“Did I hear you say that you’ll agree to go?” Commander Rarev asked.
“Oh, um—yes. Yes, of course.” Reluctantly, Lucy broke the staring contest and smiled charmingly at the Monstrum Commander. “Of course—I’m happy to do anything I can to help the Mother Ship.”
“And you are not afraid?” Rarev raised his eyebrows meaningfully.
Lucy shrugged and gave a little laugh.
“Afraid? No—I’ve always been the adventurous type. In fact, I’m fully prepared to go by myself if T’zaren objects to coming with me.”
“I never said I would let you go on your own!” T’zaren growled. He was positivelygloweringat her now. “Though Istilldon’t think you know what in the Seven Frozen Hells you’re getting yourself into.”
“Then I guess I’ll find out,” Lucy said lightly, refusing to be drawn into any kind of quarrel. She looked at Rarev. “When do I start? Um, I only have a few days before I have to get back to teaching.AndI promised my Aunt I’d help her decorate her shop for Halloween, so I hope this won’t take long.”
“I am hopeful it won’t take more than a day or two of your time—for which we will compensate you handsomely,” Rarev assured her.
Lucy waved a hand.
“No need to pay me. Iyanna’s one of my best friends and the Monstrum Mother Ship is her home. I’ll do anything I can to save it.”
“You’re very kind,” Rarev said gravely. “Very well then—we would like you to start immediately if possible.”
“What now? Just go like I am?” Lucy looked down at herself. She liked the white silk blouse and black pencil skirt she was wearing—they looked nice and professional. But was this the right outfit to wear while visiting a two-faced being on another planet? “Maybe I should at least get my blazer,” she remarked. “It will make me look more professional.”
Rarev shook his head.
“You don’t need to bother. Twa’linda won’t care what you wear—she’ll respond to the fact that you’re a female businesswoman like herself. And of course, we will extend you a generous line of credit to make the deal for thedimriel.”
“All right.” Lucy shrugged but inside she felt a little spark of excitement. She had been telling the truth when she’d said she was adventurous. Shelovedtrying new things, from tasting different ethnic cuisines to visiting strange new places she’d never been before. It was one reason she’d been so excited to come see the Monstrum Mother Ship. But now it seemed that she was going to have an even bigger, more exiting adventure. She couldn’t wait!
From the corner of her eye, she could see that T’zaren was still frowning in a foreboding way. It was too bad he wasn’t happy to be going with her, but she refused to let his bad mood ruin her good time.
“All right,” she told Commander Rarev. “Just let me tell Iyanna where I’m going and I’ll meet you at the Docking Bay.”
The Monstrum Commander nodded gravely.
“Thank you, Dr. Heartwood,—and the Mother Ship thanks you too.”
Lucy nodded and rose. Carefully, she made her way to the door of his office—she didn’t want to trip and go sprawling again. But as she left, she thought she could feel T’zaren’s golden gaze on her back and she sensed his resentment with every step she took.
EIGHT
LUCY
“Are yousureyou want to do this?” Iyanna looked at her anxiously. “I mean, it sounds kind of dangerous—right, honey?” She looked up at Dra’vik who had a considering look on his face.
“It shouldn’t be dangerous as long as the Twainer’s Light Face is dominant,” he rumbled, rubbing his chin. “And of course, T’zaren will be there to protect her the entire time.”
“Which is kind of too bad because hereallydoesn’t want to go,” Lucy confided to Iyanna. “I mean, he wassoupset when Commander Rarev ordered him to come along. Especially when he said T’zaren had to act like I was his ‘S’rentha.’ That just means he has to pretend I’m his wife—er, his mate, right?”
“Not exactly.” Dra’vik frowned. “I think I told you all the things that one word can mean—it’s damn complicated.”
“Well, it’s not like it’s apermanentarrangement,” Lucy pointed out.
“No, but evenpretendingthat you are hisS’renthawill mean that T’zaren had to acknowledge you and treat you like his own personal goddess,” Dra’vik pointed out.
“His own personal goddess?” Lucy frowned. “That’s kind of a lot to put onanyrelationship. Don’t you think?”
The Drake Monstrum shrugged, his broad shoulders rolling.