Raina shifted her laptop to the bed beside her as the long list of files copied to the thumb drive protruding from the computer. Ashley would arrive tomorrow morning, expecting an answer and Raina still wasn’t sure what she wanted to do. Yesterday had been a confusing mixture of reflection and anticipation. Kotto was offering her an opportunity to interact with an alien species. She would explore an outpost on the moon and have access to technologies humans could only imagine. How could anything on Earth compare with that?
Knowing she’d share the adventure with her best friend should have solidified her decision, but Raina kept coming back to Kotto’s kiss. For the first time in her life, Raina had felt truly desired and it scared her to death. She’d grown accustomed to people, men in particular, only seeing her as a scientist. She felt secure in that role, protected by her esthetic mediocrity.
An image sparked within her mind and Raina tensed. Her cousin Indigo was anything but mediocre, and she also carried the blood of their Rodyte grandfather. Their mothers were identical twins, so it wasn’t surprising that they spent a lot of time together, which in turn created a closeness between their daughters. Should she warn Indigo that…that what? Aliens might be snooping around because she wasn’t entirely human? Yeah, that had worked out really well for Mimi.
Unable to ignore the impulse entirely, she picked up her phone and activated Indigo’s number. She could at least make sure her cousin was all right.
“Hey, Rain. Isn’t it past your bedtime?” As usual, good-natured humor threaded through Indigo’s tone.
She glanced at the time on her computer screen. “It’s not even ten yet and it’s two hours earlier in Colorado.”
“Yeah, but you’re so old.” Indigo laughed.
Raina was about to turn thirty and Indigo never passed up an opportunity to tease her about it. “I’ll try to stay awake long enough to remember why I called you.”
“Did you receive my care package?”
She could picture Indigo’s expression, her bright smile, sparkling blue eyes that perfectly matched her sky-blue hair. Aunt Laura, Indigo’s mother, kept hoping Indigo would outgrow her need for “self-expression through body modification”, but so far Indigo’s creative urges were still going strong.
“Well, did you?”
The prompt drew Raina back to the present and she glanced at the open box on her dresser. It contained a mixture of herbs, essential oils and nutritional supplements, each meant to combat the effects of ageing. The merchandise doubtlessly came from Holistic Wellness Zone, the wildly successful business Indigo and Laura co-owned.
“It arrived yesterday, you smartass.” Raina rested her head back against the headboard with a helpless smile. “What would I do without you?”
“Always there for you, Rain. So what’s up?”
“One of my former students kept contacting me during the break. I had to exclude him from the program for this coming year. He made some pretty ugly threats, said he’d mess me up and hunt down anyone I care about and mess them up too. I’m ninety percent sure he was just mouthing off but—after what happened to Luna, I’m not taking any chances.” The incident was true and she’d meant to call Indigo a couple of days earlier, but then she’d been kidnapped by aliens.
“What’s he look like?”
“He’s all over social media. I’ll send you a link to his page. But he could send someone else to check things out, so watch out for anyone acting strangely.”
Indigo chuckled. “My shop’s two blocks from the Pearl Street Mall. We take pride in our strange characters.”
“All right. Acting suspiciously then. Just take this seriously, all right?”
A soft sigh came over the line, then Indigo said, “I miss her too, but I’ll be careful. I promise.”
“Good. Now I better get some sleep. Old people are like that.”
“Love you.”
“Love you, too.” She ended the call with a sigh of her own and set the phone down on her nightstand. Luna’s image formed in the back of Raina’s mind, beckoning her toward memories she hated, yet cherished. Luna, her older sister, had been stunning, as close to physical perfection as Raina had ever seen. Luna landed a modeling contract at fourteen and signed with a major modeling agency two years later. For the next twenty-three months Luna lived the dream, her image graced the cover of glitzy magazines and she was a high-fashion darling traveling from New York to Paris, Milan, even Tokyo. Then it all went horribly, tragically wrong.
“You’re not Luna,” she whispered to the shadows as she forced the memories back into submission.
And Kotto didn’t want her because of her appearance. He wanted her because of her genetics. She shivered and stared off into space, lost in the memory of their kiss. It wasn’t like she was a blushing virgin. She’d given in to peer pressure and experimented with sex, but she’d been completely underwhelmed with the experience. Yet Kotto had made her feel more with one searing kiss than—
It didn’t matter. If she agreed to his terms, she would approach each task with scientific objectivity. She was not some sex-starved female, desperate for a male. As she’d told him, she was not in the market for a mate. Her life was well-organized and predictable, just the way she liked it. Or at least it had been until Kotto “streamed” her up to his ship.
