He didn’t say anything, simply stared into my eyes with a blank look that gave nothing away. Nothing. Zilch. Nada.
“Damn it.” I closed the distance between us and stood between his legs, our faces level with one another. “Tell me the truth. I’m your mate. Tell me. Did you do it?”
He blinked, slowly. “Kovo confessed.”
My heart sank. “Kovo confessed? He admitted to all of it? Murder? Treason?”
“Yes.”
“Didn’t he know they would execute you?”
“Yes.”
What was happening?
I leaned forward and rested my forehead against his, breathed him in. Something was wrong. This couldn’t be right. Couldn’t be happening. On the surface, every box was checked. The Atlans had a crime and a confession. “What about evidence? DNA? I don’t know, footprints or pieces of clothes or hair? Surveillance videos? Do they actually have anything that proves you were there? Were you really there?”
“Yes.”
Oh, god. “Why? Why did you do this?” If he truly were guilty, if he were a killer and a traitor, did I have the right to try to save him? To want him?
To love him? Did I love him? Already? Was that possible?
Was any of this possible? It felt like a lone rider on an out-of-control rollercoaster.
Nothing made sense. I’d been so sure I was right about him. So very sure.
And wrong.
Suddenly, I couldn’t breathe. The room spun. I was hot, too hot. My skin tingled. My fingertips. The air was too hot. I was suffocating. My stomach heaved like I’d swallowed a large goldfish and it was trying to swim back up my throat.
No.
A large hand settled on my left cheek. A strong arm pulled my body against something warm and safe and comforting. Tears streamed from my eyes, slid down my cheeks, some making their way to my lips where I licked them away. Swallowed them down like bitter pills. Truth pills. I’d royally fucked this up. I couldn’t even regret it. I’d been with him. I wore his cuffs. I felt like I belonged with him. He was mine. Even if it was only for a few hours, it was time I would never forget.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t be in here.” I whispered the confession against his lips right before I kissed him.
“No, you should not.” A deep, angry voice startled me. My beast growled and rose to his full height, gently moving me behind him where I couldn’t see a thing.
I didn’t need to. I knew that voice. It was Maxus. Based on the sounds of pounding boots on hard floor, he wasn’t alone.
“Adrian? You in there? Are you okay?” My mother’s voice rang out like a bird’s song in this strange and terrible place.
“I’m fine, mom.” I called out from behind my mate’s torso. I didn’t want her to worry. “Don’t hurt him. He didn’t do anything wrong.” I tried to step out from behind him, but my beast would not allow it. He growled a soft warning at me and used on arm to block my path.
“Stay. Protect.”
“That’s my mom. She would never hurt me. And Max is her mate, my father under Atlan law. I’m safe. It’s you I’m worried about.” I took another step.
“No.”
“Kovo.”
“No.”
“Sorry, Beast, I have to—”
“No. Mine.” He spoke to me but never took his eyes off our visitors. “Mate. Mine.” He made the announcement and lifted both hands to show our visitors his mating cuffs.
