Page 23 of Game on Askole

“They said Mistress Lilkee wanted us dead because our foul blood will dilute the purity of the Coletti race,” I informed Voss angrily. He had totally ignored my warning about the other wannabes. So be it. It was his butt.

The Genghis Khan wannabes stopped wailing, noticed the Battle Commander, and with sheer blind panic in their eyes, they went for their laser pistols.

Before their weapons could even clear their holsters, the Battle Commander and his sidekick stunned them.

I tried to imagine Voss and Rho in ten-gallon hats, leather chaps, and spurs. With their fast draw, they would have done well in the Old West.

An instant later, Azeus and Wapi, our two Coletti admirers, teleported into the room. This time they were wearing their black battle suits and weapons.

I waved at them all friendly like.“Hi, guys. Back so soon? Gotta say, you sure look different with your clothes on. Got your gag reflexes under control?”

The Battle Commander’s head snapped around. “What did you just say?”

“Uh. Hi, guys.”

The Battle Commander smiled his scary-ass sociopath’s smile. “When did you meet them?”

I glanced at my aunt. “Would you say about ten minutes ago, Aunt Tess?”

“Sounds about right,” my aunt agreed.

A vein bulged on the Battle Commander’s forehead, and he snapped something in a language I assumed was the Coletti native tongue.

Our grossed-out suitors immediately dropped to one knee and answered him in the same language.

It sucked not knowing what they were saying.

Rho’s hand settled on his sword. “Did they touch you?”

I started laughing. “Are you kidding me? They were too busy puking.”

“You can’t kill them because they’re horny,” Aunt Tess protested.

A murderous rage simmered in Rho’s eyes. “They violated protocol.”

“You need to relax, big guy. Your muscles are all tensed up, and if you keep grinding your teeth that way, you gonna break a fang.” I held my arms out to Rho. “A hug will fix you right up.”

My aunt stared at me like I had lost my mind. On our private link, she shrieked, “Hugs?”

“A new way to drive them nuts.”

An evil grin curved my aunt’s mouth, and she opened her arms too.“C’mon, give us a hug, sugar.”

Rho bared his fangs at us. “Warlords do not hug, nor do we need them.” He ripped the helmet off a wannabe and threw the unconscious warrior over his shoulder.

“Positive, sure? Kinda think you need one, Rho,” I said, using my best Debbie Sunshine voice.

“If I need to be touched, I will visit a pleasure house, where the females do not smell like the dead.” Rho teleported away.

“Well, that was rude,” Aunt Tess said.

“Quit tormenting my warriors,” Voss bellowed.

“Aw, sounds like you need a hug too.”

“How would you like to go back into stasis?” There was a remorseless menace in his gaze.

“Not necessary, sir.” I eased closer to Wapi and Azeus.

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