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Treska watched her face carefully, and then spoke again. “She and the shinno are…”

  Shaya suddenly found it difficult to breathe in the moment that hung in the air as Treska tried to find the next word to explain herself.

  “She and the shinno are one sometimes.”

  Shaya nodded, releasing a breath she didn't even realize she was holding. Sometimes. That meant that they were not together all the time, which likely meant that she was not someone permanent for him. She suddenly caught her thoughts and stopped herself. She shouldn't be relieved. If the shinno was intimate with her when he had someone else, that did not make her look good, although she wasn't sure what the general behavior was like with these kinds of things in their particular culture. It didn't seem like the shinno had a wife based on the amount of time she had seen him before she became injured, but who knew? He could have had a wife that he went to see after their time with the ocean. Maybe he was going to see this woman? Either way, his actions were not her fault.

  Before her direction of thought could run away with her again, Treska spoke.

  “They are one sometimes,” she said again. “More than some others. But since this journey, he has changed. She was searching for the answer.”

  “She thinks I'm the answer?” she asked, somewhat sharply. It was one thing for her to guess what was happening between Shaya and the shinno, but if she was convinced that something was indeed happening, she could make things difficult for her.

  Shaya had heard plenty of stories from Kyus regarding bitter women who became cruel when they didn't get what they wanted, women who felt they deserved more than they were due and then try to destroy something they felt made them look less desirable. If she became the target of this woman, her life on the ship could become hell. It was better she did not know anything about the shinno's attention to her or his actions with her.

  Unfortunately, Treska nodded. “She does not know you. She knows everyone else. She knows you are the answer.”

  Shaya exhaled. “And now she knows my cabin as well,” she pointed out.

  Treska nodded, although a frown was on her face. “The shinno will not be happy.”

  Shaya's brows rose. “He won't?”

  Treska shook her head, but she was distracted. “No one should know.”

  Hmm. So he was keeping her location a secret. Strangely, that comforted her a little. She would prefer nobody on the ship know where she was, but now this woman did.

  “Are you going to tell him?” she asked.

  “I have to tell him everything,” Treska said, lowering her eyes. “He said everything from now on, or I get the black.”

  Shaya pressed her lips together tight, annoyed that he had still threatened her, but at least she knew that Treska would be telling him everything, and it wouldn't necessarily be her fault. “I think it's best that you do, in this instance anyway,” she said. “I do not want this woman knowing where I am if she is angry about me. I can’t even try to reason with her.”

  Treska nodded. “Yes, it is smarter.”

  Shaya thought for a long moment. “There are some things the shinno says I don’t understand…” she began.

  Treska sat up straight. “I will help. Tell me.”

  Shaya thought back to when he strung her up. “Land-ton-rook, Shaya?”

  “Lanatton arook.” Treska said, nodding. “Find strength, Shaya.”

  Shaya almost snorted. Find strength? He expected her to strengthen when he tortured her? “What about…” She thought back to the moment on the ocean when he was amused with her urges to look at him. It was a long one, though. She sounded out as much as she could remember.

  Treska frowned, and then made suggestions until she came upon the correct phrase. “Dess rennon vec lesha ackken ash ren lesha dess, kysm eshar. Fegakke ni laegoy.” Treska checked her own little dictionary and then smiled as she translated. “You may look upon me as I look upon you, little bird. I am not shy.”

  Shaya couldn’t help but smile at that one. The man was the complete opposite of shy. “What about…” She paused, wondering if she should ask her the next one, but if she didn’t, how would she ever know? She sounded out the words, already having them memorized—he still said it to her every day.

  Treska’s eyes widened as she repeated her words. “Tes ni choya detta mthnoy, kysm eshar. He said that to you? The shinno?”

  Shaya nodded, curious. “Sometimes it varies a little, but yes.”

  Treska giggled and then smiled widely at Shaya, her eyes shining. “He said, there is nothing more beautiful than you, little bird.”

