Chapter 17
?rim
It took ?rim several hours of avoidance to finally muster the will to examine the data from Cassie’s voicelock.
It was the last thing he wanted to do, but he needed to confirm his suspicions.
He pushed himself into clinical distance.
His electrical core amplified with fear as he retraced the signal output from the connection.
It had pinged someone. Someone off planet.
Someone knew where she was now. Someone who undoubtedly wished her harm. As much as it concerned him to speak to S’samph after their last encounter, he knew he would be remiss in not telling him. Cassie’s safety was more important than his pride.
Late in the day, ?rim braced himself to enter S’samph’s office. He opened the door with a quiet click before peering inside. “I’m sorry to intrude.” He rubbed his wrist node. “But I want to make sure no further harm comes to Cassie.”
S’samph rounded on him, clearly displeased to see him. “This had better be important. I also struggle to see how more harm could come to her as long as you’re not involved.”
?rim dug out his datapad with a flick of impatience. “I’m not here asking for absolution. Cassie’s device triggered a homing sequence. I fear it is highly likely someone will come looking for her. Someone who means her harm.”
S’samph’s frill lifted. “Explain this to me. I need to understand all the logistics.”
?rim pulled up the relevant holos on his datapad to refer to the report from the breach. “From what I understand, when I initiated an investigative protocol, the device emitted a homing signal before imploding.”
S’samph stared at him, his tail twitching under the worktable. “I am used to not understanding scientific language from my mate, but as we are discussing a security risk. Explain it to me in practical terms.”
“When I tried to look at the information on Cassie’s voicelock, it triggered a signal. Someone knows where she is now, and the only people with access to that information want to do her harm.”
“I see.” S’samph’s frill raised high along his spine. “And you anticipate they’ll come to Laurus to find her?”
“If what I’ve learned about the Aviary is true, the information she has is, well, damning for a lot of important people.
” ?rim didn’t say the second part that struck lightning through his core.
Cassie was likely too dangerous to be left alive if the people who had created her knew where she was.
He was no match for S’samph in terms of physical prowess, but he was not without skills, and he was not beyond using them to do whatever necessary to keep Cassie safe.
“Then we must establish a protocol, so Cassie is never left alone.” S’samph rose from his worktable. “My mate and I would be most distressed if any additional harm were to befall her.”
“If you’ll lift your ban on me seeing her. I’ll make sure she is cared for. There is space in my home. I can start my research on human care protocols immediately.”
“Human care protocols? She’s not a pet.”
Never mind the high possibility that she wouldn’t even want to stay with him. Someone had to take care of her, and he’d feel ill at ease if it was anyone else. “Of course, she’s not a pet. But I intend to do this correctly.”
“I don’t want another incident. If I agree to this, I will have to fight my mate about it.”
“There won’t be another incident.”
S’samph’s frill flattened. “She has been asking for you. I am inclined to let her have what she wants. It is hard to say no to someone who has been granted so little in their life. But I’m not the one you’ll have to convince.
My Eleri wants you thrown into the desert for the raviks to find.
I told her you would not be of interest to them since they can’t eat you. ”
His energy core surged at the news. Cassie wanted to see him, despite Eleri’s grim desires. He wanted to see her, talk to her, apologize, more than anything. But she would decide the terms of their relationship going forward. It wasn’t up to him. “What if she doesn’t want to stay with me?”
“If she doesn’t, then we will find somewhere else for her to go.
But you will give her that option first. Your home is close enough to the nest I share with Eleri, and I see no reason to find a different host for Cassie if your home has ample space.
If Cassie is not amenable, my clutch-sister S’kasia will likely be able to take her in, but she will complain about it. ”
?rim didn’t want Cassie to stay with anyone else, especially not someone who would complain about her presence.
But he would have to convince Cassie. He had to ask.
If nothing else, having her near would at least allow him to help ensure her safety.
And if something in him wanted her close for reasons beyond safety, he would deal with that impulse later.