Bait by Viola Grace Read Free Book Online

Billie’s belly and worked their way out. It seemed that being seduced by cake was far easier on the nerves.
    Arcros laughed and coughed on the cup of wine he had been drinking. He gave her a rueful look and raised the cup. “To Billie, the most impulsive Enforcer I ever met.”
    The crowd raised their glasses, “To Billie.”
    Billie blushed and accepted the skewed compliment. He was right. She had never been one to hold back when she sensed that something needed to be done.
     
    “Officer Praco, what are your findings?” Captain Dlenner was at the com unit and the commanders were on the other side of the conversation.
    “The natural inhabitants of Yelish have no interest in having a resort, visitors or a colony on their soil.”
    Captain Dlenner turned toward her and raised a brow, “You questioned a sampling of the population?”
    “I did. Nine different species were questioned, and six conclusively indicated that they were not interested in having the Alliance put in roots.” Billie had tried to keep a sober expression, but it was horribly difficult.
    The commander of the council nodded grimly. “Understood. Thank you for your efforts on our behalf, Officer Praco.”
    “It is my honour to serve, Commander.” She stood at attention until the screen cleared and then let her breath out on a long whoosh.
    Captain Dlenner pivoted in his seat. “Who, precisely, did you speak to?”
    “Do you doubt my word?” She fought a grin.
    “No, Officer, but I do know that you have a certain slavish fascination with the literal interpretation of orders when it suits you.”
    She grinned outright. “Well, Captain, I spoke to a bush, a tree, three birds, two crabs and a pair of rodents. I tried to speak to the rocks but that ended up just being silly.”
    He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. “They will find out, you know.”
    “What? I questioned the animals and vegetation, and they were not amenable to being eaten or trampled. I simply indicated their opinion. Well, the birds didn’t really care what happened, they feel they can always bugger off.”
    He stared at her for a moment before cracking up with laughter. “Fair enough. Well, it is in your file, so it must be true.”
     
    Billie sighed and sat back as she remembered that moment. It was her favourite memory of her time as an Enforcer. She had been able to do something good and no one was really endangered, plus she had heard Captain Dlenner laugh for the first time.
    Further investigation had determined that Yelish was a sentient planet just waking and that had changed everything for the research teams who wanted to settle there. Five hundred years of silence was ended with occasional forays and visitations by the Avatars of other worlds. Yelish would be carefully coached into sentience, and the Alliance was content to watch.
    The memory warmed her as she sat at the table full of new people who would soon be related to her via marriage.
    Aciel’s spouse, Coros Dlenner was a striking man. He had bequeathed his startling bone structure to his sons while they obtained their colouration from their mother. Arcros was the eldest, Byral was next, Coriantho, Erican, and Fender rounded out their offspring.
    It was certainly a full house when everyone was there, but the camaraderie between the brothers was comforting. She had seen hostility in families that had run so deep, it caused the local authorities to call in the Enforcers.
    Stomping into domestic situations to part two people who claimed to love each other had always struck her as incredibly odd.
    With dinner over, the men of the family got to their feet and left the room. The women removed the dishes, cleared them and set them aside.
    As Aciel put it, “It is their turn to do the dishes, so let’s make sure that they don’t forget.”
    The women chuckled and left the kitchen, wandering out into the expanse of the backyard.
    Billie held her breath as she took in the sight of all of the Dlenner men and