The visitor chime sounded followed by a synthesized voice announcing, “Ashley Kane to see you, sir.” Kotto glanced at the time indicator hovering near the bottom of his holodisplay and smiled. She’d waited almost three hours before pestering him.
“Enter.” He quickly deactivated the display as the doors parted, allowing her into his office.
She hesitated near the entrance for a moment then took a deep breath and crossed to his desk. The room was compact and uncluttered, just the way Keyran had left it. He sighed. It was hard not to fixate on his brother’s misfortune when everywhere he turned he saw reminders of Keyran.
It didn’t matter. He couldn’t let it matter. If he didn’t meet his mission objectives, he would likely join his brother in disgrace. And the next obstacle hindering his success was undoubtedly the reason Ashley Kane had sought him out.
He motioned to the chairs situated in front of his desk and Ashley sat.
“Does Bandar know you’re here?” He knew the answer. He just wanted to see if she’d admit it. Ashley could be a valuable asset on numerous fronts, if he could earn her trust. And building trust wasn’t going to be easy while he was locked in a power struggle with her best friend.
A smile teased one corner of her mouth and she shook her head. “He forbid me to ‘harass’ you about this, but Raina is my best friend.”
“I swore a vow to your mate that Raina would not be harmed while in my care. Did he explain what that means?”
She folded her hands in her lap, looking adorably uncomfortable. It was easy to understand why Bandar had fallen so hard for this female. She looked malleable with her guileless eyes and hesitant smile, but there was strength beneath her soft exterior. “I know Rodytes take vows seriously, but—”
“Raina is your best friend?” Her mate understood the power of a Rodyte vow and had immediately backed off when Kotto spoke the words. Apparently, Ashley had yet to comprehend what was at stake. “Rodyte vows are literal. If Raina is harmed while in my keeping, my life is forfeit.”
“I know you won’t intentionally harm her. Bandar wouldn’t have left the cube unless he trusted you to protect her.” She paused so long, he thought she was finished, then she added, “But Raina’s situation has been very isolating. Research is her life. She’s sort of lost once you take her out of her natural environment.”
As Ashley described her friend, Kotto’s mind produced a detailed image of Raina. At first glance, she’d appeared tiny and fragile. Her diminutive body swam in her shapeless clothes, making her appear more waif than competent woman. But flashes of spirit sparked in her reddish-brown eyes, not to mention the penetrating intensity of superior intelligence. And the subtle complexity was echoed in her long dark hair. Only in a certain light did the thick tresses reveal their fiery highlights. She was a challenge. And Kotto loved challenges. He wanted to explore her hidden depths and unravel her mysteries.
“I’m not sure why that’s a problem.” He’d been so lost in the fantasy he’d nearly forgotten Ashley’s point. “I’m offering Raina an opportunity to further her research. She’ll remain within her ‘natural environment’.”
“It’s more complicated than that and we both know it.” Ashley sighed and her long lashes swept down, momentarily hiding her eyes. “If her mother is battle born, then Raina probably has the protein marker. I know what that means. She’s a potential mate for one of the battle born.”
He waited until she looked up to say, “I’m not sure that’s true. The protein marker showed up in a human/Rodyte hybrid. If Raina’s mother was battle born, then Raina has Bilarrian blood as well. I think that makes her ineligible for the program.”
She didn’t seem entirely convinced. “At the very least, Dr. Irron will want to analyze her genetics. This is no longer a job interview. It’s personal.”
“Were you harmed by Dr. Irron? For that matter, have you been harmed by anyone on this ship?”
Her chin came up and anger narrowed her eyes. “What about Letos? He broke into my loft and stabbed me in the chest.”
“Your injuries were regenerated on this ship. Letos is not part of my crew.” And in the end the technomage had been more help than hindrance. “Technomages tend to play by their own rules. I won’t be held responsible for his actions.”
She shifted in her seat and glanced away, obviously reluctant to end the debate. “I know how badly the battle born want this, how far you’ll go to further your cause.”
“Don’t confuse us with our fathers. We have no intention of holding our brides captive and wearing them down until they agree to bond with us.”
Her gaze shot back to his, suddenly filled with challenge. “That would be more believable if Raina weren’t locked in your cabin right now.”
“She is locked in my cabin—”
“For her own protection?” The challenge in her expression intensified. “I’ve heard it all before. Bandar wasn’t exactly subtle while we were…courting.”
“First, I would like to be Raina’s employer not her mate. Second, if I cannot convince her to work with me in the next day or two, I’ll release her.”
“In the next day or two?” she cried. “You intend to keep her locked in your bedroom for the next two days?”
