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Arrista didn’t understand Torrin’s hesitation. Clearly she wanted to join with him, or she wouldn’t be naked in his bed. Yet he seemed content to...play with her senses, bringing her to one shattering orgasm after another. She understood what the pleasure was. Self-exploration was encouraged by the Sarronti. Still, she’d never shared these sensations with another. Males found release during coupling, but females generally brought themselves pleasure after the male left. At least, that had been her experience.
But Torrin wasn’t going to leave. That was the difference. He wanted to be her mate, to remain at her side and help rear their children. He thought they would eventually grow old together. The concept was so far removed from the life she knew that it didn’t seem real.
He finally crawled onto the bed with her and lay down on his side. Slipping his arm under her neck, he bent and covered her mouth with his lips. His breath was warm and smelled of her arousal. A tingle dropped down her spine as she realized why. He had selflessly given her pleasure, while his body ached. He brushed against her lips, tongue teasing, but didn’t force his way inside. She slowly parted her lips, an obvious invitation. His tongue eased into her mouth, and she moaned. She didn’t know how he learned to kiss so well, but his skill was undeniable. With nothing more than the press of his warm body and the caress of his mouth, he made her entire body ache for him.
The kiss stayed light and gentle, but his free hand began to wander. He stroked her arm and side, making her squirm as he found a ticklish spot along her ribs. She could barely lie still as he continued to explore. Why did he persist with this torturous pace? She was anxious to feel him inside her. Instead, his fingers slid across her hip and along upper thigh, then reversed direction until they closed around her breast. He squeezed her nipples, moving his hand back and forth until both sides were tightly beaded.
Their lips finally parted, and she stared up into his gray-green eyes. Passion shone back at her, but she also saw tenderness and a hint of concern. Why was he worried? He knew she’d done this before. Likely, that was the reason. He didn’t want their joining tainted by her past. Well, neither did she.
Taking a deep breath, she tried to reassure him, “I’m not afraid, if that’s the reason you hesitate.”
Rather than respond with words, he bent and sucked one of her nipples into his mouth. She gasped and arched her back as the firm suction sent sensations spiraling from her chest to the secret place between her thighs. He released her with a satisfied smile and said, “Precious things must be savored. I will not let anyone rush me tonight, and that includes you.”
He caressed her breasts with his hand and his lips. She ran her fingers through his hair and rolled his words around inside her mind. Did he really find her precious? He’d risked his life to rescue her from the world below. No, he’d risked his life for Heather. Arrista had just been in the wrong place at the wrong time.
The discouraging thought cooled her arousal somewhat, so she closed her eyes and tried to recapture the urgency. He kissed his way back to her mouth and lingered there until she grew restless and achy again. He finally separated their mouths and ran his hand down the front of her body. She opened her thighs, allowing him to feel how wet she’d become, how ready to accept him.
She expected him to crawl on top of her and take her as the others had, fast and hard. But as with everything tonight, Torrin had something different in mind. With her shoulders still flat on the bed, he rolled her hips up and pressed his groin against her behind. She didn’t understand the position until he eased his hardened length between her thighs.
“Last chance,” he whispered into her ear. “If you let me inside, you’ll never be rid of me.”
She smiled, soothed by the thought. “I want you. I’m sure.”
Green fire erupted in his gaze, burning away the gray, then he slowly pushed into her wet core. Her body opened for him, inner walls slowly stretching as his thickness slid deeper and deeper. “Oh.” She scrambled for something else to add, but he reached around her hip and found her pleasure bud with his fingertips, and all she could do was moan.
“Relax, love. You’re really tight.”
No, he was really big. But she squeezed her eyes shut and nodded, determined to do as he said.
“Arrista, look at me.”
It took some effort, but she opened her eyes and looked into his. He caressed her gently, and he wasn’t trying to move, so she soon felt the tension melt from her muscles. But another kind of tension gradually coiled through her abdomen. His clever fingers encouraged the reaction as his lips explored her jawline and the side of her neck.
