Total pages in book: 159
Estimated words: 144433 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 722(@200wpm)___ 578(@250wpm)___ 481(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 144433 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 722(@200wpm)___ 578(@250wpm)___ 481(@300wpm)
CHAPTER
ONE HUNDRED
ZHUR
I enter the cantina, and the moment I do, the sounds of hammering and conversation stop. Everyone in the room looks up and glares at me. There's a few human females, but the majority of those working are a'ani, and everyone is giving me strange, wary looks.
"We're closed," one of the a'ani says, stepping out from behind the bar. "Still under construction."
"I am not here for a drink."
"Good, because we don't want to serve your kind," he says in a cheerful voice.
Offended, I stiffen. "Praxiian?"
The clone shakes his head. "No, males. We're trying to encourage females to our bar." He grins widely, gesturing at the walls. "We wish to build a place that females will retreat from!"
"No, no, Erzah," says a black-haired human woman, moving to his side. "We're making a retreat, not something to retreat from."
He leans toward her. "I confess it did not make sense to me, but I figured you knew best."
She makes a face at him.
I put my hands on the brand-new bar and keep my expression neutral. "I'm looking for Kazex. I need to speak with him."
"He's not here," the human female says swiftly, subtly pushing in front of the a'ani before he can answer. "What do you want?"
I want a great many things, but I also have no desire to spill my secrets in front of this female. And all the ears listening. "He and I have old business. Has he had any word from Zebah?"
The a'ani grimaces. "Just between you and me, friend, it's best not to have any contact with Zebah. All female bounty hunters have elevators that don't go all the way to the top."
The female in front of him glares in his direction.
"Just get me Kazex," I say. I drum my fingers on the bar and wait. I know part of manipulating people to get what you want is to seem as if you are in complete control of the situation. That, and making it clear that you're not going anywhere until you get what you want. The two behind the bar exchange looks, and then the black-haired female sighs. "I'll send a comm to Ruthie. She'll know where he is."
A short time later, a new a'ani—this one with a harder expression on his face and a great deal of tattoos on his bright red clone-marker skin—strides in, rubbing his hands. "This had better be good..." He trails off as he sees me. "Uh oh."
"Kazex?" I inquire.
His mouth crooks up in a sheepish expression. "Yep. Let me guess. You're Maeve's new pet?"
Pet. Pfah. I keep my bubbling anger tamped down and straighten my clothes. "May we speak somewhere in private?"
He gestures at the front of the cantina and walks forward. I expect him to stop at one of the tables parked near the front windows, but he opens the door and goes out into the sunlight. A conversation in public, then. Perhaps I'm not so good at hiding my anger after all. Sure enough, a quick swish of my tail tells me that it's fluffed.
"What's this all about?" Kazex asks, crossing his arms over his chest and tucking his hands under his armpits in a deceivingly casual pose. He rocks on his feet, the smile on his face, but his eyes are sharp and watchful. "I already told Maeve no refunds."
My jaw clenches and I feel a growl building in my throat. "Are you aware you sold my wife a poisonous plant?"
His brows furrow and for a moment he looks upset. "She just asked for a plant. Didn't specify that it shouldn't be poisonous." Then, his expression brightens. "If it helps, I didn't charge her for it."
"That does not help," I growl. "You poisoned her. She has been swollen and itching miserably for days now."
"Ah, kef, that's terrible." He winces. "I didn't realize. Please give her my apologies. I didn't mean for her to come to any harm, truly. Maeve's a good girl."
Did I think I was feeling murderous before? The way he casually calls her a “good girl” makes me want to wrap my hands around his throat. "Maeve is my wife, not your 'good girl.'"
CHAPTER
ONE HUNDRED ONE
ZHUR
The only reason I don't murder the a'ani standing in front of me is that he looks sincerely apologetic when I confront him.
"I didn't mean to insult you," he says, taking a careful step back. "I have no designs on your mate. I have a female."
That makes me relax. "You do? Good."
"Sort of." Kazex gives me another sheepish look. "She has my heart but doesn't realize it."
And then he glances inside the cantina, and I relax even further. Ah. "Well, good," I bluster, embarrassed at my reaction. Why do I care if he's friendly with Maeve? Why do I have the urge to go and mark her door all over again like a crazed fool? She would be upset at me to know that I'm acting possessive. More than anything else, Maeve values her freedom.