Warriors' Providence (Cadi Warriors Book 2)(109)

As the hangar doors opened Providence took in a deep breath of the fresh fragrant air. She closed her eyes and took in the faint scent that reminded her of a mix of pine and rosemary.

Suddenly a pair of arms scooped her up and jogged down the ramp. Providence squealed and smiled up at Dagaa as he spun her around. The towering trees up above whirled around and round.

"Dagaa let me go! I'm going to vomit!" Providence cried out.

"Never. I will never let you go." He husked as he kissed her.

Kagan and Giselle along with several other Cadi warriors stood watching them in amusement. Some were regents she recognized, along with their families. Providence looked out to see blankets spread out across the field and at one end was more food than she'd ever seen in one place.

"Don't make her puke." Madhava took ahold of her and Dagaa relinquished. Madhava then tickled her. "At least not until I have my turn." He teased.

Dagaa grinned as he walked up to Kagan. Madhava placed her on the ground and followed. Both men placed their fists on their chests and bowed to Kagan. Providence bowed but before she could right herself Giselle tackled her with a giant hug.

"Oh my god I was so worried. Kagan kept threatening to sedate me." Giselle said as she squeezed Providence tight.

"It was touch and go." Providence sighed.

She couldn't believe how good it felt to be home. The thought suddenly struck her. This WAS home. If she was on Earth, she would've never met nor been able to have both of her men. As much as she wanted to see her family again, Madhava and Dagaa would never be able to go to Earth with her, even if it was possible to return. This was her family. This was her home.

Providence looked up to see Dagaa and Kagan were looking at the edge of the clearing. Madhava was standing several paces away staring at a female with a young boy and girl. The woman was staring back at him.

"That's her. Be forewarned, it took some convincing by Kagan to get her here." Giselle whispered.

Providence walked up next to Madhava and wrapped her arm around his. Madhava turned to Providence looking confused and vulnerable.

"That's Kore." He said.

"Yes, I wanted to meet your sister." Providence encouraged him forward.

Thankfully the woman didn't retreat as they approached. Her mate took hold of the children and stepped back a few paces.

"Hello Kore."

"Hello Madhava." Kore replied

"Thank you for coming to witness my mating."

"Our new Daimio insisted. Since he is an honorable male, I didn't want to refuse him." Kore punctuated the word honorable.

Providence could practically feel Madhava deflate beside her.

"Again thank you, it is good seeing you. I'm sorry I must go assist Stone with the Toufik." Madhava said as he pulled from Providence's grasp and headed across the clearing to the starship.

Providence was instantly pissed with Madhava's sister. Madhava may not want to rip her blinders off, but Providence didn't have the same compunction.

"I don't know why the Daimio insisted I should be here?" Kore stated as Providence was debating what to say to her.

"I made the request."

"You have a perfectly good male why are you even bothering with Madhava?" Kore shook her head as if Providence was a giant idiot for wanting to mate Madhava.

Providence had heard enough. She marched forward and stuck her finger in the woman's face.

"I'm mating your brother because I love him and have never met a man more willing to sacrifice his happiness, flesh and blood for his loved ones!" Providence snarled.

"Then you don't know him very well. Do you know what he did while serving our former Daimio?"

"Yes. The question is do you? While you were free to mate and have a family. Madhava was getting tortured on a regular basis because he refused to let Uthyr attack your mother. But was he free when your mother took her own life and Uthyr was dead? No! He was subjected to the brutal whims of Vigdis. If he had been without family, he would've rebelled far sooner, but no, he accepted scar upon scar on his body and on his soul, all to assure not just your safety, but that of your children." Providence railed.

Kore stood with her mouth open.

"I know Cadi females don't involve themselves in warrior's affairs, but make no mistake your willful ignorance doesn't absolve you of any of it. All the things you condemn Madhava for, lay equally on your shoulders."

Providence whirled around and stomped off before she ruined her wedding day by punching Madhava's sister in the mouth.

Providence berated herself for thinking she could arrange some sort of happy reunion  . Clearly Kore was a fool. Her heart still ached for Madhava. Now she'd gone and rubbed salt in that wound.

She arrived back at the starship to see the Agurtzane vessel with additional Toufik land. Hiroki and Sidika descended from their ship wearing something that looked like a wet suit with an odd bubbling collar. The strange respirator appeared to wash water over the gills in their neck, making it possible for them to breathe easy on dry land.