“How many matches?”
“I fight a minimum of once a week.”
She frowned thoughtfully. “Does it specify that? One per week? Or is it a specific number of matches over the term of the contract?”
He hadn’t considered the matter before. The contract was based on the assumption that he would participate in a weekly matches throughout the fight season. The time between fights was used to recover and train for the next match. He reviewed the terms in his head.
“It’s a specific number,” he said slowly. “I have five more that I am obligated to complete, but I am allowed to arrange the matches. Or rather Mehexip usually makes the arrangements. I believe it could be done.”
If he could be free of his contract without having to break his word…
Isabel smiled up at him. “That’s good. Then we could go together.”
“Is that what you want?”
He was suddenly conscious of how close they were. Her lush, naked body was almost touching his, the hardened tips of her enticing breasts brushing against the shorter fur of his chest as her sweet scent surrounded him. His kotra pressed against his sheath, anxious to be free. Almost unconsciously, his hand dropped to her shoulder and slid down the silky skin of her back, bringing her more closely against him. For a moment, she leaned into him, then her eyes widened, and she stepped back.
“I want you to come with me, but that doesn’t mean I’m your slave or anything. I’m not trading one owner for another.”
“I know.”
She looked down, and he watched in fascination as a tide of pink rose to her cheeks. “About last night…I don’t usually behave that way. I don’t know what happened.”
He had wondered that himself and at some point during his sleepless night, he remembered something a medic had mentioned to him a long time ago. “I think perhaps you may have had a reaction to the healing lotion. It has been known to happen to some species but I did not realize that it would occur with humans,” he added hastily.
“I’ll remember to stay away from it in the future, although it did a good job of healing me. Even the marks Asgii—” She stopped abruptly. After a brief pause, she added, still not looking at him, “Thank you for…stopping when I asked.”
“I would not take advantage of an unwilling female.”
“That makes one of you,” she said bitterly, then straightened her shoulders. “So what did you have in mind about leaving?”
“I think there are a couple of possibilities, but I need to talk to a friend of mine first.” He hesitated. “I don’t wish to confine you, but I think it’s best that you remain out of sight. You should be safe here while I am gone, and you can help yourself to anything you want.”
“Don’t worry—there isn’t anywhere I want to go other than off this planet.” After a slight pause, she reached out and briefly touched his hand. “Thank you for helping me.”
It had been the lightest possible touch, but as he bowed his head and departed, he could still feel the warmth of it branding his skin.
Chapter Seven
Baralt found Varga in his quarters. Unlike Baralt, Varga had chosen a suite of rooms on the surface of Tgesh Tai. The arena was located on the outskirts of the city, and Varga’s rooms were on the side that faced away from the populated area. From his windows, nothing was visible except the vast desert landscape.
“How hard would it be to leave this planet?” Baralt asked as soon as he entered.
Varga raised an eyebrow. “Are you planning on running out on your contract?”
Baralt fought back his instinctive anger that the other male would question his honor. “Of course not. Although I may have found a way to end it sooner.”
“How do you intend to do that?”
“It was pointed out to me that the contract only specifies the number of matches—it doesn’t provide a time frame.”
Varga stroked his chin thoughtfully. “I believe you are correct. But if you attempt more frequent matches, you will not have any time to recover between them. Or to train for the next one.”
Baralt shrugged. “The matches will serve as training.”
“You know this is a risky proposition.”
He had considered that, of course, debating his options on the way to Varga’s quarters. Without sufficient time to either recover or train, he would be taking a chance. On the other hand, he wasn’t looking for prestigious opponents. He didn’t care if his ranking slipped, and in fact, he would be forced to accept any available matches if he wanted to complete them all before his time with Isabel came to an end. It would have been much harder at any other time of the year, but this was the final feast week before the annual break, and there were a number of matches every day.
“I know,” he said. “But I don’t have any alternative.”
“What’s your hurry? I thought you intended to sign up for an additional year.”
“My plans have changed.” He hesitated, still not entirely sure about revealing his scheme, but he needed Varga’s help, and he trusted the other male as much as he trusted anyone. “I don’t intend to leave by myself.”
Varga studied him, and Baralt could see the wheels turning behind that impassive face.
“The slave,” he said at last.
“Yes.”
“Well, that definitely complicates matters.” Varga stood and strode over to the window, staring out across the empty sand. “Once your contract has been fulfilled, there will be nothing to hold you here and no one would stop you leaving. But taking a slave who doesn’t belong to you? That’s a whole other issue.”
“Can it be done?” he repeated. If Varga refused him, he would have to make his own arrangements, and while he had no doubt that he would eventually be successful, time was not on his side.
“For the right price, I believe so. I will make some inquiries.” Varga frowned at him. “But Relkhei
