Page 51 of Chained

“Cirmos females fight while they’re with young. And Cirmos have six or more young at a time, Gryn,” she says.

Retah and Maxym look at her, eyes wide. What fires down the thoughtbond at me via Maxym is undeniable confusion and also…curiosity.

“Cirmos fight?” Maxym says, unwisely.

Tibi unsheathes her claws.

“We fight,” she says, her voice barely audible. “We have always fought because there are plenty who seek to enslave us.”

Maxym sits back. “Forgive me, mistress,” he says. “I am no stranger to slavery.”

I slip my hand into the base of his wings, seeking to diffuse the situation, although the rumble of pleasure I get from him is something which echoes in my brain and hits parts of me which are not going to help in this particular fight.

“I don’t want to leave. I don’t want to be without you. I know weapons. Even if I’m not in the thick of it, I can still be of use,” I say.

I do my best to push how I will feel if I can’t see him down the thoughtbond. How my heart will echo with emptiness, how it will feel like I’ve been placed in a vice, never knowing from day to day if he is alive or dead, and my life being a half life. Being no life.

“I know what you’re doing,” Maxym rumbles. “I don’t want you in danger.”

I see the chink in his armor, and I push. “How can I be in danger if I have you to protect me?”

“We all need something to fight for,” Retah says, briefly glancing at me. “Cleo will always be safe, I will see to it. But I also agree we need her. She is the only one with the knowledge of allthis.” He extends his arm and sweeps it around at the basement. “And I’m not as injured as I look,” he adds.

Maxym growls under his breath. “I have your bond she will be safe?”

“I’m right here, you know.” I poke him in his side. “I promise I will keep myself safe. I’ve managed okay so far.”

He turns to me. “You shouldn’t have had to, and I am here to protect you now.”

“I appreciate it.” I take his hand. “I do, really, but don’t send me away.”

His dark eyes reflect the lights in the room as they study my face. I hope he’s thinking of the time I pulled a sword on him. I’m hoping he’s remembering how well I handled those weapons. I want him to let me stay so very much.

Maxym grimaces as the thoughts enter his head. “I don’t want to agree, but how can I deny you anything?”

“You can’t,” Tibi says. “She is your mate. That’s how it works, Gryn.”

I do my level best not to laugh, fail, and I know Maxym is not amused in the slightest.

“And as for you, little one, you have young to consider, which means you also need to keep yourself safe,” Tibi admonishes me.

I now have to appear contrite, but I think Maxym got the worst of it, so I simply put my best innocent look on my face.

Nothing fools Tibi, who huffs at me.

“So, if I’m fighting, who’s with me, save for you, old warrior,” Maxym growls.

“I’m in touch with the resistance here on Trefa. They’re putting together a force,” Retah says.

Maxym snarls. “The resistance is as self-serving as the council. I would not trust them with my mate’s life or yours.”

“Then you’ll be pleased to know I’m also in contact with a force off Trefa who have agreed to help us, youngling,” Retah says, teeth gritted.

“Who?”

“Not important, but what is important is they’ll be here in a nova-day, and we need to prepare for them.”

“In what way?”

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