Her tones rose and fell, her hands and arms animated. She appeared to be telling a story, and not a very good one based on the angry shade to her features. His sister appeared calm but glanced at him several times. Something his woman said took her interest; her gaze grew sharper, and she moved closer to nishani. Curious, A'Ran neared, hanging back as his other two sisters approached.
His woman was speaking too quickly for the translator to keep up. Her varying tones would have thrown it off as well; it was programmed to the monotonous speech pattern of Anshan. He crossed his arms. Nishani fell silent and unsure at their approach, but was prodded by something soft his youngest sister said that threw her into another animated story.
Ne'Rin approached, his eye caught by Gage, who gave a bow of her head but whose face turned pink. A'Ran had long suspected the two favored each other, but neither had addressed him about it.
"You will hold a battle committee despite your mating?" Ne'Rin asked, joining him. A'Ran, assuming his sisters could handle the newest member of their family, turned and started toward the white dwelling before him.
"Yes. We must warn our battle commanders about the possibility of war with Qatwal. I will announce my lifemate at the committee. I believe the Council will be visiting us as well once they receive word of what I have done."
Ne'Rin nodded. A'Ran took in the home he had left several moon cycles before. It was nowhere near as large as their true home but was comfortable and well-maintained, an adequate place for him, his sisters, and now his lifemate. The women would remain until the war was over and he could take them to their rightful home.
That day was near. Now that he was no longer in the slavery of the Council, he would take the last few steps needed to rebuild his alliances and bring his might to full force. With his lifemate discovered, he had everything he needed to reclaim his throne.
"Brother!" The startled cry made him turn. His three sisters knelt over his lifemate's still form. He trotted to them, trailed by Ne'Rin.
"What happened?"
"Brother, she does not understand …" Gage appeared confused. She drifted off, reddening. He knelt and brushed his woman's hair from her face. She was pale but breathing steadily, her enigmatic eyes closed.
"What was said?" he asked as he scooped her into his arms.
"A'Ran, she believes herself to be your prisoner," D'Ryn said. "She doesn't understand you are mated. When I explained, she became unwell."