Page 6 of Shadow's Chosen

A memory of a nillium’s threat whispered in his mind, and he almost laughed.

That pompous ass of a prince really thought he had everything under control. The nillium men believed all their women were housed in their care, like pampered prisoners on their sacred planet. But many didn't care for that life, and more than a few slipped out any way they could. Even if it meant being in the care of a crime lord like Vesra.

Yes, the nillium prince really thought he had his women safe from others’ prying, curious hands. He had threatened Nezka not long before his death to stay far away. Funny, since Nezka had already had a taste.

And it was good. Jazlin was lovely, there was no doubt. But as his hand touched against her thigh, trailing slowly upward, he had a vision of someone else in her stead.

No, not really someone else. Something else. Something new...something different...softer. But less tame.

The first time he laid eyes on a human woman, he had been curious to say the least. And he hadn't felt that level of curiosity in many years. The ones imprisoned on the nillium's home world were as strange as they were alluring, in the way one would feel discovering something fresh and unique and not entirely unpleasing to the eye. Though they had a build similar to a nillium woman, they looked less proud, less rigid, their skin not golden, nor scaled or rubbery, but soft. He'd only glimpsed the humans from a distance, save for one girl who he had a brief encounter with. He had been surprised and pleased to find a fiery spirit in her, small but promising. Had he wanted to take her to a room and see what that spirit could do? Yes. But only because she was new and intriguing. The feelings were no deeper than the many other times he had wanted (and had) a woman of a different kind.

He might have considered persuading her to a bed (but never to force—he hated the idea of a struggling, unpleased woman) because he could tell she was curious of him as well, though she hid it behind her fear and anger.

As soon as he smelled the nillium male on her like a bond mark and sensed that she was with child, he dissolved such a temptation. He didn't like playing with others’ mates.

Still, the want was there. The human girl had tried to stop him from hunting for others of her kind, but, even if he wasn't under orders from his master, Vesra, or under a loose contract with the nillium prince, Korzien, he would have gone looking for them. For curiosity's sake. And by some strange pull he had yet to understand. A larger promise somewhere far away.

He gripped at Jazlin's upper thigh, bringing her closer, hearing her sharp intake of breath in his ear, and sighed. “Another day. As much as I'd like to, I worry we have little time. And we both know how impatient a man Vesra is." He drew himself away from her, gently pulling her leg from his waist and setting it down on the ground. "But you won't be far, and there will always be time enough after." He gave her one of his wicked smiles. Curved fangs grazed his lower lip as he touched the side of her face like a lover.

Her gaze turned on him in disappointment, but she did not press for him to stay, and he did not linger.

The temptation to draw her against him, to feel her smooth touch, was there still as he turned and went out of the room, but he pressed onward, ignoring his instinctual wants for more important matters. He walked down the passage, making a sharp left at a set of doors which slid open at his approach. Inside the small circular room, his team stood or sat around a large round slab in the center currently displaying a holographic image of the planet that slowly turned below them. Irosa.

Nezka approached the display and tapped on the planet so that it focused on a specific area of the city. The door behind him opened again, and Jazlin settled herself against one wall. Ruumas, who had been sitting at a console on the far side of the room, turned in his chair.

"The data is transferred, and we have access to their network," he stated. "I've looked into their outer transmissions and found several messages. One includes the bounty the drogin mentioned. They are seeking those even outside their system. Perhaps their own are inferior."

"Or they don't wish to risk their people's lives," hissed Vijnn. "Better to seek others to take the bait and see if any come out alive."

Nezka stood silently thinking as he stared down at the map before him. He tapped on it again, and the city focused in closer. "This is the gate through which the humans entered." He pointed to a city pass into the lower levels. "If there is any trail, it will start there."

"We could sneak in and use the pulse tracker to search around," said Wruk, eyeing the map as well. "Wouldn't be too hard to catch a trace."

"Except, according to the information in this Ulink, the gates between the upper and lower levels are being heavily watched and guarded," Ruumas replied. "They'll find us eventually and wonder what a bunch of outsiders are doing roaming the borders trying to get into the undercity."

Nezka stayed quiet again, thinking. His eyes narrowed as he studied the endless passageways and maze of roads through the undercity and the gates between them along with tunnels and bridges leading to different sectors. They couldn't fly over without being seen, and the city's security was likely advanced enough that they could override the ship's systems, forcing them to land. If they were to have any leeway into the lower sectors, they would have to put up a front.

"What else do they say about the bounty?" Nezka asked.

Ruumas swiveled back to his screen and searched the network. "They are looking for teams or individuals to send in. Currency seems like a good price...mainly for the heads of the leaders of gangs, including these Red Blades. There are only a few pictures and names but not much else."

Nezka crossed his arms. "We go in seeking this bounty. That will give us access to the undercity and gain trust with the city leaders. Let them think we are there to exterminate their enemies. But it will be the humans we are looking for."

The others seemed to grow excited by this prospect.

"A double mission? '' said Vijnn, rubbing his scaly hands together. "I like it."

"Do we get to take the heads of the gang leaders if we like?" asked Jazlin from the back.

Nezka smiled. "If you want. But only if it doesn't deviate from our true goal. Understood?"

The others barked in agreement.

The door of the room slid open once more, and Silfres stepped inside. "You won't believe it," he said to Nezka. Then he looked over to the skra. "Ruumas, check the map on the pulse tracker, and bring it up on the main display."

Ruumas opened up the map as the lygin moved to Nezka's side. "I happened to catch the signal going off as I was checking the ship's radar," Silfres said. "The drogin’s mind is clean by the way."

"The humans were found?" Nezka could feel his spines tingling in hopeful excitement.

---