Read Honor Bound for Free Online Page B

and woman?”
    Another sharp nod
was all she managed. He cursed and moved too fast for her to anticipate. The
Warlord pinned an arm across her chest and raised his dagger to her throat. “I
owe you thanks for my life but if you lie, I will slay you where you stand,
Raasa”
    Fear danced
through her. The pressure of his blade made it difficult to swallow. With a
shaky breath, she spit out, “Mikayla S’Apul. My name is Mikayla S’Apul.” She
wouldn’t accept the continued insult of referring to her by her race. If he
killed her, he would know her name.
    He eased his hold
marginally and Miki breathed deep. His masculine scent filled her nostrils but
did not stop the racing of her pulse. “Will I die from the venom you placed in
my mouth?”
    Miki couldn’t help
but to blush. She hadn’t considered how an outsider would view her actions.
“No. It’s different,” she explained.
    Pulling her away
from the wall, he eased behind Miki, the blade never wavering. Her back met his
chest as he lowered his head along side hers to speak. A muscled arm clamped
around her waist and warm breath stroked her ear. “I know of the Raasa means of
defense and I would have you vow that you have not poisoned my men or I.”
    “I vow that I have
not,” she hissed, suddenly angry at his accusations. “I seek to save you in
exchange for your help.” She struggled in his grip but his hold held firm and
the blade bit deeper into her flesh. Miki froze. Would he actually kill her?
     “Tell me this
bargain you seek and I will decide if we accept.”
    The others did
nothing to aid her. In fact, the one she was beginning to hate intensely
smirked at her.
    “I need a mate.”
No response, not even a betraying twitch. He knew . They’d already told
him of her desire. This was a game. A cruel game. She bit her lip to control
her wayward tongue. Anger would solve nothing at this point. Putting pride to
the side, Miki repeated her bargain. “In exchange for saving your lives, I seek
a True Union to help me and my house defend ourselves against Thenl.”
    “You have refused
the others.” He ran the blade from her neck to her shoulder and back again. It
wasn’t a question.
    “The others would
not have me and I would not have the Overlord,” she corrected.
    His entire frame
stiffened. “You would refuse the leader of the Warlords you see before you?
Why?”
    Uncaring of how he
reacted, she flung her hand towards the smirking figure. “He is hapfe dung and
hates me. My youngling will know love and honor from their father.”
    He pulled the
blade away from her completely and loosened his hold around her waist. His next
words were again in Kaban and directed toward the others. Her tormenter
responded in kind, not glancing her way but she knew he spoke of her. A few of
the Warlords joined in. For her defense or to add their own interpretation
against her? Her hands clenched at her side.
    “Be at ease.” The
husky command distracted her.
    Miki tried to tilt
her head to the side to catch his expression, but he merely lifted her until
her feet scrambled for purchase. Her hands came up to push against his arm but
it was like attempting to move steel.
    “You chose me?”
    Miki wanted to
deny it. Her decision based on his appearance seemed embarrassing now. She
slumped in his arms. It was all for nothing. Her noan would be disappointed
that they would have to come up with a new plan. “I can see you don’t want me
anymore than your men. I will find another way. I am willing to enter a True
Union without love in hopes of respect and affection developing, but I will not
tie myself to one who believes my people are distasteful as your eyes reveal.
Some things should not be dishonored and a mating is one of them.”
    The grip at her
waist loosened and Miki took it as an opportunity to turn. His eyebrows rose
quizzically. The arches of dark hair added to his intimidating expression and
Miki questioned their actual purpose. Raasa had no such hair on