Jaz's Warriors (Bondmates Book 2) (8 page)

She was no novice in the world of psychology and she could tell a textbook narcissist when she saw one. This man thought he was special, knew he was better than everyone else, and felt as though people should defer to his greatness. The fact that she challenged him was unacceptable in his messed-up world, and she wondered how soon she could get him to snap.

Holding his gaze, she let him know just how unworthy she thought he was and, as expected, his face flushed lilac.

She knew just how to deal with a man like this. He’d come off as charming, rational, but as soon as she made him look foolish in front of what she assumed was a shit-ton of important Kadothians, he’d expose his true self. Men like him always did.

She stopped at the edge of the Petitioner’s Circle, a large, jagged sunburst painted gold at the center of the room and to the side of the High Congress’s elevated table. The sun was the symbol of the Lord of Light, and by standing here, she was putting herself under his scrutiny and lied at her own peril. At least, that’s what the Kadothian legends said. She had no idea if the Kadothian version of God would indeed curse her for fibbing in his sacred place, but she wasn’t going to tempt fate. Hell, stranger things have happened, including the magically appearing bondmarks on her breasts.

Before she could announce her arrival, a bronze-skinned man wearing the dark blue armor of the Negotiator class narrowed his green eyes as his lip lifted in a faint sneer. “Commander Tandar el’Alrianti of House Musoli, you have no right to be in this circle. You insult the High Congress with your presence.”

“Actually, it’s soon to be Tandar el’Alrianti of House Brooks,” Tandar said from behind her in a droll voice. “Matriarch Jazmine Brooks is my witnessed bride.”

A loud murmur went through the audience and a familiar voice came from her left. To her surprise, the hot Lucius Malfoy look-alike, Lord Rell Thantoh, strode out of an archway, his cape flaring dramatically behind him. Even though Jaz was a happily married woman, Lord Rell was very nice to look at, especially when he was giving her a charming smile.

“Congratulations, Matriarch Brooks. Tandar is an esteemed Warrior and will make a worthy provider.”

The Negotiator standing next to Vungus curled his lip. “Any and all bonding should wait until after Matriarch Brooks has been examined by our experts. Her behavior is a danger to us all. I can only imagine how many people she’s harmed in her role as Ambassador.”

Lady Drinzell placed a hand to her ivory throat, her long nails gleaming as if they’d been dipped in blood, and Jaz bit back the urge to roll her eyes.

Everyone looked at Jaz, waiting for her to do something, but she merely pasted a pleasant, yet slightly bored look on her face and kept her mouth shut. The Negotiators were doing their version of opening arguments and until the High Congress addressed her, she was to say nothing.

With an annoyed growl, Lord Rell inclined his head in the direction of the High Congress. “Forgive my late arrival, it seemed both my summons and Matriarch Brooks’ had somehow been delayed.”

Lady Yanush raised a brow. “Is that true, Matriarch Brooks?”

Feeling the focus of the crowd on her, Jaz gave the High Congress the Kadothian version of a curtsey, bending low from the waist while sweeping her gown out to the side. “High Congress, please forgive my tardiness. I was in the middle of my courtship with Tandar when I received the message. My husbands contacted me as soon as they could, but I’m afraid I was concentrating on other things. I’m unaware of when the message was sent, but I assure you, I came as soon as I received the summons.”

“The charges against you are quite serious,” Lady Yanush said in a cool, crisp voice.

Before Jaz could speak, Lord Rell took a step forward, obviously assuming the role of her Representative, an almost unheard of thing for a Lord to do. She’d assumed he was the missing fourth member of the High Congress, not her version of a defense attorney. “They are, but I maintain that Matriarch Brooks was provoked into her reaction by Elder Congressman Vungus.”

“Provoked?” Vungus snapped. “I was unaware she was even there, how could I provoke her.”

Turning the full force of his rather intimidating glare on Vungus, Lord Rell gave him a nasty smile. “Ahhh, but today was not your first run-in with Matriarch Brooks, was it?”

