On my way.
Ry slipped into the room to join them, wearing a grin. “Most profitable. He paid me to leave and gave me a bonus for his daughter as well.” He noticed the maid. “Who’s she?”
“Another crewmember,” Camryn said.
“The tender will be crowded.” Ry winked. “We’ll have to share quarters.”
Camryn suppressed a growl at his smug expression.
It took them some time to make their way to the tender after stopping at the hotel. Mogens and Nanu left to collect Gabby and Luke from the stables while the others stopped via the hotel to collect their gear. Once they were all on board, they took off, leaving for the spaceport.
“You can take your mask off now,” Camryn said, curiosity getting the better of her. “You don’t need to wear it anymore.”
“You might change your mind when you see my face.” Fear, stark and vivid, glittered in Gweneth’s eyes, and she backed away from both Camryn and Mogens.
“Take it off,” Mogens said. “You’re among friends. None of us will judge you.” He voice sounded huskier than normal, his color a glittering white. It didn’t seem to faze Gweneth, which made Camryn think more of her. Mogens made most people uneasy.
Gweneth fumbled with the strings holding the mask in place because her hands trembled so much. Feeling pity, Camryn walked up behind and took over.
She peeled the mask away, a gasp escaping when she caught a glimpse of her face. “Bloody hell. Ry!”
Attracted by her shout, the crew came running. They stopped and stared.
“Nanu, take the controls,” Ry said in a strained voice.
He walked up to her and reached out to trace the tiny cat tattoo on her right cheek. The same tattoo had marked the woman they’d purchased from the slaver. Gweneth trembled under his touch but didn’t move.
“Madam,” Ry said finally. “Where do you come from? Are we related?”
“Do you know anything about your mother?” Both excitement and trepidation collided in Ry. Another clue to his background. The mystery ate at him just as badly as the desire to clear his name.
He needed answers for himself and for Camryn. His mate.
“I don’t know much,” Gweneth said. “She died from complications, not long after my birth.”
“You must know something. Where did she come from? Which planet?” Desperation tore his gut. She must have some knowledge. He grasped her shoulders and shook her. “Were you born with the mark on your face?”
“Ry, let her go.” Mogens yanked his arm, and when Ry turned his attention from Gweneth, he saw the swirls of black unfurling on the seer’s face. “You’re frightening the women.”
“But—”
“Back off,” Mogens snarled. A puff of magical power shimmered around him without warning, sending an abrupt shock through Ry. He released Gweneth and stepped back with a sense of astonishment. Silence filled the bridge, and they all shifted uneasily. Camryn stared at him with a silent question.
“I’m sorry,” Ry apologized. “I didn’t mean to frighten you. Please tell me everything you know about your mother.”
“Gweneth is telling you the truth,” the maidservant said. “She knows nothing of her mother or her mother’s family. Her father refused to discuss the matter and blamed Gweneth for her mother’s death.”
“But what about her face?” Camryn asked.
“The mark appeared during my thirteenth cycle. Faint at first, it looked like dirt. With each passing cycle the mark deepened and became more defined. During my fifteenth cycle my father made me wear a mask.”
“You will never wear a mask again,” Mogens said.
“No,” Ry agreed, attempting to conceal his disappointment even as his gaze swept to the leaping black cat on her cheek. How could he not have known? He’d smelled the woman with the slaver as soon as she entered the tavern where they were drinking. He’d liked Gweneth’s scent but hadn’t felt an attraction to her. “We’re going back to Ornum to question the governor.”
“No,” Camryn said. “Quite frankly I want to go home. I don’t want to go back.”
“No,” Mogens said. “Gweneth will not be safe. I have seen it in the clouds.”
“Kaya, contact the governor via the comms unit as soon as we reach the spaceport. Privacy mode. We journey to Ibrox. Once Talor clears my name, we’ll decide on our next move.”
“Aye, Captain.”
“And you will take me home,” Camryn said.
Ry nodded, unable to bring himself to say the words. Fear flickered through his veins as truth whispered. He didn’t want to go on without Camryn. When they landed on Ibrox, he would take her to the House of the Cat with him, and once he’d met with his sisters and Talor, they would talk. His jaw tensed at the thought of separation. That couldn’t happen. He didn’t think he could settle on Earth, not when he still had to search for his people.
