Chapter 7 #4
“Yes. The whole thing dragged on for months. Fortunately, I was released on bail while it ran its course. But when the trial finally ended, I was convicted of a lesser charge than the one they’d originally slapped me with.
I was floored—I kept telling myself it was a nightmare.
I’d only defended myself. Then the judge, breaking every protocol, gave me two options: thirty-five years in a Triaxe penitentiary or five years on Hellgate Prison Planet. I opted for Hellgate.”
“They shipped you out immediately?”
“The very next day I boarded a transport. The moment I set foot on that infernal rock, the man I’d been died.” Krevan’s gaze locked onto Ancelin’s wide brown eyes.
“What do you mean—‘died’?”
“The man I was…ceased to exist,” Krevan said quietly.
“I’ll have another coffee.” He rose and poured a fresh cup.
“Listen: Triaxen humanoids are born predators, especially the males. After millennia of civilization, we’ve mastered hiding our true nature—softening our edges so that outsiders never glimpse what we really are.
In truth, we’re nothing like human beings or other, weaker species.
We barely resemble them. But on Hellgate, in a single day, every dormant Triaxen instinct in me erupted with fucking vengeance.
I reverted to my primal self. To survive, I became a relentless killer—nothing mattered but self-preservation.
That god-forsaken hellhole was packed with the criminally insane, the absolute worst. I slaughtered so many that the rest realized I was unlike anything they’d ever seen and left me the hell alone.
I’ve never harmed anyone who didn’t threaten me first.”
Krevan paused and studied Ancelin as she stared at her hands.
“Ancelin.” He reached for her and took her hand.
“Believe me: even the most savage Triaxen male will protect his mate. You are my mate—you’re bonded to me and under my protection.
You have nothing to fear. I know this sounds unreal, it’s hard to wrap your head around, but our bond is real.
I never want you to be afraid of me. It breaks my heart.
I don’t want you to leave me because of what happened or because of what I did.
I’ve paid for Gillian’s death—I never intended to kill her.
I was a doctor. I still saved lives. And as for Hellgate—it was the law of the jungle, survival of the fittest. I was simply protecting myself. ”
"I—I need some space," Ancelin whispered, slipping her fingers from his grasp. The ceramic bowl clinked against the sink as she rinsed it methodically, focusing on the swirling water rather than meeting his metallic gaze. "My work area... I need to think while I work."
"I understand," Krevan said, his voice unnaturally even. "I'll be in the yard. When you're ready—if you're ready—just call."
The hallway to the office seemed longer than usual.
A sudden displacement of air brushed her cheek, and before she reached the doorway, she found it already open.
Inside, every light blazed, her jeweler's lamp positioned perfectly, her chair pulled out at precisely the right angle.
Evidence of his inhuman speed surrounded her.
Ancelin sank into the seat and reached for a chunk of raw amethyst, rolling it between her palms.
"Ancelin." His breath warmed her ear.
She didn't flinch this time. "Yes?"
"I love you, Ancelin, no matter what happens. The choice is yours, and our future rests in your hands. I won’t pressure you to stay with me—it's entirely up to you," Krevan said before kissing her cheek and leaving.
Ancelin decided to focus on her work for a bit.
She planned to make a late-night dinner for him once it got darker and call him to eat.
However, she became so engrossed in her art that she lost track of time.
She ended up creating two necklaces and a ring, completely absorbed in her crafting.
When she finally looked up, she realized it was extremely late—far past the time for a late dinner.
She turned off the lights and headed to the kitchen, but Krevan was nowhere to be seen.
Ancelin set a pot of water to boil for tea and reheated some leftovers for Krevan.
After preparing his meal, she placed it on the kitchen counter, covering it with a towel to keep it fresh, and then took a cup of tea to her room.
As she prepared for bed, she decided to take a bath, hoping the hot water would help her relax and clear her mind.
While working on her jewelry, she had managed to keep her worries at bay, focusing solely on her creations.
But now, her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions.
Ancelin settled into the tub, leaning back to unwind.
Memories of Krevan brought her warmth, and she knew that his wife's death had been a tragic accident. She trusted and believed him.
