Grounding Gracus (First Wave Book 6) Read Online Free Page A

humans, he moved quickly to a seat near the back and sat facing the door. The one warning that Scaden drilled into his head was to remain vigilant at all times. Some humans could be just as dangerous as a Relian and he didn’t want to take any chances.
    He was slightly startled when the older woman appeared next to him. “What can I get you honey?” She asked as she set a coffee cup down in front of him and filled it to the brim.
    “Thank you, what would you recommend?” Gracus asked with a smile. Even though he hadn’t asked for the cup, he had intended to and was pleased that the woman had anticipated his request.
    Blanche laughed. “Well, the five guys that came through here last week that were your size, seemed to love the Hearty Mountain Breakfast,” Blanche said with a pleasant grin at the handsome man.
    Gracus smiled, assuming that she was referring to some of Grai’s people who had set the cabin up for him. That must be how the EAT knew to bring him here when he told it to take him to a greasy spoon.
    He looked up at Blanche and gave her a dazzling smile. “If it was good enough for them, then I will have that please.”
    Blanche smiled and patted his hand before walking towards the door in the back and yelling out, “Frank, another Hearty Breakfast for one of Grai’s guys!”
    Gracus looked around and although the curious stares were a little unnerving, he didn’t feel the least bit worried or in danger so he pulled out his comm and began retracing the route into the National Forest that he had chosen to take from the cabin.
    He was startled when Blanche appeared and set three plates in front of him. “That should hold you, but if you’re still hungry, my Frank can cook you up something else. I’m Blanche, so if you want anything else you just holler at me,” Blanche said with a smile before she refilled his coffee cup and walked away.
    The smell of the food was so good that Gracus leaned forward just to smell the steam coming off of the plate before he dug in. He had eaten these same food items on the ship at least a few dozen times over the last two years, as did the rest of the crew after Cari had come to stay with them on the Adaria. But, the food items had never tasted nearly as good as they did right now. Scaden and the others had been right about eating at a greasy spoon. Whatever they did in their kitchen created magic in his mouth.
    In no time he had eaten every bite of the food placed in front of him and was actually considering asking to try something else, but changed his mind. He didn’t want to be weighed down when he left for the forest.
    Looking down at the small scrap of paper that Blanche had left on the table when she’d put the plates down, he pulled out the wallet Grai had given him and counted out the money and included a nice tip for Blanche. Scaden and Amun had explained tipping to him on the Adaria and it was one of the things he was determined not to forget to do.
    He left the restaurant and headed down the sidewalk, looking in the different stores and purchasing things that caught his fancy as he went. Mostly different images or statuary of the location. Things he wanted to take back with him to the Adaria so he could remember the beauty and peace he had already begun to find here.
    He’d purchased many odd things, including a few bags of candy from something called a novelty store and eventually ended up back at the SUV with half a dozen bags that he put in the back seat before he got in the driver’s seat.
    The EAT system automatically engaged. “Please specify your desired location,” the computer asked as Gracus growled in irritation.
    “I am capable of driving the vehicle,” Gracus muttered as he put the key in the ignition and turned the car on.
    He tried to move the gearshift, but it wouldn’t move. Then the EAT system again said. “Please specify your desired location.”
    Gracus smacked the steering wheel with his palms. “I can drive back to the damn