Ravik's Mercy (Braxians Book 2)

by Regine Abel

  I looked forward to visiting Venus Hive again. Aside from Tuur—the new Veredian home world—and Xelix Prime, where our strongest allies lived, that pleasure barge was one of the few places I could fully be myself; no mask, no disguise. Just me. Ravena Mercy Vrok.

  Settling down at my desk inside my personal quarters, I sent a video message to William to warn him of my impending arrival and request an audience with Anton. The journey to Venus Hive would take three weeks. With such a great distance, the message wouldn’t reach him for at least a couple of hours. That task done, I sent a brief message to my mother and sister to let them know of my successful trip to Guldar and to inform them of my current destination. I felt guilty being so cryptic. I’d waited my whole life to be reunited with them, and now I didn’t know how to handle it. I didn’t know how to belong.

  Turning on my computer, I uploaded all of my brother’s files retrieved on Guldar. I had three weeks to plow through them. By the time I reached Venus Hive, he’d have no more secrets from me.

  * * *

  Venus Hive never ceased to amaze me. The space station had grown again since the last time I’d visited it. The word on the street claimed it could now accommodate close to eight million people. Divided into two sections—the Commons and the VIP Area—Venus Hive catered to every form of entertainment; from music concerts to dance shows, casinos to gladiator arenas, fashion and gastronomy, and of course, every possible shade of adult entertainment.

  William greeted me at the docking bay. We were the same age, yet where my hair retained its shiny raven color, silver strands had already begun streaking his light brown locks. Tall and muscular, the former mercenary had maintained his formidable shape. Although the humans’ lifespan now averaged 120 years, they still greyed early in comparison to other species. Smile lines crinkled around William’s deep blue eyes as I approached him. He extended a hand in greeting, a Terran salutation protocol I usually disliked, but not with him; he didn’t suffer from sweaty, clammy palms. He took my hand in his firm grip, then leaned forward to place a friendly kiss on my cheek. His five o’clock shadow pricked my skin, but it wasn’t unpleasant.

  “Hello, Mercy,” William said, gesturing towards the hovercar waiting for us.

  I smiled. “Hello, Will. Thank you, once again, for answering my call. I’m starting to pile up the I.O.U.s as you Terrans like to say.”

  William chuckled. “You certainly are. Maybe I should cash in now,” he said as I entered the vehicle.

  The door closed, and I waited for him to circle around the other side to enter.

  “Oh, and what type of payment do you have in mind?” I asked after he settled in and closed his door.

  “HQ,” William told the car’s A.I. before turning to me as the vehicle started moving. “I haven’t decided yet, but I wouldn’t mind being introduced to one of your Veredian sisters. They’re all stunning. A healer or a mind-reader would be a very nice added bonus.”

  I snorted. “Good luck with that. The Admiral is very protective of the Veredians. He’ll likely demand you move to Tuur if you want to mate one of the Sisters.”

  “Ugh,” William said, wrinkling his nose. “Pretty as you all are, I’m not butting heads with the Tuurean leader.”

  “Wise man,” I said, teasingly. “So then, what will it be?”

  “You know, I’m not doing this for any kind of repayment. We’re friends. And I happen to support your actions. This slavery business needs to end. You’ll always have my help on that front.”

  “Thank you,” I said with genuine gratitude. “It means a lot.”

  His answer hadn’t surprised me. Still, it warmed my heart to know decency still existed out there. Especially from someone I considered a friend.

  “Anton will help you, but Braxia is a krillik’s nest. I fear for your safety.”

  “You know I can take care of myself,” I said, both touched by his concern and annoyed by his overprotectiveness.

  “Yes, Mercy, I know you can fight,” he said in a conciliatory tone, “but even Anton wouldn’t face off against a pureblood.”

  “He’s a hybrid, I’m a Veredian Warrior,” I countered. “I’m faster.”

  “That, you may be, but a Braxian Warrior can also kill you in one blow. One mistake is all it would take.”

