Shamara

by Catherine Spangler

  The familiar panic flared. She felt uprooted, exposed, with no safe haven in sight. Her hands clenched tighter.

  "It appears you were promised as a bride to Commander Gunnar of Dukkair, probably in some sort of trade, since that's how Leors get a lot of their mates," Jarek continued. "You didn't want to be forced into marriage with a Leor. Perhaps you were afraid he would discover you were an Enhancer. You escaped from Travan by stowing away on Celie's ship and traveling to Saron."

  He had an uncanny knack for ferreting out the truth. A terrifying aptitude, actually. She looked at the water.

  "I just did some research on Travan," he said. "The women there basically have no more rights than slaves. They're often traded in business dealings. Is that what happened?"

  The noose around her neck tightened. The chance at freedom grew more elusive, more fleeting, with every passing moment. And yet, what was the sense in denying what he already knew, could confirm if he wanted to? "Yes," she whispered.

  "You arrived at Saron and hired on at the Pleasure Dome. I think I know why you did that."

  The reminder of the Pleasure Dome flashed vivid images through her mind: Jarek lowering his body over hers, kissing her, possessing her in the most fundamental way a man could claim a woman. But she refused to dwell on those events.

  "The problem is, you think you know everything about me," she snapped, glaring at him defiantly. "But you could be wrong, you know."

  He watched her, his expression unreadable. "About you being an Enhancer? I don't think so. The more I'm around you, the more certain I am."

  "None of that concerns you." She scrambled to her feet.

  With lightspeed reflexes, he was up beside her. "You can't tell me I'm not involved, because I damn well am."

  "Only because you want something from me—something I can't give you." She tried to walk away but he grabbed her arm and pulled her back.

  His magnasteel grip forced her to turn, drew her to rest against the hard planes of his body. "Look at me, Eirene."

  Reluctantly, she found herself responding to the command in his voice and raised her eyes to his. Heated emotion sparked in his eyes. "I'm involved because I took your virginity. Because you saved my life. And yes, because I need you, damn it."

  The rough, honest words touched off disconcerting longings deep within her. For a brief moment, she wondered what it would be like to have Jarek need her for the woman she was, not for what she was—a freak who couldn't control her powers.

  She silently cursed the Pleasure Dome and the necessity that had taken her there. If not for that, she wouldn't be in this predicament. "That stupid virginity caused a lot of trouble," she muttered.

  Surprise crossed Jarek's face, and his lips twitched. She had the distinct impression he was battling a smile. Her heart strangely lightened by the inanity of her remark, she had to suppress her own smile.

  "I think of it more as divine intervention," he said. "Let me guess. You took that job as a courtesan to get rid of your virginity, so Gunnar would no longer want you for his bride."

  Again, no sense in denying his conclusion. "I didn't want my life decided for me. I still don't. And it doesn't matter what happened at the Pleasure Dome."

  "It does matter." He slid his hand upward to cradle the side of her face. "I'm honored that I was your first. I blundered it badly, and I hurt you. I'm sorry about that."

  Shifting, he drew her closer. He was so solid, so warm…so aroused. Awareness, fueled by memories of him stroking her body, of him pressing his mouth against her bare skin, snaked through her, alluring and dangerous.

  "Even so," he whispered, lowering his head, his lips hovering an atom's-breadth from hers, "I'm glad I was the first."

  Her heart was pounding. A tidal wave of desire roared through her veins, blotting out rational thought. She wanted him to kiss her. She wanted to taste him, to run her hands over the muscled expanse of his body. Wanted him to touch her like he had at the Dome.

  And he knew it. A possessive, triumphant light gleamed in his eyes. Then his mouth settled over hers, confident and sure. He slid his arms around her, and his tongue teased her lips, slipped between them. She opened for him, allowed his invasion of her mouth. At the touch of his tongue against hers, electricity arced through her.

