Asmodel (Alien Legacy Brotherhood #2)

4. Chapter Four

Chapter Four

“U m, thank you?” Izzy rubbed her arms, keeping them crossed. She studied the creature, Jaltaar. So far, he seemed nice enough. But she had to remind herself not everyone was. Her tendency to take everyone at face value made things hard for her more than once.

But he hadn’t attacked her or anything. That had to count for something. Right?

He stood with his elbow clasped in one paw while he petted his whiskers with the tip of an extended claw of the other. He tilted his chin at the smoldering spaceship behind Izzy. “Were you in that?” His large, bright-emerald eyes with their black vertical pupils narrowed. “Are you hurt?”

“Yes, I was, but no, I’m not hurt.” She glanced at the smoking ship behind her. “At least I don’t think so.” She shivered as hot adrenaline rushed through her, making her shiver. Biting the side of her bottom lip, she studied the alien. “Do you know what happened?”

Jaltaar frowned and stepped closer. “No. My crew and I were sent here to investigate that ship after it entered our atmosphere. What can you tell me about it?”

Izzy gave him a wan smile and looked around. Where was his crew? Not that it mattered at this point.

“Believe it or not, I can’t tell you much. Like I said, a small alien kidnapped me and put me into stasis on that ship before we left.” She rubbed her arms again. “I don’t know how I ended up here.” The stench of the burning ship made her cough.

He tilted his head, and his whiskers fanned up. “Sit here while I check out the wreck as much as I can before the flames become too much.” He placed a paw on her shoulder and guided her to the root of one of the large trees.

She sat with a grateful grunt.

“You’ll be okay here, but don’t move.” Jaltaar removed the bow from the harness at his back. “This area is an undeveloped sanctuary for wild animals. You’re lucky the crash kept most of them away. Before we head out, I’ve got to contact the rest of my team.”

He turned to the side and touched a claw to the front of the black leather collar around his thick neck, growling and hissing.

The words translated in her mind.

“Yes, I’m on site and I haven’t found anything yet.” His ears twitched. “No.” He chuckled. “Stop nagging, I’m not in any danger. Of course I’ll let you know after I finish sorting through this wreck. I suspect it’s an Ozevroc ship.” He snorted. “Yeah, incompetent as always.” He gave Izzy a quick glance. “Don’t worry, I’ll let you know if I find anything.”

Ozevroc? Oh, that must be the name of those furry little aliens who forced her into the small spaceship. Wait, didn’t he just say he hadn’t found anything? Izzy glanced around at the thick foliage. Why would he say that?

“Okay, I’ll meet you then.” Jaltaar poked the collar again, and she became the focus of his attention. “Stay here and don’t move. I promise I’m not going far, but if anything approaches you, shout.” He pulled an arrow from the quiver strapped to his back and placed it on the bow with a solid grip of his claws to ready it to use.

Izzy nodded and leaned back against the solid bark. “No worries.” Taking a deep breath, she chuckled. “I’m not going anywhere.”

All at once, the last few moments caught up with her. It wasn’t every day a person survived an alien kidnapping, was held in prison with four other women, got kidnapped again and then woke up on an alien planet getting rescued by a formidable cat-man. She shivered, pulled her knees up and wrapped her arms around them, rested her chin there, and stared at nothing.

The world was silent except for a soft breeze rustling the feather-leafed trees, causing them to sing an exotic song.

Izzy didn’t pay attention to the muffled sound of Jaltaar’s footsteps walking away. She closed her eyes as tears gathered and rested her forehead on her hard knees, trying to grapple her careening emotions.

The back of her neck prickled. She lifted her head and looked around. She searched through the small bushes covered with strange colorful flowers and fruits that mingled with the earthy musk of the moss-covered ground. With a tilt of her head, she strained to hear anything that might be coming close. Glancing left and right, she noticed nothing different. Except… there. In the thick bushes on her left she swore there was a pair of large, midnight-blue eyes sprinkled with lighter blue and silver spots surrounding a vertical black pupil that held the universe in their depths. They peeked at her between the foliage.

“Um, Jaltaar person…” Izzy’s voice came out a rough whisper. She cleared her throat and sat straight. Keeping her gaze locked on those mesmerizing eyes, she didn’t dare blink. Pushing up with her hands behind her, she stood on shaking legs.

The round eyes now were at her level and moved closer. Holy cow, she was being stalked.

