by Susan Hayes
“I wasn’t napping. I was hypothermic.”
“You were snoring.”
“I was not! You’re the one who snores.” Sevda stuck her tongue out at her mate. “Or are you forgetting last week’s nap in the orchard? You made so much noise the noats ran for the barn thinking there was a storm.”
They all laughed, and the meeting ended on a high note. Denz forced himself to wait a few minutes so he could talk to everyone and get their opinions. They were all in agreement. Tyran would inform Colonel Archer about Torex, Phaedra would use her cyber-jockey skills to track down the ships and crews, and they’d meet again in a few days when they had more information.
“Good luck tonight!” Zanyr called as Denz left.
A chorus of well wishes resounded from everyone, and then Edge’s voice rose above the others. “I hope this means I won’t see you out running tomorrow morning. If I do…”
Denz made an obscene gesture and left without responding. He wasn’t about to admit that he shared the cyborg’s sentiment. He wanted nothing more than to sleep in late with Shadow in his arms, but before they reached that point, he had a meal to plan, and so far all he had prepared was dessert.
He pulled out his terminal and put in a message request to his fathers. It was time he told them about Shadow, and while they were quizzing him about her, he’d ask them to help plan this dinner. They’d managed to impress his mother and two other females over the years. Surely, they had some advice they could pass on to their eldest son.
12
Kade strapped himself in and made ready for takeoff. Normally the thought of heading out on another run filled him with anticipation, but today was different. In all his years of flying, he’d never left behind someone he cared about. Not like this.
Her presence lingered like a ghost. She may have only been onboard for one night, but she’d left her mark on more than just his mattress. He kept expecting to hear her footsteps on the deck behind him or feel her arm slipping around his waist as she pressed herself against his back.
The thought of her had his cock hard and aching, and his next breath carried a hint of her scent deep into his lungs. “Ship, do we have a problem with the air recyclers?”
“All systems are operating within expected parameters, Captain D’vrayn,” the AI replied.
“Check it again.” Because either the ship was malfunctioning, or he was. If he was imagining her scent before he had even left the planet, how bad was it going to get when he had to leave Shadow behind for weeks or months?
It took him a few minutes longer than normal to run through all the system checks. His mind kept wandering back to the night he’d spent with Shadow. His mahaya, bonded to him by blood now. She’d looked damned good with his mark at her throat and his harani on her arm. He’d wanted to go with her, to walk through the streets of the colony and let everyone see the female he’d been blessed with. The beings here were happy for them, which was more than his own family had managed. He still hadn’t heard back from them. Not even a single line of text acknowledging his message.
He wasn’t asking for forgiveness. He wasn’t even asking for money. But if something were to happen to him, he wanted them to know he had a mate who would need to be cared for.
He tried not to dwell on why he was making contingency plans. Space was dangerous. Accidents happened. It was just good sense… And, if he were being honest with himself, he couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling that this meeting with Nesht wouldn’t go well. If things went nova, he’d do what was needed to protect Shadow and the rest of the colony. Nesht would not get his hands on the transponder or the codes it generated.
Warnings and explanations could be recorded and set up to send if something happened to him. If he was wrong, he’d have time to erase everything before he returned. If he wasn’t wrong… he’d had one night with his mahaya. It was more than he’d ever expected to get, and it would have to be enough.
He started up the engines and began the launch sequence. As the ship left the surface, he felt like he was leaving part of his heart behind. It hurt more than he’d imagined anything could. He activated the rear viewscreens and watched as the planet receded. It was the loneliest he’d felt in years.
13
Shadow was home, talking to Nyx when Denz’s message came in. She had caught her batch-sister up on everything that had happened over the last few days, and the act of talking about it all had really let it sink in how much had changed.
Not long ago she could have never imagined being free at all, never mind her current state of existence. She was happy and hopeful, and best of all, she got to share these moments with Nyx. Theirs was a strange and sometimes confusing relationship, but they were the only family each other had.
Nyx was excited and supportive, and their conversation was peppered with random bits of advice about dating, lingerie suggestions, and offers to kill either or both of her males if they did anything stupid. Every time Shadow tried to ask about things back on the Drift, Nyx had deflected. When Shadow had finally pushed, she’d admitted a lot was happening, and she couldn’t talk about most of it.
It was a sharp reminder that Nyx had made very different choices about what she wanted to do with her life. As a member of Nova Force, Nyx was a soldier again. She followed orders, went on missions, and kept secrets. Shadow never wanted to live that way again. She had enough blood on her hands already.
Once she and Nyx said their goodbyes, she replied to Denz, confirming she was free to meet with him once he was out of his latest meeting. She thought about contacting Kade, but decided against it. He was working, and she’d respect that. Once she had a job, she’d expect the same from them. Not that she knew what she was going to be yet.
Part of her transition period had included introductions to all sorts of career options. While many of the cyborgs had secondary skills that could lead to new careers, not all of them had wanted that. Others, like her, were programmed with abilities that didn’t translate well into a peaceful society. It was something else she would talk to her males about soon. But not tonight. Tonight she was spending time with Denz. Their second date, as it were. And if it went as well as things had with Kade… Her heart beat a little faster and her stomach did a somersault.
