“Thank you, Bodi.”
“You’re going to have to show her. Everything. Before she will trust you.”
She was probably right, but once he showed her his true form, there would be no going back. And that was a bridge he couldn’t cross—a paradox worse than losing time. If he didn’t trust her and show her who he was, he’d lose her, and if he did, the outcome would be the same. He hadn’t felt this cold or hopeless since he’d been lying in that ditch on Koblen.
Last meal before they landed on Chalcanth offered another chance to see Blaize. Her voice floated through the corridor, drawing him to the galley. She was laughing with Veda about something that had happened in engineering. Silently, he entered the space, trying not to disrupt her good mood. Blaize was about to take a seat next to Dez. Cifer darted in and blocked the space, clacking his jaw at Dez. Cifer’s hand shook as he gestured at the next seat for Blaize to sit.
“What do you think you’re doing?” She glared at him but sank into the spot he’d indicated. Her acquiescence calmed him.
He sat next to Dez, who shook his head and chuckled. Cifer looked around the table. All eyes were on them, and every face had a grin. Cifer ducked his head. He didn’t know what he was doing, why possessive rage ripped through him, or why he felt challenged by Dez for Blaize’s affection. Rational thought had abandoned him.
“Stop that,” Blaize hissed at him.
He pulled his hand from her neck, where he’d unconsciously cupped her and was rubbing up and down its length.
Rhysa set a plate in front of him with a knowing grin. “We land in a few hours.”
“Cifer? Any progress with the wholesalers?” Dez asked.
“I’ll be meeting a buyer at the docks.” Cifer tucked into the meal while it was hot. Blaize had nearly finished hers already.
“The docks?” Cyra asked.
“I tried for the spaceport, but apparently the majority of their business is handled on planet between the land masses. So they want to meet at the docks.”
“Makes sense.” Cyra shrugged and returned to her meal.
The captain seemed to trust him, even if Blaize didn’t. He would get the captain the best deal possible to reinforce that trust. Before he could come up with a topic of conversation that included Blaize, she rose from her seat, taking her plate to the sterilizer. “I have some checks to do before we land.”
She wasn’t talking to him, just making a general announcement before she darted out the door. He could be patient. Maybe. The transaction he was working on would prove how much he cared. Words weren’t going to be enough for his beauty.
Once clear of The Treasure, in the shadow of a low building close to the docks, Cifer shifted his appearance to that of a Din’ Gale native. A breeze wafted over his bare head. He rubbed a gray hand over the exposed skin and tracked the gray stripes along his arm. He resembled the prince more than Dez in size. Not a perfect disguise, but good enough.
He rounded the corner and went to the designated berth where a large sailing ship bobbed in the water. Two males appeared on deck. Both blue-skinned and green-haired, like Captain Cyra…and one too familiar—Varik.
How the fuck had he made it back to his planet of origin? Someone had let this fucker go after he’d purchased children and locked Cifer in a cage. That someone would pay dearly for their corruption.
Cifer adjusted his features to hide his scowl. He had the advantage, since Varik wouldn’t recognize him. First order of business: complete the sale.
Cifer introduced himself as Fursahnd, the name he’d used in the messages.
The captain of the sailing ship gave his name and then turned. “This is my associate, Varik. We’ll need to divide the shipment between this ship and his.”
“That wasn’t our agreement. I have other buyers.” Not a lie, but this had been the best price.
The captain sneered. “I’ll add a delivery fee to cover your costs. Also, I’ll want regular deliveries. I have bratty mouths to feed.”
Varik gave a warning grunt.
The back of Cifer’s neck prickled. Bratty mouths to feed plus Varik. Didn’t take a genius to calculate what was happening. “That can be arranged. Where do you need the second delivery?”
“Spaceport.”
“Which bay?”
Varik responded with the information and the name of his ship, Cain’s Alibi.
The Cassan authorities hadn’t even confiscated his ship. Someone had been bought off. Cifer filed that away as a future problem. “All right. Give me some time to split the shipment. Equal parts?”