Her laptop pinged, telling her the copy was complete. “Oh Mimi, I hope you can see what’s happening. It wasn’t all in vain.” She pulled the thumb drive out of the port and powered down the computer. Her grandmother had made a promise to a desperate friend many years ago. Now Raina was going to make sure that promise was fulfilled. Even if she decided not to go, she’d give Mimi’s journals to Ashley, so they could be entered into the Wisdom of the Ages where they belonged.
Who was she kidding? Of course she was going to go. Scientific curiosity demanded that she take full advantage of this opportunity. And that was the only reason she was going.
With that context firmly locked into her mind, she turned off the bedside lamp and snuggled down into the covers, determined to fall asleep. She closed her eyes and released the tension in her muscles as she willed her mind to be still. A strange weightless lethargy crept over her body. She felt almost drugged, utterly relaxed yet not really sleepy.
For long, silent moments she hung suspended in space. Then the mattress beneath her shifted and her eyes flew open. She could see the familiar outline of her furniture, yet she was also aware that she hadn’t actually moved. It was dream-like, yet not a dream, more like a fantasy or a vision over which she had no control.
Fear tingled down her spine as she turned her head. Then a startled gasp tore from her throat. Kotto lay beside her, head propped on his hand, elbow bent against the bed.
“Did you need something?” he asked with a lazy smile.
“What are you… How did you get in here?” She dragged the sheet to her chin as she sat up, which only revealed more of his bare chest. Was he completely naked or just—what was he doing in her bedroom, in her bed?
“I’m not really here.” He sounded almost apologetic, but mischief gleamed in his eyes. He looked exotic and sexy, not to mention entirely too comfortable sprawled across her bed.
“Good. Then go back to where you really are.” If this was an illusion, it was the most convincing illusion she’d ever experienced in her life. She tentatively reached out and her fingertips encountered warm, bare flesh. “I can feel you,” she cried. “What the hell is this?”
“It’s called dream sharing and it’s a function of my com-bots.” He made it sound so rational, so casual, as if people popped in uninvited all the time.
“But I don’t have com-bots, so how am I receiving this transmission?”
“Damn good question. Unfortunately, I don’t have the answer.”
She scooted to the edge of the bed, dragging the covers with her. “End the transmission right now. You shouldn’t be here.” Hadn’t she just convinced herself that their interaction would be strictly professional? She was not interested in being seduced by an alien, even one as appealing as Kotto.
“I’ve been trying, but I didn’t instigate the connection so I can’t seem to shut it down.”
“Then who did instigate it?” She looked around, half afraid she’d find someone lurking in the shadows. “Why would someone else want you in my bed?”
“Another good question.” He shrugged. “Again, I don’t have the answer.”
He hadn’t pounced on her, hadn’t even touched her, so she tried to relax. Even while he held her captive, he’d treated her with respect. “Are you in bed as well?”
“I was drifting off to sleep when I felt someone activate my com-bots. I fought against the connection, but whoever is doing this is incredibly strong.”
“Why aren’t you afraid?” He had more experience with these sorts of things than she did, but Kotto was all about control. Surely he wasn’t comfortable participating in a situation into which he’d been forced. “What if they won’t release the…whatever this is?”
A sexy grin parted his lips. “Then I suppose we’ll have to find something to entertain us.”
“How can you be so casual? Someone forced their way into our minds and is controlling what we experience.”
“No. They created a connection we didn’t invite, but they aren’t controlling what we’re experiencing.”
“How can you be so sure?” The longer he lounged beside her, all calm and nonchalant, the more agitated she became. “You should be angry at the very least. What aren’t you telling me?”
He reached over and covered her hand with his. “I’m pretty sure I know who’s doing this. You don’t need to be afraid. It’s more or less harmless.”
“Then tell me. Who is doing this and why are they screwing with us?”
A warm chuckle rumbled through his chest. “His name is Letos. He’s a technomage. My brother warned me about him.”
“What’s a technomage?”
