Page 30 of Taming the Alien Outlaw
“Where’d you find your protector?” Quinn asks when we get into the lift.
Considering she’s going to badger me for the entire story, I might as well not bother trying to keep anything from her.
“She’s Janik’s.” Although I suppose that’s not technically true.
Quinn coughs and sputters. “I’m sorry? She’s whose?”
I glare at her, because she heard me well enough.
She laughs. “This thing needs to move faster, because I’ve got to hear this story.”
Her wish is granted a second later, because the chime signals our arrival. It had been Devon’s idea to stake our claim on the top floor of the building so we didn’t have people walking above us. Considering the soundproofing in this place, I don’t think it would have mattered. But I’m glad we’re up here. Mostly because it weirdly makes me feel like I’m part of the upper tier with the stunning view of the mountain through the wall of windows across from the walkway leading to our individual apartments.
We walk to the second to last room, which used to be where Quinn lived. At least until she started spending every night with Horek at the barracks. It’s still hers, though, because there’s no way we’d let any of the other women move in there, even if they asked.
Inside, Davon and Lindsey wait.
“Look who’s here,” Quinn exclaims the minute we step inside. “Don’t rush her though unless you want to get mauled by her guard wolf.”
Our two friends come to an abrupt halt since that’s exactly what they’d been about to do.
“Whoa, where the hell did that thing come from?” Devon asks in a hushed voice.
“This is Mak.” I glance down at her. “Mak, these are friends. Be nice to them or I’ll send you back. Understand?”
She nudges me with a soft whimper like she does.
To my surprise, it’s Lindsey that slowly and carefully comes closer with her hand held out. She stops a short distance from Mak, letting the phinnek decide whether or not to closethe remaining space between them. Just as cautiously, Mak takes a tentative step forward, then another, until she brushes up against Lindsey’s fingertips. Still, our friend doesn’t move, but continues waiting. Several seconds pass before finally, Mak nudges her full on for scritches.
Lindsey strokes the phinnek behind her ears and Mak lets out a small rumble of pleasure.
“I think she likes you.” I chuckle.
“I’ve always been infatuated with animals although I’ve never seen one except for in books the upper tier threw in the garbage.”
That’s the thing about working at a sanitation facility. We would find all these things the upper tier considered junk. Of course, they always did their best to destroy the stuff just enough that we weren’t able to actually use it but also enough to show us what we were missing.
“I need to find her something to eat soon.” Other than the occasional treat, I haven’t seen her eat anything so I assume she hunted for herself in the rainforest.
“We can ask the chef to prepare something, but first we need to hear everything that happened since Janik kidnapped you,” Quinn says.
Since I expected nothing less, I head for the sofa to get comfortable. Mak trots after me and the second my butt hits the cushion, she jumps up and makes herself comfortable. She never came into Janik’s house while I was there so I have no idea if he allows her inside, let alone on the furniture. It’s clear, she has no intention of giving up her spot though.
“I guess we’re sitting on the floor,” Devon deadpans.
“Sorry.” I wince.
She waves me off and grabs one of the throw pillows Mak has managed not to lay herself on top of. The three of them sit in a semi-circle and peer up at me with an impatient stare, waiting for me to share all that’s happened since…god, was it just last night? It feels like a lifetime ago.
“As you know, I was on my way back here with Lorik when Janik ambushed us.” I nearly flinch with guilt at using ambush to describe it, because I don’t really think that’s the right word. Especially when Quinn curses him. I also feel bad because I haven’t asked about Lorik once. “How’s he doing by the way?”
Devon glances at Lindsey so quickly I almost swear I imagined it. “He’s fine. Recovering from a few cuts and scrapes. The self-flagellation for allowing you to get taken is a bit dramatic, but nothing anyone has said has made a difference.”
I wince. “It’s really not his fault. There were two of them.”
“He’s still chastising himself,” Quinn says. “Enough about Lorik. We want to know about Janik.”
“He took me to the rebel camp and this morning I escaped while he was at some meeting.”
