| |
In the midst of Dawn fingering herself to an orgasm, Venik answered his comm and shot from the bed without explanation. She was so close to release, she almost cried out in disappointment. Sitting upright, she pulled the covers over her lap. “What is it? What’s happening?”
“Sevanti. There is something he needs to share. Wait here,” he ordered absently as he picked up his shirt, pulled his pants on and left the bedroom.
Eyes wide, she gave that all of two seconds of consideration. Not likely. She jumped out of the bed and threw around the sheets until she found her shirt and pants. Ignoring her shoes, she charged from the room after Venik. He was at the door and turned at her approach.
“Don’t even. I’m coming to see what’s going on,” she insisted, finally managing to dress and cover herself completely.
His ridges rose and lowered, a snarl twisting his lips but loud pounding at the door stopped him from saying anything. Venik swung it open and Dawn caught a glimpse of Sevanti in the hall. She stepped out with Venik, facing the usually intimidating High Commander of the battleship.
It was the first time she’d seen Sevanti in something other than the crimson uniform he wore with such pride. The braids in his hair were missing and the black length fell about his shoulders, giving his stern features a softer look. The knee length white shirt and pants with a braided belt worked on him.
“Tell me,” Venik demanded.
“Security managed to chase down vids on who may have initiated the attack on your human.”
Dawn wasn’t sure she liked being referred to as Venik’s human but held her silence.
“Who?” Venik’s growl promised the offender would suffer.
Sevanti’s upper lip curled. “Sifi.”
The name meant nothing to Dawn but Venik roared and spun around, his fist slamming into the wall beside his door. “They dare!”
Seeing her confusion, Sevanti inclined his head and muttered, “He is one of the War Bird pilots we rescued and brought here.”
Dawn jerked, remembering the name now. She’d seen all three after she’d gotten the thilas. Why would Sifi want someone to attack her? It seemed something Yon would more likely do. He’d lost the training fight to her in front of his peers and had more reason to hold a grudge.
Perhaps they worked together, she decided as she remembered the suck a dick comment they’d hurled her way.
“Where is he? I want all of them questioned,” Venik snapped.
“Still on Regin IV.” Venik turned to re-enter his rooms but Sevanti’s next words stopped him. “Venik, you need to think this through. The vids only show Sifi talking to Rafeyi. There’s no sound. No payment of any kind can be seen being exchanged.”
Moving forward again, Venik called out, “He sought to harm Dawn and I’ve warned anyone who thinks to treat her like prey!”
Dawn and Sevanti hurried inside after him. Sevanti held up a pleading hand. “It’s not enough proof and you know that. You’re not thinking clearly because of your feelings for her.”
Venik stood in the middle of his living area and drove his fingers through his hair. When he glared at his friend, the fury there had Dawn flinching. “You think he should get away with this?!”
Sevanti huffed. “No, that’s not what I’m saying. I think we have to speak with all of them—Sifi, Yon and Aslan. The Black Star is docked here for another week and the Dark Nova isn’t due to arrive for another day or two at most. We have time to prove their guilt if they did this.”
What Sevanti said made sense and Dawn hoped Venik listened. The savagery etching his features hinted at a level of cruelty she didn’t want to contemplate. If he raced off half-cocked and in a rage, there was no telling what he’d do.
“I’ll wait,” Venik agreed in a calmer tone. He faced Dawn. A cold chill rolled down her spine from his look. “You should return to your room. There’s a lot to discuss with Sevanti and the ramifications of this.”
Dawn’s mouth dropped. Aside from the second round of sex she’d expected and clearly wasn’t getting, this was important. She refused to accept his blatant dismissal. “I want to know what the plan is. I’m the one who was attacked.”
The protest was on the tip of Venik’s tongue, she could tell. Something in her hardened gaze must have warned him to tread carefully. He gripped the back of his neck. “In the morning, we’ll go together to look into the matter. Is that sufficient?”
Not even Venik’s snark could shake the good mood from his concession. Still, Dawn knew what it took for him to give in. Based on his protective nature, it was a huge step. “Thank you, Venik.”
***
As soon as Dawn left, Sevanti clicked his teeth. The look in his eyes veered between stunned and confused. Slowly, in revelation, he said, “You are gagazi for her.”
Sevanti used the term for mate lock and Venik froze. He automatically went to deny it but couldn’t. He considered his reaction to the attack and other incidents—the rage and possessive fury for anything related to Dawn. He’d been drawn to her courage and difficult demeanor almost instantly when their paths crossed on Earth. She aggravated and attracted him equally.
On the Black Star, his emotions regarding her had grown beyond annoyance and admiration. It wasn’t about her physical appeal either, her looks too different from what he was accustomed in a pairing. It was...her. Everything. Her humor, her wit. The defiance she exhibited when he pushed and expected her to acquiesce to his authority.
All of it attracted, and in turn, aroused him. Their sexual joining had only solidified his feelings. Sevanti saw more clearly than Venik because he was indeed gagazi for Dawn Reavers. “You’re right. I am.”
“What are you going to do? Are you following her when she returns to Earth?”
Venik shook his head. He couldn’t. “I agreed to teach at the Academy for a senim.”
A pleased look crossed Sevanti’s face. “Your classes were in high demand before and students came out stronger soldiers for our military.”
It wasn’t a mere boast. According to Venik’s last notification, the course he planned to lead already had a six month waitlist for the sessions. That didn’t help his situation with Dawn. “The return to the Academy will be a good experience. As far as Dawn, I promised to take her back to Earth. With the Protectorate deal done, there’s nothing holding me back from finding another ship to transport her.”
Except he didn’t want Dawn to return to Earth.
Sevanti’s excitement dimmed. “I’ve never been gagazi but always assumed it to be a powerful thing. Will you talk to her? Do you think she’d stay?”
“Would you if you felt unwelcomed? Attacked?”
Sevanti had the good grace to flush. “Some of the males are impressed with her. Others haven’t said so but she’s growing on them. Word of her defeating Yon is also spreading.”
“Yon! He, Sifi and Aslan must have been angered about the match and had the server attack Dawn,” Venik exploded, remembering the reason his friend had disturbed him.
“I thought of that as well. I spoke with Harum before contacting you and he said Yon seemed to accept the defeat graciously but that means nothing.”
Yon could have feigned indifference to the loss. Shame and honor were huge to their race. Callie was a prime example of anger overruling thought when forced to concede to Dawn. Venik gazed absently around his rooms. The night hadn’t ended the way he expected but he’d learned something about his connection to Dawn.
They weren’t just compatible, they were mate locked and someone had threatened the gift Ghizu gave him. His fingers clenched. “In the morning, we’ll look further into this. I promise if I find them responsible, they’ll pay, Sevanti.”