  Her equilibrium totally blasted, she clutched the front of his flightsuit. She savored the taste of him, clean and fresh; the feel of him, the warmth radiating from his hard body. Desire surged through her, intense and terrifying, yet like a magnetic undertow she couldn't resist. Didn't want to resist—

  Ranie's shrill cry pierced the air. Sharp claws pierced Eirene's shoulder as the lanrax leaped between them, protesting indignantly. Jarek drew back. "What the blazing hells?"

  "Sorry to bother ya," came Radd's apologetic voice. "But I wanted to tell ya I looked over the damage to your ship."

  Jarek released her, and she stumbled back, dragging air into her lungs. Standing at the edge of the tree line, Radd offered a crooked grin. "Didn't expect to find this. We can talk about your ship later."

  Her head clearing, she was appalled at her response to Jarek, at her own behavior. What was wrong with her? She was off balance, uncertain and in a strange environment, she told herself. That would explain this momentary insanity. She edged away from the men. "I've got cleanup detail. I need to get back to the hall."

  Jarek held out a detaining hand. "Wait. I want us both to hear what Radd says about the ship. You're in on this, too."

  She started to protest that she didn't want to be in on anything, wanted nothing to do with Radd or Jarek or his ship. But, looking at Radd's inquisitive face, she clamped her mouth shut. Too many people already knew far too much about her, and she had no desire to impart further information.

  Radd stepped forward, and Ranie crouched low on Jarek's shoulder, hissing. "Not much to tell," Radd said. "Most of the damage was to your starboard bay, with a little to the thruster and the hoverlift on that side. I'll get right on it, and knock it out in a few hours."

  "Good," Jarek said. "I appreciate that, Radd. Then we'll be able to leave tomorrow." His eyes met Eirene's, challenging, in command. "We'll go directly to Aldon."

  The statement jolted through her like a blaster. No stops for supplies or anything else. No chance to escape him. She stood silently, trying to think of something—anything—to thwart his plans.

  Radd nodded, seemingly unaware of the tension between Jarek and Eirene. "I'll tell the group to start loadin' supplies for ya. And I want to donate some of my personal funds."

  "Radd, you don't have to do that."

  "I intend to do it. No problem."

  "That's great," Jarek said sincerely. "You don't know how much that means."

  "It's nothin.' See ya back at the ship." Humming a little tune, Radd strolled off.

  Determined Jarek wouldn't throw her off balance again, wouldn't have any further effect on her rebellious body, she started after Radd.

  "I didn't take you for a coward, Eirene."

  She halted, challenged by the taunt. She'd escaped her uncle, found her way in a strange world, tried to ensure her freedom the best way she knew how. She'd resisted Jarek's trickery, escaped from him once, had almost fallen into the hands of her uncle and a Leor. She'd been shot at, had treated Jarek's wounds. She was not a coward.

  Now she battled a more insidious threat, one that was inexplicable and intangible. She would not run. She'd diffuse the attraction between Jarek and herself now. She faced him. "I'm not a coward. But I refuse to fall victim to male lust."

  "You think that's all there is between us—lust?"

  "What else could there be?"

  He studied her speculatively. "Sounds to me like negative experiences with men have influenced your thinking. Among Shielders, women are treated as equals, and with respect."

  "Are they held prisoner against their will?"

  "Point well taken," Jarek conceded. Dropping Ranie gently to the ground, he started toward her. She took a step
back, but forced herself to stop. She refused to retreat from him. But her heart started pounding again, and when he reached her, that disconcerting warmth flooded her body. Her senses went on full alert.

  He slid his hands over her shoulders, and she had to tilt her head to look up at him. His gaze, heated mahogany, bored into her. "I was out of line when I kissed you on the ship, because you weren't ready for anything like that. But I won't apologize for today. You wanted that kiss as much as I did."

  Again, she was stunned, and appalled that he could read her so well. "You're wrong," she protested. "You can't possibly know what I feel or think."

  "I know a lot more than you would like me to know. Tell you what, little one. After we complete our mission, Spirit willing that we do, I'll give you back your freedom. And then maybe we'll explore this so-called 'lust' we seem to experience when we're together. I think you might be very surprised at what we find."

