The Unexpected Bonding Vow

by Michelle Howard

  “Fuck! What do you want, assassin?!” the Chamele hissed.

  Garik grabbed Saedra’s hand and pulled her inside before closing the door. “A place to stay for today only, Depphi.”

  Depphi shook his head, skin flushing a pale pink as he backed away. “No, no, no!”

  The vehement response had Saedra worried. Garik let her hand go and slammed Depphi into the wall. Leaning in close, he muttered, “What did we discuss before?”

  Depphi’s mouth trembled. “I didn’t think you’d come here. You never come here.”

  Garik grinned, his hands fisted in Depphi’s shirt. The poor Chamele was on his toes to maintain his balance. “I’m here now. I need somewhere to stay and to use your comm.”

  Sweat beaded Depphi’s brow and ran in thin trickles down his face. True fear flashed in his gaze. “Garik, Lord Maurin had searchers looking all over for you last night. I don’t want parts of that.”

  “I really don’t care about your wants, Depphi.”

  The Chamele sagged in Garik’s hold against the wall. “Fine. Tonight only.”

  Garik released him and Depphi stumbled before catching himself. With one last glance at Saedra, he said, “This way.”

  He led them to a back room. It was an empty space except for a tiny cot with a thin blanket and a narrow horizontal window covered in grime. Saedra cringed. Garik merely looked around with a flinty gaze. He turned to Depphi, who twisted his fingers about.

  “This is fine. Now a comm.”

  Depphi sighed then ran a hand over his non-existent hair. “A slight problem. I don’t have an in home comm system.”

  Garik’s expression darkened and Depphi rushed to add, “But...but there is one at my shop. We can go there now and you can use it.”

  “How far is your shop?” Garik snapped.

  Saedra shivered, glad she wasn’t on the receiving end of that sharp tone.

  “Not far. Maybe a few minutes to get there. There are alerts blasting out continually promising a reward for any sightings of you.” He glanced in Saedra’s direction. “Not much I’ve seen on her other than you may have taken her as a hostage.”

  Saedra gasped. That wasn’t true. She parted her lips to speak but Garik shook his head.

  ***

  Frustration ate at Garik and he wanted to curse. He knew Maurin would do his best to get him back but he hadn’t expected to be charged with abducting the woman who had freed him. Offering a reward guaranteed many of the criminal element making their home on Quantoon would pay attention. Garik’s reputation would at least deter them to some extent.

  Not many would want to fuck around and tangle with him. He had that in his favor. How long before some overzealous candidate decided he would be the one to take out a top assassin for the Guild was in the air.

  “Take me to the comm at your workplace,” he instructed Depphi. “She stays here.”

  “Of course, of course. She is welcome to my home.”

  Saedra gasped but Garik kept his attention on Depphi. He stared until Depphi turned a sickening shade of green.

  “If you sell me out, Depphi, it won’t end well for you,” Garik threatened in an icy tone.

  “No one will know she is here.” Depphi attempted an ingratiating smile but it quivered at the corners.

  “Trust me,” Depphi added at Garik’s continued silence.

  The problem was Garik didn’t trust Depphi but he needed to comm a friend and get them off this rock. With an alert out on Saedra, the two of them together would draw more attention. He had a better chance of going alone.

  “Do you have to go out? What if someone reports seeing you to Maurin?” Saedra asked. Her eyes held a pleading cast as she drew closer to him and reached for his hand.

  Startled, Garik didn’t answer. He considered their two hands. Hers delicate, fragile. His rough, scarred and capable of killing. Shaking his head, he rubbed his thumb over the soft skin.

  She smiled up at him as if proud of how he’d reacted and Garik couldn’t deny the boost of pleasure he took from her smile.

  She was digging a place deeper and deeper inside of him and he wasn’t going to stop her. This bond was forever and Saedra, while unexpected, would be a worthy partner to have at his side through life. Envisioning many mornings waking up to the bright expression on her face was something he very much wanted.

