Page 29 of Igid's Bounty
“Your bond must have pushed her into a heat.” He wipes at his eyes, still chuckling. “And to a pup, no less,vittu, no wonder she dumped your carcass here.”
“Shut up, or I’ll end your suffering right now,” I grit through clenched teeth, trying not to let him see just how much his words sting. Or how close to the truth he likely is.
“Look,” Volethos grimaces when he shifts his weight, causing the cloak he’s wearing to fall away, revealing a blood-soaked shirt, “I’ve known Igid since we were kits, and a mate was never in the stars for her. Not after what was done to her.”
His words nearly knock me over, and I feel the blaster falling to my side as I ask, “What—what was done to her?”
Volethos trains his golden eyes on me, and I can see his thoughts churning as he decides what he is—or isn’t—going to tell me. Eventually, he sighs, “Well, neither of us is likely going anywhere anytime soon. And since you are her mate, I suppose you have a right to know. I doubt she’ll tell you—”
His tawny coloring is fading quickly, and when another cough racks his narrow frame, I don’t miss the splatter of blood left behind on his short fur. “But first, why don’t you have a look around here and see if you can find a medkit or something? This place hasn’t been decommissioned for long, so maybe the scavengers haven’t had time to strip everything. Then maybe I’ll feel like sharing.”
“Decommissioned? Do you know where we are?” I ask.
Volethos closes his eyes and takes a rattling breath. “Sector Four.”
That’s all he says before closing his eyes and falling asleep—or maybe he passes out.
Sector four.That’s the sector Kurrahstka’s pleasure house is in. Igid must have dropped me here on her way to complete our mission. But why?
Grinding my molars with a sigh, I holster my blaster. As much as I want to ignore Volethos’ demands, and as much as it makes my skin itch, I’m stuck here unless I can find a working shuttle that I can steal or, more likely, Igid decides to come back for me.
So, I start walking again.
CHAPTER 17
BROX
* * *
I’ve been wandering through the guts of the station for a while when I turn a corner and run into what looks like the cafeteria. Even better: against the back wall arefourreplicators!
I didn’t realize how hungry I was until I saw them and my empty stomach started groaning and chewing on itself.
Everything has been pretty well picked clean in this damned station, so I’m not terribly hopeful when I tap the screen of the first one. To my surprise, it lights up. I start working my way down the selections. Pickings are slim, but there is food.
Between the four machines, I’m able to gather enough food for two starving males, and I even find a bag to carry it all in.
With that out of the way, I keep going. Usually the med bay isn’t far from the galley in these sorts of stations. Just as I’d hoped, at the end of the hall is a set of double doors. On the other side is exactly what I’m looking for. Actually, it’s more than I ever could have hoped for. Not only is there a medbay, but what looks like a surgical wing with exam rooms and a pharmacy. Unfortunately, all of it has been gutted, except for what I find tucked in the back of one of the exam rooms.
A medbot.
It’s an older model, and judging by the layer of dust that’s collected on the glass, it’s been a while since it’s been used. But when I tap the screen, it lights up and begins to come out of its hibernation cycle.
“What are the odds?” I mumble, heading out of the medbay, back to Volethos.
Grievously injured as he is—that stab wound might be more than the medbot can handle—I can’t help thinking the bastard doesn’t deserve this chance. Not after everything he’s done. Still, I can’t withhold this from him.
Volethos is still leaning against the wall with his eyes closed when I get back to him. His coloring has gone gray, and he looks dead.
Hunching down in front of him, I let out a sigh as I move his cloak to reveal the entire front of his shirt is saturated with dried blood, except for a wet patch just above his pants. Clucking my tongue, I shake my head sadly at the gut wound that’s been going bad for a while. It’s akurvingmiracle he made it as long as he has, and I wonder if it’s even worth the effort to get him into the medbot—if he’s even still alive.
Rocking back on my heels, I take in the male before me. He’s missing half of one of his pointed ears, thanks to Igid, and most of his tail—although I don't know the story behind that. In fact, I don’t know much about him at all. What I do know is that, if he actually did half of what he’s known for, it would be a courtesy to the universe if I shot him and put him out of his misery right now.
Except I can’t seem to do that. Why? Because he has a history with Igid, and I don’t want to take the chance that she might hate me for killing him.
“Hey.” I tap his outstretched leg, and he jerks awake, only to groan and curl an arm around his stomach.Well, fuck me, he is alive.“I’ve got good news.”
“Your female has returned, and she’s going to finish off both of us?” He chuckles, then winces at the effort.
