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
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