by Zara Zenia
“Seriously?” Melody interjected. She couldn’t imagine something like that. It seemed impossible, too Sci-Fi to be real.
Devron shrugged. “Not the most conventional upbringing, but my mother had her reasons.”
Melody’s brow arched again.
Devron’s hands tightened on the wheel, even though the vehicle was doing all the steering for him. His jaw clenched and unclenched, and finally, he released his grip on the wheel.
“I am the product of rape,” he said. Melody’s breath stopped, her heart jumping, clogging her throat.
“I’m sorry—”
“Don’t,” he stopped her, a bark of a command that felt like a slap. In the next instant, his face softened, and he reached for her hand, his thumb stroking over the ridge of her knuckles. “It is nothing for you to apologize for, Melody. It’s not an uncommon occurrence on Cania—especially with the Frenzy. I always knew . . . and I knew that he was the reason she didn’t want to surface, but I never knew it was him. He’s an Omega trainer, my best bet of interrupting an imprint. I didn’t know it was DNA-coded.”
“Hell of a stroke of luck,” Melody mused. The Omegas on Nor’s ship told her that she’d imprint with the next man she saw, but there weren’t other men around to risk it. It was probably just another power ploy to get her blindfolded and scared to open her eyes. To test her will or some other sick shit.
Egeon Nor was a piece of garbage, and Melody wouldn’t put any of it past him.
“I don’t know about that. Helped him figure me out. I didn’t figure there’d be much of a trail to follow, to be honest.”
“And instead, he got the drop on you and got your mom.”
“Yeah,” Devron muttered bitterly.
Guilt twisted in Melody’s gut, and she sighed heavily.
“Look, I don’t know what it’s like to have a mom, but I know what it’s like to have . . . I dunno, someone you care about? I get why it’s so important for you to help her.”
Devron’s expression wasn’t what Melody expected. She thought he’d be relieved, or grateful, maybe? Whatever he was, she couldn’t say. His brows were furrowed, his face almost scowling.
“You never knew your mother?”
Her heart was in her throat again. She swallowed past the lump.
She thought she should be over this shit by now. She didn’t even remember her mother, but somehow, the word got her choked up?
“No, not really,” she said, looking out the window so Devron wouldn’t see the tears in her eyes or the quiver in her lip. She could get herself under control before he spotted it. “But I had a mentor,” she said, her heart settling back down, but no less lump-like. Only now, it was a tightness in her chest. She didn’t know which was worse.
“A mentor? Did you have a trade?”
She snorted, tears escaping when she did. She frantically wiped them away, trying to cover it in soft laughter, but there was no telling if Devron bought it.
“Sort of? I was . . . well, my folks died when I was really little and the only family I had was this aunt. And my aunt . . . well, let’s just say she wasn’t a nice lady. She had things in life she liked, and most of them ate into the money she should’ve been using to buy the kid in her care food and clothes and shit. It wasn’t long before I was hanging on the streets, trying to scrounge for myself. That’s when I met Jodie.”
“Your mentor?” he asked, now skeptical of her use of the word.
Melody suppressed another snort-giggle. His being affronted by her scandalous past was oddly amusing.
“Yeah. She taught me how to be a lookout first. Eventually, I graduated to picking locks, boosting cars, planning whole jobs by myself—”
“Jobs?”
“Robberies,” she clarified, smugly pleased when his eyes widened further. “Yeah, none of you knew what you were getting into with me.”
Devron was the one to snort-laugh at that. “No kidding. Nor should be thanking me for taking you off his hands.”
For a moment, Melody laughed at that, but then the way Devron suddenly looked horrified and guilty made her stop, her stomach sinking.
She wasn’t really that unbearable, was she? She’d been difficult, yeah, but she hadn’t attempted to murder him or anything, and it was pretty high on the priority list with Nor.
