Read Online Moonbeams and magic by Janelle Taylor - Free Book Online

were fluid and graceful, confident. Her aura was feminine, despite the laser weapon strapped to her waist. She sat down and sipped her drink as they studied each other. "It's late. I had given up on seeing you tonight," he told her.
    "We didn't have plans to meet."
    "I know, Starla, but I was hoping you'd come."
    "Why?"
    "So you could tell me about Tochara and working for Tochar."
    "You'll learn all you need to know later, after your meeting with Tochar; that's when you'll be told if he accepts you or not."
    Dagan leaned forward and propped his arms on the table, catching a whiff of her fragrance, which was so different from Yana's heavier scent. "I was under the impression he had hired me and assigned you as my teacher."
    "Not until he has a lengthy and private talk with you."
    "About what?" he asked, and took a long drink from his glass.
    "That's between you and Tochar. I can't tell you anything until you're an insider and we're certain you can be trusted."
    Though the crowd had lessened at the Skull's Den, Dagan leaned closer and murmured in a low voice, "You should

    know I can be trusted, since I didn't betray you. What's my continued silence worth?"
    Starla walked her gaze over his grinning face with deliberate leisure. "Since I didn't take your life, that should be ample payment."
    "Weren't you just a little nervous and surprised when you saw me?"
    "No more than you were when you saw me."
    "Aren't you afraid I'll change my mind and expose you?"
    Starla leaned forward and whispered, "No, but do it and I'll kill you for certain next time because you wouldn't deserve this second chance."
    Dagan scrutinized her frosty gaze and heard her cold tone, but felt they were faked. She had been scared and tense during their earlier meeting, but she had concealed her feelings with skill and practice. Her fiill mouth was tempting and he wanted to taste it. He wanted to know everything about her, but not succumb to her many charms. He chuckled. "I believe you would attempt to kill me, so I'll try hard not to rub you wrong or be caught off guard again. Why exactly did you let me live?"
    Starla felt her rebellious body and emotions responding to him and ordered them to cease. "I don't want to have life-taking charges placed on my record, and I don't kill unless my life is in jeopardy. I presumed you wouldn't be a future threat because you'd be long gone from this sector; I figured you must have been free-riding for a good reason. I was partly right."
    "I assume, since you covered my head, Moig didn't see me."
    They were keeping their voices low and could not be overheard. "That's right," she admitted. "But even if you tell Tochar who you are, I doubt it will get me exiled; I'm too valuable to him. He'll consider it a weakness but not a fatal flaw. Don't forget, Tochar knows and trusts me."
    "Will he, after learning you lied to him and Moig about

    my death? From my experiences, disobedience is more acceptable than deceit."
    "I'll deal with that problem if it comes up. Besides, you also deceived him and could be exposed. Why did you hold silent about me?"
    "I doubt Tochar would hire any man who was recently disabled by a woman, or by another man for that matter. That would tarnish my prowess, right? Surely you didn't expect me to admit you tricked me and stung my ego. Besides, I felt I owed you for sparing my life. If our positions had been reversed that deega, I would've taken your same course of action. Despite what we are, taking lives unnecessarily is dangerous and costly. What you did doesn't make me doubt your loyalty to Tochar, so why report it? Besides, Moig made that decision and gave my extermination order."
    "But Tochar agreed with it after our return and even rewarded me for killing you. Now, tell me. How did you really get here?"
    "After I came to, hardly able to breathe thanks to you and that sack, I piloted the vessel close enough to use the escape pod, then sent it on its way out of this sector. I came down in the