"I know all of this. My father had me adequately trained."
"Had you been adequately trained, Pitala would never have been able to pin you down."
"He surprised me."
"And those are the three magic words to always remember. Surprise is your best friend." He turned her to face him. "Attack me."
Kiara hesitated. He was a huge man with a lot of scary skills. "I don't know about this . . ."
"Yes, you do. I come at you, you fight me with everything you have. You don't stop no matter what. It's me or you and for you, it better be me." His voice was deadpan and yet she didn't miss the underlying ferocity of those words.
"You sure?"
He nodded. "Don't worry. You can't hurt me."
"All right." She scissor-kicked him.
Before she could make contact, he backed up quicker than she could blink and slid fluidly to her side, then caught her around the throat in a gentle grip designed to make her aware, but not hurt or scare her. "Too easy."
He let go and stepped back.
She tried to strike him with her hands, but again, he dodged and came up with a mock blow that would have sent her flying had he made contact with her.
Frustrated, she attempted to kick his groin. He moved away.
Kiara growled at him. "What are you made of? Rubber?"
"Calm down. Not every blow will make contact." He gestured to the scars on his right arm. "Even I miss from time to time. No matter what happens, you have to maintain control of your emotions. Frustration and anger are your enemies. The goal is to piss off and kill others."
He stepped away from her and called out to her media player, "System, find and cue 'Bodies' by Drowning Pool."
Kiara cringed as a loud obnoxious song started playing over her intercom and the lead singer screamed out in rage. "What is that ungodly noise?"
"It'll help, trust me. You're a dancer. Listen to the beat of the song. One, two, three, four. One, hit the eyes." He demonstrated each punch without making contact. "Two, hit the nose. Three, hit the throat. Four, hit the groin. Don't let up. Don't stop the attack. One, two, three, four," he repeated several more times until she had the sequence.
Kiara nodded to the rapid tempo he counted off in time to the song.
"Now attack me to the beat of the song. In the exact order I gave you."
She did and this time, she saw how much more effective the hits were. Even though he dodged her blows, she felt the flow and the power of each strike.
"Now, the next secret is to do the unexpected. When I attack you, I expect you to run or pull away. Come at me with everything you have. If I grab you, go completely limp."
"Limp?"
He nodded. "Ever tried to pick up a pissed-off toddler? Even though they don't weigh much, they go completely limp and unbalance you. What happens when you're off balance?"
This one she knew all too well from her dancing. "You hit the floor."
"That's right, and when an attacker is down, you have the advantage. Remember, one, two, three, four. No mercy. No leniency. Attack until they're down for the count. Don't pull away to run. It only gives them a chance to recover and come at you again and by then, they're really pissed off and wanting blood. You beat them down until they can't get up. Mercilessly. Coldly. Them or you." There was no mistaking the deadly earnestness of his emotions on this point and she never wanted to be on the receiving end of that venom.
"You are one scary man."
"And I'm alive even though I should be dead."
He did have a point with that.
"Now attack."
Kiara threw herself against him. The instant her body slammed into his, he stepped back instead of staggering, but it was still impressive.
"Sweep the legs, gouge the eyes, hit the nose. You can crush the average windpipe with only five pounds of pressure. Three pounds to tear off an ear. Even less to blind someone completely."
"You are gory."
"Yes, but you will survive if you listen to me. Human bodies are frail and some aliens are even more so."
"What about the ones who aren't?"
"Everyone is vulnerable in the eyes and throat. If they can't see you, they can't attack. If they can't breathe, they can't attack. If they bleed, they can die. Never met a species yet that didn't breathe or bleed. Eyes are tricky. Not all races have them, but most of those who come at you do."
Kiara nodded and they went over and over the moves until she was hot and sweaty, and most importantly had them programmed into her muscle memory.
Winded from the exertion, she realized he hadn't even broken a sweat. How did he do that?
She leaned back against her bar, panting, as she watched him retrieve his shirt from the floor. She ground her teeth at the sight of his well-rounded butt cupped by his leather pants. Damn, he was hot.
