A Warlord's Heart (13 page)

“They’re identical, too,” Shaina announced as
if fascinated, her gaze going between Erana in her arms and Arane
who Kavan still held.

“Yes,” Vaan answered. He and Mikayla never
had a problem but many of the Raasa and his men could not tell his
youngling apart when they were first birthed. In the beginning,
Vaan had jested when he told Mikayla he knew not which was
which.

“I want one,” Shaina blurted. “Can I keep
this one?”

Silence met her exclamation until Vaan burst
into laughter, causing everyone to stare at him. It was far from
what he expected to hear. Mikayla shot him an annoyed glance over
her shoulder. For his part, Argan flushed and cleared his throat.
Vaan waited as his best friend floundered. He wanted to know how
the Warlord known as the Death Dealer would respond to his
bride.

“You can not have the Overlord’s youngling,”
Argan finally explained.

Shaina glared at Vaan as if he’d voiced the
denial, although he would have responded the same. Argan sighed.
Mikayla ruined his enjoyment of the moment by saying. “You’re
always welcome to visit them.”

Shaina brightened. “It gives me time to
change your mind.”

“The Aerilians saved them,” his mate added
slyly.

Shaina grimaced, rocking the youngling in her
arms from side to side. “Then at least they were good for
something.”

“Their new leader, Tylis, wishes to renew the
relationship with the Shadow Warriors. He only wants to talk.”

Vaan squeezed Mikayla and she stopped
speaking. He didn’t want to rush the Shadow Queen into refusing
outright.

All humor cleared Shaina’s expression as she
met Vaan’s gaze. “Overlord Vaan helped the Olak’din when we needed
it. This is no hardship to return the debt.”

“There is no debt.” Vaan and Argan said at
the same time.

Shaina rolled her eyes at Vaan and winked at
Mikayla. “I will send a message to the one called Tylis. I wait to
see how he thinks to convince me to have anything to do with his
people after what they attempted.”

Vaan admitted to interest as well, though
from his small contact with the Aerilian, he appeared to be an
honorable warrior. Only time would tell if Tylis spoke truth about
his actions.

Arane spotted Balal. “Bal!”

She struggled in Kavan’s arms until he
lowered her gently to the floor. Arane ran to the other Warlord,
who caught her mid-leap.

***

The next morning Vaan sat on the floor of the
main hall in an area Mikayla had set up with rugs, sofas and chairs
so his youngling could be in everyone’s eyesight at once. It would
be a long while before any of them relaxed their vigil.

Arane sat on his right and Erane on his left.
Both worked hard with the small plain cloths he’d given them to
clean their weapons of imaginary blood stains. Sulon had saved
their miniature swords from the stable. Vaan tried to focus on
cleaning his own sword to demonstrate but the heat of the gaze on
him had not abated. With a sigh, he looked up and met the silver
stare. “No.”

He’d given the same answer several times but
it didn’t stop Shaina from her pleading glances. Vaan faced Argan
in hopes he’d assure his bride that Vaan had no intention of giving
her one of his youngling but Argan merely smirked. Vaan wondered if
they had time for a sparring session before his friend had to
leave.

Sitting on her husband’s lap on the wide
sofa, Shaina made no attempts to lower her voice as she said into
Argan’s ear. “But he has
two
of them.”

Mikayla joined him with a soft sigh and sat
cross-legged on the floor, her weight leaning into his side. Vaan
kissed the top of her head and she hummed in pleasure. Balal rested
on a chair and Assa sat close enough to be on his lap. As always,
his Warlord’s hand lay on her flat stomach. She no longer seemed
overly worried about the birthing but Vaan had no intention of
bringing it up. He’d leave that to his mate.

Ramar and Vesa walked over, the Raasa female
smiling shyly. Vaan sensed the moment Mikayla noticed them. She
leaned over to whisper in his ear. “Assa’s with young and Ramar’s
together with Vesa. You’ve had an eventful time.”

“You are never leaving again,” Vaan stated
with utmost sincerity. He couldn’t handle it.

Ramar folded himself onto the floor and
tugged Vesa down beside him. They looked good together and Ramar
appeared pleased.

“What in the Hills happened to you, Ramar?”
Balal’s stunned question had all of them focusing on the
couple.

