Ursula’s eyes widened and Addilli squeaked. Ursula bustled about, pulling food and drink from the refrigeration unit, food that had been meant to feed the castrati who had perished defending her and Crow. She coughed, the lump of sorrow in her throat swelling.
“Go,” she whispered, urging Addilli to return to her mate and the safety of their restaurant. “I’ll send Sifgul shortly.”
Addilli understood the unspoken request to determine whether Gallik had summoned law enforcement. With a swish of brightly colored skirts, she hurried away, using the connecting door between the storerooms.
Ursula carried out a tray of food and drink, Crow walking beside her, a fold of her skirt clasped in his small fist. She set the tray on the counter and backed away a few steps.
Mustering her courage, she asked, “Who are you?”
The hulking, red-skinned, black-horned warrior thumped his fist against his sternum and said, “I am Zullar cen’Gyrah, Third of the Uk’khadir Triad.” His expression turned melancholy without the movement of a single facial muscle. “The Uk’khadir Triad is no more. I am all that remains.”
“May your loss be forever honored,” she intoned the formal expression of condolences and bowed her head. “I am grateful for your service.”
“Sit,” he bade her and poured water from the pitcher into a tall glass.
She retrieved her stool and brought it from the storeroom into the shop. Placing it behind the counter, she perched on it. Crow sat on the floor beside her.
“Will you tell me of my people?” she asked after Zullar had quenched his thirst.
“All dead but for the driver,” he replied.
Ursula closed her eyes and sent up a heartfelt prayer.
“Mama?” Crow whispered.
She looked at him and gave him a watery smile. He offered her Addilli’s handkerchief to wipe her tears. She took it.
Chapter 3
Zul ate the food the lovely female brought him, observing her and the youngling who clung to her, his tiny fists clutching the fine fabric of her skirt. His hearts beat in synchronicity, a powerful pulse within his broad chest. His blood, still heated by the glimmering of berserker rage, warmed even more. A seductive little voice seemed to whisper in his ear that this lovely female was unprotected and, therefore,available. He could steal her away and imprint his bond upon her.
He shook his head to dispel such dishonorable thoughts. He was not so far gone in his devolution that he would willingly abandon all semblance of honor to become a ravening beast such as one of the rosvoi. He swallowed a long gulp of water and asked, seemingly ignorant of the answers to ensure she was truly who she claimed to be, “Who are your mates, Prima?”
She answered, “I am mated to Gilvane cen’Vyr and Brannal cen’Vyr.”
His forehead wrinkled and he lied again, “I was not aware they were the lords of Fangrys.” He paused, then asked, “Was there not a third in their triad?”
Ursula nodded. “Crow cen’Vyr. He…he perished before our son was born.”
“May your loss be forever honored,” he murmured at seeing her genuine grief at the loss of the famed and mighty berserker. He wondered if Crow had died in glory, but did not ask. He aimed a piercing look at her, noting she did not have the same appearance he had seen in other species of females biologically compatible with Urib males. But then, he realized, he had not yet seen a human female, the latest species to offer their females as brides to Uribern. He remarked, “You’re a hybrid.”
Feeling the tickle of loose strands that had escaped her braid, Ursula smoothed back her white hair. “Yes. I came from Earth.”
Zul absorbed the information:Earthmeanthuman. After a long moment during which he devoured three rolls, he said, “I heard the Council Supreme negotiated a treaty with a new planet and that Uribern was to receive brides.”
Ursula nodded. She pursed her lips, a sour expression. “Yes, Earth is that planet. The brides were not informed as to their destination or their purpose.”
His eyes narrowed in suspicion. “Do you accuse our governing council of falsehood?”
She shook her head and tried for tact. “No, but the government ofmyhomeland concealed their true intentions. Uribern’s honor was not besmirched in the importing of brides.”
She’d left something unsaid, but Zul ignored the unvoiced accusation because wanted to take her hand in his, to examine her fine skin up close. She was truly exquisite. He refrained because he still considered himself an honorable male. An honorable male did not touch another male’s mate, no matter how much he desired to feel her softness. Instead, he asked another question, again concealing what he already knew and hoping to lure her into revealing something he didn’t know. “What is your species called?”
“Human.” Ursula didn’t bother with scientific nomenclature—Homo sapiens sapiens—and get into a discussion of Primates and evolution. That was unnecessarily complicated.I was an event planner, not a biologist.
“When are your mates expected to return?” Zul asked and popped another chunk of meat into his mouth to chew while he listened to her reply.
She sighed. “Not for another ten days.” Before he could ask as she assumed he would, Ursula added, “I don’t know where they’ve been deployed to or any details regarding their mission.”
