Lacey's Warriors (Bondmates #6) - Ann Mayburn Page 0,51
until you wear their bondmark. Warriors that have no bond, or a weak bond with an overburdened Matriarch, will seek you out.”
Moving closer to Wythe, she studied his sharp profile as he silently fiddled with the controls.
“But I still don’t know why you kidnapped me instead of just asking.”
“Your future husbands must react naturally when the High Congress Representatives arrive and demand you come into their custody for your safety. They can have no knowledge of your arrival on Kadothia.”
“Why?”
“The High Congress will have a Truth Speaker with them, no doubt.”
Her crystal implant helpfully supplied that a Truth Speaker could hear any lie spoken a loud.
He glanced over and gave her a tight, humorless smirk. “Lord Rell, whom both Chel, Gwarnon, and I unofficially serve under as part of the espionage wing of the Kadothian military, received word that there are two massive bounties put on your and Lady Roxy’s heads. One by the Hive—no shock there, as Lady Tara says—and another one by someone on Kadothia. As long as you and Lady Roxy are off planet, our protection is nowhere near as good. The High Congress want to take you back themselves, but Lord Rell has already intercepted plans from several groups to attack the High Congress’s ships on the return trip to Kadothia. We are very, very far from Kadothian Territory, so the trip would be especially dangerous. But, if you are already on Kadothia, you are safe.”
She laced her fingers behind her head and looked up at the ceiling. “But what about the Baladium? Surely the threat of their reprisal to any harm against myself or Roxy is enough to deter most bounty hunters? Even trying would be a death warrant, in theory. Is there ever going to be a point in my future where someone isn’t trying to kill me? Shit!”
“Lady Lacey,” Wythe turned so he was facing her with an almost pitying look on his face. “I could lie to you and tell you the false, comforting words I could give a child, or I can treat you like the fellow Warrior you are. If you were a child, I would say that the Lord of Life will guard you, and not to worry. But because you are a Warrior, I will tell you that you will be able to guard yourself and your family from harm because it is how the Lord of Life made you. On Earth, you were the one who was sent into battle to defend the innocent. You were the one who went into danger to rescue those in situations most people would fear. You will survive any attempts on your life, and you will make them pay for daring to strike at you and yours.”
The intensity in his gaze never wavered, and while compliments usually made her super uncomfortable, she liked the way he saw her.
It made her feel strong, it made her feel powerful, and she straightened her shoulders and lifted her chin before giving him a grin. “You give great pep talks.”
The corner of his mouth tilted in a melancholy smile. “I had a lot of practice on the front lines, invigorating my men before a battle.”
“Roxy is still in the Baladium. Is she safe?”
“As safe as we can make her. Her bondmates are in charge of her security and, as a fully bonded Matriarch, she has rights and powers you do not. But you are an unmated female offspring of a Kadothian Matriarch, and that gives you a great deal of protection. A child, in the eyes of most of the Bel’Tan Galaxy, because of your young age.”
“I’m twenty-two. That’s an adult on Earth.”
“Regardless, your unique status has allowed us to bring you back to Kadothia without the permission or knowledge of the High Congress.”
“And Orushel was in on it? I thought he was totally loyal to Gwarnon and Chel? Doesn’t that make him a traitor?” She frowned as various lights from the dashboard played out over Wythe’s sharp features.
“No! He is not a traitor!” Wythe said with such anger that she jerked away from him, her body automatically going into a defensive fighting stance.
“Easy,” she said as he snarled at her.
Visibly gathering himself, Wythe took some deep breaths, the dark flush leaving his lean cheeks. “Forgive me, Lady Taylor. I didn’t mean to frighten you. But you must understand, for a Kadothian Warrior, being called a traitor is the ultimate insult.”
Dropping her hands, Lacey bit her lower lip before giving him an apologetic wince. “Sorry.