Page 67 of Warrior's Reign
“Report tomorrow. I can see you need some time to reflect.”
“Coward,” she hissed at him, took a step forward.
He paused, but didn’t turn. “I will answer your questions, Reign. But not tonight.”
“Don't I have a right to answers now? Not just as a warrior under your command. You claim I’m your courtmate. That gives me a right, damnit.”
Now he did turn, his gaze drilling into hers, a flash in his eyes that gave pause. A hint of something burrowed deep in the caverns of his personality. . .what lived there? “You do have a right, if you’re prepared to claim that status in more than just word. I await your command.”
She couldn't catch her breath in the silence, couldn't respond to this male who felt so familiar and so strange. Felt a presence inside of him looming, preparing to. . .respond. . .if she walked through that opening.
Was she ready to peel back those layers? Now, with him, when it really mattered?
He must have felt her step down. “Not tonight,” he repeated softly, then left.
* * *
He hovered a hair’s strength from breaking Silence. He had already allowed her to see too much, unsettled by Lohail’s taunting.
Lohail hadtouchedReign. Dared to kiss her, attempt a seduction of a female he knew belonged to Vykhan. Knowing Vykhan would know. Knowing Vykhan wouldrage.
Rage he shuttered into ice with every step away from her quarters. Silence. Discipline. He would not give into the beast that wanted him to rend, to maim—to take and feast. He was no longer that male.
“You never like to share,”Lohail had often accused.
Correct. Sharing diluted the strength of a pure bond. Though, admittedly, possessiveness was also a break in Silence, but VykhanwasYadeshi. It was built into their marrow when concerning a—
He broke off at that thought. A thought it was not time to entertain. She was young, focused on making a place for herself, and she did not trulyseehim yet. Was barely coming to terms with him having prematurely forced the timeline of their relationship with a courtship. But he had been close to breaking and this acceleration helped soothe him. As if by making a quiet public claim he could now have some peace again.
But Lohail. Lohail taunted him.
And Reign. . .Vykhan didn’t blame her for responding to that allure. It was almost a given.
His old friend would know that Vykhan would never relinquish Reign. Would know that by touching her he was either committing the first step in a war—or casting out a lure Vykhan would have to follow to the one place he never wanted to return.
He knew what Lohail wanted.
23
It feltlike she’d only gotten two hours of sleep before her comm chimed. Ibukay sprang into life, bending over Reign to tap her on the head. “Wake up.”
Reign swiped at the holo image, ignoring the tiny shock of energy that emphasized the command. “Female, I just got off shift.”
“Do you serve?”
“You sound way too cheerful for this time of morning.” Reign squinted at the antique inspired digital clock on her nightstand. “Fuck.”
“Honored Aunt Adevega desires a brunch meet. You will attend with me.”
Reign rolled over onto her stomach, pulling the covers over her head. “Your aunt loathes aliens.”
“I know.” Ibukay’s eyes crinkled in glee. “I must comport myself with the dignity of my rank and treat my eldest aunt with all due courtesy and respect.”
“But you can insult her safely by forcing her to endure the presence of your human pet. Right.”
“So brush off your manners. There’s nothing she hatesmorethan aliens with flawless high caste manners.”
“This is above and beyond.”
