by Robyn Bachar
The shuttle touched down and everyone piled out. A decontamination area constructed of transparent plastisteel walls had been set up in one corner of the bay, and Jace led them to it—their new home for the next forty-eight hours of quarantine. One by one they passed through the airlock and its blast of chemicals, meant to kill any surface contamination. Once they were all inside, the airlock sealed behind them. A fine mist filled the shuttle bay, and the rest of the room vanished from view, as though a thick fog enveloped the decontamination area.
Bryn forced herself to take several deep breaths to calm the panic that threatened to swallow her. Trapped—they were trapped in this tiny plastic box, smaller than a pleasure room. One flick of an Alliance switch and they’d all be spaced.
“What happens now?” Ramsay asked.
“The procedure is that we strip first,” Jace began. “Organics go in one container, they’ll be destroyed. Everything else goes in the other container for decontamination. Then we shower, don our Alliance-issued coveralls, and wait until they clear us to leave.”
Bryn snorted—she vaguely remembered the captain of the Sabre commenting on how the Alliance had a procedure for everything. Jace sounded calm, and she took solace in that. Bryn reached to remove her helmet, and then hissed in pain. “Please tell me someone knows how to re-locate a shoulder.”
“I can,” Soth said. “After you strip.”
Jace growled, and Bryn chuckled at his jealous reaction. “Only if you want my mate to break your nose too,” she warned.
“You’re no fun.”
“Dislocated limbs just ruin one’s sense of humor,” Bryn replied.
“Good point,” Soth said.
With only one good arm, Bryn didn’t argue when Jace helped her remove her armor. Each piece went into the bin, followed by her weapons. She cursed in Cy’reni as Soth wrenched her shoulder back into place with a sickening pop that sounded worse than the pain felt.
Soth had no problem stripping the rest of the way and striding to the shower—most former slaves were used to nudity. Bryn struggled out of the rest of her clothes with Jace’s continued aid. His brow furrowed as he glanced at the rest of the team as though waiting for one of them to make a move on Bryn.
“Hey.” Bryn tilted his face up until he met her gaze, and she tapped the mate marks on her throat. “Property of Najacen Harrow. Doesn’t matter if they sneak a peek. You’re the only one who gets to enjoy this ride. Well, you and Sabine.” Jace nodded and relaxed slightly.
Soth snickered under the shower. “Does that mean I get to look?” he asked.
“Commander, I’m sure you’ve seen more than enough breasts. You really don’t need to see mine,” Bryn replied.
“No such thing as enough breasts,” Soth countered.
Jace growled again, and Bryn kissed him. “Ignore him. He’s baiting you, and just blowing off steam.”
“I don’t like it.”
“That’s the point.” Bryn smiled dryly, and then she sobered. “You came back for me,” she said switching to Cy’reni. She didn’t want their human comrades or the Alliance officials monitoring them to overhear this conversation. Jace quirked a brow. “You could have left me behind.”
“Never,” he replied, also in Cy’reni. Jace took her hand and pressed her fingers to his mate marks. “Property of Brynnaren Viera.”
She smiled, tracing the rune for her name as she flushed with warmth that had nothing to do with lust or the phase. “On the shuttle, when you were trying to rouse me. You said you loved me.”
“I do. You and Sabine. She is our heart, and you are our strength.”
Bryn’s chest tightened, and she blinked away tears—good tears, for a happy change. When the mob had overwhelmed her on the surface, she was certain she was dead, about to be pulled apart. But Jace had charged in to save her, just as he had rescued them from the jump station. He was a good soldier, and a good mate.
She kissed him again. “And you’re the clever, pretty one,” she teased. “Come on, a’mhain. The Alliance techs will get twitchy if you keep stalling.”
Jace smiled and the rest of the tension in his expression eased.
The team showered and changed without anyone showing ill effects from possible exposure to whatever had affected the Becklav colonists. Bryn and Jace pushed two cots together and lay side-by-side, Jace’s arm splayed protectively across her stomach.
“How does your shoulder feel?” he asked, keeping his voice low.
