Page 89 of Lorran
“Until Saavi is stabilized and can journey to theJudgment.”
Right. She wasn’t sure how to ask the next part. “What she said about your warlord…”
“She and her mate committed a criminal offense. She will face the consequences of her actions.”
“But she’s not Mahdfel. Shouldn’t the civilian authorities handle it?”
“She is a Mahdfel mate who conducted illegal research on a Mahdfel ship with Mahdfel resources.” Lorran scratched at the base of his horns. “No, the warlord will handle the matter.”
“Maybe he made her. Maybe she didn’t have a choice,” Wyn said.
A hardened expression flashed across his face. “No. I heard her confession. She was quite offended when I suggested she did not have any part in the research. Told me I erased her contributions.”
“Well, the patriarchy does like to diminish the achievements of women,” Wyn said, staring back at the planet. “So Mikah is losing both his parents.”
“I cannot say what the warlord will decide.”
“But what’s your best guess?”
He hesitated before he said, “Paax told me that Ulrik had been his friend. I would not be surprised if he felt compassion for Saavi and sentenced her to confinement on theJudgment.”
“Confinement. So locked up in a cabin in space rather than a cell on a planet?”
“Living and working on theJudgment, under supervision from the clan. It is a good solution for her and her son.”
“But she sounded so afraid of the warlord.” The absolute fear and panic in Saavi’s eyes, pleading not to go, even as she bled out, haunted Wyn.
“Saavi believes she knows the warlord, but she does not.” Lorran sighed, scratching again at his horns. “She knew Paax as he had been, but she does not know him now as warlord.”
“Okay, you’re going to have to explain this to me. That made no sense.” Wyn took a seat on the sofa, grabbing a pillow to wedge between herself and the armrest.
“Ulrik was a member of our clan. I did not know him well. Our warlord at the time was Omas.” Lorran gazed out the window. “His mate died in an attack. He was seriously injured and nearly died. Paax used an experimental serum and saved him. Changed him.”
Lorran picked up the decanter and filled two glasses with water before continuing. “Omas grew unstable, locked in his anger and his grief. Males with mates were removed from the clan.”
“Ulrik and Saavi left.”
“And many more,” Lorran answered with a nod. “Perhaps I am explaining this poorly. The clan…is often all the family a male has. I am fortunate to have my father and my brothers, but my situation is unusual. This life is dangerous.”
Wyn made a noise, a sarcastic snort mixed with a whimper. Yes, this life was dangerous.
“The damage that pulling a clan apart does cannot always be seen, but it is felt. Deeply.” He touched his chest, like remembering an old wound. “The bonds between brothers in the clan bind us together. We crave those connections. We also desire a mate and family. It is coded into the fiber of our beings. To make a warrior choose between the two things that define his existence—” Lorran shook his head. “Many resented Omas for forcing them to choose. More resented Paax because he created a monster from the dying body of his brother.”
That sounded…complicated, and a whole mess of things she wasn’t ready to deal with yet. “And you? Did you resent him?”
“I was young. Eager to prove myself. I saw the damage Omas did, but even as he grew more erratic, I told myself that we did more good than harm. We protected the people of Sangrin and all those in our territory. We did our duty.”
Wyn reached for his hand, brushing her thumb against the back. “Sounds difficult.”
“It is the past.” His posture changed, as if he forced his body to relax. He was going into fun-time Lorran mode, all jokes and easy charm.
Fair enough. That was a heavy conversation, and they had a hell of a day, what with the running for their lives and thepew pew pew.
“We require sustenance,” he said.
“Food. Yes. Tell me they have real food here.”
“Real food, and I believe we can request delivery.” Lorran pulled out a battered comm unit from his pocket. It expanded into a translucent sheet. “Have you had Sangrin food before?”
