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white stone. When he retracted his hand, blood trickled upon the grass below. Calm yourself, Cav . He took deep breaths, knowing Hailey would be frightened if she found him in such an agitated state. Isn’t that what he’d wanted though? For her to fear him, perhaps just a little, so she wouldn’t dare to disobey him, let alone betray him in the same way as Lishana.
    He closed his eyes and summoned guidance from the gods. Of course, the gods never answered, but he always felt better when he prayed. More at peace. He didn’t have any definitive answers by the time he opened his eyes, but he did feel a hundred times calmer.
    Maybe he should confess his deepest fear to Hailey. Maybe he should tell her of the hurt Lishana inflicted. He wanted to trust his new mate, gods knew he did.
    But first he had to find her.
    He wiped his bloody knuckles on his pants and set off down the street. Several passersby claimed to have seen her in the nearby market, so he headed in that direction. With her reddish hair, she would be difficult to miss.
    When he spotted her in the busy market, she was speaking excitedly to another human woman. As he approached, he overheard them describing to one another where they lived. He recognized the other human as belonging to Bricc, who was also a member of the Marrlxian Council. He’d seen the pair standing close by during the mass nuptial ceremony.
    The women hugged and then said goodbye, promising to visit with each other soon.
    Hailey turned and started to make her way out of the market. She kept her head lowered, not looking at anyone, save for the few human and Marrlxian women who were shopping in the market. He found it curious that she would take an illicit walk but still obey his command not to gaze upon Marrlxian males.
    He strode to her and blocked her path. She gulped and tried to move around him, still not glancing up.
    “Hailey, look at me.”
    Her head shot up and she stared at him with wide eyes. “Cav,” she said breathlessly.
    The urge to grab her shoulders and shake her was strong, but he kept his hands at his sides. He was angrier that she’d risked her life by climbing out the window than he was at her for taking a walk without permission. She’d receive a proper scolding once they returned home, in private, he decided.
    “Come,” he said sternly. “It is time for the midday meal.”
    “I…I thought you would be working all day. I meant to be back by the time you arrived home.” Her face grew red.
    “We will discuss your disobedience, Hailey, after the midday meal.”
    She swallowed hard and nodded, looking anxious. Around them, the market crowd thickened as workers from the fields poured in for a quick meal before returning to their jobs.
    Cav put a hand on the small of her back and guided her out of the throng. Once they reached a quiet street, she took a deep breath and looked up at him.
    “It’s n-not ri-rght. Locking me in the house. This city seems perfectly safe and there are plenty of other females, human and Marrlxian, walking around by themselves. I have no intention of seeking affection with another Marrlxian male, if that’s what you’re worried about. I appreciate that you think so little of me though,” she said bitterly.
    His anger crept back in the face of her defiance, and he gripped her arm as his house came into sight. “We will speak on this matter after the midday meal, Hailey. For now, I don’t want to hear another word.”

 
    Chapter Four
     
    Cav leveled a disapproving stare on Hailey from across the dining room table, but she refused to be intimidated, at least outwardly, by his growing irritation. With her chin lifted high, she glared at a random point on the wall behind him as she ate her lunch, which consisted of fresh fruits and vegetables arranged on a platter of warm, buttery rice.
    She pretended she didn’t care that he was upset with her, though deep down she was quivering. This was their first disagreement. Would he try to