AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Dance!” Kurrahstka barks from below.
We both stiffen, but neither of us moves.
“I said,dance!”Kurrahstka growls, and a moment later, electricity sparks through the bars, making us jump. It’s not enough to hurt, but definitely gets our attention, and we quickly do what we’re told.
Danielle immediately begins to sway her hips in time with the quiet music that now fills the room. I—on the other hand—have never been much of a dancer. Biting down on my lip, I start shifting my weight from side to side in a feeble attempt at mimicking Danielle’s graceful movements.
Fuck! I never know what to do with my hands, so they either hang limp at my sides, or I tuck them in close to my stomach. Neither feels very natural.
Luckily, Kurrahstka seems happy enough with what we’re doing, and his attention goes back to schmoozing with his—friends? Clients?
For the next hour or so, we move just enough to keep Kurrahstka from shocking us through the cage or paying us any attention. More drinks are brought. More stinky cigars are smoked.
At one point, I notice one of the aliens below is leaning back, focused on us. Or, rather, on Danielle. His eyes are shiny and black and unblinking, like an insect. The alien beside him nudges him, and his attention is pulled away from us to Kurrahstka. He leans over the table and hisses a question.
Kurrahstka’s eyes quickly lift to us, and then he shakes his head at the male. A sharp, definiteno.The breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding whispers past my lips, and I share a relieved look with Danielle.
The alien frowns but then eases back into his seat, and the meeting progresses. Occasionally I catch him watching us, although his eyes stray to Danielle far more than me.
Finally, Kurrahstka stands, followed by the rest of the men. They bow deeply to each other before he leads them out. A few minutes later, the music stops, and the lights come up. The orc returns to lower the cage and take us back to our room.
So much for sneaking away today.
CHAPTERFOUR
Volethos
* * *
I’m sitting at a corner table at the back of a quiet bar. My back is to the wall so I have an unobstructed view of the room before me. Also, so no one can sneak up behind me. A tall mug of ale sits untouched in front of me as I watch, and wait, for Adrazell.
It’s been three days, and I received a comm from him early this morning telling me to meet him at this bar, at this time. But will he show? He said he would, but— I could hardly blame him if he doesn’t. I haven’t exactly given him much reason to trust me over the years.
Blowing out a breath, I pick up the mug and bring it to my lips. But before I take the drink, a familiar male walks through the doors of the bar. A male I hadn’t really expected to ever see again. And, judging by the way his eyes narrow when he finds me, I suspect he hoped to never see me again either.
Adrazell is seven feet, maybe more, of thick scaley plates ranging from teal to blue. The underlying not protected flesh is a dark green. His head is square, with ridges of hardened bone rippling across his skull.
His bright green eyes scan the dim bar before landing on me. Then he starts making his way across the bar, stopping the barmaid and ordering a drink along the way.
“You came,” I say, trying not to sound as surprised as I am.
He has a duffel over his shoulder that he drops to the ground at his side with a thud. I glance at it and wonder what might be inside that’s so important that he felt he had to lug it across a space station.
“You seem surprised,” he says as he drops into the chair across from me.
“I suppose I am.”
He lifts one shoulder in a casual shrug. Just then, the barmaid sets a mug of ale in front of him before hurrying away. “Well, I’m here,” he says, taking a drink and then leaning back. Green and black striated eyes watch me intently. “So why don’t you fill me in on why, exactly.”
Kurrahstka has something that’smine! is what I want to say. Instead, I take a long drink of my ale before going with, “I’m giving you the chance at retaliation against Kurrahstka. As a way of apologizing for wronging you.”
The brow ridges above his eyes lift in surprise.
“I already told you, he has taken possession of two human females,” I continue. “In exchange for your help in rescuing them, I’m also giving you a chance to take him down.”
Zell is silent for several moments before he lifts his ale and drains the rest of the mug in one swallow. With a look over his shoulder, he holds it up, getting the barmaid’s attention for another.
“And what is in it for you?”
