The Princess and her Bounty Hunter: Alien Romance (Fated to the Alien: The Psychic Matchmaker Book 2) Read Free Page A

Virdian bounty hunter.”
    “I want information, of course. I am trailing someone, and that trail has gone cold.”
    “And what has that to do with me?” the witch asked, her eyes bright, defiance glittering there, hard, strong, and he could see why she had survived so long in a world that didn’t always understand or forgive her power.
    “You are going to tell me where my bounty is. And then I am going to walk out of here and never mention I know where you are to anyone. Particularly a certain princess.”
    “I will not help you with this bounty,” Misha’Ha said, and turned away from him. “I will not help you track someone down.”
    “But that power of yours can. And so you will.” He followed her, the other people in the tea room watching the exchange, which made Misha’Ha increasingly nervous. Her heart rate was fast, her breath shallow and quick. She might hide it well, but he was unnerving her.
    “Come through, we can talk privately there.” Her eyes turned violet as she looked back to him. Mak had seen just about everything there was to see in this universe, and nothing ever unnerved him. But this witch did.
    “Talk? Or are you planning on drugging my tea again?” He raised his voice enough for it to carry to the other patrons, who looked nervously at their own beverages.
    “Out now . Driole, offer our guests some complimentary cake.” The old woman moved quickly, belying her years, and he followed close behind her, letting his senses roam. If she planned to ambush him with her magic, he had to be ready.
    If she had magic. It was well known that a Jala’Ha witch could see things, things that hadn’t happened yet, or the places where things were hidden. But what other powers they had were shrouded in mystery. These women were never supposed to leave their home planet. But this one had.
    “Sit,” she commanded, and he did.
    Misha’Ha seated herself across the table from him, her eyes fixed on his face, making him feel uncomfortable, and he had withstood the looks from some terrifying creatures in his time. The longer she looked, the more her eyes bored into him. He wanted to pull away, but he couldn’t. Was she changing his memories? Making him forget seeing her? Would he end up a lump of mush after she fried his brain?
    “The princess has a bounty out on me?” Misha’Ha asked, suddenly releasing him from her deadly stare.
    “Yes.” Could she tell it was only a half truth? The bounty was for information, which he might decide to trade in if he didn’t catch up with his current quarry.
    “And what poor creature are you searching for?” Misha’Ha asked.
    “Here.” He took his taptab out of his coat pocket and set it down in front of her. The picture of a male appeared, and he gave Misha’Ha no more information. “I was close. I know you don’t want to help me, but believe me, it would be far better if I caught up with him first. This one is a piece of work, and I’m about the only one who would rather take him alive.”
    “I don’t doubt that.” She glanced at him, but there was no more of her deep probing, much to his relief. “Give me your hands.”
    “Why?” he asked, glancing down at her bony hands. Her nails were like long talons, just right for sinking into his flesh.
    “Because that is how I read the future. Of course it always works much better if you cross my palm with silver first.”
    “You mean, if I pay you? You did get the part about our deal being one set of information traded for another.”
    “Do you want it to work or not?” She lifted her left hand, and thrust it under his nose. Mak dug into his pocket and retrieved a coin, not worth much, but it was silver. “Thank you.”
    “You are welcome,” he said politely, even if it was laced with a hint of sarcasm.
    She held in her palm, and then set it aside. “Hands.”
    He did as she asked, wanting it to be over with. The place was starting to give him the creeps. Not bright and airy, as the front of the