Rixavox scoffed.“That could take several rotations before anything is done.”
“Which is why force is needed,” Vaxa’an said.“The Krevorags, although they are weak, are intelligent enough.With our allies, they know better than to challenge Luxiria and all who stand with her.I believe that they will cease once we have made our intentions clear.But we do need a display of strength so they will take our threats seriously.”
“This is much to take on, especially at this moment, my friend,” Rixavox said.
“Which is why I have tasked this to Lihvan and why I am telling you now.I need you to inform Kirov, Cruxan, and Vikan.I will leave this in all of your hands until the Trials end.”
Rixavox studied him, but then gave a sharp nod.“We will support you in this.”
Vaxa’an inclined his head, feeling a slight relief.It lasted for only a moment and then he blew out a sharp breath.“One more matter…”His ambassadors straightened at his somber tone.“If I am to fall in the Trials—”
“You will not,” Lihvan said.“You are a far superior warrior than your challengers.You are stronger, quicker, more calculated.”
“If Iwereto fall,” Vaxa’an continued, “I need your promise that you will ensure that my mate is safe and that no harm will come to my heir.”
Lihvan shook his head.“There is no need—”
“Your promise,” Vaxa’an urged.
Lihvan was silent.But then he reached down to clasp Vaxa’an on his shoulder.“You have my promise, brother.”
Vaxa’an looked at Rixavox.
Rixavox inclined his head.“You have mine, as well.You can go into the Trials knowing that no matter the outcome, she will be safe.And so will your child.”
SIX
Kate had learned to be good at confrontation.It had taken time, years even, but now, she thought she handled problems relatively well.
Last night didn’t sit well with her.Vaxa had pushed her away, which was so unlike him.And yes, she knew that he must be dealing with a lot of stress, being the Prime Leader and all, but it didn’t give him the right to take it out on her, especially after the argument they’d had earlier in the day.
So, all morning and afternoon, she’d moped around.And she hated being that person that moped around after a fight.When Bidan had picked her up from the archives after her day at work and dropped her back off at her house with her promise that she would send for food, she was more than ready to confront her curiously absent mate.She was positivelyitchingfor a fight.
But all the fight went straight out of her when he eventually came home later that night.Because he looked awful.God awful.
He emerged from the hovercraft with a limp and Kate gasped, rushing to meet him, when she saw that his leg—and most of his body really—was covered in blood.
“What happened?” she demanded.He was bare-chested and she saw claw marks and gouges adorning his flesh.He had a deep cut on his cheek that looked as if it had narrowly missed his left eye.
“Don’t tell me this is from training,” she said, her eyes focusing on the thin, bloodied line that ran from the edge of his knee almost to his groin.It looked closed up and cleaned, but she could see no stitches threading through his flesh.
“It is,” he murmured, his deep voice acting as a temporary salve.He didn’t sound in pain, but he’d always been good at hiding it from her.His strange, familiar bright blue eyes ran over her features, as though trying to memorize her.As if he hadn’t memorized every inch of her already.
In that moment, she found that she forgave him a little for his behavior last night.The way he looked at her…helongedfor her.It was evident, written plainly on his face.So why wouldn’t he touch her?
“Come on,” she murmured, turning on her heel towards their bedroom.“You don’t want to drip blood all over the floors.”
He fell in step behind her, his footsteps heavy, his limp evident.But then, suddenly, he stopped her.Kate blinked as his arms wrapped around her from behind, squeezing her to his body.His head dipped down and he scented her neck, inhaling deeply.They stood there in silence and Kate let him hold her.And for some reason, tears sprung into her eyes before spilling down her cheeks.
Her hands came up to squeeze his wrists, clutching them close to her breasts.Then she turned in his arms, gripping his neck, uncaring about the metallic scent of his blood that filled her nostrils and the stain that now drenched the front and back of her dress.
She loved this man.How could she not?Her hand tangled in his dark hair, unwilling to let him go.She was ashamed now for her thoughts last night.She was ashamed that she’d doubted him.
“Come,” she whispered into his ear.“Let me take care of you.”
She threaded her fingers into his and led him into the bathroom. Their hot spring pool was warm and steaming, but she ignored it for now.Instead she filled a small basin with clean water and grabbed a soft cloth, dipping it in.Vaxa gingerly peeled off what remained of his pants until he stood nude in front of her.
The washroom was silent as she gently dabbed at the worst of his cuts with the water, cleaning off the blood that had collected and dried.She wiped at his chest, smoothing the cloth over his strong, shifting muscles before wringing it out.The basin turned blue with his blood and she had to dump out its contents for fresh, clean water, but at least most of it wouldn’t wash away in their bath.
