by Stone, Layla
In the back of his mind, Shine had several things he didn’t like about Adelia, but none of them would be nice, and Z was his friend. Insulting the Silk’s mate was beneath Shine. “I don’t have anything against her. Or you.”
Z narrowed his eyes. “You and I have been friends for a long time. And I didn’t think I would have to tell you this but… If you lie to me again, we’re going to have problems. Now, I’m going to ask you again, what do you have against my mate?”
Shine knew that Z wouldn’t hurt him. Not like Karr would. But worst case, it might destroy their business partnership and long friendship. Not that it wasn’t already broken. “I don’t hate her. But I’ve noticed that you’ve let her consume every waking moment of your life. That can’t be healthy. I know you have bahity, and you’ve got the whole Grach addiction thing, but…still. It’s just sad that you can’t see it.”
Z moved back in his seat. “You’re saying that your issue isn’t with my mate but that I pay too much attention to her?”
“I don’t have a problem. I’m just telling you what I see. And I see a friend falling into an unhealthy addiction.” Shine looked at his empty hands and wished he could think of a way to find Nara and make sure she was okay.
“Fair enough. At least we don’t have a problem. But what we do have is our victory drink for you completing the genie.” Pulling out two glasses, he watched Z pour and handed him the second glass.
Shine didn’t feel like celebrating. The tumbler felt heavy with the guilt of knowing Shine should have bought a tracker for Nara the second she came home. Especially with her working for Karr.
Z took a sip and looked at the glass appreciatively. “Not bad.”
Shine looked at his glass. He couldn’t waist another second in Z’s vehicle. Downing the contents and setting the glass on the side bar, he said, “I have to go.”
Z held up the bottle. “So soon? One more glass?”
Shine shook his head.
Z took another sip and leaned back. “I was going to bring a gun and a glare, but you seemed like you needed better motivation.”
Looking around the cab, Shine didn’t see any rope or a pistol. But he did feel heavy. “What did you bring?”
“Hard-hook.” A few drops and he would be forced to tell the truth about anything.
Everyone was drugging him, and it was pissing him off. “You bastard,” Shine said, lunging at the male. Z was fast but not as fast as Shine. His fist plowed into Z’s jaw, knocking the Demon over. Z kicked him in the chest, and he landed against the wall. His head stung from the impact. He shook it off and lunged again.
This time, Z took the hit but rolled him, face-down on the floor as he held his arms back. Z’s knee dug into Shine’s spine. Yelling, “get off!” did nothing.
“All right, well, I’m going to assume this hurts.”
“Like my spine is about to break.”
Z made a noise in the back of his throat before he gave in. Slightly. Then he said, “Let’s see if the hard-hook is working. What was the worst day of your life?”
The words came out before Shine could bite them back. “The day my mother died.”
“Right. And what picture do I have of you that I hold for blackmail insurance?”
Shine didn’t even know why Z still had the photo. “The one with me in the Kingling pajamas.”
“Right. So now that I know it’s working, I want to know why you’re angry at my mate.”
The words were in his throat. He knew what they were. He didn’t want to believe their truth. He tried to deny it. But his mouth revealed his dark jealousy. “She took you away. Everything that used to be us is now you and her.”
“Figured. Glad you said it. But here’s something you should know, that painting with the mother and the son I gave you…Adelia painted it.”
She painted it? Shine didn’t know why, but it bothered him more to know that the female he disliked was the one who had made something he valued so much. Damn it, he didn’t want to like her, but he loved that painting, and to be fair, she hadn’t done anything to him.
Z was lucky to have a mate. But why did he have to spend so much time with her?
“Next question,” Z said, interrupting Shine’s withering shame. “Why are you mad at yourself?”
Shine’s head fell. He heard the words funneling through his mind. He didn’t want to say them but was helpless not to. “You know the answer. I killed my mom. I let her suffer, I left her helpless and unprotected.”
