Page 39 of Baited

“Of that, I have no doubt, but let’s get you fit and healthy again before you live up to your reputation, shall we?” Izzy says, pushing at a large, heavy door.

It swings open, and all the scents of Tatatunga rush in, filled for once with promise, not violence.

IZZY

Blayn stands in the doorway and fills his lungs with air, sunlight illuminating his face, torso, and wings, making him look like a beautiful, brutal statue of a god.

“Izzy?” Riklinn calls out from behind us.

Blayn growls slightly as I turn, but otherwise he is silent when he sees the other female.

“Are you going out?”

I’m struck by the simplicity of the sentence and how pregnant it is with meaning, only it’s not what she’s asking.

“Blayn is going to show me the sights of Tatatunga,” I say.

“I am?” Blayn queries, opening his wings.

“You are,” I respond.

“Oh, I am.” His shadow smile flits over his features before they rearrange themselves into his customary scowl, which he gives to Riklinn.

She shrinks back from him. Shooting my massive gladiator alook, I hurry over to her.

“Ignore him. He’s a big lump of violence, and I need to get him out of the pleasure house before he destroys more things. Are you okay?”

Riklinn blinks her blue-rimmed eyes, a surefire indication she’s been crying.

“It’s nothing, and if you need to go out, go out.” She eyes Blayn who is attempting to gouge some of the metal out of the door with his remaining claws.

“We don’t need to go straight away if you need me,” I suggest.

Riklinn flaps a hand at me, flicking it at us both. “Go, have fun. It can wait.” She gives me a smile which is meant to be reassuring but is absolutely not.

“If you’re sure?”

“Just go have some fun. You deserve it,” Riklinn says.

I look over at Blayn, who has opened his wings fully and is beating them, lifting up dust and debris as he rises up about a foot before dropping back with a wince he attempts to hide.

“Yeah, fun. I’ll try to remember,” I say with a wry smile. “When I’m responsible for…that…”

Riklinn laughs, and it’s better than her sad smile. “I wish you all the luck in the galaxy with your gladiator.”

Blayn is now worrying at his feathers, the plaster on his abdomen on full display.

“Thanks, I’m going to need it. I’ll catch you later.” I catch hold of her hand and give it a squeeze before going back to Blayn.

“So, where are you taking me?” I ask him.

He stares until I almost see the physical light go on in his eyes. “The…market?”

“Which one?” I ask as the auto-ground transport pulls up outside the rear of the pleasure house.

I’ve put him on the spot and Blayn squirms. “Solyom?” he suggests, his brow furrowed.

“Interesting. I don’t think I’ve been there,” I reply with a smile.

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