Dark Stranger

by Susan Sizemore

  Sadness welled up in Zoe. “I know, even after all this time. I wonder if we’ll ever be able to accept each other?”

  “Why not?” Maria responded. “It’s about time we all banded together, if only for the sake of beating the shit out of anyone who doesn’t leave the children of Earth in peace.”

  “Amen,” Zoe answered.

  “Though with vampires like Doc in the mix, what’s not to admire about his kind? He doesn’t advertise his ethnicity, but those of us who know don’t care. And he does his best to take care of all of us.”

  “Yes. Yes, he does.” Zoe started to cry and there was absolutely nothing she could do to stop it.

  Maria patted her on the head. “Your nightmare was about Doc, was it?”

  Zoe looked up through her tears. “No, it was—it was just a bad dream.”

  “You going to be okay? You want me to stay with you?”

  “Thanks. No.” Zoe gestured toward the low cave entrance. She so wanted to be alone. “I’ll be fine.” She managed to fake a yawn. “Really.”

  Once the hall officer was gone, Zoe drew her knees up to her chin and rested her head on them. She longed to go back to sleep but her mind raced instead. Everything hurt, her head, her heart, her soul. Oblivion would have been nice, her thoughts inevitably circled around back into the dream.

  After a long time of rehashing the details that were still as vivid as memories, the awful truth finally caused her to catch her breath in a strangled sob.

  She lifted her head and stared into the darkness. Her voice came out in a whisper. “Dear God, no!”

  41

  “If there’s one thing I cannot accuse my subconscious of being, it is subtle. Now, since I have supposedly imbibed guile and cunning with my mother’s milk, I find the obvious symbolism that informed me of our situation somewhat embarrassing.”

  Doc was lying on his back gazing at the ceiling, with his hands propped behind his head when Zoe loomed above him and made this speech.

  “You’ve been practicing that.”

  “All the way here,” she replied.

  “What symbolism is that?”

  “Beauty and the Beast.”

  “Which one of us was which?”

  “The usual.”

  “That is obvious symbolism.”

  He didn’t move, though he couldn’t help but look at her since she’d bent so that her face was very close to his, all big eyes and lush mouth surrounded by a fall of dark blue hair. “How’d you get into my room?”

  She laughed. “Oh, please, everyone knows we’re a couple. Everyone but you and me, that is.”

  “I know what we are.”

  She laid a hand flat over his heart. The heat of her touch penetrated all through him. His heart pounded in response and he caught his breath.

  “But you haven’t bothered to tell me what we are to each other,” she said. “So the back of my brain finally decided to do your work for you.”

  He finally looked her in the eye. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. I’m not a beast,” he added. “And you’re no great beauty,” he lied.

  She stepped back and crossed her arms, taking a defiant stance. He stood up and took his turn looming over her, but she didn’t look in the least impressed. “You really look like shit,” she informed him.

  “I left my dress uniform on the ship.”

  “I did the same with my tiara.” She took a step closer to him and flicked her gaze from his feet up to the top of his shaved head. “You’ve lost weight, your skin’s pale, your eyes are dull, your cheeks are hollow, and I bet you have a really wretched headache.”

  “I have a toothache,” he answered.

  “I bet.”

  She pushed up her left sleeve and held her bared wrist toward him. It was as arousing as watching any other woman strip naked. He licked his lips.

  “No!”

  He was across the room with his hands covering his bared fangs before he realized he’d moved or shouted. His vision had gone red, with Zoe the glowing flame at the center of everything.

  “You need me,” she said. “Not just any woman. Me. You’ll die without me. My beautiful beast told me so, and dreams don’t lie.”

  “That’s ridiculous!”

  “Yes, but this time it’s true.”

  He shook his head. It took too much energy but he managed to get himself under control. He waved a hand dismissively. “Your blood’s not that rich,” he lied.

  He’d get over her. He had to or he’d die, and at least death would end the pain.

  The thought brought the agony to the surface. The burning in his blood soared. His throat burned with thirst. The hunger!

  He couldn’t speak, but he could send his thoughts to her. Stop tempting me. No means no. Get out.

  “Are you accusing me of sexual harassment? How dare you?” She stepped closer. Her scent and warmth nearly killed him, he wanted her so badly. “I’m not the one who got us into this mess—well, all right, I did offer you the first taste, and I certainly don’t regret doing it. But you’re the one who kept me so loopy with lust that I couldn’t think—and I’ve never been happier or more satisfied—but you’re the one who got yourself addicted to me. I’m not complaining. But don’t you dare throw harassment at me when I’m here to help you! Now what’s the matter?” she demanded.

  Doc took his hands away from his ears. You’re yelling at me.

  “Damn right, I’m yelling. I do not suffer fools, Matthias Raven. We need you, General. I need you! Chivalry is terribly romantic but this isn’t the time for it. I will not have you die on me. Understood?”

  Her emotions blazed. She glowed as bright as a sun.

  You’re burning me.

  “You’re hallucinating. You’re starving, of course you’re seeing things. Honestly, Matthias, you’re a physician. You know better than to let yourself get into this state.”

