Page 33 of Alien Knight Blind Date Disaster

“That’s why you had the maju water and maju paste, as well as the other”—he did not want to saysex toys, so he quickly changed his choice of words—“other items.”

“Yes. I had to have a steady supply. It took me months to make contact with the high-ranking members of the smuggling operation. At that point we were really getting somewhere in our search. That’s when I began to hear rumors about the others.”

“What others?” Falden asked.

“The really bad guys, the aliens who run the Blood Market.”

King Dagan froze as if stunned. “What did you just say?”

“Slow down and start at the beginning.” Queen Sasha reached for Isabella’s hand and she welcomed the gentle assurance. The king walked around his mate’s chair and settled on the thick arm. “What search? What were you and Sevron looking for?”

“Sevron contacted me months ago and said he needed help—a human’s help. He was searching for his brother, his twin brother. Sevron had heard rumors about a black market on Earth and suspected that they had off-world contacts that might help in the search. But he needed someone they wouldn’t suspect. He was Caldorian. They never would have trusted him.”

All the air left Falden’s lungs in a rush. “This was about Torrin? He escaped from a Vilitos ship shortly after Sevron disappeared. This whole situation could’ve been avoided,” he said gruffly. “Torrin isn’t missing.”

“Well, I didn’t know that. And neither did Sevron.” Why she felt the need to defend herself, she wasn’t sure. But she did. “I was trying to get information that would lead us to Sevron’s brother. And I did. I also found a trail that will lead me to whoever is running the Blood Market.”

“No. You will drop the matter at once,” King Dagan ordered. “You will give me what information you have and walk away. It’s too dangerous.”

“This is my story. My investigation. I don’t have to stop anything. I’m about protecting planet Earth. And no offense, King Dagan, but you aren’t my king.”

“Isabella.” Falden’s low grumbled warning irritated her all the more. Her head was about to split in half. She needed caffeine. And a bed. And some god damned quiet.

“Agreed. I am not your king, Isabella. But I will protect you.”

Isabella remained silent. What was it with these alien men and their chest-pounding, caveman routine? She was a fully functional adult—most days, when her eyes weren’t aching her head didn’t feel like it was about to implode. She could take care of herself. She’d been doing it for a very long time.

When she remained quiet, King Dagan turned to look at Falden. “At least we captured one of the attackers from the bar. Gareth brought him in. He’s still in the interrogation room.”

“I’d like to speak to him.” Isabella didn’t mince words. Whoever they were, they’d arrived guns blazing. If they had been there to attack her, that meant her contact had set her up. She needed to know the truth.

“Whoever he is, he’s no concern of yours.” Falden refused to acknowledge her request. Let her talk to their prisoner? The man was going to die, there was no question about it. She didn’t need to see how Falden would accomplish the task. Or how he was going to get the information he needed. Before she could voice the protest he could see brewing in her eyes, he added, “So Sevron asked you? A female? A small, defenseless human female, to infiltrate a gang of criminals and killers? That doesn’t sound like him.”

Isabella straightened defensively. “I’m an investigative reporter. It’s what I do. Commander Bashall chose me because I have a reputation for getting results. Other reporters have contacts. I havefriends, some of whom I knew would have connections with other people dealing in the black market.That’swho I was meeting the other night. The plan was to get one ofthemto trust me so that I could get information about the black market and, hopefully, his twin brother. But it didn’t work out like I planned.”

“In what way?” the queen asked.

Silence filled the room. She turned to look at Falden. “I found out about the Blood Market instead. And someone on the inside, someone on the Caldorian base, is selling them weapons and tech and…” she shuddered. “And people. They drink blood and eat people.”

“I know what a Blood Market is.” The king rose to pace the room once more. “But not how you managed to track one on this planet.”

“I told you, I have friends in low places.”

“Who are these friends? I would meet with them myself,” Dagan demanded.

“No. I don’t give up my sources.”

“Then I will throw you in an interrogation room until you change your mind.”

Falden stepped between her and the king even as Sasha stood and placed a hand on her mate’s shoulder. “She’s had a shock. She’s in pain. She’s afraid. Leave her alone for a few hours. Give her some time.”

Isabella knew the king was studying her, but she could not tear her gaze from the fascinating flickers of light she could see dancing along the surface of Falden’s skin.

“You will not harm her.” Falden stood toe-to-toe with the king, and if her head hadn’t been aching so badly, she would have cried. No one had ever stood up for her like that. Ever.

“I’m sorry, Falden. I’m sorry I can’t reveal my source. That’s not how it works. Sevron told me to trust no one but the king. Now I have told you everything I can. Sevron suspected there was a traitor on the base, more than one. He said the bad guys knew the Caldorians’ surveillance schedules, where they would be and when. He said someone was fudging the numbers on your inventory counts, taking weapons and anything else they can sell.”

“Why did he not come to me?”

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