Fallen Star

by Cyndi Friberg

  “And this is less dangerous than stepping outside and using a cell phone?”

  He chuckled. “I can create extremely dense shields on the metaphysical plane. It also gives me direct access to Mystic energy which I desperately need right now.”

  “I’m not sure what that means, but I’ll take your word for it. If Tori doesn’t respond, can we try Angie? I’d really like to chat with someone I knew before this all began.”

  “Of course.” He started to warn her that he could sense her emotions, then decided to compress his end of the link instead. If her emotions spiked for some reason, he needed to know about it. Otherwise, she should be protected from casual curiosity, namely his. He sat up, so he wasn’t arched over her, but remained between her legs. “Give me your hands.” Again the suggestion was for her benefit rather than his need for physical contact. “Now close your eyes again.”

  He activated their link, ensuring that her consciousness followed him. Then he launched them toward the metaphysical plane. Quickly scanning her mind, he found an image that seemed familiar and nonthreatening. The building was easily recognizable as a neighborhood coffee shop. Rather than return to her mind for details, he added the rich aroma and cozy ambiance shared by such establishments then drew her into the visualization.

  She grasped his arm and swayed, clearly unaccustomed to the slightly unfocused sensations. “It feels way more real than I expected. It even smells right.”

  He smiled. “It takes decades of practice to achieve this level of control, but basic access is a simple skill.”

  “Decades.” She looked him over with bold assessment. “You must be older than you look.”

  He laughed. “How old do I look?”

  “Thirty, maybe thirty-five.”

  Why would she care about his age if her interest were purely professional? His pulse leapt and the possessive hunger he’d been battling all afternoon pushed even closer to the surface. “I’m older than I look.” He didn’t offer any more information and thankfully she moved on.

  “So how do we reach Tori?”

  He motioned toward one of the round tables. “Have a seat and I’ll see if she’ll respond to a telepathic ping.”

  The subtle signal had barely left his brain when Tori flashed into view. Lor appeared half a second behind her. Jillian stood and the women embraced. Odintar motioned Lor away from the table. “They need to catch up.”

  Lor followed him to the other side of the coffee house. The move was a courtesy. Either Mystic could amplify their hearing at will and make out what the women were saying. Rather than sit, both men chose to stand with their backs to the wall so they could anticipate any danger.

  “How is Jillian reacting to—well, to everything?” Lor wanted to know.

  Odintar felt Lor’s energy reinforce his, doubling the strength of the shield surrounding them. He hadn’t needed to request the support. They’d worked together often enough to anticipate each other’s actions. Their relationship was comfortable, almost effortless. “I’ve managed to repair the worst of her injuries, though regeneration will continue for several days, perhaps weeks. I’ll assess her abilities, if she has any, in the morning.”

  Lor shot him a speculative glance. “Isn’t that fast, even for you?”

  “It is. I’m not sure if my nanites are becoming more effective each time they repeat something they’ve done before or…” He wasn’t ready to vocalize the other possibility.

  “Or?” Lor prompted, but Odintar just shrugged.

  “There might be another possibility, but it’s too soon to tell one way or the other.”

  “These women were basically bred to be compatible with our species. We shouldn’t be surprised that we find them appealing.”

  He didn’t agree with or pose an argument against the conclusion. He needed more information before he formed an opinion.

  Lor’s expression turned thoughtful. “If the healing is basically complete, we can move her to the Bunker tonight. She might be more comfortable—”

  “The original schedule makes more sense.” Odintar’s insistence inadvertently tipped his hand. Not that Lor needed help seeing through him. They knew each other too well. “We still have a lot to accomplish.”

  “All right.” Lor flashed a knowing smile as amusement gleamed in his turquoise eyes. “I’ll give you a few more days alone with her, but you can’t keep her isolated forever.”

  “That’s not my intention,” Odintar grumbled, yet forever had never sounded so tempting before.

  Jillian reached across the table and squeezed Tori’s hand. “If this is all in our minds, how can it feel so real?”

