Page 19 of Stars in Halo

Which only heightened the playboy mystique.

He’d honed the persona to a T.

At least, that’s what he let others think.

Deep inside, Xion’s desire to play was waning.

He was a family man masquerading as a hedonist yearning for the same happiness his brothers had found.

Over the years, one Rider after another had invested in their forever women.

They’d walked away from the short-term, meaningless pleasure of empty sex and met their true loves.

From Kainan to Zane, Kage and Riv, they’d stepped up to raise families with their knockout, sensational and intelligent partners.

They were happier, more chilled, at peace.

It was no wonder Xion wanted some of that they had, too.

‘It takes strength, kaka,’ Kainan drawled, his sapphire gold eyes assessing his fellow Rider with compassion and uncanny perception. ‘Self-discipline to hold off your base instincts so you can be the man you must be for your wife and children.’

Xion jolted. ‘Fokk off with that freakish reading mind thing you do.’

‘We’re nodally linked, kinai. And that pretty face of yours is an open book to me,’ his khosi growled. ‘You want what most of us Riders do, and there’s no shame in it. Just chill out on the casual sex and playboy image. It isn’t attractive to healthy women, by the way. If you want a kick-ass woman, you’ll need to come correct. Otherwise, life for you will resemble a canvas of unfulfilled dreams.’

Xion flinched. ‘Damn, kaka. You’re laying it down, thick and hard.’

‘I am. It’s time to step up, brother; it’s time to respect yourself, the woman you plan to marry and the kids you want to have. That concludes my lecture. Tell me more about this mission.’

Xion sighed.

There was nothing about what Kainan had said that he hadn’t mulled over in recent months.

He sensed he’d only find himself unfulfilled long-term without reining his bad habits and one-night shows, which would reduce his chances of attracting a good woman and building the family he desired.

He sucked his teeth and gave his khosi a prolonged look, feeling the burn of his force.

With a deep breath, he nodded, part in understanding and the other in respect to the one man who led the Riders with freakish wisdom.

‘One of the card players at the salon tonight showed up with some major game. She played her hand, won big, and then, without warning, walked away. It seems her agenda was more than winning or losing, and it turns out she hacked us, but Mirage has that in hand. She also encrypted her flight plan out of Eden II. She’s headed for Rhesia and burning fast, and I need to catch up.’

Kainan leaned back on the bridge dashboard. ‘If your gut tells you to go after her, go for it. Trust your senses; you’ve got an exceptional track record of sniffing out the nefarious.’

He straightened, clapped a hand on Xian’s shoulder and powered to the stair rails. ‘Travel safe, brother and kick ass on Enia.’

‘Will do,’ Xion smirked. ‘It’s a fokkin’ skillset.’

Before lift-off, Xion made a call.

He tapped on his control console to bring up his holo video.

The link was picked up, and the face of a rakish Ccyth appeared onscreen.

His handsome pirate-like features left women throughout Pegasi breathless. They were enamoured by his lengthy, unruly black hair, long beard, tattoos, gold jewellery embedded above his brow, and more jewels dripping over his neck.

Soren DKRT pronounced ‘Dukarat’, was known to most by his moniker ‘Duke’. He was the ‘Don’ of the Ccyth on Eden II, a man with no scruples and a stronghold in the city’s underbelly.

The Sable Group sought him for any coercive, unavowed action. He was also a telepathic empath, as were some Ccyth of royal descent, and could read minds and interpret intent, which made him excellent at discerning ill motives.

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