Tempting Rever (19 page)

Volder’s gaze sought out Brenda immediately, clear fury poured from his dark eyes all directed at her. He snarled, coming at Brenda fast and with ferocity.

Hyvin Berrr moved to step between Brenda and the advancing Volder. “Hold,” he ordered.

Volder stopped to bow his head. “Hyvin Berrr.”

“Your promised bound has been retrieved.” Hyvin Berrr sounded irritated. “The others will arrive any time.”

Volder’s head snapped up and his dark stare locked on Hyvin Berrr. “I demand a challenge.”

“Denied.”

Shock gripped Volder’s features. “I know he is your son but he stole my woman.”

“She is not yours yet. You have not bound to her.”

“He emptied his seed in her, did he not? She could be with his offspring now that he stole her from me.” Volder was snarling. “It is a great insult to my pride if I have to raise his blood as my own.”

Hyvin Berrr snarled back. “Do you dare say raising a blood offspring of mine would be less than an honor for you?”

Whatever answer Volder was going to say was lost as the chamber doors opened again to allow a lot of Zorn men to walk into the room. There had to be fifty of them who filed silently in and the number of them stunned Brenda. They stood by the walls, surrounding Brenda and the men already present. A group of red-clad Zorn men came in last as they led a heavily chained Rever in, each of the half dozen red-uniformed men held the leads of his chains that acted as leashes.

Brenda blinked back tears as she met Rever’s gaze after taking note of his wet hair that let her know they’d had him shower. He was almost naked and only covered in loose black shorts. They had chained him by all four limbs and there a thick metal collar locked around his throat. She saw rage burn in Rever’s eyes as they stared at each other but she knew it wasn’t directed at her. He looked away from Brenda finally to stare at his father.

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“I demand to challenge Volder for my woman.”

Volder snarled. “Your woman? She is mine! I accept your challenge to the death.”

“Enough!” Hyvin Berrr roared the word. “A challenge is denied. We will do this according to the laws. That is my final word. We follow the law.”

A Zorn man stepped forward. “May I lead the judgment, Hyvin Berrr?”

Nodding, Hyvin Berrr stepped to the center of the room. “You have the floor, Zalk.”

Zalk looked about seventy years old and was older than any of the other males within sight. White streaked his black hair, making him appear striking with the two-toned long mane. He moved to stand next to the Zorn leader.

“I am judge. Bring forth the case. I am willing to listen and give my verdict.”

The doors opened again and a man walked in who Brenda turned to study, recognizing Rever’s brother instantly from the strong family resemblance. As he marched forward she took note of the border guard uniform he wore. He looked a few years younger than Rever when he got close enough to get a better look at. Electric blue eyes identical to Rever’s met hers for just a second before he jerked his gaze away to his father, bowing his head as he stepped next to Coto.

“I apologize for my lateness but I was just informed of the situation.”

Zalk nodded. “It is good to see you, Vhon.”

Coto frowned, shooting a glare at the man next to him. “What are you doing here?”

he whispered.

“Saving Rever’s ass,” Vhon whispered back.

“Don’t,” Coto warned. “Be silent.”

“You.” Vhon smiled. “I know what I am doing.”

Coto groaned softly, a look of distaste on his features.

“Bring forth the dispute,” Zalk said loudly.

Rever didn’t resist when the guards brought him to the center of the room. He glanced at Brenda again as they led him past her. She took a step in his direction but Coto gripped her arm and jerked her back. Rever turned his head and his gaze remained on her while he was led to stand next to his father.

“Release him,” Hyvin Berrr ordered the guards. “He will behave in my chambers.”

“What is going on?” Brenda whispered. “Who are all of these men?”

Coto inched closer, almost touching her arm. “They are judges from the districts here to witness what happens. It is our way.” He kept his voice soft. “They represent all of Zorn and are here to make sure the laws are followed. Zalk is the top judge of all judges and he is also Hyvin Berrr’s council.”

“I will hear the dispute,” Zalk said loudly again when Volder stepped forward.

Brenda noticed Rever was still chained but his guards released the lines so he walked, dragging the chains behind him. Only feet separated Rever from Volder when 98

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they each faced the judge. Both men studied each other. Even from ten feet away Brenda could feel to animosity between both Zorn males.

