Chapter Fourteen

Kelsey knew trouble was brewing the minute Jared crossed the threshold of their chambers, Chris Harper in tow. Both men wore identical expressions, a mixture of apprehension and fury. Jared's black eyes were narrowed practically to slits, and Chris's mouth was drawn in harsh lines.

"Kelse, we need to talk," Jared announced, dropping his uniform jacket onto the foot of their bed.

Chris stood in the center of the room, glancing subtly about him. The agent had never entered their chambers, and his curiosity was palpable. "Hello … my lady," he greeted her awkwardly, then shoved both hands in his pockets and stared at the floor.

It always surprised her that such a blustering alpha male could occasionally possess such a shy streak.

She smiled. "Like I've told you before, Agent Harper, Kelsey's just fine."

"Chris is, too." He flashed her a grin, the tension in his features easing up just a little. And then he stared at the floor some more.

She could only imagine that the guy found it more than slightly strange that she, a fellow human, was queen of the Refarian people. No wonder he always seemed so totally at a loss around her. She felt the same way sometimes about her newfound role.

"Harper, follow me." Jared indicated the sitting area that adjoined their bedroom, then opened his arms wide to Kelsey. "Come here, sweet love," he murmured against her cheek as he folded her into a strong embrace. Keeping his arm around her, he walked with her into the next room.

"What's going on?" she asked under her breath.

"Heard from your father." He kept his voice low, following Chris toward their study, a small room dominated by a pair of plush leather sofas and a too-small desk.

After waiting for them to be seated, Jared reached for the desk chair, flipped it backwards, and settled his body onto the flimsy frame. His heavy arms draping across the back of it, he focused squarely on Chris. "Tell me about Jake."

Chris began, "To use human vernacular, Commander, he's acting a fool."

For the first time since entering their quarters, Jared cracked a smile. "Oh, now, this I find impossible to believe."

Chris leaned forward, not an easy task on the deep sofa; Kelsey had sunk into the cavernous thing and wasn't going to be wobbling her pregnant way back up without assistance. No wonder Jared had chosen the straight-back chair.

"Seriously, sir—"

Jared cut Chris off. "I was being sarcastic." He laughed, brushing a hand through his long hair. "I've known the man for my whole life, and he's a hothead, a loner, and … the best damned soldier I've ever fought beside. So tell me what Jakob's trying to pull this time."

"He's not agreeable to support on Friday night. Doesn't want to risk the lives of anyone else—or his own deep cover. He believes that having others involved will compromise the integrity of the mission, especially concerning his ability to impersonate the human Jake Tierny."

Jared nodded thoughtfully. "He might well be right."

"From one hothead to another, sir," Chris replied, "I think he's going about this all wrong. And he's not going to listen to me; that's been made perfectly clear."

A frisson of fear shot down Kelsey's spine as she imagined Jake completely alone, facing their enemies. "But he will listen to you, Jared," she said, following Chris's train of thought.

"My point exactly." Chris nodded vigorously. "This might be our one real chance to figure out exactly what they're doing at these raves. I can't risk fu—screwing it up," he said, catching himself with an apologetic glance toward Kelsey, "because of his vendetta."

Kelsey kept her gaze on Jared, curious as to how he'd respond. He nodded thoughtfully. "Well, with what I just heard from Kelsey's father, I agree completely on this one."

"What did you hear?" Chris blurted before Kelsey could even get her own question out.

Jared filled them in on the details of his phone call from Patrick Wells, about his meeting with the vice president, that he was certain that the leader had been "replaced."

"Oh, damn," was all Chris could say, sinking back into the sofa. The words that came to Kelsey's mind were far more choice than that.

"So Dad's on his way here? Today?"

"He'll arrive in approximately four hours," Jared answered in a grim tone. "He will give us a full debriefing at that time. But he made one thing patently clear—that the man he met with yesterday is not the one he's known for many years."

"And what about Jake?" she asked, thinking about the danger their friend seemed determined to step into.

"He won't go on that operation, not without a full team. I concur with Harper completely."

Jared punched the comm on his forearm, hailing Jake, whose hoarse voice answered within seconds.

