Page 67 of Havik: Warlord Brides
“I handle the intelligence. Havik provides the bashing,” Ren said, biting into a piece of toast.
“And stabbing,” Havik added.
The half-eaten piece of toast fell from Ren’s hand as he sat there, jaw hanging open. “Was thathumor?”
“I have a sense of humor.”
“You take that back, Garu Havik. You do not have a humorous bone in your body.”
Havik’s lips twitched, recalling a picture Thalia had shown him of a feline with a Terran bone called a humerus. That was a Terran pun. He did have a sense of humor, or at least he learned it from Thalia.
“I must add another detail to your mission,” Seeran said, unconcerned about the sudden appearance of Havik’s funny bone.
“We completed our mission,” Havik said.
“There are several animals that need to be delivered to a sanctuary. One of these is in your homeworld. I understand you are an expert.” Seeran placed a large canvas bag on the table, opening it to reveal a kumakre egg. Under the lights, the pink shell shimmered.
“Is it still alive? They must be kept very warm,” Havik said. He carefully lifted the egg to examine the shell. Not a scratch to be seen. Having survived the chaos of the raid when so many people had been trampled and injured was nothing short of a miracle.
Gently holding the egg to his ear, he heard no signs of life. When he found Stabs’ egg, the kumakre had been near hatching and furiously scratched the shell from the inside. Perhaps this one was too young to move about and warn the world of its arrival.
“I know a wildlife rescue that can care for the egg,” he said. His father’s second wife had an interest in Rolusdrean wildlife and volunteered there. The female had cared for him since infancy, yet every time Havik called her “mother,” Kaos corrected him.
Annoyance flared, irritated that he still allowed his father to dictate his thoughts and actions.
“My mother volunteers with a rescue. I’m sure she will know what to do,” he said. Ren raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
A tapping across the floor and the jingle of a bell announced Stabs’ entrance. He clawed his way up Havik’s leg and homed in immediately on the egg. Sniffing and tasting the shell with his tongue, he was not happy until he curled around the egg in Havik’s lap.
“Is that all?” Ren drummed his fingers on the table, impatient. For what, Havik could not say.
“There is the matter of the Terran female,” Seeran said. Havik’s entire body tensed. “The warlord indicates that you are to deliver the female to wherever she wishes. If she wants to remain, and only with her expressed consent, then she is to be a mate.”
Ren waved a disinterested hand. “I believe that is no longer an issue. You can complete the additional task without me,” he said, speaking to Havik.
“Yes.”
“Good. I have no wish to hear…The walls are not as soundproof as I would have liked,” Ren said. “I will leave for theJudgmentnow.”
Havik did not understand why Ren was so eager to leave for the new clan but he appreciated the privacy his absence would bring. “Agreed.”
While Ren prepared to leave, Havik settled Stabs in his sand enclosure with the egg. The kumakre was nearly an adult and had good instincts to protect its young. Remaining on the ship, or the largerJudgment, would deprive Stabs of the opportunity to mature, find a mate, and protect eggs of his own. The wildlife rescue would be an ideal location to reintroduce Stabs to his native habitat. Despite recognizing this as the responsible and correct action, he felt reluctant.
He coordinated with Seeran before the male and Ren left. TheJudgmenthad room enough to house the smaller ship, which allowed Ren to bring only a small pack of necessities.
Before long, Ren stood outside the airlock, waiting for it to cycle. He shifted the pack on his shoulder and grinned at Havik. “Do not worry. Despite all my considerable charm, she likes you best. She is your mate.”
He hoped so.
Doubt gnawed at him. He had a mate once and failed Vanessa in so many ways. How dare he assume to take another mate? He was a selfish male. When temptation threatened his control, he indulged himself.
He scrubbed a hand over his face. He had so much to discuss with Thalia. He could not blame her if she regretted their mating. Still, knowing he should feel shame, he could not find it within himself.
Thalia went out of her way to irritate him. She said the most outrageous things for no reason other than to make him smile. All he knew was that the universe seemed a less interesting place without Thalia.
He let her sleep as her body required rest. The previous day had not only been stressful but exposed her to various toxins.
With a course for Rolusdreus, he studied navigation charts to determine the best route to Earth or to meet with theJudgment. When he heard water rush under the floor panels—Ren was correct about the need for soundproofing—he prepared Thalia’s preferred morning meal.
