Retribution (Kall Alien Warriors #3) - Sue Lyndon Page 0,67
Xazzok said. “The Holy Ones are requesting your assistance with one of the small children, a tiny female, who was left outside their temple. They are having trouble calming the child.”
“It’s always my honor to help with the children on the mountaintop. I’m ready to leave now,” Fallonn said, walking up to her husband.
Layla respected the petite Flourishian all the more, just knowing she was on her way to help one of the children who’d been left at the temple. Holy Ones were actually the children born of slaves, and the peaceful religious group always cared for each child left at their temples.
Once Layla was alone with Zamek in the library, he took her in his arms and placed a kiss atop her hair. She basked in the closeness and hugged him back. Of course, at that exact moment, her stomach chose to rumble loudly. Her face flooded with warmth.
“Come,” Zamek said, guiding her out into the corridor, “and we will enjoy the midday meal together. Then, if you’d like, I will take you on a walk through the vineyard. I wish for you to become better acquainted with your new home, and I will show you the boundaries of my property and which locations are safe for you to walk on your own.”
Freedom. A small slice of it. He was trying his best to help her not feel so caged in. She stroked his arm and smiled up at him, gratitude swelling within her. “Thank you, Zamek, I-I would like that very much.”
Chapter 24
Fourteen days later…
Zamek marched away from the council building, feeling on top of the world—a human expression, but it described his current mood better than any Kall turn of phrase he could think of.
The council members had just approved the license for his marriage to Layla, and he was now free to marry her whenever he wished. As soon as they exchanged vows, she would no longer be a slave. She would be a wife and he would no longer need to worry about Kall authorities attempting to force his hand in the expected act of retribution. Many in Sumlin and nearby Brutt would think he’d gone mad, and there was still a possibility that he might be demoted back down to a warrior, but he would worry about that when the time came.
Layla. She was all that mattered.
Human wives were afforded the same level of protection on his planet as Kall wives, even those who were former slaves. Layla would be the first female from a judgment of retribution who would become a wife—the council had been unable to find any instances of this happening before in the recorded history of planet Kall—but the council members had also assured him that Layla would still be entitled to the same protection as a wife.
Thank the stars for Commander Edek’s help. The commander had informed Zamek how he’d managed to get his own marriage license to a human female approved, and Zamek had employed the same tactics in the council chamber today. To be more specific, he’d blackmailed the entire council, threatening to expose their lack of foresight when it came to protecting Sumlin from a criminal known as Teyya. One of the council members had had business dealings with the dishonorable male Teyya, dealings his fellow council members should not have overlooked.
Satisfaction surged through Zamek as he recalled how easily the entire council had caved to his demands once he mentioned his knowledge of Teyya’s criminal activities in Sumlin. Every face on the podium had paled, turning light pink, and they’d exchanged worried looks before quickly conceding.
And now Layla would become Zamek’s wife. He couldn’t wait to return home and inform her of the council’s decision.
Zamek arrived home in the late afternoon. The sun blazed over the vineyard and warmed his face when he lifted it to the sky for one brief moment. He entered his home and froze at the sight of Commander Vavvis standing in the entryway, accompanied by two well-known members of the High Council.
A growl rumbled from Zamek’s throat. He sensed a threat and it riled him that the commander who had shown a worrisome level of interest in Layla’s fate was now in his home.
“What is the meaning of this?” he asked without preamble. No point in being friendly or offering a traditional greeting. Zamek didn’t even incline his head to Councilors Horth and Crozz.
Before any of the males could respond, Xazzok rushed into the entryway.