Honor Bound (11 page)

“I will send
someone this even tide, Vaan.”

“Do not tell any
one and warn the others to keep it from the Raasa as well.”

“And your bride?”
Argan appeared curious.

“She need not
know.”

***

Miki brushed her
hair until it flattened and pinned one side up with a silver clip depicting a
small flutter bug. Sera, who’d helped her get ready, spun in a circle and threw
herself back on Miki‘s bed.

“Tonight will be
so much fun, Su-Su.”

Miki giggled at
Sera‘s theatrics. “I‘m excited, too.” She turned to the side and admired her
reflection in the mirror. The dress fit as lovely as ever, displaying the
curves of her body nicely. “Do you think he‘ll like it?”

Sera sat up and
perched on the edge of the bed. She tapped her finger against her lip before
answering. “The Overlord will love it.”

Miki relaxed. So
much planning had gone into the celebration for tonight. She wanted everyone to
enjoy themselves. There hadn’t been a reason to dress up in a long time. She
hoped the Warlords would see this as a sign the Raasa welcomed them. “Is
everything ready?” Miki couldn’t help but worry that something would go wrong.

Sera stood and
grasped both of Miki‘s hands. “I went down earlier and it’s just as you wished.
Cook prepared a special meal and dessert. Assa arranged for musicians, which
means there will be dancing.”

Miki laughed and
hugged Sera tightly. “This will be the best night ever.” She’d prove to her
mate that she supported his work to make their home safe and trusted him to
protect her people. Once he believed she completely committed to him, love
would flourish between them.

Chapter 10

Vaan sheathed his
sword and offered words of encouragement to Balal. “As you continue to learn,
you will not fall for such a move in the future.”

The Warlord shook
his head and grinned. “I should have expected it. I have seen you and Argan
practice such a maneuver time and again.”

Ramar came up and
pounded Balal on the back. “He is the Overlord because he is our best fighter.”

Vaan smirked at
the praise. “Your words are bloated, Ramar. Many times I unarmed you with a
similar move.”

The Warlords
laughed at the flush staining Ramar’s cheeks. As they entered the hall, it was
easy to sense the festive air. Argan waved them over to the few remaining seats
at the table. Colorful streamers hung from the rafters, Warlords and Raasa
milled about. Food covered every available surface.

Music blared
through the hall. A quartet of Raasa males sat in chairs at the front of the
dining hall playing the lutir. To his surprise, Vaan enjoyed the sounds they
produced on the difficult instruments. A few females got up to dance,
occasionally tugging a male to the circle to join them.

The atmosphere in
the room hovered on the verge of pleasant. The continued training exercises
were making the Raasa more comfortable in their presence and his Warlords were
accepting their new home with less animosity. It helped that Mikayla struggled
not at all with his command of her home.

Vaan devoured the
tasteful food on his plate. His Warlords did the same and made ample use of the
cider. Two days had gone by since his order to Mikayla to address the cook. If
he believed his men, she’d done it on purpose. He hadn’t had a chance to
address the matter with her because he could not fathom the lengths a woman would
go to in order to attain something as trivial as this kissing she claimed to
want.

Laughter from the
stairs caught his attention. Mikayla entered the dining hall from the upper
level, smiling with the servant who walked beside her. Animated features so similar,
except the servant stood shorter than Mikayla and her eyes were a lighter
green. Mikayla spent many hours in the company of the house workers but he’d
felt no need to restrict the innocent contact. It pleased her in a way he could
not decipher.

When she and the
female reached the floor, Vaan jerked and choked on his cider. By the Blessed
One, what did she have on? The green fabric left little to the imagination. It
draped around her neck, revealing golden shoulders and arms. Silk hugged her
sides, leaving her flat belly bare. A gold belt made of large hoops dangled
about her waist from which thin layers of the same green silk fell to her
ankles. Each time she moved, the fabric parted, flashing a glimpse of her
slender legs and the dainty gold sandals she wore on her feet.

Her hair hung in
waves about her face and her green eyes tilted up in the corners. The servant
girl wrapped an arm around Mikayla’s shoulders. Sera? Her name mattered not
when he considered she wore a dress in a style identical to Mikayla but in a
pink fabric. Vaan glowered at the two women but more females entered the hall
in the skimpy attire.

They joined the
dance floor, laughing and kicking their heels in steps he’d never witnessed.
Raasa males approached, spinning the women in the air, their hands in contact
with the exposed skin.

Argan noticed them
first. His jaw clenched and his gaze zoomed in on Vaan. Vaan got to his feet
slowly. More and more of his Warlords turned to follow his intense stare. First
surprise then anger washed over their features. Only Balal came to stand next
to him.

