Page 31 of Pact with the Alien Devil

I turned away, needing distance, my mind racing. The kiss had awakened something I’d been trying to ignore since the moment we met. A flutter of memories surfaced—hushed conversations in darkened spaceports, rumors about Vinduthi and their human partners. I’d heard stories about the claiming bite, how it changed humans who received it. How it linked them permanently to their Vinduthi mates, sharing some of their strength, their senses, even their distinctive markings.

I’d once seen a human woman on Balos Station with dark red swirls running across her neck and shoulder—unmistakably Vinduthi patterns. She’d moved with unusual grace, tracked sounds a normal human couldn’t hear. When her Vinduthi partner had entered the room, the connection between them was almost visible, like an energy field linking them together.

I shook off the memory. That kind of connection wasn’t for someone like me. My life was about staying free, unattached, ready to run at a moment’s notice. The claiming bite was permanent—more binding than any contract.

“I can’t afford to... to feel anything right now. My life is complicated enough as it is.”

Korvan’s fingers brushed against mine. “I’m not asking for anything now. But when this is over... we’ll figure it out.”

I hesitated before nodding. “When this is over.” Not a promise. But it was enough for now.

A beep from the console broke the moment. The data chip had finished decrypting. I stepped back to the screen, grateful for the distraction.

Lines of text and names filled the display. Korvan moved to stand beside me, his presence both comforting and unsettling after what had just happened between us.

“There,” Korvan said, pointing to a name at the top of the list. His voice hardened. “That’s the traitor.”

I stared at the screen, my eyes widening as I recognized the name. My stomach dropped so fast I thought I might be sick.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

KORVAN

Ileaned closer, reading over her shoulder. My jaw clenched as the information unfolded before us.

Miggs.

“That lying little worm.” My voice came out colder than I intended. “Miggs was never just a courier. He infiltrated our organization months ago, working as an informant for the Black Spikes. When we caught him at the Dead Man’s Dock, he was trying to deliver the neural interface tech straight to them.”

“And then Raxin helped him escape,” Iria concluded, scrolling through more text.

“Exactly. Raxin was supposed to interrogate him, but instead took a bribe and let him walk. Now he’s selling everything he learned while inside our organization.”

“Isn’t Raxin one of your guys?”

“Yes. A senior officer. Someone I trusted.” My voice hardened. “Someone who knew all our operations, our safe houses, our supply routes.”

The deeper we dug, the worse it got. Every route, every supplier, every contact – all compromised.

“Look at this,” Iria pointed at a section of text. “He’s selling information to the Black Spikes.”

I leaned closer, reading the detailed notes Miggs had compiled. “And here—he mentions the research container. He knew exactly what was inside.”

Iria’s eyes widened. “The biological weapons research?”

I nodded grimly. “He’s been feeding them test data. Helping them perfect their weapons.” My fist clenched at my side. “If they develop something that can target our accelerated healing or thermal regulation...”

“They could wipe out the Fangs,” Iria finished quietly. Her body went rigid under my gaze. I read the passage she indicated, fury burning in my chest.

“He’s using my name? Of course he is. That bastard’s been setting me up from the start!” She slammed her fist against the console.

The document detailed how Miggs had carefully constructed a trail of evidence pointing to her as the one who'd stolen the tech and betrayed the Fangs, painting himself as merely following her orders. He'd set Iria up to take the fall if things went wrong.

My Iria.

I focused on controlling my breathing. A hot-headed Vinduthi was dangerous to everyone in their vicinity. “He escaped because someone in my crew was weak enough to take his bribe. I should have seen it coming.”

“This gets worse.” Iria kept reading, her face paling. “He’s documented every deal the Fangs have made in the last six months. Routes, contacts, drop points...”

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