Savage King: New Worlds - Milly Taiden Page 0,47
you in one bite?” He took the bow, lifting it over his shoulder.
She laughed. “No, he’s a special case.” She stepped forward getting them back on the trail. “Can I ask you something?” After he nodded, she cleared her throat then loudly and clearly asked, “What would the tribe do to someone who, during battle, made an order to attack and many people ended up dying, but you won? Would you want to kill the person who made the order?”
He stared at her for a moment, then loudly he replied, “No! That’s part of war!”
She smiled and returned to her normal voice. “Thank you.” Then she said a bit louder into the trees, “I expect an apology or the right to say I told you so.”
“I apologize,” Haml immediately said.
She waved her hands in front of her. “No, not you. Someone else.”
His eyes surveyed the land ahead of them. “But there’s no one else here. Are you feeling ill? Maybe need some water?”
She laughed, then from behind a tree next to the trail, Zee stepped onto the path. Haml took in a deep breath, freezing on the spot. Her eyes ping-ponged between the men, then she shuffled to Zee and put her arms around his back.
She whispered to him, “Thank you for showing yourself. I told you they didn’t hate you.”
Zee had his arms around her, but his eyes never left Haml’s, even when he bent down to put a kiss on her forehead. “Yes, love. You were right.” He moved slowly and cautiously, trying to push her to the side and behind him.
When she realized what he was doing, she slapped his hands. “Stop that, Zee. I’m safe. Haml won’t hurt you or me, will you, Haml?” She looked at the man staring at her mate. Neither had said anything. Maybe they didn’t know each other. “Haml, this is Xenos. Xenos, this is Haml. He’s Iridia’s right hand.”
Haml threw his head back and laughed as hard as he could, though she didn’t know why. With drawn brows, she looked up at Zee. He just raised a brow as if to say don’t ask me.
Finally, Haml quieted, wiping a hand over his face. “Well, fuck me. You are alive. I knew it was you when I first smelled the girl.” He shook his head, eyes searching the woods to the side. “Two hundred cold moons, and you decide to show up.”
The happiness in Wren at her mate coming out evaporated with Haml’s serious tone. She stepped in front of Zee. “I can explain,” she said. Before she could open her mouth again, an arm came around from behind, fingers pinching her lips together just like before they went to see the mama and baby cubs in the woods. He couldn’t tell her to be quiet, so he smooshed her lips together to get across what he needed to communicate.
Of course, he pressed himself against her back, giving her tingles and memories of last night.
Haml stepped toward them, Zee stiffening, his body tensing. Haml reached out a hand as if to shake. Zee slowly released her lips then grabbed Haml’s arm just below the elbow. Haml’s hand wrapped around Zee’s arm. Haml then pulled Zee in for a man’s slap on the back hug with her still between them. It was a bit weird, but not too unpleasant of an experience. She’d never played let’s make a Wren sandwich.
Haml stepped back and smiled, still holding Zee’s arm. “It’s good to see you again, brother.”
Her mouth dropped open. “Are you brothers?”
Haml smiled wider. “Not by mothers, but by choice. He is same mother brother to Iridia.”
Mother brother? That was a strange translation. “Wait,” she blurted, “Iridia, the leader, is your sister?” She pointed at Zee. Shit. Last night, Zee did tell her he was the son of the alpha who died in battle. But that didn’t register until just now. Holy shit. Zee was the king of the Gnoleon. She wasn’t sure if this was good or not.
She asked Haml, “Why did you say you knew it was him?”
He answered, “The first time I smelled you at the tree, I recognized a scent but couldn’t figure out how I knew it. Then I realized last night. I waited outside your berm to see if I was correct.”
“I’m glad you didn’t kill me,” Zee said to Haml.
Haml chuckled. “And I’m glad you didn’t kill me, Alpha. Your tigron senses saved me.”
“Yes,” Zee said, “had it been anyone else, I would’ve torn their throat