"Tired." Giselle said curtly.
"You were right about Vigdis. He is gathering more of his army than we originally realized."
Giselle just huffed as she walked beside him.
They entered the manor and Rahela greeted Kagan exuberantly taking his arm and leading him to the dining room. Giselle fell back.
"Oh, is that your pet? How cute." Rahela said.
Kagan glanced at Giselle behind him and caught a mixed expression on her face. He thought she was angry but there was something else. Before he could identify the look Giselle schooled her features and stared straight ahead.
"Her name is Giselle." Kagan replied and tried to pull away from Rahela but she held him tight.
"She may eat with the Toufik." Rahela pointed towards the Toufik wing of the manor as they entered the dining hall.
Kagan had to take a moment to not reply angrily. Rahela was only responding to Giselle the way so many Cadi did.
"Come little one. There is room beside me." Ismat, the monk, said as he patted the table.
Giselle walked around the table and sat opposite of Kagan as Rehela positioned herself at his side. This wasn't the seating arrangement he planned but they would have to manage.
"Well this is most unusual but if you don't object Kagan." Rahela smiled.
Kagan didn't really like how Rahela used his name instead of title as if they were lovers or old friends. She acted as if they were mated already.
"So Daimio." The monk spoke and Kagan turned his full attention to the male ignoring Rahela. "It would seem that you have more on your plate than impending war."
Kagan didn't know what to say. He didn't want to misspeak and possibly ruin any chance for when he petitioned the monk to mate Giselle. Already he wasn't quite sure how the servant of Kali viewed her. Giselle was clearly upset for a reason. It was enough to tie him in knots.
"Ismat that is truer than you know." Kagan replied cautiously.
"Kali works in mysterious ways." Ismat continued. "The path she sets out is not an easy one, but it appears she has blessed you with a mate."
Rahela wrapped her arms around Kagan and leaned into him. Kagan tried to pull away, but she clung to him like glue. He wanted to climb under the table as everyone looked from him to Rahela.
Apparently it was common knowledge that he was Rahela's Second. Ismat and the others must have automatically assumed Kagan would bond with Rahela.
Kagan cast a pleading look to Dagaa. The male was no help though unlike earlier he at least looked sympathetic to Kagan's plight.
Giselle looked from Kagan to Rahela. The look of hurt he saw in her eyes leveled him. Giselle quickly lowered her eyes to her plate tugging her cloak tighter around her. She suddenly looked smaller and more fragile.
Dinner finished in relative silence. Dagaa and Bram discussed a few things with Grainne about rebuilding the city. The army would sleep in the abandoned homes rather than their tents for the night. There was more than enough food there that would soon go bad if his men didn't make use of it.
No one discussed the looming army. Kagan was unwilling to discuss strategy for the impending battle till he had a chance talk to Giselle. Dagaa had also agreed her perspective would be invaluable. However given how things were looking it would be morning before they could approach the subject.
When they finally got up from the table. Rahela led him to her and Pirus' former room while Giselle lagged behind. She was really starting to worry him.
"I thought your pet would be sleeping in the Toufik wing." Rahela said as she opened the bedroom door and bid Kagan to follow her in.
From the corner of Kagan's eye he watched Giselle quickly turn around and start heading back down the hall. Kagan was ready for this day to be done and to find out what all had happened to hurt his little pet.
"Rahela if I am to take this room then I think it best if you go sleep in your daughter's room." Kagan told her.
"But I was hoping we might get to know each other better." Rahela said as she reached for his chest.
Kagan stopped her hand with his. The woman's touch made his skin crawl. Maybe it was because of the conjugo mark he shared with Giselle. Or maybe it was Rahela's personality, or just the fact she wasn't the one he desired. Kagan gave Rahela a stern look. She gasped then fled down the hall. Kagan would've laughed at how easily frightened Rahela was compared to his brave pet, but he needed to find Giselle.
Kagan quickly went down the hall the direction Giselle had gone, but as he rounded the corner she was nowhere to be found. Kagan caught her scent, but it was different, a hint of something acrid that gripped his chest and tore at his heart. His little Giselle was in pain.