Her time with Kade had been amazing. She hoped to have that kind of connection with Denz, too, even though it could take longer with him because there was no mating fever to contend with. They could go slower… if that’s what they decided to do. Right now, though, she wasn’t sure what trajectory she wanted.
While she was waiting for Denz’s reply, she took a long look at her quarters. More specifically, she looked at what few things were actually hers. The little habi-pod had come furnished, with even her towels and linens being supplied from the stores the IAF had provided. She didn’t have much else. Some clothes, footwear, and toiletries, a few dishes she’d bought from a market because she liked the pattern on them. It wouldn’t take her more than an hour to pack up everything she owned. She had no idea how living arrangements would work between the three of them, but wherever and however they ended up living, she was going to have to part with some of the scrip the corporations had given her. Back pay, they called it. Most of the other cyborgs called it blood money. Whatever term she used, she’d need to start spending it on furniture soon. Maybe even some artwork. Rugs for the floors. They could be in any color or form she wanted because they would be hers. Well, not entirely hers. If things went well, she’d be sharing the space with Kade and Denz at least part of the time.
Shadow felt like she was standing at the top of a cliff, toes curled into the soil as she peered over the edge. She had her whole life in front of her, and she couldn’t wait to get started.
Denz’s next message arrived a few minutes later. He was out of his meeting and wanted to know if she would like to join him on a trip to the market to shop for the night’s meal and explore a little.
It was like he’d read her mind. She sent a vid-message reques
t and was pleased when he answered it right away.
“Hello, sweetheart.” His low voice sent a shiver down her spine.
“Hi. If you’re going shopping, I’d love to come with you. I was just thinking that if I’m getting new quarters, it’s time to start thinking about furniture. And dishes. And so many things I don’t know where to start.”
He laughed. “You’ve got another week or two before you’ll need to figure that out, but I’d be happy to take you to some places I know. And when you’re over tonight, you are welcome to look around my place. I don’t pretend to know much about interior design, but I like what I have.”
“That sounds great.” She beamed. She didn’t really care what they did today. She just wanted to see him again.
“Have you eaten lunch yet?”
“Not yet.” She blushed a little. “Late breakfast.”
To her relief, Denz laughed. “But did he cook it himself?”
“No. His ship is pretty good with a food dispenser, though.”
“He cheated. Tonight, I am going to make you a meal from scratch. You can even help me decide what to cook.” He paused, and then his voice dropped to a low, sensual rumble. “And if you’d like me to cook you breakfast, too, just let me know.”
She briefly considered trying to avoid sounding too eager, but she didn’t see the point. “In that case, maybe you should add eggs to that shopping list.”
His eyes gleamed, and he had to swallow twice before he managed to speak again. “You got it. Where are you right now? Shall I come get you?”
“Why don’t we meet on the bridge? We can start there. Maybe have a bite to eat too. You haven’t eaten. Have you?”
“Not since last night. It’s been a busy day.”
“Then food first. Medi-bots or not, you need to keep your strength up.” She didn’t consider the way that sounded until the words left her mouth, and then it was too late. “I mean. Because it’s not good for you. Not that we’ll be… well, we might be, but you won’t need energy to, Veth. Can we pretend I didn’t say that?”
“We can. But I appreciate that you were worried about my health. You’re the first being to worry about me like that since…” He trailed off. “You know.”
“I know,” she said, softly. “As for worrying…that’s part of caring about someone. And I do care.”
“Then I am a very lucky male.”
She wished they were having this conversation in person. She wanted to say more, but not like this. “I think we’re both lucky.” She changed topics. “So. Food. Shopping. Exploring. And then I get to sit back and watch you cook for me. It’s going to be a good day.”
“I hope so. See you soon?”
“I’m on my way. Meet you outside the Bar None.”
“Apt meeting spot.”
She grinned. “I thought so. Circling back to where it all began.”
The second the call ended, she grabbed her bag, tucked her terminal inside, and slung it over her shoulder. She was wearing another new outfit, this time a flowing skirt of cobalt blue with hints of yellow and a matching top with sleeves short enough to show off her new armband. Her hair was loose, but she didn’t have time to do anything with it, so she left it down.
Thirty seconds later, she was on her way to meet Denz. She might not have wings, but at the moment, she felt like she could fly. Her life was full of good things. Kade. Denz. Friends and the first home she’d ever known. This was more than she’d hoped for the day she’d accepted the invitation to come to Haven—a bright and shiny new life, light-years away from the black times and the person she’d been back then. If life was kind, those dark days were all behind her. Veth, she wanted that. She wanted to live in the light.
Firearms of any kind were forbidden on the orbital platform, but the rules hadn’t mentioned anything about other weapons. So, Kade had added another dagger to the inside pocket of his coat and slipped a small kes’tarv into his boot. Walking with a shaft of metal jammed against his ankle was a little difficult, but he’d rather be uncomfortable than unarmed.
