Tempting Rever (10 page)

“I don’t smell any males on her.” His cold eyes locked on her. “When was the last time you let a male mount you?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She was almost sobbing.

Had Volder found out that I had sex with Rever? Would he try to kill him? Who had told
this man about them? Only Ali had guessed—unless someone at the medical center had told
Volder, but Rever had assured me that no one would.
Her thoughts were racing.

Brenda trusted Ali and believed she wouldn’t betray her.
Volder hadn’t mentioned
Rever so the informant must not have told him who had touched me. I’ll die before I tell him it
was Rever. He can kill me before I put Rever in danger.
Hot tears filled Brenda’s eyes, 49

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knowing she was probably going to die as she mentally tried to prepare herself for the worst.

The sound of thundering footsteps made Brenda turn her head seeing three of Rever’s guards rush into the house. They took in the scene of Volder hovering over her, his two men on their knees by her head holding her down and growled, reaching for their weapons.

“Back off,” Volder ordered them.

One of Rever’s men looked furious as he stepped forward. “Release the human.”

Volder snarled. “She is my human and I am inspecting her. Get out.”

A loud gasp broke the tense silence. “Brenda!”

Ali tried to rush to her aid but the man holding Brenda’s bag suddenly grabbed Ali’s arm, jerking her back to hold her in place. Ali turned, snarling at the man, and struggled in an attempt to jerk away from his hold, actually breaking free. She lunged forward again trying to get to Brenda but Volder’s man lunged after her, grabbed Ali by the back of her neck and just jerked her against his body, to hold her there in place in front of him. Pain etched on Ali’s face as she went on her tiptoes where the man forced her so she couldn’t fight.

Volder growled. “We will take the human back to the ship.” He glared down at Brenda. “Then you will confess to me the names of the males you let mount you while you shamed my name until I came for you. I will hunt down every one of them and they will die painfully for touching what is mine. Then you will be punished.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Brenda whispered. “Let me go.”

“Release the human,” one of Rever’s guards ordered. “She is under Argis Rever’s protection.”

Volder snarled. “She is my human. Drop your weapons now.”

“What is going on here?” A deep voice snarled from the doorway.

Brenda twisted her head, trying to see around one of Volder’s men holding her, only to glimpse Rever. Fury hit his features a split second before a roar tore through the room. He moved out of her sight for seconds until he was throwing one of the men who held her down away from her, literally tossing the man across the room, sending him crashing into a table that shattered under the man’s weight.

Volder released her, leaping backward out of the way of the enraged Rever. Brenda was released by the other man as he backed away, getting to his feet. She rolled off the table, falling off the other side, slamming hard on her knees in a crouch. She shoved down her shirt, trying frantically to cover her exposed girl parts, and watched Rever and Volder face off, rage etched on both men’s faces.

“You came to attack my home?” Rever was snarling so badly it was hard to make out his words. Another roar tore from his throat. “How dare you.”

Volder showed sharp teeth, growling. “I came to collect my human. I was not attacking your household, Argis.”

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Ali was suddenly beside Brenda, crouched next to her. She had grabbed a shirt from the bag of clothes and shoved the material over Brenda’s exposed thighs. Shaking badly, Brenda gripped the fabric to hold it in place as hot tears spilled down her cheeks.

She was in shock as she stared in terror at Rever and Volder realizing they were going to fight.

“I saw what you were doing. How dare you strip her and have males hold her down. What is wrong with you?” Rever snarled again, glaring into Volder’s eyes.

“What do you think you are doing? I should kill you for this.”

Volder took a step back, sucked in a deep breath, and let his head lower until his gaze fell to Rever’s chest. The man took another step back from Rever to distance himself and locked his hands behind his back.

“I apologize, Argis Rever. I am very angry and I meant no insult. I came to collect my future bound from your protection. Thank you for keeping her safe for me.” Volder glanced up at one of his men. “Get her. We’re leaving.”

Rever turned his head, glaring at the man who moved to grab Brenda. “Don’t touch her.” Rever’s head snapped back around, focusing his attention again on Volder.