Vaan pushed away
from the table. Mikayla stopped at the door to the kitchens and kissed Sera on
the cheek. The servant flushed each time his eyes made contact with hers. Like
now. Sera darted into the kitchen.

“It is celebration
garb,” Balal muttered in his ear.

“What?” Anger
coiled in Vaan’s belly. How dare she come down scantily clad around warriors,
flaunting her flesh.

“A Raasa female
wears the sari for special occasions.”

Vaan had never
heard of a sari. A Kabanian female wouldn’t be caught dead dressed in this
manner. Mikayla noticed his attention and froze feet from the table. She’d been
walking toward him but sensed his anger. Her eyes widened and her hands fiddled
at her waist. Her naked waist. Vaan stepped in her direction. She worried her
lower lip and stepped back.

Balal’s hand
gripped Vaan’s shoulder firmly. When Vaan raised a brow, the youth dropped his
hand immediately. “I am sorry, Overlord.” He bowed his head and continued. “I
but seek to warn you to…to go easy with her.”

And what
foolishness was this that one of his Warlords felt the need to tell him how to
deal with his woman?

Tesai distracted
her by grabbing Mikayla’s arms and leading her to the area with the other
dances. When the music slowed, the male smiled brightly and gripped Mikayla
about the hips as they danced. Her hands were on his shoulders as Tesai lowered
his bald head to speak directly in her ear.

Her corresponding
laughter sent Vaan’s anger flaring. Balal stepped in front of him. “She is but
having a good time with a friend, Overlord. The male matters not to her.”

“His hands are on
her. I have warned them of this.” While Vaan watched, Tesai trailed those soon
to be broken hands up her waist.

“She sees him only
as a friend. Her heart does not sense his evil.”

Pressing his lips
together, Vaan ignored Balal and headed toward Mikayla with rapid strides. He
stopped inches from her, interrupting the so called dance.

Tesai adjusted his
hold slightly but did not release Mikayla. When his gaze met Vaan’s, he
smirked.

“Do you not
remember my warning, Raasa?”

Tesai tensed but
then tossed Vaan a cocky smile. Secure, no doubt of his safety because of the
crowd. “Dancing requires touching, Overlord. I believe even Kabanians would
make allowances for this.”

To prove his lack
of fear in the face of Vaan’s displeasure, Tesai ran his hand up and down
Mikayla’s hip.

Mikayla aimed wide
eyes in Vaan’s direction. “We are only dancing, Vaan.”

Blood boiled at
the deliberate insult and Mikayla’s naïveté at this show her guard performed.
Vaan made sure to add power behind his blow when he backhanded him. Mikayla
stumbled until Vaan caught her about the waist and shoved Tesai’s arm loose.

 “Tesai!” She
shrugged from his arms but Vaan blocked her path to the fallen Raasa. She would
scream her concern for the hapfe dung? “You will return to our room and
change.” See? He could keep his tone low and even.

“What? But why,
Vaan?”

Lack of brows did
nothing to minimize the hurt and annoyance in her eyes. Were her lips always
this red and ripe? Distracted by her enhancements, Vaan found himself leaning
closer. A floral fragrance drifted on the air. She’d scented herself as well.
“You painted your face,” he accused. “Are you trying to tempt another male?”

Diamond pupils
began to dilate and contract. Her tongue flickered. A hiss came from deep in
her throat. “I have no need of another male,” she snapped. “I’m not pleased
with the one I have.”

Vaan pressed
forward, bringing his body in contact with hers. His chest brushed along her
firm mounds. “Too bad I am pleased with you. Your Raasa joining is until death
severs our tie.” She inhaled sharply, putting her hands up between them. His
own made their way to her waist and the bare flesh exposed there.

Vaan pulled her closer
until their legs bumped. Hunger awakened. His toqa stretched his leathers. Her
exotic features rivaled any Kabanian female. Burying his nose in her hair, he
noticed the same floral scent but milder. Need burned. His fingers slipped
through the hoops of her belt and touched more of her soft skin.

“My woman will not
dress in such a loose manner.”

She struggled
briefly but her fight proved futile. Her strength could not match his. “I’m not
dressed loose. It’s a sari.”

“You will change
into the clothing you usually wear.” He much preferred the tunics and leggings.
“I do not like your body on display for all to see,” Vaan grit out. “You belong
to me.”

Mikayla ceased her
attempts to break from him. She lifted her chin to meet his stare. Her lips
pulled back flashing her fangs in another low hiss. Her second such sound.
Amazement held Vaan still. “Do you seek to threaten me, Mikayla?” Would she
dare shoot her venom at him? He released one hand from her waist to touch his
dagger in reassurance, though he hoped to have no need to use it.