  You don’t understand … bonding….

  She came closer. He wanted her to. He wished she wouldn’t. Bare skin brushed against his.

  He howled.

  Yellow light poured fire over him from above as the scent of jasmine faded … faded …

  He fell to his knees. The hard tiles bruised his knees. The courtyard was empty. As empty as it had been before she came. Emptier even, now that she was gone.

  The light was too much. The loneliness was worse.

  Why had she left him to die alone in the light?

  From his knees he crumpled onto his side, then slowly onto his back. He looked at the sun, waiting for the hated light to drive him blind.

  I need you!

  “I’m here. Get out of my dream and come back to me, Matthias Raven!”

  She appeared out of the sun, her head crowned with light. Her shadow fell across him, cool, protective. He let out a breath that held both a sigh and a prayer. She’d returned to him.

  She slapped him. Hard.

  “Raven!”

  He roared and lurched forward. His fangs sank into her throat.

  42

  Zoe screamed in terror as fangs sank into her throat—even though Raven did exactly what she’d goaded him into. Sharp pain shot through her veins. Then all fear and images of fangs disappeared as rolling waves of ecstasy crashed through her.

  I’ve missed you, she managed to think through the mind-reeling pleasure.

  After a long, lovely time a thought from him reached her. Me? Or this?

  Everything that is you.

  He was holding her in a tight embrace. There was nothing more comforting or welcoming than being surrounded by his big, muscular body. She breathed in the scent of his skin, and the feel of it sent passion through her. This was where she was meant to be.

  She knew he had to be aware of her feelings, but even now she couldn’t articulate the thoughts. Now. For now was all she could give either of them.

  His mouth finally moved away from her throat, but his lips and hands still covered her, caressing, kissing, continuing the pleas
ure, building the need between them. She touched him just as eagerly, just as frantically.

  She left scratch marks and bruises on him as they made love, or would have if he wasn’t a Prime. He wasn’t gentle either. She wanted the marks he left on her, badges of possession. She was his and he was hers.

  “Tell me you didn’t bite me,” he said sometime after he collapsed in a heavy heap on top of her.

  “I don’t think so,” she answered, her voice muffled by his bare shoulder.

  “Good.”

  Zoe didn’t agree, but she didn’t say so. She’d never been tempted to bite anyone before meeting Matthias Raven, but every time she got near him her teeth practically ached to sink into his flesh. Maybe this impulse was only the result of his having declared his blood to be forbidden fruit. If he could taste hers, why couldn’t she taste his?

  And why did she want to taste blood when she wasn’t a vampire? It wasn’t as if drinking his could turn her into a vampire. She knew very well that the ancient legends about mortals changing into creatures of the night were complete bullshit. Or at least mostly bullshit. She couldn’t quite remember the details—she suspected that a certain telepathic gentleman currently lying on her chest was responsible for that—but was still wary of accessing her data implants.

  “What’s the matter with me?” she asked the bloodsucking source of her craving instead.

  He ran a hand over her from her waist down to the juncture of her thighs. His thumb covered her clitoris, which throbbed in response. “Nothing’s the matter as far as I can tell.”

  “Thank you, Dr. Raven.” She pushed on his shoulder. “You know very well what I mean.”

  His fingers began to stroke and tease her. Desire curled through her, cutting off all thought, while she basked in mounting pleasure.

  When the orgasm passed, she said, “I’m not that easily distracted, you know.”

  Raven rolled onto his side and propped himself up on an elbow. “You’re relentless is what you are.”

  “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

  “Your blood cravings will pass.” He finally answered her question. “Once we’re separated for a while.”

  Her heart sank at the thought of being separated from him, but she didn’t protest that this was the last thing she wanted. “What about you?” she asked. “You need my blood exclusively, don’t you? Will you be all right when we’re separated?”

  He sighed. “There are drugs that’ll alter the changes in my body chemistry.” He didn’t look at her when he said it.

  “Don’t lie to an empath, Raven.”

  “That’s not a lie. I just don’t think this is the time to tell you the rest of the treatment.”

  She didn’t understand him at first, not until a sharp pang of jealousy shot through her. She forced the hateful words out. “Sharing blood with one of your females will help?”

  He nodded, still not looking at her.

  “Good,” she managed. “That’s good.” She hated it. Zoe sat up and put her hands on his shoulders. “You still need me, though. Right? Until we get out?”

  His gaze lifted to meet hers, bright with sudden fury. “You don’t think I want us to get out, remember?”

  His pain and bitterness hit her like a blow. His aching, angry emotion was so strong it gave her a headache. Matthias got up and walked from the room before she could respond. It was a few minutes before Zoe could fight off tears of regretful guilt and pull herself together enough to follow him.

  43

  She’d readjusted her clothing by the time she went into his office, and saw that he’d done the same. Clothing was armor, a barrier; clothing made one less vulnerable. At least, it was supposed to. Zoe felt terribly vulnerable as she approached the furious Prime standing at the desk.

  She came to stand behind him. “Can we talk, Matthias?”

  “We talk too damn much,” he growled.

