Dekkir (Galaxy Alien Warriors #1)(12)
Maybe Dr. Stirling was worried about what Norcross would do if he discovered this. I’d hesitate to tell him myself, even if the Lyrans hadn’t taken away my communicator.
“The subject notes that her predecessor did not report on our abilities to his superiors. She seems inclined to follow his lead.” Gray Cloak sounded mildly surprised—and pleased.
“Good. It is best the humans continue to underestimate us. Continue.” The approval in Blue Cloak’s voice shocked and gratified me. It scared me that they could sense my thoughts . . . except their ability to do that could be a fast track to proving my innocence. These people weren’t looking for a convenient scapegoat. They were looking for the truth.
“The subject is extremely alarmed by the attack on our high chieftain. She was not part of any plan to harm him. However, I feel a great deal of uncertainty and guilt from her.” Gray Cloak tilted her head slightly. “Is it possible she is a pawn of another in this matter?”
A third figure in a dark-green cloak and veil spoke up, voice feminine but low and smoky. “Even she is beginning to contemplate that possibility, uncomfortable as it is.”
It was true. My mission was supposed to be completely benign: studying Lyran culture and making overtures toward a trade alliance. Their unspoiled planet was rich in resources depleted Earth needed desperately. But just as I had gotten over some initial problems in relating to the Lyrans, a silver metal insect had flown into the high chieftain’s throne room and poisoned him with its hypodermic stinger.
Just hearing the description, I knew the thing in question was an assassination drone. They had been used in several Earth wars over the last twenty years. Someone on the Earth base on Lyra’s third moon had just used one to try and kill Lyra’s planetary leader. I, as the only human on the planet, had been left to take the fall. I was just fortunate the Lyran government wasn’t satisfied with a mere convenient target.
Gray Cloak smoothed the front of her robe. “She wonders if one of her fellow humans decided to deliberately leave her to face the consequences of this assassination attempt or whether they simply did not care that she would.”
This is really unnerving.
“The lack of any criminal intent in your case has saved your life.” Blue Cloak addressed me directly for a moment. “It also corroborates the war chief’s claims about you. However, your presence here coincides with the attempted murder, which was clearly committed by a human among your company. We must determine whether you were involved in any way whatsoever. After that, we will decide how to deal with you and how to deal with the rest of the humans.”
I nodded mutely. No point in talking much if they were reading my currently racing mind. This is not good at all. If the high chieftain dies, the Lyrans will definitely not sign any kind of treaty with us. And the worst thing is whoever is behind this is very likely sabotaging the peace process on purpose. Maybe they want to have an excuse to use Earth Command’s bombers and attack drones.
As I sat there listening to them discuss what was going on in my head and its implications for my future, my thoughts turned back to Dekkir. The one they referred to as war chief had pledged himself to me, claiming I was his ideal mate. According to Dr. Stirling, he was responding to some kind of pheromone signal and had imprinted on me as a result, like the world’s biggest, beefiest baby duckling. Considering we were from two entirely different species, I had no idea how he could have recognized me as his mate. But here we were.
When Dekkir first imprinted on me, I had taken it wrong. He was a dominant type, in a way that sometimes really annoyed me, no matter how much sex appeal he had. He had outright announced to the high chieftain and the entire court that we were to be married, before I even knew what was going on. It had taken a lot for me to forgive him for that, even after I found out he couldn’t really help his sudden attachment. Fortunately for me, he was the type of guy who was willing to earn what he wanted, and he had backed off when I expressed my discomfort.
He was also the type of guy who stood up for me immediately when I had been accused of conspiring to kill the high chieftain that afternoon. He was putting his own reputation on the line to protect me from any serious consequences. Considering he was next in line to become high chieftain himself, it was a serious risk to take.
He had prevented the guards from taking me away and imprisoning me. Instead, he took charge of me and kept me in his chambers. Right now, I owed a lot of my safety to his strength and position and to his devotion to me. I was sure a good number of Lyrans wanted me dead right now, and thanks to Dekkir, they wouldn’t have a chance at me. Even though I could not return the feelings prompted by his imprinting, right now, I truly wished he were with me.
“Let me ask you something,” Blue Cloak queried in a hard tone. “If you were left to yourself, how would you react to this situation?”
I took a deep breath. “There’s only one person at our moon base that I feel comfortable contacting about this. He is my predecessor and our chief science officer, Dr. John Stirling. He would not want this assassination plan to succeed, if he knew of it. I certainly don’t believe he is the one behind it. Because he has such a comprehensive medical background, I think he would stand a good chance of knowing what the poison is and how to treat it.”
“So your primary concern is curing our high chieftain? Despite the fact you would be defying your own superiors?” Blue Cloak’s head tilted slightly in curiosity. “Interesting. However, we cannot indulge the suggestion because of two issues. One, I am aware, Lady Grace, that conversations made on your communications devices can be spied upon. Two, although John Stirling has never caused trouble during his stays here, we still do not know what his connection is with those who have committed this crime.”