Virgin (23 page)

“Amelyana was Terran. She taught us her culture along with our own—and a few others. We’re all multilingual—fluent in Zetithian, English, and Stantongue, and a smattering of other languages, as well.” He shrugged. “Hey, we had to do
something
to keep ourselves busy during all those years, and I was a pretty good student. How to fly a starship wasn’t the only thing I learned.”

Ava was agog with curiosity. “Who was the first President of the United States?”

“George Washington.”

“And the first human to set foot on Earth’s moon?”

“Neil Armstrong. The first sentient was Luxon Detmar—a thousand years before Armstrong.”

“Who organized the Earth colony on Rutara?”

“David and Shellenne Harper.”

“What about math and science?”

Dax chuckled. “Well, I can add two and two and know the difference between male and female dogs.”

“Which is all anyone really needs to know,” Ava conceded.

“Hey, Dax,” Diokut piped up. “What about—”

“Hush now,” Waroun hissed at the young Kitnock. “Mustn’t interrupt. Super Kitten and the Fish Lady are bonding.”

Ava burst out laughing and slid her arm around Dax’s waist. Holding him close while his puppy tried to lick her face felt very natural. It came as a bit of a shock to realize that she now had the right to do such things whenever she wished. No more holding back or hiding her feelings. Dax might not be her mate for life—not yet anyway—but he
was
her boyfriend, which gave her a seriously warm fuzzy feeling.
Big, sexy Dax and an adorable puppy…
It just doesn’t get any better than that.

Diokut was clearly affronted. “I was only going to ask him if he knew the capital of Darconia.”

“That would be Arconcia,” Dax said. “I learned a lot of geography, too.”

“Ever been there?” Teke asked.

“Yeah. That’s where I met Trag’s brother, Tychar.”

Ava gasped. “You’re kidding me, right?”

“Uh, no, why would I do that?”

“Tycharian Vladatonsk? The rock star?”

Dax rolled his eyes. “Aww, does my new girlfriend have a crush on him?”

“Well, no, but I
have
heard of him,” Ava admitted. “He’s very popular, you know.”

“Yeah, I know. Just don’t mention that to Trag. He’s a little sensitive when it comes to having a famous brother.”

“Can’t say as I blame him for that.”

“Yes, but Trag’s the one who tracked down Rutger Grekkor and got him to confess to destroying Zetith,” Waroun put in. “I’d say he has plenty of fame on his own.”

Dax nodded in agreement. “Still, you know how it is. Everyone wants to be a rock star.”

“What about you?” Ava asked Dax. “Do
you
want to be a rock star?”

Dax gazed down at her, his eyes dancing with mischief. “Well, no, but then, I’m not very musical.”

“Couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket?”

“Something like that.”

Ava hugged him tighter as they continued the search for Quinn. It didn’t matter that Dax couldn’t sing a note. He was a big, purring kitten of a man who took in strays and rescued puppies off the street. She liked him very much, just the way he was.

Chapter 15

They found Quinn in a fancy casino a little farther up the street, out cold in front of a slot machine. Dax brought him around with a splash of water from a nearby fountain.

“I was winning,” Quinn gasped. “The jackpot was mine, and then some quidnit shot me and stole my winnings.”

“Quidnit?” Dax echoed. “What do you mean by that?”

“Oh, you know, the ones with tentacles on their heads. I’ve seen a few of them around here.”

“You mean the Aquerei?” Dax glanced at Ava. “That’s interesting.”

Ava nodded. “Doesn’t speak well of my father’s homeworld, does it?”

“I wouldn’t have thought
anyone
could get away with that sort of thing,” Teke said. “Any casino I’ve ever been in had very strict security.”

Threldigan shrugged. “Welcome to Rhylos. Some of these smaller places are a little lax.”

“You call this small?” Teke exclaimed. “Why, getting lost in here is almost a certainty!”

Threldigan let out a sardonic laugh. “Getting lost is the whole idea. If you can’t find your way out, you’ll spend more money until you’re flat broke. And then the place can get nasty.”

“How do you mean?” asked Teke.

Threldigan gestured at Ava. “Have a seat at one of the slots.”

Choosing a machine at random, Ava sank down into the richly upholstered chair that was provided. An alluring tune began to play, and a handsome man appeared on the viewscreen. He spoke to her in a seductive voice, urging her to deposit her credit voucher for an opportunity to win riches far beyond her wildest dreams.

“Now, tell that machine you don’t have any money,” Threldigan said. “Use any words or phrases you like. Believe me, these machines have heard it all.”

Ava took a moment to recall the most obscure expression she’d ever heard to describe the bankrupt state. “Sorry, mate, but I’ve gone through the ready.”

The man on the viewscreen instantly transformed into a hideous Nedwut. The music hit a discordant note, and the chair gave her a push, ejecting her from her seat. She stumbled, nearly running into Diokut, who caught her before she could fall.

Threldigan let out a world-weary sigh. “Any manipulative ploy you, or anyone else, can imagine is used on this world—as well as magic. It gets tiresome after a while.”

Ava nodded her thanks to Diokut and smoothed out her dress. “Even with your cape?”

“Even with my cape. The idea of moving to Rutara is growing on me.”

“Rutara
is
different,” Ava said. “At least, it was where I lived, which was mostly rural. There are manufacturing regions too—Dax’s ship was built there—but overall, the lifestyle is pretty plain. Nothing like any of this.”

“Ah, yes,” Threldigan said. “The simple life.”

“I wouldn’t have thought that was your style,” said Dax. “Gonna stop using your magic?”

Threldigan smiled. “Never! I’ll always have that, but whether I mention it to anyone or not is the question.” Frowning, he turned to Ava. “They don’t burn witches, do they?”

