Revealed Read online

  Nadiah realized it was up to her to make introductions. “Mamam, Patro,” she said, ignoring her intended. “This is Detective Rast. I mean, Rast,” she said quickly, trying to cover for herself. But it was too late.

  “Detective?” Y’dex stepped forward, frowning, his white-blond brows pulled down over his pale, bulging eyes. “Not ‘Commander’ or ‘Warrior’? What kind of Kindred designation is ‘Detective?’”

  “It’s not Kindred, it’s human.” Rast stepped forward. “I’m human. Got a problem with that?”

  “None at all.” Y’dex grinned. “Without the Kindred compounds in your blood, it should be even easier to best you.” He laughed nastily. “I have to hand it to you, Nadiah, you certainly know how to pick yourself a champion.”

  Nadiah lifted her chin. “He’s a better male than you’ll ever be, Y’dex, no matter what type his blood is.”

  “Nadiah, please, such insults to your intended are rude and unnecessary.” Her mother frowned disapprovingly.

  “No, what’s rude and unnecessary is the way this little bastard has been yanking on the bond between them, putting your daughter through excruciating pain.” Rast fixed both her parents with a glare and then looked at Y’dex. “That stops now by the way. You might have gotten away with it before because I couldn’t reach you. But I’m here now and I give you fair warning—you hurt Nadiah again and you’ll have me to answer to.”

  Y’dex’s pale face twisted into a sneer. “Nadiah is my property to do with as I please.”

  “Your law may say that, but where I come from we believe that no one has the right to own another person.” Rast frowned. “Understand me on this, buddy—I’m not just threatening to make you sorry if you hurt her. I’m promising.”

  “Threaten or promise whatever you like—Nadiah is mine as the challenge will soon prove, weak-blooded human.” Y’dex turned to Nadiah, “This is a joke, my lovely—there’s no way your champion can best me. In fact, why don’t we just call the challenge over and start the first night of our bonding together right now?”

  “You won’t be spending tonight or any other night with Nadiah.” Rast stepped in front of Nadiah protectively, his voice a low, menacing growl.

  “We’ll see about that, won’t we?” Y’dex smiled coolly.

  “That’s enough of this male posturing. Nadiah, come with us.” Her mother made a preemptory gesture with one hand. “Though your father and I don’t approve of what you’re doing, you’ll be staying in our domicile until after this whole unpleasant business is finished.”

  Nadiah crossed her arms over her chest, refusing to budge. “Where is Rast going to stay?”

  “With me, of course.” Y’dex gave the human detective a nasty smile. “Unless he’d rather take shelter in the public reflection area.” He looked at Rast. “Your choice.”

  “You can’t expect him to stay with you!” Nadiah exclaimed. “You’re rivals… enemies.”

  “Of course we are but there’s no reason why we can’t be civilized about it, is there?” Y’dex’s smile abruptly turned into an ugly frown. “Besides, female, it’s not your place to say where a male stays or what he does. Now go home with your parents until I see fit to claim you.”

  Nadiah lifted her chin. “You don’t tell me what to do. I am not your slave.”

  Y’dex spit on the ground at her feet. “You are less than a slave. You’re…what did this human champion of your call you? Oh yes, you are an animal—my pet. And a pet has to be taught to obey.” He closed his hand into a fist and made a twisting motion.

  Nadiah’s whole body clenched, getting ready for the burning blade to slide between her ribs. She felt it come and fought not to double over, fought to stand her ground despite the fiery agony…

  And then Rast took a step forward and punched Y’dex in the face. There was a crunching sound and the sharp pain beneath her heart ended as abruptly as it had begun.

  “Ahh!” Her fiancée staggered backward, his long, beaky nose pouring blood. “You!” He glared balefully at Rast. “You…human. I think you broke my nose!”

  “Yup.” Rast wiped his bloody hand casually on the vranna hide coat. “And there’s more where that came from if you do it again. Remember, buddy, a promise is a promise and I always keep mine.”

  “Well!” Nadiah’s mother looked incensed and her father was obviously aghast.

  “This…this is unacceptable,” he blustered. “Completely unheard of.”

  “You’re going to hear a lot more of it if tall, pale, and nasty over there doesn’t mind his P’s and Q’s.” Rast gestured at Y’dex and then frowned at her parents. “You know, I shouldn’t have to do this. You two should be the ones protecting Nadiah—you should never have given that weak, pasty little bastard so much power over her. She’s your daughter for God’s sake.”

  “As our daughter she is bound to obey our parental orders,” Nadiah’s father said, frowning. “We hand picked Y’dex for her. If she would be more obedient he would not feel the need to punish her.”

  “Let me tell you something about your hand-picked son-in-law.” Rast took a step forward and her father fell back, dithering nervously. “He’s the kind of guy who’s always going to want to hurt or punish whether he has reason to or not. I know—I’ve seen his kind in my line of work more times than I can count.”

  “In your human employment, you mean, off-worlder?” Nadiah’s mother raised an eyebrow at him.

  “Yeah, that’s right. But unfortunately this behavior isn’t limited to Earth.” Rast pointed at Y’dex. “He’s a coward and a bully and he’s going to be a wife-beater if you give him the chance. I think maybe you two should ask yourselves if a little social status is worth seeing your only daughter black and blue every damn day of her miserable married life.”

  “Well, really!” Nadiah’s father drew himself up, throwing out his thin chest in anger. “I cannot allow you to talk to myself and my mate in such a fashion!”

  “I don’t really see how you can stop me.” Rast gave them both a lazy grin. “And by the way, Nadiah stays with me.”

  Nadiah’s heart leapt at his words but regretfully, she had to shake her head. “I can’t Rast—it will cause too much talk.”

  “Why?” He frowned. “Anyone who looks at you can see your eyes are the same color they’ve always been.”

  Her parents and Y’dex all gasped simultaneously. “Young man! That is not polite conversation!” her mother protested, turning red. “And my daughter must stay in our domicile with us or the challenge will be considered void and Y’dex will win her by default.”

  Rast frowned and looked at Nadiah. “Is that true?”

  Reluctantly, she nodded. “Any female challenged for must be a female of virtue. If I stay with you—even if nothing happens between us—I could be considered unvirtuous.”

  “Unvirtuous, huh?” He nodded and looked at her parents. “All right, she stays with you. But I want to see her during the day so I can ask if you’re treating her right and be sure idiot boy over there isn’t messing around with the bond.” He nodded at Y’dex, who was still cupping his wounded nose, his pale face painted with bloody red streaks.

  “I don’t think—” Nadiah’s father began.

  “I’ll bring you your meals,” Nadiah interjected quickly. “That will give us a chance to talk.”

  Rast nodded. “Sounds good to me.” He looked at Y’dex. “Well let’s go home, buddy. I assume your offer still stands?” His smile was friendly enough but his truegreen eyes were as hard and flat as emeralds. Her fiancée must have seen the danger in those eyes because he recoiled and shook his head.

  “I rescind my invitation. By law I am not required to offer hospitality to anyone who has done me violence.”

  Rast cracked his bloody knuckles. “What a shame. Guess I’ll be camping out in the public reflection area then.” He nodded at Nadiah. “Lead the way, it looks like I’ll be roughing it.”

  “This way.” Not caring what anyone said, she took his ha