Tori looked into the spinning vortex, heart thundering in her chest. Lor was offering her an adventure unlike anything she’d ever dreamed possible. How could she refuse?
He could enslave you or abandon you on an alien world. What do you really know about this man? her logical side shouted. You would be entirely at his mercy.
“Tori.” His deep voice cut through her mental tug-of-war. “I have to go.”
He’d been protective and as honest as the situation allowed. For God’s sake, he’d taken a bullet for her. Well, not a bullet exactly, but he’d thrown his body in front of hers to protect her from an energy pulse that undoubtedly would have killed her. What else could he do to prove he was worthy of trust?
He lowered his arm and smiled as disappointment crept into his gaze. “I’ll see you when I get back.”
Panic made her bold. She would not let uncertainty rob her of this opportunity. “No. I’m coming.” She rushed toward him and the rest happened in a surreal blur.
His arms wrapped around her and he pulled her into the portal. Reality spun away in a breath-stealing rush of acceleration. Her body felt weighted and weightless at the same time. Colors streamed and spun, trailing out behind them like ribbons on a kite. She clutched his back and pressed her face into his throat, terrified yet exhilarated.
This was real. She was in the arms of an alien and they were soaring toward his homeworld. Giddy excitement bubbled within her and she couldn’t hold back a smile.
The oppressive heaviness lessoned. Were they slowing down?
She lifted her head as their surroundings gradually refocused. The streams of light became silhouettes in the distance.
“Almost there,” he whispered as one of his hands swept down the back of her hair.
The touch had been meant to soothe and reassure her, but her body warmed and hummed, spinning back to life with unfulfilled need. This wasn’t good. He shouldn’t be able to ignite her senses with just one stroke of his hand.
His arm moved to her waist and his body rotated away from her as he guided her out of the conduit. Her legs trembled and vertigo sent her head spinning. Apparently expecting the reaction, his arm remained snugly at her waist.
“The dizziness will pass. Just breathe.”
She inhaled through her nose and exhaled through her mouth, inadvertently filing her head with his scent. Clean yet slightly spicy, like cloves or hot apple cider. Was she smelling his cologne or did all Ontarians smell like October?
As her senses cleared, she looked around. They were in an open room. Rather than a door, a wide archway led to whatever lay beyond. There was no furniture or decorations of any kind. “What is this?”
“A landing zone. Most Mystics can teleport, so we use these landing zones to minimize the disruption as we come and go.”
“Where are we exactly? I know we’re on Ontariese.”
“This is called the Conservatory. It’s a training facility and global headquarters for Ontarian Mystics. This is my home.” He took her hand and led her out of the landing zone. A short corridor led to a covered gallery.
Tori’s steps lagged as she took in the tranquil beauty of the surrounding grounds. Tall trees flanked a wide lawn. The grass was thick and vivid green, but the leaves on the trees had a touch of blue mixed in with their green, making them appear teal in the dappled sunlight. And the sky was almost purple. Night had been falling as they left Earth and yet here it was midday. She smiled at the naive thought. This planet rotated around a different star. Why had she expected its orbit to be synchronized with Earth’s?
“Coming?” Lor gave her hand a little tug.
“Sorry. I’ve never been on a different planet before.”
“You’re right.” He released her hand and guided her to the railing. “I should allow you to soak it in.”
The gallery was lined with flowerbeds, the blooms colorful and fragrant. The pillars supporting the gallery’s roof had narrow trellises. Climbing flowers, similar to small roses, yet with multi-colored blooms, covered the trellises in a twisting weave of contrasting shades.
“It’s so beautiful.” A shadowy shape barely visible in the sky drew her attention. She leaned out so she could see the shape more clearly. “Is that another planet or a moon?”
“Ontariese has two moons. That’s the day moon, so named for obvious reasons. It’s the larger of the two. The night moon is desolate, incapable of sustaining life.”
“People live on the day moon?”
“The day moon is home of the City of Tears, our primary military compound. We’ll be visiting there after I’ve checked in with Head Master Tal.”
Finally ready to see more, she moved away from the railing. “Is he top dog around here?”
Lor chuckled. “Yes. Tal is the ultimate authority and my mentor.”
