Page 52 of Warrior's Reign
“No one else. I would know. So whatever it is about you, he must like it.” Ibukay rose, crossed to Reign, and hauled her up for a hug. “Congratulations. I could not be more pleased. Matches like these promote stability among the ranks.” Her expression turned smug. “And now I can be certain your children will be mine.”
“Well, that doesn’t sound sinister at all.”
TheBdakhunlaughed again. “Come on, I have to get back to work. I’ll keep my mouth shut until the official announcement.”
“You’re assuming there will be an announcement.”
Ibukay stopped. “You like him, don’t you? Reign, he slammed you against a wall and kissed you, and still lives. You have to like him.”
She opened her mouth, shut it. Then swore. “But it’sVickie.”
“Don’t think too hard about it. Those silent, reserved types are always crazy in bed. Think about that instead. And even if you are not matebonded, he will be faithful.”
Reign had no doubt about that, which proved that even if he irritated her, she still had a high opinion of him. It wasn’t just that, though. As Reign left Ibukay’s office, she knew the issue wasn’t that she didn’t want Vykhan. That she didn’t feel connected. But her heart had only ever belonged to one man. She wasn’t sure if she was ready to let Eredan go.
And felt troubled that in accepting Vykhan, it didn’tfeellike she was letting Eredan go.
Again, the same stirrings in the back of her mind as pieces began to fall into slots. But she couldn’t think about that yet. Wasn’t ready to acknowledge something that if true. . .she didn’t know if she would feel rapturous joy, or murderous rage.
19
She hadan hour to kill before her shift. A glance at Ibukay’s itinerary revealed nothing more strenuous than her weekly tour of women’s shelters. Vykhan had asked, and Ibukay had agreed, that all her meetings remain virtual until the escalated death threats were resolved.
Reign harassed Evvek for updates on the investigation into the palace, and the recruiter, but was eventually chased out of the op center with an ‘investigation ongoing.’ Icolo and Martha didn’t need her for anything, so she wandered towards the training arena to burn off her restless energy.
What she should have done was march back to Vykhan’s quarters and demand an explanation, but she felt broody enough to want to avoid that confrontation for now. At least until she knew what outcome she wanted. If she was going to pick a fight and escalate the shit out of it, she preferred to do that on purpose, and not because her temper went sideways.
She wasn’t sure about Vykhan, but she knew Eredan had no compunction wiping a training circle with her ass if she challenged him.
Reign eyed the row of weapons and chose a staff, steering clear of the few others working out singly or in pairs. She still didn’t know the various palace guards that well, forewarned that Adevega’s people, at least, didn’t look favorably on a human in their mist.
Moving into a warm up sequence, she let the Forms flow through her, light and easy. No use tiring herself out when she had a full shift coming up. Just enough exercise to take the edge off. If she’d been on her own, she might have wandered into a bar and found herself a drink and a man to drown in instead.
But evidently she was almost engaged now. Reign frowned, testing her emotions. And evidently, being almost engaged mattered.
After a time she felt eyes on her and slowed to a halt. Several feet away, two males and a female stood, dressed down in the skin suits many of the guard wore for training. Reign preferred her downtime grays. It always seemed like bragging to wear something that showed every curve and muscle.
The trio saw when Reign acknowledged their presence and one of the males, vaguely familiar, stepped forward. Faint lines at the corners of his eyes, longer than shoulder length hair, and a gravity to his pace suggested he was older. It was hard to tell with Yadeshi, since they aged very slowly.
“You’re Youngest Daughter’s human,” he said, stopping an arm’s length from Reign.
She didn’t like the thread of condescension in his voice and replied politely. “I have that honor. I amAdejahnaReign Obe’shan.”
His gaze traveled her up and down, though it wasn’t sexual. It wasn’t Vykhan’s martial assessment of her fitness either. It felt like being sized up by an enemy. He hadn’t offered his name or rank. Which could be a familiarity or a deliberate insult.
“You’re proficient with the staff?” he asked finally.
She was practicing with it, wasn’t she? But she refrained. Ten years ago she would have let her mouth loose.
“Some,” she said, with an unpleasant quirk of her lips.I’ve graduated a cycle at Yna Ipaluk, bitch. You knew that.She didn't bother to disguise her hostility since he hadn’t bothered to disguise his lack of manners.
“I am Xothar Yilsa,” he said after a beat of silence. “FirstAdekhantoEyahunAdevega.”
Well, the enemy vibes made sense now.
He nodded at her staff. “Would you spar with me?” His smile matched hers. “I’ve never fought a human female. You are so small, though. Are you fully grown? You must be honest with me. We all know little Ibukay favors her pets. I would not want to injure you and incur her displeasure.”
Her brows inched up. That had escalated quickly. There were worse insults than being called theBdakhun’spet. Her pointed silence was the only reprimand she issued, however. A trick she’d picked up from Vykhan, and from Eredan before him. Silence and someone’s imagination were often the best insults.
