Page 13 of A Monster’s Future

Both their eyes went wide.

I continued speaking, “I have been taking nullvein root for years. Since we started trading with Nova Vita. I had a stash, but it ran out.” I crossed my arms over my chest. “It’s why I volunteered for this mission. I was trying to avoid a certain female.”

“I did think it was strange that you volunteered,” Ashtrr said. “You are usually not the type for these missions. This means you already know who your mate is. Who is it?”

I did not reply.

“You have to give us more information if you want us to believe you. As it is, we are being asked to detain you if we have any doubts at all. Does she know?” Trsak asked.

“No.”

“Does that mean you’ve been spending your ruts with other females when you know you have a mate?” Ashtrr looked shocked. “She will hate you when she finds out. If I had a mate, I’d claim her immediately.”

Trsak snorted. “I’d hate you too. But at least I know now that you’re not trying to harm the stronghold. You’re just ridiculously stupid. Are you sure you’re our head medic?” He started tapping furiously on the communication screen. “I’ll have to send Krxare a report. Who is it?”

I pressed my lips together, refusing to give them the name, not when Julie was two doors away. The air on the bridge thickened, the weight of their stares heavy enough to crush me.

Trsak’s expression darkened. “If you do not name the female and prove that this is not a lie, then we are forced to monitor you until we return to Vokira.” He held out his hand. “I hate to do this, but hand over your communicator. I don’t want to throw you in the brig, so you’ll be locked in your quarters for the rest of the trip. Return there with us now willingly or fight us and be dragged there by force. The choice is yours.”

My claws flexed, but I unclipped the device and slapped it into his palm.

Ashtrr stepped forward, his voice sounding tired. “Don’t be stubborn. Just tell us who it is, Grtirr. It’ll make our job so much easier. I prefer having you on the bridge.”

I put my hands up to show I will not fight, but did not offer Julie’s name. If she were back at the stronghold, I might have told them. But she was right there. And I didn’t trust them not to conspire against me and throw me at her to trigger a mate bond just to see if I was being truthful.

With the two following close behind, I started walking to my quarters.

Chapter 7: Julie

The cooki perched on the edge of the table, the stolen piece of meat dangling from its tiny paws, looking like it had just pulled off the greatest heist in cooki history. Yes, I knew that it was technically pronounced kukee, but like many of the humans living with the Kadrixan warriors, I preferred to call them cookis. It was cuter and fit them better.

“We’re going to have to name it now, you know,” Kat said, nodding at the little thief. “Since it’s now our mission’s official mascot.”

She leaned back in her chair, sipping her drink, thoroughly amused and entertained by its antics. Charlene sat next to her, looking just as amused.

The adorable little creature tilted its head, those big, round eyes locking onto me with an innocence that was entirely fake. Its oversized ears twitched, and its fluffy tail curled behind it like a question mark.

“That’s not going to work with me. You’re not getting any more of my food.” I hovered my arms protectively over the remainder of my meal as Kat and Chris looked on. Their food remained unmolested.

“Aren’t cookis supposed to be consummate hunters?” Charlene asked.

Ellaston had a few that lived in their buildings, but the majority preferred living in the stronghold inside the mountains, which was their natural habitat.

“Technically, yeah. They’re supposed to hunt down any pests and eat our food waste to keep the place clean, but a few have decided that stealing our food or begging for handouts is better,” I explained. “We’re not supposed to feed them too much to avoid exactly that.” I glared at the little creature. “You’re supposed to wait until we are finished.”

I’d planned on leaving more than enough for it, but it had been so hungry, and I felt so bad for it, that I’d given it a piece straight from my platter. That had been a mistake. And now it was coming right up and helping itself to my food. It had already managed to touch most of my lunch with its greedy little paws in an attempt to choose between the fried tatertot stem and the meat.

“Are you even sure you want the rest of that?” Chris asked. “Who knows where its paws have been?”

Charlene nodded.

“Grtirr said he found it in his tool kit,” Kat said.

Chris frowned. “Not his medkit?”

I shrugged. “He’s got a hovercraft he’s working on in the lower deck. I was exploring the ship and saw it earlier.”

I stabbed a fried tatertot stem with my finger tongs. Now that the Kadrixans had made the utensils smaller for our hands, I really liked using them. It was like being able to eat everything with your fingers but still keep them clean.