Page 54 of Baited

“It won’t be, my sweeteregri,” he says, stroking a claw through the hair around my face. “Because I will be informing the captain you have to come with me or else I will be unable to parade.”

“You want me to come to the dome with you?” My heart, that unreliable organ, leaps into my throat.

“I want you always, my mate. Nothing will keep us apart.” Blayn’s stunning eyes gaze into mine, as if he’s trying to sear my image upon them. “This is my promise to you.”

BLAYN

“I’m not entirely sure what the madame will make of your redecoration,” Izzy says sadly whilst setting some of the pretty, shiny things I found in the market swinging. They tinkle together in a chime which warms my soul. “But then she will be the only pleasure house owner in Tatatunga with a Gryn nest.”

“She should be honored,” I growl.

“I should tell her…” Izzy hesitates. “Are you sure it’s going to be okay for me to come to the dome with you?”

“I told you, I have credits enough for both of us. You do not need to continue working here,” I reply, huffing out a breath. “There are too many males.”

My chest heaves, and Izzy is across the room, her arms around my waist.

“I know, Blayn.” She runs a soft finger down the side of my jaw and shoves her hand into my feathers to find the perfect spot. “I’m just…I’m a human, and even if there are other humans out there, it’s not like we can do much else other than…be cleaners in a pleasure house. If I lose this job, how will I get another one?”

“You are my human, my mate.” I shove my face into her hair and inhale deeply, taking her sweet scent into my lungs. “You will want for nothing.”

After all, I have credits. I am doing what the procurator wants. I can have my Izzy by my side.

“But what if…” Her voice wavers. “What if…”

Before she can finish, two Zarvu guards burst into our nest, and I’m in the air, ready to descend on them. Pulsar pistols are pointed at me, and Izzy is racing to the door.

She needs protecting. I land heavily and shake my feathers at the two guards.

“Did no one ever tell you not to enter a Gryn nest?” I snarl.

They look at each other and back at me, but it’s too late, I’ve already disarmed them.

“No pulsars around my mate,” I rasp.

With the guards following, I join Izzy, and we walk down the passage to the elevator. Her Tref friend is waiting for her, and they embrace.

“Good luck,” she whispers in Izzy’s ear before she looks up at me. “Thank you for everything.”

“Come and see me fight,” I suggest, holding my wings up high and tossing the pulsars back to the Zarvu.

“Maybe,” the female replies. “Take care of her, won’t you?”

“My Izzy is all I live for,” I reply. “Her care is my life.”

The elevator doors swish open, and I usher Izzy inside, glaring at the Zarvu when they try to get in with us. The doors close, and we’re taken down to the main courtyard where the dome transport awaits.

It seems to take no time at all to get to the dome itself, but then I have my Izzy in my lap, and she is vrexing perfection, so any time with her is perfection.

Her eyes are wide as we rise up into the external chamber. It’s bustling with new competitors, guards, and clerks.

“Blayn.” One of the guards is holding a pair of holo-cuffs. “Don’t make a scene. You know this is standard practice,” he says as he puts his free hand on his stun baton.

I do not want to be impaired if I have my mate, and a stun from one of those weapons will make it harder for me to protect her than holo-cuffs.

I hold out my wrists, ignoring him as he clips the things on. Beside me, Izzy hugs herself.

“Are they really necessary?” she asks the guard.

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