Keirestine Palace, Rodymia
Unable to completely suppress his anger, Akim Farmon clenched his fists as he sank to his knees. No one ignored a royal summons, but demanding a physical appearance from someone embroiled in a crisis only highlighted the uselessness of Crown Stirate Quinton Keire.
Quinton was thin to the point of frailty and his blue-ringed eyes looked too big for his long narrow face. The garish colors he adored were echoed in the uniforms of his personal guards. Four of the massive warriors stood to either side of the throne. Quinton never went anywhere without them. If court gossip could be believed, they surrounded his bed each night and only turned their backs as he enjoyed his many concubines.
“Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t execute you on the spot and move on to my second choice.” Quinton sounded annoyed yet blasé, as if he’d made a comment about the weather rather than threatening Akim’s life.
“Because anyone you appoint now would be your second choice.” Court customs allowed Akim to stand at this point, but he remained on his knees. His exasperation doubtlessly showed, so he glared holes in the marble floor rather than risking an escalation in Quinton’s anger. “I have Daniel Kane’s journals as well as—”
“But the rebels have them too!” Akim heard the guards shift position and instinctively raised his head. Quinton rushed down the stairs of the dais and stood in front of Akim. “Stand up. I don’t like talking to the top of your head.”
Akim reinforced his outward calm with a deep breath then pushed to his feet. It was obvious Quinton wasn’t interested in facts, so he silently waited for the spineless fool to finish his tirade. The throne room had been meticulously designed to intimidate visitors by Quinton’s great-grandfather. Massive pillars supported the highly arched ceiling, which depicted battle scenes from various eras, each a Rodyte victory, of course. The throne itself was an intricately carved work of art, displayed on a raised platform. Unfortunately, the bold architecture overshadowed the current ruler, making him appear even thinner and less formidable.
“All you’ve managed to do is increase the pressure on my research team. They’re now in a race with the rebels to see who can complete a transformation protocol first. Luckily, I have the best and brightest minds in the star system under my command. The rebels don’t stand a chance.” Quinton circled Akim as if assessing him for sale. “Is the younger Nox brother messed up in this little rebellion or is it just Bandar?”
The seeds of dissention spread throughout the ranks of the battle born, but Quinton didn’t want to hear it. He’d convinced himself that this “little rebellion” was a handful of mid-ranking soldiers with little authority and fewer resources. Akim suspected that General Garin Nox, the oldest of the three Nox brothers and head of one of Rodymia’s most powerful families was the true leader of the rebellion, but Quinton didn’t want to hear that either.
“I don’t know, sire. I’ve only encountered Bandar.” Akim stared straight ahead and kept his expression carefully blanked. The sooner he finished this ridiculous conversation, the sooner he could return to his mission where he belonged.
Unlike his ancestors, who ruled through fear and brutality, Quinton’s primary strategies were denial and ignorance. He surrounded himself with people who told him only what he wanted to hear. Many had thought—even hoped—that his niece, Sevrin, would overthrow him, but she’d been murdered before she made her move for the throne. Now the various factions on Rodymia were in a sort of holding pattern. Some thought Garin’s final goal was to overthrow Quinton and rule the planet himself, while others expected Garin to back one of the five people with a blood tie to the throne. Akim didn’t care about Garin’s agenda. The general’s final goal was irrelevant because Akim was going to kill him long before Garin’s plans came to fruition.
Akim had known Garin his entire life. He’d watched Garin rise through the ranks of the military, catapulted by a privileged background and unlimited wealth. Garin personified everything Akim hated about Rodymia. While Akim fought and bled for each accolade, succeeding despite his meager beginnings, people like Garin were guaranteed success with or without personal accomplishments.
Akim’s bitterness helped him understand the resentment fueling the battle born rebellion. He even agreed that the current system needed to be dismantled. However, the battle born were inferior in every way to full-blooded Rodytes and Akim wanted it to stay that way. If the battle born ever activated their dormant magic—which was the reason for their venture to Earth—it would give them an advantage with which people like him couldn’t hope to compete.
“Where is Chandar?”
The question snapped Akim’s attention back to Quinton. Akim had anticipated this possibility and taken measures to protect his most prized possession. “She’s in seclusion on Earth. Confinement is hard on a Harbinger. She needs tranquility and fresh air for her gift to function properly. I felt it only prudent to provide her with an environment that will maximize her abilities.” Harbingers were rare and extremely powerful. Female harbingers were even more so. Quinton had rewarded Akim with Chandar two years before and Akim had no intention of giving her back.
“Convenient.” Quinton crossed his arms over his narrow chest and glared at Akim. “If you disappoint me again, you’ll lose everything, and that includes the lovely Chandar. Do you understand?”
