But even if by some miracle the clans accept Saber and Lissa, how will you make love to her properly? How can you bond her to you without a working Touch Sense? whispered a pessimistic little voice in the back of his brain.
Reddix shook his head. He would manage. If they were granted a miracle and he was freed of the onerous obligation of being the next OverChief, he would find a way to make things work with Nina. He had to.
The pounding on the bedroom door was repeated, reminding him what had woken him up in the first place. Reddix frowned, who could that be?
“Reddix?” screeched a high female voice. “I know you’re in there! I’ll give you one more chance to come out or I’m coming in.”
Beside him, Nina sat up and rubbed her eyes sleepily. “What time is it? Who’s shouting?” she murmured.
Reddix was beginning to get a very bad feeling. A feeling that something he had forgotten was going to come back to bite him in the ass. Speaking of things he had forgotten, the lthss on his wrist was itching and throbbing abominably. Sometime before the gathering of the Clan leaders and people tonight he would have to go and settle his account with Xandra.
But it wasn’t the swamp witch who was pounding on his door now.
“Reddix!” shouted the shrill, familiar voice again. He opened his mouth to answer when the door suddenly popped open, and Tilla appeared in the doorway with Lissa right behind her.
“I’m sorry,” Lissa apologized. “I tried to keep her out. She just barged right past me.”
“I have a right to enter my betrothed’s house if I want to.” Tilla crossed her arms over her chest, her many blue and green vivium bangles clashing against each other. “And what do I find when I get here? Another female in his bed.” She glared at Nina who stared blankly back at her and then turned to Reddix.
“Reddix, who is this person?” she asked in a low, dangerous voice.
He opened his mouth to answer but again Tilla spoke before he could.
“I am his fiancée—the one his parents picked for him. The one he is promised to join with as soon as he ascends as OverChief. And who exactly are you?”
Nina didn’t answer her. Instead, she looked at Reddix again.
“Is this true?”
“I…yes,” he said heavily. “But I never—”
“Don’t say you never agreed to our arrangement because you did. You know you did,” Tilla accused shrilly.
“I did,” Reddix acknowledged. “But things have changed. I’m with Nina now.”
“Oh, no you’re not.” Nina moved away from him and suddenly Tilla’s anger and betrayal poured over his head like a box of hot coals.
“Damn it!” Reddix jumped out of bed and turned to Nina. “I’m with you now, sweetheart. I swear I am!”
“It doesn’t sound like you bothered to inform her of that.” Nina had gotten out of bed too and her arms were crossed over her chest. Even though Reddix couldn’t feel her emotions, her eyes were cold. Ice cold.
“He most certainly didn’t,” Tilla said, putting her hands on her hips. “I didn’t even know he was back from the Mother Ship until I heard from some people this morning who said they saw him going into his house last night with a strange alien female. A strange alien female with an extremely large ass.” She cocked one skinny hip as though showing off her own boney, narrow behind and glared at Nina.
“Now, just a minute.” Nina held up a hand. “I’m sorry Reddix cheated on you, but I didn’t know anything about you until just now so there’s no need to get nasty.”
“I didn’t cheat on her,” Reddix roared, losing patience. “I’ve never been with her—never even kissed her, I swear.”
“That’s right.” Tilla scowled at him. “You told me you couldn’t kiss me—even to seal our joining agreement—because of your RTS. So how is it that I find you in bed with another female kissing and touching her?”
“That would be because she doesn’t make my skin crawl like you do,” Reddix growled. “Because I don’t have to feel every single petty emotion every moment I’m with her.”
“I…you…” Tilla seemed to be at a loss for words.
Reddix turned to Lissa and Saber, who was now standing outside the door as well.
“Could the two of you please get her out of here so I can explain things to Nina?” he asked.
“Certainly.” Saber nodded at Lissa who put a hand on Tilla’s boney shoulder.
“All right now,” she said soothingly. “Let’s give them a little time alone, and then I’m sure Reddix will come talk to you.”