Page 65 of The Highseer's Mate

I shake my head. “No, wait. Let me explain!” I say.

The room erupts into chaos as the male shoves me toward the entrance and I stumble, but catch my footing just in time. Varek yanks at his shackles and roars at Kylor, the room erupting in shouts as they watch my mate act this way.

“Do not touch her,” Varek roars.

He tries to tear free and it takes multiple hunters to keep him restrained, kicking the back of his legs and sending him to his knees. My knees nearly give out with his and I reach for him.

“Varek!” I scream.

He grits his teeth and his chest flares bright green, the patterns glowing like they are on fire. The look in his eye is deadly and even the males around him seem to falter as the anger rolls off my mate.

Kylor raises a single hand, and the room goes silent.

I catch my breath, my heart pounding in my chest.

Elyra lays a single hand on Mydros’ shoulder, whispering something private in his ear. The arrogant asshole seems to calm down, rolling his shoulders like he was just about to be thrown out and not me.

Kylor resumes speaking. “Those are the charges. But we have brought an audience today to hear you all. Paige. You would like to speak?”

Varek’s brows raise as he stares at the old man. This must not be traditional from the look on his face. It only seems right though, that someone may speak on behalf of the accused or at least add context to the situation. Before, was the council judge, jury, and executioner?

I nod and begin again. “What he did wasn’t his fault.”

Whispers break out around me.

All of this was because of me. Varek is strong. He’s moral. He cares about his people and he cares about me. Other than throwing me over his shoulder and dragging me here, hetreated me with nothing but kindness. And being a Highseer is important to him.

If it weren’t for me, he would have put his people first. If the glows hadn’t appeared across his chest, choosing me as his mate, he would have brought every one of us before the council and his people without question.

I can’t let him bear this punishment alone. It goes against everything that unites us as a mated pair.

“When he found us in the ship, I told the other humans to hide. I thought if Varek took me, and only me, my friends might have a chance to escape this planet and go back to where we came from. I thought my life, all of our lives, were in danger.”

Eyes dart around the room as the Vruts listen to me speak.

“When Draxel told my mate that he had found the other women, I begged Varek to hide their existence. I begged him not to tell the council, or any of you, that there were more human females on that ship.”

The whispers get louder, more anxious as the air in the room grows thick.

I look around at those in attendance, yearning to see some kind of pity. Understanding. Something other than anger.

But I don’t.

I bite the inside of my cheek as sweat trickles down my spine. This isn’t going well.

“He agreed. We made a deal. He would keep their existence a secret if I—”

Varek blows out a defeated sigh and my shoulders slack.

“If I didn’t see him as my captor.”

Mydros chuckles.

I continue. “I swear I was afraid for my life. I thought at any moment, Varek or the rest of you would… kill me. When I made that deal, I didn’t intend to keep it. Varek did. He washonorable. And he made the deal because of the bond between us. Not because he wanted to betray you all.”

My voice breaks. I hadn’t wanted to see Varek as anything other than evil but at some point, all of that changed. At some point, he became everything to me.

I swallow hard against the needles prickling and tearing down my throat. The tears are there, threatening to fall, but I focus on Varek. My feelings for him.

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