  Zoe sighed. “You mean that I talk too much. I know I do. I know what I said to you earlier, but I—”

  “You called me a coward.”

  His back remained to her, his thick muscles tense as stone. His already deep voice was pitched so low it could be read by a seismograph. And the pain in his tone ripped deeply into her. She flinched when his fist came down on the metal desk, bending a corner of it.

  She’d spent quite a bit of time getting cleaned up and dressed to give him space before she joined him. The truth was she wanted to throw her arms around him and apologize. She hung back now, with her fists clenched at her sides, still fighting the need to comfort.

  “You know what I meant,” she said. “Think, Matthias.”

  “Why would a cowardly parasite need to think?”

  “Oh, for—” Zoe stomped her foot, she was so annoyed. She’d never done anything so childish in her life. That he could drive her to it annoyed her as well. “Why do I have to do all the work here? I mentioned your being comfortable in the dark because I wanted to give you the chance to think about our situation in a different direction.”

  He spun around to face her, his movement too quick for her to see. “You wanted me to stop thinking like a lazy, parasitic vampire safe in the dark and getting fat off of human blood—is that what you think I’ve been doing?”

  He took a slow step closer to her, and Zoe fought not to flinch or back away.

  “Do I scare you?” he demanded.

  She nodded. She’d started to shake inside, but she still lifted her head and said reasonably, “Not that I’m going to let that affect my behavior.”

  He lifted his hands, showing long, razor-sharp claws. His eyes took on a red, sinister glow. “I can scare anyone I want. I can walk out of here anytime I want.” His claws disappeared and his eyes returned to their normal deep brown. “But that isn’t how it works. I can’t be a Prime here, except in ways that help my people. I’m the highest-ranking officer in Camp Five. My duty is to take care of the people under my command.”

  “Yes, I appreciate that. Calling you a coward was a terrible thing to do to a Prime.”

  He gave a harsh laugh. “A Prime? It was a hell of thing to call a marine!”

  “Then you should think like a marine officer. We need to get your people out of this prison camp without getting them killed. The fact that you can escape but choose to stay makes you the bravest man here.”

  She respected him for that. And she loved him even more than she respected him.

  “Then why call me a coward?”

  “Because I’m the parasite, Matthias! Don’t you understand that?”

  He looked outraged on her behalf. “What the hell are you talking about?”

  Zoe put her hand over her heart. Because it ached at this truth about herself. “I use people when I must. My duty is to decide what needs to be done and then to make people do it. Ruling is about being a puppet master. I coax, I manipulate, I command. I try to do it for the good of my people, but I still do it. Sometimes I have to hurt people. I hurt you to get you to think. You can hate me, but I won’t apologize.”

  “I don’t hate you! How the hell could I ever hate you? You’re my—” He took a deep breath and gave his head a hard shake. “You are the Porphyrgia.” He came to attention and gave a brisk salute. “You have but to command.”

  Zoe knew this was a lame response—he was trying to cover up what he really meant, but she had to let it go and take the opening the Porphyrgia needed.

  “You need to help me find other possibilities to get out of this situation besides my own death. We need to find a way out of here and—”

  “We?” He gave a low rumble of laughter. “Lady, you’re the one who—”

  “Doc?” Corporal Arco’s voice came from the other side of the office doorway.

  Zoe glared at the doorway. “For crying out loud!”

  Doc gave a deep, understanding chuckle. “His timing always sucks. Coming!” he called out to Arco. Stay here, he thought to Zoe.

  44

  Zoe followed Raven out of the o
ffice. She had a very bad feeling as she saw how deeply disturbed Arco looked.

  “We’ve got big trouble, Doc,” Arco announced.

  Zoe’s heart began to pound, but she took a seat on one of the room’s low cots, and kept quiet.

  “Tell me,” Raven said.

  Arco had to clear his throat before he went on. “I got some information out of one of the Kril guards that he definitely wasn’t supposed to spill.” Arco fell heavily into a chair. He was shaking. He looked at the floor for a moment before he said, “The Hajim are sending a big atmospheric transport ship. It’s going from one camp to the next….” He rubbed a hand across his face. His expression was bleak. “Boss, they’re taking away our women. They’ve decided to put female humans in their own separate camp.”

  No need to ask why, Raven thought at her.

  They’ve finally figured out the gender of who they’re looking for, she thought back.

  “How long before this transport shows up?” Raven asked Arco.

  “Two cycles. Maybe three.”

  “Oh, shit,” Zoe murmured.

  Arco noticed her for the first time. “You didn’t need to hear this from me. I’m sorry, Lieutenant.”

  Fear rushed over her, a response so strong her knees went weak, and she had to take a seat in the desk chair. She kept her gaze on Raven. “I won’t go,” she said. “You know I won’t.”

  He shook his head. “We’re not going back to Jazoan’s plan, sweetheart,” he answered.

  “I will if I have to.”

  “No.”

  “Then you think of a way to keep it from being necessary.”

  “You’re asking a hell of a lot of me.”

  “Demanding it, General.” She smiled at him. “You’re up to it, Prime.”