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A Union of Convenience II	By : Keen Category: M through R > Predator Views: 6267 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own the Predator movie series, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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�� David
Killroy looked up from his register to see his old
friend and fellow parishioner, Marca Hammond, enter his grocer store. He was
surprised she was not here at six �o clock as that is when she usually made her
deliveries to him.
�� Morning, Mrs. Hammond,� he nodded. �I was beginnin� to think you weren�t comin�.�
�� Mr. Killroy, it is
one minute past the hour. Do you think you can let me slide this once?�
�� The
man put on his wire rimmed glasses and eyed the crate she hefted onto the table
in front of him. �If that is all the good fruit you�re going
to sell me today, then the answer would be no.�
�� Be
serious, David,� she chuckled. �My daughter is bringing the rest. She�s the
reason I�m late.�
�� I
don�t see how,� Killroy remarked watching Hammond�s daughter kick
the door of his store open. Under each muscled arm she hefted two crates and
forgetting decency, crouched in her pleated skirt with legs spread wide to set
them down at his feet.
�� Marca watched her daughter with a tsk,
�Jane, what have I told you about straining yourself like that?� Killroy chuckled as the woman ignored her mother, moving to
pick up four more cases in the same fashion. �What am I going to do with that
girl, David?�
�� The
man shrugged, �It�s a fine quality she has, �specially
when you consider the kinda work she does on that
farm of yours.�
�� Yeah,
but soon she�ll have no need for that. There won�t be a lot of heavy lifting to
do in the Governor�s mansion.�
�� Seth
will want her any way he can have her,� David nodded. He spied the man pull up
in his sleek black truck. The polished chrome shone in the hot orange colours
of the setting sun.
�� Seth
Gabelhauser, Governor of New Sussex, hopped out of
the cab and rounded the front, intercepting his fianc�e as she unloaded the
flat bed truck. He was considerably older looking than she was but his stocky
physique said he kept fit and hinted at his youthful vigour. Lacy Killroy, David�s wife, strode out the back room and watched
the two through the glass panes of the store front. When they entered she
snapped her fingers to one of the stock boys to take the boxes the woman held.
�� Your
mother may let you get away with this Jane but I won�t. You won�t be able to do
such things once you�re married, missy.�
�� She
won�t have to,� Seth said. He set down his box and put an arm around his
fianc�e�s shoulders. �I�ll take care of her and Mother Hammond here after
Saturday.�
�� More
than you already do,� Marca beamed, patting the man
lovingly on the cheek.
�� This
one is hard headed. Jane�ll do as she pleases just to
spite you,� Lacy teased.
�� Seth
nodded with a chuckle, �Maybe, but once she�s pregnant she won�t be able to.�
�� Marca swooned at the thought of grandbabies but not so much
she forgot about public decency. Seth kissed her daughter with hunger, nearly
pressing her against the shelves of canned soup to taste her mouth. Marca pulled the boy by the ear away. �If Bob Hammond
happened by and saw this he just might shoot you. He�s got a gun and he�s Chief
Inspector, he can do it you know��
�� And
would,� Lacy finished with a chuckle. The woman looked up from filing her
fingernails to see the grey haired woman narrowing her eyes at her. �What?� she
shrugged. �It�s not like its any secret he doesn�t like the boy, Marca. He�d sooner blow a hole in his ass than have him
marry his baby girl.�
�� Language! And that�s not true, Lacy.� Marca
huffed.
�� Yes
it is,� Seth laughed backing out the door.
�� He
skipped to Jane�s beat up powder blue truck and hopped inside. He tried to take
four crates like she had but the load was too heavy. He strained until the
muscles and veins stood out against his thick neck, but they would not move.
There was nothing worse than knowing he was weaker than his fianc�e, except
having her stand there and observe it first hand. Seth raised his head and met
her eyes. She reclined on the truck�s side with a smirk, her hand on her hip.
�� Help?�
she offered.
�� No,
I got it,� he grunted. �Why don�t you have a seat?�
�� She
nodded with a smile and perched herself on the bumper of his truck which was
parked right behind hers. Seth wished she had chosen another seat, one where
she could not see him flounder so clearly but the Killroy�s
stock boys came to his aid just in time, hopping inside the flat bed to take
over.
�� We
got it, sir. Mrs. Killroy insists,� said one boy.
�� Seth
glanced at his nametag and gave the boy a pat on the shoulders. �Thanks, Evan.