  “Odintar is controlling the visualization and he’s extremely skilled. Speaking of which,” she motioned toward Jillian’s unencumbered leg. “How are you feeling?”

  “Apparently, my leg is the least of my worries.” She shook her head, struggling even to find a place to start. “The whole time I was lying in that hospital bed, all I could think about was how empty my life would be if I could never dance again. Suddenly I’m on my feet again, but my life is still a disaster. Are you sure we can trust these guys?”

  “Absolutely.” The sincerity in Tori’s eyes left no room for doubt. “I was suspicious too, but everything they do supports their story. Lor threw himself in front of a pulse pistol for me. How do you argue with that sort of loyalty? Besides, my gift allows me to sense deception. They’re really here to protect us and stop the Shadow Assassins.”

  “Your gift? Yesterday that would have made me laugh. Right now, I’m not even surprised.” She rubbed her forehead, elbows lightly resting on the tabletop. “How can this be happening? It’s all so…unbelievable.”

  “Actually this isn’t the first time you’ve met an alien.” Tori’s smile was warm and patient. “The clues have been there for years. It was just more comfortable to ignore them.”

  Intrigued by the semi-cryptic comment, Jillian said, “All right. I’ll bite. When was the first time I met an alien?”

  “Angie ran into Aria Myer on a planet called Bilarri. Aria wasn’t murdered like so many people thought. She’s alive and well and happily married to a Bilarrian nobleman.”

  Jillian felt her eyes round. “Angie has been to another planet?”

  Tori laughed, obviously pleased by Jillian’s easy acceptance of her claim. “That’s not what was supposed to surprise you, but yes. So have I, if you’re wondering.”

  “I was Aria’s understudy, so I spent more time with her than most. I wasn’t sure what she was, but I was pretty sure she wasn’t human. I’m glad she’s okay. She was, or is, a sweetheart.” Jillian couldn’t drag her mind away from Tori’s other revelation. “Where did you go when you left Earth? How did you get there?”

  “Lor took me to Ontariese shortly after we met. The original leader of the Mystic Militia switched sides, so Lor needed to know what his supervisors wanted him to do about it.”

  “What was it like? Are sci-fi movies even close to how it really is? How long were you there?” She suddenly wished Odintar had built a bar instead of a coffee shop.

  “It was similar to Earth, yet totally different too. It’s hard to explain. They have two moons. One is dead, like ours. But the other is like a little planet. There are still trees and flowers, rivers, lakes and oceans, but they’re all uniquely Ontarian. I met Lor’s mentor and Odintar’s boss. They were both extremely impressive.”

  “It’s hard to picture these guys with supervisors.” Authority generally came with power and Jillian wasn’t ready to picture a being more powerful than Odintar. Instead of tying herself in knots, she focused on mundane details. “And how did you get there?”

  Tori paused and her gaze shifted to something in the distance. Jillian followed the direction of Tori’s stare and found Lor looking at Tori intently. Were they speaking telepathically? “Are you telling secrets?”

  “Just asking permission to reveal some of their secrets,” Tori assured. Lor must have agreed because Tor
i said, “They can open a portal that allows them to move from one dimension to another. That’s how Lor took me to Ontariese. On the way back we came in a spaceship.”

  “If they can create transportation portals, why do they need spaceships?”

  “Not all Ontarians can Summon the Storm. That’s what they call it when they open an interdimensional portal. And trust me, the phenomenon is well named. When we returned, we had soldiers and all sorts of equipment with us, so the portal wasn’t an option.”

  “Wow.” Jillian slumped back in her chair, feeling rather stunned. “Let me soak all that in for a minute.”

  Tori looked around as she said, “Take all the time you need, but the smell of this place is driving me crazy.” Two tall mugs of steaming coffee materialized on the table. Tori chuckled then raised her mug toward the men. “Thank you.”

