Warrior's Pain (Cadi Warriors Book 4)

by Stephanie West

  “There is an entrance fee to see the exotic female,” Cyprian overheard the hostess tell a patron.

  The general wasn’t surprised the auction house was using Riley to squeeze every last credit from their guests. Distraho oozed greed.

  “Do we really want to pay to go in?” Adeoda asked.

  “Not if Vintor got sick eating in there. I’d like to find someplace else,” Gio objected.

  “What about you? You want to see the human breeder shake her thick ass?” Mave smiled at Cyprian.

  Cyprian wanted to knock Mave’s teeth in. Riley had more curves than a Cadi female, but they looked damn good on her dangerous little body. What pissed him off more than the crude comment, was the lascivious look in Mave’s eyes. The bastard found her appealing. For some foolish reason, it had Cyprian seething.

  “I think I’m fine. Let’s move on.”

  Cyprian looked back at the gallery as they walked away. He did want to check on Riley. The urge had been gnawing at him since he left her the night before. He worried about how Riley was being treated in a place where everyone viewed her as an object. Human females were tough little things, but they weren’t invincible. If anything, they were more apt to come to harm.

  Cyprian shook his head. He needed to focus on the mission. Too often his thoughts drifted to the wild female. And not all his preoccupation centered around her wellbeing.

  Stop thinking about her. You will bid on her at the auction this evening, Cyprian reprimanded himself. He couldn’t believe the things his mind was conjuring. It was far from honorable, given the situation.

  “How big is this place?” Pacen asked. “The winding halls, restaurants, stores, and galleries go on forever.”

  “I’m still amazed at all the characters here. Look at that one sliding across the floor. Reminds me of the worms we fish with.” Gio pointed out.

  “Steer clear of it. Last night I saw one of those things stab another patron with its tongue, then pull it into a dark corner,” Adeoda warned.

  “Why does the auction house let them on the asteroid?” Nomino asked.

  “Grow a tail. Do you think a single one of these creatures would hesitate to kill? They’re just pretending to be civilized,” Mave growled.

  Cyprian nodded at the assessment. The guards were present to protect the auction house, not its guests. Distraho wasn’t for the meek. Even the characters who were well dressed, and carried themselves with class, were armed. Civility was just a mask, in a place like this. Cyprian felt dirty by association.

  “How about this place? It’s free,” Gio suggested.

  The posted listing featured various people doing acrobatic feats. It seemed as good a venue as any, so they went in and grabbed a table. The willowy figure onstage tumbled and contorted into impossible positions. It was an impressive act. If Cyprian was on holiday he would’ve been entertained. But he wasn’t at Distraho to sightsee.

  “Last night you mentioned there was more than money to be had from our partnership,” Cyprian commented to Mave.

  “I did.” Mave looked away from the contortionist.

  “And if I wanted to be the regent of my province?” Cyprian fished for information.

  The only ones who could get him a council seat were Daimio Kagan, or a vote by the province regents, in Kagan’s absence.

  “That’s rather ambitious.”

  The way Mave smiled at Cyprian it was hard to determine if the answer was yes or no, so he pressed further.

  “It is. But as I see it, if I’m not going to see any profit at this auction, then I’d like to be compensated in other way.”

  “You are persistent,” Mave chuckled. “I can’t make any promises, but I think my friend can arrange something mutually beneficial with you.”

  Cyprian grunted in reply. Mave neither confirmed or denied the mystery partner was a regent, but everything pointed that way. Granted the traitor could be a disgruntled general, like Cyprian pretended to be. But he didn’t think that was the case. As the senior officer, Cyprian knew all the generals, and he couldn’t picture any of them betraying Kagan. Then again, he also knew the regents and couldn’t pick out a suspect.

  “You reminded me, I still need to contact my friend to tell him about the sale,” Mave groaned.

  Cyprian was glad Tytus was monitoring communications going off-world.

  “You don’t sound pleased.”

  “The male is tedious. You’ll see what I mean when you meet him.”

  That describes half the regents.

  Riley

  “What’s going on?” Riley asked, when Hoda interrupted her dance.

  “I’m supposed to bring you to the Overseer.”

