The Mechanic's Mate by Mikea Howard Read Free Book Online Page A

while she, blessedly, removed all the dreadlocks.
    They celebrated with the second best chocolate chip cookies Sadie had ever eaten. They packed the treats up to take to the day care for their visit. Kara had pinpointed childcare, or pupcare in this case, the metalsmith, and the alpha’s office as possibilities for Sadie’s work tour. Downright serious when suggesting the alpha’s office, Sadie almost died of embarrassment. She said Sadie showed serious political or ambassador assignment interest, and her task oriented, diplomatic mind would be spectacular for the East Wing.
    “It’s such a fascinating job. My sister, Karel, is an ambassador to an Arctic Wolf pack in Alaska. At first, Domek had to force her to go, but now she loves it.” Sadie saw Kara’s eyes grow wistful. “She’s told me of so many amazing things out there, beyond the enclave.”
    While Kara finished up with Sadie’s hair, and her third glass of wine, Sadie’s second glass loosened more diesel-speak from her tongue. She giggled, slurring, “Well now I remember why I didn’t hit the gin jointss, thiss hooch has me half cut already, ossified even. I’ll ssoitently upchuck later.”
    Kara chortled hard, saying through gasping breaths, “I have no idea what you just said. You didn’t what, because the what has you what, and you’ll what?”
    This made Sadie giggle even harder. “I’m ssorry, my sslippery tongue lets the diessel sslide out. I wass ssaying that I remember why I didn’t go to the clubss. Thiss wine has me drunk already, sso Imma probably going to end up ssick.”
    Sadie proceeded to pass out on the couch. She heard Kara say something about checking on Dom’s progress. A hand eased through her now knot free hair with a whispered, “I like you, Sadie, and I can’t stand your life being tied to that monster.”
    Opening her eyes when the sofa shifted she saw Kara scratch a quick note and stick it on the door as she stumbled out. Sadie wanted to say something but was just too oiled.
    A book slamming down near his head startled Domek, and he realized he’d dozed off. Defensive instincts kicking in, he jumped up and grabbed the responsible person’s neck, throwing them against the table.
    “Um, Dom. It was a joke.” Kara grunted kicking up between his legs, aiming for a deathblow. He blocked her strike with his hand, less than an inch from her intended target. “Do you mind letting me up?”
    “Keep that shit up, and you could be standing on the unpleasant end of my wrath.” He pushed her foot back down, and sniffed. “Have you been drinking wine?” Letting Kara go, he turned and sat back down. “Why are you here?”
    “Gaia put me on this earth to make your life hell. Oh, wait, you mean here, in the library, now?” She pushed herself up off the hard surface.
    “I swear to Gaia, if I wouldn’t lose my beta . . .” Domek grumbled and continued flipping through the book he’d used as a pillow just seconds ago.
    Kara sat down on Domek’s workspace, picked up one of the books, and opened it. “Find anything that will help yet?”
    “No. Now leave me alone.”
    “Huh. About as informative as some of the smutty romance novels I got from Layla the scrub.” Turning a few more pages, she came to a realization. “Nah, those stories at least make me horny, this just makes me sleepy.” Setting the book back down she sat and stared at him.
    He tried ignoring her, but after only moments of her wordless glaring Dom snapped. “Seriously, Kara, why are you here? Did Marek send you?”
    “Nope,” Kara said making a ‘popping’ sound as she over pronounced the P before starting a high-speed one-way conversation. “Just wanted to let you know Sadie’s awake again. Well, she had been . . . but thanks to the wine, I’m not so sure about now. She may need to learn to hold her wine. Did you know that you could be talking about one thing and then you’re discussing something else completely? That woman’s mind is all over