Imminent Danger: And How to Fly Straight Into It (21 page)

As Eris yawned sleepily and sat up, the door was kicked open by a bare foot. Varrin stalked into the room followed by three bald, humanoid women in yellow dresses. The women were hovering around him anxiously, pleading with him to sit down and not aggravate his wound.

Miguri cracked an eyelid open, saw the commotion, and then feigned sleep.

“I’m
fine
,” Varrin snarled at the nurses. Eris noticed that he—or someone else—had changed his clothes. Instead of the black and silver outfit, he was now clad in loose red pants and a sleeveless white tunic. His right arm was encased in a sleek, black metal cast. He looked paler than normal.

“You’re
not
fine, sir,” one of the women insisted, trying to coerce him onto one of the suite’s plush armchairs and failing miserably.

Rising from the couch, Eris said, “How is he?”

“I’m fine,” Varrin repeated, glowering at her. “Didn’t I just say that?”

“The jsgarn poison was mostly removed from his system,” one of the nurses informed Eris. “But it has had a lingering effect on his body. If he weren’t Rakorsian, it probably would have killed him. His arm is broken as well. He should be spending the next few days in bed, not walking around cursing at everyone.”

“I can curse at whoever I like,” Varrin declared.

“Of course you can, darling,” Eris agreed, warming up to her role as the doting mistress.
If this is my cover, I might as well do it right.
Placing her hands on Varrin’s shoulders, she steered him over to the couch. As she leaned him backward and stuck a pillow behind his head, she asked the nurse, “Is there anything else I should know?”

“We can remove the cast in five days. His body is still fighting the venom that remains in his system, so the doctor gave him a few shots of Xycopan for the pain. He may act a little unlike himself for several days.” Winking at Eris, she added, “So keep him in bed!”

Eris gave the women a fake smile and ushered them out of the suite.

As soon as they were gone, she perched on the arm of Varrin’s couch. “I see you haven’t lost your charm,” she said dryly. “So how are you really feeling?”

“How do you think?” Varrin snapped. “Like a jsgarn nearly ripped off my arm.”

Eris frowned. “Don’t you go getting mad at me. It’s your own fault we were attacked! If you hadn’t picked a fight with those thugs in the first place—”

Varrin grabbed her arm and stared searchingly into her eyes. “Why didn’t you leave me there?” he demanded.

“Excuse me?”

“The alleyway,” he said as if it were obvious. “You’re always going on about how you can’t wait to be rid of me. I was unconscious on the ground. You could hardly have found a better opportunity than that.”

Eris considered the question. “The thought honestly never occurred to me.” Then she glared at Varrin and smacked his chest with the back of her hand. “What’s wrong with you? You nearly got yourself killed trying to save us, and you seriously think I could have just run off and left you to die? Now lie down before you hurt yourself.” She pushed him back onto the couch. “What kind of person do you think I am, anyway?”

Varrin closed his eyes.

Eris waited for a reply but then realized he had fallen asleep. Gently lifting his uninjured arm, which was starting to slip off the couch, she laid it across his chest.
He’s so much more cooperative when he’s unconscious.

Miguri, who had been quietly watching the interchange, padded softly over to her side. “Eris, I have been thinking,” he began slowly. “The Rakorsian must remain here for five days to heal from the jsgarn wound.”

“Jsgarn …” Varrin mumbled.

Eris saw the Rakorsian’s eyes flutter open briefly.
I hope he’s not getting delirious,
she thought.
As if he wasn’t unpredictable enough already. Must be that Xycopan stuff kicking in.
“That’s what the nurse said,” she agreed.

“And we cannot leave for Psilos until then. I believe he will not pose danger to anyone while he recovers. So I thought perhaps I should take this opportunity to locate my family.”

“Why? Do you think they’re here on Vega Minor?”

“No. But this system is on one of the galaxy’s main trading routes. So I thought I might be able to pick up their trail here by asking around the spaceport.”