“Of course, sire. I will not fail you again.”
“Good, then get back to Earth and finish the job.”
Akim spun on the ball of his foot and strode from the cavernous throne room, boot heels snapping against the marble floor. This delay had been completely pointless. Quinton could have berated him just as easily with a holoconference. A personal appearance was only necessary if he’d meant to demote him—or repossess Chandar. His fists clenched again. It was a damn good thing he’d left her on Earth. No one was taking his harbinger from him, not even the Crown Stirate of Rodymia!
He paused at the security checkpoint to retrieve his weapons then exited through the main entrance of the palace. The Relentless was too large for the palace airfield and the security measures utilized at the nearest spaceport were intolerable, so Akim left his ship in orbit and shuttled down for the meeting. Generally he bio-streamed anywhere he needed to go, but the palace shields prevented molecular transportation.
People came from all over the star system to tour the palace. With iridescent domes and gilded spires, the stately building easily dominated the rolling hills surrounding it. Even so, Akim was unimpressed with the splendor amassed by the idle rich. Creature comforts made people soft. All he had to do was look at Quinton Keire to know the theory was correct. Besides, the sprawling size of the royal residence only made Akim have to walk that much farther to reach his shuttle.
He jogged down the wide stone stairs leading to the main entrance. Like mindless cattle, visitors lined up in the roped-off area, waiting for the next tour to begin. Akim dismissed them with a disdainful glower and hurried on his way. He would never understand the mass fixation on royalty. If any of these people actually interacted with Quinton, they would quickly reassess their fascination. The only impressive thing Quinton had ever done was being born into the royal family. The Keire dynasty had been established by men who would have smothered Quinton in his sleep.
Akim followed the wide, tree-lined walkway to the lot reserved for invited guests. His shuttle was small and unobtrusive, intentionally designed not to draw attention. He clenched his left hand to activate his subdermal control band then lowered the shields and opened the hatch. Distracted by frustration and discontent, he climbed into the shuttle.
“It took you long enough.”
A startled gasp escaped Akim. He drew his sidearm and spun to the left, his movements fast and fluid. His uninvited guest only smiled, looking indolent as she lounged in one of four passenger chairs. Akim lowered his weapon, though he remained alert and watchful. Pyre Sterling was more or less returning his call. He’d left a message letting her know he was temporarily back in Rodyte space. Still, he’d expected her to com him not show up in person.
“It makes Quinton feel powerful when he keeps his guests waiting,” he muttered as he returned the pulse pistol to the bracket on his thigh. “Despite my reaction, I’m glad you came.”
She crossed her legs, drawing his attention to the daring expanse of toned flesh revealed by the slit in her narrow skirt. Her dark blue dress covered her from throat to ankle, but the clingy material outlined every swell and hollow of her curvaceous figure. Though her skin was pale and smooth, it lacked the pearlescent sheen of an organic harbinger, those born with their abilities. Whatever power she possessed was the result of genetic manipulation and integrated technology. The last six inches of her silver-blonde hair had been treated with a color-shifting dye that transformed from yellow to orange and finally red. The decorative effect echoed her name, which was also an affectation.
Pyre Sterling was a guise, a role various females had played down through the years. According to Quinton, Pyre Sterling was Chandar’s mother, but Akim had no way of knowing if this woman was the same Pyre Sterling who had given birth to his pet harbinger. Instinct told him she was not. This woman certainly showed no interest in a person supposedly her offspring.
“I don’t have all day, Akim. Why did you ask to speak with me?”
He closed the hatch and activated an audio buffer before he explained. “I recently unmasked a technomage hidden among my crew. At first I thought Quinton sent him, but now it seems unlikely. Did Javin send one of his creations to spy on me?”
She shrugged, a mocking smile lifting one corner of her mouth. “Did you ask Javin?”
Javin Aidentar was the current head of the Integration Guild, which meant he was the true power on Rodymia. Like the sorcerers of ancient times, technomages had powers at their disposal that made them extremely dangerous. No one cared that those powers came from nanotechnology integrated into their biological systems rather than actual magic. They could read minds and manipulate dreams, teleport at will. Some could even command the elements. Worse, they loved to conceal their abilities, to blend with the masses and manipulate situations from the shadows. And Javin was the worst of all. Few had ever seen him in person. Some even whispered that he didn’t exist. And still he controlled events so skillfully most were unaware of his influence.
“Javin never responds to my messages.” Akim swiveled the pilot’s chair around and sat facing his mysterious guest. “Did he mention Letos to you? That’s the name of the technomage.”
