“That is your opinion,” Geffa snapped, showing some fire.“Maloidians find no fault with Yithians.”
“Tokens are tokens,” Cylo said, casting a glance at Malo with his arms folded across his chest.“You would sell your mother if she gained you an above-fair price.”
Geffa spluttered.
“Do not bother denying it.”Cylo flicked his hand.“Your Ambassador Barro has taught us much about your culture.”
Geffa dipped his chin, averting his solid-black gaze.
“Nothing ill to say about such a prestigious male?”Cylo splayed his hands on the table, trapping the dagger.
“He is too ambitious, andhewould sell his mother,” Geffa spat.
“No lost favor between you two,” Cylo mused.
“I do not know him, nor does he know me.”Geffa raised his chin in adorable defiance.“We have not met.”
“And yet, you united with Yithia in their quest to farm the Earthians.That sounds like an ambassadorial role.”
Geffa scowled.“We took one female and returned her soon after.She was most unpleasant.I would rather face a sogair in a…room like this.”
Cylo hummed at that bit of nonsense.“Are you saying a race known for its mercy delivered the female to her home?Did not jettison her from the nearest airlock?”
Geffa’s yellow skin paled.
“It is as I thought.”Cylo spun the dagger then passed it to Malo.“I am not in the mood to spill blood today, so if you would be so kind as to tell me everything I want to know, I will ensure your life is spared.Lie to me once, and your outcome will not be so positive.”
“Good.Keep up the pressure,” Malo muttered, too low for the Maloidian to hear.
“I am waiting, Geffa.”Cylo flashed a charming smile.“Or would you prefer I hand you over to Malo to deal with?He is most anxious to demonstrate his skills.”
“Oh, I am?”Malo growled.
“They offered me a choice.Help kidnap these females or die.”Geffa scoffed.“I was forced into this.She was not our first, but she was the last.The two before her…died.”
Ice coated Cylo’s heart, eradicating any good humor he was in.“How?”he asked, his tone clipped.
“One punched the Yithian in the face and scraped her knuckles over his teeth.”Geffa trembled, his lips flapping as if he was about to vomit.“The other…I was told, threw herself out of the launching shuttle.”
Cylo scowled.What he’d heard of Earthian females was on par with the punch but not the plummet.They fought even when it was foolhardy to do so.
“I see you plan to die this day,” he gritted out.“How did the second one die, Geffa?”
“I told you—”
Cylo stabbed the blade an inch above the Maloidian’s heart.“How?”he whispered, bringing his mouth to the male’s ear.
Geffa gasped, clutching his chest as blood spilled from between his fingers.With a perforated lung, he would live.“A soldier pushed her out.”
“So why hide this?”Cylo frowned.“What do you gain by keeping this from me?”He paced, slicing glances at Geffa with every turn.“Unless she was not the second to die.How many before her?After her?”
He clenched his jaw.This disrespect for life grated him, especially when each female lost meant an Etterian male not saved from the void consuming their souls.The lifemate bond known as the Ethera wouldn’t be triggered, and no damu would be born to save their species.Perhaps Maloidians and Yithians killed these females on purpose?Malo, no doubt, understood what motivated them.Cylo did, as well, to some extent.But deep down, there were hidden triggers that most were oblivious to.Even him.
“How many?”he roared, slapping the table.
Still clutching his wound, Geffa jerked back, his skin paling to a giyua yellow.“Six…teen.”
Fury exploded through Cylo.He gripped the handle, on the verge of plunging the dagger into the male’s chest again.This time, he wouldn’t miss.
