Eland and Jeanne (Tales of the Shareem) by Allyson James Read Free Book Online Page B

could be done. But ...” Judith trailed off.
    “But?” How could there be any buts in that situation?
    “I had the feeling he wasn’t really with me, if that makes sense,” Judith said. “As though he wanted something, was searching for something and not finding it. Maybe he didn’t even know what it was.”
    Jeanne tried to remember whether Eland had worn such an expression. She didn’t think so, but then she hadn’t had enough time to study him fully. “You don’t think he’ll be back?”
    Judith shot her a grin. “Don’t sound so sad. I enjoyed every last second of it, but I’m not ready to find myself a mate and take him to a registry to marry. I’m young, I’m starting to make money on this place, and if a Shareem wants to show me all my fantasies, I’m not going to stop him. I’ve learned to take what I can get.”
    So had Jeanne. It was a hard life, working at the docks, without much pleasure. Bor Narga was a place people labored every day, made a living, and combined DNA with a mate to make children to raise more workers. Everyone punched the clock and avoided decadence.
    Which was such crap, because these Shareem wouldn’t exist if someone hadn’t gone in for decadence.
    If the Shareem were being hunted down, the best thing they could do would be escape off-planet. Well, maybe Jeanne could help with that, even if it meant never seeing Eland again. Working at the docks gave her insight on who was willing to make a little money on the side shipping things in and out without customs being the wiser. She got to know which pilots were trustworthy, and which weren’t. If she could find Eland, she could set up something to get him out ...
    Just as the ideas formed in her brain, the console in Judith’s bedroom beeped. Judith rolled herself off the bed and headed to her room, Jeanne following in curiosity.
    “Someone’s at the back— Oh.” Judith’s eyes went starry and she tapped codes to open a door below, which led to the alley. “Guess what?”
    Before Jeanne could ask what? Judith was moving out to the door to the stairs. She opened it, leaning against the door frame.
    “Good to see you again,” Judith said warmly.
    The happy note in Judith’s voice made Jeanne look over her shoulder. She halted in amazement.
    A Shareem was coming up the stairs. He wasn’t Eland. This Shareem had an arrogant look, as though he didn’t worry about patrollers running around hunting him.
    When he reached the top of the staircase, he cupped Judith’s cheek, gazing at her with blue eyes— Shareem-blue . He pressed a kiss to Judith’s lips, but Jeanne understood what Judith meant when she said something was missing in him. This Shareem showed a longing unfulfilled, though Jeanne couldn’t explain how she knew that.
    Another Shareem came up the stairs behind him. Eland .
    Eland fixed his gaze on Jeanne, and then shouldered his way past the other Shareem to her. Gone was his tattered loincloth—Eland wore a tunic, thick-soled leather shoes, and sun-blocking robes. His hair was clean, and he’d lost the pinched look about his mouth.
    He came straight to Jeanne. “Hey,” he said. “You all right?”
    Jeanne swallowed, coughed, and swallowed again. “I should be asking you that.”
    Eland cupped her face with one hand, his gaze never wavering. “I found a place to hide.”
    “I was worried about you,” Jeanne said shakily. “I thought maybe … ” She wet her lips. “What are you doing here?”
    The corners of Eland’s eyes crinkled. “Wanted a drink, and Rees says Judith owned a bar. But you know, if I have to choose between you and a drink … you win.”
    Jeanne warmed. But she was puzzled. Eland was a fugitive, outlawed, hunted. And yet he looked happy to see her, untroubled and smiling as though he were merely an off-world pilot coming around for a drink and some fun.
    “It can’t be safe for you here,” Jeanne said worriedly.
    “I know it isn’t,” Eland answered. “But what is safe