“That’s not how I meant—”
“It’s fine,” Melody snapped, not even sure why she was angry. It wasn’t the joke, but it was his reaction to having said it. He felt guilty for saying it, which spoke volumes to his real feelings, overall.
“Do you miss her?” Devron asked after a long, heavy silence.
“Who?”
“Jodie.”
“Oh . . .” Melody chewed on her bottom lip as the fog grew denser around them. She was thankful for the autopilot on the vehicle, because she wasn’t sure she’d trust Devron to be able to drive through this stuff. It was the kind of fog you expected horror movie monsters to come shambling out of. “Yeah, I guess,” she answered finally with a half-shrug. “She’s the closest thing I ever had to family, but I don’t know if the feeling was mutual. It’s hard to know anything when you’re running with that kind of crowd. Never know who’s going to turn their back on you.”
So what if she was still bitter about Brandy’s deception? She wasn’t going to get over it anytime soon. That stab in the back was the nexus for all this bullshit. Being on a different planet, being drugged into drooling over a sexy alien, not knowing if she was about to be traded into sex slavery and/or death, or if she could actually trust this guy to keep her safe . . . all of that could be traced back to Brandy and that stupid fucking necklace.
Jodie had always said she had a weird feeling about Brandy, that she was kinda dumb and too cocky and that was a bad mixture.
She should’ve listened, but it was way too late for that kind of hindsight now.
“It doesn’t sound like she turned her back on you,” Devron said gently, and Melody turned toward him, eyes narrowed.
“What’re you getting at? What does it matter? It’s not like I’m ever going to see her again.”
She appreciated that he didn’t mention their discussions about getting her home. It was a charade she wasn’t sure she had the energy to keep playing. Melody was sure she’d never see Earth again.
Maybe it was for the best. The police would still be looking for her back home, and it wasn’t easy to make a new life anonymously on Earth with her kind of record.
“I’m sorry,” Devron said, thumb raking over her knuckles again. This time, instead of pissing her off, she let his touch soothe her. It was comforting and constant, the rhythm he used, back and forth, back and forth. “I didn’t mean to cause you distress. I like learning about your life,” he said, circling one knuckle alone. His touch was hypnotic enough to make Melody’s eyes flutter closed—there was nothing but thick, white fog outside anyway—and her breath ragged and soft, every bit of her awareness focused on the zaps his touch sent up her arm.
She didn’t want to admit that she’d liked learning about his time on the mining ship too. She had fun imagining him as a kid, running around a spaceship, and seeing the planet from the surface for the first time—it must’ve been mind-boggling. As crazy as seeing space was for her.
Melody hated how much she liked learning about him and spending time with him. She hated how easily she found herself trusting him when logic kept telling her not to. She hated that her fate rested entirely in his six-fingered hands, and she couldn’t even be bothered to put up her guard around him.
He’d turned her into mush, and the worst part of it was that she wasn’t even really complaining. Not like she should be. She was starting to think, inevitable though it might be, that a life with Devron on Cania might not be too bad. If it weren’t for her bullheadedness, they’d get along well enough. The sex was fantastic. If they could manage freedom, it would be more than she had waiting back on Earth.
She hated that she was even considering it, but t
here was no turning back now.
Not with the looming shadow of a massive military-like compound looming above them as the vehicle’s navigation panel beeped.
“Looks like we’re here, love.”
“Looks like we are,” Melody answered. Without thinking, she turned her hand palm-up, meeting his, their fingers lacing together. Devron squeezed before he brought her hand up to his lips and kissed her knuckles.
“What do you say we go get this over with?” he asked. Melody tried a smile, but it felt like a grimace. She didn’t dare try words after that. The grimace would have to do.
She could smile afterward.
27
“That’s Nor’s place, huh?” Melody asked, a quiver in her voice that Devron couldn’t miss. He’d scoped the place out before, back when he was first hatching his plan to steal from the nobleman, so the giant compound emerging from the mists with an imposing slanted wall built high into the mountainside wasn’t as alarming to him.
