Page 35 of Double Cut

“What do you mean?”

“We did not consider all that she has lost; we have focused only on what we have gained.”

“A mate,” Horas said. “Durja entrusted a mate to us, a mate who believes we have failed her.”

Slowly, Sarus said, “Perhaps, from her perspective, we have.” He took a breath, another, then added, “We must act against our instinct if we wish to gain her good opinion.”

Horas frowned and wondered if they truly needed the female’s good opinion. A twinge in his gut rebuked him, for a mate’s distress gave her males pain. He sighed, crest rising, and vowed, “I will do what is necessary to secure our mate’s pride and affection.”

He held out his hand. Sarus gripped his forearm and said, “As will I.”

“How do we do that?”

Sarus gave him a close-lipped smile, then said, “Perhaps we should ask her.”

“I will not permit her to endanger herself.”

“Neither will I,” Sarus agreed, his crest rising. “We will give her a long leash.”

Chapter11

“Oh,hellno.” Evangeline looked with dismay at what looked like nothing more than multicolored ribbons streaming from a central cord that tied around the neck. There were no undergarments. She felt like the small victory she’d achieved in the past few days, convincing the two big, stubborn, overbearing males that she could sit on a chair without falling off and feed herself without stabbing herself meant nothing. “I amnotwearing that. It’s indecent.”

Sarus and Horas exchanged glances. They had suspected their mate would object to the dress.

“If you want to go out, then this is appropriate,” Horas said.

“How isthatin any way appropriate?” she retorted. “I’d rather wear the chiton I’ve been wearing for the past three days.”

Sarus attempted to explain, something he was unaccustomed to doing, but his mate did not obey commands like his former subordinates. “Little flame, only the strongest warriors dare share their mates’ beauty with such attire. Their mates are proud to display themselves because they are secure in their males’ willingness and ability to protect them.”

“I amnotwearing that,” she declared, crossing her arms.

“Would you subject us, your mates, to disrespect?” Horas countered.

“Would you subjectmeto disrespect?” she retorted, her tone making the answer to her rhetorical question obvious: of course, they would. “I amnotwearingthat.”

“If we permit you to wear the other dress, then you will wear this,” Horas said, holding up a collar and attached leash.

Evangeline’s eyes widened with surprise, then narrowed with sheer fury. “Go to hell.”

She turned on her heel and left the bedroom.

Lowering the gown of ribbons, Horas turned to face the other male and murmured, “That did not go well.”

“I don’t think she understands we honor her,” Sarus said. He glanced over his shoulder to the sitting room where their mate cuddled with her cat and muttered dire imprecations into the small beast’s fur. He was becoming jealous of the animal.

“It has been three days,” Horas hissed through clenched jaws. “She has denied us forthree days.”

Neither honorable male considered forcing her compliance; they wanted her wet and willing. Sarus shook his head. “If we do not learn how to appease her, it will be longer.”

“I thought she would jump at the opportunity to go out.”

“She does want to go out, but …”

“I know it,” Horas said, his expression brightening. “She simply does not understand the danger. If we tell her—”

“Would she believe us?” Sarus interrupted.

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