Authors: Shelley Munro
Felix and Gus made good time, urged on by
cantankerous kittens that made no secret of their hatred for their cage. It
seemed easier to keep traveling for as long as they could. The result was they
trotted into the village hours earlier than expected.
Gus called out, which started the kittens
crying. Alarm glittered on his face, his head whipping around to check on the
tiny creatures.
Felix couldn’t help grinning at the man’s
obvious panic, and he took off his shirt and draped it over the cat carrier.
Immediately the kittens quieted, and Gus muttered what sounded like a heartfelt
thanks.
He led the way to a large stone building,
and spoke to two guards at the door. They stood aside and waved Gus and Felix
inside.
“Felix!” Casey said. “That was quick.”
Felix crossed the distance between them
with long strides and seized Casey, hauling her into his arms. He crushed his
mouth to hers and kissed her hard. When he lifted his head, he was breathing
hard. She was leaning into him, and he welcomed her weight. “I missed you,
sweetheart. What…what are you wearing?”
“One of the chief’s wives lent me something
clean to wear. Did you have any problems?”
He ran a quick finger along the neckline of
the bright-pink fabric that was wrapped around her body like a sarong. “Not a
one. We brought two kittens. I hope that will be sufficient to appease the
chief.”
“I’m sure it will,” Casey said. “Come and
meet the chief. I think you’ll like him.”
“The man intended to attack the resort,”
Felix growled. “I doubt I’ll trust him.”
“His senior warriors were a bit rigorous in
interpreting the chief’s wishes. Evidently the chief’s daughter is popular.
They like to please her.”
Casey led him into an even larger room and
paused to bow and wait for instructions to approach the throne. At least that’s
what Felix intimated from the words and actions. Interestingly enough, the
stench he’d almost become used to wasn’t present in here. Large urns of flowers
stood near the throne and the scent of them subtly perfumed the air.
Figuring he should copy Casey, Felix bowed
and waited at her side while she addressed the chief. He studied the man—a
mountain of green flesh with gold swirls cutting through the drab color of his
skin. An explosion of dreads covered his head. His chest was broad, his biceps
and triceps bulky with muscle. A man didn’t get that way by lazing around and
issuing orders.
Felix stood a little straighter, misgivings
stirring in his gut. This situation had the potential to explode and have
lasting repercussions if he didn’t handle everything right. What would Saber
do?
Felix thought about his brother, weighed
the alternatives then formulated his plan. He’d study and listen before he
acted. Gather the facts. Probably not the way his older brother would handle
the situation, but Felix deemed his more cautious approach prudent. Putting
Casey in danger wasn’t an option.
Casey finished speaking, and Felix studied
the chief’s serious face, watching for any hint of the man’s thoughts. His gaze
met Felix’s and the chief inclined his head in recognition. He said something
to Casey and color appeared in her cheeks. She stammered back a reply.
Gus entered the room carrying the kittens.
He, too, paused and bowed his head. One of the kittens let out a loud meow and
the sudden silence in the room grew deafening.
The chief gestured imperiously, added a
command, and Gus scurried forward, careful of his cargo.
“He wants us to approach too,” Casey said
in a low voice. “He seems pleased.”
Felix slipped his arm around Casey’s
shoulders and ushered her forward.
Yeah, you want to make sure the chief and
every other male knows she belongs to you.
Felix snorted inwardly at his thoughts.
Casey belonged to him, belonged
with
him. She just didn’t know it yet.
Gus set the cat carrier down and opened the
door to lift out the ginger kitten. He stroked its head until it purred, and
spoke to the chief before handing him the animal.
The kitten seemed dwarfed in the chief’s
big hands, but Felix relaxed when the chief patted it with gentle fingers.
Immediately the kitten started purring, and the chief gave a delighted chuckle.
Gus handed him the black-and-white kitten, and the chief lifted his big round
head and beamed at Felix and Casey.
He said something to Felix, and Casey
interpreted.
“He wants to know how much you want to
charge for the kittens.”
Sweet Jesus. The man had ordered his men
to steal a cat—one of his people—and now he wanted to pay for kittens?
