Page 45 of Protected By the Convicts
Chapter Ten
KY’LI
“We could have done this ceremony back at the house,” Ren complained as they hiked up the north face of the mountain. “Did you even consult the topography maps I sent to you before choosing this route? This side of the mountain gets the least amount of sun this time of year. The rains alone often cause mud-slides.”
Ky’Li ignored the engineer. He had reviewed the maps and knew exactly what he was doing. The hike was designed to challenge the men. If they intended to be Ky’Li’s brothers, then they needed to prove their mettle as well as their physical prowess.
The men were struggling, but other than Ren, no one complained. Despite the engineer’s complaints, he hadn’t shown any sign of weakness or desire to walk away. Ren had a determination to him, though Ky’Li suspected that had more to do with Hannah, who trudged alongside the group.
Mud had crept half-way up her calves, pulling her down with each step, and yet she persevered. She was determined to witness this bonding ceremony.
While witnesses were allowed, Ky’Li hated that he hadn’t taken her shorter stature into consideration when picking the location. He’d envisioned only the men going, temporarily forgetting they could not leave her behind alone in the house, even with the electrified fence. She was a target. . . His sha’vi would always be a target on Narkos, which emphasized the need for this ceremony all the more. Ky’Li needed to have brothers, men he could rely on to protect her in his absence.
Ky’Li offered his hand to Hannah to help her up the muddy trail. Despite her lack of complaint and her willingness to accompany them, her mood appeared rather sullen.
“Are you okay, sha’vi?”
“She’s fine,” Sersie snapped.
“You speak for her now?”
“When she doesn’t want to be badgered with questions, yes.”
Badgered with questions?And that was Sersie mouthing off to him, not Ren? Perhaps this ceremony was more necessary than Ky’Li had realized. This growing discord in the group would weaken them.
“I’m not badgering her, young one.”
“Young one?” Sersie asked.
“When you speak as a petulant child, then you will be referred to as one.”
Hannah placed a hand on his lips. “I’m fine, pa’vi.”
And still, she called him pa’vi. She didn’t understand its significance.
“Please don’t get into a fight with Sersie.”
“My apologies, sha’vi. The vanubian fly has been amicable of late. It’s having an unwanted effect on me.”
“I’m not a vanubian fly!” Ren shouted.
Ky’Li winked at Hannah. A glorious smile spread across her lips. That’s what he had hoped to see. His female was smiling again.
“Where are we going anyway?” Vaughn asked.
“The ceremony must be outdoors where the men can bathe in at least one of the elements. The more elements the better.”
“Which elements?” Sersie asked, sounding more like himself than Ren now. “I mean we’re not talking combining water with sulfur trioxide to make sulfuric acid, I hope.”
“His intent is to bond you four, not melt your flesh away,” Hannah said, rolling her eyes. “For someone so smart, Sersie, I swear sometimes you don’t use your head.”
“Easy for you to say. You’re not putting your life in his hands.”
“I do that every day on this damn planet, don’t I? With all of you. Because we only have each other. No one else to turn to. No one else who gives a damn what happens.”
The group fell silent. Ren traded glances with Sersie and Vaughn. The engineer nodded toward Hannah, asking Ky’Li what was wrong.
Ky’Li shrugged. He didn’t know, but he wished he did. Perhaps she was simply nervous about the ceremony. He’d intentionally kept the details from her, and his sha’vi truly did worry about her men, all of them.
