Page 10 of A Cyborg for the Alien Mercenary

Tell shrugged. “The answer might surprise you. Lathar aren’t humanity’s only target.”

Covak’s gaze sharpened. “Oh? Who else you been making friends with?”

Tell’s expression shuttered, the easy rapport evaporating. “Let’s just say we have fingers in a few pies,” he replied, his tone brooking no further questions. Covak knew not to push. Thehuman would divulge no more secrets today. He’d gottenwaymore secretive since they’d found out he was human.

“You’re no fun anymore,” Covak grouched.

“That surprise you?” Tell asked, his eyes glinting.

Covak shook his head, chuckling softly. “No, why would it?”

Tell watched him for long moments before answering. ”Plenty of Lathar I’ve met seem to think females are helpless, in constant need of protection.”

Covak’s laugh boomed through the room, echoing off the metal walls. “Clearly they’ve not met the right ones. Someday I’ll take you to a Vorrtan home world. With that pretty face, some warlady will snap you up for her harem quick as a blink.”

Tell arched a brow. “That so? Sounds like I’d have my hands full.”

“Oh, you would,” Covak assured him, still chuckling. “Vorrtan females are larger than males, and highly aggressive. They run our society with iron fists. Trust me, you’d learn the true meaning of ‘strong woman’ right quick.”

The gym lights flickered briefly, likely due to a course adjustment, but Covak took no notice of it, all his attention on Tell. The human was his best source of information about human females, and Covak wasn’t about to go into the battle of courtship without as much intel as he could get.

“In your experience, what’s the best way to approach a human female without scaring her?” Covak asked, his lips quirking wryly. “For someone like me, I mean.”

Tell grinned. “Don’t growl at her?”

He chuckled and flashed a fang-filled grin. “Noted.”

“Just be yourself,” Tell continued, his expression dropping serious. “Human females value honesty and kindness. Show genuine interest in who they are, not just what they look like.”

Covak nodded, committing Tell’s advice to memory. His thoughts turned to the female they were about to rescue. What would she be like?

The human looked him up and down. “Or you could luck out. Some ladies… they like thembig.”

Covak’s grin widened. “Well, I’m in luck then. I’m?—”

Something about Tell’s expression made him cut his words off. “You mean big, like…” His eyes widened. “Oh… seriously?”

Tell chuckled and pushed off from the bench. “Bless you, you’re gonna be like a fucking lamb to slaughter, big guy, and no mistake.”

4

Covak left the gym after his workout and made his way down the corridor, heading for the galley as he scrubbed at the back of his neck with a small workout towel.

Draanth, I’m starving,he thought, his mouth already watering at the prospect of a hearty meal. The workout had left his muscles pleasantly sore—just what he needed to keep his mind sharp and his body honed for whatever challenges lay ahead.

His stomach growled again, and he pressed a clawed hand against it, wrinkling his nose. One day, one of his teammates was going to think there was a deearin in here and shoot him or something. Something he could well do without… being shot would really put a crimp in his day… and make him hungry. Hungrier, anyway.

He frowned as the steady thrum of the ship’s engines vibrating through the deck plates beneath his feet changed slightly. Dammit, he hoped engine three wasn’t on the fritz again. Not that he knew anything about engineering, but Tell and Anson would bitch at each other incessantly until it was fixed and drive him insane.

As he made his way to the galley, the recycled air of the ship carried a faint metallic tang mixed with the lingering scent of cleaning solutions. The cleaning bots had been down here recently. His sensitive nose twitched in anticipation, already imagining the aroma of seared meat and charred vegetables that would soon fill the air.

The galley doors hissed open to reveal Rann seated at the corner table, a steaming mug of coffee in one hand and a flex screen in the other.

Covak grunted a greeting at the team’s second in command as he headed for the chiller unit. The cold air rushed out as he yanked open the door, sending a shiver across his sweat-slicked skin. He pulled out slabs of meat and an assortment of vegetables, piling them onto a massive plate. Well, it was more a serving tray, but who was counting?

Rann looked up from his flex, his eyebrow arching at the mountain of food.

“Working out again?” Rann asked, his tone even, but a smile quirked the corners of his lips. “Ryke’ll throw a hissy fit at the food bill, you know?”

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