She made a dismissive gesture with one elegant hand. “Javin might share my bed, but we don’t discuss guild business, his or mine.”
Pyre led the Harbinger Guild, a small group of empowered people that branched off from the Integration Guild when their abilities became distinct and separate from the other technomages. Each guild claimed to operate autonomously, but compartmentalization was hard to believe when the leaders of the two primary guilds didn’t even try to hide the fact that they were lovers.
Akim had expected the denial, so he tried a slightly different tactic. “Your network of spies is unsurpassed. Where is Letos now and what were his objectives while masquerading as part of my crew?” If he didn’t challenge the source of her information, perhaps she’d be more forthcoming.
“Letos joined your crew and you didn’t suspect he was a technomage?” The musical quality to her laugh made it even more abrasive. “Everyone knows he’s a technomage.”
Akim narrowed his gaze on her beautiful face, unable to hide his annoyance. “I put less stock in rumors than most.” And he’d been sequestered inside the palace for the past twenty-nine years, focused entirely on extracting information from enemies of the crown. His mission to Earth was his reward for three decades of loyalty and he would not squander the opportunity to prove himself more than a brutal interrogator. “Please answer the question.”
“I have no idea where Letos is, but his objective is self-evident. Rumors about your ‘secret’ mission to Earth have been circulating ever since you left the palace six weeks ago. Everyone wants to know if you’ve succeeded in unlocking the latent magic of the battle born.”
Right now the guilds controlled everyone with paranormal abilities. If the rebels succeeded in empowering the battle born, it would be disastrous for the status quo. “It’s an exasperating race, but neither side has reached the finish line.”
“Is Garin Nox backing the rebels or can I disregard that rumor?” Her silver-ringed blue eyes studied him intently, judging each word that passed his lips.
“Bandar is among the rebels. I’ve seen him myself. Garin’s role is less clear. He could be assisting his brother as much as possible without compromising his standing among the elite, or he could be the actual leader. There’s simply no way to be sure without more evidence.”
“Garin is full-blooded Rodyte and heads one of the oldest families on this planet. He gains nothing by participating in this foolishness.”
Akim nodded, having felt the same when his mission began. “For the most part, I agree with you. However, the rebels are suspiciously well informed and seem to have access to resources only someone at Garin’s level could authorize. Don’t underestimate the power of family. The Nox brothers have always been thick as thieves.”
She raised one shoulder in another half-hearted shrug, clearly unimpressed by the statement. “There are different types of families, and ties stronger than blood. If Garin is endangering himself for the battle born, he’s a fool.”
A very powerful and well-connected fool. “Even so, this rebellion is gaining traction fast. Javin would be wise to pay closer attention.”
She rolled her eyes as she pushed to her feet. “Don’t kid yourself. Javin pays attention to everything. His network of spies is even more impressive than mine.” She smoothed down her skirt then her gaze snapped back to his. “Keep your brother away from Chandar. I’ve had several disturbing dreams about him.”
This was the first time Pyre had shown any interest in Chandar and her timing couldn’t have been worse. “My brother is dead and Chandar is mine to do with as I will.” Provoking her was unwise, but pain made him lash out without thinking. Erkott might have been a ruthless bastard, but he’d been the only blood relation Akim had left. Now Akim was alone with his bitterness and hate, forces stronger than he ever imagined.
He didn’t see Pyre move, yet suddenly she was in front of him, her hand clasping his throat. Her long fingernails dug into his flesh and her furious gaze burned into his. He grabbed her wrist, but she wasn’t really choking him, just demonstrating her displeasure. “Chandar is flesh of my flesh. I only allowed this time of testing because her strength needed to be refined. Never doubt you will be held accountable for each time you touched her and each indignity you inflicted. Have I made myself clear?”
This would have been helpful information two years ago when Chandar was first entrusted to his keeping. “I was never told that you—” Her nails pushed deeper and he cried out as pain throbbed from the wounds.
“Don’t lie to me,” she sneered. “I know Quinton told you she was my daughter.”
Awkwardly licking his lips, he scrambled for a justification. Quinton had assured him that Chandar was his to play with as he wished. Why had Pyre waited so long to object? “You allowed the placement. I didn’t realize you had an interest in the girl.”
“She’s my daughter. Why wouldn’t I be interested in her treatment?”
If her dreams had only just warned her of Chandar’s mistreatment, Pyre wasn’t nearly as powerful as she wanted people to think. It was a fascinating realization, but Akim wasn’t sure how to use it to his advantage. “She will be treated with respect from this day forth.”
“Meaning she was not treated with respect during the past two years?” Her nails dug in again and blood trickled down his neck.