  CHAPTER FIVE

  KARDOS

  Kardos stood staring at the izak-rock, his mind revolving over how he could get Shaya to behave with him how she had before.

  Putting her in the box-cabin had been a mistake. He hadn't realized she suffered from room fever so badly that she would severely damage herself trying to get out. He had been shocked and surprised at her outburst and instantly knew she needed the ocean—it was the only thing that had ever calmed him and allowed him to think. He was thoroughly annoyed with himself that she had been hurt, but he couldn’t deny that her injuries allowed him to get closer to her in a way that he didn't expect. And now that he fucking needed her that way, she was withholding herself from him.

  The tint in the izak-rock began to turn orange and he stepped forward in unison with the tribesman opposite him to lift and rotate it onto its side, then stepped back into position to watch and wait for the next color change.

  Shaya was more determined than he thought she would be. Watching her when they first boarded the boat, and in that first time in her cabin, he had thought she would be meek, eager to please, and easy to understand. She wasn't. Although she was quiet and watchful, there were moments she had the same firmness and determination he saw when she volunteered herself to save her sister. He wondered if maybe her lack of understanding Mayaros was the reason for her quietness. What if she was indeed a difficult Omega? That would not do. Other Alphas might find that a delight to deal with, but he did not. Shaya would have to behave.

  In truth, she started well. She had learned how to be pleasing to a man who wanted to use her mouth. She didn’t have the experience like other women, but she took to it very well and even had shown great enthusiasm, much to his surprise. The main thing was, it wasn't a new experience for her now and that would likely serve her well once they got to the Isles; although, he refused to think on that point too often.

  All time with her had been perfect for him, because every single expression that graced her face entranced him, especially when she came undone in his lap, crying out and shuddering so beautifully, then curled into his chest, unable to help looking at him as though she was entranced too. Those moments had been the highlight of the entire journey to the Western Lands so far. The highlight of the whole season, in fact. And now it had fucking stopped.

  “Shinno Kardos.”

  Kardos turned to see Zolt standing nearby waiting to speak to him. He frowned and glanced back at the rock. He couldn't leave his shift, it was important for the izak to be turned at the right time, but when he glanced back at Zolt, he realized he’d bought another tribesman to replace him. They switched places, and Kardos and Zolt moved to speak privately away from the others.

  “The Isles are in long-sight,” Zolt informed him. “At this current capacity, we will get there in a week.”

  Kardos nodded. A week was too soon. He had expected Shaya to be fully briefed on Isle culture by now and even possibly speaking some Mayaros, but weeks had gone by without her learning anything, and the danger was that she wouldn't know enough, and could embarrass him. He needed more time.

  “However,” Zolt continued. “I would like to recommend that we take two days off.”

  Kardos frowned, surprised, but Zolt held his hands up and hurriedly continued, assuming Kardos would be angry by his suggestion.

  “I know it doesn't seem like a long time,” he said. “But we have been working
triple shifts for five weeks. The entire tribe is exhausted. I think if we arrive in this state, it will make us look as though the journey tired us.”

  Kardos nodded. That was true. Although they had indeed worked hard on the journey back to ensure that the ship had the fuel it needed from the izak-rock, he could tell that the tribe were tired. There was less chatter on the ship, less laughter. Men and women walked with miserable faces. It would do them well to have two days off to rest so that when they return to the Isle they still looked strong, as though the trip had strengthened rather than exhausted them. Appearances were important.

  “How much longer will the journey be if we take two days?”

  “Based on my calculations, almost an extra two weeks,” Zolt responded.

  Kardos nodded. “That is not ideal,” he said slowly, “but I agree it’s necessary. We will go another three days before the two-day break. Inform the tribe.”

  Zolt nodded. “And what do you think about announcing the Omega during that time?”

  Kardos bristled. “She is not ready for it. She has been more difficult than anticipated, but she is learning.”