His hand settled at the small of her back as he led her into the Conservatory. They skirted a large open space that looked rather like a gymnasium. “What goes on in here?”
“Training classes mostly, but occasionally we hold competitions. We are taught how to control our impulses, but that doesn’t keep us from being competitive.”
They passed through an archway into a sort of lobby and three additional archways led to other parts of the building. “Do you guys not believe in doors?”
“Energy flows more smoothly without disruptions. Few of our activities require privacy.”
“You said you live here. Doesn’t your apartment have a door?”
“My home is separate from the main building and, yes, it has a door.”
She moved along at his side. Even the corridors were wide and airy. The ceilings were high and dramatically arched. The entire facility was bathed in natural light, yet occasionally she spotted glowing red stones inset in walls. “Are those decorations or are the stones a light source?”
“They’re called firestones and they emit both light and heat as required. The only disadvantage is they must be charged with Mystic energy to work, so those without Mystic abilities must return them to us from time to time.”
His mouth tensed and he quickly moved on down the corridor. “What’s wrong? Do you charge outrageous prices for this service or something?”
“Our fees are reasonable, but you’re not the first to make the claim. It’s costly to operate a facility as large as the Conservatory. Some apprentices can afford the admissions fee, but many cannot. The revenue generated by firestones allows us to train many more apprentices than we would be able to serve otherwise. Vee, the founder, was determined that cost would never prevent worthy apprentices from reaching their full potential.”
“Seems like a wise compromise.”
They came to a door and Tori smiled. Apparently the Head Master deserved privacy.
Lor didn’t knock or ring a bell, but the door slid soundlessly into the wall. Had he asked for entrance telepathically? He motioned for her to precede him and she moved into the room. Sunlight streamed in from numerous windows, drawing Tori’s attention to the surrounding scenery. Out one side was a garden with a stone-paved walking path. Rolling hills and the purple horizon spread in front of her.
“I wasn’t expecting you back so soon.” A deep voice drew her attention to the man standing in front of a transparent desk. Head Master Tal, no doubt. Dark hair swept back from his face and trailed down behind him in a thick coil. With pale skin, angular features and piercing grayish eyes, he’d make a convincing vampire. His gaze shifted from Lor to her as he floated toward her. Were his legs moving beneath those long robes or had he just command himself forward? “Tal dar Aune.” He inclined his head rather than offering his hand, but it was clearly a greeting. “And you are?”
“Victoria Logan, but everyone calls me Tori.”
“Welcome to Ontariese.” He motioned to the chairs in front of his desk as he skirted the desk and slipped in behind it. Holy crap. His hair flowed well past his knees in a shiny black spiral. “What’s going on, Lor. Why have you returned so quickly and brought a human to the Conservatory?” A bit of the formality left his speech and concern warmed his smoke-colored gaze. His eyes didn’t swirl like Lor’s had when he’d lost control, but they didn’t look human either. Gray, brown and streaks of green combined to create the unusual shade. Or at least unusual from her perspective. This might be the most common color on Ontariese.
She sat in one of the chairs and Lor sat in the other. Lor seemed comfortable with his mentor even though power and authority emanated from Tal. Tori tried not to be intimidated, but everything was still so new.
Feeling a bit awkward, she folded her hands in her lap and waited for either of them to ask her a question. She had just about relaxed the tension in her shoulders when her temples pulsed and light erupted around the Head Master. The illuminated outline shimmered and flared, streaking off into the distance as shapes within the light twisted and changed. What the hell?
Lor heard the displeasure in his mentor’s tone even though it was extremely subtle. Only Mystics and their apprentices were allowed in the Conservatory. He really should have taken Tori to the visitor center before he spoke with Tal. “Time is of the essence, sir. Decisions need to be made and a new strategy established.” He quickly told Tal all that had happened.
“I appreciate the update, but what do you want from me? Overlord Lyrik is in charge of the Shadow Assassins.” He finally smiled as he added, “For some reason the Joint Council didn’t trust me to be involved with their integration.”