  Jillian picked up the other mug and inhaled the steam. It not only smelled like coffee, it smelled like a cinnamon latte. She tensed. There was only one way Odintar could have known her drink of choice. He had to be reading her mind. Despite the disconcerting thought, she took a sip and sighed. The rich, spicy flavor rolled across her tongue and warmed her belly. Even so, knowing how he’d created the scene made her feel vulnerable.

  With the mug pressed between her palms, she leaned slightly forward. “Odintar formed a mind link so he could bring me here. What will it allow him to do?”

  Tori started to speak then hesitated. Indecision spread across her features as her expression turned grim. “I know you’re confused, but I’ve never been good at blowing smoke. I’m a realist and I think honest information will do more good than hollow reassurance. You’re safe with Odintar because he chooses not to harm you. He’s honorable and dedicated to the mission. The mission at the moment is keeping you safe and equipping you for the realities of your new life.”

  “My new life.” She set down the mug and tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “I guess I need to look at it like that. Don’t I? The life I knew before is over and I need to adapt.”

  “It doesn’t need to seem so ominous. You have access to possibilities now that you never would have dreamed of before. This can be really exciting if you let yourself embrace the possibilities.”

  “And if I don’t want to ‘embrace the possibilities’? What if I just want to dance?”

  “Then you’ll dance.” Tori reached across the table and squeezed Jillian’s hand. “As soon as the danger is over, your life can be anything you want it to be.”

  “Yeah, there’s just that tiny little obstacle.” She blew out a shaky breath then finished her latte, or the magical representation of the latte. The distinction made her smile. “So tell me about your powers. Are you like a super hero now?”

  Tori snickered. “More like a human lie detector. I’m what’s called a sensitive. I can sense deception and Mystic abilities. I’m still learning to control it, so the impressions can be pretty confusing.”

  “What do you sense about me? Odintar said I probably have latent abilities.” Tori closed her eyes and Jillian felt an itchy sort of tingle deep inside her mind.

  “There’s definitely something there, but I’m not sure what it is. That’s odd. My impressions are usually more specific.”

  “That’s basically what Odintar said.” Jillian tapped her thumb against the side of her empty mug. “How serious have things gotten with you and Lor?”

  “I know I’ve only known him for a couple of months, but—”

  “Six weeks,” Jillian corrected. “It hasn’t even been two months.”

  “You said Odintar linked your minds when he brought you here. Has he allowed you to see beyond his shields?”

  “No. He’s been focused on healing me. What does that have to do with you and Lor?”

  “Mind-to-mind links allow Mystics to share thoughts, emotions, even memories. Humans can spend years, even decades, together and never know each other as well as I know Lor. I’ve seen into his mind, shared his feelings and experienced the forces that formed his personality. It’s an intimacy most humans will never know.”

  “Odintar is just my doctor. There’s no reason for us to exchange those sorts of things.”

  Tori chuckled, clearly not convinced. “You don’t find him attractive?”

  “He’s easy on the eyes, but that doesn’t mean I want to have his babies.”

  “If you manage to keep it professional, you’re a stronger woman than I am. Not only are these men physically attractive, they’re smart, protective, and they come from a planet where men greatly outnumber women. Being treated like you’re the most precious person in the entire universe is a little hard to resist. If Odintar decides to pursue you—”

  “He won’t.” Her response was a bit too emphatic to be believable. “He knows my life is too chaotic right now for even a casual fling.”

  “These men don’t do casual flings.”

  “One night in his bed and I’ll believe in true love?” she scoffed. Tori’s attitude was so out of character, it was starting to irritate Jillian. Tori had always been the cautious, logical one, talking others out of rash decisions. “Maybe I’ll sleep with him just to prove you wrong.”

  Tori shook her head, her expression suddenly serious. “Don’t even consider sleeping with him unless you’re ready for a serious entanglement. Like I said, Ontarians don’t think about sex the way humans do. They become possessive fast once intimacies are exchanged.”

  Tantalizing images teased Jillian’s memory for just a moment before she forced them away. Odintar holding himself above her as his tongue explored her mouth. The kiss had been strategic, but she couldn’t seem to rid her mind of the sensations, the heat. “Enough about sex.” She waved away the topic, though the slow, simmering warmth lingered in her core. “Is Lor staying with you or are you staying on his spaceship?”