“They’re a group of Rodytes who emulate true magic using extensive implants and nanobots. Letos is one of the best. This is well within his capabilities.”
That explained why Kotto wasn’t freaking out, but what did Letos gain by creating this situation? “Why is he doing this?”
“I think it’s his way of telling me to try harder.”
“Try harder to do what?”
With one fast, smooth motion, he pulled her into his arms. “Convince you to join the rebellion.” He brushed the hair back from her face and gazed deep into her eyes. “He thinks if I seduce you, you’ll have no choice but to cooperate. And he’s not the only one to make the suggestion. His prompting is just more creative than the others.”
Fully dressed Kotto had felt strong and impressive. Mostly naked he stole her breath. His arm supported her shoulders, while her side pressed against his chest. She was afraid to reach down and find out he wasn’t wearing anything at all. “This can’t be about sex. I don’t make decisions with my libido.”
“I know. That’s why I let you go.” His lips skimmed over her brow, then teased her temple. “If you’d stayed on the ship, there’s no way I would have been able to keep my hands off you.”
His fingers swept down her neck and tingles trailed in their wake. She shivered and turned her face away, needing a minute away from his hypnotic appeal. “That’s not encouraging. Our relationship has to be professional or I won’t help you.”
“I will conduct myself with the utmost professionalism.” He paused as he turned her head back around. “While we’re working.”
The stipulation sent desire ricocheting through her body. He hadn’t even kissed her, yet already she ached for him. “And when we’re not working?”
His mouth sealed over hers, answering her with actions rather than words. She braced for the sensory tumult his other kiss unleashed. Feeling completely out of control was exhilarating. It was also terrifying. Her life was logic and structure, but Kotto existed in a world beyond her concept of reality. How could she hope to make sense out of these feelings?
He eased her down onto her back and arched over her, half on and half beside her. His fingers tangled in her hair, anchoring her head at just the right angle. Pinned beneath him, surrounded by him, she felt sheltered rather than helpless, which was irrational. So much of this was irrational. They kissed and kissed until they were both breathless and Raina forgot all the reasons they shouldn’t be doing this.
“Are you sure this isn’t real?” She stroked his chest, fascinated by the sculpted contour and the surprising softness of his skin. “You feel pretty real to me.”
“Reality is relative, especially when a technomage is involved.” He found the hem of her nightshirt and eased it up. His fingers found bare skin and they both groaned. “If you’re going to stop me, do it now.”
“I don’t want to.” Half a second later, she grabbed his wrist. “But I need to. This can’t be about sex.”
With a heavy sigh, he pulled his hand away from her torso and rested it on the pillow beside her face. “It is about sex. Nothing can change that. But it’s not only about sex. I can’t pretend I don’t want you. I will not live a lie.”
“I don’t want you to pretend, but I expect you to behave. Even when others are making that difficult.” He rolled to her side, taking his warmth with him. She fought back the urge to crawl on top of him and pick up where they’d left off. “Thank you.” He raised his arms and folded his hands behind his head. She rolled to her side, so she could look at him without straining her neck. “Do you think he’s watching us?”
“No or he’d have released the connection. You’ve made your feelings perfectly clear.” He sounded annoyed and he stared up at the ceiling.
She started to apologize then stopped herself. They’d only known each other for two days. Why should she apologize for not wanting to have sex with him? She refused to feel pressured by biological compatibility. Just because they could mate didn’t mean they should.
“Have you made up your mind about the job?” He glanced at her, though his features were still tense.
“I thought I had, but maybe we need to clarify a few things before I sign the contract.”
His jaw clenched then released. “You asked me to stop and I stopped. I won’t apologize for kissing you.”
“Will I have my own cabin?”
He turned his head, apparently insulted by the question. “Of course. Despite the current situation, I don’t go where I’m not welcome.”
“I wasn’t inferring that you do. I was just—”
“Afraid you’d be forced to share my bed every night?”
That had been her fear, more or less. She’d pictured spending her days working on the outpost and her nights wrestling with him. The problem was, she hadn’t found the idea offensive. “You’re right. I’m not being fair. You’ve been the perfect gentleman.”
He laughed and dragged her on top of him. “No one has ever accused me of that before.”
She folded her legs to either side of his hips and sat up. He wasn’t completely naked. Thank God. He wore the Rodyte version of boxer briefs, which left little to the imagination. “I didn’t mean it as an insult.”
