A few more drinks later and I was no more relaxed than before, itching to go out and do something. Like take Jacqueline out to see the moon bathing fields of flowers. I could just imagine her expression when she saw the night blooming bioluminescent flowers. Did they have anything like that on her planet?
“Would you like to take this up to my suite?” her voice was a whisper against my flesh as the female entertainer licked my neck. “It will be easier to relax without so much between us.” She slid her hand under my leather vest and shirt.
My men were watching me. Kyvar was acting weird enough for the both of us, I didn’t need to suddenly turn celibate either. There was no reason to.
I got to my feet and slid a wing around her, pulling her to me. “Don’t wait for me.”
Kyvar looked away.
Jzulyk tapped his wing on the floor and grinned. “Have fun, Vorazyr.”
“I always do.”
The female walked ahead of me up a spiral staircase guarded by a male with curved horns. He inclined his head and clapped his wings as I passed. The female glanced back at me with a smile before continuing, prominent hips swaying. They were a contrast to Jacqueline’s hips, which were softly curved, not huge but perfect.
The door to her suite was open, filmy curtains doing nothing to hide the interior with a massive round bed in the center of the room on a dais two steps up. Dim lights hit mirrors set up to enhance the experience for those on the bed and cast purple shadows around the room.
She looked over her shoulder and licked her lips before beckoning me and stepping over the threshold.
I stood there, unable to follow her inside. She slipped her hand along my forearm to my wrist and around my hand, tugging gently, trying to get me across the threshold. “Vorazyr?” She stepped back toward me but I pulled out of her grip.
I took out my tablet and transferred currency to her. “I can’t stay, but I paid for the evening.” Turning, I left, but not before seeing her lush lips parted, surprise on her face. I was just as surprised and a whole hell of a lot mad at myself. Kraul I was a fool. What had happened to me?
As soon as I stepped out of the club, I drank in the sweet night air greedily.
“Pay up.” Kyvar’s voice had me turning to scowl into the shadows. He and Pyravor were perched up on two awnings. Waiting for me.
“Do you two not have anything better to do?” I growled. They joined me on the ground.
“I was sure Kyvar was wrong.” Pyravor grunted, unhappy as he transferred currency over to Kyvar, who beamed like a mischievous schoolchild.
“You two made bets on how quickly I’d come out?” I was getting more irritated by the second. My cock throbbed, but the only face I could picture was Jacqueline’s. It made me krauling angry. It wasn’t natural. Annoyed, I growled and took off without them.
Back at the vorazka, as soon as I landed, I knew something was wrong. Vuldrex jogged over to me, flapping his wings to propel himself forward. His face was drawn. “There is an urgent matter for you to attend to in your office.”
I strode to my office, worry eating at my gut like acid. There was a message on my holo and I tapped it. The life-size image of a lykazain my territory, one of the commanders that traveled my vast territory with a drove of vorpyr who preferred the wind under their wings over stationary life.
Cyrov had been young when he ambitiously left to take over a drove, but now he was a grown male, heavily muscled, battle worn with scars, wearing the traditional leather dagger sheaths in an x across his bare chest, the hilts well worn. I allowed myself a moment of pride, knowing he was from my city, before sobering once again.
“Vorazyr, I have traveled through Ryys and a concerning event was reported.” He waved a hand and in place of his image, a female vorpyr appeared briefly before he came back on. “This female has disappeared without a trace. She’s been missing for over half a moon cycle and none of the searchers have found any hint of her, neither have any of my own warriors in the last few days we’ve been here, so they’ve asked me to request your aid.” He paused. “There’s another concern. The female is heavilypregnant. I do not believe there’s any reason she would leave on her own. I will stay until you come or I hear from you and then move the drove on.” He clapped his wings, and the hologram disappeared.
“Vuldrex.” I barked, turning toward the door. He appeared immediately. “Have a ship prepared, I need to travel to Ryys in the morning. I’ll likely be there for a few days. I want to take seven warriors, tell them it may be an extended trip.”
“I will make preparations.” He vanished as quickly as he’d appeared.
I found Kyvar heading to his suite and informed him of the development.
“Do you want me to stay here?”
“No, go to the cliffs as you were planning. Neither of us should be gone long enough for it to be an issue. I’ll let Jzulyk know he’s in charge of safety while we’re gone. Thyra can deal with any urgent social issues.”
“Do you have any idea what might have happened? It’s not like anyone just goes missing in our territory.”
I stared into the distance. “Could be a couple of things. I don’t want to make any guesses before I get a better grasp of the situation.”
Chapter 17
“There’s a weird energy out there today.” Tatiana had convinced a reluctant Junyv to go for a jog with her and now back inside she seemed more on edge than before getting the exercise.
