Page 36 of Crossing Quinn

“Good to know,” Zarek said.

I gave myself a mental head smack. My temper was getting the best of me.

Clio wailed, “Me hungry.”

“I know you are, sweetie.” I looked at Quinn. “Do you have anything to eat?”

“Only space rations.”

Detja popped in next to Zarek. “I’m sending Adan to you. He will care for the child.”

I queried, “Does this Adan know anything about baby shapeshifters?” Clio was under my protection now.

“He’s a Katanic shapeshifter and my adopted father,” Detja answered.

I gaped at her. That Adan! He was the stuff of nightmares. “Is that a good idea?”

Every ounce the ice queen, Detja queried, “Do you doubt me?”

“No, my lady.”

“You’re not as stupid as you look,” Quinn muttered sarcastically.

I gave him the stink eye.

A brilliant orange glow popped into existence and spun rapidly. I shielded my eyes. “What in the nine hells is that?”

“Adan is opening a teleportation portal,” Zarek answered.

The spinning light accelerated until a vortex formed. Bolts of green lightning crackled wildly around the growing opening.

A huge, heaving silky black mass rolled out.

Clio bounced up and down in my lap. “Momma.”

“Not Momma.” I tightened my grip as an enormous mouth edged with hundreds of serrated teeth appeared in the mass. A long tongue held out a chunk of raw meat to Clio.

Squeaking happily, she grabbed it and stuffed it in her maw.

Adan’s two burning yellow eyes stared at me. “Where is her mother?”

“I found Clio on the loading ramp of a Tai-Kok slaughter ship. She said the Tai-Kok had taken her mother inside and were hurting her. More security forces showed up before we could check the ship. I’m not sure if—”I broke off and bit my lip as Clio smiled up at me. How could anyone hurt someone so adorable?

“I scanned the area and couldn’t sense another Katanic,”Quinn added. “The enforcers were notified of the situation.”

When had Quinn had the time to notify everyone?

“Are the Tai-Kok still on Jandjviles?”The rage in Adan’s voice was terrifying.

“They were there five hours ago.”I flashed Adan a mental image of the slaughter ship. “It wasn’t badly damaged in the blast, and it’s possible they fled.”

“They won’t leave with an empty cargo hold,”Quinn interjected.

Zarek nodded. “Once the security forces round up the escaped prisoners, the auction will begin.”

“No. It will not.”Dozens of long ropy tentacles shot from Adan’s body; one snagged Clio and dumped her in Quinn’s lap.

Alarm flashed across Quinn’s face, and he gingerly held the baby out from him. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

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