Alien in the Family

gotten back from New York via his personal floater gate. The other was coming from the elevators, probably after having delivered the food and interstellar pineapple to Chuckie’s room.”
    Martini closed his eyes. “I can’t really remember much about them. I was trying to ignore them.” He shook his head. “I didn’t notice their heartbeats, one way or the other.”
    “I saw them again at a craps table when James and I were heading out to go shopping. And one of them knew I was there, even though his back was to me.” I wondered if he was an imageer-empath combo, or if they’d just been keeping a watchful eye out. Figured we’d probably end up finding out, one way or the other.
    “Could just be coincidence,” Martini said doubtfully.
    Chuckie didn’t believe in coincidence and neither did I. “Trust me, they’re the actual spies for the Alpha Four royal family. And they’ve been here at least a year, maybe longer.”
    “If so, I don’t know about them,” Alexander said. He wasn’t lying. But he did look worried. “I don’t know if Gregory is aware of them or not.”
    “I’m actually betting not. Because he’s been stupid, and I doubt he wants the king or the Chief Councillor to know.” And I was betting at least one of them, if not both, knew. Another thought occurred. “Alex, why did you land your ships where you did?”
    “We assumed we were supposed to—traditionally, the light display indicates where visiting dignitaries will sit to observe the royal nuptials. The one peak was quite difficult.”
    “Hatchet, yeah, it would be.” So, someone had suspected a coup of some kind was coming at least a year ago—or had been planning one. Interesting. I looked in Moira’s cell. She seemed awake but fuzzy. “I need to get in there again.”
    “Are you sure?” Queen Renata asked. She sounded worried.
    “She’s strapped down and I’m not without the skills.”
    “She’s strapped down and if she wasn’t, she’d break Kitty’s neck, but, yeah, let her in. Baby, please remember that you are not up to taking her, okay?”
    “Fine, fine. Need in, now.” Security opened the door, and I trotted inside. The door was shut before I realized six of the Poofs were inside with me. I realized it because they all started growling, softly, but with great menace. “Yeah, I don’t like her either, Poofies.”
    Moira stirred. “You. Has my mate destroyed yours yet?”
    “No. We’re giving her time. How long did you watch us before you tried to kill my friend, the one you thought was my lover?”
    She looked at my shoulders. “What are those?”
    “No idea what you’re talking about. How long did you watch us?”
    “They are staring at me. Growling.”
    “No idea what you mean. How long did you watch us?”
    “I watched you all arrive. Why are they on your shoulders?”
    “Nothing on my shoulders. How many of us arrived?”
    “Your lover and his other lover and another man,” she spat the words. “Then two beautiful women with six beasts. Then you and him,” she looked at Martini. “We will kill him, all of them.” The Poof growling increased. “Why don’t they like me?”
    “What are you talking about? So, what did you do, after we all arrived?”
    “I waited. My mate knows how to destroy a more numerous enemy.”
    “I’ll bet she does. So, you waited and then what?”
    She gave a drugged giggle. “Then you and your lover came out. It was so clear he was the one you loved the most, and he loved you most, too.” She looked right at me and smiled. “It was so easy to follow you. But to watch him paw you and see you enjoy it, to see him dress you like you were his whore, to see you fawn over him—that was not easy. I enjoyed hurting him. I made him think I was his other lover. I attacked him in that hideous form. He thought his other love was jealous and was the one who killed him.” She smiled beatifically.
    I’d heard people say that something made them so mad that they saw red, but I’d always thought it was just a saying. It wasn’t. Moira’s joy in letting Reader think it was Gower who’d tried to kill him made me feel as if my head were going to explode from rage. The room looked red, and all I could see was her throat and how easy it would be to rip it out.
    The Poofs jumped off my shoulders and turned large and in charge. To a one they were growling and had all their teeth bared. Moira looked at them and started to scream in terror. “They want to devour