Tal might have reluctantly accepted his daughter’s choice to join with her former captor, but he obviously maintained a healthy distrust of Shadow Assassins. Lor more than shared his mentor’s opinion and recent events had reinforced his suspicions. “I wouldn’t have bothered you, except—I was hoping Odintar Voss was available.”
“Again, you should have gone directly to the COT. Trey invariably steals my strongest trainers and puts them to work as spies. But then you know that better than most. Odintar was on the day moon last time I spoke with Trey. I don’t know if he’s still there.”
“Then I won’t waste any more of your time.” He scooted his chair back then stood.
“I will always make time for you.” Tal stood as well. “Don’t take my impatience personally. The day has been more hectic than usual.” He looked at Tori and smiled. “Are you aware of your abilities? I keep sensing ripples of Mystic energy coming from you.”
Her lips pressed together nervously then she pushed to her feet. “I’ve been having odd reactions every time I meet an Ontarian.”
“What did you see when you look at Head Master Tal?” He should have realized she’d had one of her visions. No wonder she’d been so quiet.
“It’s hard to explain.” She laughed. “I know, I said that after Allenton.” She glanced at Tal as if she were afraid it would happen again. “I saw a glowing outline all around him and then streaks of light shot out like shooting stars. Inside the light, I could see shadows forming shapes then twisting and turning into other shapes.” Her troubled gaze returned to Lor as she said, “You told me you’d explain what it meant, but you never did.”
“You’re a sensitive,” Tal told her. “You see the Mystic abilities of others. Once you learn to interpret the images, you will have an accurate glimpse into the soul of every person you meet. There are other uses for the gift, but they require training.”
“Why had it never happened until I encountered Lor and Allenton?”
Lor reached over and took her hand, hoping to ease her obvious uncertainty. “The vast majority of humans have no Mystic energy. There had never been anything to trigger your gift until you sensed me in the casino.”
“Her impression of me was accurate,” Tal mused. “Have each of her visions been as insightful?”
“They have,” Lor told him.
“Accurate?” Tori flared. “None of it made any sense to me. What the hell does it mean?”
“You sense heat when you look at me because I’m able to manipulate fire,” Lor used a calm, caressing tone, trying to soothe her.
“I am able to shift forms, communicate over vast distances and transfer energy.” Tal could do a lot more than that, but those were the skills Tori’s untrained gift had revealed. “Your visions will become even more specific as you hone your skills.”
“This is all fascinating, but how did I end up with this sensitivity in the first place? Are you hinting that I’m not human?”
“Ontarians have been moving among humans for centuries,” Tal explained. “For the most part we observe without interfering, but every rule is broken on occasion.” His hair flowed over his shoulder and formed a loose coil around his neck, a sure sign that he was agitated. “This could also explain why her sister was targeted. Two hybrids would have a better chance of conceiving than a hybrid and a full-blood human.”
Tori’s fingers tightened around his hand as she reacted to Tal’s words. “You think the Shadow Assassins will hunt females with Ontarian blood? How would they even know who to target? It must not show up on routine blood tests because I’ve had many and no one ever told me I’m part alien.”
“Humans and Ontarians are genetic siblings. That’s part of the reason we are so fascinated by your species. Blood tests generally screen for something specific. Doctors would have needed a reason to go looking for the genetic anomalies you doubtlessly possess.”
“How strong is her Ontarian energy? Are you thinking parent or grandparent?”
“It’s hard for me to tell. The energy surges come and go. If she’s willing to have her blood tested while she’s here, the scientists at the COT could provide her with a complete genetic profile. I’ll also ask Charlotte if she has time to scan her tomorrow. Shall I have one of the guest bungalows set up for Tori’s use?”
It was another subtle reminder of the rules. Lor couldn’t take her to his cottage. His quarters were considered part of the Conservatory grounds. He let go of her hand and clasped his behind his back in a belated show of deference to his mentor. “That would be appreciated, sir. If things take longer on the COT than I expect, I’ll contact you.”
“Very good.” Tal inclined his head toward Tori. “It was nice meeting you. I hope everything turns out well with your sister.”
“Thank you.” Tori sounded distracted, but she said nothing more as she followed him out into the corridor. The privacy panel slid closed behind them and she whispered, “Who is Charlotte?”
