Emerald Bane: Mixologists & Pirates Part 2 (Sci-Fi Alien Space Opera) Read online

  Table of Contents

  Prologue

  Long lines and short girls

  Skin suits and death machines

  Quills, spots, and alien booze

  Corsets and Periods

  Hallucinations and sniffing suitors

  Espionage the Sai way

  Seren Brain Hemorrhage

  About the Author

  Emerald Bane

  Frost Kay

  Copyright © 2017 by Frost Kay.

  First Edition

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any way or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission of the author.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

  For information on reproducing sections of this book or sales of this book, go to www.frostkay.net

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  Contents

  1. Long lines and short girls

  2. Skin suits and death machines

  3. Quills, spots, and alien booze

  4. Corsets and Periods

  5. Hallucinations and sniffing suitors

  6. Espionage the Sai way

  Seren Brain Hemorrhage

  About the Author

  Prologue

  1

  Long lines and short girls

  “Holy bananas, this line is freaking long,” Jer said, pushing her crimson hair out of her face.

  Allie eyed her and grimaced when someone bumped her from behind again. She huffed out an annoyed breath. “Their customs system surely leaves something to be desired.”

  A snort from Jer. “And here I was led to believe everything on Sars would be better than on Earth.”

  Now it was her turn to snort. “It sounds like you’ve been drinking the Kool-Aid.”

  “Kool-Aid?” Wrinkles of confusion appeared between Jer’s brows.

  She blinked slowly. “Kool-Aid? The weird sugary stuff you mix into water to create a drink so sweet you’ll bounce off the walls for days?” No recognition. “Seriously, Jer? How do you not know what Kool-Aid is? Where were you raised? Under a rock?”

  “Military base.”

  “Huh, what about pop—” Something inhumanly smooth brushed the skin of her arm, making her pause. Her gaze darted to the side and she scooted closer Jer.

  “You really don’t understand the concept of personal space, do you?” the redhead muttered, eyeing the side Allie had plastered herself against.

  Allie lifted her finger and pointed. “He has black snake skin.”

  Jer slapped her hand down. “Don’t point, it’s rude. Also, it’s not like there weren’t Sarpe on Earth.”

  “I’ve never met one,” she whispered, not able to tear her eyes away. She’d never really liked snakes, and seeing one in a humanoid shape honestly freaked her out.

  The alien in question craned his neck and stared down at her with solid black eyes. Allie stifled her gasp when he smiled at her, showing just a hint of fangs.

  “No need to fear me, darling. I won’t hurt a little morsel like you. Plus, you’re too tender for my liking.”

  All her fear seemed to evaporate with his last comment. Her cheeks heated with anger; she released Jer’s arm and stepped toward the lithe alien, ready to do battle. “Tender? Was that a fat joke?”

  His pupil-less eyes widened, and he shook his head no.

  Her eyes narrowed when she noticed he didn’t have ears either. Peculiar. How did he hear what they were saying? She brushed the thought aside and focused on the sputtering alien.

  “I-I-I just meant it as a joke. On my planet, our meat is tough, almost impossible to eat unless you have teeth like mine. We don’t eat humans. We like humans…" His hands sketched an hourglass shape in the air. “Your women are sought after because of your shape. It’s appealing. Very appealing.” His voice took on a hissing quality that wasn’t all that unpleasant.

  Jer pushed in front of her, effectively blocking Allie’s view of the tall, dark alien. “Now, now, none of that. I’ve heard how your kind are. She’s part of my family, my harem.”

  Harem? What in the world? Allie peeked around Jer just as the alien’s shoulders fell.

  “I was hoping to add her to my new harem.”

  “Harem?” Allie squeaked. This alien had a harem?

  “He means his clan,” her friend explained. “All the families live together and raise the children together.”

  “So they don’t share women?”

  The alien’s obsidian gaze narrowed. “No! That would be a disgraceful way to abuse a mate.” He straightened and smiled at her, keeping his lips together. That creeped her out a lot less than with the fangs. “Are you sure you wouldn’t want to tour my home? I’m sure you’d love it.”

  “I’m sure it’s lovely,” Allie replied, “but I’m not looking for a mate. Thank you for the offer.”

  There. That was polite.

  His resulting grin revealed dimples. The snake man had dimples. It totally transformed him. He was extremely good-looking. She pulled herself from her dimple-induced stupor as he shoved his hand out to her. Fascinating. He had slightly-pointed, black nails and bitty black scales that swirled along his skin in decorative patterns that seemed to glimmer in the silvery moonlight. A deep blush infused her cheeks when she glanced back to his face and caught his amused expression.

  “Forgive me,” she rushed out, feeling like her face was on fire. “I’m just curious. Your scales are beautiful. Stunning, really.”

  “Thank you,” he murmured, more gracious than she deserved. “I’m Obsidian, but my friends call me Sid.” His hand still hung in the air as they shuffled forward a few feet.

