Trusted Bond

everyone in the room. Only Domin and
    Koren weren‘t looking at me.
    ―I mean no disrespect, my reah,‖ Logan and Koren‘s father began,
    ―but he—‖
    ―No.‖ I shook my head before I turned to lock my gaze with his. ―To
    be named mate of the maahes of any tribe is a great honor. But to be
    named mate of a maahes who serves a semel-re is a gift.‖
    ―But surely—‖
    ―I know firsthand that not all tribes are like mine,‖ I told him, ―like
    ours. But as the reah of my tribe, I promise you that should your son
    choose to be the mate of the maahes that it would be a great honor and no
    cause for anything but joy when that announcement is made.‖
    The older man searched my eyes, and after long minutes he looked
    away, unable to hold my gaze. ―As you say.‖
    ―You doubt it?‖ My voice rose because it felt like he was
    challenging me, and I couldn‘t have that from anyone.
    ―No.‖ He shook his head, looking back at me, his expression
    softening. ―I simply deal with change slower than you, my reah.‖
    I nodded, allowing him to think he had placated me, my eyes
    flicking back to Koren, who was smiling at Domin in a way that left no
    doubt about what was between them.
    Seeing Domin‘s trembling reaction, watching Koren straighten to his
    full height as Domin‘s head sank sideways onto his shoulder, I caught my
    breath.
    Logan coughed, and I looked over at him, finding his discomfort
    over watching his younger brother finally give in to his desire for the man
    he loved absolutely endearing.
    ―Yes?‖ Domin asked him, finally turning to face Logan, his arm
    sliding around Koren‘s neck, tugging him close. They were so close in
    height, the two men, Koren only slightly taller, six-three to Domin‘s six-
    two. It was nice that they could take turns leaning, one strong when the
    other was weak.
    ―When is Christophe leaving for the feast?‖
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    Mary Calmes

    ―He‘s leaving tonight; he just had to wait for Evan to get back from
    visiting his family in Oregon before they left.‖
    ―Of course he had to wait for Evan,‖ Yuri chimed in, seemingly
    completely unaffected by Domin and Koren‘s display of affection. ―No
    semel wants to be at the feast without his sylvan, someone who knows all
    the laws. There‘s no forgiveness of protocol in front of the semel-aten,
    Ammon El Masry, or the priest of Chae Rophon and the council of
    Ennead.‖
    Logan reached for me, taking my hand, curling his fingers into mine.
    ―No, there‘s not,‖ Mikhail agreed. ―And I heard that the priest,
    Hamid Shamon, is even harder on breaches of etiquette than his
    predecessor was.‖
    ―I heard that last year he had a yareah flogged,‖ Domin said softly.
    ―A yareah?‖ Logan asked, clutching my hand. ―Why not the semel?‖
    ―The semel did nothing to displease him.‖
    ―But the semel could have taken his mate‘s punishment.‖
    ―Only if the priest allows it,‖ Domin clarified, ―and he didn‘t.‖
    ―Holy shit.‖
    ―He‘s a true priest, Logan; he demands absolute devotion to the
    law.‖
    ―If that‘s true, then why in the world would Kellen take his men
    there? The priest will insist that he hand them over to me. That‘s the law.‖
    ―No,‖ I corrected him, ―the law would be a challenge in the pit in
    front of the priest, and he‘d choose what kind he‘d want.‖
    ―Explain that to me,‖ Logan said, looking down at me, his gold eyes
    absorbing my face.
    ―A challenge in front of the priest of Chae Rophon and the council of
    Ennead is not like a normal challenge in the pit. A challenge there could
    be one of strength but could just as easily be reciting laws or a test of
    speed or whatever the priest wants to see exhibited. Sometimes he‘ll
    punish or make odd requests, but usually it won‘t be something that‘ll kill
    you. He‘ll have to explain to the priest in word and deed why he did what
    he did, but with you he‘s dead. With the priest, it could be a lot of things
    but not normally death.‖
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    75

    ―I heard that once the priest made a semel and his yareah have sex
    right there in the pit in front of him to prove their desire for one another.‖
    Domin sighed, his eyes narrowing in half, the effect of having Koren close
    to him clearly overwhelming.
    ―That‘s profane; the man‘s just a voyeur.‖
    ―I‘m sure he had his reasons,‖ I told Logan, ―but the point is that if I
    were Christophe, I‘d take my chances with the priest