Slowly, he drew his hips back, pulling nearly out. She whimpered needfully when only his tip remained. Then he arched and drove inward with a little more speed. He filled her so completely that the motion seemed exaggerated. She gasped and pressed against him, taking him deeper in the process.
Encouraged by her response, he thrust faster, shuttling in and out with a steady rhythm. All the while, his fingers caressed her bud and a fresh wave of arousal cascaded through her, making it hard to think. Her nub twitched beneath his fingertips, and she threw her hips back, needing something she didn’t quite understand.
His arms tightened around her, drawing her up until her back pressed against his chest. The change made it easier for him to thrust, but it left her feeling alone and uncertain. “Please, I need to see you.”
Immediately, his arms loosened and he rolled her shoulders back down. “I’m right here, love.”
She touched his face and tightened her inner muscles, hugging him the only way she could.
He groaned, eyes drifting close for a moment. “Do that again,” he whispered as his lids lifted. The green in his eyes intensified and began to slowly rotate.
She’d seen this once before, though the spinning was more pronounced this time. “Are you doing that intentionally?”
He laughed. “It’s hard to do unintentionally.” As if to prove his point, he thrust especially hard, drawing a soft gasp from her.
“Your eyes are s-spinning.”
His hips slowed but didn’t stop. “Ontarian blood. Always happens when I’m about to come.”
She knew nothing about Ontarians, so she didn’t question him further.
He moved his hand to her hip and thrust in earnest. Each forceful drive made her gasp and jostled her breasts. She canted her hips, offering him a better angel. His tip rubbed against some point deep inside her with his next stroke. “Oh gods,” she cried, startled yet tingling.
“Finally. I was starting to think the Sarronti don’t have an internal trigger.” He repeated the precise motion, effortlessly finding the spot again.
She gasped even louder as the sensations built, electrifying her entire body. Vibrations ricocheted between his fingers and that hidden area inside her core, pinging off her nerve endings like sensory hail. Her nipples tightened and her hips rocked, matching him stroke for stroke. Soon her entire core was pulsing with pleasure, and she cried out sharply with every stroke.
Suddenly he pulled her back against his chest, and his big body tensed against her. He drove deep one final time, then shuddered violently. The warm gush of his seed triggered her orgasm, and she bit back a scream. Powerful spasms of pleasure surged through her, curling her toes and trapping the breath in her lungs. Her core rippled around him, drawing him deeper. He growled in response and leaned down to nip her ear. Then a stubborn aftershock made him shake all over.
For a long time, all they did was pant. His body contoured to her back, his arms wrapped securely around her. Then his lips brushed against her ear. “You okay?”
“Of course.” She still sounded breathless and stunned. “Aren’t you?”
“I wanted this to be really special for you, but I needed you too badly to make it last.”
She laughed, feeling buoyant, almost giddy. “If this disappointed you, I’m not sure I would have survived what you had planned.” He stroked her from shoulder to hip, and her skin tingled. She’d yet to catch her breath from their first joining, so she ignored the sensations. “Tell me about the markings on your chest and arms.” Needing to see his face, she reluctantly wiggled away, then rolled to face him.
He growled as their bodies separated but didn’t seem angry. “To escape from the Rodyte military, I became a fugitive. I’d heard of Earth and knew it was secluded enough that no one would look for me there.”
Quickly placing one of the pillows against the wall, she situated herself so she could see him without twisting her neck. “Were the markings done to help you blend in?”
A smile bowed his lips, but he shook his head. “I joined a private security company that offered protection to and solved problems for...visiting dignitaries.”
The odd timbre in his voice made her ask, “Were humans aware of these ‘visiting dignitaries’?”
“Not generally,” he admitted, his tone anything but contrite. “I kept crossing paths with an ambitious human named Morgan Hoyt. She tried to—”
“She? Morgan is more commonly used as a male’s name.”
“Her name is not important.” He propped his head on his hand as the conversation lengthened. His naked body spread out before her was a delightful distraction, but she really wanted to know more about him. “Morgan convinced me to work with the team she was building.”
