Page 34 of Fionn
“And were there going to be others?” I pressed. “Maelis? Any woman on the island? Just items on a list? Are we just objects to you?”
He didn’t answer. His silence was answer enough.
"THE INTERGALACTIC AUTHORITY HAS EVALUATED THE MEMORIES AND WITNESS REPORTS. WE HAVE COME TO A DECISION."
My heart beat against my chest during their dramatic pause. Come on, tell me. What was going to happen?
Pam had mentioned that Intergalactic Authority. She'd said she'd reported Kelon's behaviour to them. I hadn't expected them to act this quickly, however? Had they been on Earth already? Or had I been transported into space?
I shuddered at the thought of how far from home I might be. I hadn't been able to say goodbye to Fionn. I'd just disappeared, no warning. He must be frantic with worry. Maybe he'd assume that this was Kelon's doing. My anger only increased when I imagined the pain Fionn would be going through. This was all Kelon's fault.
"KELON SHELL-CLUTCH OF ROUSSAY IS HEREBY BANNED FROM EVER COMING WITHIN TEN LIGHTYEARS OF PERITUS. HE WILL BE BANNED FROM ALL PLEASURE PLANETS AND MOONS. HE WILL BE REPORTED TO THE FINFOLKAHEEM AUTHORITIES WHO MAY INSTIGATE FURTHER INVESTIGATIONS AND PUNISHMENTS. HE WILL ALSO PAY COMPENSATION TO ELISE FARROW IN THE AMOUNT OF A QUARTER OF HIS ACCUMULATED WEALTH AS WELL AS THE OWNERSHIP OF THE VESSEL 'TIDEBOUND'. HE WILL BE TRANSPORTED TO FINFOLKAHEEM IMMEDIATELY."
I needed a moment to process what had just happened. Kelon was being sent home like an unruly boy excluded from school. And I'd been given compensation. Credits had to be money, not that I had any idea how finfolk money translated to British Pounds. And... the spaceship? Was it really mine?
That couldn't be. I had no idea how to fly one. And where would I even park it?
Before I could ask the alien voice what all this meant, icy cold ran over my skin once more. I dissolved...
... and then I was on the beach, voices yelling all around me.
Strong arms lifted me from the sand and then I was cradled against his broad chest, his sea salt scent all around me. Fionn.
"Elise," he breathed. "Elise."
"I'm back. I'm okay."
He nuzzled my neck, burying his face in my hair. I heard him breathe in deep, as if he needed to smell me to reassure him that I was real. Poor guy.
"Are you hurt?" he asked with suppressed urgency.
"No, I'm fine. But you're about to break my ribs if you keep hugging me like this."
He instantly loosened his grip. As much as I wanted him to hug me, he also didn't know just how strong he was compared to me.
"It was the Intergalactic Authority," I explained, looking up at his puzzled face. "They put Kelon on trial. He's gone. They're sending him back to your planet. He's never going to return here. And... for some reason they gave me the Tidebound."
His eyes widened. "You got Kelon's spaceship?"
"Yes, along with a quarter of his money."
He stared at me for another long moment, then the lines on his forehead eased and he erupted into laughter.
"That's brilliant! You've just become one of the richest people on your planet!"
"I'm rich?" I felt numb. I didn't know what to say or do.
"Kelon himself didn't do much to accumulate wealth, but he is the sole heir to his adoptive mother's estate. She has been transferring millions of credits to him over many mooncrossings to avoid taxes. He boasted about it during our journey here. Let's wait until the IA completes all the formalities, but if you're lucky, you might even own property on Finfolkaheem."
"No way."
Fionn grinned. "Kelon is obsessed with living the luxury life. The IA made an informed decision. This will hurt him much more than being banned from Peritus."
"And all pleasure planets."
He laughed even harder. "Oh, poor Kelon. Now he will have to stroke his own rod rather than pay a prostitute to do it. And I bet his adoptive mother won't be happy. She might finally give up on him."
He carried me to the hammock. I didn't tell him to let me walk on my own two feet. I enjoyed being in his arms too much. That didn't mean that I couldn't be a strong, independent woman at other times. But right now, I needed to feel, smell, taste him.
