“I understand she was the one who had your aunt’s will overturned and first put you in a pain collar,” Imani said quietly. “I’m sorry you had to see the woman who stole your inheritance and hurt you so badly.”
He shook his head.
“I was never going to inherit what Mother Hownow left me. As I said before, she was hoping that a kind and understanding Mistress would Claim me before she died. Then she could have inherited the property along with me. Her hope was that I would live as a mate to my new Mistress, not just a helpless bodyslave. But…” He shook his head. “That was never going to happen—not here on Yonnie Six. But Mother Hownow was an optimist and extremely eccentric.”
“It was nice of her to try, I guess,” Imani ventured. “It sounds like she loved you a lot—I can understand her wanting to make plans for your future.”
J’are barked a short, unhappy laugh.
“Well, I’m damn sure her plans didn’t include me being framed for murder and thrown in the hole to rot.” He looked at Imani. “If you hadn’t come along…”
“I came because the Kindred sent me,” she said quickly, feeling her heart begin to flutter again under his intense gaze. “And because one of your fellow Kindred warriors found that vid-clip and passed it on to me.”
“Who was it?” J’are asked. “I’d like to be able to thank him.”
Imani shook her head.
“I don’t know him—he’s just an undercover operative working here on Yonnie Six. I, uh, think he’s pretending to be a bodyslave.”
“Lucky bastard—he’s only pretending,” J’are growled. “I didn’t truly understand how bad it could be until after Mother Hownow died and I ended up with Mistress Bittlebum and then, after she sold me, Lady Zangelo.”
“You’re not a bodyslave anymore,” Imani told him fiercely. “I’m getting you out of here. All we have to do is make a good showing in court today and I’m certain Judge Thoughtgood will let you go.”
“You really think so?” J’are looked at her hopefully.
“I do.” Imani nodded firmly. “All we have to do is stay out of trouble until this afternoon and then impress the judge with your calm attitude.”
“I can do that.” J’are nodded. “As long as the court date is during the daylight hours. It gets…more difficult to control my feral side when it gets dark outside.”
“I understand,” Imani said. “And luckily, our court time is during the daylight. I promise you, J’are…” She leaned across the bed and put a hand on his knee. “I’m going to get you off this awful planet and take you home. And I won’t let anyone hurt you again—I swear it!”
He twitched a little but didn’t try to brush away her hand. Instead, he covered it with his own and looked into her eyes.
“You’re fiercely protective, aren’t you, Councilor Imani? Or should I call you my Defender?”
“Just call me Imani,” she whispered, feeling hot all over. “But yes, I am protective of my clients. If someone wants to hurt you, they’ll have to go through me first!”
He rumbled laughter but there was genuine appreciation as well as amusement in his face.
“Gods, you’re gorgeous when you’re fierce,” he murmured. “No wonder my feral side fell so hard for you. Any male would be lucky to have such a brave, beautiful female Claim him.”
Imani wasn’t sure what to say about that. She found she was looking into his pale, intense eyes and she couldn’t look away.
J’are reached up and cupped her cheek, just as he had the night before when he’d wanted to “scent” her. He was leaning towards her and, even though she knew she shouldn’t, Imani leaned towards him too.
Their lips met and she thought she could still taste the faint flavor of the cinnamon-like light pik from the night before. J’are growled low in his throat and pulled her closer, deepening the kiss. Oh God, she really, really shouldn’t be doing this. She—
A sharp rapping on the outer door of the suite made her jerk her head back, breaking the kiss.
“Who is it?” she called, feeling like she’d been saved at the last minute from doing something very foolish. Foolish but extremely pleasurable. She could still taste the big Nightwalker’s lips on hers.
“Room zervise,” buzzed an insectile voice from the other side of the door. “Complimentzz of the houze.”
Nineteen
“I guess I’d better get that,” Imani said. She started to get off the bed, but J’are was already there, in front of her.
“Let me get it.” His voice was a low, protective growl. “I don’t like the sound of whoever’s on the other side of that door.”
“I think it might be one of those giant pink praying mantises you have all over the place here,” Imani said anxiously. “Why—do you know something I don’t about them?”
“Praying mantises?” He threw a frown over his shoulder. “What are those?”
“Oh, it’s a kind of insect on my home world—on Earth,” Imani explained. “Except on my planet the mantises aren’t usually much bigger than your finger and they can’t talk. Here, they’re huge.” She shivered in disgust.
“I think you mean the morphids,” J’are said. “They’re an alien race from another star system, not far from Yonnie Six. But they’re really not that common.”
“They’re not?” Imani raised her eyebrows. “But I’ve seen so many of them since I came here yesterday! There was one at the front desk, checking me in and then several of them driving the transport cars when I was trying to get to the courthouse. Oh, and I think there was one last night!”
She put a hand to her mouth. So much had happened, she’d almost forgotten the attack on the bridge.
J’are frowned.
“What do you mean, one last night?”
“One came after me last night when we were leaving the courthouse—at least, I think it did. You were in your feral state and you fought it off. You ripped off one of its limbs but then you threw it away.”
“Fucking morphids,”
