by Bianca D’Arc
“You are the brothers of the Oracle, then.”
Mick laughed. “Is that what they’re calling him now?”
Jaci blushed. “It’s what the humans call him. Unofficially, some Alvians refer to him as O’Hara Primus. It is the designation for progenitors. Since he is the leader of your line and your line is the progenitor of Hara, it is something a few of the techs on the project who know of his origins have begun to call him.”
“Primus?” Mick laughed again. “Makes him sound like a gladiator.” Jaci didn’t understand the reference, but it seemed to amuse both men.
“Are you Hara’s father?” she asked, curious.
But Mick shook his head. “Harry’s my nephew. Justin is his father.”
“The warrior who went off with Bill?”
“The very same.”
That gave Jaci something to think about. Gossip about the O’Haras was rife within the tech community. One was rumored to be a doctor—undoubtedly that was Mick’s role—and the other a warrior of great skill. It was interesting to her that Hara’s father was the warrior and not the scientist. He seemed such a studious young man, but then, perhaps he had hidden depths. Most humans did, she was coming to understand.
When they reached the edge of the trees, Mick took out a very complex crystal. Not only were humans prohibited from having crystal technology, but this kind of advanced tech was out of their realm completely. Apparently these O’Haras had friends in high places.
Mick took a few readings, then turned to them. “The drone is gone for now. It’s safe to get out from under the trees. You know the building, right, Sam? It’s all ready. I just have to go back to my office for a few bits and pieces for the cast. I’ll be back in a half hour. Make yourselves comfortable.”
They walked as he spoke, coming out of the trees into a field planted with some sort of food crop. It was tall and gawky, planted in neat rows and nearly as tall as she was. She’d never seen the like.
After the neat rows ended, they came out into a clearing in which lay a small, wooden building. Sam took her inside while Mick moved past, toward the other buildings she could see in the distance.
They weren’t inside long when Bill arrived.
“Justin’s hiding the evidence and clearing the scene.”
“Good man,” Sam said, nodding as Bill closed the door behind him. “Mick went down to his office to get supplies.”
“Then I need your help.” Bill looked like he’d rather be anywhere else but asking for his friend’s help at that moment.
“What is it?” Sam asked, moving closer to the other man while Jaci watched from where she was propped up on the bed, her leg held aloft by a number of pillows.
“I got hit during the fight. The projectile had a barb that I can’t remove by myself,” Bill admitted. That sounded serious to Jaci, who hadn’t realized Bill was hit at all.
“Mick should see to it. I’m no doctor,” Sam objected.
“It can’t wait and you’ll probably find out sooner or later.”
“Find out what?”
Bill turned angrily. “Will you take the damned thing out or not?”
Bill eased forward. “All right, all right. Where’d you get hit?”
“Upper right shoulder.” Bill shrugged and his collar dropped low, exposing the top of an angry red wound.
“I see it, but I need more exposure,” Sam said, pulling at the cloak and shirt Bill still wore. Bill seemed oddly reluctant to let the shirt fall any lower, but Sam was able to maneuver enough to grasp the protruding end of the barb and work it out backwards with a minimum of fuss. He did it fast and clean, which was probably a mercy to Bill. Sam reached over to the small table and got the disinfectant, spraying a liberal dose on Bill’s exposed shoulder. He pulled at the shirt to get to the rest of the wound and stopped short.
“Holy shit!” Sam’s voice was low and filled with puzzled awe as he stepped back.
The shirt and cloak fell away as Bill struggled forward. A set of glorious golden wings came into view, folded compactly along the ridges of Bill’s back.
“You’re an Avarel,” Jaci said in reverent tones.
“No, I’m not.” Bill’s words were adamant as he turned to face them. “I’m as Alvian as you, Jaci, but I was bred as an experiment.”
“What’s an Avarel?” Sam wanted to know.
“The Avarel were an advanced race of explorers who visited our worlds many generations ago,” Jaci explained. “It was from observing them that we first realized our aggressive ways were destroying our own people. They taught us the way of peace and after they left, our leaders determined on the path that has led to our current emotionless existence.”
