Page 74 of Victoria's Discovery

“Vi’kail,” he growled, cutting Thorn off mid-threat.

Thorn’s eyes widened before narrowing into a murderous glare. “That bastard. What do you think he did?”

“I do not know, but we will both wring his neck until he tells us.”

Chapter 37

After a night spent tossing and turning, alternately listening to the deafening silence and waiting for Vi’kail to turn up to collect his stuff—which he never did—Victoria felt like sleep-deprived roadkill as she sat in the conference room, still making notes after most everyone else had left because she’d been distracted during the meeting.

“Probably look like roadkill, too. Which is entirely their fault. Assholes.”

“Pardon?”

Victoria jerked her head around to blink at Rellik in surprise, only to grimace when she realized she’d said that aloud. “Hmm? Nothing. Just, uh, thinking out loud.”

Now that she was actually looking at him, she noticed he didn’t look like he’d slept much better than she had. In fact, he looked like he hadn’t slept well in days judging by the dark circles under his eyes.

Straightening from where she’d been hunched over her tablet, going over Aria’s battle plans to take over the neighboring arena, she swiveled her chair to face him.

“Hey, you okay?”

He cocked a wry brow. “You first.”

Victoria twisted her lips, reluctant to share her woes, but broke fairly quick under the genuine concern in his bright, orange eyes.

“Man troubles.”

Rellik grunted and nodded. “I understand. Female troubles.”

That reminded her she’d promised to help teach him human courtship rituals. Eager to focus on someone else’s problems—even though she was very clearly unqualified to offer romantic advice—she perked up.

“Anything I could do to help?”

His eyes narrowed in consideration. “Truthfully, yes. I would appreciate your perspective, if you are agreeable to it.”

“Absolutely! Er, I mean, yeah, I’d be happy to help.”

“Wonderful.” Rellik looked much livelier than he had just minutes ago, and Victoria felt proud for being the cause of that.

“Do you have any specific questions?”

“Actually, before we begin, would you mind if I called Thrasin in, as well?”

“Not at all! I’ve seen him, well, kind of stalking Aria. Which isn’t…terribleas a way to show interest in a person, but that’s not really the way we go about courtship.”

He snorted and grinned wryly. “Thrasin is a complicated male. Computer, locate Thrasin and send him a private communique to join me here in forum area L-7.”

“Confirmed, Rellik.”

A few minutes later, Thrasin walked in scowling, looking irritated as hell that he’d been summoned, until he caught sight of her. His expression became almost unnervingly intense as he pinned her with his white eyes.

“You.”

Victoria swallowed and tried to smile. “Er, yes? Hi?”

“Calm, Thrasin. You look like you’re going to murder the poor female.”

“I would not. Aria favors her.”

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