I knew Tory would do the same, only Tory probably had more resources than Teeg could possibly imagine. So did I, but I always worried I'd be caught unawares. Lendill had told me not to change. What was I supposed to do, wait until they killed me to decide otherwise? Ry was strong as a warlock, but could he stand against any one of those working for the Hardlows? I was afraid to ask, in case the answer was no.
Lendill's hand automatically went to his throat when he saw Aurelius coming. Aurelius didn't look happy. "Now what?" Lendill decided to be practical about it and lowered his hands.
"Reah sent mindspeech. She was crying before it was all over. That girl is frightened out of her wits, Lendill Schaff. And you're forcing her to stay there." Aurelius' words were thick with anger.
"She's in a unique position to deliver the biggest criminals in and outside the Alliance," Lendill pointed out the logic.
"She told me she's too inexperienced for this, Lendill." Aurelius' golden-brown eyes were hard as they raked Lendill's face.
"That's why I sent Ry and Tory. They'll take care of her."
Aurelius eyed Lendill's throat. Lendill put his hand there again. Aurelius snorted and walked away.
Farzi, Nenzi and the others came in the following day. Nenzi came to me expectantly, so I gave him the best hug I could. Farzi nodded to me and smiled.
The moment Nenzi moved away, however, another reptanoid sidled up. I hugged him. Eventually, they'd all gotten a hug, including Farzi. They were hungry too; they'd come straight from the shuttle station. I had the kitchen staff put a light meal together for them. They went to rest for a little while afterward before meeting with Arvil and the Hardlows. I got the idea that Farzi had found something for Arvil. Teeg and I ended up in the meeting.
I'd arranged for snacks and drinks to be served during the meeting. Arvil seemed to like that very much. Everyone was eating and drinking as Farzi made his report. "We return from Zephili," Farzi nodded to Arvil and both Hardlows. "Grish has crops being harvested now. He say we can have those fields, for part of profits." Farzi continued.
"Did he say how much?" Arvil frowned.
"He not tell me." Farzi was upset over that, I could tell. This Grish person probably didn't think Farzi was smart enough or important enough. "He want to speak with you." Farzi nodded toward Arvil. "He want to see you." Whenever Farzi was upset, his speech deteriorated dramatically.
"Perhaps we should all pay Grish a visit." Wilffox lifted a tiny seafood salad appetizer and ate it, smiling maliciously. I wondered if he and Grish had some history. Wilffin agreed with his brother. "We can go tomorrow if you'd like, friend Arvil."
"I'll have my assistant send the communication," Arvil smiled. "If we're lucky, Grish will die of old age while we're there and we can take over. Zephili will be ideal for our enterprise, I think. Fields are available there to replace all three of our lost crops."
"Reah, just pack your things." Teeg was frustrated, I could tell. I'd grumbled when Arvil informed me I had to go. Teeg was staying behind on Campiaa to run things for Arvil. At least Ry and Tory were coming to Zephili with me. It might have been ideal if Arvil had left me on Campiaa. Wilffox and Wilffin had requested that I go with them—they liked the cooking.
"Sweetheart, you'll be able to talk with me anytime—by comp-vid communicator," Teeg watched me throw clothing into a bag a bit harder than was warranted. I wanted to scream, if I were honest. At Lendill Schaff. At Arvil San Gerxon. At Haral, Edan, the Hardlows, Delvin and just about anyone else who came to mind. "Ry and Tory will watch out for you," Teeg went on. "Besides, this will get you away from all the gossipmongers on Campiaa."
"Of course it will," I snapped sarcastically. "What are they saying about me now?"
"Reah, it's not important. Just finish packing. All right?"
I stood there, staring at Teeg. "Tell me," I said. He'd started this, saying what he did. Now he was going to explain it to me.
"Reah, ever since your hair started growing out and everybody recognized you as a woman, the rumors have been flying. Especially after Arvil got rid of his mistress housekeeper. At first, they said you were sleeping with Arvil. That upset me until I found out differently. Now they're saying you're sleeping with the Hardlows or their warlocks. Reah, you're beautiful. They see that now. People are even placing bets on who you're sleeping with besides me."
"That's it, I'm leaving." I dumped the armload of clothing I held in the bag that lay open on the bed. I turned around and stalked out the door, Teeg right behind me.
"Reah, where are you going?" Teeg grabbed my arm.
"Anywhere but here. All I have to do is make it to the shuttle station. Tell Arvil I said no, thank you." I jerked my arm out of Teeg's grasp.
"Reah!" Teeg was almost running after me, hauling me off the floor while I flailed against him. I think a few blows actually landed on his chest and shoulders as he carried me back to the bedroom. After tossing me onto the pillows scattered across the top of the bed, Teeg growled and turned away from me. I attempted to slide off the bed, but he caught me and threw me right back. "Reah, listen to me!" Teeg was nearly shouting.
Too angry to say anything that made any sense at all, I folded my arms stiffly across my chest and refused to look at Teeg. "Reah, I shouldn't have told you that, but maybe it's better to hear it from me instead of getting blindsided by it when you're working at one of Arvil's casinos. People here gossip, Reah, and they gamble. The two go hand-in-hand, most of the time. They get bored with the regular games, so they'll bet on anything."
"So they all think I'm going to bed with Arvil. Or the Hardlows." I was shaking now, I was so angry and upset.
"Reah, they're even betting that you're sleeping with your new guards." Those words hit too close to the truth. Tory and I hadn't coupled—we'd only had direct contact during the claiming and that had been unwilling on my part. Now, though, Tory and I—well, we were mated just as much as Aurelius and I were. I loved him, just as I loved Aurelius and Teeg. Multiple mates were recognized by the Alliance. I didn't know what the rules were on Campiaa and didn't want to ask Teeg—if he were fishing for information, I wasn't about to hand it to him. I did give him what I had, though.
"I'm not sleeping with my guards." And I wasn't. Not yet, anyway, and it would only be one of them if I did. My voice was now sullen.
"I know you're not," Teeg dropped onto the bed next to me. "Reah, I don't care if you sleep with someone else, as long as you love them and they aren't taking advantage of you. I just want to protect you, sweetheart. Gods, you're so young." He pulled me against him.