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Kaelen danced back and fell into a defensive stance. “Go! Find your mate. We shall track thevyirkolenwhile you protect her.”

His fury forgotten, Zoran left without acknowledging the other warlord again. He had vowed never to allow harm to befall his mate, and now, because he had indulged his fury, she was alone without his protection. Cursing his foolish pride, he raced through town in the direction Mia’s scream had come from, praying for the Fates’ intercession with every step.

The first thing Mia thought of as she ran away from the pavilion was the science center. Several other women, human and Xeruvian alike, were running with her, goaded into action by Jyrak and another mated female warrior.

The second thing was home.

But home lay on the other side of a long stretch of road exposed to the jungle. If she’d learned anything in her time on Zephyria, it was to avoid the open jungle.

So, she veered toward the science center instead. Her office was as good a place as any to wait out Zoran’s wrath and the fight between him and Kaelen. When Zoran calmed down, there’d be plenty of time to lecture him about losing his temper over a perfectly innocent conversation.

They were also going to have a long, long conversation about trust. As in, he’d better start trusting her. Noor elseto it.

Her legs burned after no more than a block and a half of running. Mia slowed, panting, and placed a hand to her side. She really did need to find a good walking path or exercise to help her stay in shape.

Ahead of her, Jyrak turned and jogged back. “You must get inside, Mia. The breeze will carry your scent to Lord Zoran, and he will never calm so long as he believes you to be in danger.”

“I know, I know,” Mia panted. She waved a hand toward the science center, which was still out of sight. “Just…go. Keep the other women safe. I’ll be right behind you.”

Jyrak’s lips tilted into a frown. “I should not leave you to fend for yourself.”

Mia snorted. “It’s not like I’m alone. Look around. Everybody on the planet’s here today, and no male will try to make off with a woman who’s openly flouting her mate’s bites.”

“He did mark you rather heavily.”

“You should see what I did to him.”

Jyrak rolled her eyes, a habit she’d picked up from her human peers. “Head straight to the center, yes?”

“I will, promise.”

Jyrak turned and jogged after the other women, lengthening her strides until she reached them.

Mia caught her breath and set out at a much slower pace. The festival really was crowded. Vendors lined the streets, waving to her as she passed. Attendees walked past her, quietly chatting among themselves, some relaying the news thatLord Zoranhad challenged Lord Drexus.

By the excitement in their voices, Mia guessed that was a rare sight.

It was her first time wandering Arkkukari alone. She wished she had time to poke and putter.

One of the humans approached, escorted by the warlord who’d just claimed her as his mate, with another warrior as an escort.

Quickly, Mia explained what had happened and asked the group to turn away from the pavilion until the fight had petered out. Their escort suggested retracing their steps to the Council Grounds where sanctioned Ky’Lota trials were being fought.

Mia walked with them for a while, then split off when the science center came in view. The crowd had lessened here, concentrated as it was deeper into the town center or at one of the other venues. She went to the front entrance, punched in her door code, and presented her biometrics.

The door remained locked.

Mia frowned. How odd! It had never refused her before. Maybe she’d punched in the wrong code?

She tried again, with the same results.

Great, she thought, huffing out a laugh. The back entrance it was, even though the building’s rear faced the jungle. It was just asmallstretch of jungle, though, nothing like the long walk home.

Mia walked around the side wishing for a glass of water, air conditioning, and a snack, not necessarily in that order. When she reached the back entrance, she saw Raelka Korlis standing just inside the door. Like the front entrance, the back one was fronted by a durable, see-through substance much tougher than glass. Mia gritted her teeth and waved at the young woman, then entered her code and scanned her biometrics. The door’s lock refused to disengage.

Mia pointed at the handle and yelled, “Can you release the lock from the inside? I’m stuck out here.”

Raelka’s gaze had drifted away from Mia. Fear flashed over her face, then she bared her teeth in an ugly, ugly smile.