“Stupid war is right. And stupid Earth for declaring it.”
“I’m sorry, Bacoj. That’s a huge shame.”
The Dramok was silent for a full minute. At last he sighed and drew himself up. His attitude still held a note of tragedy, but his jaw was set. “There’s no use whining over something I can’t control. Besides, you’re the one with real problems.”
Vax waved his hand in dismissal. “Only when Karil isn’t too stoned to stand up straight.”
“What about his Dramok? What’s his deal? Does he want revenge too?”
“Dramok Respel is the least of my worries. As long as nothing I do disrupts his business, he could care less. I doubt he misses Huk.” Vax grimaced, jabbed by pity for his late cousin. Huk had created the awful situation he’d ended up in, but… “Isn’t that awful? To die and not be mourned by your clanmate?”
“This Respel, he’s not into drugs too?”
“He stays off the junk, but he’s a dealer. He only cares about the money and keeping the authorities from taking any interest in his activities. In fact, Respel warned Karil to leave me alone so nobody would snoop in his business. Respel told him he’d be fine without a Nobek as well as an Imdiko if it came down to it.”
“Nice guy,” Bacoj snorted. “Nothing like death threats between lifemates.”
“He’s afraid I’ll report Karil to the authorities and draw attention to what they do.” Vax swallowed. “I don’t think Respel meant he’d actually kill him, but he might make Karil sorry for disobeying.”
“Tonight proved Karil’s not listening. Something should be done.”
“I’ll com Respel tomorrow and tell him I’ll file a complaint against Karil if he doesn’t back off.”
“That Nobek must have cared greatly for your cousin. Losing him could make him crazy, I suppose.”
Vax grimaced. “I get the idea that love never entered the picture between those two. It’s Karil’s Nobek pride that makes him belligerent over losing a clanmate he should have kept safe. If he continues ignoring his Dramok, it’s not a good situation for me.”
Bacoj frowned. “Why don’t you just go to the authorities? Skip the nonsense with Karil’s Dramok?”
“He hasn’t made any overt threats. He just shows up and glares.”
“That should be more than enough.”
“Not according to the law. And I’d hate to make an enemy out of Respel. Huk used to gloat about all the people that got beat up when they made his Dramok mad.”
Actually, Huk had intimated Respel’s bodyguards and Karil had done a lot worse than beat up others. Vax had chalked it up to empty boasting. Huk had possessed little to brag about, so being clanned to supposedly dangerous men became his sole claim to achieving any sort of status.
Bacoj scowled. He clearly had more thoughts on the matter of Karil and Respel, but they’d reached the small metal housing of an elevator that would take them underground to the caverns. They stepped in, leaving the tree-lined path behind.
Tension fled from Vax’s shoulders the moment the shining doors closed out the forest. Despite his surface nonchalance, he’d half-expected Karil to spring out at them during their walk. Guilt pricked him for exposing Bacoj to the risk of a beatdown.
“Fourth level,” he ordered the conveyance, noting how his companion’s brow rose. Fourth-level apartments weren’t opulent by any means, but few single men of Vax’s age could afford them.
He smiled, the worries of the evening falling behind him. He hoped he had plenty to look forward to in the hours ahead. Vax was safe in the cavern complex. He was in the company of a handsome Dramok who seemed more than willing to join him for sensual entertainment. The night was shaping up to be a good one.
Chapter Two
It took only a few minutes to navigate the cavern’s corridors to reach Vax’s home. From all appearances, it would have seemed to strangers to the area that the residents of the complex must live in caves. The tunnels were rough-hewn, dripping with moisture. They were evidence of the ancient underground river that had formed them eons ago. However, the area was well-lit, dispelling some of the primitive aspect.
Vax spoke to the door of his apartment, one of hundreds on that level alone. “Open.” When it obliged, he waved for Bacoj to follow him in. “Welcome to my lair. Step into my trap, please.”
Bacoj chuckled, wiping his feet on the mat just inside before daring to set foot on the cream-colored rug that covered much of greeting room’s floor. He looked around, making no secret of