Page 73 of The Bodyguard and the Alpha (Witch Twins #2)

Electra

When Bastien’s message came down the bond I stiffened in shock.

“Electra?”

“Luc! Bastien’s been set up. He says he needs the lawyers.”

Luc frowned and pushed his chair back, rising gracefully to his full height.

“Fuck. Tell him I’m on it.” I replied to Bastien as Luc pulled his phone out of his pocket, pressing a number .

Trust me , Bastien said. I did trust him, but this was the biggest challenge he’d ever faced. What if Veder had outsmarted him?

The pings in my head were now so bad I leant forward, putting my arms on the table, and resting my aching head on my wrists. I could hear Luc speaking to the lawyer.

“Sims?” I couldn’t hear the reply, but Luc continued. “Get to the Council headquarters to assist the President. Take the draft documents.” He thumbed the call off, then he grunted. I cracked open one eye to see him whirl in place, staring at the door.

“What’s going on?” My words were slurring like I was drunk.

“Billy’s coming and he’s running.”

Luc was alert but not concerned. I had to take that as a good thing.

But when Billy lurched into the room, his expression told a different story. “Turn on the news,” he gasped. “There’s been a big development. It’s bad.”

I pulled myself to sitting. In one long stride, Luc was at the remote by the wall, pressing buttons.

The screen brightened and a news channel appeared. A newcaster sat behind a desk and a small background screen showed a journalist standing outside the Council headquarters. The newscaster began to speak.

“Just breaking. Sensational news from the Council. Maximilian Veder, leader of the Humans First party in the Council has just issued a statement that he has been appointed as Acting President of the Council. Bastien Bowden, the popular President of the Council, who has held power for a historic two terms, has been impeached on suspicion of committing a forced mate bond.”

I felt the blood drain from my face. Luc and I stared at each other, and I knew his expression of shock matched my own. Fuck, I should have gone with him. I knew it.

The picture changed. Photographs of Bastien and me appeared on the screen.

The newscaster kept speaking and I turned my disbelieving eyes back to the screen. “Our journalist Jocasta Cummins is at the Council building right now. Do you have any updates for us, Jocasta?”

The journalist, wrapped in a pea coat against the weather, held the microphone to her mouth. “We don’t have any further information at this time. The newly appointed Acting President hasn’t yet spoken to the press, but we believe he will be addressing the media tomorrow.”

The screen reverted to the journalist in the newsroom.

“As soon as we have further information from the Council we’ll revert to Jocasta.

Let me summarise what we know so far about this sensational story.

The President recently issued his own statement that he had recently mated his long-time bodyguard, Electra Ferrera.

The President’s statement said that details of their courting were kept private due to the working relationship between the two and their wish for the media to respect their privacy. ”

The newscaster paused. Her next words were devastating.

“There has been no further comment from the Palace today. If proven the offence of a forced mate bond carries a penalty of forced breaking of the mate bond and the Shifter will be put to death.”

Oh gods.

A cold sweat broke out on my skin. Trembling fingers went to my mouth.

“Take a breath before you pass out,” Luc growled.

“I’m alright,” I said automatically.

He barked a humourless laugh. “Don’t try to fool me. It doesn’t work.”

I shut my eyes. This was a nightmare. Bastien and I had finally sorted out our issues and now Humans First were trying to rip him away from me. I was so sick of this bullshit.

Luc’s voice was gentle in my ear. “There’s no point sitting around here while we wait for updates. Let’s go and find my mate and I’ll get some food into you. My brother will kill me if I let you skip meals.”

Luc’s phone buzzed with a text as he helped me up. His eyebrows rose when he read it. “And it appears that my parents will be joining us.”

Well, fuck.