“Explain your abuse now.”

Volder snarled as his head jerked up to shoot a dirty look at Rever. “My abuse? You are supposed to protect my future bound but instead you allow her to shame my name.” His head lowered as he took some deep breaths. “Thank you for housing the human but I will take her now and go. I know you are very busy and I don’t blame you for her actions. As soon as I heard what she was doing to shame me I came as fast as my ship would allow.”

Brenda watched Volder turn his attention on her, unable to mistake the anger and hatred that poured out of him all directed right at her. She shook with terror knowing that he probably wanted to kill her. Ali put her arms around her trying to comfort Brenda where she was crouched next to her, between the coffee table and the couch.

Movement made Brenda tear her fearful look away from Volder and drew her attention to Rever who turned his head, his furious gaze locking on Brenda. She saw confusion there for an instant before Rever turned to Volder.

“Explain.” Rever wasn’t snarling anymore but his tone was furious. “What are you talking about? She has been a perfect guest in my home and she has caused no shame.”

Volder looked up, glaring at Rever. “You are too busy to be aware of the human’s actions but I have my reports. She will be dealt with after she confesses to her crimes, the males involved will be hunted down, and she will be punished appropriately but no serious harm will come to her. I would never abuse a woman but she will regret the shame she has caused me.” Volder glared at Brenda. “I have given my word to bound to you as distasteful as that is but I will be the only male who mounts you while you breed my children. If you crave to touch males so much you will service my chosen few aboard my ship with your tongue.” He almost spat the words. “Let us see how eager you are for other males once my men are done with you.”

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Rever roared. “NO!”

Volder backed up, shocked, staring wide-eyed at Rever. “This is no concern of yours, Argis Rever. I have come to collect it.”

“It?” Rever was snarling again. “She is a woman. Get out of my home now.”

Volder hesitated. “Fine.” He jerked his head at one of his men. “Get her.”

Rever moved, backing up to block Volder’s men from reaching Brenda. “You are not taking her.”

Volder gasped. “You can’t stop me. I have come to collect the human that was my brother’s bound and she belongs to me now by right.”

“You are not taking her. She is not a house helper you can offer up to your males for her to tongue. She is not to be abused in any way.” Rever’s hands fisted at his side.

“You come into my home, accuse her of crimes you have refused to state, and you had her held down while you attacked her. You will leave my home without her and she will remain here under my protection.”

“She is mine.” Volder raged. “You have no right to refuse me from leaving with her and you are overstepping your authority.”

“You want authority?” Rever growled. “Ali, call Ral now and tell him to get here with his guards. He is the local judge so we will let him decide.”

“He’s your brother,” Volder snarled. “I want someone else.”

“He is the judge in matters of dispute and he will do whatever the law dictates in this situation.”

Ali released Brenda, getting to her feet to run out of the room. Brenda huddled on the floor, gripping the shirt that was covering her bare lap, and shook with fear. If this judge guy agreed with Volder he was going to take her away. That concept sent pure terror flooding through her.

Ali returned in less than a minute gripping a blanket in her arms. She walked quickly, wrapping it around Brenda’s body and she dropped to her knees on the floor next to her again.

“He is on his way. I did not explain since I have no idea what is going on,” Ali sounded frightened. “He will be here in minutes.”

Rever nodded, glaring at Volder.

“This is not fair,” Volder growled at Rever. “She is mine.”

“You abused her in my home while she was under my protection.”

“I inspected her. It wasn’t abuse.”

“You had males hold her down while you exposed your future bound’s body to other males and my guards.” Another snarl tore from Rever. “You flaunt it to me what you intend to do to her when you get her to your ship and that would be abuse. Bound women are not shared with other males.”

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“They won’t mount her but she can give them release. She is not worthy of being bound after she brought shame to my name.”

“How?” Rever looked ready to hit the other man. “What are your charges? Tell me.”

“Rever?”