  Tori chuckled. “Give Odintar a couple more days to bring you up to speed and then we’ll give you the grand tour.”

  She pushed her fingers through her hair, brushing the wavy mass back from her face. “I can’t help noticing that each woman they’ve ‘rescued’ so far has ended up with one of the Mystics. Are you sure the Shadow Assassins are the only ones hunting for mates?”

  “It’s a valid point, but there’s one significant difference. The Mystics might be taking advantage of an unusual opportunity, but their women are willing. The Shadow Assassins aren’t giving their victims a choice.”

  They lapsed into silence as Jillian mulled over her options. Unless she’d had some sort of psychotic break from reality, this was really happening. The dangers she faced might be beyond her control, but her responses to them weren’t. She’d always been self-reliant and she didn’t intend to sacrifice her independence now. If Odintar could make her strong and capable of protecting herself, then she’d focus on the process with the resolve and discipline that had driven her dance career.

  Still, trust was hard. Especially when she was feeling pressured to connect with a stranger. “How well do you know him?”

  “Odintar?”

  “Yeah. Have you ‘seen beyond his shields’?” Jillian softened her sarcastic tone with a smile.

  “No, but he’s worked tirelessly and risked his life over and over.” She glanced at the men and smiled, then her gaze turned intense and compelling as she looked into Jillian’s eyes. “He saved Angie’s life when no one else could have. He’s one of the good guys, Jillian. I promise, you can trust him.”

  Chapter Four

  Odintar could go without sleep for days at a time as long as he replenished his energy in other ways. His visit to the metaphysical plane had allowed him to feed, but his thoughts were still scattered, his spirit unusually restless. After a quick shower and shave, he changed his clothes and attempted to meditate. Every time he cleared his mind images of Jillian crept in, titillating images of her long legs and supple curves, her expressive eyes and soft lips. He’d never struggled so hard to suppress his lust for a female.

&nb
sp; Unlike his Ontarian companions, he’d never lacked for female companionship. But women had always been amusing diversions from the things that were important in his life. His job frequently required that he travel, which made long-term relationships hard. So what was it about Jillian that made him want to linger, to spend time with her in and out of the bedroom? Their time together had only been interactive for less than a day, but she’d dominated his thinking—and his fantasies—ever since he saw her. He didn’t understand the impulses she drew to the surface. Still, their connection was undeniable.

  A ripple of emotion drew him toward her bedroom door several hours after dawn. Fear, defused and distant, had him reaching for the door handle. Then a conflicted jumble of excitement, wonder and hope pushed through the anxiety. He heard her stir so he renewed the constriction on his end of their link. Until she knew he could sense her emotions, it was rude to intrude on her privacy.

  She’d been quiet and distracted after they returned from her conversation with Tori. Knowing Jillian needed to sort through her feelings and reconcile her new reality with the one she’d been forced to leave behind, he’d allowed her reticence. If her withdrawn mood continued, however, he’d have to find a way to draw her out.

  Caffeine wasn’t a stimulant to Rodytes, but he’d learned to enjoy coffee’s taste. He went to the kitchen and made a pot of the fragrant brew as he waited for Jillian to appear. She took a shower and changed clothes before venturing out of her bedroom. She’d chosen jeans and a clingy T-shirt that showcased her trim torso and full, round breasts. The outfit wasn’t particularly daring, but it sure as hell wasn’t helping his concentration.

  “Did you sleep well?” he asked as she joined him in the sun-drenched kitchen.

  “I did, but I still feel sort of weak and shaky. Do I smell coffee?”

  “You do.” He filled two mugs and handed her one before crossing to the table. “And as for the weakness, it’s to be expected. Your body is still healing.” They sat and he paused for several sips before he went on. “If you want to wait until you’re feeling stronger to explore your abilities, I’ll understand. We’ve expected you to deal with an awful lot all at one time.”