Page 24 of Chosen By the Dragon Alien

“But of course,” Viparia purred, her voice warm. “Shall I start by giving you a tour of my wardrobe, then? Though I must warn you, the sheer opulence of my collection has been known to blind lesser beings.”

In Fivra’s tight hiding spot, her heart nearly leaped out of her chest.No, no, no.Viparia couldn’t possibly let them search—nothere. She clutched the fabric tighter. The sound of her own breathing was too loud in the suffocating space.

“A wardrobe is hardly—” Xryvos began, only for Viparia to cut him off with a sharp, delighted laugh.

“Oh, please, spare me your dismissiveness. This wardrobe is, in fact, a masterpiece in itself. I cannot allow you to overlook such a defining feature of my quarters. Failing to appreciate itwould simply be uncivilized.” Viparia’s voice dripped with faux indignation, underlined by a coy, teasing tone.

A heavy pause followed, during which Fivra could almost sense the inspector’s hesitation. Viparia had masterfully flipped control of the encounter onto herself, and now she was reeling her prey in step by careful step.

“Fine. Show me the wardrobe,” Xryvos relented, sounding annoyed but resigned.

Fivra’s stomach plummeted. She pressed herself as far back as possible. Her body trembled. The jewels and silks that had once been a strange source of comfort now felt like chains, pinning her in place.

“Wonderful,” Viparia purred. “But I must insist on some ground rules. One does not simply barge into a space like this without the proper reverence.” Her tone shifted, as if chastising a child for a minor infraction. “Do try not to touch anything. Many of these pieces are one of a kind and worth a small fortune in credits.”

“I do not have time for this,courtia,” Xryvos snapped. “Step aside.”

She heard the wardrobe door slide open the sound of heavy boots crossing the threshold. Fivra bit down hard on her lip, forcing herself to remain still and silent. Fabric rustled as the inspector began his search.

“All this,” Xryvos said, his voice holding a tone of disbelief, “for one female?”

“Oh, darling,” Viparia crooned, her voice slinking through the air like velvet. “Do you know the lengths one must go to maintain elegance in a world such as ours? Each piece tells a story, Inspector, one you’ll never quite grasp with that dreary uniform of yours.”

“Your point is noted,courtia. But I am not distracted by your…flamboyance.”

“Oh, such a pity,” Viparia replied dryly. “It’s so rare to meet someone immune to my charm. Truly, I’m devastated.”

Fivra could hear the smirk in her voice and, despite her own terror, respected thecourtia’sfearlessness. Viparia was buying her time—drawing the inspector’s ire and shifting his focus.

“Inspect quickly,” Viparia continued. “Though I do wonder,” she added after a pause, “what you think to find among my clothing, Inspector? Some unfulfilled longing, perhaps? A need you’ve buried under all that metal and formality? I must say, it’s a tragic waste if you’ve never explored the pleasures Erovik has to offer.”

“Your silence would be a pleasure,” Xryvos barked. “You are walking a dangerous line,courtia.”

“And yet,” Viparia said, her voice low and silky, “you’re still here. Digging through gowns and silks when you clearly have far more pressing matters. Perhaps you enjoy this more than you let on.”

The rustling ceased again, and Fivra felt a trickle of sweat run down her spine. She squeezed her eyes shut. Her body trembled as she strained to hear what would come next. There was an ominous silence, the kind that preceded a storm—or, in this case, an Axis agent’s wrath. Fivra bit her lip so hard she tasted copper.

“This is not a game,” Xryvos snapped. His voice betrayed a gritted restraint, as if it physically pained him to interact with her nonsense any further. “We are hunting for a serious breach of Axis protocol.”

Viparia’s laughter softened into something almost conspiratorial. “Oh, Inspector, that is where you and I differ. Every moment we breatheisa game. The only question is whether you’re clever enough to win it. And right now, dear, I’m afraid you’re not even close.”

Silence followed, and Fivra could practically hear the bubbling frustration emanating from the inspector. For one agonizing moment, she thought he might lose his temper and order the entire wardrobe dismantled. She held her breath, her fingers clutching the soft fabric of the flowing gown draped over her knees.

Then came the sound of muted footfalls moving toward the door. “Very well,” Xryvos said. “I’m satisfied. But if I find evenwhispersof noncompliance here…”

“If there’s nothing else, Inspector,” she drawled lazily, “do make sure to avoid the crowd on your way out. We wouldn’t want anyone mistaking you for one of our more…curiousclients, now would we?”

The growl that followed from Xryvos was indistinct, definitely not professional, and Fivra heard the hiss of Viparia’s door sliding shut behind him. For several agonizing seconds, silence reigned before the sound of Viparia’s heels sounded once again, the rhythm measured and unhurried as if she had not just taunted a representative of the most powerful entity in the quadrant.

Fivra released the breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. Her hands unclenched from the fabric she’d been gripping. The sheer audacity Viparia displayed left her stunned, though admiration stirred in her chest.

“Safe to come out, little farmer,” Viparia called in an amused voice. “The big, bad inspector has tucked his tail between his legs and scurried away.”

With a shaking breath, Fivra pushed herself up and stepped carefully out from her hiding spot. She nearly tripped on a flowing cascade of fabric that caught on her ankle, but Viparia steadied her. “Careful now, darling. This isn’t your farm anymore; it’s filled with treasures and trip wires.”

Fivra straightened, blinking up at Viparia with a mixture of gratitude and confusion. “You really handled him,” she breathed, still reeling from nearly being discovered. “I… I don’t think I could have done that.”

Viparia waved a hand dismissively, a sultry smile unfurling on her lips. “Xryvos didn’t scare me. The Axis is good at many things, but they are terrible at charm. You just have to know how to wiggle your way around their authority while wrapping them in silk.” She chuckled lightly. “And, darling, I know endless ways to incapacitate a male if the need arises. He wouldn’t have left here with you.”

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