Bonded by Ria Candro Page B

“I…”
    “If Reyu hadn’t awoken, hadn’t noticed you missing, you’d be gone by now,” Petros growled.
    The emptiness, the anger, in Petros’ tone was her undoing.
    “It’s my cousin,” she cried out, unable to hold the truth back any longer. Her gaze met Neichon’s and his brows furrowed.
    “What of her?”
    “You don’t understand.” She hugged herself tighter, trying to dispel the cold that had sneaked into her chest. “My uncle made me promise to watch after her. I can’t rest until I find her.”
    Valeron made a pained sound and strode toward her and Neichon. “Mate, we will gladly help you find her. All you had to do was ask.”
    “No, it’s not just that.” When the men looked at her blankly, she lowered her head and confessed.
    “Cindra wasn’t just another Chivean. She was the daughter of King Joffer.”
    Stunned silence permeated the room. At last Neichon spoke. “Your cousin was the princess of Chivea? You are…royalty?”
    She nodded, gaze locked on her boots. “I promised my uncle I would never tell anyone. He wanted to keep us safe.”
    “Ah,” Neichon breathed. “That explains so much. Why the Malucons sent an entire ship of men after you.”
    “Yes,” she said brokenly. “You know how the Malucons operate. Their pride will make them stop at nothing to ensure that we’re wiped out, me and Cindra. Not only are we the only ones remaining of our kind, but we’re royalty to boot.”
    “Oh, my love.” Neichon pulled her into his embrace. She didn’t fight him, but didn’t respond either. Couldn’t. If she touched him again, she would never summon the strength to leave.
    “Now you know why I can’t stay,” she mumbled into his chest. “As long as I’m with you, you’ll never be safe.”
    And I could never bear it if you lost your lives because of me.
    Neichon’s hands closed over her shoulders, and he pulled her back to look her in the eye. “Inara, love, that is ridiculous.”
    She stared at him, confused. “What do you mean it’s ridiculous?”
    “Neichon’s right.” Valeron reached for her, his fingers caressing the side of her face and moving her head so she looked at him. “ Our safety is the last thing you should be worried about.”
    “But…the Malucons are strong. Powerful.”
    “And yet we beat them in hand-to-hand combat, with three-to-one odds,” Neichon said pointedly.
    Her mouth dropped open as she absorbed his words. She hadn’t thought of it like that. “You’re right.”
    “Of course I am.” Neichon shook his head. “Why do you think us so weak?”
    “Neichon has a point,” Reyu said, right beside her. “The Malucons are no match for us, especially now that we’ve mated and gained the vitality that is our birthright.”
    “And you’ve only met the four of us,” Petros said, stepping next to Neichon. “Once we return to Spygia, we’ll have the protection of all our people. Of our families.”
    Hell, maybe they were right. She hadn’t considered the fact that her Spygians had stood up to the Malucons and gotten the upper hand. Of course, that didn’t eliminate the element of risk. But maybe, just maybe, they could handle it.
    “I confess I would like to see Spygia,” she said, moving her gaze to each of the men. “But I cannot do that until I find my cousin. I made a vow to my uncle, and I intend to keep it.”
    Valeron’s eyes burned with emotion and Neichon’s lips curved into a grin.
    “And that is one of the things we love about you, Inara,” Neichon said. “Your bravery knows no bounds.”
    “So…what are you saying?” she asked.
    Reyu chuckled, and Neichon clarified.
    “I’m saying you are not alone, love. We will find your cousin. Together.”
    A little ribbon of hope fluttered in her chest. “Together?”
    “Together,” the four men repeated in unison.
    Well, when they put it that way…five heads certainly seemed better than one. Neichon was right, they were strong. Strong enough to defeat a group of