Page 94 of Warrior's Captive
His hands ran up and down her back, though she suspected it was more to soothe him than her. “He’s injured, but he’ll be fine. He conducted himself well. Shira is safe as well.”
Her knees almost buckled in relief. She had to keep her calm for the sake of the baby, but it was so difficult. “Can we go home? I want to check the shop first, but . . . I need some time.”
“Of course,yada’ami.”
* * *
“We might need to shut the business down for a time,” Tai’ri said when they were home. He stood at her shoulder, watching as Vivian bathed the baby in the nursery sanitation unit.
Vivian didn’t respond immediately, wanting to choose her words. Mayleen kicked her feet, beaming a toothless smile up at her parents as Vivian gently wiped her body down with a damp cloth, pausing to tickle her bulging belly.
“The threat assessment has changed?” she asked. It was a silly question, because of course now it had, but she was stalling. He wasn’t going to like her response.
“We received messages today from Zhiannur. Threats against your life and theBdakhun’s. It’s usually difficult to provoke an emotional response from an Aeddannar, but he seemed angry. That makes him dangerous.”
He handed her a towel and she draped it over her shoulder, then lifted the baby. Mayleen peered at her father, shoving a tiny fist in her mouth.
Vivian settled into the reclining chair and dressed the baby. Tai’ri pivoted to face them, but didn’t approach.
“What do you expect him to do?”
“Today was just a warning shot. He’s toying with us.” Tai’ri stared at her, grim and angry. “He’s as slippery as water, and this has gone from salvaging a lost investment to assuaging a personal insult.”
“Hefeels insulted that we’re not amenable to his kidnapping Mayleen and I?”
His lips twitched, but settled back into a thin line. “Yes.”
“What will it take to finally capture him?”
“It’s not just him.” Finally, he crossed the room and crouched at Vivian’s feet, staring at the now nursing baby. “It’s whoever is financing his cell as well. We managed to eliminate operations when they set up in Naidekai, but our resources are being stretched thin. This isn’t the only city in the province where aliens are being funneled.”
“Why aren’t they just being stopped before they come on planet?”
He touched her cheek. “That’s one of our duties, but we aren’t a government agency, we’re a task force with funding up for renewal annually.”
Tai’ri stood, left the room, and returned with a water bottle infused with chopped up fruit. She sipped obediently, recognizing that his particular form of self-soothing was to fuss, even if it was just bringing her water.
Vivian watched him pace. “I don’t want to stop working, Tai’ri. I don’t want to be shut up in the house, as lovely as it is.”
He pinned her with a look. “Are a few weeks of lounging around the house worth more than your life? Mayleen’s?”
“That’s why I’m training so hard, so I can’t be taken easily. If you’re having trouble finding this person, locking me in the house will just prolong the inevitable. I need to stay out.” She smiled as winsomely as possible. “I make good bait.”
He growled.
Mayleen jerked and began to cry.
“You startled the baby.”
He approached, sinking down to his knees. “No, don’t cry,yadoana. I’m sorry.”
Watching him coo at the baby was one of her purest joys in life. Vivian grinned. “Big bad warrior, worried he hurt a little baby’s feelings. It’s so adorable.”
He arched a brow, kissing Mayleen’s head, and then straightening. His expression hardened. “You stay home, Vivian.”
She looked at him, smiled. “No. I’ll go to the shop, and I’ll be prepared. We’ll draw him out, Tai’ri, and end this.”
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