Be careful, they are a bit heavy.�
�� The
wiry bunch of boys struggled to take the carts away just as Marca
stepped out the store, ticking the Killroy�s name off
her delivery list. She waved a wad of bills at Seth as she moved to her
daughter�s truck. �Looks like you wont� have to provide for me and Bob after
all,� she smiled.
�� You
know I will anyway, Mother.�
�� It
melted the woman�s heart to hear that but she had to tease him still. �Ah-ah,
you can�t call me that until Saturday,� she smiled, her cheeks rosy. �Speaking
of which, shouldn�t you be enjoying the pre-Bachelor party festivities? David
was telling me he was finishing up his shift so he could get down to the
Tavern. Bob and the rest are already there.�
�� I
was on my way when I saw this beautiful woman,� he said, putting his arm around
his fianc�e. �She waved at me and I just had to stop. Then I saw Jane and
figured I ought to say hello to her too��
�� Seth
laughed as she pushed at him in mock anger but she soon forgave his bad joke,
letting him wrap his arms around her and kiss her cheek.
�� Marca smiled widely, �An almost perfect answer.�
�� Almost
indeed,� Jane nodded, pulling away from him.
�� Seth
looked at her with confusion. �What�s wrong, Love?�
�� You hate hunt. You hate drink. Why do that
for party? Your
party.�
�� Her
English was broken but Seth understood her meaning perfectly. �Because your father planned it. He wanted to quote, �make a
man he can give his daughter away to.��
�� Jane
raised her brows and let out a long whistle at the insult, surprised at its
viciousness. Marca was more saddened than anything
else. She patted Seth on the shoulder and told him not worry. �I am sure once
its official, Bob will grow to like you.�
�� Seth
shook his head, �I love your optimism, Mother Hammond, but you and I both know
he won�t.�
�� I agree,� Jane nodded, her voice sounding far
away.
�� Seth
turned as the woman slipped from his arms, following a boy that wandered from
the Killroy store. Her suddenly odd behaviour piqued
his curiosity and he followed behind her as she stalked the youth, her
shoulders hunched and head tilted as if inspecting something on his person. The
boy did his best to look like he had not noticed the woman tailing him but his
casual stride turned into a speedy walk with every step he took. He let out a
yelp when he felt a hand land on his shoulder, gripping him tightly as it
turned him about face.
�� Did pay?� Jane asked. The boy furrowed his
brows and she stood up straight, marshalling her thoughts to speak clearly.
�Did you pay for that?� she asked, pointing to the hidden pocket in his
sweatshirt.
�� The
kid�s jaw dropped, his blue eyes blooming wide. Seth
stood behind his fianc�e with arms folded, waiting for an answer as she did,
but the boy�s mouth simply wagged. Then David Killroy
came darting from his store, pointing a damming finger.
�� Stop him! He stole my register!�
�� The
boy twisted out of his coat and ran, taking off down Main Street like an athlete. Seth
sprinted after him immediately, joining Evan and the other stock boys who were
already in pursuit, loping after the teen like a bunch of dogs sicked on a kill by their master. David kept up as much as
he could behind them, but his age sapped him of steam quickly and he rested
with hands on his knees when he neared Jane.
�� He�s got all our earnings from this week in
that satchel. I hope they catch him,� he said, in-between pants.
�� They will not,� Jane replied.
�� The
boy was lengthening the space between him and his pursuers. They were no match
for his young legs and boundless energy. What was worse was he neared the end
of the street, approaching the woods. The thick of trees would give him endless
hiding spaces and if he reached them, the Killroys
would never see their money again. Jane looked behind her as Lacy stepped out
of the store in tears and then turned back to watch the boy again, stepping out
of her heels.
�� Jane, no!�
�� Marca yelled after her but like always, the woman ignored
her. Barefoot, Jane took off like a shot, her speedy steps drumming with
driving rhythm across the wooden boardwalk that lined the street. Seth was
surprised to see her pass him, her skirt and long black hair flapping fiercely
as she hurled herself forward. The boy was surprised to see her as well. He
looked behind him and dug in harder. She was gaining on him quickly and if he
kept straight, she would have him in no time. His only hope was to bob and
weave between the parked cars and cut across the street to the other side.
�� Jane
saw him move in that direction before he actually took a step. His body and
head leaned to the left before his feet took a step and she reacted
accordingly. In a blink of an eye she leapt for the railing above her, swinging
herself onto the second floor of the Old-Western style shopping complex. She
hit the floor running and leapt for a cable that ran between the building she
stood on and the one across the street. As expected, it ripped away under her
weight and she swung like a pendulum toward the boy who by now had made his way
to the centre of the street.
