3013_FATED

by Susan Hayes

  “Now you really princess,” Annie said, reaching for the gleaming gold with pudgy fingers outstretched.

  “Not for you, sweet pea. These are for Ciara. We got you something a little more your size.” Dane fished a child’s necklace of large pink and white baubles out of his pocket and offered it to Annie, who took it with a delighted squeal that threatened to rupture their eardrums.

  “Now you’re a princess, too,” Ciara declared, turning in Dane’s arms so she could plant a kiss on Annie’s cheek. “These are beautiful. You two shouldn’t have bought them for me, though. I …I don’t know what to say.”

  “Say thank you. Then hold still, and I’ll put the necklace on for you,” Vance said, setting Annie down.

  “Thank you doesn’t seem nearly powerful enough a statement, but thank you. So much.”

  “You’re welcome, angel.” Dane stole one last kiss before letting her go, moving back so he could watch as Vance moved behind her, slipping the links around her neck before fastening it securely.

  “Now you look the part,” Vance said as she put on the earrings and then stepped back so they could both see the final result.

  She laughed and did a little pirouette for them. “What part is that? Rebel in disguise? Cinderella waiting for the clock to chime midnight?”

  “How about a beautiful woman gracing two very lucky men with the honor of her company?” Dane offered her his arm.

  “I like it. I think Cinderella’s the more accurate description, though.”

  Vance leaned in and kissed her, his fingers tracing the links of the necklace they’d given her. “We’ll still be here after midnight, Ciara. This story doesn’t have to end. Not if you don’t want it to.”

  There was silence for a moment, but before she could say anything, Annie chimed in. “Story! I want story, too!’

  Ciara smiled down at Annie, and there was a light in her eyes that touched Dane’s soul. She might not be in love with them yet, but she was more than a little in love with their daughter. “Not tonight, sweetheart. Tomorrow I will read you two stories. Now, it’s time for us to get you to Jacqueline’s for the night. I bet you she’ll read you a story if we hurry up and get you there before bedtime.”

  “’Kay. We go now!”

  “Some days I think she takes after me.” Dane grinned at Vance as they followed Annie outside. “But times like this, it’s painfully clear she’s your daughter. Who knew there was a gene for being a bossy pain in the ass?”

  “What’s ass?” Annie asked, and all three of them burst out laughing.

  It was going to be a good night.

  * * * *

  Ciara had barely set foot in the party room before Alayna came to greet them, her two bonded only a few feet behind her. Clad in a stunning crimson gown, her hair caught up in a multitude of braids, the former thief looked perfectly at home in the crowded space.

  “You look amazing! And did you see the room? It’s perfect. You were right about the table layout, and the centerpieces are exactly what I wanted. Thank you! Damn, did I say you look amazing? I knew that dress was the right choice.”

  Ciara found herself being hugged so hard she could barely breathe, and once again, she was struck by the changes in Alayna since she’d been claimed. She was truly happy, and her joy showed with every word and gesture.

  “I didn’t do much. I only made a few suggestions.”

  Alayna rolled her eyes. “Take the compliment.”

  Nikolai and Colin nodded their agreement.

  “Everything looks perfect. Thank you for helping our chosen pull this together without going insane. We know this wasn’t what either of you consider fun, but I have to say, you did an amazing job,” Colin said, looking at Alayna with pride and love.

  Alayna smiled back at him. “And if anyone ruins it, I might stab them. I want everything to go perfectly tonight.”

  Her other bonded, Nikolai, muttered under his breath and put a hand on Alanya’s arm. “I should probably have asked this sooner, but…you’re not armed, are you?”

  Ciara slapped a hand to her mouth to hide her laughter as Alayna rolled her eyes again.

  “What do you think, big guy?”

  The base’s head of security groaned. “Fuck. Of course you are. Do me a favor and don’t stab anyone tonight, okay? I don’t need the paperwork.”

  Colin turned his attention to Dane and Vance, grinning from ear to ear. “This is what happens when you claim a rebel. Consider yourselves warned.”