“You didn’t kill her, Shine. Damn it, all this time, you still think it’s your fault.” Z slapped the back of Shine’s head. “We were thirty, and even if you did pick up the phone, there was no way to know if you would have gotten to her on time.”
Z didn’t know anything. Maybe he could have. Maybe his mother would have lived out her life if he’d just paid attention to her. “I didn’t even get the bastard Demon off her back. Just took off and left her behind. I deserved to die, not her.” His voice broke on the last word.
“You were young. We were young and trying to make our own lives. We didn’t know that a deal could be broken until we were older and realized that we could have offered a new deal. She didn’t know, and we didn’t know. You have to let the guilt go.”
No. Shine would never let it go. “You can’t control me. You can’t tell me what I can and can’t think.”
“You stubborn bastard. I am trying to help you.” Z pushed his knee farther into Shine’s back until Shine screamed.
“Stop! STOP.”
Z shouted back and lifted some pressure from Shine’s spine. “You stop. Stop blaming yourself for your mother’s death. Because the sooner you do, the sooner you can be a person again. One who engages with people, laughs, jokes, and pays attention. The old you wouldn’t have deleted newborn baby pictures because you’re jealous of my mate. You were the one who said that when you got older, you wanted to mate like Terrans do.”
“I was thirty. That was over a hundred and fifty years ago,” Shine hissed.
“You’re not hearing me. When you lost your mother, you lost a piece of yourself. The Terran side of you. With the exception of offering deals, which you don’t, you act like you’re a Night Demon outcast.”
Shine tried to get up, but Z put more pressure on his spine. Though not painfully this time. “Last question, and then I’ll leave because I hate wasting my time—and you’re annoyingly stubborn.”
“I can’t wait to hear this.”
Z smacked him on the back of the head. Shine’s forehead hit the floor. “After this, we’re going to really fight it out. But first, what did Karr do to you?”
The words formed slowly, and Shine was amazed at the truth. His voice sounded almost foreign when he answered. “He gave me someone, and I failed to protect her, too.”
Shine felt relief on his back. He turned, then used his legs to kick out and knock Z over. And then the real fight began. First thing Shine did when he could was smash his friend’s pretty face into the navigation screen, cracking it. “That’s for slipping me hard-hook.”
Twenty minutes later, Shine was telling Z all about Nara.
15
Broken
After days of eating nutrient bars and drinking bagged water, Nara was ready to eat anything with flavor. Which is why she polished off all six multi-frosted doughnuts. The Red Demon who escorted her from the lab was on his Minky pad, typing feverishly and mumbling to himself. He wrapped his hand around the pad and looked like he was ready to chuck the electronic device. “Sweet baby Seth, I’m going to kill her.”
Nara chuckled. “Killing is so final. Mentally scarring is better than a quick death.”
The Demon looked up. “I’m talking about my daughter, who just made another babysitter quit. I’m not going to kill her, it’s only an expression.”
It was odd how she looked at him differently. He was a father? And he sounded responsible. Not like he was a lackey for a soulless bastard.
“What’s h
er name?”
The Demon looked back down at his pad and started typing again. “None of your business.”
She didn’t take that personally. “What’s your name, then?”
“Denny.”
Denny wasn’t a horrible name. “It’s nice to officially meet you.”
“Is it?”
She rolled her eyes. “I know that if Karr told you to kill me, you would. Just like if I had a chance, I’d knock you out and grab the fob you have in your side pocket. Besides that, you seem like a decent Demon. So, yeah, it’s nice to put a name to your face.”
Denny stopped and looked up. His brown eyes took her in, and she could almost see that he wanted to smile. “I guess you’re right, Nara, you seem decent enough. Now. But when I first met you, you acted like an entitled female and like everyone was beneath you. So, I hope that whatever Shine is doing to curb that little attitude of yours continues because, eventually, Karr is going to start pushing. And when he does, you will need to shut up and do as he says without mouthing back. Trust me when I say he does not have a sense of humor. No matter how many times he smiles or plays with you.”
