Page 73 of Warrior's Reign
“Only daughter,” Vykhan murmured. “Father.” He brushed past them and approached Benyon and Zoriah Obe’shan. Her parents sat on cushions at a low square table. Her mother grinned at Reign but didn’t move. Pa’s eyes crinkled in greeting, but he remained silent as well.
Reign stared as Vykhan sank to his knees in front of Zoriah, head bowed. Reign’s mother glanced at Benyon, but touched Vykhan’s head.
“Eldest son,” she said.
This was a ritual obviously, but one of those Reign didn’t know.
Vykhan rose smoothly and turned, holding out a hand. She took it as the line of his shoulders subtly relaxed, his severe expression bleeding into something a little more open. His mouth curled at her as his thumb brushed the back of her hand.
“It’s not too late to reverse course,” he said. “Your father’s blessing is the last, and makes me yours.”
“I have an issue to discuss with you,” she said.
The curve of his mouth deepened. “I know. Though I hope you choose to have the discussion in private and spare my pride.”
“He has plenty of it to spare,” Aanyah said, moving to stand in front of her place.
Reign glanced at Benyon, who sighed and leaned forward, touching Vykhan’s head briefly. “Eldest son. I’m pleased that Reign is pleased.”
Reign grinned at her stepfather. “That was snarky.”
He returned the grin. “I’ve been practicing with your sisters.”
Reign winced.
Aanyah clasped her hands together, a broad smile crossing her face. “Now that the formalities are observed. . .”
Dozian plopped down next to his mate. “Let’s eat. Congratulations,ya’adoan.”
Ibukay commed with regrets that she had to remain behind in the palace and attend her parents, but a gift arrived by drone moments later. Reign opened the small package at everyone’s urging, and withdrew a slim disposable tablet. She flicked it on and scanned the contents, then smiled.
“Ibu is optimistic,” Reign said.
“What is it?” Vykhan asked.
“A trip to the beach resort we visited in university.”
“Ah.”
“We’ll twist some arms,” Dozian promised, lounging on his side with a bowl under his nose. Reign had been taken aback when a few minutes into the dinner he’d abandoned all pretense at formality. Vykhan and Aanyah hadn’t blinked. “You two should be able to get at least a week of simultaneous leave.”
“Bet you can’t get Vykhan to abandon ship more than three days?” Reign began.
Dozian’s eyes glinted with interest. “What’s the stakes?”
“Father,” Vykhan said, then pinched her upper thigh under the table. It was just hard enough for her to inhale. . .and accompanied by an immediate sensual caress.
Benyon chuckled. “Well, I’m glad my daughter has realistic expectations of marriage going in. Your aunt learned the hard way what it meant to be the wife of a focused man.”
Reign shrugged. “Or the husband of a focused wife. I hope he knows what he’s getting into.”
“I’m aware,” Vykhan said. “Highly.”
“It’s too late to try and talk him out of it,” Aanyah told Reign. “The blessings are done.”
“And we’ve supped,” Dozian said, lifting his bowl. “In the old days, that was all that was needed. Well, except for—”
Aanyah slapped her mate’s hand lightly. “Decorum.”
