Page 75 of Mastering their Maiden

How had their numbers doubled—tripled—in so short a time?

I followed my four men toward the square, taking note of Kavari soldiers dressed in leather armor, the chainmail underneath glinting in the sunlight. The leather was streaked with colors. Green and silver. Blue and white. But we passed by these groups and headed toward the market, directly toward a large man with brown hair, a few strands decorated with short braids. Beside him stood a Kavari man with light blond hair braided and pulled up into a ponytail that hung to his shoulders. Both men sported neat beards, and their tanned skin and bright gold-colored eyes matched those of my men.

But it was the third man that made me stop short while the others kept walking. Only Kaiden stayed. He kept his hand on my waist, moving closer at the exact moment my heart started pounding. The third man…

I knew him.

I knew that slightly smug expression. That cocky grin. That wild sandy-brown hair and those round amber eyes. He turned over his shoulder at the exact moment I stopped walking, and when his eyes met mine, his face broke out into a grin.

“Little Aria.”

I stopped breathing, and anger raced through me, giving my muscles strength. I launched myself forward, fists clenched and ready to smash his smug face.

“You!”

CHAPTER 30

Kaiden

I’d expected it. We all did. Even Lavan mentioned Aria would likely be furious to see him again.

But part of me hoped taking her this morning would soften that anger some. She was ours now, and her sister’s three masters were members of the same tribe. We were all on the same side.

But my girl was a warrior, and despite recent victories, I knew her battle wasn’t yet finished.

Aria shot forward, fists clenched, ready to pound Lavan into dust. Umber grabbed her slender waist when she got close and lifted her off her feet, holding her even while she snarled a series of vicious curses and clawed at his arms. Lavan still hadn’t turned toward her and regarded her with slight amusement over his shoulder. Beside him, Viggo and Quade widened their eyes.

“I take it this is Aria,” Quade noted, his tone light even when Aria turned her glare on him. “I can see the resemblance.”

“Is it the eyes or that feisty attitude?” Viggo asked, still smirking when Aria finally broke free of Umber’s grasp only to have Dex grab her next. He tried to calm her, crushing her back against his chest, but I knew there were only two things that had a chance of breaking the spell anger held over our girl.

And one of them was dozing in the sling Lavan had wrapped around his chest.

“Where is she?” Aria snarled, and I had to bite back the laugh bubbling in my throat when I saw Kaiden’s arms flexing to hold her back. “You fucking bastard, Lavan. Where. Is. She?”

Quade and Viggo widened their eyes again, but Lavan only laughed. “She is resting. Traveling three days by horseback isn’t easy for anyone, but it’s especially hard on a woman who delivered a baby barely a fortnight ago.”

He finally turned, allowing Aria to see the bundle in his arms.

Aria sucked in an audible breath and immediately stopped her thrashing, her body going so still it was a little unnerving. I moved to stand beside Dex, who released her, but kept his hands on her waist. Her eyes were so round and wide it looked painful, and her flushed face had gone pale.

Dex smoothed his hands up and down her arms and pressed a kiss to her cheek, but even that didn’t prompt a reaction. In fact, Aria didn’t move again until Lavan turned and raised his eyebrows, pulling the sling aside to show her the baby’s face.

Aria righted herself and let out a shaky breath, then held out her arms. “Give him to me.”

Lavan started to lift the baby out of the carrier, but Quade tensed, moving forward like he was going to stop him. His expression was tight, and he looked from the baby to Aria and swallowed heavily. “Perhaps we should be formally introduced before…”

Aria’s scowl was enough to wither a mountain, but she only looked at Quade long enough to quiet his protests before turning back to Lavan. “Give him to me.”

Lavan chuckled again, and though Quade still looked slightly wary—unnecessarily wary—he gently extracted the baby from the sling. Aria’s breath shuddered when she took hold of the baby, curling his tiny body into her arms. I watched her face, heat swirling in my chest when her expression filled with awe. A moment later, her eyebrows pinched, and she pressed her lips together in confusion. The two emotions flickered back and forth on her face, warring with each other as she gently stroked a hand over the boy’s hair. Her fingers were trembling, but her body was strong. Solid.

The rage hadn’t vanished, but it was tempered by the baby in her arms. None of her anger was meant for him. He was her blood. He was innocent in all this. And watching the way she held him now, I pitied any soul who might threaten that child harm. They’d have to contend with his mother, a tribe of warriors, and one aunt I knew would walk through fire if it meant saving him.

Lavan stood beside Aria, watching her stare at his child, amusement writ into his features. “I don’t know why you’re so eager to kill me, Aria. He’s the one who fathered the child.” Lavan gestured toward Quade, who scoffed and took a few steps closer, reaching out to stroke his son’s hair with a knuckle.

“He’s named after you. Aravan,” Quade added, and behind him, Viggo laughed.

“We teased Esme with a dozen other names, but she was adamant about this one.” He pursed his lips and walked forward, glancing at the four of us before turning his slightly stoic expression back to Aria. “We had planned on leaving Esme and Aravan with that man who lived outside the villages. We would have left a few guards with them to keep them safe, of course, but…”

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