Winning Souls Read Online Free Page B

museum, including modern fashion, ancient fashion and the development of propulsion through the ages.
    When they finished their tour, bought their souvenirs and gotten a snack, they walked through the city and enjoyed the companionship.
    Enher asked him idly, “Did you notice what was missing?”
    “I don’t know. You tell me.”
    She chuckled and moved in close to his body so that it looked like she was cuddling. “I think first contact is a rather noteworthy event in a planet’s history. I know my world recorded it with deep reverence. It is a moment when we are assured we are not alone in the universe. I wonder what happened to the first landing teams.”
    He nodded. “Good question. Do you think the answer is on one of those other nine sites?”
    “I think so or, at least, a chunk of rock large enough to question.”
    “We are too late today to book a cross-continental tour. It will have to be the day after tomorrow. How about tomorrow we head to the casino and we can work on you giving me a kiss for luck?”
    She snorted. “Follow my lead and you won’t need luck. Reedamani are excellent gamblers.”
    “You don’t have sex and you are excellent gamblers. Where do you leave things to chance in your life?”
    Enher smirked. “When I walk with a strange Enjel through alien cities as dusk is taking over. That is a pretty good chance.”
    He inclined his head. “I stand corrected. You do have a spirit of adventure and risk.”
    She grinned. “It comes and goes. Now, where should we get dinner?”
    He steered her through the streets to a noodle place a few blocks from her hotel. The broths were rich, the meat was well cooked and separated easily from the bone, and the noodles had just enough bounce to make them fun to slurp.
    When she returned to her hotel room, it was hard to fight the grin that wanted to stay on her features. It had been a really fun day of espionage and noodle fighting. Though, she was in desperate need of another shower. Her hair had two noodles stuck to it and her shirt was a lost cause. Ulises was deadly with the eating sticks. She would get her revenge tomorrow when they were at the casino. He would never be able to match her game for game.
     
    “Wedging in like that has to be uncomfortable.” She sipped at her caf and flicked her fingers at his wings.
    He shrugged. “When you travel away from home, you get used to it. The tendons and bones have a certain amount of flex that lets me get comfortable anywhere.”
    “That is handy.”
    “I think so.” Ulises smiled. “So, casino today?”
    “I believe it is a logical step. I have to go see them sometime.” She smiled.
    He inclined his head. “Well, today is that day.”
    They finished their breakfast and walked down the streets arm in arm. The nearest casino was in the city centre and walking distance from all the hotels.
    Two pairs of greeters flanked the entryway. Each pair was a stunning example of Nurmegar beauty of each gender. The couples welcomed them in with friendly smiles and invited them in to play the games offered at the casino.
    Enher blinked as the man leaned in and kissed her lips. It was an intrusion that got him a hand to the chest and shoved backward by the flick of one of Ulises’s wings.
    Enher pressed a hand to her lips. “I do not kiss.”
    The greeter paled as Ulises snarled at him.
    “Apologies. It is our custom to give a kiss for luck. I was unaware of the cultural dissimilarities until you mentioned it.” The greeter remained back, and the woman next to him cleared her throat.
    “Sir, you had no problem with my kiss.”
    He looked at her with laser focus. “I did not, but you kissed my cheek.”
    She blinked. “You are correct. He did not?”
    Enher shook her head. “He did not aim for the cheek. It is fine, Ulises. We will simply go inside and see what luck has been given.”
    She grabbed Ulises’s arm and shoved him bodily away from the greeters.
    He looked down at her with surprise. “You are