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Chapter Two

M arushka could tell her father was quite pleased with himself as she walked toward the main house in his company.

He was talking to his friends rather than to her but she followed her usual strategy of being seen and acting as the dutiful daughter.

No one expected her to have an opinion about fighters or the Games.

She did have an opinion, however. She’d never seen a man to match Benet.

He couldn’t possibly be an actual Badari, could he?

She’d have to get Dmitri aside later and quiz him because even though her bodyguard had claimed Benet as a brother and despite what her father was choosing to believe right now, the new fighter was human through and through.

No way he was Badari. He didn’t stand seven feet tall, he didn’t flash any talons or fangs during the mock combat and he didn’t display any of the feral, catlike moves like Dmitri.

Her bodyguard had explained to her once he had an alien predator’s DNA mixed in with his, which gave him the extra capabilities.

How that had been achieved eluded her despite her scientific training but she believed him.

Benet was magnificent though, all cut muscles and bold confidence, which she admired. Not many men stood up to her father in such a manner.

And handsome.

Marushka’s cheeks grew pink as she considered Benet’s appearance.

She felt stirrings of desire deep in her core and stifled a giggle.

You don’t even know him. He might have a wife or a string of girlfriends back home for all you know.

He might be as unpleasant and untrustworthy as — as other people I know.

I need to talk to Dmitri and then I need to find out for myself.

One of her father’s toadies asked the question she had but was reluctant to ask, lest she show too much interest in the new acquisition. “Are you going to keep him in the dungeon during training, your grace? Seems counterproductive?”

“He can live with Dmitri. The man won this event at the Games five times—he knows the requirements and how best to train. One Badari to another. Dmitri doesn’t do anything useful here but eat my food but we’re all at the pleasure of the empress of course and she insists he be here, close to my daughter.

” Her father gave her a condescending smile and Marushka returned an equally bland one. “He can earn his keep for a change.”

Dmitri was her official bodyguard, at the command of the empress herself, so he did have an important duty to perform, but Marushka was used to her father’s attitude that anything to do with her—except for her impending marriage of course—was insignificant.

I don’t care , she reminded herself defiantly.

It gives me more freedom to do what I want when he’s not here and not paying attention to me.

And what I want is to spend time with this new fighter and see if there’s more to him than the attractive exterior.

Not only was she curious about Benet himself but she was hungry for information about life outside the boundaries of the Outlier empire. Surely it was less repressive elsewhere in the galaxy.

Benet living under Dmitri’s roof was perfect because she’d treated his house like her own since she was a toddler.

Indulging her fascination with Benet would present no problem.

She’d have to be careful not to upset Dmitri but he didn’t like the idea of her impending marriage any more than she did so he’d be tolerant.

“I appreciate the hospitality,” Benet said. “How is it you get away with saying no to everyone from the Grand Duke on down? It’s a useful trick I need to learn.”

“I don’t belong to them,” Dmitri said simply, echoing an earlier comment he’d made.

He raised one hand to the heavy gold chain he wore around his neck and pointed at the engraved disk in the center.

“I belong to the Empress and thus no one but she can give me orders. Now her, I have to obey or face torture or death but she’s the only one, by her own decree. ”

They were heading for a small cottage, which Benet assumed must be Dmitri’s home.

The place was pristine, with trimmed hedges lining the walls and a big tree providing shade.

“I still don’t get it—if you belong to the Empress, why are you here?

What do you have to do with me? Is she involved in my kidnapping? ”

“Best we wait to get inside before we have this conversation,” Dmitri said. “Always there are listening ears in Outlier. The same in my cottage as well but I have ways to block them there.”

Consumed with curiosity Benet held his questions and walked the rest of the way in silence.

Entering the small house, he admired the open floor plan, with a large sitting area, a kitchen and stairs leading to the second floor.

Incredible hand woven rugs were scattered on the wooden floors and tapestries and gilded portraits and icons hung on the whitewashed walls.

There was a giant fireplace big enough to roast a small ox but the kitchen appliances gleamed and were modern.

He saw a stasis keeper among other useful furnishings.

