Page 151 of Decadence

Because there was a very high chance that in his desperation and arrogance and stupidity, Rexu would lead them to their enemies, and that was far more important than some outdated Kordolian notion of revenge.

The General’s words rang through his mind.

Be patient.

So he would… for now. And once Sagarath Rexu had outlived his usefulness, Ikriss would order Jeral to castrate him and set him loose on Zarhab Groht… without any weapons or means of escape.

In a hive full of cutthroats and unscrupulous traders, it would be a fate worse than death.

It would be a suitable punishment for what Rexu had done to those females… and to Ikriss’s very own mate.

He was sure that Jeral would agree.

* * *

Shortly after, Sienna called to tell him they were ready, so he flew Sienna and her friend home, personally escorting them in the Crurix along with Rykal and Arin, who had hitched a ride back to Earth.

The female called Eva was no longer acting overtly hostile toward Ikriss and his men. From time to time, Ikriss would catch her staring at he and Rykal with barely disguised curiosity. And once they were comfortably in the depths of space, she slept most of the way, and every now and then Sienna would go sit beside her, watching over her, gently stroking her hair or her hand as if she were the Guardian Goddess herself.

Really, his mate was the most precious thing in existence.

They landed on the rooftop of Sienna’s building in the so-called Lower East Side, where Ikriss left the females under the capable watch of his Second Division and an amusingly cranky Kalan, who had just returned from a Xargek extermination mission in one of the infernally hot deserts of Earth.

The big guy did not appreciate having to wear the human-style glasses that transformed him from a formidable First Division warrior into a slightly less intimidating figure that, under the right light could almost pass for human.

At least the techs had installed a patch that concealed their pointed ears.

It was a pain-in-the-ass, but they had to go incognito on Earth now, thanks to the cursed manipulations of that infernal Sturmbruk Agelus.

After the Federation broadcast, they quickly disappeared from view, allowing life in Sienna’s district to return to normal. Ikriss had ordered his men to open up the secure zone to human traffic again. People had come flooding back.

They had started crowding around the entrance to her shop well before it was due to open, waiting impatiently for their morning fix of caffeine or sugar or whatever other strange human sustenance they required.

Sienna’s little empire was busy again.

The only difference was Ikriss’s men were still there, maintaining one of the tightest security presences in the Nine Galaxies.

The humans just didn’t know it.

Even Sienna did not understand the full extent of it.

But she wasn’t Kordolian, so she didn’t have to.

“I have some things to do,” he’d explained to her as he stole a moment alone with her in the cabin of the Crurix. “I will be back as soon as I am done.”

Her gentle smile was enough to make him want to conquer a thousand galaxies in her name. “I know, and I don’t want to know. Don’t rush on my account. I’ll be here. You know where to find me.”

“Always.” He’d sealed her contentment with a slow, searing kiss that had the added effect of stirring his ever-present arousal. He just couldn’t help himself. She was an addictive drug. “And when I come back, I will give you exactly what you deserve.”

A delicate pink flush appeared in her cheeks.

Her scent changed, becoming thick and musky.

Her heartbeat accelerated.

Oh, she was perfectly attuned to his whims now.

He’d softly nipped the delicate skin at the base of her neck with his fangs, playfully marking her as his, although he was careful not to break her skin.

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