There was a lot in that response, and Nara wanted to address all of it, but what came out was, “I’m a Numan, I know when I’m around a psychopath. I know Karr could kill me, and it wouldn’t even faze him.” What she’d said was true but, unfortunately, she’d figured him out too late and worried about the inevitable end to her contract. Karr could be the kind of psycho that wouldn’t let her go when she finished. He could want to tie up loose ends. He could also be the type that killed her just because he didn’t need her anymore. If Karr were a Numan, he would do the latter. Deep down, she hoped he was more Demon possessive and would want to keep her on the planet. Honestly, she was just too damn pretty to die.
The Demon checked the navigation screen before responding. “Good, I’m glad you know that.”
The ride was quiet for the next ten minutes. As soon as the Grummer stopped in the parking lot, she stepped out and looked at the tall building with apprehension. It was long after dark, and Shine might already be asleep. She hoped that he was just watching his dumb documentary and would be pleased to see her.
In the past three days, she’d thought about him and imagined coming home. Wondered what he would do or say.
“Hey,” Denny said. “Why do you look so worried? You afraid he might have replaced you already?”
She snorted. “Shine couldn’t replace me if he looked for a thousand years.”
“There’s that attitude I remember.” Denny smiled.
Walking towards the door, she said, “Don’t smile like that, it’ll make me think you like my attitude.”
“Clue in, sweetheart, I do. All Demons like attitude.”
She side-glanced at him as they entered the lobby. “That’s twisted.” But then she wondered if Shine liked her attitude, too. Shine didn’t come down when he buzzed them in. Was it stupid to be angry about that?
Inside the elevator, Denny said, “Being attracted to strong partners isn’t twisted. What’s really twisted is the lengths a male Demon will go to get our bed partner addicted to us before we let them go.”
Nara didn’t like hearing that. Maybe she should be grateful that Shine hadn’t tried to get in her pants a couple of days ago. He was showing her that he wasn’t trying to twist her up and play mind games with her.
When they were in front of the door, Denny added, “If it were me, we would have already blitzed our brains out, and I’d have another female in my bed right now. I’d even make sure I answered this door naked.”
The door opened, and Nara almost hissed when she saw Shine’s bare chest. She immediately looked down to make sure he wasn’t naked. He wasn’t. Pushing herself in, she moved to the spot where she could see inside the bedroom.
No one.
Her chest relaxed. I knew it, she told herself, belatedly noticing Denny’s laughter from the hall.
She heard the chirp from her cuff activating. When she turned around, Denny was shoving the little black fob into his pocket, and Shine was shutting the door. His eyes were glazed over and had dark circles under them.
Rubbing her hands on her thighs, she stood, waiting for him to say something. Both stared at each other for a moment, then he said, “What were you looking for?”
“I wanted to make sure you didn’t get rid of my things,” she lied.
His eyebrows furrowed. “I wouldn’t do that.”
No, he wouldn’t, and even though she hadn’t known him long, she knew that much. What she didn’t know was what he was thinking about. He was standing there, not speaking, not doing anything. “Did you drink my wine?”
“No.”
“Damn. It’s probably gone bad by now. Next time, don’t let it go to waste.”
Shine finally looked away, rubbing his head. “Well, I’m glad you’re safe.”
Nara smiled. “Yes, I can tell. Not sleeping because you’re worried about me?”
Shine shook his head and walked past her. “I was doing research. But if it makes you feel better to think my life revolves around you, by all means, tell yourself that lie.” She wanted to say something back, but she could do better.
“Can I borrow your Minky pad?” she asked.
“On the desk,” he called as he walked to the couch and sat down. She walked into the meager living room and noticed that he wasn’t watching a documentary. The Minky screen had two files open at the top, running a search on a word she didn’t know. The bottom looked like a very long equation, but he minimized it quickly.
