Page 40 of Own to Obey

But when she woke in the morning, he was gone.

CHAPTER NINE

KARDOS

The crowd hushed and parted as Kardos strode up the large steps that led to the temple of the high chief.

It seemed as though the entire Southern Isles had gathered outside, members from all eight tribes and numerous smaller clans.

Kardos hadn’t seen a crowd that big since the current high chief was appointed. He was aware that his achievement in bringing an Omega to the Isles had already reached the other islands, somehow the information had spread wildly as soon as his ship docked yesterday. Naturally, the Nyek people were proud and keen to boast of his achievements, but he didn't expect his meet with the high chief to turn into an event.

Almost everyone wore their tribal colors, suggesting that they all thought whatever was discussed in the temple would be Southern Isles business and that there would be an announcement afterward. Tribe Nyek were, of course, the loudest in the crowd, calling out and declaring him superior to all, but Kardos kept his gaze on the building at the top of the steps, his mind focused on the task ahead.

The underhanded tactics of the other shinnos had already started since he arrived back. He was infuriated that he’d been ambushed on his own island while with his Omega. He should have been able to show her the beauty of his island. Instead the incident reminded him that she was vulnerable. He’d reiterated to his guards that no one other than members of his own tribe approached his property and no one was to go to the house unless it was the Omega’s handmaid.

He redressed his thoughts back. He had to stop thinking of her as his Omega. She was not his, no matter how much it felt that way. He understood now why Alphas fought over Omegas, why Omegas could end up being so dangerous if they were not partnered correctly. Shaya brought out instincts and urges he’d never experienced before; it was as though everything within him that made him an Alpha came to the surface and she took pleasure in it. She made him feel like he was everything to her. And she did it without words, without even trying; it was simply naturally within her to touch him the way she did, to look at him the way she did, to encourage his deepest, purest, roughest attentions on her and she reveled in it. He connected with her deeper than anything or anyone he’d experienced before. He wasn't even sure how he could even go back to sex with anyone else. And the thought of giving her up…

He clenched his fists as he pushed the thought from his mind. The fact was, he had obtained her for a reason, and that reason still remained highly important. He had to keep his mind focused on that, because now that the knowledge of her had spread beyond his control, he couldn't turn back, even if he wanted to.

As he reached the top of the stairs, one of the temple’s attendants welcomed him and led him through the dark passageways to the large temple hall.

As Kardos suspected, the other seven shinnos were in attendance, standing in a semi-circle around the hall facing the high chief’s throne which was situated on top of a square platform with a dozen steps leading to its peak. The high chief was dress richly in his red and gold ceremonial robes and a headdress, while the other shinnos were dressed in their representative tribal colors, just like the crowd outside. It seemed they were all waiting for Kardos to arrive, even though he hadn’t been told this was a shinnos’ summoning. He was glad he decided to wear his own official tribal clothing, complete with armor.

Instead of walking to his place in the semi-circle, Kardos strode to the middle of the room. “Greetings, High Chief. I request a choosing.”

The other shinnos bristled, some even daring to mutter.

“Kardos.” The high chief’s deep voice filled the expansive hall. He leaned forward, a half-smile on his face. “You have returned.”

Kardos said nothing, keeping his eyes locked on to his father's. They didn't actually look much alike, apart from their general bone structure, and the shape of their bodies. The high chief had dark hair, dark eyes, and the tanned skin that most others in the Isles had. Kardos apparently looked like his mother, but he had never met her, and had only been told about her through stories from his father and Rozalia.

But since his father had become high chief, things had changed. A high chief had different responsibilities than a tribe leader, and there was only so much he could continue to be a true father to Kardos.

“When do you ask for this choosing to take place?” the high chief asked.

“Immediately.”

“And your reasoning?”

“I assume you know, since all the shinnos have been summoned without my knowledge.”

The other shinnos did indeed mutter after that but when the high chief leaned forward in his chair, they fell silent. “Your reasoning,” he repeated.

“I have an Omega.”

The hall fell silent.

The high chief braced his elbows on his knees, his hands clasped as he studied his son. “You never fail to surprise me, Kardos,” he said, a somewhat amused tone in his voice. He shook his head and smiled, leaning back in his chair. “Tell me how you managed to get her.”

“I negotiated for her,” Kardos said.

“From where?”

“The Western Lands”

The high chief inclined his head. “She is not bonded or betrothed?”

“No.”

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