  Riley followed the bulging eyed amphibian backstage and through the long corridor to a set of doors. They entered the lavish office to find Cuttles sitting in an upholstered chair with the Jurou Biljana standing nearby.

  “Overseer.” Hoda nodded to Cuttles.

  “Human, tell Jyk what happened to your companion,” Cuttles demanded sternly.

  Riley froze. She expected Cuttles to give her a little forewarning so they could get their stories straight.

  Apparently not. You’ll just have to be vague.

  Riley thought about poor Exo, and summoned the tears she worked so hard to hold at bay. She opened her mouth then shut it again.

  “Come on, tell Jyk what happened.” Cuttles looked aggravated.

  “He,” Riley sobbed. “He was so pale. Paler than normal. Exo kept talking about his mate, Ion.” Riley shook her head as she let the tears stream down her cheeks. “He wasn’t made for this. None of us are,” Riley cried as she stomped toward the reptilian man, letting her anger seep through with her very real sadness. “Exo was so upset, so frantic. He collapsed on the floor.” Riley stared at the floor, picturing Exo in his last moments. “I couldn’t feel his heartbeat. He wasn’t breathing. I tried to breathe life into him, but he was gone. You should’ve never brought him here,” she raged.

  “Enough,” Cuttles said as he held up a tentacle to halt her. “It’s just as I said. The exotic male you brought us was flawed. The strain of being captured and brought to auction was too much for him. Please don’t bring us anymore of his kind.”

  “Fine. It’s unfortunate. I have discovered I’m in need of the male,” Jyk replied.

  “You may have the body,” Cuttles offered.

  “I will take the body, but it won’t help. I needed his voice,” Jyk hissed. The scaly reptile paused, then turned his yellow eyes on Riley. “But perhaps the human will work.”

  “Of course. She is still your property, until the auction concludes,” Cuttles replied.

  Riley’s eyes widened.

  What the hell does he want with me?

  “If you wouldn’t mind escorting the human. I’ve noticed she has a nasty temper,” Jyk requested.

  Hmm, I wonder why I have a nasty temper, you slaving asshole.

  “Hoda will assist you,” Cuttles said as he dismissed them.

  “Where to?” Hoda asked Jyk.

  “Docking area, Fectu 9.”

  “I know a shortcut to the other side of the asteroid,” Hoda commented as she led the way.

  The three of them traversed the main hallway behind the scenes. Where the public areas were decorated like a gaudy Vegas casino, the back halls were drab and utilitarian. Cuttles office was the only exception. As confusing as the maze had been at first, Riley was starting to notice a pattern. Everything branched off the main large corridor, which paralleled the public esplanade. Doors that led to the slave wings were red. The ones that went to public spaces were blue. But Riley had yet to see what was behind a yellow door. Hoda held her wrist up to a sensor by the door. It split open to reveal an empty box. Hoda led them into the cubicle, then tapped on the control panel. Riley felt them start to drop.

  It’s an elevator.

  “Personnel Quarters. Storage. Engineering,” a mechanical voice called out as lights pinged on the control panel.
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br />   The elevator stopped, and the three of them exited. Riley gawked at the engineering level. Gigantic cylinders, emanating blue light, spanned both sides of the vast room. Off to one side was a windowed room filled with computers manned by a mix of amphibians and Verrater.

  I bet June would love to see this place.

  Her friend went gaga over all this futuristic technology. Meanwhile Riley barely knew enough about science to get by. She was lucky she could mix the chemicals to process her photographs without blowing her apartment up.

  “Did you bring me some entertainment?” the amphibian at the first console asked as they passed the windowed room.

  “Hardly, Zi. Just taking a shortcut. Maybe next time I’ll bring you something from that new shipment of soba larva. I hear they’re fresh,” Hoda replied with an unusually perky tone.

  Riley noted the way Hoda’s wide mouth gaped. She was starting to learn it was the amphibian’s version of a smile.

  So disturbing.

  “You better. You know I don’t get out much,” the frogman replied.

  Jyk coughed impatiently.

  “Sorry sir,” Hoda quickly stated and continued.

  They passed the giant cylinders, headed down another hall, till they came to a blue door. Riley wasn’t surprised to see the public corridor beyond.

