Page 37 of Galaxy Games Four-Book Box Set (Galaxy Games)

37

An Offer of Help

T itan

I have to give Altair credit. He cut to the heart of the matter within minutes of meeting us. I, on the other hand, had been wondering the same things, but never quite brought myself to ask Blaze what was going on.

It’s clear to me why I’m being persecuted. I fucked Katann Hahn’s mate. He’s a powerful network exec, an unscrupulous lowlife who wants me dead so the whole planet doesn’t discover he’s a cuckold. It’s why he forced me into The Game , and I thought it explained why I wasn’t earning enough credits to keep my strength, stay hydrated, or buy a weapon.

After the three red Halckons attacked us on the road that first morning, I wondered why they were sent to kill us both. After the four males this morning, though, it’s apparent someone wanted to hurt Blaze before they killed her. It seemed petty and personal, and it had nothing to do with me.

As I inspect her now—shoulders hunched, mouth down-turned, and eyes studiously avoiding everyone at the table, it’s apparent she’s hiding something. Something big.

“Blaze?” I ask, “Is Altair right? Are the… Feds involved? With you?”

Rather than giving her the nudge I thought she needed to tell her secret, she plants her face into her palms and heaves a heavy sigh.

Even Sprout, an impatient youngling, is perched on the edge of his seat, quiet as can be.

We all wait.

Finally, she speaks, her head still cradled in her own grasp. “If you know, they’ll target you for the same reasons they’ve targeted me. Perhaps my silence will destroy any trust you may have in me, but I won’t say it. It’s simply too dangerous. For you.”

She peeks out, then lets her hands drift to her lap. She locks her gaze on Altair. Is she avoiding me because she thinks this will change my feelings toward her?

I scoot closer, sling my arm around her waist, and tug her—chair and all—closer. “I love you, Blaze. I don’t care what you’ve done in the past. I know who you are and I trust you,” I murmur.

“If you’re wondering about me , Slayer, your reaction just makes me want to help you more,” Altair says. “The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Make no mistake about it, the Feds are my enemy. That you want to protect me and mine from their wrath? You just won my trust.”

“Thanks for your confidence. I’ll explain later if I need to,” Blaze says.

“Want me to charge your canisters?” he asks.

Blaze

“You can do that?”

My previous owners made certain I could shoot, aim, disassemble, and reassemble my weapons. They never taught me how to replenish my power supply.

“I was in the Marentine military for close to a decade.” He can’t hide the look of anger and regret on his face. “I can give you a full re-charge.”

He motors to the alcove on the other side of the living area, the one that’s filled with an explosion of parts, wires, and tools. I hand him my rifle and the backpack I’ve been carrying all day, still filled with useless, empty canisters.

“Get some rest. You’re going to need it.” He grabs a few tools, hunches over his task, and gets to work. “Sprout, show our guests the bathroom and get them clean towels. I don’t have an extra bed, but those two couches are probably better than sleeping in an alleyway.”

The bathroom is tiny. The shower is so small I wonder how Altair transfers in and out with only his small nephew to help him. Once he got over his initial shock at having two notorious guests in his bunker, he showed the child affection. It’s obvious they love each other.

No matter how small the accommodations, though, the warm shower is a treat. Sprout knocked and handed me some pants and a red t-shirt that kind of fit.

“From the hand-me-down pile we got from our neighbors,” he explained through the door. “These were for next year for me, but I’m happy to give them to you.”

Ten minutes later, after Xzavic had his turn in the shower we’re ready to bed down in the living room. Altair was right when he said the couches would be better than sleeping in an alley.

Xzavic takes the larger couch. It’s still laughably short. His legs stick over the arm by a few feet. I drag the other couch next to his, butt them together, then crawl over the arm to lie next to him. With the two couches together, we get to snuggle, and if he lies on his side with his knees bent, he can have a modicum of comfort.

He tucks me to him, my back to his front, sweeps my hair off my face, and kisses the sensitive spot behind my ear. How is it this male has discovered all the places on my body that make me feel good?

“I trust you, Blaze. We’ve both already been handed a death sentence. If you want to tell me why you’re in trouble with the Feds, I’m ready to hear it.”

His voice was soft and comforting, not a demand. I want to tell him, but I want it to be face to face, and these two couches are too narrow for me to do that.

“I will, Xzavic. I’ll tell you when we can look at each other. When we have privacy.”

“Aye, Love.”

He kisses the back of my neck until I fall asleep.

Titan

Blaze assures me she can aim and fire the rifle. Altair says he can give her weapon a full charge. Even if these two are telling the truth, there are a thousand obstacles between us and the flag. And then what? How do we stay hidden enough to keep safe even as we expose ourselves enough to draw out our opponents? And then, how do we take them down?

And the way the network set me up tonight, wanting everyone in the world to hate me, deny me credits and support? I can’t help but wonder what they’ll do next to keep us from winning.