Page 12 of Her Alien Delegate
"Bode..." That was oddly fitting for a place like this. Abode was a place to stay and bode was a predicted event. A place of predictable events of dubious nature, both the safest and most dangerous place on Trillume. Just accepting a request was a risk, but at least it was a calculated one with the protection of Bode.
"Are there any other requests for the day?" I asked Bode. I was expecting much more activity for a human when the news stated human contracts were suspended.
"Just the three provided. The third request included a clause to suspend requests until your time with them is completed."
"Oh." I wasn't sure what that meant to have someone pay to not allow other people to send requests to me, but it was clear from my credit balance that I wasn't paid for anything right away.
"I've sent your denial to the first request for observing your activities. The second request has been sent for and will arrive shortly. They have accepted your conditions to have their eyes covered in sap."
"Sap?"
"Yes, there is a krelin sap procured especially for sensory deprivation. It is a common request to blind guests."
I suppose I couldn't argue with that, considering I had asked for it myself.
"Right," I said mostly to hype myself up for what I was agreeing to.
The room was much bigger than what I was in before, and a door from behind me wheezed open as the suction of the airlock released. I whirled around, thankful that they were blinded and unable to see my shock.
Ter-ak?
The hood of his robes was down, and he sniffed the air as the door closed behind him.
I said nothing.
"It is you," he said finally, "Little viper. I can smell you."
I backed up and stumbled over the edge of the large bed, making me scramble back on the bedding.
"You—you—" I stuttered.
"Having a human mate is a diplomatic disadvantage if I wished to keep my position at the palace. I've been waiting for you to stop hiding, so we may return to my den. BOD has told me that I'm the first accepted request, and it is time we leave before you're damaged by the kind of beings that frequent the Blue District."
"You sold me," I stuttered, barely above a whisper.
"It was necessary," he dismissed.
"You said I was a demon," I said while backing away. He thought I was more interested in books than preparing food together, which was apparently a big deal for trill intimacy. If I was given a bit more time, I would have found that out eventually and made more of an effort to help.
"Is that not what your kind calls beings that are fierce in their activities? Your face was deeply captivated by the tablet oftomes. To seek one source is to know nothing, but a moon set as another rises," he spoke in a trill proverb at the end that gave me pause. He was waiting for me to understand his words, and I sighed.
"You're saying there are more ways to seek knowledge than from books. Are you saying you wanted me to ask you?"
"Is that not what being mated means? To rely on one another?"
He could have said that—before he sold my contract. Ter-ak took a slow step closer, like stalking a frightened animal. My back pressed against the wall, reaching the limit of how far I could get away without changing directions.
The spikes on his head flexed, and a spray misted in the room. Fuck, that was something I read about. Was he trying to poison me? The trill were capable of killing their prey by spraying them.
"What did you do?" I squeaked.
"This is how a trill mates. I should have done this sooner to bond us appropriately. You are inhaling my poison, and my mark will mean my poison will never harm you." He smiled, showing off a row of razor-sharp teeth.
I pressed my lips together, hoping I didn't inhale too much, but knowing all it took was one whiff. It was mate with him or die...
"No," I mumbled through my fingers as I covered a gasp. The sound of the vents spinning to life and a beeping distracted me from keeping my eyes on Ter-ak.
"Violation detected," BOD, the AI of the Blue District, spoke. "Trill poison is prohibited on the premises. Incompatible with Earthlings. If the human is harmed, your account will be charged for the inconvenience, and you will be required to fight for your freedom in the arena against our champion. Air filtering in process, a bounty has been issued to nearby guests to ensure your cooperation."