"Do you ever dance?" she asked, trying to imagine how good he'd look.
"No."
"Never?"
He shook his head.
"Everyone should dance, Nykyrian." She took his hand intending to show him, but the moment she did, he hissed at her and jerked away.
Shocked by his unexpected reaction, she stepped back.
"Don't ever touch me."
The hostility caught her completely off guard. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend you."
He didn't respond as he left her alone in the room.
"System, stop," she said, ending the music he'd trained her to.
Curious about his reaction, she went to the main room where he was retrieving his computer. "Nykyrian--"
"You need to get ready for your party tonight."
His order stunned her. "You're going to allow me to attend?"
"For an hour, per your father's request. He said it was something you couldn't afford to miss."
"Okay." She paused to look back at him and his emotionless form. She was still worried that she'd overstepped some unknown, invisible line with him. "Are we good?"
"Fine."
She sighed, realizing he was back to his monosyllabic self. So much for reaching out to him. Obviously, he wanted to keep his distance and she would respect that.
But there for a minute, she'd thought they shared something more than client and protector.
Don't be stupid. It wasn't like there could ever be anything between them. He was an outlaw and she was a princess.
Then why did the fact that she'd hurt him hurt her? Why did she feel like this? Shaking her head, she went to her room to lay out her clothes before bathing.
Nykyrian touched his hand where her fingers had brushed against his. His flesh still burned from that brief contact. But that wasn't what bothered him. It was the fact that he wanted to feel her hand on his face. The fact that he wanted to dance with her . . .
Don't go there.
Bitter, harsh memories surged strong enough to take his breath.
You are an animal.
And she was beauty and grace.
He would keep his hands to himself and make sure they extracted him out of her life as soon as possible.
CHAPTER 11
Kiara smoothed her dress with her hands, double-checking to make sure she looked fine for the party. Tiyana had warned her a group of promoters would be there, and a disillusioned promoter could damage her career as much as death. In the dancing business, image was everything.
Opening the door to her room, she went down the hall to find the most lethal group ever imagined assembled in her main room. All in black, all armed, and all looking like they were hunting for blood.
Jayne, Hauk, Darling, Syn, and Nykyrian.
She frowned at their collective fierceness. "What's going on?"
Nykyrian shrugged his coat on. "Protection detail. But don't worry. We won't cramp you at the party. We know how to blend."
Syn snorted at that. "Yeah, baby, you blend."
Nykyrian shoved at him.
Kiara bit her lip to keep from smiling at their good-natured ribbing. Though to be honest, Syn
His eyeliner and piercings gone, he looked better than human. He looked absolutely stunning, and with his hair pulled back into a sleek ponytail, he had an air of refinement to him she would have never guessed he possessed. Nor would she ever suspect him of being one of the most notorious thieves in the United Systems.
He stepped forward to offer her his arm. "I'm your escort for the party. Anyone asks, we met at an art show."
She arched a brow at that. A notorious outlaw with facial piercings at a hoity-toity gallery? The image was preposterous. "An art show?"
He nodded. "Klasen opened a new one two weeks ago, here in Wecsiz on Fifth. It's featuring his bronze period. Not as impressive as his gold, but worth visiting anyway. You can really see how his talents progressed from the early work to what he does now. It's the finely patterned brushstrokes, though, that really mark the bronze. You can see him developing his technique."
"Oh, gah," Jayne moaned, pulling out her blaster and aiming it at Syn's head. "Can I shoot him now before he bores us all to death with his friggin' art shit?"
Syn disarmed her. "You're such an uneducated pleb."
"And happy that way. Not to mention much less boring." She grabbed her blaster from his hand and holstered it underneath her dress.
Kiara took Syn's arm. "You really do know your art. I'm impressed."
"Please don't encourage him," Darling begged. "He really will bore you with it all night if you let him."
"Shut up, all of you. Uncultured baboons."
Nykyrian led the way to the door. "All right, children. We're going out into public now. Let's all play nice and try to stay out of trouble."
