She agreed to give up her armband, the bond to her sister's family. Romas had made no other conditions, for there were none to be made. Once she gave up her bond and accepted another, she belonged to him. It was no longer kidnapping. Whether or not she wished to accompany him was not his concern. The connection alone might prevent a full-scale war. The two dhjan were now bound.
And yet he knew war was not so simple between two clans with a history of blood feud as theirs had. He wouldn't await word from the Council but would warn his counselors and advisors to avoid Kisolm's planet.
The second battle he would leave to his sisters: teaching his lifemate how to behave according to dhjan standards. He hadn't met a woman quite as rough around the edges as his was. Even his youngest sister was composed and respectful of her place and a warrior's needs and expectations. His lifemate's expressive eyes prevented her from appearing composed; she had looked either frightened or confused during their short interaction.
From what he'd gleaned from Kisolm and others during his imprisonment, she was new to the planet and their customs. He didn't doubt that once she reached her new home and his sisters reminded her how to act, she would be both exquisite and tame. Perhaps the brief stay on the craft would help her adjust. She'd need more help when she realized the rightful dhjan of Anshan and his family were in near-poverty and living in exile. She'd not mated as highly as she might have if she remained with Evelyn and mated with Kisolm, the next ruler of Qatwal. Having been raised as rivals in all areas, A'Ran took a very unwarrior-like satisfaction out of having bested Kisolm finally.
"How do the battle plans come?" he asked without removing his eyes from his lifemate.
"Not well."
He expected the news and turned away from the wall displaying his woman to the wall displaying his battle plans. Ne'Rin didn't have the mind for battle planning, another reason A'Ran hesitated to assume the worst about him. Ne'Rin was the kind of man who took orders, not the kind of man who valued strategy. Someone else would have to do the thinking for him if he were to execute any kind of betrayal.
A'Ran studied Ne'Rin, aware he had more than the potential war with Qatwal to contend with.