Page 25 of Needed in the Night
His golden eyes with their vertically slit pupils really were remarkable—and very piercing when his gaze locked on mine.
“Since you have been honest with me, I will be honest as well,” he said. “I saw your dagger tonight when the Hardanian touched you. I have known you wear it at all times and you can use it to great effect because you fear some threat. And I spotted your shadowbat companion the day you auditioned at Zaa’ga. I have said nothing of these secrets to anyone and never will.”
Up until now, I’d feared anyone, even Mikas, would notice either my forearm sheath or Brae’s presence. But to my surprise a weight lifted off my shoulders knowing those secrets were safe with him.
Much to my chagrin, tears welled up at the feeling of being safe. I blinked them away, but not before Mikas slid to the edge of his seat.
“Please do not weep,” he said earnestly, his voice suddenly rough. “I swear on my life you do not need to fear I will betray you.”
“No, it’s not that.” I took a shaky breath. “I’ve held these secrets in for a while. I guess talking about them and thinking about what a good friend you are just hit me all at once.”
Something flashed in his eyes—some emotion I couldn’t quite identify. And then it was gone, replaced with kindness. “I am glad to be your friend, Isla. And very honored to be trusted with this information.”
“How about returning the favor?” I asked.
He tilted his head. “How do you mean?”
“Something’s been bothering you.” I curled up against the arm of the sofa to bring myself closer to him. “The other reason I wanted to bring you here is so you could tell me what’s made you so grim lately. I’m sure you don’t want to say anything in the bar, but I’m here to listen. I can keep secrets too.”
Mikas bowed his head, obviously struggling with himself over what to say and how to say it. I might have been hurt by his reluctance if I didn’t know how painful secrets could be. He’d been a conscripted soldier, so he probably had nightmares in his past I couldn’t dream of.
“Does it have anything to do with the Atolani female who was at the bar tonight?” I prompted gently. “Did you know her from before?”
“Yes.” He raised his head, his expression dark with memories. “I knew her from my time in the Cludian Corps. I had not seen her or even thought of her since. She bears a grudge at how we parted ways…and because I refused to join a mercenary squad with her after our service ended.”
Well, that explanation fit with my assessment of the Atolani. My instincts had warned me loud and clear at the sight of her that she was untrustworthy and dangerous. Everything about her oozed menace.
Reading between the lines, they had once been a couple, or at least had an intimate relationship. At the thought of Mikas being close to the Atolani female, I felt a little stab of something. Not jealousy, which would have made no sense—more like protectiveness and a lot of indignation at the ridiculous thought that kind, honest Mikas would sign up to be a mercenary.
“She wanted you to be a raider?” I demanded. “You?”
“Yes.” To my surprise, the corners of his mouth turned up. “You do not see me as a likely candidate for that life?”
“No!” The very thought turned my stomach. “Not at all. Mercenaries are nothing more than thieves and cold-blooded killers. How could she have even thought you’d want that?”
“I do not know,” Mikas said. He seemed pleased by my reaction. Maybe he liked that I had a better sense of who he was than the Atolani female did. “Once my injuries healed, I returned here to my homeworld,” he added. “To a peaceful life and an honest profession. I may not be wealthy, but I am content.”
“How did you end up working for Nubo?” I asked. “You’re such a good man. And he’s…not.”
Once again, he smiled. Three smiles in less than an hour. A record.
“Why didyouaccept his job offer?” Mikas countered. “You surely knew what kind of man he is.”
It was my turn to smile. “A fair point. I needed the job. I’d had a lot of auditions before that one, and no one in Onat’ras was interested in a human singer. I’d given up, honestly…and then I saw the job notice and told myself I’d try one more time.”
His smile faded. If I didn’t know better, I might have thought his skin paled a little.
“So you almost did not come to Zaa’ga to audition?” he asked.
“I almost didn’t,” I admitted. “I argued with myself. But Brae said I should try or I’d always wonder if this job was the one that was meant to be.” At his quizzical expression, I added, “Brae is my shadowbat.”
“Ah.” He laced his fingers between his knees, his expression grave. “I owe a great debt to Brae, then.”
It was so wonderful to finally know for sure how much Mikas valued our friendship.
“I owe him too.” I smiled. “I would have missed out on a good-paying job, a safe place to live, and a good friend.”
I started to added something about Brae, then stopped. Wait. Mikas had said he hadn’t thought about the Atolani female until she appeared in the bar tonight, so that wasn’t what had been bothering him lately.