“I’d rather be shot,” she admitted.
“I’ve been thinking. I need you to know that it doesn’t matter to me that…that you can’t…” He trailed off. Bryn quirked a brow as she peered up at him, and he took a deep breath and started over. “I would like it if you had the surgery to reverse the sterilization, but you’re right that it’s your decision. I’ll respect whatever choice you make.”
Bryn brushed a lock of hair from his face. “We have time for that, a’mhain. Right now you need me to be your shathlinn more than you need me to have your children. And Sabine’s happy to keep trying, even though her phase is over.”
“Still using me for my cock, eh?” he teased, and she laughed.
“We are quite fond of it. Get some rest.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
A strange peace settled over her. Despite the worry about Sabine alone on the ship and the fear of whatever bioweapon had killed the colonists, there was comfort in knowing that Jace loved them—both Bryn and Sabine. It gave her hope that if they survived their troubles, they could find happiness together.
Sabine had worked mostly in the fields when she lived on the agro colony. The thoughts of the other slaves were quiet, focused on their tasks, on surviving day-to-day. She was a shadow then, an unremarkable face in a crowd of other Cy’ren slaves. But as she grew—blossomed, one of the women called it—Sabine began to draw lustful attention from males. It frightened her at first, and she wanted nothing more than to be left alone.
When she was sold to the brothel the press of lustful thoughts from her clients had constantly surrounded Sabine. Bryn had been different—she desired Sabine, but she wanted more than that. She wanted a life together—a quiet life, just the two of them. Then the phase had consumed Sabine and plans had changed. The joy of finally being free of the phase made Sabine want to dance through the ship, but she wasn’t entirely ready to rejoin polite society. She’d spent most of her life trying to hide from the attention of others, so she started small, in the ship’s galley.
Bryn had laughed at first, because she was so used to Sabine refusing to eat, but Sabine didn’t have anything against food. It was bad food she objected to. Thankfully her aleithir skills helped her read the ship’s cook and find diplomatic ways to make suggestions. Sabine was grateful to have something to occupy her time—especially when Captain Hawke informed her that Jace and Bryn were in quarantine.
Sabine was pondering improvements to the ship’s menu when the door to Jace’s quarters pinged, and Sabine opened it to find Captain Hawke.
“How are you feeling?” she asked. The captain’s concern brushed her mind like the gentle touch of a parent checking a child for a fever.
“I’ll feel better when my mates are back.”
“Which is why I’m here. We’re landing on the Constitution in a moment to collect them. Care to join me? Captain Spenser would like to meet you.”
Sabine blinked. “Me? Why me?”
“Captain Spenser is Talena’s adopted father. He rescued her when she was a child, and he and his wife raised her. That’s how I met Tali. Our fathers served together aboard this ship when my father was captain.”
Sabine nodded slowly, reading Captain Hawke’s emotions on the subject—she loved her mate very deeply, and she respected this Captain Spenser, though there was an intriguing bubble of anxiety at the mention of her own father.
�
�All right. Am I dressed appropriately? I’ve never been on an Alliance ship.” Thanks to Jace’s mother she had a collection of pretty gowns, and she wore a golden dress with midnight blue trim—Morningstar colors.
“You look lovely, but you’ll be cold. You should borrow one of Jace’s jackets,” Captain Hawke advised.
“Of course. One moment.”
Sabine liberated one of Jace’s uniform jackets from his closet, and she inhaled his scent with a smile. Sadly she didn’t look as striking in the garment as Bryn and Jace did, but she buttoned it closed and joined Captain Hawke, taking the captain’s arm as she led Sabine from the ship.
The decks and walls of the Alliance ship were bright and shiny, like nothing Sabine had seen before. Captain Spenser waited for them at the bottom of the Talon II’s ramp, and Sabine smiled at him. He was tall, like Captain Hawke, and his dark hair was shot through with silver streaks. His energy was strong and even, and he smiled at them both.
“Captain Hawke, good to see you again. I wish the circumstances were better.”