“I am not yours.
I’m your mate.” Anger laced her tone causing her to stumble over the words and
for the first time, he almost didn’t understand her use of Standard, so thick
was her speech.

When he figured
out what she said, Vaan leaned low and placed his face side by side with hers.
He rubbed his face along the softness of her cheek. His other hand came up to
grip her chin tightly. “Be careful, Mikayla. Best you remember my rules and
know your place. You belong to the Overlord not one of your weak willed males.”

***

Several emotions
coursed through Miki. Unwanted arousal from her traitorous body warred with
rage to play havoc with her senses at his low voiced warning. She wanted to
lash out but feared his reprisal. Her heart sank to the pit of her stomach.

Could he not see
the True Union celebration was for them? A party with dancing and music to
acknowledge their bond. She should not have sought to dress for him. Her
actions now seemed foolish. The green sari was a particular favorite but
clearly her mate did not appreciate her efforts.

When he stepped
back a pace, Miki dropped her hands to her side. Their actions had drawn
attention. The music came to a grinding halt as her people eyed them, uncertain
if they should intervene. His Warlords stared with varying degrees of distrust.
The ensuing awkward silence caused Miki‘s chest to hurt from the unrelieved
pressure.

Tesai slowly got
to his feet, rubbing his mouth. Blood stained his bottom lip and already his
skin darkened on his right cheek with the start of a bruise. She wanted to
apologize to her friend but Vaan’s expression dared her to move in Tesai’s
direction.

Throat clogged and
overwhelmed with her feelings, Miki fled from the dining hall. The customary
Warlord at the stairs jumped back in time to avoid being run over.

Miki ran down the
hall of the upper level and burst into the room that always brought comfort.
Her chest heaved but she strangled the cries. Her Noan glanced up from the book
he read. He pushed it to the side with the stacks of others covering his desk
and stood. “Miki?”

 She flew into his
arms and the first sob escaped. Familiar hands patted her back and held her
close. She inhaled the scent of honeyed nuts, his favorite snack. “I think he
hates me, Noan.”

“Shhhh, my little
one. No one could hate you.”

Miki sniffed and
shoved her face in the curve of his neck, reliving Vaan’s actions. “My mate
shamed me in front of everyone.” Her heart ached when she recalled the pitying
expression on Assa‘s face as she ran.

Eran pulled back
and cupped her cheeks. “You will tell me all and we will fix it.”

  He always said
such. Even when she was a youngling but nothing could fix this. She tired of
being strong and brave. Tears welled. “It’s nothing like I expected, No-No.
I’ve tried to be nice to his men but they hate me. I’ve performed my duties in
the bedroom but he gives me nothing in return. He trusts me so little, he
sleeps with a knife beneath his pillow. Is it so hard to love me?” The question
broke on the end as she sobbed again and placed her head back on his chest.

Her noan rocked
her in his arms and Miki cried freely.

***

Vaan glared at the
staring crowd. “The celebration is over. Go to your homes.” They dispersed
quietly, a few eyeing him with resentment.

Tesai wiped his
mouth but his eyes gleamed with pleasure. Vaan fisted his hands to keep from
striking him again.

“She will tire of
your barbaric ways,” the Raasa claimed.

Vaan cared not. “I
but wait for the moment to end you, Raasa. Your life continues only because of
her care for you.”

Tesai thrust his
chest out. “I guarded her for years. She values our friendship.”

Boastful words
with no meaning to Vaan’s way of thinking. “It is a shame you do not offer her
the same level of respect for this friendship. You will only push me so far.”

  The Raasa hissed
in his direction and Vaan braced for attack.

Tolan came to
stand behind Tesai. “Leave, Raasa.”

For a moment, it
looked as if Tesai would refuse. Vaan found himself offering a prayer to the
Blessed One for just such an action. It would leave Vaan with the perfect
excuse to beat the taunting smile from his face and soothe some of Vaan’s ire
for the Raasa daring to touch Mikayla so boldly in his presence.

Tesai eyed Tolan.
When he faced Vaan, his look promised retribution. His bow defined slight. “I
wish you a good evening,
Overlord
.”

With that parting
shot, he abandoned the hall. Vaan’s Warlords stood up one by one and watched
his departure. Argan signaled he’d follow and Vaan nodded.

He sighed and
glanced around. The abandoned hall with its limp streamers and leftover food
reminded Vaan of the reason for his attack on Tesai. He did not often question
his actions. Several of his Warlords joined Tolan to stand around him. Their
unbidden support did nothing to ease his concerns.

“Do they dress
like this all the time?” he asked aloud of them.

Merik who traveled
the most, spoke up. “Raasa are known for their sensuality. Their women dress
provocatively for special occasions. It is not considered an insult to their
men but a compliment.”