Torkel's Chosen Read Online Free PDF Page B

the
head of the Commission. We ask again who is your Chosen, Faye Reid?”
    “Torkel. I only
chose Torkel.”
    They all nodded.
“Then the matter is finished.”
    “No,” Axan
screamed. “She is a human from Earth. He doesn’t deserve the rare treasure.”
    “The presentation
is now over. Torkel, I trust you and your men can get your Chosen home safely.”
    “Yes.” Torkel’s
deep voice rumbled beneath her ear.
    ***
    Faye found herself
bundled off into a hover car with men seated on both sides of her. Worried that
something else could go wrong, she’d refused to let go of Torkel and spent the
entire ride in his lap. A very comfortable lap and for once she didn’t think
about how round her butt was or how she might be too heavy for a man.
    The four men with
them all wore red uniforms that fit tightly over their bodies without being
obscene. Each time she looked up from Torkel’s chest, she found herself the
object of their attention. The feeling disconcerted her.
    They arrived at a multi-level
structure in grey stone that reminded her of a business complex. The men exited
first then cleared the way for Torkel, who had to bend low to climb out with
her in his arms. Neither of them spoke on the ride but at least he hadn’t tried
to move her.
    “Can she walk or
are her legs damaged?” One of the red uniformed men asked.
    “She can walk,
Jaron,” Torkel said.
    “Maybe Axan hurt
her when he tackled her on the sand,” another murmured, his blue eyes vigilant
as he unholstered his blaster and kept it pointed down by his thigh as if prepared
for an attack.
    Torkel stiffened
and his pace quickened as they entered the building. “Page medical and have the
doctor sent up.”
    “I’m fine.” Faye
didn’t think she needed medical intervention.
    Torkel barely
spared her a glance. “Axan left bruises on you. The doctor will take care of
it.”
    And that was that.
    Content in his
arms and since he didn’t complain, Faye didn’t demand to be let down. The lobby
of the well-lit building was empty. Echoes from the boots the men wore bounced
off the white walls. No furniture or carpets on the tiled floors. Maybe it was
a ghost town or this was everyone’s day off. When they reached the elevators,
Torkel had to turn to the side to enter as all of them crammed in the small
space.
    Faye peeked over
Torkel’s shoulders to find four sets of eyes on her. She swallowed her nerves. “Hi.”
    The one Torkel
referred to as Jaron smiled. “Are you really a human from Earth?”
    She nodded,
bumping her head on Torkel’s jaw.
    “Are all Earth
women as troublesome as you?” Unlike the other three, this man was closer to
Torkel’s height and had light brown hair instead of blond like the others.
    “I don’t know
about all Earth women but I didn’t start the trouble.”
    “Actually you
did,” Jaron protested. “Arak, Geile, Gregir and I came late to the presentation
but everyone heard you renounce Torkel.”
    Faye struggled in
Torkel’s arms. “Put me down.” She pushed at his arm. “Please.”
    He lowered her
carefully to her feet but kept an arm around her shoulders.
    “I chose Torkel. I
gave him the necklace they handed out.”
    Jaron’s brow
pinched. “Necklace?”
    “Medallion,”
Torkel filled in, staring forward at the doors of the elevator.
    Had she done
something to anger him?
    The brown haired
man spoke up. “When the Commission asked you to choose again, you said-”
    “Do I have to pick
him?” Faye repeated. She remembered what she said because she’d been frightened
to death.
    Now all four
glared but Torkel didn’t turn.
    “I meant the jerk.
Not Torkel. I thought they were forcing me to change my mind.” Faye faced
Torkel and pulled his head down by gripping his chin. “You believe me, right? I
didn’t want the other guy.”
    “What is a jerk?”
Jaron asked.
    Faye ignored him.
“Torkel?”
    He finally faced
her and when he did his tone was as flat as she’d ever heard someone speak.