“As do I, Captain Spenser,” she replied. “I was sorry to hear that you were reprimanded for your actions at Nepheros.”
Captain Spenser shrugged. “A reprimand was a small price to pay to save my daughter’s life.”
“Agreed. This is Sabine.”
“Pleased to meet you, sir,” she greeted with a polite bow.
“Dear God, you look so like my Tali,” he murmured as he studied her.
“Thank you, sir. I met with her briefly. She’s very nice.” Sabine’s face flushed, for it seemed an inadequate response. Talena was sweet and kind, and very concerned for Sabine’s welfare.
“Tali always wanted a little sister, and now she has one,” he said.
“I’ve always wanted a sister as well. I’m looking forward to spending more time with her. And to being an auntie.” Sabine smiled and shivered with the thrill of anticipation. A sister. A brother. After so many years spent dreaming of being rescued by her family, she had finally found one. And made one, as well, with Jace and Bryn.
“I’m not certain I’m ready to be a grandfather yet, but I’m glad that she’s happy.” Captain Spenser smiled dryly. “Let’s proceed. I’m certain that your crew is eager to be out of quarantine.”
He offered Sabine his arm, and they made their way to the other bay where the Talon II’s shuttle and crew waited. As the hatch opened Sabine wrinkled her nose at the sharp scent of antiseptic, but the smell was forgotten the moment she spotted her mates. Jace’s eyes widened as Sabine streaked forward to embrace him and Bryn.
“A’gra, what are you doing here?” Bryn asked.
Sabine grinned. “I missed you. I came aboard with Captain Hawke.”
Jace wrapped his arms around both his mates, and then murmured to Sabine, “We missed you too. Bryn and I have been looking forward to ravishing you once we get back to our quarters.”
Our quarters, not his—she supposed that was true. Sabine grinned and basked in the glow of her mates. “Good. I’ve been looking forward to being ravished. I was so worried about you.”
“We will always come home to you, a’stera,” Bryn assured her. My heart. Safe in the circle of their arms, Sabine truly felt like their heart, and Jace pressed a kiss against her hair. The phase might be over, but it didn’t decrease his desire for his mates, and Sabine smiled. He wanted Bryn as much as he did Sabine, and Bryn’s desire for them both warmed Sabine as well.
“I love you both,” she said.
“We love you too, a’mhain,” Bryn replied. “I promised I’d bring him back to you unharmed. I can even report that your favorite parts of him are intact. Then again, so can the Alliance. I’m sure they took video.”
Jace snorted. “I’m sure they had a good look at you as well, but as you said, I’m the only one allowed to ride you.”
Bryn laughed, and the sound of it made Sabine’s heart soar—Bryn didn’t laugh enough, but perhaps she would laugh more now that they were free.
“And we’re the only ones allowed to ride you. Property of Brynnaren and Sabine,” Bryn teased.
“I have no arguments with that.” Jace grinned.
A polite cough interrupted them.
“We have business to discuss, Lieutenant Commander Harrow,” Captain Hawke reminded him. “Report.”
Jace straightened, and he and Bryn stepped away and stood at attention. “Of course, Captain. We pulled the data core from the research facility. It is on the sled in the shuttle.”
“Captain Hawke, we will provide you with a copy of the data, but we are keeping the data core,” Captain Spenser said. Captain Hawke opened her mouth to argue, and he raised a placating hand. “This data is from a registered Alliance colony in Alliance space. The original stays with us.”
Captain Hawke sighed. “Understood, sir. Well then, if your techs are going to make us a copy, then I suppose we have time to stay for tea before we head home.”
Home. What a lovely word.
Chapter Nineteen
Sabine peered out of the viewport as the shuttle soared over the Morningstar city. The emotions of thousands of Cy’ren tickled her like the whispering wings of a cloud of insects. It was distracting, but it didn’t hurt. Her shields were stronger now thanks to Andee’s aid. Sabine had been practicing a few exercises during the return trip, and she looked forward to more of Andee’s guidance.
“Are you all right?” Bryn asked, squeezing her hand.