Seeing the high guard towers and the vast network of security cameras, antennas, and cables through Melody’s eyes, Devron understood why she was terrified.
But he couldn’t let himself feel the same way. Melody needed a rock, as much as she might try to deny it and claim she was perfectly capable of being independent, and Devron was determined to be that for her. The best he could, at least.
He surveyed the concrete fortress with cool disinterest, trying to map the layout from what he could see, but there was too much buried within the mountain. Too much they didn’t know.
“It’s going to be all right,” he said to Melody, squeezing her hand once more before he released it and tapped on the comm display, tuned to the local frequency.
Melody stiffened beside him the moment the screen lit up, but he forced himself not to look her way. He had to stay focused if they were going to have any hope of getting out of this alive.
A plan sure would be nice. He’d promised Melody he wouldn’t trade her for his mother, but he didn’t have an alternative. He couldn’t give her up, though. He’d destroy Nor before he’d let that happen.
That was what Melody wanted, of course. She wanted Nor dead. Devron couldn’t deny that she had good reason for wanting it. He couldn’t argue with her logic and knew she’d never find a moment’s peace as long as Nor remained alive. But there was no way he’d get a weapon into this compound. He knew better than to try. That would only spark animosity, and taking on Nor bare-handed wasn’t going to work when the nobleman didn’t have the same handicap. Not to mention the backup he’d undoubtedly have.
Their best bet was to try to talk to him, try to find some common ground to reason with him.
Luckily, it wasn’t Egeon on the screen, so Devron had a bit more time to try to figure out what that common ground might be.
“You’re trespassing,” the stiff-necked Canian said, looking down his nose at a camera positioned below him. It had to have been a conscious decision to make the person on the other end of the call feel smaller, but Devron wasn’t going to let Nor play his mind games with him. He was still barely holding back the hot rage birthed by the knowledge that Nor was his father, the man who’d violated and traumatized his mother to the point that she never stepped foot on her home planet again until now.
“He’s expecting me,” Devron growled, trying to keep his cool. It wouldn’t do him any good to lose his temper on the security guard and never even get in.
Wouldn’t do his mom any good either.
Melody shifted uncomfortably in her seat, looking smaller than ever in the big Selithi vehicle.
He couldn’t fail her.
The guard looked to the side and spotted her, his forehead wrinkling all at once.
“Right, of course. Exit your vehicle,” the guy said, ending the transmission.
Melody audibly gulped, and Devron wanted to send her a reassuring look, but neither of them managed to look at the other.
Devron exited the vehicle slowly, his hands clearly visible, arms out at his sides. Now wasn’t the time to make any sudden movements or invite scrutiny from jumpy guards. On the other side of the cruiser, Melody slammed the door, stomping in the gravel.
“Stop right there!” a guard ordered, emerging from the fog with a blaster trained right on her.
“Hey, now,” Devron said, taking a step forward. It had the intended effect. The guard swung the blaster around, pointing it at him instead.
“Calm down,” Melody said, disdain in her tone. She clearly didn’t have much respect for a guy doing his job so poorly. Devron couldn’t blame her. At least it was a point in their favor that Nor had guys like this on his team. Talented, experienced security guys didn’t get jumpy like this. They stayed calm and collected no matter what.
“You dare speak to me, Omega?” the guard growled, his shaking hand training the blaster back on her. This was getting out of hand. Devron knew he needed to de-escalate before it got ugly.
“Nor’s waiting to see us, so can we get on with it?” Devron asked, doing his best to sound bored rather than tense.
Again, it had the intended effect. The guard was confused enough by his tone that he lowered the blaster to his side, cocking his head. He dipped his chin and muttered something into his collar that Devron couldn’t hear.
“Well?” Devron asked after another long moment of silence. Maybe it was pushing his luck, but the suspense was unbearable.