“Jaltaar?” Look at her, talking like a normal person. The wobbly terror in her tone was hardly noticeable. Not like someone who was about to be eaten by some vicious alien monster. The darn thing crept closer, making it easier to see pointed ears, slightly larger than a human’s, twitching as they moved. Between those ears was a fur-covered forehead, a lush velvety texture in a deep, rich shade of midnight blue, a perfect canvas for the array of orange strips lining long fur in harmony.

Too stunned to move, Izzy’s mouth dropped open as a wondrous figure emerged from the thick bushes. It was a cat-woman. No, not a cat, but a sleek, graceful panther standing on two legs wearing a form-fitting outfit that enhanced her curvy, human-like figure. A string of coils covered her neck and had to be made of some kind of brass or gold, etched with exotic symbols and figurines. On the outside bottom of her wide, pyramid-shaped ears were metallic bars that glinted against her thick head of dark midnight-blue hair that flowed down her back. Izzy got the impression that instead of decorations, they were some type of communication devices.

And in a tight grip, the cat-woman held a long pole lodged in the ground, the tip of a spiked ball pointed up at the same height as the female’s head.

This was one lady Izzy didn’t want to mess with.

“Talira!”

Jaltaar's masculine roar made Izzy jump.

In a blur, his form raced toward them, his short dark-blue fur gleaming with black-and-deep-green highlights as he raced toward the female.

“Jaltaar!”

The female ran in his direction, sprinting with strong, muscular legs that made the distance between them evaporate. With a joyful cry, she leaped at him, landed with her legs wrapped around his trim waist, and gripped her arms around his thick neck.

Izzy’s eyes widened when she noticed neither one of them had dropped their weapons in their eagerness to be together.

Dual purrs filled the air as the two felines nuzzled and scraped the sides of their muzzles together. A few light licks here and there as they rubbed their faces together and entwined their tails around each other.

The beauty of their obvious heartfelt love brought tears to Izzy’s eyes. That’s all she’d wanted when she left Earth. To find a deep and abiding love like that. Too bad that dream more than likely wouldn’t happen now.

Izzy did her best not to make a sound and interrupt the lovers’ reunion, but her deep sigh escaped as she watched the joyful reunion between Jaltaar and the female he called Talira. Even though the sound was barely a whisper, they must have heard her because they broke apart and glanced at her.

“Golly.” She put a hand over her heart. “I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

The two lovers looked at each other with a smile. A brief nuzzle at the side of their snouts blended their whiskers together.

Talira dropped her legs from Jaltaar’s waist and gripped his upper arms. With one hand she petted between his ears.

His purr rolled louder.

“Is this the human you told me about?” Her voice came out as a sensual rumble.

He preened into her caress with eyes half shut. “Yes, and unfortunately, we don’t have much time.” He took her paw and brought her middle claw to his lips for a light lick. “My team will soon be here, and there’s something I need to show you—” He nodded in Izzy’s direction. “—and her. It’s imperative you both know what’s at stake.”

He pulled a rectangular steel box from one of the side pockets in his pants.

It was a marvel of alien engineering that seamlessly blended art and technology. Sleek and elegantly crafted, its surface shimmered with a subtle luminescence that captured and played in the dappled light filtering through the forest canopy.

“Oh, is that a new Lumiview Prism?” Talira exclaimed as she retracted her claws and fisted her palm over her chest. “I heard it not only responds to your commands, but can analyze your intentions and provide you with information you never thought to ask.” She tilted her head back with a twinkle in her eye. “I don’t suppose you brought me one?”

Jaltaar’s sheepish grin made Izzy chuckle. The boy was busted.

“I promise to work on getting you one, my tsuki .” He caressed the whiskers on the side of her face, his expression filled with tenderness.

“I’ll hold you to that.” Talia’s tone lowered as she nuzzled his paw before giving Izzy her full attention. She stepped away from Jaltaar but kept a grip on his paw and put her other one over her heart. “I am Talia of the House of Cyndor from the village Nekojin.”

For the first time, the tension pinching Izzy’s shoulders loosened. “Hi!” She gave a little wave. “I’m Isabella Pilar Ramirez Torres. But please call me Izzy.”

Talira gave a brief nod. “I am honored.” Her whiskers fanned out. “Are you really a human from Earth?”