“She is extremely stubborn. At times certain motivations were necessary to gain her cooperation.”
For a long, tense moment she just glared at him. Then her grip eased, though she didn’t pull her hand back. “Harbingers are purified through fire. A time of testing is unavoidable. The intensity of the trials is different for everyone. However, if my dreams have engaged, Chandar’s time of testing is nearing its end.”
As long as Chandar told him how to find the Crusader before she returned to Rodymia, Akim could live with the outcome. For the most part, Chandar had been more trouble than she was worth. And if Pyre had only sketchy knowledge of the abuse Chandar had endured during her captivity, Akim would make damn sure it stayed that way. There were several ways to scrub memories. He just needed to find out which technique was least damaging to a harbinger.
Determined to deescalate the argument, he whispered, “I understand, mistress.”
She shoved him back, her expression still hostile. “If there is any lasting damage because of your carelessness, your life is forfeit.”
Before he could decide whether to assure or confront her, she simply disappeared.
Raina fidgeted on one of the padded benches in the contemplation cube, waiting for Ashley to begin her tale. “Just spit it out. We’re on a spaceship. What could be more unbelievable than that?”
Accepting the suggestion with a nod, Ashley began, “There are three inhabited planets in their star system, Rodymia, Bilarri and Ontariese.”
Raina shot to her feet and planted her fists on her hips, glaring at her soon-to-be-former best friend. “That’s not funny.”
“It wasn’t meant to be funny.” Ashley seemed genuinely confused, but Raina was too angry to care. She needed facts, not manipulative half-truths designed to placate her.
“I have no idea how you got a hold of Mimi’s journals, but using those names doesn’t make this easier to accept.”
Ashley pushed to her feet, confusion still twisting her expression. “What journals? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Seriously? You’re going to play dumb now? I don’t care how carefully Bandar and his buddies constructed this story. I’m not gullible enough to—”
“Raina.” Urgency snapped through Ashley’s voice, focusing Raina on Ashley’s face. “I don’t understand why you’re angry. Who is Mimi and what did I say that pissed you off?”
Uncertainty swept through Raina, speeding her pulse and weakening her knees. “You don’t have Mimi’s journals?”
“No. I don’t even know who Mimi is.”
Raina hesitated. Paranoia wasn’t usually one of her faults, but today was anything but usual. “Mimi is my grandmother.”
“And what made you think they have her journals?”
She saw no reason Ashley would play such a cruel trick on her. Still, if they didn’t have the journals, the implications were even harder to accept. “My grandmother was eccentric, to say the least. Her doctors said it was a form of dementia and encouraged Mom to have her moved to a supervised facility. But Mimi was harmless. She functioned perfectly except for the wild stories she told anyone who’d listen and the fact that she insisted every word of the stories was true.”
Tears filled Ashley’s eyes and she hurriedly blinked them back. “Let me guess, your grandmother thought she’d been visited by aliens?”
“Oh, she was much more creative than that. Mimi insisted she’d been kidnapped by an alien warrior who kept her prisoner for over a year. According to Mimi, this warrior was my grandfather.”
Ashley crossed her arms over her chest, looking sad and…guilty? How strange. Why would Mimi’s delusions upset Ashley? “Why didn’t you ever mention this to me?” Hidden meaning hung on every word, but Raina was too agitated to decode Ashley’s mood.
“Mimi died before I met you. Why would I air her dirty laundry? She had a heart of gold, but we all knew she was crazy.”
“Your grandmother wasn’t crazy.” Ashley motioned to the simulated forest surrounding them. “Aliens really do exist.”
Torn between excitement and dread, Raina returned to the bench and sat down. “You said the planets in their star system are Rodymia, Bilarri and Ontariese. Is that really true?”
“Yes.” She paused as if waiting for Raina to accept the fact. “The men on this ship are from Rodymia. They’re called Rodytes.”
“Do the rings in their eyes come in different colors?” It should have been a bizarre question, but Ashley didn’t seem surprised.
“Yes. Bandar’s are gold, but the most common color is blue.”
Raina shook her head, her heart aching for her grandmother. “Poor Mimi. Everyone loved her enough to indulge her, but no one believed a word she said.” Raina had only been eleven when Mimi passed away, but even she had dismissed Mimi’s stories. And her journals were even more fantastic. “Mimi claimed to be a ‘sanctioned historian’. She said her journals detailed crucial events for the past hundred years. She insisted that once the record was complete, she’d submit it to the Symposium so the information could be entered into the Wisdom of the Ages. If she wasn’t crazy, how much of that is true?”
“I don’t know.” Ashley finger-combed her hair back from her face. “We need Bandar.”
