Page 79 of Silent Lucidity

Alkorin sighed, shook his head, and extended a hand. The credit chips clinked on his metal palm as Abella dropped them onto it.

“This should be more than enough for both of the ID chips.” Abella lowered her arm. “We’d justreallylike to get out of here as soon as possible.”

Alk’s brows fell, and his smile faded. He plucked up one of the credit chips and slid the pad of his thumb over its surface. A tiny hologram projected from the top of the chip, rising off it only a centimeter or so. Though she couldn’t read any of the many written languages common throughout the city, she’d seen the characters in the hologram often enough at Cullion’s to know they were numbers.

“This single chip more than pays for what you require,” Alk said, releasing the button. The hologram disappeared. “We had an agreement. Why give me more, after those negotiations?”

There was suspicion on his face now, and the change was so drastic that it jarred Abella’s thoughts.

“Twenty thousand. Half to start, half when done. It does not put me at ease that you’ve given me at least twice that now.” Alk dropped the chip back onto his open palm and closed his fingers around the credits, stepping backward. His gaze flicked to Tenthil. “Trust is a thing earned. I have not earned your trust. I’ve done nothing to warrant this”—he shook his fist—“sowhy?”

“Because I believe your word,” Abella said. “And…you’re kind of our last hope here.”

“You have your reputation for a reason,” Tenthil added.

“You’ve a reputation of your own,” said Alk, “and it doesn’t leave me inclined to take you at your word.”

Tenthil released a frustrated breath. “If I had been contracted—”

Abella turned to Tenthil and placed a hand on his arm. When he snapped his mouth shut and met her eyes, she shook her head. She waited until he eased before looking back at Alkorin.

“You said you didn’t want the details of the trouble we’re in, and I understand that,” she said, “so I’ll review the basics. There are very dangerous people out to kill us. Getting off this planet is ouronlychance to live. And we cannot do that without IDs. Coming to you was already a massive risk to us. We just want you to know that we are serious. You are the only one who can help us.” She glanced at his closed hand. “Maybe use the extra for the next human who comes needing help. I know I can’t be the only one who was taken.”

Alk’s gaze remained fixated on Abella, so intense that she could almost feel it piercing her. Before she was kidnapped, she would’ve found his appearance unsettling—aliens had been living on Earth since a few years before she was born, but she’d never dealt with any who had such inhuman features until she was brought to Arthos. She would never have imagined herself talking to someone like him in this manner.

Hell, she’d never imagined herself leaving Earth.

Suspicion lingered in his eyes, but there was something else there, something deeper—desire.

Alk’s third eye shifted toward Tenthil, followed by the other two a moment later. “You won’t reconsider my prior offer?”

Tenthil stepped forward, his stride slow and measured and yet somehow fluid. He stopped directly in front of Alk and angled his chin down, holding the forger’s gaze. “Ask again.” Despite his outward stillness, the air around him was thick with cold, seething fury; Abella couldfeelhim bristling.

Abella moved to Tenthil’s side and slipped an arm around him.

“Tenthil is my mate,” she said firmly.

Alkorin lifted his hands—one still closed around the credit chips—and bowed his head. He backed away a few steps before he turned and straightened, dipping his hand into his pocket. The chips clinked as he released them.

“I will need full body scans to begin compiling profiles,” Alk said as he walked toward the far end of the room. He climbed the low stairs leading to the raised work area and gestured toward a circular platform on the floor against the right wall; the platform had a single step leading up to it, and most of its surface glowed white.

“One at a time, please.” He turned toward Abella and Tenthil, though his attention was focused on one of the holographic screens for several seconds before he looked up. “Your clothing, of course, will need to come off. To ensure the most accurate scans possible.”

Abella sensed Tenthil’s intention to charge. She threw her other arm around him, locking her hands together, and braced her legs wide, planting her heels in the carpet before he managed a full step. Heat poured off his body, radiating through his clothing. His muscles tensed and trembled; she wasn’t sure if it was because of his fury, his restraint, or a combination of both.

“Tenthil,” Abella said.

He didn’t look at her.

“Tenthil.”

With fangs bared, Tenthil finally turned his face toward her. His eyes were fully black.

Abella reached up and cupped his cheeks with both hands. “You need to calm down. Weneedto do this so we can get those IDs, so you have to try to tone back your instincts…or leave.”

His nostrils flared, and he shook his head. She knew what he was saying no to—leaving. She didn’t want him to go, either.

“Then let’s get this done so we can go somewhere private and I can get naked foryou, okay?”

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