Page 33 of Guard

He rubbed his chest and told himself that it would not matter. The woman who’d visited him the night before would get a message to his ship, and they would return for him. Soon, he would be back among his Dothvek brothers and safely away from all the dangers that threatened him in Kurril.

He hated that he would be leaving Myrria and Zala to the cruel fate of the Den of Thieves, but as Myrria had reminded him, he was not her husband or Zala’s father. It was not up to him to protect them or provide for them, even though he knew in his heart that he would do a better job than the worthless waste of air that had abandoned them for so long.

Thinking of the man made his blood bubble and roil, and imagining Myrria allowing him to touch her made him want to put his fist through something solid. He would be glad to return to the ship and get in some sparring time with Zaandr, although his best friend did not know how much rage he needed to excise in the grappling ring.

Every time he struck a blow it would be with the image of Myrria’s husband in his head. Each time he slashed his blade, he would envision slicing open the coward’s throat. Rixx could not even bear to think of the man’s name, although he knew he was also unable to forget it.

“Too bad…Tobert…his old lady…”

Rixx jerked to attention as snatches of conversation drifted to him from across the room. He quickly peered through the sheer fabric to where a group sat around a far table clutching the dregs of their drinks. He hadn’t noticed them when he’d walked downstairs but they could have very well just roused themselves. He leaned back, certain they did not see him—or they did not care who heard them. One thing he did know, the name they’d said was the name of Myrria’s husband.

“He missed a good time,” one of the men said after taking a long drink from his tankard.

Another choked back a rough laugh. “As if he hasn’t had his fair share of good times while we were away.”

Rixx narrowed his gaze, noticing that the group dressed like mercenaries and consisted of several different species.

A spindly creature with blue skin ran a six-fingered hand through his snow-white hair. “Don’t know if he had as good a time as we did last night, especially since he had to explain why he’d been gone so long.”

A beefy man with no hair snorted. “It’s not like he’s gonna tell her the truth. Not if he wants her to take him back.”

The blue alien laughed. “You don’t think she’d like to know that she’s his second wife?”

Rixx stiffened, his hot blood going cold.

“Can you have two wives?”

“Not on Kurril. His second wife isn’t a wife at all.” One of the group barked out a laugh. “Not that she’ll ever know.”

Rixx’s shock kept him immobilized. Myrria was not truly married?

“Tobert sure does have it made.” Blue shook his head. “A wife on every planet. Though I don’t know why he keeps marrying them.”

“So they’ll wait for him.” The burly man swiped a thick hand across his mouth. “Just look at him now. He’s off getting taken care of and fed by a willing female, and we’re here with each other.”

One of the crew drained his mug. “Maybe I should take a few wives.”

Then the group devolved into loud laughter and one of the females cleaning the room came along and swatted at them gathering their empties and telling them to move along. Rixx was still as he watched them stagger toward the door, laughing and slapping each other on the back. When they had gone, he leapt to his feet.

He didn’t care that he’d been told to stay hidden. He didn’t care that he would soon be leaving the planet. He didn’t even care that he was still being hunted.

He needed to tell Myrria the truth, and he needed to take care of the man who had deceived her.

Chapter

Thirty-Three

Myrria cast her gaze toward the bedroom where the rhythmic sound of snoring was muffled by the curtain. The sun was already peeking through the windows in the main room, but Tobert was still sleeping. Had she given him too much wine?

It wasn’t that she wanted him to wake, but she and Zala had been walking around in silence since getting up before dawn. Even when Rixx had been healing, they hadn’t been as cautious and careful not to make noise.

Rixx.

Thinking of the Dothvek made her stomach clench. Every time she thought about him, she recalled the look on his face when she’d told him that they could never be together. But it hadn’t only been the pained look, it had been the throb of sadness that had come off him in waves. She hadn’t been able to shake that feeling until she was out of the pleasure house and halfway down the street.

Myrria was sure it was for the best. He would be rescued and return to his crew. He would be safe. That made her feel better. But every time she allowed herself to dwell on her own future, her thoughts turned dark and hopeless.

She could not go back to being Tobert’s long-suffering wife who cooked for him and submitted to his every desire. Not only had she been on her own for too long to stomach that, she’d now experienced what it was like to be desired, taken care of, and properly fucked. There was no going back to Tobert’s rushed coupling that had never once left her satisfied—or had even raised her heart rate.

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