Mimi’s stories began to echo through Raina’s memory, odd details that had never made sense before. “She told me her warrior had long dark hair and a ring of blue fire in his eyes. I always pictured Conan the Barbarian. I can’t believe…” She shook her head, feeling horribly guilty. “No one believed her. No one. Mom’s a lawyer, so she doesn’t believe anything without tangible proof, but what about the rest of us? My aunt and cousin. Why didn’t anyone even consider that her stories might be true?”
Ashley reached over and squeezed her shoulder. “No one believed me either. I saw my father with Rodytes two different times and everyone said I was a hysterical teen. I spent years in therapy as people tried to convince me I hadn’t seen what I knew I’d seen.”
No wonder Ashley had responded to Mimi’s struggles. They were kindred spirits, burdened with the same unbelievable truth. “I wish she was still alive. She must have been so frustrated. And so alone.”
A portion of the forest scene parted and Bandar stood there, looking fierce and powerful in a black-and-gold uniform. Even in jeans and a pullover, he hadn’t looked quite human. He moved farther into the room and the door slid closed behind him, restoring the simulation. His hair was dark and wavy, like Kotto’s, but the rings in Bandar’s eyes were gold rather than purple. Did the color signify something or was it simple genetics like human eye color?
“What’s wrong?” His gaze swept over Ashley as he crossed the room. “I sensed your urgency.”
They could sense each other? Raina looked from Bandar to Ashley and back. Or was Bandar empathic?
“I don’t think this qualifies as wrong,” Ashley told him, “but it’s definitely strange.”
“I’d like you to answer a couple of questions before Ashley says any more.” Raina drew his attention, not wanting Ashley to coach him.
“All right.” He clasped his hands behind his back and pivoted to face her.
Damn the man was tall and handsome. It was easy to see why human females fell for these guys. “What is the ruler of your planet called?”
“The title or the current ruler’s name?”
“The title.”
“Rodymia is ruled by a crown stirate.”
Ashley smiled and hope shone in her eyes. “Was that the title your grandmother used?”
Raina nodded then looked at Bandar again. “Is there an organization that maintains information for your star system, a sort of central data base or archive?”
“Are you asking about the Symposium?”
“Unbelievable.” Raina rubbed her eyes before adding, “And they maintain the Wisdom of the Ages?”
“Yes.” He glanced at Ashley. “Did you tell her about this?”
Raina didn’t wait for Ashley’s reply. “Apparently my grandmother was a sanctioned historian.”
Intense interest gleamed in his eyes and he moved closer. “Do you have her journals? Information like that could be extremely important to us.”
She’d tossed the title out there, curious to see how he’d react. Mimi had referred to herself by the title, but it didn’t appear in the journals. If this was an elaborate hoax based on the journal entries, he wouldn’t have known what the title meant.
Which left one devastating alternative. Mimi’s stories were true and her journals documented actual events. Regret rushed through Raina, leaving her cold and shaken. Her grandmother had died knowing that no one in her life believed her and most thought she was a harmless lunatic. It was so damn sad Raina couldn’t even find the strength to cry. She just felt empty and cruel.
Bandar started to say something, but Ashley shook her head and placed her hand on his thick forearm. “Give her a minute.”
Raina couldn’t change the past, but Mimi had just earned herself a champion. Raina had been too young to defend her in life, which made Raina more determined to defend her now. If the information in Mimi’s journals was as important as Bandar said, Raina would need to know these Rodytes a whole lot better before she’d trust them with Mimi’s secrets.
“I don’t know if the journals are still around,” she lied as she pushed to her feet. She felt vulnerable with him looming over her. “Mom was torn between destroying them and preserving them for future generations. I’m not sure which side won out.”
“Were the entries forwarded to the Symposium?” Bandar asked, obviously disappointed by her answer.
“I don’t think so. Mimi’s death was sudden and Mom never took her seriously.” She shook her head and felt a fresh pang of guilt as she admitted, “None of us took her seriously.”
“Can you find out what happened to the journals?”
His persistency was understandable, but she refused to be pressured. “I can, but I’m not sure I will. Why does Earth need to be involved in your war? We have plenty of conflicts on our planet.” They faced off, so Ashley stood as well, standing at their sides like a referee.
“Sanctioned historian is a Bilarrian title,” Bandar told Raina. “Was your grandmother a war bride?”
“I don’t know what that is.”
“From what you told me earlier, it’s likely she was.” Ashley drew her attention away from Bandar. “What did Mimi tell you about the war?”
