Page 41 of Alien Naga's Prize
“No entry.”
I’m shoved back with a big green hand in my chest. Oh lord, I’m going to have to channel my inner princess bitch.
“Do youknow who I am?” I say at the very top of my lungs.
Behind me, the noise level drops. I’ve started…so I’m going to have to finish.
“I’m Princess Jenna of Glycon and I want to see my mate, Prince Azul,” I add at the same volume.
There are interested mutterings. The Habosu, never particularly bright at the best of times, seem to have locked up like one of the aged computers on S.C.Britannia. I use this to my advantage and shoulder my way past them.
This time, I am not stopped, and after I’ve taken a few regal steps, I run as fast as I dare in this dress.
It’s been ten nova-minutes, and I need to get to Azul before the excrement really hits the fan.
AZUL
The fakking Helytelen has done his research. The narcotics spread out on the table are exactly those I was famous for on Glycon.
My supposed reason for leaving, because refusing a mate was worse than being an addict. And I didn’t want anyone following me.
Rossz smiles at me. “Pick your poison, my prince. My wares are at your disposal.”
Most of what he has on show, I can’t metabolize in the same way as the drug in the alcohol—my venom isn’t strong enough. And if I go for the softer stuff first…he’s going to wonder why.
I make a concerted and prolonged inspection of the wares on the table, and finally, Rossz throws himself down on the couch. He’s clearly happy for me to take my time over the inspection, presumably because he is recording the entire situation, and the longer I’m in proximity to the narcotics, the better leverage he thinks he has.
“Anything you want, Prince Azul, I can get for you,” he says languidly.
I turn and level the pulsar at him.
“What I really want, Rossz, or rather what my clients want, is you.”
His lips lift in a half snarl.
“You want to share me with your mate? I could be persuaded,” he says, his eyes narrowing, calculating his odds.
Because my blaster is pretty rather than functional…or so he thinks.
“Nothing so amusing. Quite boring, in fact. I turn you over to my clients, collect my fat fee, and the end.”
“I don’t think so,” Rossz says, moving his hands.
I shake my head and release a salvo of muted plasma bolts which hit the cushions surrounding him with multiple thumps and the scent of burning.
“You can do this the easy way or the hard way.” I waggle the blaster from side to side. “I don’t have any preference.”
“Gakking bounty hunter. I should have known.” He sneers at me. “A prince in disgrace is never going to be worth my time or credits.”
“Yeah, well.” I shrug. “Thing is, I don’t care what you think. I just want to pick up your bounty. So, on your knees, and we’ll get this over with.”
Rossz glares at me for half a nova-second. “You really think you can take me away so easily?” he says.
I fire the plasma into his side. He howls in pain. But these rooms are soundproofed, so his noise means nothing.
I grab hold of his head, checking the plasma wound is cauterized. I’ve specialized in live captures, and I’m not about to change that, even if this particular mark is one of the lowest of the low.
“I lied. I prefer the hard way. If you don’t want to lose a limb next time, I suggest you co-operate,” I tell him as he groans on the floor.