He ignored her outburst and continued his list. “Last, finding her grandmother’s journals is even more important than restoring the hydroponic gardens. Returning the outpost to self-sufficiency is preferable, but we can generate provisions on the ships if all else fails. Do you have any idea where she would have hidden the journals? We’ve already determined that they’re not in her house.”
“Her office at the university is shared with other researchers, so it could be tricky to search. Besides, a shared space isn’t very secure. She mentioned something about a greenhouse complex, but I don’t know where it is.” After another tense pause, Ashley pushed to her feet. Kotto was almost disappointed that she hadn’t put up more of a fight. He found sparing with these humans invigorating. “When you go to her, explain about the vow. It won’t assure her cooperation, but it might help if she understands why Bandar and I suddenly deserted her.”
He accepted the advice with a nod and rose as she left the office. He’d scheduled an officers’ briefing for 0600. The renovations of Lunar 9 were ahead of schedule and Kotto wanted to make sure they stayed that way. Once the outpost’s shield generator was repaired, ships would be able to land on the moon. Until then, risk of detection was too great and the battle born were not yet ready to reveal their existence to the inhabitants of Earth. There were interior docking slips as well, but the entrance was tricky especially for larger ships. Luckily for Kotto, the Crusader’s crew was exceptional.
Striding down the corridor, Kotto entered the command center and watched his bridge officers react to his arrival. If this had been an official Rodyte mission, each person present would have stood and offered their respect with a hand gesture. As it was, most nodded or muttered “Commander” then continued on with his task. Keyran had set the tone for the ship’s operation. Kotto felt more comfortable with less formality as well, so he saw no reason to make changes.
He walked to the master console and activated an overview grid. Three recon teams had been dispatched earlier that morning. Team one had returned. The location of team two was indicated on the grid, but he saw no record of team three’s position.
A communications blackout had been issued for all three teams, so Kotto asked the bridge officers, “What’s going on with recon three?”
“Beacon malfunction,” Sental told him. “Morrin used a com-bot to let us know, but he didn’t elaborate.”
Kotto nodded and made a quick note in the overview grid. “Anything else I need to know about?”
“There’s a human female locked in your quarters.” Sental wiggled his eyebrows and someone snickered. Sental’s easygoing personality made him popular with the crew. He’d also been one of the first to work through his resentment toward Kotto and accept his authority.
“I’m aware.” Kotto assured him with a smile.
“Would you like some suggestions?” Several more snickers made it obvious everyone was following their conversation.
Kotto squared his shoulders and hardened his expression. “If I can’t handle a human female by myself, I’m not worthy of command.”
“Give her a thrust for me—”
“Ease in and—”
“Start with—”
“—until she squirms like a—”
The officers’ overlapping encouragements became progressively raunchier as they circled the command center.
Sental ended with, “Can I watch?”
Kotto could no longer hold back his laughter. “Sorry, brothers. I work better without an audience, but I appreciate the support.” He waited for the amusement to clear before he growled, “Now get back to work.”
Encouraged by the banter, Kotto looked back at the overview grid. He needed to update Raylon, but there was no indication of when Raylon would return to the Crusader. He had quarters on board reserved for his use, but it wasn’t unusual for him to remain on one of the other ships if there were complications. It was Raylon’s job to coordinate operations between all of the ships on or near Earth. Kotto wasn’t even sure which ship Raylon was currently aboard. Raylon was terrible about keeping others informed of his movements. He answered to General Nox and only General Nox.
There were currently five Rodyte ships on or near Earth, if the Relentless was still in this star system. Locating Akim Farmon was one of Kotto’s secondary objectives. There had been no sign of the bastard in the two weeks since the disastrous rescue mission. Still, Kotto knew Akim was out there, searching for the Crusader as intensely as they were searching for him. It was only a matter of time before they crossed paths again, and Kotto was determined to make the most of the opportunity.
Command was always a balancing act. He had to prioritize and make decisions every hour of every day. He generally welcomed the challenge, but remaining objective when it came to Akim was particularly difficult. Not only was the man an amoral monster, he was Chandar’s captor. Keyran had scarified his career in his attempt to rescue her. Kotto was just as dedicated to her freedom, but he hoped to accomplish the goal without a similar sacrifice. Ending Akim and freeing Chandar would ensure that Keyran’s sacrifice hadn’t been in vain.
Then, in Kotto’s spare time, he needed to find the mysterious journals and refurbish Lunar 9.
Allowing himself a frustrated sigh, Kotto deactivated the grid and stepped away from the master console. The most complicated mission was completed one objective at a time.
“I’ll likely be occupied for the rest of this shift,” he said more or less to Sental.
“Take your time, Commander. Gods know I would.”
Another round of obscene encouragements erupted as Kotto walked from the room. He didn’t bother chastising his men. Each one was already risking death and dishonor to further the rebel cause. The occasional surge of obnoxiousness was to be expected.
