Page 4 of The Wedding Hunt Ylara

“This is a lot of people.”

“I am moving in. It requires a lot of people.”

“You don’t have a job or something with the Sethir-Nin?”

He chuckled. “Sort of. This is the new and only embassy on Daycross. Well, until the Hyreno embassy opens next door.”

“The green guy.”

He chuckled. “Yes. The one helping your wounded friend. What happened to her?”

She shivered. “Oh, nothing good. It was on the news.”

“But what happened?”

“An active was engaged in illegal activity at the port, and Sabine was port security. She took out most of his accomplices, but he dug his claws into her and crushed her spine as she screamed. When he heard her voice, he dropped her.”

“Why? Why not kill her?”

She smiled as he opened a wide door at the end of a hall and ushered her in. “He recognized her voice. He was one of her patrons through the BDC.”

“She’s an escort?”

“On medical leave, but her patron will never get a date again, male or female. No one messes with the escorts.” She chuckled. “Not if they don’t want to deal with re-entry to our atmosphere. The teams are desperate for bedmates, and taking even one out of circulation is considered a disaster. They react in a manner that indicates they take it personally.”

He nodded. “I could see that. If I had a lover that was suddenly injured, I would be furious.”

She glanced up at his stinger. “Ah. Right. Gotcha. Well, all the flowers and stuff went through the BDC, and her attacker confessed immediately. That probably saved his life.”

“Probably. I still would kill him, though.”

His chambers were made of a few rooms. The front room had a table, a backless couch, an entertainment unit, and two chairs.

Riithan pulled at his tie, unravelling as if he wore one all the time, and it was a casual action. Ylara watched him shrug out of his jacket and drape it over a chair.

He spoke softly, and music played. “Would you dance with me?”

She thought he would get to sex immediately. “Dance?”

He nodded. “Dance. There is time enough for everything else.”

Ylara looked at him and saw them tangled together, her leg wrapped around his hips. Her eyes were the same solid black as his, which shook her. She stumbled back, and he stepped forward to catch her.

She put her hands up to stop him. “No. Please. I just need a minute.”

He frowned. “Are you all right? You look pale.”

She swallowed. “I just... my mind flashed. It is disorienting.”

She straightened and smiled, not meeting his gaze. “There. All better.”

She swallowed as he took her hands. He was concerned. “Are you sure? What did you see?”

She didn’t look him in the eye. “Nothing. It was just the change of perspective that threw me.”

“You aren’t looking at me anymore.”

“It’s been a long night. I am tired.”

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