  A new voice joined the conversation, and instantly, all four men snapped to attention, turning to salute the new arrival.

  “Sir!”

  Alayna turned to beam at man joining them. “Hi, Dad. Welcome to your party.”

  Regent Travers smiled down at his daughter. “You did an incredible job getting this organized. Your mother would be so proud of you.”

  “I had a lot of help, especially from Ciara,” Alayna said back before making introductions. “Regent Clifton Travers, this is my friend, Ciara Fanning, and you already know her dates, Director Dane Foster and Director Vance Sterling.”

  “Sir!”

  Both men saluted again while Ciara got her first look at the regent. The first thing she noticed was that he had the same jade-green eyes as Alayna. He was younger than she’d expected, a man still in his prime despite the touch of silver sprinkled throughout the dark waves of his hair and his closely cropped beard. His dress uniform was perfectly tailored, and she belatedly realized Alayna’s dress was the exact same shade of red as her father’s sleeves. It was a subtle nod to their relationship, and proof that father and daughter were both clearly happy to have the other back in their lives.

  The Regent turned to Ciara. “I am very happy you could join us tonight. Alayna told me what happened, and I wanted you to know if you need help rebuilding your clinic, I would be happy to direct funding and materials your way.”

  Ciara’s jaw dropped. “You want to help me rebuild? In the badlands? Isn’t that a bit outside the Alliance’s area of interest?”

  “The Alliance safeguards this entire planet and everyone on it. We’re all citizens of the Alliance, even if some would like to believe otherwise.”

  She caught the twinkle in his eyes and grinned. “I see Alayna’s been hitting you with the same speech she’s been giving me since I got here.”

  Travers chuckled. “It’s possible. I didn’t need much persuading, though. She’s alive because of the rebels. The badlands were her home.” He shrugged. “Alayna’s causes are mine now. It’s as simple as that.”

  Vance watched Ciara charm one of the Alliance’s leaders with a mix of pride and concern. As pleased as he was to see her coming into her own in such company, the last thing he and Dane wanted was for her to take up Clifton’s offer and head out to the badlands to rebuild her life far away from Fort Saken…and them.

  “I’m still considering what I’ll do next, but I appreciate the offer. And may I say

  you’re as smooth a talker as Alayna.”

  Travers laughed and reached out to touch Ciara’s arm. “Thank you. Though I’m not sure you’re right. Alayna has a real knack for getting people to come around to her way of thinking.”

  “She does indeed.”

  Ciara graced the regent with a smile that set Vance’s teeth on edge. Was she flirting with Travers? Oh, hell no. Regent or not, Vance wasn’t appreciating the way Travers was looking at her.

  Back off, old man. She’s claimed.

  The thought blindsided him. Claimed? Where the hell had that idea come from?

  Dane stepped in to place a possessive arm around Ciara’s waist. “We’re hoping Alayna will use her talents to help us convince Ciara to stay here in Fort Saken. Thanks to Alayna’s efforts, more residents of the badlands are moving here. We’re going to need a civilian medical center soon. Who better to be part of that than someone they already know and trust?”

  Thank the fucking stars for
Dane.

  Their conversation was interrupted by one of the servers. “Excuse me, but dinner is about to be served. If our guest of honor and the rest of the head table could take their seats, we can begin.”

  “And that’s our cue to find our table,” Vance said with barely disguised relief. Socializing was never his strong suit, and he was looking forward to sitting down and staying out of the way for the rest of the night.

  Ciara slipped her hand into his and gifted him with an angelic smile. “Did I forget to tell you? We’re at the head table tonight.”

  “We are?” She was going to pay for this once he got her alone, and judging by Dane’s expression, he’d have help exacting their revenge.

  “Alayna arranged it.” Ciara’s fingers tightened around his, and she dropped her voice to a whisper. “She didn’t want to be surrounded by sycophants and suck-ups all night. This way, her father has a chance to relax a little. I couldn’t say no.”

