Rebel's Karma

by Rebecca Zanetti

  Karma walked along, her skirt against her ankles. “It’s lovely.”

  Benny eyed the wandering water, the grassy banks on the other side, and the trees that surrounded everything. “I know. We wanted to create a better defensive position, but the females insisted on keeping it peaceful.” He shrugged his shoulders as if the whole situation was beyond him. “Nobody knows where we are, so it doesn’t much matter, right?”

  She tripped on the trail.

  He grasped her arm and helped her to stay upright. The sweet wildflower scent of her was killing him, and his balls had no doubt turned a lovely shade of bright blue. When she’d come apart in his arms earlier, it was all he could do not to take it further. Only the fact that she was lying to him and spying for the Kurjans had stopped him from kissing her again. Now he was pissed and aroused, which really was a terrible combination for an asshole like him. He kept her hand. “Let’s hold hands.”

  She tried to pull away. “I don’t think—”

  “Oh, don’t think.” He yanked her closer, and her hip bounced off his. “What’s it like living with the loser Kurjans?” How much would she admit?

  She picked her way along the rocks and stopped trying to reclaim her hand. “It was fine.”

  Fine? Even he knew when a woman used the word “fine,” she didn’t mean it. What was she supposed to say if interrogated? How much would she give away with them listening and watching? “Karma? I really need to ask you some serious questions. The others wanted to do this all together around a conference table, but I thought you and I should have some privacy. I’ll cover you.”

  She swallowed. “I really do not know of anything useful to you.”

  Right. He led her along the bank to a wooden swinging chair Mercy had made Logan install to make the place appear more permanent than it really was. “Let’s sit.”

  She perched on the swing and turned to face him. “Are you angry with me?”

  He sat and blanked his expression. “Of course not. Why would you ask that?”

  She chewed on her pretty pink lip, her stunning eyes turned toward the river. “I don’t know. It’s just a different feeling from you, I guess.”

  He took her chin and drew her face back toward him. A blush washed over her cheeks, and he watched, intrigued. “Do the Kurjans know we have Ulric?”

  She gasped. “Excuse me?”

  He kept her in place with just a finger and thumb on her delicate chin. While he was at this, he might as well really screw with the Kurjan nation. “You heard me. Ulric, the badass Cyst who killed a hundred enhanced females just to make himself stronger. The loser bastard with no soul. Do they know he’s no longer in the prison world we set up? Do they know he’s here and we have him in custody?”

  She shook her head, her eyes wide. “No. They think Ulric is still trapped on a prison world and is trying to make his way home. Ulric has been released?”

  Benny chuckled. “Well, he escaped, anyway. We sure didn’t release him. But we caught the bastard again.”

  She looked down and only glanced back up when he tightened his hold on her chin. “Wh-Where is he?” she whispered, almost as if she didn’t want to ask the question.

  Benny sighed. There was an excellent chance she was just a pawn in this whole situation, and his anger needed to be directed at the Kurjans, not her. For now, anyway. “You don’t need to worry your gorgeous self about that, sweetheart.” He sounded just condescending enough to make her eyes narrow. Good to know. Her eye could still narrow with the device implanted. “We have him somewhere he’ll never get free—not here. Until the final ritual, of course. Then he goes to hell.”

  Karma breathed out, looking more than a little stunned. “How did he get free?”

  Benny traced her jaw with his thumb, torturing himself. Her skin was soft, and her bone structure had the delicacy of days gone by. The female hadn’t had a choice in her life from day one, and he couldn’t be angry with her for the demands made on her now. But he had to play his part until the queen finished studying the scan of Karma’s head to make sure there wasn’t a bomb hidden in there. “I don’t worry about the physics of everything. My job is to be ready to take out the enemy, and believe me, I am.”

  She studied him as if he were a puzzle she couldn’t solve. “I’m sorry you have to fight.”

  Now, that was sweet. “I like fighting,” he admitted. “It took me three years and a lot of fights to find you, and it was well worth it.”

  She grabbed his arm, her small fingers digging in. “Why, Benjamin? I just don’t understand why you would put yourself in danger and even get tortured to find me. It does not make sense.”

