Oceans Untamed (16 page)

“Next few weeks?”

“After he claims you, you’ll have to move down here.” He glanced at her. “I assume that’s not a problem?”

“Uh—”

“Good. Here’s the deal. Koenraad is being accused of killing you.”

“What?” she gasped.

“And he’s so Koenraad, so obstinate, that he’s unwilling to say where
you are in order to clear his name. Noble of him, but misguided. And shortsighted considering the penalty is death.”

“This is a joke, right?”
 

He shook his head. “He’s a stubborn, stubborn shark. I don’t think you’re nearly as fragile as he acts.”

“I’m not!” Her indignation was grossly undermined by the quake of fear that went through her at the thought of Koenraad dying. She cleared her throat.
“So we need to prove that I’m alive. Since I am, it shouldn’t be a problem.”

He nodded. “Exactly. But there is one problem.”

Monroe didn’t like the way he’d said that, like it was something huge and he was pretending it was minor. It was enough to make her wonder if Koenraad wasn’t being overprotective after all.

“What’s the problem?”

“Victoria would have challenged you if Koenraad had claimed
you.”

“What does that mean, anyway? I’m guessing we’re not talking about a checkers tournament.”

“You would have had to fight her. To give you an idea of what we’re dealing with, Victoria is also the one who accused Koenraad. She’s insane, she’s brilliant and she’s jealous. She can’t seem to decide if she loves him or she wants to destroy him.”

“So she would kill me just to get back at him?”
Monroe couldn’t even imagine such a mindset.

“Before I agree with that, I just want to say that taking you there isn’t playing into her hands.”

“Why is that?”

“Because I’m going to claim you.”

Monroe’s mouth went dry. She liked Spencer just fine, but she didn’t feel about him the way she did about Koenraad.

Spencer laughed. “Don’t worry. No one needs to get undressed. I can ‘claim you by
intent’ and then have forty-eight hours to seal the deal, so to speak. It’s an antiquated rule dating back to the time when shifters frequently married islanders. Shifters had to claim their mates to satisfy the Council, then get permission from the bride’s parents before they could consummate the marriage.”

“You… want to claim me?”

“You’re wondering why. If I claim you, Victoria is highly unlikely
to challenge you as my future mate. Remember, Koenraad is who she wants, and she’ll probably figure you’re a gold-digger turned shifter groupie who found a sucker. Though Victoria can be unpredictable. Do you trust me?”
 

“After the gold-digger comment?” She smiled weakly. “I do trust you, but it seems like I don’t have a choice.”

“There’s one other really little thing,” Spencer said as he brought
the car to a stop in front of a complex of ominous buildings of varying heights. “You’re an open book to shifters. All humans are, so don’t take it personally. If I claim you, it has to be sealed with a kiss.”

“A kiss?” Now she was thinking the whole thing was a joke, and she smiled uncertainly at him, ready for the
gotcha
moment.

But Spencer was growing serious again. “A kiss or something stronger,
but I don’t think either of us wants to go down that path. We could lie about it, but I’m not certain you can do so convincingly. It’s important that Victoria believe we’re a couple.”

“What kind of kiss?”

He moved close. “Like this.” He pressed his mouth quickly to her lips, so fast she barely felt it. “Did I kiss you?”

“Yeah. And for the record, it was weird.”

That made him laugh. “Let’s
go save your boyfriend.”
 

Monroe climbed out of the car.

This place, whatever it was, met the definition of foreboding. Gray slabs of concrete, hardly any windows, and the few that did exist had bars over them. The humid air smelled like sadness. She wanted to leave already.

Spencer took her hand. He was warm, strong. It suddenly occurred to her that he was risking an awful lot.

“Koenraad’s
lucky to have you,” she whispered.

“Ditto,” he whispered back.

Chapter 18

Koenraad paced across the stage. He was ready for this to be finished. The thirty-minute break was almost over and he still didn’t have his anger under control.

The questions wouldn’t stop coming. Most of them he didn’t answer. It wasn’t anyone’s business where he’d been the night before, and being globally stubborn was better than ignoring only the questions with incriminating
answers.

The only one he would respond to was if he had hurt or killed Monroe.
 

“No,” he’d said, over and over again.
 

