Serpents of the Night (The Darvel Exploratory Systems #5)

Chapter 18

“You’re green. Why are you green?” Vi demanded as she squinted as Lori from the other side of the comm link.

“I had an unfortunate run-in with fungus that apparently dyes human skin,” Lori replied blandly as she shifted Hashal’s weight on her lap where he was curled up, his sharp teeth making quick work of the hard alien fruit held between his hands.

She made a face at him, her stomach growling at the sweet smell. She wouldn’t torture herself by attempting to eat it, however. No matter how tasty it was, it was hard as a rock, and she simply didn’t have the jaw power or teeth that come close to what even a Seshanamitesh nestling possessed. Damn it.

Her friend burst out laughing, her merriment rolling through the air, unknotting a hard tangle of tension within Lori that she didn’t even realize was there. “Serves you right for messing with alien things,” she chided happily. “I told you from the time we first arrived on this murder rock: Do your job, keep your head down, and live it up in the cantina when time and funds allow. You could be enjoying one of the rec areas of the colony instead of being dyed green and sitting in a cave.”

“At least it is comfortable,” Lori protested, but her lips twitched in spite of herself.

“Yeah, I’ve noticed that you have plenty of glowing weeds down there,” Vi agreed as she reclined back in her chair. “And a huge pile of cushions to rest your ass on, which is always a plus. But that doesn’t amount to a hill of beans compared to any other bullshit that you are likely getting hit with. Is the queen giving you trouble?”

“It is about as enjoyable as you would expect. Royal mealtimes together in the early morning hours before the Seshanamitesh began to settle to sleep away the hottest part of the day. And of course, the queen is thrilled to have me for her son’s mate—as thrilled as if he brought home the plague or some other deadly disease,” she added, meeting Kehtal’s gaze as her mate shook his head mirthfully as he reached down to pluck Hashal off her lap. His wing caressed her lovingly for a moment before he straightened with their nestling and left the room with him to give her some privacy. Lori lowered her voice, not wanting to worry her mate even more than she already had. “Between us, I also think every female within her court would happily see me dead, or at least gone from the Aglatha if not from Seshana altogether.”

Vi snorted. “Making friends already I see.” She sighed heavily and met her gaze soberly through the link. “Just don’t get yourself killed. I won’t forgive me if you leave me alone on this damn planet.”

“What are things not working out as you hoped with Ehsash?” Lori teased.

“Yeah, right. I’m thinking that male is a hopeless case,” Vi huffed in reply. “Maybe I need to look at other prospects. But quit trying to change the subject.” She wagged a finger. “It’s you that we need to be worried about. I’m sorry, Lori, but judging by that bitch, her royalness that was too good to mingle with all of us commoners of the colony, you are liable to get squashed like a bug by one of those females down there. You don’t even have the basic combat training many of us undesirables stationed here have. You are a freaking beautician-masseuse from the pleasure arts strata for fuck’s sake.”

A look of regret came over her friend’s face as Lori bristled. “Ah shit, I’m sorry. I’m always putting my foot in it. I didn’t mean to downplay your contributions to Raza colony. I only mean that you are... delicate, you know? Even I would have a hard time holding my own against one of the Seshanamitesh so of course I’m going to worry like crazy when you are down there with a whole bunch of them who probably want to murder you.”

Lori breathed deeply and nodded. She knew how Vi was. She didn’t mean to be hurtful. Her friend was as blunt as ever and was worried. She cared about her.

“It’s ok, Vi. I know what you mean,” she admitted. “And you’re right. I have my mates but if it comes right down to it, I lack the skills to protect myself.”

Vi’s lips pressed together worriedly. “You are smart though, Lori. I may worry a lot about you being down there so far from the colony, but I also know that are not helpless. Hell, you’ve gone through more shit on this planet than most of us—granted most of it was from our own people. But I know that you have the ability to survive anything that you come against, so don’t let my thoughtless words get you down. Just keep an eye on them and don’t let them get you into a corner.”

“I won’t.”

“Good. Now tell me about the crazy shit you’ve seen down there because I know that it must be code nine down there,” her friend chuckled.

Lori’s lips quirked as she leaned forward. “Well, first of all, you have to see what passes for a popular pet down here.”

As expected, Vi’s eyes lit up with interest. “A pet. Do tell, you adorable ogress.”