“If I wanted everyone out of my territory -- which I do -- I’d just dump Izak’s body at his feet and be done with it.”
“Stop playing stupid!” Jack took a step forward. Cruz was sure the handler meant it to be menacing, but he wasn’t impressed. “I know you already understand what I want from you.”
Jack was right. He could easily see where this was leading. “I tell Maddox the tigers gave me the slip this morning, and I can’t track them while I’m tripping over the other search parties, then what?”
“We’ll help you time your arrival so it corresponds with Milo’s agent. Hopefully he, or she, will allow you to assist them. If not, you’ll need to track them to an appropriate location, then take possession of the prototype.”
“What is this prototype?”
“It’s integrated into the vehicle the agent will be driving.” A slow, cruel smile parted Jack’s lips. “If Milo sends who we think he’ll send, there might be something more in this for you.”
“I only want one thing, and it has nothing to do with Milo!”
Jack ignored the outburst. “We’re only interested in the prototype, which means you can do whatever you want with the agent. Kill them quickly, or indulge your long-neglected animal nature. I know how long it’s been since you really let loose.”
“I only owe you a capture, remember? That doesn’t cover the agent.”
“Details.” Jack waved away his concern and tightened the strap on his helmet. “If you can figure out a way to deliver the prototype without sacrificing the agent, more power to you. But you know the rules. No witnesses. No loose ends. I expect delivery within three days.”
This was the third time in four months his retirement had been interrupted for “one final assignment.” He was DOMA’s slave. He had a chip in his head rather than manacles and chains, but the bondage was every bit as intolerable. “And once you have this precious prototype, how long will I be allowed to remain inactive?”
Jack shrugged and climbed back onto the hover-cycle. “I’ll do what I can, but your skill set is unique and extremely useful. Concentrate on the mission.”
“What about the bodies in the cave?”
“Standard verification protocol.” Which meant holo-images and DNA samples. “Then torch the place. It’s obvious you need the release.”
Chapter One
Sharp claws pricked Emily Hillard’s throat while a massive hand immobilized her against the rough-hewn wall surrounding the feline village. Maddox, the leader of Barbary pride, loomed over her, silent, majestic, and lethal. Only his hand touched her as he stared into her eyes. Nothing more was needed to control an unarmed human.
She hadn’t expected a hero’s welcome. But she’d been dragged out of her vehicle by brutish guards and shoved against the wall before she had a chance to explain who she was or why she’d come to Alpha Colony. A small crowd had gathered by the time Maddox arrived, and her treatment at his hands had been even less welcoming. The morphs had no reason to trust humans. She understood their hostility. Even so, she had expected some level of civility.
Taking a careful breath, she tried to regain her composure without increasing the sting of the lion-shifter’s claws. “Milo sent me.” She maneuvered the words beyond her dry lips, amazed that she could speak at all. Would that mean anything to him? Maddox was organizing the cat clans in support of the building rebellion, but she wasn’t sure how much he knew about the external efforts.
One of Maddox’s tawny brows arched, and he relaxed enough to sheath his claws. His hand slipped to the base of her throat as his face descended. She knew enough about morphs to understand what he was doing. He sniffed her hair, inhaled her breath, and gradually moved lower. The examination was humiliatingly thorough, yet in no way intimate.
“You reek of dogs.”
“I just came from their camp.” Her voice regained a bit of its strength. Apparently, he’d decided not to rip out her throat. That was something. “I needed --”
He caught her jaw again, snapping her head back so fast she bumped the rustic perimeter wall. “The only thing I need from those curs is the safe return of my sister!”
“Maddox, their scent is on her clothing, not her body.” The throaty, female voice came from somewhere behind Maddox, but Emily couldn’t see around his broad chest. “Are you calm enough to process the distinction?”
Emily didn’t detect playfulness in the female’s words, but Maddox smiled and moved his hand to the wall. His gaze lingered on Emily’s face for a moment longer; then he angled his body toward the other woman. “I’m always calm. I was hoping to detect Jizette’s scent, but all I can smell is dog.”