Vaan stared. Red scratches and purpling
circles covered Ramar’s chest and shoulders. A few were
concentrated around the right side of his neck. Ramar flushed and
snapped. “It is the Raasa way. You should know.”

Complete silence echoed after his words.
Mikayla stiffened and tried to move away. Tried but failed since
Vaan’s fingers curled around her wrist as she braced to push off
the floor.

“Assa?” Balal’s brown eyes were on his mate,
who twisted her hands in her lap, head lowered.

Argan threw back his head and laughed.

Vaan bent his head so only Mikayla could hear
him. “Something you want to tell me, yes?”

She shook her head frantically.

Ramar’s brows dipped. He looked to Vesa, then
around the group. “You all have not exchanged sakar with your
mates? It adds greatly to bed play.”

With Assa in his arms, Balal jumped to his
feet and ran from the room.

“Mi-kay-la,” Vaan growled.

Her green eyes narrowed in defiance. “You
made me vow not to.”

That had been at the time of their True
Union. Vaan had not thought on it since. Mikayla knew he enjoyed
the ideas she brought to their bed play. “He speaks truth?”

The red on her golden cheeks answered him.
Vaan pinned Argan with his gaze. “You will watch my youngling and
you will
not
let your bride steal them away to the Olak’din
mountains.”

Vaan jumped to his feet and tossed Mikayla
over his shoulder. He ignored her squeal and hurried to the upper
levels. He would know of bed play with her venom and the pleasure
to be had. Ever did his mate surprise him.

Epilogue

It hadn’t taken Vaan long to put everything
together. The biggest problem had been working with Sera on the
clothing. Dress for the occasion involved outfits Vaan had no
fondness for but he’d relented when tears welled in Sera’s eyes.
He’d refused to enlist the aid of Vesa and Assa who were closer to
his mate because the females would spill the news he wished to keep
secret.

Vaan drummed his fingers on his desk in
nervous irritation. Tonight was the night he hoped to show Mikayla
all she meant to him. The knock on the door to his office
interrupted his thoughts. “Enter.”

Kavan peered around the door and seeing Vaan
alone, closed it behind him. Vaan lifted a brow. “You have need of
me, Kavan?”

“I would go over my report if you have read
it.”

The report. Kavan had put together the
details of Mikayla’s visits to the other compounds for Vaan’s
perusal. Some of the information was concerning. Shuffling the
papers on his desk until he had Kavan’s on top, Vaan waved the
Warlord to the chair across from his desk.

Kavan hesitated and Vaan sighed. “We are
beyond this, Kavan.”

His Warlord’s mouth twitched as he sat. “Yes,
Sire.”

“This Su-Su Harol offended my mate several
times during her visit.”

The dark head nodded.

Vaan leaned back in his chair, fingers laced
over his middle. “And?”

Kavan’s lips curled. “The Su-Su will have a
limp that may be permanent or not depending on how well the damage
heals for disrespecting the Overlord’s bride.”

Vaan wished he could have dispensed the
punishment. Already he did not care for Harol. Perhaps with Argan’s
skill in shadow traveling, they would sneak to the Su-Su’s home and
pay the aging Raasa a visit to show him Kabanian justice. The
thought pleased him and Vaan decided he’d see what Argan made of
it.

“What do you make of Arlis? Will I need to
attend to him?” The male had touched and kissed Mikayla as if she
were available.

“No, Overlord. The Raasa will not eat without
pain from his broken jaw for weeks to come.”

Though it was what he’d expected, Vaan’s
chest expanded with pride and he couldn’t help the broad smile he
shared with Kavan. “You honor me, Kavan. I am most pleased by how
you cared for my mate in my absence.”

Kavan inclined his head and accepted the
praise. A small niggle of doubt plagued Vaan in light of what he
planned for tonight. What if Mikayla preferred a Raasa male? Their
union had been for convenience. She claimed to love him but had not
spoken once of the things in Kavan’s report. Especially the Su-Su’s
startling revelation about Vaan’s mother.

He rose to his feet, urgency riding him. Vaan
gripped Kavan’s shoulder in thanks as he passed by him. “I will see
you tonight.”

First he would speak to Mikayla.

