Joy. The sooner he left the castle, the quicker he could contact Hanoid and revise their plan to grab Jazen. His gaze lingered on the blue-haired woman—the one they called Kaya—and his pulse quickened.
She’d be a challenge.
* * * * *
“This is my first real visit to Viros,” Jazen said, craning her neck as they ambled through the luxurious castle rooms full of treasures from different parts of the solar system and beyond. The previous queen had collected most of them, according to Nanu.
“It’s a good place to live,” Nanu said, reaching for her hand.
Their fingers entwined and peace settled over her skin. It was a foreign sensation, one she’d never experienced before meeting Nanu. Spending time with him eased the tension in her muscles, and she had the strangest desire to sing and dance. He made her feel positive and safe, a foreign sentiment since, in her occupation, watching her back became second nature. Even better, he sought her company and seemed to like her, despite their rocky start.
“I’m excited to explore the possibilities of setting up my business here.”
Nanu’s brows lifted, and he swung their linked hands. “Really? I didn’t realize.”
She blinked at the brighter whitelight outside the castle interior. A new surge of happiness streaked through her while her eyes refocused. He was teasing her. No one had ever teased her before.
They passed through the security checkpoints and ambled into the square, still holding hands.
“If I can’t get a stall straightaway, perhaps I might discuss a deal with the owner of an estaminet to sell my pies with their drinks?”
“Excellent idea,” Nanu said. “Start small and build your brand. Let’s go this way first. We’ll pass the tavern and do a circle to study the estaminets. In my opinion, you’ll find the owners receptive to your pies. They’re always searching for an edge on their competition.”
Jazen eyed her surroundings with interest. Nanu had explained the town to her, and how the more expensive housing and shops were located at the top of the mountain nearer the castle. The quality of the goods and accommodation grew progressively cheaper the farther away a being headed from the castle.
“I could make two different types of pies and take them around the estaminets to see if they’re interested in selling them. That’s if I can’t get my own stall,” she added.
“Another great idea. You’re full of them today.”
Jazen strode beside Nanu, her mind working through the possibilities even as she basked in his approval. “I’d need to rent a kitchen if I decided on that option.”
“A suggestion. Check out properties available for rent. I have inside information of the best locations in the city.”
“I want to do this on my own. I don’t wish to trade on our friendship to get what I want.”
“And that’s admirable,” Nanu said in a husky voice. “But I like you. I want you to succeed, and if I can aid you in your plans, that’s what I’ll do.”
No one had ever helped her before. Every bit of currency she’d had to secure the hard way. The other warrant-takers hadn’t given her respect. She’d had to earn everything with painstaking work, determination and an unwillingness to give up.
“What do you expect in exchange?”
Nanu flinched, his brows drawing together. His hair tendrils hissed at her, as if disappointed by her question. “I want to continue seeing you. I want a relationship.” His amber eyes blazed with resolve as he drew her to him, even though they stood in the middle of the square in a public place. “I want you, Jazen. Let me help.”
Every time she decided she’d figured out Nanu, he said or did something to toss her assumptions into turmoil.
“I thought you were playing with me—that our time together was temporary.”
“No. I repeat, I want you. It’s why I suggested you stay on Viros. That you start your business here? Because, selfishly, I want you to stay. You’re more than a friend.”
Her mouth rounded as his words burst over her. He liked her and wanted her to stay.
“W-where would I live?”
“I’d like you to stay with me in my chamber.”
“Live at the castle?”
“You’d be my mate, Jazen. Please consider staying. I don’t want to rush you or force you to act against your will. I’m telling you what I want. You decide if you wish the same thing.”
“I—Chobe!” She blinked, unable to believe her brother was in Viros.
Chobe, taller than her, but with the same straight black hair marched toward her, powering up the last steps of the central stairs. What was he doing in Viros? She took in his broad features, his sensual mouth and his pronounced cheekbones. She caught the admiring glances from two approaching maidens. He hadn’t changed and still attracted feminine attention.
