The Lost Mate

Marissa

Nash didn’t let go of my hand through the entire sentencing hearing. He was agitated and more twitchy than normal, which normally wasn’t that bad when he was with me, and almost completely gone when we were touching.

And he was always touching me. Having him as my mate was kind of like having a guard werewolf, which was really comforting. Since I’d been rescued and he found me, he was my reminder that not everything lurking in the supernatural shadows was as terrifying as the vampires in the Cirque du Sang.

Of course, it hadn’t taken me long to notice that Nash made people nervous, even if I just couldn’t see him that way. He explained it was because he was a rogue most of his life and that ‘conformist pack pups’ couldn’t handle free wolves. The people around Glenshadow didn’t seem to mind him much though, because they were used to it, but whenever we came into contact with anyone outside the pack they would keep a wide berth between themselves and him—and me.

I loved that. I liked that he scared other people, even some vampires, who didn’t know him. It made me feel safe. I didn’t like people crowding around me. I hadn’t been a huge fan of crowds before, and after living captive with vampires for so long...I shivered as memories came back to haunt me.

I could have gotten rid of them, but the idea of being ignorant in a world full of danger was even worse than remembering. I reminded myself that I was in a courtroom, with Nash. With him beside me, almost no one ever dared get too close.

No one knew him like I did. He was belligerent and snarly and apathetic, but underneath all his rough edges and razor sharp teeth, he cared about me, and not just me, but also his brother and sister-by-bond, his niece, and even his pack. And that included the alpha and luna, and the beta who he often butted heads with, although he was never willing to admit to those feelings because everything about packs annoyed him.

I never annoyed him, and I was glad, because I just wanted to make him happy every day in return for the feeling of safety he provided me, and I think I did that. I just wished I could give him what I knew he craved most, Montgomery’s life in his teeth. He had demonstrated just how insanely powerful his jaws were when he was transformed, and I knew that they could do a lot of damage, especially right now when vampires were most weak while the sun was up.

If he got a chance to kill Montgomery, he would tell me not to look, but I wanted to see it.

I didn’t feel even slightly bad for the vampire on trial. Since he’d taken such a creepy liking to me, I’d been better off as his personal feeder than the victims in the cages, but he was still responsible for every bad thing that had happened there for more than a century, and deserved every bit of suffering that I could only hope was coming his way.

The vampire who had the floor, the defense attorney, had been talking for a long time, and the queen of vampires was listening with a displeased expression. In my head, I knew she was supposed to be different than the vampires who had enslaved me and been Montgomery’s guests—the vampire had complained about ‘the royal whore’ often enough in my earshot that I knew exactly what he thought of her—but she still freaked me out. I couldn’t wait until this was over, and I would hopefully never see another vampire again.

The queen raised her voice above the attorney. “I think we’ve heard enough. Both sides have explained themselves over and over ad nauseum, but I’ve made my decision, and my mind’s not changing. He’s had a fair trial and so forth. Bring the accused in front of me.”

A couple of guards dragged Montgomery to the front and shoved him down on the ground on his knees before the queen. I really did like seeing that. How many times had I been forced into submission in a similar position? Now, it was his turn. I smiled and glanced at Nash who was transfixed as he watched the scene unfolding in front of him. I could feel his killing intent through our connection, and I liked that, too. My smile grew.

On my other side, Lillian was leaning into her mate, who had his arm around her and was rubbing her shoulder. They were so sweet, but not as sweet as Nash.

“George Montgomery, also known as Henry Bilford, also known as...” she continued listing his known former aliases until they blurred together, “proprietor of the illegal Cirque du Sang, a entertainment facility that seemed to have the sole purpose of breaking each of my laws in every way imaginable. If I weren’t so irritated, I’d be in awe of your criminal creativity. Today you stand—or rather, kneel—before me, accused of the illegal capture and sale of blood slaves as laid out as illegal in the accords, and so many other crimes I couldn’t be bothered to list them all again. Do you have anything to say for yourself?”

“You’ve got no authority over me, whore. The accords are meaningless restrictions placed on us by weaker species in a petty attempt to curtail us in our role as their natural superiors, and I have no regrets.” I shivered at the memories that came with the sound of his voice, but Nash’s bloodlust was strong enough to overwhelm my fear through the link.

The queen stood up abruptly from her ornate chair and strode forward, using the toe of her shoe under his chin to force his head up to look at her. “You know, someone grossly more intelligent than you—that is, most of the living and undead populations—once said, ‘If men were angels, no government would be necessary...’ and he was absolutely right. You, Montgomery, are far from an angel, but rather a slug of the lowest order, and I am your ruler, your government, and your natural superior, whether you like it or not. And the proof is that I’m the one standing, and you’re the one at my feet.”

