“If it isn’t the ship, then what is it?” Shard raised an eyebrow, but made no move to lead her to the Sendar.
“It’s an old crash site,” she snapped. “The images I have show the impact crater and the debris field much better than your scans.”
“These couldn’t be survivors of that crash?” Kaleb looked at the blurry blob on the scan they’d been using.
“No, the crash happened long ago. I did closer scans to make sure that it didn’t hide an advanced sensing system before I entered the atmosphere and after I landed. The decay of some the metals produces specific chemical signatures. The only thing there is vegetation and metal, most of it buried.” Lina tapped her foot as she waited for Kaleb and Shard to decide what they were going to do.
“Where do you think they hid their ship?” Kaleb took her arm as he began leading her to the Sendar shuttle.
“It’s probably on one of the moons or one of the low-gravity, uninhabitable planets in this solar system. There it would be hidden from sight and in an area that isn’t likely to be scanned with much intensity or frequency.”
After flicking on a monitor, she showed them the scans that showed the crash site and the debris field.
“Why would you think it’s on one of the moons?” Meral asked.
“I used that strategy before I modified the Sendar’s shields and added the stealth functions when I had to stay on a planet for an extended period. An automated return program is a fairly cheap modification and simple enough to install on your own. Sometimes, it’s easier to hide out on the planet, especially if your enemy has better technology than you do. The program will enable the ship at a specific time or at a signal.” She shut down the monitor.
“Why do you say enemy?” Kaleb stepped close to the chair and cupped the back of her head, his fingers lightly massaging her scalp.
She bit back a moan. His fingers felt so good, soothing away the tension. “That is one of the few things Technician Meral and I easily agreed on. I told you that the man called me a ‘fucking animal’. That is what they consider us. I don’t know what they’re doing here. You’d know if this planet held some sort of significance more than I would. It’s not some innocent pleasure group touring the universe.”
“You’re sure of that?” Shard asked as he stood just opposite her.
Lina tilted her head up and shot him an incredulous look. “They’re willing to kill to protect their presence here. I didn’t even know they were there until they started shooting at us. I’m sure you know more about the particular hate groups which target shifters and why they would do something like this than I do.”
“We do know quite a bit about the hate groups, but I can’t think of a reason that they would be here. This planet holds nothing of import to them.” Kaleb frowned as he urged her to her feet.
“That is from our view, Kaleb,” Shard cautioned as he followed them from the Sendar. “We don’t know what they seek. Depending on which group it is, it could be any number of things or reasons. Remember Timbon. There was absolutely nothing on that planet, but they were there looking for frozen traces of an old disease that they hoped would hurt us.”
Kaleb nodded. He reached out and stopped her as she began walking back to the table with the other people who’d been working on the items from the human men’s camp. He turned her back to face them.
“We have news for you, Lina.” Shard stepped forward and smiled down at her. “Your proof is on its way here as are Lido and Jalan. They will arrive at almost the same time.”
“I still don’t understand why you expect me to apologize to them when they sued me.” She frowned at the two men who wouldn’t bend on the matter. “They didn’t even try to contact me before they sued me. I would have replied.”
“Oh, you answer all queries from people who think that you have used their images?” Shard raised a skeptical eyebrow.
“There really aren’t that many people who find a resemblance to themselves in my games. I read most of the complaints and all those that could cause legal problems are brought to my attention if I don’t find them.” She suppressed a frustrated growl and crossed her arms under her breasts.
“You’re sure about the fact that you or maybe one of your designers didn’t accidentally use their images?” Shard smiled.
She saw the predator lurking behind that all-too-friendly showing of teeth. “It’s a relatively small company. I do most of the designing still. I did all the designs on those two images. They were creations from drawings and my imagination.”
“You’re sure? It’s a big company.” Kaleb watched her and saw her eyes narrow.
“I’m certain. It’s only the manufacture and promotion end which has grown too large for me to handle.” Lina forced her hands to unclench. “Those men sued me without any queries and I’m expected to apologize.” She rolled her eyes. She couldn’t understand the logic there.
“We don’t simply expect you to apologize. You will apologize.” Kaleb’s brows lowered over his green eyes as his gaze locked with hers.
She couldn’t maintain that intense stare for long in spite of the anger and defiance bubbling within her. Her eyes slid to the side and lowered to the ground. She pushed at the grass with the toe of her shoe. Why should I apologize? They could at least give her a reason.
“You should have found a way to explain the situation to them. You have shown yourself to be more than inventive when you want something.” Shard’s fingers lifted her chin until her eyes locked with his brown gaze.
“Why was it my responsibility to make them listen to what I had to say?” She jerked her chin out of Shard’s grasp and stepped back so she could frown at both of them. “They could have tried asking a few questions before they sued me. Admittedly, I didn’t stay on Mical for long periods at that time, but I always managed to respond to queries and complaints.”
“You can ask them why they didn’t look into it, but as a Santir, you should have done everything possible to prevent harm to other Santir because of something you created. Thanks to that lawsuit, they lost legal fees and other expenses.” Kaleb’s green gaze was intense and hard as he stepped close to her. “You will apologize.”