“Look at me,” Zalk snapped.

Both men complied and Brenda’s heart pounded with fear for Rever.
What if they
did sentence him to some work camp? How bad were they?
They didn’t sound as though they
would be fun and Zorn warriors are tough guys, almost brutal at times.
She was sure something titled a work camp would be difficult.

“If I may,” Hyvin Berrr stated. “I have a fact to add.”

Zalk nodded. “Present.”

Hyvin called forth the men who had been with Volder at Rever’s house. Brenda listened to Hyvin order them to recount what happened and how Volder had treated her. She sensed eyes on her but she didn’t look around at all those Zorn men, not wanting to acknowledge them. She felt damn uncomfortable being the only female in a room full of huge, alien men. She wasn’t afraid for her safety but as the details of her being stripped came out, she felt a blush heat her cheeks.

Hyvin Berrr stepped back. “I ordered Rever to put the human under his protection and he believed that Volder’s behavior was abusive. Rever, did you feel that the human woman was safe in Volder’s care?”

“No,” Rever growled. He turned his head to glower at Volder. “I did not. He doesn’t deserve her.”

“You do?” Volder snarled. “You mounted her, did you not? You have a bound human already and yet you took mine.”

Rever opened his mouth, showing teeth, and growled low. “I mounted her and emptied my seed in her many times. She is mine.”

They snarled at each other.

Zalk roared. “Enough. Hold. You will control your tempers now.”

Both men looked ready to fight but neither moved.

Zalk gave a sharp nod. “The law is clear. The human woman will be given to Volder but the charges against Rever are dropped. He feared for the safety of the alien.”

Zalk glared at Volder. “You will treat the alien with all honors given to a bound Zorn woman. You will—”

“Never keep my woman,” Rever snarled. “I will come for her if you take her from me. We will settle this off Zorn where the law does not apply.”

“I look forward to it,” Volder sneered. “While you find transport to my ship I will mount her over and over.”

Rever roared, lunging at Volder. The guards moved fast, separating the enraged men. Rever’s chains were held by six men while another six surrounded Volder to keep him in place a good ten feet from where Rever was held. Both men glared at each other.

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“Touch my bound and you will die painfully.” It was a promise and a threat issued by Rever. “One bruise on my woman, if I even scent fear on her, you will pay with blood and pain like you have never known.”

“She is promised to me!” Volder thumped his chest with his fist. “She was bound to my brother so by right she is mine.”

“Finally!” Vhon moved suddenly. “I demand to present facts,” he said loudly.

Everyone turned to look at the tall male. Brenda saw Hyvin Berrr’s face and he looked pissed off. “Stop, Vhon. This is a law meeting. This is no time for your pranks.”

Vhon’s shoulders straightened, staring at his father while his lips pressed into a tight line. He looked away to focus on the judge. “Zalk, I demand to present facts. It will change your ruling. I was waiting for Volder to state the human was bound to his brother and now that he has, I am disputing his claim.”

Zalk gave a nod. “Present the proof.”

Lips spread into a wide grin as Vhon turned to face Brenda. She was stunned when the man stared directly at her. He winked—his eyes were identical to Rever’s—a gesture she’d never expected from a Zorn.

“Did Valho mount you, human? Did he plant his seed inside your body?”

Brenda felt her face flame and swore she could feel every male eye in the room on her while they waited for her to tell them if she had sex with Valho. She shook her head.

“Be clear,” Rever’s younger brother ordered her. “Speak louder so all may hear.”

“No,” she said loudly. “He was giving me time to adjust to him but he was killed before we ever had sex.”

Vhon turned around to grin at Zalk. “I state the fact that Volder has no claim on the human since a bounding to his brother never took place. She was unbound and therefore free to choose for herself which male to be with.”

Volder snarled. “Valho took her with intent from her planet after she agreed to bound to him. She has admitted that. Bound or not I have the right to her.”

Brenda silently pleaded with the older Zorn judge to look at her and see how badly she wished he’d rule that Volder had no claim. That would solve everything. Hope flared inside her that the nightmare was about to end.

