Raina nodded, her expression unchanged.
“Thank you,” Kotto said, anxious to have Raina to himself again.
Irron chuckled, clearly understanding that he’d been dismissed. “If you have any questions, Commander Tarr knows how to contact me.”
Raina nodded again and the doctor departed. She looked at the sofa, but remained standing. “As I see it, there are two separate issues and participating in one doesn’t obligate me to participate in the other.”
“Actually there are three issues.” He moved toward her and she backed up. With a heavy sigh, he halted his approach with several steps still between them. “The outpost gardens, your grandmother’s journals, and your compatibility with the battle born.”
“I’m not giving you the journals until I understand your plans for Earth and you can’t explain the details unless I sign the contract, so those two issues are interwoven.”
He’d rather deal with her argumentativeness than her fear, so he didn’t contradict her conclusion. “Have you decided whether or not to sign the contract?”
“You know I’m intrigued, but I need some time alone—in the privacy of my own home—to make my final decision.”
“I’ll give you until morning.”
“Absolutely not.” She put her hands on her hips as color rose across her cheeks. “I need at least a week to decide something this important.”
“Day after tomorrow, first thing in the morning, I will send Ashley for your answer. If you aren’t going to do this, I need to find someone who will. I can’t afford to lose an entire week while you make up your mind.”
“Agreed.” She slipped her hands into the pockets of her skirt and shifted her weight from one foot to the other. “Now, about the protein marker. Just because I’m more likely to survive the transformation than a full-blooded human doesn’t mean I have any interest in being transformed. I’m not in the market for a mate. My life is fine just the way it is.”
“Your work is so fulfilling, you require nothing more? You have no interest in sharing your life with another or watching as your child explores each new discovery?”
“I didn’t say that. I might consider getting married someday, but I’m certainly not ready right now.”
“What’s holding you back?”
Her chin came up and she averted her gaze. “My personal life is none of your business.”
“I disagree.” He crept forward. “You represent hope for men who have never felt the emotion before. They won’t be able to leave you alone.”
She looked at him with panic in her eyes. “I don’t want that kind of attention. I’m not good in social situations.”
He smiled though he wasn’t sure how to soothe her. Would the Rodyte concept of mating make things easier for her or terrify her even more. “Rodytes approach courtship far differently than humans do. The idea of dating is confusing to us. A Rodyte couple either has chemistry or they don’t, and scent is all that’s required to make that determination. At least for the male.”
“Scent? Rodytes can smell their mates?”
“That’s a bit too simplistic. If a couple is biologically compatible, the female’s scent triggers a reaction in the male. Then his touch triggers an equal response in her. It’s either there or it’s not. There’s no point in games or deception.”
“Does the male ever feel the attraction but the female doesn’t or vice versa?”
“Occasionally, but much more often the attraction is mutual.”
Her tongue peeked out to wet her lower lip and his gaze narrowed on her mouth. “What sort of reaction are you talking about?”
“He feels restless and anxious, aggressive toward other males. He’ll pursue her, do everything in his power to convince her that he’s strong enough to protect and provide for her. It’s elemental, instinctual. Like those salmon, the couple is drawn together by a force they can’t control, have no desire to control. There are no one-night-stands, no weekend hookups. Rodytes bond for life.”
“Do Rodytes only have sex with their bonded mate?”
“Sex is so much more intense with their bonded mate that infidelity is barely a temptation. But don’t confuse sex and bonding. They are two very different things. Rodytes who have yet to find their mate enjoy sex every bit as much as humans.”
“And the transformation only takes place when the couple bonds?” She still sounded uncertain.
“Correct.”
“Then there might not be anyone on this ship that reacts like that to me.” Her chest rose and fell, breathes fast and shallow. Was she afraid or turned on by what he was describing?
“Come here.” He held out his hand. If she wanted to make an educated decision, she needed all the facts.
“Why?”
“I’m trying very hard to be patient with you. If you make me come get you, we’ll do this my way.”
Her throat moved as she swallowed with difficulty. “We’ll do what your way?”
“Come here or you’ll find out.”
She licked her lips again and his control snapped. He closed the distance between them with two long strides and pulled her into his arms. Bending low enough to reach her mouth was awkward, so he slid her up his body. His lips covered hers, pressing, learning her texture. Her eyes were tightly shut, her arms trapped between them. She remained tense and still, not struggling, yet not responding.
“Open for me, Raina.” He whispered the words against her mouth then teased the seam of her lips with the tip of his tongue. “Let me in.”
“Why are you doing this?” Her tone was breathy and shaken. She didn’t open her eyes.
“You know why. Now kiss me, so we can see if you feel it too.”
She tugged her arms free and pushed against his chest, her eyes finally opening. “I’m not going to mate with you, so it doesn’t matter what I feel.”
“Ah.” He nipped her bottom lip, enjoying the tantalizing press of her soft breasts against his chest. “You already feel it, don’t you?” He brushed his lips back and forth across hers. “I still want to kiss you.”
“And I want to go home.”
“Kiss me and I’ll set you free.”
She arched away from him, which only pressed her pelvis more intimately against his erection. “You already promised to set me free.”
