Tamed by the Beast(38)

Well, I’d failed at that, too.

The guards came through the doors with their ion blasters raised.

“Put those fucking weapons away,” Dax shouted at them. “He’s a commander in fever, not a criminal.”

“He knocked me down. Everyone saw it. I’m sorry, Dax. I know he’s your friend, but he’s dangerous,” Engel countered.

Engel looked to me as he said the last as Deek was put in restraints above his forearms.

The guards started to lead him toward the door.

“Mate,” Deek growled.

“She must go with him,” Dax insisted.

I didn’t want to leave Deek’s side, but I had not expected Dax to say I had to go to the jail with him. I could do nothing to help him control his beast. I had no idea why he’d responded to me the first time, although he hadn’t been as out of control as he was now.

“He will hurt her!” Tia countered, coming to stand beside me. “You can stay with me,” she said, looking at me with sad eyes.

“She must go,” Dax repeated. “They are cuffed.”

The cuffs. That was why I had to go. Not because I was Deek’s mate, but because the pain would be too great for us to be apart.

“I will go,” I said, lifting my chin and moving to stand behind the guards. This was one of the most mortifying—and heartbreaking—moments of my life. Everyone knew that I failed, that I wasn’t enough for a commander. That I wasn’t his mate. I’d failed.

“I will stay with him,” I murmured past a lump in my throat. I would not cry.

“In jail?” Tia countered.

“I’ve been there before. I am not afraid.” And the truth of it was, I couldn’t bear to leave his side.

“He won’t be there long, I’m afraid.” Engel sidled up to his daughter’s shoulder with a resigned sigh. “In cases like this, the execution order will most likely be reinstated and carried out swiftly.”

It was like he’d stabbed me in the gut with a dagger. “How long does he have?” I wasn’t afraid of the jail. I was afraid of what was going to happen to Deek. It was because of me that he was in trouble again. I didn’t mate him correctly. His seed didn’t take, or bond, or whatever. I wasn’t enough for him. I hadn’t pleased his beast enough.

“Hours.” Dax answered my question. Tears gathered in my eyes, but I didn’t have time for a mental breakdown. They were leading my mate out into a large vehicle of some kind for transport to the prison.

Deek was going to die. This time, I wasn’t going to be able to save him.

Dax escorted me to the prison transport and I was assisted into the back by one of the guards. I didn’t look him in the eye. I didn’t look anyone in the eye. I didn’t want to see pity there, or judgment. And if I saw even a hint of sympathy, I was going to lose it. Tears. Big, fat ugly cry.

I loved my mate. I loved him. He was big and brutish and all fucking man. He’d made me feel beautiful and worthy and wanted for the first time in my life, and I didn’t want to give that up. I loved the way he fucked me up against the wall. The way he shouldered his head between my thighs and licked and sucked until I screamed his name. I loved the way he stared at my body, at my breasts and belly, as if I were a delicious treat. I loved being with him.

And now, because of me, he was going to die.

I sat in silence for the short ride to the prison, where I was helped from the vehicle with Deek close behind. He was still panting, his skin flushed and his eyes darting around like every shadow held an enemy.

With a sigh, I followed the small column of warriors who walked us down the long, cream-colored hallway and back to the same cell he’d been in when I arrived. Block 4. Cell 11.

I walked into the cell and straight to the bed where I climbed up onto the mattress and curled into a ball on my side.

If Deek came for me, I would try my best to soothe him. But even if I fucked his brains out, sucked his cock, made him grunt and growl and say my name with a reverence I’d never heard from anyone else, it wouldn’t matter.

I could fuck him silly, but I couldn’t control his beast. Only his true mate could do that. Only his true mate could save him. And if that female appeared now and took him, mating with him, easing his beast, my heart would break into a million tiny little pieces. He was supposed to be mine. Forever.

I heard the force field they called a grav-wall turn on, but I ignored it. I kept my back to Deek as he paced and growled. I couldn’t bear to look at him. It hurt too much.

Tears slid in silent streams from my eyelids and into the bedding. Deek didn’t speak to me, but after a while he climbed onto the bed and lay down beside me, pulling me into his arms. My back pressed to his overheated chest, his monster-sized arms wrapped around me. I was mentally exhausted, but refused to sleep.