AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“This is a mistake,” I say. “So while I was following your orders, you were out sharing drinks with Deadheads?” I can’t believe it’s come to this. And Mak has no shame about it, not even the decency to apologize or look guilty.
“I deem them trustworthy enough. Their leader agreed to adhere to our laws, and we’ve signed a treaty.”
“You didn’t think I deserved to pass some judgement on this?”
“I know precisely what you’d say,” Mak replies, raising a brow. “You’re my blade, not my advisor.”
“They’re battered and drugged pets off their leashes!”
“Yes, that sums up what I expected from you,” he mutters. “Not what I’d call an impartial or lucid assessment.”
A happily whistled tune floats in from the hall, and Niko strolls in with an idiotic grin on his face. He stops at the sight of us and cocks his head.
“Bad time?”
“Come in,” Mak invites him. “Kalla was about to slice my head off.”
“Ooh, and I get a front row view?” Niko slips into the chair I had stood up from. “Lucky me.”
“I supposeyoudon’t have a problem with this rutting plan?”
Niko blinks. “Sorry, I’ve been in newly mated bliss. You’ll have to fill me in on the whole politics thing.”
Mak snorts. “He’s angry because I’ve made nice with the Deadheads to gain access to their weaponry, strategic knowledge of the military bases on Kar’Kal, and the help of a certain engineer who has an understanding of the planetary defense weaponry.”
Niko’s lips tighten, but he ultimately shrugs his shoulder. “I think we can all agree that the Deadheads can’t be trusted. But I trust Mak’s judgement. Besides, there’s only so many of them. If they piss us off, you can have them all taken care of within a cycle, right Kalla?”
Mak turns his gaze back toward me with gleeful vindication.
“He’s allowing them to take up our ways. Their leader will be a Ka’lakka now.”
Niko elbows me. “So what is there to be done about it?”
“Why are you here anyway?” I grumble. He’s no help at all, as usual.
“Killing time while my mate shows her companion around the king’s heated baths. Her friend Kaye has been through a hardship, so I suggested it. Their other friend is still in regen.”
“Everything that’s mine is available to her,” Mak says. “After all, we have her to thank for youblessingus with your presence.”
“It might be more accurate to say you have Kalla to thank. If his little friends weren’t trying so hard to kill him, I never would’ve gotten stabbed in a Station City alleyway, and then I wouldn’t be here.”
I shrug. “Don’t message my axed comm lines, then.”
“How else would I make it here to have this lovely reunion?” Niko puts on a bright smile. “Okay, continue the beheading. Don’t wanna miss a thing.”
Mak sighs. “What were we talking about?”
“You were frying my ass over nothing,” I spit out. “And announcing your unholy alliance with Deadhead scum.”
Mak and Niko exchange a glance.
“Niko already told you that your brother is among their ranks, didn’t he?” Mak says, raising a brow.
“What of it?”
“Aren’t you happy?” Niko asks. “Your brother is alive.”
“I’m very glad he’s breathing, but my brother died the day they took him from me,” I say, ignoring their pitying stares and their speechlessness.