Kagan rushed into the main hall, but Giselle wasn't there. He headed into the Toufik wing of the manor but none of them had seen her. He went back out to the main hall where he'd scented her the strongest but it had faded. Kagan walked past the front door leading to the street and caught a whiff of her. She had left! He threw open the door and headed into the night.
Giselle
Watching the woman fawn over Kagan was too much to bear especially after Ismat spoke about mating. So she was some sort of illicit fling after all before Kagan settled down. Giselle had done a good job repressing the tears that wanted to fall until Rahela had taken Kagan to her room.
Giselle felt so stupid for thinking she could be something more than a pet to Kagan. She fled down the hall and into the cool night. She went in the only direction she knew in the town, heading for the temple.
Giselle slipped into the massive empty building. Her sobs echoed off the stone disturbing the solemn quiet. The crimson image of Kali shone against the black rock. Giselle collapsed at the Goddess' feet and gave in to her despair.
"Please help me." She prayed. "I don't know how much more I can bear."
Giselle let the tears flow as her forehead pressed against the cold stone. She mourned the life she'd lost. She mourned the life she'd foolishly invented with Kagan.
She would not be able to watch Kagan with that woman. She didn't know where she would go or how she could survive this alien planet but she couldn't stay. It would kill her just a surely as a knife to the heart.
The sound of footsteps captured Giselle's attention. She didn't want to be caught here by some mourner. They'd likely find her presence in their temple offensive. Giselle snuck out the side door into an alley. Giselle didn't know which way to go as she walked down the narrow lane and turned the corner. Perhaps with all the abandoned homes she could find shelter somewhere.
"Well it seems I have found a wayward pet."
Giselle spun around to see Bram.
"Since our Daimio will be mating soon it appears he is no longer in need of your services. But do not worry I know of a few warriors who would like a little curvy pet like you." Bram leered at her.
He lunged and grabbed her cloak. Giselle dropped it and ran, but she couldn't out pace him with her shorter legs. She stopped and spun around then feigned right as Bram tried to grab her. Giselle ducked under his beefy arms going left instead. She backed up keeping her eyes trained on the male. When he came at her, she gripped his outstretched arm and flipped him onto the hard road. Surprised yet undaunted Bram instantly jumped up.
"So you think yourself a little warrior." The male grinned maliciously. "I like a little fight."
When Bram came at her again Giselle dropped to her knees and struck out with her fist catching him square in the balls. Bram howled and staggered back holding his crotch. The male was too large to fight him off for long.
While Bram recovered Giselle took the opportunity and fled down the street. She didn't make it far before he snagged her hair a yanked her hard. Giselle slammed against the ground her head bouncing against the stone. Stars exploded in her vision when Bram slapped her with his meaty hand. Her ears were ringing and the entire side of her face throbbed as Bram loomed close in her vision.
"How dare you!" The male growled as he straddled her crushing her again
st the cobblestone.
Giselle gasped for breath.
Bram wrenched her wrists above her head in one hand. Giselle felt a pop and a searing pain radiate through her arm. She struggled as the male tore off her top. He gripped her breast squeezing cruelly.
"I bet your cunt is tight."
"Get off me!" Giselle spat catching him in the face.
He was going to rape her and there was nothing she could do about it.
Ismat
The alien female was puzzling. No sooner had Ismat gotten used to Giselle's unusual appearance and the fact she spoke, then he saw the conjugo marks on her slight shoulders. It had been a shock. Some male had bonded with the little female. Ismat instantly felt foolish. He had lived long enough to see more than a few alien creatures find their way to Cadi. It was just that the pale female was so similar physically and intellectually to the Cadi. It was unexpected and took getting used to.
Ismat chuckled. Miracles never ceased.
Not all of his people were accepting. So what manner of warrior had marked the female most would've seen as nothing more than a pet. As the day wore on and Giselle assisted him caring for the dead Ismat found himself more and more enamored with the little female. Not only was she intelligent and hard working, Giselle was perhaps more enlightened and accepting than his people could be. Ismat found it refreshing the way the female was willing to express herself. Cadi women could be shy and closed off sometimes.