“Why aren’t you answering your comm?” Chobe demanded.
Jazen patted her tunic pocket. It was warm out this whitelight, and she hadn’t bothered about a jacket. Nanu had returned her comm. From memory, it was still in her jacket pocket. “Ah, it’s in my jacket. I didn’t expect to see you here.”
The truth.
There was only one reason for Chobe to search for her in Viros. Several cycles ago when Nanu and his friends had locked her away, after she’d tried to capture him, she’d prayed Chobe would use the tracker she had embedded in her hip to locate her.
Now that he was here, she wished he hadn’t bothered.
The fact he’d gone to so much trouble had her instincts screeching aloud.
Nanu inclined his head in a bow of respect to her brother. “I’m Nanu. I’m pleased to meet you. Chobe. Jazen has often spoken of you.” He held out his hand and let it fall to his side when Chobe rudely ignored him.
“Chobe!” Jazen couldn’t believe his lack of manners and scowled her disapproval. “What do you want?”
His eyes flared with a burst of anger. “You promised me currency.”
“And I sent it.” She straightened abruptly, aware of Nanu’s watchful silence from beside her. “You’re not getting anymore. You’re old enough to earn your own and save for whatever you wish to purchase. It’s not my job to pay your way. I sent you the money you owed to recover Raffey. I know you received it, but you didn’t even bother to thank me or let me know Raffey was safe. I’m not giving you more.”
“If it wasn’t for me you’d still be in the brothel, working on your back. I asked Azarious to bring you with us. It was because of me you had a second chance.”
Nanu slipped his arm around her waist, and she scarcely winced at the possessiveness of the action. Instead, she glared at Chobe, furious that he would throw this in her face after all she’d done for him. It was true. Azarious hadn’t wanted to take her.
His reasoning—she was a weak female.
Desperate to leave the brothel because she knew, she knew even at that young age, if she didn’t escape, she’d die there. She had pleaded and promised to work hard for Azarious, had fallen to her knees and begged for a chance.
She’d kept her word, training hard and working smart to become a successful warrant-taker. Over the rotations, she’d repaid Azarious’s investment many times over, and he’d allowed her to pay back his outlay and gain her freedom. After that, he’d allowed her to pick her own targets instead of assigning them. All he’d asked was a commission.
Chobe sneered at her. “You’d be dead if I hadn’t cried pretend tears and demanded he take you too.”
“You’d throw that in my face now,” she snapped, jabbing her finger at his chest to make her point. “I worked harder than you and made more captures. I trained and worked conscientiously. I earned my freedom from Azarious long before you did. If it wasn’t for me, you’d still be indentured to him.”
“Are you sure you want to discuss this in a public place?” Nanu’s quiet words made her aware of the locals staring at them, the soldiers who patrolled the square because of its proximity to the castle, glancing their way. Th
e soldiers’ hands rested on their weapons.
A wave of heat and distress colored her face. This was why she restricted their meetings to comm. Chobe made her crazy. He pushed her buttons, and she forgot Azarious’s prime rules. Never, ever lose sight of your surroundings.
Every hunt bore dangers. Every planet. Every being.
“Grata,” Chobe spat. “You make me lose my mind. Come!”
“No, I’ve told you I won’t give you my savings this time.”
“You refuse to have a drink with your brother?” Chobe mocked.
“I never said that,” Jazen snapped. “Stop trying to put words in my mouth.”
“I promised to meet Sergy on Fourth Street. Why don’t you and your boyfriend have a drink with us there?”
Jazen checked with Nanu, silently asking him if changing their plans was acceptable. To her relief, he gave an imperceptible nod of approval.
“That’s fine,” Jazen said. The last thing she wanted was to part company with Chobe on bad terms. He was her brother, her only family left.
Although Nanu…
She wasn’t certain where he slotted into her life.
All she knew was that she enjoyed his company, and she believed in him.
“Should we meet you there?” she asked. “What about Raffey?”