“He has a good point,” Hyvin Berrr said quickly. “The bounding was not completed.”

Zalk refused to even glance at Brenda, completely ignored her as he seemed to contemplate the matter for a long minute. He took a deep breath. Brenda held hers, her heart pounding in her chest.

“The human agreed to bound, the law is clear and I rule Volder has a claim on her.”

Slumping with disappointment, Brenda blinked back tears, her hope dashed.
It isn’t
fair, damn it.
Hyvin Berrr looked pissed off but he didn’t speak. Brenda looked at Rever seeing the furious glower he shot at the older judge. Volder was the only one who appeared pleased with the ruling.

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Vhon turned his head, staring down the aisle. “Allow them inside,” he called out to the men on the opposite end of it. “My other facts to present are out there.”

Brenda had to shift to the left a little to see the door when it opened and wondered what other plan Rever’s younger brother had come up with to try to help them. He was trying and she prayed whatever else he wanted to introduce into the court proceeding would make Zalk change his mind.

She watched two more of Rever’s relatives come forward, one of them was Ral, the brother she’d met. The other man was almost a replica of Ral and Rever, obviously another brother. A terrified-looking uniformed Zorn male was being hauled in by Ral who held the Zorn by his arm and the back of his neck. The other brother was gripping a highly annoyed Tina by her arm.

“What is the meaning of this?” Volder yelled. “This isn’t fair if the facts being spoken come from his blood. They will lie to help him win.”

Brenda recognized the uniformed Zorn being pushed forward as one of Rever’s guards from his house when they drew close enough for her to get a good look at him.

Ral forced the guard closer and then stopped him.

Ral looked furious. “You dare accuse me of telling a falsehood? You don’t even know why we are here or what is to be said, Volder. I am Argis Ral, a judge, and my honor is never in question. Speak of it again and we will fight.”

“Enough,” Zalk ordered. “Present, Argis Ral. Your honor is not an issue. Proceed.”

“Talk,” Ral ordered the guard, forcing the Zorn to his knees before Zalk. “Tell him the truth now.”

The petrified guard refused to look at Rever. His mouth opened but nothing came out. He visibly swallowed hard, muscles working in his throat. His mouth opened again. “I plead forgiveness, Argis Rever. She teased me until I couldn’t resist her. She

—”

“Shut up, you idiot,” Tina snapped.

Rever frowned, studying the guard for a long minute before his interest shifted to Tina. She glared at Rever with her arms crossed over her chest but she was looking a little paler than usual.

“Don’t look at me like that,” Tina snapped. “This is your damn fault. You fuck me, drag me to this backward-ass planet, and the only damn conversations we have are about how you want to mount me like I’m a damn animal. You’re the dog, not me. All you wanted was to fuck me over and over. I’m a woman with needs that you didn’t meet. I like talking and we’ve got nothing in common.”

Rever’s eyes narrowed but he didn’t say a word. Brenda was thinking up some words to say. She opened her mouth to tell Tina what a bitch she was but Coto gripped her shoulder, shaking his head no at her when she looked up at him. She frowned but closed her mouth, holding still. Her attention returned to the center of the room.

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“I confess,” the guard on his knees growled. “I allowed the human to mount me.

She took me inside her body and it felt so good I could not bring myself to lift her off my lap. I spread my seed into her body.”

The room went eerie silent. Brenda saw shock on many faces when she glanced around the room. She wasn’t surprised in the least that Tina had screwed the guard. She looked at Rever to see his reaction. He actually smiled as his gaze met Brenda’s.
This is
really good news that Tina is a slut judging by Rever’s reaction
, she thought. Brenda bit her lip, waiting to see what would happen and hoping that something good was going to come out of this revelation.

“She broke the bounding agreement first,” Ral said softly. “Tell Zalk when you allowed the human your seed.”

The guard was staring at Rever and he looked confused. “It was the first day that Argis Rever returned to work. I had guard duty in the backyard and she came out, dropped her clothing, and went to her knees before me taking me inside her mouth. I couldn’t tell her no when she ordered me to lie down for her. I wanted her.” He paused.