When he discovered that it was the Daimio that was her master, or was it mate, Ismat knew that Kali truly worked in mysterious ways. He wasn't quite sure if he could accept the Daimio taking an alien female as his mate. This was an unusual twist of fate.
Ismat didn't know what to think as he sat at dinner. The Daimio was obviously Rahela's Second, and it appeared he would be carrying out his oath in its entirety. Giselle had been quiet and seemed uncomfortable. She must have learned of the Daimio's obligation and duty to the widow. It didn't seem to sit well with her.
Ismat shook his head. The Daimio had a tough road ahead.
When Ismat came back to the temple after a final prayer over the dead he'd been surprised to see Giselle curled up on the alter uttering prayers. It touched him deeply that she sought refuge here. But as soon as he approached Giselle she fled from the temple.
When Ismat finally caught up to Giselle, he had been stunned. Ismat watched in awe as the little alien female threw the male twice her size then lashed out bringing him to his knees. Ismat did not see who the cloaked warrior was but his behavior was reprehensible. It didn't matter that she was considered a pet. No one should treat anyone or anything this way.
The longer Ismat watched Giselle fight the more he wondered if perhaps the Goddess Kali herself had sent the unusual female. Ismat came to his senses the moment the barbaric male captured Giselle up the street. The female needed assistance and he was just gawking.
"Get off me!" He heard her cry out.
"You will do as she says." Ismat demanded.
The warrior turned and looked at him, but Ismat didn't have the chance to get a good look at the warrior before the male fled.
Ismat knelt beside Giselle. Her lip was busted and bleeding, and Ismat was sure he saw blood on the road beneath her head.
"Thank you Ismat." Giselle said stoically as she sat up.
"You should stay down I will get help." Ismat insisted.
"I've gotten my clock rocked harder." Giselle replied.
Ismat wasn't quite sure, but he got the gist of what she was saying though he still thought she should await assistance. Ismat shook his head at the odd tough female as he wrapped his arm around her to help her up.
"Not that side. Watch the wrist." Giselle winced.
"Female you ARE stubborn." Ismat groused though he was more concerned.
"That's what I tried to tell you earlier." Giselle replied as she walked with him.
She was a bit unsteady with a little hitch in her step but doing well considering. She was a little fighter.
"Let's get you back to the manor I'm sure the Daimio must be concerned."
Giselle paused and Ismat realized she had left the manor for a reason. Surely the Daimio hadn't been cruel to her as well.
"Has the Daimio been unkind?" Ismat asked wondering if Kagan even deserved such a unique female if he too had hurt her.
"Do not worry about me. I will be fine." Giselle replied.
"I'm sure that you will, but no one deserves what happened to you." Ismat insisted. "The Daimio should have been protecting you."
"Seriously?" Giselle's eyes flashed at him. "Ismat you are a smart man. The problem is not that Kagan wasn't here to protect me. You know it's because of the way your people view me. As long as I'm viewed as something less, something to be owned and possessed this kind of shit is going to happen."
"I am sorry to say that you are correct. But that is all the more reason you should stay with the Daimio."
"He was preoccupied." Giselle replied grimacing as her lip bled.
"Rahela?"
"Yes Rahela."
Ismat felt the need to meditate on the matter. He didn't envy the difficult path the Daimio and little Giselle had ahead of them. But first things first he needed to see to Giselle's injuries.
Kagan quo Rordan
Kagan canvased the city. He had seen a few of his men patrolling or looking for a place to rest for the night but none had seen Giselle. A few times the wind shifted and Kagan thought he caught scent of Giselle but lost it in the winding streets.
Kagan was heading back towards main road when he stopped. There it was again, Giselle's distinctive perfume laced with that pungent scent that raised the hair on the back of his neck. Kagan growled, his nostrils flared as his eyes were drawn to a scrap of fabric on the side of the street.