“Somehow, I don’t think that’s what these people would have wanted,” Sam said. “They sound like what we call angels in our mythology. Beings of light who had wings and brought messages from God—warnings, teachings and the like. Maybe your Avarel visited Earth in the distant past as well.”
“It’s likely,” Bill admitted. “They were explorers. But your mythology makes it even more imperative that I hide my wings. I’m no divine messenger. I’m just a man. A reformed assassin. I have the blood of many on my hands, and on my conscience.”
Jaci hadn’t ever heard him speak so plainly about the past she’d only guessed at. Her heart went out to him. “They designed you with Avarel traits, didn’t they? For what purpose? And how? Such tampering with the Alvian genetic code is forbidden.”
Bill’s expression turned grim. “Nothing is forbidden to the Council. The Avarel DNA sequence is just one of their secrets. I was created to be the hand of death. The assassin who can swoop in and kill before the target is even aware of his presence. And I was good at it too. My genetic codes are those of the hunter, not the prey.”
“So you’re saying you’re a hawk, not a chickadee.” Sam’s lips lifted in a lopsided grin. “I get that. But that’s a nifty set of wings you got there, my friend. How in the world do you manage to hide them?”
“They are smaller than full Avarel wings, they tell me.” Bill curled one wing around to the front of his body, stroking the feathers in contemplation. “I assume real Avarels can fly for long distances, but I’m only good for sprints.”
“Do you know if the wings breed true?” Jaci asked, fascinated by the idea.
“I was never meant to breed.” Bill leveled his gaze on her, his face grim.
“Then why did they send me to collect your samples?” Even as she said the words, she realized the horrible truth.
“For experimentation.” She could see the devastation in his eyes. “As far as I know, I’ve never had a viable offspring.”
Jaci reached out to him, taking his hand in hers. “I’m sorry.” He settled the cloak back over his shoulders, hiding his wings.
“Please don’t speak of this to anyone,” Bill asked without looking at either of them.
Mutely, Jaci looked to Sam and he nodded just once. “It’s your secret to tell, Bill. I’ll respect your wishes.”
“As will I,” Sam agreed.
Bill left the room without looking back.
Mick returned shortly thereafter and set her leg in a cast made of a sticky white substance and bandages. It was low-tech, but it would work. She complimented him on his skill and they spent some time discussing Jaci’s former job. Mick had a level of understanding she hadn’t expected from a human, though she’d known many of them were highly educated in various fields.
She didn’t realize any of their medical practitioners would be so aware of genetics. She told Mick as much and he spoke of human research into genetics that had been ongoing at the time of the cataclysm. She was impressed that humans had progressed so far and not for the first time, she realized the heinous crime her people had committed when they’d sentenced most of this world’s population to death.
“I’m sorry to be such a bother,” she said as Mick cleaned up and prepared to leave. “I didn’t know where to turn and I remembered how nice C
allie and Harry were to me, but I didn’t mean to bring more danger to your door.”
“Don’t worry, Jaci. I’ve been in communication with Harry and let him know what happened to you. He made sure I promised to help you. If he hadn’t said you were already bonded to two human men, I’d wonder if he didn’t have feelings for you himself.”
“Hara and I don’t Hum,” she said simply.
“But you do Hum with the two men who are at Davin’s? I think Harry said they were named Mike and Dave.”
Jaci nodded, her heart pining for her mates. “Yes, I Hum with them. Hum and more. We are true mates. But I just don’t see how we can ever be together.” She felt tears start in her eyes, but refused to let them fall.
“Now, now. Don’t worry about that yet. You need to concentrate on healing. The rest will fall into place as it’s meant to be. I’m a big believer in fate, Jaci.”
“With your brother Caleb’s powers, I can understand that, but I just don’t see this situation working out. I’m a fugitive now, just like Bill and Sam.”
