“Again. What are you talking about?”
June pulled aside her shawl, exposing a similar mark on her neck. Providence and Giselle then did the same.
“So, Cadi men are biters,” Riley said as she plopped onto the bed. “Why wouldn’t they be. That freaky hormone in their bite turns them into the ultimate threat in bed,” Riley added with a sigh as she recalled the last time she was with Cyprian.
“Oh, my god. That’s the clincher.” June shook her head. “Riley I’m having a mating ceremony with Tytus, but it’s really just a celebration of what Tytus and I have already cemented.”
“I get it. You love each other. The ceremony is just a formality.”
“Yes, but you don’t quite understand. When a Cadi man feels the urge to bite a woman, and she responds to his special brand, well that’s it. The deal is sealed,” Giselle tried to explain.
Riley stood and started pacing as she began to hyperventilate.
“Are you telling me Cyprian made me his second wife without my permission?” Riley screeched when she finally found her voice.
“Nooo,” June drew out the word. “The general wasn’t married before he went to Distraho. But you do have one part of it right. He made you his wife without your permission.”
Riley froze with her mouth agape. Cyprian wasn’t mated to some random chick. He was mated to her.
“Where is he?” she snarled.
“Down in the garden.” Providence reminded her.
Riley marched for the door, but June grabbed her arm before she made it two steps.
“What now?” Riley snapped at her friend.
“Well, for starters, you’re wearing a towel.”
Riley looked down at herself and growled in frustration. She debated going anyway, but then she’d just look like a raving lunatic as she yelled at Cyprian. Speck squirmed and Riley realized she was clutching him too tight. Riley set him down, before she accidently crushed the poor thing.
“I can’t believe this,” Riley ranted, as she searched for something to wear. “Do you know how many times he bit me? And not once, even after he admitted who he was, did he mention this.”
“Well, he’s never been a big conversationalist,” Giselle offered with a grimace.
“Oh, no, no, no. That man turns into Chatty Cathy after he gets his rocks off,” Riley snapped at her new friend.
“Uh, TMI,” Providence shook her head.
“Let’s go.”
Riley pulled a random dress over her head then stomped toward the door. She realized halfway there the others weren’t following. Riley turned to see them staring at her with sympathetic looks. It took some of the wind out of her sails. She didn’t want pity. She was on the edge as it was.
“Honey, were not saying you don’t have every right to be mad.” June walked toward Riley and took her hands. “Believe me, I understand this is a shocking revelation. Tytus marked me while sleep walking. So, I didn’t have a say either.”
“I wasn’t given a heads up either,” Giselle interjected. “Kagan lost control the first time we were together.”
Riley smirked at June when she started laughing for some reason.
“Sorry. It’s just Cyprian got all indignant, ranting how Tytus took my choice to choose. Then he turns around and does the very same thing.”
“I can’t believe what I am hearing. It is not only dishonorable, but it goes against our laws to mate a female without her consent.” Sundara looked horrified.
“I think our differences are the root of the problem,” Giselle said.
“Please don’t chalk this up to a cultural thing,” Riley growled.
“Just hear me out. From what I understand, Cadi females know how to deflect the men if they get mouthy, where we don’t even see it coming.”
“That is true,” Sundara spoke-up. “It is the job of every mother to teach her young what to look for when we come of age. When we first practice at coupling, we wear clothing that covers our neck and shoulders,” she explained.
Riley’s head was spinning. This was all so crazy. Cyprian was now her husband because of some stupid bite mark.
“Kagan insists the way I respond in bed, along with the differences in my anatomy, were enough to push him over the edge.”
“There are some very impressive differences in our anatomy.” June wagged her brows.
“Jesus, I’ve been a bad influence on you,” Riley said as she regarded her friend.
“Tell me I’m wrong. Their thing is like something out of the shop you worked at,” June insisted.
“Ribbed for her pleasure,” Giselle giggled.
“Stop,” Providence snorted. “Besides, it’s not really ribbed. It’s more studded, like those toys with the rotating beads.”