Page 74 of Baited

I look at Rych, and he smiles a very wicked smile. “The guards are open to bribes here?”

“Yours are not?” Pilot says incredulously.

“They get thrown to the ziggurag if they’re caught, so no,” I reply.

Both gladiators burst out laughing. “Looks like we picked the right dome, brother.” Pilot claps Sye on his back.

“And which guards do we need to bribe?” Rych asks.

“Come with us. We’ll arrange everything,” Sye says, beckoning to us as he walks across the dusty arena.

A few guards hover in the shadows, but they’re not attempting to put us back in the cell. Possibly more trouble than we’re worth.

I hope so, because I’m getting out of here today and making my way back to my mate, no matter what.

IZZY

Sartak is not the dump I was expecting, although I have been living in Tatatunga for some time, so my expectations were fairly low.

The city is modern, bright, and filled with multi-colored vegetation. On the horizon, I can see the many weapons factories the place is famed for. They belch out smoke in a way which screams “climate change.”

Also, I managed not to strangle the madame in her sleep, even if she did snore like she was dying. She was, in fact, very kind to me for the trip, especially after I developed a headache as we neared our destination. One which had my lying on my bunk with a cooling gel pack over my eyes.

What are the symptoms of pregnancy? Are headaches one of them? Riklinn and her talk of knots bypassing birth control have clearly got me worried. So much so I refused any pain relief offered, much to the madame’s concern.

“I have a place I’d like to go to get information,” she says as we get into ground transport once again. “But if you’re not well, we can go to the hotel instead.”

I do feel like throwing up as the dull ache in my head throbs over my left eye, but I shake my head. “No, I need to find out about Blayn. Let’s go.”

I sit heavily. It’s not like I’ve done anything more than sit for three nova-days, but I’m exhausted.

Madame leans forward and puts something in my lap. It’s a squat blue sausage. I stare at it and then at her.

“Put it around your neck. It’ll help with the pain,” she exhorts me. “There’s no narcotics in it,” she adds as a reassurance.

I curl the sausage under my hair, and it immediately cools, sinking into my skin comfortably.

“Good?” she asks.

“Yes, good.” I give her a tight smile.

Now we’re close to Blayn, my fears, my concerns are bubbling to the surface.

“What if he doesn’t want me?” I blurt out. “When we find him, I mean.”

“You forget I’ve seen you with him.” Madame picks an invisible piece of lint from her skirts. “If there was ever a male who needed an entire army to drag him away from his female, it was the gladiator residing in cubicle 5-YV1.” She sighs. “So many species, so many of us would dream of having a mate look at us the way the Gryn looked at you.”

“Really?” I say the word before my brain engages.

“You think I know nothing of love because I run a pleasure house?” The madame snorts. “Love is all I know. I cater to love, as well as a few other kinks.”

It’s my turn to snort, not only because she’s referred to love as a kink, but she caters to far more than “a few.”

“I’m worried…do you think he’ll be pleased I came?” I finally voice one of the many things niggling around in my head but probably the only one I’m prepared to share with her.

“I’ll make him see sense if he doesn’t.” She reaches out and takes my hand briefly. “And you’d better tell me if you feel unwell, or I’ll be makingyousee sense.”

“I’m not entirely sure that threat works,” I say, given she’s conjured a smile from me.

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