“What sort of team?” And why did she feel threatened by this human female? “Was she beautiful?”
He grinned. “Jealous?”
She tensed and squared her shoulders. “Is that not my right as your mate?”
His eyes widened, and he sat up. “Are we now mates because of what we just did?”
She laughed, unable to tease him the way he deserved. “You should see your face. You look horrified. I thought you wanted to life bond with me?”
“I want to claim you badly, but I want you to be certain it’s what you want when I do.” His expression smoothed as he added, “I don’t think you’re there yet.”
After thinking about it for a moment, she admitted, “You are right. I definitely have feelings for you, but I’m not sure what I feel will last a lifetime. My life has changed drastically in the last few days.”
“That’s fair, and I’ll try not to pressure you too much. Besides, you’re adorable when you’re jealous.”
“I am not jealous of this Morgan.” She tried to sound assertive but failed. “I was simply surprised that she was female.”
His eyebrows shot up, challenging her, but all he said was, “Morgan is very beautiful, but our relationship was strictly business.”
“What sort of business?” she prompted. “You’ve yet to explain.”
“She was in charge of identifying unauthorized visitors and ensuring that even those who were authorized behaved appropriately during their stay on Earth. My targets were always the worst of the worst, so our goals aligned from time to time. When this happened, we were able to assist each. She’s the one who introduced me to the battle born, which eventually led me to the Outcasts.”
“Were you still...” She couldn’t bring herself to say it. Her mind refused to ascribe the hateful title to the amazing male who had just given her so much pleasure. How could a man who risked his life to rescue females he did not even know be a ruthless assassin? It made no sense.
“Yes. I was still an assassin at the time, but reluctantly so.” Clearly, he had no trouble saying the word. “I also hunted bounties and assisted Morgan in apprehending criminals. My way was faster and more decisive, but I wasn’t opposed to turning them over to her.”
“How long were you on Earth?”
“Six years.”
That surprised her. If her studies were accurate, Earth was still rather primitive. “And the markings? Are they symbolic of something, or simply ornamental?”
“They each have a specific meaning. Well, in the beginning they did. Tattoos can be addictive.” He added with a laugh. “The first few commemorated important events or fallen brothers. Toward the end, I was simply hooked on the process and the result.”
She paused to enjoy the display. There was very little color, but each image was intricately detailed and unique. And the sculpted body on which they had been created didn’t hurt the aesthetic either. She licked her lips and let her gaze roam.
“Keep looking at me like that, and we won’t get any sleep tonight.”
Her eyebrows arched at the playful threat. “You said I could look whenever I wanted.”
“You can. Just don’t expect me to ignore the invitation in your eyes.”
She raised her gaze to his and smiled. “Invitations aren’t meant to be ignored. They’re meant to be accepted.”
* * *
ARRISTA SPENT THE FOLLOWING morning with Sara and the cubs. The day was warm but cloudy, which made it easier for Arrista to remain outdoors. Sara was practicing the signals and voice commands that Arrista had taught her by issuing them to the cubs. Neither Wenny nor Luppa would ever see battle—a fact that secretly pleased Arrista—but the maneuvers were good exercise.
“There is a snap in the wrist at the end.” Arrista demonstrated, and both cubs immediately reversed direction.
Sara shook her head. “I’m not sure why that one is eluding me, but they understand all the others.”
“You’re doing very well.”
Sara laughed. “That makes it sound like you’re training me right along with the cubs.”
Unable to stop thinking about the night before, Arrista lapsed into silence. The cubs looked to Sara for the next command. When it didn’t come, Wenny batted her paw at Luppa. The smaller cub lunged at her sister, and both went tumbling across the grass. Typical. Their antics made Arrista smile.
“I guess they’ve lost patience with my fumbling.” Sara watched them play for a few moments, then turned back to Arrista. “You’re rather quiet and dreamy this morning. Is your distraction good or bad?”
“Good.” She glanced at the human as heat crawled across her cheeks. “Torrin is courting me.”
Sara smiled broadly. “I’m glad. He’s clearly in love with you. Are you going to accept his claim?”
