“I am Skars,” he introduced himself, much like he had on his trading missions.
“I don’t give a fuck what your name is. I want to see my brother immediately.”
The antagonistic male stood straight and tall as he tried to take control of the situation. Skars could sympathize, but he couldn’t let the human have the control he desired. He had lost any power over his life the moment humans had decided to use instruments of mass destruction against themselves.
“I will talk, you will listen,” Skars sharply told the six women and lone human male in the room. As he spoke, the elevator slid open, and Reva glided out.
The humans’ eyes widened as Reva came forward to stand next to his side. She had the same effect on them as she’d had on Raine. The midnight-blue gown and cape threaded with gold were modest yet highlighted the perfection of Reva’s beauty.
It was unsurprising that the human male’s eyes lingered on her before he returned his expression of anger to him.
Knowing silence would be short-lived, Skars began his explanation at what had happened on Earth and how both the boy—Skars kept it to himself that he was aware of the woman’s deception—and that Tayla, as well as one of his men, were now prisoners of King Jurzed and the Vozen.
“I have hopes I will be able to negotiate a trade for them. My chieftain, Thorsen, and I are as unhappy at their being taken as you. It was beyond our control. We tried to leave the area before the Olggan and King Jurzed arrived, but as we tried to convince them, the boy would not have been taken prisoner, nor…” Skars’ voice became lethal as he continued, “would my clan member have been taken captive if Tayla hadn’t fought him, causing his vehicle to crash.”
“We know who is responsible for this.”
Skars’ gaze went to the woman standing militarily in front on him. She appeared to be the same age as Raine, but the ugly expression on her face and eyes showed she had none of Raine’s gentleness of spirit.
“They wouldn’t have been out there at all if they hadn’t snuck out after Raine. Where’s she at? I bet she wasn’t taken. The big jinx always manages to come out smelling like a rose while everyone else has to deal with the consequences.”
Skars tightened his lips in disapproval. When he pinned her with his gaze, the woman took a step back to hide behind the male.
“Where is Raine?” Lucas gave the woman the same menacing glare when she went past him before swinging his gaze back to him.
“She is resting. You no longer need to be concerned about her welfare,” he bluntly told them. “She is my concern now. And know this, I will not have my bride disparaged within my hearing again.”
Turning slightly to his left, he rose a questioning brow at Reva, silently asking her the question he wanted answered before he said anything further to the humans.
Slowly shaking her head, she told him there were no tru-mates among them.
From the sudden slumping of the shoulders of his clan members, their disappointment placed a heavy load on his heart. He had hoped for the impossible for them, but he was resolute that he wouldn’t stop until every crevice and hiding place was discovered before he would give up hope for his clan’s happiness. For them to have the happiness they had on Raum, they needed a tru-mate.
“Did you say bride?” Lucas didn’t back off his questioning despite the decree Skars had just handed down.
“Oh my God, he sounds like a vampire claiming his bride,” a hysterical voice of condemnation came from behind Lucas’ back.
“You’re called Milly, aren’t you?” Skars asked.
“She told you about me, didn’t she? The jinx has tried to ruin my life since I met her—”
“Silence!” Skars shouted. The translation tool had implanted the term and definition into his brain.
Vikings were suspicious people. The other Vikings in the room had the same tool he had implanted. The jealous woman could become dangerous to Raine’s welfare if the Vikings gained this knowledge and became spooked.
“Raine chose me as her husband. She will tell you this when she wakes and after you all have been fed and rested. Make sure you give her thanks, because only for her are you under my chieftain’s protection. You will be treated as guests until we are able to find a safe place for you to live. Bjorn told me you have a wound on your back which needs treatment. My brother will send his healer to tend to you and the rest of you if you have a need. We are not normally so welcoming to our visitors; only your friendship with Raine allows the privileges I’m granting you. Those who aren’t willing to show the due respect for my bride, Bjorn will immediately escort you back to Earth where you were located.”