Ruby, the woman with hard eyes, gets up and confronts them. “Can I help you?”
“Um…we thought…” She looks at me as if wondering why the fuck I’m talking to the warriors’ mates.
“This is a private gathering.” Ruby crosses her arms and looks as though she’s ready to fight them—and win. She was a soldier, and she’s not someone I want to piss off.
The women glance at me again, knowing I don’t belong in the group. “But she’s here.”
“Harper? She’s a friend of Sabine and me. She is invited.”
I wasn’t their friend until a minute ago, and I only knew their names from gossip.
The woman tosses her hair and glances at the other warriors. “How do we get invited? We’d like to meet the unmated ones.”
“I’m sure you do…but they don’t want to meet you.” Ruby smiles and there’s no kindness in it at all.
“How do you know that?” the woman presses, ignoring Ruby to talk to the warriors still sitting on the ground.
A warrior stands and puts his hand on Ruby’s shoulder, towering over her. “Because Honey warriors choose who they want to talk to, and neither of the unmated approached you for a conversation.”
The woman cocks her hip. “I heard it’s the women who choose.”
“It is, but a warrior does not need to accept. The mating bond is permanent, so we only accept after great consideration.”
Ruby smiles up at him and her gaze softens. I’m sure an entire conversation passes between them in a few seconds. “Are we done here?”
“Fine…I’ll introduce myself in the dining room.” She turns and struts away with her friends.
I hope she doesn’t introduce herself. Not that it matters. I don’t have a claim on Yva even though the other warriors and their mates suspect there’s something going on. What has Yva said about me?
“Ugh…they just don’t give up.” Ruby says.
“This isn’t the first time?”
“They are always approaching us,” Tiril says. “But they can’t tell us apart because they will walk over and try to make conversation as soon as they see one of us.”
They all look different, from their eye color to their hairstyles and decorations and tattoos. If those women were interested, they’d know exactly what Yva and Hrad look like.
“That must be tiresome.”
Tiril smiled. “We are quickly learning who not to recommend.”
“What do you mean?”
Ruby tilts her head. “We aren’t going to let Yva and Hrad accept any old offer. And some of those women will move on once the initial interest dies away.”
I nod, glad that they are looking out for each other. Then I realize they must approve of me…
“Yva says you can see him now. Do you know where to find him?” Edilk says.
“Yeah, thank you.” It isn’t lost on me that they aren’t worried about sending me to Yva’s quarters.
12
YVA
Ipull on the soft blue pants of the colony and dry my hair as I wait for Harper to arrive. We didn’t leave on good terms today, but I didn’t expect her to seek me out, even though she watched the fights. Not that I expected her to be at the fight either, despite the crowd of women they attracted.
To be honest, I am growing tired of the attention. It was almost better when they stared and whispered and didn’t come close. Now they smile like wild animals preparing to attack and walk over, as they are doing me a favor.
