Lucas: #3 (Luna Lodge: Hunters of Atlas) by Madison Stevens

afternoon sun, welcoming the heat. Something about the Azilian woman seemed to suck all the warmth out of the air. She couldn’t quite figure it out. The woman hadn’t been rude, but she rubbed Taylor the wrong way.
    Taylor pulled down the tailgate and hopped into the bed of her truck to check her cooler. The dry ice was holding well. The last delivery of the day was to the local market. Although they didn’t carry the ranch’s meat in the store anymore, the family still purchased meat for their personal use.
    Before she wondered if the family was trying to help them out while avoiding annoying Doris. Upon reflection, Taylor thought it likely their patronage had more to do with their grown daughter Grace being in charge of the family finances than real interest in the ranch’s meat.
    The sweet woman didn’t say much and wasn’t really one to go against her family, but this seemed like a sort of rebellion. Maybe when her parents were gone, Grace would stock their meats once again in the store.
    “Excuse me.”
    Taylor nearly fell out of the back of the truck in surprise.
    She turned and found the strange Azilian woman standing just on the sidewalk.
    The situation had crossed into creepy land. She hopped down to the ground, closed the tailgate and approached the woman with caution.
    “Yes?” Taylor asked. She crossed her arms over her chest and waited.
    “Do you know my people?” The woman stepped forward but stopped when Taylor narrowed her eyes.
    “I do,” she sighed. “And if you’re here to sell me religion—”
    “No,” the woman said quickly. “I meant what I said about buying meat. We want to be careful about whom we purchase from. We understand that many of you are suspicious of us. You seem like a good person though.” She nodded once. “Mother Anassa would like to meet with you to discuss the terms.”
    Taylor frowned. Mother? Were they like the Catholics? Maybe they had branches of holy people like that. She’d seen Azilian men in brown robes much like monks.
    “Well, just tell Mother Anassa to give me a call and—”
    “Oh no,” the woman said in a panic. “She only meets the people we do business with in person. That way she can better assess their characters. You must look someone in their eyes, she says, to know their true character.”
    Weird. Not unreasonable but still weird.
    “Please,” the woman said. She handed over a pamphlet. “Take this and just call the number listed. Mention your name so we can set up a time.”
    Taylor took the folded paper. An odd symbol was on the outside. She hesitated for a moment, and it must have come across in her face because the woman stepped forward.
    “You will be compensated for your time,” she said quickly. “We know that our ways seem strange, but you’ll find we can be good, honest partners.”
    Taylor cursed herself for being so easily bought but couldn’t stop herself from stuffing the pamphlet in her back pocket. “I’ll give a call later.”
    The woman gave a firm nod before stepping back. She walked back past the cafe to where she’d parked her car.
    Taylor shook herself. As creepy as the woman was, the cult might help save the ranch.
    She stopped a snicker. Doris would probably have a field day with the ranch supplying meat to the Azilians. Oh, well. Everyone had to eat.
    It didn’t matter. Right now wasn’t the time to deal with this. She had meat to deliver.
     

Chapter Nine
     
     
    “Can I help you, sir?” a store employee asked.
    He shook his head, not wanting to draw more attention to himself than need be.
    Lucas looked at the different plants on the shelf. Was there a certain protocol on what sort of flower to give Taylor? Sergius hadn’t been forthcoming with specific details.
    A pretty purple flower caught his eye, and he placed it into the cart. He smiled widely, certain that she would like it either way.
    He made his way to the front of the store and listened to the people around him. It always fascinated him