�� Jane
let go and for a breath she was airborne. She cut through the air with silent
speed, arms stretched out wide and toes pointed. Her hands came together and
her body looked like a dart aimed at the target just under her. The thief,
noticing the growing shadow under him, looked up. He barely had a moment to
yell before she crashed down on him. They rolled together for spell and Jane
wound up on top, pressing his face down into the dusty street while pinching
his dominant hand behind his back. She held him in the painful position until
the others caught up; she could hear them still running behind her.
�� I�ll get him,� Seth said, sprinting to her
side. He replaced her hands on the boy�s body and forced him to stand,
searching his pants. Seth pulled the blue leather pouch from the boy�s right
back pocket; the grocer�s last name was in crumbling gold leaf on the front.
�Here�s your property, David.�
�� And this,� Jane said, coming to stand in
front of the boy. Both he and Seth watched as she snuck a hand inside his
sweater, moving directly to the hidden pocket near his belly to pull out the
two peach coloured succulents.
�� Good fruits?� David took the produce into his
hands with an astounded smile. �I didn�t even know he took these.�
�� How did you know they were there?� the boy
demanded. �Were you watching me, bitch?�
�� Jane
grabbed his face, pinching his youthful cheeks until his lips smooched
together. He had not the right to be so indignant, he was thief. �I could smell
them,� she hissed.
�� He
quieted down then, fearful she would really hurt him. The look in her eye was
dangerous and pitiless. If there was no one there but the two of them she might
have gutted him on the spot. Her nails dug into his face and he jumped stiffly,
making Seth pipe up.
�� It�s alright, Jane. Not too much harm done,
right?�
�� Seth
watched her glance at him, her eyes widening like she was surprised to see him
there. She quickly turned the boy loose and moved backward, clasping her hands
behind her hips. Seeing her fawn slightly, the would-be thief�s youthful hubris
returned.
�� You could smell it?� he snapped. �What are
you? Some kind of bloodhound?�
�� That�s enough outta�
you, son!� Seth tightened up on his arm and the boy yowled, forgetting his
insults. He started to tie the boy�s hands behind him as Evan and the other
stock boys came racing toward them.
�� That was the most awesome thing I have ever
seen!� A red-headed boy exclaimed.
�� Evan
agreed. �I�ve only seen a chase like that on the telly!�
�� Yeah, Jane, I didn�t know you had it in you!�
another clapped.
�� Maybe it�s something you forgot you could do?�
Seth said stepping toward her. He handed the thief to the stock boys and
touched the lapels of her blouse. �Something from your old
life?�
�� Jane
followed the direction of his eyes to her chest. The pursuit and ensuing tussle
had torn open her shirt front and despite her lacy bra, a garish black scar in
the centre of her chest could be seen. She hid it from him always but he knew
it was there. However, this was the first time he had ever seen it so clearly.
He traced a finger over the raised ridge, down the valley of her breasts and up
and Jane took a gasping short breath. She stepped away and pulled the ends of
her blouse together, covering up.�
�� Maybe,� she said folding her arms tightly
over her chest. �Do not remember.�
�� Well, what do you remember� he asked. �Does
it have something to do with that scar because you seem to be ashamed of it?�
He lowered his voice so that only the two of them could hear, his eye brows
hinted at the air of secrecy he tried to create. �Janey,
every time we make love you try to hide it, do you remember how you got it yet?
I ju-�
�� The
crunch of tires in gravel made Seth quiet. Marca
skidded to their side with the truck; she hung out the driver side window and
waved at her daughter. Jane wrapped her arms tighter around herself and kissed
Seth on the lips.
�� See you Saturday,� she said backing away.
�� He
nodded and watched as she hopped into the truck with her Marca.
The elderly woman seemed furious, but he could not understand why. The thief
was caught and the money returned. Standing alone in the centre of the street,
watching the truck vanish behind a billowing cloud of dust and the Killroy Grocer boys drag the thief away, the Governor
realised there was a lot he did not understand at the moment.

�� How could you do a thing
like that?!� Marca yelled, gripping the wheel
under her hands so tight her arthritic knuckles blanched.
�� Jane
felt the engine rev as she spoke; the rickety vehicle lurched violently as the
old woman angrily switched gears. She knew that Marca
did not really expect an answer but decided to humour her anyway.
