Chapter 10
Seeran:
“Nervous?” Seeran tilted his head down to better watch his mate’s reaction, not that he expected a dishonest answer but searching for truth was a habit.
“No. Yes. Any chance of breakfast before they sling us across the universe? This might be easier on a full stomach.”
The technician paused in his routine. “No, it’ll just make it messier. Better go on an empty stomach.”
Hazel scrunched up her face in displeasure. “What’s going to happen when we get there?”
“Tomorrow’s worries, sweet mate.”
Her brows knitted. “I think it’s today’s worry. Seriously, not knowing is the worst.”
Seeran said nothing as the technician loaded Hazel’s luggage onto the platform. They were in their last moments on Earth. The truth was unpleasant but nothing short of the truth would satisfy her. “I may lose my position, possibly my position in the clan. That is the warlord’s decision. If my actions have truly offended Paax, I may be offered the chance to remove the stain of dishonor with my life.”
“He’ll kill you?”
“Worst case scenario, but I think not.” He had known Paax for many years before the once-scientist assumed the position of warlord. The previous warlord had been far more volatile and would have struck Seeran down in a heartbeat but Paax might be about to see past the dishonor to the clan and find a reason to keep Seeran alive. This he did not vocalize because such knowledge provided little comfort to Hazel or himself.
Her arm slipped around his waist, a gesture seeking comfort that brought a rush of pride in himself. “You’re not going to die today, Seeran Rhew. You made me a promise and I know you’re not the kind of man to renege on a promise.”
His arms wrapped around his mate while he searched for the correct words and the world grew white...
* * *
And he rematerialized with his mate in his arms. Her warm honey-colored eyes gazed up at him, blinking lazily with the lingering fog of teleportation.
“Seeran!” The warlord’s voice gave little warning before a pair of strong hands yanked him away from Hazel, a cry on her lips.
Her distress pained him more than the blow to his knee, which sent him crashing to the floor.
Hazel:
Some purple asshole just jumped on Seeran!
Her thoughts were slow to gather but focused entirely on the large purple man beating her husband.
Teleportation made her feel like she swam through soup and not the good kind, the gross kind, like pea soup. She swam through thick, green ham-flavored gruel to get to her man but someone held her back. A pair of arms wrapped around her chest, pinning her arms at her side. She struggled but the arms might as well have been iron bands. She wasn’t going anywhere. She could only watch the purple, one horned man beat her husband.
They had an audience. A dozen aliens—Mahdfel warriors, her brain slowly supplied—gathered to watch. Seeran did not resist the blows to his side and back, blows that surely broke ribs. He did nothing to avoid the kick to his knee that brought him to the ground. It was barbaric. Every cruel, hateful thing she ever heard said about the Mahdfel came pouring out of her. She vomited up words because if she fell silent, she’d empty her stomach contents. This was not civilized. This was brutal and every man in the room just watched.
“Stop! He did it to help me! It’s my fault! Don’t hurt him. Please.” She shouted herself hoarse. The warlord ignored her pleas and every male shifted nervously, avoiding looking at her.
The warlord crouched down next to Seeran. Her husband pushed himself up, arms shaking. “You are spared because you are useful to me. Remember that.”
Two large hands clamped around one of Seeran’s horns and twisted.
Nausea rolled in her stomach at the sound of breaking bone. She clamped her lips shut, willing the bitter taste at the back of her throat to stay put. Her stomach spasmed and she lost the battle.
The contents of her empty stomach spilled onto the floor.
The warlord tossed the broken horn at Seeran’s feet. It landed with a wet thud, so unlike the clatter Hazel expected.
“See to your female,” the warlord said in a thick voice. “Then report to my ready room.”