Felix kept his expression neutral with difficulty, finally gave up
and forced his mouth to shape into a polite smile instead of the snarl of fury
that trembled on the tip of his tongue. “Tell him the kittens are a gift, a
peace offering to help foster a friendly relationship between our people.”
Casey gave an imperceptible nod and her
eyes glowed with approval before she turned to face the chief and passed on
Felix’s words.
The chief said something else and Casey
laughed.
What now?
Felix waited for Casey to let him in on the joke, and mentally reinforced his
plan to make upgrading their implants a priority.
“The chief asked if we have more that we
could give them in exchange for some precious stones. He says his five wives
will all want one too.”
“Tell him I will speak to Jaycee and to the
other cat owners. They might wish to sell some of the offspring if there are
more litters. We could let him know.”
Casey and the chief had yet another
conversation, a long and involved one. Felix scrutinized the man, yet he was
difficult to read.
“The chief is surprised that you allow your
people to receive the payments. He thinks you’re an honorable man and wishes to
invite us to stay for the celebration of his daughter’s birth anniversary.”
No, they needed to get back to the resort.
With Saber away, he needed to be there in case there were any problems. “Tell
the chief I am honored by his invitation, but this time, I must leave
immediately to return to my people because they will be worried about our
absence. Please also tell him that I would be further honored if he would like
to visit my family at the resort. Perhaps by that time, I’ll know if we can
expect any more kittens.”
Felix paused and cast a quick look at the
chief. “Can you ask him—politely—if he could send word of his visit next time,
so we might prepare and greet him with proper ceremony? We don’t want his
warriors cutting their way into the resort. Suggest they come to the gate and
ask for me or for Saber, my older brother.”
Casey smiled with approval. “Very tactful.”
“I try,” Felix said.
Despite Felix’s impatience to leave, he and
Casey ended up sharing a meal with the chief and his wives. The chief led them
to yet another room. The scent of roast meat wafted through the air, and the
chief beamed as he introduced his wives with Casey’s aid. The chief strode to
the head of the table and he settled his weight on a bench before waving them
to take the places of honor on either side of him. Several warriors filled the
rest of the chairs at the table, while two young girls handed around stoneware
mugs filled with a mystery beverage.
Felix sipped cautiously and found the taste
a little like beer. Not bad, but he made himself drink at a conservative pace.
No telling how much of a kick the brew would give to the unwary imbiber.
Several women carried in platters of food
and set them on the long table. Felix had worried about what they might be
offered to eat, but the plates appeared to hold roasted birds about the size of
an Earth turkey. A selection of pink tubers surrounded the birds, and another
platter held a green leafy vegetable, which reminded him of spinach. His
stomach rumbled, but he didn’t think anyone noticed over the loud chatter.
So, they’d eat a meal, have a few drinks
and be on their way. He’d feel better once they arrived back at the resort.
* * * * *
“Time to go,” Felix said. “Will you make
our excuses to the chief?”
“Can’t we stay overnight?” She’d had a day
to think about her dilemma, and had admitted with a heavy heart that it
wouldn’t be as easy as simply going AWOL. The general would search for her.
She should have reported to the medical
center by now. Someone would have notified the general and the military police would
arrive at the resort soon. But if she wasn’t there—
Scurvy sky pirates!
Their next step would be to check her tracker chip. Every soldier
on active duty had a chip. The fact she was retired meant tracking her was
illegal—but that wouldn’t stop the general.
Finnian bat crap.
No matter what she did, she was doomed.
Felix rose and bent in a dignified bow toward
the chief. “I want to get back to the resort. Saber is counting on me.”
“Your man want to go?” the chief asked, a
cheerful smile on his lips and a hint of a leer in his golden-brown eyes. At
least Felix’s presence had stopped the chief from demanding she join his herd
of wives.
“Yes, he has responsibilities back at his
home.”
“He is a good man?”
“Yes.” She didn’t hesitate. Felix was a
special man.