  “Allie Sai.” She slipped her small hand into his and was surprised at how soft his skin was. She’d expected it to be rough. He lifted her hand up and brushed a kiss to the back. Sid stilled, his cool lips still pressed to her hand, and inhaled softly.

  “Moons, you smell good, Allie,” he remarked as he let go of her hand.

  “Thank you…” she drawled, and darted a glance at Jer. What was up with the sniffing?

  “Your scent…it calls to me. We’re compatible.”

  She shifted on her feet, awkwardness settling over her. “Uh, thanks, I think.”

  A deep chuckle rumbled out of Sid. “I forget humans are squeamish when it comes to bodies and anything sexual.”

  Her nose crinkled. “Did you just say sexual?” Could this conversation get much weirder?

  “My point exactly, little human. I can tell you want to be anywhere but here, having this conversation right now.”

  He was right. She’d been eyeballing other lines, wondering if it would be worth the wait to escape. “I’m not a prude,” she said, wishing the line would hurry up. “But it makes me uncomfortable when a man I met less than five minutes ago wants to take me home to his harem.”

  She frowned when he sniggered at her.

  “In most cultures, we don’t mess around. Mates are serious business. From their scent, we can usually tell if we’re compatible. It’s easy from there.”

  That was different. “So you’re telling me you don’t date? Or get to know each other?”

  He shrugged. “There’s no need for that. Our senses tell us all we need.”

  She gaped. “What about love?”

  “A fami
ly and mating are not dependent on love. Love is cultivated and grown over time. Also, the type of love changes. If you based your whole life on a fickle emotion like love, it would be a disaster. Your planet is proof of that. There are more separations of mates on Earth than the entire seventh sector combined.”

  “That can’t be true!” She’d noticed it was bad—but not that bad.

  “Believe it,” Jer added in a dull tone. “Humans don’t understand what they want. They’re fickle.”

  Allie pursed her lips and mulled over his assertion. It was true. Her parents were one of the few families that had stayed whole and together. They were a rarity, but her parents also held themselves to a higher standard than most. They meant their marriage vows—most on Earth didn’t. Divorce was always an escape route if things became too tough. It always scared her to think about marrying someone. In her mind, it was permanent. Once she made her decision, it was final, no going back. But how did one choose a life partner? How could you really know them? To an extent, his way of life made sense. Yes, it would take some of the romance out of it, but it would also take away the fear and uncertainty.

  She smiled up at Sid and moved up in the line. “I believe I would like to live like you. If only humans had something similar.”

  His eyes crinkled at the corners. “Are you taking me up on my offer, Allie Sai?” he teased.

  She shook her head and adjusted her satchel. “Not today, my friend. But I do see the advantages to your way of life. It sounds like a wonderful way to live.”

  “It is. I cannot wait to have my own young.”

  Jer laughed. “I’m sure.”

  His smile turned a little suggestive. “My clan members say making the young is half the fun.”

  Allie groaned. “Keep that kind of stuff to yourself. Too much information upon first acquaintance, Sid. Too much.”

  “Baby-making is the best,” her friend commented, sharing a grin with Sid.

  Her gaze darted to Jer’s left hand. No ring. “How would you know?”

  The redhead lost some of her laughter, and a sadness seemed to settle in her eyes. “I was married once.”

  Allie didn’t pry more. Jer’s tone said it wasn’t something Jer would talk about. She let out a relieved sigh when the customs desk was only one person away. “Finally. My feet have been hurting forever.”

  “I know, right?” her friend grumbled as she rubbed her shoulders. “This line was ridiculous. I couldn’t even see the desks when we started.”

  “It’s probably because you both are so short.”

  Jer’s red brow arched. “Short?”

  Sid held his thumb and pointed finger close together. “Small in stature.”

  “I’m not short.” Her friend hooked a thumb in Allie’s direction. “She is, though.”

  “Hey now. Just remember that dynamite comes in small packages. My grandpa always used to say that.”

  Sid waved a hand around them. “You do realize you’re the shortest around?”

  Allie took a second to study the surrounding people. There was spotted, scaled, striped, and colored skin everywhere—feathers, scales, horns even, but no short people. He was right, everyone was a good foot taller than her.

  “I feel like we’ll get the short end of the stick when it comes to nicknames,” she joked.

  Jer’s lips twitched. “Only you, Allie, would make such a bad joke.”

  “Next!”

  “Woot!” Allie happy danced toward the square desk surrounded by eight feet of clear glass. Wow. They really wanted to keep people out. She smiled at the woman behind the glass. “Hello, how are you this evening?”

  The mousy brunette glared at her over her spectacles and pushed her hair behind one pointed ear. “Name?”

  “Allie Sai and Jer Blake.”

  “Family?” the woman asked in a bored tone.

  “No, but we’re hoping to room together,” Jer explained.

  Allie cast her a surprised look. “You sure?”

  “It’s better than being stuck with someone I don’t know, and I happen to like you.”

  She smiled. “The feeling’s mutual.” She turned back to the woman. “Can you make that happen, please?”