In that instant, Ancelin finally grasped what Krevan meant by their bond-mate connection.
His waves of anxiety and fear washed through her mind—he dreaded losing her and the joy he’d only just discovered.
A being of such power was terrified of whatever choice she might make for their future together.
A warm flutter rose in her chest as she remembered how he made her feel.
She closed her eyes, conjured his face in her thoughts, and at that very moment, she determined her answer.
Knowing sleep would elude her, she reached for the medicine her doctor had prescribed.
The pills promised a brief reprieve—an artificial calm to erase her worries and soothe her pain.
She hated her reliance on them; ever since her parents’ deaths on Earth, she’d become too dependent on their numbing comfort.
Drawn to the window, she gazed out at the world frozen under bright moonlight.
Frost-laced fields gleamed silver in the lunar glow.
This wild, alien land held a stark beauty—both breathtaking and perilous.
Then her sharp eyes caught movement: Krevan, standing by the chicken coop, watching her in silence.
They held each other’s gaze for a long moment.
That familiar warmth bloomed in her stomach, and she returned his gaze with a smile and a wave.
Though she couldn’t discern his expression clearly, he lifted his hand in reply.
She pressed her palm to her lips, placed a soft kiss there, and blew it toward him.
As a child, she’d done the same for her father as he left each morning—now, Krevan mirrored that affectionate gesture, pretending to catch her kiss before blowing one back.
Feeling lighter, she turned away and crossed to the side of the bed. “Ancelin, may I come inside and stay with you now?” Krevan’s voice drifted in from the doorway. She stopped mid step.
“Oh, Krevan—I didn’t realize you were waiting out here for me to call you in. I’m sorry. Of course you may come in. This is your home, after all. I heated up some leftovers for your dinner; there’s a plate on the kitchen counter under a cloth.”
“Thank you for thinking of me,” he said softly. “I’m not hungry now. And this is our house. May I come in to stay with you?”
"Yes, come in. I took something to help me sleep." Ancelin patted the mattress beside her, her words were slightly slurred. Krevan entered, undressing unhurriedly while her gaze followed him through increasingly heavy lids.
"What did you take, Ancelin?"
"Can't remember the name." Her tongue felt thick in her mouth. "Bathroom sink. Little bottles. For anxiety, sleep. After my parents... Earth was unbearable. Didn't need them until yesterday, with those men showing up."
"And now you need them because of what I told you?" Krevan paused at the foot of the bed.
"It's all fine now." She reached for him, palms open. "I love you."
"One moment." He disappeared into the bathroom, returning with orange prescription bottles. "Are there more?"
"Travel bag. Few extras. My doctor made sure I wouldn't run out for a while.”
Krevan's silver eyes narrowed as he examined the labels. "These are powerful drugs, Ancelin. Dangerous for humans. Addictive. With your education, you must understand the risks of long-term use."
The mattress dipped as he sat beside her. "You've been taking these for months, haven't you?"
"I'm not dependent," she murmured. "Didn't take any for days before yesterday. I can stop whenever I want. I have my reasons for needing them."
"My sweet girl, go to sleep and we'll talk about this later." Krevan brushed her hair back from her face, his fingertips lingering at her temple. "I'll be here with you tonight."
Ancelin put her arms around his neck and pulled him closer, breathing in his scent. She pulled him down into her arms and kissed the side of his face, her lips brushing against his face. "Krevan, I love you," Ancelin murmured as the drugs pulled her under.
He waited until her breathing deepened, then carefully extracted himself from her embrace.
In the bathroom, he gathered each pill bottle, his throat tightening as he counted them—one, two, three types of addictive substances. They would forever disappear. He caught his reflection in the mirror, eyes soft with worry, brow furrowed.
Returning to the bedroom doorway, he watched the rise and fall of her chest, his fist clenched around the pill bottles until his knuckles whitened.
He'd buried many patients who started with prescriptions just like these.
Of course, the medicines were not prescribed by him.
"You've got a new doctor now," he whispered, his voice a raw edge in the darkness.
Chapter 9