The Consort (Tellaran Series) Read Online Free PDF

“Is one of you going to festering answer me?”
    The empress’ black eyes narrowed at him then she gave Aidar a short nod.
    Aidar stepped forward. “Commander Kyndan Maere of the Tellaran Fleet,” he said. “First Imperial Daughter Alari has chosen you.”
    “Chosen me?” Kyndan demanded. “What do you mean, chosen me?”
    Aidar looked at him levelly. “To be her mate.”
    Kyndan’s gaze snapped to Alari. “She did what ?”
    Her dark eyes met his, her mouth parted but she didn’t speak. 
    “Kyndan Maere,” Aidar said, wresting his attention back. “Jazan of the Az’rayah has not relinquished his claim.”
    “Yeah,” Kyndan said impatiently, tearing his eyes away from Alari. “I heard that.  What does it mean ?”
    “He will take challenge for her.”
    Kyndan felt his face heating with annoyance.
    “He will fight for her,” Aidar clarified.
    “Fight me for her, you mean.” 
    The guy was as big as a sular that’d fed on nothing but growth stims. Then Alari’s dark eyes met his again and Kyndan struggled against the urge to shove past them all, to stand between her and that hulking brute.
    Kyndan held Alari’s gaze for a long moment.
    “So what you’re saying is that if we fight and I win,” Kyndan said finally, “she marries me instead.”
    “Yes,” Aidar answered.
    Kyndan addressed the empress. “If I lose, will it affect the peace talks with the Tellarans?”
    “Kyndan,” Kinara whispered frantically. “Oh, gods, don’t do this! Please, you don’t—”
    Empress Azara shot his sister a look and she fell silent.
    “No, it will not,” Azara said. “But as Jazan of the Az’rayah has said, you are not Az-kye. You are not a warrior.” She gave him a smile that didn’t touch her eyes. “A Tellaran is not capable of acting as a warrior would and we do not expect such of you.”
    Kyndan’s nostrils flared. All those months being regarded as less than an insect, all the abuse, the humiliations he’d suffered as slave on this world because the festering Az-kye thought themselves superior to Tellarans. The burning frustration of seeing his crew treated the same, the powerless rage of that year, seared through his mind in a flash of red.
    The empress addressed the High Priestess. “This man is unworthy. Continue with—”
    Kyndan’s fists clenched. “ The fuck I am! ”
    His crude shout echoed through the arched hall of the Az-kye palace. Kyndan saw Aidar go pale; he heard the scandalized gasps of the court but he was past caring about any of that. 
    “I am a Tellaran warrior. She chose me ,” Kyndan said, jerking his chin at Alari. “You want a fight, Az-kye?” he demanded, narrowing his gaze at Jazan and bared his teeth.  “I’ll give you one!”
    Jazan’s eyes went cold and cruel. “Then I will take challenge now.”
    Aidar addressed the High Priestess urgently. “Commander Maere does not know the rules of the Circle. He must be allowed time to prepare. You must allow a month at minimum.”
    “A month?” Jazan exclaimed, then turned his eyes to the High Priestess.  “You cannot allow such!”
    The High Priestess addressed Kyndan, her eyes regretful. “If you would claim yourself worthy, Tellaran warrior, then you must be worthy now. I will allow you an hour to prepare yourself.”
    “You deem him worthy to be mated to an Imperial Daughter?” the empress demanded with an outraged gesture at Kyndan.
    “I do not have to.” Celara raised her eyebrows. “Your daughter did when she named him, Imperial Majesty.” The High Priestess touched Alari’s arm. “You will be under my protection until challenge is decided, child.”
    Alari’s face had blanched and she sent him a pleading gaze, shaking her head ever so slightly.
    He wet his lips. Was she regretting her hasty choice, then?
    “Hold on,” Kyndan said. “She and I need to talk alone first.”
    Jazan moved between them like an eclipse, a wall of black animal skins and muscle.
    “You will never speak to her