but we are… working through it.”
“Did Chexxa tell you that he spent the day following my mate around the city?” Rem asked, his annoyance flaring. While he hadn’t had good reason to treat Tyra so harshly, he’d been justified in pummeling Chexxa into a bloody mess. The male had dared to covet what belonged to him and taken his infatuation with Tyra too far when he’d trailed her through the streets of Ressiktron.
“Yes, he confessed his misdeed to me.” Jav shook his head slowly from side to side. “I am shocked you didn’t kill him outright or challenge him to a fight to the death. Why didn’t you?”
Rem put an arm around Tyra, drawing her close. “Because I knew it would upset my mate, and I trust that the young male will not go near her again. I told him if he ever so much as looked upon her again, I will sever his testicles from his body.”
From his peripheral vision, he noticed Tyra’s head snap up as she stared at him. He looked down at her, meeting her shocked gaze. “I intend to keep you safe, my sweet mate. Do not worry though. I don’t believe he’ll be foolish enough to venture near you ever again.”
“I hope not,” she replied. “I suppose I ought to be relieved that you threatened to maim him, rather than kill him.”
Jav cleared his throat and looked from Rem to Tyra, and it occurred to Rem that he ought to properly introduce them. Once the introductions were complete and Tyra again assured Jav that all was well, Jav took his leave.
Rem closed the door and then turned to Tyra, his heart swelling with affection for her. When she smiled up at him, his spirits danced.
“I have been a giant… ass,” he said, repeating the unusual name she had called him twice now, “and I am truly sorry for everything, Tyra, for every little hurt I have caused you.”
She reached up to stroke his chin. “I have already forgiven you.” She drew in a deep breath. “And it is my hope that we can start anew.”
He clasped her hands in his and kissed her forehead. “We can,” he said adamantly, “and our mating union will be built upon love, trust, and respect.”
“I like the sound of that, Rem.”
Chapter 26
As soon as they reached their bedroom, Tyra came to a decision. She had been holding back certain truths from Rem, but now was the time to come clean. The time to unburden her soul.
“Rem, I want to tell you the full truth about why I left Earth.”
He led her to the bed, sat upon the mattress, and gathered her on his lap.
She looked at him pointedly. “You must promise me, even after I tell you, that you will not have my uncle killed.”
“What happened?” Rem asked in a wary tone as he tensed. “What did he do to you?”
“Promise first.” Her heart raced and her stomach clenched with nerves.
He growled. “Very well. I promise.”
“It was true what I told you about him not treating me well, and forcing me to work in his bar, but there’s more to it. After I started working there, he noticed that many of his patrons took notice of me. Many of them would grab me and try to kiss me, and some would even proposition me. That is, they asked for sex. I always said no, and whenever I refused, the men would offer me money.”
“Oh, Tyra. I am so sorry.” He ran a hand over her head, petting her. “You need not feel ashamed of what you did. I do not think badly of you. I promise.”
“No, you’re misunderstanding,” she said, though his acceptance of what he’d thought she’d been trying to tell him touched her, especially considering his recent bouts of jealousy. “I never accepted their proposals, but my uncle took notice of the attention the men were giving me and decided to capitalize upon it. He was planning to auction me off to the highest bidder on my twenty-first birthday. He had been planning it since I was about seventeen.” She shuddered. Uncle Sebastian truly was a vile man, and she was glad to be out of his reach now.
Rem’s eyes brimmed with shock. “Your own uncle meant to sell you? Gods, Tyra, I am so sorry.” He hugged her to his chest and continued stroking her hair.
“So you see, that is why I decided to leave Earth. I showed up at the Martian Affairs building in