I could feel my body swaying toward his as he studied my face. Something flickered in his eyes and the copper darkened to a beautiful burnt bronze. He inhaled deeply, his nostrils flaring as his gaze dropped to my mouth.
“That is a tiny human.”
The voice behind us scared the bejeezus out of me. A hard pressure flicked around my waist and squeezed. I stared at Galan’s tail wrapped around my waist before looking over my shoulder at the Draax standing in the hallway.
He studied Galan’s tail before smiling at me. “Hello, tiny female. What is your name?”
“What do you want, Luka?” Galan said.
His voice sounded strange… strained and on edge.
The Draax blinked at him. “Nothing. I was headed toward the garden for my evening walk. I have never seen such a small female before. Is she new to the castle? Can she even clean or work in the garden? She looks so frail.”
He held out his hand to me. “I am Luka.”
I reached for his hand, wincing when Galan’s tail tightened to the point of pain. “Ouch, Galan, stop that.”
I tugged at his tail and, his face a dark green, Galan released me. I shook Luka’s hand. “Hey, Luka. I’m Ellis.”
“Ellis.” Luka smiled at me. “That is a strange name.”
“Uh, thanks, I think?”
“What part of the castle do you work in?”
Galan took my arm and pulled me past Luka. “We must be going. Goodnight, Luka.”
“Goodnight,” Luka said.
Still holding my arm, Galan practically marched me back to the infirmary.
“What’s wrong?” I said.
“Nothing.”
“You’re pissed about something.”
“I am not angry.” He opened the infirmary door and pushed me into the room. “Sigan, the human will be spending the night in the infirmary.”
“I know.” Sigan looked up from his desk. “Teo has already messaged me. Who will you assign to keep watch over her?”
“Adrix,” Galan said. “I will speak to him now. Make sure you give her more serum and as much juice as she can drink.”
“Yes, yes,” Sigan said. He joined us at my bed and once I’d climbed in, he attached the weird smooth cuff around my wrist again, tethering me to the bed.
“Is that necessary?” Galan said. “Adrix will stop her from leaving.”
“I am not risking her touching my equipment,” Sigan said.
“I won’t. I promise,” I said.
He snorted. “I do not believe you, human. You will remain cuffed to the bed.”
“Shocker,” I said.
My stomach growled and Galan said, “Make sure she is given food as well, Sigan.”
My mouth watered and my stomach growled again at just the mention of food.
“When did you eat last, human?” Sigan said.
I thought back before shrugging. “A couple days ago… I think.”
Galan muttered something under his breath that I didn’t catch before heading toward the door. “I will call the kitchen and have food brought to the infirmary.”
“Galan, wait!” I glanced at Sigan, a little embarrassed at the eagerness in my voice. “Will I, um, see you again before I leave?”
Galan nodded. “I will stop by in the morning.”
“Okay.”
He left without saying goodbye. Sigan hooked me up to the IV and gave me a bottle of gallberry juice before returning to his desk. I drank the entire bottle and then laid in the bed and stared up at the ceiling. All things considered, tonight would probably be the best night of my life. Sure, I was dying of cancer and by this time tomorrow night, I’d be in a prison cell, but tonight I was warm, I had as much gallberry juice as I wanted to drink, and I’d have some food in my belly.
It was the best a liar and a thief could ask for.
Chapter Five
Galan
The castle was quiet this early in the morning. I stopped in front of Quill and Sabrina’s private quarters and hesitated with my hand raised to knock. Our queen was not an early riser and I risked waking her at this hour, but I had no choice. I’d seen Quill in the training room, clashing swords with Krey, and if I had any hope of speaking to Sabrina alone before the human was sent back to Earth, now was the time.
Ellis. Her name is Ellis.
I said her name out loud. I liked the way it sounded on my tongue and I said it again before knocking on the door. To my surprise, it opened almost immediately.
“Galan, hi.”
I bowed. “Good morning, my queen. I am sorry for waking you.”
“I wasn’t sleeping. Come on in.”
I followed her into the room, smiling when Jovie slid off the couch and skipped toward me. She