Chapter 32

Chapter

Thirty-Two

R ixx made his way down the stairs, stepping lightly even though every door was shut tight and the raucous sounds of merriment had dwindled to only the faint hum of music and the occasional hiccup. He'd promised to stay hidden, but after tossing and turning most of the night, he needed to leave the small room, even if it was only to walk around the interior of the house.

Not that walking would cure anything. He'd tried downing the rest of his ale after Myrria had left and that had done little to dull the ache in his heart. He knew that she was right, but that didn't make losing her hurt less.

"It's over," he told himself as he reached the bottom of the stairs and scanned the evidence of the previous night's entertaining.

A couple of females were slowly clearing glasses from tables, moving silently around slumped, snoring bodies. He suspected that Velen would be in charge of removing the stragglers at a certain point, and he was sure one toothy smile from her would snap them from the deepest slumber.

He wove his way through the tables, settees, and piles of cushions until he found an alcove with fabric draped around the intimately grouped, low chairs. Then he sat so that he had a view of the deserted room, breathing in the scent of extinguished candles and spilled booze.

Although Rixx wasn't trapped in his small room, sitting in the larger space did not do much to improve his mood. It only served to remind him that he was still trapped in the outlaw city, but now he was no longer with Myrria and Zala. He might not have known them for long, but they had felt like family to him.

And now he would never see them again.

His heart seized, a physical pain making him touch a hand to his chest. How was it that one night could have tied him so deeply to the female? He had spent nights with females before, but never had he felt the instant connection that he had with Myrria. Never had he felt a female's emotions. Never had he heard their thoughts.

Because they were not the one. She is.

Rixx shook his head brusquely, banishing this thought. It did not matter what he felt or heard. It did not even matter if he was sure Myrria was his one true mate, his mind mate. It did not matter if she was not free to be his and if she refused to be with him. He could not force her to feel what he did, even though he was sure she felt it too.

He rubbed his chest and told himself that it would not matter. The woman who'd visited him the night before would get a message to his ship, and they would return for him. Soon, he would be back among his Dothvek brothers and safely away from all the dangers that threatened him in Kurril.

He hated that he would be leaving Myrria and Zala to the cruel fate of the Den of Thieves, but as Myrria had reminded him, he was not her husband or Zala's father. It was not up to him to protect them or provide for them, even though he knew in his heart that he would do a better job than the worthless waste of air that had abandoned them for so long.

Thinking of the man made his blood bubble and roil, and imagining Myrria allowing him to touch her made him want to put his fist through something solid. He would be glad to return to the ship and get in some sparring time with Zaandr, although his best friend did not know how much rage he needed to excise in the grappling ring.

Every time he struck a blow it would be with the image of Myrria's husband in his head. Each time he slashed his blade, he would envision slicing open the coward's throat. Rixx could not even bear to think of the man's name, although he knew he was also unable to forget it.

"Too bad…Tobert…his old lady…"

Rixx jerked to attention as snatches of conversation drifted to him from across the room. He quickly peered through the sheer fabric to where a group sat around a far table clutching the dregs of their drinks. He hadn't noticed them when he'd walked downstairs but they could have very well just roused themselves. He leaned back, certain they did not see him—or they did not care who heard them. One thing he did know, the name they'd said was the name of Myrria's husband.

"He missed a good time," one of the men said after taking a long drink from his tankard.

Another choked back a rough laugh. "As if he hasn't had his fair share of good times while we were away."

Rixx narrowed his gaze, noticing that the group dressed like mercenaries and consisted of several different species.

A spindly creature with blue skin ran a six-fingered hand through his snow-white hair. "Don't know if he had as good a time as we did last night, especially since he had to explain why he'd been gone so long."

A beefy man with no hair snorted. "It's not like he's gonna tell her the truth. Not if he wants her to take him back."

The blue alien laughed. "You don't think she'd like to know that she's his second wife?"

Rixx stiffened, his hot blood going cold.

"Can you have two wives?"

"Not on Kurril. His second wife isn't a wife at all." One of the group barked out a laugh. "Not that she'll ever know."

Rixx's shock kept him immobilized. Myrria was not truly married?

"Tobert sure does have it made." Blue shook his head. "A wife on every planet. Though I don't know why he keeps marrying them."

"So they'll wait for him." The burly man swiped a thick hand across his mouth. "Just look at him now. He's off getting taken care of and fed by a willing female, and we're here with each other."

One of the crew drained his mug. "Maybe I should take a few wives."

Then the group devolved into loud laughter and one of the females cleaning the room came along and swatted at them gathering their empties and telling them to move along. Rixx was still as he watched them stagger toward the door, laughing and slapping each other on the back. When they had gone, he leapt to his feet.

He didn't care that he'd been told to stay hidden. He didn't care that he would soon be leaving the planet. He didn't even care that he was still being hunted.

He needed to tell Myrria the truth, and he needed to take care of the man who had deceived her.