Jayne made a kiss at him. "Yes, Dad."
They surrounded Kiara as they made their way downstairs to a transport. Jayne, dressed in a short, tight black dress, drove with Darling riding shotgun. Nykyrian and Syn rode in the back with her. Hauk had remained behind to watch her flat.
Kiara felt like a child sandwiched between people who were so much larger than her. "Is there anything I need to be aware of?"
Syn shook his head. "Act normal. Darling will stay with the transport and watch the door. Jayne will go in first as an attendee. You and I will enter together with Nykyrian following us in. Nykyrian, should anyone ask, is my bodyguard. That way none of the people you deal with will be the wiser about what's going on."
"Thank you for that consideration. Really."
"No problem."
Kiara glanced up at Nykyrian, who seemed oblivious to everything, and yet she knew better. Nothing ever escaped his notice.
"Oh no!" she gasped as she realized what she'd just done.
They all looked at her.
She felt sick at her own stupidity. "I forgot Tiyana's present back at my house. Oh, I can't believe I was so--" she stopped as Darling held it up for her to see.
She smiled at him. "Thank you. You guys really are on top of everything, aren't you?"
Darling flashed a charming grin. "It's what we do, princess." He winked at her.
A few minutes later, Jayne pulled up across the street from Tiyana's high-rise. She got out and headed inside while they stayed in the car and Darling set up surveillance. Kiara sat forward as he programmed small probes that he released onto the sidewalk. They skittered like bugs in different directions.
"What do those do?"
Darling pulled out a slim, tiny laptop and entered information into it. "They scan conversations, looking for key phrases. If they hear one, it's transmitted to me for review. If it's a threat, I forward it to Nyk and Syn."
"How do they know where to go?"
"It's programmed." He showed her a column on his computer. "I can also make adjustments here."
"Very wicked."
Nykyrian pressed his earpiece. "Jayne's inside. Our turn." He got out first, scanned the street, then held the door for her and Syn. It was so strange to see him play a subservient role, when it was definitely not in his nature to submit to anyone.
Kiara tucked her hand into the crook of Syn's elbow as he led her up to the top floor where Tiyana's party was being held in her lavish apartment, which took up the entire floor.
She and Tiyana had been classmates and best friends at several academies while growing up, and as adults they both danced for the same company. When Kiara had first started looking for her own place to live, Tiyana had insisted she live close by so they could continue their lengthy gossip sessions and late-night food binges whenever they were between shows.
Nykyrian stepped in front of them to ring the bell, then stood with his back to the wall so that he could watch the hallway while they waited.
Tiyana opened the door, her beautiful face beaming as she recognized Kiara. "Sweetie!" she exclaimed, drawing Kiara into a fierce hug. "I was so afraid you wouldn't come."
Kiara smiled, pulling out of the hug before Tiyana broke her ribs. Tiyana was everything she'd always wanted to be--tall, blonde, voluptuous, gorgeous, and sophisticated, not to mention strong. "How could I miss it? It's not every day you turn twenty-six."
Tiyana shuddered and put her finger to her perfectly rouged lips. "Don't say that so loud," she whispered, looking around to make sure no one heard them. "I've told all the promoters I'm twenty-two. If they ever found out how close to thirty I am . . ." She held her hand up to her head like a blaster and pretended to pull the trigger.
Kiara laughed at the gesture. "Do me the same favor and we'll call it even."
"Done." Tiyana pulled her into another hug.
At least until she realized Kiara wasn't alone. Tiyana stiffened as she swept a curious glance over Syn. "Who's your . . . friend?"
Syn oozed charm as he took Tiyana's hand into his and placed a debonair kiss on her knuckles that made Tiyana visibly shiver. "Sheridan Belask, miratoi. It's an honor to meet you. I've been an admirer of yours since that brilliant interpretation of Terigov that you did three years ago. It was stunning, as are you."
Tiyana preened under the praise. "Oh, thank you . . . um, Mister . . . or Lord Belask?"
"Please, call me Sheridan."