Lina growled. Their insistence that she owed an apology for something she hadn’t done infuriated her. She tried to turn away, but Shard’s hand on her shoulder turned her back.
“If you thought that someone had stolen the design for your stealth modifications on the Sendar, would you just allow it to stand, regardless of what you could prove?” Shard raised his brows and his mouth tilted in a knowing grin.
“No, but I would get the facts first. Your friends didn’t even try to contact me. They just slapped me with a lawsuit.” She folded her arms and stubbornly stared at a point beyond the two men.
“You wouldn’t just simply go looking for facts. You would get angry and you’d want revenge. You can’t fool us with that lie. You’d go after them with everything you have and that would include your entire arsenal of tricks to remove your property from their grasp.” Kaleb moved to the right so she was forced to look at him. “You wouldn’t wait for them to create a story.”
Silently, Lina admitted that that might be the truth. She recognized the primitive need to defend what she considered her territory. She wasn’t about to tell Shard and Kaleb that bit of information. While they’d worked hard to get her to see Ardin Lido and Ardin Jalan’s side of this issue, they weren’t trying to see her side at all.
“You will apologize, Lina.” Shard’s brows lowered and the tone was pure intimidation.
A low growl rumbled in the back of her throat. Although the very idea of being ordered to apologize incensed her, she wouldn’t defy them. “I’ll give them the words.”
“Come here.” Kaleb held out his hand.
She looked up ready to refuse, but responded to the warmth she saw in his eyes. She stepped forward, placing her palm in his. He tugged her against him. She landed plastered against his chest. Her legs tangled with hi
s and his cock pressed against her belly demandingly as he softly brushed his lips over hers.
“Tomorrow, my wild little cat, after you have learned more of Lido and Jalan, the apology will be more than words.” Kaleb bent and ran his lips over the soft skin at her temple.
“Why don’t you tell me more of them now?” She rested her head against his chest for a moment.
“Because that story will be your bedtime story tonight,” Shard chuckled as she clung for a moment when Kaleb tried to step back. “We still have plenty to tell you.”
She took a deep breath. After the last few things they’d told her, she felt like flinching. The information they were so determined to impart had only brought trouble or upset thus far. She wondered what jewel of news they were going to throw at her now.
“What else did you need to tell me?” She met Kaleb’s eyes and then Shard’s after a final deep breath.
“Not all the men who were sent to get your proof will be returning from Mical immediately.” Shard smiled and waited until her curiosity lured her into asking for more.
“What? Why wouldn’t they return?” She looked from one man to the other. They were being far too cryptic.
“There is the little matter of selling the house on Mical and moving the design portion of your business here. There are shifters who would be thrilled to work for you.” Kaleb shrugged and waited for her reaction.
“But…I already have people working for me on Mical,” Lina protested as her brow furrowed and anger lit her eyes.
“If they don’t mind the move into Shifter-Protected Space they are welcome to come. Not many humans would be willing to do that, to give up the cities and constant access to other humans.” Kaleb gave her a satisfied smile.
“That’s an offer guaranteed to be refused.” Her hands curled into fists and she gritted her teeth, fighting the urge to take a swing at him. They’d already changed her life. Now they were messing with her business.
“Your work won’t suffer,” Shard stated, his arm curving around her shoulders and urging her back toward their shelter.
Chapter Ten
Lina wasn’t happy with the two men who were her mates or with herself. Their orders and unwillingness to see her side of this issue infuriated her. She also didn’t like the fact that because she had been so wrapped up in the drama and details of her own life, other Santir might have suffered.
At the time of that suit, Lido and Jalan had been Ardin over a thent which couldn’t afford to lose the money required for legal fees.
It wouldn’t have been difficult for her to discover their money troubles if she had merely taken a real interest in the case. A small amount of research would have given her that information. She should have at least looked into where they were staying. They hadn’t been in one of the luxury hotels as she had assumed. They had stayed in their ship at the port for the whole of the trial.
While she hadn’t used their images, she could have easily afforded to lose the trial. The loss of money wouldn’t have hurt her. She wouldn’t have had to admit to anything. Her lawyers had suggested using such a no-fault settlement if the trial seemed to be lost. Guilt wrapped around her.
She lay flat on the branch which overlooked the camp. Her tail twitched in agitation. Two days had passed since Shard and Kaleb’s revelations and Ardin Lido and Ardin Jalan were due in mere hours. Her proof had been brought down to the surface earlier. It had still been in the large, airtight safe. That had raised her brows. That safe had been embedded in a stone wall.
She couldn’t blame all the agitation boiling within her on the guilt and anger over the situation with the other two Ardin. A large part of her anger and unrest was because of the restrictions which had been placed upon her and the other women since that attack in the forest. No woman was allowed to leave the camp without a male escort until it was certain that the unknown group of men had been found and caught. Lina ached to go for a run in the forest.
She watched as Shard stalked into camp. He looked around the area and then pinned Jaksen with a stare when he didn’t see any sign of his mate. “Where’s Lina?”
