“Kraasz ka’val, kiraia,” he growled between kisses, “I love you, too.”
Urgand grunted and muttered a curse. “This is new equipment. Clean up your damned mess when you’re done.”
Neither Drakkal nor Shay paid any attention as the vorgal tapped the control, dismissing the screens and sending the scanners back to the base of the chair, and exited the room.
Their lips caressed and nipped, their tongues flicked and stroked. Shay’s fingers delved into Drakkal’s mane, and she drew him closer; she needed more of him. Drakkal settled his big hand—his flesh and blood hand—over her belly. As though sensing him, Shay’s daughter stretched, reaching toward him.
Drakkal lifted his head, separating their mouths. His intense green eyes locked with hers.
“She ismine. You’re both mine,kiraia.” His hand curled protectively, though gently, around her belly as he cupped her jaw with his prosthetic hand and tilted her face up toward his. “May the ancestors hear my vow, made by my bone and my blood—I will allow nothing to harm you or your cub so long as I draw breath.” He pressed his forehead against hers, his voice gruff as he said, “You are mine to love, mine to protect, mine to keep.”
SEVENTEEN
“Come, my boy, and sit down,” Master Foltham said, waving Nostrus over to the desk.
Nostrus closed the door and strode across the study. He sat in one of the chairs and settled his arms over the armrests.
Master Foltham leaned forward, propping his elbows on his desk. “Well, have we made progress?”
Careful to keep his expression neutral, Nostrus nodded. “I believe we’ve found a…suitable candidate, sir.”
“All this time and only one candidate?” Master Foltham huffed and shoved away from the table to lean back in his seat. “The cost is of no concern, Nostrus. If I need to hire a small army to have justice, I will!”
“I understand, sir.” Nostrus drew in a steadying breath. He knew he’d been overly sensitive regarding this matter, but he couldn’t let it go. He couldn’t allow another stain to cling to his father’s name, couldn’t allow his own reputation to remain tainted. “But, as you’ve said, we must go about this delicately. Your security is my foremost concern, and putting out an open contract risks drawing too much attention.”
Master Foltham’s throat skin swelled for a moment. “The best, Nostrus. Thiscandidatehad better be the absolute best available.”
“Everything we’ve been able to dig up so far, sir, points to that. This hunter’s reputation has been earned over many years of work.”
“Hmm. And yet you sound trepidatious.”
“Most bounty hunters who are willing to go after runaway slaves, sir, are barely a step above criminals,” Nostrus said carefully. “Regardless of reputation, I have difficulty bringing myself to trust their ilk.”
Nodding thoughtfully, Master Foltham settled his hands over his belly. “Perhaps. But I imagine a generous bounty is enough to curtail any thoughts of betrayal.”
Just like a high payout was supposed to keep that azhera from stealing from you in your own home?
“I can’t pretend to understand the motivations of such individuals, Master Foltham.”
“No, of course not. You’re a cultured being, young Nostrus. But if there’s one thing I know, if there’s one secret to my success, it’s the understanding that you ought to turn elsewhere when something falls outside your own areas of expertise, especially when acquiring those skills is impractical. We need animals hunted down and dragged home, so we must seek out one well versed in dealing with such creatures—someone barely removed from animals themselves.”
The rage that had been simmering within Nostrus for weeks flared a little at that; he was deemed unfit to perform this duty, but someone Master Foltham considered barely more than an animal was qualified?
Nostrus realized in that moment that he’d been gritting his teeth. He forced his jaw to relax. “Sir, I will dedicate my everymoment to hunting them down. I’ll bring them back to you. I’ve scores to settle with both of them.”
“I’ll not discuss that matter with you again, Nostrus. You know my mind on it. You’ll have your revenge, rest assured, though it will not be in the terms for which you’re so desperate.” Master Foltham lifted a hand a few centimeters and waved his fingers lazily. “Now then, do you have the contact information for this bounty hunter?”
“I do, sir.”
“And have you made any inquiries regarding the arrangement of a contract?”
“A member of my team has made contact. The hunter was willing to discuss the matter further.”
Master Foltham reached forward and brought up a holographic display over his desk. With a flick of his fingers, he turned the screen to face Nostrus. “Call the hunter now. I want this set into motion.”
“Sir, it would be?—”
Master Foltham slapped his hand down and shifted his considerable bulk forward to loom over his desk. “I want my terran back, Nostrus, and I’ll wait not a minute longer than necessary. It’s been what? Forty-nine days?Fifty? I have always exercised patience in all things, but the limits of my patience have been hard-pressed by this situation. Call the hunter. Now.”