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Matt broke into a jog, the long tail of his royal-pedigreed jacket flapping behind him.
He ran in the lobby of the hotel. There was still no sign of Avir. A Plasian attendant, the tallest, thinnest man Matt had ever seen, hurried to him, eager to assist.
“My clan was in room seventeen. We checked out, but I forgot something. Can I go up?” A silly question, given Avir had gone in, but Matt felt the need to explain himself since they’d officially left.
“Your room access lasts until midday for exactly that reason,” the Plasian smiled. “Someone always has to return for something.”
“Thanks.” Matt went to the bank of three elevators. With his luck, he’d take one up while Avir was coming down.
He made it to the floor where they’d stayed. No one was around. He trotted to the closed door. It slid open.
Matt knew he’d missed Avir by the silence before he walked in. He went in anyway, to confirm it.
Avir was there. He lay on the sitting room’s floor, eyes shut, his forehead bloodied. Valter stood over him, knobby hands clutching the Rickenbacker by the neck. He snarled as Matt halted, mouth agape.
Chapter Fifteen
“We warned you. Did you think you could escape judgment for your perversion when your father died? I’m the instrument of his and God’s justice beyond the grave. I will cleanse the universe of your filth.”
Valter stepped over the motionless form on the floor. He headed toward Matt, who stood frozen in the grip of the nightmare brought to life. It was Lucas again, his lover beaten bloody because of his selfishness in loving him despite the dangers.
“No. Stop.” In his mind, the guitar rising to strike wasn’t aimed at him, but at his lover. Matt was held down, unable to come to his rescue…
Except he wasn’t trapped this time. His arms and legs were moving, he could move, he could rush forward and grab the descending Rickenbacker before it hit…
Matt snatched it from the old man with a scream of rage and flung it aside. It thumped to the thick carpet. He froze, staring at Valter.
The present crashed in, shredding the past. He stood in a rented suite on Jedver rather than in an Earth college dorm room. It was Avir lying on the floor, not Lucas. It was Valter who’d attacked the man he loved with unprovoked violence instead of Sven.
Valter balled up his fists and came at Matt, who was no longer a terrorized boy. He unknowingly came for a furious, vengeful Matthew Larsen of Clan Avir.
Matt barely felt the fist slam his jaw. His own punch caught Valter in the gut, and his uncle wheezed as he bent double. Matt’s next clout landed on his temple, and Valter crashed to the floor.
Matt kicked his thigh, fury driving all conscience from his head. “Get up. Get up, you demented, soulless snake! Come on and show me your warped justice! Face me, you sick piece of shit!”
Valter curled into a ball to protect himself from the barrage of kicks. Matt seized him by the shoulders and shook him as hard as he could. Then he slapped him across the face, and Valter’s head rocked.
“Stand up! Fight! Let’s see who gets to live in whose nightmare now!”
“Mattie!” Arms circled him and hauled him from the whimpering, shaking Valter. Masok stared at him, Valter, then Avir as Kom stampeded past to reach their Dramok.
“Let him kill the worthless asshole. If he doesn’t, I might.” Kom knelt next to Avir and pressed fingers against his neck.
“Is he alive? Iwillkill Valter if he isn’t! Do you hear me, shithead?” Matt nearly succeeded in breaking free of Masok.
“His pulse is strong. Hey, look who’s waking up. Lie still, my Dramok. You had your bell rung pretty bad.”
“Mattie, calm down so I can com emergency services,” Masok begged, grabbing at his flailing arms. “Avir needs a doctor.”
Concern for their Dramok was the only reason the fury ebbed enough for Matt to realize he needed to stop struggling with Masok. He snarled, but he quieted.
“Okay. I’m calm. Get some help.” Matt went to Kom and the slowly blinking Avir and knelt next to them.
“Hey.” The Dramok’s voice wobbled, but it was a relief to see him conscious. “He grabbed the guitar when I set it down. Did he break it?”
“Fuck the guitar.” Matt wrapped his arms around Avir and hugged him tight.
* * * *