“Yep,” Izzy rocked on her heels with her hands behind her back. “That’s me. A good old-fashioned human from Earth.”

Talira eyed her up-and-down. “You are a strange, but graceful-looking creature.”

Izzy stopped fidgeting and scratched the side of her jaw. “Thank you. I think.”

“Were you harmed by the crash?” Talira nodded at the smoldering wreck behind her. “You don’t look like you’re hurt.” Her vertical pupils widened, making the midnight blue of her eyes all but disappear. “How is that possible?”

Izzy shrugged as Jaltaar answered.

“As I said, I have something to show you.” He held out his Lumiview device. “I recorded the meeting I had with the Dominion Collective led by the Supreme Alpha Regent Korvax himself.”

The long fur on Talira’s tail waved in the air as she thumped it hard on the forest floor. “You met with Alpha Regent Korvax?”

Izzy stilled. Wow. Sounded like Talira wasn’t a fan of that person.

Jaltaar nodded with downcast eyes. “Yes.”

The hurt tone in his voice made Izzy raise her eyebrows.

“He didn’t have a choice since I’m the commander of the largest squad in the palace guards.” He looked up as a shadow crossed his face, his whiskers drooping.

Talira gasped. “I can’t remember the last time you told me he talked to you.” The fur under the coils covering her neck expanded, several strands peeking out. “It must have been really important.”

“Watch.”

Jaltaar’s claw poked at the device’s face. It hummed as an image projected in the air with astonishing clarity. The scene unfolded in an elaborate, spacious chamber. Cold, blinding-white marble covered the room, with gold, silver, and bronze etchings outlining the moldings on the ceiling and floor.

On a throne made of dark wood and platinum sat a male scikvak. He had the same orange stripes Jaltaar had, except his navy-blue fur was more prominent than the stripes. He leaned forward with his paws gripping the armrests while his tail, complete with a ball of midnight fur with orange stripes, wagged back and forth in sharp bursts. His fire-orange eyes narrowed on the strangest thing Izzy had ever seen.

It looked like a woman made of living crystal. She appeared sculpted from a translucent, crystal-based material that captured and amplified the soft light of the room. It was easy to see her in all her glory since the creature didn’t have a stitch of clothing on. All over her was a mesmerizing array of sharp, geometric crystal shapes, each facet meticulously carved to reflect and refract a spectrum of fiery hues, from the softest amber to the deepest orange, mimicking the warm glow of a setting sun.

Instead of hair, the creature had a crown of crystal spikes emanating from her head. Each one glowed and cast a halo of light around her, illuminating her surroundings with a warm, golden light. The spikes varied in length and shape.

Izzy shivered at her untamed appearance.

But it was her alien face that held a mesmerizing masterpiece of exotic elegance. High, sweeping cheekbones created a slender, elongated silhouette. Her large, pupilless eyes commanded attention, intense with a fiery light that flickered and danced like flames.

Izzy sensed a sharp, fanatical gleam in the crystal person’s gaze.

“You dare threaten me ?” The rumbling question came from the scikvak sitting on the massive throne in front of the crystal woman.

The surrounding guards kept still as they focused on the alien.

“Good Supreme Alpha Regent of Pantherion Prime.” The crystal woman gave a respectful bow, but the gleam in her eyes screamed insolence. “I am offering you an unheard-of opportunity for you and your people.” She straightened and gestured to the crowd behind her. “Not only will Lord Baelon allow all zaltrixan to exist, but he is offering you the chance to rid yourselves of the inferior pardalions, leaving you sole control of CeluriaVO.”

The Alpha Regent glared at the female and tapped an extended claw on the ornate armrest with one hand while he rested his chin on a closed fist. “So, what you’re saying is you want us to retrieve a human female in our protected wilderness that you caused to crash here on CeluriaVO. How do we know she even survived?”

The yellow crystal alien curled her full lips. “As I explained to you before, being a strong telekinetic, I pulled her out of the craft before I lost control of my ship and ended up on the outskirts of your city instead of in the jungle.” She crossed her arms, her bright pupilless eyes narrowed. “Unfortunately, I utilized most of my internal power to remove the human from the ship without causing harm to her. In doing so, I cannot recharge in time to retrieve her on my own.” Her bald head tilted, causing the protruding crystals to glimmer. “I fear if left alone, the creature won’t live long enough in your wilderness for me to obtain her.”

