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  “Count yourself lucky if the most you can complain of is that you might not be able to force yourself on an innocent female in the future,” Terex growled, his eyes flashing. His fangs were fully extended, as sharp as knives. “If you come near Elaina again, you’ll be pissing through a straw for the rest of your short life!”

  Tunard’s already pasty expression went even paler and he took another step back from the big Kindred.

  “Your Majesty!” the tall, skinny Maldred complained. “How can we seek adjudication from you if we’re being threatened like this?”

  “The plaintiff is correct.” Krumf frowned at them. “You cannot threaten during these proceedings. And I’m afraid you just proved their point for them—we cannot have females running amok as your slave, Elaina, appears to have been doing in the Baths.”

  “She was simply trying not to get molested and raped,” Terex argued. “I can’t believe it’s a crime for an innocent female to protect and defend herself.”

  “Not in your backward society, perhaps.” Krumf gave him a lofty look. “But here on Nixelle Prime-Beta we have one defining rule which trumps all others—in any given situation, the male is always in the right. And I’m afraid, Master Valdor, that your slave has contravened that rule most seriously.”

  Elaina felt like her heart was beating somewhere in the vicinity of her throat. She’d been afraid of this—afraid that the adjudication was rigged against them from the first. Maybe we should have made a run for it, like Terex wanted to, she thought. But no—if they did that, how could she get the little healer for her sister? They would just have to stay and take the consequences—whatever they were.

  But despite her determination to deal with whatever came, Krumf’s next words made her feel ice cold inside.

  “I’ve heard enough—I rule in favor of the plaintiffs,” he announced. “Lords Maldred and Tunard have been deeply wronged and there must be a penalty for the one who wronged them.”

  “And what penalty is that?” Terex growled. “What fine must I pay?”

  “Fine? Oh no, my dear Master Valdor.” Krumf shook his head. “This is a serious offense—a very serious offense indeed. I’m afraid payment for it goes far beyond a simple fine.”

  “What?” Terex frowned. “What are you planning to do to us? I warn you, Elaina is under my protection. I’ll never allow—”

  “I know you won’t,” Krumf interrupted. “Which is why this is regrettably necessary.”

  He nodded at one of the guards, who, Elaina now saw, had crept up behind the big Kindred.

  “Terex!” she gasped, his true name slipping out before she could stop it. “Watch out!”

  The big Kindred started to turn but the guard was already there. He shoved the blunt end of his black electrical billy club into the nape of Terex’s neck and gave him what must have been a massive jolt.

  Elaina gasped in horror as she saw his big body stiffen and then go limp, collapsing on the floor.

  “Oh no! Oh, please,” she moaned, bending over him. But rough hands had her by the wrists and she was being dragged away.

  “Take them both,” she heard Krumf saying in that nasal, self-satisfied voice of his. “Take them to the Punishment room and strap them down.”

  Chapter Twenty-two

  Terex awoke with a throbbing head and a sharp, coppery taste in his mouth like he’d bitten his tongue. Which he had, he soon found. His fangs had pierced right through it in several places. Only why had he had his fangs fully extended? And he must have—it was the only way they could have done such damage.

  Protecting Elaina, he thought, his head still aching. But had he? Had he been able to protect her?

  He opened his eyes but his vision was blurry. He couldn’t see a damn thing.

  Where is she? A fierce wave of protective possessiveness rushed over him. She was his—his to cherish and protect and care for. If anyone had hurt her—

  “Is he coming round at last?” a hateful, familiar voice asked. “Very good. Guardsman, you shouldn’t have used so much power to stun him! This is taking far too long.”

  “Forgive me, your Supreme Excellency,” another voice answered humbly. “But as he has Kindred blood in him, I didn’t want to take a chance. The legends of how protective they were of their females and how violent they could be when the females were threatened persist to this day.”

  “With good reason, it seems,” Krumf said. “Here now, you…” He snapped his fingers under Terex’s nose. “Are you awake? We need to get on with this sentencing and punishment—I’m overdue for my body rub and massage as it is.”

  At last Terex’s vision began to clear and what he saw wasn’t good—not good at all.

  He was in a large stone chamber that looked a little like a dungeon he’d once seen while touring an old castle on Earth. Indeed, he was strapped to something which resembled a torture device from that same dungeon—a metal cross that held his arms and legs wide apart, encircled with multiple metal bands from his wrists to his elbows and below from his ankles to his knees.

  Even worse, he could see that Elaina was across the dungeon, strapped to a similar device. Her thin white bathing garment still clung to her full breasts and rode high on her bare thighs, showing a hint of her unprotected sex. There were tears standing in her eyes but her mouth was set in a grim line and he could see that despite her vulnerable position, she was determined not to give the Nixians the satisfaction of seeing her cry.

  So brave, lavana, he thought, trying to let her know with his eyes that he was with her—that he wouldn’t let her be harmed. I’ll keep you safe—I don’t know how but somehow I will!

  Terex strained against his bonds but the metal holding him in place was incredibly strong—he sensed he would sooner tear his arms from their sockets than tear the dull silver manacles that encircled his wrists and forearms free. Which he would gladly do, if he thought it would help Elaina in any way, but what good was a maimed warrior to her?

  “Now then,” Krumf began again. “I asked if you were awake enough to proceed, Master Valdor?”

  The emphasis he put on the title seemed suspicious but Terex didn’t have time to worry about it.

  “Yes, I’m awake,” he growled. “Why in the Seven Hells did you chain us up like this? We’ve been cooperating from the start of this whole farce—there was no need to restrain us.”

  “I’m afraid there was every need for restraint, especially in light of the verdict I’m about to render.” Krumf puffed up his barrel chest importantly…then shook his head impatiently. “No—I cannot render judgment yet. I am tired of this charade.”

  “Charade?” Terex demanded. “What charade?”

  “I’m tired of pretending you are who you say you are, my dear Commander Terex. That’s right—I know you for an imposter!” Krumf pointed at him triumphantly. “I wasn’t completely sure until just a little while ago when your slave called you by your true name in the Adjudication Chamber. Up until then, I thought the real Master Valdor might be the imposter.”

  “The real Master Valdor?” Terex tried to keep his voice flat but inside his heart was sinking. They’d been found out. Somehow Krumf knew the truth and the Goddess alone knew how he would make them pay for fooling him.

  “Yes, the real Master Valdor appeared much more quietly, about a solar week before you arrived,” Krumf replied. “He didn’t make such a spectacular entrance, of course—in fact he took great care to avoid detection. But my agents found him anyway. He’s been my guest here for some time, answering questions and proving he’s a true Nixian despite his Kindred blood. I was just about to reinstate him and announce his joyful homecoming when the two of you showed up.” He frowned distastefully at Terex and Elaina.

  “You don’t understand,” Terex began.

  “You’re right, Commander Terex, I don’t understand how you could have fooled both our retinal scans and our finger print analysis.” Krumf frowned. “You look almost exactly like him, too. It’s really quite amazing.” He