A shrewd perception, considering Mandy hadn’t exactly shared the entirety of her abilities with the clan. Zehn nodded.
“Yet the mindspeak comes from Lore.”
“Yes.” Zehn had two very special mates.
“But Zehn is the one who amplifies it,” Lore added. “Without him, my tie to Ussed is not as strong.”
Xav considered them. “Zehn is a bridge. He allows the energy to flow more easily. A worthy group of warriors—and a mate and babe.”
“Ah yes, let’s get back to that. You are valuable warriors I’m proud to have in our clan. And your offworlder female is a true bond-mate. I can see it. We can all sense it.” The men around them agreed. “That she will soon bear your son is a gift from the Maker.”
Many of them bowed their heads, as did Zehn and Lore.
But when Zehn looked up, he saw a furious leader.Father Suns, this won’t be good.Talzec punched Lore in the gut with such speed neither man could move before the blow landed.
Lore sagged, and Zehn helped steady him.
“You should not have kidnapped an offworlder,” Talzec growled. “I thought she had gone with you willingly. Did you learn nothing from Maht’s mess?”
“Hey.” Maht glared, saw his leader’s anger directedhisway, and glanced down.
“Lisa is part of us now, but Maht broke the law. And Maht made right his wrong.” With a lot of extra duty and weapon cleaning detail.
Hope unfurled in Zehn’s chest. Then Talzec poked him with a finger made of iron. He sucked in a breath, still sore from where Mike had thrown him all over the place.
“I would have hit you, but you’re still healing,” Talzec said, his expression still livid. “You know better. Both of you do. Lore, you will now stop acting as if you expect us to toss your ass out all the time. You’re a warrior, one of our strongest. We do not discard those who serve to make us better. Your skills are a proud addition to our clan.”
Around them, warriors roared with approval.
Zehn felt his mate’s pride zing through their tie.
“Zehn, you are strong, a leader, and you’re cunning. So perhaps you can tell me what I’m to say to Welcome’s resort manager to explain why my barbarians stole a peaceful Earther from the resort, breaking a treaty that has held for over five hundred years.”
Zehn swallowed. “Ah, perhaps you should tell him we took her to protect her from the human bent on taking her back to Earth. They would have kidnapped her had we not taken her to safety.”
Talzec rubbed his chin.
“A good explanation,” Xav said, amusement dancing in his eyes.
“True.”
“And we eliminated the threat not only to our mate,” Zehn continued, thinking fast. “But to our clan and lands as well. The alien tech hurts phelthar. The Nasuhl had plans to spread it around their territory.”
“Now our territory.” Talzec grunted.
“Another good point,” Xav said.
“Iknow.” Talzec glared at his bond-mate, and Xav grinned back at him. “Beta, you need discipline.”
Several warriors laughed, then coughed to hide their amusement. Many clan alphas would have killed their warriors for breaking laws. But Talzec looked beyond to a man’s true measure.
The alpha stood straighter, his voice booming. “Since you saved an offworlder and rid us of a menace hurting Ussed, you shall be forgiven your transgression—at the battle. But for breaking the treaty, you must take Mandy of Earth back to the resort. You will not speak to her or in any way influence her. She must explain the situation to the offworlders as she sees fit. Then you will come home. Alone.”
Everyone grew silent.
“No.” Zehn would not leave his mate.
“Skye told me Mandy wishes to leave. She has agreed to stay, then?”