He scrambled for a strategy as he walked to his quarters. Unfortunately, the walk wasn’t long. The ship’s commander and the top fourteen officers each had accommodations on the command deck, so his cabin was down the hall and to the right. Still unsure how to proceed, he stayed well back from the door so the sensors wouldn’t detect his arrival. Was Raina still angry? She’d had six hours to analyze the situation, to weigh her options and arrive at the most logical conclusion. Raina was a scientist. Surly he could appeal to her reason without having to deal with tantrums or tears.
Six hours! The heartless bastard had left her locked in this cage for six hours. Okay, maybe it was a nice, surprisingly large cabin, not a cage, but that didn’t change the fact that she’d been stewing in her own frustration for much too long. The guard who’d escorted her to Kotto’s quarters had barely looked at her much less made any attempt to ease her fear or defuse her anger. Even the chest-high robot that rolled into the cabin a few hours later had presented her with a tray full of edibles then spun around and departed as swiftly as it had arrived.
Raina had a spectacular view of the moon on one side of the sitting area and the Earth on the other. The moon side might be a large window, but the Earth side was an interior wall so it had to be some sort of display. She tried to find a control panel and attempted numerous verbal commands, but the image remained the same. She didn’t object to the view. It was just in her nature to discover how things worked.
Frustrated by her inability to control her environment, she sat alone at the table and nibbled on the sandwich and fresh fruit supplied by the robot. There was ice water in a decanter, even a cloth napkin. It had been almost relaxing, for a time. But silence and inactivity were not conducive to peaceful thoughts.
It had been years since she’d read Mimi’s journals, but her mind reproduced the stories with as much detail as she could remember. Royal intrigue and warring factions had been so much more entertaining when Raina believed the events fictitious. Still, she was on a spaceship and Bandar had known facts that weren’t in the journals. Denial was pointless. She needed to decide what she wanted to do.
Yes, Kotto’s approach had been heavy-handed. That didn’t change the fact that this was an unbelievable opportunity. She was orbiting the moon. How could she possibly turn her back on everything these people could teach her?
She stood beside the table, staring out at the moon, feeling displaced and isolated. If Ashley hadn’t been part of the rebellion, it would have been easier for Raina to walk away. But Ashley wasn’t easily swayed. Something real and compelling had convinced her to… Bandar’s image intruded on Raina’s orderly thoughts. With his rugged good looks and commanding personality, who wouldn’t have been affected by him?
The word commanding sent her thoughts spinning off in a different direction. Bandar was impressive, but true command emanated from Kotto. Their interactions had been brief and semi-hostile. So why was she so anxious for their next round?
Kotto had snapped orders at Bandar in the cube, aggressively pushing until Bandar backed down. It had been like watching rival alpha wolves snarl at each other. And I was the cause. The realization was much more appealing than it should have been. They hadn’t been vying for the right to claim her. They’d been—she shivered as a forbidden thrill cascaded through her body. According to Mimi’s journals, that was exactly how it was with Rodyte warriors. They hunted, pursued and claimed their females.
But Kotto’s interest in her was professional, not personal. He needed a scientist, not a mate. She simply wasn’t the sort of female to elicit a strong response in any male. Being Ashley’s best friend had been hard on Raina’s ego. Ashley was warm and loving, her loyalty unflappable. But men frequently flirted with Raina for the sole purpose of getting close to, or gaining information about, Ashley. Raina couldn’t blame Ashley for the thoughtlessness of college-age men. For the most part, Ashley didn’t even want the attention. Still, it had eroded Raina’s already fragile self-esteem.
Raina crossed her arms over her chest and glared at the moon, determined to think about something else, anything else. Why was the ship orbiting the moon rather than the Earth? There had to be significance to the position. Or was there—
The main door hissed and Raina turned around as Kotto strode into the cabin. Her heart did the same tight flip it had executed the first time she’d seen him. By human standards, Bandar was better looking. So why did Kotto’s angular features and penetrating stare trigger reactions in her that Bandar didn’t? She wasn’t afraid, exactly. He made her feel edgy and restless.
“I hope you weren’t too bored.” The door slid closed behind him and he moved deeper into the room. “It took a bit longer for me to return to you than I’d anticipated.”
Her first instinct was to pick up the metal tray cover and fling it at his head. But she was a grown woman, not an irrational teen. Instead, she stepped away from the window/screen and said, “I’ve had plenty of time to consider my options. I’d like to leave now.”
“Really?” His pace slowed as he approached. His expression might be casual, but it was obvious he was stalking her. “Would you please explain what led to this conclusion?”
