Page 7 of The Death Striker's Partner
“Okay, I’ll rephrase. You’re notallowedto take it apart.”
“…disappointing.” She mumbled and continued to work the chain through her fingers. “It’s heavy.”
“It’s durable.” Hannah seemed tense, like she was worried her sister was going to reject the necklace. I chewed my lips, knowing that would be a nightmare. Non-negotiable, they said.
“I could improve it.”
“You could wear this model, and improve another one with approval and funding from Allico.” I had to smile. Hannah was playing mental chess with her sister. “That way you could follow the rules, which you signed compliance with before we left Earth,andtake another necklace apart to study.”
“…fine.” Billie gingerly put the necklace on and hesitated to lower it to rest around her neck. Hannah started rubbing her back again and Billie closed her eyes. She slowly lowered the necklace and took some time to get used to the sensation.
“Well, at least we’re all sticking together.” My inner mama-hen is delighted. Now I can keep a close eye on my new chicks.
“Yeah we…” Hannah stopped talking and her smile fell with horror. “…sponsors.” Crap. I hadn’t thought about that. I looked down at Billie at the same time Hannah did, and my fists gripped on my lap. Anyone assigned to Orna would have an Ucfeni Sponsor. That included Billie. “I’ll need to talk to someone in charge.”
I look over at the stage and see that both Alaric and Rerasha are still on the stage on the other side of the small river. Most of our party are returning to the yellow stone path to head for the transporter bays.
“Alaric is the mostin chargeguy we’ve got, right?”
“I can’t leave-”
“I’m on it.” I got up and started stepping down from row to row to get to the bottom of the amphitheater. My thighs burned by the time I was stood toe to toe with the riverbank, but I ignored the pain. Being in cryosleep for so long had done a number on my muscles, but I was an avid runner before, so thankfully I still hadsomestamina left.
“Excuse me!” I called out, to hell with the attention of the other colonists I got, and waved my hand to try and get their attention. Alaric was walking towards the back of the stage withthe winding orange tail of the Ucfeni Ambassador beside him. “Excuse me! Mr. Fitz! Ambassador Rerasha!” I cursed under my breath when they just kept going. Either they couldn’t hear me, or they were ignoring me.
To hell with that. I waded into the river like a madman. It was thankfully only deep enough to reach my waist and I marched out the other side quickly enough. The spectacle I caused drew enough attention that Alaric looked over his shoulder to see me coming right at them. “Hello! Excuse me! Sorry, we have a rather delicate situation, and I think you might not know about. Sir. Sorry.” I’m panting as I reach the pair of them. I dig my heels in when I realise I’m within grabbing distance of the Ambassador’s tail. My hands go to my knees and I’m panting. “There’s going to be an issue with the sponsorship for one of our party.”
“There is no issue.” Rerasha leaned backward and swung towards me fluidly. Or a big guy he moved really fast and way too graceful considering his bulk. “This program is successful and integral to the agreement made between our species. You have only just arrived on Thelia. You don’t get to decide if you have a sponsor or not.”
“Not me.” I lift back up to stand with my hands raised defensively. I’m reassured when Alaric comes to stand in front of me and beside the agitated snake man. “I’m good with the sponsorship program. Sounds like a good idea.” Dear lord I just gave them finger guns. I’m going to need a stiff drink to get overthat onelater. “My friend, Billie Blac? She’s super smart computer code analyst, or something.”
“And?” Alaric folded his arms and his brown eyes were piercing. He didn’t have scales and fangs like the Ucfeni beside him, but I had no doubt this guy was just as powerful.
“She…has Aspergers.” I whisper to Alaric and I flinch when Rerasha leaned closer to me to catch what I said.
“That didn’t translate. What did he just say?” He asked Alaric who looked upward and sighed.
“Ah, yes. I remember her on my shortlist pick. I recruited her myself, after she tried to say no.” He chuckled and the CEO released all the tension from his body with a sympathetic smile. “You have no need to worry. That has been taken into consideration.” I blinked. If that’s all he thought was going to reassure Hannah and Billie, he’s got another thing coming.
“Can someone speak to Hannah Blac? Her sister? She’s waiting up there with Billie.” I point over my shoulder toward the back of the Amphitheatre. “I’m her new friend, but I’m not her next of kin. As you can understand, Hannah is worried about how Billie will react if you suddenly thrust a stranger on her.”
“I don’t understand?” Rerasha coiled his tail protectively around Alaric, and I wondered why.
“I’ll explain it to you on the way back.” He offered vaguely up at the serpent. “Please can you let Miss Blac know that she and her sister will be collected upon arrival at Orna. We are aware of the younger Miss Blac’s needs and this has been catered for. Now?” Alaric chuckled at me like he thought I was cute, even though I still had my icy blue eyes narrowed on him. I wasn’t stupid. He hadn’t explained a damn thing and I was being sent packing with no answers. Nothing apart from a very well put ‘you’ll find out’. “Can prince charming return to his fair maiden? I’m sure she will be very pleased with your heroic mad dash to come to her sister’s aid. You should make sure to cash in those brownie points.” He winked at me.
I wanted to punch him. To be fair, this happened to me a lot. I teased Hannah earlier about having a rusty gaydar, but I don’t give off the gay vibe, apparently.
I was tired, cross, and the way he was looking at me just rubbed me up the wrong way. So I decided to give him some of his own condescending medicine.
“I’m flattered you think I’m charming,princess,but you’re too old for me sweetheart.”I made a point of looking Rerasha up and down, not because I found him attractive, but because I knew Alaric did. I had to smirk. Alaric gripped his hands down by his grey suit pants as I eyed his snake, and the serpent started to look down at me curiously. His neck scales flushing darker. Is that a blush? This was too funny and far too easy. “Are all Ucfenibiglike you? I’ve always liked ‘um big.”
“That will be all, thank you.” Alaric cleared his throat and stood between me and the Ambassador. Oh yeah. They’re a couple. I just thought the massive scaly dude would be the possessive one, not the human in his mid-40s. That intrigued me even more. Was he the top? How did that work?
I chuckled. That would bite me in the ass later, I’m sure, being he’s the boss and all, but he pissed me off first. I waved and headed back the way I came with very little to show for it than my defended pride.
Yes, I was the football star at school who had rich parents and a free ride to college. I do have the prince charming vibe. I both look and act like a protective Alpha male, but I’ve never been one to puff out my chest and get aggressive when crossed. I much prefer to get under the skin of the people who try to get one over on me.
Or fuck them. I remember my first-year anatomy studies professor formed an instant dislike for me, and thought I had no business studying any form of medicine. A jock like me. I can still hear the squeal he released when I cornered him in his office one day and replaced the rod up his ass for my cock. Funnily enough, he warmed up to me after that. He was another of my projects. He was lonely and repressed. By my third year he started dating another teacher and ‘regretfully had to end ourarrangement’.Once again, leaving me in the dust.
