Page 2 of Songbird
A gentle stroke of a finger down my cheek preceded the faintest whirring sound and something cold and metallic pressed against the side of my neck.
“It’s going to be okay, Isabella,” she promised, with so much sincerity in her voice, I felt tears prick my eyes. “We’re going to take care of you.”
“Thank you.” I pressed the low scratchy sounds through my ruined throat, tears falling from the corners of my eyes.
“You’re safe.” Someone promised again. I didn’t recognize who this time, my brain was too foggy as the blackness overtook me.
Chapter 2 – Tarrick
Three months later….
I knew he’d be waiting.
The idea of watching the aggravation cross my older brother’s face was the very reason I pressed the accelerator on my skiff, careening into the docking bay of theArdeese Valoutspace station at a dangerous speed. I waited until the last minute to apply the brake, the skiff jerking so violently it made my teeth clack together.
Praxxan was there. Standing on the upper platform watching my landing, arms crossed with a deep scowl on his face.
Yep, totally worth it.
Besides, I had a reputation to uphold.
Tarrick of House Asad.
Youngest brother of Siemba and Praxxan and … renowned playboy. Of course, that last bit was a ruse to cover my work with my eldest brothers spy ring—not that I didn’t enjoy the perks. And there were a lot of perks. Wealth, females, and the best the galaxy had to offer… especially information.
Of course, while my lifestyle hid a greater good… it could be lonely at times and despite his scowl, I looked forward to visiting my brother and his family.
Of course I’d never tell him that.
Praxxan stood waiting when I lowered the ramp of the skiff, his golden eyes and flowing yellow mane a gift from ourmother’s genes. My coloring was darker, like our father, brown eyes with more bronze and wave to my mane. He stood a centimeter or so taller, but my brother didn’t possess my broad shoulders or defined musculature. Of course, all that was hidden to most eyes by the thick cloak and padded jacket I always wore. My ruse as a playboy included being so spoiled that I gorged myself on fine foods and wines and never trained. Since he ran theArdeese Valoutspace station with his mate Jala, there was no need for Praxxan to train other than a desire for physical fitness. While I kept it hidden, being at my peak physically was often the difference between life and death. Plus, my tail was longer… something I’d teased Praxxan about mercilessly during our youth. Especially since folklore held that the length of a Stranac’s tail often indicated his degree of virility.
“You’re going to kill yourself someday,” my brother grunted at me. Despite the scowl, I noticed an upward twitch to his mouth.
“And wouldn’t you miss me,” I teased pulling him into a hug.
“I wouldn’t,” He groused, slapping me on the back before pulling away. “But Priemba might.”
“And how is the most wonderful youngling in all the universe?” My niece Priemba was the light of all our lives.
“She is well, as is her mother,” Praxxan promised with the grin of a proud father.
“And how is the restaurant business?”
Honestly, it was one of the reasons for my visit. Several moon cycles back, Praxxan and Jala had assisted Jala’s brother Jutuk with the rescue of a human female—a chef named Pearl. The outcome of that adventure had been my brother and sister-in-law sponsoring the start-up of a restaurant featuring the human female’s recipes. Word traveled the galaxy extollingthe deliciousness of what was being calledhuman-alien fusion cuisine. The restaurant, dubbedSpace Pearls, proved a resounding success, so much so I knew my brother and his mate were working on opening locations on space stations across the known universe.
“Well,” my brother laughed, leading me away from the docking bay. “I hope you are hungry.”
“Famished,” I said honestly. My skiff didn’t possess much of a kitchen so the fare during my travels tended to be mostly protein bars.
Praxxan led me out of the docking back to the service tunnel that would take us to his and Jala’s penthouse.
“And how was your last mission?” he asked, as we walked through the empty corridor.
“Unsuccessful,” I admitted with a growl.
I—as well as most of my brother Siemba’s spies—had one current mission. Find Ambassador Yaard of the Kerzak. The Interplanetary Alliance Council governing the universe had designated Yaard a wanted fugitive when his deeds in the assassination attempt on Duke Ako came to light. Unfortunately, the brigand seemed to have vanished. I’d chased rumors of his presence on six different planets, always coming up empty.
“We will find Yaard,” Praxxan laid a consoling hand on my shoulder. “The universe is large but not infinite.”
