Page 57 of The Alpha

“Most of everyone’s private quarters look like this. Only his is bigger than most.”

“Bondrah’s? You know him?”

Raina stopped. “Bondrah?”

Pari looked in the direction they’d come from. “Yes, the alien.”

Raina gave her a heartfelt look. “Melvale.”

Pari frowned. “Who?”

Raina started off again. “Come along, I’ll show you where the bathroom is.”

Pari’s bladder chose that moment to let her know she needed to empty it. “Good idea.”

Raina led her down another short hallway, through a set of curtains, and into a huge room filled with plants and flowers of all shapes and sizes. “What is this place?”

Raina let go her arm and swept a hand at their surroundings. “This is a Muiraran bathroom.”

Pari stared at her. “What did you say?”

“A Muiraran bathroom. They do love to be clean.” She pointed at a large pool with an elaborate fountain in the middle of it. “That is the bathing area.” She nodded to Pari’s right. “But behind that screen is what you’re looking for.”

Pari took one look at the ornate dark wood screen and headed that way. She’d ask questions later. Right now, she had a more pressing matter.

She hurried behind the screen and for the first time noticed what she was wearing. “Never mind that,” she muttered and studied the odd-looking commode.

She took care of business and came out from behind the privacy screen, a hand over her belly. “Thank you.”

Raina smiled and pointed to a small basin to Pari’s left. “You can wash there.”

Pari approached it, and when she got within a foot, water shot up from a spout creating a small fountain. It bubbled and frothed, indicating that there was some kind of soap in it.

“I think I want one of these,” Pari said to herself. She washed her hands, dried them on a pretty silver and blue towel that hung from a peg near the fountain, and looked around. “This is beautiful.”

“Yes, it is,” Raina agreed. She gave Pari a heartfelt smile. “Now, let’s get you something to eat.” Raina looped an arm around one of Pari’s.

She looked at Raina then hugged her. “I thought I’d lost you.”

Raina hugged her back. “No, the people that rescued Halden and me rescued you too.”

Pari drew back. “But who are they?”

Raina gave her another smile. “Eat first, then we’ll try to explain.”

Pari nodded, her heart picking up. Something was wrong, she could tell by the look on Raina’s face, but was afraid to ask. Instead, she let Raina lead her back into the main room, where Halden waited next to a low table now laden with food.

Pari ignored it and stared at Bondrah, still out cold on the bed. “Thank you, whomever you are,” she whispered. After all,hewas the one they showed up to save. She just happened to be there and got saved too. Otherwise, she’d no doubt still be in the clutches of Dr. Charles.

19

Pari stared at the food on the low table.

“Sit,” Halden urged. “Eat.” He sat crossed legged on a huge blue cushion, grabbed an empty plate and started taking grapes, cheese and sliced meats from different platters.

Raina did the same thing, and she could tell they were both hungry. She was too, for that matter, and began grabbing food.

She was about to stuff some grapes into her mouth when an incredibly tall man entered the large room from the big wooden door. He was dressed in yellow and purple flowing robes, and his skin was so black it was almost blue. He grinned as he strode regally to the table, a pitcher of something in his hands, and bowed low. “I bring refreshment,” he boomed, making her jump. He filled Pari’s goblet, then bowed to Raina and Halden.

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