  I pursed my lips. “Fair enough. I’m not going there to fight, anyway. I just want to shutdown whatever operation my brother may have had running there and find the clients list. The Goddess willing, I’ll be in and out of there in a handful of days.”

  “Good,” William said as the vehicle pulled up alongside the busy walkways in front of the Venus Hive HQ.

  William got out and circled around the car to help me out, but I’d already exited. He gave me an annoyed look that made me chuckle. Human males had this endearing thing about being chivalrous, an archaic set of behavioral rules towards females meant to denote respect and courtesy. It personally struck me as often inconvenient for the male, but sweet nonetheless to be on the receiving end.

  A handsome, young security guard approached, nodded at us, then entered the car, no doubt to go park it somewhere. We headed inside the gleaming white building.

  “I cannot free myself right now to accompany you to Braxia,” William said, “but I’d like you to let me assign one of my guards to your security detail so…”

  “Fuck no!” I exclaimed as we entered the sleek building that both housed the Venus Hive HQ and Anton’s private penthouse. “I’ve had enough of the whole chaperon bit on Guldar.”

  “I knew you’d say that,” William said, rolling his eyes.

  “Then why did you offer?” I deadpanned.

  “So that, when you get spanked and finally put aside that ridiculous pride of yours to ask for help, I’ll be able to say I told you so.”

  I caught myself almost making a face at him. In the few weeks spent on Xelix Prime with my niece and her children, her mischievous ways had already started rubbing off on me.

  As we headed toward the elevators, my gaze lingered on the sexy but tasteful paintings that graced the white walls of HQ. They differed from the ones I’d seen the last time I came here but remained in the same spirit; sexy couples of all pairings locked in steamy embraces and various BDSM scenes artistically posed with no naughty bits on full display, just heavily hinted at.

  The receptionist, a pretty redhead named Dana, nodded at us before opening her com, probably to inform Anton of our arrival. We headed for the elevator at the back of the gleaming white and chrome hallway beside the reception desk. Five numbered elevators stood on each side of the corridor. The doors of Elevator One, located at the end of the corridor, opened at our approach, the luminescent tribal patterns framing and lighting it up.

  “With that said, your timing couldn’t be better,” William said as the elevator flew upwards to the penthouse. “The Magnar will arrive shortly. He normally wouldn’t have visited Anton before next week, but the Gladiator Annual Championship ends tomorrow night and, of course, Braxians are dominating.”

  I snorted. With their average height looming over seven-and-a-half feet and average weight of 330 pounds of pure muscle, the mere sight of those giants sufficed to make most opponents freeze in fear. Despite my earlier bravado, William was right to warn me off from engaging in battle with them.

  “Well, I cannot wait to see what the purest bloodline of Braxia looks like,” I said in a teasing tone.

  William chuckled and shook his head. The elevator door opened on the large entrance hall of the penthouse overlooking a luxurious living area. We didn’t go down the three steps into it but instead followed the same hallway, left of the elevator, that William had taken me through the last time I had visited.

  “I will never understand you,” William said, teasingly. “Beautiful women like you usually go for the most handsome men.”

  I shrugged. “I like my pets to be pretty. I like my men beastly and ferocious.”

  “So I’ve learned,” he mused with a wink.
<
br />   I affectionately bumped shoulders with him as he knocked on the door to Anton’s office.

  We’d met a couple of decades ago during a business deal. He’d been interested, but while I greatly enjoyed his personality, he hadn’t attracted me that way. Being a good sport, he hadn’t turned into a jerk as men often did after getting rejected and hadn’t tried to mess up the deal to screw me over out of spite. From there, a slow friendship had blossomed. I could go months, even years, without speaking to him. Yet the moment we met, it always felt like we’d last talked the day before.

  William opened the door when Anton’s muffled voice bid us enter.

  “Your guest has arrived,” William said to Anton as he waved me in.

  “Ms. Vrok,” Anton said in greeting, rising from the chair behind his massive, dark wood desk.