He bowed to Gweneth. “Please comb your memories for anything relating to your mother and her people. I am of the cat,” he said, his manner formal. “I search for our people.”
Gweneth stared, her mouth dropping open in surprise. “When I sleep I dream of cats. Big black cats lounging in the sun and playing together in a clearing. Is it possible I dream of our people?”
“Wow,” Kaya said. “When I dream it’s of battles. Blood. I want the dreams you’re having.”
“I have had the same dreams but I thought it happened because I wasn’t shifting to my feline form enough,” Ry said. “Mogens?”
“Dreams are powerful things. They hold truth.”
Which didn’t help much, but hope surged inside him anyway. “Can you shift into cat form?”
The maidservant gasped and pulled a talisman from her pocket. “Blasphemy.”
“It’s all right, Amme. I sense no evil in him.”
“He hides it behind his human guise,” the maidservant said. She stood her ground yet her eyes rolled in fear.
Gweneth closed the distance between them, ignoring the maidservant’s squawk of protest. She placed her hand on Ry’s chest. Ry took satisfaction from Camryn’s harsh inhalation before turning his full attention to Gweneth. “I can feel the power beneath your skin.” She stroked her hand across his chest and a purr erupted from deep in his throat.
“That’s enough,” Camryn snapped, and she squeezed her slight frame between him and the taller woman, pushing her away.
“Have no fear. I’m not interested in your man.” She stepped away and Camryn relaxed a fraction, curling into his chest. Ry nuzzled her neck, savoring her feminine scent and wrapped his arm around her waist, needing the closer contact. Inside he gloated, although he knew better than to show his triumph.
“No, I have magic inside me, but I cannot change forms. If I touch a person I can tell if they speak the truth.”
“Maybe she is still coming into her powers,” Camryn said. “It took you a while to gain your powers.”
“Have you always lived on Ornum?” Jannike asked.
“Yes,” Gweneth said. “My father took up the position of governor before my mother died. We’ve lived there ever since.”
They landed at the spaceport, and after settling Gabby and Luke aboard the
Indy
, they moved to the bridge.
“Comms connected, Captain.”
“Thank you, Kaya.” Ry walked into the privacy unit and prepared to interrogate the governor.
“You promised not to contact me again,” the governor protested, his long white nightshirt and nightcap emphasizing his pallor.
“That was before I discovered the cat etched into your daughter’s cheek.” Ry didn’t feel guilty about waking the man from his slumber.
“You can’t bring her back,” the governor blurted.
“I don’t intend to,” Ry said, struggling to keep his voice even. “Tell me where your wife came from.”
“A planet in the Western sector. She lived with her aunt and uncle and never bore the cursed mark on her cheek or on her back like the other woman. Never.”
“Which planet?”
“Tagorn.”
“Is there anything else I should know?”
The governor shook his head.
“Thank you for speaking with me.” Ry disconnected the call and left the privacy unit. He’d never visited the Western sector before. He intended to play tourist very soon.
The trip back to Ibrox took seven days, days filled with tension and short tempers. Ry throbbed with it and was relieved to arrive at their destination. It was past time for him to face Talor.
“Ready to land, Captain.” Nanu went through landing procedures and soon they moored in the Ibrox spaceport.
Ry grabbed a knife from his chamber and shoved it into his boot. At the last min he also collected the diary and box, shoving them into a small pack. It was possible one of his sisters remembered them and could help with the mystery. When he left the
Indy
, the entire crew waited for him outside. “Are you all coming?”
“Yes.” Nanu scowled. “We want to make sure you get there in one piece and—”
“We’re nosy,” Kaya added.
“I’m still a wanted criminal. It’s dangerous keeping company with me.”
Nanu snorted. “What’s new? Besides, I want to confront your cowardly brother. It’s his fault Yep is dead.”
Ry sobered, aware Nanu still grieved for Yep. “I’m sorry.” Nothing could bring Yep back.
Jannike tapped him on the shoulder. “In other words we’re going with you. You can’t trust Talor. This is probably a trap.”
“All of you?” Ry’s gaze slid over Gweneth and her maidservant, ignoring Jannike’s words. He didn’t trust Talor farther than he could kick him but he was tired of running.
