Hidden Rage: Kindred Tales

“Really?” Bobbi raised her eyebrows in surprise. “I guess they don’t consider me a flight risk since Dragon declared his intention to marry me.”

It still sounded strange to say those words. Bobbi couldn’t believe she was engaged to be married to the big Kindred. Engaged against your will! whispered a little voice in her head. With the wedding planned for the end of this month!

Which was right when the Kindred of the Mother Ship ought to be searching for her. Bobbi thought distractedly that at least she would get to see the Saurian wedding rituals up close. Unless she could get away before the marriage took place.

It was too bad, really—she was beginning to be extremely fond of Dragon. She might even be falling a little in love with him—though she tried very hard not to let herself think about that. If they had met on the Kindred Mother Ship, Bobbi was certain she would have been attracted to him and more than willing to date him. But since their “meet cute” had consisted of him throwing her over his shoulder like some kind of caveman and carting her off to his own planet where he had declared they were going to get married whether she liked it or not, well…

That kind of puts a damper on the relationship, she told herself. So stay strong, Bobbi—being crazy-attracted to a guy isn’t a good enough reason to spend your life in a frozen hellhole where they treat women like dirt!

“What are you thinking, Bobbi?” Keelah asked, breaking into her train of thought. “Are you imagining your wedding?”

“As a matter of fact, I am,” Bobbi said, a bit grimly. She turned to her friend. “Tell me, do they have a ‘maid of honor’ type position here on Saurous? I mean, does the bride have a friend stand with her during the wedding ceremony?”

“There is sometimes an attendant who stands with the bride,” Keelah told her. “Usually it is a sister from the same brood clutch or a very dear friend.”

“Well, I want you to be my attendant,” Bobbi told her. On the off chance that she couldn’t get out of this wedding, she wanted a friend standing with her for moral support during the ceremony.

“You do? You want me?” Keelah put a scaly, six-fingered hand to her chest. “But, Bobbi—I’m just a Pleasure Girl! And you’re marrying into the head family of one of the strongest Clans in the entire Southern Continent! You’ll be second only to whoever Rep. Zerlix takes as a wife—if he ever settles down,” she added.

“I don’t care about that!” Bobbi said, putting her arm around Keelah and giving her a squeeze. “You’re my best friend here, Keelah and I want you standing by my side.”

“I would be honored.” Keelah’s voice was hushed. “You’re too kind, Bobbi.”

“Not any kinder than you have been to me,” Bobbi told her. “I’m the outsider here—a mammalian on a planet full of Saurians. But you’ve been sweet and wonderful right from the start. You’ve taught me so much about Saurian culture—I really appreciate that.”

“You’ve been a friend to me, too,” Keelah told her. “Despite the fact that our peoples are two different species, it feels as though we connected right from the moment I met you.”

“That’s what we call ‘finding a kindred spirit’,” Bobbi told her, smiling. “And I think it’s obvious that you don’t have to be the same species to be kindred spirits.”

“I think you’re right,” Keelah said softly. “And I’m so excited to stand up with you and be your attendant.” Her face fell a little. “As long as Zerlix doesn’t tire of me before then.”

Bobbi didn’t know how to answer that but just at that moment, a voice nearby shouted,

“Pretty ladies! Pretty ladies! Care to see my wares?”

42

“That will be twenty thousand, Rep. Dragon, and I thank you for your business.”

The jeweler, an obsequious little Saurian with a squint and graying scales, ducked his head as he passed the flat packet across the shiny glass case.

Dragon pulled out his wallet and paid without a wince. The price was high, but what he was getting was more than worth it.

“I appreciate you doing a rush job, Rep. Gasser,” he told the jeweler. “I know I didn’t give you much time.”

“Of course, of course—your Clan members have always been valued customers.” The jeweler ducked his head, his forked tongue flickering. “We are always pleased to serve the Crimson Blades.”

Dragon nodded his thanks again. He was just tucking the flat packet into the inside pocket of his shirt, when the door alert chattered and someone new entered the shop. It was a Saurian Dragon knew—Rep. Hexler of the Diamond Death Clan.

“Ah, good morrow to you, fine sir. And what can I do for you today?” the jeweler asked, bobbing his graying head.