wisely backed away. He’d never seen me this angry, the rage like ice in my veins. “If you speak ill of my family again, Dravon, it will be you who are no longer my blood.”
“Enough!” My father bellowed that one word and I turned to find his eyes blazing with frustration. “The truth will be revealed soon enough.” He looked at Bella. “Tomorrow. You have until tomorrow.”
“Fine.” Bella slipped her hand into Rager’s, but looked between Liam and me. “Can we go now?”
“Yes.” I settled my hand on Thalia’s shoulder in thanks and her eyes met mine, the familiar blue dark with a tempest of emotion I had no hope of unraveling. “Thank you, little sister.”
When she remained silent, her gaze drifting between the three men of her family who were all clearly at odds, I motioned to Liam. “Let’s go, Liam, and help our mate prove your innocence.”
I wasn’t sure where Thalia’s alliance rested. I would not question her about it. It wasn’t important. Proving Liam’s innocence was. I knew my family was lost to me now. Whether she was among those who would consider me a disgrace, I would have to wait and see.
Rager led Bella out the door with Liam falling in behind. I watched the soft sway of her hips beneath the cream pants, the trim shirt. While she was small like an Earth female, she looked Viken now. With our seed in her belly, the Viken clothing covering her lush curves, she was ours more than ever. I wanted to touch her, feel her, breathe in her scent to remind myself of that. She was ours. I walked at the back, as far away from Bella as I could get, afraid I’d give in and take her here, in the hall. I’d never been more desperate to claim a woman, to put my mark on her soul, as I was with our brave little human. Especially now, risking the consequences of a judicial panel for interrupting, the disrespect.
We returned to our suite in silence, but the moment the door sli