She gritted her teeth, unable to suppress the anger surging through her system. This was a game to him! He had no intention of releasing her regardless of her feelings on the matter. But she’d grown up arguing with a lawyer, so she knew a thing or two about twisting words. “I don’t trust you and I have no interest in working with or for you. I’ve had my fill of aliens. I want to go home.” Even in her ears she sounded like a petulant child.
He took a step closer. “What if I told you there’s a Rodyte outpost inside the moon? Would it be worth six months of your life for the opportunity to explore such a facility?”
That was so unfair. Rumors about the moon had been circulating longer than Raina had been alive. Mimi had been obsessed with the idea that aliens were using the moon as a sort of observatory. “You are such a jerk.”
He chuckled and motioned toward the table. “Would you like something to drink?” His gaze swept the contents of the tray. “It looks like you were only offered water.”
She’d fully intended on pitching a fit the second he walked through the door. She was going to explain, in explicit terms, what she thought of his hospitality and exactly where he could shove his job. She even practiced several speeches with varying levels of profanity. Instead, she found herself silently moving to the table and sitting down. She was such a coward, a spineless little mouse. This shouldn’t be surprising. She’d always been this way. She imagined herself standing up for herself, staring adversity right in the face. But when it came time for the actual conflict, she tucked her tail between her legs and scurried away.
Without waiting for her answer, he crossed to a device inset in the wall on the other side of the table. She’d wondered about its purpose, but like the wall display, she’d been unable to activate it. He spoke several phrases and the device came to life. A small panel illuminated, displaying symbols Raina presumed were a Rodyte language. The front panel slid up, revealing a compartment and two tall glasses. One contained a pale green beverage, the other yellowish gold.
“Did that just dispense the beverages or did it actually produce what you requested?”
“Think of it as a highly sophisticated 3-D printer. It can ‘print’ almost anything as long as it has the pattern. This one only generates edible items.”
“Why?”
“Would you like to eat something generated by the same system that creates ammunition or cleaning supplies?”
“Probably not.”
He joined her at the table and set the two glasses in front of her. “This is a mild wine made from mountain berries.” He pointed to the green beverage. “And this is similar to apple juice, though you’ll find it less sweet.” He indicated the yellowish liquid.
“Aren’t you having anything?”
“Choose the one you prefer and I’ll drink the other.”
He’d worn her down with isolation. Now he was going to kill her with kindness. She was tempted to refuse them both or toss one in his face. The rebellious thought made her smile. She’d never have the nerve to openly provoke him. Still, the image was amusing.
She tried the juice first. It started off crisp and refreshing, but it had a sour aftertaste that reminded her of bad lemonade.
“Too tart?” he asked in response to her grimace.
She nodded and reached for the other glass. If this was horrible as well, there was still some water left in the decanter. But the wine was light and mild as he’d described. The flavor was unlike anything she’d tasted before. He’d said it was distilled from berries, yet it tasted nothing like any berry found on Earth. “This is much better.”
“I’m glad you like it.” He picked up the other glass and leaned against the back of his chair. “I can’t show you the outpost unless you sign the contract, but I assure you it’s real.”
“Is that where hydroponics is utilized?” He nodded. That made more sense than on a ship with special limitations. But there was no water on the moon. Moisture would need to be carefully recycled or she could use a combination of… Already her mind had moved from if to how. Damn his calculative hide. “How long have your people been spying on Earth?”
“I’ve told you much more than I should have already and your grandmother’s journals give you a serious advantage over other humans. You know our history, or at least our history from a Bilarrian’s perspective.”
“Mimi wasn’t Bilarrian.” Maybe if she was less argumentative, he’d open up as well.
His voice remained calm, yet his gaze sharpened, becoming more intense. “She passed beyond when you were a child. How can you be sure?”
“Mimi met Jinnel of Hautell while they were both captives. Jinnel was the true historian, the Bilarrian.”
He leaned forward, resting both forearms on the tabletop. “They were captives of the same man? That’s really unusual.”
She shook her head. “Their captors were assigned to the same ship, so the two females were allowed to spend time together. They became good friends. When Mimi was released, Jinnel begged her to smuggle the journals off the ship and continue her work on Earth.”
“That was bold.”
“Bold, but tragic. When Jinnel’s captor learned what she’d done, he killed her.”
His brows drew together and his lips thinned. Obviously, he didn’t believe her. “How could your grandmother possibly know that if she was no longer on the ship?”
It was a valid question, one she’d wondered herself as she was reading Mimi’s journals. “For several weeks after her release, Mimi could see into her captor’s mind. The ability eventually faded, but she learned the sad news from him.”
The explanation smoothed his features though his gaze remained watchful, skeptical. “Why was your grandmother released before she’d delivered her offspring. That is highly unusual as well.”
