Chapter 7
CHAPTER
SEVEN
“Just remember to do your best,” Kai advised gruffly. “If you clear this last batch of tests today, you are free to go.”
“I understand.”
Price was wearing his uniform and had drawn many admiring glances during their journey down to the military hospital and base.
He’d not seemed to notice any of them, his attention turned inward.
He’d used Kai’s razor to cut his hair soldier-short and remove any traces of stubble.
The only thing he couldn’t remove was the Ungrich scar marring his throat.
They’d spent the last few days acting like polite strangers during the day and fucking like wild animals all night.
But it wasn’t the same. Aled made no attempt to master Kai and just took whatever Kai offered him, like some kind of high-class prostitute.
Kai hated it but still couldn’t stop himself from slaking his need for Aled’s body.
The thought of him not being there anymore, of not having anything , was almost too hard to contemplate.
Kai cleared his throat. “Do you want me to come in with you, or shall I meet you at the end of the day to hear the results?”
Price’s light blue gaze rested briefly on him. “There’s no need to babysit me. I’m not going to betray Anna Lee.”
There was no reply he could give that wouldn’t imply he was concerned about his trainee for his own reasons. “Then I’ll see you later.”
Price’s hand shot out and took hold of his elbow. “When I’m free, what happens next?”
“The government gives you its thanks, a lifelong pension, preferential housing, and anything else you ask for on the sly.”
“So I can live anywhere I want?”
“Yeah.”
Price sighed. “You’re not going to make this easy for me, are you?”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Fuck you.”
“I have been, and I’ve enjoyed it as much as I’ve enjoyed you fucking me back. Your point?”
Price looked skyward as if seeking divine help. “As soon as I get a place, I’ll give you the address. If you want to come and see me, you can. If you don’t? Then I’ll know where I stand.”
Kai shook his head. “You still don’t get it. Two weeks, greez , two days without my company, and you’ll be thanking the gods you got away and looking forward to a new, happy, no-Kai life.”
“I won’t.” There was a firmness to Price’s voice that made Kai pause. His trainee had become a man to be reckoned with. “I love you, but I’m not going to beg anymore. If you want me, you’ll know where to find me.”
So that was it then. Aled couldn’t have been clearer. Kai knew him well enough now to understand that his lover was perfectly capable of moving on without him. Ungrich survivors were tough bastards.
He took a step back as Price saluted him and walked away. He felt like he’d been punched in the gut. They’d fucked and shared his apartment for the last few weeks, and Price hadn’t asked anything of him at all. Except when he begged to come . . .
And apparently he wasn’t prepared to beg for anything anymore.
Kai turned and began walking blindly toward the admin side of the building. That was good, wasn’t it? Aled Price was now a free and confident man. A man who’d just said he loved him and walked away.
Greez . . .
For a second, he wanted to run back and demand to know exactly what game Price was playing now. But he already knew. Price was playing for keeps. It was up to Kai to decide whether he wanted to man up and play as well.
Aled grimaced as yet another medical technician took blood from him.
He glanced at the clock. Surely he should be done by now?
He’d seen Graif briefly and had reconnected.
It was a relief to see his friend had come through the experience.
They’d agreed to meet up when they were both settled.
When he was done, he’d go back to Kai’s place, clear out his stuff, and . . .
Find somewhere new to live.
He’d said his piece to Kai, admitted how he felt, and had left the matter in his lover’s hands.
What a stupid fucking thing to do. He should’ve got down on his knees and begged Kai.
But since the night Rehz and Anna had called, he’d decided just to accept Kai’s lovemaking and not ask for anything in return.
Would it have made any difference? He didn’t think so.
The ultimate decision had to be Kai’s. Kai had to believe that someone could love him for himself, and that wasn’t going to be easy.
Aled understood he might have to move on.
The door opened and he tensed as an unexpected figure appeared, flanked by four men in white protective gear.
“Ah, Price, there you are.”
“General Palk.” Aled slid off the gurney as the men closed in on him. “What the fuck is going on?”
It was the last thing he said before the blackness closed in on him.
Kai checked the clock and frowned at the closed door of the waiting room.
It was way past the time when Aled Price should’ve been returned to civilization.
There must be something wrong. Just as he was about to bang on the clear glass window that looked over the main lab, he saw Palk beckoning him inside.
The door locks released and he went through, his gaze trained on Palk, who was smiling.
Kai didn’t bother with pleasantries. “Where’s Price?”
“He volunteered for a new assignment.” Palk raised his eyebrows. “He didn’t tell you? After the information he gave us about the Ungrich , you must have known we would want to test him further.”
“What information?”
“He didn’t tell you that either?” Palk took a step closer and lowered his voice. “That the Ungrich like human DNA and specifically want to research it?”
“He told you that?” Kai held Palk’s gaze. “Where exactly is he?”
“Back with the Ungrich .” Palk shrugged. “They’ll let us know when they have finished with him. If he’s still alive, of course.”
Kai drew back his fist and swung, sending Palk crashing to the floor, unconscious.
He’d never be able to tell Aled how he felt now.
He’d left it too late. Amid the screams of the lab technicians and medics shouting for security, he turned and walked out.
In the hallway, the alarms were already blaring, and Rehz Akran was running toward him, his weapon cocked and ready in his hand, his expression murderous.
“They took Anna!”
Kai went still. “What ?”
“Your fucking trainee must have spilled his guts.” Rehz looked around, his teeth bared. “Where is he? I’m going to fucking eviscerate him.”
“Rehz. They took him too.”
“Why ?”
“Because they have human DNA.” He forced himself to breathe. “I bet they’ve both been sent to the Ungrich .”
“Male and female humans,” Rehz whispered. “Fuck .” He swallowed hard. “I can’t lose Anna. I love her.”
Kai nodded. “I know how you feel.” He took a deep breath. “So why don’t we go and get them back?”