Chapter Ten

Poof! We appeared in a bustling labyrinth of stalls selling everything from weapons to food to exotic pets and jewelry. The jabber of a dozen languages filled the air as the vendors hawked their wares.

The kids hopped up and down on my head, singing, "Mealie bugs. Mealie bugs. Mealie bugs. Mealie bugs. Mealie bugs."

"I'll get you all the mealie bugs you can eat. Just stop bouncing. Please."Dealing with the children was not only giving me a headache, but it also made me feel as old as Jedrick and he was super old.

"Promise?"

"Yes." I tugged on Keyan's hand. "Which stall sells pizza?"

"That one specializes in Earth foods, and they also serve mealie bugs." Keyan pointed to a large red and white tent with its flaps pulled back. Inside a human male was tossing pizza dough into the air. I clapped my hands in delight as the dough got bigger and bigger.

"What type of pizza do you want?"Gael asked.

"Pepperoni, of course, and a beer." I watched a human female put an uncooked pizza into an Earth-style oven.

Gael frowned. "Younglings do not drink beer."

"My parents let me." I gave him my best innocent, would I lie to you expression.

"I do not believe that. You may have one of the Earth sodas they sell," Gael replied firmly.

Keyan escorted me over to a table covered in a bright red cloth. "Wait here. We will get your food."

"Jedrick gave me a credit chip." I held it out.

"No, keep it. It will be my honor to buy your food."

I beamed at him. "That's very kind of you."

"Do not move from this table,"Gael instructed.

My stomach growled loudly. "And miss out on pizza? Not a chance."

Keyan went inside the tent and Gael stood watch.

"Mealie bugs. Mealie bugs. Mealie bugs. Mealie bugs," the kids chanted.

I retracted my armor. "Keyan is getting them."

"Want now. Want now."

I blew out a relieved breath when Keyan walked over to the table with our food.

"Pepperoni pizza for you and mealie bugs for the Tabors." Before Keyan could remove the bowls from the tray, the kids jumped in them and chowed down.

I managed to snag my pizza and drink. "They're very hungry."

"So, it would seem," Gael replied.

I practically inhaled the pizza. It tasted so good.

"I'll get more,"Keyan said.

Gael nodded. "Good idea. How long has it been since someone fed all of you?"

"Too long," I answered.Two pizzas later and I was stuffed, but the kids were still eating. Their bulging bellies reminded me of Adan's.

A prickling sensation crawled up my back and I quickly scanned the area. Huh? The two Bjarke mercenaries who kidnapped me from Earth were here. I touched Keyan's hand and filled him in.

A dangerous smile formed on his mouth. "They think to try again."

"What can I say? They're not too bright."

Gael tapped away on his warrior's bracelet. "Their ship is docked at berth twelve and I'm surprised it is space-worthy."

"They were being attacked by Nal Rishi pirates when I escaped."

Keyan raised his eyebrows. "How did you escape?"

"When the pirates transported to the Bjarke ship, I transported to theirs and stole it."

"Stole it?" Gael queried in obvious disbelief.

"With Jedrick's help."

Keyan grinned. "The Battle Commander is always one step ahead of his enemies."

I caught a glimpse of Loki creeping closer. "Speaking of enemies, that idiot is getting ready to attack."

"We bite. He dies," the kids hollered and charged across the table.

"No! No! No!"I made a grab for them and missed.

The crazy kids charged Loki.

Holy Goddess were they fast. I sprinted after them, yelling, "Stop!"

Loki's big smile faded when he noticed the Tabors, me, and two big, angry Coletti warriors heading his way. He turned and ran.

I kept chasing the kids.

They kept chasing Loki.

Keyan and Gael raced after me, but clueless people kept getting in their way.

Then the kids started lobbing web balls at Loki and things got crazy.

Ducking a web ball, Gael crashed into a fruit stand, and sent oranges rolling in every direction.

Keyan stepped on one, went head over heels and ended up webbed to an old female's crotch. She cackled in delight.

"No more web balls,"I shouted.

Esme yelled back, "You no fun."

Loki opened a cage filled with pink, saber-toothed rat thingies. Making weird squawking noises, they poured out and devoured anything in their path.

Screaming blue bloody murder, people ran for their lives.

"Web the rat thingies. Web the rat thingies. Web the rat thingies,"I cried as I shot the vicious little critters with my laser pistol.

Web balls flew in every direction and to my surprise, most of them hit their targets. Okay, there were a couple dozen people webbed to stuff, but hey, the rat thingies had been neutralized.

Gael let out an ill-tempered growl. "You are a menace."

"None of this is my fault,"I protested, looking around for the kids. "And you didn't catch Loki."