  Her soft words pierced right through his impenetrable torso to his heart. The female really didn’t see her own worth. His ears burned as he realized he’d been using her just as the Kurjans had for centuries. Enough of that. He’d still feed her some information, because he had to, but he was no longer angry with her. So he grinned. “Honey? Fighting the Kurjans is like doing yoga for the day. They’re wimps. And torture? Come on. That Terre and Jaydon the creepy Cyst were as good at torture as a dog would be at water skiing. Honest. I was mostly bored.”

  She scoffed and then caught herself. “Oh, Benjamin.”

  Okay. He might have to insult them some more, just for fun. The day was looking up.

  Footsteps pounded, and he glanced over to find Mercy running toward them full-on. The wild-assed fairy grinned and threw him a phone. “It’s Hope Kayrs-Kyllwood. Says some chick named Linda won’t stop bugging her about getting Karma to return to her people.”

  Benny frowned and caught the phone, then handed it to Karma.

  “Hello,” Karma said, placing the phone against her left ear—the one that didn’t have the device attached to it. She listened intently for several moments. “I understand. Yes, she’s a ghost, for lack of a better term. Why? I don’t know. Thanks.” She disengaged the call.

  Benny lifted an eyebrow.

  Karma shrugged. “I told you, I see dead people. This one has business still with the Kurjan nation.” She bit her lip again. “Apparently she found another conduit in Hope. I’m sorry about that.”

  Oh, there was more to this story. “I see,” Benny said. No, he didn’t, but he would. How could he get her to open up with the Kurjans listening? Time to shake them up a little. “Honey? I think we should mate. I know it’s soon, but the Kurjans will forget all about you if you’re mated.”

  The color drained from her face. “No,” she whispered, her voice tortured.

  Well. That was a little insulting.

  Chapter Fifteen

  This was insane—and kind of fun. Paxton Phoenix jumped from the tree onto Hope’s roof, angling his body at the right moment to avoid the cameras and sensors set strategically around the property. The night-op glasses he wore showed both, although he already knew where most of the cameras were placed. He’d been sneaking into Hope’s room at night as long as he’d been able to walk.

  Of course, back then, Hope’s parents and probably all of the demon nation had known he was there.

  Now they didn’t.

  He shook off a feeling of unease and a sense of disloyalty at the thought. Hope’s dad had always been more than cool with Pax, and three years ago, he’d even made sure Pax had a safe place to live with his uncle. But things had changed. Pax grasped the overhang and flipped over, swinging inside Hope’s room to land easily on the floor.

  She sat on her bed, her legs crossed, watching the window. “Nice.”

  He grinned and shut the blinds against the meager moon. It had to be past midnight, and most of the world was already asleep. “Thanks.” Her room was as familiar as his own, even though he hadn’t visited in over six months. “Where’s the ghost?” He’d come the second Hope had texted him about the problem, although he’d never dealt with a real ghost before. Only the ghosts of the
past that lived in his head.

  She looked around, her eyes pinched. “She’s gone. I called Karma earlier today and sent the message along. The ghost just kind of hovered around after that, but she finally disappeared a few minutes ago. Maybe because you got here?” Hope rubbed her blue eyes. “I can’t start seeing ghosts, Paxton. There’s just too much coming at me right now.” The blue design that scrolled up her neck and over her exposed shoulder glowed for a moment. The design of the prophets.

  He moved without thinking, kicking off his boots to sit on her bed and take her hand. “You’re the strongest person I know. Take a breath and let it out.”

  She obeyed him instantly, then took another breath and blew it out, and the color returned to her face. “I’ve missed you.”

  His chest warmed. “Ditto.” It didn’t seem possible, but she was even prettier now than she’d been last year. Her eyes were so blue it hurt, and her hair was a little longer, curling down her back. Calling it brown didn’t do the lush strands justice. They were brown, gold, and red, an ever-changing mass of color that made his fingers itch to run through it. “Is the prophecy mark bugging you?”