He sat as well then scooted back against the headboard. “You’re not afraid of sex. It’s more like indifference. I don’t think you’ve had many lovers and the ones you have had didn’t know what in creation they were doing.”
She gasped and felt her cheeks heat. “That is an incredibly arrogant conclusion.”
“Really?” His voice turned dark and smoky. “Why?”
“You’re inferring that the reason I won’t have sex with you is because I’ve never been with someone as good in bed as you.”
He ran his hands up her thighs and squeezed her hips. “It’s not arrogance. It’s biology. If you’ve only been with human men, then you’ve never experienced a physical joining the way it was meant to be.”
“I’ll take your word for it.”
“Or we could test my theory.” His voice washed over her filled with silken temptation.
“I’m not having sex with you.” It was as much a reminder to herself as to him. He’d sent her firmest resolutions flying out the window with just the sound of his voice.
“That’s not what I was suggesting.” His hands slid up to her waist, under her nightshirt. “I’ve accepted that I’m doomed, at least for tonight. But we don’t both need to be miserable.”
“I’m not miserable.”
“Liar.” He softened the word with another chuckle. “You’ve been wet just as long as I’ve been hard. Have you forgotten about the Rodyte sense of smell?”
“Apparently.” He could smell her arousal? How humiliating.
“Let me touch you, Raina, just touch you. And we’ll see if it feels the same as it did with a human lover.”
Why would he want to touch her if she refused to reciprocate? Was he hoping she’d change her mind? The thought made her want to laugh. That was the main reason she hesitated. She was afraid she’d change her mind. “We shouldn’t.”
“I want to.” He bent and captured her mouth for a brief yet commanding kiss. “We both need this.”
Then his mouth was on hers again, stealing her breath and scattering her thoughts. Kissing him was like a drug, intoxicating and addictive. The more they kissed the more she wanted his mouth on hers, his tongue sliding against and curling around hers.
He pulled her nightshirt off and tossed it aside, separating their mouths in the process. One of his hands stroked her back while the other cupped her breast. She tensed, waiting for his reaction. She’d always been thin, narrow hipped and small breasted. His hands returned to her waist and he lifted her. She braced her hands against his shoulders as his mouth fastened onto one of her nipples. He teased with his lips and tongue, even a hint of teeth, while she squirmed and arched, her self-consciousness forgotten.
“You’re so soft,” he whispered in the valley between her breasts. “I want to lick every millimeter of this velvety skin.”
Heat curled through her abdomen, igniting her core. She shivered helplessly as her imagination provided the scene. If he went down on her, there was no way she’d refuse him anything. “Touch me. You promised you’d just touch.”
His lips caught her other nipple, sucking deeply, then he growled. “Are you sure?”
No! “Yes.”
Rather than laying her down, as she’d expected, he slipped his hand inside her panties and started kissing her again. His long middle finger brushed against her clit then pushed just barely inside her. It was a ruthless tease and her body reacted instinctively. She rocked her hips, driving him deeper and increasing the pressure on her clit.
“Oh yes,” he whispered against her parted lips. “Ride my hand.”
Like a sex-crazed teenager, she obeyed. She rocked against his hand, sliding up and down on his finger. Then there were two fingers inside her and he was kissing her again. She breathed in his breath and let out a cry as pleasure burst deep inside her. That happened much faster than usual, but she’d had stronger orgasms in the past.
Before she could analyze her disappointment, however, he flipped her onto her back. Her head landed near the foot of the bed and he knelt beside her. Then he dragged her panties off and pushed his fingers back into her core. His gaze bore into hers as his hand began to move between her thighs. He was touching her now, controlling her pleasure. The difference was stark and unavoidable.
Tension built and she started to close her eyes.
“No. Look at me. See what you do to me.” The purple rings in his eyes began to glow as ravenous hunger hardened his expression.
She tightened her inner muscles, driving the sensations higher. He moved his hand faster, pushing deeper. Restlessness crept over her, making it impossible to lie still. She arched into each thrust, secretly wishing he’d ignore her protests and give them both what they were craving.
He lowered his head and claimed her mouth, matching the movement of his tongue to the thrust of his hand. Pleasure built slowly, coiling tighter and tighter until she moaned. Something awakened deep inside her, a perception she’d never experienced before. She sensed Kotto’s energy, his spirit blazing just beyond her mind. They were connected and yet still separate, a potential storm waiting to explode.
