Page 8 of Bound (Gladiators of the Gryn #3)

RYCH

I loved the pink spots in her otherwise too pale cheeks. My little eregri is an absolute spark when she wants to be.

Getting her to eat up, needling her until she reacted—it’s made my cocks uncomfortably hard.

Just like they were this nova-morning when I spotted her watching me from her window. I had to concentrate deeply on my routine or I’d probably have cut something off. To make things worse, there’s no bath in my quarters, only a pipe which sprays water over me, like the hose they used in the dome to deal with Blayn or Klynn.

Even icy cold, it didn’t dampen my desire for Chrissie.

This is going to be a problem. My cocks have never desired anyone before. A combination of herbal drinks and various narcotics got me through the nights where I was sold for pleasure. But this is entirely different and, as I’m starting to understand, completely beyond my control.

I’m supposed to be protecting her and, unfortunately, my annoying boss. Not dreaming of sheathing myself in her wet heat.

“What took you so long?” Fenek fires at me from behind his large desk.

His office is on the side of the dwelling nearest my quarters. Large windows, like all of this place, open up into his yard.

I level my gaze over his shoulder, flicking my wings back and tucking my arms behind me. The two daggers I have installed at my waistband are now obvious.

Fenek swallows as he spots them.

“I was finishing my meal,” I respond. “Food was included in your offer of employment.”

“Yes,” Fenek says, clearing his throat and tapping hurriedly on the vid screen in front of him, “it was.”

“What did you want?” I ask.

“I’ve been asked to attend a business meeting in Artalen, and I will be taking my little songstress. You will accompany her.”

“Just her?” I keep my eyes on the window, watching a bot tending to a clipped piece of topiary, its sharp inbuilt blades buzzing over the foliage with precision.

“I’ll…be going ahead. There are certain aspects I need to deal with before Chrissie gives a concert to my associates.”

“You are not concerned for your safety.”

Fenek leans back in his chair. “I have a high enough profile, gladiator, that when I am abroad, targeting me will be a bad idea. I am safe out in public.”

I do my level best not to let my astonishment show in my face. If I thought my ego was big, Fenek trumps me a thousand times over.

And my ego just took a pricking from a delectable little female who wasn’t impressed with my sword play.

Yet.

“Chrissie, on the other hand, is a different matter. She is precious to me and not as well known. An assassin could easily target her. Which is why you will stay by her side at all times.”

“When do we leave?”

Fenek gets up from behind his desk and walks past me to the door. “I am leaving now. You can follow on this evening. I’d like Chrissie in Artalen for tomorrow, so she can be prepared to sing the next nova-night.”

“Have you told her?” I shift my position slightly, flexing my wings.

Fenek turns at the door. “I’ll leave that up to you. Your pre-programmed transport will arrive here this evening. Be ready,” he says. “The itinerary is on your vid screen, along with all the details of the accommodation.”

I have a vid screen?

As if in answer to my un-voiced question, Fenek taps on a wall, and a drawer slides out. Inside is a vid screen.

“Keep it with you at all times,” he says, walking through the door.

I resolve there and then to be sure to not keep it with me at all times.

I follow him with an unconcerned air, one I’ve cultivated over a long time, keeping my distance but still being close enough he notices, until he gets into the transport waiting outside.

“I need Chrissie. The concert I have arranged for her is very important to me, and to you if you want to keep this job,” Fenek says. “I expect you to follow my orders and check with me if you wish to do anything different.”

I get the impression he might have found out about my additional security measures. Not that he can complain.

I thump my arm across my chest and give him a short bow. “As you wish.”

Fenek looks inordinately pleased with my reaction. It’s a shame he hasn’t studied gladiators more, or he’d know my response was exactly the one I give all the challengers in the dome before I end them.

The transport moves away, and I look at the dwelling. Obviously, I need to break the news to Chrissie about this apparently impromptu trip, but I also need to deal with a few matters first, matters which are weapons related.

I’m not going anywhere unless I have what I need to protect her.