  Another droll look. “Let me check.” She squinted at something they couldn’t see and then nodded. “It’s changed. You both will room together. Residence 13-C.” She shuffled through something on her desk. “Your job requests were noted and I have your assignments.” She passed the papers through the slot to Allie. “Do either of you have anything to declare?”

  “No,” they both replied.

  “Well, then, welcome to Sars.” Her tone suggested anything but.

  “Thank you,” Allie replied, and moved around the desk, Jer on her heels.

  “Rude old bat,” Jer muttered, just loud enough for the woman to spare them one last glare.

  “That was mean.”

  The redhead shrugged. “She was rude.”

  “She’s just doing her job.”

  “A job she clearly doesn’t want to be doing.” The redhead paused. “Speaking of jobs, what did they assign us?”

  Allie shuffled through the papers and handed Jer hers.

  “Go figure. Security.” A snort. “I’m a bouncer.”

  She blinked at her own. “Mixologist.”

  “A bartender? That’s brilliant.”

  “It is, if they don’t expect me to produce the moonshine.” She froze.

  Moonshine.

  Carefully, she tucked her papers under her arms and opened her bag to stare at the vials clinking softly in the bottom. “Swamp apples.”

  “What?”

  “I smuggled moonshine onto a new planet.” She looked over her shoulder at the desks. “I need to go back and declare it.”

  “You went through all those scans. They know you have it.”

  “But what if I was supposed to declare it?” she asked, somewhat panicked. “I broke the law. Holy bananas, I’m in so much trouble!”

  Jer smiled, pulled the papers from underneath her arm, and placed them in the bag before closing it. “All I know is … if you did smuggle it in, that makes you a moonshine pirate. How cool is that?”

  “Not so cool if I’m thrown into the bottom of a well in an alien prison.”

  “Calm down. You’re fine. If it was a problem, you would have been flagged. Have you seen the tech they’re rocking? It’s so far above Earth, it makes ours looks like child’s play.”

  Allie sucked in a shuddering breath and focused on being reasonable. They knew she had it. She drank it on the dang ship and there were cameras everywhere. Not to mention the Lock had loaded her on the airship without saying a word. Irritation and a little satisfaction rose at the memory of the Lock. Allie tipped her head back and stared at the purple sky in awe. She hoped he was wishing he had never caught her right about now. “We’re definitely not in Kansas anymore.”

  “Good hell, you’re so cheesy.”

  Allie flashed Jer a lopsided grin. “You have no idea.”

  “Hey, you guys want to grab a meal?” Sid asked, moving in their direction. “I know a great place around the corner that shouldn’t make you sick.”

  “How comforting,” Jer said dryly.

  “Seriously, it’s delicious. Some of my clan will be there.”

  “Still trying to get me to meet your family, Sid?” Allie teased.

  Sid held his hands to his heart. “A guy can try, can’t he?”

  “Sure thing, sugar.”

  2

  Skin suits and death machines

  “My God, Allie. This is utterly ridiculous. Do you see this crap?”

  She pulled her eyes from her own monstrosity of an outfit to stare at Jer’s. The redhead wore a shiny silver suit that clung to her from ankle to wrist. Miles of silver skin. “It’s not that bad,” she said, trying to find something to compliment. “It makes your hair more vibrant, and it highlights your beautiful shape.”

  Jer lifted her crimson curls o
ff her chest with raised brows.

  She blinked. Nipples. “Gross, they’re staring at me,” she blurted, holding her hands up. “Put those things away.”

  Her friend dropped her hair to cover her chest. “That’s not even the worst of it. Look at this!” Jer spun, peeking over her shoulder. “It’s so tight my underwear resemble pterodactyl wings!”

  “What? Like the dinosaur? Those disappeared millions of years ago. You’re not that old,” she said, fighting her smile.

  Jer snatched a pillow off the bed and lobbed it at her head.

  Allie ducked, grinning. She loved staying with Jer. It was like living with one of her sisters.

  “How do they expect me to protect anyone? Dressed in this getup, I’ll need protecting. It’s like a mermaid and the Tin Man made a baby.”

  A snigger escaped her. “It’s not that bad.”

  Her friend’s eyes narrowed dangerously. Allie held up her hands. “Okay, it is that bad.” An evil glint entered Jer’s blue eyes that had her straightening.

  “It’s your turn,” her friend purred.

  “Um … I need to use the bathroom and—”

  “Fat chance, Allie. Stop being a scaredy-cat and put on the outfit. Sid will be here to take us to work soon.”

  “But—”

  “No buts. You refused to take the transport because it flies and has an open carriage. You have five minutes until he picks us up. Hurry up, missy.”

  Allie snatched the black fabric off her bed and skipped to the bathroom. “Wench,” she called.

  “Harpy,” Jer yelled back.

  She pressed the button to close the door and glared as it closed with a soft hiss. It would have been much more satisfying if she could have slammed the door. She laid the dress thing on the counter. The longer she stared, the harder she scowled. How did they expect her to work in that? Would it even stretch over her thighs? Her palms started to sweat. Was it even a dress?