Hidden Rage: Kindred Tales

Even though it was almost time for the Kindred of the Mother Ship to be looking for her, she had a gut feeling they were going to be too late. Because once she married Dragon and had Bonding Sex with him, their life-long bond would be formed. And Bobbi knew she wouldn’t have the heart to break that bond—not even to go back to her old life. So unless the Kindred magically appeared before tomorrow—which she doubted—she was already going to be bonded to Dragon by the time they showed up.

I guess I’m going to be a mobster’s wife for the rest of my life, she thought with a sense of resignation. As to how she would survive the harsh cold in the winter, she was hoping that being bonded to the big Kindred would increase her ability to withstand the freezing temperatures. And hopefully any kids she had would inherit their father’s resistance to cold, the same way Dragon had inherited his own father’s resistance.

All of this was a grim prospect, but Bobbi still had hope that she might get Dragon to at least visit the Kindred Mother Ship. And if she did, she thought she had at least a chance at getting him to leave Saurous.

“I don’t like the idea of you going to the Market, either,” Dragon said, breaking her train of thought.

“But that’s another tradition, right? I have to buy you a little something as a wedding present to give you during the ceremony. Besides, I’m dying for some fresh air,” Bobbi told him. “And you know you don’t have to worry about the hit on me anymore.”

It was true, the fear of assassination was off the table. The day Dragon had given her the Claiming piece and wedding jewelry to wear, he had waited until dinner, when the entire Clan was gathered in the dining hall, and then stood to make an announcement.

“Listen to me, all of you,” he’d said, his deep voice booming in the tiled room. “One of you has placed a hit on my bride-to-be.”

He had pointed at Bobbi, who once more had the uncomfortable feeling of all the Saurian eyes in the room resting on her.

“Whoever it was, I want the hit called off now!” Dragon had continued, glaring around at the different Clan enforcers and crew members. He stared especially long and hard at Zerlix, who was lounging on the other side of his father. “You can see how I feel about Bobbi—she already wears my Claiming piece,” he added, pointing at Bobbi again—who, of course, was wearing the golden dragon headpiece. “She is mine and anyone who dares to harm her will feel my wrath. Just ask the two Diamond Death enforcers who came for her yesterday—they’re rotting in an alley at the end of Market Street. If you don’t want to join them, I suggest you leave my bride alone!”

There were uneasy murmurs in response to this speech and Bobbi could see the Saurians looking askance at the big Kindred, as though they weren’t sure what to make of his lethal threat. Komendant Vizlar was leaning to one side and his Advisor, Rep. Yariz, was murmuring in his scaly ear hole.

“Sit down, my son,” he said, after nodding at his Advisor. “Leave this to me.” He had raised his voice and addressed the room. “Whoever has ordered a hit on the little mammalian female, I am hereby ordering you to call it off. Rep. Dragon’s bride-to-be is not to be harmed in any way. These are my orders.”

Dragon had nodded at his adoptive father, gratitude in his bronze eyes.

“Thank you, Sire,” he murmured. “I appreciate your support.”

“Of course, Son.” The Komendant had nodded back gravely. “You must know that your bride is safe if you are to do your best work.”

Zerlix, of course, had sneered at the proceedings—he’s had a large swollen lump on his jaw where Dragon had apparently punched him that morning. But he didn’t seem any more upset or angry than he had been before, Bobbi thought. It was difficult to know if he had been behind the hit or not.

As for Komendant Vizlar, he had been busy whispering with his Advisor again through the rest of the dinner and his face was completely unreadable to her. If he had placed the hit—which Bobbi doubted because it had to be Zerlix—he didn’t show any sign.

After his father’s pronouncement, Dragon had appeared less anxious about her safety, though he still kept her close and had forbidden her to go outside the compound during the time leading up to their wedding. In fact, going to the Market today to buy him the traditional wedding present, would be the first time Bobbi had been out of the house in two weeks, ever since the attack by the two Death Diamond thugs in the alley.