“True, but like Bill and Sam, you have friends, Jaci. We’ll all do what we can to help.” He patted her shoulder in a paternal way and gathered the last of his equipment into the bag he’d brought with him. “Justin’s bringing a meal up from the house. Surveillance will be stepped up once that patrol fails to check in and they realize you’re still missing. Don’t go outside.”
“I won’t. Please give my thanks to your family, Mick, and accept my appreciation for your kindness. I owe you all a great deal and I’m afraid I will never be in a position to pay you back.”
Mick walked to the door. “Like I said, don’t worry about any of that now. Concentrate on getting well. The rest will work out in time.”
He gave her one last smile before departing and Jaci felt the weight of the long day settle over her like a blanket. She sank back against the mound of pillows they’d given her and promptly fell asleep.
“What’s up with her?” Sam asked Bill in hushed tones as Jaci’s head moved, in the throes of a dream.
“She dreams.”
Sam watched her with envious eyes. “One of her mates is a dreamwalker. I bet she’s with them now.”
“Human mind powers never cease to amaze me,” Bill observed. Both men watched Jaci’s delicate form as a smile lifted the corners of her mouth, even in sleep. “There are those among you who can enter someone’s dreams?”
“It’s a rare thing,” Sam admitted. “But I’ve heard of it before. Her mate’s gift must be really strong to be able to reach her here. Jaci said he’s been learning how to use crystals to boost his range.”
“He’s harnessed the power of the crystals? I know Mick’s been looking into how crystal energy can enhance human mental abilities for some time. Looks like Jaci’s mate has at last found the secret.”
“Imagine that.” Sam thought of the potential uses such a skill could have. Given enough crystals and the right talents, the human race could be a force to be reckoned with once again.
Warm arms enveloped her as Jaci floated into the dreamstate.
“Are you okay, love?” Michael asked, his voice full of concern. She opened her eyes to find him at her side as David held her in his arms, cradling her against his chest.
“I’m all right. My leg is broken, but Mick O’Hara put it in a cast. Messy and low-tech, but it’ll do the job.”
Her response startled a laugh from Michael as David’s arms tightened around her. He hadn’t spoken yet, his head bowed, his gaze drinking her in. Of the two cousins, he seemed the more affected by her narrow escape. She reached up to stroke his firm jaw.
“Thank God you made it to the O’Haras,” Michael said.
“I had help. Sam and Bill found me in the wreckage and hid me, then carried me to the O’Hara ranch. Oh! Which reminds me. Please tell Ruth that Sam is all right. He didn’t know about Samantha but he was deeply touched when I told him he had a daughter. He sends his love to Ruth and the baby.”
“That’s the Sam who found you? We knew him,” Michael spoke since David seemed incapable of it at the moment. “He’s a good man. But who’s this Bill?”
She didn’t know how much she could reveal, though she wanted to tell them everything. Still, she’d promised Bill she wouldn’t speak of his secrets. “They call him Wild Bill. He’s a recluse who lives up in the mountains. Sam partnered up with him, apparently. They’re both on the run, but they are good men. The O’Haras know them.”
“That’s enough for me. We’ve already talked to Callie, Davin and Rick about how we can get to you. They think it’s too dangerous right now and after checking the Alvian military communiqués, I have to concur. You’re safe for now. They’re searching the other side of the mountain and further afield. They don’t believe you could have hiked over the ridge and down to the O’Haras without them knowing it. Apparently they’re pretty cocky about the surveillance they have on the ranch.”
“From what I gather, the O’Haras know exactly what’s watching them and when.”
“That doesn’t surprise me one bit,” Michael agreed as David shifted her in his arms. “Now, just how is your leg? Are you hurt anywhere else?”
“It’s a clean break, Mick said. It should be fully repaired in a few weeks, even without Alvian medicine. We heal faster than you humans.”
“Thank God for that.” David spoke for the first time and she could see the evidence of tears behind his eyes. “It’s probably best for you to stay at the ranch for now, until you’re healed. We’re working on a way to be together, but it relies heavily on Davin and the O’Haras.”