“I wish to see the city and your House of the Cat,” Gweneth said, lifting her chin to boldly meet his gaze. She didn’t duck her head, her determination shunting aside self-consciousness. “It is strange you bear a cat and also used to live at House of the Cat, no?”
“Yes.” The coincidence hadn’t escaped Ry.
“Where the mistress goes, I go,” the maidservant said.
“Looks as if we’re all going to the House of the Cat,” Camryn said.
Ry had timed their arrival for morn since most of society kept late hours. The workers had risen for the day, but they took one look at their weapons before melting into the shadows.
“This is where you were raised?” Jannike asked when they paused in front of metal gates bearing the crest of a cat.
Ry grinned at the disbelief on her face. “Yeah. Home sweet home.”
“I wouldn’t have wanted to leave,” Kaya said. “And all we’ve seen is the fancy gate.”
“I didn’t have much choice,” Ry said, recalling the hurt from his brother’s betrayal—the way everyone had believed his brother rather than him. He pounded on the gates to the mansion and waited for a footman to answer the summons.
“Yes?” The man wore House of the Cat livery. Ry didn’t recognize him.
“We are here to see Talor Coppersmith.”
The man went away, returning after several mins. The gates opened. Ry stalked through, his crew following. The subtle magic emanating from the mansion welcomed him. A smile of wonder curled across his lips. This place, the House of the Cat, felt like his home. He wondered if the authorities would be quite as welcoming once they realized he’d returned. Hopefully with Talor’s support, the authorities would drop the charges. He was tired of running.
Ry halted at the bottom of the stairs leading to the front door. The imposing entranceway looked the same with two trees bearing bright yellow fruit, one on either side of the black shiny door and a golden cat-shaped knocker.
“Take a walk around the gardens,” he said. “Follow the path.” When his crew stared at him, he gestured with his hand. “Go. I don’t need you spying on my reunion with my sisters.”
“Spoilsport,” Kaya said.
“Give the man some peace.” Gweneth placed her hand on Mogens’ arm.
Camryn shrugged and turned away to explore the gardens with the others.
Ry reached out and snagged an arm around her waist. “Not you. You’re with me.”
The door flew open and his sisters stood there, both slim and silver-haired like Talor. For an instant he stared then he sprinted up the steps to gather his older sister, Edrea in his arms. After embracing her, he grabbed Cody for a hug too. He felt their pleasure in seeing him and it warmed him through, erasing fears they might reject him because Talor had poisoned their minds.
“Oh Ry. It’s so good to see you,” Edrea said, her silver hair in an elegant updo as befitted her married status. “Talor said he’d seen you and you’d probably come home.”
“Where’s Talor?” Ry wanted this settled.
Cody smiled and tossed her head, setting her loose silver locks in motion. “We expect Talor later.”
Ry turned to escort Camryn and found not a single one of his crew had moved. “My crew,” he said. “This is Camryn, my mate.”
“His lover,” Camryn corrected, bringing a spurt of irritation to Ry. Why couldn’t she accept the truth? “He’s taking me home soon.”
Ry could hear his sisters’ thoughts and blocked them despite his fascination.
Edrea offered a gracious smile, reminding Ry of their mother. “You’d better come inside. All of you.”
Ry followed his sisters inside and heard his crew trample after him. Memories crowded him—running through the house with Talor and his sisters while playing hide-and-seek, his mother’s hugs and kisses when he’d fallen and hurt himself, their father’s stern lectures when they misbehaved and his mother’s tears when his father died.
Camryn reached for his hand and squeezed in silent comfort, aware of the thoughts rioting through his mind.
“Ah Ryman.” Talor strolled into large and sunny reception room. He was dressed in black trews and a billowy white shirt, his long silver hair tied back in a tail. “You’ve arrived.” Ry noticed his double take on seeing the cat on Gweneth’s cheek. Instead of appearing discomforted as most people would, he seemed intrigued. “And your lovely bride. I believe congratulations are in order.”
Ry stilled not liking his brother’s tone or the sword belted to his side. Instinct told him Talor intended to go back on his word. Hell, he’d suspected he would right from the start. “Gweneth and I have agreed not to marry since I am already mated to Camryn.” His sharp glance at Camryn dared her to contradict him. When she sat on a two-seater, he claimed the space beside her. The touch of their thighs soothed his roiling gut.
A pity we aren’t alone
, he thought.