Others behind him began to speak of their worries as well. Some called the decision unfair, while others simply asked for him to reconsider. His men spoke the same concerns that had whipped through his mind as he himself tried to calm his immediate anger at what K’hor had done.
“I have made a promise as Warlord, and it is a promise Djaromir will keep,” K’hor repeated again. “The Phaetons are planning to land after the static storms dissipate to collect the rescued brides. There will be nothing we can do to stop them from leaving if they so desire. You know that as well as I do.”
“What if we don’t want them to leave?” one of the men shouted.
The question spurred others to yell out their own displeasure. Although he understood and somewhat agreed with what he was hearing, Sparx knew this was not an argument they would win. Just as he was about to call a halt to the shouts behind him, Matrix held up a fist signaling for silence.
“Enough.” K’hor’s command effectively quieted the rest of the disgruntled group. “Djaromir could withstand an attack from the Phaetons if necessary, and our men would gladly fight to keep the women if it meant a chance to have a mate—”
“Yet, you’ve given them a choice,” Sparx interrupted, his voice more curious than angry as he truly tried to fully understand why the other leader would make such a decision. He’d always trusted K’hor to be a sound leader, but as the Warlord of Fyeir, Sparx also had the people he ruled to answer to. “Why?”
“We are not slavers. That is not who we are. That is not who we will become,” the other warlord announced. “Besides, if they are truly our mates, they will not want to leave. The bond won’t allow it.”
K’hor’s words earned him a few reluctant nods from some of the men, while others held onto their anger. Sparx fell in between the two. On one hand, he understood the position the women were in; on the other hand, they could be the answer to keeping his people alive. Regardless of how much he brooded over the situation, he agreed with K’hor’s decision.
It was times like this one in particular where he wished he was able to be the bad guy.
“Tell me, Sparx. Do you want a wife who is constantly looking to escape? A female that would risk the dangers of our planet to leave?”
“Of course not,” Sparx answered easily, having already come to that conclusion after getting over the initial betrayal he felt at K’hor’s announcement.
“’Trix?” K’hor asked, looking to his friend.
“No, you’re right. The last thing I want is for a mate that runs from me.” Matrix ran a hand over his jaw. “I apologize, Juniper. Our ancestors would be ashamed by my thoughts and words today. I know that Sparx shares in my regret as well.”
Sparx stayed silent, although he nodded in agreement. He knew K’hor was right, but he also knew they were desperate. It was a painful situation to be in and one that would take him a while to come to terms with.
K’hor hugged her to his side as she accepted their apologies with a nod of her own.
“I’m sure Tiny will have some ideas, but we will need to figure out a system for introducing the men to the women. With everything they have been through, it would be best not to overwhelm them any further.” Stroking Juniper’s shoulder, K’hor made sure the men knew that she—and the rest of the women—were his main priority.
Sparx watched the interaction with a close eye. The behavior K’hor was showing towards Juniper was so completely different from his normal interactions that it spoke volumes. He was gentle with her, caring and noticeably more aware. And although Juniper was small, she seemed mighty in personality. At least from what he’d seen so far with her standing up to not only him but also Matrix—well, she seemed a perfect match for the fierce warlord.
“Tell me, little human…” Sparx cocked his head slightly as he watched her with assessing eyes. When the pink of her cheeks deepened, he realized he would take pleasure in teasing K’hor’s new mate. Even though she was not meant to be his, she was appealing to look at, and he had a feeling it would annoy his friend as a bonus. “Are we overwhelming?”
“I mean,” Juniper swallowed hard, her gaze bouncing back and forth between ‘Trix and himself. “I’m sure it’s normal for you guys, but we aren’t used to dealing with men so—”
“Handsome?” Matrix interrupted, the scar on his cheek crinkling slightly as he winked at her.
Sparx smiled at the oddly comfortable exchange. It wasn’t often that they had the chance to laugh and tease each other, but that wasn’t what was amusing him at the moment. His amusement was coming from K’hor. There he was, standing stiffly beside his human, visibly bristling at the attention Matrix was giving her.
So much so that Sparx had to hold back a snicker when K’hor let out a growl of warning.
“I was going to say big, kind of intimidating,” she finished. She fluttered her fingers up and down in their direction and blurted out, “I may be short, but you guys are a whole new level of tall. Add those muscles, and it’s a bit much.”
K’hor gave a low growl at the exchange and edged closer to her side. “Mine,” he rasped, and laid his arm back across her shoulders. His fingers drifting over the claiming marks he’d scattered across her bare skin.
Sparx let a chuckle escape before choking it off when Matrix bumped his shoulder. Before he’d thought to be entertained by Juniper alone with his teasing, finding her blushes appealing to look at. Now that he knew how much
