Kyle’s family, the ancient Balanescus, were Lycan shifters, commonly referred to as werewolves, though there were significant differences. Lycan wolves had supernaturally strong metabolisms and lived a long time, but weren’t supernatural or immortal, by any means. If their opponent was big enough and strong enough, they could be defeated. Tygerian tigers, it was said, could be up to sixteen feet long and stood at least five to six feet tall at the shoulders—tough to beat by anyone’s standards.
“Remind me again why I decided to help you with this bounty. I was all set to enjoy a couple weeks off. ”
Blayde clapped him on the back and laughed. “Just be careful Bonnet doesn’t get the drop on you or else you’ll wind up being led around on a leash as some Tygerian’s pet nobyo. You always were the pretty one in the family. ”
Kyle’s snarl and look of outrage had Blayde bounding out of reach and laughing at him. “Sorry, just kidding! But I’m serious about one thing. If he catches either one of us, we’ve had a bad day. We could really wind up as Tygerian nobyos, taking care of little tiger babies. Both of us are young enough to be concubines, and we’re Lycan alphas. Those facts alone would appeal to some of the Tygerian buyers. They hate us in particular, because the prisoner of war camps for captured Tygerians is on Lycanus. Bonnet’s just twisted enough to think enslaving and selling us would be some kind of humiliating coup, not to mention making an example of us for what happens to anyone who comes after him. ”
“Okay, duly noted. We both need to be careful. Do you have a good lead on him yet?”
Blayde nodded. “That’s why we’re on our way to Leeria. He has some kind of hangout there—a bar of some kind. It’s fairly near Jayron, as a matter of fact. ” Kyle knew that out-of-the-way planets like these were often used as the Rogers’ bases of operation, and this sector in particular was being used more and more by the Rogers in this star system.
“The Leerians have been trying to buy a shipment of Lycan bauxite ore for a while now, but no one wants to risk a delivery. Of course, you remember what happened on Jayron with Nikolai. ”
Kyle remembered only too well. He’d been the one piloting the ship when his brother Nikolai went down to arrange the payment and delivery. The next thing Kyle knew, Nikolai had pressed a panic device he wore on his clothing, and using safeguards already in place, Kyle had taken off immediately, leaving his brother on the planet’s surface. It had almost killed him to do it, but he was following strict protocol. That fiasco had been due to Jolly Rogers, too, and though it had worked out well enough—Nikolai had found his mate in the Jayronian prince, the exotic and beautiful Jagger—it wasn’t an experience Kyle ever wanted to repeat.
“So you think they’ll attack and try to steal our shipment, like they did on Jayron?”
Blayde shrugged. “I’m not sure. It’s a distinct possibility, and we have to be ready for that. But I think the Leerians won’t allow it. They’re already having trouble finding anyone willing to trade with them. An attack on our ship would likely end trade for them altogether. They’ve made extravagant promises about safe passage for the ship, so I think we’ll be okay on that score. ”
“Then how will we find Bonnet?”
“I have information on this hangout of his on Leeria. It’s a bar he either frequents or owns, and he’s supposed to be there most evenings he’s on the planet. It’s on the seaside, near the docks and called Blood in the Water, after the rust-colored water in the Leerian oceans. ”
“I can’t say I like that name too much, considering,” Kyle said. “So what’s your exit plan? No way we can just march in there and pick him up. ”
“No, but he’s all Tygerian in one way, at least. He likes good-looking men. So you being the aforementioned pretty one and all…”
“Oh no! You’re not using me as bait!”
“I prefer to think of it as a strategic ploy to entice him outside. ”
“Balls! Which, by the way, I have no intention of risking on your behalf. Now I’m beginning to see why you left Ryan at home. Too dangerous for your boy, so hey, let’s call Kyle. He’ll do it. Well, not this time. ”
“Oh c’mon Kyle, give me a break. There’s very little risk—probably. I’ll be right outside, and the minute you step out with him, I’ll be ready with a tranquilizer gun. He’ll never know what hit him, and he’ll wake up back on board our ship in a holding cell. ”
“Seems to me you’re skipping a whole lot of steps. You just told me the man’s not stupid. How the hells am I going to get him to follow me outside to some dark alley? Then even if I do manage to get him outside and we tranq him, how do we get him back on the ship? He’s not exactly small, you know, if he’s a typical Tygerian. And what are his men doing all this time we’re luring him outside, knocking him out and toting him to the ship? The idea’s crazy!”
“Okay, valid points. So maybe I didn’t think it through so well. What if I offer to sell you to them? We’ll set up one of those sting operation like in some of those Earth vids that Ryan watches. I could say you’re having an affair with my mate behind my back or something, and I found out and want to get rid of you. I could ask for a meet and then we grab Bonnet—hold a gun on him, force whoever comes with him off the ship, and take off. ”
“That could work, I guess. Despite the fact that, once again, my ass is on the line. ” Kyle angled a wry look at Blayde.
“Okay, then you make the offer to sell me. Say that I’ve been after your mate or whatever. ”
“They won’t know I don’t have a mate?”
“How would they know that, Kyle? It’ll work. They’re all disloyal bastards and think everybody else is too. Bonnet will totally buy into the story, because it’s probably the kind of thing he would do. ”
“How do we set up a meeting with him?”
“We know his hangout. After we deliver our shipment, we’ll go there for a drink and scope it out. Then we play it by ear, and try to find a way to speak to him. If you can get close enough, you can set something up. ”
“I still think we should have brought more men with us. ”
“Everyone was busy. And Lucas has the new baby. ”
“And his new mate. Thank the gods I haven’t been trapped with the curse yet. Larsson and I are the only hold-outs. ”
Blayde settled himself beside Kyle in one of the two chairs on the comm deck. “You’ve just been lucky so far. When the curse hits you, it hits hard and you can’t resist it. You just wait—you’ll see,” he warned, though Kyle only smiled at him. It was true the curse hadn’t struck him yet, though it had taken its toll on his brother, Nikolai, and three of his cousins, Blayde, Lucas, and Konnor. Only he and his youngest cousin, Larsson, had remained unscathed.