Page 122 of Citrine

She wipes at her eyes, and I could swear she has some sort of other eyelid. "I'm sorry, Eli. I have a terrible sense of humor, but I really am glad to meet you."

Then she's back to clutching her gun, hands moving over it almost… lovingly.

I shiver. Something tells me this woman might give Wroahk a run for his money when it comes to violence.

Which, of course, means we're instant besties. I've become a brand-new woman, and I know good friends when I see them.

"It's okay."

Ree speaks again. "Thivoll's language might be the better one for us, unless you think Wroahk should still be included. Drasuk knows that one, but he doesn't have translation nanites."

I glance at Wroahk, but his expression is just as mulish as usual. "Honestly, I think he would prefer to not have to listen to us, but I do need to pass on a request first."

From the look of relief on his face, which is so subtle only I could detect it, he agrees.

"Actually, why don't you ask them, Wroahk?"

He shoots me a look that promises later retribution, but all he gets is a grin in response.

One of his tentacles squeezes my ankle, and he shocks me again by actually speaking to the two women. "The gray slimes. I want them all dead."

Kira's eyes light up. "Oh, Wroahk, you are speaking my language."

"No, you are the one using my voice, Kira," he clicks back at her.

She looks over at me. "Another one? I hope he isn't worse than Drasuk or I'm going to need to leave to kill something."

I'm not sure what she means, and she doesn't give anyone a chance to respond before she keeps speaking. "I delight in killing the slimes, Wroahk. We all do, well I guess not Ree, but she has other uses."

Ree rolls her eyes.

Wroahk is looking pleased now, and he speaks up again. "Will you drive them toward the water, then leave so they feel like they are safe? It will make their screams so much sweeter when I rip them apart and scatter them to the Many Teeth."

Ree is looking a bit sick, but Kira has an even wider grin on her face. "Wroahk, Wroahk. I think you and I are going to be very good friends. Let's get everyone settled, and then we can figure out a way to make them scream."

I've never seen the look he has on his face right now. Like he has been given a shiny new toy, and he's not quite sure how to use it, but jumping up and down in excitement, nonetheless.

Except it's Wroahk, so to everyone else, he probably just looks like a shark considering his next meal.

He gets control of himself a moment later. "Deal, Kira. You are community."

Whoa, what? I didn't even have to give them a pass or make him swear to me in words not even the trickiest seelie could wiggle out of.

He even said her name right. Should I be jealous?

My face hurts from all my grinning, which lets me know I really have lost my mind if two people bonding over being murdering psychopaths makes me feel this much hope.

"Well," Ree breaks in, sounding nauseous, but just as in charge as usual. "Is that all you needed to ask, Wroahk?"

"Yes."

Ree winces, then changes over to the growling, harsh tones of her cat-man. "This language is Manticorid, which is Thivoll's species. Drasuk is a drakonid. We'll pass on Wroahk's request later."

I glance back over at Drasuk and give him a big smile.

He doesn't return it, and my tentacles dip down a bit, but then I realize he doesn't really have lips.

"Greetings, Eli," he says. "Are you ready for us to swim across? I would like to return to killing hunters."

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