Goddess's Saga 1: Touch of the Goddess by Maria Hammarblad Page A

are, so I should be in charge.”
    “ You can be in charge all you want, as long as you do it from here.”
     
     

~ 13 ~
     
     
    Every fibre of Stephan ’s being screamed she must be protected at any cost.
    He heard how poorly his words conveyed the message, but how could he possibly ask her to stay in a way that wouldn ’t offend her?
    “ I can’t help that I worry, babe.”
    Maria poked his chest with a finger.
    “I worry too.”
    She just watched you die. Try something else.
    “I want to see the station head. Assuming they know about you he won’t let me anywhere near if he thinks you’re there.”
    “ You’re making things difficult.”
    “ I’m sorry. I need to find out how much he knows about the trafficking, and these eggs, and everything. That’ll be much more difficult if he’s running or hiding.”
    And I want to shoot someone for good measure.
    “What if I go as someone else?”
    “ What?”
    Th e woman in front of him changed. Maria Callaway disappeared and was replaced by a busty blonde with sparkling blue eyes and peroxide locks cascading down an outfit much like the ones worn by the girls in the casino.
    Stephan stepped backwards.
    “Whoa.”
    “ I can become anyone your heart...” she rubbed the front of his pants with a wry smile “...or any other part of you desires.”
    Her voice and accent had changed too.
    This is too creepy. I mean, the idea has interesting possibilities, but this isn’t the time.
    In the next second , a dazzling redheaded beauty watched him, pulling a finger temptingly down her cleavage, and he made a grimace.
    “ Stop it. I get the point.”
    Please turn back into yourself.
    The wish went unanswered; she disappeared.
    “ Babe?”
    She didn ’t answer, and talking to empty air seemed silly.
    “ You know, you don’t have to do this to impress me.”
    An invisible hand took his and squeezed it, and her voice echoed in his hand.
    “You won’t even know I’m here. Let’s go.”
    “ But...”
    She lifted his hand and kissed it with invisible but warm lips. Stephan still didn ’t move, couldn’t move.
    “ Would it make you feel better if I turned into a shirt you can wear?”
    “ You’re absolutely crazy.”
    Her laughter sounded a bit too merry.
    “Yes, but you love me.”
    He shook his head and walked out of the ship with long strides. The blonde had tempted him, few men got the opportunity to try a girl with such an extremely sexy appearance without cheating, but invisibility was creepy.
    Leaving the ship and breathing air that didn ’t smell like her was a relief. When he saw the closest guard’s mouth fall open, he flashed a wide smile and waved.
    Dead man walking. I’m going into a base filled with people who already killed me once, unarmed, and possibly dressed in my girlfriend. Oh well, at least I’m not bored.
    This urge to investigate pointed towards a developing conscience. This could become a problem. In the past he never thought twice about operating on the wrong side of the law; the law didn’t help him when he needed it, so why should he uphold it? If he had to steal something or kill someone to survive, well, too bad. If he started worrying about morals in one matter it could easily spread into a... sense of right and wrong.
    He suppressed a shudder.
    Stop fretting and concentrate on what you have to do.
    Armed guards stared and kept their weapons trailed on him but didn ’t approach. It wasn’t all that long ago Maria strolled here arm in arm with him, heading for dinner, but now it seemed another lifetime. He had died and returned to life since, so it truly was another life.
    The guards had buil t an improvised roadblock to keep whoever might approach from the ship from entering the base. A few of them peeked out over a wall of laser-proof shields.
    What did she do to make them this jittery? Setting a bar on fire and separating a few criminals from their miserable existences doesn ’t cut it.
    A voice woke him from his musings