“I’m still deciding, but there is no denying our attraction.”
“He scared the crap out of me the first time I saw him, but I’m warming up to him now.”
“Torrin can be intense,” Arrista agreed, but she found the quality exciting, not intimidating. “The one who frightened me was Overlord Razel.”
Sara nodded, but a motion in the distance drew her attention.
Following the direction of the human’s stare, Arrista watched Certice emerge from the forest. Her dark gray armor lay flat against her body, and her stride was unhurried, as if she didn’t have a care in the world.
Mama! Wenny’s happy cry echoed through Arrista’s mind. The cub leapt over Luppa and ran toward Certice. Luppa followed close behind.
Expecting Lady Isolaund to emerge as well, Arrista’s heart flipped over in her chest. She watched the tree line, but Certice appeared to be alone.
May I enter? Certice sounded remarkably tentative, which was unlike the fiercest of all battle cats.
“Are you alone?” Sara asked as she moved to Arrista’s side.
I am, and the mistress does not know where I went. I would like to see my cubs.
She could “see” them through the fence, but sight was not a karron’s primary sense. She would need to smell them to determine if they were healthy and being cared for appropriately. Was that all this was? Had she come to verify the wellbeing of her offspring?
Without waiting for Sara’s permission, Arrista moved to the gate and let Certice into the enclosure. The karron stalked over to her cubs and lay down. Then she licked and nuzzled each in turn, her mind shut off from Arrista and Sara. The site was so loving and tender that Arrista could not look away.
“Why is she here?” Sara whispered urgently. “If the guards notice her, they’ll shoot.”
With a sigh, Arrista dragged her eyes away from the cats and looked around. The perimeter guards rotated by four times every hour, and they had just passed the habitat. It was more likely the workers erecting the barracks would notice the adult cat lying among her young, but as of that moment no one had reacted. “I don’t know why she’s here.”
Apparently hearing them, Certice stood and walked over to where they were standing. The mistress has surrendered her strength to that despicable male. She is no longer worthy to lead my pride.
The “despicable male” was no doubt General Alonov, but that hadn’t really explain why she’d come.
Karron thinking was precise and literal, so Arrista asked, “What would you like us to do?”
Tell the males there is a Shadow in their midst, perhaps more than one by now.
Arrista gasped. Shadow lenitas must be injected. How did the mistress accomplish that?
Through my bite, Certice explained. Warn them, before it is too late.
She returned to the cubs for another brief moment of affection, then moved to the gate with obvious expectation. Sara let Certice out, and the battle cat ran back into the woods.
Arrista watched the cubs closely. The last time Wenny saw her mother, the cub went into a deep depression. “Are you okay, Wenny?”
The larger cub looked up, bright blue eyes shining, and tilted her head. Wenny good. Mama come back soon.
Arrista wasn’t sure what to make of that, but she was thrilled that the visit hadn’t upset the cub.
Sara looked at her, clearly shocked by what had just taken place. “What is a Shadow? Could this be some sort of trap?”
Arrista shook her head. “Certice gains nothing by coming here. As you said, she could have been shot. I need to speak with the overlord.”
“I’ll come with you.” They left the enclosure and headed for the Wheel, steps quick and light. “What did Certice mean? What’s a Shadow?”
“I’ll explain everything when we find the overlord.”
Kage wasn’t in the war room, but the males there told Arrista he was in the shuttle lot. Arrista didn’t know where the shuttle lot was, but Sara did. The human took the lead as they made their way to the wide open field scattered with a variety of spaceships. Arrista was distracted by the vessels, so Sara spotted the overlord, along with Torak, the warlord, Torrin, and Sara’s mate, a tracker named Xorran.
“Why are these ships so much smaller than the Viper?” Arrista’s steps lagged as they approached the shuttle in front of which the males had gathered. She had been introduced to each male, but Torrin was the only one she knew well.
“These are short-range vessels,” Sara explained. “All the ships in the Wheel are meant for much longer missions. Or they were before they became part of our home.”
