Chapter 17
Josh
The portal snapped shut behind us with a horrible sizzle of ozone that burned my sensitive nose.
However, the discomfort caused by the smell was second to the very drastic change in the bond.
My chest convulsed and my eyes threatened to bug out of my head as I gasped at the sudden shift from burning light to barely glowing thread in the space of a heartbeat.
I attempted to hide my visceral reaction in a stumble and worked to keep my face as neutral as possible.
If anyone so much as speculated that I might be bonded, it would be the end of everything. Overnight, Elijah would become a target for all of my enemies and the government. Not to mention it would ruin everything I’d worked so hard for over the last three months.
“Dragging your feet won’t change your fate.” Commander Walsh signaled for the soldiers escorting me to yank me forward, causing a real stumble this time.
“And what fate would that be?” The quip came harder than it once had, but it was important to maintain appearances, to show no fear.
Calm and collected. Thank fuck I’d had the foresight to hoard my remaining sedatives.
Taking all of them at once was probably not my brightest idea, but it was also the only thing keeping me remotely sane right now.
Commander Walsh stomped up to me in his heavy, military-grade boots, a twisted sneer already plastered on his face.
Richard Walsh had hated me with a fiery passion since I’d bested him seventeen years ago.
Ten years my senior, he’d once been an ambitious soldier with a long list of respected commendations and all the promise of early success.
The years had not been kind to him, and it seemed he still hadn’t made peace with “some kid” wiping the floor with someone who was supposed to be the elite of the elite.
Of course, things had only gotten worse for him when he washed out of the program two months later.
He shoved a gloved finger into my chest, expertly digging the digit between my ribs.
I diligently kept my face impassive, giving no trace of the effect he was having.
In no world ever would I let Commander Dick intimidate me.
We both knew that in a fair fight I could take him without so much as breaking a sweat, and that was before I had the full benefit of lycan enhancement.
“If there were any justice in this world, they’d skip the farce of a trial and let me put one between your eyes.”
“Now, Dick, that doesn’t sound too sporting.” I shrugged my shoulders to draw attention to my wrists, cuffed far too tightly behind my back. “But I suppose after our last encounter, you may feel you need the advantage.”
His lip curled over his teeth right as a fist slammed into my gut.
I doubled over with the impact and choked down a grunt of pain.
Another blow quickly landed on my back, sending me crashing to the ground.
My knees collided with the stone floor with a sharp crack that echoed through the nondescript corridor, conveniently devoid of witnesses.
I gritted my teeth, tasting blood, but refused to give them the satisfaction of crying out.
“Pick him up.”
Two pairs of hands slid mercilessly beneath my shoulders and hauled me upright. My legs threatened to give way, but I persevered and remained upright.
“Eyes up, soldier,” Dick ordered. Someone yanked my head back sharply so I could see the gloat shining in Walsh’s eyes.
“I’m no common soldier.”
“You’re a cocky son of a bitch, is what you are. Imagine my joy at learning you were to be brought in and that they needed a team. I fucking volunteered. About time someone put you in your place.”
I arched my brow. “And you thought that someone would be you?”
He nodded to the soldier on my right. The grip on my hair tightened as a simultaneous blow landed on my side.
Walsh watched on, taking sick pleasure in the punishment he was meting out while he finished rolling his sleeves up.
He plucked off his tactical gloves and tucked them into the back of his belt.
“You’ve always thought you were better than me. ”
“That’s because I am.”
I knew the blow was coming before he even moved his arm. His fist collided with my jaw, and the metallic tang of blood filled my mouth once more.
“Arrogant prick.”
I smiled at him, my teeth undoubtedly still colored red. “I speak only the truth.” The second hit sent stars exploding across my vision. Despite my best efforts, a pained moan slipped free.
“We’ll see how mouthy you are when they have to wire your mouth shut.”
“Come now, Dick. You know I can’t lie. No Detective can. But then again, you wouldn’t know what it takes to be a real Lycan Detective, would you?”
Walsh snarled, and the next hit sent me crashing to the ground.
