Bait by Viola Grace Read Free Book Online Page B

Aciel.
    “Are you leaving?” Billie was sorry to see her go.
    Gwen was apologetic. “We have to. Another few days and I won’t be able to jump safely. I want to get home in the next year.”
    Billie hugged the other Terran. “Take care and enjoy your trip.”
    When the ladies parted, Etien bowed low over her hand and pressed a light kiss to her skin. “Arcros will make a good spouse. He has a sense of humour and has lived away from home. Those are both key aspects as far as Gwen is concerned. She would not have given her blessing if it wasn’t a good match.”
    She grinned, “Thank you. It means a lot that you get good reviews from your wife.”
    He smiled, “You have no idea.” With a lascivious wink, he wrapped an arm around Gwen’s waist, and they went inside the house to make their goodbyes.
    Aciel came up next to Billie and smiled, “I think we should get you tucked away before my son plans any more mischief.”
    Billie made her good evenings to the aunts and cousins’ wives that had attended before Aciel whisked her up the back stairs and into a bedroom that was familiar to Billie on a basic level.
    “You put me in his room?”
    Aciel grinned, “Yes. Two nights of frustration won’t kill you, and it will make the bonding ceremony much more entertaining.”
    With that last shot, her upcoming mother-in-law closed the door, leaving Billie surrounded by the scent of Arcros soaked into the very wood of the bed.
    Her duffel was waiting at the foot of the bed, and she took comfort in her own scent, keeping her hormones from stampeding. With effort, she opened the window and looked out at a beautiful sight.
    The three moons of Chysan were rising, and her window gave her an ideal view of the hills with the huge orbs between them. In the distance, fliers passed between her and the moons, making her smile.
    She asked them if they liked the evening, but there was no reply. After airing out the room a little, she changed into a light shift and settled down to read from her data pad. It was a romance set in the ancient city of Mir. Hopelessly romantic, once Billie got into it, she couldn’t put it down.
    Images filled her mind of the house and the night sky. They did not have the tone of Arcros’s thoughts, so she got out of his bed and walked to the window. Her eyes went wide at the sight of a flier in the garden, hovering slowly near the window.
    An image of her on its back struck her, and her body moved automatically, perching in the window frame before she leapt out to land on the soft, warm back.
    The flier took off the moment she had a grip, and the enormous wings stroked calmly through the skies.
    She had seen images like this back on Earth, but there, the creatures were underwater and giving divers rides. Billie hung on for dear life, eventually comfortable enough with the slow pace of the flier to look up and around her.
    A rainbow of the creatures, some small, some large, surrounded Billie and several were obviously babies. Their flapping was faster, less rhythmic, and when they grew tired, they found their parent and hitched a ride, much as she was doing.
    When Billie looked back, the Oefric settlement was far away, and she sent her unease to the creature she was riding.
    The translation was that they needed her. They needed her hands, and they were taking her to where she was needed, whether she was interested or not.
    Billie was being kidnapped by fluffy and airborne devilfish, her lips quirked as part of her panicked, but the rest of her geared up for whatever challenge was on the other end of the flight.
     

 
     
     
    Chapter Ten
     
     
    The reason for the fliers needing hands was obvious once she was in their aerie. A hugely pregnant female was stuck in labour. Images of a little one coming out easily tail first were prevalent.
    Billie shivered in the cool evening air. She touched the large female and communicated what she was about to do.
    Carefully, remembering everything she had ever read about