Ursula sighed. “Mr. Gallick, you should know very well by now that I will insist on being informed.”
He glanced at the berserker who was quite obviously listening to their conversation. “Prima, I would not cause you worry.”
“Mr. Gallick, I will beexcessivelyworried if I do not know what the sheriff and mayor have decided.”
“Tell her,” Zul ordered.
The restaurateur’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Please, Mr. Gallick,” Ursula added.
Unwilling to confront the hulking berserker, the smaller male acquiesced, his shoulders sagging. “The mayor believes word has gotten out that the Fangrys Prima is not adequately escorted and protected. When you leave town today, you should not be permitted to return without an armed escort and one of your mates.”
Ursula ground her molars and reminded herself that her neighbor was only the messenger. He did not deserve her ire, despite his agreement with those who would treat her as weak, stupid, and incompetent. He also had not delivered the answer she sought, namely, the formation of a posse to pursue and take into custody any other rosvoi patrolling the region.
She took a breath to calm herself, then asked, “And how do they expect me to get home if I must always be accompanied?” She wiped the tears that welled up. “Iwasaccompanied by an armed escort! Theydieddefending us.” She paused. “And when was the mayor going to inform me of his decision, since he won’t talk to me directly?” She paused again and took a deep breath to calm her frustration. “Hewouldhave to informme, is that not correct? Because my mates are not here.”
Gallick gave her a calm, cool look of offended dignity. “The mayor sent the sheriff to inform the Fangrys household to send another escort to see you and the youngling home.” He glanced at Zul. “Warrior, have you seen other rosvoi in the area?”
Zul looked down at Gallick from his greater height. The other male flinched beneath the berserker’s silent dominance. Zul replied, “I have not, but I will escort the Prima and her youngling home. I will ensure their safety.”
Gallick’s gaze flickered to the boy who played quietly on his mat. Zul knew the boy was listening.
Gallick’s expression turned suspicious. “You look like a rosvo yourself.”
Zul absorbed the implied accusation without anger. He nodded, a single dip of his chin, in acknowledgement of his less than reputable appearance. “My bonded were killed in combat long ago.”
“Many rosvoi were once bonded,” the restaurateur pointed out.
Zul admired the smaller male for that stubborn, selfless courage and acknowledged the truth of his statement. He pressed his fist to his chest and quietly declared, “I lost my bonded. That does not mean I also lost my honor.”
“Well,” Ursula interjected herself into the conversation, “as the only available representative of the cen’Vyr triad, I will see that you receive a good meal, a clean bed, coin, and a bath in appreciation.”
Zul’s nostrils flared. “I do not seek your coin.”
“If you’ve been wandering about for a while—” she let her gaze run over his dusty, much-mended garb, “—and it looks like you have—then you are obviously in need of funds.” She jutted her chin at him. “Youwillaccept payment.”
Gallick groaned.
With cool dignity, Zul replied, “I have adequate funds, Prima. I have simply not accessed them lately.”
She huffed and turned away from the two males, muttering, “Stupid, prideful men. They always think they know best.”
Gallick threw him a long-suffering glance in a moment of male solidarity. Zul stifled a chuckle. Hewasprideful.
“Prima, I will remain with you until your mates return,” he declared. “It was ill done of the Council Supreme to command both your mates to duty and leave you without adequate supervision.”
“Supervision?” she echoed, eyes narrowing in outrage. “I am a competent, intelligent adult and fully capable of?—”
“Protection,” he amended with a small, one-shouldered shrug.
A shiver of pure fury rippled through her. Zul thought it both magnificent and charming. He understood why the cen’Vyr triad had claimed her: she had fire. He wondered if she burned as brightly when being fucked, then shoved that dishonorable thought aside before he succumbed to the urge to find out.
Gallick backed away, apparently familiar with the Prima’s temper tantrums.
“If you weren’t so damned big …” she hissed, propping her fists on her hips. She wanted to poke him in the chest, but the heated gleam in his black eyes stayed her hand.
Zul’s hand itched to touch her, to cup her cheek in his palm. He clenched both hands into fists.