  This time, any response deserted her completely. She could only stare at him, jolted by his words, while her body hummed from his nearness. He stepped back, and she felt oddly bereft at the loss of his touch. Then he was gone, striding through the trees without a backward glance. Ranie darted after him. Eirene was left alone with her tumultuous thoughts and traitorous body.

  She would control her reactions, she vowed. She knew she couldn't stay with Jarek. He threatened her on too many levels. She couldn't provide what he needed, and he couldn't give her the things she yearned for. She had to get free of him—not only physically, but emotionally. And soon.

  * * *

  Jarek breathed a sigh of relief when they cleared Risa's gravitational field. His ship was flying smoothly, his detection system showed no other craft in the vicinity, and Eirene was with him. Not that she could have escaped from Risa. Fairly certain she didn't know how to pilot a ship, but taking no chances, he'd implemented some precautionary measures. The first night on Risa, he and Sabin had installed additional override codes on all the spacecraft on Risa. There was no way Eirene could have commandeered a ship.

  The skimmers had been secured as well, so she couldn't leave the general vicinity. He had been confident he could find her anywhere within the colony. If anything, he was even more attuned to her unique energy, could locate and track it easily. Oddly enough, Sabin and the other Shielders weren't able to pick up on it as readily, although Sabin could sense the energy when he concentrated.

  Jarek looked over at Eirene. She sat stiffly, staring out the portal, cool, beautiful, and distant. She wore the deep blue robe Roanne had given her before they left Risa. Her energy fluctuated erratically, as it seemed to do when she was particularly upset, usually with him. The two of them certainly had a volatile relationship. But that wasn't unusual when emotions ran high, which they invariably did where Eirene was concerned.

  He had trouble maintaining his normally cool and lucid control, both over his thoughts and his body, when she was around. Leaning back, he ran his hand through his hair. Perhaps it was best that she was determined to erect emotional walls between them. He needed no distractions, especially with so many concerns pressing in on him.

  The gold he had available to offer the Shens for the equipment was not a substantial amount. Sabin and Blake would be meeting him at Aldon to deliver any additional funds they'd been able to collect, but that would have to be enough. Even if they did manage to get the machinery, there was no guarantee that it would work, that Eirene would help him, or that his theory was even remotely correct.

  He'd know the outcome soon enough. Grimly, he leaned forward to lock in the coordinates to Aldon. "You can take off your harness now," he told her.

  She undid the magnetic clasp. "I'm going to my cabin."

  She wanted to distance herself from him, while he wanted her in the cockpit with him. He tried to tell himself it was so he could keep an eye on her, but he knew better. He wanted her near, wanted to feel her energy, to gaze into her remarkable eyes. He wanted to hear her voice and, Spirit help him, feel her touch.

  He didn't want to be alone anymore.

  His thoughts were traversing a dangerous path, one he didn't dare take. His commitments necessitated a solitary existence, and he'd accepted that fact, up until now. He nodded his head. "Okay."

  She rose and left the cockpit. As the panel slid shut behind her, Ranie began squealing. Maybe some good had come out of chasing after Eirene. Jarek reached down and released the lanrax from the padded pouch he'd secured on the side of the main console. Ranie climbed his leg and settled in his lap, chattering contentedly. At least he wasn't completely alone. He'd never in a hundred light years imagined a lanrax might keep him from the abyss of total emotional desolation.

  Activating the automatic controls, he settled back and stared out at the dark depths of space. He did this often on long trips, watching the stars while he mentally sifted through the many decisions he had to weigh and consider, reviewed his immediate and long-term plans, listed whom he needed to contact, what orders to issue.

  He didn't know how long he'd been in his reverie when the alert went off, the harsh clanging jarring him from his thoughts. He lurched forward, quickly shifting to present mode and reading the monitors.

  Two ships were bearing down on him, both larger than his craft, both heavily armed. And both had their armaments activated. Where had they come from? He should have picked them up sooner, unless they had stealth capability. That could mean they were space pirates, Anteks, or worse, Controllers. Damn.

