Chapter 22

22

C reed

I'm surrounded by guards. I find myself wondering where they took Octavia. I'm sure she will be treated well.

"There," the nurse says as she finishes cleaning the last wound. "Do you want stitches in that gash?" She is looking at my head.

"I'm fine. Thank you." I'm not sure why they are bothering. It's not like I'm going to get an infection.

She opens a small cupboard and takes out a container, opening it and pouring six white pills into her hand. "For the pain."

"No!" the lead guard barks.

"He should—"

"I said no!" the guard growls.

"Thank you, anyway." I incline my head. "I wouldn't mind some of that water." I look longingly at the glass she set out, ready for me to take the pills.

"No! The prisoner doesn't deserve anything but a slow death."

"I didn't hurt the human."

"We'll soon find out," the guard tells me. "Get up!"

It takes some effort, but I manage it. My ribs are on fire. If I keep my right arm still, it helps somewhat.

"These pants are for you," the nurse says. She gives me a pitying smile.

"Thank you." I pull them on, careful not to move too much. Then my shackles are put back on, and the two guards drag me from the infirmary.

"Walk, scum!" One of the guards shoves me, and I almost fall.

I bite back a groan as agony rushes through me. I don't say anything. If I retaliate in any way, I will be rewarded with another beating.

My hands are shackled behind my back, and I have another set of shackles on my feet, which are held together by a short chain. I have to take small, shuffling steps.

I squint. My face hurts, too, but it isn't anything I can't handle. Most of the blows were to my face. My lip is busted. There is a gash above my right eye. Both eyes are swollen; thankfully, they're not completely shut.

I shuffle my way down a corridor, looking into each cell as I do, relieved when I don't see Octavia.

My mouth is bone dry. My lip stings but I ignore it. I'm finally taken into a bright room. It's small, with a mirror on one side. I recognize it from three years ago. This might not be the exact room, but it was one just like it.

A guard undoes the shackles on my hands. "Don't try anything, or you'll regret it," he says unnecessarily.

What am I going to do here? Nothing. There are too many of them, with more in the corridor and more down the hallway.

The same guard pulls a chair out. "Sit!" he growls.

I do as he says.

"Hands on the table."

I oblige. They're dirty and bloody, just like the rest of me. The clean pants are a stark contrast.

He shackles me, chaining me to a steel hoop on the table. I could break it. I could free myself from these shackles if I tried hard enough, but again, what would be the point? I need to wait it out. This will be over soon enough.

Then all but one of the guards files outside, leaving the door open.

I look in the mirror and shake my head at how terrible I look. Dirt and grime mixed with blood are caked onto my skin. I look worse than I feel, except for my ribs, which look better than they feel. This despite all the purple bruising that has blossomed all over the right-hand side of my rib cage.

I turn in the chair, wincing when my ribs protest.

"Eyes forward," the guard behind me barks.

Yep, just as suspected, there is a multitude of guards outside in the hallway. I sit and wait. It doesn't take very long before the colonel walks in. I know it's him by his scent. He is dressed in leather body armor and a mask.

I'm not sure why they still wear them. I'm surprised that Arctic hasn't done away with them. Then again, they are a tradition for our people, and we can't do away with everything.

He sits across from me. "You're Creed," he says. "Son of Benji and Pearl. Older brother to Levi."

I swallow thickly and nod. "Yes, that is correct."

"The same male who was convicted of violence against my nephew Chase."

His nephew.

Fuck!

Oh, shit!

"Your chosen wanted to form a mating circle with Chase, and you disapproved. Is that right?"

"Yes, I was convicted, but I served my time."

"The male is blind in one eye. He has a nasty scar across his cheek and another all the way down his left thigh. No female will even look at him now, let alone take him as a mate. You did that. Isn't that right?"

"I regret my actions," I say. "I apologized for what I did."

The colonel pulls in a breath. I can't see his facial features, but I am sure that they will be disapproving.

"You used excessive violence against the male, who was badly injured and trying to protect your chosen, Aspen."

"No, I never touched Aspen."