�� Killroy and his wife live pay check to pay check as it is,
Mum. They wouldn�t have been able to survive a hit like that.�
�� And you?� she demanded. �Will you survive all
their questions?� Jane hung her head and Marca
switched the gears again, roaring down the country path to their farmhouse
property. �Elijah only knows what your father is going to do when he finds
out.�
�� It will be fine,� Jane told herself. �Once
they get enough drink in them, they�ll forget.�
�� No. Once they get enough drink in them, that�s all they�ll talk about,� Marca
frowned.

�� The
forest pines were tall pointed shadows against the indigo backdrop of the night
sky. The moon was high, barely visible though the misty wisps of clouds above,
but there was enough of its light to bathe the valley and surrounding forest in
pale glow. The grass underfoot looked turquoise under its luminous caress, the
ground itself black as soot. The surrounding land looked like a shadow of its former
self and felt like one as well. There were no night sounds, the crickets were
quiet, the loon held her cry and nothing but the errant breeze moved between
the trees.
�� It
unsettled David Killroy deeply that the woods were so
still tonight, but his hunting partner Ben Pealy was
ignorant, too busy recapping the events of the afternoon.
�� Then
whammo!� he
exclaimed, pounding his meaty fist in his hand. �She hit him low and the boy
was on Queer Street, sprawled out in the middle of Main.
I tell you, we played that surveillance footage again until Quentin shot beer
out his nose.�
�� Pealy was the owner of the Bakery across the street. His
store cameras caught Jane tackling Killroy�s thief
and he brought it to the bachelor party for everyone to have a good laugh at. Killroy wasn�t there for that part of the party so his
friend felt the need to review the events as they happened but he was doing so
entirely too loud.
�� Ben,
quiet down man. You�ll scare everything away.�
�� Ben
brought his belly laugh to a quiet chuckling and looked around, holding his
shot gun against his chest. �It�s not like there�s anything to kill anyway,
Davy,� he shrugged. �It�s like everything knew we were coming and packed it
up.�
�� Or
got spooked,� David replied, watching something awkwardly part the trees.
�� Ben
watched his friend pocket his flask of whisky and take off again, with speed.
He followed behind him, thinking nothing of how briskly his friend now walked.
�So anyway,� Ben continued. �I hope the good ol�
Governor knows what he�s doing with this one.�
�� What
do you mean?� David asked, looking suspiciously to the left and right of them.
�Jane�s a good woman.�
�� I
know,� Ben nodded. �But you have to admit, she�s a little strange. She�s too
quiet, but then again, who can blame her with that accent of hers.�
�� Accent?� David knew precisely what he was talking about but
wanted to keep the air of normalcy for whoever
was watching. �I thought that was a mental thing. A speech
impediment? Or that disease that makes you bark
and curse?�
�� Tourettes,� Ben supplied.
�� Dave
nodded. �She growls and ticks like that at times and looks at you like she�s
saying something you �ought to understand.�
�� It
ain�t Tourettes, Killroy. Jane can speak alright when she tries, although
I�m not entirely sure she�s not mental.� David frowned and Ben begged him to
hear him out. �I�ve been over to Robert�s and Marca�s
at two in the morning and I�ve seen that girl high up in the trees, looking at
the sky like she�s waiting for something.�
�� Liar,�
David chuckled.
�� I�m
serious!� Ben protested. �Hey, Gene Poughkeepsie, their neighbour, says she
does that all the time. He�s even caught her wandering �round his property at
night, sitting way up on his old silo just staring.� Ben looked wistful a
moment and sighed. �I wonder how she�s going to get by being the Governor�s
wife. You can do that kinda� stuff here in the
country, but in downtown, people will talk.�
�� The irony, David thought to himself with
a chuckle. �She�ll get by the same way she gets by being the Chief Inspector�s
daughter, just fine.�
�� But
she�s not their kid. You can just look at her and see that much.�
�� Shh!� David put his arm out and held his friend back. The
trees bent again, parting like some invisible thing walked through it, bigger
than the first. �You hear that?�
�� Ben
nodded his head with trembling. �The clicking? I heard
it.�
�� David
took off down the path again, loading his gun. �Walk faster.�
�� You
think it�s the Wild Man?� Ben chuckled nervously, ambling merrily behind his
friend. �The thing that stole George Leone�s chickens?�
�� I
think we better find the Chief and the rest of the party and call it a night,�
David said, cocking the loaded gun.
