Page 71 of The Bodyguard and the Alpha (Witch Twins #2)

Electra

Bastien had gone, leaving me behind. I felt strange, weirdly disassociated, knowing that my career as a bodyguard was probably over.

I forced myself to move to the bathroom for a much-needed shower.

When I emerged, there was still no sign of my uniform, but the closet contained a selection of dresses, skirts and tops in pretty colours. All in my size.

Had my Alpha mate arranged these clothes for me?

As if he could sense my thoughts, even from a distance, I felt his amusement. Of course I did.

Are you alright?

Of course, baby. I’m still President. Maximilian may be trying to convince the other Council members that there is a problem, but he’s scrambling now. This reeks of desperation on his part.

Desperate men can be dangerous. While I showered my pre-cog had continued to fire at a low pulse. Enough that I knew there was definite risk involved, although the danger wasn’t immediate. My magic says there’s danger.

I’m tough to kill sweetheart . And I’m very motivated to get back to you and your sweet body.

I rolled my eyes. Such a possessive Alpha. And I loved it. My mental voice was soft when I said, Later babe.

His only response was a deep rumbled, That’s my good fucking girl . I’ll reward you for that later .

Holy hells, that was hot.

When I recovered from the mini orgasm he’d given me, I chose a dress in a pretty pastel green. The neckline was conservative but still showed enough skin that my mate bite was visible. Good, I wanted everyone to see that I was proud of the bite Bastien had given me.

The usual two female Shifter guards were waiting in the corridor when I exited the suite. “Let’s go,” I said. “I need to see Luc.” If I wasn’t going to be Bastien’s bodyguard I was going to learn how to behave as his mate. And for that, I needed information.

Only one person was in Security HQ. A young male Shifter I didn’t recognise. When I knocked on the door frame of the open door his eyes widened and he stood to attention. “Lady,” he gave me a weird bow of the head.

Okay, that was new. “Can you tell me where Luc is please?”

The young Shifter led me to the War Room.

Telling my guards to wait outside, I turned the handle and walked in.

The long conference room was used for security briefings.

The last time the staff had been gathered in here, my sister had been kidnapped and Luc had gone on a rampage trying to get to her when he and all his staff had been locked into the room.

The damage had since been repaired, and a new emergency override to prevent people being trapped in the room had been added.

Currently, the room was occupied on one side by my colleagues Charlie and Stefan and Luc’s own staff, Billy and Sam. On the other side of the table, I recognised Bastien’s press secretary Patrick and Bastien’s legal team, the lawyers Sims and Reilly.

I moved to an empty seat between Luc and Charlie, nodding to Patrick and the lawyers, both women. I wanted to wipe my clammy hands on my dress.

Charlie, sitting past Billy and Sam, smiled widely when he saw me, his eyes going immediately to the mate bite on my neck. “Finally,” he said. “Congratulations Electra. It’s been a long time coming.”

I shuffled my feet, embarrassed by their exuberant happiness on my behalf. I’d kept my distance from the rest of Bastien’s team for years but they seemed honestly pleased for me.

“Maybe the boss will be less of a grump now that he’s getting some,” Stefan said.

“Can it,” said Charlie.

Luc growled. “You will show appropriate respect for the President’s mate.”

Stefan showed his neck. “Yes sir,” he said, voice subdued. “No disrespect intended ma’am. I just got carried away.”

Now he was ma’aming me? “I’m still Electra. You’ve kicked my butt for years in the gym. You don’t need to call me ma’am.”

“Yes he does,” Luc contradicted. “You are the President’s mate.”

I sighed, letting it go. Pick your battles, Electra.

Luc turned to face me. “I’m glad you’re here. The lawyers have some questions for you.”

I nodded. “Sure. But can you tell me a bit more about what’s going on?”

His face was somber. “We have an evolving situation.” He turned his head to the two men sitting on his other side. “Sam.”

Sam pressed some keys on the laptop in front of him and images filled the large screen that took up one of the walls at the far end of the conference table. The first image was a photograph of Maximilian outside the Council headquarters.

Luc leaned forward, his eyes intent. “This morning, Maximilian convened the Council for a debate on whether Bastien should be impeached.”

“Fuck.”

On my other side I heard Charlie muffle a laugh.

“What do we do?” I turned to Luc.

“The lawyers want to take some statements. We want to have documents ready.”

Lawyers. Statements. That sounded bad. But then, my pre-cog had already been warning me that danger was approaching. This was a different sort of fight, one that Bastien knew how to fight without me. “Alright, sure. What are the statements for?”

