Page 18 of Alien's Luck
“Long enough.”
“Not long enough to learn that Tavat is no petty crime lord or to learn what he does to his enemies.”
“He kills them?”
“Death would be a mercy. What Tavat does to his enemies is worse,” Ari said. His words sounded overly dramatic, but she had to know the truth. There was no hope for Poppy. “Tavat infects his captives with a fungus, perhaps a virus. It destroys cognitive function, leaving the person alive but not living, understand? He has a compound on an island. These husks wander the island, tearing intruders apart.”
The pink color drained from her face, leaving her sallow and washed out. It was alarming. “Zombies. That’ll happen to Poppy?”
“No question. It is only a matter of time.”
“Then we have to go right now,” she said, pushing her chair back from the table. “We have to hurry, or Poppy will be turned into a zombie.”
“Impossible, and put the knife back on the table,” he said, barely pausing as he ate his breakfast.
Carla sneered as she slammed the butter knife down on the table. “Why is it impossible? Infections need time to take hold. It’s not instant.”
“I did not realize I was hosting an infectious disease expert.” He took another bite, chewing slowly as her scowl intensified.
“I won’t stand by and do nothing.”
“You will sit and do nothing. The ship is heading to a human-friendly settlement, and the course cannot be changed. Arrival is in two hours.” Once a destination was set, the ship’s computerlocked the helm and the autopilot-controlled navigation. Perhaps it was possible to bypass the lockout, but Ari was not the ship’s original owner and did not have the override code. Piloting the ship himself avoided the trouble with the autopilot, but he had been rather occupied caring for the unconscious Carla. Reprogramming the ship’s computer would involve hiring a specialist, and Ari had already lamented at length about the difficulties the ship’s cargo created. He could not risk inviting just anyone aboard.
Yet he carried Carla aboard without a second thought and placed her in the center of the horde. Instinct told him that she belonged there.
He’d needed to reflect on that, but now was not the most opportune time.
“So that’s it? Nothing to be done?” Those were questions, but from the tone, Ari was not expected to answer. She glared at him, waiting for a response. He would not be so easily tricked.
Ari continued to eat his meal, ignoring her furious expression. “Sit. Eat. You’ve had a shock and need the energy.”
Carla tossed her hands in the air. “Fine. Whatever. You do what you want, but I’m not going to hang out with you and pretend it’s okay.”
She spun on her heel to leave the kitchen.
“Take something with you. Breakfast is the most vital meal of the day,” he called after her.
She paused at the door, made a noise of frustration, and stomped back to the table. She grabbed her plate, then took the uneaten half of the sweet roll from his plate. “This is because I’m starving, not because you said so.”
“I wouldn’t presume.” His tail thumped against his leg as he watched her march away.
Her loyalty to the Nakkoni was admirable. He doubted he had ever sparked emotions half so devoted. Jealousy was auseless emotion. It served no purpose. He wasn’t jealous of Poppy. The female was likely a mindless drone by now.
Carla could despise Ari to her heart’s content. Any attempts at a rescue would only result in them sharing that fate, and Ari’s sense of self-preservation overrode any desire to impress the female.
CHAPTER 5
CARLA
That arrogant, cold-hearted monster.
Carla shoved the stolen sweet roll into her mouth, determined to not appreciate it in her anger, but the combination of buttery dough and almond-like filling was too good. That monster had no business being an amazing baker. In what kind of world did that make sense? Everything he touched should turn as black as his heart. That made sense, not ooey-gooey perfection all rolled up and covered in icing.
She dragged a sweet berry through a simple syrup, trying to mop up all the sugary goodness. Maybe it was because she wasn’t a zombified prisoner or was having an adrenaline crash demanding fuel, but this was the best breakfast she had in ages.
Cooking a delicious meal. Ari’s a monster.
She tried reasoning with Ari. Threatening. Flattery. She appealed to sentimentality, but he stared at her like family love was an alien concept. Yeah, someone had baggage and she was going to leave that alone.
