Free Alien Morsels: Short Tales from Zerconian Warrior Series by Sadie Carter Page B

kill me for making you cry.” He ran a hand over her head. “Don’t cry.”
    “I’m not letting you go.”
    “Willa.”
    “I’m not letting you die.”
    “Whoa. Whoa.” Picking her up, he placed her on the counter. He held her by the arms and stared into her face. “Nobody said anything about dying.”
    “You said we’d be all right without you. You want to leave.”
    “Leave, yes. But not die. Jesus, Willa, I’m not that bad.”
    “Really?” She sniffed. How embarrassing. She hated crying.
    “Really. I just think I need to leave. I feel useless here.”
    “Okay. Okay, I can deal with that. I don’t like it, and I don’t want you to go, but I kind of get it.”
    He frowned. “You like it here, don’t you? Is someone being mean to you?”
    She grinned. “I’m not five anymore you know. I can deal with the bullies on my own.”
    “There’s a bully?” He stood straight and for the first time looked like his old self.
    “No, silly, there’s no bully. You probably haven’t noticed since you’ve turned into a hermit, but there’s not a lot of jobs for women around here. Well, that don’t involve cooking and cleaning, and we both know I’m useless at that.”
    He rubbed his stomach. “I’ll never forget the pancakes you made for my birthday last year.”
    She rolled her eyes. “You were fine the next day.”
    “I spewed until I passed out!”
    They grinned at each other, and she finally let the panic go. He wasn’t going to kill himself. He wanted to leave, and that sucked. But if he was okay, she could deal.
    Maybe.
    “I’m going to talk to Darac about going on the next job with the crew. Rye hasn’t replaced me yet.”
    He raised his eyebrows. “Think Darac is really going to let you go off without him?”
    “No. But I don’t want to go without him. I want him to come with me.”
    “Do you think Darac will want to do that?”
    “He was willing to live on Joyadan and work with the crew before the Coizils attacked and we moved here. I think he’ll agree.” Maybe. He wouldn’t be happy about it. He didn’t like her being in danger. But she had to have a purpose or she was going to go insane. Her people were settling into Zerconian life. Soon they wouldn’t need her, then what would she do?
    “Uh-huh.”
    “You could come with us. Rye is always asking you to crew with us.” Duke had an amazing knack for getting people to talk. He could read people. Could tell if they were hiding something or being honest.
    “I’d be a hindrance.”
    “The only reason you never crewed in the past is because of your leg, but if Thor can fix that…”
    He scowled. “Anyone ever tell you that you’re stubborn?”
    She grinned. “Just once or twice.”
    “Fine. I’ll talk to Thor. But that’s all I’m promising.”
    “Really? Cause I kind of had one other favor to ask.”
    He sighed. “You want me to speak to Darac? All right, but—”
    “No. No, I can speak to Darac. It’s just, umm, well—”
    “Spit it out.”
    “Could you possibly shower, because you really stin—eek,” she squealed as he grabbed her, tickling her.
    “Stink, do I?”
    “Duke, stop! Stop!”
    Norman snarled. Duke stilled, looking down before letting out a huge laugh. “Well, at least my leg is good for something.”
    She glanced down, bursting into giggles.
    “Norman, let go.”
    Norman snarled again as he bit down on Duke’s leg.
    Duke sighed. “The wheel’s spinning but I think the hamster is dead.”
    “Don’t be mean. Norman’s lovely.” She pulled the dog off. “How was he meant to know you’ve got an artificial leg?”

Chapter Eleven
     
    Willa paced back and forth across the waiting room. Soft, comfortable chairs were pushed back against three of the walls. A large vid screen was mounted on the remaining wall.
    “You’re making me dizzy,” Rye complained from where he stood, leaning against the wall next to the vid screen.
    She ignored him and strode across the room again.
    Zuma let out a