  “I’ll be fine,” he said. “A quick trip to Depphi’s workplace to use the comm and then back.”

  He faced Depphi, whose intense scrutiny left Garik unsettled. If the Chamele tried anything or Saedra ended up hurt, it would be the last thing he ever did.

  Depphi rubbed his hands together. “Very well. Let’s go. The marketplace will be bustling and less likely a chance anyone will notice you.”

  Garik pressed a quick kiss to Saedra’s mouth. “I’ll be back. Don’t open any door or window. You’re safe.”

  “Safe. My place is safe. No one comes here,” Depphi assured.

  Garik took a deep breath and let it out slowly. He wouldn’t be gone long. Saedra would be fine.

  Chapter 13

  Depphi’s workspace, a corner stall at the marketplace, wasn’t far as he’d claimed. Garik circled it a few times, holding Depphi back before allowing him to go inside. He ignored the swatches of clothing hanging from the wall and the cheaply made wired jewelry.

  “Where is the comm?”

  “Right here.” Depphi scurried toward a crowded desk and shoved things aside to reveal the desktop unit.

  It was an older model but good enough for what Garik needed. He jerked his head to the side for Depphi to go stand across the store and then angled his body to block Depphi’s view of the screen.

  The encrypted code was as familiar as his name though he’d rarely had cause to use it. On the other end, a shadowy outline appeared before a gruff voice demanded, “What do you want, Denikon?”

  “Transport. Asap. And you owe me, Sulen.”

  A snarl was the response he got followed by rapid curses. “Where are you?”

  The tension eased in Garik’s shoulders. He knew he could count on Sulen. No matter how harsh and off-putting he came across, his fellow assassin and Gerelin was dedicated about responding to calls for help. “Quantoon.”

  Sulen barked out a laugh. “That shit hole?”

  Garik snorted. He agreed about Quantoon being the last place anyone wanted to be. “Yeah. That’s it.”

  “One minute.”

  There was a pause and Garik heard the rustling on the other side as well as the tapping of keys. Sulen muttered a curse and the gravelly sound worried Garik. The screen cleared and Sulen’s rough features and furrowed brow appeared on screen. His black hair was in disarray as usual.

  “Are you aware, Lord Maurin, who owns Quantoon has an alert out for you and a female he claims you abducted from his household?”

  “Yes.” Garik didn’t elaborate.

  Sulen rolled his eyes. “I won’t ask. According to the system I broke into, there are orders to shut down the transport center by midnight tonight. No ships will be allowed to land or take off effective immediately once that order is in place.”

  Garik’s fingers clenched. The transport Saedra paid for wouldn’t arrive until tomorrow morning. If Sulen was correct, that would be too late and neither of them would be leaving. He had to get Saedra to safety then come back and do what he was paid to do. “I need to be out of here before then.”

  Sulen arched a brow and his green eyes narrow. “You’re lucky I like your non-social ass.”

  More keys clicked on the other side. Garik waited and every second that passed increased his level of worry. Outwardly he remained calm but inside he was a roiling cauldron. He wanted to get back to Saedra, he wanted off of Quantoon and he had a very bad feeling about this.

  “Alright. I have someone willing to come there. A former friend from the Guild. Only one problem. They’re several hours away. By the time he arrives, it will be cutting it pretty close.”

  Rubbin
g the back of his neck, Garik checked on Depphi who was sorting clothing and seemed to be distracted. It wasn’t like he had a lot of options. Lowering his voice, he asked, “How close?”

  “Eleven. He’ll come in under the guise of delivering cargo. You’ll need to take off within minutes of landing because the records he’ll use won’t hold under scrutiny.”

  Garik would make it work. “Done. Give me the info.”

  Sulen rattled off the details using a code they’d learned in the Guild. Garik locked it in his memory. He and Saedra had until tonight and then they’d be on a ship leaving Quantoon.

  “Thank you, Sulen. Consider the favor paid.”

  Sulen nodded. “Good luck.”

