8. Chapter Eight

Chapter Eight

T he tension in the room was high. Zylar could see that his mate meant what she said. The pressure she'd been living under was killing her. There was no need to worry that he or some other faceless, nameless entity would do the deed. The longer she went, the closer she got to death. That was one thing a healer protected against in his empath mate. She needed release and absolution, and he was going to give it to her.

He reached down and picked her up, seating himself on the couch, and placing her over his legs. She looked good and felt good there. He pulled up the back of the ridiculous shirt she was wearing. Her breath caught and stuttered before she started breathing at a faster rate. He didn't know if it was because he exposed her beautiful curves or because he was exposing his claws. He hoped it was the first and not the second.

He looked at his claws, watching them change from blunt to sharp enough to get her attention without breaking her delicate skin or hurting her. The pads of his fingers slid down her back, making her squirm. Then he used his claws to scratch lightly at her skin. Her breath hitched, making her heart beat faster. He caught just a hint of a moan that his mate cut off through those teeth and lips. The shadow of a smile played around his mouth. A smile was something the Diza indulged in before. He couldn't wait to see how the human females would influence the direction his planet was growing in. That was an afterthought, one he'd talk about with his cousins over a cold tankard of Zylothin.

She tensed when his hand cupped the delectable globes of her ass. They would fill both of his large hands nicely. Now it was time to strip her pants and panties. The pants were unappealing as if she were trying to keep from being looked at. He doubted it worked. One look at her perfectly rounded face with glowing brown skin and eyes that hinted at being blue was enough to capture any male's attention. If a male passed her on the street without a second look, Zylar might want to examine him to see what was wrong. Since she was his mate, he'd allow all those males who didn't look twice at her to live. The one who would die is the one who saw an unprotected empath and took advantage of her. That too was for later. Now his mate needed all his attention.

He pulled her pants down, exposing the rose-colored thong playing peek-a-boo on her ass. It was like a bonus for being patient with the horrid clothes hiding the beauty underneath. He couldn't stop himself from caressing the globes of her ass and tracing the lace of the thong she was wearing.

He heard a small purr come from her. His hand kept caressing her back while his other hand lifted, hovering over her perfect ass. He brought it down quickly, hearing it crack against her ass as she cried out.

Zylar pushed down the bile trying to rise. He was doing the right thing for his mate, even if it hurt his heart. He slapped her twice more in quick succession. The first brought a startled yelp from her and the second a cry. Her beautiful ass was growing tender under his hand faster than he thought.

"Tell me what you did now." He smacked her again. It sounded like a crack across her ass and he could see the brown skin slowly tinting to red. The voice that he used had been demanding and uncaring. She didn't need compassion, not yet. That didn't stop him from caressing her fiery cheeks.

"My cousins saved me from their father." She was sniffling. The real crying would start soon. "I thought everything was gonna be okay. It was great for the first week or two. I was living with Jenna, my oldest cousin, and it was fun. She makes me feel good. I know it's strange, but when I'm around her I can do anything. Then one day I went to the mall. God, how I wish that day never happened. There was this guy who was following me. At first, I thought it was my imagination."

Zylar's hand cracked down over her ass again. "Finish." She wanted to distract him. He knew the memories hurt. They were buried deeply in her, this male's motivation was obvious to him as the Tan-ge thought to ruin Amelia, to kill her before she could find her monster mate. His grin was evil. The Tan-ge loved to call the Diza monsters. He was going to kill him. He could feel his claws wanting to burst free to impale him, but they would have to wait. Now he needed to extract his mate from the quagmire-infested waters trying to drown her.

"I headed for one of the security guards, but he caught me before I made it." She choked the words out like they were clawing at her throat to stay where they were. "He threw me against the wall and demanded I look into his eyes, or he would kill me. His hand around my throat told me he was serious." The window to the soul. The humans had that right. Especially for an empath. Amelia didn't need her eyes to connect with another, but if someone stronger and more devious came along, he could find his way into her psyche and soul by boring his gaze into hers.