Keyan managed to free himself from the giggling old female who was wrapped around him like an octopus. "Jedrick captured him."

I looked over my shoulder. Sure enough, Jedrick was dragging a badly beaten Loki through the destroyed marketplace. "Where is the other one?"

"I have him."Father Trayon said, dumping a battered Bjarke mercenary at my feet. "This one is called Ivan. These mercenaries are related to Jedrick's brother's mate."

"Bummer, you can't kill them, can you?"

"We cannot."

I smiled at Ivan. "Has Father Trayon told you that Crom was eaten by a Katanic shapeshifter? So, you won't be collecting any more bounties from him."

"Adan is here?" Ivan and Loki looked around uneasily.

I shrugged. "Dunno, but he was complaining about being hungry."

"No!"Loki yelled, struggling to his feet. "We are family, and we have valuable information. You can't feed us to him."

"Well, I don't think anyone here is strong enough to stop him, if he gets the munchies,"I replied.

Jedrick's laughter echoed in my mind. "You have a mean streak, Imp."

"Inherited it from my father."

"We know where Crom's warehouses are located. And… And the moon his pirates use as a base. And… And he's been kidnapping warriors to use in the Tuxrai's gladiator games,"Ivan babbled.

I frowned. Gladiator games? And who were the Tuxrai?

Jedrick and Father Trayon exchanged grim looks.

Before I could ask about the Tuxrai, the babies swarmed up my body and perched on my head. "That fun. Do again."

"No," I said firmly. "We will not."

Esme whined, "You no fun."

"The station master wants to interrogate these two. Zadie you will help Shrek,"Jedrick said and teleported away with the two mercenaries.

"But…"

Father Trayon gave me the stink eye and zoomed off.

"It wasn't my fault,"I called after him.

Shrek stuffed a canister of baby Pam into my hand. "You helped create this mess; you get to help clean it up."

"But…"

Shrek gave me a stern look. "Now."

"Yes, sir." I pulled Esme off my head. "And all of you are gonna help."

Chittering loudly, the kids took off and disappeared into the webbing.

"Come back here. Now!" I winced. I sounded like Jedrick.

"You! Female! Get over here,"A loud voice demanded in Galactic Basic.

I glanced over my shoulder.

A heavy-set male dressed in gold armor only rich merchants could afford glared at me. He was glued to a cart filled with stinky purple berries."Did you hear me? Get over here and free me."

I wanted to give him the one-fingered salute and walk off, but Shrek was watching me. "Yes, my lord."Wearing my Debbie Sunshine smile,I strolled over to a merchant and sprayed him. Like magic, the webbing melted away, leaving only a big clump stuck to his hair. Trying not to laugh, I said politely, "There you go. All better."

Instead of being happy I had freed him, he snarled, "You are coming with me."

"No, I'm not."

The merchant grabbed my right wrist tightly. "Yes, you are. I am placing you under citizen's arrest."

"For what?" I broke his hold and backed away. Where the heck were Shrek, Gael, or Keyan?

Without any warning at all, the merchant punched me.

I flew backward, slammed into a wall, and slid slowly to the floor. The room spun dizzily around me.

The merchant picked me up."Any more attempts to escape and I will beat you."

"I haven't… I didn't…"

"Be quiet!" The merchant pinched my cheek painfully. "I am filing charges with the enforcers. I will have you and your family banned from this space station and every station in this quadrant."

He was what my mother would call an entitled snotwad. I was tempted to pull my weapon and stun him, but I'd get the blowback. I really didn't want to ask Jedrick for help either.

A hatch opened and four rough-looking trillium miners sauntered out.

An evil smile pulled at my mouth. The merchant was about to learn you never, ever hit or touched a kid. I screamed at the top of my lungs, "Don't touch me down there. Don't touch me down there."

"Shut up," the merchant roared.

The miners stopped and as one turned around.

"Help me!"

The merchant pinched me again. "Stop your fussing or I will press charges for assault."

"You hit me!"

"Who are they going to believe?"

One of the miners jerked the merchant backward, while his buddy scooped me up.

"Let go of me. Do you know who I am," the merchant sneered.

"Do not care." The brawny miner punched him in the face.

The merchant dropped like a rock.

I clung to my rescuer and sobbed loudly. My mother always said my acting skills were good enough to get me on a vid show.

"You are safe, little one. You are safe." The miner patted my back.

"Zadie! What are you doing with my Zadie," Uncle Ax roared.

"Uncle Ax?"

My uncle yanked me away from the miner. "What is going on?"

"You need to keep a better watch on your child," the bigger miner chided.