�� He
trotted down the path, mindful of Ben�s athletic shortcoming. From their
vantage atop a hill, the campsite clearing was in sight. The warm fire with the
other members of the Governor�s bachelor party huddled around it was within
reach when a muffled groan made Killroy turn.
�� Ben
fell to his knees, clutching his chest, sweat pouring from his face. He was in
too much pain to even form a word, but Killroy was
confident he knew why that was. It happened once before, just like this, almost
in identical fashion. This was the reason he ran so slow. Tucking his gun under
his arm, David ran back for him, searching the many pockets of his hunting
jacket.
�� He
took out his cellular and dialled Emergency. �Benny boy, you have to stop
making your special baker�s dozen,� he said punching the numbers. �You�re only
supposed to eat one of every sweet, not six.�
�� Ben
only gasped but David didn�t really expect a response, he would get more than
an earful later when his friend was better. While he waited patiently for
dispatch to pick up, David fished through the gasping man�s coat pockets for
the nitrogen tablets given to heart patients. Killroy
paused when he felt something warm and wet squish between his fingers. He took
his hand away quickly and gasped to see blood on his fingertips. David tore
open the jacket and could plainly see this was no heart attack. There was no
heart in his chest to be had, just a big steaming hole.
�� Ben
fell backward and David took off toward the property gates screaming, ducking
brush and tree branches. He was so panicked he didn�t see the metal claws
materialise before him. The adrenaline charging through his veins made him
ignorant to the excruciating pain as they pushed into his belly. They were
forced deep, �til the hilt and then twisted. The man fell to the floor, face
down, unable to see the huge hulking beast that came to stand over his dying
body.��
��
Still
standing over his kill, Rath�ol angrily flapped his
arm, casting off the human�s blood from his blades. �Damn you, Hay�un,� he hissed. �Impetuous, immature,
and illogical waste of flesh!�
�� Hay�un materialised with a
laughing snort, watching his brother flail and gripe, �Do not be such a little
female, Rath�ol.�
It was bound to happen.�
�� No, it was not,� he snapped. �The directive was to bring
the female back alive not dead. We
did not have to kill anyone this time.�
�� Ehh, this male got in my way
so it was necessary,� Hay�un said, kicking at the one
he shot. He was actually quite proud that it was so silent the other did not
know what had happened before he laid a hand on him. Even then, Hay�un doubted he really understood what happened.
�� Rath�ol shook his head at his
lie. �You killed him because you could.�
�� Maybe,� he shrugged. �But you killed that one there, so
you ought not to judge, Elder brother.�
�� I killed him to buy us time.� Rath�ol
knew the human would run back and tell his clan what happened here, it wouldn�t
take long for Isis to piece things together
and flee. �We will need to move quicker now. If she does not already know we
are here, she will when they do not return.�
�� Hay�un had not the slightest
concern. �It is not like she can do anything about it. We are great warriors
and she is merely a human female.� He put a hand on Rath�ol�s
shoulder. �Relax Brother, this will be easy.��
�� There is a reason why we were sent, Hay�un,�
he replied, looking the male in the eye.
�� Hay�un was completely oblivious
of his seriousness. �We were sent because I am the best and you are with me,�
he chuckled, moving in the direction the man had been.
�� Rath�ol watched him go,
bristling with ire. �I should have left him on the ship,� he muttered to
himself.

�� Where is he, Na�run?!� Council
Elder Ka�jal crossed the hall with ire, stomping his
lithe and tall frame to tower over the Elder Liaison. Na�run,
although he did not shake yet, was visibility agitated by the male�s
fierceness. He flinched as Ka�jal slammed a tablet on
the table in front of him.
�� Tell him to take his calls because I am tired of
receiving them.� Ka�jal growled.
�� Na�run looked confused, his
mandibles twitching once. �But you are the acting Lead Elder. This is your
task.�
�� Cut the crap, Na�run, and make
sure he answers this!� the male roared, shoving the tablet against him.
�� Na�run took the thing with a
sigh, �I will try, but you know how stubborn he is. If he does not want to do
it no amount of talking will help.�
�� Tell him if I am pulled from my mate�s bed again to do
his job, I will personally pay a visit to him,� Ka�jal
growled, pushing back his cloak.
�� Na�run saw the blade tucked
into his waistband and swallowed. �I will see what I can do,� he nodded,
standing.
�� Na�run strode from the Anuvis Council Chambers, his tablet tucked under his arm.