“Tal’s life mate. She’s also High Queen of Ontariese.”
She pivoted to face him, her feet suddenly rooted to the floor. “Head Master of the Mystics is married to the High Queen? Talk about a power couple. Why does he want her to scan me?”
“Sensitivity, like yours, is usually passive. You cannot affect the powers that you sense. Charlotte, however, possesses the active version of your gift. She’s called a catalyst. Not only can she sense the gifts of others she can manipulate them.”
“In what way?”
“She can release latent abilities and amplify the strength of established abilities. She’s an extraordinary woman. I think you’ll like her.” He motioned for them to continue down the corridor and she feel instep beside him.
“It’s bizarre to think about all of these gifts. Humans are in awe of anyone who can demonstrate any sort of paranormal ability. Mainly because there are so few who can.”
“You’ll get used to it. Sixty-eight percent of Ontarians possess some sort of gift.”
“How many of those are accepted by the Conservatory?” She looked up at him with obvious speculation.
“Half of one percent.” He tried to remain humble about his accomplishments, but he had worked extremely hard to achieve his goals. “And even fewer successfully complete their training.”
“In other words, don’t piss you off?”
He chuckled. “I would never harm you, no matter how angry I became.” Rather than using the landing area, he took her outside. The afternoon was mild and he suspected she would enjoy a short stroll across the grounds. They used the perimeter walkway, following the outer edge of the back lawn rather than cutting across.
“Where are we going now?”
“Teleportation is only allowed in designated areas inside the Conservatory, so we’re going to step out of bounds.”
“And then?” she prompted with a playful smile.
“And then I’ll flash us to the City of Tears.”
“Tal mentioned someone named Trey. Who is he?”
“Trey is Tal’s older brother. Trey dar Aune is Director of Covert Operations at the City of Tears. I’m primarily a Mystic, but I also work with Director dar Aune when specific missions require my skillset.”
She nodded thoughtfully. “That’s what Tal meant about you understanding better than most. Director dar Aune attempted to recruit you?”
“He did, but I feel my true calling is at the Conservatory. I would never agree to work for him fulltime.”
“Never say never.” She laughed. “You’re daring the fates to make a fool out of you.”
“All right, I can’t foresee a situation that would make me reconsider my decision.”
“Fair enough. You mentioned another name. Odin-something.”
“Odintar Voss,” he told her. “We went through training together.”
“He’s a Master Level mage, like you?”
“His abilities are different than mine, but we each have earned that title. Apparently Director dar Aune was successful in recruiting him. I hadn’t heard. Odintar took an off-world assignment a couple of lunar cycles—or Earth months—ago, but I thought he would return to the Conservatory.”
“Are you friends?”
“More like colleagues. We’ve worked together frequently and I trust his abilities, but we don’t really socialize.”
They reached the end of the walk path, which signaled the Conservatory’s official southern boundary. The Mystic shield extended quite a bit farther, protecting the visitor center and bungalows, but as soon as they moved beyond the walk path, Lor was free to teleport.
“Ready?” He stepped into the wild grass, coarser and longer than the manicured lawn.
After she paused to look around, she joined him in the wild grass. “Do you socialize? This place seems pretty secluded.”
“Nowhere is secluded if you can teleport.”
“Good point.” She moved closer and lightly placed her hand on his chest.
He wrapped his arms loosely around her, torn between their need to get moving and his desire to explore their attraction.
“You never answered my question,” she pointed out in a breathy whisper.
“Do I socialize?” She nodded, her gaze drifting down toward his lips. “My responsibilities keep me pretty busy but I…” His need to kiss her won the battle and he covered her mouth with his. Her lips were warm and parted, waiting for him, so he deepened the kiss. Easing past her lips, he stroked her tongue and caressed the silky inside of her mouth.
Her arms slid up and around his neck as she arched against him. He could feel her breasts against his chest and desperately wanted to stroke her nipple with his thumb, or better yet, tug on the sensitive buds with his lips. He knew how soft and responsive her breasts were and he couldn’t wait to see them again, feel them warm and peaked beneath his fingers.
Knowing this was neither the time nor the place to fan that particular flame, he eased back and looked into her eyes.
