Chapter 15 #2
Mystique blinked up at him and he grasped her mind. He heard no thoughts, only felt the stunning impact of his words.
And then she laughed. A single sharp burst of humorless laughter.
She wrenched herself free of his hold, stumbling back.
She turned and clung to a chair for support.
Her dazed eyes searched the room, as if to find the answers she’d been seeking all this time.
She laughed again, but this time he heard the hysteria creeping into it.
“Mystique, an accusation doesn’t make a truth,” he reminded her gently.
He stepped toward her, but she jerked and raised a defensive palm to keep him at bay.
The wall it flung up between them stung, but he wrestled the emotion aside.
Her need must take precedence here. “Baby, listen to me. I haven’t even spoken to them yet.
They’re being settled in the city. The leaders will be brought to Jeth Keep. ”
“What if—”
“No!” He barked it out so hard that she jumped.
“Do you hear me, kébé? You’re safe here.
You’ll meet your accusers on my arm, as my Prima, and you’ll damn well act the part!
I don’t care who they say or think they are, you’re my wife.
You’ll be treated as such or there will be an answer for it.
I won’t hide you and I won’t act ashamed, and by the Lord, neither will you! ”
She blinked at him, finally realizing what he’d been trying to say to her this entire time. It didn’t matter. None of it. She could have slaughtered a dozen men, and it didn’t matter to him. He loved her, and that was all he needed to know.
Mystique threw a hand up to her mouth to stifle a hard sob.
In the next instant he was there, gathering her up against the steady strength of his body.
“Stop,” he commanded her gently. “You wouldn’t be capable of slaughtering a dozen men, kébé.
For starters, despite your spit and fire, you’re far too tiny to pull that off. ”
She laughed weakly and dropped her head against his chest, clutching at his vest. “You make jokes now?”
“When better? I can’t bear it when you cry, love. I’d rather make you laugh.”
Mystique didn’t know which one she wanted to do more.
She was holding in giggles and sobs and was too overwhelmed to keep either to herself.
He chuckled softly as she gave in to both, grasping him as though she were afraid he’d disappear.
He cradled her close as he let her sort through her vacillating emotions.
He wasn’t expecting her to suddenly leap for his mouth.
They bumped roughly. She was teary-eyed and sniffling, but she was committed to the kiss.
So he let her pull him down into the bliss of her soft lips and seeking tongue.
He didn’t necessarily like that there was fear behind her need, but he understood it.
Nevertheless, he didn’t want her thinking she’d earn his support through the value of her body.
He swept her up in his arms and found them a seat, keeping her mouth the entire time.
He eased her away after a few minutes, ignoring her protestations.
He wanted her, he always wanted her, but not this way.
“Listen to me, kébé,” he said firmly, boring his gaze into hers, “you’ve nothing to be afraid of.
No one is going to abandon you or betray you.
As much as I love to love you, in a little while we’ll be greeting the first outlander guests to come peacefully to this keep.
It’s an important moment for this Sánge tribe.
But it means nothing if they think to threaten you.
Do you understand? I don’t need to love your body to remind myself that I’m loyal to you above all others, Mystique. ”
“But over your tribe?”
“You are part of my tribe now, baby. Don’t you understand that yet? You are Sánge now. A Sánge queen. A Sánge tribe protects its every last member with all they are. Needless to say, the Prime, Prima, and Pack get twice that effort.”
“Twice ‘all they are’?” She tried to resist, but she had to laugh. “Is that even possible?”
“Hopefully we won’t have to find out. I plan on settling this as peacefully as possible. Now, I want to dress you good and proper. You’ll be holding your head very high when you face your accusers, my love. Para is waiting in your room. Liandra as well. You will look the Prima.”
“And not the kébé?”
“You’ll be all that and more. For me. Forever. But this is about making an impressive, united appearance in the midst of a power struggle. I won’t have them thinking I’m ashamed of you, or you of yourself.”
“I’m not ashamed,” she said, her chin lifting stubbornly. “And whatever happened, I was the one who ended up lying half dead in the wilderness.” She spoke strongly, only the twisting of her fingers giving away her nervousness. He caught them in his hands.
