Lacey's Warriors (Bondmates #6) - Ann Mayburn Page 0,27

with his own, to finally allow someone other than Chel into his deepest of hearts. All too quickly, she slipped away, hidden behind her mental walls, but for the few fleeting moments they’d been together as the Lord of Life intended, he’d known a bliss he’d fight to the death to experience again.

Throwing back his head, he roared out his celebration, Chel’s voice rising with his own, their triumph ringing through his ears and soul. Nosa and Cormac added their voices as well, congratulating them on finding their Matriarch.

Blinking at them with wide, dark eyes, Roxy said, “What was that all about?”

“We were celebraiting with our fellow Warriors because they have found their Matriarch,” Cormac explained with a small smile.

An itch started at the base of Gwarnon’s spine, a prickling along his nerves like his skin had been stripped away. His upper jaw ached a little as his fangs began to drop down, all of his senses heightening as his body began its own transformation. While the bride went through a great physical change, her bondmates went through their own transition as their bodies readied themselves for the privilege of defending their wife. It made them unusually aggressive and unpredictable, which is why most Kadothian males chose to stay away from their brides until the transition was over. If they were with her in their animalistic state, they would not allow anyone to approach her, even if medical care was needed.

Some males suffered from these possessive instincts more than others, and worry came from his bond with Chel as Gwarnon swallowed back a growl. The other males in the room were too close to Chel, and Roxy’s presence irritated him. Hostility filled him, and he clung to the anchor of Chel’s mind, trying to keep from getting sucked into the dark place deep inside of him where the bestial animal that he could become resided. That animal didn’t care that Roxy wasn’t a threat, didn’t care that Nosa and Cormac were men he’d grown to both respect and admire.

Men that he could, in time, call friends.

No, that beast only saw his fellow Warriors as potential threats.

Chel abruptly stood then grabbed Gwarnon’s hand as he began to back away with a bow. “Forgive me for being rude, Lady Roxy, but we must leave. My instincts will not allow another female near me until Lacey is done transitioning.”

Roxy gave them a hesitant smile. “Of course. We’ll be off. I’m very happy for you—for all three of you. Congratulations on finding your Matriarch. Lacey is a good woman, and I know you’ll treat her right.”

“Yes, thank you,” Chel managed to get out before he hauled Gwarnon out into the hallway.

Two of their men, Samit and Brelin, stood at the end of the hallway, worried looks on their hard faces. Gwarnon had known them for a long time and trusted them with his life. They were his former weapons trainers, two seasoned Warriors who’d taken a green recruit under their wing at the Academy and taught him to survive. Between the two of them, they’d saved his life a thousand times over, but in the moment, he wanted to tear their throats out.

“Stay back,” Chel shouted, keeping both of his hands on Gwarnon’s shoulders. “Lacey has gone into transition. It is riding his protective instincts hard.”

Samit smiled, the white of his teeth brilliant against his blue black skin. “Congratulations!”

Brelin, with his brilliant green and blue hair, threw a fist into the air. “Well done! Lord of Life’s blessing on your bride!”

“Thank you,” Chel said as he began to push Gwarnon down the hall to their room. “I have sent you instructions for her care. Do not fail me.”

Chapter 5

Lacey

Her eyelids were so, so heavy, but for some reason her mind insisted she wake up. A nagging sense that there was something wrong kept poking at her as she tried to slip back into sleep. Thoughts drifted through her mind, and her lower spine gave a few cracks as she stretched out. It seemed like her body was always stiff these days from the endless training that Gwarnon and Chel put her through.

Gwarnon…

Abruptly, she forced her eyes open and blinked away the blurriness.

She was in an unfamiliar room with strange instruments all around her.

Sitting up, she looked down at the soft, pale sea green tunic style dress she wore and fingered the smooth, shimmery material.

An unfamiliar feeling of something sliding over her neck startled her, and she reached up, touching long blonde curls that now