Free Coletti Warlords: Just Desserts by Gail Koger Page A

want.”
    “Now there’s a newsflash. Got your eye on Earth?”
    “We can stop the Rodan and Tai-Kok from slaughtering your people,” Talree said confidently.
    There had to be a catch. “You and your band of marauding Warlords are going to help us out of the goodness of your hearts?”
    Talree roared with laughter.
    Yeah, didn’t think so. “The Rodan and Tai-Kok are your enemies too.”
    “True, but pushing them out of your solar system will take resources away from other battlefronts.
    “And?”
    “My father, the Overlord of the Coletti clans, will want to be compensated for our services,” Talree replied.
    Oh, yippee. His daddy was the boss man. “Compensated how?”
    An implacable expression settled on Talree’s face. “The men of your clan are unable to protect their psychic females. We won’t make the same mistake.”
    “Ever hear of equality, buster? Earth women can take care of themselves.”
    Talree shot me an angry look. “You’re a Siren, a valuable asset to your people, and yet the Rodan took you.”
    “I’m a cop. I was doing my job, and things sort of went south.”
    “Your family put you at risk,” my Warlord answered with withering scorn.
    “We protect mankind from the monsters.” Then it hit me. “You want our women.”
    “Not all of them. Just females like you.”
    “I’m sorry to disappoint you, but I’m one of a kind.”
    He smiled, showing lots of fang. “I’ve been in your head, and I know the females of your clan are psychic too.”
    Shit! “You can’t swoop in and take them.”
    “I can and I will.” Talree dropped a hard, possessive kiss on my mouth. “Go eat.”
    “Wait! My family is off-limits to you friggin’ pirates.”
    “No, they are not.” He teleported away.
    “You fucking coward, we’re not done talking yet!” I yelled after him. This was beyond bad. Even knowing they would lose all future Sirens, Central Command would turn us over in a heartbeat. I had to warn my cousins.
    My stomach growled loudly. Right after I ate. I hurried over to the table and sat down. God, I was starving. A naked rodent female with six breasts scurried out and placed several dishes of food on the table. What was up with only the men wearing clothing? I gave her a friendly smile, and she bolted with a squeak. What? So I stank a bit. No one on this cesspool smelled good. Maybe the kids had freaked her out. Nah, not my sweeties.
    I dug in. Yum! Some kinda beef stew. Or not. I didn’t even want to know what critter it came from. I sampled the other dishes. A mixture of fruit and what tasted like spinach. I shoveled it in my mouth. God, it was so damned good.
    The kids scampered down my arms and snagged the blue ant thingies swarming the table.
    I glanced over my shoulder. Where in the hell had the mousy waitress gone? I caught her peeping around the doorway and held up my empty bottle. She jumped in fright and disappeared inside. What had put the fear of God in her?
    The stench of long-dead bodies hit me. Jeezus. Had the wind shifted? I looked around and saw two grimy lizard men carrying blood-soaked bags. Their feral gazes were locked on my kids.
    Oh, hell no. I touched the lizard men’s minds. The fatter one ran a forked tongue over his lips. “It’s been months since I feasted on Tabors.”
    The other one eyed me. “ No owner’s band on the female. We can sell her to Bardell .”
    They were dead men walking. “Stay here, kids.”
    They chittered in alarm.
    Pulling the knife from my boot, I stepped in front of my babies and snarled, “Leave now or die.”
    The lizards kept coming. Not the brightest bulbs in the pack.
    The fat lizard’s tongue shot out, wrapped around my hand, and squeezed. “Drop the knife.”
    I grabbed the bottle off the table with my left hand and cracked him upside the head.
    He dropped to his knees with a grunt. I hit him again and yanked my hand free just as the second lizard lunged at me.
    I sank the knife deep into his chest. The lizard