"Jakob, come to my quarters, please," he replied crisply. "Right away."

"And who else do you propose should go in on this thing?" Jake stormed, pacing the small sitting room in agitation. "Huh, J? Whose lives are you willing to lay on the line?"

The three of them—Kelsey, Jared, Chris—all stared at him with sickeningly patient expressions—and he felt totally jumped, physically and emotionally cramped in the oppressively small room. "Seriously," he barreled ahead, "tell me who you're willing to nominate for this ugly job. Who you're willing to lose."

Jared stood, facing him, and planted a heavy hand on his shoulder. "Certainly not you, Jakob."

"That's my call, not yours."

"I beg to differ, friend," Jared answered with a calm that only served to irritate Jake even more. "You go with support, or you stay back here on base."

"Meshdki, Jared, you're not being fair."

"It's not my job to be fair—it's my job to watch over my people, including you. Especially you."

Jake glared at his king, muttering low Refarian curses. "So who else do you propose? Tell me that."

On the sofa, Chris cleared his throat, unfolding a piece of paper. "Here's the lineup … you, obviously. Me—"

Jake growled despite himself. "Already covered that idea, Harper, a few hours ago."

"What's your problem with me going in?" Chris asked angrily.

Jake sighed, planting both hands on his hips. "Because if something happened to you on my watch, Hope would never forgive me."

"Funny, but that's exactly what she said to me about you going in alone."

"Whatever."

Jared interrupted. "You're not getting your way on this one, Jakob. Who else, Agent Harper?"

"Shelby Tyler, because she's already briefed in, and if there are any medical needs, she can cover them."

Jake hit the proverbial roof. "No way in fucking, godsdamned hell is Shelby coming!" he roared.

The entire room fell silent, the other three staring at him in shock. "Really," he added in a much calmer voice. "She's been through enough."

Nobody said a word; understanding glances were exchanged until Kelsey finally broke the tension. "So tell us how you really feel about her, why don't you, Jake?"

Tossing his hands into the air, he stormed out of the room, just needing some space. A moment later and Kelsey was right on top of him.

"Talk to me, Jake." She stared up at him patiently, such kindness and sympathy in her eyes that he felt like a total jerk for just wishing she'd leave him be.

"She has been through enough," he answered slowly. "You get me? That woman lost everything in the Texas fire, and that's enough in my book."

Kelsey reached for his arm. "Kind of like you?"

"Nothing like me."

"Look," Kelsey said, walking to the door that separated the two rooms and closing it. "You can talk to me. What's going on between the two of you?"

Jake dropped onto the end of the bed, raking a hand over his short-cropped hair. "I don't want her at risk like that. Okay?"

"Are you two involved?"

He muttered several curses. "You could say that."

"Then maybe she shouldn't go. I can get them to pull her off the roster if that's what you want. Jared would understand."

Jake lifted his eyes to hers, thinking how very much he loved the woman standing before him, his queen—yet she had none of the same memories that he did. "I'll do whatever you ask of me, Kelsey. You. I trust your wisdom."

She nodded, slipping both palms over her pregnant belly protectively. "I know all about Shelby's story, and so does Jared. I know the people she lost, what happened in that fire. My guess is that she'd want in on your fight … all the more so because she cares about you."

He waved her off. "She doesn't care about me. That's not it." He was lying right through his teeth, but he was willing to attempt subterfuge if it meant protecting Shelby.

"Oh, really? Then why did she jump at the chance to go fetch you from Texas? With all the heartache that just going back there had to have meant to her? Tell me, Jake, why would she have gone?"

He dropped his head heavily. "I hate the idea of a woman—especially her—being at risk."

"But she knows the Antousians, just like you do. She could offer strong support"

"Because she knows them, she shouldn't have to go through that."

"Maybe. But I have a suggestion."

"Yeah?"

"Let's ask her what she wants to do." Kelsey's innate wisdom shone forth from her eyes. "It should be her choice, not yours, Jake. She's strong, and it should be her call."

"But—"

"No arguing," she said, cutting him off. "As your queen, I have made my decision. Shelby calls her own shots on this one."