“But you can do the light and shadow tricks on your home world?”
“Yes. But because of what we can do, we are banned on some planets. We are not trusted. A few of our kind have committed great crimes.”
“Ah, few shitheads ruined it for everyone. We have the same problem here.”
“It is a galactic problem. We have hunted and arrested people from many species.”
“We also have bounty hunters. You killed Doug. Will you still be paid?”
I nod. “We will be paid. We will need to gather the evidence of his skin and present his Earth computer.”
“Do you want to freeze the skin or something?”
“You have the ability to freeze? That will stop the skin from breaking down until we can store in on our ship.”
“Yeah. I’ll get a big bag to put it in because I’m not touching it, and you’re the one getting paid.” She pauses in the bedroom door. “There will be an investigation into his disappearance. I was seen with him, and he was stumbling. I will be the prime suspect.”
“We will make sure that doesn’t happen to you.”
Her eyes narrow. “You are planning on leaving me here.”
“Of course. This is your world.”
She isn’t smiling or gasping in pleasure now. With her lips drawn back and her eyes narrowed, she looks like she is about to shred us even though she lacks the claws to be deadly. As she stalks closer, we realize she doesn’t need claws to express her fury. It radiates off her and somehow affects us. Does she emit some kind of pheromone that interferes with our senses?
“You can’t tease me with talk of the galaxy and other worlds and galactic cops and leave me here to stare up at the stars, wondering where you are.” Her hand flattens on her chest. “I’ve only just met you. Why do I care?”
“We do not know, but your moods are influencing us. We think it might be a pheromone clash.”
“Meaning?” She snaps.
“Meaning that we have formed a connection because of a sensitivity. It is not permanent and will fade when we leave.”
She snarls and stalks away.
That was not the right thing to say.
“Can I get the skin bag?” I follow her out into the main room.
She rummages through a drawer and thrusts a clear bag at me. “And here’s another one in case he doesn’t fit in one.”
“Could you scrape up some goo and put it in another bag?”
She stares at me.
“Please?”
She pulls out a third bag and a spoon. “Sure. Will you take me with you?”
CHAPTER9
CADENCE
Until the wordswere out of my mouth, I hadn’t realized how badly I want to see more of the universe. Now I know there is more out there. I can’t stay trapped here. I’ll be forever looking up and wondering what I’m missing out on.
It’s probably my messed-up pheromones talking.
Not that I would mind fucking Thistle, both of him, again side effects or not.
