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NYSSA HATED SNEAKING around her own home, or rather her parents’ home, to avoid another confrontation with her mother. She’d be glad—more like ecstatic—when her mother and father returned to their regular duties, which included traveling to other cities and planets, so they’d stop interfering in her life.
She approached the staircase, wishing she still occupied the bedroom of her youth on the lower level. After she’d been caught bypassing security to slip out and meet with her friends, she’d been deemed a disappointment as an offspring and relocated to a room on the upper level. Far from any easily accessible exits, and, more importantly, any of the structure’s main access panels.
If not for Marna’s caring and generous heart, life for Erak and her would have been unbearable. The caregiver had lost her mate and never had offspring. She’d been with them for years, and Nyssa considered her to be more of a parent than her own. Most importantly, she understood Nyssa’s need for independence. She might caution her about bad decisions, advise her, support her, but Marna never tried to force her to be something she wasn’t.
Too bad Marna would be away from the city for the next two weeks helping her sister take care of her newborn child. Otherwise, Nyssa could have counted on her to help distract Renette.
It was times like this that Nyssa wished Erak lived closer and not in a secluded area on the opposite side of the city. His place had always been her refuge, and she’d made sure to leave some of her belongings there.
She stifled a groan, thinking about her current predicament, and realizing it was her own fault. She knew her parents were going to remain in the city for the duration of the conference, yet she hadn’t thought to take a change of clothing with her earlier when she’d left for her new assignment. If she had, she could have gone straight to Lyna’s place and avoided her mother completely.
So far, Nyssa had made it to her room, used the bathing unit, and dressed for the evening without being detected. Cautiously, she crept to the lower level, moving from one smooth stone step to the next. She paused in the middle of the staircase, listening for voices and scanning the spacious area below for any signs of movement. Greeted by silence and convinced she was alone, Nyssa descended the few remaining steps.
The only thing between her and freedom was a short corridor and the gathering room. She was a grown female, capable of making her own decisions, so why couldn’t she calm her racing pulse? Disgusted with herself, she shook her head and walked with confidence.
She rounded the corner, took two steps, and froze.
“Where do you think you are going?” Renette Dakros spoke in a harsh tone laced with the disappointment and disdain she’d practiced for years. Her mother rose gracefully from a nearby chair, her forceful presence filling the room as she blocked Nyssa’s path.
So close. Nyssa glanced longingly at the twenty feet separating her from the front entrance. She stifled a groan, taking a step backward to put some distance between them.
Renette placed her hands on her hips and clamped her lips together tighter than Nyssa thought possible. “Ariette and her brother Veros will be arriving shortly.” She glared, narrowing her golden eyes, which were several shades darker than Nyssa’s. “Was I not clear yesterday when I informed you about our royal guests and your required presence at the evening meal?”
Renette had been perfectly clear about her expectations. Nyssa simply chose to ignore her. She didn’t care that Veros was a Rysernian prince, nor did she care that he was unmated. She’d already heard enough stories from Erak about his unpleasant dealings with the siblings from Ryserna.
Normally, Nyssa made judgments about others based on her own observations and instincts. But because of her mother’s continued insistence that Veros would be the perfect male for her, she was willing to blindly trust her brother’s assessment. According to Erak, the prince was a sheraaat, or, as the humans would say—an asshole. Nyssa had no interest in meeting him, and she certainly didn’t want to sit through a meal trying to be polite to someone who would never be her perfect match.
Unless Nyssa was caught doing something deemed troublesome, her parents had little time for her and seldom gave her any attention. Unfortunately, once Erak had taken a mate, things had changed, and Nyssa was on Renette’s radar. Her overbearing mother was actively doing her best to find Nyssa a high-ranking diplomat to claim her. Lately, she’d resorted to inviting Nyssa to meals and having available males in attendance.
On one occasion, Renette had used welcoming Libby into the family as the excuse to get Nyssa to attend. Because she adored her brother’s mate and didn’t want to hurt her feelings, she’d suffered through the meal. Finally, after three hours, Nyssa couldn’t take any more of their male guest’s mundane bragging and unwanted groping. Her only enjoyment had been when she’d sprained his thumb after he’d reached under the table and slipped his hand between her thighs.