Her lids drooped hiding her gaze, but she smiled. “You should stop doing that or I’m going to forget we just met.”
“It doesn’t feel like we just met.” And it wasn’t just a come-on. He’d never met a person on any world with whom he felt more comfortable.
“I know. That’s why you need to stop kissing me.”
“You seemed to be enjoying my kiss.”
“Another reason you have to stop doing it.” She released a frustrated breath. “I don’t fall into bed with men I’ve just met, but sex is all I can think about whenever you touch me.”
He gently tilted her chin up until she looked back into his eyes. “I’m not sure what’s happening between us. This feels different than a simple flirtation. Still, I’m willing to take it slow if that’s what you need.”
“I don’t know what I need.” She hugged him and buried her face against his chest. Unfortunately, he suspected that uncertainty not affection had motivated her actions. “I can’t believe I’m on another planet. What was I thinking?”
He also heard humor in her tone, so he allowed her momentary retreat. “We still have a lot to accomplish before we head back to Earth. Let’s postpone this conversation until after we’ve spoken with Trey.”
“Deal.” Her hands swept up and down his back before settling around his waist.
He pulled her more firmly against his body and closed his eyes, picturing the main tower cluster. Ever aware of rank and position, the Overlord’s office took up the entire top floor of the tallest tower and Trey’s office was situated on the top floor of the second highest tower. Lor found all the formality silly, but he was a Mystic at heart not a soldier.
Broadcasting the current access code, Lor teleported to the landing platform on top of the second highest tower. The platform was large enough for compact shuttles and helojets. They were met by a uniformed guard, who scanned Lor’s face to confirm his identity. When Tori’s face didn’t register, the guard called in for authorization.
Tori didn’t seem to mind the delay. She stood well back from the platform’s edge, staring out over the City of Tears. “It’s so beautiful. The buildings are lavish and the grounds are amazing. Why is an army base so…luxurious?”
“The City of Tears was originally a leisure colony only the rich and powerful could afford.”
She glanced at him then back into the distance, curiosity shaping her expression. “When and why did it become the headquarters for your military?”
“The Great Conflict changed everything about Ontariese. The City of Tears is just one of the most overt.”
“Is the war still being fought?”
“The actual war is officially over, but I’m not sure the resulting conflicts will ever resolve. Ontariese is fractured and deeply scarred by its past.”
She nodded. “Earth has had several Great Conflicts. One was even called ‘the war to end all wars’, but of course it didn’t.”
“The Director is ready for you now,” the guard called out.
Lor took Tori’s hand and led her through a set of automatic doors and down a staircase. A security door was scanned open by the guard posted at the entrance and Lor guided Tori into the luxurious office. The outer wall followed the curvature of the tower, giving the office a spectacular view of the city.
“Wow,” Tori whispered under her breath so he let her soak in the grandeur. “This is even better than the roof.”
“Just got off the link with by brother,” Trey began, forgoing the usual formalities.
Tori dragged her gaze away from the view and gasped. Her eyes rounded and her mouth hung open.
Trey just laughed. “I had a similar reaction the first time I saw a human.”
Every Ontarian Tori had seen so far had a distinct resemblance to humans. Director dar Aune’s appearance was not unusual for an Ontarian, but the only thing ‘human’ about him was the basic arrangement of his features. His skin had a rich golden tone and his hair was a wild combination of red, yellow, and orange. And the rotation of his amber eyes was more pronounced than any she’d seen so far.
“I’m sorry.” She snapped herself out of her stupor and blushed to the roots of her hair. “Everyone else has looked so…”
“Normal?” Trey chuckled again. “I suspect Lor was easing you into it.” He motioned to the chairs in front of his desk, much as his brother had done. “Have a seat and cut to the chase. Did Allenton turn traitor or not?”
“I’m not sure. A good deal of their conversation was in Rodyte. Is Odintar here? I was hoping he could translate their conversation for us.”
Trey turned toward a multi-level console and activated his holodisplay. “Person-to-person page, Odintar Voss.”
Odintar’s image formed within the wavering grid. He was naked to the waist and gleaming with sweat. Apparently the page had interrupted his training routine. “What is it, Director?”