  “Just a bit further,” Hoda murmured to Jyk.

  The windows lining the concourse revealed spaceship after odd spaceship docked outside. The vessels blanketed this side of the asteroid.

  “We’ve got a larger crowd than usual,” Hoda commented when she noticed Riley staring at all the ships. “Jyk, I’m sure the Overseer has expressed his gratitude for your patronage. The chattel you brought has attracted considerable attention.”

  The Jurou Biljana shrugged in response to the ass kissing comment.

  Riley halted before a snide comment came out her mouth. The need to be snarky was so strong, she had to pinch herself to keep it in. The flesh merchants were obviously Distraho’s best customers, and suppliers. That was probably why Cuttles worried about pissing them off.

  The sudden appearance of a recognizable ship, distracted Riley from her agitated musing.

  The M’s spaceship. Riley’s steps slowed. She repressed the urge to reach for her necklace. I can’t let the Jurou Biljana place my thumb drive on the bridge console. She had no idea if Cuttles told Jyk about the hidden drive or not.

  Hoda gripped Riley’s arm tighter, and tugged her through the airlock. Riley nearly broke down in tears as she looked around the very same room she and June snuck into when the Miran Sona ship took off from the colony. Her hand ran reverently along the frosted glass wall as they passed through the small bay. Riley smiled, recalling the silly banter she shared with her friend. It seemed so long ago.

  Her thoughts drifted to Spawn when they passed through the domed loading bay. If she had known then that he was a slave buying bastard, she would’ve jumped out of hiding and clawed his eyes out. But now, pathetic as it was, she was pinning her hopes on a man she didn’t trust, praying that somehow she could find a way back to her friends. It was a possibility that looked unlikely, since Spawn didn’t even bat an eye at her.

  What am I going to do?

  “Human,” Jyk said, snapping her to attention.

  Riley looked up to find she was standing on the bridge.

  Oh god.

  Riley wanted to stay as far away from the console as possible, but Hoda held her firm.

  “Tell the vessel engines to start,” the reptile demanded.

  “Uh, how do you expect me to do that?” Riley asked.

  “Say it,” Jyk hissed angrily.

  “Fine. Engines start,” Riley snapped back.

  The reptile looked expectantly at the ship’s console, but nothing happened.

  “Do it again, but say it in a different way.”

  “Engines engage. On your mark, get set, go. Gentleman start your engines,” she rattled off.

  Riley jumped when Jyk hissed something incoherent and slammed one clawed hand down on the console.

  “I promise you, Exo didn’t tell me how to start the ship or make it respond to my voice. Exo didn’t even know I was aboard till you attacked. I got scared and came out of hiding,” Riley explained.

  “I should’ve known the female was useless,” Jyk hissed. “Take her back.”

  “Come, let’s get you back to the viewing gallery,” Hoda said as she led Riley off the ship, leaving the fuming reptile behind.

  Riley was shaking so bad she had a hard time walking. The harrowing incident forced bile up, making her throat burn. She was doing everything in her power to not bend over and vomit on her boots. From the moment she got her necklace back, she feared it being taken again, and her secret being discovered. Riley never had so many people depending on her.

  I’m a nobody. I couldn’t even keep my brother from relapsing, or prevent my own ass from going to jail. How the hell can I be expected to take care of my entire race?

  Riley sobbed audibly when the reality of what she had to do struck her.

  Life is not fair.

  Riley’s mom used to taunt her with that phrase when she was drunk, and decided to punish her for some perceived infraction. Riley always refused to believe her mother’s bitter words. She did her damnedest to level the playing field, and would even give the shirt off her back when her friends were in need. Yet her life had been a testament to that horrible truth. It was unfair that she’d been unjustly imprisoned, then stolen from Earth. It was unfair she was here on Distraho being auctioned as a slave. It was unfair that so many lives depended on her to keep their location secret. And it was supremely unfair that she had to destroy her only hope of returning to the human colony, to keep it safe.

  But you’re only one person, when compared to so many.

  Riley nodded to herself, as the sacrifice she had to make took root. The people of the colony would never know that someone they barely acknowledged, cared enough to give up everything for them.

