Warrior's Pain (Cadi Warriors Book 4)(103)

“It’s complicated, but in general Cadi relationships are like what we are familiar with,” Giselle added.

“I see.”

Polygamy was something she hadn’t considered. Riley just assumed Cyprian was a cheating asshole. But if Cadi culture accepted it, then maybe Cyprian wasn’t such a bastard after all.

I don’t even know why I’m asking. Cyprian made it clear he was just doing his job. Even if he wanted me, I refuse to be some man’s side chick, she frowned to herself. Riley knew she was too jealous to have an open relationship. She wasn’t accepting enough to watch her man with another woman.

“Why are we holed up in here?” Providence asked.

“Cyprian made an ass of himself,” Giselle grumbled.

“What’s new?”

“Can I tell her?” June asked Riley.

“Sure.” Riley shrugged. She’d already aired her dirty laundry to two strangers. Might as well add another.

“The general repeatedly did the deed with my friend, then had the audacity to say it was all in the line of duty,” June summarized.

“Ouch,” Providence grimaced. “That explains why he looks more surly than usual. You should hear the pre-celebration covert ops the men are hatching.”

“What covert ops?” Riley asked.

“We’re still hunting for the Benedict Arnold who started all this nonsense. We’ve narrowed it to the regents who will be here today.” Giselle’s face twisted in concern. She was worried about her husband, the Cadi leader.

“We think the traitor is trying to take over the council, and reopen trade with the Jurou Biljana.”

“Cyprian told me about the traitor. I understand the person needs to be apprehended, but I don’t get why this has to happen on your special day?” Riley said to June and Sundara.

“It was our idea,” June replied. “We needed a reason to get all the regents together, that the traitor won’t suspect.”

“Plus, I want all the regents here to recognize Metcor as my mate,” Sundara added.

“Metcor is Toufik. Their relationship is considered taboo,” Giselle interjected.

“Okay,” Riley said as she tried to keep up. “I know the Toufik used to be slaves, and Cyprian was trying to rescue them from Distraho.”

Riley could see how marrying a former slave might be hard for Cadi to accept. Maybe the Cadi had a thing against foreigners in general, since June said Cyprian wasn’t fond of humans. The thought made Riley feel dirty on top of used.

“I sat in on the boys’ conversation for a bit. Tytus, and some bony dude named Aculus, are hatching a plan to scan everyone as they enter. They’re looking for unusual comm signals. They plan to steal whoever’s handheld is suspicious,” Providence reported.

“I taught Tytus several sleight-of-hand magic tricks, but he’s not that good yet. I don’t know how he expects to successfully pull this off?” June commented with a roll of her eyes.

“So, the fun continues. Just great,” Riley groaned. She was ready for everything having to do with this disastrous mission to be over. “Well I guess we better get dressed. Can someone help me with a new bandage for my neck?” Riley asked as she pull her damp hair out of the way.

“Sure,” June replied. She then stopped in her tracks, her brown eyes going wide as saucers. “Who bit you?” June demanded.

Riley’s hand flew to the crook of her neck, covering Cyprian’s bite mark.

“It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it.”

“It’s not nothing. It was Cyprian, wasn’t it?” June pried Riley’s hand away from her neck to examine the mark. “Oh, Riley.”

Riley couldn’t understand why June, Giselle, Providence and Sundara were staring at her neck in shock.

“So what? Cyprian’s a biter. That’s not why he upset me.”

“You have no idea what’s going on, do you?” Giselle asked.

“What are you talking about?”

“Oh, Riley,” June laughed and gave Riley a giant hug. “Did Cyprian ask you before he bit you?”

“No.” Riley looked at June like she was crazy.

Who asks to bite someone in the heat of the moment?

“He didn’t tell you what he’s done?” Providence asked incredulously.

“I don’t want to talk about Cyprian. Besides, I already told you, I overheard him tell Kagan he was doing his duty, and that he has a mate.”

“Uh, no. You didn’t mention that last part,” June replied.

“Oh Riley. My husband was right. There’s been a huge misunderstanding. Oh man, you and Cyprian. You, poor girl,” Giselle said as she covered the smile tugging at her mouth.