Yes.She sensed his confusion, felt her own amusement.You wish that I was male?
No. But I do not like that I cannot see you, woman. Come and you shall be protected. A blessed female should not be without defense.
She didn’t answer and let the crowd swallow her as she made her way back into the jungle, away from the competition. Gratified that for all his time away from his kind, Skehl still had that ultimate need to protect those he considered weaker, she let his insult to her pride go. He no doubt though her like a typical barbarian female. He wouldn’t know she could protect herself.
And that like him, she’d been raised by animals, taught to end life at the direction of a madman.
***
Skehl accepted congratulations as he rejoined Arghet while looking over the crowd, trying to sense the female claiming to be his mate. Hisothermate, he thought, and glanced at Arghet.
“Good fight.” Arghet didn’t say more, but Skehl felt his approval, and it warmed him. Truth be told, he’d liked grappling with the Kwatahk alpha. He hadn’t needed to kill, and he hadn’t wanted to wound the male. But the exertion had eased him nearly as well as his orgasms from the previous evening.
At the thought, he wondered if he could convince Arghet to pull more seed from his cock. He liked Arghet’s hands almost as much as the male’s hot mouth.
“Not now,” Arghet murmured. “Later.” He stepped away, answering some question Talzec had.
Skehl wondered if Arghet had read his mind or simply noticed his cockstand, which Skehl wished away. It wasn’t difficult. Apart from Arghet, Skehl’s drive to pair waned. He wondered what it might feel like to have sex with a female.Would her flesh be as hot? Her scent and taste excite me, the way Arghet had?
A few maids gave him looks he recognized as carnal. But he didn’t want them. He did wonder about the female who thought him her mate. She spoke in his mind, which wasn’t at all common. But he didn’t sense her, not the way he sensed Arghet.
Since their pairing, he could feel the male inside him, not a remembrance of their sexual congress, but the essence of Arghet lingered. The man’s spirit remained a part of Skehl, sanctified by the Maker, no doubt. For how else could a man of such low worth find himself a mate like Arghet?
“Well fought, Skehl.” Talzec slapped him on the back. Unlike most others, Skehl didn’t react except to grunt. “We should challenge each other at home. I think you might just give me the workout I need.”
Next to him, Skye snorted. “Like Xav and I can’t give you what you need.”
Talzec smiled. “Ah, little mate. Don’t be jealous. What you and Xav give me sates every need but one. And I have no wish to pound you into the sands of our training ring. Xav, however…”
She laughed. “Okay. I’m not jealous.” She glanced at Skehl and grinned. “Well, maybe of Skehl’s endurance. That fight wasawesome.I’m impressed.”
Skehl flushed, not used to praise.
“As am I.” Talzec nodded. “I knew you were strong, Skehl. But even I could not have thrown Memhet so well.”
Memhet must have been the alpha. As if speaking his name had summoned him, the large alpha joined them. He stared at Skehl, saw that Skehl did not look away, and frowned.
“Forgive my warrior, Memhet. Skehl is not used to our civilized ways.” Talzec glared at Skehl, who obediently glanced down. He heard Skye’s low laughter and hoped he would not be in trouble. “He was raised by the Nasuhl and is relearning what it means to be a Cloud warrior.”
“Ah. No offense taken.” Memhet held out a hand, and Skehl assumed he would be allowed to look at the Kwatahk alpha as he took it. To his relief, he found Memhet smiling. “Excellent fight, Skehl. You must be the strongest warrior in the tribe. It was my honor.”
Skehl bowed his head, not comfortable with the admiration. His old clan leaders had used trickery at times to take him off balance. A word or two of praise, then they’d beat him for thinking himself above his station. Talzec and Arghet he knew. They were not deceitful. But he didn’t know Memhet, and he didn’t want to do anything to disgrace his alpha.
He bowed lower. “It was my honor, Alpha Kwatahk. You are a most worthy warrior, Maker ordained.” He chanced a glance up when Memhet removed his hand and patted him on the shoulder.
“Such a gracious victor. You have a winner here, Talzec.”
Arghet reappeared, frowning at Memhet’s hand on Skehl. He said nothing, but he didn’t seem to relax until Memhet stepped back. Then he nodded with respect. “Alpha, your skills were most impressive. Thank you for allowing us a chance to watch you spar.”
Memhet laughed. “You have such charming warriors, Talzec. Mine tend to grunt, break limbs, or stab with a sword before they’ll smile. Yours are full of pretty compliments.” He leered at Skye, though his gaze was more teasing than serious. “And pretty females. Hello, beautiful. So you’re Talzec’s mate, eh?”
Talzec rolled his eyes behind Memhet and didn’t seem alarmed or threatened, so Skehl let Arghet draw him a short distance away.
“You are unharmed?” Arghet asked, his voice low, as he studied Skehl for injury.
“Yes.” Skehl wasn’t used to being worried over. “Thank you.”
Arghet grunted. “Good. Let’s watch the next battle.”