One of the lawyers answered. “Ma’am, it’s our back up plan. We’re planning for a worst-case scenario. If the President is impeached, having these documents will be necessary for a trial and we want to lodge them as soon as possible.”

“I see.” I did see. This was because of me. Because Bastien had mated me without telling me about the mate bond first. Nerves fluttered in my belly and Luc shot me a look that clearly said hold it together.

Right. I was the President’s mate. I had to act like it. I straightened my spine. Soothed my thoughts. I’d been the Ice fucking Queen for five years. I could do this. “Of course, I’ll co-operate.”

“Electra.” Luc’s grave voice called my attention. “Everything that is said in this room will be held strictly confidential. We need to know if any of the rumours are true.”

Stalling, I pulled a glass and the jug of water from the centre of the table and poured myself a drink. I forced myself to take a sip. Carefully put the glass down. It was time to throw the dice. This was a critical moment for both me and my mate.

“I consented to the bond.”

A murmur of relief went through the room.

“Ms Ferrera.” One of the lawyers, Reilly I thought, spoke up.

“If you could give us as much detail as possible, please. We have to prepare a statement from you, as part of our preparation. I realise that this is a personal moment, and usually we would not press for such intimate information, but the circumstances demand it.”

“What sort of details?”

The lawyer flushed. “When did the President Declare his Intent? How did he court you? The circumstances of the mate bond. Anything, no matter small, could be important.”

In my mind’s eye, I envisioned a tightrope.

I had to walk the line exactly right. If I was officially questioned about the contents of my statement, I couldn’t afford to be caught in a lie.

Not when Bastien’s life could be at stake.

I had to tell the truth and only the truth, while also hiding the fact that Bastien had never once said that I was his mate before he had bitten me.

Taking a deep breath, I held the lawyer’s gaze. “Anyone on the President’s security detail can confirm that on my first day, at breakfast with the President, he served my food before he served himself. That was the beginning of his courtship.”

Charlie and Stefan smiled and nodded. “It was as obvious as the noses on our faces,” interjected Charlie.

Just not to me. But I would never tell.

The pings in my head began to slow. I was on the right track. Just a little more.

The lawyer scribbled some notes on her legal pad. “Very good ma’am. What else?”

“Before Bastien bonded me, I definitely said yes. My consent was clear and I will swear that on oath.”

The other lawyer gave me a small smile. “Hopefully it won’t come to that ma’am. We will draft some formal depositions for the Council now so we lodge them urgently tonight if the Council hearing doesn’t go our way.”

The pings slowed. They hadn’t stopped completely, but hopefully between us we’d have enough evidence to exonerate Bastien from any charge.

Thank fuck.

“If you would please excuse us. We need to work on these documents. Please stay available for signing in a couple of hours.”

“Of course,” I said.

Luc turned in his chair. “Sam and Billy please escort them to an office. Charlie and Stefan you are dismissed.”

The room emptied quickly, leaving only Luc and myself. His mismatched eyes regarded me closely. “Very good,” he said. I gave him a quick, tight smile. He didn’t return it. Instead, he rubbed his eyes, looking tired. “We’ll just have to keep you off the witness stand.”

“What do you mean? I’m willing to give testimony.”

“Even though your statement won’t stand up to cross-examination?” I tightened my hand on my water glass, unsure how to respond. “I’m mated to your sister, Electra. I can read all of your body language.”

My pre-cog didn’t stir up at his words. But, just as importantly, my instincts told me that it was safe to confess to Luc.

He was Bastien’s brother. Loyal to him. And more importantly, as my sister’s mate, her welfare came first. He wouldn’t do anything to jeopardise that.

He had put his own life at risk more than once to save my sister. I could trust him.

My shoulders slumped. “Bastien didn’t Declare his Intent before he bit me.”

Luc’s eyes sharpened. “Is that why you thought it was a mistake when we talked?” I nodded, chewing on my lip. “But you wanted his bite?”

I nodded again. “Absolutely. Unequivocally.”

Finally, he smiled. “It’s unconventional but it seems pretty clear to me. You wanted to be bitten. He bit you.”

“So do we tell the lawyers?” My fingers tapped against my glass. “I don’t want to say anything that will hurt his case.”

“Let’s wait to see if Bastien can head this off in Council. If it goes further, we’ll ask them then. As his mate you can’t be compelled to give testimony against him.”

My nod this time was more confident.