“I said I’d let you go as soon as our conversation is over. The conversation ends as soon as you kiss me.”
“Fine.” She sighed then took his face between her hands and placed her mouth against his.
Kotto enjoyed the tentative press of her lips over his for a moment then took control of the kiss. He walked to the nearest chair and sat down with her straddling his lap. Her hands shifted to his shoulders as he cupped the back of her head with one hand and wrapped his other arm around her waist. His tongue teased its way past her lips and she surrendered with a soft groan.
Tilting her head to one side, she opened for him, allowing him to explore at will. He stroked the underside of her lips and curled his tongue around hers. Her taste flowed through him, combining with her scent until his head spun and his fingers tingled. He wanted her naked and arching beneath him, needed the snug embrace of her willing body. But he had to go slowly, give her time to adjust to everything he’d thrown at her.
With absolute reluctance, he eased his tongue out of her mouth and separated their lips. His honor required that he make the situation clear. “There could be others with whom you’re compatible, but our compatibility is undeniable.”
She scrambled off his lap and smoothed down her skirt, looking flushed and adorable. “I haven’t even decided if I’m going to help you with the outpost. Until I do, the rest is moot.”
Nothing was gained by arguing with her now so he said, “I’m a man of my word. Where would you like to be taken?”
“I took the Metro in this morning, so I guess just take me home.”
“What’s the Metro?”
“The subway, underground train system.”
> He nodded as he pushed to his feet. “Ashley will visit you on the morning after next. I hope you’ll agree to help us. You could be invaluable to our cause.” Even if she refused, she was a potential mate. No, she was his potential mate. Whether Raina liked it or not, their interactions had just begun.
* * * * *
Standing at the master control console aboard the Relentless, Akim Farmon let the events of the previous day percolate through his mind. Even with the most powerful hyperdrives Rodymia had ever produced, it took twenty-six hours to return to Earth. Quinton knew Akim was racing the rebels toward a common goal. Wasting the better part of three days was inexcusable. And Quinton’s tantrum was irrelevant. Scratch that. Quinton was irrelevant. The crown stirate was weak and malleable. Watching him bend and twist with each new influence had motivated Akim to leave the palace in the first place. He would not serve someone he didn’t respect and Quinton was unworthy of esteem.
Javin Aidentar, on the other hand, had built the Integration Guild into the most powerful force in the star system. If he chose to step out of the shadows many, perhaps most, of Rodymia would accept him as crown stirate. But that wasn’t Javin’s style. He preferred his privacy, his secrecy, leaving everyone to wonder if he was involved in each event or not. And the mystique surrounding his guild made him even more powerful. Only those chosen by the Integration Guild ever understood how it worked, so everyone was afraid to cross them.
Akim shook away the distracting thoughts and focused on his mission. Rodyte politics would always be a tangled web over which he had no control. Crippling the rebellion was his job and he intended to complete the task so well and with such flare that no one on Rodymia would be able to disregard his importance. That included Pyre Sterling! Why in all of creation had she waited so long to issue her warning? He couldn’t change past events, but he could make damn sure she didn’t find out about them.
“What’s our specific destination, Commander?” Fyran, his first officer, asked from beside the navigation console. The navigator was new. Akim trusted the lad’s abilities, but he seemed a bit skittish. “All you said when we departed was Earth.”
“Outpost LA. We’ve put off maintenance as long as we dare. The ship deserves some attention before we resume the hunt.”
“Yes, sir.” Fyran seemed pleased by the decision and he watched the young navigator to make sure he entered the coordinates accurately.
The outpost, which was hidden in the ocean off the coast of Los Angeles, was one of the first Rodyte outposts established on Earth. It had been in operation for just over one hundred years and was surprisingly comfortable for an underwater complex. Rodytes had been visiting Earth much longer, but only in the past century had humans progressed to the point that they warranted in-depth study.
“Will everyone be allowed shore leave?” Fyran asked as he moved to Akim’s side. “Some of these men haven’t been ashore in three years.”
That had to be an exaggeration. The Relentless hadn’t been in service that long. Still, extended deployments with little or no off duty time was the norm for battle born soldiers. “I’ll check with the outpost commander, but I believe we’re allowed thirty at a time.”
“And how long will the maintenance take?”
“Three days at the most, so we’ll have to prioritize and cycle through as many men as we can.”
Fyran nodded, his excitement deflating as he learned the limitations of their stay. “Six groups of thirty would give each group twelve hours away from the ship.”
“If it takes the full three days,” Akim objected. “I’d like to be out of there sooner. Thanks to Quinton, we’re already playing catchup.”
Fyran’s expression grew grim as he recalculated. “Eight-hour shifts would cycle through in two days rather than three. I’m sure the men will be grateful for whatever we can give them.”
“If some need a little extra time, I’ll leave that up to you.”
“I’ll work out a rotation and warn the outpost commander that we’re headed his way.”
“Very good.” Fyran turned to leave the command center, but Akim stopped him. “Make sure you’re on the rotation as well. I know how long it’s been since you blew off some steam.”
Fyran accepted the order with a grateful smile. “Thank you, sir.”