“Why don’t we sit down?” Bandar spoke several words Raina didn’t understand and the benches rearranged. They now formed small groupings that allowed visitors to face each other and interact. Bandar motioned to the grouping nearest them and Raina sat. He chose the bench across from her and, after a short hesitation, Ashley sat beside Raina.
Raina appreciated the gesture, but she wasn’t fooled. There was no doubt in her mind whose side Ashley was really on.
“What did she tell you about the war?” Ashley prompted after a moment of tense silence.
She’d always found Mimi’s stories imaginative and fascinating. It felt so strange to think of them as anything other than entertaining yarns. “It started over magic. Bilarrians had it and Rodytes didn’t. I never understood how blasting the hell out of each other would allow Rodytes to attain something they hadn’t had in the first place, but war as a whole makes little sense to me.”
“There’s no doubt she was Bilarrian,” Bandar muttered. “Or at least learned history from a Bilarrian.”
“Where’d she go wrong? Why don’t you explain it from the Rodyte perspective,” Raina suggested.
He seemed happy to oblige. “Rodymian life began on Bilarri. We were all one people before greed and the hunger for power tore our people in two.”
“If you guys debate every facet of ancient history, we’re going to be here for weeks,” Ashley cut in. “Can we agree that the primary focus of the war was the Rodyte struggle to regain magic?”
According to Mimi, the Rodytes had been attempting to gain magic not re-gain it, but Raina was willing to let the distinction slide. “Did kidnaping helpless women have something to do with that ‘struggle’?”
Bandar laughed, but his features were tense, his gaze smoldering with resentment. “Let me make a couple of things clear before we go any further. The battle born are repelled by the practice of war brides and the ultimate goal of our rebellion is to permanently defuse the conflict between Rodymia and Bilarri without further bloodshed. Despise my ancestors all you like, but judge me by my actions.”
It might be better to focus on the present. The events described in Mimi’s journals were complex and convoluted. And if Raina’s interaction with Bandar so far was any indication, he’d disagree with many of the details. “What does battle born mean? Commander Kotto used the title too, but his explanation didn’t make much sense.”
“It’s Commander Tarr,” Ashley told her. “Kotto is his first name and it’s probably best if you don’t use it unless he gives you permission.”
“He’s Bandar’s boss?” She wasn’t sure why she kept provoking him. It wasn’t like her at all and he hadn’t done anything to deserve her annoyance. Well, he was responsible for Ashley’s involvement in this mess, so he was ultimately responsible for her being dragged into it. Or was he? Hadn’t Mimi been involved long before Raina met Ashley?
“Kotto commands this ship,” Bandar admitted, “but I’m not part of his crew.”
“Bandar is on special assignment, so he answers directly to General Nox,” Ashley clarified.
Ashley’s tone made the general sound impressive. Still, rather than asking her to elaborate, Raina digressed. “What does battle born mean?”
“The offspring of a war bride and her captor is called battle born.” He still sounded grumpy, but his expression was starting to relax.
“If your grandmother was from Bilarri, as we suspect, then your mother is battle born.” Raina scooted forward on the bench and angled her body so she could more easily look at Ashley.
“I don’t think she was Bilarrian.” In fact, the journal entries confirmed that she was human and explained how she had become a sanctioned historian. Still, Raina wasn’t quite ready to share every detail she knew. “Why would Mimi tell everyone she’d been kidnapped by an alien, but not admit she was an alien herself?”
“If it was obvious no one believed her, she probably tried to minimize their ridicule.” If anyone could accurately guess Mimi’s motivation, it was Ashley.
“Did Mimi ever talk about her parents?” Bandar asked.
Raina shook her head. “And all Mom ever said was they lived on a farm.”
“Your grandmother’s history isn’t detailed in her journals?” Bandar sounded surprised.
“Not the ones I read.” It was utter nonsense. One entire volume was dedicated to Mimi’s life. It even detailed her capture and captivity. Raina was anxious to revisit the stories now that she knew they weren’t just fanciful tales.
Bandar looked at Ashley as the conversation lapsed. Bird calls and the rustle of leaves drew Raina’s attention back to the simulation. It was easy to forget she wasn’t actually sitting in a secluded forest somewhere on Earth.
After a long pause, Bandar scooted to the edge of his bench and rested his forearm across his knee. The slightly bent position should have been awkward, but somehow he pulled it off. “We really need to see those journals.”
“And I really need to understand why the battle born have come to Earth. I will not do anything that endangers humans.”
“Neither would we,” Bandar stressed.
“I don’t know that. I don’t know you.”
“You know me,” Ashley pointed out, her expression almost pleading.
“Or I did before he got his hands on you. The Ashley I know would never turn her back on her life’s work, even for someone who looks like him. You’ve worked too hard and your work is too important to you.”