Arrista looked at the human, feeling slightly feisty. “This will not remain your home unless you come to an understanding with the Sarronti.”
“I know, and so does Kage. Some of his men want to fight it out, but Kage is remarkably sensible for an overlord.”
Arrista’s impression had been much the same, once she got beyond her initial intimidation.
The males stopped talking as the females approached. Kage noticed them first, or maybe he sensed them. Ever since he’d severed the compulsion’s hold on Arrista’s mind, she’d wondered about the full extent of his powers. He had to be stronger than Lady Isolaund to destroy something she created, which meant he was frighteningly powerful.
“What can we do for you, ladies?” Kage asked.
Torrin moved to Arrista’s side before she could answer. “Are you all right? You look...shaken.”
“I’m fine,” she assured him. “We’re both fine, but Certice was just here.”
“Certice? As in Isolaund’s favorite battle cat?” Xorran rushed to his mate, apparently needing visual conformation before he’d believe Arrista’s claim that Sara was all right.
“Was the creature alone?” the burly warlord wanted to know. He was half a head taller than the other two males and even more muscular. His short blond hair was also unique among the predominantly dark-haired Outcasts.
Arrista didn’t know more than Torak’s name and title, but he was frequently with the overlord, so he must be trustworthy and dependable. Kage definitely didn’t seem like the type to tolerate fools, or betrayal of any kind. “Certice was alone, and according to her, Lady Isolaund is unaware of her visit,” she told him.
“Do you believe her?” Kage asked.
The question surprised her. Torrin was the only one who’d ever asked her opinion. Occasionally she was a source of information, but no one in the world below gave a damn about what she thought or how she felt. “I do. She clearly wanted to see her cubs, but that was not the primary reason she risked her life to come here.”
“Why did she come?” Xorran asked. He’d wrapped his arm around Sara and pulled her close against his side.
Arrista noticed the pose with a pang of envy. Would Torrin ever feel comfortable enough to display his affection publicly? Did she want him to be that familiar? The Sarronti were cool and calm, seldom revealing their emotions except in private. But she barely felt Sarronti anymore.
She shook away the distracting thoughts and said, “Certice wanted me to warn you, or rather Overlord Razel, that there is a Shadow among his men.”
“A Shadow?” Kage asked. “I’m not familiar with that term.”
She hadn’t expected him to be. The Sarronti closely guarded their secrets, and Shadow agents worked best when no one realized they were there. “The Sarronti have tiny devices known as lenitas. I’m not sure about the Rodyte equivalent, but humans would call them nanites or nanobots.”
Kage crossed his arms over his chest and said, “Go on.”
“There are many types of these devices and most perform beneficial, even crucial, tasks. Shadow lenitas are different. They are similar to the compulsion Lady Isolaund used on me.”
“What does that mean exactly?” Torak wanted to know.
There was no easy way to put this, no way to soften the blow. “Once activated, the lenitas quickly network and reproduce. The host gradually succumbs to their influence until the host becomes a living puppet, controlled by someone else.”
Kage’s handsome features twisted into a scowl. “I presume that ‘someone’ is Isolaund?”
“Yes. Once the Shadow lenitas take over, Lady Isolaund will control the agent, or agents, entirely. They will have no choice but to do whatever they are told.”
“There could be more than one?” Torak sounded dubious, but she wasn’t sure where his disbelief was focused. Did he not believe her words or that what she described was possible?
“Shadow lenitas are highly intelligent, and they can pass from one host to another,” she warned. “If a specific skill is required to fulfill a mission, they will seek out a host with that skillset and infect them.”
“Did Certice tell you who had been infected?” Kage asked in a calm, authoritative voice. No wonder these males followed him. He was unflappable.
Arrista shook her head. “The first was infected through a karron’s bite. That will give you a place to start.”
“How many were bitten by the battle cats?” Torak asked the overlord.
Kage thought for a moment, then said, “I’ll have to check with Dr. Foran, but I believe six.”
“Wasn’t Lily one of them?” Xorran asked and Sara gasped.
“She was bitten,” Sara said. “I remember her talking about it.”
