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“Yes.Somuch!” Ketha admitted. “But when we parted ways, I rejected him and I think he put up some kind of…of barrier between us. Because now I can’t reach him, no matter how hard or how often I call!”
“What would you tell him if he was here right now—the father of your baby?” he rumbled.
“I’d tell him I was wrong and that I was an idiot, going back to my mother. She only wanted me to have a baby to keep up with the trends in Opulex and so she could get considered for a spot on the Sacred Seven! When she found out I was carrying a son instead of a daughter, she gave me two choices—either get rid of the baby or get disinherited and kicked out.”
“And you chose to keep the baby.” A big, warm hand slipped down to rest lightly on her baby bump again.
“Yes.” Ketha sniffed. “I…I couldn’t give him up! My mother brought in a baby-view tech and the equipment she had showed what he would look like when he was all grown up. And he…he’s going to look exactly like his father!” She started to cry even harder. “I couldn’t give him up—Iwon’tgive him up!” she said fiercely. “He’s all I have left of Styx!”
“Maybe notallyou have left,” the deep voice rumbled, and this time it sounded less distorted and much more familiar.
“What…? Who…?” Ketha reached reflexively for the blinding patches again but her owner was there before her. Gently, he peeled the patches away from her eyes.
Ketha blinked at the sudden brightness. She’d been in utter darkness for most of the day and it took her eyes time to adjust to the light. But when she looked up, she knew who was sitting beside her, even though he was blurry.
“Styx?” she gasped, reaching for him. “Is that really you?”
“It’s me, baby,” he assured her.
And then he gathered her into his arms.
21
KETHA
“Idon’t understand—why didn’t you tell me it was you right away?” Ketha demanded, swiping at her eyes.
“I wanted to talk to you first—to find out what you were really thinking,” Styx admitted. “I thought it might be easier for you to talk to a stranger—since you clearly didn’t want to talk to me the last time we saw each other.”
“Is that why you put up the barrier between us?” Ketha asked. “I mean, youdidput it up, didn’t you?”
“It was more of a reflexive thing than an actual choice,” he said, frowning. “But yeah—it’s there. I’m sorry you’ve been calling for me, little girl—I just didn’t hear you.”
“Then…how did you know where to find me?” Ketha asked, bewildered. “You got there just in time to buy me.”
“I had to haul ass across the galaxy to get to you, too,” he growled. “The night before last I had a dream sent to me by the Goddess—the Kindred Goddess, the Mother of All Life,” he clarified. “She said—‘Get up, warrior! Your Fated Mate is in desperate trouble.’”
“Your Goddessspoketo you?” Ketha exclaimed. She had never heard of a deity doing such a thing. She had always worshipped the Goddess of Mercy herself, but she’d never heard from her personally.
“She didn’t just speak to me—the sense of urgency she gave me was fuckingintense.”Styx shook his head. “I’ve been wormhole hopping ever since, trying to get back to you in time. Thank the Goddess nobody else bought you before I got to you.”
“I think Nanny Grim set my price too high,” Ketha said frankly. “I know back when I used to go with my mother to the Flesh Bazaar, she never would have paid for a slave what you paid for me.”
“Baby, I would have paid a hundred times as much,” Styx growled softly. “You’repriceless.”
Ketha felt her heart jump in her chest. The way he was looking at her with those golden eyes of his…
“Does that mean you’re not mad at me anymore?” she asked softly.
“Of course not.” He took her hands in his and looked at her earnestly. “You trulyaremy Fated Mate and I’m yours as well. But I won’t keep you against your will. If you want to go?—”
“No!” Ketha exclaimed. She looked up at him, holding his gaze with her own. “I…I want to stay with you. If…if you want me to,” she added in a small voice.”
“Of course I do, baby.” Styx gathered her into his arms and Ketha pressed her face to his throat and breathed in his warm, spicy scent.
She didn’t understand why she hadn’t smelled it earlier when he’d been carrying her. Maybe because she’d been holding herself stiff and as far away from him as she could, since she’d thought he was a stranger. Or possibly because her nose had been stuffed up from crying as she waited to be sold.
“I missed you,” she whispered, cuddling close to his broad chest. “I’m sorry I pushed you away. I just…I didn’t understand that we were meant to be together.”