Uncle Ax sighed. "You are right. I just turned away for a moment." He kissed my cheek. "She is precious to me."

I snorted in disbelief. Since when?

"Come along, your mother is waiting." Uncle Ax hurried me away.

"What are you doing here? The enforcers have your identity in their databanks and Battle Commander Jedrick is around somewhere."

"I need you to shut the power down on cargo hold sixteen."

I inhaled sharply. "Are you crazy? The station is swarming with Coletti and Askole warriors. Leave while you can."

"I owe Crom fifty thousand credits, and Krur has found me. If I don't pay him, he will kill me. Please, I'm begging you. I need you to do this for me."

Anger, disappointment, and sadness swept over me. Once again, Uncle Ax's gambling problems had gotten him in trouble."Crom was eaten by a Katanic shapeshifter."

"What? Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I was there," I snapped.

"It doesn't matter. I still need you to shut down the power."

The desperation in Uncle Ax's voice was a dead giveaway. "You signed a Shadow Thieves Guild contract, didn't you?"

"I didn't have a choice."

Nothing ever changed. I was tired of his excuses, his lies. I was done with being a thief, always on the run, always looking over my shoulder and always hungry. Dread knotted my stomach. I had a choice to make. Stay with Uncle Ax and die young or choose to stay with Jedrick. He made me feel safe, he would never abandon me, and I didn't think I could survive without our mental link. "How long is the contract for?"

Uncle Ax wouldn't meet my gaze. "Five years."

"Only five?" A pang of grief hit me. "What else did you promise them?"

"You." Krur, the only bald Bjarke I had ever seen, stepped into view, his laser pistol pointed at me. "Drop your weapon."

Tears rolled down my cheeks as I linked with Jedrick. "You sold me to the Shadow Thieves Guild, Uncle Ax?"

"It will be like old times. You take the power down and I steal stuff," Uncle Ax exclaimed.

Krur snarled, "I am not going to tell you again. Drop your weapon or I will stun you."

Teleporting in behind them, Jedrick slammed their heads together and let them fall to the floor. "I am sorry, Imp."

"Me too." I wiped away my tears. "I don't want to steal anymore. I want to be a warrior like you and stop the Rodan from hurting anyone else. Can we be partners?"

Jedrick ran a gentle hand over my hair. "We already are. Our minds are forever linked, and you are the other half of my soul."

"The other half of your soul?" Shock rocked me. I couldn't be, could I? "When I'm all grown up, I'll be your mate?"

"Yes." Jedrick watched me carefully.

I stared at him for a long moment. I knew what sex was. My parents always embarrassed me by kissing and stuff. I didn't even want to think about our pox-ridden neighbor, Toto, who had sex wherever he wanted. I shuddered at the memory of his icky, sore-covered butt.

I'd admit Jedrick was nothing like Toto or my father. The Battle Commander was extremely good-looking. He had a strong body, all his teeth, didn't stink, and since he wasn't itching his crotch like crazy, I doubted he had the pox.

Jedrick had the strangest look on his face.

I frowned. "You, okay? You didn't hurt yourself, did ya?"

"I am uninjured."

I eyed the amusement in his eyes. Was he laughing at me? Probably. The idea of being Jedrick's mate, didn't gross me out, but he was awfully bossy. "Okay, you're my mate but no funny stuff until I'm older."

"You have my word."

"You don't have the pox, do ya?"

Jedrick made a choking noise. "No, Imp, I do not."

"Or the zombie curse or the rot?"

Every inch the battle commander, he shook his head. "I do not."

"Good. Dad caught the pox once and I thought my mother was going to kill him."

Jedrick rubbed a hand over his mouth. "Our bond keeps me from having sex with other females."

"Good. Let's go kill some Rodan."

Jedrick bowed. "Anything my lady wishes."

Keyan and Gael ran up.

"Take them into custody," Jedrick instructed.

Uncle Ax groaned.

"Yes, Commander."

My uncle's eyes opened as Keyan cuffed him. "I am sorry, Zadie."

"You're only sorry you got caught." I watched Keyan drag him off and all I felt was relief. "Goodbye, Uncle Ax."

Jedrick pressed a kiss to my head. "You belong to my family now."

"Any of them thieves?"

"No, but Wulf's mate is a bounty hunter."

A female bounty hunter! How cool was that.

"And before you ask, you cannot hunt with Yakira until you are older," Jedrick interjected.

"How much older?"

"Eighteen."

"What?" I squawked. "That's like five years from now."

"The males she hunts are dangerous."

"More dangerous than the Rodan?"

"You will be in my battle group and surrounded by highly-trained warriors," Jedrick responded.

I rolled my eyes. Yeah, what could possibly go wrong?