by Eric Vall
“I’ve gathered that’s not an easy thing to do,” I replied dryly, and Cy’lass clicked a short laugh.
“No,” he agreed, “it is not. But you have done it. Congratulations.”
I could feel the underlying threat of Warrick lurk beneath the surface of our conversation, I knew Cy’lass was thinking of the other broker, too, when he looked into my face, but I shoved the thought of that smug, blond prick away. Tomorrow, I’d worry about Warrick and all of his scheming. Tonight, tonight I was going to celebrate my victory with my women and the new friends that I had made.
Cy’lass raised his glass to me, and I leaned forward to clink ours together. He blinked at the unfamiliar action, but I only smiled at him.
“I couldn’t have done it alone,” I said to him vaguely as I tried to convey all my gratitude through my eyes. I might have passed this trials, but Cy’lass had really stuck his neck out for me. I don’t know what would have happened if he hadn’t secretly helped me from the shadows.
The prince seemed to understand my meaning because he inclined his head and took a pull from his glass as I took a gulp from mine.
“Is this Opalks?” I coughed as the liquid burned a path down my throat.
Cy’lass grinned, and the expression was lighter, more mischievous. “Would you really like to know?” he hissed.
I gave it a thought but ultimately shook my head. “Nah, just tell me where I can get the next round,” I quipped.
Someone tapped me on my shoulder, and I turned to find Akela grinning at me, two glass bottles of the mysterious Almort booze in her hands.
“Did you say next round?” she asked with a cocked eyebrow.
This time, I couldn’t stop myself as I chuckled and tugged her forward. I caught Akela’s laughing mouth with my own, and she tasted of smoked meat, spicy alcohol, and something sweet but sharp that was decidedly her own flavor.
When I pulled away, the mechanic’s eyes were hooded. I pecked one last kiss against her lips and then tugged one of the bottles from her lax fingers.
“Come on,” I whispered, “let’s go find a table to eat, drink, and be merry at.”
Akela narrowed her eyes at me. “Are you already drunk?” she accused.
“Not yet,” I clarified, and then decided to be serious for a moment, “I’m just… happy. Happy that we made it here, to Proxima V, that I made it through this Akornath, and that I’m here now, with you and Neka.”
I shrugged and rubbed at the back of my neck with my free hand. I wasn’t very good with this emotion stuff. “I don’t know,” I said, “I’m just happy.”
Akela smiled up at me, soft and sincere, her lilac eyes deep and fathomless and breathtakingly beautiful. “I’m happy, too,” she admitted quietly as she stepped back into my personal space. “I… didn’t think I could ever possibly be this happy. So, thank you for that.”
I shook my head and reached out to cup her cheek. “No,” I said to her honestly, “thank you. Meeting you helped me solidify a new purpose in life.”
“And what’s that?” the mechanic asked huskily, her eyes on my mouth.
I grinned down at her. “Well, it’s a multi-pronged purpose,” I explained. “The first part is actually drinking a substantial amount of this liquor tonight and then seeing if I can’t figure out how you and Neka strapped yourselves into these outfits,” I said as I swept a critical and hungry eye over her.
Akela laughed and half-heartedly slapped at my chest.
I reached up and pressed my hand against hers over my heart. “But seriously,” I went on, “I was lost when we met you on Theron. I told Neka I had a plan, and I did, but I didn’t realize how empty and revenge-filled my motivations were until I actually used my powers for good, so to speak. Helping you save Theron… honestly, Akela, you really saved me.”
The mechanic blinked up at me, and I don’t think I imagined the wet sheen to her eyes. “Gods, CT,” she sniffled as she looked away to squint into the fire. “Warn a girl, would you?”
I smiled apologetically and leaned forward to press a kiss against her forehead. “Sorry,” I said quietly, “this is all a little new to me.”
“Me too,” Akela muttered, “but I’m glad we get to figure it all out together.”
“Together,” I echoed against her temple, my breath stirring the fine silver hair there.
“CT!” Neka’s voice cried out over the music and the fire.
I glanced in the direction of her voice to see her standing beside one of the low tables laden with food. She was bouncing on her feet and pointing enthusiastically at a smoked carcass that was being carved on the table. It looked suspiciously Malog-shaped.
“We better get over there before she eats that whole thing,” I cautioned with a chuckle. Even from this distance, I could see the cat-girl’s tail lashing back and forth in anticipation.
Akela grinned and locked her arm with mine again, the bottles in our hands clinking against each other.
“Lead the way,” she said and, together, we walked over to join our sweet and starving cat girl for a well-deserved night of revelry.
Tonight we would celebrate.
Tomorrow I would begin developing the planet and building my empire.
End of Book 1
End Notes
Thank you for reading Planet Broker. If you enjoyed the book, please leave a quick review here.
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Copyright © 2018 by Eric Vall