As he moved to the lifts, he inspected the ship and the work of the asegians around him.�
They cleaned and polished the mirror-like onyx walls until they gleamed.
Moved on hands and feet to scrub the floors. It was a
pity the Lead Elder rarely saw how beautiful the Council Level was.
�� As one of the newer Clan ships, Anuvis
was fitted with every aesthetic and technological luxury. Doors
that materialised from seemingly solid walls, passageways that illuminated only
when a body passed through, not to mention the agricultural oases. They
were the property of Elder Ra'daei�s, one of the ship�s
many researchers, and he used them to find new medicines but it did not lessen
the beauty. Walled behind flawlessly polished glass, various exotic vegetations
and flora twisted and hung like a portrait on many levels of the ship. The ones
in need of the most heat were kept in the lower level where the ship�s engines
were, the ones in need of crisper air and light stood at the entrance of the
Council Hall blooming in reds and blues so vibrant they looked painted.�
�� Ra'daei stood by the case now,
checking on his experiments and drawing samples. He bowed at Na�run as he passed. �Elder Liaison,
greetings. Tell the Elder Healer I may have found an antidote to the Par-par sickness here. It is minor, but
it will increase our warriors� resistance to the environment when they hunt in Vo-na�i.�
�� I am glad for your discovery,� Na�run
bowed. �But I have just come from Council Chambers. I am on my way to the top
levels. I will not see the Elder Healer.�
�� Ra'daei motioned to the tablet in
his hand. �You go to deliver this to the Lead Elder?� he asked. Na�run nodded and Ra�daei chuckled.
�Then you will see the Elder Healer.�
�� Na�run clasped his mandibles
tightly and bowed curtly before moving to the lifts again. He did not have to
be a genius like Ra'daei, or the rest of the brilliant
researchers that populated Anuvis, to know the Lead
Elder had duped his duties yet again in pursuits of the flesh. Still, despite
his intense anger, he was hesitant to confront the male. One could never know
what mood the Lead Elder was in until it was too late.
�� Na�run stared at the ornately
carved metal door. He took a breath to give him courage before he knocked on
it.
�� What?� a voice demanded gruffly.
�� Elder Ali�shir, there was a call from Ge�tan.� Na�run replied. Although
the male could not see him, he bowed out of habit.
�� Ali�shir groaned with irritation, �Who was it, Na�run?�
�� Elder Ka�jal was the one to
take the message and did not specify that, however�� Naru�n
scrolled through the tablet until he fond the note made by the Elder Diplomat.
�The caller insists you will want to speak to him and he calls you �brother,�
sir. Would you like to see the message?�
�� Ali�shir could think of only one male in Ge�tan who could call him brother and if Heron was
contacting him, it must be important. �Yes, give me a moment,� he yelled at the
door. He glanced up at the Elder Healer. �Sa�mar,
would you excuse me?�
�� She crossed her arms with severe disappointment. �Are you
seriously going to answer him? Right now?� she demanded.
�� Ali�shir looked at her petulant pout with confusion. �Why not?�
�� Because were in the middle of fucking!� she shouted,
bouncing on his lap to emphasise the point to him and hopefully stir the male�s
memory.
�� It did neither. �Indeed we were,� Ali�shir replied,
sitting up in one swift motion. �But this cannot wait. Get off me.�
�� Sa�mar moved with a hiss,
taking her leg from over him to flop on her back on the bed. She watched him
with angry black eyes as he moved to unlock the door and let the Elder Liaison
inside.
�� Na�run shuffled in quickly with
his head down, practised at the motion as to not see either one of them in
their state of undress. He handed Ali�shir the message with a bow and then
excused himself, content to wait just outside the door.
�� Ali�shir took the tablet and sat on the bed�s edge. He
was beginning to read it when Sa�mar came to look
over his shoulder, brushing her cheek against his.
�� Sa�mar, please. This is
business,� he said softly, moving the tablet from her sight.
�� Ali�shir, you forget that I serve on your Council,� she
purred, draping her arms around him. �I have the clearance to read these kinds
of messages.�
�� He shook out of her embrace, purposely putting distance
between them. �Only a Lead Elder�s mate has clearance to read his or her
personal correspondences.�
�� Sa�mar lay in his lap then,
draping her petite tan body over his thick thighs, covering the tablet in his
hand with her back and long curling black locks. �Then I should be able to read
them as I am the closet thing you have to one,� she purred, stretching her arms
above her so her breasts stood up and out.