“No,” Vungus blustered for a moment before rallying, his narcissism not allowing him to even imagine he was wrong in any way, shape, or form. “She had attacked me previously. I forgave her prior attack, but this time she went too far and assaulted my Matriarch.”

“Assaulted? Does your Matriarch have any marks from this supposed assault?”

Vungus flushed a deeper lilac. “No, but that does not mean it did not happen. Matriarch Brooks has a history of violence that cannot be ignored.”

“Yes, back to when Jaz first met… I mean
attacked
you. It was also unprovoked, correct?”

To Jaz’s surprise, Vungus’ wife, Matriarch Taverty, seemed to be distancing herself from Vungus, pressing closer to the Warrior at her side. Instead of the usual smirk twisting her lips, she was wide-eyed and pale. Jaz looked between Vungus and his wife, wondering what Matriarch Taverty was reading from her bondmate right now that had her so scared.

Licking his lips, Vungus swallowed hard. “Yes, Matriarch Brooks was completely out of her mind with rage.”

To her surprise, Lord Rell gave the other man a small, almost pitying smile. “Shall we see what the High Congress thinks of your assessment of the first time you met Matriarch Brooks? Computer, display recording A897377.9n342z.”

The crowd let out a small gasp as an image began to play on the smooth walls of the High Congress, a picture of Jaz three stories high as she listened to Vungus viciously attack her verbally after she didn’t address him by his proper title. Watching the video, she couldn’t help but realize how much danger she’d been in. Vungus, like all Kadothian males, was huge compared to her. He could have snapped her neck with one well-placed punch.

After reliving that scene, she couldn’t feel one ounce of remorse for kicking Vungus in the balls after he’d wrenched her arm.

Silence filled the room as the video ended and Lady Drinzell appeared slightly ill, while her husband now glared at Vungus, along with the majority of the people in the room.

Gathering herself, Jaz broke protocol as she directly addressed the High Congress. “While my actions were rash, I was raised to not allow any man to hurt me or treat me as a lesser person because of how I look and who I am. I regret that I had to resort to violence, I always try to talk through a situation and deescalate it if possible. But the moment he grabbed me, my father and brother’s training kicked in on how to handle a man who puts his hands on me in anger.”

“Very effectively, I might add,” Lord Rell said with a sparkle in his pale blue eyes.

Meeting Lord Rell’s gaze squarely, she said, “Earth women may be smaller, we may not know all the secrets of the universe that you’ve already unmasked, and we may not be able to read your minds, but that doesn’t mean we’re easy prey. You back us into a corner and we’re going to come out swinging.”

Tandar spoke up from behind Jaz. “It is an Earth expression that means if she is cornered in a trap, she would rather die attacking her hunters than on her belly.”

Vungus made a strangled noise, as if he was trying to speak, but nothing came out as he glared at Jaz with pure hatred.

Lady Yanush opened her mouth to speak, but before she could, Lady Elsin, Lead Congress of the Northern Continent and all-around intimidating icy-blonde bitch, chose that moment to walk into the room, and, on her way to the table, she paused to greet Jaz. “Matriarch Brooks, it is so good to see you again. The last time we met was when you were readying my son’s human bride Casey for her bonding ceremony.”

Curtseying before the tall woman, Jaz said, “It was my honor, Lady Elsin.”

Bowing slightly from the waist, Lord Rell said, “Thank you for joining us, Lady Elsin.”

“I wish I had been here sooner,” she replied with a biting tone to her voice that practically frosted Jaz’s skin, “but the message about this meeting somehow got lost. Odd, how it seemed to happen to everyone except Vungus.”

For a brief moment, Jaz almost felt sorry for Vungus, because he looked like he was going to simultaneously shit and piss himself.

“Regardless,” Lady Elsin said in a commanding tone, “I am here now, and I am appalled by the actions of the Elder Congressman from the Northern Continent and I can assure you, he will be relieved of his position.”

“You can’t do that!” Vungus shouted.

The almost sweet expression on Lady Elsin’s face didn’t match the killing glare of her neon-blue eyes in the least. “In case you somehow forgot, I am the Lead for the Northern Continent—your boss, as I believe the people of Earth would put it—and I very much assure you I can indeed do
that
.”