She picked up the Minky from the desk and noticed that it was dusty. She looked around to see where the demi-cleaner was roaming. “Did you see the demi-cleaners I bought you?”
“The two little balls rolling around in my dresser? Yes, I threw them out.”
“They are demi-cleaners. They clean everything, including inside dressers if they find their way inside. What is wrong with you?”
From the couch, Shine said, “I assume you’re being rhetorical.”
His cold tone and nonchalant attitude were making her crazy. They had only been apart for a few days, and now she was back to this? This Shine needed alcohol. Turning on her heel, she headed to the kitchen and opened the cabinet with her wines and liquor and noticed only one bottle of wine. The one she’d started and never finished.
Using the Minky pad, she ordered more alcohol and a half order of purple powder polymer from her private storage. Then she stuffed the tablet back into her pocket and waited for her order by hanging over the couch and trying to decipher Shine’s screen.
“I’m sure you have better things to do than watch me work.”
“I thought you said this was research. I’m a Numan. I’m an expert in research,” she spat.
“I don’t like working with someone hanging over my shoulder.”
“Technically, I’m next to your shoulder.”
Shine stopped typing in the air, stood up, and turned around. “What do you want?”
She wanted him to hug her and say that he’d missed her. Which left only one option. Lie. “I want a massage, a fresh bottle of Herraquein dry, and I want to eat at the place I pass every day called Broken Bite. In that order.”
Shine held his hand up. “That’s going to have to wait until you finish your job with Karr and move on. Because I’m not going to sit around and watch you get a massage or eat at Broken Bite. Their food is mainly from Bolark, and it all smells like rotten fish.”
“Well, too bad for you, because we’re doing both.”
He gave her a once over. “Good luck with that.” The jerk went back to what he was doing.
She was so mad, she’d almost overlooked when he mentioned her finishing her work with Karr and moving on.
There was always something behind a bad mood. Was that what was driving his? She needed to be smart about it. “Fine, then offer me a deal where I do something for you, and you take me to get a massage and eat real
food that has a healthy wine selection on their menu.”
“No.” It was short, abrupt, and sounded final.
No? Was he even a Demon? “Why not?”
“Because there is nothing you can give me that’s worth making a deal.”
Her mouth dropped open a little at that statement. How dare he screw with her like this? After they’d kissed and he’d acted like he was worried about her.
The Minky pad pinged. She pulled it out of her pocket and saw that the deliveries were at the balcony door. She left the male to his work and stepped into the bedroom to open the doors.
The little white pods with oval heads and long tails buzzed in and landed on the floor. She pulled out the purple powder polymer dye and then the bottle of wine.
For the rest of the night, Shine ignored her. Which was great because she was able to set up a discharge burst full of purple polymer. She tucked it behind his mother’s painting. It wouldn’t affect the canvas when it dispersed, and she knew he wouldn’t touch it or jostle the mini bomb. It was going to be beautiful. The only problem was, she wouldn’t be able to see the results until she got back. It was set to disperse two minutes after she departed tomorrow morning.
After setting up the powder bomb, she kicked off her shoes and slipped into bed because, after three days of work, she was on fumes mentally. And if she had to look at Shine’s indifference a second longer, she was going to start screaming.
Closing her eyes, she noticed that a small tear ran down the side of her face.
She was so mad she was crying.
Shine wasn’t worth it. As soon as this was over, she was going.
The next morning, Shine was still at the Minky screen, doing his research. The male didn’t even stop to sleep, and that surprised her because not many humanoid races could pull multiple all-nighters.
Numans could, but that was because their circadian rhythms were every three and a half days. And even then, she didn’t need more than a half hour to an hour of rest before starting again. Nara didn’t bother to say goodbye when she left that morning.
Denny had already turned off her cuff when she grabbed the front door to close it. But she stopped when Shine called out, “Don’t hurry back.”
