Page 78 of Stealing Jia

The tentacle lowered me to the floor. “I am Bebo, King of the Gorum.”A tentacle gestured to the smaller Gorum.“This is Raj, Prince of the Outer Worlds.”

Did I shake their tentacles or bow?

“Bow,” Trayon advised.

I curtsied. “It is an honor to meet you.”

Zarek interjected, “How long have your females been missing, Bebo?”

“Two of your months.”

“I offer our help.”

Bebo responded diplomatically, “We accept your offer of help. Tell me about Mallox and Giovanni.”

I tuned out as Zarek answered his questions and checked on the kids. My stomach clenched. Cason was crawling down the corridor with Pepe by his side and Adoz circling overhead. Holy Mother! “Get me to Cason, Chiara.”

“Yes, Mother Jia.” A gray whirlwind erupted around us. Ten seconds of falling down an endless black hole and poof! We appeared in the hallway. Scooping Cason up, I quickly checked him over and hugged him in relief. Thank God he was okay.

“What is our son doing in the hallway unsupervised?”Trayon demanded.

“Good question. What happened Pepe?”

“Warrior came. Hurt Bey. He try take Cason. Me bite. Cason bite. Adoz blow fire. LeeLee and LooLoo chase away. We follow to help,” Pepe replied.

“My brave little warriors. I’m so proud of you.”

“What did the warrior look like Pepe?”Trayon asked.

Pepe cocked his head. “Like you.”

“Can you picture him in your mind?”Had we found our traitor?

“Me try.”

The fuzzy image of an Askole formed in my mind.He had an over-abundance of tentacles. Just like Rakk.

“Rakk,”Trayon snarled and the link severed.

I hurried into our quarters. Foamy white suds covered everything. “Bey?”

“Bey.”Cason pointed.

Chirping loudly, Adoz hovered over eight furry legs protruding from the bubbles.

I tapped my gauntlet. A bright blue light rolled over the room. The suds vanished. Bey was imitating a dead spider again. “Where does it hurt?”

“Everywhere.”His body trembled violently. “Are the children safe?”

I tapped the medical alert on my gauntlet and summoned Soval. “Cason, Adoz and Pepe are, but I don’t know about the twins.”

“Find them. They are but children.”

Extremely dangerous children.“I will, but I think Rakk is the one who should be worried.”

“Go.”

“I summoned the medic for you,”I said.

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