“In the tree, Ardin.” Jaksen pointed to the high, wide limb that she had chosen as a vantage point. It hung over two Dura-tents and offered her a view of the entire camp.
Shard’s eyes locked with Lina’s defiant, golden orbs and narrowed. “Sulking, i’ma? You’d better be down and into some clothing before Lido and Jalan get here or you will earn your first taste of Santir discipline. You had also better not try any cute little tricks such as wearing a shirt in tiron form.”
Lina bared her teeth in silent defiance.
Shard’s sharp eyes caught the white gleam of her teeth. “Push me, rao nari.” The invitation was delivered in a low growl.
She wasn’t quite that brave. Being stubborn didn’t make her a fool. He was quite serious in that threat and she wanted to know more about this Santir discipline before she blatantly defied them. As with all other shifters, she knew they would never physically hurt their mate. That would in no way limit their ability to enforce their rules.
She kept close attention on the incoming messages. When she heard that a shuttle was coming down to the planet, she slipped out of the tree and into the spacious shelter she shared with Shard and Kaleb. She shifted and began to get dressed.
She chose a green, sleeveless, scoop-necked top and a mid-calf-length black skirt. Soft-soled black slippers finished her outfit. Just before she stepped outside, she remembered her hair. She turned back and braided it, securing it with a thin band. There was no gain in pushing them over small issues right now. She had done more than enough pushing on the larger ones in the last few days.
Lina slipped out of the large tent and stalked over to join a group of women gathered at one of the long, sturdy metal tables. She wasn’t the only woman angry over the restrictions which had been placed upon them as a result of the discovery of unknown men on the planet. The other women were just as angry, but they were far more accustomed to the ways of the thent. They knew what issues they had little chance of getting changed and those that they could. This, she’d learned after much argument, was one that wouldn’t be modified in any way for anyone.
“I thought that you’d push,” Medina offered Lina a cup of hot dorin as she directed a significant look toward the branch Lina had vacated.
“Not just yet.” Lina lifted the steaming mug and sipped at the fragrant, rich brew.
Marge Larosh laughed snidely. “Still a little cautious because you got yourself pinned, hmmm?”
Lina lifted her head and locked her eyes with those of the taunting woman. Her lips stretched into a feral smile, showing four lengthened canines. A low rumble rolled in the back of her throat.
Marge’s eyes widened, then skittered away and she lowered her head.
“They can pin me, but I’ll have no trouble with you,” Lina vowed in a low warning. It was the only one this woman would get.
“You should talk, Marge. You didn’t even get pinned, yet you walked around subdued and submissive for days after Vellis claimed you.” Calla, a woman of almost the same age as Lina, chuckled as the woman blushed and dipped her head again. “Our Lady isn’t showing any such reticence. She is arguing with them openly.”
“She’s a true mate for our Alphas,” Medina affirmed.
Although Lina was grateful for the acceptance and support the other women were showing, their help wasn’t needed. She could take the woman if the need arose. She didn’t think the woman would ever go that far. Marge had been out for a little quick, easy intimidation.
If there had only been women within hearing range, she would have asked about Santir discipline, but men were moving all around the camp. She had the feeling that any man who overheard such a discussion beginning would rush to squelch it. With that kind of interference, she wouldn’t learn anything valuable.
She watched the shuttle sweep around as it prepared to land. It seemed that the time had come for her to apologi
ze. She would do it and she would mean the words. The explanations had been informative. She did bear a little responsibility for the way things had gone.
The shuttle landed expertly at the end of the row of shuttles. Two tall redheaded men strode out of the shuttle when the hatch opened. Their light golden skin gleamed in the bright sunlight.
Jalan’s body was built for speed more than power with its lean lines. He had icy blue eyes and a handsome face. The taller of the two was Lido. Golden eyes blazed from his rough-hewn face. The man was large and muscled, a warrior.
She saw that they still carried themselves with the same arrogance that she had observed near the end of the trial. When they’d lost the trial, they hadn’t acted defeated. They had shot her a hard look and marched from the courtroom. She should have known that they were far too arrogant to merely be two lone Santir.
They smiled as they walked over to greet Shard. A hand wrapped around her arm and she looked up into Kaleb’s deep green eyes. She got to her feet without further urging. Kaleb led her to Shard and the two redheaded Ardin where they waited in front of a tent devoted to the artifacts that had been found during the search for this thent’s symbol.
The trial and its verdict had been public. Shard and Kaleb had decided that her apology would be conducted in public as well.
“Lina, I would like to formally introduce you to Ardin Lido Orsal and Ardin Jalan Tavis of Marich Thent. Jalan, Lido, this is Lina, our mate. She has something she needs to say to you.” Kaleb briefly clasped each man’s forearm in greeting before he made the introductions.
Lido’s golden eyes moved over her face and a frown creased his brow. “She looks very familiar.”
“Lina,” Shard prompted.
She took a deep breath. Time to pay for the sins of complacency. “I owe the two of you an apology. I was so lost in the details of my own life and everything that was happening at that time that I missed so much. I didn’t even know you were Santir until the very last.”
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