"Sheridan." Tiyana's gaze went to Nykyrian and widened in trepidation.
Syn waved a dismissive hand in a way any nobleman would envy. "My bodyguard and servant. I hope you don't mind? I find that in my position in life there are those who are always looking to take a shot at me. I'm sure you understand."
"Absolutely. Please, come in." She stepped back so that they could enter.
Tiyana grabbed Kiara close as soon as they were inside and whispered in her ear. "Oh my God, girl! He is the hottest thing on two legs."
"Sy-S-Sheridan?"
"Who else! You have been holding out on me." Kiara glanced over to Nykyrian, who scanned the crowd with precision. True to his word, he stood back, but not so much that he couldn't get to her in a heartbeat if need be. Then she looked at Syn who was pulling two glasses of wine off a passing tray.
Yeah, he was choice, but compared to Nykyrian . . .
He just didn't compete, in her mind.
Kiara smiled as he offered her a glass. She handed the present to Tiyana before she took the proffered drink. "Thank you."
Tiyana shook the box. "Let me guess, clothes?"
Kiara rolled her eyes. "I hate when you do that."
Tiyana laughed. "That's what friends are for. Let me go toss it on my loot pile. I know I'm going to love it. You always have the best taste." She looked around the huge crowd. "I think you know everyone here. If not, just give me a wink and I'll introduce you." She then pulled Kiara to her and whispered in her ear, "Paulus is here and he's drunk off his arse, so be warned." Tiyana wandered off in the crowd.
Syn gave her a wicked grin. "He's not the only one flagged off his ass." He downed the wine in one gulp before he grabbed another glass.
"Why do you do that?"
"Cause it's easier to keep a buzz going when it's in place than to have to start from scratch once you're sober. Not to mention, if you keep drinking, you don't have to contend with a hangover."
Kiara shook her head at his reasoning.
Syn scanned the crowd with the same precision Nykyrian used, except she noticed the way his gaze would pause on particularly nice jewelry as if mentally calculating its value. As well as pause on any attractive woman and her 'assets.' "So who is this Paulus dick?"
Kiara cringed in distaste. "He's a walking nightmare. His father made a fortune with their media company before becoming an art sponsor and, as a result, Paulus thinks he should have the privilege of sleeping with any dancer who catches his eye."
"I can tell you love him."
"Yeah, like a boil in my nether regions."
Syn laughed out loud. "Nether regions, huh? I'm going to have to remember that one."
Kiara searched the huge gathering for friendly faces. So much for Tiyana's comment that she'd only invited a "few" friends and associates. It looked like everyone Tiyana had ever spoken with was here.
She glanced back at Nykyrian. At least he was a friendly face.
Well, given his lethal glower as he watched everyone around him, maybe friendly was stretching it a bit. But he was familiar to her. She sipped at her wine while Syn downed another glass, then moved on to something harder.
"Kiara!"
Kiara spun around to face Elfa Dicuta, her understudy and worst enemy. Ugh, did she have to be here?
I should have stayed home. Had she known Elfa was invited, she would have.
And even though she wanted to snatch every strand of dark hair out of the woman's head, she had to be nice to the little toad. "Hi Elfie," she said, using the nickname she knew the backbiting woman hated, "how are you?"
Elfa gave her one of her notorious fake smiles. "Just fine, sweetie. I can't tell you how sorry I am you had to pull out of the show. I feel just terrible about it."
I'll bet. "So how's the show going?"
This time, Kiara suspected the smile might be real. "Great. Absolutely great. They say that it's making even more money now than when you were the star."
Probably because they weren't having to pay Elfa the same amount of money . . .
She hoped.
Elfa's eyes drifted to where Nykyrian stood with his back to a wall. "Didn't you come in with that Andarion over there?"
Kiara tightened her grip on her glass, wanting to toss it in Elfa's face. "Yes, I did."
A scheming look crossed Elfa's face. "The promoters might not like that. Andarions are a controversial thing." Kiara detected a hopeful note under the girl's tone. "Have you been hooked up with him long?"
-->