by Shae Mills
Suddenly, he straightened. He wanted to be inside her, to make love to her, but she was alien, and she was his enemy. Talon clenched his fists, trying to still the salacious thoughts fueled by his rabid carnal hunger. He shook his head again, his long, black hair flying. Then his body heat intensified just that much more, his lust infiltrated by rage. She would come to him for everything. She had to, and he whirled around and stepped back through the doors.
She lay on her side, curled up, her back to him. He strode toward the bed, not at all sure what he was going to say or do.
Chelan sensed him and sprang up. Instantly, she saw the anger in his eyes. Fear lanced through her body, and she lurched across the bed away from him. She began to run, but Talon leapt over the bed and grabbed her. “Let go of me!” she shrieked.
Talon struggled with her and finally pinned her arms behind her back with one hand. With his free hand, he grabbed her exposed throat. “Where did you get that gown?” he growled.
Chelan fought against him. She was frantic, his unprovoked attack terrorizing her. “I have had it here in the Palace all along! I wore it here and on the RIBUSes.” She struggled for air. “It was a gift from Dar so many years ago,” she added defiantly.
Talon looked down over her pretty cleavage and then closed his eyes. He felt helpless and deranged at the same time. His hand slipped around to the back of her head, and he crushed her to him, burying his face in her long neck. He inhaled her alien scent, the smell of fear and her earlier sexual readiness mingled in a potion that clouded his senses and glazed his eyes.
Chelan felt his hand release her wrists, and she slumped against him out of necessity, her knees weak. Her mind reeled from the conflicting signals he gave. First, he attacked her, and now, he pressed her to him with a heat that burned her flesh. She swaggered between legitimate desire, kindled by previous thoughts of her men, and her urgent need to win Talon over in order to lower his guard. Her priority was clear.
She swallowed hard and closed her eyes as his hand rubbed her back. Her fingers travelled from his waist to his powerful chest, his muscles rippling in response to her electrifying touch. She reached for his neck and nestled in under his thick, ebony mane. She winced and quashed her marrow-deep revulsion. “I want you,” she whispered.
A tremor shot through Talon’s body with such intensity, it released a virulent tempest. He threw his head back, his eyes ablaze. He seemed to struggle with himself. Then he grabbed her face. He kissed her hard and deep, his lips bruising hers before he withdrew. He struggled to catch his breath. “I cannot afford to—”
Chelan searched his face frantically, her quarry nearly realized. “You can’t afford to what?”
Talon let his head fall forward, his fingers leaving her. Then he whirled away from her and left the room. Chelan clutched at her neck, baffled by what had just transpired. It was impossible to interpret the giant man’s actions, his thoughts and feelings possibly forever locked within him. Regardless, if she was right, his apparent persistent enthrallment with her would work to her advantage.
She slumped to the bed and felt her lips. She hated him, but she had responded to him as she needed to even though it went against every instinct she possessed. She shook her head in an effort to regain calm. She had to be methodical, and it was time to think with crystalline clarity. She had a vital mission to complete; she could ill afford any emotional interference. Her goal was within reach, and she simply could not fail. Now, only time would tell if the perfect opportunity presented itself.
Chapter 10
Time marched on, and to keep occupied, Chelan began working with the recon division, taking any assignments they gave her and attending to her tasks from the Command Center. It kept her mind active and filled in her long, solitary days. Lakit no longer visited, and since her last encounter with Talon, the man had been as elusive as a ghost.
Chelan’s fingers danced over the keyboard. The three-dimensional image rotated in front of her as she took measurements, analyzed the data, and filled it in on an extensive report that would soon be sent to the main reconnaissance lab. All her work was in Iceanean, but she knew that her final report would probably be translated. Suddenly, she stopped typing. Or would it? Iceanean was still the language of the Empire’s trade and commerce. Maybe she was not as isolated as she had assumed.
Suddenly, the main doors parted, and Chelan swiveled around.
“Good day, little one,” Talon greeted curtly.
Chelan watched him as he discarded his shroud and some flight gear. “You have been away a long time,” she intoned flatly.
Talon threw her a cool glance as he headed into the workout area. “Lots of work,” he muttered.
Chelan looked down at her lap and chewed at the side of her cheek. She was not sure she should follow him, but she needed some answers to the multitude of questions plaguing her. Standing slowly, she cautiously approached the dim room. She rounded the corner and stopped abruptly. Talon stood near the pool, his back to her as he shed his uniform.
He glanced at her and then knifed into the huge pool. At the sound of the splash, Chelan found herself unexpectedly fighting a deep pang of possessiveness. The pool had been Korba’s and his alone. Now, his successor used it, and Chelan nearly choked on the memories. She shook her head and tried to squeeze back the emotions. Then she urged herself forward. At the edge, she sat down and crossed her legs, smoothing her white gown down in front of her.
She watched for a while as the bronze body lapped the pool effortlessly, just as Korba had always done. Then she glanced at her white knuckles. Talon was Korba’s biological brother, so much like him physically that it pained her to look at him. And for that matter, at times, as the weeks drifted on, she was even having a hard time maintaining her abhorrence of the man who mirrored her beloved mate. With her emotions in perpetual flux, sometimes she wished him dead by her hand, and at others, she just hoped he would vanish completely. But neither event was likely.
Regardless of her wishes when it came to Talon’s existence, she could not resurrect her men, nor could she bring back her baby, an innocent life taken in the throes of war. So, maybe it was to her benefit to quit fighting the man before her. As it was, her new norm was to blank out as much of the past as she could. Dwelling on it only rendered her paralyzed with depression. And as her days without companionship passed, so did her overt hostility.
