Her body was taut as wire, and her hand trembled under his touch. Perhaps the strain of the day was getting to her.
Despite his savage wrath toward her, she did not deserve public humiliation.
As Zolan’s gaze lingered on his bride, dark emotion flickered in his eyes before he sliced them back to Mak.
His face twisted with bitterness, a rancor that Mak recognized all too well.
He leaned in, his voice dipped for Zolan and him alone. ‘Touch her one more time, come close to her, dare even to breathe the same air she does, and you will die, Asivan.’
Zolan jolted and glared at Mak. ‘Will I now?’ he whispered.
‘Stay back, Asivan.’
‘Or what?’ his cousin hissed.
A wild tear went through Mak, a truefokk-itmoment.
An irrational need to inflict pain hit him, and he jerked his chin in a challenge, welcoming the fact that Zolan had provided him with a chance to channel his anger.
He tilted his head and smirked. ‘Or this.’
He straightened up and called out so that the entire assembly might hear. ‘My kinsman Zolan Asivan believes we’ve lost some of our old ways and has reminded me it is long since the Sauvage War Dances were performed at such ceremonies. He suggests that we revive the tradition, and I, for one, concur.’
A gasp went through the wedding hall.
The woman beside him took an inhale, her body locking.
Zolan blanched.
Mak narrowed his eyes, lifted a brow, and smirked, baring his gleaming incisors. ‘So with no further delay, the Sauvage Kin challenges the Asivan Clan to the First Blood Dance.’
Chapter 7
MAK
Every great clan, community, and even civilization had a war dance, set to music, drumbeats, and syncopated cries designed to intimidate the enemy.
Mak’s clan did, too, in the Akkadian tradition.
Their battle dances were graphic and brutal, precisely what his wounded, angered spirit needed right now to purge itself.
He gestured to his Signet brothers, and they stepped back, Xander lifting his hands in surrender.
This was blood business, not for the Signet pack.
Mak turned to Kaal and his Sauvage family sentinels.
To Kelam, his deputy of security, who also captained the Sauvage’s ark ship, theSauXthos.
Also prowling to join in were two of the family’s most experienced enforcers, Asa and Koda, who were acting as his sentries during the ceremony.
With a nod, they shed their cloaks,safins, and tunics, revealing their chests, tense muscles, and the glowing gold and amethyst tattoos that adorned them.
The strong guard stepped forward to take the clothes from them as Mak loosened his arms and rolled his neck, readying for battle.
He spotted his bride standing offside, eyes on him. Her eyes glittered with curiosity, her mouth parted.
Saba’s gaze raked his body, from his jacked chest to his thighs encased in tight, dark slacks.