  Garik ended the transmission. Depphi immediately stopped doing what he was doing and faced Garik with an eager expression. “Is there anything else I can do for you?”

  “No. We need to get back.”

  Depphi grinned. “No problem. When this is over, my favor to you will be paid in full right?”

  Before answering, Garik folded his arms across his chest and eyed Depphi until his ever changing skin blanched three different colors. “Yes. As long as you don’t betray me, Depphi, we can consider us done.”

  His smile was relieved. “Good. Good.”

  ***

  When Garik returned with the Chamele, Saedra was instantly relieved. The nerves which had been brewing during the short time they were gone had been close to breaking.

  “Is everything alright?” she asked as soon as Garik closed the door behind them.

  Depphi offered her a slight bow. “I will leave you both in my home. It is time for me to open shop at the marketplace. If I stay closed, it will look suspicious.”

  Garik placed a hand at Saedra’s waist but spoke to Depphi. “Remember, don’t mention to anyone that you’ve seen us. At all, Depphi.”

  “Of course, of course,” Depphi agreed, backing away toward the door.

  “It wouldn’t end well for you,” Garik added.

  Depphi swiped at his face and hurried out the door, the lock clicking behind him.

  “What did your friend say,” Saedra pressed.

  “Maurin is closing the transport station at midnight tonight. No ship or shuttle will be allowed to land or take off from that point on. My contact has someone with a ship who will be here one hour before that deadline goes into effect.”

  Saedra processed this and did the calculations. It seemed awfully dangerous to wait to the last possible moment to go. “Is there any way we can leave sooner?”

  “It’s the earliest possible arrival time. I know we’ll be cutting it close, but for now, it’s the only option.”

  Saedra placed her hands on Garik’s shoulders needing the touch to ground her. “So we only need to stay hidden until tonight. Then we can leave?”

  “Yes.” Garik cupped her hip with one hand and kept her faced toward him. “It will be dangerous. If this goes the way I think, we’ll have to rush to the ship and have them take off instantly. Maurin will also have more guards searching the area because he knows its our only way off this rock.”

  Oh, her father would definitely increase the patrols. Shutting down the transport station was his way of forcing Saedra to stay here, but he couldn’t understand her level of desperation. He didn’t think she had it in her to push back and rebel like this. “Do you really think we have a chance, Garik?”

  He cupped her chin and tipped her face up. “Nothing he does or tries will keep us here. I promise you that.”

  She wanted to believe it. “Alright.”

  Saedra leaned forward and placed her head on his chest. The thud of his heart provided its own reassurance. A small part of her would worry right up until they were safely far away. Inching as close as possible, she ran her hands up Garik’s back, enjoying the sensation of his broad muscles rippling beneath her fingertips. He lowered his head to rest his jaw on top of her hair. They stood like that for a moment and Saedra allowed her body to soften against his.

  “Trust me in this, sesi.”

  And she did. It was her father Saedra didn’t trust. “I trust you, Garik. I know you’re doing the best to get us out of here.”

  He squeezed her once then stepped back. “Good.”

  Saedra clenched her hands in the folds of her skirt to resist reaching for him again. It was getting to the point where she only felt safe in his arms. That was ridiculous. She shook her head and straightened her shoulders. She’d gotten this far in life by herself and could handle this development too. There would be plenty of time to see if Garik truly meant they were to be together as bond mates.

  She wanted to believe it. Needed to believe it. He already had her heart. She loved the intensity of his gray stare, the confident way he carried himself—even when he’d been beaten in that dark cell. She wanted Garik Denikon

  “If you want to rest, I’ll keep watch while you go lay down.”

  His calm in the face of this new development caused Saedra’s heart to melt further. She pushed a smile on her face at his questioning look. “Sorry. This has all been a whirlwind. I’m out of sorts.”

  A look of understanding flashed over his face. “Go rest.”

  She turned to do just that when a question rose. “You won’t go anywhere, right?”