  “That doesn’t get you off the hook for not warning us. Vengeance shall be mine.”

  “Oh, yeah. Payback is coming, angel,” Dane whispered as they fell in behind the main party and followed them to their assigned seating.

  Suddenly, he had a new reason to want this night over with. With Annie at the sitter’s for the night, payback was going to be a long, enjoyable activity for all of them.

  ***

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  The moment dinner ended and the music started up, Vance and Dane stood, took Ciara by the hands and led her out to the dance floor.

  “Oh, no. I don’t dance. Not ever,” she protested, but her arguments fell on deaf ears.

  “Consider this part one of payback, then. Because we’re dancing with you.” Dane’s voice had a rough edge to it, his jaw set and eyes glittering with determination.

  “Why?”

  “Because,” Vance growled, spinning her around so she was facing Dane with Vance moving in close behind her, his hands on her hips and his big body nestled up tight to hers.

  “If one more guy looks at you like you’re on the menu, I’m going to lose it. This way’s easier. When we’re done dancing, there won’t be a man here who doesn’t know who you belong to.” Dane maneuvered them deep into the growing throng of dancers until they were dead center in the middle of the floor.

  “Including Travers. Regent or not, he’s walking on thin-fucking-ice,” Vance murmured.

  She’d clearly had too much to drink during dinner because neither man was making any sense. No one was looking at her. Why would they when there were stunningly beautiful, enhanced women everywhere tonight? Regent Travers had only been making polite conversation during dinner. He was a regent for star’s sake, he was hardly going to notice someone like her.

  “You’re both crazy. Why would anyone be looking at me?”

  “Because they have eyes, and you’re fucking beautiful.” Dane moved in to kiss her, his mouth drifting across hers as they trapped her between them.

  Vance dropped his head to press several open mouthed kisses to her bare shoulder while Dane kissed her senseless, both of them moving in time to the music. It was erotic. Seductive. And while part of her wanted to flee the attention she knew they must be garnering, another part of her reveled in the moment. This was what she’d dreamed about in her deepest fantasies. To be desired. This was what it was like to belong, and she would never forget it for as long as she lived. They wanted her, and they wanted everyone to know it.

  She closed her eyes and let the music wash over her, the three of them entwined and moving as one. Her world shrank down to the smallest of details—hard muscle and the brush of fabric beneath her fingers. The taste of Dane’s kisses and the heat of Vance’s breath as it whispered across her skin. Every sway and turn brought her up against the hard ridge of their cocks. It was one part dancing and two parts foreplay, and she didn’t want it to end. She hung onto them even after the song had ended. It wasn’t enough time. Maybe it would never be enough.

  “I think I need some air,” she told them as they left the dance floor.

  Vance nodded. “You grab some air, and I’ll find us fresh drinks. Ones with plenty of ice.”

  “I’ll stay with Ciara.” Dane slipped his arm around her waist and guided her toward a pair of double doors she knew from the previous day’s tour led outside to a small, walled-off patio. The area had been decorated with fairy lights and ornamental shrubbery for the occasion, turning it into a temporary garden for those looking for an escape from the social whirl inside.

  Chill air wrapped around her the moment she stepped outside. She took a deep breath and drew the cold air into her lungs, but it did nothing to ease the inferno burning inside her. It was cold enough that after a few seconds she shivered, and Dane glanced down with a frown of concern.

  “You’re not dressed for this weather. I should have thought to grab a jacket or your wrap before coming outside.” He winked at her as he stole a quick kiss. “I’ve got plans for you, so don’t go anywhere. I won’t be long.”

  Ciara didn’t argue. It was cold, and she could use a few minutes to herself. Her heart was still racing, and she was drunk on desire. She was so wet her panties were soaked through, and every caress of her dress against her body was like a phantom lover’s touch.

  Unable to stay still, she started walking along the perimeter of the patio, her arms wrapped around herself to fend off the worst of the chill. She was halfway around when the doors opened and several other guests spilled out into the night, accompanied by a blast of noise and bright light. The women were laughing among themselves and none of them seemed to notice Ciara. Before she could announce her presence, one of the women spoke.