“She wasn’t a war bride. She was just a plaything. Once she began to suspect that she was pregnant, she acted out in progressively more disruptive ways until the ship’s commander ordered her captor to get rid of her.”
“Then her captor didn’t realize she was expecting his child?”
Or children. Raina hesitated. Her mother had an identical twin, but telling him this could endanger her aunt and cousin. Until she knew more, she’d keep her family out of this. “As I said, his motivation was sex not reproduction.”
“You said Mimi was going to contact the Consortium as soon as the journals were finished. If she truly was human, how did she intend to accomplish interplanetary communications?”
“I don’t know. She said the answer was in the journals. But to my knowledge, she never figured it out.”
He paused with another distracted nod then asked, “Each sanctioned historian maintains their journals for a century. Few humans live that long. How many years are detailed in Mimi’s journals?”
“Eighty-three. But remember Jinnel had already filled many volumes when Mimi took over.”
His eyes narrowed again as he took a drink and stared off into the distance. “These journals are hardcopy volumes?”
“Of course. Digital files didn’t exist fifty years ago. Why do you ask?”
“Digital files didn’t exist on Earth fifty years ago. But why would a Bilarrian have numerous physical books with her when she was kidnapped?”
Raina tried not to be annoyed by his persistent questions and still each one felt like an accusation. This must be how Mimi felt, year after year, while family members tried their best to punch holes in her stories. “Being a historian was the reason Jinnel was kidnapped. According to Mimi, Jinnel managed to destroy her digital files during the attack, but her captor found the physical journals. And none of the females were given access to technology on the ship, so the physical books became everyone’s focus.”
“Was Jinnel kidnapped from Bilarri or somewhere else?”
“She’d been sent to Earth with a group of assistants. Her assignment was to monitor and document any Rodyte interaction with humans. Her assistants investigated rumors and odd developments so Jinnel could record the events accurately.”
“No wonder her captor wanted her.” Kotto pushed back from the table and stood. His expression tensed and he was suddenly all business. “I need those books, Raina. Where are they?”
She shook her head, heart thudding in her chest. “I’m not ready to tell you.”
He crossed his arms, looking imperious and deadly. “Why are you being so stubborn?”
“Why are you so obsessed?” Feeling vulnerable, even with the table between them, she stood as well. “The journals detail past events. Everything in them has already happened.”
“My government is corrupt and self-serving. Records only reflect what they’re willing to admit and events are frequently twisted to the advantage of the rich and powerful. An objective accounting of Rodyte interaction with humans could be invaluable to what we’re trying to accomplish.”
“I’m not even sure I understand what that is,” she cried.
Rather than soothing her as he had before, he advanced. She backed up and found herself in a corner. The table was on her right, an angled wall on her left. He casually moved her chair out of his way and placed his hand on the wall. “To understand the battle born, you must understand the system that produced us.”
“You make the battle born sound like a commodity.” She lowered her gaze to his throat. Their nearness seemed to calm him, but it was having the opposite effect on her. She wanted to run and hide, or…rub against his entire body like a greedy cat. But he didn’t think of her like that. Men never did. She needed to stop pretending she was Ashley or she’d humiliate herself.
“We are a commodity.” His sharp voice cut through her discontent and drew her gaze back to his face. “We’re bought and sold, even traded. We’re produced like a crop for the slim possibility that we’ll restore magic to Rodyte bloodlines.”
“And now you want to use human females for exactly the same purpose.”
Tension rolled across his features. His chest expanded, then he slowly exhaled. “If you will listen with an open heart, I will tell you a story.”
Playing on her sympathies was a waste of time. She generally found sob stories manipulative. “My mind is open. I don’t make decisions with my heart.”
“Fair enough.” He stepped back and motioned to the sitting area on the other side of the table. “It’s a long, complicated story. Let’s go sit down.”
Raina snagged her wineglass as she rounded the table then followed him across the room. He chose one of the two chairs, so she sat on the armless sofa facing him. “Is this a true story or an allegory?”
“Every word is true.” He seemed to fortify himself with another deep breath, then his features settled into an expressionless mask. “A man neither rich nor poor had accepted that his life would be ordinary. He did his thankless job to the best of his ability and poured all of his energy into making his morautu happy.”
“What’s a morautu?”
“A chosen mate, a permanent partner. It’s the sort of union every Rodyte craves.”
It was rude to introduce a tangent, but she couldn’t help but ask. “Is that what Ashley is to Bandar?”
“Their bonding has begun, but it’s not yet permanent. You’ll have to ask Ashley if you want the details.”
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to derail your story.”
He accepted the apology with a nod and resumed his tale. “The couple was content within their ordinary life and the gods blessed them with offspring. The man’s deepest wish was granted and his mate delivered a strong, healthy boy. But there was one small complication. The boy was born with harbinger eyes.”