He spat towards her feet, but she continued as if she didn’t even notice the insult. “And it just so happens your continued existence offends me. You’ve had your fair trial, you were proven guilty, and so, obviously, I’m sentencing you to death for the slaughter of innocents, and all your myriad other crimes.”

“Natural superior? You belong on your back, Katrina,” he snapped, and then dissolved into rapid French.

Before the queen could make a command, Nash released my hand as he leapt from his seat. He vaulted over the barrier separating the onlookers from the proceedings and rushed towards the prone vampire, his growl breaking the silence as he transformed in midair. I watched transfixed, the feeling of his vengeful fury hitting me like a soothing spray on a hot day. It felt good.

Luna Carrie jumped to her feet before he reached his target and said, “Nash, stop at once!” her voice filled with the alpha authority I had heard so much about but had seldom witnessed. I was disappointed I was seeing it now. I had wanted to see Nash rip Montgomery apart.

Nash stopped, and he turned his head to shoot Luna Carrie a resentful expression. She stared back at him sternly, not breaking eye contact. I didn’t need the feelings washing through our link to know he felt disappointment and frustration at being stopped short of his goal.

The vampire queen tapped her chin as if lost in thought. “I wasn’t quite set on the method of death, but you know, death by snarling werewolf does seem rather unpleasantly poetic.”

One of the council vampires stood up, sputtering. “Your Majesty, death by werewolf is not one of the sanctioned punishments for traitors—”

She turned her head towards the interruption, annoyance clear on her face. “Do you have any tricks other than being a killjoy, Milton?”

“We must conform to the set standards of law if we are to—”

She crossed her arms. “Montgomery was only allowed to persist in his crimes against other kinds of creatures for so long because of our failure to stop him, and of all creatures we were the least harmed. I say we let one affected by his crime have the satisfaction. His death is well justified by the law, so does the method really matter?”

The queen turned towards the observers. “Does anyone besides my council have an objection to letting this wolf do the honours? Or any other volunteers?”

It was so silent I could have heard a pin drop if it wasn’t for Montgomery’s loud complaints.

The queen looked at my mate. “Then you may do it, Nash Tyndale, but make very sure he’s dead.”

Nash grinned. Other people looked unnerved by it, but my heart pounded pleasingly at his reaction.

“Oh! And do it out in the courtyard. Blood is a bother for the janitorial staff. Take him outside.”

At her command, several of the guards grabbed Montgomery and started dragging him while he struggled, his movements as futile as mine had been while he had used me over and over again.

Nash was on their heels, an unusual bounce in his gait as he followed them. I slipped through the crowd as I hurried to catch up with him. When I was close enough I grabbed his arm.

“You should stay here with Max and Lillian, won’t want to see this.”

“I do want to see this,” I countered.

He shrugged. “Suit yourself, Mar.”

Montgomery was secured to a pole by a rope, his arms tied behind his back. He didn’t have a chance to defend himself as Nash rushed him. I watched, transfixed, as my werewolf mate ripped him apart slowly, piece by piece, while the vampire cried for mercy. I didn’t care about his pleas any more than Nash did. How many times had I cried for mercy only to be ignored? How many other people’s screams had I heard while he had held me against my will?

By the time Nash was done, my abuser slumped there, his shoulders sagging forward, barely conscious.

Somewhere behind me in the crowd that had gathered to watch the gory spectacle, the vampire queen mused, “It’s truly a shame we had to try Wulfric in absentia, because this would have been even more delightfully demeaning for him.”

“He will continue to be a problem,” agreed the solemn vampire beside her.

“He always has been.” She sighed. “But at least we’re about to be down by one. And do remind me to have him ripped apart by wolves when we finally do catch him, won’t you?”

As if on cue, Nash ripped out Montgomery’s throat.

I exhaled slowly, relief filling my body, even with so many vampires around me. He was gone, his eyes lifeless and staring towards me as his head sagged at a slightly unnatural angle. I stared at him, wanting to remember the way he looked now, defeated and broken on the ground. I was safe from him, forever.

Nash came to me, blood dripping from his maw and splattered on his fur. I didn’t care, wrapping my arms around his neck and threading my fingers into his fur.

“You’re getting all bloody.”

“I don’t care. Maybe I like it.”

“Savage human.” It was a compliment. The affection in his tone made me feel warm and appreciated.

“It means he can’t ever hurt me again.”

“Yeah. I wanted to drag it out more, but I didn’t want to risk something going wrong.” He sounded a bit disappointed with the outcome.

I held him more tightly, and he made a wolfish chuckling sound at my clinginess.

“Thank you, Nash. I feel safe now.”

He nuzzled his face more firmly against my neck. Now we just had to get home to the security of Glenshadow.