She hesitates, torn. I remember the conversation I had back with Tok and Bakog. She should never have to choose between me and her father.
So, my eyes on him, I kiss her forehead, unclasp her hands from me, and push her away. She stands a foot away from the cage, forlorn and sad, and I nearly weaken.
For the first time in my life, I’m weak. I almost reach for her, but her father steps forward and somehow she’s in his arms.
His gaze clashes with mine when he says, “For us, Varguk isn’t on trial for kidnapping you, no matter what his fool family says. Varguk is here because harm came to you, even when you say you were saved by him. You should not have been taken in the first place.”
My head hangs low. He’s right. I did not keep her safe.
The sound of her tears breaks my heart. I can’t comfort her, but she has her father.
“I thought you didn’t want a smelly ole brute, anyway, Negan of my loins.”
“His smell may be ripe, Daddy, but I love him,” she sobs into his chest.
I scowl and avoid sniffing myself. Of course, I’m ripe. I’m a prisoner of their clan.
“You got his scent all over my favorite fur cape,” her father says, utter disgust in his voice. He unfastens the button at her throat and takes off the heavy fur she wears, then lets it drop behind her, and kicks it toward my cage like it’s trash.
I’m about to snarl that she’ll freeze to death when he opens his own fur and wraps his daughter in it.
“Are those my weapons you were running away with?” he chides.
“Y-yours? You’re staying in Hisa and Shally’s tent? I thought they were the ones Shally left behind.”
“Nay,” he chuckles. “See how distracted you are? How tired? Didn’t even recognize your own father’s belongings? Come, let me take you back to bed. Everything will look brighter in the morn.”
His arm locked around her shoulders keeps her from looking back at me. And I know him being in her tent will keep her from trying to get away again.
He never notices the heavy fur he disdainfully tossed to the ground within my reach, but it will keep me warm through the night.
Chapter Sixteen
Varguk:
THE ENTIRE VILLAGE sits around the center of a platform when my cage is brought out, carried by two males with a pole between them like I’m an animal.
King Brachard stands in the middle. Off to the side is his personal guard. Next to him is Negan’s father, who is surrounded by his own Blackheart males.
And further down… my father and his protective guard along with our Clan-King Agor.
Quickly I scan the crowd to find Negan but I don’t see her anywhere.
The entire group is dead quiet until a booming voice rings out. “Varguk of the Southpeaks—King Vronas’s line, correct?” King Brachard asks.
I nod once.
“You were supposed to protect Negan. You swore your life for hers. Yet she went missing while under your care. Now your life belongs to me. What do you have to say?”
“I do not deny this.”
Negan’s voice rings out. “He’s my guard. He protected me and got me out from the Southpeak mating hut before I could be hurt.” She steps up toward the front, surrounded by her friends, Shalia and Hisa.
“’Tis no secret you are an innocent, Negan. Protected and revered by two powerful clans.” Her father scowls. “Are you still untouched and unmated?”
“Nay, Daddy.”
The village breaks out in rapid whispers, assuming it wasn’t willing, probably, considering she’s too good for a male like me.