  “No.” She rubbed her neck. “It’s just there. Feels heavy.”

  There were three prophets on the planet, each one determined by fate, and identified by the marking. They were the spiritual leaders of the Realm, but Hope had never wanted the calling. So far, her parents had shielded her from having to do anything about it.

  Paxton intended to do the same, whether she liked it or not. She was in danger, more than she knew, and he’d give his life to protect her.

  She sneezed.

  He jerked.

  She sneezed again and then winced before placing a hand over her ear. “Don’t give me that look. It’s just a little earache.”

  “An infection?” he asked.

  She nodded. “Yes. I’m taking human antibiotics. Can you believe it?”

  “No,” he said honestly. Immortals didn’t get sick. Hope was the only female alive with vampire blood in her, and combined with her demon, shifter, witch, and who knows what else ancestry, she should be stronger than anybody else. Instead, she seemed to be susceptible to human illnesses. It was unthinkable. “What do the doctors say?”

  Hope shrugged. “Same as usual. They don’t understand it. I’m an anomaly, remember?”

  “If you say you’re a freak again, I’m going to lose my temper,” he warned her.

  She grinned. “So what? Last time we sparred, I kicked your butt.”

  Yeah, and he’d let her. While he continued to get taller and stronger, she’d stopped growing a while ago. He’d soon be a foot taller and probably a hundred pounds heavier than Hope, at least once he started putting on muscle. “I remember,” he said instead.

  She yawned widely and covered her mouth with her hand. “Sorry. My mom gave me an antihistamine, and it makes me tired.”

  He patted her hand. “You should sleep. You don’t think you’re gonna start seeing ghosts everywhere, do you?”

  She hummed thoughtfully. “No. I think I saw that one because she really wanted Karma’s attention. It was probably a one-off.”

  “Good.” He had enough to do keeping her safe from corporeal enemies.

  She rubbed her ear.

  He nudged her in the shoulder until she lay down and snuggled under the covers. “Go to sleep so you can get better. I’ll watch for a while and make sure the ghost doesn’t come back.” Without waiting for her answer, he pushed off the bed and sat beneath the window, listening for footsteps from the patrolling soldiers by the lake. He’d memorized their schedules, but the demon nation was well known for changing routines quickly to make things difficult for the enemy.

  He wasn’t the enemy, although some would disagree if they knew he was trying to circumvent their security.

  Footsteps sounded outside. Yep. Right on time. He crossed his arms and rested his head back against the wall, closing his eyes. His legs were stretched out and crossed at the ankles, but he could be up and across the room in a second if Hope needed help.

  Her breathing evened out, and he slowly relaxed. The room was as much home to him as his own, but it felt weird to be there without their third friend, Libby. Libs was a cougar shifter, and her people had left the Realm after learning about the Seven and that the Realm was allied with them.

  The alliance was a mistake and a big one. The shifters were correct to oppose it.

  He drifted into a light sleep, still at the ready in case something happened.

  The sand beneath his toes was a mellow pink that felt warm. He looked around the beach, where waves rolled peacefully in. He was dressed in cutoff jeans, a black tank top, and nothing else. What the heck?

  “Paxton?” Hope said from behind him.

  He turned to see her sitting on a boulder, swinging one leg. The sun highlighted her pretty hair, and she wore jean shorts that showed off her tight legs, a white tank top that curved very nicely over her chest, and the ring he’d given her. “What’s going on?” He wanted to be irritated, but instead, he felt nice and mellow.

  Her shoulders lifted in a shrug. “We’re in a dream world. I didn’t know I could bring you in.” Her gaze dropped to his clothing, and she laughed.

  He looked down, too. “Jean shorts? Seriously? Give me something else.”

  She blinked and then black swim trunks covered him. “Better?”

  “Yeah.” He heard movement from the direction of the water and turned, putting himself in the path of whatever was coming.

  Libby waded angrily out of the ocean, her sandy-blond hair plastered to her head and her tawny eyes furious. “I’m a cat, damn it. I hate the water.” She stared down at the pink sand. “Wait a minute.” Then she paused, and joy crossed her feline face. “Pax!” She jumped for him.