She didn’t know why her mother bothered. Nyssa wasn’t interested in attaining power or a higher status. She’d rather spend her life alone than be trapped with someone she didn’t care for, and she’d never agree to a joining with a male who was not her true mate.
Nyssa struggled against the urge to squirm as Renette’s scrutinizing glare studied her from top to bottom. “Your choice of outfits is inappropriate and unacceptable.” She made an all-encompassing wave with her hand. “Please go change immediately.”
Lowering her gaze, Nyssa examined the low-cut black top clinging to her moderate-sized breasts and the matching skirt that rode along her hips and stopped in the middle of her thighs. Her shirt’s short length exposed several inches of skin along her waist. Not seeing anything wrong or distasteful about the popular fashion she’d chosen to wear for her outing, she blew out a frustrated sigh.
She fisted her hands at her sides, restrained the urge to throttle her mother, and defiantly held her gaze. “I am not changing my clothes, and I will not be staying to entertain your guests.” She paused to take another breath. “I already have plans with Lyna.”
“You would rather spend time with that human than fulfill your obligations to this family.” Renette snorted, contempt dripping from every word.
Nyssa shouldn’t have been surprised by the comment. Renette had made it clear that neither of her children had aspired to reach her expectations. Until recently, Erak had received the majority of Renette’s criticisms, especially after becoming a hunter. As far as their parents were concerned, it was a low-level position. Now that Nyssa was working at the command facility, Renette feared she’d follow her brother’s path and was determined to control her life and force her into taking a mate.
In the past, when her mother’s overbearing actions reached intolerable levels, Nyssa stayed at Erak’s home. He’d made sure she had her own room and never refused her access. Now that he’d found his mate, Nyssa didn’t feel comfortable invading their privacy. She was happy for the couple, envied what they shared, and dreamed of one day finding it for herself.
Over the last few weeks, she’d spent several nights sleeping on a portable cot at Lyna’s place. As much as she enjoyed her human friend’s company and appreciated her offers to share her room in the dormitory-style building at hunter headquarters, she couldn’t stay there indefinitely. It was obviously time for Nyssa to get away from her mother and find a new place to live.
The only problem standing in her way was the law that stated unmated females were not allowed to live by themselves in the city. Without protection, it was too easy for some of the unruly dominant males to stake an unwelcome claim. Other than Erak, Nyssa didn’t have any relatives nearby she could live with, leaving her with two options. She could either become a hunter and live near her friend, or she could leave the planet. Neither choice was what Nyssa truly wanted.
Nyssa enjoyed her independence and refused to end up like her parents, to settle for a joining that furthered their positions with the Tarron political society. She wouldn’t bond with a male unless they shared love and were destined to be together.
Her thoughts wandered, and an image of Dawson popped into her mind. She absently touched her chin, remembering how the caress of his fingertips had made her skin tingle.
“Nyssa.” Renette shook her shoulder. “Do not ignore me.”
If only I could. “I have to go.” Refusing to give in to Renette’s demands, Nyssa ignored her mother’s fuming expression and walked toward the door, then slammed her palm on the sensor. Nyssa knew she’d regret it later, but she couldn’t resist antagonizing her mother one last time before she left. “Please give Ariette and Veros my deepest regrets.”
#
DAWSON WALKED INTO the quarters he shared with Holten and Kyllan, the door automatically swishing closed behind him. His uncle, perched on the edge of a lounger and hovering over a viewing screen, didn’t bother to look up when he entered.
Kyllan was on the other side of the room, casually sprawled in an oversized chair with his long legs stretched out and crossed at the ankles. His dark eyes had a catlike quality similar to the Tarrons’, which was understandable since Antherians could shift into a creature that resembled an Earth panther. Their animal side was twice the size of any predatory cat, and substantially more deadly.
Realizing there was no emergency and he could have spent more time with Nyssa, Dawson turned his irritated glare on his partner. “What was so urgent?”
“Did we interrupt something?” Kyllan asked, presenting an amused smile and exposing the tips of two canine fangs.
Yes, and screw your uncanny animal instincts. “No.” Dawson pushed the image of Nyssa from his mind, then plopped in the seat opposite his uncle. “What did you need?”