Another crunch on gravel made the guard spin, blaster raised in an instant.
“I’m just going to stand next to my Alpha. That’s okay, isn’t it?” Melody grumbled, clearly annoyed, but Devron swore he could hear a note of fear in her voice, too. She was playing tough, but his Omega still needed protection.
“Don’t be foolish, boy,” he said, putting on his best nobleman air of arrogance. “Let her come to me. She needn’t suffer more than she already will,” he added, seeing the guy lowering his arm. He was too jumpy.
“Go ahead, then,” he said, jerking the blaster for Melody to move. But Melody wasn’t moving anymore. She was staring at Devron with narrowed eyes and parted lips. She was looking at him like she was seeing him for the first time, and Devron couldn’t explain to her that he was putting on a show.
She didn’t really think he was going to leave her to suffer, did she?
“Well? Hurry up!” the guard said, his voice going shrill with the commanding screech.
Melody obeyed without thinking that time, scurrying to Devron’s side, though the moment she was there, she was back to glaring daggers at him.
It could be worse, he figured.
From one of the guard towers posted outside the wall, another guard emerged, also muttering into his collar. The first one—the jumpy one—kept his blaster trained on the two of them while the new guy scanned them both for weapons, going so far as to do a manual pat-down.
Melody growled a warning as the guard’s hand skimmed her body, and Devron knew he should calm her, but he realized his growl was mingling with hers.
Suddenly, a bright light clicked on, bathing the area all around them in blinding white. Devron shielded his eyes, blinking until he was tearing up from the intensity of it. The guards were no longer on his mind. It felt like a star was falling from the sky. Staring at the ground, his hand covering his eyes from most of the painful light, he saw shadows moving closer and forced himself to squint through the brightness.
The light was coming from far up the fortress wall, and the huge entrance opened up for a fleet of vehicles to approach. One of them was pretty similar to the cruiser Devron and Melody arrived in, and the others were speeders, designed for pursuit if it was necessary.
Nor was sending a pretty clear message. He was prepared, and he’d give chase if necessary.
The cruiser stopped, and the bright lights from the wall dimmed slightly as the side door opened and Egeon stepped out.
In person, he was larger than Devron expected, and he made no attempts to hide the numerous scars marring his body, no d
oubt from all his slaving endeavors. Devron hoped to be able to do more than scar him, but how?
“I’m surprised you actually came,” Nor said, a self-satisfied smile curving his thin lips. Devron hated how much he could see the resemblance now. Their facial structures and their mannerisms were eerily similar in some ways.
“You didn’t give me much choice,” he said, hands fisting at his sides. “Where is she?”
Nor chuckled, shaking his head. “That arrogance must be hereditary. You have no power here, boy. Who are you to make demands?”
“We agreed on a trade,” Devron said, forcing himself to ignore Melody’s tiny yelp of betrayal. That little noise of defeat was enough to tear his heart to shreds, but he had to keep it up if it was going to work. He couldn’t falter. He couldn’t let them see the truth.
“I suppose you’re right,” Nor said, Devron’s heart leaping. Once he had eyes on his mom, everything would get a lot easier. Having everyone in one physical spot eliminated a lot of obstacles.
“Come on out, Naela. Our boy misses you.”
“Fuck yourself,” came the reply from within the cruiser, and then one of the guards prodded from the other side until Devron’s mother came tumbling out, cursing up a storm, glaring daggers at anyone in range.
“Satisfied now?” Nor asked, still smiling far too sinisterly for Devron’s liking. Something wasn’t right. This couldn’t be this easy. Even if he did want to do the trade, Nor wasn’t the kind of guy to keep to a deal like this. What was he missing?
“Mom, are you okay?” Devron asked, taking a step forward then stopping when the guards all pointed their weapons at him. There were at least half a dozen of them now with the reinforcements, and Devron couldn’t see a way out.
“You shouldn’t have come, Dev. You should’ve—”