Seeing this makes me realize she’s come a long way in healing her past and her reservations of males. Knowing that, even though I wish it were me she was touching, I know I’ve had some part in helping her to learn how she deserves to be treated.
I should back away, give them privacy, but I’m curious to hear if he would give in. I hope not. I don’t want this male to steal away my only friend.
“You know why,” he tells her softly. “Jarain needs you here, and my mission is dangerous. As soon as it’s finished, I’ll come back for you, I promise.”
“What happened?”I ask, guessing he never did come back for her.
Volethos sighs, “Roygan left, and the next span Jarain passed away. We all knew he was old, but he never acted old. Until one day… he just didn’t wake up.
“Igid took it the hardest. I think he was the first male she ever fully trusted. Him even more than me. After that, everything happened fast. Jarain had already gotten his affairs in order, but that didn’t stop the government scavengers from swooping in, pouncing on the estate and trying to steal their share from us.
“Despite the fact that everything was left to Igid and me, suddenly all these fees and taxes were being stacked on. Fees and taxes we couldn’t pay.” Volethos curls his lip and snarls the last bit, and I can’t help feeling angry on his behalf.
“All this time, Igid was trying to comm Roygan but was unable to get through to him. Until finally, on the day the estate was foreclosed on, she finally got through to someone in his crew and found out he’d been killed in battle.”
Fucking hells, poor Igid.
“That night, Igid and I went out to the hangar and loaded everything we owned, or at least cared about, into theShade.It was Jarain’s baby, and he’d left it to Igid, but the government was intent on taking it as part of the estate. Igid had no intention of letting them do any such thing.” Volethos grins at me. “And that’s how she got possession of theShade.”
CHAPTER 20
IGID
* * *
Kurrahstka cocks his head to the side as his flat, black eyes flick back and forth, taking me in. “Are you giving my daughter trouble?”
Daughter?I struggle to keep my eyes on him rather than looking behind me at the female behind the desk. She has a light orange complexion, with long black hair, whereas Kurrahstka’s hide is dark red, nearly black in places, with thick plated scales. There isn’t much resemblance between the two, but I know as well as any that family doesn’t always mean blood.
“Of course not.” I fold my arms across my chest.
“She wants to purchase the two new ones,” the female speaks up behind me. “When I told her they weren’t available, she got in my face.”
Kurrahstka narrows his dark, beady eyes. “And how would you know about the new females?”
“They were on the kiosk under new arrivals. No image. I figured there must be something special about them.” Shifting my weight to one hip, I give him what I hope is a bored look. “I do love special things.”
His eyes jump over my shoulder, no doubt checking my story with his…daughter.
The tapping of keys fills the room, and a moment later, the girl lets out a disappointed sigh. “Someone must have accidentally—”
“Get them off the roster,” Kurrahstka growls. “They aren’t ready yet, and I don’t want this happening again.”
“Well,” I jerk my chin up, trying to look upset, “since I have no other interest in this establishment, I’ll be going—”
“Not so fast.” Kurrahstka takes a step toward me, cutting off my escape. The eerie darkness that are his eyes scan me. “There’s something… familiar about you.”
“I should hope so,” I snort even as my back breaks out in a nervous sweat. “I’ve been known to stop in here from time to time.” It’s a lie, of course, but he doesn’t know that. I hope.
“No,” his head slowly tilts from side to side, “no, it’s not that. Iknowof you. You’re Rovos’ bitch, aren’t you?”
I can’t help the snarl that slips between my teeth and the way my hands clench into fists. “I am no one’sbitch.”
The way Kurrahstka’s mouth pulls into a sharp-toothed smile has my blood running cold. He takes another step toward me, bringing us nearly nose to nose.
“Oh, you’re wrong there.” Before I have a chance to react, he grabs my upper arm and nearly pulls me off my feet, dragging me away from the desk.
“Get your hands off me,” I snarl, breaking free of his grip. Then I cock my arm back and send my fist flying straight into his already flat nose.
