"Daimio!" Kagan turned to see Dagaa looking concerned. But his friend would not interfere. By all rights Kagan could tear out Bram's throat here and now. He was the Daimio, and no one would question his authority.
Instead Kagan pulled back and gripped Bram by the neck. It took all he had in him to keep from squeezing till he felt the male's windpipe collapse.
"You are a blessed male because a better warrior has taken pity on you." Kagan growled.
"Thank you Daimio, Thank you." Bram choked out.
"I'm not that warrior, it's Giselle. She forgave you and did not give you up when I demanded to know who abused her. But she is MINE!" Kagan gnashed his teeth. "I marked her as a true mate so I can scent her on you. You saw the mark. Did you think I'd let this stand!" Kagan bellowed.
Bram's eyes widened. Kagan turned when he heard a snarl at his side. Dagaa stood at his shoulder bristling at Bram.
"As your Second I'd like to be given the honor of taking care of this son of a metcor." Dagaa bit out.
Kagan stepped back and clapped his friend on the shoulder. Dagaa could handle this filth.
"I'm going to see Ismat but I need you to gather warriors who know the traditional perambulo dance and are willing to honor my bonded."
"I will see it done." Dagaa nodded solemnly.
"Oh and don't piss off Giselle by roughing Bram up too bad. She's apparently skilled in unmanning warriors with her Judo. Ask him." Kagan gestured to Bram. As he walked out to find Ismat, Dagaa's wicked chuckle following him.
Giselle
Giselle got out of the hot bath with a sigh. She looked at her reflection and decided she didn't look like complete shit. It didn't matter, nothing could sully her mood this morning. Giselle hummed a tune as she brushed her hair admiring the matching conjugo marks in the looking glass. Giselle wondered why the warriors and Ismat had been so preoccupied with the bite marks at the crook of her neck. Now she knew.
Kagan had bitten her acting on some sort of primal instinct. If the man hadn't told her his feelings and desires for her, Giselle might have worried that it was biology alone driving him. But after last night she knew that he wanted more than that. She did too. Kagan had seemed relieved if not overjoyed that she didn't reject what amounted to a marriage proposal among the Cadi. Now his only worry was that she be accepted by his people. Giselle worried about that aspect of their relationship. Kagan was willing to give up too much for her if things didn't work out the way they hoped.
Just as Giselle finished getting dressed the door opened. Giselle looked up to see Rahela.
"I am glad to see you up." Rahela smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Kagan was so upset when you went missing."
Giselle just stared at Rahela. She wasn't sure how to respond to the woman. After what Kagan had revealed she wasn't worried about Rahela any longer but the woman was annoying. Giselle bit her lip to keep from being a bitch.
"Thank you for letting Kagan and I stay here. This must be hard for you." Giselle said instead of "Stop touching my man!" like she wanted to.
"Daimio. It is proper for you to call him Daimio." Rahela corrected her. "I know you are unfamiliar with our customs."
Giselle gritted her teeth.
"So when you called him Kagan that is different how?" Giselle asked not because she didn't have a clue, but because she was curious to hear what Rahela came up with.
"Kagan is my Second, we will be mated once the mourning period is over."
Yep that's what Giselle expected her to say.
"And he promised you this?" Giselle asked.
Kagan had explained that a Cadi warrior often mated his Second, but it wasn't an absolute. All he was obligated to do was make sure Rahela and her daughter were taken care of, safe, sheltered and fed until another male took a shine to her.
"It is how our society works." Rahela replied as if speaking to a child.
"And if he were already mated?" Giselle asked as she twisted her long blonde hair up into a knot on her head.
Giselle very methodically exposed both sides of her neck as she finished fixing her hair. She smiled as Rahela's eyes widened. The female's hand flew to her mouth with a squeak.
"Rahela you need to knock before coming in next time. Kagan and I might be occupied."
Giselle nodded as she left to go find Kagan, Ismat or anyone else.
"Do you think it's smart to go out on your own? Look what happened to you." Rahela followed her down the hall. Obviously the female was too stunned to think of a better retort.
"I'm really stubborn and have a hell of a right hook." Giselle called back as she entered the great hall and ran into a wall of flesh.
"Yes you do." The deep sexy voice reverberated against her. Giselle smiled as she looked up at Kagan. "Why are you up?"