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“I take it you want us to look again for whoever plans to cause trouble on the ship, Levka?” Stasio chugged down the rest of his soda.
Levka clenched his teeth, but no matter how much he tried to sheathe his canines, the anger simmering in his blood kept them extended. “Yes.”
Ruric grinned. “Can’t get your canines under control? You shouldn’t have let Vlad rile you so.”
“He’s after Caitlin, and you know how much trouble he can cause if he doesn’t get his way.”
“All right, well, I’ll go back to searching for the guys who are intending mischief. You coming, Stasio?” Ruric tied his curly red hair into a tail and pulled his faux light saber out. Examining it, he said, “There shall be one less Ferengi blood flea after we’re through with the vermin.”
Stasio shook his head. “Ferengi blood flea?”
“Sure, when flaked, they’re a Ferengi’s favorite delicacy.”
“Star Trek or Star Wars?”
“Star Trek, my friend. I cannot remember any kind of insects in Star Wars.” The two sauntered out of the lounge.
Levka finished his drink. “Is Caitlin in her room yet, Arman?”
“Yes, I just dropped her off. What now?”
“We dock shortly at Caracas. Did Ruric cancel Caitlin’s excursion to the city?”
“Yes, as you wished.”
“Good. The place is not safe for her, and I further fear if Vlad went ashore with her, he’d try to spirit her away.”
“What are we going to do about the rest of the islands?”
“Accompany her.”
“Where is Vlad?”
Levka finished his drink. “Sleeping it off. Let’s join the others in search of the troublemakers.”
***
In her stateroom, Caitlin slipped under her covers to take a nap, still annoyed Arman wouldn’t tell her what was wrong with Levka, though she was certain he was angry with her about her involvement with Vlad and the trouble that was causing. Even though Arman tried to cover for Levka, saying he hadn’t had enough sleep the night before, she didn’t believe it. Well, maybe he hadn’t had enough sleep, but that wasn’t the reason for his strange behavior with her. He was mad at her. She’d bet the allowance she didn’t have that he was.
Just about the time she drifted off to sleep, Vlad spoke to her telepathically. “Shorry, Caitlin. Forgive me?”
She tried to ignore him, though she wasn’t sure how to block his telepathic abilities. Still, she wasn’t going to respond to him, hoping he’d go away.
“We shtop at Venezzzuela next,” he said slurring the words. “Venezzzuela. You going ashore?”
Softly snorting, she tucked her arms under her pillow and cuddled closer to it, shutting her eyes and listening to the low roar of the ship’s droning engines.
“Venezzzuale,” Vlad said one last time.
But two hours later, before she was fully awake, she heard Vlad’s impatient voice again. “We are at the port of Venezuela. Invite me in, and we’ll go into the town together.”
Invite me in. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes. Was it one of those odd terms like Levka had used, “mated”? Why not—I’m here to take you to the city? Why—invite me in? He had no need to come into her stateroom, and yet vaguely, she recalled Levka pleading with her to invite him in when she sat frozen to the balcony floor. She stretched, yawned, and sat up in bed.
“Caitlin, invite me in.” This time Vlad was more insistent, which didn’t help her to wake up slowly from her nap. Then she glanced at her watch and realized they must have reached port, and if she didn’t hurry, she’d miss her bus. She grabbed her hat, purse, and sunglasses, and dashed for the door.
When she jerked it open, she found Levka waiting for her. Looking around him, she asked, “Where’s Vlad?”
“He went off to bother someone else for a while.”
