Page 61 of Healer
Most considered our friend Pearl to be one of the best chefs in the US—in the world, for that matter. So, it felt rather perfect for her to end up in a kitchen—even an alien kitchen.
“And Willa?” I asked.
“We know where Willa is, but that’s about it.” The furrow between Emmy’s brows deepened. “Charick tracked her to the planet Ajaxiun, but we haven’t heard from him in over a week.”
Worry dampened our chatter.
“No matter what happens, we’ll help Willa through it,” Daisy announced with uncommon bravado. Being mated to a war chief had been good for her.
“Of course we will. We’re family.” Clara said, holding out her hand.
“Family,” Emmy added her hand atop Clara’s
“Family,” I agreed, adding my hand to the pile.
“Family.” Daisy finished, her hand lying on top.
Our hands-in ended with a shout of “Family!” I felt Hakkar’s eyes on me and wondered what the men must think of us females holding a huddle as ferocious and determined as any sports team.
“Soooo,” Clara said, waggling her brows as we settled back in our chairs. “Tell us about your meet-cute.”
While there wasn’t much cute about my meeting Hakkar—his rescue of me, the care he took of me, and the ferventness of his determination to cure me had everyone swooning. I rather enjoyed Daisy’s retelling of meeting Daicon. Not going to lie,picturing the demure former minister’s wife knocking out the Bardaga’s war chief with a shovel was hard.
Emmy’s story proved more amusing. She woke up from her rescue thinking Khaion was an angel and still lusted after him. I’m unsure where that ranked on a list of religious no-no’s, but I didn’t miss Daisy’s eyeroll while Emmy told the tale.
Clara was the hands-down meet-cute winner of all time. While her story of being sold to a bordello made my skin crawl, mistaking Tarook for a client and then having the best sex of her life before she even knew his name had me lying across the table, howling with laughter.
“Is she well?”
I bit back a yelp of surprise when I encountered the question’s owner. It was like looking at one of Botticelli’s cherubs… in blue. The creature stood no higher than a child, dressed in a smock that made me think of togas from ancient Rome. Everything about him was a shade of pale blue from his skin to his eyes, except for the platinum hair that waved about his head like a halo. He smiled at me, revealing not the blunt teeth I expected but dentition that would have been more fitting for, say… a baby shark. His chubby fingers held a tray laden with food, and he glanced from me to Emmy, who gave him a broad smile.
“Orzon, this is our friend Agnes. Agnes, this is Orzon, the Bardaga’s chef.”
The blue cherub deposited the tray on the table before issuing me a curt bow.
“It is my great pleasure, Miss Agnes. I am honored to prepare a feast tonight in celebration of your rescue.”
“Thank you, Orzon,” I told him. The expressions of foreboding resting on my friend’s features suggested I might need to reconsider my gratitude.
“You are most welcome.” The baby shark grin would take some getting used to. He swept his hand over the tray. “In the meantime, please enjoy some appetizers.”
I watched him walk away, swaying with the myopathic gait common to little people.
Daisy shifted the tray closer, poking at something resembling deformed pigs in a blanket. She sniffed closer, her nose curling. The smell made me think of old, expired hot dogs.
“Is it?” she asked skeptically.
“This is the edible stuff.” Clara picked up one of the brown and white blobs, giving it closer inspection. “I think he’s saving the Earth dishes for later.
“I thought you said he was the chef,” I asked, leaning back in my seat to avoid the smell.
“He is. Most of the time, the food is delicious, but Orzon has been trying to recreate Earth dishes to make us feel more at home.” Emmy made a face of extreme distaste, accompanied by a small shudder.
“He’s sweet,” Clara chimed. The blob she held fell back onto the tray with a decided splat. “But barf.”
“Speaking of barf.” Daisy sounded breathless as she fanned herself furiously with her hands.
“Again?” Clara grabbed a napkin from the table, dipping it into a glass of water and holding it to the back of Daisy’s neck.
