Pact Read Free

“You need a Familiar. It is an urgent matter.”
    She crossed her arms. “Why?”
    He blinked and smiled slowly. His brilliant silver eyes gleamed with amusement. “Because we say so.”
    “I am too old for that bullshit.”
    He barked a laugh. “Leko, take her outside while we discuss this.”
    Lynni gave her a thumbs-up and waved farewell.
    Leko waved for her to precede him, and the door to the chamber was closed behind them.
    “Now what?” she asked her escort.
    “Now, we wait.”
    She nodded and started to pace. She was not used to inactivity. She needed to be doing something.
    “How do you like being partnered to a Terran?”
    He was leaning against the wall. “She is a Lrrko now, but it has been fun and challenging. I would not trade a day of it.”
    “Did you two get along right from the start?”
    He nodded. “There was trust when we began, but she would have done anything to get here because her sister was already here. You didn’t have any inducement to come here, so you were less inclined to accept D’sekin’s behaviour.”
    “Do you know him?”
    “Yes. He did not seem a good candidate to be a Familiar, but he has the right genetics and an impressive infiltration history. He fought his way to the top of the lists but was a little too smug about it.”
    “Smug. That is the word. If he had a face, I would have smacked the hell out of him.”
    “I suppose that he thought his true face would convince you eventually.”
    Mila snorted. “I have seen a lot of men who thought their looks could explain their behaviour. I didn’t fall for it then, and I won’t fall for it now.”
    “What did you do on Terra?”
    She chuckled. “I served food and drink to men and some women who were on long-haul journeys, delivering goods and equipment across the continent.”
    “So, you have seen what your people are capable of when they think no one is watching.”
    “Oh, yeah. Even when they think there are no consequences.” She snorted. “To use a human phrase, I had to defend my honour on numerous occasions.”
    “What did that entail?”
    “Hot coffee and then the glass coffeepot upside the head of my attacker. It is amazing the reflexes that you can have in a stressful situation.”
    Leko was highly amused. “You defended yourself with cookware?”
    “No. Serving ware. Cookware would have been easier. I am a master with a cast iron frying pan.” She smirked.
    He laughed and shook his head. “You seem very calm and competent for a woman in your position.”
    “What position is that? Alone on an alien world, stuck without a caregiver, trapped and at the mercy of folks who want me for medical purposes? I have been in that situation before.”
    Leko shook his head. “And yet, here you are. Wait a moment and I will be back.”
    He turned and entered the council chamber where a heated debate could be heard the moment the door was opened.
    He came back a moment later. “Elder Lynni has asked me to take you in for your arrival scans. Normally, your Familiar would, but that is a discussion for another time.”
    “The discussion is going to take a while?”
    “It looks like it. Lynni is waving a data pad in the air and screaming that none of the men are suitable for a woman who actually has life experience.” He made a face. “She is using a tone that indicates she will not back down.”
    “You are familiar with that tone?”
    “Very. Shall we?”
    She nodded, and together, they headed to the roof. He settled her in front of him, and his arms acted as a safety cage as he took off on the vehicle.
    It was a much smoother ride over to the building with the Lrrko medical logo carved into the stone.
    He escorted her past surprised medics and guards in the hallways.
    When they ended up at their destination, he introduced her. “Medic Alveck, this is Bride Mila of Terra. She is here for her initial scans.”
    “Where is her Familiar?”
    She smiled tightly, “He is a self-important jerk who abandoned me