The blonde shrugged as she ambled closer. “Perhaps we should remove her clothes. Then we can determine if she’s been near Jizette or not.”
“I have,” Emily immediately volunteered.
The blonde chuckled. “Humans are so easy.”
“But it’s not what you think. I’m not working for Timberline pack. I have important information, if you’ll let me explain.”
The female stood beside Maddox, confident and comfortable. Golden hair flowed to her waist and framed a face both angular and graceful. “I’m Dyauna.” She held out her hand toward Emily. “Maddox is my mate.” Her simple, filmy garment did little to conceal her supple curves. The two made a stunning couple.
Maddox smiled at his mate’s possessive phrasing and pushed off the wall. “You’re usually the one ready to bust heads first and ask questions later. Is mated life taming you?”
“In your dreams.” Dyauna motioned toward Emily’s vehicle. “What is that thing? I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Emily glanced at the guards and other onlookers. Her arrival had caused quite a stir. “Much of what I need to explain is highly confidential. Is there somewhere we can go to talk?”
“Do you know where Jizette is, or not?” Maddox faced Emily again, all playfulness gone from his demeanor.
“I do, and she’s unharmed. The rest is complicated.”
“There’s nothing complicated about releasing a hostage.” His nostrils flared, and Dyauna placed her hand on his forearm. “All the dogs need to do is let her go.”
Dyauna gave his arm a meaningful squeeze. “This really would be better without an audience.”
He heaved a sigh and called out to the guards, telling them to open the gate. “Bring that contraption inside. We’ll talk in the workshop.”
Emily wasn’t sure where the workshop was, but Maddox and Dyauna guided her inside the feline village. Watching the gates close behind her felt oddly prophetic. This wasn’t her first field mission, not even her first time at Alpha Colony, so why did she feel so jittery?
She only caught a glimpse of the village proper, which appeared well organized and… quaint. The word made her smile. Felidae-morphs were primal and organic. How could they stand such a bland environment?
As she steered the skimmer into an oversized garage, she noticed a surprising array of machinery. She powered down the engines and activated external shields before joining Maddox and Dyauna.
“I thought technology was forbidden within the colonies?” She hesitated over the question, not wanting to insult her volatile host.
“There’s a long involved process for securing waivers, but once a machine is deemed acceptably by DOMA, anyone within the colony can obtain one,” Maddox explained. “Only machines with specific, practical purposes are considered for the reintegration program.”
“And DOMA inflates the prices of everything to discourage our dependency on these frivolous conveniences.” Bitterness crept into Dyauna’s tone, and her gaze lingered on Emily’s skimmer. “Somehow I don’t think your ride would be considered acceptable by DOMA. What all can that baby do?”
“You can ask her all about her toy later. She has some questions to answer first.” Ignoring the curious looks of the workers, Maddox led them to an enclosed area in the back corner of the workshop. He closed the window and locked the
door before returning his attention to Emily. “What were you doing in dog territory?”
“Collecting samples, but I need to go further back. I’ll keep it quick. I promise.”
He scoffed. “A woman who can manage a succinct explanation? This I’ve got to see.”
Dyauna slapped him on the shoulder with feigned outrage and an odd pang assailed Emily’s heart. She couldn’t even imagine what it would be like to be so obviously in love. The few times she’d taken time out of her busy schedule for social relationships had only revealed the pointlessness of such endeavors. Regardless of her body’s needs, her personality didn’t seem conducive to romance. She found other scientists boring, so it was easy to understand why strong, aggressive men didn’t look in her direction for sexual companionship.
“Director Darman and I both worked for DOMA around the same time,” she began. “He was my mentor. We’ve kept in touch even after I resigned and he was banished to Alpha Colony.”
“He considers this banishment?” Maddox sounded insulted.
“Don’t you?” Emily let the challenge resonate for a moment before she went on. “We’ve continued to pass each other information down through the years.”
