Wings (Intergalactic Dating Agency): Colony: Nyx, #5

By Demelza Carlton

After losing his job, Kamen is more than happy to help his friend out, tending his new bar. Until someone tries to blow the place up.

Kalina thought she'd seen her last disaster when she left Earth. Space was supposed to be safe. Until a quiet drink with a hot alien bartender turns explosive. Seriously, will she have to save the day again?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lost Plot Press
• Release date: Oct 20, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223567288

Book preview

ONE

You're here early, Mr Kamen, the receptionist said.

Please, call me Wings. Everyone else does, Wings said, flexing them just a little for emphasis.

She giggled. Yes, but Mr Wings sounds like a fried chicken shop, and I don't think we have enough chickens in the Colony yet to supply a shop like that. I can't remember the last time I tasted fresh chicken. She licked her lips, as if trying to taste the memory.

There should be a special dispensation for kitsunes and fox shifters. Some people just need to hunt, Wings said.

The kitsune shrugged. Oh, we find ways, Mr Wings. In the absence of chickens, we chase different prey. She twitched aside the collar of her uniform coat to reveal a dress that shimmered between orange and red, depending on the angle of the light.

Wings gave a low whistle. That dress is far too pretty to wear to the dentist. What if you got toothpaste or something on it?

She flashed a mischievous smile. Oh, that's why I'm wearing a coat over it. I'll only be here for a moment. I was about to go out when I realised I'd forgotten to put the instruments in the steriliser, so I popped in to fix things. Please don't tell Dr Fang. He always says how organised I am, and this is the first time I've ever forgotten. I'd hate to disappoint him.

Wings mimed zipping his mouth closed. My lips are sealed. Especially when you came back after hours to take care of things. I'm in awe. I'm late so often lately, I'm beginning to wonder how anyone manages to get to things on time.

She beckoned for him to follow her into the surgery. Yet you're early today. Maybe that's the secret?

Wings shook his head as he settled into the dentist's chair. More an act of desperation. I figure if I'm early to my appointment, maybe I'll manage to be on time for work. My boss said if I'm late one more time, I'll be out of a job. He didn't even believe I had a dentist appointment today.

He sounds like a complete arsehole. Not like Dr Fang. Perhaps it's time to look for a new job. What is it that you do, Mr Kamen?

Wings grimaced. I'm a labourer at the space docks. I don't have fancy qualifications like you and Dr Fang. I'm big and strong and good at operating machinery. Just like a hundred other guys who want my job, who can actually get to work on time, apparently.

Well, the good news is you're his first patient of the night, and he's never late, so he'll have you out of here in plenty of time to make it to work. Your job is safe, for tonight, at least. She patted his shoulder. Having a good, stable job is important when you want to find your fated mate.

Wings laughed. Is that what you're hunting for? A mate?

She inclined her head. Of course. The greatest hunt of all. The one person in the universe whose soul entangles perfectly with your own. Do you not believe in fated mates, Mr Kamen?

He forced out a smile. I believe some people have them, but not me. As you say, who'd want a man who can't keep a stable job?

But you're such a lovely person, Mr Kamen. Surely there must be some way you can make it to work on time?

Wings shook his head. I try, but it's just so hard to keep track. I mean, I live in the Nyx Dome, which is fine, and the space dock is open to space, so that's fine, too. It's just when I travel between them that I get in trouble, because I can't keep track of which places and times have daylight. The problem with being a gargoyle. Enough ultraviolet light and I transform from what you see before you to a useless statue, until the lights are off for long enough. I step out of the aircar and boom! I'm stuck as a statue all day. Someone even scrawled anti-alien graffiti on my wings once. It took ages to scrub it off.

Her eyes brimmed with sympathy. So it's not even your fault you're late. Oh, that's awful. Can't you get some sort of light meter, with an alarm that goes off when you're about to walk into daylight?

The problem with one of those is that I'd have to be holding it, and once the sensor picks up UV, I'm exposed, too, and it's too late to do anything about it.

Well, someone should do something about it. You should talk to Maintenance, or the Watch, or whoever's responsible for ensuring our safety here in the Colony. Gargoyles and vampires and other beings who are sensitive to ultraviolet light should be allowed to walk around the Colony safely, without being burned or turned to stone or blinded. She slammed the door of the steriliser. There. My work for the day is done. Good luck with getting to work on time, Mr Kamen. She pulled off her coat and hung it on a hook on the wall, revealing the shimmery dress in all its glory.

Your fated mate is a lucky man, Wings said.

She grinned. Well, if I find him tonight, maybe we'll both get lucky. She winked, and pressed one of the buttons on the cabinet door. Best of luck to you, Mr Kamen! she called as she left.

Behind him, the steriliser started to hum. Then a blue light began to glow.

Oh, stars... Wings began, but it was too late. Ultraviolet light engulfed him and his body turned to stone.

TWO

Oh my God, turn the radio back on! Burnover, burnover on George Road at the back of the pine plantation! Burnover! Burnover!

Gotta go, Kalina. Stay safe, all right?

Kalina woke with