“I don’t know what that means.” She rolled the glass between her hands, too anxious to sit still.
“Harbingers can foretell the future through dreams and visions. The genetic anomaly that results in their power also creates very specific coloring. Every harbinger has silver-blonde hair and silver phitons in bright blue eyes.”
“Phitons? Is that the purple part of your eyes?”
“Yes.” It was obvious her questions were annoying him, but she wasn’t sure why his mood was so dark. “Word reached the Harbinger Guild, as it always does, and they came to claim the child.”
“Wait a minute. The parents had no say in this?”
He confirmed her conclusion with a stiff nod. “By law, anyone born with harbinger coloring belongs to the guild. The man and his mate were compensated generously for their son, but neither of them ever saw him again.”
What a horrible story! Why had he thought this would make her more sympathetic toward the battle born? “I’m sorry things like that take place on your planet but I’m not sure I see what is has to do—”
“The story has barely begun.”
She took a quick sip of wine as his mood grew even darker. “Sorry. I’ll try not to interrupt.”
He pushed to his feet and crossed to the food generator. After issuing several commands he continued his story. “The resources gained at the expense of his son made the man greedy and discontent. He now had just enough comfort to make him long for true wealth. His mate was cold and despondent, thinking only of the child they had wrested from her arms. No matter how the man tried, he could not comfort her, so he focused on his newfound ambition.”
“What did he do?”
“There was only one way for a man with few skills to earn that sort of wealth.” Strolling back to the sitting area with a new beverage in each hand, he offered her a fresh glass of wine and kept the murky blue liquid for himself. “He became a bride hunter.”
“What the hell is a bride hunter?” She set the nearly empty glass down beside the sofa and took a sip from the new one. The wine definitely tasted better cold.
“When the practice of war brides began, the dangers inherent in claiming a female who could command magic was the primary motivation. It proved the warrior’s skill and bravery, set them above other warriors.” He took a swig off his glass, making a sound half groan, half sigh as the liquor burned its way down his throat. Whatever he’d selected this time was significantly stronger than her wine. “But the focus shifted to the potential of the offspring when battle born daughters started exhibiting their mother’s abilities.”
“So bride hunters started capturing Bilarrian females and selling them to the highest bidder?”
“Basically.”
His expression remained thunderous so she said nothing more.
“The man’s morautu was tormented by the loss of their son. The man was frequently gone and she lost hope.”
Compassion pinged inside her mind then echoed through her heart, expanding in warm rolling waves. Was he talking about his father, his family? Only personal pain could impact someone this deeply. He was looking through her now and his voice had grown monotone.
“When the man learned that his mate had taken her own life, what little remained of his soul shriveled up and died. He became ruthless and utterly fearless. Within a few years he was the most successful bride hunter Rodymia had ever produced.”
At this point “the man” was childless, so either her theory was incorrect or the story wasn’t over. “Did that make him happy?”
“Of course not,” he snapped then took another swig of whatever he was drinking. “It all became routine and boring until one particularly elusive female reignited his interest. She escaped him twice and he became obsessed with her.”
The story was already pretty damn dark. Did she really want to follow him down this particular rabbit hole? “I’m not sure I want to know what happened when he finally caught her.”
“He’d worked so hard for this particular prize that he decided to keep her for himself.”
She nodded, having suspected that was where the story was headed. “You said mating bonds have to be formed between two willing people. If she was that desperate to get away from him, she couldn’t possibly have been willing.”
“It took four years, but he gradually eroded her emotional defenses and—”
“That’s not surrender. That’s brainwashing. If it took her four years to give in, he didn’t change her mind. He broke her spirt.”
He shook his head and paused for another drink. “I understand your point, but the bond doesn’t work that way. She might have resented him, even hated him, but some part of her wanted him too.”
It was easy to understand that contradiction when similar emotions were twisting through Raina. She disliked Kotto, thought he was self-serving and ruthless, but she also found him intriguing and physically appealing. She cleared her voice before trying to speak. “I won’t pretend to understand bonding, so we’ll just agree to disagree about her state of mind.”
“It’s a minor detail that has little bearing on the rest of the story.”
“Then please continue.”
His gaze swept over her face, his expression oddly intense. Had she said something wrong—again? What had caused that odd expression? “Their first child was a son.”
“What do you mean ‘first’ child. Weren’t war brides released after they’d served their purpose?” She didn’t even try to keep the sarcasm out of her voice.
“Many of the original rules were discarded once warriors realized the only true value was in battle born daughters. If the war bride was unlucky enough to deliver a son—or sons—she was frequently kept until she delivered a girl.”
