“What she’s doing is wrong,” Evelyn said.
Khiva tilted his head down to show his agreement. “Pax, but I often ask myself, if she hadn’t found us ten years ago, would be better off? Or worse?”
Evelyn shook her head, “If the United Worlds found out about this, if the Earth Council found out about this, Khiva…she would be sent to the Quentin colony for life. You have to report this.”
If only Evelyn knew half of Madame Allegria’s wrongdoings…
“Leeldra,” he said softly. “I cannot.”
“What do you mean? Of course you can!” she cried.
“I wish,” he started slowly, running the pads of his rough fingertips down her cheek, smoothing away the lingering tears, “that we lived in a place, in a time, where I could. We are on Everton, Evelyn. I am technically employed under a very powerful human female, who has connections throughout the Earth Council and whose connections possibly even reach to the United Worlds. You underestimate the power of wealth. I have read about Earth history, as I have other species’ histories. One trait that runs through them all is corruption. Greed. What is the Old Earth saying? ‘You play the hand you are dealt.’”
Evelyn shook her head, “No, there has to be some way to—”
“Keriv’i have always been targeted in this way, Evelyn,” he admitted to her softly. “Biologically, we are ideal for sexual pleasure. We have always lived with the knowledge of our species’ history. It comes easier for us than, perhaps, other species.”
Evelyn bit her lip, her brows coming together, as more tears entered her eyes. She shook her head, trying to deny his words, but he knew they hit her core.
“I can report her, Khiva,” Evelyn said softly. “My father knew a being in the United Worlds, an old friend. I could try to find out who—”
“Veki,” Khiva said.
“Why not?” she cried out, anger edging into her gaze. “She is a criminal, exploiting you and the other Keriv’i under her ‘employ’ for sex, while she makes off with exorbitant profits and pays you practically nothing, which traps you here!” She let out a shuddering breath and wrapped her arms around her torso. Her tone was anguished as she whispered, “And I…and I have been contributing to it. All along. Using you the same way all the others have.”
Khiva growled. “Evelyn.”
“Do you…” she met his eyes and he saw a vulnerability there he’d never seen in any other being, “do you resent me for it? Even just a little part of you, knowing that I paid her to…to…”
Khiva’s voice hardened. “Veki. I do not.”
“How could you not?” she whispered. “This changes everything, Khiva.”
“Which is why I did not tell you until now,” he admitted, his hands tightening on her, as if afraid she would bolt and never return.
“What?”
“You ask me if I resent you for coming to me.Veki. Never. How could I? From that very first moment you stepped into this room, I have known.”
“Known what?” she whispered.
“You already know,” he told her. “I knew that nothing would be the same.”
Her breath hitched. “Khiva…”
“Do not diminish what we feel, Evelyn,” he told her. No, hepleadedwith her. “Do not allow her that. Do not allow your new knowledge to taint this. I have never resented the manner in which you came to me because itbroughtyou to me. A gift from ademav.”
Her lip trembled and Khiva felt her tears on his cheek when she leaned forward to press a kiss to his jaw.
“Pax?” he asked. “All I ask is that you do not feel guilt when you are with me, Evelyn. I understand your reasoning for not wanting to mate while here, but beyond that, when we are simply together like this, do not feel guilt. I could not bear that.”
When she nodded against him, Khiva felt relief so profound that it spread throughout his limbs and made them shake.
“It’s just hard for me to allow her to continue this,” she whispered. “I know it might make me sound like a hypocrite, but I thought she paid you well.Morethan well. I thought that amount of credits meant you stayed because youwantedto, not because you had no other choice.”
“This is not a battle in which you will win, Evelyn,” he murmured softly, as gently as possible. “Trust me, she is too powerful and she wields that power far beyond Everton.”
She let out a shuddering breath and closed her eyes before opening them. Softly, with their gazes connected, she said, “Let me help you. I have my inheritance. I can—”