Kagan bent down and picked up the swath of blue. He didn't even need to study it to know it was the remnant of Giselle's top. Kagan noticed blood on the cobblestone and dropped to his knees.
"Kali No!"
Kagan wanted to howl into the night. Something terrible had happened to his Giselle. Who had done this?
Kagan's comm beeped.
"Where in the name of the Goddess are you." Dagaa demanded, but continued before Kagan could respond. "You need to get your tail back here Ismat just brought Giselle in. She's been attacked."
Kagan didn't even wait for Dagaa to finish before he took off down the street towards the regent's manor. He barreled through the front doors and nearly knocked Ismat down.
"Daimio" Ismat nodded to him and started to leave. Kagan gripped his cloak.
"Thank you." Kagan choked out.
"Of course." Ismat said but then paused. "Remember Kali's blessings come with a price."
Kagan knew only too well the sacrifices the Goddess demanded, but what tribute would she exact for him to take Giselle as his own. As he frantically wandered the streets Kagan realized he was willing to give up anything for her. But he now feared it was Giselle paying that price.
Kagan rushed to his room. As he threw open the doors he saw Giselle laying in the bed with Dagaa leaning over her.
"Would you stay in this bed." Dagaa demanded.
Giselle tried to get up again.
"I just heard what happened." Rahela stood at the door looking shocked.
Giselle pushed her way past Dagaa and got up. Kagan nearly went through the roof as he looked at her swollen red eye and split lip. Her wrist was bound and bruise was forming all the way up her thigh.
"Oh my." Rahela gasped.
The look Giselle leveled at Rahela had the female backing out the door.
"JEEZELLE" Kagan said sternly. She was injured and stubbornly attempting to do more than she should. Giselle swung her eyes to Kagan and glared at him.
"Don't let my little mishap keep you from Rahela." She snarled.
Dagaa inched towards the door and closed it quietly behind him. Coward!
She was jealous!
Kagan realized he should've
talked to Giselle about what was going on and what he'd been feeling long before now. It seemed that things kept getting in the way. Kagan moved towards Giselle.
"Keep back." Giselle threw up her hands.
Kagan couldn't stay put though. He had to touch her to examine every inch to assure himself Giselle was going to be okay. He stalked forward and took her in his arms.
"Let me go. I can't do this!" Giselle pounded at his chest with her good fist.
"NEVER." Kagan insisted. "You are mine. I will never let you go."
"I would rather die then stay on this planet and be forced to watch you with her. I refuse to be your dirty little secret behind closed doors and I refuse to be forced to constantly watch my back because your people think they can treat me like I'm less than trash." Giselle screamed at him then wilted in his arms."I'm not a thing you can possess." She keened brokenly.
Kagan was devastated by the anguish and pain that radiated off Giselle. He brushed the hair from her tear streaked abused face. He was ready to kill the male who had done this to her, and yet he wasn't completely innocent. He'd let Giselle go on thinking she was nothing more than a pet while he played the coward, worrying if she'd be accepted. And look where that led them.
For the first time he truly considered abandoning his duty to take Giselle with him and live in the wilds with her at his side. Nothing he could think of mattered so much as the woman he held. He just had to prove it to her.
Ismat's words from earlier came to him. He knew he was willing to sacrifice just about anything to prove to Kali how serious he was.
Kagan brushed his fingers across the conjugo mark on Giselle's neck.
"Jeezelle you are mine not because I own you." Kagan tipped her face up so he could look into her stunning blue eyes. He could get lost in those pools. "No one could ever own you. It would be like trying to capture the wind." Kagan sat on the bed cradling her in his lap. "When a Cadi warrior finds his true mate, he is driven to mark her here." Kagan touched the conjugo mark reverently. "Some try to force the bond, but a true bond goes deeper and is felt by both."
Giselle gasped and her hand rose to her neck. She must have felt the pull as well. It was often described as intoxicatingly pleasurable by Cadi females. Kagan smiled as he nuzzled her, taking in her scent.
The Warrior's Pet (Cadi Warriors Book 1) Page 16
