Page 42 of Own To Obsess

Shaya pressured her lips together. “I don’t want to know any more about these Lands,” she said firmly. “I’ve tried my hardest to be what you want, Kardos. I cannot do it without my sister.” Tears fell from her eyes as her voice broke. “She was still with me everyday when I had my hair. It was something she had touched, something she had cared for. She took pride and delight in it every day. And now it’s gone.” She turned her tear-filled eyes to him and something in his chest was crushed when he saw the accusation and hurt that filled them. “It was the only thing I could bring with me. And it was taken by force by your people, just like you have taken everything else.”

Kardos battled with the raw emotions that thrashed in his chest at her words; unpleasant emotions that he wasn’t used to. “The debate in the room at the time was contentious and you agreed to come,” he growled defensively. “I wanted to you on my ship immediately. If you wanted your things you could have asked.”

But even as he said it, he knew he wouldn’t have risked letting her return to her own home, just like he knew she wouldn’t have asked for her things. Because his Shaya wasn’t the type to demand anything. Even now, every word she was saying was because she was distressed. She never would have said anything like this normally, and he was beginning to realize that he may have overlooked her needs because she wasn’t like most of the tribeswomen in Nyek who were more vocal.

“I hate that I’m here.” Her voice was low and dejected, her face turned away from him.

Kardos held her tight, another burst of anger threatening that she had once again used that word, but he had to accept that she had legitimate reasons. She was attacked by his people, and of all the time she spent learning about the Southern Isles, she hadn’t really experienced it—this was her first real experience of its people. He’d been busy trying to get her to understand the rules and how to behave, but not the true reason why the rules had to be upheld or the beauty of the Southern Isles.

He made a firm decision that things between them had to change. Even if she truly hated him and the Isles, her education wasn’t complete, and he was the one responsible.

***

“Someone cut her hair?” Rozalia said, her face contorted with disbelief. “Completely cut it off?” She shook her head. “That's impossible. No one would do that.”

“And yet it is gone,” Kardos growled. “She also has bruises, but I'm not sure if they were from blows or from being held down.”

Rozalia opened her mouth and it remained open a long moment before anything came out. “I truly cannot believe that anyone from Tribe Nyek would do this,” she said finally. She shot Kardos a look. “Are you sure it's not one of the other tribes to who managed to get onto the island? You know that's happened before.”

Kardos turned to Zolt. He was the one who would know the mood of the tribes and the possibility of something like this happening.

Zolt inclined his head.“The other shinnos have been known to send people to our island before for scouting purposes, but since the concern you raised when we returned from the Western Lands, security has been strong. I very much doubt that this was by any of them.”

Kardos nodded in agreement. “The high chief explicitly told them all that any underhandedness would disqualify them from selection, but also I cannot believe this cohort of shinnos would do anything so bold; they are cowards at heart.”

“Then what are we saying? That is was aTribe Nyekmember?” Rozalia asked, alarmed. “We’re talking about our own people. People that we have trusted, who we are supposed to trust. If it was someone in Tribe Nyek that breaks everything this tribe stands for.”

Kardos growled. “I cannot try to explain the actions of anyone involved in this, and I do not want to.” He shot Zolt a fierce look. “I just want them caught.”

“I understand, my shinno” Zolt said. “Your Omega’s carriage was found halfway between Rozalia's hut and here. She was intercepted at a point on the journey where the sight line from the mountains was interrupted by a number of hills. My guess is they were standing at specific vantage points as she approached them, and then disabled the guards on the outside of the carriage and the driver.”

“Disabled?” Rozalia said, her eyes widening. “What do you mean by that? Did they kill them?”

Zolt shook his head. “They shot them from a distance using spiked arrows that cause temporary paralysis but not death.”

“Only skilled archers could do that,” Kardos said thoughtfully.

“Exactly.” Zolt pulled out a map of Nyek Island. “My guess it is they stood here, here, and here.”

“But how they get from there to the carriage without Shaya being able to escape?” Kardos asked.

“I don't think the person who went into the carriage was one of the archers,” Zolt said. “I’d say they were waiting nearby. There is evidence the carriage rolled over a few times. I suspect it was hit with something just after the guards were shot. That could be how she sustained her bruises.”

“Could this have been some kind of ambush planned for someone else?” Rozalia asked, wringing her hands. “Perhaps maybe they thought it was you, my shinno.” She lifted her shoulders apologetically. “I know that is still not a pleasant thought, but at least that would make sense. I cannot imagine anyone preying on Shaya like this.”

“It is possible that they weren't intending to target the Omega,” Zolt admitted. “But considering what they did to her specifically… I think it is likely it was a planned attack.”

“And what is the mood of the Isles right now?” Kardos asked.

Zolt hesitated before answering, which was never a good sign. “There is a lot of confusion and noise about you and your Omega and Tribe Nyek at the moment, my shinno. There are many conflicting voices that have differing opinions.”

“Is there one that is loudest?”

“In the argument against you, it is said that you have simply gone insane for the Omega. That you had one taste and have been unable to stop yourself ever since. These voices are saying that it wouldn’t matter who the Omega was—that you would have gone crazy anyway, and it shows that you are unsuitable for any leadership position especially as a contender for the seat. The second argument is that since you are not a true Alpha, you have been exposed to a manipulative Omega—that she is truly in control—and that you never should have been allowed to seek one out.”

Kardos couldn't help but growl.

“In the counterargument, it is said that you have become a better Alpha since bringing an Omega back to the Isles, because you have reminded people of the power of the Alpha/Omega connection and you’re not shying away from it just to get the seat. Those people say you are fully embracing your nature and they think that your leadership over the Southern Lands would be a great advantage.”

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