“That’s a great idea!”

“I do not anticipate success, but I would like to search all the same.” He bowed his head sorrowfully. “I miss my family. I wish only to know that they are alive and safe.”

“Then go try to find them,” Eris said encouragingly. “I’ll hold down the fort here.”

“I will need to stay down in the market area for a few days. I do not believe the residents or employees of the plateau will be willing to provide much information to a Claktill.” Seeing her worried expression, he added, “I will get a credit chip from the manager to charge my expenses to the Rakorsian’s account. Do not be concerned. I will be fine on my own for a few days.”

Eris heard a grunt from the couch. Turning to Varrin, she saw that he was peering at her blearily. “Where’s the rat going?” he asked in an unsteady voice.

“Down to the market for a few days.”

Varrin waved his uninjured arm drunkenly at Miguri. “Are you sure you want to leave her alone with me?” he said. “Kari knows what depraved things we might get up to without your supervision.”

Miguri ignored him and told Eris, “Xycopan is a powerful drug. I am not certain what effect it has on Rakorsians. He is still very strong, despite his wounded state. If he gets it in his drug-addled mind to do something ill-conceived, you may find him difficult to handle.”

“Fetch me one of these so-called Rakorsians,” Varrin commanded. “Make haste, servants!” He gestured a little too excitedly and nearly toppled off the couch.

“I think I can handle him.” Eris laughed. “I can always stun him with the striker if he gets out of hand. So go and do whatever you need to find your family, Miguri. Just be sure you’re back by the end of the week, all right? I know Varrin promised he’d take us both to Psilos, but you know him. He has a habit of changing his plans without warning, and I don’t want you to get left behind.”

Miguri looked at Varrin, who was now engrossed with tracing circles in the air with his big toe. “Promise me you will not underestimate the Rakorsian,” he said.

“I won’t.” Eris bent down and hugged the Claktill. “Good luck, Miguri.”

“Take good care, my friend. I will return in a few days.”

Miguri turned and left the suite, shutting the double doors behind him.

“So … alone at last,” Varrin said.

“You couldn’t put the moves on me even if you tried, lover boy. I doubt you could even stand right now without my help.”

Varrin squeezed his eyes shut, an expression of intense concentration on his face. After a few seconds, he mumbled, “I could if I wanted.”

“Come on,” Eris sighed. “Let’s get you to bed. A little sleep and you’ll be horrible as new.”

Varrin began laughing so hard that Eris had to grab him to stop him from rolling off the couch. “Good one!” he choked.

Shaking her head, Eris wrapped her arm around Varrin’s waist and hauled him to his feet. “You’re delirious,” she informed him. “But I’ve got to say, I kind of prefer this new Varrin. At least you aren’t a pigheaded jerk anymore.”

Varrin staggered away from her, grinning. “If you want me, you’ll have to catch me!”

Eris rolled her eyes. “I
so
don’t have the patience for this.” Luckily for her, Varrin’s legs gave out at that point. He sprawled on the carpeted floor, clutching his stomach and laughing hysterically.

With no small amount of effort, Eris managed to get the Rakorsian to his feet again, into the bedroom, and onto the bed. He was asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.

Sitting down cross-legged on the other half of the bed, Eris stared at the slumbering alien for several minutes, lost in thought. The question he had asked earlier was weighing on her mind.
Why didn’t I escape when I had the chance?

Varrin’s nose wrinkled. A lock of dark hair had fallen against his face, tickling his nose and lips. Eris reached over and gently pushed the strands aside. Her sudden proximity to the peacefully sleeping Rakorsian sent a strange jolt through her insides. “Why did you have to rescue me again?” she demanded quietly. “I had absolutely no problem hating you before, but now that you’ve gone and acted all heroic … But then, I suppose I’m worth nothing to you dead, am I? I just—I don’t know what to think anymore.”

