Page 11 of Rix & Val
“Be safe,” I order Rix as I let my sisters take me from the room. They clean me up and then I’m tucked into bed. I hope by the time I wake up Suki is home. I know that Luna and Lyra join me on the bed, curling around me. Vena follows us and she slides down the door to sit on the floor. Always providing protection. We aren’t complete, though, and we feel it. Who’d have thought that such a small human could leave such a massive hole in our lives by her absence?
I hope with all my heart that she’s okay.
RIX
Leaving Val in the care of her sisters has been hard, but I know it has to be done. She’ll be cared for after doing what she had to today. Right now, my brother needs me. If it had been the other way round, Vex would move heaven and earth to help me. I’ll do the same for him.
Vex wants to make a statement and depositing a motorised vehicle full of bodies at the door of the gobshite who dares to take one of our own is the way to do it.
We haven’t hidden away. No, instead we arrive in force and push our way into the home of the rich merchant who should have left well enough alone.
Not that we’re idiots. We first ensure that the enforcers are busy on the other side of the city where a warehouse district has gone up in flames.
There hasn’t been much of a show of force for us to take on. And, honestly, I’m a bit disappointed. After watching Val this morning, I’ve been hoping for a bit of a fight. Instead, we swiftly dispatch the few men who have been protecting the little weasel. We search high and low, but Suki isn’t here.
Vex has lost it, and his berserker side has been let out. Vorn, Stron, Brak, and I are standing, arms folded, braced against the wall as Vex plays with the merchant. He’s bouncing the gobshite’s head like a ball against the floor. The merchant has long since died, but we know better than to get between Vex andhis prey when he’s like this. It’s best to let him exhaust himself. The only one who may be able to bring him out of the rage is his mate, and she isn’t anywhere to be found.
“Rix,” turning my head when my name’s called, I see a prospect warily eyeing Vex before he turns back to me. “All the bodies have been brought inside.”
“Good. You all start back for the clubhouse,” I dismiss him. Turning to Brak, “You got the charges?”
“Yep,” he nods, holding up a bag.
“Let’s go set them. Maybe by the time we get back, Vex will be done, and we can blow this joint.”
Half an hour later, we walk outside to find Vex sitting on his bike, staring stoically into the distance, Stron and Vorn waiting with him. Nobody is talking. We’ll be starting from scratch, but we’ll find Suki if it’s the last thing we do.
Brak and I mount our bikes and start them up. We ride out of the property, and not ten zeen later we hear the boom.
Vex pulls over and we stop with him. Turning around, we watch the flames reach high in the sky. Only when we’re sure the last charge has gone off do we continue with our journey. It’s with a heavy heart that we’re returning home, and I hate that I’ll have to tell Val that we didn’t find Suki.
We take two zenths to get home. The tension leaves my shoulders as soon as we drive through the gate. There’s a swirl of bright pink near the doors and we each pull a blaster from our holsters as it solidifies. After this morning, we’re taking no chances.
“Suki,” Vex shouts hoarsely. Abandoning his bike, he runs and scoops her into his arms, burying his face in her hair. Relief runs through me, seeing her safe with us. They move and we see whoher saviour is. I know immediately that she’s from Revolt. They have distinct features, one of them being razor-sharp teeth and pointed ears, although their teeth are retractable.
Female voices cry out Suki’s name. Her sisters flow out the door, Kragor following them, tears on his cheeks. They pile onto Suki, my Val in the mix. I’m amused to see Vex shoved aside when Kragor gets to them. It’s good to feel amusement again after the agony of this morning.
Val lets go of Suki, and her gaze searches the brothers until they land on me. Her smile is blinding as she takes off in a sprint, and I brace as she leaps, wrapping her legs and arms around me as her mouth takes mine.
“You’re home,” she whispers against my lips.
“I’m home,stór mo chroí.”
Home to me doesn’t mean a place. Home to me is Val, and it always will be.
VAL
1 YEAR LATER
Resting my hand on my growing belly, I lean back in the lounger that Rix had carried out for me so I can be comfortable while we have what Suki’s calling family day. She insists on having these as often as possible. Sometimes we invite other people to them, but mostly it’s just the Cosmic Crows and the Revolute Vultures, and that’s the way I prefer it.
It's a baking hot day, and I don’t want to move. Vena and I have a busy week getting our business open: V-Sqrd. I never, in a million years, thought I’d not only be free, but I’d be mated, own my own business, and be carrying my own little one. My young will never have to worry about being a slave between me, Rix, his uncles, aunts, and granda. He’ll never have to worry about that.
“I wonder who that is,” Lyra muses, her head turning towards the front of the clubhouse. Sitting up to get a better look, I’m stunned because walking towards me with Rix are Raz and Luc. Both boys look emaciated, and their clothes are in tatters. Standing, I rush towards them, my eyes catching Rix’s concerned gaze.
“Boys,” I whisper. Luc lifts his head at my voice, and he rushes towards me as soon as he sees me. His little body hits mine, and I’m horrified to feel how thin he is when I enfold him in my arms. He’s sobbing, and my heart aches when I hear him whisper, “I thought we’d never find you.”
Pressing my lips to his head, I’m surprised at how much he’s grown. Raz has been quiet. Looking up, I hold out my arm for him, and even though he towers over me, he burrows as close as he can. Kissing his cheek, I’m aware that everyone is quiet behind us. Knowing I need to get information, I say to Luc, “I bet you guys are hungry, huh?”