“You go then, but you come back to visit
soon. My wives, they like you. Say they don’t mind if you move into wives’
house. Your man not treat you right, you come to me. I look after you.”
Casey bowed her head and blinked to stall
the burning at her eyes from blooming into weeping. All her life, apart from
her aunt, she’d been alone, and now she had two men who wanted her. Pressure
built in her chest, and she gave a short, hard laugh to dispel the tight
sensation. “Thank you, Chief, but I like Felix.”
He waved his green hand in a dismissive
nature. “No matter. Offer stands.”
“Thank you.” Casey stood.
“You send message if you have more cats
ready. I buy with stones.”
“We will.” She bowed again.
“You ask Gus for stinky ointment. Keep
jungle bugs away,” the chief said.
“Ah.” Casey wrinkled her nose. “I will.”
“Gus, Casey requires some stinky ointment
and food for their journey,” the chief shouted down the table.
Gus bounded to his feet and trotted off.
“Let’s go,” Casey said, her heart heavy.
“What’s wrong?” Felix asked in an
undertone. “Did the chief say something to upset you?”
Casey forced yet another smile, did a
better job of pulling it off this time. “He said if I wanted I could stay here
and move in with his wives.”
Felix growled and some of the boisterous
chatter faded.
“I declined,” she said hastily.
“Glad to hear it,” Felix snapped. “We’re
going now.” His hand curled around her upper arm and with a final respectful
bob, Felix propelled her from the chief’s dining room.
“Gus is getting us food for our journey and
some stinky ointment.”
“No thank you on the ointment. I’d rather
put up with the bugs,” Felix said.
Gus arrived with a woven bag and two water
bottles. He handed over a sealed stone jar. “This is ointment. I help you
apply.”
Felix growled again and Gus gave a
delighted laugh. He raised his hands and danced out of reach. “I see again.”
“There’s no need to act like a jealous
lover.”
“I don’t like any man touching you. I
am
your lover,” Felix gritted out. “Let’s go. I want to get a good start before
darkness falls.”
Sighing, Casey fell in behind Felix. Every
unwilling step took her closer to the resort and nearer to her future. She
plodded along the trail and entered the muggy jungle.
It wasn’t right for the general to order
her to do this.
Not right. Not right.
Not right.
Maybe she could file a complaint. No. The
general would punish her; accuse her of airing family problems. Gods, no matter
what she did, she couldn’t win.
“I can hear you thinking. You’re glaring
holes in my back.” Felix kept walking.
“I didn’t want to leave yet.”
Felix stopped and turned to glare at her. “Too
bad. I wasn’t leaving you there, not on your own. I’ve just found you, Casey. I
don’t want to lose you.”
“But you don’t own me.”
Felix snorted and started striding through
the jungle again. Birds sang and bright-red insects kept landing on her bare shoulders
and arms and legs. “
Scurvy sky pirates!
I hate these bugs.” She slapped
at them, the
smack, smack, smack
and her loud complaints silencing the
birds for a short time.
The heat was heavy, smothering her,
thickening the air and dragging sweat from her pores. The perspiration ran down
her face, between her breasts and crawled down her spine. All this suffering
and what would come at the end of it? The military police would arrive and drag
her away. It wouldn’t even surprise her if they were already at the resort. They’d
take her away in handcuffs on order of the general.
No. Not handcuffs. That might cause gossip.
Her arrest would proceed in a civilized manner.
She cursed under her breath, angry at the
general—the man who should be her protector—angry at the situation, angry at
herself because she couldn’t think of a way to avoid the inevitable.
Hours passed and the sky—whenever she
caught sight of it through gaps in the jungle—darkened and different birds and
insects came out to play. The red biting bugs vanished, only to be replaced by
vibrant pink ones. They were smaller but nipped just as hard. “I’m tempted to
break out the bug ointment.”
Felix slowed. “Please don’t,” he said. “Once
we get out of the jungle there won’t be as many bugs. There’s a swimming hole
with a waterfall. We can swim and cool off. Refresh.” His eyes turned eerie
green, the color shift that occurred when his feline half exerted his presence,
she now realized. “Make love.”