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That makes my hackles go up, because we’ve left Dora alone on the ship with Rhonda. Thank kef Rhonda is locked away. If she even tried anything, they’d be picking up her pieces across seven different star systems.
One Hundred Sixteen
BETHIAH
Lord Nerit il’Aiven is kind of a dick. I see Rhonda continues to have bad taste in her lovers, myself included. I’m just not liking the guy, no matter how agreeable and pleasant he tries to seem, and I can tell Jamef doesn’t like him, either. It’s evident on my mate’s hard, angry face. He doesn’t even like Rhonda and he feels like Lord Nerit is being a dick to her.
I like him even less for making me sympathize with Rhonda. Of course she’s desperate and grasping and unlikable. She’s an aging plaything being supplanted by a fun new toy and the person that’s supposed to care for her just sees her as a problem that he wants to “go away.”
Ugh.
A plan forms in my mind, but I remain quiet on what I want to do. Instead, we vid conference with the guild back on Haal Ui, confirming that our bounty is alive and well and processing the appropriate releases so we can get paid. I glance over at Jamef as Nerit talks with the guild representatives, touching my tail to his and tapping my chest once to tell him to let me take the lead on things.
He nods, and I’m grateful to have a mate that trusts me enough not to ask questions. I mean, it might be insane of him to not ask someone like me questions, but I can appreciate it all the same.
My data-pad chimes at the same time that Jamef’s does, signaling we’ve received our payment. I beam my cheeriest smile at Lord Nerit and his guard. “Looks like our bounty with Rhonda is done. Are you sure we can’t just drop her off on your doorstep and call it a day?”
“Absolutely not,” Lord Nerit says in a lofty, snooty tone that nobles use on the rest of the galaxy trash to make them feel like less. “As discussed, I would rather hire you to make the problem go away.”
“Mmm. Well, you can only hire us through the guild. You want to open a bounty?” I sidle my way toward the bedroom, moving myself between Lord Nerit and the doorway where the human female waits in bed.
“I don’t see why that’s necessary.” Lord Nerit hmphs. “You’re here. I’m here. Can’t we just agree to work together?”
“It has to be recorded with the guild,” Jamef says, speaking up. His hands remain on his belt, his posture one of complete boredom, as if this is an everyday thing and there’s nothing to worry over…which is perfect. It’ll keep them off-guard. “Trust me,” Jamef continues. “It’s for your safety as well as ours. How do we know you won’t rob us?”
Lord Nerit sputters, and I take that moment to lean into the personal quarters, the room that Dora calls a bedroom. The human doesn’t seem to have a recognizable face, which is good. It means she’s not one of the clones we ran into recently. I probably would have shat myself if I was looking at yet another Ruth clone. This female looks to be slightly younger than Dora, and she’s got pale golden skin and long dark hair. She clutches the blanket to her chest as if it’s a shield and gazes at me with fright when I step inside the private quarters.
“What is she doing?” Lord Nerit says behind me.
“Just securing the premises,” Jamef tells him in that bored tone. “It’s standard for a bounty. We have to make sure you’re not scamming us.”
They continue to argue, but I focus on the human instead. “How are you doing, honey?” I ask in a low voice as I pretend to move around the room, tapping on walls as if checking them for secret doors. “Does he treat you well?”
She seems startled that I’d speak to her. Her nervousness is evident. “Well enough.”
I’m such a softie when it comes to humans. “And did you want to stay here with him?”
Her brows draw together. “Wait…I get a choice? He bought me —”
“There’s a farm planet I know of that’s a human refuge,” I continue in a low, soothing voice. “The lord there is married to a human and considers anyone that lands on his private planet a refugee. You’ll be among other humans again and you won’t have to have sex with anyone if you don’t want to. You’ll belong to yourself.”
She sucks in a breath. “I want that. Yes, please.”
I thought so. I nod, giving the wall a satisfied thump with my knuckle. “Get your clothes on, then.”
The human scrambles from the bed, grabbing a dress and shoving it over her head as I move back to the main quarters. Lord Nerit stares at me, aghast, his useless bodyguard flanking him. “I’m not giving up my new toy! She’s mine! I just purchased her.”
