Claimed by the Warrior by Katie Reus Savannah Stuart Read Free Book Online Page B

manipulative games. It was not the warrior way and it had grown tiresome. That, Con could have dealt with, but he had a suspicion that Einar had been behind recent construction delays. If there was another one, Con was having the male removed from his sector.
    “So this is the human female.” Einar’s gaze landed on Leilani, something assessing in it making Con want to take his short sword and run the male through.
    The violent urge made him pause.
    “I have a name.” Leilani’s voice held an edge to it that made Con want to smile. She came to stand next to him, ignoring the way he’d positioned himself in front of her. But she placed her hand lightly on his forearm as she’d done earlier.
    He wondered if she was aware of it. It felt as if she was reaching to him more for protection than any sense of claiming him in front of another warrior. Either way, it pleased him.
    “Of course, my apologies. I’m Einar.” The other male smiled pleasantly, but it didn’t reach his eyes.
    “What do you want? I am busy,” Con said. With any other warrior he wouldn’t have been so brusque but he wanted Einar gone.
    Next to him Leilani jolted slightly. Perhaps because of his rude tone. She stepped closer to him though, her fingers tightening a fraction. A raw, protective instinct surged through him. He wanted to tug her closer and wrap his arm around her shoulders. Her scent was exotic and sweet, so similar to the rare, bright purple arilod flowers found only in the mountain regions. For some reason, unknown even to their scientists, the flowers only flourished in the cold.
    Einar’s mouth pulled into a thin line. “There is a problem with the construction in sector C. I came to report it to you.”
    The male could have simply contacted him on his communicator, something they both knew. No doubt Einar wanted to see Leilani. Not that Con could blame the male for that. But another delay gave Con an official reason to release Einar from this sector. Perhaps the goddess had smiled on him today.
    “Leilani, will you excuse us?” He needed to speak to Einar privately and even though the male’s mere presence angered him, Con would not embarrass him in front of another.
    She glanced at him, her dark eyes questioning. The trace of worry in them, as if she didn’t want to leave him alone, surprised him. Perhaps she was worried about him? The concept was ridiculous as he could take care of himself, but the thought that she cared was appealing. He nodded once and she strode from the room. It took all his restraint not to watch the soft sway of her ass in those pants. Purchasing them had been a brilliant choice. He needed to buy her more.
    Shelving those thoughts, he focused on Einar. “Effective immediately, Ruari is replacing you as supervisor in sector C. You can remain on the construction squad, return to the Samio or request to move to another sector. I will grant any transfer request.”
    Einar’s expression morphed to one of rage. Con had known this would shock the male, but he was done dealing with him. Einar had transferred here six moon cycles ago and since almost day one he had been a problem. Now Con understood why his former leader had allowed the male to transfer. His file and records were exemplary—the male was quite skilled as a warrior and had a head for construction—but he was too power hungry and did not care about his warrior brethren. If Con had to guess, the male was behind the construction delays in an attempt to make Con look inept. In reality Einar had only hurt himself, because regardless, this delay had sealed his fate.
    His entire body stiffened and for one moment Einar looked as if he might draw his pulse weapon. “You’re relieving me of my duty?”
    “The delays in sector C have become too extensive and we cannot afford any more. It is almost a full moon cycle behind the other sectors.” He would not give any other excuse or reason. Einar knew why he was being relieved and nothing would change