"Then he demanded." The tears started, the pain tearing her apart. "That I help them trap Jenna." She stopped wiping at the snot coming from her nose. Zylar stripped the uninspiring shirt over her head and handed it to her. He was going to make sure she never wore it again.

"I dragged my feet, trying to find a way out. Each time I tried to warn Jenna, I couldn't, I tried. I swear I tried!" She screamed. Her body started moving like it was trying to tear itself apart.

Zylar's hand came down harder on her ass. Each smack reverberated through the room and her body, making her shake. Ten quick deadly smacks that had her hanging limp over his lap. Whatever tried to kill her was gone for now.

"Go on," his voice was softer this time. He buried the compulsion deeply, knowing his rage at the Tan-ge who did this wouldn't help his mate.

"When Jenna met SaKura they told me to wait. They were hoping for a way to kill him while giving Jenna to Jeffrey." She hiccupped and went silent.

"Is there anything else? Not just about your cousins, but anything." Her shoulders tensed and he waited.

"I think my uncle killed my parents. My mom was his sister, but he had her killed. Then my dad's family, who shunned him, said that if I wanted to continue to be part of the family I would have to shun him and my mother. They would become non-people who I would never speak of again. It was like they never existed. All the pictures of my dad were gone. When I asked where they went, they said they burned them. Who does that? They took everything from my father except the two people he loved the most. My mother and me. I thought we could get over that, but then my grandfather died, and I learned that in my family we had to kiss the ring of the patriarch when he was in his coffin. They said the ring would glow, announcing the new patriarch or matriarch of the family. I refused. They shunned me. The only family I have left is Jenna and Bella and they hate me."

"What part of your family do you want to reunite with?"

"Jenna and Bella." Her voice was small, as if he were asking her a question that could never happen.

"Your actions with the Astor family were honorable and you're to be commended for it." Her body loosened with release. Zylar told her what she knew, but feared she was clinging to for the sake of her mind.

His mind was on what the Tan-ge did to his mate, although he took a moment to realize that the power rolling through his mate came from her father's line. He didn't question why the male hadn't trained his daughter because he was deceased, but he wasn't happy with her father.

"Amelia, I don't want you looking into anyone's eyes until you learn to shield."

"What? I can—" He spanked her like a spoiled child. He heard the tears and the painful agreement with him. She'd been spoiled and loved, but unlike others, she needed discipline because of what she was, not who she was.

He spanked her again with five hard smacks. This time, he didn't say anything. He was inside of the quagmire that made up her empath emotions. She didn't need his voice; he could directly reach the glamor the Tan-ge wrapped his commands in. He used the vicious smacks on her ass to hide the pain of him ripping the glamor away.

Step one was done. His fragile mate couldn't take anymore today. He reached for the cooling salve he had sitting on the end of the couch. The scent of the black flower that grew on his planet permeated the room. He could tell it was doing its job when Amelia sighed and melted onto his legs. The black laith flower was unique in that it wouldn't grow for everyone. If it found favor with you, then it would bless you with its healing magic. There were many times when he accused the flower of being an empath. He could almost hear it in his head, laughing. The scent reminded him of earth's roses tinged with vanilla. It was calming and would take most of the inflammation out of her ass, leaving just enough to remind her of what happened tonight.

He spread it on her cheeks and the more area he covered the lazier she became. Her jaw cracked and yawns came from her. Once he massaged the salve in and closed the lid, he picked up his mate. She didn't know who he was, but that didn't stop her from cuddling in his arms. Her head lie against his chest as he carried her through the door to his bedroom.

He pulled the covers back and laid her on the bed. Amelia wore her rose-colored thong and matching bra. Her eyes felt like weights, and she barely opened them to watch as Zylar stripped and joined her on the bed. Another wide-open jaw-cracking yawn came, with her eyes drifting shut before she heard a fierce growl.

Her heart thudded, and she wanted to yell, but she was too tired, emotionally and physically. When it came again, she decided if death came while she was sleeping, it would be okay.