Page 19 of Her Alien Delegate
"You smell of mating. It seems I had nothing to worry about," Romek's voice was heard down the hall.
"Romek..." What was he doing in the isolation chambers? Only guests requesting isolation were in these halls. Something didn't sit right with me and all I could think was the Blue District BOD AI had only said there was one guest in the hall, and I'd left Pheyal with him. "Where's Pheyal?"
"He was held up at the palace to secure your title, but we were worried when we didn't hear from you. I thought you would choose an isolation chamber to prevent others from the anti-alliance from group finding you."
It made sense, but my ormete buzzed with adrenaline, like I should be alert to predators. My lack of sight could be a contributor to that, but I had to be sure.
"I need to secure a contract with my mate as soon as possible," I changed the subject. He should be asking where Vaquel is, if he is truly concerned.
"Absolutely," Romek agreed. "I'll have the contract prepared. You can add your mate when we return to the palace." He hesitated before adding, "The council will be pleased you've found a mate so quickly, but we should make sure the contracts are prepared at the palace and not connected with the Blue District."
He still hasn't asked of Vaquel...
"Vaquel will be worried," I prompted.
"In the eye of the goddess, they who neglect their duty are forgotten," he shook his head in disgust, "It is disgraceful that he is not at your side. I should have been the one to join you."
Romek did not give any indication that he knew Vaquel was taken, but I did not like the way he sounded more trill than unGor, even in my presence. If I could see his expression, I couldmake more observations to whether he knew more, but as it was, I had to trust he was here because he was smart to know I'd be in isolation.
"Come, come. We must wait out the night and return to the palace as soon as the isolation ends."
Without realizing it, I was putting distance between me and my room where my mate rested. The attack from the garrant and the trill had me distrusting everything.
But I put on a diplomatic smile and nodded. "Let us return to your chamber."
"And your mate?"
"She'll be resting for a while yet; best not to disturb her."
"How fortunate to find a strong bond," he replied in a strange tone devoid of emotion. Was that jealousy?
Guided by the sound of the door opening, and the soft beeping of the AI allowed me to easily navigate the hall. Once I arrived where the sound was echoing loudest, the door closed on what I assumed was the elevator. I wouldn't be able to leave the Blue District, but my isolation was not limited to the isolation rooms. Though, if Romek was able to enter my floor, he also had an isolation unit. Did he volunteer to be isolated in an attempt to find me after losing contact?
"There are many floors for isolation," he sensed my curiosity.
Why was he on my floor, then?
"Here we are," he said as a door opened to a blood-curdling howl that set my ears on fire.
Romek pushed me to the side, and I wondered if that was to protect me from whatever was making that screeching noise. The door closed behind us.
"The guest is in distress," BOD explained as I was sprawled on the floor, my ormete tingling with my own distress at feeling a presence of danger.
"What has happened?" Romek demanded.
The smell of blood was pungent in the air, and I braced myself for what I couldn't see.
"Sedatives are ineffective, and the guest is not coherent in thought."
The screams echoed, and I heard the distinct sound of flesh being torn apart, and something wet and sticky slapped against my arm. I carefully picked the thick slab from my flesh, and my nostrils flared.
"Remove my sap, immediately," I snapped at the AI.
A mist sprayed on my face, and the sap melted, dripping from my eyes. I waited for the weight of the substance to lift, and I opened my eyes to the horror before me.
The garrant from earlier was flailing on the ground, tearing its own skin off. Gashes and flesh scattered around him as he rolled in pain. Romek rushed to hold him down.
"What is he doing here?" I glared at Romek.