***

Miki had no idea what was going on with Vaan
lately. The strange looks he gave her were starting to make her
nervous. Their bedroom door slammed open and he stormed in as she
finished brushing her hair. Her eyes darted in his direction, the
fierce glare he aimed her way drying her mouth. “Vaan?”

He crossed to her side and pulled her from
the chair with hands at her forearms. “You love me.”

Her fingers feathered over his chest and she
didn’t waste time pondering his odd statement. “You know I love
you, Vaan.”

His breath escaped on a heavy exhale and he
clasped her close, his head resting atop hers. Miki slid her arms
around his back and smoothed them down his sides. “What’s wrong? Is
all well?”

“Would you prefer a Raasa male as your mate?”
he asked instead, voice muffled.

Miki stiffened and tried to pull back to see
his face. His hold banded like steel. “What?”

“A male who would understand your language,
your ways and not…” He paused and breathed against her ear. “And
not need guidance in Raasa sexual practices.”

“Fool!” She slapped at his back. “I don’t
want another. My love is not given lightly. There is
only
you for me.”

He groaned and clamped his hands at her waist
to lift her high, putting them face to face. Curled lashes thick as
night lifted to reveal his pitch black stare. “You speak
truth?”

She pulled on the end of his braided hair.
“Yes.”

“Then you must know I would love you no
matter the past or your Noan’s actions.”

Her lips curled in dismay. His Warlord had
not let her speak on it first. “Kavan spoke with you?”

Vaan ignored her hiss of displeasure. “My
mate should have told me.”

Her gaze shifted to the right as she nibbled
on her bottom lip. When she glanced back, his face darkened with
dismay. “Mikayla, did you think I would love you less if I
knew?”

The same question Kavan had asked but this
time Miki gave Vaan the truth though she couldn’t explain her
reasoning for her feelings. “Yes.”

Vaan growled and yanked her close, one hand
going to her hair and threading through the thickness. “Know this.
I will
alway
s love you, Mikayla. It does not matter how it
came about. You are
everything
to me.”

Shaking on the inside as her emotions soared,
Miki nodded. Suddenly shy in the face of his devotion, she managed
a shaky smile. “I’m sorry for not telling you.”

“Good.” He lowered her to her feet then
dropped to one knee to reach under their bed.

A large, narrow box scraped along the floor,
which Vaan placed on the bed. “You will wear this tonight and Sera
will attend you.”

Miki’s mouth fell open but her mate left with
the same speed he’d entered. More than a little curious, her
fingers danced over the white box. What had he done now? She opened
it almost fearful of the contents and gasped. Folds of red
silk.

“Do you like it, Miki?”

Miki glanced behind her and Sera entered the
room then closed the door. “What’s going on?”

Sera fairly burst with happiness as she
hurried to Miki’s side and hugged her. “It’s wonderful, Su-Su. Now
get dressed.”

***

Miki stood at the top of the stairs and
fingered the wispy material of the revealing, red dress. Sera
nudged her shoulder to get her moving. Music rose from below. Heart
beating like a drum, Miki made her way down to a hall overflowing
with Raasa and Kabanians. She stumbled when her gaze landed on
Saran standing next to Vaan, their resemblance unsettling.

Close to the bottom stair, Miki stopped in
stunned amazement. Everyone lifted their drinks and shouted. “The
Overlord’s!”

The lump in her throat swelled and Miki’s
stomach fluttered. Sera hugged her and kissed her cheek before
joining the others. Her mate walked toward her with determined
strides.

“You once planned a True Union celebration
for us but I did not understand.” Vaan’s hand clasped her fingers
lightly as he helped her down the last few steps. “I would make
amends.”

Miki blinked back tears. “Vaan,” she sniffed
and chuckled at the same time. “I do love you, Overlord.”

He smiled. “You have leave to call me
Vaan.”

Miki smacked at his chest, her cheeks burning
from her wide grin. “You could call me Miki.”

His humor faded and the look on his face was
one of extreme distaste. “You jest, Mikayla.”

***

Later Vaan’s brother cornered him during the
festivities. Saran leaned close, keeping his words low. “Your
message is where all of Kaban can see and already word flows of the
Overlord’s vengeance.”

“Good.” Vaan gripped his brother’s forearm in
thanks before releasing him.

“Do you think it extreme?” Saran asked with a
lift of his brow.