Page 47 of Married to the Beast

He shook his head.

“No. I just hope that in time you’ll come to like me for more than that.”

“I already have!” Aleena assured him quickly. “You’ve been so kind and gentle with me—our Joining night was nothing at all like what my stepmother said would happen.”

“Right—I’m not surprised,” he said dryly. “I’m happy to disappoint your expectations onthatfront, anyway.”

“So…you’re sure you’re not even angry that I got…got attacked? That man—he tried…tried to change the color of my eyes.”

Bear looked confused, his brows pulled low and his forehead wrinkled.

“Why would I be angry at you for something that lowlife bastard tried to do to you, baby?”

“Well, because…” Aleena sniffed and swiped at her wet cheek with an equally wet hand. “It’s a woman’s fault when she gets attacked. Everyone knows that.”

“What?” This time he looked outraged. “Isthatwhat they teach you on this benighted planet?”

“Well…yes.” Aleena nodded. “It’s her fault for being out instead of staying home and tending the house, as she ought to.”

Bear looked like he still couldn’t quite believe what she was saying.

“So if this case was to go to court, they would blameyoujust for being out of the house?”

“And for going out as a married woman without my nipple rings on,” Aleena admitted softly. “I, er, forgot to ask you to replace them this morning, my husband. And so no man who looked at my breasts would know that I was protected and owned by another man. In such a case, the courts would have sided with the man attacking me.”

“What a sick world!” Bear looked genuinely disgusted.

“Is that not how things go where you’re from?” Aleena asked him.

He shook his head.

“No—that’s called ‘blaming the victim’ where I’m from. The Kindred believe that there is never any excuse to attack or rape a woman. It goes against everything we believe—everything weare.”

Aleena was surprised, but also cautiously hopeful.

“So…you’re not mad at me at all? Not for marrying you under false pretenses or for pawning your gift or for being attacked? You’re not angry aboutanyof it?”

“Not at you, baby.” Bear stroked a strand of hair out of her face and looked down into her eyes. “None of this is your fault. Though I wish you would have asked me for the money for your mother’s treatment—I nearly had a heart attack trying to get to you on time. And when I saw that fucker on top of you…” His eyes flashed red briefly and he took a deep breath, as though to calm himself.

“Oh, but I couldn’t ask you for money for my family! That’s forbidden!” Aleena protested. “A man can disavow his wife for such a thing.”

“I told you, that’s not going to happen,” he said, frowning. “Why can’t a wife ask for money for her family—no, never mind. It doesn’t matter why. Whatdoesmatter is that I want you to ask me if you need something.”

Aleena nibbled her bottom lip. Did he really mean that?

“Then…you won’t be angry if I use the money I got from pawning your present to get my mother her treatment?” she asked tentatively. “I only got half of what I needed, but I think I can convince them to treat her with that much.”

“I’ll do better than that—I’m going to examine your mother myself,” Bear said firmly. “Blood disorders are a specialty of mine. I studied them when my…”

He trailed off and Aleena frowned.

“When what?”

“Never mind.” He shook his head. “The point is, I’ll go see her and examine her after the negotiations tomorrow. Will that be all right?”

“That would bemorethan all right,” Aleena agreed, giving him a tentative smile. “If you truly want to meet my mother. Sheisa disavowed woman, you know,” she added. “It won’t be good for your status if you’re seen visiting her.”

“Fuck my status,” he said roughly. “She’s your mother and she means a lot to you…just likeyoumean a lot tome,”he added, and stroked her cheek again. “So I’m going to examine her and see if maybe Kindred medicine can help. We have some very advanced techniques aboard the Mother Ship,” he added.

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