Every ship in the Rodyte fleet was staffed predominately by battle born soldiers. Akim had requested that all of his officers be full-blooded Rodyte and for the most part his request had been granted. Fyran was one of the few exceptions. Surprisingly, the man had proven to be an asset rather than a liability. He was smart and competent, and the others liked him, which was more important than Akim cared to admit. If Fyran told the crew to do something, they did it. While each order Akim issued was resisted, perhaps not openly. Still, he could sense resentment rippling through the ranks of his battle born crew. Their growing hostility was one of the reasons Akim needed to complete his mission as quickly as possible. His crew needed to see the utter futility of this ridiculous rebellion.
Two hours later Akim warned the crew to brace for impact. He gave the signal and the navigator dove the ship directly into the Pacific Ocean. The Relentless was undetectable to human technology and the slight distortion left by the covert field generator was only visible to those familiar with the phenomenon. Even the massive displacement created by the ship’s impact was generally dismissed as rogue waves. Humans only saw what they wanted to see. It was a fact that made places like Outpost LA possible.
The sprawling complex included six large domes that were connected by transparent tubes. The arrangement reminded Akim of a rodent habitat he’d seen as a child. With a staff of one hundred and fifteen, the outpost was part science station, part maintenance facility, and part military base. Ships from numerous star systems docked here to take on supplies or make repairs that couldn’t be undertaken in space. There were a variety of leisure emporiums and numerous pleasure dens. With live pleasure givers, as well as simulators and pleasure-bots, it was easy to understand why the destination was so popular.
The Relentless docked and the first group was allowed to disembark before Akim left the ship as well. Akim left Fyran in charge and promised to relieve him as soon as possible. It was obvious from his first officer’s smirk that Fyran thought he was going to enjoy the amenities for himself. Akim’s purpose was less pleasant, but infinitely more important.
In the heart of the pleasure dome, Club Norax made no attempt to disguise the brutal sorts of pleasure offered within its walls. When Akim trained the club’s owner fifteen years before, he’d thought he was teaching her how to conduct an effective interrogation. “Lady M” had something else in mind. She’d quickly become the most popular dominatrix on Rodymia and earned enough capital to open an establishment where she was free to live without interference from anyone. They’d reconnected three years ago and Akim trusted her implicitly.
The doorman motioned him inside without comment and Akim made his way toward the back corner of the compact building. Dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, Milanni—Lady M to her customers—looked more like a human housewife than a shrewd entrepreneur, except for the short, spiky hair, which was tipped in green to match the rings in her dark eyes.
She noticed him standing in the doorway to her office and motioned him toward the chair arranged beside her desk. “Did you enjoy your royal spanking?” she asked with a cheeky grin.
“As you’re well aware, I enjoy giving spankings not receiving them.”
She deactivated the holodisplay, which appeared to be some sort of clothing catalogue. “Well, your pet is safe and sound, as I promised.”
Akim nodded. “Did she cause you any trouble?”
Milanni shook her head, making the green tip on each spike shimmer. “She spent the first two days in the regenerator, and she’s barely spoken since.” The friendliness suddenly left her face and her gaze turned cold. “If someone worked over one of my girls like that, I’d slit their throat.”
He fo
ught back his frustration. She was the second female to threaten him over Chandar’s treatment in as many days. If the harbinger wasn’t so strong-willed, such abuse wouldn’t be necessary. Rather than explain the details leading up to Chandar’s injuries, he simply said, “Someone beat you to it. Chandar’s abuser no longer draws breath.” She didn’t need to know Akim’s brother had indulged his brutality with Akim’s permission. Milanni’s only response was a tense nod. “Did she regenerate completely? Were her memories left intact?”
“I’m not sure.” Milanni pushed back from her desk and stood. “My healer was so infuriated by the little harbinger’s condition that she’s refusing to speak with me either. Is it important?”
“Not really. I was just curious.” If Chandar’s memory hadn’t been wiped, he’d have to deal with it on the ship. If Pyre found out all of the things her daughter had endured, he’d die a slow and agonizing death. Of that he had no doubt.
Milanni led him to one of the rooms upstairs. Each was small though well-equipped, which had made ensuring Chandar’s cooperation easier. Milanni unlocked the door with an old-fashioned key and motioned him inside. Chandar lay on her side in the middle of the bed, dressed in a simple white nightgown. She looked like a virgin sacrifice, stoically awaiting her fate. He shook his head and moved to the foot of the bed.
“Chandar, it’s time to go.” She just lay there, staring at the wall. “Is she sedated?”
“She’s been like that since yesterday.” The angry gleam returned to Milanni’s gaze. “She won’t eat. We had to force water down her throat. You’ve got your work cut out for you, old man. Better hope you don’t need her visons for a while. There’s a cloak in the closet.” She triggered the release mechanism on Chandar’s collar, which was chained to the wall, then turned and left without a backward glance.
Akim moved to the side of the bed and lightly touched her shoulder. Nothing happened. This wasn’t good. Chandar always jerked away from his lightest touch. “Chandar.” He carefully shook her. Her eyes were open, but she was completely unresponsive. “Enough! It’s time to go.”
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