The Warrior's Pet(61)

Kagan cringed. She was right he had tried to force her into being something she was not. It was something he regretted though he'd never injured her in this manner.

"This was over the line Jeezelle. Why are you protecting the male?"

"Because I forgave you." Giselle kissed him.

Kagan didn't understand her logic and was about to protest but Giselle place a finger on his lips to silence him.

"You are not like any man I've ever met here or at home. You care for your people so deeply and have fought for them for so long. It is doubtful I will ever come across anyone here that is as noble and accepting." Giselle smiled. "As wonderful as you are even you had a hard time seeing me as an equal. There are going to be so many people looking down on me. I cannot hate them all, I have to be willing to forgive them if only for myself and for you."

Kagan shook his head in amazement for his female's capacity for understanding.

"You can't constantly be fighting or standing between me and the rest of Cadi. I want to be by your side but I won't be the wedge that divides you from your people." Giselle gripped his arm.

"I disagree. That is my duty, my honor as your bonded. To protect and cherish you." Kagan practically growled.

"You cannot battle the whole world. Let's give people some time to get used to me." Giselle looked at him with adoration and a bit of stubbornness.

"You are too forgiving and too kind hearted." Kagan groused.

Kagan realized it was futile to argue with Giselle. When Kagan looked at Giselle's bruised face, he didn't like that she protected the male. He didn't agree, but he understood her perspective. She was a true fighter, but he refused to let her wage this battle alone. Somehow he would show his people Giselle was his mate and that he wouldn't tolerate this from anyone.

Kagan recalled Giselle had seemed upset from her encounter with the monk. He still was desperate to know what happened there. He needed to go to Ismat to seek his blessing, but if the male didn't give it Kagan would do what he must to be with Giselle even if that meant stepping down.

"Today you looked unhappy when I found you with Ismat." Kagan asked as he held Giselle's small hand to his mouth and kissed her fingers.

"Ismat has been really great, and nice to talk to. I was helping him mix up the smudging ash in the temple. When we left, I saw you in the garden with Rahela."

"Oh." Kagan felt sheepish, but he was glad she got along with Ismat. "I am sorry that our customs have caused this misunderstanding. I should've spoken of my feelings earlier."

"I'm sure it will happen again, we both need to remember to talk to each other if this is going to work." Giselle smiled then grimaced as her lip cracked.

"Agreed." Kagan kissed her poor lip. "I really do not understand that female." Kagan shivered as he thought about the way Rahela hung on him. "Her mate just passed." Kagan shook his head.

"Maybe she's a gold digger."

Kagan tilted his head and considered the expression. Rahela probably was over the moon at the prospect of mating the Daimio. His position did come with wealth and power. But his little Giselle did not care for that, she cared for him.

"So you were jealous." Kagan grinned down at her.

"Don't push it buddy. I already kicked one man in the balls tonight."

"I relent." Kagan held up his hands in defeat.



Kagan awoke early. He lay by Giselle as she slept, watching her chest rise and fall slowly. Her pale lush body was silhouetted by the sun breaking over the horizon. He sighed in relief as he noted the healer had done a good job treating her injuries. Much of the bruising and swelling had lessened.

"I need to go speak to Ismat and Dagaa. You stay and rest."

"Umm hmmm." Giselle murmured as he kissed her then reluctantly got out of the bed.

Kagan had barely slept a wink as he debated how he could show his people what Giselle meant to him. Now he just needed to find the two males. He knew Dagaa would do as he asked but would Ismat be amenable to what he proposed?

Kagan saw Bram lurking in the main hall as he hunted for Dagaa. The man looked shocked the instant he saw Kagan.

"Daimio."

"Bram." Kagan nodded as he passed.

Kagan was almost through the hall when the unmistakable scent of Giselle assaulted him. Kagan whirled around expecting to see that she had followed him, but Bram was the only one there.

Suddenly he knew who had attacked his Giselle.

Kagan was instantly on the male. His fist flew into Bram's face. Kagan relished the pain as his knuckles split on the male's canine. He couldn't help but smile when the tooth cracked from the male's jaw.

"It was you." Kagan snarled his fangs poised at the male's neck.