  “Holy nova, that was the hottest thing I’ve ever seen. I had no idea the good doctor had moves like that.”

  “Me either,” another chimed in with a soft laugh. “And I work with the man. Did you see who he was dancing with? I swear that’s the rebel we found on the road after the earthquake out in the badlands. She drove in with a punctured lung and had two kids with her, the only other survivors. They would have died if not for her.”

  The first speaker shook her head, her blonde hair flowing like moonlight around her face from the movement. “She didn’t look like much to me. I could break her in half with one hand. No enhancements, and did you see her tattoo? She’s not fertile. She needs to go back to her rebel buddies and leave the elites to those of us who have the right stuff to make them happy.”

  “I don’t know about that. The three of them looked pretty happy to me. In fact, it’s the happiest I’ve seen Dr. Sterling since he got here.”

  “So? You don’t think they’d actually stay with someone like her, do you? She’s not even on our side. If those two are done mourning their chosen, then I think I need to go introduce myself. I’ve been thinking it’s time to settle down and have a family. Those two fit all my criteria. Good looking, sexy, solid careers.”

  Ciara’s last breath was locked in her lungs as she listened to the women talk. Sides, labels, it was all nonsense. Anger burned away the sorrow and eased the tightness in her chest.

  Before she knew what she was going to do, she stepped out of the shadows and laid into the one who’d dismissed her as nothing more than an infertile rebel. “Vance and Dane are a hell of a lot more than a checklist of your wants and needs. They’re good men, which is something you’d know if you actually spoke to them or saw them as human beings and not merely as potential mates.”

  Ciara stalked over to the blonde and glowered at her, ignoring the six plus inch height advantage the other woman held over her. “The scroll tattoo on your face doesn’t make you better than me. And there are no sides. As someone pointed out to me tonight, we’re all in this together. Alliance, rebel, scroll, those are merely labels. They don’t define who we are or what we’re capable of. My men make me happy, and I make them happy. That’s all that matters. Oh, and for the record, the sex is hotter than a supernova.
Not that you’ll ever get a chance to find out.”

  Dane stood in the doorway, watching as Ciara came into her own. She was glorious in her anger, but what truly had him cheering was the fact she’d called them her men. It was sexy as hell to hear her being possessive of them, and it made him hope that she’d made up her mind to stay.

  He made his move right after she announced that the sex was hotter than a supernova. Fuck, he loved this woman. He walked outside and pulled her into his arms for a scorching kiss, completely ignoring their audience. It wasn’t until his lips were on hers that the truth of his thoughts hit him, but when it did, it struck hard.

  He loved her. Holy fuck.

  He’d only been in love once before, with Christine. She’d made him believe he could be a better man. He’d wanted to be better for her and then for Annie. Now, he wanted to step up and show Ciara he could be what she needed. What she deserved. After Christine’s death, Dane wasn’t sure he’d ever love anyone else. Annie was all he needed. She was the sun that lit up his world. Now, there was Ciara, too.

  When he finally looked up, they were alone. Their audience had slipped away at some point, which was fine by him. The only person in the world he needed at the moment was in his arms, and he had no intention of letting her go any time soon.

  “You’re fucking sexy when you’re riled. Has anyone ever mentioned that?” he asked.

  She answered with a laugh that filled the darkness. “Only you and Vance seem to feel that way. Are you sure you two are right in the head?”

  “Not in the slightest. But then again, I’m not the one who just went off on an elite officer who knows at least a half dozen ways to put you in traction without breaking a sweat.”

  “Blondie? Please. She was in four inch heels and a dress so fitted and low cut, if she’d tried to take a swing, she’d have either fallen off her heels or had a catastrophic wardrobe malfunction. Besides, as much as she was talking trash, I’ve come to understand that most of you elites take pride in the uniform and the rules that govern it. She would never attack a civilian over a verbal slight. I know that what happened with William was the exception, not the rule.”