“My work was important and I enjoyed it immensely, but—”
“It’s all in the past now?” The more Ashley talked the more she sounded like a brainwashed groupie. “You’ve known him for a matter of weeks. How was he able to redefine your entire existence in less than a month?”
Before Ashley could respond the door opened and Kotto strode into the room. “Leave us.” His gaze was fixed on Raina, so the order must have been for the other two.
“I think it would be wiser—”
He turned on Bandar with fire in his eyes. “Raina is being recruited for my mission, which makes her my responsibility. Your involvement is no longer needed.”
Bandar stood, his expression every bit as fierce as Kotto’s “You asked my mate for assistance, so you’re stuck with me.”
My mate? Raina’s gaze flew to Ashley, but Ashley was looking at the men. Bandar considered Ashley his mate? Did Ashley feel the same?
“Your strategy was unsuccessful. Now leave. If you have a grievance regarding me, take it up with Raylon.”
Ashley’s panicked expression made Raina’s heart beat even faster. Would they really leave her at the mercy of this man? Bandar was intimidating but mostly civilized. Kotto seemed savage.
“I will not allow Raina to be abused.” They kept taking steps forward until they stood nose to nose.
“You have my vow.” The statement rang with finality and import. “No harm will come to Raina while she is in my keeping.”
Bandar fell silent, but his reluctance remained.
Kotto clenched his hands into tight fists. “Because I requested your mate’s involvement, I have tolerated your disrespect. Doubting my vow is insulting and my patience is at an end. Get out of my sight!”
To Raina’s horror Bandar motioned to Ashley. “Let’s go.”
“I’m not leaving her with him,” Ashley cried.
“Yes you are.”
She started to object again, but something stopped her. Their gazes locked and silence lengthened. It was almost as if… Were they arguing telepathically? What other powers had Bandar given her? Was this why Ashley had walked away from her old life without a backward glance?
Like an obedient mind slave, Ashley stood and followed Bandar from the room.
So much for human loyalty.
There was no way Raina was taking this sitting down. She shot to her feet and moved away from the bench, ready to defend herself if necessary. Even in the midst of her bravado, the thought was ridiculous. These Rodytes were massive, muscle-bound bullies. She had no chance in a physical confrontation. However, she was smart, and determined, so Kotto better watch out.
Rather than advancing with the overt aggression he’d shown toward Bandar, Kotto stayed where he was and looked into her eyes. “We’re at an impasse and I’m not sure how to resolve it. You don’t trust us, which is understandable. But I can’t give you details about our mission unless you sign a six-month contract and somehow I doubt you’ll bend even that far.”
“So let me go. I’m sorry things didn’t work out the way you wanted them to.”
He locked his hands behind his back and strolled toward her. Bandar had chosen the same pose. It must be a Rodyte thing. “If it were just the hydroponic gardens at stake, I might have done exactly that.”
Her stomach clenched so hard she was momentarily robbed of speech. “And now?” His nonchalance wasn’t fooling her in the least. He was like a cobra, coiled tight and ready to strike.
“Now I know about the journals, so the situation is much more complicated.”
“Do you often listen in on private conversations?” It was a lame response, but fear had always scrambled her thinking. When it came to fight or flight, she always ran for the hills. She was a scientist, not a soldier.
“My men are searching your house in McLean, Virginia.”
Raina’s heart missed a beat as she heard the statement. She’d met Ashley in Georgetown. Kotto was making sure she realized he knew where she lived. “The journals aren’t there.”
“If that’s true, they’ll go to Falls Church next and—”
“You leave my mother out of this!” She took a step forward before she realized what she was doing. “Mom gave me the journals years ago. She wants nothing to do with any of this.”
“Then tell me where I can find them and there will be no need to involve anyone else.”
Anger surged up through her fear. She might be a glorified lab rat, but he’d just pushed one of her hot buttons. “I thought people who could travel through space would have evolved beyond threats and intimidation. You’re an asshole.”
He had the audacity to smile, as if her indignation amused him. “I haven’t threatened anyone. I was informing you of my intentions and giving you the opportunity to alter my course.”
“The threat was implied and you know it.”
He stood directly in front of her now, his arms at his sides. She had to tilt her head up to look into his eyes. He wasn’t quite as tall as Bandar or as muscular, but the menace emanating from Kotto made him seem bigger. Hostility pulsed between them, yet there was an undercurrent of something different, something darker. Her fear gradually morphed into a more complex emotion, leaving her anxious and confused.
“We don’t have to be enemies, Raina.” He said her name with a hushed intimacy that sent tingles down her spine.