  Zolt hesitated, and then spoke. “She has taken more of your time than I expected, my shinno. It has affected your shifts. Should I continue to schedule you?”

  “Yes,” Kardos said. “At least until the two-day break. After that, do not schedule me onto any shifts.”

  “Understood.”

  Kardos watched Zolt as he walked away, then began to head back to the izak-rock, but on impulse he turned in a different direction. He made his way up the stairs and across the upper deck, and then down a flight of stairs on the other side of the ship, heading into the lower decks.

  When he arrived, an elderly woman greeted him as she exited one of the cabins. She had a woolen blanket wrapped around her chubby frame and a usual strand of herbs dangled from her coarse brown hair.

  “So you finally come to see me,” she said, a big grin on her face. “I thought you had forgotten all about me up on the important decks and left me to rot down here.”

  Kardos let out a gruff snort. “Leave you to rot? I thought you were already rotten, Rozalia.”

  The woman laughed, swatting him on the arm with a bundle of dried leaves she held in one hand. “I'll have you know that I'm younger at heart than almost all of the other potionists combined,” she said proudly. “If anything is rotten around here, it's your treatment of the most important member of your tribe.”

  Kardos leaned against the wall. “I don't need to worry about you, you are completely capable of dealing with anything that is thrown at you.”

  Rozalia nodded, her brow raising in mock seriousness. “Like three hundred new bondmaids who do not have minds of their own?”

  “How are they doing?”

  She shrugged. “They seem fine physically, but I have no way of knowing what their mental state is like. They have no free will, they only follow instructions and don't seem to have any desire to do anything of their own choosing.” She paused, a frown on her face. “It is not normal. It is not the Nyek way or even the way of any tribe of the Isles. They have no natural urges or desires.”

  Kardos nodded. “I know. The Alpha who gave them to me dealt heavily in perverse magic. He removed their free will so they could be used as slaves.”

  Rozalia shot him a disapproving look as she turned away to walk down the corridor. “They are savages, these people of the other Lands. They behave against the natural laws.”

  “I do not disagree,” Kardos said, following her. “But I felt that they would be good for us as bondmaids.”

  Rozalia sighed, turning back to him. “They would indeed be good bondmaids,” she admitted. “They are very well versed sexually and have no problem taking any of the potions that I give them.”

  “None of them have had any adverse reactions or rejections to any potion at all?”

  “No. In fact, their lack of will makes them perfect for the Haze recreators. The urges that usually come upon Betas who take them are met with no resistance at all. I think they will be a success.”

  “Good,” Kardos said. He walked along the cabins behind the woman, remembering what Malloron had said. The Haze recreators were potions that were supposed to put a Beta woman into a Haze that was usually only experienced by Omegas. When an Omega was in this state, it was known to be highly arousing and attractive for Alphas. Her eyes turned golden, her scent became irresistible, and she was taken by the need to mate continuously so that she may be impregnated. Unfortunately, since Omegas had not been seen in the Southern Isles for over a hundred years, Haze recreators had become more important. It forced a Beta woman to simulate an Omega’s Haze, which tended to make her more appealing to Alphas and more likely to breed abundantly.

  However, when Kardos had visited the Western Lands to speak to King Malloron about doing an exchange for the new bondmaids, the king revealed that nothing could replicate an Omega in her Haze; that it was incomparable to any Beta on Haze recreators. Kardos was inclined to believe that was true. Shaya was blocked, and still he was taken with her more than any other, even though he knew he shouldn't be.

  They turned into Rozalia’s cabin at the end of the row, and she poured him an ale before gesturing for him to sit.

  He declined. “I'll not be here for long.”

  Rozalia nodded. “What can I help you with?”

  “I have an Omega.”

  The woman gasped, almost dropping her own glass. “You have what?”

  “I negotiated for her in the Western Lands.”