Not that they believed him.
 

If he’d been a spectator, he wouldn’t have believed him, either. He wouldn’t answer how they’d met or if she’d been to his house. He didn’t want to give any clues to her identity, which he was certain they didn’t know at this point in time.
 

Assuming he could get a message to Spencer, the Council would never know her name. Though knowing Spencer, he was already on it. Spencer always thought ten steps ahead.
 

They simply couldn’t imagine why he wouldn’t tell them where to find her, but he knew that if she was found, there was a good chance her blood would be tested to match whatever they could come up with from the pool. It would be
the only way of determining that Monroe was the same human.

And if they tested her blood…

The judges filed back in, their faces somber, and realization dawned on Koenraad.

That hadn’t been a break. They’d been discussing. They’d reached a decision already.

The punishment for attacking a human was death, pure and simple.
 

His heart pounded. He’d broken shifter law, though not for the crime
Victoria had pinned on him. He was more than willing to accept the punishment in Brady’s stead, but his sacrifice would do nothing to keep the young shark safe.

“Please stand, Koenraad Van Buren.”

Koenraad rose to his feet. This wouldn’t be the end. Even if they sentenced him to death right now, he could request a stay while his parents were located. Somehow, he’d find a way to escape in that
time.

He raised his eyes to the ten people who would determine his fate. Victoria’s face contorted in shock, then fury, and the tips of her ears turned crimson. Confusion and surprise radiated from her.

Turning, he saw immediately what had upset her.

Spencer had walked in. With Monroe.

And they were holding hands.

Koenraad took a stunned step toward the newcomers. This was his worst
nightmare, and he couldn’t believe Spencer had betrayed him like this.

Monroe, his perfect Monroe. She was terrified; her fear was the strongest scent in the room, and the spectators were all staring now, confused to see a human in the shifter court.

Victoria had managed to contain her emotions, but her reaction had already spoken volumes.
 

Darius snorted in disgust, the sound filling the auditorium.
Someone slapped a hand loudly on the concrete.

Koenraad turned to see Kendra, death in her eyes, glaring at Victoria. “When you requested this emergency trial, you said you saw a half-eaten body.”

“But—”

“Quiet! You swore he’d confessed that he was unable to control himself,” Kendra continued. “The whole point was to keep him under observation while we investigated, and now the woman he supposedly
ate walks in here?”

Arnie quietly slipped out the door.

“I’m not sure that’s the girlfriend,” Victoria said. She sniffed. “No. It’s not the same scent. Different woman.”

“You seemed certain a few seconds ago,” Kendra snapped.

“My mate,” Spencer said cheerfully. He held their clasped hands up. “She’s Koenraad’s ex.”

Koenraad stared in shock, and then he understood. “I challenge you for your
mate,” he said.

“You can’t challenge anyone,” Victoria said. “You’re on trial.”

Kendra slapped the concrete. “We’re done here,” she hissed. Koenraad had never seen her like this. She’d always been so even-tempered. It made her a good judge. “Victoria, I’m livid right now, and I’m disgusted. I don’t know what your game was, if you planned to let him die—”

“I was confused,” Victoria said. “She’s
not the same—”

“Shut up!” Kendra screamed. Koenraad could hear that half the room had stopped breathing. “I missed the end of the game for this bullshit. You and I will talk tomorrow. I expect you’ll come with her, Darius.”

“Of course,” Darius said.

Wyeth raised a finger. “This is serious,” he said to the other judges. “It makes a mockery of this court. Without consequences for our actions,
we’re no better than animals. I propose we all meet in the next week to discuss a fitting punishment for Victoria’s actions.”

Koenraad heard shifters leaving, but he was now looking at Monroe. She was positively melting into Spencer’s side like she was trying to hide inside him, and even though Koenraad knew there was nothing between them, he felt a pang of jealousy.
 

“Wait,” Victoria said.
“I challenge… her.”

“You want to be my mate, Vicky?” Spencer asked with a grin.
 

Koenraad whirled to face Victoria. “Don’t you dare—”

“It’s my right.” The color was back in her cheeks, and her eyes flashed fire. “I challenge her
right now
.”