  He caught her, hugging her tight. “Libby. I’ve missed you.” Oh, they video-conferenced every week, but it had been nearly three years since they’d been in the same space. Libby had grown even curvier now that she’d turned sixteen.

  “You, too.” She hugged him back, and when he released her, she made a beeline for Hope, who’d hopped off the rock. They hugged. Still having an arm around Hope, Libby turned them to face Paxton. “So this is a dream world. Very cool.” Then she frowned. “Why did I get dropped into the ocean?”

  Hope winced. “Sorry about that. When I saw Paxton here, I wondered if I could bring you, too. I guess my aim was off.”

  Pax tried not to laugh, but he couldn’t help it. “I like this world.” The trees behind Hope were aqua-colored, the sand pink, the sky a light blue, and the sun a brighter orange than usual. And both girls were wearing short shorts and tank tops, so this was pretty much a dream come true for him. For any guy who liked girls, which he did. A lot.

  He looked around, and to the right, an outcropping of rocks led up to where a green book lay open on a tree trunk. “Hey. That’s your book. Want me to get it?”

  Hope looked and then shook her head. “You can’t. The second you get close, it moves. I don’t think it’s time for me to read the book yet.”

  The thing had been around since Hope was born, and she always said it was her book. Because of some big ritual that was supposed to happen in the future with the Seven, Ulric, and the three female Keys. Pax wasn’t going to let it happen, though—Hope would not be sacrificed like that. Could he get back into the dream world without her, he wondered, now that he’d been granted access? If he could, he would try to read the book. He was sure it held the truth about what was going to happen.

  “So. What now?” Pax asked. “I guess we could swim.”

  Libby cut him a look. “Cat. Water. No.”

  He laughed, happier than he’d been in a long time. This was their place and their friendship—like it used to be.

  Until two figures walked out from between the aqua trees an
d jumped down the overhang to the beach. Pax’s body rioted, and he subtly settled his stance. “Drake. What a surprise.”

  “No kidding.” Drake had grown tall like most Kurjans. He was just a little older than Paxton, but he’d always be taller. He smiled at Hope. “Apparently your powers have increased.”

  She blushed. She actually blushed. “I guess so.” Tilting her head, she looked at the trembling kid standing beside Drake. “Um, hello. Who are you?”

  The kid looked at all of them and then stood perfectly still. He was a Kurjan with shoulder-length black hair, not an ounce of red in it. His eyes were an odd shade of blue and his stance uncertain.

  Drake looked to his side. “This is my cousin, Vero.”

  Pax’s throat heated the way it did when he wanted to punch something. “You’re bringing in flocks of Kurjans now?” he snapped.

  Hope looked curiously at the kid. “This is a new one on me. I just sent out the call to Drake.”

  Drake nodded. “Vero and I were hanging out at my place and fell asleep watching a movie on the sofa. Apparently your call includes anybody in the vicinity. That could be dangerous. You’re going to have to be a lot more careful with calling out now that you’ve gotten so strong.”

  “What is it about turning sixteen that gives us more power?” Libby asked, subtly pivoting and putting herself within striking range.

  Pax did the same. Apparently, Libs had been training. He liked that. Between the two of them, they could handle both Drake and this new kid. Oh, Hope could fight, too, but she’d been sick. And as far as he knew, she still hadn’t gained the extra strength most immortals had.

  Drake’s eyes were a mix of green and purple that looked cool. “So. Five of us. I wonder what this means?”

  Hope stepped closer, and Libby tensed. “I think it means this is up to us. All of it. We can create peace where our parents couldn’t. Don’t you see? This is a good thing.”

  They weren’t the Power Rangers. The Kurjans were the enemy, and while Pax liked how kind Hope was, she just didn’t get it. Peace couldn’t be found with people who wanted war. The Kurjans had been beaten in the last war, and they would not, could not, let that defeat stand. Plus, Ulric was coming back, and he wanted to destroy all enhanced females. Including Hope’s mom. “Hope. Take a step back,” he ordered.