Then he pushed his fingers in as far as they’d go and circled her clit with his thumb. Around and around, then back and forth, until her control snapped. Sensations pulsed through her, caressing his fingers in rippling waves. His clever thumb kept the waves crashing until she was utterly spent.
His lips slowed then reluctantly pulled away. He started to say something, then his image wavered, swelling in and out of focus before finally fading away.
Reality returned gradually, though sensations echoed through her body. Her nightshirt was still on, as were her panties. It wasn’t real. None of it had actually happened. She couldn’t decide if she was relieved or disappointed by the fact.
She sat up and pressed her hand over her pounding heart. He was right. She’d never experienced anything like that before. He hadn’t just touched her body. He’d connected with her soul. If they’d been dream sharing, did that mean he’d remember everything they’d just done? What a tangle.
Lying back down, she closed her eyes and willed herself to sleep.
Bright and early the following morning Kotto awakened before his alarm. Trying to go back to sleep was pointless, the night had been anything but restful. Instead, he showered and donned a clean uniform, determined to focus on his mission rather than the intriguing female who had dominated his dreams. As if their shared vision hadn’t been stimulating enough, Raina’s image followed him into sleep and his imagination had crafted a variety of situations each more erotic than the last.
Finding a mate had always seemed like an unattainable fantasy to Kotto. He had nothing to offer a female, no way to make her life comfortable and secure. The existence of a battle born soldier—even a ship’s commander—was uncertain and dangerous. The rebellion was hoping to change all that, but their fight had just begun. Was it really fair to drag Raina into a struggle she barely understood? As she’d said, just because they were physically compatible didn’t mean they should form a mating bond.
He was relatively certain Raina would agree to sign the contract, which gave them six months to figure out the rest. Having Raina in his life would be wonderful, but was becoming part of his life best for her? That question was much harder to answer.
He stepped out of the humid utility room and froze. A stranger sat in one of his chairs casually sipping a steaming beverage. Kotto automatically reached for his flexblade, but he’d yet to retrieve the weapon from his nightstand.
“Relax, Commander. I’ve come to chat, nothing more.” The stranger raised the mug to his lips and took a sip. With wavy dark hair and blue-ringed eyes, the man was clearly Rodyte, but he wore jeans and a pullover shirt as if he’d selected his wardrobe on Earth.
Kotto started to activate an intruder alert, then realized the alarm should have been triggered by this person’s arrival. There was only one skillset that allowed Rodytes to come and go as they pleased. This man was a technomage. “Letos, I presume?” Though Kotto’s mission briefing had confirmed Keyran’s warnings about a technomage, the documentation hadn’t contained an image of the culprit. And whether or not Letos was friend or foe was still hotly debated.
“In the flesh.” Letos set the mug down and uncrossed his legs. “Were you able to convince Raina to help? She’s more important than you know.”
“I can have you arrested for what you did last night.” Kotto crossed his arms and glared. “I know for a fact that sort of link violates your guild’s charter.”
Any hint of amusement fled as Letos scooted to the edge of his seat. “We’re at war and Raina is destined to play a significant part in upcoming battles. You need to accept that rules will need to be broken from time to time.”
“I don’t accept that and never will. If we’re willing to do anything, to harm anyone, as long as the outcome benefits the cause, then we’re no better than they are.”
Letos pushed to his feet, his expression tense yet unreadable. “What was the outcome of last night?”
“That’s between Raina and me.”
Challenge slowly lifted Letos’s brows. “It could just as easily be between Raylon and Raina. They’re equally compatible.”
Possessive rage set Kotto in motion. In an instant, he was across the room and Letos’s shirt was twisted in his fists. “She’s mine! No one will touch her but me.”
“Then you better mark her before Raylon meets her. His reaction is guaranteed to be just as intense as yours. And somehow I don’t think he’ll hesitate to claim a compatible female, especially one as responsive as Raina.”
“Stay out of this.” Kotto snarled the warning between gritted teeth. “I will not tolerate your interference again.”
Letos laughed, clearly unfazed by the warning. “Mark her, seduce her, and claim her. Her allegiance must be secured at any cost.” Letos coolly unfolded Kotto’s fingers and smoothed out the wrinkles created by his clutching fists. “She is more important to this cause than you can possibly know.”
