The Healer's Kiss: Book Four of the Forced To Serve Series by Donna McDonald Read Free Book Online

sitting behind him in a passenger seat doing who knew what kind of scheming.
    The spiritual arrogance that had made him brag to Liam and Ania about not fearing being alone with Malachi died swiftly in the reality. Only now did he realize what a responsibility he had taken on when the only control he had over the demon was that Liam had ordered Malachi to obey him explicitly. Watching his awestruck flight mate checking out the shuttle’s interior with a child’s interest did little to ease his mind.
    Malachi settled into the seat beside the wary Lieutenant Zade, gazing raptly at the controls. “I spent most of my existence on Norblade and was never put into a shuttle pilot host. Now I wish I had been. Flying this craft looks very interesting.”
    Dorian nodded to acknowledge the question. “I learned for the pleasure of learning but discovered I was a natural. When I was first commissioned as an ensign, I spent a lot of time transporting passengers back and forth, including Peace Alliance Ambassadors like Ania was in her former job.”
    “Yes, I know,” Malachi said. “Ania has many fond memories concerning your occasional meetings over the centuries. I made sure she got them all back when I removed my energy blocks. My host is quite fond of you.”
    “And I am fond of her,” Dorian replied, “even though her wisdom often makes me feel like a child with no understanding at all. It’s the effect a great teacher always has on a pupil, no matter how much time has passed.”
    Malachi watched Zade’s sure movements, fascinated with how adept the Siren was. “I hope it doesn’t worry you too much if I confess to being excited about making this trip without one of my keepers along. Of course, my list of do and don’t commands left little room for me to get into any significant trouble on this short trip. From Chiang’s description, I gather the Paladin XII is a much larger ship than the Liberator.”
    “Yes. Odd coincidence that it is, we are heading to the descendant ship of my first one. My first commissioned contract was on the original Paladin,” Dorian said, reminiscing as he momentarily forgot he was telling his story to a demon.
    “How long does a ship last before another replaces it? The metal of some planets can last for centuries, even in space. You hardly seem old enough to have lived through eleven descendent ships.” Malachi smiled at Zade’s look of surprise over the comment.
    “Creating the Peace Alliance involved the sacrifice of the first few ships. The others remain in service I suppose.” Dorian favored his flight mate with a smile. “I’m over six hundred Earth years old. How old are you?”
    “I really need to figure out an answer to that query because I am often asked. Truthfully, I do not know. I ceased tracking time in that manner after the first millennia of my mist form. Being able to report age serves no point when your existence is endless,” Malachi said on a laugh.
    “Indeed,” Dorian said in agreement, wondering why the demon did not sound more upset about his fate.
    “Let’s just say travel via shuttle was not done on my planet during my original corporeal lifetime,” Malachi explained. “Nor were we aware of ships like the Liberator, much less larger ones like the Paladin. Those came to our planet long after the majority of us had become demon mist. They brought settlers who mated with the rest of those who were left. It’s undoubtedly a different planet than I knew back then. I do not even know its current name. Its old name was taken from me on my conversion.”
    “We could probably find that out if you really want to know. The Peace Alliance has been collecting planetary histories for some time. Ania’s people have records of their history for millennia longer than Gwen’s planet even had sentient beings,” Dorian said conversationally.
    “I will give it some thought,” Malachi said. “It might be nice to know my history. After serving the Synar family so