Free Grai's Game (First Wave) by Mikayla Lane Page B

reminded him of the damage done to Jess’s legs. The same kind of torture had been used on Kalai’s own son, and Ivint knew that couldn’t have happened without his approval or at his orders.
    Quickly glancing at Traze, he wondered briefly if the boy had also been subjected to the same kind of abuse. He doubted it though, Grai didn’t seem the type to allow anything to harm those he cared about and Traze showed none of the deep emotional scars that came with such abuse. It gave Ivint a lot more insight into the puzzle the man represented.
    “Koda?” Grai asked, looking around the room at the screens and seeing his brothers battered and damaged ship.
    “I heard from Scaden; they have successfully repelled the incoming force; the others have fled the quadrant. His ships sustained heavy damage and there were a few casualties. We’ve got engineers and med tech’s helping with the situation. Rest easy for a moment while you get cleaned up.” Ivint assured the young Relian.
    Ivint watched in silence as Traze and Reven tended to the worst of Grai’s injuries. Including a deep slash across his stomach that would have felled a lesser man or at least made him seek treatment immediately.
    This man and his strange brothers puzzled Ivint greatly. Their words were surprising enough, yet their actions were the greatest jolt of all. Ivint wasn’t sure if it was the most elaborate scam yet to get inside their ranks, or if they were truly so different from their sire and his brutal ways. Either way, they earned the right to be heard.
    Even as they tended to the deep wound in his stomach, Ivint noticed the man never flinched. His lack of emotion regarding his own injuries told Ivint’s sharp mind more than the man probably wanted to reveal. He shook his head, trying to clear the sympathy so that he could think more objectively.
    It would do no good to express his pity anyway; the proud and strong man would ignore it. He knew Reven must have drawn the same conclusion when he stopped dabbing gently at the wound with the antiseptic long enough to stare at Ivint with a mixture of grudging respect and sympathy for the man.
    One of his men came into the room with a clean T-shirt and tact shirt, which he immediately began pulling over his head even though they were still working on sealing the wound on his stomach.
    Ivint could understand why; the curious stares of those in the room would put anyone on the edge. Although, he was also curious and had more questions than answers, Grai and his people deserved better than that for the sacrifices they made today. If Grai was telling the truth, it would not serve them to treat an ally so badly. And he needed to speak privately with his own.
    “ Why don’t you go to your mate and child. I’m sure Tricia is worried over you.” Ivint suggested, surprised when Balduen growled and glared at Grai.
    The two men stared at each other for a heated moment before Grai looked away first, turning to Ivint.
    “I thank you for the offer, but we have much to go over. She has been informed that I am well and is busy assisting in the MedLab… with Dare.” Grai added, inclining his head slightly towards Ivint in a show of gratitude and respect.
    Ivint didn’t know that the two women were still together and respected that Grai did not want to upset Balduen by going near his mate. The situation between the two men was already strained to the breaking point and needed no help to push it over the edge.
    “The med tech’s have everything under control now. Dare is leaving to go lie down. If I may?” Balduen never took his eyes off of Grai while he spoke to Ivint.
    It didn’t go unnoticed that some of the rage that had glowed so brightly in his eyes earlier when he’d looked at Grai, diminished a little since the battle in the parking lot. Ivint chose to take it as a good sign and nodded his head to Balduen. “Of course! Let me know if she needs anything.”
    Balduen inclined his head to Ivint before