Drakkal sighed heavily and considered the question closely. He couldn’t be sure whether thinking about it was a good thing or a bad thing. “She doesn’t have to be killed.”
“You’re allowed to disagree with me,” Arcanthus said, “but that doesn’t make you right.”
“Arrogant bastard.”
Arcanthus grinned. “Maybe. But”—his expression fell intosomething hard and unforgiving—“what she did to you is just as bad as what Vaund did to us back on Caldorius. No…even worse.”
Drakkal nodded, dropping his gaze to the carpet. “You’re right, but the circumstances here are different. Can you see if there’s anything to dig up on her? I want to know what she’s been up to since the last time I saw her.”
“She’s in Arthos, Drak. That alone makes her dangerous.”
“She’s just another fucking slaver,” Drakkal growled. “That’d be reason enough for me, even without the rest.”
“I can make all the arrangements. I’ll even take care of it personally. What she did is unforgivable.”
“No. Notyet. We need to know who she is now before we make a move, or we might end up starting another damned war we’re not prepared to fight.”
“Come on, azhera. Make a decision based purely on emotion for once! A rash, bold decision.”
Drakkal laughed, but it was only half-full of humor. “Oh, I have, sedhi. And those risks have paid off so far. I’m cashing out before my luck runs dry.”
“I understand that. You said she threw in with the slavers when they took you, right?”
Drakkal nodded.
Arcanthus leaned forward, reached across the open space between the couches, and patted Drakkal’s shoulder. “All right. If there’s anything to find on her, I’ll find it. Slavers can be hard, though. They don’t usually stay in one place long enough to leave much of a record behind. We’ll play this one safe.”
“I’ve been waiting so many years to hear you say that.”
Arc grinned. “I like to make my sweet little kitty happy.”
“You don’t deserve it, but I’m going to say it anyway, even after that. Thanks, Arcanthus. And… I’m sorry. For lying.”
Arcanthus gave Drakkal’s shoulder a squeeze and pushedhimself to his feet. “We’ve learned some hard lessons in our time, Drakkal. And through all of that, you were the only constant, the only thing I could depend on. This doesn’t change any of that. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a mate awaiting me—hopefully still in the shower. Get back to your Shay and Leah.”
“Don’t have to tell me twice.” Drakkal stood up and dragged his fingers through his mane, tugging out the tangles, as Arcanthus walked toward the door.
“Night, Drak.”
“Night, Arc.”
Drakkal entered the hallway a bit behind Arcanthus and started back toward the room he shared with Shay. She and Leah were both sound asleep when he entered, the cub tucked securely into the little basket-like nest standing beside the bed—Shay and Sam had called it abassinet. Drakkal gently brushed the pad of a finger over Leah’s forehead, touching soft skin and softer hair. She was so tiny—he could easily hold her on one hand.
“Sleep well, little one,” he whispered before carefully climbing onto the bed beside his mate.
When he eased an arm beneath Shay’s neck and around her shoulders, she stirred just enough to turn onto her side, facing him, and snuggle against his body.
Drakkal eased himself down fully and held Shay close. Despite his weariness, he didn’t allow his heavy eyelids to drift shut. Instead, he watched Shay sleep, studying her face and admiring her beauty. He felt the serenity displayed on her features in his own heart, nestled deep and radiating warmth.
Right here, right now, there was no outside world. There were no threats, no dangers. Everything was peaceful. Everything was right.
Everything wasperfect.
TWENTY
Drakkal watched warily as the female kaital dipped a hand into her pocket to withdraw a credit chip. Her long, pointed ears were downturned, accentuating her frown which nearly spanned her narrow face. She pressed the chip’s display button, producing a hologram displaying the credits loaded onto the device. The total was exact; so far, so good.
He nodded to her and willed the small secret compartment on his prosthetic forearm open. He removed the IDR—ID re-coder—that had been hidden within, taking the small, thin, cylindrical device between the thumb and forefinger of his right hand to show the kaital. He placed it on her open palm and plucked up the credit chip.