Page 78 of Courting Mayhem

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Chapter Fifteen

Sariel escorted us to his war room. The doors slid open to reveal what looked like a typical conference room except for all the weapons. I took a closer look at the slew of well-used, blood-stained antique swords. Bet they were family heirlooms.

A large, functional display case held modern instruments of death. Knives, laser pistols, rifles, war hammers and what looked like a variety of thermite grenades. I guess in an emergency, you just grabbed one.

The other walls contained high-tech scanners, viewscreens and sensor monitors. At one glance you knew the status of the ship, and crew. The sensors continually spat out data as they scanned the heavens for any sign of the Rodan.

Papi Sten, an assortment of Coletti, Askole, Farin and Alliance warriors were sitting at the long platinum table. On the right arm of each chair was a control panel. To my dismay General Zan sat next to Zarek. In their human forms Adan, Qa’a, and Zosia were seated across from the Overlord.

A Farin warrior wearing a spiffy, red dress uniform that was loaded down with way too many medals demanded, “What is a female doing in the war room?”

Zosia turned her head sharply. In her Morticia Adam’s form her Medusa’s tresses were hard to ignore. Especially when the snakes’ beady little eyes fixed on the stupid Farin. “You think to throw me out?”

The Farin warrior paled.“No Consort.”He pointed to me.“Her. Females are not allowed to attend a war council.”

Zarek snapped,“Mayhem is part of my team.”

“She can wait in the corridor,”the Farin warrior said dismissively.“Her presence is offensive.”

“Offensive? Me?”

Derek sighed.

“You’re the one insulting the Empress. You got a death wish or are you just incredibly stupid?”I gave him my Debbie Sunshine smile.

The pretentious prick shot to his feet.“Are you threatening me?”

“No, she is not, but I am. Mayhem wears our marks and is considered a part of our family. As is her mate.”A long tentacle shot out and grabbed the Farin warrior around the neck.“You are disrespecting my family. You, I will eat.”Zosia dragged him across the table.

Instead of apologizing, the freaked-out idiot went for his weapon.

“Do not draw your weapon Major Eyken.”General Zan commanded.

Unfortunately, the Major’s attention was totally focused on Zosia’s growing maw. Ignoring Zan, he drew his pistol and fired.

The energy beam simply bounced off Zosia’s face.

Everyone on the other side of the table, dove to the floor as the lethal beam zinged by.

I watched in horror as the laser beam hit Sariel’s antique swords, vaporizing them and the wall behind the display.

A growl rumbled in Sariel’s chest as he drew his sword.

“Wherever you go, chaos soon follows,” Derek muttered.

I scowled at him. “All I did was walk into the room.”

“Release Major Eyken immediately,”General Zan snapped.

Eeyore. Eeyore. Eeyore. Adan’s and Qa’a’s laughter echoed around the room. “No one tells my Empress what to do. Not even me,”Qa’a said.

To prove his point, Zosia looked General Zan dead in the eye and stuffed the screaming Major down her maw.

Okey-dokey. Things were going downhill fast. Was the coalition about to come an abrupt end? The expression on Zan’s face didn’t bode well for its continuing existence.

“Your Empress ate my warrior,” General Zan bellowed.

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