Page 33 of Warrior's Captive
He couldn’t help himself. She stood with such quiet dignity, though her mouth was tighter than normal, the look in her eyes strained. But she wasn’t going to cry, or yell at him, or blame him for not protecting her. She simply offered to cooperate next time.
There wouldn’t be a next time, damnit. Tai’ri lowered his head, uncaring of any witnesses, and kissed her. He kept his desire in check, his need to claim her. For now this small touch was enough to reassure himself she was alive, well, breathing. The child in her was safe and at peace.
After a moment her lips opened under his and she made a small noise, her small hand reaching up to cup his face briefly. He wanted to curl his hands in her hair, yank her head back and plunder, but this wasn’t the time for it, and that she’d let him have this much was a precious gift.
So sweet, her soft lips. Tai’ri drew away slowly. “I’m sorry,” he repeated. “Do you want to go home?”
She shook her head after a moment. “If the immediate danger is over, I think I’d like to stay for a little while longer.”
He caressed her cheekbone with his thumb. “Anything you want. Anything.”
* * *
“So, you’ve got a natural mean right hook,” Banujani said, scanning their surroundings as they enjoyed the early evening air and low hum of voices at the cafe.
Vivian had needed the walk when she woke from her late afternoon nap, relieved to be told that the neighborhood cul-de-sac shopping center wasn’t off limits now due to last evening’s adventure.
Vivian clutched her teacup—with her left hand. The right still ached. “It was shameful behavior. Violence doesn’t solve anything.” Despite Tai’ri’s rather savage satisfaction he’d unsuccessfully muted while tending to her hand last night.
“She underestimated you,yada’ami,” he’d said. “Probably because you’re so short.”
“Hey,” she’d said.
He’d laughed and put away his first aid supplies. “I like your height. You fit perfectly in my arms.”
Vivian’s cheeks warmed thinking about the look in his eyes, and she had to make herself pay attention to Banujani.
Banujani shrugged. “I’m unofficially an acolyte of Haeemah. All into the nonviolence shit. You know what She teaches? Never instigate violence, but if defending yourself, others, or property, throw down. Put the enemy in the grave. That way lies ultimate peace.”
Vivian stared at her skeptically. Banujani grinned. “It’s the Precepts Tai’ri follows too, you know. You should let me train you.”
“Absolutely not. That was a one-time occurrence, and I feel terrible.” And sick to her stomach. Worse than crushing a bug, and the icky noises the exoskeletons made under foot or broom.
Banujani’s smile disappeared, and she speared Vivian with an intense look. “What were you thinking when you punched her?”
Vivian inhaled. The same feeling hit her again, the complete, utter refusal to be anyone’s victim again.
“Exactly,” Banujani said softly. “Remember your why. Harmony and Silence is the goal, but you can’t have either without violence. That’s why we train, to know when is the time for peace and when is the time for blood.”
“I’ll . . . think about it.”
Banujani smirked. “You should have seen the look on Tai’ri’s face. He was all set to save you and thencrack.You saved yourself.”
“He apologized for leaving me. Vykhan told him to.”
“It was a strategic decision. You were in no real danger.” Banujani smiled again, catlike. “Demonstrably.”
Vivian hesitated. “Vykhan is rather focused, isn’t he? Determined he is right.”
She tilted her head. “He trained all of us. He’s been with theBdakhunforever.”
“I see.” There wasn’t much she could say. They didn’t know each other well enough for Vivian to express her concerns about Vykhan’s ruthlessness. Or the ruthlessness she sensed under the calm exterior. “But he’s on our side, you’re certain of it?”
Banujani’s eyes widened. “I am very certain. And glad of it.”
“That’s good.” She lifted her tea cup. “I think I’d like one for the road.”
“No problem.” Banujani pushed back from the table and rose. “How about one of those sandwiches? You didn’t touch your lunch.”