“Is that what happened with this captive?” Nausea tightened her stomach and she swallowed reflexively. That poor woman. No, those poor women.
“Yes and no.” He sighed and seemed to wilt back into the chair. “She was held in captivity for eleven years and delivered four children, but only one survived.”
“How many of the children were female?”
His gaze shot back to hers and a humorless smile twisted his lips. “Have you guessed her secret already? The three female babies gradually weakened and died, while her son grew stronger and stronger.”
“She was sacrificing her own children to keep her captor from getting what he wanted most. That’s not the action of a willing mate.” He started to speak, but she waved away his argument. “Even if some part of her wanted him, another part despised her captivity.” And her captor. He could justify it any way he liked. These women were victims.
The smile softened, but his gaze remained stormy. “I agree with you. She refused to let her daughters become weapons, so she freed their spirits from their bodies and started planning her escape.”
A chill shook her shoulders and she had to look away. She couldn’t decide if that was the bravest thing she’d ever heard or the most despicable. “Not that I condone murder, but why did she allow her son to live?”
“Magic flowed freely through her daughters, giving her access to their souls. She could communicate with them in a way she could not with her son. The girls understood what she did and why. Each agreed on the course of action and willingly dispersed when she released them back into the universe. If she had taken her son’s life, she would have murdered a terrified child.”
She didn’t understand half of what he described, but she saw no point in arguing with him either. Instead, she asked, “Did she escape?”
“She knew her chances were better without her son, but she couldn’t force herself to leave him behind.”
Raina’s heart ached for the unnamed woman. She’d known nothing but heartache and grief as she struggled against much greater forces. Even if she’d been saving her daughters from unspeakable evil, she’d ended their lives. Her guilt must have been crippling. “Did she make it? Did she get away?” If she only had one son, Raina was pretty sure she knew the answer.
“No. She was recaptured within days of her departure and her son was sent away to school. The man swore that he would never again touch such a treacherous female, but he desperately wanted a girl. Besides, the woman had bested him at every turn. If he could—”
“Force her to give him a daughter he would have won the final battle?” She scooted to the edge of the sofa. “How can you justify any of this?”
“I am not my father!” He shot to his feet and his glass snapped beneath the pressure of his clenching fist. “Yes it was rape. Are you happy now?” He flung the shattered glass aside with an impatient shake of his hand and blood ran between his fingers. “The bond had to be formed through seduction, but once it was in place the men could do whatever they wanted with their war brides.”
He was oblivious to his injury, but blood was dripping off his fingers. Raina went to the table and grabbed one of the cloth napkins then she approached him slowly, half afraid he’d lunge for her. “Kotto.” She said his name in a soft, familiar tone, hoping to draw him back from the bitter past. “Your hand.”
He glanced down and shrugged. “It’s nothing.”
“May I see it?” She held out her hand expectantly and sighed when he did the same. Numerous shards of glass were imbedded in his palm and the flesh between his index and middle finger was sliced. She pressed the waded napkin against the underside of his hand so it would catch the blood, but the glass needed to be removed. “Is there a doctor on board? You need medical attention.”
Awareness gradually returned to his gaze and he actually looked a bit embarrassed. “I’m sorry I snapped at you. I didn’t realize the events were still so painful.”
“I’m fine, but your hand is a mess. Can you call for help or—”
“I’ll go to the infirmary.” He raised his good hand and caressed her cheek with his knuckles. His lips parted as if he’d say more, then he shook his head and walked from the room.
“How in Creation’s name did this happen?” Dr. Irron meticulously pulled another sliver of glass out of Kotto’s palm.
Kotto sat beside the treatment table, his forearm extended across the padded surface as the doctor worked from the other side. “I was giving my guest a history lesson and it became a bit too personal.”
“Your ‘guest’.” Irron snorted. “Why do you people persist with these word games. If she’s locked in your bedroom, she’s a prisoner.”
“‘You people’?” Kotto challenged. “Last time I checked you were part of this rebellion.”
“True, but I’m not battle born. Thank the gods.”
It was Kotto’s turn to make a derisive sound. “Your mother was a captive, same as mine.”
Irron chuckled without looking up from the magnified image of Kotto’s hand. “Which actually makes my point for me. My father was a ruthless bastard that saw a beautiful woman and decided to kidnap her. Their arrangement was never draped in the trappings of war or justified by some long-lost destiny. My father didn’t want to ‘recapture’ something he’d never possessed. He just wanted to screw a beautiful woman.”
Kotto laughed hard enough that Irron had to stop. “And to your way of thinking that makes it better?”
“Not better or worse, just honest.” He adjusted the magnification level on the display and repositioned Kotto’s hand. “Raina’s important to your mission, even more so now that she has some mysterious journals.”