  “Mr. Aldriss,” I responded after a thank you nod at William.

  My old friend made a discreet exit as Anton walked around his desk to approach me. He gestured toward the comfortable leather chair in the sitting area across from his desk. My eyes flicked towards the red Empire chair in front of his desk. I’d actually looked forward to sitting in it, considering the first time I’d visited this office, my sister had occupied that Terran antique.

  I almost felt guilty walking with my knee high, black leather boots on the shaggy beige carpet. I settled down on the brown, leather couch and crossed my legs. Anton’s dark eyes flicked to the side of my exposed thighs, taking in my Veredian markings there, his gaze moving up to the ones along my exposed arms and neck before locking eyes with me. An amused smile stretched his sensual lips.

  My cheeks heated slightly. I’d always been a bit of a flirt, especially when faced with a man attractive by my standards. However, this time, I hadn’t meant to make a move or flaunt my assets. Anton was happily mated, and I respected such vows. The absence of lust in his stare should have stung my pride. Instead, it further increased my respect for him. From all accounts, he and his wife had had a tumultuous start to their relationship, one that would have irrevocably broken most couples. Yet, after five years of marriage, their devotion to each other was a thing of legend.

  “May I offer you something to drink?” Anton asked.

  I shook my head. “No, thank you. I’d rather keep my head clear and endeavor to make a good impression.”

  Anton chuckled and took a seat in the chair across from me, his massive frame filling it. Although a half-breed, he had inherited the prominent forehead, strong brow line, and broad, flat nose of his Braxian father. His human mother had given him softer, less brutish features, and a smaller size than a pureblood, although imposing by non-Braxian standards.

  There was something about beastly men that turned me on. Too bad most Braxians turned into complete bastards when it came to relationships.

  “Thank you for making time in your busy schedule to see me, Mr. Aldriss,” I said with a smile.

  “Anton,” he said with his rumbling voice.

  “Only if you call me Ravena,” I said.

  “Certainly, Ravena,” he answered.

  I didn’t miss the slight narrowing of his eyes. William had probably referred to me as Mercy. It was my middle name, neither Guldan nor Veredian, but one that I only allowed those in my inner circle to use.

  “I understand you have business on Braxia?” he asked, although he didn’t state it as a question.

  “Indeed,” I said. “I’m embarrassed to ask for your help again so soon, but you are the only Braxian I know.”

  Anton smiled. It softened his otherwise fearsome face.

  “Think nothing of it,” he said, waving a dismissive hand. “According to your niece’s daughter, Zharina, you and I will become family when she marries my son in who only knows how many years from now.”

  I snorted and shook my head. On top of her impressive healing powers, my niece’s young three-year-old daughter appeared to have inherited a form of foresight. To our collective shock, she’d claimed Anton’s son as her future husband, even though they had never met physically.

  “That little brat is trouble,” I said affectionately. “Still, I appreciate it.”

  “That said, is there any way I can discourage you from going?” Anton asked.

  I frowned. “Why?”

  Anton heaved a sigh. “Braxia is not a very nice place. Hybrids do not fare well over there. I should know,” he said, his tone hardening. “And females have it just as bad. You are both. Worse still, you are unique.” He cast a meaningful glance at my horns and then at my Veredian markings. “Many clans struggle financially since the end of the Great Wars. Selling you would completely turn their fate around.”

  I pinched my lips at that same argument again which had forever been the bane of my existence.

  “I thought the Magnar had forbidden the hunting of hybrids?” I asked.

  “He has, but male half-breeds continue to turn up dead in ditches and dark alleys. It takes more than an edict to erase centuries of fanaticism. Braxians love the purity of their bloodlines.”

  The barely veiled bitterness in his tone spoke volumes of the abuse he’d endured growing up. I couldn’t begin to imagine what it must have felt like living every day of your life wondering if it would be your last, simply because your blood happened to be mixed with a non-Braxian.

  “Female hybrids are always welcomed to be used as clan whores to entertain both the clansmen and their guests.”