A laughter, along with a few gasps, came from the gallery and Vungus snarled.

“Foolish man, did you really think you would get away with your actions? You bring shame to your House.” Lady Elsin turned her disgusted gaze on Vungus’ Matriarch. “Both of you. Matriarch Taverty, it is obvious you have no concept of what is truly important and what is a childish whim. I believe you have lived a sheltered, spoiled life and have no appreciation for how blessed you are. Because of this, you will spend the next cycle with the Healer class, tending to the wounded. Perhaps if you spend enough time among death, you will appreciate the life you have been given.”

Matriarch Taverty whispered out a hesitant, “Yes, ma’am.”

Vungus started to shout something but a moment later, his mouth was moving and no sound was coming out.

“Thank you for silencing him, Lady Yanush.”

The other woman lifted her chin, her thin braids sparkling. “I believe Vungus needs a mental evaluation.”

“Sadly, I believe you are correct,” Lady Elsin said with a grim look before her gaze softened as she turned to face Jaz.

“Matriarch Brooks, you have been cleared of all charges brought against you. Please accept the apologies of the High Congress and know that Vungus’ feelings do not reflect those of the Kadothian people. Now, we have a busy schedule ahead of us, so I wish you good fortune with your bonding, and say good day.”

Jaz was so stunned by the turn of events that she barely managed to mumble out, “Thank you, High Congress—uh, good day.”

The walk back past the gallery was so different that she almost felt like the crowd had been switched out with a much friendlier one while she spoke with the High Congress. People actually smiled at her, and many of the Warriors looked ashamed. Interesting. Maybe she’d managed to do a little bit of good PR for the women of Earth.

Once they were out of the chamber and away from the virtual crowd, Jaz let out a pent-up breath. “Holy fucking shit.”

“Come,” Lord Rell said in an authoritative tone as he led them into a small, private room.

As soon as the door shut, she flung her arms around him in a hug. “I don’t know how you did it, or why you helped me, but thank you.”

He gave her a stiff hug back before placing her away with an uncomfortable look. Right, Matriarchs didn’t go around hugging people. She had to keep that in mind so she didn’t keep freaking out the Kadothian men by giving them the impression she was coming on to them.

Her husbands and Tandar crowded around her, each pressing against her and each other as Lord Rell watched them with an envious smile. “I must admit, my actions are not entirely selfless. You see…my blood brother has found his bondmate, and she is an Earth female on this ship. In helping you, I also sought to make her future transition to life as a Kadothian Matriarch easier, to try to stem some of the prejudice developing against Earth women.”

“You have a blood brother?” Tandar blurted out.

Grimacing, Lord Rell nodded. “We had a bitter disagreement many, many years ago and have not spoken sense, but I dreamed of her, and know he has found the woman we are both meant to love.”

Mavet gave a heavy sigh. “You have a hard road ahead of you if her first husband does not approve of you.”

“They aren’t bonded yet,” Lord Rell said in a low voice.

“You mean to steal her away?” Xentix asked in shock.

Rubbing a hand over his face, Lord Rell shook his head. “No, I want them both. We belong together, all three of us. That is how our family should be.”

“Uh,” Jaz said as she leaned back into Mavet’s arms, unable to resist the feel of him at her back, “how am I going to assist you with this? You know I’m not going to help you play games with her.”

“Play games?”

“She means she will not aid you in causing any strife between your estranged blood brother and his bride.”

“I am not asking her to.” Lord Rell ducked his head a bit so he could meet her gaze. “I know you cannot read me, but hear the truth in my words when I tell you that all I want for my blood brother and our bondmate is the happiness we have sacrificed so much for. My blood brother especially, he deserves nothing but love and peace for the rest of his life. I took your case on personally because I fear for my
alyah’s
safety on Kadothia if this anti-Earther movement grows any stronger. By showing the people of Kadothia one of the best examples of an Earth woman I could find, I believe we did much to change the tide of public opinion.”