Free Heroic Abduction by Eve Langlais Page A

this time.”
    “No,” she snapped. “You’ve done enough damage.”
    “You’re angry.”
    “Well duh. You just ruined my chance to subtly ask questions. I’ll never find anything out now.”
    He signaled the waitress, holding up two fingers and swirling them before replying. “I think you need to show a little more faith in my methods.”
    “What method?”
    “The one that will pay off.”
    Their server arrived with two frothy concoctions that misted over the edge of the opaque glass. The clear blue liquid resembled window washer fluid and Betty eyed it dubiously. “What the hell is that?”
    “Try it.”
    “Trying to get me drunk so you can have your way with me?”
    “I would never do something so dishonorable.”
    “A shame.” She enjoyed the flare of surprise on his face. Picking the glass up by the stem, she took a sip then another. Fruity, not too sweet, with a slight kick, it was better than most of the vile, fiery stuff she’d tried before, which, if drunk too fast, caused choking, burning, and in some cases, literal steam to come out of her mouth.
    “This is good,” she admitted somewhat grudgingly.
    “Not as good as the news I’ve got to sell,” announced a burbling voice behind her.
    Startled, Betty jumped. Usually she was much more careful when in a strange place, but Dyre had her all turned about. It didn’t help that she usually sat with her back against a wall. Peering over her shoulder, she glared at the octopus-like creature that slithered into the open chair. Talk about ugly. Its brackish-colored skin was pockmarked and bumpy. Definitely not a good deep-fried calamari candidate.
    “You have heard of, or seen, my lady’s companions?” Dyre asked without preamble.
    “Maybe.” A tentacle slid forward.
    It surprised her to see Dyre slide a large pearl in its direction. Her hero bribing an informant? Holy shit, somewhere in the galaxy a planet had stopped spinning on its axis.
    “Less heard, more like seen. Awhile back though. They was stopped for fuel and directions at the space station by the Gleshian star system.”
    “Can you describe them?”
    “The little human one had orange-colored hair and spots all over her face while the Zonian,” the squid-like mass jiggled, its version of a shrug. “Looked like a Zonian.”
    “That’s Clarabelle!” Betty exclaimed.
    Dyre shot her a look, and given he didn’t usually get stern, she clamped her lips shut.
    “Anything else? Any indication about their direction? Any trouble?”
    Another slimy appendage peeked forth and took the second pearl Dyre pulled out from his cloak.
    I really need to frisk him next time he tries to kiss me and see what else he’s got hiding under there. And maybe cop a feel while she was at it.
    “No flight plan, but there was some fellows, big ones like you, talking to her.”
    “Like me? You mean other Kulins?”
    “Barbarian mercenaries yes, Kulin though no. The two-legged varmints were bronze-skinned and yellow-eyed.”
    Intent on the news, Betty drained her drink, barely getting a buzz. Less cocktail, more like a tease. Damned bar tampering with the alcohol content. Given Dyre hadn’t touched his, she snagged it and sipped it too.
    “Got anything else to tell me?”
    “Nope. Pleasure doing business.” With a final wet warble, the sickly looking sushi alien slithered off.
    Just in time, too, because Betty couldn’t contain herself any longer. “Do you know that’s the first bit of news I’ve heard since Zista and I left our planet?”
    “Still going to question my methods?” Dyre asked, his smile more cocky than usual.
    “Nope. You’re freaking awesome.” She was so happy with him in that moment, and possibly a touch tipsy, that she grabbed him by the cloak, yanked him toward her, and plastered him with a kiss.

Chapter Nine
    “Gambling isn’t just for fun . ” – A Mercenary’s Guide to Prosperity
    “Wagering is a sin.” – The Unofficial Guide to Heroism
     
    The kiss took him by