“Not that I’ve ever heard. Exactly what sort of magic can you do—I mean, aside from being able to disappear?”

Threldigan smiled but didn’t say a word.

“Not going to tell me, are you?”

“Nope.”

“Thought so.”

“I can, however, help Quinn out just a bit.” Passing a hand over the slot machine, Threldigan cocked his head to one side. “There, that should do it. Put in a voucher.”

Quinn no longer had any in his possession, but Teke had stopped to change a few credits at the door. He fed in the voucher and tapped the screen. Ava watched as the random numbers sped by, stopping with a row of sevens. A loud bell rang, heralding the win.

Teke smiled at the Drell. “We’ll split it.”

“Done!” shouted Quinn.

Dax stared at his friend with surprise. “So, is this how you’ve managed to make a living on this world?”

Threldigan didn’t bother to deny it. “Comes in handy if I’m a bit short when the rent is due.”

“Okay, you can influence machines, make magical gadgets, and disappear and/or teleport yourself.” Ava ticked the list off on her fingers. “Anything else?”

“My lady,” he said with a sweeping bow. “I leave that to your imagination.”

“Wait a second, I forgot the mind reading thing.” Ava crossed her arms and closed her eyes. “What am I thinking?”

“That you want to get dinner over with so you can get back to the ship and play snuggle bunnies with Super Kitten.”

Ava burst out laughing. “Doesn’t take a mind reader to figure
that
out.”

Waroun pressed a fingertip onto his chin and then pulled it off with loud pop. “I’m wondering how you can play snuggle bunnies with a kitten—especially one with a new dog. Kots is gonna
love
cleaning up after a puppy.”

“I’m sure he will,” Dax said. “But this isn’t the first dog he’s had on board, and I doubt it will be the last.”

“Knowing Kots, he’s probably already got puppy pads spread out all over the carpet,” Ava said. “Speaking of mind reading, how far away can he tell what you’re craving?”

“I’d be willing to bet he’s got Sholerian milkshakes waiting for both of us.” Dax was smiling, but his eyes were like those of a hungry tiger.

Ava shivered with anticipation. “Sounds tasty, but I don’t think we’ll need them.
Zetithian
cream has the Sholerian variety beat all to hell and back.”

“Come on, then,” Threldigan said. “I know a good restaurant not far from here—if we can keep Quinn out of trouble long enough to get there.”

“I’ll be good,” Quinn promised. “No more gambling and no more buying stuff I don’t need.”

“You bought something?” Ava glanced at the bare floor around his chair. “Did that get stolen too?”

Quinn shook his head, bristling with excitement. “I bought this fabulous bridge in a place called Brooklyn. You should see it.”

“I already have,” Ava said dryly. “In pictures, anyway. How much did you pay for it?”

“Only fifty credits,” Quinn replied. “It was a steal at that price.”

“Oh, it was a steal, all right,” Dax said. He held out a hand to help the Drell to his feet. “We aren’t letting you wander off again, Quinn, so don’t even think about trying.”

“But what about my bridge?”

“A fool and his money are soon parted,” Waroun muttered.

“Does that mean you think I’m a fool?” Quinn demanded.

“No, just someone who isn’t used to the temptations of Rhylos.” Dax patted the Drell on his furry head. “I thought your initial orientation would have been enough, but obviously it wasn’t. I promise we’ll take better care of you from now on. Are you hungry?”

“I’m
always
hungry,” Quinn replied. “Do you suppose they have crackers at this place Threldigan mentioned?”

“I’m sure they do,” Dax assured him. “Mounds of them.”

“Great!” Quinn scratched his head, staring at the bundle of fur Dax held in his arms. “So, where’d the puppy come from?”

“Dax rescued him from the street.” Ava was unable to keep what she was sure was a dopey-looking smile off her face. Something had changed in the way she felt about Dax. He wasn’t simply a sexy starship captain now. Her feelings toward him were much more personal than that. She felt a sense of pride and kinship with him that was completely new to her—almost as though his good qualities reflected on her somehow.

“Can I hold him?” Quinn asked. “I like puppies.”

Ava would have been hard-pressed to name anyone who didn’t, but kindness to animals was nearly always a sign of good character in a person. She smiled to herself as she remembered one of her teachers who had been appalled at the lack of discretion one of Ava’s fellow students had shown in choosing a boyfriend. “But what about his character?” the teacher had asked. “His honesty? His worthiness to be the father of your children?” To which the student had responded, “All I’m looking for right now is to have a good time.” The teacher might have lost that round, but Ava was fairly certain she won the match, because she had been perfectly correct. You truly
did
need to evaluate a man based more on his potential as a provider and a reliable mate than his level of hotness or how much fun he was. It was a matter of establishing one’s priorities and following through with them. Good boyfriends didn’t always make good husbands.

Husbands? Where did
that
come from?
Then she remembered Dax’s assumption that a lifelong commitment would result from their physical union. The idea was naïve, but also very sweet. As if he’d read her thoughts, Dax took her hand, and they strolled down the street together, two lovers exploring the city at their leisure.

As his fingers laced together with hers, Ava felt another change. Street noises seemed to fade into the background, making her more aware of his presence, his movement, the warmth of his hand, the strength of his grasp. She wanted to believe this could be forever, although experience told her otherwise. Though she loved her mother dearly, there had been no happy married life to serve as an example. Only a father who had disappeared long before her birth.

Ava grasped her pendant as if to reassure herself it still existed and hadn’t disappeared the way her father had. Simply holding it in her hand soothed and reassured her, reminding her of the love her parents had once shared. In giving the stone to Ava, her mother had passed that love on. Too bad she hadn’t passed on a little more about her father.