Taken (Calliston Series - Book 1) by Erica Conroy Page A

S'rea had mentioned.
    An awful thought hit Viktor. What if they were expected to stand here and watch them mate? If that were the case, would he have been expected to watch S'rea mate with the government representative when they had first arrived? If she had accepted him, that was. That thought disturbed him more.
    Something in his features must have given his thoughts away, because the next thing Viktor knew he was being glared at by the very females who had been shunning him earlier.
    "U-man," S'rea hissed. "We leave now."
    "Oh, good," he muttered, and followed her and everyone else from the room. He couldn't help but glance over his shoulder at the young couple. The male made his move and pounced on Ne'a. She didn't fight him off like Viktor had expected; instead she let him bite her neck.
    Viktor was quiet for the next few minutes as he stood in the smaller room with everyone else. He kept close to S'rea, hoping for an explanation without having to ask for one. She wasn't talking, but Karo was.
    "The families of Tarn and Larn have joined," Karo said happily.
    "We do not know that for certain," S'rea said, but Karo ignored her.
    "My little brother and your niece," he said, "bring us even closer, S'rea."
    Viktor watched the exchange. He had become very familiar with S'rea's mannerisms and body language over the past month. She didn't like Karo. He wondered if she had rejected him before and if Karo were unmated. The flaring of Karo's nostrils when he came closer to S'rea gave him away. Just like his little brother had done with Ne'a.
    Viktor didn't like what he saw, and inserted himself between the two Lyrissians, careful not to touch either of them. A move that seemed to stun both.
    Karo recovered first. "Step away, U-man. You do not know what you are doing."
    "I know that you want to do to S'rea what your little brother is trying to do to Ne'a," Viktor said. "I know she doesn't want you to."
    Karo narrowed his dark eyes and glared at Viktor. "You are going to stop me?"  
    Viktor opened his mouth to say he would, but the sudden cheer that erupted around them drowned him out. S'rea used the distraction to drag him away. He had only a few seconds to realize the young couple had presented themselves, and the male appeared uninjured, before S'rea closed a door and led him along a hallway. He had had no choice but to follow. She was too strong.
    After a few turns, S'rea shoved Viktor into a room and locked the door behind her. He barely had time to acknowledge that they were alone in a bedroom before she started in on him.
    "Are you insane?"  
    "Shouldn't Harom be here?" he asked, worried.
    S'rea ignored his questions. "What were you doing?"
    "Saving him from getting his arms broken."
    "You should be more worried about your own arms," she said.
    "Why?" he asked, and wondered if she would break them because Harom wasn't there.
    "Because you were challenging Karo," S'rea said. "For me."
    "For you?" Viktor asked, confused. "There's more to this mating thing than you've told me, isn't there?"
    S'rea sighed and the anger left her. She crossed the room and sat on the edge of the bed. "Males sometimes fight each other for the right to mate with the same female," she explained. "Your interference, no matter how well intentioned, is a challenge to Karo. The female has no choice but to accept the victor."
    "That's stupid," Viktor said.
    S'rea glared at him, and he knew he had said the wrong thing. She looked away and said, "I know."
    Viktor pulled a chair out from under the desk and sat down. After a long silence, he finally said, "He'd kill me."
    "I would kill him." She said it so quietly that Viktor wasn't sure he had heard her correctly.
    Viktor studied her. S'rea's hands were clenched tightly around the bedcovers. Something told him she wouldn't be killing Karo to avenge his death. His attempt at chivalry had backfired.
    "We should go back," she said, getting to her feet, "before they notice we are missing."
    "Will you have to break