Page 57

If this wasn’t such a serious matter, he would’ve laughed. This was the first time he’d had to chase a female instead of the other way around.

He snared Nadzia around the waist and hauled her over to the bed. She shoved against him but he managed to grab her hands and tie them to the head of the bed.

“No, you bastard!” She yanked her arms, but his knots held.

“I’m going to talk. And you’re going to listen.” He proceeded to tie another strip around her mouth even though she turned her head this way and that to avoid it.

“Fk ou, ou mur fkr.” She kicked out at him.

“Now who’s cussing who?” He grabbed her ankles and tied them together, then held the binding. “I can’t have you hurting your little feet.”

She glared at him.

“I was saying, I’ve kept things from you, because you’ve been through so much. But that’s clearly not working.” He looked her in the eyes. “You are right, I’m no stranger to females. Yes, among the Osivoire, several females mate one male. And yes, I should’ve told you about my conclave.”

“Es ou uda!” she grumbled.

“Ivory beauty, I meant it when I said you are my weakness.” He stroked her bare calf. The shell on his hands had receded, letting him feel just how smooth her skin was. “What I should’ve done was tell you what that meant. But I didn’t want you to feel pressured. No, that’s not the full truth. I feared how you’d respond,” he admitted.

Nadzia stopped huffing angrily into her gag. Her gaze was confused but attentive. He nodded, appreciating she was willing to listen but wasn’t really sure where he should begin.

I guess I should start at the beginning.

“I was the first male born to Axilla, and that trick of fate made me the Premiere Servant. The title is exactly what it sounds like, I live only to serve the Osivoire people. When I was a young male, I learned exactly what that meant. There was this little female who used to play with my sisters in the gardens. I really enjoyed sneaking up and scaring the torment out of her, which usually resulted in Rani chasing and beating me with a stick,” he chuckled at the fond memory. “Foolishly, I told my matron, Rani would be the first in my conclave. Do you know what she said?”

Nadzia blinked at him.

“It didn’t matter that I liked Rani. My conclave would only have the strongest and best females, and Rani was neither of those. The Conclave made sure my little friend didn’t distract me from my duty again. That was really just the first of many lessons. But I think it’s the one that stung the most.”

He sat quietly for a moment thinking about how things had changed for him that day. He looked sadly at Nadzia. The sympathy reflected in her big green eyes brought him a measure of comfort, encouraging him to continue.

“Yes, I have a conclave, but I didn’t pick any of them. They are strong, beautiful females,” he admitted then frowned. “Except they don’t wantme, they want the title and all of this. You may find it hard to believe, but I haven’t touched them. I won’t. I am more than a breeder for the next generation.” He grit his teeth.

Nadzia

She was so hurt, and when Aculus showed up, anger mixed with those hurt feelings. She couldn’t believe Aculus tied her up, adding fuel to that fire. But as he talked, things became so much clearer and her heart ached at the picture he was painting.

“Ou eel apt.” Her brow furrowed.

“What?” Aculus pulled the gag down.

“You feel trapped,” she repeated.

Aculus nodded grimly, his fingers absentmindedly caressing her cheek.

“And used,” she added, feeling terrible for him.

Again, Aculus silently nodded.

“I’m sorry.” She turned and kissed his palm.

He cast her a wan smile. “You can probably imagine I was a handful. I rebelled a lot and the Conclave sent me to academy rather than educating me here. I think they hoped I’d learn how to do what I was told,” he chuckled. “Their plan backfired because I discovered a different way I could serve my people.”

“So that’s why you’re in the military.”

“Yes. When I completed my training, I could’ve just used what I learned here at home, like they wanted. But I had a taste of freedom, of the possibilities the cosmos offered. And the Conclave had already held two Trials starting my conclave. I couldn’t stomach it. I had to get as far away as I could. So I threatened to not participate in another Trial if I wasn’t permitted to serve Osi by joining the Paladin.”

“Trials?” She tilted her head in question.