“Were you satisfied with the security team?” Kyllan asked.
Dawson swallowed back the urge to groan. His partner had an annoying habit of sidestepping topics. He’d never been able to figure out if Kyllan purposely delighted in irritating him or if he was wired that way. “Their measures are impressive. I couldn’t find anything to complain about.” Having been obsessively thorough in his assessment, Dawson meant every word of the compliment.
Holten, finally noticing that he’d entered the room, jerked his attention away from the screen. “You’re back. Good.” He straightened his shoulders, gripped the back of his neck, and tipped his head from side to side. “You already know that Dale Keagan will be in attendance at the conference.”
Dawson had assumed as much since the man owned the mining company producing the dryterron ore. He’d already made inquiries and learned that he was scheduled to arrive in the morning. Keagan might have plenty of qualified people on his payroll, but the attacks on his ships were costing him a fortune. When money was at stake, Keagan had a reputation for handling the issues himself.
“I wanted you to be aware that Myles Graven will also be at the conference.”
“Why would the patrol commander be interested in attending? I thought his job was to provide security for the mining community on Rivean,” Dawson said.
“It is, and that’s what worries me,” Holten said.
Kyllan released a disgusted growl. “The male is worthless. He will not address any threats unless they are on the planet’s surface, not even to save helpless females.”
Dawson knew Kyllan was referring to the reports they’d read about several women who’d been abducted from the planet by Klorthons. Myles had contacted the hunters for aid instead of sending any of his men to pursue them.
“Has he provided any protection for the ore ships since the attacks started?” Dawson asked.
“If he did, it hasn’t been documented.” Holten ran a finger across the screen. “I don’t trust him and want you...” Holten glanced between Kyllan and him. “Both of you, to keep a close eye on him.”
“You think he’s here to cause trouble?” Kyllan uncrossed his legs and straightened in the chair.
“I do.” Holten pinched the bridge of his nose. “It’s no secret that he despises all nonhuman species, Tarrons most of all. I wouldn’t put it past him to try and make the hunters look bad to instill doubt in the other officials about their ability to protect the ore shipments.”
“Could Keagan be behind this?” In Dawson’s experience, the person nobody would suspect was sometimes the one responsible.
“He’s ruthless and greedy, but we can’t find any evidence tying him to the incidents. He has nothing to gain from the thefts.” Holten tapped the screen again. “One of my sources back on Earth was able to access some classified information regarding the attacks.”
“Anything interesting or helpful?” Dawson shifted forward, propping his elbows on his knees. They were all aware that five vessels had been overtaken so far, their cargo holds stripped, and their two-man crews murdered.
“I’m still reviewing the data and will let you know if I find anything.”
“I could help if you want another pair of eyes,” Dawson offered.
“What I want is for you two to get out of here for the night. You’ve been spending way too much time babysitting me and haven’t made any time for fun.” Holten got to his feet and crossed the room to the small food-preparation area. He retrieved a water container from the portable cooling unit and took a long sip. “I understand there’s a bar not far from here where quite a few of the hunters and locals hang out.”
Dawson pushed out of the chair. “I’ll go if you come with us.” He worried about his uncle. It had been two years since his aunt had passed away. Holten had thrown himself into his work and seldom socialized unless it was to attend a politically based event. The additional pressure and stress caused by trying to resolve the recent dilemma was affecting Holten’s health. There were dark circles beneath his eyes, and Dawson had noticed a lack in his appetite since they’d left Earth.
“No. You two don’t need an old-timer like me tagging along. Besides, I need to get through this new information and prep for the conference.” He clapped his hand on Dawson’s shoulder. “I know that look. I’ll be fine, so stop worrying.”
“You know my rule.” Dawson presented him with a stern expression. “One of us stays with you at all times.”
“I do, which is why I already contacted Ryos to send over one of his men to stay with me.” Holten glanced at Kyllan. “As the ambassador, and the one who pays for your services, I am ordering you to take my nephew out and make sure he has a good time.”
“If I must.” Kyllan feigned his annoyance, leisurely got to his feet, and strolled toward them. “Come. I promise not to give you grief for wearing the annoying hat.”