“I have every intention of pursuing her, but I will do so in my way and time.” He continued to glare, but Letos appeared to be growing bored with the entire conversation. “We’re used to mind-to-mind interaction. Humans are not.”
“Raina is not human.”
“She was traumatized by—”
Leos scoffed. “Surprised, perhaps. She was clearly not traumatized. However, I will apologize to the lady, if that will assist you toward our common goal.”
“I’m serious, Letos. Stay out of this.”
“Then do what must be done,” Letos snapped. “You’re a Rodyte, for gods’ sake. Start acting like one.”
Before Kotto could compose himself enough to reply, Letos blinked out of sight.
Ashley appeared in Raina’s living room at six thirty the following morning. A text message warned of her arrival and then she materialized a few minutes later.
“Good morning,” Ashley said with a cheerful smile. “I hope you made coffee. Civata brew, the Rodyte version of coffee, needs serious work.”
Raina filled two mugs with coffee then motioned toward the kitchen table. “How did you meet Bandar? You said he was looking for your father. Did he pretend to be an old friend or… How did he approach you?”
Taking one of the mugs from Raina, Ashley sat across from her friend and paused for a sip before beginning her story. “I came home from work one night and found someone in my loft. He grabbed me from behind, but I made the mistake of looking in my living room mirror. As soon as he realized I’d seen his face he stabbed me in the—”
“Bandar stabbed you?” Raina scooted closer to the table. “That’s horrible.”
“Bandar wasn’t the intruder. It was this guy named Letos.”
Raina gasped. “The technomage?”
Ashley set down her mug and tilted her head. “Yes, but how did you know about that?”
“Letos was having fun with Kotto and me last night. He created this sort of illusion that forced us to spend time together.”
A strangled laugh escaped Ashley despite her obvious effort to contain it. “Bandar and I were discussing similar strategies. The chemistry between you and Commander Tarr is obvious.” Ashley stopped trying to hide her smile as she asked, “How did you two spend your time?”
“Finish your story first. What happened after Letos stabbed you and why don’t you seem upset about it? For some reason, I thought Letos was one of the good guys.”
“Letos is either a bad guy willing to do good things for reasons we don’t understand or a good guy who has a serious dark side. I’m honestly not sure which. He’s helped us more than he’s hindered us, but he stabbed me in the chest, repeatedly. That’s a little hard to shrug off.”
“Was there a reason he did it, other than you seeing his face? That seems pretty drastic.”
Ashley nodded. “Letos had to prove his loyalty to Akim Farmon. Akim is the head bad guy and Letos was working undercover at the time. Besides, Letos knew Bandar was following him and had access to one of their ships, so my life was never really in danger. Of course, I didn’t know any of that at the time.”
Raina shuddered. “I can’t imagine being stabbed. I cut my finger with a carving knife last year and I was ready for anesthesia. How can you be so forgiving?”
“It’s not like we’re best friends now. But if Letos hadn’t stabbed me, Bandar never would have stepped out of the shadows to save me. They were both looking for my father, not me.”
It would seem natural to bond with someone who saved her life. No wonder Ashley had fallen for Bandar so quickly. “Is Bandar a doctor or did he take you to Dr. Irron?”
“When did you meet Irron? He’s quite a character once you get to know him.”
Raina hesitated. Saying it out loud made it seem more real. “He tested me for the protein marker before I left the ship.”
“And?”
“It was positive.” She took a quick sip of coffee before she went on. “You’re bonded with Bandar. Does that mean you have the marker too? My grandfather was Rodyte. How did you end up with it?”
“It was a present from my father, but it had nothing to do with this war bride nonsense.”
Ashley’s father was an ambitious, sometimes radical geneticist. Understanding slammed into Raina and she felt her jaw drop. “Your father spliced Rodyte DNA into your genome?”
“In his defense, he did it to save my life. But it’s still seriously creepy. I was a child at the time. Besides, dinking with my DNA is one of many horrors I can lay at my father’s feet.” Ashley sighed and curved her fingers around her coffee mug. “On the other hand, his research has taken the battle born closer to their goal of independence than they’ve ever been before. Eventually I’ll have to forgive him. It just won’t be today.” She dismissed the past with a dramatic wave of her hand.
