Page 41

“Do you want to do it?” Elias ushered Tegor out of the room and closed the door behind him.

“Not a chance! She might eat me in revenge.”

“Exactly.” He looked at the closed door. “Someone has to stop her.”

“I know royalty have allowances made for their behavior, but eating people and keeping the bones as trophies.” He shuddered and rubbed his arms. “That is all kinds of wrong.”

“Are you going to tell Princess Isolt that, or shall I?”

Tegor scratched his head. “I’m letting you take this one.”

Elias snorted a laugh. “Thanks. You owe me one. This is a big debt to pass on.”

“I’m passing on nothing.” Tegor slapped him on the back. “You found the bones. It’s your fault, showing me that gruesome collection. What were you doing in her room, anyway?”

“Getting myself into even more trouble,” Elias said. “Come on. Let’s get a drink while we wait for the diagnostic.”

“Something very alcoholic. I’m in shock.”

“I can manage strong coffee. That’s about it.” As Elias descended the ramp, his steps faltered, and his eyes widened.

Princess Isolt stood at the bottom of the ramp, her arms folded over her chest and her eyes glazed with anger.

Elias bowed on instinct and his heart thudded. “Princess, might I be of assistance?”

Princess Isolt snapped her fingers at the two guards waiting behind her. “Arrest that one.” She pointed to Tegor.

Tegor backed up the ramp. “Wait, what have I done? We’re repairing your ship, as instructed. We’re supposed to be here.”

Princess Isolt’s eyes narrowed, but she made no comment and watched as the guards marched over and grabbed hold of Tegor.

“What are you doing?” Elias asked. “Don’t you want us to repair your ship?”

Princess Isolt bared her teeth at him. “That Draxdan is your friend; therefore, I cannot trust him with anything of mine.” She gestured at the guards. “Take him away. I’ll deal with him later.”

Tegor turned his panicked gaze to Elias. “What the fuck is going on?”

Elias shook his head as panic raced through him. “This is a misunderstanding. I’ll get it sorted.” He couldn’t allow his friend to be caught up in Princess Isolt’s grudge against him.

Tegor tried to get out of the guards’ grip, but they held on tightly as he was marched away.

“Princess, Tegor has done nothing wrong. He’s doing ship repairs.”

“As I said, he’s involved with you, and that makes him deceitful.” She clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth. “You are to come with me. I have questions only you can provide the answers to.” Two more guards appeared and gestured for Elias to accompany them.

He looked around the docking bay, torn between making a run for it and facing up to his fate. Elias knew Princess Isolt would come for him. He had to face up to this. He hated that Tegor had become involved. He’d clear his name as soon as he could and get him out of this mess.

Princess Isolt turned on her heel and stalked away. “Follow me.”

The guards chivvied Elias between them, standing close enough he could feel their body heat.

He couldn’t run, not now. He’d face up to this shit and deal with it. Elias wouldn’t get out of this easily. Princess Isolt wanted her literal pound of flesh before she was done with him. Even then, that might not be enough.

Chapter 17

It had taken her all morning, but Hayley had finally got a match right. She pressed the enter button on her port screen and watched the compatibility charts configure. Oh, crap. It showed a forty percent match. How had it gone wrong? She’d matched interests, age, sexual preferences, backgrounds, and future plans.

She knew the answer to her stuff up. Professor Raymond Douchebag was on her mind. What could they have to talk about after such a long time? He’d fucked her, dumped her, and made out she’d cheated on a test, so she got kicked out of college. She had nothing left to say to him that didn’t involve cuss words.