Page 23 of Braden

Tamarind separated herself from the crowd and approached, followed by Renald. She held one hand out to Braden who watched her closely. “Let me see if she’s badly hurt,” the bride said softly. “Please.”

Elodie stirred and moaned, sitting up with one hand to her head. She leaned against Braden’s stout, feathered leg. “It was Chet—he pushed me off the cliff to cover up his crimes. Don’t let him get away.”

“Security is on their way,” Renald assured her. “And the bird or whatever it is injured him pretty badly with those talons. He’s not going anywhere.”

“There’s a box of evidence,” Elodie said urgently. “A wooden box, this big.” She made a gesture with her hands to indicate the size. “It’s crucial you hang onto that although you’re not going to like what’s in there.”

Geoff Delain approached. “I’ve seen this before,” he said to the crowd in a reassuring voice. “A few of the Ardannans can shift into other forms in a crisis. He’s not going to harm anyone else. He was strictly trying to save the woman.”

Braden decided this had gone on long enough. His mate needed medical attention, not people staring at her and discussions of Chet’s crimes. He released his hold on the aergerone form. Amidst a storm of golden sparks he reverted to human. Several women screamed at the transition and Renald whipped off his jacket and extended it to Braden.

Clothing didn’t survive the transition to the shifted form.

Braden knotted the garment around his waist like an awkward kilt and then Elodie was in his arms, kissing him with passion. “You saved me—I don’t know how you did but I’m so grateful.”

“Long story short I have a set of alien ancestors who passed along their very useful DNA. Are you all right?”

“I think I might have broken my wrist when I caught the bush to stop my fall.” She was cradling her left wrist and large black and purple bruises were already visible.

“The paramedics are here,” Delain announced. “And my security forces as well as the police. I suggest everyone return to the tents and the celebration of the happy event of the day. My people will handle this.”

Renald and Tamarind encouraged their guests to take the advice and chivvied them toward the tents. The maid of honor stood for a moment, gazing at Chet being tended to by the paramedics before giving a sniff and stating, “We’re through, you creep.” She turned on her heel, nearly fell as the spike had sunk into the soft turf and stalked off with all the dignity she could muster.

“Not only did he try to kill me,” Elodie told Delain urgently, “He’s been working with the Amarotu Combine to fix games and embezzle from Renald. The proof is all in the box.”

“She needs to go to the clinic,” Braden said. “The police can talk to her there.”

Chapter Ten

It was a long night. The medical staff at the clinic gave Braden a set of clean scrubs to wear instead of Renald’s jacket-kilt. Braden called Nikko but the com went to voicemail. He badly needed an Ardannan authority to run interference for him while he took care of Elodie. Eventually a senior officer from the ship overhead showed up and went to work efficiently allaying the concerns of the local police about Braden having mauled Chet as he flew to save Elodie. He convinced them to record it as self defense since Braden had seen Chet throw one person over a cliff already and had no way to know if Chet possessed any weapons. The officer argued persuasively that the injuries were a result of a Sectors’ citizen’s good faith effort to assist the authorities in apprehending a dangerous criminal.

Chet was in the medical facility but in restraints and Elodie had been assured he was under arrest for attempted murder and other charges stemming from the items found in the box. The detectives took her statement while she lay in the hospital bed and had her broken wrist attended to. The SCIA was sending a team to take over the case and would have more questions for her. The police indicated she needed to remain on Resort Planet until the further interviews took place.

Braden took umbrage. “She’s going to Ardanna with me on one of our ships tomorrow. She’s certainly not staying here on her own.”

The Ardannan representative inserted himself into the conversation again. “We have an agreement with the Sectors that any matches made here as a result of our contract with IDA can result in the woman emigrating to Ardanna immediately if she so wishes.”

“I’m guessing no one contemplated one of the women being a key witness in an attempted murder,” the detective said. “You’ll have to work it out with my superiors and the SCIA.”

“We have an SCIA branch office on Ardanna Prime,” the Ardannan officer argued. “The local Special Agent in Charge can interview her.”

The local detectives threw up their hands and departed. Braden took his fellow Ardannan and Geoff Delain. “Elodie’s not my official match through the program,” he told the officer from the ship. “My IDA date bailed on me and I happened to meet Elodie and as it turns out we’re mates.”

“You went outside the contract?” The official rubbed his chin. “That might be a problem.”

“Nikko was fully briefed on the situation and gave me his approval,” Braden said, thankful he’d thought to take the step earlier. “I’m sure he’ll verify that when he becomes available for consultation.”

“Yes but you want to provide transport for her on one of our ships and we’re busy telling the authorities she’s now one of us, but if she isn’t covered under the contract⁠—”

Braden felt his aergerone form pulling at him as his frustration with the bureaucratic nonsense rose. Shifting now wouldn’t help Elodie. Nikko would cut through all of this if he was here but he wasn’t.

“I’ll be happy to certify Ms. Farantson as an IDA match,” Delain said. “It’s obvious she is the right woman for Braden. I’m aware from conversations with Crown Prince Treylon in the initial phase of the contract that an Ardannan’s ability to shift for the first time only occurs in the presence of the man’s fated mate. We all saw Braden in his altered form tonight. I don’t need any more evidence. And they met here on Resort Planet as a result of contracts with us for various events.”

“That would make this a lot easier,” the official agreed. “I’ll go file a report and start the process of allocating a cabin for the two of you on the ship.”

They all shook hands and the Ardannan representative departed. Braden eyed Delain. “Thanks for your help with the damn red tape.”

“Always happy to be of service to our guests,” the manager replied smoothly.