Page 52 of Betrayed Mate

She tilted her head. “If the first word out of your mouth isn’t a name, I will kill you without an ounce of remorse.”

He nodded, and as soon as she released him, he crumpled, taking a huge lungful of air. “Felix.”

A few gasps came from the guards, and Raven shook her head.

I wanted to ask what that meant, but I couldn’t form the words—literally—in wolf form.

“The queen’s son?” Ryker scoffed bitterly, causing pain to shoot down my arm. “Why am I not surprised? He was targeting us, and he hates us as much as the guards do.”

My mouth dried. Why in the world did her son hate us so much if the queen was our ally?

“Don’t worry. The queen won’t tolerate it, even from her own blood.” Raven then used her nails to slash the shorter guard’s throat.

My stomach roiled from all the violence I’d been subjected to during the past week. Before this week, I’d witnessed only two acts of violence in my entire life, each due to an alpha thinking he could take over our pack. Though Dad hadn’t killed them, he had severely beaten them.

The guard’s eyes widened, and he gurgled something I couldn’t make out.

“That was for knowing there was a changeling created and not handling it before you left the mansion to join our search.” Raven wiped the blood on her dress. “Everyone had better remember that no one is above the queen’s law, not even her own children. Gerald, head back now and deal with this.”

The tallest guard, who had almost translucent skin, nodded before turning and dashing back in the direction of the mansion, leaving the other eighteen waiting for orders.

“To ensure there aren’t any additional turned humans on the loose, scope out the area and protect the perimeter. We don’t need crazed changelings running around and making it to the city.” Raven hung her head as the eighteen other vampiresfollowed her order, spreading out in the direction the five of us had come from.

Once they vanished from sight, she turned back around and frowned. “I’m so sorry, Ember. This should never have happened. We’ll make sure Felix is punished for the crime he’s committed.”

I hated that she could now see Ryker in all his glory. If she didn’t stop staring at him, I might attack her, and there was no telling what my punishment would be.

The other three guys inched closer, Kendric coming to Raven’s side. She placed a hand on his fur, causing my blood to cool and my wolf to calm.

“How do we know that won’t happen again?” Ryker asked, not budging.

“Because, as soon as we get back, I’ll call the queen and make sure to stream his punishment worldwide.” Raven shrugged as if it weren’t a big deal. “What’s right is right, and he broke the law.”

Somehow, that answer must have worked for Ryker because he began walking once more.

After what felt like forever, we finally reached the mansion where Lucinda, Bella, and Martin stood outside, waiting for us.

As soon as we approached, Lucinda wrinkled her nose. “The queen has decided that Felix should be beaten to near death and thrown into prison. She wants you to administer the punishment. We have the video set up, and Felix is chained in front of Her Majesty’s statue.”

Ryker’s arms tightened. “I want Xander, Gage, and Kendric to watch the punishment, too, and ensure the vampires here at least have the appropriate reaction.”

“And what will you do?” Martin arched his brow, and when his gaze settled on me, he smiled.

“Watch Ember since she’s injured and needs to rest.” He moved to the glass door, not waiting for permission.

Within a few seconds, he’d placed me on one of the beds. I whimpered, not wanting to dirty the sheets, but he slid in next to me and held me against him.

“Shh, Rebel. Don’t fight me. Not tonight, please.” He sighed. “Just get some sleep.”

For some reason, I obeyed, and the thrum between us soared to life once again. Before I realized what was happening, I’d fallen asleep.

A loud snore roared in my ear, and my eyes popped open. For a moment, I couldn’t remember where I was, and then I smelled Ryker. My head lay on his chest, bobbing with each breath he took.

Then I felt something hard against my thigh.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Iblinked a few times, trying to understand how this was even possible. I’d shifted back into my human form at some point, and now I lay naked with Ryker, cuddled into his chest with his hard dick pressing into my thigh.

---