Kage looked at Arrista. “You said one or more of my men was infected.”
“Figure of speak,” she told him with an apologetic smile. “Anyone who was bitten is now a suspect.”
“Arton would sense it if anything was wrong with Lily,” Sara objected. “Their link is even more intimate than a mating bond.”
“I’ll ask him about it,” Kage assured. “Let him know of the potential danger.”
“We should gather the others,” Torak advised. “Maybe temporarily detain them.”
The overlord shook his head. “The only way to find out who was infected is to let Isolaund flip the switch. I’ll give you the list of bite victims. I want continual surveillance on all of them, but they cannot know they’re being watched.”
Torak nodded, then paused. “What about Lily? Arton will sense anyone I assign to her.”
“I’ll worry about Lily. You arrange the rest.”
“Consider it done.”
The warlord strode off across the shuttle lot and Arrista exhaled. At least they took her seriously. She hadn’t been sure they would.
“Thank you for the warning,” Kage said, his dark eyes bright and assessing. “Do you know why Certice turned on Isolaund? I had the impression they were inseparable.”
“Karrons respect strength and courage above all else. Certice told me Lady Isolaund had surrendered her power to General Alonov, whom Certice detests, so Lady Isolaund was no longer worthy to lead the pride.”
“Hmm,” was his only response as he turned to Torrin. “The modifications look great. Thanks for your help with this. The engineers were stumped. Without you, they would still be running in circles.”
“Anytime.” Torrin glanced at her, the hint of a smile lifting one corner of his mouth.
* * *
THE NEXT FEW DAYS FLEW by in a flurry of activity and tension. Torrin and Arrista stayed busy during the day, each devoted to their given tasks. Arrista worked with the cubs and mentored Sara in their care and development. Knowledge about the karrons was the only thing Lady Isolaund had given Arrista that she still appreciated.
Torrin helped out wherever he was needed. Most of the ships in the Outcast fleet had been built by the Rodytes, but many had been retrofitted with systems traded with—or stolen from—other planets. Torrin’s specialty was bridging the gap between dissimilar technologies. His enhanced brain and decades of exposure to a variety of other societies gave him a unique perspective on such things. Besides, he could network directly with many computers and search out answers from inside the actual system.
Their nights were spent together, not just sharing pleasure, but talking for hours or just enjoying each other’s company. They both tried to soak up the peace but knew it was temporary. Something was about to happen. They could feel it, sense it, and were anxious for it to begin.
On the third night after Certice’s visit, the overlord invited them to dinner in his private quarters. It wasn’t unusual. Kage frequently dined with members of his high command or groups of workers he wished to know better. Torrin learned quickly that Kage was no ordinary overlord. He led by example and genuinely cared about those he commanded.
“Every time he summons us, I feel like I’m in trouble,” Arrista said softly as they waited for Kage to activate the door to his quarters.
“Tonight wasn’t a summons. It was an invitation.”
She looked at him and smiled. “Same thing with a male like Kage.”
Torrin arched his brows. “Kage? What happened to ‘overlord’?”
“He keeps insisting I drop the title, so I decided to oblige him.”
He pulled her into his arms and kissed her deeply. “Just remember where you belong.”
“That was never in doubt, my love.”
His heart gave a ridiculous leap at the endearment. They’d yet to speak of love, but her affection for him grew with each day they spent together. He could see it in her eyes, hear it in her voice, and feel it in her touch. His little elf was starting to love him. Which was a damn good thing, because he was madly in love with her.
He lowered his head for another kiss, but the door slid open and she quickly wiggled out of his embrace.
“Welcome.” Kage motioned them inside, his gaze ever watchful. “Torak is going to be a bit late, so I haven’t ordered the food yet. He said wait twenty minutes and then eat without him.”
“Is it something I can help him resolve?” Torrin asked.
“I don’t think so. Dillert picked up some sort of interference, said it was messing with communication and the shields. Torak was going to see if he could help run down the source before it became serious. Thanks to your lovely mate, everyone is on edge today.”
