Stealing Jia (Coletti Warlords #12) - Gail Koger Page 0,42

pointed at the evil twins. “Got it?”

“Yes, Momma Jia,” they said in unison.

To my utter amazement, the twins were well-behaved, and Cason didn’t dump his blood worms all over the floor. Progress. Of course, I’d have to start teaching him how to eat at the table. First thing I needed to do was get him a baby seat.

“Lilkee is still on the loose,” Trayon advised.

“You, my dad, Sariel and Zarek are the best hunters in the galaxy. How is she eluding you?”

“She is wearing a cloaking device.”

“Oh. Was it stolen from the Farins too?”

“It was.”

“Good hunting.” I set my glass of Merlot and pasta on the table. Before I could take a bite, Lilkee burst into the mess hall. “Web her,” I told the twins.

Splat! Splat! Splat! Splat!

Presto! Lilkee was glued to the wall. “Release me! Now. You filthy primitives. You have no right to hold me.”

“Oh, but I do. You’ve broken about a zillion laws and are aiding and abetting our sworn enemy, the Rodan. That’s called treason.”

“I am the Empress. I can do as I wish.”

“Empress of what? That broken-down ship?”

“My Legionnaires will destroy you,” Lilkee screeched.

“What Legionnaires you didn’t kill off with that crazy dance ritual, you gave to the Rodan as lab rats. Did you forget that? I mean, why would they fight for you now?”

“They would die for me.”

“They’re dying alright, because you’re murdering them. Oh yeah, the few loyal subjects left on your ship have been captured.”

Lilkee’s pale skin flushed with rage. “You destroyed my ship.”

“Boo hoo.” I linked with Trayon. “Lilkee is in the mess hall.”

“I will advise the others.”

“My father will not allow the Askole heathens to harm me,” Lilkee crowed.

I laughed. “I wouldn’t count on that.”

“Zarek is headed your way. I have never seen him this angry. Take the children to our quarters and stay there,” Trayon instructed.

“Not going to be a problem.” I gathered up the kids. “Okay guys, we need to leave so Zarek can talk to Lilkee.”

Zarek popped into the room.

Chiara ported us out.

Chapter Thirteen

The door chime rang. I frowned. I could sense Zarek in the hallway. Was he here to complain about the twins or yell at me for webbing Lilkee to the wall? The last thing I wanted to do was talk to him, but if I ignored him, he’d just teleport in.

“What does he want?” Chiara asked worriedly.

“Only one way to find out. I want you and the kids to go into the bedroom, while the grownups talk.”

“We hide.” The evil twins shot under the bed.

Adoz and Pepe followed them.

The door chime sounded again.

Cason wrapped his arms around my right leg. Chiara coiled around my left. “We stay with you.”

“Okay.” Taking a deep breath, I opened the door and smiled politely at the Overlord.

Zarek asked courteously, “May I come in?”

“Ah, sure.” I gestured to the common room. “Please have a seat. Would you like a glass of Merlot?”

“I would, thank you.”

The urge to giggle hysterically was almost overwhelming. I was playing hostess to one of the most dangerous predators in the galaxy. And why was he being so nice? It was creeping me out. I ordered two glasses of Merlot from the food processor. Should I summon Trayon?

Zarek cocked an eyebrow and shrugged.

Merda! He was reading my mind. Time to suck it up. With the kids still clinging to my legs, I did the Frankenstein lurch back to the common room. I handed Zarek his glass. “I’m honored by your visit, but…”

Zarek interrupted, “What do I want?”

I nodded.

“I wish to apologize. My actions in the mess hall frightened the children. That was never my intent. I let my anger get the best of me.”

My jaw dropped. The Overlord seemed genuinely remorseful. Had he been hit in the head recently? Maybe I should call a medic.

Cason crawled over to Zarek and patted his boot. “Ax.”

I also accept your apology,” Chiara said.

“Thank you.” Zarek picked Cason up and cuddled him. “Children are more resilient than we give them credit for.”

Were they? I switched to English. “They were prisoners of the Rodan, and I have no idea what horrors they endured. I don’t know what they did to Adoz or the twins. Pepe was experimented on. Chiara watched her nest mates being eaten one by one. It haunts her. Can you erase those memories?”

“I can.”

I drained my glass of Merlot. Was it wrong of me to want to ease their pain?

“It is not. You want our children to be happy and whole. I support any decision you make,”