�� Ali�shir stood quickly, sending her tumbling to the floor
on her side. �You are not my mate,�
he growled.
�� Sa�mar pushed herself off the
ground. �I know I am not,� she said with pride. �I am present when she is absent.
At your meetings, in your Council, in your bed.� She clasped her petite
mandibles and looked down at the floor, thoughtfully tracing a circle in the
floor beneath her with a slender foot. �I do all the things she should,� she
said softly. �Why should I not enjoy all of the benefits?�
�� Because if you would enjoy them, the rest would demand
to as well,� Ali�shir said matter-of-factly, looking over the message. �Then I
would have far too many females to trust with my secrets.�
�� Do not presume to rope me in with the rest of them,� Sa�mar yelled, standing. �We both know that of all the
females you enjoy, I am your favourite.�
�� Ali�shir lifted his eyes from the tablet and saw the
female posed before him. With her hand on her hip, he could see every tight
muscle of her body, from her strong sculpted legs to her arms. The un-mottled
and smooth tan coloured flesh was even across her curves, seemingly poured over
her petite frame. Her body, her colour, and some of things she said, and even
the irritated little stance she stood in now, reminded him of her and for those reasons alone, Sa�mar was his favourite, but she had overstepped her
bounds tonight.
�� Ali�shir strode to the door. He propped it open with his
leg as his hands still held the tablet. �Good night, Sa�mar.�
�� The female was shocked. Her jaw dropped, her mandibles
slack. She pulled the covers from the bed and held them tight over her body.
�Ali�shir, you cannot be serious��
�� I said good night,
Sa�mar,� he repeated firmly, not looking up from the
message. He did not even spare her a glance as she stormed past him and it was
not as if she went quietly.
��
�� Na�run could hear the string of
curses become louder and louder. Both doors to the master bedroom burst open
and Sa�mar stalked angrily to the private lift. When
she vanished down the hall, Na�run stepped inside the
master bedroom and posed a question to Ali�shir, who sat seemingly unaffected
by the episode.
�� Are you sure it is wise to upset her so? She may tell
the Elder Female exactly what goes on during these meetings, sir.�
�� I have bigger problems at the moment,� Ali�shir replied.
�� The message was from Bahdri,
not Heron. It both angered and worried him that Ge�tan�s
new Lead Elder sought his favour by calling him brother.
�� Ali�shir handed Na�run the
tablet and stood. He moved to the closet where he shrugged on a tunic and
strapped his amour over his chest and thighs.
�� Have the room cleaned while I am gone. Especially the
sheets,� he ordered. �I want nothing to remind me the Elder Healer had ever
been here. She is no longer allowed here or anywhere else on my floor.�
�� Already done, sir.�� Na�run nodded,
scribbling the words into official ordinances on the tablet.
�� The Elder Liaison anticipated this. There always came a
time when the Elder became fed up with his infatuation of the moment but Na�run expected it much sooner with Sa�mar.
In general, the females Ali�shir chose were argumentative, opinionated and
headstrong, but Sa�mar was the most difficult by far.
Na�run could never understand why a male of his
stature would subject himself to such torture when he had his pick of eager,
compliant and much quieter females.
�� Distracted with finalising Ali�shir�s
orders, Na�run was surprised when he glanced up to
see the male packing his kit and weapons and his voice did not hide his apathy.
�� Hunting again,
sir?�
�� I need to clear my head,� Ali�shir replied.
�� Na�run rolled his eyes. �As
many times as you leave, your head must be completely empty already,� he
mumbled. The male stilled and Na�run cursed,
realising he had said his thoughts aloud.
�� Excuse me?� Ali�shir demanded, slowly turning to face
the male.
�� Na�run carefully set down his
tablet, preparing to defend himself. He had not meant to say the words out loud
but he was glad they slipped. Like most in the ship, he had been bottling his
true feelings for far too long.
�� Never in all my years as an Elder Liaison have I ever
been witness to such aloof carelessness on the part of the Lead Elder.�
Ali�shir shot him a glare of warning but Na�run
continued, looking to the floor to keep his train of thought. �You sleep most
of the day. Spend your evenings tangled with every female in the ship. You
rarely answer your messages or attend Council meetings and if, if, I am lucky enough to catch you awake,
alert and not fucking,� he said
counting on his fingers. �You are on your way to hunt. Like now,� he yelled
angrily. �I keep waiting for you to focus!� he said slamming his fist in his
palm. �We all wait for you to wake up
and take your position and responsibilities seriously but even now, when
pressed with at least a dozen urgent messages from a ship within our very Clan,
you leave!�
�� If you ever question me again, you will see how focused
I can be,� Ali�shir growled.