“I don’t see how, David. I’m a fugitive. You’re still prisoners, even if Davin allows you more freedom than any other Alvian. I just don’t see how we can be together.” She began to cry, much to her dismay, but David held her close, cradling her against his chest as he bent over her. She felt so safe in his arms, so protected and loved. It was a feeling she didn’t think she could live without. But she must. At least for the foreseeable future.
“Let us worry about that, sweetheart,” Michael said, stroking her back with soothing hands. “We have more friends than we thought. If there’s a way, we’ll find it. We have to. We need you, Jaci.”
“And I need you,” she sobbed. “I need you both. So much.”
David held her tight throughout the storm, sharing in her sadness as they touched, but only in dreams. At length, she regained a measure of composure, finding herself on a dreamy soft couch made out of clouds, seated between the two cousins. She took a closer look at Michael’s face, appalled to find him looking haggard and worn. She reached out to cup his cheek.
“Have you been getting enough sleep? You look so tired.”
A rueful grin passed over his lips before he turned them into her hand to place a gentle kiss on her palm.
“I’ve been dreamwalking pretty much non-stop since that first contact after you crashed. I didn’t want to miss you, love. We were so worried.”
“Michael, I don’t want you to strain yourself on my account. All is well now. I’m among friends and safe for the moment. I want you and David to get some sleep.” She tried to get stern with him, but it was hard to chastise him for something so sweet as worrying about her welfare.
Both men chuckled at her little tirade, David reaching out to turn her on the cloud couch. She moved willingly, though she could easily see from the nebulous setting that Michael’s power over the dream was not total. Usually he conjured detailed settings with furniture and vibrant colors, scents and sounds. This dreamplane was filled with wisps of thought as if they floated among the clouds, only the illusion of fog supporting them. In a way, it was even more seductive than Michael’s elaborate sets.
“Oh, we’ll sleep very well, once we’ve made love to you,” Michael assured her. She was glad to see the sparkle of mischief in his eye. It told her that he wasn’t too tired to play a bit before he left her dream.
David stretched out below her, floati
ng on the cloud, able to move her as if they were in zero-gravity. It was a novel experience, and one that she found strangely alluring. David’s gaze still held shadows.
“I thought we’d lost you, Jaci.” His words were stark, sounding as if they were ripped from his soul. “Don’t ever do that to us again. I can’t take it. I need you more than my next breath.”
“As I need you.” Tears threatened once more, but Michael intervened, distracting them all by doing away with their clothing in the blink of an eye. She turned to look up at him, hovering at her side.
“The time for sorrow is over. Now it’s time to play.” He winked and gave her a roguish grin.
“With you, it’s always play time, cousin,” David quipped.
“And with you it’s all work. Work, worry and work. Face it. Without me around, you’d never have any fun at all.”
It was good to hear their easy banter. It refocused her on the here and now instead of her worries about the uncertain future. Daring greatly, she took hold of David’s forearms and sent them both tumbling around the cloud plane, Michael’s laughter following in their wake.
“Now what was that for?” David asked as he grinned up at her.
“Just getting your attention. I could grow old waiting for you to get to the good part.”
“The good part, eh?” David raised one eyebrow. “I think I like the sound of that. In fact, I know for certain that you have quite a number of good parts that I would like to pay more attention to.”
“Such as?” She dared him with a saucy smile.
David slid below her, hovering near her bouncing breasts. He licked out, teasing her nipples with slippery suction as he circled with his tongue.
She couldn’t help herself. She giggled.
“Oh, so you like that?” David teased as he moved lower, licking a line down to her navel and delving within. Her tummy contracted with pleasure and ticklishness, causing another carefree laugh to escape.
David hovered below her, going lower until his lips teased the apex of her thighs. When his tongue slid into the crevice that hid her clit, she moaned. But Michael was there to catch the involuntary sound with his mouth as he kissed her long and deep.