“After his ordeal, we decided to leave him with Raffey’s sister for safety. Why don’t you come now?” Chobe was all smiles now that she was doing what he wanted. His normal pattern of behavior. She’d forgotten his selfish streak. In the past, she’d forgiven him, let go of her residual irritation because he was her sole living relation.
Once again, she glanced at Nanu to check on his willingness of the new plan.
“Sure,” she said. “I’m sorry I won’t see Raffey this trip.”
“Which street did you say?” Nanu asked.
“On Fourth Street,” Chobe snapped. “There is a tavern where we meet, near to our accommodation.”
“Very well,” Jazen said, embarrassment flooding her at her brother’s discourtesy. They’d have a drink with her brother and his wife, act with politeness then leave. “Let’s go. I’m looking forward to meeting her.”
“You haven’t met her?” Nanu murmured.
“Not in person. We’ve spoken many times via comm.”
“What are you whispering about?” Chobe demanded. “Are you trying to decide on how to leave our company in the shortest time?”
“Chobe! Stop acting like a Frogan ogre. I’m happy to spend time with you and Sergy.” She forced herself not to glance at Nanu again. Act as if Nanu was a temporary fling rather than something more serious.
Chobe mustn’t connect Nanu with a bounty. He possessed an excellent memory for faces, recalling beings he’d seen many rotations earlier. It was part of what had made him a successful warrant-taker. It was his lack of attention to detail that was his downfall. Her brother preferred shortcuts to get things done.
Nanu indicated they needed to traverse the central stairs that led from the castle, down the hill, toward the walls surrounding the city.
As they walked down the hill, her and Nanu leading her brother, Jazen’s back tingled as if danger lurked behind them. She darted a peek over her shoulder and caught her brother’s smug smile. Her lifeforce muscle seemed to drop to the pit of her stomach. Her brother was involved in something, something unlawful, but why did he need them?
The hair at the back of her neck prickled with greater intensity, and Jazen swallowed. Neither of them carried weapons. Ry had confiscated her blaster, and she’d never seen Nanu with any weapon.
Grata, this fix was her fault.
Even though she should trust her brother, every instinct screamed Chobe was leading her and Nanu into a trap. And she had no idea why.
Betrayal Yet Again
Nanu took a dislike to Chobe Lav. The man was nothing like his older sister, not even when she was at her most tetchy.
Still, if Jazen desired to spend time with her brother, he’d keep her company. And watch out for her because her worm of a brother intended to talk her into giving up her hard-earned savings. Hopefully, the man wouldn’t recognize him as Jazen had. He angled his head a fraction to monitor Chobe in his peripheral vision. The vibe the brother gave off differed from the professional one Jazen exuded. For Jazen, he’d take the risk and spend a short time with her obnoxious brother.
In the lead, Nanu kept a solid pace as they descended to the lower levels. In the square, high-class woman sauntered around the stores, their maidservants trailing them and carrying packages. Elderly councilmen sat in estaminets and cafes, drinking hot reeb and chewing elteeb nuts for relaxation. Children raced around playing tag, finding joy in the manner of children everywhere.
On the second level, more tradesmen plied their craft. Flymos, the chubby vehicles used for moving goods and people around the city, landed in the reserved area, disgorging passengers of all races and ages. Others waited for porters to unload cargo, the entire street bustling with activity.
As they worked their way down the central staircase, the quality of the clothes decreased. Nanu noticed young boys targeting a pair of lords slumming it at a corner tavern. Lynx and Shiloh tried to maintain order and keep the citizens safe, but visitors from other planets kept arriving with an eye on quick profits. Without a pause, he slid into the gap between the half-drunk lords intent on leaving the tavern and the group of boys. He glared at the boys, his hand settling on his hip, as if he carried a weapon and intended to use it.
