"I would like to not look unhinged."
Mmm, wouldn't we all. I scratch at his scalp lightly with my nails. "It's pretty patchy back here, but the good news is, hair grows back fast. At least it does for humans. I imagine yours is close to the same. I could cut it really close to the scalp, give it a bit of a buzz, and a little longer on top to give it some volume and so you don't look bald between those horns. What do you think?"
He makes a low sound in his throat, almost like pleasure. "Whatever you think is best."
I run my fingers over his scalp again and a groan escapes him. I pretend not to hear it, but inside, I'm rejoicing a little. Surely my seduction operation won't be this easy? He's a rich and powerful guy. He could get anyone to play with his hair or rub his scalp for him. But then I think about what Dopekh said—about how Straik is always alone.
Makes me wonder when the last time it was that someone ever touched this guy.
It also makes me wonder why I care.
28
STRAIK
I still don't entirely trust her, but kef me, her hands feel good against my scalp. If she's playing me, at least I'll go out with a smile on my face.
"Let me see what I can do with this," she murmurs, and her voice is husky and soft. Her fingers brush against my ear, and I bite back another groan. I'm not one to constantly need the affections of a female. I actually can't remember the last time I had a bedmate. But there's something about these touches that gets under my skin. Maybe it's because I know she's a formidable opponent, and if she's choosing to show weakness or softness to me, it's because I've either won the upper hand, or she's playing me again.
Strangely enough, I'm fine with either. I don't mind a fierce adversary. At least it's never dull.
"If you're giving me free rein with your hair, I'll get started," she says, picking up the blade.
I grunt, my eyes on it. I might be trusting her a little, but I'm still no fool.
I tense until I feel the blade scrape against the back of my head. It occurs to me that she could make my hair worse in a petty move, but if she does, I'll just shave all of it and toss her back into the brig after all. My uncle won't be thrilled at the mistreatment of a human female, but he also thinks they're all soft and sweet and oh-so-vulnerable. I laugh to myself at the thought, because there is nothing vulnerable about Ruth.
Then I think of the moment that I asked her about the captors back on the Star, and change my mind. She just hides her vulnerability better than most.
"So tell me about your uncle," Ruth says, the knife moving against my hair. "Oh, wow, that cuts really well. What kind of knife is this?"
"It's a type of metal that stays extremely sharp. Don't cut yourself with it. Or me."
"Just hair," she reassures me. Her fingers play against my neck, and I close my eyes, surrendering to her ministrations even as I tell myself I shouldn't trust her. She's up to something, but I don't think it's going to be murder. That wouldn't suit her needs or mine. She's quiet for a long moment and then speaks up again. "You still didn't tell me about your uncle."
"What do you want to know?"
Ruth hums under her breath, and the knife scrapes against the base of my scalp. "Anything I should know? Since you didn't bother to tell me that he was human-friendly, I feel like I should dig up some more information on him."
"You were quick to assume the worst," I tease. "Why not let you think it?"
"You're right, just let the silly human assume everyone is out to enslave her."
"I never said you were silly. I would also never say such a thing with you wielding a knife."
She makes a soft sound of amusement. "Smart." She brushes her fingers over my neck. "As for your uncle, I don't know what to ask. You said he has a human wife. Did he buy her?"
I've never met Lord va'Rin's wife, but I've heard all about it from my mother, who has ranted and raved about such a travesty for months on end. "I believe he was gifted her and fell in love. The human was not satisfied with being a plaything, so she swindled him into marrying her. Not just a mating, an actual marriage to give her rights and property. It caused quite a scandal. I think that was five years ago? At any rate, they are on to child number three, and my mother is still incensed that someone else is going to inherit all the va'Rin wealth other than someone in our family."