Lor glanced at Tori and smiled. She was staring at the image with nearly the same wide-eyed wonder she’d shown to Trey. At least she’d kept her mouth shut this time. Odintar’s coloring wasn’t as striking as Trey’s, but he gave off a savage air that effortlessly intimidated. Lor had seen hundreds of people trip over themselves trying to get out of Odintar’s way.
“Throw on a shirt and come up here. It won’t take long, but it’s important.”
“Understood.” The image blinked off.
“It will take a few for him to make it up here, so fill me in on the rest. What about Allenton’s team? Did you try contacting their headquarters before you returned?”
“Yes, sir.” Lor stopped just short of rolling his eyes. “All four of his men were blocking my signal, so I decided not to flash into the middle of an ambush.”
“Understandable. Is there any chance Allenton didn’t see an option and decided to play along? You guys had been spinning your wheels for almost a week.”
“There’s a slim possibility he was using a pretend defection to find out where they’ve been hiding, but I don’t think that’s what happened.”
Trey sighed and folded his hands on his desktop. “Neither do I. Varrik has done an amazing job with the general troops, but the hunters have been a problem from day one. They were used to giving orders not receiving them, so they all balked against the changes.”
Tori tried her best not to stare as Lor went back over the details of the past day, but Director dar Aune was simply gape-worthy. His hair alone was a work of art. Individual strands of red, orange, yellow and gold flowed to his shoulders in mesmerizing waves. She’d never seen anything like it. His features were sculpted with rugged handsomeness, unlike his almost ethereal brother. She’d thought Lor’s eyes were amazing when they started spinning, but the rotation had been subtle compared to Trey’s. She could only glance into them without feeling woozy. She’d just about convinced herself that Ontariese wasn’t that different from Earth and now she suspected she had only glimpsed its wonders.
The double doors slid open and the hunk she’d seen on the holographic phone strode into the office. He had a towel draped around his neck, but hadn’t bothered with a shirt as instructed. He glanced at her then back at his commander and said something she couldn’t understand.
“Use English,” Trey instructed. “And we’ll forgive your appearance. I should have told you I had visitors.”
Odintar nodded toward Lor. “It’s been a long time.”
Damn the man was cut. Every inch of his body was utterly ripped—sort of like Lor’s. Maybe a shirtless policy for Ontarian men wasn’t such a bad idea.
“This is Tori Logan,” Lor introduced. “Her sister was targeted and circumstances made it necessary to inform her of what was going on.”
Odintar looked at her more closely, but his starkly male features revealed nothing of his thoughts. With a square chin and strong jawline, he could have posed for classical sculptors. For that matter, any artist would love his lines. There was no rotation in his ink-black eyes. In fact the irises were so dark she couldn’t tell where his pupils began, if he even had pupils. Was he Ontarian? He looked more like the Shadow Assassins than the Ontarians.
“What do you need from me?” One corner of his mouth lifted in a sexy smile as his gaze continued to drill into hers.
“A translation.” Lor stood, blocking Odintar’s view of Tori. “She overheard a conversation in Rodyte. I need to know what was said.”
“Are you going to be all right with me touching your woman?”
She didn’t need to see his face to understand the challenge in his question. They were like two stags scraping the ground with their hooves, preparing to fight over a female.
“Not a chance.” Lor laughed. “Which is why you’ll access the image in my mind.”
She couldn’t hold back a smile. Lor’s possessiveness was adorable.
Odintar moved closer to Lor and touched the side of his face. Lor hadn’t needed to touch her to flow into her mind. Weren’t they both fully trained Mystics?
“‘We have waited too long and scarified too much to settle for half portions.’” Odintar’s voice became a monotone drone as he translated the argument. Apparently, translating the emotions driving the argument required more effort than he was willing to expend. “‘This isn’t some impulse or last resort. We have made plans and we have resources. Don’t turn your back on what you are and become a mindless slave to another master.’” Odintar stepped back and looked at Trey. “This can’t surprise anyone. The hunters have been discontent since leaving the Shadow Maze.”
“What else do they say?” Trey prompted. “Does Nazerel give any details about these plans or resources?”
“They debate whether or not to kill these two and Allenton talks him into retreat.”