The largest boy, the obvious leader of the group, spat at Nanu. When Nanu’s hair tendrils lifted, swaying in the youth’s direction, then hissed, the boy’s eyes widened. He lifted both his hands and backed away. An instant later, the young males melted into the crowd, and the two lords continued farther down the staircase, none the wiser.
“My hero,” Jazen said in a light voice.
Nanu shrugged, uncomfortable when he’d reacted instinctively. “We do our bit to help the city stay safe.” If he’d been with Kaya or Ry or even Camryn and Jannike, they would’ve done the same thing—helped the lords and stopped the thieves. Sometimes, they offered the thieves an alternative, but Nanu didn’t have time to do anything further this cycle.
He ambled at Jazen’s side, his gaze surveying the crowd of people around them.
A flymo scuttled overhead, zapping up and down in an irregular manner. It landed the street below them, close to the tavern where they were meeting Chobe’s wife. Nanu presumed the driver had imbibed too much at the tavern. Another problem the king and duke intended to stomp out.
As they arrived at the tavern, Nanu reached for the door handle.
“Not there,” Chobe said. “There’s a doorway around the other side. It’s the entrance for those who are staying in the accommodation above the tavern.”
“I don’t like this,” Jazen whispered. “Something isn’t right.”
Nanu agreed and the prod of a weapon in his ribs backed up their theory.
“Move it,” Chobe ordered. “Keep your hands where I can see them. This weapon is loaded, and I’m not afraid to use it.”
Nanu stilled, yanking Jazen to an abrupt halt. “What is going on?”
Jazen whirled to face her brother, distress digging into her features when she saw the blaster aimed at them both. “What are you doing?”
Chobe stared at them with something resembling hatred. “You’re coming with me.”
“We’ve already said we would,” Nanu said, smiling in an easy-going manner despite the danger. If he acted unruffled and benign, perhaps Chobe would underestimate him. Of course, he’d be aware of Jazen’s capabilities.
“Veer to the right and head to the flymo. Don’t try anything foolish because I have my crew on standby to help should you present any difficulties. Make no mistake, my weapon is loaded and I will shoot if you alert bystanders or attempt an escape. I’ll shoot nosy watchers or I might shoot one of you in the foot, the shoulder, the knee. I’m not fussy.”
Nanu believed Chobe. The man’s gritty tone was uncompromising, but would he truly injure his sister? His inner beast growled, forcing anger and energy through his veins. His beast wanted to fight, and his hair hissed, almost as if it agreed. While he hadn’t tried out his new powers, his childhood training had enlightened him as to the possibilities. He could disarm Chobe.
Besides, Ry and Kaya would come for him. He’d told them he intended to stay in the square. If they failed to locate him during a search, they’d check his tracker. The entire crew had a tracker implant each, inserted after Mogens had read the clouds one cycle. He’d informed Ry they’d need concealed trackers implanted inside them for safety reasons, and the captain had agreed the suggestion was a good one. Jannike’s tracker had allowed them to find her after a collector had abducted her, so as long as he stayed alive, he’d come out of this little adventure intact.
“Do as he says,” Nanu whispered.
“But he’s acting crazy,” Jazen said.
“Enough chatter. Walk. Now.” Chobe jabbed the weapon at Jazen this time, shoving her forward and making her stumble.
Nanu grabbed her before she fell and set her on her feet. He glared at Chobe, not bothering to restrain his dislike. A sibilant hissing came from his hair tendrils, and they lifted to writhe and dance around his head. “Stop. We’re going. There’s no need to shove us.”
Nanu led Jazen in the direction Chobe indicated. At Chobe’s urging, they stepped off the main staircase and hustled along the narrow street, past a tailor’s shop. A discarded flymo terminal took up the rest of the street, the red warning signs plastered across the immense double doors signaling this was one of the areas zoned for redevelopment. A work party of young males of mixed races toiled, stacking the loose debris in a pile for collection and removal.
One youth—a red mumber with the characteristic red skin of his race—raised his right hand in greeting. “Hey-ho!”
Betrayed & Seduced Page 14
