Page 65 of Alien's Luck
Carla brushed her fingertips across the medical chamber, Poppy’s sleeping face on the other side of the screen. “I’m sorry,” she said.
She knew what she had to do.
It tooktwo days to get a meeting with the captain of the Khargal Patrol. A video meeting, not face-to-face. Two days of Carla compulsively checking Poppy’s vitals and Ari’s stone form. Two days of talking to herself because the ship was too silent. Two days of poking her nose into every corner of the ship because keeping busy as a snoop was a thousand times better than being consumed with worry.
In that time, Tavat’s empire crumbled. His lair was in utter destruction, and his allies and supporters turned on one another. Carla wasn’t going to lie; it was pretty satisfying. He had been on the ship that exploded and was presumed dead, or at least he hadn’t been seen since, but Carla had her doubts. Supervillains always fled at the last moment to make it into the next movie.
Space prison or being torn to shreds by his own zombies would have been perfect justice, but it was an imperfect world. Missing and presumed dead would have to do. She had a bucket full of popcorn sprinkled with schadenfreude, her favorite flavor, and she was content with that.
A Khargal woman’s image filled the screen, wearing a crisp uniform with military insignia. She frowned. “You are the female who accompanied Lord Solivair.”
Awesome. Off to a great start.
“Captain, I have a proposition,” Carla said, deciding to launch directly into her pitch. “My friend has a complex medical issue. You have the facilities necessary to save her life. I have information you desire.” Carla spread her hands wide in a gesture to invite negotiation. She really hoped that translated.
“Condolences for your friend, but there is nothing you have that interests us,” the captain said.
“I know the location of the death mask of Emperor Crai.” Presuming it was still intact and not buried under rubble. Tavat’s lair had a minor explosion problem when they made their escape.
“That is insufficient.”
“A Patrol was sent here to retrieve the mask and it’s insufficient?” Ari never specifically said the Khargal Patrol was there to find the mask, but she put the pieces together. She hoped it was a tempting enough bargaining chip.
“That was a cover so as to alarm our intended target.”
Apparently not, but the captain did not disconnect the call, which was good news. If they were talking, then they could reach a deal.
She had one chip left.
“Then I have something I think you’ll be interested in,” Carla said.
CHAPTER 20
ARI
Ari woke.
That was not unexpected. He would have to be alert for his trial, as performative as that would be. What he did not expect was to find Carla sitting next to him, sleeping in a chair. A tablet dangled in her fingertips, threatening to fall to the floor.
His hondassa. He was glad for her presence, but it made no logical sense. Why would the Patrol allow visitation to a prisoner?
“Why are you here?” His voice sounded like gravel tumbling together, and his throat felt the same. He staggered backward, his legs bumping into a bed, prompting him to sit.
Carla woke. The tablet fell to the floor. “You’re awake!”
She threw herself at him, wrapping her arms around him in a fierce embrace. His wings swept forward, cocooning them both. For the moment, only they existed. There was his mate’s heartbeat, and nothing else mattered.
Carla pulled back, and he felt her loss keenly. She slapped a hand to his chest. “Don’t you ever do that again!”
“I did not plan on sustaining an injury.”
“Honestly, who talks like that?” She chuckled even as she wiped away tears from her eyes. “There’s something I need to tell you.”
He glanced around the room. It was not a judicial center or a detainment unit. It was a rather sterile and bleak medical facility. “I am confused.”
“Listen—”
“How long have I been asleep?” he asked.