Dread hit Brenda as Tina walked into the living room wearing a long tunic shirt to her knees. The woman was frowning, her arms crossed over her chest, and she looked pissed off.

“Go to our room,” Rever ordered her.

“Oh, hell no.” Tina walked farther into the living room, ignoring the guards and Volder’s men to glare at Rever before turning her attention on Volder. “Are you here to collect her?”

“Yes.” Volder turned his head, looking at Tina. “She is mine but Argis Rever is refusing to let me take the human.”

“Damn it, Rever,” Tina spun on him. “I want that bitch gone. Let this guy take her so we’ll be rid of the freeloader. What is your problem?”

“Tina,” Rever warned. “Stay out of this. I told you to go to our room.”

Angry green eyes glittered. “I won’t. I’m your wife and this guy is willing to take that rude bitch out of our home. What is your damn problem?”

Rever moved fast, gripping Tina’s arm and spun her around. “Go to our room now.

Do you see the tension? If a fight breaks out I want you safe.”

Tina finally realized that Volder’s men and Rever’s were in a standoff. Rever released her, moving back between Brenda and Volder’s men to protect her. Tina hesitated for a few seconds before fleeing the room.

“We will wait for the judge to get here and he will decide.” Rever crossed his arms over his chest.

“He is your brother,” Volder snapped. “That is not fair.”

“Ral is a fair judge. Do you wish to insult an Argis?” Rever’s black eyebrow arched, his eyes burned with rage, silently daring the other man to do just that.

Volder growled but didn’t voice a protest again.

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The man who walked into the room with four large Zorn security guards in black uniforms closely resembled Rever, looking angry as he silently observed the room.

Brenda met his gaze as the man studied her for long seconds, sniffed the air, his eyes narrowing on her, took notice of Ali crouching next to her, and finally turned his full attention on Rever.

“What is going on?” His voice even sounded very similar to Rever’s.

“Argis Rever is refusing to allow me to take my promised bound human, Argis Ral.” Volder had calmed enough to not snarl.

“He has accused her of shaming him,” Rever growled, obviously still pissed off. “I walked into my home to see him and two of his men holding her down, Ral. They had stripped her bare from the waist down exposing her body to their view. He informed me that he is going to share her with his men when he takes her to his ship.”

The big Zorn named Ral visibly paled in shock as his bright blue eyes narrowed on Volder. “Is this true? She is human. I am aware that Valho bound to her and that he died. We are sorry for your loss. Valho was a well-respected friend of mine. I was told you had accepted a bounding agreement to this woman and know that she is no house helper. You won’t share her with other males.”

“She has shamed my name.”

“How?” Rever took a menacing step forward. “He keeps saying that but he has refused to state why he believes it.”

Straightening his shoulders, Volder glared at Rever. “I have reports of her behavior, of exposing her body to males and she has let many of them mount her.”

“That is not true,” Rever snarled. “What reports? Ali? Stand up now. You have spent all your time with Brenda. Tell him the truth.”

Ali got up slowly to her feet looking frightened. “That is not true, Volder. Brenda only left the house once and that was when Argis Rever took her shopping. She has had no other contact with males except for Argis Rever. She has not even spoken to the guards.”

A frown marred Volder’s features. “I have my reports.”

“Who told you this?” Rever inched closer, looking furious.

Volder swallowed. “It was your own bound, Argis Rever. Your human contacted me on my ship to tell me that my human was behaving this way and your bound stated she witnessed males mounting my future bound in the backyard of your home when you were not present to prevent it. Your bound did not want to shame you by telling 54

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you so she contacted me to come get my human before word got out that caused shame to us both.”

Shock tore through the room. Brenda had the urge to kill a tall, slim, lying red headed bitch who had told Volder a bunch of bullshit lies.

“TINA!” Rever roared her name.

In minutes a pale Tina walked out of the hallway with her arms crossed over her breasts, looking nervous. “Yes? You shouted?”

Rever hesitated before slowly stalking toward her. “You contacted Volder on his ship? You lied to him?”