and get going. We’re due in court in half an hour and we don’t want to be late. Especially when Judge Thoughtgood has so generously agreed to let you go.”
“Imani…” This time he tried reaching out mentally, using the link that had been formed when they bonded. But he felt her mental rejection like a slap in the face.
“Don’t!” she sent. Aloud, she said, “Get dressed. In your regular trousers—nothing crotchless today. We’re going to court, not a fancy party.”
“All right.” J’are couldn’t say anything else. He had never felt so much shame, so much remorse, in his life. To think that he had hurt the female he loved so deeply—to think that he had run her down in the jungle and raped and impregnated her against her will…
It was almost more than his mind could take.
I’m to blame, he thought as he got out of bed and pulled on the tight black leather trousers. It doesn’t matter that it was my feral side that did it—he’s part of me. A part I failed to control. I hurt her and now she’ll hate me forever.
There was a darkness gathering inside him—a cloud of shame hovering over his head.
I ought to be punished…ought to be put to death for what I did, he thought, looking at Imani’s lovely, tear-streaked face. She came to save me—to be my Defender—and look what I did. Look how I repaid her.
This time Imani’s mental voice didn’t contradict his dark thoughts. Either she wasn’t listening, or she agreed with him.
J’are was afraid to know which it was.
Thirty-Eight
Judge Thoughtgood’s hair was still purple this morning and it looked a bit wilted. The judge, herself, looked wilted as well, Imani thought. Like she was fighting a fierce hangover. She was glad she hadn’t taken more than a sip of her drink at the party last night—clearly overindulgence led to pain.
Overindulgence in all kinds of things leads to pain, Imani, whispered a little voice in the back of her head. She remembered the intense pleasure she’d felt the night before when J’are had been inside her, bonding her to him. She’d had the strongest orgasms she’d ever known when the big Nightwalker was taking her…but now it was time to pay the price.
And the cost was the loss of her family and career and spending the rest of her life on a strange planet.
That’s a pretty hefty price tag for a one-night stand, whispered the same little voice.
Only it wasn’t a one-night stand—the Kindred didn’t do one-night stands, Imani reminded herself. She and J’are were stuck together for life and she didn’t know how to feel about that.
She wanted to hate the big Kindred, who was slumped beside her, a look of misery on his face—wanted to despise him for what had happened between them. And honestly, part of her did hate him…but she hated herself too. Hated the way she’d been so eager to spread her legs for him, the way she hadn’t even tried to get away when he was preparing to breed her. She hadn’t tried to fight or run or hide, she’d just gotten to her hands and knees and spread her legs for his cock…
“Enough,” Imani muttered to herself. It was time to stop thinking of what had happened last night and concentrate on what was about to happen here in court. She would need all her wits about her if she was going to do what she had planned.
Because this wasn’t going to be just a simple hearing to formalize J’are’s freedom—Imani wanted to see justice done—no matter what it cost her.
She looked to the other side of the courtroom and caught sight of Lady Bittlebum, sitting with the Prosecutor and several of her morphids. The lemon-haired Mistress caught her looking and shot Imani a knowing smile that was more like a smirk.
You don’t dare talk, that smile said. Because if you do I’ll let everyone know what you did. Everyone, including the judge.
Imani looked away and lifted her chin. She would not be intimidated—would not be blackmailed. If this was the last case she was ever going to get to try, the last time she went to court, well then, she was damn well going to make it count!
“Now, then…” Judge Thoughtgood put a hand to her wilted purple hair and winced. “Let’s make this quick.”
“Before we begin, your Honor, I have something to say,” Imani said.
“You do, do you?”
Judge Thoughtgood frowned at her and from the other side of the courtroom,