Desperately, Koenraad looked to the remaining Council members. Only Sawyer, Chopin, and Darius were left. Darius wouldn’t deny his niece, and Chopin, who
was the newest judge, could rule either way.
 

He would need to convince Sawyer.
 

“Chopin,” Spencer called out before Koenraad could speak. “Being that I’ve been challenged, can I request that Victoria’s challenge wait until the results of my battle are known?”

“But it’s a sham,” Victoria huffed. “He has no intention of going through with this.”

Sawyer looked at Monroe. “Who is this man to
you?”

Her eyes went huge.
Don’t say anything,
Koenraad implored her silently. Her eyes jerked to his, then went to Sawyer.

“First I was dating Koenraad. Then I met Spencer. Koenraad and I didn’t work out. He said, uh, that we had no future. Spencer’s charming and kind, and he had a proposal and I accepted and he sealed it with a kiss until we work out the details,” she said in a breathless rush.
Her heart galloped in her chest, and she was visibly nervous as hell, but she’d told the truth.

Including about the kiss, apparently. He wasn’t thrilled about that. Or about any of it. Monroe was supposed to be headed home, not standing here.

Victoria snorted. “Nice try, Spencer. You’re not mated. Go back to your lab.”

“Sure thing, cupcake,” Spencer said. “As soon as the judges give me a ruling?
Chopin? After all, if Victoria wants to challenge for me, wouldn’t it make more sense for us to wait and find out who wins my challenge? Otherwise she could be stuck fighting for Koenraad, and I’m sure she doesn’t want that.”

“I see no fault in your logic,” Chopin said.
 

“Agreed,” Sawyer said. “Have a good night, all.” He shuffled out.
 

Chopin pushed to his feet. “You will wait one week for
your challenge, Victoria. Though I’m disappointed in all of you. We’ve got a serious crisis on our hands, and you’re using this court to settle…” He agitated his hands. “… Whatever the hell this is.” He noticed Darius staring solemnly at him, and he apparently decided to end his lecture there.

Koenraad hopped the barrier and was moving fast up the steps. “Get her out of here,” he growled.

Monroe
kept glancing up at him as they hurried her from the building, her expression confused. He got into the back seat of Spencer’s car, pulling Monroe in after him. Spencer accelerated away from the building like it was on fire.

“What happens now?” Monroe asked.
 

“I can’t believe you brought her back here!” Koenraad exploded. “I wanted you to make sure she got home safely, not stick her head in
Victoria’s mouth!”

“You would be rotting in a cell if I hadn’t, and you’re welcome.”

“I was already coming back,” Monroe said quietly. “I realized we’d made a mistake.”

Koenraad knew he should hold her, but he couldn’t bring himself to move. He was pumped full of adrenaline, and that didn’t mix well with reassuring caresses.

“Anyway, I have a plan,” Spencer said.

“It had better be fucking
good.”
 

“Claim her now. Obviously you have to. Victoria’s going to find out about the transfusion. She knows something happened, and when she thinks about it, she’ll realize what the real con was here. She’s going to be
furious.
You’d better do it tonight.”

“I’m two seconds from making your challenge a fight to the death,” Koenraad growled.

“Nah. I’m yielding to the superior shark, but I’ll
keep that to myself for two days.”

“What’s the rest of the plan?” Monroe asked. She sat stiffly beside him. “She wasn’t supposed to challenge me.”

“We knew it was a risk,” Spencer said. “Why did Monroe need a transfusion anyway?”

“She cut her finger,” he snapped. “So what happens after I claim her, Einstein?”

Spencer shrugged. “You’re the one who’s been doing security the last two years. I’d
say that combat strategies would be your area of expertise, brother.”

“I’m going to have to fight her?” Monroe asked.

“No,” Koenraad said at the same time that Spencer said, “Yes.”

Monroe made a strangled sound.

Koenraad shot Spencer a warning look to keep his mouth shut. “If we stay here, you won’t be able to get out of it. But I can hide you.”

“But if she finds me, it’s a fight to the death?”

“She’d have to get permission for that, and since you won’t give it, you would be safe
if
you were a shifter. But you’re not, and a non-lethal fight would be lethal for you.”

Monroe grew contemplative. “What if I yield my claim like Spencer did?”