Varrin continued sleeping, oblivious to her turmoil.

Maybe all this uncertainty is just Stockholm syndrome,
she thought.
But he
did
save my life. Sure, he might have just been protecting his investment … but he also said that he doesn’t actually need the money. So risking his life for me has to mean something, doesn’t it?

Eris didn’t know what to think. But she had to admit to herself that she no longer hated him, despite all the horrible things that had happened to her after she had met him. She was still angry with him, because he had certainly been the catalyst for landing her in the horrors of Chakra Corp., but the hatred seemed to be gone.

She looked at Varrin again. The sensor lights on his cast blinked softly.
He looks so innocent,
Eris thought.
I’ve never seen this side of him before, and I thought I knew him so well.
She groaned and rubbed her temples.
And I had just started thinking my life couldn’t get any more complicated.

22

E
ris awoke several hours later. She felt more relaxed than she had in ages. The silken blankets were soft against her skin, and there was something warm and comforting wrapped around her waist.
Hang on a second!

Trying not to make any sudden movements, Eris cracked open her eyes and squinted at her surroundings. Varrin was lying on his stomach beside her, his left arm wrapped around her waist and his head buried against her shoulder. His injured right arm jutted out over the edge of the bed, the lights on the black metal cast blinking dimly in the late-afternoon light.

Her cheeks went bright red.
Oh my God. I’m in bed with Varrin.
Eris could feel her heart pounding in her chest and forced herself to calm down.
I didn’t mean to fall asleep, but the bed was so comfy!
He probably has no idea that he’s draped all over me. Maybe if I can get up without waking him, I can salvage the situation.

That was easier said than done, however. The Rakorsian had effectively pinned her to the bed, and Eris wasn’t sure she could shove him off without waking him. She was also concerned about jostling him too much and hurting his injured arm.
What to do, what to do.

Eris decided to start by putting some space between them. Her left arm was trapped under Varrin’s shoulder, but her right arm was free. She gently clasped his wrist and lifted it away from her waist.

Varrin tightened his grip and hugged her closer.

Eris let out a mortified gasp. She was still wearing the tight gold dress, putting only a thin layer of material between her and the slumbering Rakorsian. To her further embarrassment, his sleepy gray eyes blinked open and stared into her own.

“Going somewhere?” he rumbled.

“You’re awake!” Eris exclaimed. “You did this on purpose, you fiend!”

Varrin disentangled himself from her and rolled onto his back. “What can I say?” he asked, grinning widely. “You were warm, and I was drugged. I don’t see how you can possibly blame me for whatever happened next.”

“I can do a lot more than that,” she scowled, hopping out of the bed before he could grab her again. “And nothing happened next!”

Varrin chuckled.

Trying to recover her composure, Eris said coolly, “How’s the arm?”

He glanced down and grimaced. “Well, it’s an interesting fashion statement.”

“Could you be more of a girl?” She sighed. “I meant does it hurt?”

He lifted the cast toward her. “See those little squiggly lines on the monitor? Those indicate the level of painkillers being pumped into my bloodstream. I don’t feel a damn thing, and it’s lovely.”

“Lovely?” She laughed. “Remind me to break your limbs more often. You’re almost tolerable in this state.”

After making Varrin promise to stay in bed, Eris went to find them something to eat. “Stupid Rakorsian and his stupid saving my life,” she muttered as she searched the living room for some way to call room service. She spotted an electronic panel on the wall, and after a few minutes of fiddling, she managed to contact the front desk and order food.

Ten minutes later, a bald, smiling woman arrived at the door with a covered tray. “Is Master Korlethi all right?” she inquired as Eris took the tray. “I heard he showed up last night bleeding something terrible!”

“He’s fine. Thank you.”

Eris shut the door and returned to the bedroom. Varrin was nowhere to be seen. She set the tray on top of the dresser with an exasperated huff and then went looking for her stray Rakorsian.
Where is that man?