I barely repressed a shout as my knees met unforgiving stone with a sickening crunch, yet again. One soldier still retained their hold on my arm, and the sudden change in the rest of my body’s location sent a wave of nausea rolling through me when it popped free of my shoulder socket.
I wheezed through the effort of staying quiet and fought the instinct to defend myself.
Deep inside, the wolf gnashed his teeth and railed against my restraint, promising retribution in blood.
I couldn’t help but smile at all the things the wolf wanted to do to Commander Walsh.
I tried hard not to eat people, but I might make an exception for Commander Dick.
“What are you smirking at, you little pissant?”
Grubby hands once again found their way to my hair and forced me to look up. It was a true shame they couldn’t see the person walking up behind them.
“I’ll take it from here.” The feminine voice rang with an authority that instantly stilled the pending assault.
I straightened to the best of my ability, considering I was still kneeling on the ground, and resisted the urge to flinch at the acute pain in my shoulder.
Best guess had at least one kneecap cracked and my shoulder dislocated.
Advanced healing would see to most of it, but in the meantime, it smarted like a bitch.
Wordlessly, I lifted my chin to meet Director Starling’s equally impassive gaze.
Walsh stepped forward, possibly to hide the prevalent damage on my face.
The bruises on the rest of my body remained hidden, but he’d fucked up when he hit my face.
“This fucker is a traitor and no longer under your jurisdiction. Perhaps if you managed your assets better, then they wouldn’t have to call proper soldiers to take care of your mess. ”
The slight twitch of Director Starling’s left eye was the only indication of her fury.
“Commander, regardless of whether you agree, Joshua Hart is still a Lycan Detective. As such, you will release him into my sole custody as ordered, or I will see that you are court marshaled, stripped of your commendations, and given a dishonorable discharge.”
I didn’t need to see Walsh’s face to know it was a mottled red or that he was scowling hard enough to curdle milk. “You can’t protect him forever.”
Ice practically radiated off Director Starling in her crisp navy uniform and severe bun. “Protection implies that I believe Detective Hart has done nothing reprehensible. Now step aside, Commander.”
As one, the cluster of soldiers stepped back, giving the Director a wide berth, but Walsh waited until the last possible second before giving ground. I stared up into Angela Starling’s cold blue eyes. Even though I was still kneeling, she was short enough that I didn’t have to crane my head back.
“On your feet, Detective.”
With no assistance whatsoever, I did as ordered.
She glanced behind me. “Remove his restraints.”
“You can’t be serious,” Walsh argued, his face now flushing a disturbing purple.
Director Starling speared him with a withering look that had made the most violent lycanthropes cower in fear. “Did I stutter, Commander?”
Walsh gave a dismissive wave, and the pressure forcing my shoulders together disappeared.
Instantly, pain blanketed the liberated appendages like thousands of nettles burrowing beneath my skin.
I resisted the urge to rub my raw wrists or pop my throbbing shoulder back into place.
Once her will was done, Director Starling pivoted on her heel to return in the direction from which she’d come.
“With me, Detective.”
She made it three steps before a shaky voice called out after her. “Ma’am?”
Director Starling stopped and spun back around. The anxious soldier swallowed audibly. “Yes…”
“Sergeant Nielsen, ma’am.”
“You have a question?”
He shifted his feet, no longer so certain beneath her penetrating gaze. “Are you sure you don’t want an escort? He’s considered a dangerous war criminal.”
Her gaze flitted to me briefly, then she stepped up to the overly helpful Sergeant Nielsen. He stood a little straighter, as did the other soldiers her gaze landed on, before once again returning to him. “Did Detective Hart resist arrest?”
“No, ma’am. But—”
“Was he armed when you took him into custody?”
“Well, no.”
“Did he so much as twitch to defend himself while your lot barbarically beat him?”
“N-no.”
Her icy gaze snapped to mine. “Detective Joshua Hart, do you have any intention of harming myself or attempting escape?”
I barely suppressed a smirk. “No, Director Starling. I have no intention of harming you or attempting to escape.”
She returned her attention to the now thoroughly cowed soldiers. “There. A Lycan Detective is as good as their word. Are we finished now?”
Commander Walsh clenched his fists at his sides and mumbled under his breath. “You’ll get yours one day too, bitch.”