The Alpha Regent sat back. A slow, satisfied smirk creased his thin, black lips around his snout, exposing the tips of his upper fangs. “So, Prisma-Solara.” He waved a negligent hand at the crystal woman. “If we bring this human to you, you will help us eliminate the disgusting pardalions?” His clear pumpkin-orange eyes filled with fanatical joy.

“No, Alpha Regent.” Prisma-Solara took a step closer to the elaborate throne. “I will not help you.” Her satisfied smile was hard. “I will eliminate them for you.”

In low light of the raucous confines of the Grub & Grog, the clueless patrons ignored the oncoming confrontation between Asmodel—now in the form of Raxx—and the newcomers.

The group of aliens facing him scowled and snarled over the sounds of boisterous conversations and clinking glasses with the bass-thumping music in the background. Asmodel nonchalantly grabbed a drink from a table and surveyed the group. The anticipation of the impending aggression made his muscles tense as he studied his new challengers with a smirk.

“You secure back there, JR13?” He side-mouthed the question to his bot companion.

“Affirmative, organic man. Don’t spend useless energy if you can help it.”

The answer came with a sharp pinch at the back of his neck, letting him know the droid had a steady grip. “No promises,” Asmodel grinned.

The leader, a towering brute with a jagged scar running across his face, locked eyes with “Raxx” and growled, “There you are, Jorlen. Thought you’d hide in this cesspool?”

Asmodel studied his new foes, noting their rugged appearance.

They stood around seven feet tall, with thick necks and rough, rust-red or drab-gray skin. Their broad shoulders and trunk-like, muscular limbs made them formidable opponents. Their faces were sharp and angular, with deep-set, narrow eyes filled with calculating coldness. Short, spiky ridges covered their bald heads that matched their prominent lower jaws and jutting sharp bottom teeth.

They wore dull utilitarian battle-suits devoid of any decorations except for scratch marks and various dents. They looked as uncomfortable as hell.

Asmodel took a sip of the drink before replying with feigned surprise at the Vargrux. “Oh, was I hiding? Here I thought I was just having some drinks here with my friends.” He waved his glass to the now-quiet crowd, the green liquid inside splashing over the lip. “So glad you’re here to tell me what I was really doing.” He gave a loud, insincere sigh with his hand over his heart. “You know how it is—everyone wants me, and there just isn’t enough of me to go around.”

In unison, the smelly group of Vargrux blinked, as if surprised their prey talked back to them.

“Funny.” The leader growled. “Let’s see if you’re still joking when we pull your spine out of your ass.”

Behind the group, the tavern patrons edged away as the Vargrux surrounded Asmodel. The idiot in front, probably eager to prove himself, lunged forward, only to slip on a spilled drink of unknown origin—courtesy of Asmodel accidentally spilling it with his telekinesis.

Asmodel jumped away as the mercenary crashed into the next table, sending glasses and customers scattering. “Oops,” he chirped, “Careful, my friends. This place is really dangerous. You’d think they’d at least put up a ‘caution, wet floor’ sign.”

Not to be outdone, another Vargrux charged with head down and an energy blade in hand.

Asmodel ducked, resulting in the unfortunate alien head-butting the bar. “Now, now,” he tutted. “Violence isn't always the answer. Especially when you're so bad at it.”

With a roar, another one charged, only to be hit by a round container filled with liquid from behind the bar that Asmodel swung at him with his mind, knocking the Vargrux off his feet.

The bin exploded and soaked the unconscious alien.

The skirmish burst into action.

Asmodel danced around the attackers, his moves almost comical in exaggerated grace. With psychic ease, he turned their own momentum against them, causing more than one to collide with their comrades, turning the fight into a farce.

The leader, with bulging eyes and fangs exposed, made a final, desperate attempt by lowering his head and charging.

Quick as a flash, Asmodel placed his hand on the mercenary's head and used his psychic push to slide the Vargrux face-first across the bar, wiping out an array of drinks before his head crashed into the wall.

Untouched, Asmodel wiped his hands together with a dramatic flourish. “I'd say your approach needs a bit more finesse. But hey, who am I to judge?” He crossed his arms with a wide stance, then he smiled. This was fun. The laughter in the tavern agreed with him.