“So what’s it like?”
Ashley scrunched up her brows, clearly confused by the question. “What is what like?”
“Bonding with a Rodyte?”
A dreamy expression softened Ashley’s features and her gaze drifted off into the distance. “It’s so much more than mind-blowing sex. Bandar and I can feel each other’s emotions and share our most intimate thoughts. It’s not just physical, it’s…hard to explain because there is nothing on Earth to compare it to. On a very practical level, his supercharged energy mixes with mine, so I’ll live longer and be much healthier than an unbound human.”
“How long do Rodytes live?”
“A battle born male can live two even three hundred years.”
For a moment all Raina could do was stare at her friend. “Why did you make the distinction? Do battle born males live longer than other Rodytes?”
“Yes. They’re bred—and genetically engineered—to be stronger, faster and more durable than full-blooded Rodytes.”
“More durable?” Raina cringed. “You make them sound like Humvees.”
“They’re treated like Humvees, and farming equipment, and manufacturing drones. That’s kind of the point of all this.”
“And they can only bond with a female if she has the protein marker?”
“No. They can create a mating bond with a variety of humanoid females, but the transformation protocol, the procedure they’re hoping will unlock their magic, can only be done with a human/Rodyte hybrid. Females like you and me.”
Raina wasn’t sure she should mention Indigo, but she needed an objective—scratch that, an informed opinion. Ashley had stopped being objective about the Rodytes as soon as she fell in love with Bandar. “What should I do about Indigo?”
“Your crazy cousin? Doesn’t she claim to be a psychic healer?”
“She’s not crazy. She’s unique, like me.”
“You mean she…” Ashley’s brows drew together again, crinkling up the skin above her nose. “But she’s your cousin, not your sister. How could she be a hybrid?”
“Our mothers are identical twins. We have the same grandparents.”
Understanding widened her eyes. “I’ve never seen your aunt. I didn’t realize.”
“You cannot tell Bandar. I’m not sure I want these guys to know.”
“They’ll find out, Raina. They have resources—”
“Well, they’re not hearing it from me and they better not hear it from you.”
“All right. Mum’s the word about your crazy cousin, but I want details about last night.”
Raina blushed to the roots of her hair. She’d never been able to hide anything from Ashley. “It was…enlightening.”
“Was it now?” Ashley laughed. “How realistic was this illusion?”
“Like Kotto was actually there.” Just the memory made her shiver. And ache for more. She refused to think about that concept too deeply. “I have no idea how Letos did it, but the tactic worked. I’m officially ready to explore my Rodyte roots.”
“I’m so relieved.” Ashley hopped up and rounded the table, hugging Raina tightly. “This is going to be so much more fun with another female on board.” She straightened, but didn’t return to her side of the table. “Did you already tell Kotto?”
“No, but I’m sure he’s expecting nothing less after last night.”
Ashley’s eyes widened as she slipped back onto her chair. “How far did things go? He didn’t behave too badly, did he?”
“Nothing happened that I didn’t allow and things went farther than I’d intended, but not as far as he would have liked.”
They chatted for a while longer as they drained the coffee pot, then Ashley helped Raina pack.
“Make sure you bring plenty of skirts. Rodytes are weird about females wearing pants. It doesn’t matter how revealing the dress is, but pants are taboo.”
“Seriously? If I’m repairing a greenhouse, I’ll be crawling on the floor and climbing on ladders. I’m not doing that in a skirt.”
“We’ll be more or less isolated on Lunar 9, so we can wear whatever we like. Just make sure you have skirts or dresses for when you’re on the ship.”
Raina turned back to her closet and grabbed several more skirts. “I think it’s stupid, but okay.”
“I’ll be your primary assistant, if that’s all right with you.” Ashley followed Raina into the bathroom as Raina gathered her toiletries.
“And if I need some muscle from time to time?”
“Bandar will be there too.”
Raina paused and looked at Ashley. “Why does Bandar need to babysit us?”
“He’s the only mated male on board. Until we figure out who is affected by you and who is immune, we need to be careful.” Ashley started to say something and then shook her head.
“What? I can tell from your expression I’m not going to like it.”
“You can’t go anywhere on the ship without an escort and it’s probably best if you just stay in your cabin.”
She watched Ashley closely, waiting for her to crack up and admit it was a joke. “You’re serious?”
