Her full, rosy lips parted as she watched me. Whatever words she planned to utter died in a faint squeak as her eyes went wide.
“Holy shit!”
Long, slender fingers as soft as Ardeesian silk grabbed my chin, pulling my face toward hers.
“Say something else.”
I grinned, simply from the feel of her touch on my skin. “What would you like me to say, Willa?”
“Holy shit!” She repeated, her face taking on a countenance between shock and amusement. “I’m not just hearing you through the translator thingy in my head. You’re actually speaking English.”
I laughed as a smile split her lips, exposing a row of blunt white teeth. Behind her, Adtovar grunted, unimpressed.
“Yes.” I caught her hand as it dropped from my face. “Our Chieftain believes that if we are going to guard Earth and its inhabitants, we should know and understand the planet’s language, customs, and cultures. I speak over 6000 human languages, but my favorite is English, especially your curse words—so succinct and colorful.”
Willa’s grin deepened, although she pulled her hand from mine and crossed her arms over her chest. I didn’t mind. The movement made her breasts plumb enticingly.
“No kidding.” Her voice held a teasing quality. “What’s your favorite Earth curse word?”
“I am most fond of the word,fuck.”
A laugh burst from her lips, a tintinnabulation of bells. “I like that one too.”
The sound of her laughter caused a visceral reaction in my body. My heart picked up in temperature, and the blood rushed hotter through my veins. Not to mention how the lilting sound of her voice made my cock twitch in appreciation.
Her laughter faded, but her face held acceptance and something that might be akin to burgeoning trust as she met my gaze.
“You swear my friends are safe?”
I dropped to my knee, ignoring the shocked grunt that came from Adtovar as I pressed a fist over my heart and lowered my head. A gesture signifying the sacred vow of a Vaktaire.
“I swear on my honor as a Vaktaire warrior. Your friends are safe and well cared for.”
“Thank you.” Her voice sounded soft and sincere, and it meant… everything.
“So, Champion, if you’re here to save the world, what’s the plan?” Adtovar scoffed.
I cringed.Champion. That one simple word meant Adtovar knew at least some of my shameful past. I ignored the barb.
“We need to figure out what Nansar’s plans are for the Duke,” I explained the broad strokes of my plan. “While rescuing your friends, my Vaktaire brethren discovered many of his nefarious deeds.” After glancing about to ensure we were alone, I told them everything we’d discovered. How Nansar used children to mine mumje, the most dangerous drug in the universe, and then tested the drug on a group of humans living peacefully on planet Tau Ceti. How Nansar seemed inleague with not only the Kerzak but the Ulkommanian who experimented on humans, trying to reverse the healing and regenerative properties of the Garoot Healer. Through it all, Adtovar listened intently, disgust plain on his pale face, and Willa proved, without a doubt, how fond she was of the word,fuck.
“Nansar always was an ungrateful brat,” Adtovar grunted when I finished the tale.
“I must admit to finding your comment strange,” I told him honestly. “The last anyone heard of the gladiator Adtovar, Duke Ako had purchased your contract and gave you a job guarding his most precious treasure.”
“That is true,” Adtovar said, although he appeared revolted by the admission. “And his most precious treasure turned out to be his son, Nansar.”
Memories played across the older male’s face. A reminiscence of a lifetime in the arena. Regret, sadness, remorse, contribution… I knew the emotions well.
“I did my duty to Duke Ako until it became clear his son did not deserve my loyalty and protection.” Adtovar sounded sad and tired. “Nansar’s hatred and plotting against humans became an obsession. When he began working with the Kerzak—I could no longer stand silent. When I moved to tell Duke Ako of his actions, Nansar imprisoned me in the pit.”
Without conscious thought, I reached past Willa and laid a hand on the gladiator’s shoulder. His eyes met mine, and whatever animosity lay between us quelled.
“Nansar’s hatred of humans is strange.” I caught Willa’s approving grin as I dropped my hand from Adtovar’s shoulder. “His own mother was the Duke’s favored human concubine, Helene.”
Rumors abounded regarding the Duke and his human female. Some believed he loved her, some believed he took heronly to beget an heir when his mate Rmalda died childless. The only thing anyone knew for certain was that shortly after Nansar’s birth, Helene disappeared.
“Nansar hates her the most,” Adtovar sighed.