“How did you find out about the journals?”
Irron grinned as he skillfully removed a tiny shard of glass. “Security routinely monitors the cube. And this crew gossips like an Amish quilting circle.”
It was a trap. Kotto had been warned by his brother about Irron’s favorite game. The doctor had spent many years on Earth and loved to make human references no one understood. When asked for a clarification, the doctor enjoyed making up outlandish answers that no one in their right mind would believe.
Even knowing he was in for a ration of nonsense, he couldn’t help but ask, “What is an Amish quilting circle?”
“The Amish were a tribe of human cannibals and the quilt was their favorite weapon. It was tradition to stand in a circle while sharpening the blades and discuss recent happenings in the village.”
Kotto just shook his head. “You’re so full of shit the entire crew can smell you.”
Irron glanced up with a frown. “Keyran warned you?”
“Thank the gods.”
“But I liked that one.” Then without missing a beat, Irron continued as if his tall tale had never been told. “Raina might have the protein marker and she does have the journals, so she’s not going anywhere.” He looked up again and gestured with his lighted tweezers. “If she’s too important to release, sir, that makes her your prisoner, not your guest.”
“Fine. She’s my prisoner. Why is everyone caught up on syntax today?”
“Is that what made you lose your temper? Did she call you a heartless pirate?”
“Something like that.” The doctor let go of his hand and Kotto flexed his fingers. The pain was significantly better, but blood was still seeping from a couple of the wounds.
“Don’t you have medi-bots?” He motioned toward the fresh bead of blood trailing across his palm. “I made damn sure I removed every shard. Why aren’t these lacerations closing?”
“I only activate them when I head into battle.” He used an annoyed tone, hoping the doctor would drop the subject.
Irron made a face as he pushed the magnification screen out of the way. “That’s irrational, especially now. Your commanding a crew of pissed-off Rodytes. Turn them back on and leave them on.”
Keyran had frequently commented on the talkative doctor. Kotto should have known Irron would never back off that easily. “Fine.” He activated the nanites with a sharp mental command. Immediately, his hand tingled and the wounds began to close. “Satisfied?”
Curiosity drew Irron’s brows together as he pulled off his gloves. “What made you hibernate them in the first place?”
“They work too well.” Kotto shrugged, trying to minimize the issue. “They don’t just numb pain. They dull all my emotions. I started feeling like a zombie half the time.”
“Then they’re malfunctioning.” He quickly washed his hands then motioned Kotto toward the sink. “Clean up while I go get my bot kit.”
Some commanders would take exception to Irron’s bossy tone, but this was his domain after all. Kotto washed his hands and forearms, shocked at the amount of blood that covered his skin and smeared his clothes. Even without his medi-bots, he’d barely felt the pain.
The doctor returned with an alloy case roughly the size of a small piece of luggage. He directed Kotto toward one of the other treatment areas, so the medical staff could clean up the mess.
Kotto flexed his hand and shifted his weight from foot to foot. “Clearly, they’re operational now.” He held out his restored hand as proof.
“This will just take a minute. Stop whining.”
Kotto looked at the clerical area in the middle of the circular room, but Irron’s staff didn’t react to his rude behavior. Apparently, the doctor mouthed off to all his patients.
The top of the case was a screen and several wand-shaped scanners were arranged in the bottom. Irron selected one then approached Kotto. “When did you first notice the numbed emotions?”
“Shortly after I was injected with the bots.”
Irron made another face but didn’t look at him directly. “That had to have been decades ago. Why hasn’t this been corrected?”
“My first placement was Fort Ja Harr. I spent twenty-seven years in that hellhole.”
Irron shuddered. “Thank the gods they finally shut it down.” He glanced at Kotto as he asked, “Haven’t you been on the Undaunted for the past few years? General Nox’s staff is second to none. Well, except for us, of course.”
He nodded, liking the doctor despite—or perhaps because of—his unconventional approach. “By the time I was transferred to the Undaunted, I’d used the workaround for so long, I’d basically forgotten about it.”
Irron didn’t look convinced, but he let it slide. After scanning various parts of Kotto’s body, the doctor turned back to the kit and swept his hand across the open case. The holocontrols came to life and he quickly made several adjustments. “I didn’t see any glaring malfunctions, but I tweaked the sensitivity settings. If this doesn’t fix it, let me know and we’ll do a full extraction. Those bots are old as dirt.”
Kotto laughed. “So am I.”
The doctor responded with a semi-playful scoff. “You just turned fifty-three, that’s an infant compared to me, son. You haven’t earned the right to complain yet.” Then he waved Kotto toward the door. “Get out of here. I’m sure your prisoner was freaked out by your temper tantrum. Go calm her down.”