Torrin was about to point out that she had yet to accept his claim, when Arrista reacted.
“Everyone should be on edge,” she objected. “It might keep them alive when the Sarronti come. And they will come. I guarantee it.”
“Relax,” Kage said. “I agree with you. Remaining alert and vigilant isn’t a bad thing when faced with certain danger.”
She sighed a bit too loudly. “Do you honestly believe the danger is certain?”
He looked right into her eyes as he said, “Absolutely.”
“Then you’re more confident than I,” she admitted. “The first day, I jumped at every unfamiliar sound. I spent day two wondering about Certice’s true motivation. Today, I don’t know what to think. I can’t shake the feeling that something is going to happen, but I’m no longer sure it has anything to do with a Shadow agent.”
He flashed the charming smile he reserved for pretty females. “If it helps at all, Arton senses it too.”
“The Harbinger?”
Kage just nodded, but Torrin had to ask her, “When did you meet Arton?” He must have stopped by the habitat with Lily. But why hadn’t Arrista mentioned the meeting?
“I’ve never actually met him. Lady Isolaund was dream sharing with him. I only know what little she was able to glean from the visions.”
“We’ll have to do something about that,” Kage said. “I suspect you’ll have some interesting conversations.”
“I would like—” A shrill alarm interrupted the rest of her sentence, and her eyes flew open wide. “What is that?” She pressed her hands over her ears, looking as if she were in pain.
Kage ran to his workstation and brought the computer out of hibernation. “Report!”
“Security breach,” one voice cried.
“Intruder alert!” screamed another.
Without explanation, the overlord flew from his quarters and headed for the command center. “Go check on detention!” He waved Torrin toward the elevator.
Torrin took Arrista by the hand and sprinted down the corridor. She ran for all she was worth, struggling to keep up with him. Frantically scanning open his door, he pushed her inside the relative safety of their cabin.
“You are not leaving me here,” she objected.
“Yes, I am,” he said just as vehemently. He flew into the bedroom and retrieved his gun belt from its hook in the closet. He generally wore it every time he left the cabin, but coming armed to a dinner with the overlord had seemed rude. He paused long enough to kiss her. “Promise me you’ll stay here, where I know you’re safe.”
She didn’t look happy but said, “I promise.”
He made sure the door locked as he left, then continued down the hallway at breakneck speed. The elevator took too long to arrive, so he ran to the stairs and descended to deck two. The alarm had been silenced by the time he reached detention, but pandemonium surrounded him the instant he turned down the final corridor.
A blast of energy arched precariously close to his head, so he ducked as he ran. Angry shouts echoed off the walls, both Rodyte and Sarronti. At least he presumed it was Sarronti because his language circuits failed to translate the words.
He pressed his back against the wall and amplified his senses. The acrid stench of ozone reached him first, then a muffled scream. He ducked his head around the corner and snapped a mental freeze-frame of the adjacent corridor so he could close his eyes and analyze the image.
A lone Outcast crouched in the doorway to the detention cells, bravely determined to hold off the elves. There were five, maybe six Sarronti arranged in the corridor opposite the Outcast.
Covering his advance with a barrage of pulses from both his blasters, Torrin ran to the aid of the other Outcast. “Where the hells is everyone?” There should have been four people stationed in the area, two inside the observation booth and two in the corridor.
“Fuck if I know!” The guard’s hands were shaking so badly, he could barely hold his weapon.
Torrin pushed the rattled soldier behind him. “Just breathe for a minute. I’ve got this.” Then he focused on the elves. The defensive position was easier to maintain. He just blasted each elf as they attempted to advance. A red-haired Sarronti was particularly bold, but the others were easy to dissuade. One well-placed shot, and each retreated to a safer position.
Suddenly a volley of shots erupted on Torrin’s right, and he smiled. Back up just arrived. Torak and four of his warriors ran down the hallway, screaming like savages. The elves turned around and ran, tripping over each other in their haste to evade the new threat.
“It’s over,” Torrin said to the guard. “Are you all right?”
“They singed my arm, but that’s all.”
