Chapter One
Aidon walked through the Port Eyeja market, keeping a wary eye on his surroundings. He still wore the form of a Kaisarian priest, and most of the crowd automatically tried to avoid him. Hothrest was far enough from Kaisar, the ruling planet of the Kaisarian Empire, that his presence was somewhat unusual, but the Empire had a long arm and no one would bother him in this guise.
He had assumed this form in order to infiltrate a hidden lab far to the north and eliminate a scholar responsible for causing multiple deaths as the result of a cruel experiment. Aidon had succeeded, of course, and the credits had already been transferred to his account, but it had taken him longer than expected and he was running dangerously short on time.
Leaving the main thoroughfare, he turned into the warren of narrow streets leading to the spaceport. The ground was more treacherous here—the ever-present snow packed into dirty, icy ruts. Despite the bitter cold, many of the storefronts were open to the street to allow the tantalizing aromas of roasting meat or spiced liquor to tempt passing customers. They mingled with the chemical smell of the small heaters that also hung in many windows and the smoky tang of sarlag dung from the braziers used by the less prosperous shopkeepers.
His hunter’s instincts automatically identified and tracked each scent, constantly alert for any indication of trouble, but nothing slowed his stride until he neared the end of the long street. An exotic floral scent, as out of place on this icy world as he was, drifted through the air, reminding him of his jungle home. He had been away from Pardor for too long. Much too long, he thought as the skin on his arm flickered briefly with his distraction, but he still slowed his steps, looking for the source of that lush, mysterious scent.
A large cage hung in the open front of the nearest shop, a red-furred animal huddled in the bottom, and he felt a fleeting pang of sympathy for the trapped creature. Not a shop, he realized as he peered into the narrow interior, but a bar. A long, scarred counter ran down one side with a few mismatched tables on the other. Only a few patrons populated the place at this early hour, slumped over the bar in solitary misery.
“Can I help you, Your Worship?” The bartender came hurrying up, wiping his hands on a stained apron. He was an Aalzz, a race Aidon despised on principle. Short orange fur covered a stocky body with too many limbs, but it wasn’t the appearance of the male that bothered him. Rather, it was his race’s tendency to lie and cheat and take pleasure in their deception. “I am Maakin, the host of this humble tavern.”
“I was just passing by,” Aidon said dismissively.
“It’s a cold morning. I can offer you some fine Foldaran brandy to take the chill off.”
It was an offer designed to appeal to a Kaisarian, but somehow, he doubted that this seedy establishment actually carried a genuine version of the rare liquor. Before he could shake his head and move on, Maakin looked over his shoulder and scowled. He picked up a long stick and poked the creature in the cage.
“Sit up! You’re not going to attract any customers like that.”
As the creature stirred reluctantly and obeyed, Aidon realized that what he had taken for fur was actually hair, a long, tangled mane of red hair that only partially covered a very dirty, very naked, and very female body. As she moved, more of the delicious fragrance washed over him, and his cock—his true cock—responded. Hastily forcing it back down, he raised an eyebrow at Maakin, deliberately keeping his tone casual.
“What is that?”
“They’re called humans.” The host scowled at the female. “I thought she might attract attention to my place, but all she does is huddle there.”
“Perhaps she’s cold.”
“I put her right over the brazier,” Maakin said indignantly.
Since they were standing next to the small fire now and he could barely feel the heat, he suspected it did little good, but she wasn’t his responsibility. He had already lingered too long.
“A bad investment,” he agreed and started to move on.
“Wait! Maybe Your Worship would be interested in taking her off my hands? I have heard that females are used in some of the rituals praising your god.” The male gave Aidon’s fine robes an appraising look. “I’m willing to accept a very reasonable amount.”
“I have no need for