Page 26 of The Death Striker's Partner
“…erm…” Ezid folds his arms so his hands rest in his armpits. “…are yousure-”
“Yes. We are.” I nod firmly and grin with excitement. Billie, here we come. From the way Ezid is pursing his scaly lips together I can tell he was hoping Tumva would ask for another patrol. Any other patrol. Our Pitboss hisses with frustration and then nods.
“Fine, but you will be on yourbestbehaviour. No running at the mouth.” He aims at me. “And you?” He looks to Tumva and seems to struggle to find the right words for ‘don’t scare the crap out of everyone. “…just…low profile, okay?” Then he laughs and shakes his head. “Ancestor’s scales, how exactly does aDeath Striker keep a low profile. Oh there’s going to be so much paperwork after this one.”
Chapter 23
I look forward to it
Hannah
Ezid winds off from us in a huff and I contain myself for all of 30 seconds. Then I squeal with excitement and hug Tumva tightly.
“You’re amazing, thank you.”
“Billie may not be there, and if she is, she’ll be with her Royal Sponsor. We may be positioned no where near her.” He tries to curb my excitement, but I don’t care. He’s right, since the last time I tried to get close to Billie Prince Izule refused to let me past him and Ambassador Rerasha dragged me back. But still? Billie might be there!
“Even if I just get to see her, she might be reassured enough tofinallycall me.”
“Fine.” Tumva sighed and looked less than thrilled. “Just don’t get disappointed if wedon’tsee her.”
“Understood.” I nodded eagerly.
“And…this isn’t exactly going to be the easy first patrol I had in mind for you.” Tumva sighed and averted his gaze. “You better prepare yourself for the less than warm welcome we’re going to receive…because of me.” Guilt gripped me and I frowned. I was so eager to get us into the palace, I didn’t think about how unpleasant it was going to be for Tumva. Everyone gave him a wide birth and cowered from him. His colleagues didn’t respect him. He probably wanted a quiet patrol away fromthe general public so they didn’t point and stare and the big bad Death Striker. Then I ruin that plan because I got tunnel vision about seeing my sister. It didn’t even occur to me how he might feel about being on display in the palace.
“Tumva?” I follow him towards the armoury. He’s already filling in the requisitions form when I come to stand beside him. I pout at how high the counter is. This place was build for Ucfeni long before humans landed on Thelia, after all. I perch my hands on the shelf and my chin on my hands. “Tumva?”
“Hmm?” He doesn’t look away from the form. I huff and bump my hip into his tail. “What?” He looks down at me and I put a brave smile on my face.
“Yes, I want to see Billie. But…you are my partner. I put you on the spot just now and that wasn’t fair.” He turns to look at me more intently and I shrug up at him. “I pushed for the palace patrol without asking you first. It was a jerk move.”
“No it-”
“Yeah, it was.” I cut him off with a chuckle. “Like you said, I probably won’t even see Billie, never mind get anywhere near her, so…” I shrug again. “We’ll do whatever patrol you want.”
“Do you wish to report to the palace?” He pushes the clipboard with the requisition form towards the Ucfeni working the racks, and he lowers to look me right in the eye. I see my reflection in his glossy void-like eyes.
“Idon’twant to put my partner in an uncomfortable position.” I counter and he hums with thought, before nodding at me.
“I will not pretend that I will enjoy being at the palace, but I would regret not allowing you the chance, no matter how slim, to see your sister.”
“But-”
“I know how it hurts you that you’ve been without her for so long.” He hit his target like an arrow to the bullseyeon my heart. “To give you that chance, I will tolerate being…uncomfortable.” He nodded and lifted back up on his tail to retrieve our weapons. I can’t lie, I’m touched. He’s going to put up with pointing, gossip, Ucfeni cowering from him, and being made to feel like a monster, just so Imightget to see Billie.
“Thank you. You’re the greatest partner a girl could wish for.” My eyes sparkle and I think he might have blushed, but it’s hard to tell because he’s midnight black from head to tail tip. “I’ll make this up to you Tumva.” I point up at him with a grin as he hands me my baton and taser.
“That isn’t necessary.” He mumbles under his breath, but I’m not having that.
“No, but I want to, so that’s a promise mister.” I chuckle and wink up at him. Tumva finishes fastening the safety strap over his weapons and stares at me…bashfully?
“…what do you have in mind?”
“I don’t know, but I’m going to think about it, and it’s going to be epic.” I chuckle and pull at the collar of my kevlar jumpsuit to protect my neck.
“Come here.” Tumva fussed and yanked my collar higher up to protect all the way around and snapped a button at the front to cover my throat. “If someone comes at you fang first you need to have your pierce proof collar up high.”
“Yes sir.” I chuckle and reach my hands up. “Come here then.” Tumva raises a scaly brow and then lowers his head so I can feel my hands around his collar and give him the same treatment. “Not that anyone’s going to get anywhere near my neck withyouaround.”