“They didn’t get Farlo Alonov, did they?” Torrin thought it prudent to ask.
“Of course not.” The guard sounded indignant. “Where the hells are Sonters and Melfurt? We were short a man tonight, but they both should have been here.”
Torrin cringed, suspecting he knew the answer. “Go get that arm looked at. I’ll cover things until we figure out what happened to the others.”
Torrin went inside and checked the cells before he allowed himself to relax. Farlo Alonov watched him silently, so Torrin said, “Your comrades failed. Guess you’re stuck with us for a while longer.”
The petulant elf muttered a curse, then turned away.
Kage entered a few minutes later, followed by Torak, minus his men.
“They can’t out shoot us, but they can sure as hells run,” Torak muttered. “My team is still searching, but we lost them in the trees.”
“Two of our guards are unaccounted for,” Torrin told them.
“Sonters and Melfurt,” Kage supplied, confirming Torrin’s suspicions. “We found Melfurt’s body, but Sonters is in the wind.”
“Then Sonters is the Shadow,” Torak deduced.
Kage nodded. “He transferred to detention from security, so it would have been easy for him to drop the shields and jam communications, giving the elves an opening.”
“The Shadow sought out the skills it needed to complete its mission just like Arrista said.” Torak shook his head. “This is bad.”
The overlord sounded just as discouraged. “I didn’t want to believe it could happen, but here we are.”
“Did Sonters kill Melfurt?” Torak sounded especially grim. “They’ve been friends for years.”
“Sonters died the second that bitch flipped the switch,” Kage insisted. “The creature that did this might look like Sonters, but the man we knew is gone. We all have to remember that.”
“Understood.” Torak started to leave, then turned back around. “I’m the only one on the Relentless who has even set foot on this planet. I wasn’t bitten by a karron, so there is no way we could be surprised by a Shadow agent. Shall I take our problem child home with me?”
“Excellent idea.” Kage looked at Farlo and grinned. “Let’s see Daddy rescue you from outer space, you worthless piece of shit.”
Farlo just glared at him.
They put the struggling Sarronti in magnetic restraints, then Torak departed with his reluctant guest.
“That won’t keep the older Alonov from taking it out on us,” Torrin warned. “He’ll strike again and again until he gets what he wants.”
“Maybe. And maybe the Guiding Council will remove him from office and open negotiations with us.”
Torrin hoped Kage was right, but no one struck harder than an enraged parent.
The original guard returned a short time later, arm freshly bandaged. The detention cells were now empty, so Kage sent the guard to his quarters to recuperate, then led Torrin from the detention level. “Ask your mate if—”
“I haven’t actually claimed her yet. She could still refuse me.”
Kage chuckled. “I’ve seen the way she looks at you now. She’s not going anywhere.”
Torrin agreed but didn’t want to take anything for granted. Arrista was too important to him. “Ask her what?”
“If Certice could get a message to Isolaund’s brother. Didn’t Arrista say he’s on the Guiding Council?”
“I think he’s high councilor,” Torrin mused.
“Even better. If the battle cat can communicate with him, it could be our best chance of contacting him directly.”
“I’ve thought the same thing about Merella, Arrista’s sister,” Torrin explained. “But I’m not sure where Merella’s loyalties lie. She probably took Arrista’s place, so she might warn the bitch instead.”
“Well, after today, we know Certice is on our side. Let’s stick with the cat.”
Torrin nodded. “I’ll ask Arrista about it.”
They took an elevator back to deck one, and Kage waved goodbye as they reached Torrin’s cabin.
“Sir?”
Kage looked back with a frown. “Are you ever going to call me Kage?”
“Unlikely,” he admitted with a smile.
“What do you need?”
Torrin glanced longingly at his door, then looked at the overlord. “This isn’t over. The Sarronti will be back, with or without the help of a Shadow agent. If they can’t get onto the Wheel again, they’ll attack us in the forest. There is no way they’ll back down now.”
“I know.” Kage sighed, then added, “Help me get a message to the brother. It really is our best chance of avoiding another war.”