Bearly Midnight (Midnight, Mississippi Book 1) by Kelex

Author:Kelex [Kelex]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Twisted E-Publishing, LLC
Published: 2017-08-20T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

Colm felt himself dragged along a corridor. His body could barely move and was it not for the two guards on either side of him, he’d have been a lump of flesh on the floor. He lifted his head as much as he could and saw they were entering the king’s chambers.

The guards dropped him on the marble as soon as they were before the dais.

“The hillbilly spy. Now I add illegal smuggler to the names I have for you. That’s some impressive list you have there,” the king said as he looked down at Colm.

Colm tried to move his lips and make words come from them, but he wasn’t quite there yet.

“Ma—te,” he whispered, as it was all he had in him.

He cast a look around, searching for help, and could only look on in horror at his human in cuffs.

“The typical punishment for smuggling is exile—and a mind wiping for your human friend. But considering your stature—given the fact you were on your way to being a king’s guardsman—I wonder if I shouldn’t hold you doubly accountable.”

“I asked him to guard you,” Eilam spoke up.

“And it makes me second guess your place as head of my security,” the monarch cried. “Perhaps you should also be sitting beside Colm and receiving my judgment.”

“If that’s what you wish—then do it,” Eilam demanded.

“You think I won’t?” the king asked, rising to his feet.

Colm looked to Eilam, pleading with the man not to rile the king up even more.

“They’re mates,” Eilam said to the king. “He was trying to protect his mate.”

The king’s anger seemed to dissipate some.

“Mate or no, he broke the law,” the king said. “I could hang him for what he’s done.”

“No!” came a cry from behind them.

“Theis?” the king asked, frowning. “Stay out of this.”

“You can’t kill him,” Theis demanded. “Exile them… but don’t kill him or the human.”

“And why should I be lenient on these two?” the king asked.

“If I could have a moment of private audience,” Theis asked.

“No. I want to know—here and now—what reason would you have to save these two? And why you disobey me like this.”

Theis was silent a few heartbeats.

Colm’s stomach was in his throat. Would Theis be honest now, when it mattered most?

“They’re my mates. My triad,” Theis answered.

Colm’s eyes closed in relief.

“Colm smuggled the human into Midnight… because he’s our mate. He didn’t want to let the man go.”

The king was silent a moment. “This isn’t how we do things in Midnight,” he finally said. “We don’t bend rules on a whim.”

“He’s a good man,” Eilam said. “Who made a poor choice.”

“Isn’t that what many criminals are?” the king said. “Good men who make bad decisions? It doesn’t mean I should take their crimes any lighter.” He glanced at Eilam. “I can’t appear weak. Especially now.”

Why especially now? Colm lifted his stare to Eilam, who shook his head.

“I have been nothing but loyal to you,” Theis said. Colm turned and met the male’s stare and saw the desperation in Theis’ eyes… heard it in his voice.

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