  “Surely, they don’t assault any female that visits your home world?” I asked, slowly rocking my crossed leg back and forth.

  “Women don’t visit Braxia,” he said, a serious look in his eyes. “And those who go there are accompanied by their mate or some kind of male protector in case anyone got funny ideas.”

  I sighed heavily, hiding none of my annoyance.

  “I know it is difficult for independent women to deal with such a backward thinking culture, but for your sake, I would ask that you place yourself under the protection of my father’s clan.”

  I brushed at non-existent lint on the short skirt of my skin-tight, leather dress. Funnily enough, one might have thought Anton and I had consulted with each other for our outfits; he wore black leather pants and a form-fitting dark grey t-shirt.

  “What does that entail?” I asked.

  “You would cover your markings, stay at the clan’s compound, and be escorted wherever you need to go.”

  “Fuck. That.”

  “Which part? Your markings, the escort, or the compound?” Anton asked.

  “All of the above?”

  “Ravena…” Anton said with a stern look in his eyes and a ‘be reasonable’ tone of voice.

  In that instant, I could almost see my father addressing me in a similar fashion. My chest tightened with the familiar pain of loss. Even after nearly six years, I still mourned my father.

  “I refuse to hide my nature anymore. I’ve been hidden my whole life. Enough is enough. Regarding the compound, I have to stay at my brother’s place on Braxia. It will be faster if I can work around the clock. As for an escort, I’m not there on a sightseeing tour.” I clasped my hands in front of me and lifted my chin somewhat defiantly. “If I need to move, my butt gets on a hoverbike. Good luck to anyone trying to keep up with me.”

  I loved speed and had even done a bit of racing, to my father’s great displeasure. But more importantly, I’d had enough of being shackled and ‘protected’ from everyone and everything.

  Anton pursed his lips, pondering.

  “Listen, I don’t mean to be difficult. I know you’re trying to help, but isn’t there some way I can be afforded some wiggle room?” I asked, almost pleadingly. He was doing me a huge favor simply by listening to me. I didn’t want to come across as ungrateful or precious. “Would it help if we made it publicly known that I am under the protection of the Tuureans?”

  “Everyone is aware that Tuureans will hunt down anyone who threatens a Veredian, but that threat would hold more weight if you had a Tuurean with
you. It’s a long ride from the Western Quadrant for them to get here to rescue you. By the time they arrive, your buyer will be long gone.”

  It was my turn to purse my lips. I had Tuurean armor, courtesy of my sister, but that didn’t solve my ‘you need a chaperon’ problem.

  “In other words, I’m fucked.”

  Anton gave me a commiserating smile. “If you allow my father to introduce you in the Magnar’s Great Hall as his guest and agree to have one of the clansmen accompany you when you move around the city, I believe it will be enough.”

  “But I get to stay in my brother’s residence?”

  Although reluctant, Anton nodded.

  “As long as you allow the clansmen to verify the security of his house.”

  “Fine,” I said, scrunching my face.

  Anton chuckled. “Good. Then it is settled.” He rose to his feet, and I followed suit. “You must stay with us. We’ve already had one of the guest rooms prepared for you. My Grace has been looking forward to your arrival. She would love some company and to hear news of the Western Quadrant.”

  “You honor me,” I said, surprised by the unexpected invitation.

  “The Magnar is scheduled to arrive in a few hours. If you’re up for it, Grace and I will take you both out to sample some of the wonders of Venus Hive.”

  Now, that sounded like a plan.

  “You’re on,” I said with a grin.

  CHAPTER 3

  Ravik

  “Their expectations are unrealistic,” Anton said with a frown.

  “And yet, they expect me to have answers for them,” I said with a discouraged sigh.

  I stepped up to the tall window of Anton’s living area. It overlooked the main walkway of the VIP section of Venus Hive. The clever layout of the buildings and the décor gave the impression of looking at a landscaped plaza with muted colors and unobstrusive business signs barely visible from this viewpoint.