Precious Starlight (Quads of Galafrax Book 3) (9 page)

“What do you mean by that? It’s not as if anyone will ever pay you any attention. Pale, fat cow.”

One thing for certain, Stacy was going to really fit in on this planet from what Daisy knew about Demos women. She sighed, holding in her retort and went back to staring out the small window, the stars passing so fast they looked like white streaks.

The fewer complications, the better.

Several hours later, they stood in a huge building called the Qui-Palace, according to their guard/escorts when Daisy had pressed them for information. There were four major cities on Galafrax, they explained, the major city ruled by the High Lords while the other three cities were governed by High Councillors under the watch of the High Lords.

At the grand entrance to the huge pyramid structure, they were greeted by some richly robed quads. From the gold and red embroidery down their black jackets, no doubt they were high up in the Demos food chain.

“Welcome, lovely Earth females. I am High Councillor Pot R’galas.”

Daisy’s lips quirked up. Man, she could have fun with that name. “These are my brothers: But, Myl and Lik R’galas.”

Daisy couldn’t help it any longer and, despite it feeling rather juvenile, she burst out laughing.
Pot, Lik, Myl, But.

Oh, dear…

Wiping tears from her eyes and trying to recover from her hysterical laughter, she realised everyone was staring or glaring at her, especially the pompous looking set of quads.

“Sorry, carry on.” She waved her hand. “Don’t mind me.”

“We have given you all quarters and attendants to see to your every need while in our care. We hope you come to know and love Galafrax as much as we do, and consider it truly your home. There will be many parties held in your honour where we can introduce you to some of the most eligible quads on Galafrax.”

Yeah, well, that wasn’t happening. Daisy folded her arms, her humour gone. She watched Stacy and Peta preen.

“Will we get clothes, not just these rags?” Stacy spoke up.

“Of course, miss. The finest clothes makers will be at your disposal. You will have everything you desire.” Pot smiled at Stacy but his gaze slid to Daisy.

Uh-oh
. She stepped behind the other five women, keeping out of sight as much as possible. “Your attendants will now show you to your rooms. Ask anything of them and we will do our best to make sure your needs are met.”

Each woman was led away by a set of demure-looking quads. Stacy was already making demands about clothes and food.

“Miss, this way.” Daisy turned to what were clearly her attendants. She smiled warmly at them.

“Lead the way.”

“Is there anything you desire?”

“Honey, as long as I have food, and a few clothes on my back, I’m golden.”

From their sudden freaked-out expressions, Daisy realised they didn’t understand what she’d just said. She sighed, missing how Bex would question her about all her sayings. Damn, how she missed her men. “What I mean is, I am not fussy as long as my basic needs are met.”

Her attendants breathed a sigh of relief. She followed after them through the majestic, lofty hallways. “So what are your names, and how did you get stuck with this job?”

* * * *

“Look, it’s nice I got an invite…but I don’t want to go to any party. I’m happy here for the time being. From what my quads have told me, you know I am not available to be courted.”

High Councillors Pot and But stared down at her, thick arms folded, making their biceps bulge. Daisy was not impressed.

“All the other females are attending. It would be rude for you not to attend. Why waste your time in here, and with this?” Pot pointed to all the plastic paper and data pads she’d asked for to learn about Galafrax. It had been easily translated into English once she’d imported the Roman alphabet into the computer. Her attendants were more than eager to get her anything she wanted.

However, when the first party invitation had come, she’d refused and stayed in her room.

This was the second one, and two of the ruling quads had come to issue it personally.

As if she’d be swayed by the top brass.

Daisy narrowed her eyes on eldest of the brothers, But. “Educating myself about your planet is wasting my time?”

Pot nodded. “Of course, you know your needs will always be met, always looked after. You can have anything you want.”

Daisy pushed out of the chair and stood up, folding her arms. “Look, buddy, that line may work with the other women––but I prefer to use my brain rather than let someone do my thinking for me. I’m not some stupid twit you have to pamper to.”

“I really like her,” Pot added. “Smart, beautiful, and not like the other human females who have narrow waists and are thin like our females. It is no wonder Commander Loz and his brothers wanted you. Do not worry, brother, for if she does not want to attend any of the functions to be kept from possible courtship, I can be happy with that.”

“Brother?” But stared at Pot, who shook his head in that silent communication thing she was used to her boys doing. It was freaky, but she’d also seen the same kind of things with her attendants.

A chill of unease ran down her spine as she studied the Demos man before her.
What is he up to?

“Enjoy your evening. And if there is any more information you want about our planet to help you feel more at home, all requests will come through us now.”

“Why? What’s wrong with my attendants? They're doing a great job.” Daisy didn’t want to lose her new friends. The Arifi brothers were sweet, talkative and kept her company when she was feeling lonely, missing her men.

“From what I hear, you hardly need any attending to, and have almost put them out of a job.” But unfolded his arms.

“We’ll make your apologies.” Pot's smile was kind of creeping her out, or was it the way his gaze swept lustfully over her body, making her suddenly desire to scrub her skin raw and bathe in boiling water?

“Uh, thanks.” She sat back down, watching the brothers give a curt bow before turning and exiting her room.

With a sigh, she stared down at her work but couldn’t concentrate. She wanted to talk to her men, but wasn’t due to see them until the next morning.

A knock sounded at the door. “Daisy?”

Her head perked up at Arr’s friendly smile as he poked his handsome, youthful face around the door. He was the youngest of her attendant quads.

“Arr, think I could go for a walk in the palace gardens?”

His smile beamed as he came into the room.

