Entwined (Intergalactic Loyalties) Read Free Page B

behind her and blocked the stairs. The path to the front door was clear, but she didn’t have the alarm codes. As the creatures inched closer, those eerie eyes glued to her, she realized she had little choice but to make a dash for the yard and hope they scattered when they hit the outside.
    Sprinting for the door, she burst through it, alarms blaring. She’d just cleared the walkway, with a dozen blue furballs of fury on her heels, when Bane zoomed into the driveway. He looked startled at first and then amused. She didn’t see the humor in the situation. A bunch of overgrown neon rodents were about to devour her. Where was the humor?
    She ran for him and launched herself into his arms.
    “I take it the zirrels got into the house again,” he said, a trace of laughter in his voice.
    “Zirrels? Is that was those things are called?”
    He nodded. “We actually engineered them from the squirrels on your planet about fifty years ago. One of our warriors saw them, thought they were cute and brought some back with him. Something went horribly wrong with the cloning process though, and that’s what we ended up with. They’re mischievous, but they won’t harm you.”
    “I’m not convinced. They chased me from the house! Did you see the looks in their eyes? They wanted to eat me!”
    Bane laughed. “They eat plants, and occasionally get into my kitchen pantry and eat my fruits and vegetables I have stored there. They have the ability to shift from one place to another, sort of like teleporting so walls aren’t a deterrent.”
    “Are you trying to tell me those furballs from hell can just come in the house whenever they want?”
    His smile broadened. “Pretty much.”
    She shivered. “Why were you gone so long?”
    He indicated a package strapped to the back of his Eavo. “I had to pick up a few things for you. Come on, let’s shut off the alarm before the neighbors get concerned. We don’t have a lot of crime on Keshpa, but the few that do happen are higher level.”
    “You mean like murder?”
    He nodded. “For the most part, we’re a peaceful society. But there are those who are discontent, and they aren’t shy about showing it.”
    “Turn off the alarm. I wouldn’t have run outside like that, but I didn’t know what else to do.”
    Bane snagged the package from the back of his Eavo and hurried to the front door. Nosy neighbors stuck their heads out, and Bane waved at them. After turning off the alarm, he made sure all of the zirrels were outside before closing the door, not that it would do much good if the pesky things decided they wanted back inside.
    “You seem to be feeling better,” he commented.
    “I think the shot the doctor gave me earlier is finally working. Or maybe my nap just refreshed me. Either way, I was able to get up and move around. Good thing since those demonic things were chasing me.”
    “Probably a little bit of both.” He handed her the package. “Here are a few dresses and a pair of shoes for you. It isn’t much, but I thought it would be enough for now. I’ll have a seamstress come by in a few days, once you’ve settled in a bit.”
    She took the package and smiled at him. “I’m sure these are fine.”
    A knock sounded at the front door and Bane frowned. “I’m not expecting anyone.”
    Ariana hung back, not knowing what to expect. She watched in curiosity as Bane opened the door. When he stepped back to allow a tall man and a rather elegant looking young woman to enter, she debated whether or not she should make herself scarce. Bane hadn’t talked to her about what her role would be in his home, what he expected of her. She was a slave, that much she knew, but did he view her in the same light as his brother? Arko would’ve never brought her home with him or allow her to interact with his neighbors. Maybe she should stop painting them with the same brush and realize that Bane was different.
    He motioned for her to join them. “Ariana, come meet our neighbors. This