“Still imbibing.”
“And she remains alone?”
“Yes.”
“Is she still angry?”
“Her vitals show her to be no longer agitated.”
“Beam me into her presence.”
“Commander Jaspar’uilla Var Jannu specifically told you to avoid the target.”
“Jaspar and I are the same rank; therefore, he cannot give me orders. Teleport me now.”
“As you command.” A sulky acceptance, but at least Beta obeyed.
A tingle went through Cade as he teleported, this time arriving in a quiet but large room instead of a stairwell. The space held little furnishing. A desk facing two large chairs. A bookcase with sparsely filled shelves. A bank of windows comprised an entire wall overlooking the cluttered city. Colette sat in a chair, seemingly staring at the view.
Cade made not a sound, and yet, she knew he’d arrived.
“I see you’re back. Is this where you start telling me where I went wrong in life?” she asked, her husky query not threatening, or seductive, and yet his flesh pimpled, and his cock? He didn’t need Beta 690 to state, You are aroused, to know she had an effect on him.
“I am not interested in your past errors, but your successes.”
“Which ghost does that make you then?” She swiveled in her seat and regarded him over the rim of her glass.
Her reply had him frowning. “I am not a ghost.”
“Then who and what are you?”
“I am Cade’krinno Mer Acadu, warrior of the Second Moon Clan, sent here by our Oracle to enlist your aid.”
She stared at him while taking a long sip before snorting. “Jeezus, I must have drunk more than I thought to be hallucinating this hard.”
“Your blood levels show only a light intoxication,” he stated, repeating Beta’s analysis. “And to further alleviate your concern, a spectrum sweep of this location shows no spiritual residue.” When she stared at him without speaking, he added, “Meaning there are no ghosts in the vicinity.” Assuming they inhabited the same frequency as the ancestors.
“So I’m just fucking nuts then, is that it?” She arched a brow. “Have to say, I didn’t expect to lose my mind at such a young age.”
“Why would you think yourself mentally incapacitated?” He couldn’t help but sound confused.
“Because sane people don’t imagine blue dudes in their office at night speaking as if they’d just learned English.”
“Not learned,” he corrected. “My translator is ensuring my words emerge using your chosen language, which may be more formal than you are used to.”
She took another sip, muttering, “Holy fuck, I’ve gone off the deep end. Maybe Mitchell was right and I do need a vacation.”
“Could you take your pleasure time after we’ve completed our business?” Because if Cade made things worse, he’d never hear the end of it from Jaspar.
“Only I would have a mental break that somehow involves work.” She sighed and leaned back in her chair. “I’m going to sleep, and when I wake up, you’ll be gone. If you’re not, I’m getting my head examined because this is too much crazy even for me.”
“Once more, you are not imagining me. I am Cade’krinno Mer Acadu from the planet Xaanda.”
That snapped her head upright. “Hold on, are you claiming you’re an alien?”
“I’m Xamian. You are the alien.”
Her laughter sent a shiver through him. “Okay, this is getting wilder by the minute. You’re not a ghost of Christmas Past, Present, or Future, but an extraterrestrial.”