“Of course, anything you want. I’ll go call Lis and we’ll both take you down.”

“Great.” She stood up to go change. “Meet you in a few minutes.” A walk would help clear her head and help her sleep better at night.

* * * *

“No one is answering! Where is she?” Tos growled at the screen.

Bex folded his arms, leaning against the wall. Seventy-nine hours and thirty-three minutes had passed since she’d been gone. Why did it feel much longer? Tos's grumpiness had grown worse in Daisy’s absence. The only thing making his mood better for a short while was to see her on screen.

Cir strode into the room, stopping, his frown deepening to see the screen still was trying to connect.

Everyone held their breath as it suddenly lit. “Yes?” A Demos male they didn’t know stood before them.

“Who the fuck are you and where is Daisy?”

“Oh, you’re the ones.” The bored expression of the Demos male made Bex want to punch him. Tos vibrated with almost uncontrolled anger.

“The human female is currently busy. Please call back at another time.” The screen went blank.

“Uh, what just happened?” Cir asked.

Tos was already pressing buttons to reconnect to Daisy’s quarters in the Qui-Palace in the third city, only to have the same male answer.

“This is Daisy's channel," said Tos. "What the fuck are you doing answering her comm link?”

“All incoming calls to any of the female’s quarters have been redirected for screening. As I already informed you, the female Daisy is currently occupied. She does not want to be disturbed by anyone.” The bastard put a large emphasis on the last word.

The screen went blank again and both Bex and Cir jumped as Tos slammed his fist through the screen.

Loz walked in at the same moment. “What the fuck is going on?”

“Those fucking pricks are blocking our calls to our
sheraz
!” Tos ground out, shaking out the pain from his now bloodied fist. Tos shoved back Cir when he tried to see his brother's injury.

“Easy, Tos…losing your temper will not help the situation. I’ll make a call to the High Councillors and see what is going on. Everyone, back on duty, now. The more we keep occupied and busy, the better for our state of mind.”

“The Jorval still proving stubborn?” Bex asked, watching as Tos took several deep breaths, bringing himself under control.

“They have gathered firepower of nearly every race we know. It’s not a fight I want to get into, as it will be long and drawn out if we do.”

“Brother, you have to think like a Jorval. All they care about is turning a profit. Greedy and selfish, they are, so we use it to our advantage. If you simply offer to buy the technology they use to traverse the distance, then we can destroy it.”

“But how are we to know we have it all and it won’t be used again?”

“Make sure they realise there is no profit in abducting human females, considering all we’ll do is raid them and make them poor.”

“You’re freakishly smart. You know that, don’t you?” Loz grinned at him.

Bex shrugged his shoulders. “Let me still-pic this moment… Big brother has finally figured it out. I live to make plans and strategize. All you have to do is implement them––and the sooner, the better.”

“I can still put you on your arse, little brother. Remember that,” Loz warned.

Bex grinned at him, giving him a shrug.

With a nod, Loz walked out, clearly in his mind going over Bex’s plan.

Still, the worry hung heavy on their minds. Someone was interfering, or rather trying to interfere, with their relationship. Tos could feel it in his gut.

They had to hold close to the hope that Daisy would remain steadfast and strong, and she would be there waiting for them when they returned. What else did they have to hope for?

Chapter Nine

A few coincidences she could brush off, but after a week it was getting utterly ridiculous. Every garden walk, one or two of the High Councillors would turn up. Smiling and oh, so polite, they’d ask her questions about Earth and its customs.

Gifts started arriving in the form of jewels and richly decorated clothing in her size, or little gadgets that apparently Demos women couldn’t live without. Try as she might to send them back, they refused. So she stuck them in the back of a closet where she wouldn’t have to look at them.

What really got her goat was there’d been no word from her men. When Daisy tried to call them on the comm, she got some other Demos guy claiming they were too busy in negotiations with the Jorval to see her.

They’d promised to keep in contact, and this lack of communication hurt and made her usually happy-go-lucky attitude spiral downward. Even her attendants noticed and they tried to soothe her, bringing her favourite foods and drinks. However, nothing would make Daisy happy until she heard from her men.

After the sixth attempt that week, she slumped down in her chair. A knock sounded at the door. Usually only her attendants knocked, so she didn’t pay much attention until all four of the High Councillors pushed open the doors to her palace room and strode in.

“Miss Daisy, you are far too lovely to be looking so sad.” Pot positioned himself in front of her chair, kneeling down and taking her hand.

She snatched it back.

“Not to sound rude, but what do you want?”

“To take you to lunch, of course,” But said with a bright smile.

“This time we won’t take no for an answer,” Myl added. “You’ve been keeping yourself locked away in this room and it is not good for your health.” His condescending tone, as if he was talking to a five-year-old, grated on her nerves.

“Don’t talk to me like that.” She glared at him. “You insult me and my intelligence by talking down to me.”

Myl shared a look with Pot and Lik. “I did warn you, brother,” Lik smirked.

“Daisy, come out with us. You’ve seen nothing of the city where you now live. At least let us show you some of the wonders of Galafrax.”

She did have trouble saying no to that. Her curiosity spiked and her funny bone was again tickled by having the brothers' names Myl, Pot, Lik, and But to make fun of.

Still, she had an issue to address. “I can’t get through to my quads. Do you know anything about that?”

“Sorry, Daisy, but no. They are busy quads and on an important mission to keep all human females safe. You can try and contact them again when we get back.” She didn’t trust Pot’s smile.

“So, come see the city?” But pushed Pot aside and held out his hand like a hopeful child wanting a candy treat.