  The corner of his mouth lifted. “I’ll be here.”

  Saedra went to the dinky room Depphi had said they could use and a yawn caught her off guard. She really was tired despite getting a full night’s sleep. This entire week had been filled with doubts and stress. Her body demanded she take a little break. Nothing else on her mind, Saedra collapsed on the bed and was out in seconds.

  Pleasant dreams for once followed her. She was deep in another world when an insistent voice interrupted her reliving the kiss and orgasm with Garik.

  “Saedra.”

  She rolled over, unwilling to leave the warm memory.

  “Saedra.”

  Not wanting to wake, she squeezed her eyes tighter in hopes the voice would go away. Soft lips landed on her scarred cheek. The mouth trailed along the edges, wisped along her jaw then the shell of her ear.

  “You have to wake now, sesi.”

  “Noo,” Saedra moaned and curled into a tighter ball.

  Light laughter teased her ear and the sound sent shivers up her spine with its husky notes. Laughter. A sound she longed to hear from a certain man. Her eyes opened slowly. Garik leaned over her with a half-smile on his face. Saedra smiled in return, caught in the stage between awareness and the dregs of sleep.

  “Are you up, petti coincin?”

  “Mmhmm.” She touched the curve of his lips, tracing the small sign of amusement. He was so handsome. All dark and deadly.

  Garik tapped her temple. “Not quite.”

  A giggle tickled her throat and bubbled forth. Garik closed the distance between them and his mouth touched hers. Saedra looped her arms about his neck and tugged him closer. His weight fell against her with a muffled oomph and then they were kissing.

  Lips and tongues tangling, their mouths clashed together in a torrent of passion. Much more at ease for some reason, Saedra melted into the bed and gave back everything she was feeling. Her fingers delved into Garik’s hair, twisting the soft ends. A deep groan ripped from his throat as he tore his mouth away.

  “Oh, sesi,” he murmured. “If only we had time for this.”

  Before Saedra could ponder the meaning of his words, he was sliding into the bed alongside her and pulling Saedra into his arms. Their fronts were pressed tight from chest to hips to legs, the hard bulge of his erection an insistent throb on her thigh. Her core grew moist and clenched in need.

  “You must leave now, Denikon!” called Depphi’s worried voice

  Those were not words Saedra expected to here and she snapped upright. Garik caught her shoulders. Sleep and any thoughts of lovemaking vanished. “What?!”

  Garik didn’t have the same level of confusion. Awareness clicked in his gaze instant
ly as he rolled to the side and off the bed. “We have to go.”

  Depphi burst into the room, eyes wide and frantically waving his arms. “You have to go, go, go! I received word that someone knows you are here.”

  “How long do we have?”

  Garik’s voice was a calm in the storm. Saedra pushed up on the bed and Garik leaned over, grasping her upper arms as he yanked her up beside him.

  “I don’t know. Not long. Maybe.” Depphi’s worried gaze skittered around the room. “If they discover I helped—”

  He broke off on a moan and pressed his hands to the sides of his head. “Please hurry, Denikon. Get out.”

  “We’re going, Depphi.” Garik replied, but she sensed his irritation. He eyed her from head to toe. “How are you feeling?”

  Better. Surprisingly. “I’m good. The sleep helped.”

  Saedra felt as if her energy had been restored from the nap. She had no idea how long she’d been asleep but there was still light shining through the window, so night hadn’t fallen yet.

  Garik kept hold of her wrist, tension poured from him in waves as he led her from the room. The contact held a touch of intimacy she was starting to get used to.

  “What should we do?” It was too early for his person to have sent a ship for them. They basically had nowhere to run.

  “Leave, leave,” Depphi instructed, twisting his fingers together with a worried glance while he trailed behind on their heels.

  Instead of answering Depphi, Garik’s thumb caressed the underside of her wrist. Saedra was reassured by the gentle stroke. Absentminded or deliberate, she couldn’t tell and didn’t care. It soothed her and that was all that mattered.