  She stared at him, her mouth dropped open. “Then why are we doing all of this?” she said gesturing to the rows of cabins that held the bondmaids. “We don't need any of these if we have an Omega!”

  “It doesn't hurt to have extra bondmaids, Roza,” Kardos said firmly. “She is only one. She cannot be paired with multiple Alphas.” A jagged irritation cut through him as he said the last line, and Rozalia straightened, watching him carefully.

  “I assume she is on the ship,” she asked slowly. When Kardos nodded she said, “And what has she been doing all this time?”

  “I've been trying to teach her what to expect when she gets to the Southern Isles.”

  “You do not know what she would expect, my shinno,” Rozalia said evenly. “You have no idea what the high chief may do.”

  Kardos scoffed. “It is very likely what he will do. And I need her to be aware, and comfortable about the culture before he makes any decisions.”

  Rozalia nodded, sinking down into a chair as she thought. “I understand.” She glanced up. “How is she taking it?”

  “Her body is not as strong as most of the women of the tribe. She damages easily and struggles with physical work.”

  The woman nodded. “That is to be expected. And probably a good thing.”

  Kardos frowned at her words. “A good thing?”

  “Yes,” she said simply. “An Omega is not supposed to have the body of a Beta. She is supposed to be more delicate.”

  “But what about the conditions of our land? If she is too delicate she cannot survive it.”

  Rozalia inclined her head. “There is some truth to that,” she said. “But from what I remember, Omegas were always with their Alphas in the Southern Lands. There is usually never any need for them to be battling the conditions on their own.”

  Kardos was quiet for a moment as he digested that. Of course, that made sense. He had completely overlooked that part of it.

  “What about her training of our culture?” Rozalia asked, interrupting his thoughts. “Is she accepting it? I cannot believe that she would willingly want to come to our Lands to be the only Omega.”

  “She refused to learn about our lands for a long time, but has made some headway. Treska said she has memorized the names of the isles and the tribes, and learned small phrases in Mayaros.”

  “Treska.” The woman shot him a disapproving look. “So that is why I have not seen my daughter for p
ractically the whole time that we have been on this journey back home. I assumed she was working on the fuel deck.”

  “You know she is not suitable for the fuel deck, but I was assuming she was coming to see you at least.”

  Rozalia brushed his words away with a swipe of her hand. “I’m working hard on the potions for the new bondmaids. Whenever I have a break, she is working. But it is of no importance. I know whatever she is doing, she is doing it well.”

  Kardos couldn't help the growl that came out of him. “She has formed an attachment to the Omega. I had to threaten her with the box-cabin for withholding information from me.”

  Rozalia stilled. “Did she end up inside it?”

  “Only for a few moments. The Omega pleaded for her to be released. She promised to learn if Treska was freed.”

  The woman nodded, but Kardos could see her body relaxing in relief. “I like this Omega already.”

  “I need you to start working on a potion for her.”

  The woman glanced up at him. “Like what?”

  Kardos took a breath, trying to order his thoughts. “During my research on Omegas, I heard a rumor that they had returned to the Eastern Lands.”

  “Yes, it is a rumor that has made its rounds across all the Isles. Everybody laughed it off.”

  Indeed they would. Everyone assumed that if Omegas were to return, it would be to the Southern Isles first. “It is not a rumor,” Kardos said, grimly. “Apparently Omegas exist in abundance, but they hide themselves using magic.”

  “Why,” Rozalia asked bewildered. “What is the purpose of that?”

  “I am not sure yet,” Kardos admitted. “I have been unable to find a reason for this, but I am sure that there are none hidden in the Southern Isles. As you say, an Omega would not be able to survive our Lands without being with an Alpha. Any Omega that tried, would likely not survive.”

  Rozalia nodded thoughtfully.

  “The way they hide themselves is to place blocks on their Omega signals, such as their scent and their Haze, and disguise as Betas.”

  Rozalia looked bewildered. “Block… How?”