Page 39 of Alien Naga's Prize
Rossz smiles a predatory smile. “And what does interest a Glycon prince? Your warrior days are behind you, I presume?”
“Not all princes are warriors.” I respond in a half-embarrassed tone. “Some of us want to…forget.” Instantly, I rear up. “But you did not hear such a thing from me,” I say loudly, my eyes darting through the crowd. “Glycons are a proud species. Our warriors are the best in the galaxy.”
“Of course, of course, my prince. No one would think any different,” Rossz says soothingly and leans back once again. “But I might have something of interest for you. Something to help with any…memory issues.”
The predatory smile is back. I’ve done it. He has been reeled in like a space worm on a hook. He believes me, and if he’s done any digging into my background, he’ll have found out I left Glycon under less than ideal circumstances.
This type of mark will have done his background checks. Which is why he’s smiling at me like he is about to devour me.
I incline my head with interest. He motions over one of his guards.
“Come with me.” Rossz gets to his feet, and his Habosu guard lumbers over.
“Do we really needyour protection?” I say with obvious distaste.
Rossz gives me a quick searching glance, spots the shiny but impractical blaster on my belt, and then nods at the Habosu. “I can manage,” he says.
That’s what he thinks anyway. To me, the Habosu doesn’t pose a threat, but I don’t want anyone to be able to raise the alarm before I can get the criminal kingpin into my ship and off Luxus.
He proprietorially takes my arm and steers me through the crowd to a passageway which I know leads through to another suite of rooms. One side is a clear wall through which I can see Jenna and the two assassins.
“Your mate is perfectly safe. Although I worry for mine,” Rossz says with a rather unpleasant smile. “From what I’ve heard, the princess is formidable.”
I sigh. “She is.”
“Human, I believe. Rare,” he adds.
It’s all I can do to stop my hood rising and envenomating him on the spot.
“From what I’ve been told,” I reply with no emotion. “Our match was arranged by Starlight Brides to appease my sire and dam.”
Rossz shows me into a luxurious living area. To one side is a large stone sideboard, and it is covered in his merchandise.
He is supremely confident to be so blatant about his display.
“Here we have everything for discerning royalty,” he says with that evil smile. He gestures to the table. “Feel free to sample anything which takes your fancy. It’s all at your disposal, my prince.”
For the first time in a long time, the scales on the back of my neck prickle. Perhaps this wasn’t such a good idea after all.
JENNA
The two assassins give me a basic run through on the blaster pistols they have laid out. I release a couple of bored salvos, deliberately missing each target and then growling in frustration. They find this amusing but attempt to hide their laughter.
Almost as mercenary as their friend, Rossz.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Azul being led along a side passage only just visible from the open area we’re using as a shooting gallery. He briefly looks at me before ensuring his attention is on Rossz. We’ve already agreed if he doesn’t signal me within ten nova-minutes, then I need to get back to our villa and raise the alarm with his boss.
Like I’m going to do any such thing. I’m as invested in capturing Rossz as he is. I want us to be able to get on with our lives, and finishing this contract will be the first step. I have other steps in mind, but they’ll have to wait until this is over with.
Azul disappears, and the two females exhort me to try the targets again.
“Why not try a live one this time?” the slightly taller of the two suggests, her tail twitching in a way which is reminiscent ofmy old granny’s tabby cat when it was about to pounce on an unsuspecting bird.
The absolute last thing I want to do is fire at anything live. But given these two think I’m a terrible shot, I respond enthusiastically.
“Don’t make it easy for me!” I exclaim.
I catch them exchanging a glance and hide my smile. With a rattle and a thump, a small six-legged creature is released. It has a target crudely sprayed on its side. I let rip with the blaster, missing the thing by a good six feet and silently sending my apologies to the poor thing.