“Kébé, it’s very likely that they’re ’pathic. Guard your emotions and thoughts. You’re good at keeping others out when you put your mind to it.”
“I know I can.”
He grasped her chin and tilted her up for his kiss. “I’ll come back to get you after I speak with the Pack. There will be a banquet tonight, so save your best dress for that, but second best for this greeting. Understood?”
“Yes.”
“I say the black with the city seals,” Para argued as she continued to braid and loop Mystique’s hair into an intricate coif.
They’d agreed no jewels, since it was still daylight and it would be unlikely the lady of the keep ran about fully bedecked.
Instead, a simple wire of gold would crown her when they were done, dangling tiny rubies and charms against her forehead.
She’d been told it had been Reule’s mother’s favorite.
That meant everything to her as her reckoning approached.
She wished she could have known the previous Prima.
“No. She wore that already.” Liandra dismissed it with a wave. “Tonight she will wear the fur gown. It’s perfect. Pale and gray. An angelic softness. She’ll be a fairy queen.”
“Yes,” Mystique agreed. “You’re right. I could wear the black with the seals to greet.”
“No. No black,” Liandra argued sharply. “It has a shadowy, sinister feel to it. Again, we’ll do light colors. This one!”
She pulled it out and Para gasped, part scandalized and part delighted.
“During mourning?” she cried.
“Oh, to hell with that,” Lia scoffed. “He was my brother and I say wear the damn dress and knock their boots off.”
Lothas was comfortably ensconced, with the four other ranking men of the hunting party, in a large and beautiful parlor that displayed an eye for balance, taste, and a great deal of wealth.
Quality was present without being garishly flaunted, and Lothas liked that.
There were no attempts at pretension, nor did he feel as though this were part of an effort to impress.
They’d been treated with a careful measure of respect, an understandable wariness considering how most people treated the Sánge, but also an enthusiastic curiosity.
The five men remained standing as a matter of respect, waiting for their host and hostess, the Prime and Prima of Jeth Province, to arrive before taking their ease.
Lothas hadn’t heard that the Prime had taken a bride until a few minutes ago, and he knew he must remember to find a suitable gift of respect to honor the event if he thought to make an ally of Jeth’s Prime.
Lothas glanced at his companions, his gaze resting on Knar.
Since he was the impetus behind this manhunt, the man ought to be pleased with the distinct progress they’d made since the snows had fallen.
The blizzard had been uncannily propitious.
Since the Yesu only traveled on the ice and snow of their homeland, they only came to the lowlands for trade and other purposes when it snowed.
The storm had allowed them to pick up the trail of the criminal Knar sought.
However, Lothas saw little appreciation in the surly Middle King.
They were lucky to break their journey in comfort and welcome while combining the interlude with information gathering.
Besides, High King Derrik had been considering the opportunity of opening trade agreements with the Sánge for some time now.
Though the Yesu were a severely reclusive society, there was no denying the value of the grains and crops that the Sánge bravely cultivated in this wild place.
The Sánge were also well defended and situated in this valley, their Prime clearly a very clever man who had planned his city very carefully for the sake of security.
In the event someone should threaten the Yesu, allies like the Sánge could be a strong front of protection and warning.
Their reception so far had been a friendly one.
He’d heard that this tribe was neutral in both trade and behavior.
The only people they had steady hostility toward were the Jakals.
But the gypsy empaths were vicious little rodents, and if not for the depths of the icy mountains protecting them, the Yesu might have trouble with them as well.
Lothas heard the turn of the door latch, and he stepped forward to greet his host. The double doors were pushed open by a dignified male attendant who quickly stepped aside.
This movement revealed a large, impressive male Sánge with dense black hair hanging in a shaggy halo down to his shoulders.
His deeply tanned complexion was startling to the mountain clan males, but it made Lothas smile.
The windblown cold and the sun reflecting off ice and snow gave the Yesu males ruddy faces, but otherwise they were pale. It was a difference to be admired.
Lothas had seen but a glimpse of this male at the wall. Now the dignity of his dress and the bold assuredness of his stance broadcast his security in his power. A formidable, respectable man, Lothas thought with approval.