  “Hoda, I need to use the restroom. I think I’m going to be sick.”

  “I’m supposed to get you back onstage.”

  “I just need a minute. Please,” Riley implored.

  “Fine. There’s a washroom over here. Be quick.”

  Hoda left her alone to use the public bathroom. Riley went in and shut the curtain on the stall. The unusual toilet was more like an elongated trough, intended to accommodate various species. Riley pulled her thumb drive out, and looked around for a way to destroy the chip inside the slot, but couldn’t find anything suitable.

  Come on. Seriously?

  She lifted her skirt and did her business, since she was there. As Riley held the hem of her dress, to keep it from falling in the basin, she noticed the buckle on her boot.

  It will have to work.

  Riley unhitched the buckle. She paused as she held the center prong against the chip in the thumb drive. Several drops of moisture struck her hand, and she realized she was crying.

  You can do this. It’ll be okay, she lied to herself.

  Riley crushed the data chip in the slot, repeatedly stabbing at it. She took out her anger and despair on the bit of plastic and metal, till it splintered and fell into the toilet.

  All my pictures are gone. All my favorite songs, gone. The star chart, gone. Now it’s just a stupid skull made of pretty cut glass, she thought as she watched the pieces wash down the basin drain.

  Riley slid the empty pendant back into place around her neck. It was now as hollow as she felt.

  Cyprian de Praefectus

  “I’m heading out.” Adeoda looked derisively toward the stage as he stood up.

  Cyprian glanced at his handheld and double checked his messages. Vintor still hadn’t found anything pertinent among the smugglers things. He’d already left the suite to hunt for the Miran Sona ship.

  I guess it’s time to have a little discussion with Adeoda.

  As much as Cyprian disliked Adeoda, h
e never relished taking another male’s life. But this was what it had come to. They needed answers and Cyprian had the skills to get them.

  “This really isn’t my thing. I think I’m going to go check on Vintor,” he commented.

  Cyprian took a final swig of his drink then headed out of the theater. He pushed through the doors in time to see Adeoda walk into a shop across the main esplanade.

  The general noted the location of the armed employees, who were stationed along the grand vestibule. As long as he didn’t draw attention, they wouldn’t pose a problem. Cyprian crossed the crowded hall to a stall within sight of the store. He casually glanced at the foreign landscape being projected from a holo-cast frame, while keeping an eye on Adeoda.

  “Ah, very nice selection, Sir. It’s a new collection of art. The image changes every few seconds. It’s been rather popular,” the merchant said to Cyprian. “Would you like me to wrap that up for you?”

  “No. Just looking,” Cyprian replied.

  “If you don’t want the lovely images with the frame, you can buy just the data files.”

  “Yes, it’s nice, but…”

  “If that interests you there’s a selection of traditional music as well. I am selling them as a package, at a very reasonable price.”

  “Fine. I’ll take it,” Cyprian huffed.

  The vendor refused to take no for an answer. Cyprian bought the holo-cast frame, just to get the merchant to leave him alone. Adeoda was moving on, so the general quickly grabbed his purchase and stashed it in his bag.

  Cyprian was several paces behind the scarred warrior, when a delicious scent captured his attention. He stopped dead in his tracks, and his head swung left. His eyes zeroed in on Riley. She was so petite, yet she stood out in the crowd. His eyes drifted over the ebony and violet hair cascading down her back, to the colorful warrior’s ink. The flowering vines wrapped around her arms, and trailed down her creamy shoulder, disappearing beneath the dress. She was a moving work of art. As stunning as Riley was, there was something different about the way she carried herself today.

  Something is wrong.

  Before Cyprian knew it, he’d taken several steps toward Riley, pushing past the crowd in his way. The movement caught her attention and she looked up, making eye contact with Cyprian. Her eyes were red and bloodshot. The forlorn expression on Riley’s face gripped Cyprian. He felt like someone had struck him in the gut. Cyprian was familiar enough with humans to know Riley was not okay. A dozen horrible scenarios about how she was being treated entered his mind. Cyprian glanced at the amphibian handler gripping Riley’s arm. A growl rolled through his chest before he could stop it.