"Only because Chase protected her. Isn't that true?" His voice is hard. "He has always been a good male."

"No, I would never hurt a female. If I had attacked or even attempted an attack on Aspen, I would have received more than just two years of banishment. I would really appreciate it if we could talk about Octavia…the human. With all due respect, Colonel, I've served my time. I am truly sorry for what happened."

"I'm sure you'd like nothing better than to sweep what happened under the rug." He slams his hands on the table. "That would be convenient for you, wouldn't it?"

"I don't want to sweep anything under the rug. I told you that I regretted my actions. I feel guilty for what I did every single day; that's why I haven't returned to the city."

"Are you sure it's not because you still feel out of control because you want to harm Aspen? Because you like forcing yourself on females?"

"No!" I snarl. Then I rein myself in. He wants me to lose my temper. "I don't want to harm Aspen. I never have, and I never will. I should never have hurt Chase. Where is Octavia? Where is the human?"

He laces his fingers together on the table in front of him. "I'm sure you would love to know."

"I would. I care about her."

"Care about her?" He sniggers. "Really?"

"Yes!" I growl; I'm getting seriously irritated. Partly because I'm letting this prick get under my skin. But mostly because he's an asshole. I can tell that he has already convicted me of something I didn't do. Not this time.

"Is it true that you raped the human?"

"No!" I snap. "I would never."

"Really? You've been living out in the jungle like an animal for three long years. No one would blame you if you sampled the goods. I mean, the human practically fell in your lap, didn't she?"

"I would never take a female without her consent. Not. Ever." He is trying to frame me. He hates that I hurt and maimed his nephew. It's clear that he doesn't think I've paid enough. He wants to see me beheaded.

"Come on. We all know what happens to males out in the jungle. They turn feral. We have guards patrolling to keep them out of the city."

"Do I look feral?" I yell, instantly regretting it.

"I don't think I need to answer that, do I?"

"I didn't hurt the human. I helped her. I—"

"I know exactly what you did. You offered your services to see her safely out of the jungle, and in return—"

"In return, nothing. I didn't ask for a thing." I sound exasperated. If this male has his way, I will lose my head before the end of the day. I will die as a male with no honor. My family will be ostracized and all for doing the right thing, for trying to help.

My mind goes to thoughts of Octavia. Of her smile and her beautiful eyes. It goes to the taste of her lips… What I wouldn't give for one more taste.

I would help her again, even knowing what I do now. I'd stay and wait, too. I'd do it for her a thousand times over.

"Are you listening, Creed?" The colonel hits the table again to get my attention.

I nod.

"Good. I think you made it very clear what you were after, and the female was forced to oblige. You may not have held her down or hit her, but it was still force."

"I specifically told the female that I didn't want sex. That I didn't want anything. I meant it, we—"

"You're lying. You need to admit to me that you forced the female, even if it wasn't through words or actions. You and I both know it happened. You manipulated her to get what you wanted, and all under the pretense of helping. You make me sick."

"I didn't."

"That you can't admit it makes me despise you even more. You are weak and pathetic." He pushes his chair back and stands. "Bring him to the torture chamber," he tells one of the guards, then turns back to me. "I will make you talk."

"Have you had a conversation with Octavia?" I ask. "I can tell that you haven't. She would never—"

"I spoke with the female," Colonel Taro says. "My finding is that you are guilty. I just need your admission of guilt to go forward with your beheading." With that, he leaves the room.

Octavia would never tell them I hurt her. It wouldn't happen. I think back to the one time we had sex. I'm sure she kissed me first. I'm sure she was willing. The sex was good for both of us, even though I was too rough, considering that she is a human. Octavia said she enjoyed it. She seemed sated. Was she lying? No fucking way. No! Whatever the colonel thinks he knows, he is wrong. Very wrong! This is all a vendetta against me. He knew exactly who I was the moment he laid eyes on me. Namely, the male who maimed his nephew. He doesn't care one iota about the truth. He wants to see me dead. Well, he can torture me to fucking death. I refuse to admit to something I didn't do.