Page 41 of Kissed By the Alien
“Report,” I order the guard, expecting an explanation for why I’m being denied entry. Warriors are usually granted access anywhere they want on Zyan because of our training, our loyalty.
“First Lead Povin is heading out to meet with several human marshals.”
“Why?”
“A human with connections to the government is causing trouble. He claims the Brotherhood kidnapped his daughter.”
“Is the family name Barrington?”
“No. Harris.”
Not Lexi, then. But it merely reinforces how much danger she’s in wandering her city without protection.
That gun proved unreliable, at best. Worst, it could have been the cause of her death. Hunzu’s weapons master inspected the gun and deemed it in good condition. It lacked bullets. Was Lexi bluffing when she pulled the gun on the human in the hangar, or had she been unaware it had no ammunition? Either way, this female entered a dangerous situation ill-prepared and without backup.
I should have been her back up.
In everything.
“It’s not the first kidnapping either, Warrior,” the guard continues. “There was another last month. Another wealthy family. This most recent one has connections though, to the Department of Defense, so the humans have called in many investigators. Both our First Lead and the keentan ambassador have been called in for a security meeting, to see if we have any intel that could help. Do you wish to attend, Warrior?”
“Not unless blasters are involved.”
“I will alert you if they are mentioned.”
I nod as I turn back to the security office, then stop. Despite this persistent need to check on Lexi, I know she’s safe here. This is the best chance I’ll have to investigate what few leads we have without any chance of her inserting herself into my investigation again.
When I return tomorrow, I can speak with her, apologize for arresting her. She’s a reasonable, even if somewhat impulsive, female, so she will understand.
Sleeping the night in the cell will give her plenty of time to think about what she did wrong.
CHAPTERFIFTEEN
LEXI
Someone shakes me awake. Startled, I jump up, cracking the back of my head against the wall in the process.
“Apologies, Miss Barrington. I’m Warrior Kovel. We did not have a chance to properly meet before, but we need the cell.”
I like how he says that as if I plopped myself down in his cell and claimed the spot as my own. “All yours, Warrior,” I say as I stand up. “Does this mean I can go home?”
“We will discuss that in a minute. Gather your clothing, quickly. Lutan is bringing in several violent suspects in the—” He stops mid-sentence.
“In the blaster investigation,” I finish for the warrior as I look over to see Moses is gone. “You can say it. I already know what’s going on. With the investigation that is. Not with Lutan.”
He sighs as he motions for me to exit the cell. One of the guards begins bundling all the luxuries I’d been given.
“Was all this his doing, too?” I point to the soft blankets, the table, datapad, even the slippers the guard removes from the cell.
“Yes.”
“Because I’m supposedly his sholani?”
“That is also the reason he put you in here. Usually he’s not so unreasonable. You’re not seeing him at his best.”
“So this charming dungeon stay was something he dreamed up just for me? Does he realize all the amenities in the world don’t change the fact that I’mlockedin here?”
“He’s… confused.”