“Yes. It’s a little strange. I’ve never lived in a place with so many people before. I’m not used to…” Sabine trailed off, and Bryn nodded.
A small group was waiting for them when they landed at the manor. With the phase over, Sabine could no longer avoid meeting her mysterious half brother and Jace’s father. The idea of speaking to two Cy’ren lords at the same time caused a cold sweat to trickle down her spine beneath her gown. Sabine had spent so many years being nothing, and now she was some sort of royalty.
Talena hugged Captain Hawke, and then she smiled and hugged Sabine; her relief at seeing her sister was a comforting blush across Sabine’s skin.
“How do you feel?” Talena asked.
Sabine glanced at the others. “Overwhelmed.”
“I did too, when I first met Galen.” Talena lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “He’s actually rather shy.” Sabine smiled, and Talena took her hand. “I’ll introduce you.”
Lord Degalen—Galen, she reminded herself—bowed and smiled. He was nervous but excited; Sabine sensed an old, deep longing. Apparently the Cy’ren lord shared her dream of one day finding a family.
Jace’s father, Lord Najamek, was polite and curious. Talena’s male mate, Lieutenant Loren, eyed her with wary suspicion. Sabine frowned and poked him sharply in the ribs.
“You hit my mate,” Sabine accused.
Talena gaped at Loren. “You hit Brynnaren?”
“She means Jace,” he replied, sullenly rubbing his side.
“Don’t do it again, or you’ll answer to me.” Sabine stood straighter and glared up at him. She didn’t really have anything to threaten a shadow sword with—certainly not the head of the Sunsinger shadow swords—but she made her point.
“I was concerned for your welfare,” Lieutenant Loren explained.
“I can take care of myself, thank you, and when I can’t, Bryn and Jace do,” Sabine said.
Jace curled an arm around her waist and kissed the top of Sabine’s head. “Maybe I should have made you my shathlinn instead.”
“She’s short, but she’s fierce,” Bryn agreed.
Sabine laughed. “And hungry. Shall we?”
It took Malcolm a few hours to crack the encryption on the data from the Becklav facility, but it took much longer for the Morningstar scientists to analyze it. The Eppes had been researching the Lazarus bioweapon for years,
even longer than the group itself had been owned by the Eppes brothers who currently ran the organization. There were multiple records of communication with high-ranking members of House Nightfall, discussing the Lazarus project’s progress and plans for its development. And eventual sale.
Lord Najamek called a meeting with Lord Degalen, Malcolm and the officers of the Talon II to discuss their next steps. As a new addition to the crew, and as Jace’s bodyguard, Bryn was allowed to attend. But judging by the depressing news, she wasn’t sure that was a blessing. Gods knew she slept a lot better not knowing any of this.
The Morningstar lord leaned forward, steepling his fingers as he began. “Thank you all for coming. I wish the circumstances were better, but unfortunately the situation is grim. The Lazarus weapon is engineered to attack humanoid cells like a virus. It’s transmitted through fluids, either ingestion through a contaminated water supply, or through physical contact that allows fluid transmission. It causes death within one standard day of infection, and then reanimates the body. But the truly insidious part of this weapon is the purpose behind it.”
“Worse than killing a population and bringing their corpses back to life?” Captain Hawke asked.
“Yes. The Eppes group’s influence stretches further than we were aware of. They’ve purchased smaller companies, through holding companies, shell corporations, and they’ve become one of the largest, most powerful private organizations in the Syndicate systems. They are looking to expand their influence into the Alliance. They cannot achieve that through strength of arms, because there isn’t a fleet within the Syndicate that could stand against the Alliance navy. Instead, the Eppes intend to release the Lazarus weapon on Alliance worlds. In fact, it appears that they already have. There are reports of test releases on three worlds—one Alliance, and two in U-space.”
The group sat in stunned silence as the sheer horror of that statement settled over the room like a thick fog, then the captain launched into a litany of expletives. “Damn it all to hell and back! Why would they do that? It’s unspeakable.”