She stepped back and crossed her arms over her chest. Was this how it began with Bandar and Ashley? Did he erode her defenses with an irrational combination of aggression and tenderness? A familiar twinge assailed Raina’s heart. What fierce warrior would be interested in a lab rat? Cold, hard reality trickled through the mental haze. Kotto was interested in her brain not her body. She was a member of Mensa, not a centerfold.
With her focus restored, she looked at him again. “No one will give me a straight answer. Why the hell are you people here?”
“Battle born sons are born with paranormal abilities, but they’re latent. We’re unable to access them no matter how hard we try.”
Encouraged by the admission and desperate for a distraction from the bizarre sensations zinging through her body, she said, “Go on.”
“Our scientists are working on a way to free those abilities.”
“And what does that have to do with Earth?” She took another step back, but he followed, maintaining the distance between them. His jutting cheekbones and the exotic tilt to his eyes would make it hard for him to pass as human. And yet, she found him even more intriguing than Bandar. She’d been brought here without her permission, but Kotto had pledged to keep her safe. It only made sense to learn everything she could before she demanded her release.
“When Rodytes have found their mate, they form a bond. This bond triggers changes in their bodies, making them more compatible with each other and increasing the chances they will produce healthy offspring. It’s during this transformation that our scientists are able to make genetic alterations that will restore our ability to manipulate magic. Or at least that’s the hope.”
“The process is still theoretical?” She tried not to be intrigued by the concepts he described, but she was a scientist. She had only a basic knowledge of genetics. Still, the temptation to learn more was real and powerful.
“There has been one successful transformation, which led to an important discovery. The female who survived the transformation was a Rodyte/human hybrid. Full-blooded females of either species don’t survive the procedure. There’s a protein marker in the hybrid’s blood that should allow us to identify others like her.”
“How many people died before you reached this point?” Raina shuddered. “This sort of medical experimentation is forbidden on Earth.”
“It’s forbidden on Rodymia too. We did not conduct the experiments. In fact we were instrumental in exposing and shutting down the operation. However, the potential has been discovered. Should we ignore the facts and abandon the potential because we disapprove of how they were revealed or should we continue the research as long as we adhere to moral guidelines?”
She wasn’t sure how to answer him. Ethics should be black-and-white, but many amazing advancements had been made when people blurred the lines. Edward Jenner tested his smallpox vaccine on the eight-year-old son of his gardener. And stem cell research was the perfect example. The entire industry had been severely hindered by the ethical debate surrounding the creation, harvest and destruction of human embryos.
Rather than engage in a lengthy debate, she returned to the original issue. “So you’re here trying to find females with this protein marker?”
He nodded and the purple rings in his eyes shimmered. “That’s one of our mission objectives. I’ll fill you in on the others after you’ve signed the contract.”
“After I’ve signed the contract?” She tilted her head and narrowed her gaze. “That’s rather presumptuous. I assure you it’s still if I sign the contract.”
A lazy smile parted his lips and he raised his hand as if he’d touch her. But several inches from her face, he stopped and lowered his arm. “How can I change your mind?”
“What happens after you locate these women?”
“We’ll do everything in our power to gain their cooperation, but nothing will be forced on anyone. A mating bond will not anchor unless the female is willing, so force is not really an option.”
“Ruthless seduction, however, is a Rodyte specialty.”
With a speed that blurred her vision, he clasped her upper arms and drew her toward him. The dark undercurrent swelled and reality tilted. “Is that an invitation?”
She twisted away, surprised yet relieved when he let her go. “No.” She rubbed where his hands had just been. His grip had been strong, but careful. So why could she still feel his touch so distinctly? “There are many ways to make someone willing. Most humans will allow something they don’t really want to protect someone they love.”
Again he shook his head. “Coercion taints the bond, leaving it weak and corrupted.” She stared past him for a long time, trying to unravel the implications. But so much was left unsaid. She had so many unanswered questions. His warm fingers curved beneath her chin and he guided her head back around. “We’re looking for allies not prisoners, and each female will gain as much, perhaps more, than the male.”
“I don’t know what to think. It’s hard to make a decision with only bits and pieces of information.”
His voice remained low and caressing, his gaze firmly locked with hers. “I’m sorry I can’t be more forthcoming, but we have too much to lose.”
“Can I think about it for a while?”
“Of course.” He lowered his hand and stepped back. “I’ll have someone escort you to my quarters and we’ll speak again after you’ve had time to think things over.”
He was halfway to the door when his statement registered. “Wait,” she called. “Why am I going to your quarters?”
Pausing long enough to look back at her, he smiled. “It’s infinitely more comfortable than the brig.”