�� Na�run lowered his head as the
male stalked closer. He loomed like a dark angry cloud above him, breathing
raggedly, his fists clenching with each thunderous beat of his heart. The Elder
Liaison would have been afraid if he wasn�t backed by his conviction and if he
wasn�t just as angry as Ali�shir seemed to be. Na�run
took up the tablet and pressed it against the male�s chest, meeting the Lead
Elder�s angry light eyes.
�� Answer it,� he demanded. �You are our Lead Elder. Act
the part.�
�� Ali�shir raised his hand and Na�run
tried his best not to flinch. He waited for the male to wrap his hand around
his throat and choke him for his insolence but the male simply took the tablet
from his hand.
�� I can see why Heron nominated you for your position,� he
said, impressed with the male�s doggedness.
�� Ali�shir moved away and Na�run
exhaled with relief. �As can I,� he swallowed; thankful he would live to see
another day. He watched the male seat himself on the bed and stare at the tablet
in his hands. �Will you answer Ge�tan�s hail?� he
asked.
�� After a moment of thoughtful silence, Ali�shir nodded. �I
suppose I can no longer delay this.� It was only a matter of time until he
opened his suite doors to find Bahdri waiting on the
other side. �I will do so in my private quarters. Tell Ka�jal
he may enjoy his time with Ny�ima uninterrupted. I am
on the task.�
�� He will be very pleased to hear this,� Na�run nodded, moving for the doors.
��
�� After visiting with now extremely pleased Ka�jal, Na�run became aware of
some greatly distressing news. He raced to the Lead Elder�s chambers, literally
running and loping though the halls like he was on fire until he reached Ali�shir�s private office. He tried the door, but it was
locked and from the sounds of the conversation, Ali�shir would not take kindly
to being interrupted so Na�run waited. The Liaison
paced anxiously back and forth until the conversation ended and the doors flew
open.
�� Na�run stepped forward, his
finger raised, posed to speak when Ali�shir shot him a glare that robbed him of
his nerve. His finger wilted as he watched Ali�shir storm out of the room into
the hall.
�� Na�run, send word to have my
ship prepared immediately,� he boomed, striding to the lifts.
�� Of course sir, but Elder Ali�shir there is-�
�� The male raised his hand to silence him. �I have not
forgotten what you have told me, Na�run, but I must go,� he said with emotion that
bordered on panic. �Inform Ka�jal and send my
regrets. Tell him I will return in a timely fashion this time.�
�� Sir, I am sure you will but I do not think it would be
wise to leave now-�
�� Na�run gasped. Ali�shir turned
quickly, grasping him by his throat and slamming him against the nearest wall.
�Do not argue with me on this. Do as I ask, while you can.�
�� The lift doors opened with a pleasant chime and Ali�shir
discarded Na�run as quickly as he snatched him,
letting him drop to the floor. He did not stop the heavy doors from closing as
the Liaison called out to him a final time.
�� Sir, wait!� he yelled, reaching for him from his place
on the floor. �Please!�
�� Na�run struggled to his feet
and thought to run toward him when a quiet hiss stopped him in place. From the
corner of the male�s eyes, he could see another male standing just out of sight
in an adjacent hall, holding his fingers to his clenched mandibles.
�� Na�run instantly fell silent
and took a knee. He had never seen the stranger before, but the engraved golden
amour that flanked his shoulders like a halo of sharp feathers said this was
The Ro�al, the messenger of the Clan Leader. For him
to be here, without warning or fanfare was discouraging, which is why Na�run wanted to warn Ali�shir that there had been rumours
he would be making an unannounced visit, but it was far too late now.
�� From his place of kneeling, Na�run
could see the lift doors shut firmly. The Lead Elder of Anuvis
was well on his descent to the docks, off to Paya
only knows where, while The Ro�al, the ruthless
messenger of Go�meh, stood in repose in his foyer. Na�run let his head fall, pressing it against the cool of
the floor. This is not good.

A/N: Ok, guys, be kind. Sequels
terrify me but since I did promise one and I spent some time thinking this
through, I�m giving you the best I got. I hope you like it, R&R, enjoy your summer and see ya
in September!
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A Union of Convenience II