Page 50 of Ren: Warlord Brides
Dovak finished his drink and refilled his cup. “Oran told you to drop the investigation, but you refused.”
“I do not take orders from that male.”
“Yes, yes. Yourwarlord. Paax is always causing trouble.” Dovak took a sip. “Since you would not let it go, he pointed you at Nals. You were meant to chase after Nals.”
Ren shrugged a shoulder. He learned the move from Thalia and quite enjoyed the slovenly expression of disrespect. When he was younger, such insolence would have earned him a beating. “Nals is an Academy instructor with little means or connections to move the credits funding Ulrik Shaen’s research. Pashaal is the obvious first choice.”
“Of course she is!” Another sip. “Pashaal is known to keep on the legal side of trade, but barely. She has many questionable deals and several opportunities to scrub credits clean. Did it ever occur to your warlord that the Council is very aware of the funds being sent to Ulrik Shaen and his mate?”
“We suspected treason, yes.”
“And did you suspect that the matter was already being investigated?” Dovak did not wait for Ren to answer. “No. You blunder in, swinging your cocks around because you are Mahdfel and that is what you do.”
“My dick-swinging is kept to a minimum,” Ren replied dryly.
“Yes, well, you nearly ruined my investigation.” Dovak tapped his fingers against the cup, the rings clanking. With a disgusted sneer on his face, he pulled the ornaments off. “A year I’ve been developing this persona. Pashaal is wary of newcomers. That is how she avoids detection.”
“If Oran Rhew did not want me to interfere in an active investigation, he should have said.”
“He told Paax to mind his own clan’s business.”
Ren grunted. “Then he should have informed me of the active investigation and not opined about troublesome warlords. Really, it is a simple concept to explain, and our conversation was quite lengthy.”
“Fortunately, Pashaal believed your performance about wanting your mate back.” Dovak drained the cup, swapping it for Ren’s untouched cup.
“If your investigation remains undetected, why did you follow my ship?”
“Because Pashaal might have said she believed your story, but she does not believe you.”
“That makes no sense,” Ren said.
“The human female knows too much, has seen too much of Pashaal’s organization. She needs to know that the human female will remain silent.”
“You intend to take my mate?” A growl rose in warning at the back of his throat. Ren would slaughter the male before he laid a finger on Emmarae.
“I am not interested in your mate.”
“Then why did you try to win her contract? Why would you not admit defeat?”
“Stars.” He tossed his head back, horns catching the light. “For the last time, I was undercover. I needed topretendto be interested in your mate. Surely even you Mahdfel understand fiction.”
“I understand that I do not appreciate your tone.”
The male sighed. “Warriors. Do not misunderstand. In battle, there is no one I want more to be a meat shield and stand up front. Some tasks require a delicate touch, not brute force. I expected your warlord to understand that.”
First, Ren disliked the male’s condescending tone. He might have been playing a character for Pashaal’s benefit, but Ren suspected Dovak did not stretch his acting abilities. Arrogance rolled off the male in waves.
Second, he was Mahdfel.
“And what would your warlord have done?” Ren asked.
“Ah, figured that out. Good.” The male poured himself another drink. “When I heard that the cook’s Mahdfel mate came back from the dead—we all presumed you were dead, don’t growl at me—I feared you would recognize me. Fortunately, you are from a completely different system.”
“How have you disguised your clan markings?”
“How are you so small?”
“An anomaly. Your words hit as hard as your punches.” Ren paused, then added, “Which means they barely register. Almost like a tickle, which makes sense because I was very amused and laughing during our farce of a fight.”