  His subspace transceiver beeped, universal frequency. So the bastards wanted to talk to him. He activated Radd's program, although he didn't see how he could disable two ships, then hit the comm button. "Who are you and what do you want?" he demanded.

  He didn't activate the camera on his videoviewer, so his assailants couldn't see him. But his screen flashed on, revealing a man with heavy jowls and small dull eyes. Probably part Antek, like Turlock.

  "Greetings," the man hissed, showing rotten teeth. "San Ranul, we presume. Turlock informed us you might hide on Risa."

  How could Turlock have possibly known that? The Leors were aware of Jarek's link with Moriah and Sabin, but that was it. Jarek made it a point to keep even his own people in the dark about his connections and activities, for everyone's protection.

  He would not deny his identity this time. Even if he convinced these thugs it wasn't him they wanted, they wouldn't let him go. They'd murder him and confiscate his ship. Turlock always operated that way. Then they'd descend on Risa, looking for Jarek.

  "Why didn't Turlock come after me himself?" he challenged, trying to buy time. "Afraid, after what happened our last encounter?"

  "It's a big quadrant. Turlock's been looking other places. Figured you'd come out of your hole sooner or later."

  Jarek studied the position of the two ships, his gut clenching. By the Fires! He was situated between them. Even if Radd's data revealed a weakness in their ship structures, he couldn't disable both of them. The millisecond he fired, they'd retaliate with deadly force. That would be preferable to capture, but there was one problem. Eirene was on board.

  "San Ranul? You there?"

  What now? He rapidly considered possible options. He would never allow Turlock's thugs to take him into custody. And neither was there any way he could allow Eirene to fall into their hands. That would be unthinkable. He knew all too well how most renegades treated women.

  "Answer me, san Ranul!"

  "I'm here," he replied, still sifting through solutions. "Care to share your plans for me?"

  "Glad to see you've got enough sense not to fire on us. Would hate to send you to the Fires on a torpedo."

  "The Controllers don't pay bounties on debris," Jarek retorted. "Besides, I'm worth a lot more alive."

  He'd sworn he'd never be taken alive. He knew too much, had information that would bring total and final destruction on the Shielders if it fell into the wrong hands. He'd taken precautions in the event he was captured, more so since the bounty had been issued
on his head. If he disappeared, Liron and other colonies would be evacuated to sites known only to Jarek's chief officers. He himself didn't know those locations. He'd also undergone rigorous training to ensure his resistance to drugs and torture.

  Despite the careful strategy, there was no guarantee that he wouldn't crack under torture; or that all Shielders could find a new place to hide, or reach alternate sites quickly enough. He had always planned on ending his own life if necessary. There was too much risk to his people otherwise. It saddened him that he had come to this point. He thought of beloved family and friends, all that he had shared with them. And of the possible solution for Shielder salvation, so close, almost within his grasp. So close, yet out of reach.

  And there was another consideration. Eirene. She was possibly the only hope remaining for the Shielders. In the event anything happened to Jarek, Sabin had instructions to find her and carry out the plan to locate the wormhole.

  Jarek still had no tangible evidence to support his theory, but he knew with every cell of his being that an Enhancer would be crucial for operating that equipment on Aldon. Research into the little-known details on the Enhancers had indicated that their equipment had been operated on mental power, rather than artificial, or solar and wind sources.

  Enhancer or not, he simply couldn't bear the thought of Eirene being tortured or raped, or her life snuffed out. Not now. Not ever.

  "Yeah," the hideous male on the screen growled. "Turlock wants you alive. We're taking you to Saron. He'll meet us there."

  Jarek felt the ship lurch, heard the clank against the hull. A magnetic grappler had attached to his ship. He didn't have long.

  "We'll be boarding immediately, and we'll be heavily armed," Turlock's man warned. "Don't try anything, san Ranul."

  Jarek turned off the comm and raced to Eirene's cabin, urgency pounding through his veins. She whirled from the portal when he entered her cabin. Her face was pale and drawn.