Page 51 of Tail, Dark and Handsome: Celestial Mates
Winter recognized the male’s scent immediately from Marigold’s domicile.
“Sunshower sure does get a lot of visitors,” the male said with a grin that needed to be punched right off his smug face.
Winter’s hand curled into a fist. “Her name is Marigold and you do not get to speak her name.”
“So protective.” The male pushed himself off the wall. “But until she pays what she owes me, I can call her whatever I want.”
Ah. The moneylender.
“You got your credits, so leave her be.”
“A partial payment that merely bought her time, not freedom from my attention.”
Winter’s lip curled back. Smashing the moneylender’s face would be satisfying, to feel bone give way and blood spray under his fist.
“Now, now.” The male clucked his tongue, as if sensing Winter’s thoughts. “Calm yourself, Winter Cayne, very important male whose temper is notorious and mate questionably deceased—”
“Enough,” he snapped. “What do you want?”
The lender smiled, baring too much fang. He quoted a figure. It was substantial but not insurmountable, in Winter’s opinion. His accounts would barely notice the absence.
“And how much to pay it off now?”
He cited a slightly higher figure. “Processing fee, you understand.”
Winter reached for his comm unit, then hesitated. Males of this sort were scavengers. Once they smelled blood, they’d never lose the trail. They returned for more. “If I pay this, you leave Marigold alone. She is free of the debt and any obligation to you or your organization.”
“Of course. I’ll even write you a receipt. I am a professional, after all.” The male dramatically patted down his coat pockets and produced a folded tablet. With a snap of his wrist, the tablet unfurled. “Now, how to describe this transaction. Spoiled aristocrat buys the affection of a human female to the amount of—”
“Do not write that. Write that Marigold’s debts are paid in full.”
“Oh, there’s an additional fee for that too.”
Winter did not hesitate to pay and send the credits to the male. This was the correct course of action. He could discharge the debt that hung over Marigold, and should he not? It was only currency, and he had plenty of that. He would have her as his mate, and he would remove her objections one by one until only the truth of her heart remained.
Chapter 10
“A disgrace.” Drunk Rebel Cayne stumbles through last night’s performance and passes out on stage in a booze-fueled rampage.
-Tal Tattler
Winter
Winter paced up and down the lowered gangway. He squinted in the too-bright lights. The tinted glasses were inadequate for the situation.
“You’ll wear out the ramp,” Zero said. He picked through the boxes of recently delivered supplies, stacking the sugary sweets in a pile.
“She should be here, and do not consume all the confections now. We will not be stopping until Corra. Practice restraint,” he said with exasperation. Experience taught him they’d be weeks from their next port of call, and Zero would moan continuously about having nothing to eat, despite a fully stocked pantry.
“Fine, but I’m having this now.” He tore open a bag of sugar-coated fried dough pieces and tossed a piece in his mouth with exaggerated glee. “And why wouldn’t Marigold be here? What have you done?” His eyes narrowed, even as he munched a mouthful of the unreasonably sweet snack.
“Nothing. Nothing happened.” His voice remained steady, almost disinterested, but his tail betrayed his lies. Only a fumbled attempt at seduction, an elbow to the gut, assaulting her brother, followed by stealing lacy undergarments and pleasuring himself in her bedchamber. He swallowed thickly. “She is late. Punctuality is important. We will miss our launch window and have to pay additional fees for another cycle.”
“Plausible.” Zero shoved in another mouthful.
“Reporting for duty, captain,” Marigold’s familiar voice said behind him. He spun on his heels to face her. She wore too many layers with a bulky asymmetrical gray sweater covering a fitted white shirt and trousers. Matte gray boots were laced up to mid-calf. He disliked how the outfit clung to her and disguised her figure simultaneously.
She frowned. “Am I late?”