The defeated Vargrux leader pulled himself off the bar, his gray suit colorful from the various drinks and food he’d crashed into. With a glare, he kept his puke-colored eyes of yellow on Asmodel and pulled out a sharp triangle of glass from his cheek. Deep-, almost black-, red blood gushed out.

In a voice that carried a deadly calm, he hissed, “Enjoy your laugh, Raxx. This isn't over. We’ll find you in the shadows where you hide, and there won’t be anyone there to watch you die. The next time we meet, it’ll be your end.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Scare me a new one, asshole.”

With a flick of his fat fingers, the leader sent the large piece of glass in Asmodel’s direction, which he easily swatted away.

With a last glare, lips curled in a snarl, the Vargrux turned, his armored figure disappearing into the neon haze of the night outside the bar. Behind him, his troop followed, their unconscious liquor-soaked companion carried out by two of his companions. They left behind a lingering sense of foreboding, putting a wedge in the previous camaraderie of the Grub & Grog.

Asmodel watched the mercenary aliens leave with a thoughtful frown. If those aliens found the real Raxx, he doubted the human would escape as easily as he did. Maybe when everything was all said and done, he’d find a way to help the guy.

But for now, time to leave with a lasting impression. He hefted the wrist unit he ‘borrowed’ from the leader. Tossing it to the bewildered bartender, he quipped, “Use this to buy a round for everyone.” He glanced at the mess. Broken tables and chairs littered with splintered glass among a river of mixed drinks. “And maybe something for the cleaning crew.”

The Grub & Grog erupted into cheers and laughter. Everyone returned to their previous revelries. Looked like the night's entertainment faded as the brawl turned into distant memory.

Asmodel, with a satisfied grin, blended into the crowd and morphed back to himself, leaving no trace of Raxx Jorlen behind.

Izzy frowned when Jaltaar poked the Lumiview device with an extended claw and the image faded. “I don’t understand.” Her face flushed. What choice did she have but to admit her ignorance. “Who or what is that, uh, unusual-looking woman… lady? And why does she want me?” The thought of that mean-looking alien wanting her for whatever reason made her shiver. “And why does she agree to eliminate pardalions, whatever those are?”

“That, my human friend—” Jaltaar put the now-silent device back into the side pocket of his pants. “—is a Krystalii by the name of Prisma-Solara, who hails from another dimension. Their primary goal is to take over our galaxy by raping our planets of their resources for their own use.” He turned his bright-emerald eyes her way. “And their leader, a fellow by the name of Lord Baelon, believes they can use human women to speed up their ability to create more of their crystal citizens. Apparently, it takes thousands of years for one of them to grow into a sentient being. And he’s looking for a way to cut that timeline in half.”

Izzy wrinkled her nose. “That doesn’t sound right.” She clasped her hands behind her. “I may not be a biologist, but I don’t see how we’re compatible with something like them. And are you telling me she’s the one who caused that ship—” She thumbed to the billowing smoke from the crash behind her that now coated the air with noxious fumes. “—to crash and then somehow pulled me out before I got hurt?”

Jaltaar shrugged. “Apparently. She comes from a race with a high degree of various psychic abilities. Which somehow got depleted when she pulled you out of that ship.” He glanced at Talira. “We should keep that in mind. Knowing what makes her weak might be something we could use against her later.”

Talira’s pink tongue peeked out and wiped across her downturned thin black lips surrounding her snout. “Do you think she has the power to eliminate all of us pardalions?” Her concern came through loud and clear, even in a whisper.

“What do you mean, eliminate you pardalions? Why would the Alpha Regent want to kill his own people?” Izzy swore if the furrow on her forehead got any deeper, it’d get stuck like that.

“The Alpha Regent doesn’t want to kill all scikvak.” Talira’s long tail swished in hard strokes behind her. “Just the pardalions.”

Well, goose feathers. Now the frown lines around her mouth were going to get stuck, too. “A pardalion? What’s that?”

Talira pointed an extended claw from her paw at her chest. “I am. I’m a pardalion.” She gestured to Jaltaar. “And he’s a zaltrixan.”

“Huh?” Okay, call her confused. She glanced between the two feline scikvak. “Is that the name of the country where you come from?”

Jaltaar shook his head. “I don’t know what the word country means, but on CeluriaVO, the ruling class are my people, the zaltrixan. Talira is part of the lower class called the pardalions.”

Izzy’s eyebrows rose. “Why? What’s the difference? You’re both the same species, aren’t you?”

