Chapter Eleven
“THEY WILL NOT be breaking the bond. They will not be leaving the Vyctore.” Talzec stood, his arms akimbo, as he faced the elders, both shamans, and a member of the Fire tribe. Behind him, all of those attending the games, except for the traitorous Chamra members, watched in silence.
So much had happened. Raia knew the barbarians would need time to comprehend it all. Frankly, she still didn’t understand how she and her mates had accomplished so much sex without having body parts fall off.
Two days of tender lovemaking interspersed with raw fucking, until the jungle rang with their cries of completion. The vegetation in the entire area, including the game site, had thickened to such a degree that warriors had been tasked to once again clear passageways through the forest so barbarians could eventually leave.
The Vyctore had gotten their own treat. Tied to Arghet and Skehl, and now her, they’d been plagued with extreme sexual desire and had been pleased by both men and women in their quest for satisfaction. She had a feeling if Skye wasn’t breeding already, she’d be carrying as soon as her other mate joined in the fun.
The entire clan seethed with sexual energy, even two days after the effects of arousal had finally started to wane.
“So you think to defy your tribal leaders?” Elder Ihlar asked, sounding sad. “Is it not enough the esteemed Chamra have fallen? That they will no longer have a clan?”
Like the Nasuhl, they too would be disbanded, their dishonor one that demanded hey be disbanded. The warriors who remained hung their heads in shame, and those around gave them a wide berth.
“That’s ridiculous.” Skye interrupted when Talzec would have spoken.
Raia grinned, really liking the Earther female.
“The Chamra here and at home, in their village, had nothing to do with Fehlen’s decision to turn traitor. Only the Chamra warriors who strayed should be punished.”
Talzec stopped her tirade, a hand on her arm. “That is our custom, love. And they know it.” He shook his head. “A sad truth. But I do agree with you. They should not hold their heads in shame. It is not their fault their leader was weak.” He turned to the men. “We Vyctore would welcome you to join us.”
The Chamra warriors looked surprised, then pleased. The Vyctore had won all but one of the events at the competition, in addition to battling offworlders and making claim to the only Sehvar in the tribe.
“That is our decision to make,” Elder Xehlett looked offended.
“Yes, it is. But I wanted it known the Vyctore do not hold the actions of their leaders against them. Skehl was once Nasuhl, forced into a lifestyle not of his choosing. Yet no one helped him.” The glare Talzec shot the elders shocked Raia. She hadn’t though he’d care about a wrong done to a young boy. “We protect our own. And I will never, so long as I am leader of my people, ask a barbarian to disregard the mate bond. There is no truer thing on this planet.”
The crowd murmured their agreement, many shocked to hear such a thing.
Elder Ihlar flushed. Before he could speak, the Fire tribe representative stepped forward.
“What nonsense is this?” The male was as large as Skehl, the markers on his body flashing black and orange, as if he were on fire. “You tried to sever a mate-bond?”
Elder Ohgren explained, “We are not as plentiful in our resources as the Fire tribe. With our new Sehvar, we thought to seed our population with the potential to save our people. You have heard how just these three prevented an invasion and repelled offworlder attacks.”
The male, Ruak, Raia had heard him called, scoffed. “You never learn, do you?”
Talzec glared. “Have a care, warrior. These are our elders.”
“And elders can’t be wrong?” Ruak challenged. Though he gave Talzec an approving nod. “You are a good leader. You protect your people.” He smiled at Raia, Arghet, and Skehl, whom he gave a solid study before looking once again at Raia. “Even those who are not of your tribe.”
“What?” Raia asked.
Skehl frowned.
Ruak held up a hand, and the entire tribe grew silent. “You should know that the reason you lost your Sehvar in the past is because your leaders did just what they’re trying to do now. A bonding without love, without connection, is not a true bonding. The phelthar fades, and the power disappears.”
Elder Ihlar flushed. “That’s not true.”
Ruak nodded. “That’s exactly true. Hundred of years ago, we fought among the tribes. And the Cloud tribe wanted more power. So hungry for it, you took your greatest weapon, your Sehvar, and forced them to separate, thinking you could breed a new force to control your enemy. And you lost it all. Because phelthar is not enough to draw the power of the Maker’s healers. Only a true bonding, which is rare between triads, can house that which is Ussed.”
Talzec smiled. “That makes sense.”
“Yes,” she, Skehl, and Arghet said as one.
Arghet frowned, still not entirely comfortable at how close they’d all become, though he loved them fiercely, she knew. He cleared his throat. “I would do anything for my clan, for my tribe. But I will not do it at the expense of my bond-mates. Our love is true, and it is a gift from the Maker. I do no think throwing it back in his face will endear us to him.”
