Page 43 of Asmodel

Murmured growls filled the air.

“If I may?” JR13 leaped off Asmodel’s shoulder and landed on the rocky table in front of him. “Since that alien contains a crystalline alloy, we can create a disruption device with a precise frequency to immobilize her. Lucky for you, we’ve developed a schematic of what we propose could do that.”

Izzy sucked in a breath when a third eye opened on the bot's forehead and a holographic image appeared, ten times bigger than JR13.

The blueprint for building the special machine the bot mentioned lay before her. It looked like a flowchart, detailing how different parts connected and interacted. Multiple symbols, some type of hieroglyphics, covered the entire diagram.

“Can you organics do something with this?” JR13 asked.

Madam Fexa stood and leaned on the table as if to get a better look. Her fluffy tail rose into the shape of a question mark. Her eyes blinked as she took in the image.

As those around the table examined it with the elder pardalion, servers brought in food, placing platters of meats and root vegetables in front of everyone.

Izzy’s stomach rumbled in appreciation. She offered Asmodel a sheepish smile, then dug into the simple yet sumptuous meal. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him eating as well. A quiet sense of satisfaction settled over her.

Just when Izzy took the last bite of her meal, Madam Fexa jumped back and exclaimed, “Of course!”

The elder straightened with a triumphant gleam in her cat eyes. “My team and I already have something similar. We’ll have it completed before morning.” She nodded to the others who’d been absorbed with her in talking about the device. “Let’s get this done, my friends.” With a whistling whoop, she skipped out of the room, speaking excitedly with the small group that followed her.

Dang, Izzy hadn’t seen anyone that excited about making something since she’d led a group of kids in the library to play with modeling clay.

“That thing reminds me of the Lumiview Prism Jaltaar had.”

Talira might have spoken under her breath, but Izzy didn’t have any trouble catching it.

“I wonder if it works the same way.”

“All right, people.” Praetor Vorlok wiped his snout with a napkin and stood. “I think it’s best if we all get some rest. We’ll meet up here before dawn to complete our plans.”

As the meeting adjourned, Izzy glanced at the cavern entrance. Holy cow, it was dark outside! She couldn’t believe how the hours had slipped away like that.

“If you’ll come with me, I have a place prepared for you.”

Izzy jumped when a soft feminine voice spoke next to her. It was a young female pardalion, with a shy smile and a slight bow.

“I’m Dahl. If you both will follow me, I’ll take you to a private place we’ve prepared for you to rest.” She turned and proceeded out of the chamber.

Her downy dark-blue tail with delicate orange stripes swished behind her.

Izzy looked up at Asmodel. The fluttering in her tummy made her catch her breath. Was she brave enough to be alone with this stunning man?

His warm, inviting gaze reassured her there wasn’t anywhere else she’d rather be.

Chapter Nine

Asmodel’smouthdriedashis imagination ran wild. He pictured holding a naked, willing Izzy in his arms along with a handy bed nearby. He stumbled. If he hadn’t been holding her under his arm, he’d more than likely would have fallen face-first.

She murmured, “Are you okay?”

This forced him to pay attention to his surroundings. After all, they weren’t anywhere private. Around him, it looked like the pardalions in the village gathered in the large cave to sleep. Some in family groups, some were females nestled together, while single males slept by themselves. Small cubs in several family clusters were being shushed and cradled by their parents.

Asmodel studied the groupings. Some families had more than one female cuddling around an imposing male. Praetor Vorlok appeared to have four females in his group, all with cubs or heavy with one. “Dahl, may I ask you a question?” He looked at the dainty female who was leading them to the far side of the cave.

She glanced over her shoulder at him, her tawny eyes dilated as she traversed through the dim light of the cave. “Of course.”

“Why do the pardalions live in this cave while the zaltrixan live in a large city?”

She didn’t answer right away. Instead, she gestured with her paw to a soft pile of furs and linens inside a recessed alcove. “Here is where you will sleep until the council comes for you in the morning.”

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