Jaltaar’s whiskers twitched. “Yes, but the differences between us is unsurmountable for a great majority of our population.”

Her brow tightened, giving her a headache. Not sure how to avoid offense by her observation, she did her best to be as careful about her wording as much as possible. She nodded at Talira. “Is it because she’s a female?”

Jaltaar’s incredulous expression made Izzy giggle.

“Female?” Talira snorted and crossed her slender, muscular arms. “What would that have to do with anything?”

“Because you have dark-blue eyes and his are a pretty green?”

Jaltaar rumbled.

Okay, that was a definite no. Looked like color and gender weren’t the issues. Must be something else. “Is it because Jaltaar has a bow and arrow and you carry a stick for a weapon?” She was grasping at straws here.

“Are you being deliberately obtuse?” Talira’s whiskers, in their pale-orange color, fanned out. Her pointed ears twitched back and forth. “Can you not tell the obvious difference between our races?” She waved a paw between her and Jaltaar.

Izzy tapped her forefinger on her bottom lip. Okay, this was serious. She narrowed her eyes and studied the couple in front of her. They both had pretty midnight-blue fur covered in orange stripes.

There stood Jaltaar, proud and erect, the epitome of feline masculinity. Strong jawline, high, chiseled cheekbones framed a slight snout over a slit of a mouth outlined in black. The only thing on his face with any hint of softness were his beautiful eyes, a swirling blend of iridescent emerald green.

The midnight-blue fur on his visible chest had wide, dramatic orange stripes that reminded her of a Bengal tiger. Even his thick tail swishing behind him coiled with dark-orange stripes. Not an ounce of extra skin or fat marred his muscular form.

Izzy turned her attention to Talira. Her face was soft and streamlined, as graceful as a ballet dancer’s. Lush black lashes outlined with striking black tracks framed her midnight-blue eyes, speckled with silver star-like streaks.

Luscious, long, dark fur, a touch lighter than Jaltaar’s, covered Talia’s graceful, lovely feline form. Her form-fitting garment was a light tan that showcased her toned arms in short sleeves and ended at her mid-thighs. Her slender tail had freedom of movement, now agitated in bold swipes behind her. The entire ensemble allowed a full display of her willowy and lightweight feminine form in its hourglass, human-like figure.

Looking at them both, the only thing Izzy saw were two sentient beings of the same race who looked like the large cats on Earth, but walked on two legs instead of four. They were both wildly pretty while imposing at the same time.

Izzy shrugged. “No offense, but I can’t see anything different between you—” She gestured at them. “—except for what I said before.”

Jaltaar’s chin jutted and his lips pulled back, exposing his upper fangs. “I cannot believe you don’t see the major difference between us.”

Talira crossed her arms and nodded to the male beside her. “Look closely at our fur.”

Squinting, Izzy stepped closer. Both had thick, glossy coats she’d love to pet under other circumstances. “You’re both absolutely beautiful.” She fisted her hands to stop herself from reaching out to stroke either of them. It’s not like they’d appreciate being treated like pets or anything.

“No!” Jaltaar barked with a strangled laugh. “Look at us! Closer.”

Closer? Well, okay. Izzy shrugged and walked around them. Both had to be excellent examples of their race. Tall, lean, and muscular, with the most interesting tails imaginable. Her mischievous side poked up. How great would it be to have something like a tail to create a playful puppet on the ends to entertain the children on reading day at the library? Ooh, maybe they could hold things with those strong-looking appendages. Think how easy it’d be to shelve books! Like having three hands instead of two.

Izzy cocked her head and watched Jaltaar’s tail. It had a ball of fur like a dandelion at the end. “Is it because you have fur at the end of your tail and she doesn’t?”

Said tail thumped as Jaltaar spun around.

Talira laughed. “Oh, I think she and I are going to get along just fine.” She smiled, exposing her upper and lower fangs. “Izzy, can’t you see I have gloriously long fur and he goes around practically naked with his minuscule excuse for a pelt?”

“Hey!” Jaltaar’s tail wrapped around Talira’s waist and brought her close to nuzzle her snout. “You stroke my minuscule excuse for a pelt every chance you get.”

Talira purred and twined her tail with his. “Yes, I agree with the human. You are quite beautiful.”

Izzy frowned. “The Alpha Regent wants to kill you because your fur is longer than his?”

How crazy was that?