“You’re his contact?” Dyauna watched her intently, arms crossed under her breasts. “The one who leaked the video and so forth?”
Emily blew out a frustrated breath. Maddox was right; this wasn’t going to be quick or easy. The room’s primary function was obviously storage, so there was nowhere to sit. She needed to stick to facts and keep details to a minimum. Her mission had two components, and this was supposed to be the easy part. She thought of the scope of her tale and wanted to laugh.
“Do you both know who Milo is?”
“He’s the only one out there with balls big enough to stand up to DOMA,” Dyauna said.
“It’s not just DOMA. Milo refuses to be bought by any person, corporation, or government. So Director Darman’s efforts to expose DOMA as corrupt and merciless immediately caught his attention. I’m one of a team of people who have been working closely to stir up public support for morphs and discredit DOMA’s claims.”
“What does all this have to do with Jizette?”
“Jizette is fine. In fact, she’s more than fine, but her circumstances are complicated.”
Maddox shook his head. “So much for your quick explanation.”
Emily didn’t respond to his sarcasm. “Kash, the wolf alpha’s son, knew the only way to protect Jizette from his pack mates was to smuggle her out of the colony.”
“Jizette is -- beyond the walls?” Maddox looked at Dyauna, his expression too conflicted to read.
“Again, let me stress, she is in no danger.”
“If she’s out there, she’s in danger,” Maddox snapped. “One wrong scan and she’s a criminal.”
Emily paused. This was a whole lot harder than she’d expected. She’d thought knowing Jizette was unharmed would pave the way for the other surprises, but Maddox continued to be adversarial.
Dyauna moved forward, gaze narrowed, hands loose at her sides. Beneath the surface calm seethed a maelstrom of emotion. “Cut to the chase, human. What’s wrong with Jizette?”
“Nothing is ‘wrong’ with her, per se.” Emily shoved her hands in her pockets, and glanced away from Dyauna’s semi-hostile stare. “Jizette is a universal breeder.”
“Meaning?” Maddox’s voice began to rumble.
“Her reproductive system has been programmed to morph so she can produce offspring with anyone, or at least any hybrid or shifter. I don’t know if she can produce offspring with humans.”
Dyauna paced between her mate and Emily, her features sharpening as if she were about to shift. “And how did you figure out that Jizette was a universal breeder?”
“I compared her scans with the --”
“Why did you perform the scans?” Dyauna stopped in front of Emily and put her hands on her hips. “What did those dogs do to Jizette?”
Maddox snarled, and Emily rushed through the rest of the story. “No one hurt her, I swear. She was attracted to Kash and he to her. They didn’t understand --”
“A dog! Jizette was attracted to a mangy dog!” Maddox growled, shaking his head as he fought back his body’s need to transform.
“They were more surprised than anyone, but by the time they arrived at Milo’s farm they were both suffering from mating fever. It was not rape, Maddox. The desire was mutual.”
With a tormented roar, Maddox lost his battle with his instincts. His body rippled, undulating and distorting as the transformation swept away his human shell and freed his lion. Emily backed toward the door, amazed, yet terrified.
Dyauna caught her upper arm and shook her head. “Just give him a minute.”
Emily had seen countless vids of morph transformations, but she’d never been this close to one. The air sizzled and currents of energy pulsed all around her. Maddox was tall and muscular in human form. His lion form was breathtaking, massive, richly colored, with dramatic black accents in his mane and around his eyes. Torn between fear and awe, she couldn’t drag her gaze away.
“Do you know Kash?” Dyauna ventured, insinuating herself between Maddox and Emily.
“Not well, but I work with people who trust him implicitly.” She motioned to the lion prowling the small space behind Dyauna. “Can he understand what we’re saying?”
Dyauna laughed and tossed a conspirator’s smile over her shoulder. “Our instincts are stronger in cat form, but we don’t become mindless animals.”
