Electric Heart by Anna Carven

Author:Anna Carven [Carven, Anna]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-03-31T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-One

“Hey,” Riana blurted in surprise as she entered the small kitchen, inhaling the lingering aroma of real food and spices.

Arin and her Kordolian other half, Rykal, were here.

In the corner, a woman wearing a brilliant blue headscarf in the fashion of the local Touareg people stirred a steaming pot of tea, frequently stealing wide-eyed glances at Arin and Rykal.

Was this her house? If so, why was she allowing them to stay?

“Welcome back to the world of the living.” Arin grinned, relief spreading across her face. “For a while there, I was worried.” Her expression turned serious. “I’m sorry, Riana. I had no idea the fucking Enforcers might be involved in this craziness. I didn’t think it was possible for a monitoring chip to be compromised like that. That’s why we had the good doctor take it out as soon as possible.”

Riana dismissed her concerns with a confused shake of her head. “What the hell are you guys doing here? I thought—”

“There was no way in hell I was going to leave you. After Kail followed you into the Corrections facility, I doubled back, keeping an eye on the exits. Wasn’t hard to figure out where he was going to emerge. I just followed the bolt-blasts and the explosions.” She shook her head in amazement. “The fact that he managed to get you out relatively unscathed is a near-miracle, but then again, I’m not surprised. It’s Kail we’re talking about here.”

“He might not look it, but Kail’s a good sort.” Rykal leaned back in his chair. Although he was armed to the teeth, he carried an air of nonchalance about him. He offered her a conspiratorial wink. “Don’t tell him I said that, though.”

Riana gaped at the Kordolian. Her head was in a fog, her thoughts percolating slowly through her paralyzed brain. Perhaps it was the effect of being close to death for three days, or maybe it was the because she’d just had an intensely overwhelming encounter with Kail, but she couldn’t seem to think straight.

“He insisted on following me,” Arin grumbled. Her tone was harsh, but the look she gave Rykal was totally indulgent. It was clear she was infatuated with the silver alien. “At risk of blowing our cover, and at risk of pissing off the Federation authorities, he slipped out of the Hot Zone.”

“I shouldn’t have let you go alone in the first place,” Rykal shot back. “You’re too exposed out here.”

“I’m a big girl, Ry. This is my planet.”

“Things are different now. Your people don’t entirely trust you anymore. They’ve sidelined you.”

“Trust is relative.”

“You keep saying that. What does it even mean?”

“Ahem.” Riana cleared her throat, feeling awkward. The blue-garbed woman was staring openly at Arin and Rykal now, her attention fixed mostly on the Kordolian.

Her eyes were slightly narrowed and her lips were pressed into a straight, disapproving line.

You people are crazy is what her expression seemed to say.

Not that one would say such things out loud with the likes of Rykal and Kail stalking around the place.

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