“Since you are with the females, do you plan on staying? Apparently, the king isn’t worried about you leaving.”
She snorted. “This place is a damn maze. The king knows we couldn’t get out if we tried.”
“That was the plan when our home here was created.”
Her brows raised again. “To ensnare women?”
He frowned. “No, to keep the enemy out or intruders from getting away.” He glanced at the men at his table who had their heads down eating, unlike others in the room who talked and laughed. “Perhaps later, we can meet and”—strip our clothes off and have sex until we can’t see straight—“exchange information about our different cultures.”
He knew what he was asking was against the established rules, but he couldn’t help it. Lilah’s eyes narrowed at him. “Why are you being so nice to me? Your king was a chauvinistic asshat to us.”
Part of her last sentence didn’t make sense to him. He had never heard the words chauvinistic asshat, but they did not sound praising coming from her.
“The king is set in his ways. Many of us think differently.”
“Does the king know that? Y’all might get your heads chopped off.”
Her nonchalance about such a gruesome act had him taken aback. There had been those in the past who had done something horrific and were punished as so. Was her culture so cruel that such things were commonplace? No wonder she was so strong in her words and actions. She was a survivor. His regard for her rose.
A disturbance at the back of the room drew his attention. It seemed Silvo was causing problems again. If the man hadn’t been such a good warrior, he would have sent Silvo to the town to work security for someone.
“Who is that?” she asked. “I don’t like him by his looks alone. His attitude is similar to the kings. Is that his son by chance?”
Ferrus chuckled, keeping an eye on his second-in-command. “He certainly fits the part.”
The soldier stood and yelled at a female holding a water jug.
“Why did you spill water on me?” When the female didn’t answer, he yelled, “Answer me.”
“I-I am—” Before she could get any more words out, he backhanded her, knocking her to the floor.
“Females are not allowed to talk to males. You should be thrown in the dungeon.”
Lilah set the water jug on the table with a thump. “Oh, fuck, no. That ain’t flying with me.”
Before Ferrus could reprimand the female server, his mate was swinging into action.
“Hey, douchebag!” she shouted at Silvo while she stomped toward the female on the floor, “that’s entrapment, and no jury would convict her. You, on the other hand, are guilty of assault and battery. I can put your ass in jail for a year.”
The warrior’s face turned redder. “You are not to speak to me. I am—”
“An idiot. Thanks for letting everyone else know too.” While his mate helped up the female, Ferrus carefully watched his warrior. If the soldier made any threatening move toward his mate, he would take the man’s balls personally. Even though the laws were against her, Ferrus didn’t care.
Little Lilah picked up the container of water the other female had and snatched Silvo’s cup from the table. Not taking her eyes from him, she filled it then slammed it on the table, saying, “The next time you create a scene to have a reason to be an ass, pick on someone your own size. Hopefully, they will do to you what you did to her.” She set the water jug on the table next to him. “If you want any more, pour it yourself.”
Silvo opened his mouth, but his mate had spun on her heel and was walking out. “Daphne,” she said, looking around, “let’s get the hell out of here. I’ve had enough of this male domination BS. We got important shit to do.” The other female who arrived with her ran after her.
The room erupted into murmurs as they stomped into the hallway. Dragon balls! What was he supposed to do? He didn’t care what the rules were dictating a situation as odd as this. He was not letting her out of his sight. He would not let her walk out of his life even if he couldn’t have her.
He left the room, trailing them from a distance. They passed the food prep room and continued down the long tunnel toward the cavern. The entire time his female went on and on about men and one thing or another. He had no idea there were so many things wrong with their gender.
“Lilah,” her friend asked, “do you know where you’re going?”
“We went straight to the kitchen from the king’s room. So, we just go past there, and the big middle section should be nearby. From there, we can get to Wren and Zee and get the fuck out of this fresh hell.”
When the two turned the wrong way for the main cavern, he wondered if he should stop them. The tunnel they took led down to the mines. He needed to speak with the smith about stronger swords, so he might as well take care of that now. Yes, his dragon liked that idea. Maybe Ferrus could impress her with how strong and well-armed they were as an army. He would be able to always keep her safe.
He stayed back from the two, but his dragon’s hearing picked up their conversation. Daphne had asked why she was so angry. His mate told her how the females were forced to wear something called “sheets” due to the men not being able to “keep it in their pants.”
He glanced down at his clothing, which consisted of close-fitting bottoms that kept the delicate items safely tucked up. Other than that, there wasn’t much to get in the way of training and fighting. His body was mostly exposed, which the women were not allowed to do.
Seeing it in that perspective, it didn’t seem right that females had to cover themselves and the men did not. When he was very young, he remembered the women wearing different clothing that showed their arms and legs. He couldn’t remember exactly when that changed.
The air became heavier with dust particles. They were getting closer to the mines. He had almost caught up with the females and needed to slow down.
Suddenly, the girls faced him as if deciding to walk back up. They both screamed when seeing him. He threw his hands up in front of him. “Sorry, females,” he said.
His mate’s eyes widened as she stared at him.
The other female asked, “Were you following us? Who are you?”
He couldn’t help the smirk on his lips at the beautiful female’s fixation on him. Yes, she was affected by him as he was by her.
“I am going to the smith’s cave to speak with him. I do not know where you are going.”
Daphne continued to speak since Lilah said nothing. “We made a wrong turn somewhere and are going back.”
“I would be more than glad to escort you to where you want to go.” His eyes never left his mate’s.
“Oh,” the tall female looked at his mate still staring at him. “Uh, we don’t want to keep you from whatever you’re doing.”
He smiled his best smile and stepped toward Lilah. “You won’t be.” He gestured with his arm for them to continue down with him, laying his hand on the small of his mate’s back. “I will show you the most impressive weapons cave you have ever seen.”
Tingles raced through his body on contact with her. He couldn’t tell her reaction since it was hidden by the extra clothing. He wanted so much to touch her skin, feel its softness, silkiness. Maybe they could find a corner where they could “meet” each other.