“Good.” The other man’s grin was sickening. “I want her awake.”
“In’vion—” Xokat looked momentarily stricken. “You can’t.”
“I won’t do it,” thisIn’vionguy said. “Yet. Keep me waiting much longer, and I might forget my self-control.”
My gut churned, and I tried harder to push myself up. I wasn’t really wrapped in a blanket, I realized. I was just weak. Exhaustion swamped me in a much less pleasant way than when I woke up from stasis weeks ago.Oh god!How long had I been out? Where had they taken me? What had theydoneto me? I tried to take stock, looking down at myself with a choked, quiet sob. I was still in the pink satin evening gown I’d worn to Della’s party. Even my pearls were still in place.Okay. So they hadn’t… tampered with me. Yet.
I managed to look up and catch Xokat’s stare. “Don’t… leave me with him,” I croaked.
In’vion’s laugh was rife with contempt. “Your friend Xokat’s the one who brought you to me,” he said. “He’s not going to help you.” To Xokat, he barked, “Get us moving! Or do you want to face Ahlon now that you’ve betrayed him?”
Xokat didn’t say a word. He turned and climbed the steps to the pilot’s bubble and left me with the bastard who wanted to murder me.
“If you leave me alone, I’ll tell him you didn’t hurt me.” The words felt thick and clumsy in my mouth, but I got them out.
“Oh, yeah?” he asked. “Think he’ll forgive me?”
No. Not a fucking chance.This guy was ceket feed. I nodded anyway. “He’ll believe me,” I said. “He’ll let you go if I ask.”
“Yeah? You think he’d do that for you?” In’vion sauntered closer and hoisted me by my upper arms. “Well, shit. It’s too bad you weren’t there to put in a good word for my dad, huh?”
He pushed and I fell back on the bed, all the breath whooshing out of my lungs. Still, I kicked at him as he loomed over me, the satin of my skirt tearing in one longripthat filled the cabin. My legs felt heavier than they should have and I wasn’t very effectual, but I did land one kick right on the asshole’s jaw as he climbed onto the bed and tried to prowl over me.
“Y-you don’t have to do this!” I spluttered, inching weakly back away from him. But there was nowhere to go! Behind me was nothing but pillows and the wall of the cruiser, and In’vion kept coming closer. All I’d done was make him mad.
“Oh, I know,” he said in a mocking croon. “But Iwantto. Xokat tells me your butcher of a husband actuallylovesyou. Male like him? He’s probably never loved anything in his life. He hurts, and he kills, and he takes fromeveryone, but now I get to take a little something back from him. The only thing that murdering bastard cares about.”
My head thrashed back and forth as I scratched and shoved at him, trying to get him off me. From somewhere close by, Mr. Darcy gave a long, angry yowl.Oh god, stay away, baby.If he hurt Mr. Darcy….
“I’m gonna make sure he finds this piece of shit cruiser,” In’vion panted as his hands fastened around my throat. “And you know what he’ll smell all over it? Your fear. Yourpain. He’ll lose his fucking mind.”
“He’ll find you,” I rasped out as I fought. “He’ll kill you.”
In’vion snarled, his hands closing around my throat, pinning me half to the wall and half against a lumpy pillow. Yiri’s pillow.Yiri’s pillow.I tried to turn to the side as I dug my hand beneath it, feeling around. Where was it?Where was it??
My vision swam, my pulse throbbing at my temples. Mr. Darcy launched himself at my attacker, latching onto his back, claws digging in deep, and his little kitty fangs on full display. Male and cat both howled and thrashed, but In’vion didn’t
Lungs burning, my mouth gaped as I tried in vain to pull in my next breath. The world began to dim just as smooth metal met my fingertips. I squeezed like Yiri showed me, and the phase blade speared up through the pillow, singeing the material instantly. It was so quiet. In’vion didn’t even glance down until I slid the blade into his side.
It was just like my dream. Easy as moving my hand through water. No blood, no mess. Just the sizzle and smell of burning flesh, and In’vion’s scream of pain. He might have been fine. He looked fine at first. I didn’t know where to stab someone to make it deadly, and I was still feeling very weak and lethargic. But I kept my fingers wrapped tightly around the hilt, and with In’vion basically on top of me, now in the throes of agony, his movements caused the blade to slip first to the side toward his belly, and thenupthrough his ribcage.
It was too easy. Sohorrifyinglyeasy to kill a man with this blade. And easier still to shut away my guilt.
“I’mnottoo soft for him,” I bit out as the light died in In’vion’s eyes and he fell over on the bed.Ugh.At least he didn’t fall on top of me.
Mr. Darcy hopped clear of the dead guy, pacing the blankets between us with little growls and hisses.
“You got him, sweetie,” I choked out. “Good boy. Mommy’s so proud.”
With a final, haughty yowl, he sank into loaf formation, satisfied in his victory.
I lay there for a moment and caught my breath. Whatever the hell they gave me to knock me out was trash. They had much better drugs here than on Earth. They could have used something that let me wake up all happy and peaceful, butnoooo. They had to give me some bullshit roofie that might as well have come from earth. My head pounded with every beat of my pulse, and my stomach twisted with nausea. Trying not to groan, I hauled myself out of bed and stumbled as quietly as possible to the kitchen. I splashed cool water on my face and leaned against the counter for a few minutes. When my stomach turned again, I decided that maybe putting something in it might help. So, you know… I ate a few pieces of the zibe fruit Yiri kept cubed up for us in the cruiser’s little space fridge… standing barefoot in a shredded, pink satin evening gown, the laser blade I’d just killed a man with still buzzing in my hand.
A hysterical bubble of laughter floated up, nearly choking me as I tried to swallow down the fruit.
Yeah, okay,I snorted at myself.I’m not terrible at this whole mob wife thing.
CHAPTER 41