“How?” Trey asked. “Strictly from a strategic standpoint it made more since to kill them.”
Tori shivered. The thought had crossed her mind more than once in the past few hours.
Odintar moved closer to the desk and Lor pivoted as well. Now Tori could see all three men.
“Allenton wisely points out that Lor is Head Master Tal’s pet and Head Master Tal is joined with the most powerful female on Ontariese. Unless Nazerel was ready for all-out war, it made sense to leave them alive. Besides they’re protected by their nanites. No conventional scanner can detect them.”
“What nanites?” Lor looked from one man to the other, clearly annoyed by the surprise.
Odintar chuckled. “Allenton wasn’t in the mood to share, I take it?”
“The last generation of hunters were all injected with nanites,” Trey explained. “They have numerous functions, but the most important at the moment is their ability to scramble locator signals.”
“It takes a Shadow Assassin to sense a Shadow Assassin.” Odintar sounded like he was repeating some well-known quote. He turned from the desk and looked at Lor. “Who are you taking back with you?”
“Are you available for the mission? I’d welcome your expertise.”
“I’m not sure there’s going to be another mission,” Trey said. “At least not right away.”
“What?” Tori shot to her feet. “That son of a bitch has targeted my sister. If it hadn’t been me at her apartment instead of Angie, she would be with him right now. I convinced her to stay away from Las Vegas, but what’s to keep Nazerel from widening his search. He didn’t strike me as the type of a man to give up.”
“She’s right.” Odintar crossed his beefy arms over his chest and Tori felt her mouth water. Were all of Trey’s operatives this…yummy? “If Nazerel has her scent, he’ll keep at it no matter how long it takes.”
Though he’d been supporting her position, the statement made Tori feel sick. “Angie’s a pain in the ass, but she doesn’t deserve what they have planned for her.”
Trey’s penetrating gaze shifted to Lor as he asked, “You want command of the Mystic Militia?” The challenge in his tone was unmistakable. “Allenton only ended up with the post because you turned it down. You were, and still are, my first choice. But this is an all-or-nothing deal. I know you’re a Mystic at heart, but you’re also a damn good operative.”
“He’s afraid of being disloyal to your brother.”
The scowl on Lor’s face told her Odintar was right.
Trey waved away the concern. “Tal’s used to it. I always steal his best people.”
Lor looked at her and shook his head. “You tried to warn me, didn’t you?”
“Never say never.” She softened the “I told you so” with an encouraging smile. She would love to know Angie’s fate was being guarded by Lor, but this was his future. He couldn’t do it for her.
“If I do this, it’s on my terms.”
All playfulness left the room. Trey sat up straighter and Odintar uncrossed his arms. Tori didn’t understand the shift in mood, but she could sure as hell sense it.
“And your terms are?”
“It will be a true balance of Mystic and militia. I want two of your strongest, most experienced soldiers to contrast Odintar and me. Those with Mystic abilities have a different perspective from those without. I need both. Odintar will be the only member with any tie to the Shadow Assassins. Not even Varrik will be in the loop or I walk.”
“Done.”
“I wasn’t finished.”
Trey chuckled then his expression turned serious again. “Go on.”
“I want the Sentinel. We’ll never find them if we’re paralyzed by human technology. It will also give us a moveable headquarters.”
Apparently that was a larger order to fill. Was the Sentinel a spaceship? Trey activated the hologrid and searched through some sort of diagram. All of the lettering was in Ontarian, so Tori had no idea what he was doing.
“She’s due in day after tomorrow. I’ll have to reroute her follow-up runs, but I understand why you want her. She’s a great little ship.”
“Any chance you can make it sooner?”
Trey laughed and leaned back in his chair, folding his hands behind his head. “Now you’re just being a bastard. Two days is pushing it. The Sentinel requires a six-person crew, and your human cutie doesn’t count.”
Lor looked at Odintar. “Are you in on this?”
“Absolutely.”
“Good.” He turned back to Trey and added, “I’ll choose another Master Level mage and you choose another soldier. That way there will be three of each.”
Trey stood and reached across the desk to shake Lor’s hand. “Welcome to Covert Ops, Commander dar Joon.”