The coat was custom made by a tailor he’d come across on the Drift. The design was a modified version of something the humans called a duster. It was tanned animal hide, coal black, and it fell in long, heavy folds down past his knees. It had pockets both inside and out, which he liked, and the tailor had altered the design to add two extra slits in the back to accommodate his wings. It was his favorite piece of clothing and the closest he could get to wearing body armor while on the station.
Nesht had wanted to meet aboard his vessel, but Kade had avoided that scenario by pointing out the Jeskyran had offered to buy him a drink. They’d agreed to a meeting at the cheaper of the two bars currently operating on the station.
He checked the link to his ship one more time. It was strong and clear. Good.
That done, he walked into the bar and had to wait a few seconds for his eyes to adjust to bright lights that were reflected from a dozen gleaming metal surfaces. The tables, chairs, and even the bar were all polished to a high sheen.
Nesht was seated across from the door and waved at him. Not that Kade needed any help to spot the male. His mottled yellow and orange skin made him easy to see, and a lot of Jeskyran flesh was on display. Because of their thorns, most Jeskyrans didn’t bother wearing more than a loincloth, and they only did that when they were mixing with other races.
“D’vrayn. Come. Sit. What will you have?” Nesht asked with insincere enthusiasm.
He was speaking Galactic Standard, so Kade replied in the same language as he took a seat across from his contact. The place had a few other patrons, including two burly looking humans sitting at the end of the bar. They were staring forward at nothing, both of them with untouched glasses in front of them. Kade marked them as a source of potential trouble.
“Fair winds to you, Nesht. I’ll have a dark ale.”
“Of course. Of course. Whatever you like.” Nesht waved a long-taloned hand toward the menu and Kade quickly made his selection. While he was ordering, he tried to connect to his ship’s AI but got only static. The sense of unease grew several magnitudes stronger.
The moment he finished ordering, Nesht activated their privacy screen, and the table was instantly surrounded by a field that distorted the air. “Do you have it?”
“I haven’t even gotten my drink yet.”
Nesht clicked his tongue against his teeth. “I’ve come a long way to retrieve those codes. I want to collect what you owe us and then get back home.”
“You really didn’t need to come all this way.”
The Jeskyran cocked his head and gave Kade an intent look. “Given how reluctant you’ve been to make this meeting, I think perhaps I did.”
Before he could say more, a servo-droid zipped through the barrier and stopped beside the table. A hologram of a Vardarian female appeared above the robot. “Your drink is ready,” she said, repeating it in several languages and dialects before vanishing again.
Kade took his glass and waved the droid off. “Now we can talk business.”
“Where are the codes?”
“I don’t have them.” He raised a hand to forestall Nesht’s tirade. “But there’s a reason for that.”
“Does it have anything to do with that bit of shiny metal on your arm? Have you been fucking your new mate instead of getting me what you promised? I knew there was a reason you didn’t want to have this meeting,” Nesht snarled.
Kade touched the band and smiled. “This is a mating band, but that’s not the reason I couldn’t bring you the codes. There aren’t any. Not the kind we were expecting anyway.” He went on to explain about the randomly generated codes and the secondary transponders being assigned to specific ships. He tried to be matter of fact and charming, making it seem as if he truly regretted that things had worked out the way they had. He sipped his ale as he talked, watching with fascination as Nesht’s skin tone darkened until the Jeskyran was a hideous blend of puce and umber. It was almost eno
ugh to put him off his drink. Almost.
“Are you telling me you’re reneging on our agreement?”
“Not at all. I’m more than willing to repay my debt in full. It’s just that I can’t do what you asked. There’s no way I can deliver you codes that don’t exist.”
“I can see a way.”
And there it was. “You want my ship.”
Nesht raised his hands and smiled. It was not a friendly expression. “I want the codes, which according to you, have to be on your ship to work.”
“She’s not for sale.”
“I don’t need to buy her. We already own you. You’ll do what we want, or things will get unpleasant for you. The beings I work for can be generous, but they don’t respond well to disobedience or failure.”
Kade reached down to scratch his calf, letting his fingertips brush over the handle of his lance. If he had to fight his way out of here, he would. “You don’t own me. I have been working for your outfit to pay off my debts. There’s a difference.”
“Don’t get stupid on me now, D’vrayn. All you need to do is let us borrow your ship for a while. We’ll figure out how to make it work. You don’t have to do anything. Hell, take your new female on a vacation somewhere. Show her a good time. I hear your females are insatiable when they’re newly mated.” He leered. “Go enjoy yourself.”
If only. But even if he could take Shadow away, he’d be leaving the colony vulnerable. He wouldn’t do that.
Kade took one last pull of his ale and set it down on the table. “Believe me, I wish I could. But I have friends down there. So whatever you and your employers are planning to do with those codes, you’re not getting them from me.”
Nesht sighed. “I thought you were smarter than this.”
“Apparently not.” Kade had expected anger or threats, so he was more than a little surprised when Nesht deactivated the privacy screen and pointed to the door. “Then by all means, go back to your ship and enjoy what little time you have left. I’ll let my employers know the situation. When they make their decision, I’ll inform you. Don’t go far, hmm? If we have to track you down, you’ll just pay for it later.”