“My home is your home,” Dmitri said with a sweeping gesture.

“There are two bedrooms upstairs and you may have the smaller one, since you are the smaller Badari.” He chuckled at his own joke and moved to the entertainment center, cueing up an instrumental selection that filled the air with violins and horns in a sweeping overture.

“Now we can talk,” he said, moving close to Benet and keeping his voice low.

“I disabled the vids and they’ve been too afraid of me to reinstall them but they won’t let the audio go. ”

“Kind of you to open your home to me,” Benet said in a normal voice, nodding to show he understood the need for caution.

“We need to celebrate the reunion of brothers,” Dmitri said making a grand gesture toward the kitchen. “I have only the best Outlier vodka. Come.”

Benet followed him into the kitchen and watched as the Badari poured two large glasses full of the clear liquid. He took the one he was handed and raised it in a toast. “To the Badari.”

After clinking glasses, Benet drank deep. The feelgood was fire burning his throat and he figured at least it might burn out the rest of the lingering cryosleep aftereffects. Dmitri drank his in one long gulp and slammed the glass on the counter.

“Now we eat and we talk.” He took several packets out of the stasis keeper and ripped them open, revealing thick steaks. “It’ll only take me a minute or two to get these ready. Go, check out your room and by the time you return we can eat.”

“I don’t know how I’m ever going to repay you,” Benet said. “I owe you so much already. I doubt the bastard who had me kidnapped is going to compensate me for my time.”

“No doubt, he won’t.” Dmitri laughed. “I have a generous allowance from the Empress and not much to spend it on. Between brothers there is no debt. Speaking to me in my own tongue and bringing news of other Badari is a gift I never expected to receive so we’re even.”

Hurting in more than a few places where the wooden swords of his opponents had struck, Benet plodded up the stairs and located the bedroom he was going to borrow.

The bed was big enough for a Badari and he ached to lie down and let go of everything that had happened to him since he awoke, and sleep for twelve hours or so.

Instead he went to the bathroom and used the refresher, although no doubt a long hot shower would have felt better but he didn’t want to keep Dmitri waiting.

When he emerged, he found clean clothes lying on the bed so he got dressed and ventured downstairs.

“Vlada, the housekeeper sent over a servant with things for you,” Dmitri said, eyeing him critically.

“She’s efficient but if you need anything else I’ll introduce you to her tomorrow and you can ask her yourself.

I let the boy lay out clean clothes for tonight but the rest of your stuff is there, in the container.

” He pointed to an antigrav crate floating in the entryway. “Deal with it later—dinner is ready.”

Benet came to collect his plate, which was more of a platter, with the large steak, cooked rare, steamed vegetables and a hunk of crusty bread. “I didn’t think I was hungry until I saw this. Thanks.”

“We’ll eat outside,” Dmitri said. “No bugs in the garden.”

Taking the double meaning in the Badari’s comment, Benet was relieved they could talk freely outside, He had so many questions he had no idea where to start and he was sure his host would have an equal number about Kyden and the others.

“I refreshed your drink,” Dmitri said, grabbing his own. “Let’s go.

As soon as they were seated at the rustic table in the small backyard, Benet cut into his steak and savored the first few bites. “What the seven hells was all that today?”

“A test, of you and me. Would I accept you as Badari, would I help you, would you survive the mob he’d assembled, what level were your skills—in Outlier there are many agendas.” Dmitri pointed his knife at Benet. “Keep the fact firmly in mind.”

“Does the warning go for anything you say too?”

“I’ve been here a long time,” the Badari said. “No doubt I’ve picked up more than a few Outlier habits but I remain true to my own kind and the principles of my goddess. We Badari have honor if nothing else.”

“The Great Mother,” Benet was on familiar ground here.

“Kyden speaks of her often. I don’t know if he’s ever seen her but he planted a grove of trees in the back acreage of the House where we all live and it’s off limits to everyone but the three Badari and their mates.

They go there to worship as I understand it. ”

“Mates?”

“Yes, each of them has met a special woman and claimed her as their mate,” Benet confirmed.