“Afraid so. Depending on the level of compatibility, Rodyte males can become really aggressive.”
“Isn’t there a neutralizer or some sort of filter I can use? I can’t stay cooped up in my cabin for the next six months.”
A calculative gleam suddenly lit Ashley’s eyes and Raina braced for her answer. “There’s a way to back everyone off, but I’m not sure you’ll like it.”
“It has to be better than being locked in my cabin.”
Ashley shrugged, obviously trying to minimize what she was about to say. “You could let one of the men mark you.”
“And what does that entail?”
With another shrug, Ashley said, “Probably more of what you let Kotto do last night.” Before Raina could dismiss the idea entirely, Ashley added, “You wouldn’t have to go all the way.”
“Go all the way?” Raina laughed. “What, am I fifteen?”
“Fine, full penetration isn’t necessary to establish a claim. He just has to spread his scent all over you. And Rodyte males have pheromones on their skin and in their saliva. It works best if you’re both naked, but he wouldn’t have to—”
“I get the idea.” She zipped up her toiletry bag and carried it into the adjoining bedroom. “Did you let Bandar mark you, or did you two go right for full-on bonding?”
“He marked me and it saved me from the sort of abuse I don’t even want to think about when Akim’s brother captured us.”
Raina froze with her main suitcase halfway zipped and looked at her friend. “You were captured by the head bad guy?”
“Yeah. If Letos hadn’t helped us escape, we’d probably both be dead or I’d be wishing I were.”
“Which is why you’ve forgiven him for stabbing you?”
“I wouldn’t go that far. I’ve agreed to overlook it. I’m still working on forgiveness.”
Raina smiled, growing more excited with each minute that passed. “I feel like I’ve joined a foreign work exchange program.”
“Only this one is taking you to the moon.” Ashley returned her smile. “Okay, I’ve been told to remind you about the journals. Are you ready to share or not?”
Raina pulled the thumb drive out of her pocket. “The actual journals are locked in a climate-controlled storage unit, but I digitized the entries four years ago. Do they need the actual journals or will this do?” She held up the thumb drive.
“They’re interested in the events detailed in the entries. I’m pretty sure the books can stay where they are.”
“And will they be able to read this or do I need to grab my laptop?”
“They can make a cell phone ring from the dark side of the moon. I’m pretty sure they can deal with a thumb drive.”
Raina looked around. The front door was locked and all the lights were turned off. She’d left a message for her mother and coworkers. Her bills were all on auto-pay and she’d transferred enough money to cover her expenses for at least six months. She didn’t have a pet and she’d put a six-month hold on her mail. There was nothing left to do.
“Looks like I’m ready.” She picked up her bags and took a deep breath. “Tell them we’re ready to ‘beam up’.”
“Are you sure this is effective?” Akim looked at the injector resting across Dr. Tulon’s palm. The chemical it contained would be his salvation, if the drug could do what the doctor claimed.
“Effectiveness is not the challenge with phloristan. The compound is hard to control. Enough must be administered to ensure the memories are erased completely, yet too much can result in unintentional damage.”
“And how do you know when the patient has had enough?” If Akim had stopped when Chandar had enough, he wouldn’t be in this predicament. Over the past few days, Chandar’s belligerence had returned with a vengeance, revealing that her memories were mostly intact. But that didn’t matter now. He had no choice. This had to be done. He could not allow Pyre Sterling to wreck everything he was trying to accomplish.
“Years of practice, sir.” Despite the boast, the doctor sounded sincere. “I was part of the team that developed phloristan and perfected its use. Your pet couldn’t be in better hands.”
“Good. Have you used phloristan on an organic harbinger before?”
A bit of his confidence faded. “I’ve treated a harbinger before, but he was transformed not organic.”
Akim was glad the doctor had opted for the truth. Lying would have been more damning than admitting a slight weakness. “Take it slowly. Her abilities must remain intact or she’s no use to anyone.”
“I understand, sir.”
“Can you treat her in her quarters or will this work better in the infirmary.”
“If she’s hostile, she’ll need to be restrained, at least in the beginning. But the actual treatment works better in a less clinical environment, perhaps one of the private treatment rooms rather than the infirmary itself.”
Akim nodded. “Give me a few minutes and I’ll have her prepared for you.”