Page 99 of Tribute
“We are still on high alert for you four and determined to keep you safe,” Bron said. “I believe he will come here.”
“Did someone saycome?”
Kai strolled over to them with languid grace, his naked skin gleaming with sweat. He smelled of sex and looked like he was ready for round two. This time Bron failed to look away as Kai palmed himself and grinned right at the security chief.
Rehz nodded. “We’ll be ready.” Bron managed to look at him as the medical officer checked the banks of screens recording everything about the four of them. “Clothes would be good.”
Bron finally smiled. “Not on my account, but the president might prefer it.” He inclined his head. “I’ll see you all later.”
He left with the medic, and the door locked behind them. Kai turned back to Rehz.
“I think he wants me.”
“I think you’re right.” He went toward the bathroom, aware of an ache in his shoulder where theUngrichhad ripped itself free and torn half his muscle off. “Flirt away. We need every ally we can get.”
He turned on the water and stood under it until Kai joined him. As soon as they’d gotten mobile, they’d realized the place was probably bugged and kept most of their important conversations beneath the roar of the shower.
“How’s Aled doing?”
“Okay. Still having nightmares. How about Anna?”
He sluiced water away from his face. “Not too good. She’s worked out things aren’t quite as finished as they should be.”
“I’d rather we all knew where we stood.” Kai soaped his chest, his breath hissing out as he encountered the multiple cuts theUngrichhad left on his skin. “Did you hide the weapons?”
“Where? They can see everything. I left them in plain sight. No one’s tried to take them away from me.”
“True,” Kai acknowledged. “I suppose all we can do is hear what the president has to say and take it from there. Do you think they’re going to take us out?”
“Yeah.” He gazed bleakly into his friend’s green eyes. “Don’t you?”
Kai nodded. “Aled thinks so too. He made me promise to kill him myself if there’s any suggestion that he or Anna have to go back intoUngrichspace for the good of our planet.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll kill him if you can’t, and you’ve got to do the same for me and Anna.”
“Agreed.” Kai held up his hand and Rehz slapped his palm against it, then turned to find Aled and Anna coming into the bathroom, talking intensely. He immediately straightened his spine.
Anna took Aled’s hand and moved under the shower with him. “Aled and I have something to say.”
He stroked her jaw. “It’s okay. I know what you want. We won’t let them take you. We’ll kill you first.” The words almost choked him, but he got them out.
She stood on tiptoe and carefully kissed Kai, and then him. “Thank you.” Her blue eyes were clear. He wanted to fall to his knees and kiss her feet and protect her from every damn fucking thing in the universe. Instead he nodded and stepped out of the shower.
“Better get dressed. I’ve almost forgotten what it feels like to wear clothes.”
Kai kissed Aled and then joined Rehz in the main room, a towel wrapped around his lean hips and a ferocious expression on his face. He slammed his palm into the wall.
“Fuck it, Rehz. Fuck all of it.”
“Yeah.” He went over to his bed and saw a set of black clothing laid out for him. A trainer’s uniform. He hated the thought of putting it on. “Let’s just see what the man has to say, okay?”
Aled allowed his gaze to slide around the circular table as he sipped cautiously at the pale liquid the president had said was wine from Earth. He much preferred Mitankvas, but he wasn’t going to make a scene. It was far more interesting to listen to what was being said and what wasn’t being said.
Kai and Rehz were stony-faced, polite but noncommittal, and Anna wasn’t much better. President Landis Khan was being very affable, and Aled was trying to be the same. He reasoned someone had to make an effort to charm the shit out of the man, and it might as well be him. Bron, the chief security officer, had his eyes glued on Kai, which didn’t make Aled feel good as Kai was actively encouraging his attention.
He leaned forward to refill his glass and elbowed Kai hard in the side.
“Having fun?”
