Page 149 of His Retribution

"I had no choice!" he snaps. "Our bond is not like a mate bond, not like a blood-bond or even a bond between kin. Our bond was forged out of selfish desire and necessity; therefore, rendered void in the eyes of the one above me. I had no choice but to do his bidding or he would have done far worse. I could not stop it even if I tried and I would have much rather had you die at my hand than Nero or someone far worse."

"Which is why it was always quick and relatively painless." I swipe at another tear and shake my head. "You may not have a soul, Zan, but you are capable of love. In a weird and twisted way, you are capable of love."

He scoffs. "Twisted indeed. If love is such a complicated thing then I am glad I only recently discovered it."

I smile. "Love is complicated but it is so worth it." I push up to my feet and stretch. "And once I convince the brothers that you aren't a threat, that you are my family, I'm going to prove to you how worth it love really is."

"You owe me no such thing. You should let them do what they wish with me and be done with it."

"Not happening. You are the closest thing I have to a blood relative, the closest I'll ever come to knowing my parents, and if they loved you like a son then I'll be damned if I don't love you like a really annoying, angry, dangerous, slightly evil big brother."

He says nothing as I start cleaning up, packing the picnic basket with garbage then grab the stack of blankets and pillows from the corner. Zan tracks my every move, watches me from under his sharp brows and thick blonde lashes and it makes me wonder what is going through his head.

"What is this?" he asks as I hand him the bedding.

"Something to make you a little more comfortable. After I check on Havok and tell him about our chat, I'll see if I can't come up with some sort of bed for you, maybe a little more clothing."

"Do the Dragovihk's always treat their prisoners so well?" Zan scoffs again.

I roll my eyes and hand over the last two banana and honey sandwiches and another bottle of water. "Just the ones that happen to have family connections.”

His eyes flicker briefly as he takes what I offer, head bowed in thanks. "You may regret this, my gem."

"I'd regret it more if I didn't at least try."

His fingers close around my wrist tightly, Zan tugs me to eye level and glares. "I fear it will be a waste of both of our time."

I may have jumped from his initial contact but he truly doesn't scare me and it's not because I have his name.

Which is why I lean in even closer, put myself almost nose to nose with him. "I'm going to prove to you that you are wrong. I'm going to do what my parents did and I'm going to prove to you that being with people who care for you is worth whatever perceived trouble it creates."

"Determined little queen."

"You have no idea.”

And with that I leave the prison cell, lock it, and head out to find my mate, my head swimming and heart utterly confused.

Why the fuck does fate keep throwing me in with big, broody, tortured assholes that are in need of TLC?

Judge

Four Days Later.

When I found my love slumped over in the alley behind Bill's and she informed me that she felt like abag of dicks, I wasn't entirely sure what that meant.

It's a rather disgusting visual, quite honestly, and would make any male cringe at least a little at the thought, but it more or less just struck me as an odd comparison.

I get it now though.

Gods, do I get it.

It took me almost two days to wipe the plastic one’s memories, to clear from her mind any and all interactions with myself, my brothers, our females, and the demon before I could even attempt to fabricate new ones.

Thankfully her mind is so weak, so pliable that she was very receptive to the mental health retreat idea and Joyce latched onto the images easily. Hank delivered her back to her home where she would no doubt sleep for hours, wake up feeling as though everything I implanted in her brain was truth, and probably rather refreshed.

I, on the other hand, do indeed feel like a bag of dicks.

The first twenty hours were spent straight sleeping and after that I only got up to use the facilities, feed, or attempt to eat the small meals my love prepared for me.