“This ends now,” Davix signs, and I nod. Then I follow the raised voices into the vessel.
There is only Vertage and one other human on board the vessel, and both are quickly and easily subdued by the three of us.
“I do not know you,” I say to the stranger, “so I will give you the opportunity to live if you leave this station and do not come back.”
“Not a problem,” the man says, his hands raised in surrender. “This asshole was trying to cheat me anyway. And there are plenty of other stations where I can do business.”
“Then we will depart with this man so that you may go,” Krish says in a low voice.
The stranger watches us as we exit his vessel. Vertage struggles and flails against Davix’s grip, but my brood brother only tightens his hold. A moment later, the vessel departs and it is only the three of us and the man who plotted Corrina’s death.
“Do you recall what we did to Lianov?” I ask Vertage softly. His eyes are bulging from Davix’s hand around his throat, and he works his mouth furiously. “We tore him apart until there was nothing recognizable about him. I have dreamed of doing the same thing to you.”
Davix loosens his grip enough for Vertage to suck in a desperate breath. “There’s no need to hurt me. I’ll give you whatever you want,” he gasps furiously. “I have money, gems, metals, anything you could ask for.”
I smile at him, letting him see my sharp teeth. “We only wanted Corrina,” I tell him, “and you almost took her from us.”
“It won’t happen again,” he says quickly. “Just let me go and I’ll disappear.”
“It will not happen again,” I say, and then I slice through his throat with my claws. The wound is clean and quick – quicker than he deserves. But as I stand over Vertage with my brood brothers and watch until the light fully dims from the human’s eyes, it is enough to know that he cannot threaten Corrina anymore. As his blood pools on the darkened metal floor, I gather Krish and Davix and we disappear into the shadows once more. A quick swim in the dark waters of the lake wash away any evidence of Vertage’s blood on our bodies, and then we make our way silently back to base and to Corrina.
Chapter Fifty-Five: Corrina
I’m honestly not entirely sure how I feel when I hear the news that Vertage is dead. Curran sits across from me in my office, watching my expression closely. The moment of panic at learning Vertage escaped is quickly replaced by a grim sense of satisfaction at the fact that the man who tried to have me killed was found with his throat cut.
“Any suspects?” I ask in what I hope is a calm voice.
“None identified. There was a small vessel that departed the station around the same time that they estimate Vertage was killed. No available information on the vessel, but someone’s looking into it. I suspect this is just an instance of a dangerous man’s dangerous habits catching up to him.”
I stare at my dear friend for a moment. Curran said essentially the same thing about Lianov’s death, and we both know exactly how Lianov came to an end. “You think so?” I ask softly.
Curran shrugs. “Sometimes, terrible people come to terrible ends. I won’t lose any sleep over his death. And neither should you.”
“Right,” I agree. “Well, keep me updated if the investigation turns up anything.”
“Of course.”
Hours later, I am curled into the nest with Zann, Krish, and Davix. Krish is currently massaging my legs, partially because I complained about being sore after working out this morning and partially because he just likes touching me. I’m leaning back against Davix with one hand outstretched and resting on Zann’s back beside me.
“I heard some interesting news today,” I say softly. “Vertage is dead. He apparently escaped custody somehow, but he never made it off Azuris. They found him with his throat cut in an otherwise deserted loading bay.”
Krish glances up at me and Zann picks up his head. I can feel Davix tilt his head behind me. “How do you feel about that?” Zann asks.
“I’m not sorry he’s dead,” I reply.
“He deserved a slow and painful death,” Krish says softly. “But I am glad he cannot ever threaten you again.”
“Yes,” Zann agrees, laying his head back down and reaching out an arm to caress my stomach. His fingers coast over the scars that cover my stomach – proof of both the attack and my survival. “Vertage deserved to die,” Zann says softly.
I cover Zann’s large hand with my own before leaning over to press a kiss to the bare skin of his back. “Yes, he did. And now he’s dead. And we are still here – together.”
???
“We’re going to be late,” I murmur half-heartedly as I reach down to grip Davix’s horns. They aren’t especially sensitive for him, but they do make a good handhold, especially when one of my haleen lovers has his face buried between my thighs. Davix’s only response to my protest is to lift one of my legs so that it is draped over his shoulder. “Davix,” I groan as his long tongue slides into me and his hands grip my ass. “Oh fuck, Davix,” I moan, and then I am coming from his hot, wet mouth devouring me.
“I thought we were getting ready,” Zann says, stepping into the bathroom. I blink at him lazily as I sag against the counter. Davix gives my pussy one last, long lick and then grins up at me with a satisfied smirk.
“She was naked,” he signs at Zann, as if that explains everything.