“I don’t consider animals mindless.”
“You know what I mean. He might not be able to speak, but he’s still Maddox.” Dyauna looked at her mate and smiled. “He thinks it’s only fair I warn you that I can hear his thoughts.”
She’d figured that out by their actions. Still, she tried to smile. “I appreciate your honesty.” If Maddox could still understand her, she didn’t see a benefit in waiting to explain the rest. “As soon as I realized what was going on, I also realized DOMA has to be waiting for Jizette to… activate, for lack of a better word.”
“Are you positive they don’t know where she is?”
Emily nodded. “They might suspect Milo had something to do with her disappearance, but no one followed Kash when he left the colony.”
“Where are they now?”
“Milo sponsors a sort of sanctuary for victims of DOMA’s ambition. It’s secluded and primitive, but they will be safe, and their baby will --”
“Jizette is pregnant?” Maddox echoed Dyauna’s sharp question with a menacing growl.
Nothing Emily could say would help them adjust. It would take time for them to accept the bizarre turn of events. Jizette and Kash were still reeling, and they had their love to cushion the blow. “We’ll pass on updates as often as we’re able, but obviously the information will have to be encrypted and general.”
Dyauna looked at Maddox for a moment, then said, “He wants to know if you have any proof that all this is true.”
Emily smiled, having anticipated the question. She held out a thin comcrystal. “Jizette recorded this for you. Do you have a holo-projector stashed away somewhere? There’s one on my skimmer, but this was really meant to be viewed in private.”
“We have access to one,” the blonde admitted.
“Good.” She paused, feeling awkward and restless. “It’s likely DOMA attempted the procedure with more than one female. Jizette might be their only success, but it’s vital that pride leaders be prepared if others are found.” She handed the crystal to Dyauna and waited as the couple indulged in a brief telepathic exchange.
“Could you please step outside for a bit? Maddox would like to shift back and he doesn’t want to make you uncomfortable.”
“Why would the transition make me uncomfortable?”
Dyauna held up the shredded remains of his clothes. “We usually undress before we morph.”
Accepting the explanation with a nod, Emily left the sto
rage room and closed the door behind her. Well, that had gone about as well as she could have hoped. At least he hadn’t killed the messenger. The next part of her mission was even more complex and required her ability to act. She appreciated Milo’s confidence in her, but this was by far the most dangerous mission she’d ever undertaken.
The workers had resumed their tasks, though few bothered to hide their curiosity. A gray-haired man offered her a friendly smile, then smacked his apprentice on the shoulder and turned the younger man’s head back toward the tractor they were repairing.
One of the guards who had helped drag her out of her skimmer strode into the workshop with a dark-haired man. Her gaze shifted to the guard’s companion and awareness spread through her like warm honey.
The newcomer was lean and compact, built for speed and agility. Silky black hair swept away from his face, just brushing his shoulders in back. At a distance he created an impression of restrained power. As he strolled toward her, the details of his features become clear and Emily began to fidget. Where lion-shifters projected noble strength, this man emanated smoldering sensuality.
Framed by ridiculously long lashes, his deep-set eyes locked with hers. She felt enveloped by his black velvet gaze, caressed and captured, unable to look away. Attraction drew her toward him like an invisible leash and she nervously licked her lips.
One corner of his mouth quirked, and his brow arched in subtle challenge. Did he feel this stirring too, or was he simply aware of her reaction to him?
“Is Maddox inside?” the guard asked, his curious gaze darting from her to the stranger and back.
“He’s getting dressed.” Heat crept across her cheeks as she heard her own words. Both men chuckled, so she felt compelled to clarify. “I upset him, and he shifted, which shredded his clothes.”
“Is Dyauna in there with him?” She nodded, so the guard tapped on the door. “Maddox, you have another visitor. You might want to make it quick.”
Emily couldn’t make out Maddox’s reply, but the guard seemed satisfied.
Uninhibited Fire (Alpha Colony Book 4) Page 2