Warrior's Pain (Cadi Warriors Book 4)(100)

“I do,” Cyprian replied, though he rebelled at the thought. No matter the outcome he wouldn’t regret bonding with Riley, even though how it happened wasn’t ideal. “I did what had to be done.”

“So, when do you plan to tell Riley you’re mated?” Kagan asked.

“When she wakes up, if we can get a moment alone.”



Riley

Riley awoke in a comfy bed, instead of a hospital gurney. There was a pleasant lingering warmth in the spot next to her. Riley rolled and took a deep breath. The scent on the pillow was spicy and masculine. Riley smiled in recognition.

“Cyprian,” she murmured.

He’s alive. He’s really alive.

Riley opened her eyes eager to see Cyprian. She looked around the room, but he wasn’t there. Riley could tell she wasn’t in one of the hotel suites, or the quarters of some spaceship. This room had sage green, stucco walls, with rustic exposed beams spanning the ceiling. Through the window Riley could see the rising sun, and even heard little birds happily twittering outside.

“The sky is purple. I’m on Cadi,” Riley declared in awe.

I made it. We both made it back, Riley nearly cried in relief and joy.

Riley smiled as she recalled seeing June and Ion. She was eager to find Cyprian and her friends. Riley attempted to hop out of bed, but found her muscles didn’t behave the way she wanted them to. She plopped down on the edge, and stretched her sleepy limbs. Her neck was sore, but didn’t pain her the way it had when she roused last. Riley felt the large bandage that wrapped half way around her neck, as she took a moment to get her bearings. Something furry brushed her hand and Riley nearly jumped out of her skin.

“Speck! How did you get here?”

Speck rolled onto her lap and started purring as she scratched his furry bulbous body. This little surprise made her day. Riley never expected to see the ruddy roly-poly again.

“I’m happy to see you, but how about you take it easy while I find the others. Then I’ll introduce you to everyone.”

Riley scooped Speck up from her lap and placed him on her pillow. He snuggled in, looking content.

Riley put on a robe, then ambled for one of the two doors in the room. The door she picked led to the hall. Riley heard a recognizable murmur at the end of the corridor and followed it, eager to see the general.

“I did what had to be done,” she heard Cyprian say to a large Cadi man as she neared the small lounge.

“So, when do you plan to tell Riley you’re mated?” the man asked.

Riley’s foot froze mid step.

Mated?

Devastation and anger struck her in equal parts. Riley felt stupid and betrayed. She hadn’t come right out and asked Cyprian if he was married. She just assumed he wasn’t.

“When she wakes up, if we can get a moment alone,” Cyprian replied.

“Don’t bother. I heard,” Riley bit out, while struggling to repress the tears burning in her eyes.

Cyprian spun around.

“Little Manx,” he said as he jumped up.

“Don’t!” Riley threw her palm out to stop him. “Will your mate accept the excuse that you were just doing your duty when you acted the master, and fucked me repeatedly?” Riley hissed. “I get the first time. But all the others? I thought,” Riley stopped as she choked on the words.

She shook her head, incapable of admitting the love she thought had built between them. Riley spun and took off down the hall.

“Riley,” Cyprian yelled, as he came after her.

Riley swiftly shut the door of her room and locked it.

“Riley open up, so I can talk to you,” Cyprian demanded as he pound on the door.

“I heard enough.”



Cyprian de Praefectus

“What is going on?” Giselle asked as she opened the door of the nearby bedroom.

Sabin, her adopted son, stood by her side rubbing his eyes and looking put out.

Cyprian stopped pounding on the bedroom door that Riley stubbornly refused to answer. He debated breaking it down, till Kagan’s mate appeared.

“There’s been a misunderstanding between Riley and Cyprian,” Kagan replied.

“What did you do?” Giselle asked.

“He was probably being his usual charming self,” June chimed in sounding perturbed.

Cyprian turned to see her standing in the threshold of another room, a smirk on her face.

“This is a matter Cyprian and Riley must solve, my pet,” Kagan said, as he pulled Giselle to his side.

“Well, we can still talk to Riley,” Giselle shook her head. “She’s been through hell.”

“I’ll see if Sundara has a key.” June headed off.

“Are you going to tell me what you did?” Giselle pressed Cyprian.