The pretty male continued to stare at Arghet. “Arghet of the Vyctore. It’s been a while.” The barbarian was more slender than most and stood slightly taller than Arghet. His gaze remained intent, bordering on rude.
“Yes.” Arghet said nothing else.
Skehl didn’t like the stranger. He glared at the threat, not caring for the Chamra clan. The others didn’t seem to like them either, for they too stood ready to battle.
“Ah, Elder Ihlar. A good man.” Talzec continued to hold Fehlen’s arm, his smile wide, as if nothing was amiss.
Skehl didn’t notice either male putting undue pressure on the other, but Fehlen broke out into a sweat. He tugged his arm once, and Talzec released him.
Fehlen cleared his throat. “We shall see you on the field tomorrow.”
“We look forward to it.”
The Chamra warriors departed.
Talzec gave Arghet and Skehl an approving nod.
Something hit Skehl in the back, and then he felt himself shoved aside by…the wind?
“Hey. I’m right here, you know.” Skye glared at everyone before centering her ire on her mate. “What the hell was that about?” Her golden hair and brown eyes with a black center looked so different from what Skehl was accustomed to. He did his best not to stare, but she intrigued him with her alien appearance. Skye had more height and more muscle than typical barbarian females.
He could well believe her a warrior, even if she did baffle many in their clan. The women and men seemed to like her, especially because she completed Talzec and Xaveht’s bonding. But many couldn’t understand her need or want to battle.
Arghet regarded the woman with a faint smile. Skehl knew Arghet found her amusing. Arghet liked her, but he didn’t know what to do with her. Skehl did what came naturally. He’d protect her until his dying breath. Skye was female and mate to his alpha; he could do nothing else. But when he tried to step closer, the wind kept him back.
“Skye, stop.” Talzec chuckled. “Poor Skehl. My mate is a power, is she not?”
Skehl realized Skye had been pushing him with her mind and blinked in surprised. “Yes, alpha. She is.”
Skye smiled. “Good. Now that we’ve determined I’m not some helpless lamb, what’s going on with the Chamra clan?”
Arghet frowned. “What’s a lamb?”
“The Chamra clan?” Skye said again, louder.
Talzec answered, “They have always been leaders in the tribe. But when I took over, we replaced them in favor. Apparently they haven’t accepted their place yet. But we’ll make sure they do, won’t we, warriors?”
The others shouted their encouragement. Skehl thought he should have done so, but he remained cautious around the others, afraid to say or do the wrong thing. Still not trusting of the clan who seemed too good to be true.
The group broke up, many in search of food and entertainment. Arghet tugged him away from their space, then nodded back at their alpha.
Talzec and Skye embraced, and Skehl thought they intended to have sex.
As he and Arghet walked away, Arghet warned him to not get into trouble. “Stay here while I fetch us some flehik to eat. Don’t kill anyone.”
Arghet left, and Skehl stuck to the shadows of the trees, comfortable with the fullness of life in the jungle. A faint moan reached him, then the panting and grunting sounds he’d heard all too many times in his old clan. But what he saw when he moved closer surprised him.
