Epilogue

EPILOGUE

It was more than a little weird to be seeing my old boss like this, but Banek Mari had simply nodded to me as he entered Alkard's office.

"You're looking well, Tessi," he said.

What was I supposed to say? Why wasn't there some sort of instruction manual for when you suddenly became the mate of the leader of a criminal gang, and your ex-boss is his ally?

Was there a specific protocol for this?

Banek's scaley face cracked into a grin. "Really. You should relax now." But his expression hardened as he turned back to Alkard. "You on the other hand…"

Alkard poured three glasses of a dark purple liquor, silver sparkles swirling, catching the light.

"I owe you an apology," he said, handing one of the glasses to Banek. "And my thanks."

For a moment, I wondered if Banek was going to take the offered drink, but then he snorted.

"Send over a case of this, and we'll call it even."

Alkard laughed. "That would teach me to keep my temper in check."

The tension eased out of the room, and I dared to take a tiny sip from my glass.

And then another, my mouth exploding with the taste of strange fruits, dark and sweet.

"It's good, isn't it?" Alkard said, his smile broadening at my expression.

Banek settled back in his chair, eye ridges raised. "While I'd love to chat and watch the two of you be sappy, I suspect you have something else to talk about."

"Two things," Alkard said. "First, when we tore apart the image that was used to frame you, we found some traces in the code. Digital fingerprints, as it were. My men are on it."

"When you find the culprit, I want a shot," Banek declared. "It was my honor that was smeared."

"Agreed." Alkard topped off their glasses, but I kept my hand over my own. I was pretty sure this new body wasn't a lightweight, but best to be careful, right?

"So what's the second item?"

Alkard took a battered tablet from a drawer, and even though I'd seen it before this meeting, my heart still clenched.

It was Mera's.

And maybe, just maybe, it had given us another clue to find her.

Banek watched the video, but I looked away. I'd seen it too many times, the women being shoved into cargo containers, the inside of the building a match to where I'd traced Mera's scent.

Banek's nostrils flared. "Trafficking. I thought we'd made it clear that wouldn't be happening on Thodos III." He set his glass down with exquisite care, as if afraid he might shatter it in his fist. "I guess someone needs to be taught a lesson."

Alkard nodded. "Someone is playing us against each other, or trying to. And there's a new player on the station. It seems unlikely the two things are unrelated. It's time to start finding out what's going on."

He picked up the percomm off his desk. "Razov," he said when the other line picked up. "It's your turn now."

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Traditional human customs may make no sense to Alkard, but if it makes his mate happy, there's nothing he won't do. Even if it means deciphering this strange ritual…

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