Page 87 of The Bodyguard and the Alpha (Witch Twins #2)

Bastien

I paced my cell, waiting for the sign that it was time to get out of here.

The press conference had started a short while ago. With their voices amplified by speakers, it was easy for me to hear what Luc and my mother were saying. That Veder had illegally had my mate interrogated.

An unfamiliar voice spoke up. “With due respect. These are serious allegations. Do you have any proof?” A reporter.

“I was hoping you’d ask that.” My brother sounded smug. “Sam, please ask our guest to come to the podium.”

I paused in my pacing, wondering what scheme my clever brother had cooked up. There was a short silence, then my brother spoke into the microphone. “This is Silvio Barrone. He is going to confess to his illegal actions under Veder’s instructions.”

My lips drew back in a snarl. Silvio fucking Barrone. With the Council session Veder had ambushed me with, and my incarceration immediately after, I’d briefly forgotten about him.

But my brother hadn’t.

Barrone began his confession, his words spilling out of him in a torrent. My snarl changed to silent laughter. Serves you right asswipe. You fucked around with my mate. And the Bowden family will fuck around with you.

Shouts and jeers came from the crowd. Good, they were getting riled up. The guards would be watching. On alert in case the crowd rioted and tried to storm the front gates.

My attention on the conference was interrupted when my little Pixie’s nervousness filtered down the bond. Some nerves were good. They stopped a person from being complacent. But this was more than that. My mate’s anxiety was threatening to suffocate her.

Not on my watch.

Down the bond I soothed her. Reminding her of her power. Of the power Caly and my dad also held. They were a kick-ass team. Whatever happened, they would be able to handle it.

When her nerves settled, I tuned back into the press conference.

The sound of the crowd was a roar. Like the rumble of thunder of an approaching storm. I’d missed something.

I didn’t know the exact details of what they’d planned, but going from the reaction of the crowd, it was spectacular.

Mum’s voice cut over the crowd. “Please, folks. You know me. Many of you voted for me. I’m still that person. I might look different but I’m still myself.”

The sound quietened, but didn’t stop completely. Then someone shouted, “You’re a monster.”

“But I’m a civilised monster,” mum quipped and someone laughed. It was a high, nervous sound, but it was better than a scream of fear.

My brother’s voice cut through the noise of the crowd. “As you can see, we retain our intelligence and capacity for rational thought when we shift into our other form. Your President, Bastien Bowden is my older brother. He is a Shifter, yes. But he isn’t ruled by his Beast.”

Not now, anyway. He was telling the truth, very carefully. I wasn’t ruled by my Beast now.

The crowd had quietened. He had them. Gratitude and fierce pride swelled in my chest. For me, my brother and mother had given up their privacy. The secrecy we’d always maintained about the nature of our Beasts.

Thirty seconds .

Electra’s voice down the bond spurred me back into motion. I spun towards the wall. As soon as she told me to move, I would break down the wall like paper. It was too long since she had been in my arms.

I’m ready, baby . See you soon .