Into the Ashes [The Arcadians 2] by Laurie Roma

calories.” Raven opened the
    pathway in her mind to both Kadan
    and Savitar. “I don’t like them.”
    “Neither do we,” Kadan responded
    back.
    She smiled back at him.
    “What are calories?” Nyla asked,
    her voice shaking with fear. At the
    first growl she had curled into Kell’s
    lap,
    shying
    away
    from
    the
    confrontation. Kell rubbed her back
    soothing her as she was obviously
    shaken up by the aggressive display.
    Raven smiled at the other woman
    trying to put her at ease. “Calories
    are things that you get from food that
    help give you energy. I tend to stay
    pretty active in my job so I usually
    have to eat a lot.”
    “What did your mate do on her
    home world, King Savitar?” Damos
    asked.
    What the hell? Why was he asking
    Savitar when she was sitting right
    there? Raven frowned at him and
    answered before Savitar could say
    anything. “I’m a cop back home.”
    “Your home is here now ,” Savitar
    reminded her quietly.
    Raven struggled for patience. “I
    know that. I’m just irritated he
    didn’t ask me directly. Why is he
    acting like I’m not here?”
    “What is a cop?” Damos asked
    Kadan, making Raven grit her teeth
    together in irritation.
    “Have I suddenly become invisible
    or something? If you want to know
    something ask me,” Raven snapped.
    The others at the table gasped,
    increasing Raven’s irritation. Clearly
    she had screwed up again, but she
    didn’t know how.
    “They mean you no disrespect, my
    love. It is customary that males do
    not speak directly to a mated female.
    It is a show of respect,” Savitar
    explained as he squeezed her hand.
    Not for the female it wasn’t, Raven
    thought bitterly. This was just another
    fucked up difference that was simply
    ridiculous. Like the damn stripper
    dresses and being fed like a pet. She
    held back a curse as Savitar and
    Kadan both stiffened at her sides.
    Damn, she’d forgotten the connection
    between them was open.
    “It is our way,” Kadan said. Raven
    could hear the hurt in his tone that he
    tried to hide, but before she could say
    anything he turned to his friend. “Ask
    her directly, Damos,” he ordered
    softly. Damos’ eyes went wide as he
    turned to Raven and gulped.
    She sighed. Okay, so now Kadan
    was hurt and Damos was too freaked
    out to speak directly to her. But she
    was hurt, too. Why were there all
    these rules that made it seem like
    women were treated like they had no
    brain? It was time to clear a few
    things up. “Listen, I understand you
    guys might do things differently here,
    but where I’m from it is rude not to
    speak directly to the person you are
    asking a question about if they are
    right in front of you. Male or female.”
    “Perhaps you need to be reminded
    you are no longer on your home
    world,” Selina said with a sweet
    smile.
    Oh boy, did Raven want to punch
    that woman in the face. It was a
    struggle to hold back, but somehow
    she managed. “I don’t think I can
    forget that. The thing is I can speak
    for myself, just like you seem to be
    able to. The only difference is I’m
    capable no matter who is talking to
    me, male or female.” Raven was
    satisfied when she saw the blush
    staining Selina’s cheeks at the veiled
    reprimand.
    Good. Maybe that would shut the
    bitch up.
    “I meant no disrespect, my queen,”
    Damos said quickly.
    Raven smiled at him. “No problem.
    You didn’t know.”
    She could feel Savitar and Kadan’s
    irritation over her smiling at Damos
    and quirked a brow at them both in
    turn. “For the love of…seriously?
    You guys have that stupid rule
    because you’re jealous? I don’t
    even know this guy and certainly
    don’t want him. He’s mated to your
    cousin!”
    “We know that,” Savitar replied
    with a sigh. “But we still don’t like
    him speaking to you.”
    “Deal with it.” This whole meal
    had been uncomfortable and it was
    very clear she wasn’t what the
    people at the table expected from
    their queen. She made sure both
    Savitar and