She furrowed her brow. Maybe that was his plan. By keeping her essentially quarantined, he was both driving her to seek out his company, no matter how limited, and tempering her deep-set ire. However, he usually managed to instantly aggravate her upon his every return, her hate for him inevitably renewed, albeit diminished.
She looked up. His powerful body still surged through the expansive pool. So far, today had been tolerable, but then they had only exchanged greetings, and she did not know what the candor of their next interactions would be. If he remained civil, could she continue with her original plan—to obliterate him?
Chelan sighed, her eyes focusing on the shimmering pool, her thoughts diverted. She loved swimming so much, but the water was always so frigid—a necessity to them but deadly to her. Korba had altered this pool’s temperature so that she could use it, but it was no longer warm.
Suddenly, she gasped and sprang back as Talon’s massive torso loomed unexpectedly out of the depths before her. She shielded her face from the forceful splash and then leapt to her feet, her body burning from the extreme cold of the water. Without looking at him, she ran to the shower room and grabbed a towel for warmth. She swung around just as Talon entered the room.
He folded his arms over his chest, leaned against the wall, and smiled broadly, his white teeth accented by his dark skin. “You freeze easily, little one,” he quipped.
Chelan glared up at him from under her thick lashes. “In case you have forgotten, I am not of your ice world.” As soon as she had spoken her words, she sucked in a deep breath and then blanched.
Talon chuckled and
raised his brows. “In case you have forgotten, neither am I.”
Chelan turned away. Talon remained silent as he watched her small frame shiver. “I am sorry that I remind you so much of Korba. But I cannot change my genetics or my looks.”
Chelan shook her head. “Why would you care?” she whispered.
Talon straightened slightly and mulled over his response. “Because it serves no one’s purpose to have you so despondent. What is done is done. No one can bring him back.”
Chelan whirled around. “And what is my purpose?” she demanded. “You have Iceanea. You and ROPE have the Empire. Korba is dead!” She dropped the towel and took a step toward him, jabbing a finger into her chest. “What do you need me for? What do you want from me?”
Talon stood up straight, his jaw set. “I want nothing from you,” he countered.
Chelan tried to catch her breath. Then she raised her hands in frustration, and she stared into his azure eyes. “Then let me go. I have been on the bloody planet for almost eight of my Earth’s months. Let me leave the Palace.”
Talon snorted and turned away, striding out into the workout area. “Where would you go?” he threw over his shoulder.
Chelan stormed out after him and watched as he began to dress. “Out into the general population. Anywhere but here!”
Talon turned and faced her as he slid into his uniform pants. “You would not survive.”
“Yes, I would!”
Talon grabbed his jacket. “You would still be alone.”
Chelan strode right up to him. “Do you really think that? Do you really think that in all of Iceanea there is nowhere that would accept me? I am perfectly capable of working. Korba himself mated me. Alien or not, I have status.”
“You had status,” he stated dryly.
He turned away and began doing up his jacket, but Chelan confronted him again. “You no longer require me. My role in your twisted war is complete. So, why don’t you just be done with me!”
Talon finally stopped and stared at her. “Tonight I am dining with my top officers in the main hall. You are welcome to join me if you choose.” And he strode off.
Chelan’s jaw dropped. She watched him disappear into the Command Center, but she was too stunned to move. Finally, she lurched forward and ran after him, but he was gone.
Chelan stepped down to the main command chair and slumped into it. Nothing made sense, as usual. But she did know that as much as she wanted Talon dead, she also wanted to be free. She did not want to be in the Palace constructed for her and Korba anymore. Maybe she would not survive on the outside, maybe she would not be accepted, but she wanted to try. She did not fit in the new Empire—that was for sure—and she wanted nothing to do with it.
She closed her eyes and deliberated about the past. Her original goal had been to lure the man to her in any way she could, make him vulnerable to her, and then kill him so that justice would finally be served. But as the months had passed, she no longer cared. In fact, she was well aware that taking out the man at the top of the Empire would only cause more chaos to rain down upon her… and every other mortal being near and far. For that matter, could she even succeed, no matter how hell-bent she was on eradicating him? How long would she have to be by his side before he let his guard down? Would he ever? Her head spun.
As afternoon turned into evening, Chelan continued to ponder her bleak options. It was obvious that she would have to take each day as it came until some opportunity presented itself that would cement some degree of decisiveness. Right now, she was in limbo, her choices few and far between.
Finally, as the dinner hour approached, her agitation took off. In an attempt to center herself, she freed her mind from her far-reaching quandaries and focused on the present. Why would Talon expose her to his officers? What purpose would it serve? She was a prisoner of war—a hostage at the very least—and dining with the military elite was hardly her place.
Chelan stood and began to pace. No matter what, she really did not want to meet them. They had all participated in slaughtering her mate, along with Dar and Fremma, and joining in their festivities would be ludicrous if not traitorous.
Chelan finally gave up thinking and walked off to the shower. There she cleaned herself meticulously and washed her hair. Then she slipped into her elegant white gown once again and brushed out her silken mane. Returning to the Command Center, she found herself unable to concentrate. Her heart pounded, and her palms perspired.
Then suddenly, without premeditation, she was in motion toward the main doors. The guards snapped to attention upon her arrival, and she hesitated, her mouth suddenly dry. She turned to one of them and stared up into the blackness of his shroud. “I am not sure where the main dining hall is. Could someone direct me there?” A voice from behind startled her.
“This way,” the man commanded.
Chelan took a deep breath and followed the guard. As she stepped along spritely, she reprimanded herself for not knowing the Palace better, a deficit she would have to rectify soon. Talon had provided her with the new plan, but as of yet, she had not bothered to study it.
The walk down the maze of corridors seemed to take an eternity. Finally, the guard stopped in front of two large decorative doors. She approached them cautiously and then looked up at the shroud. “Thank you,” she whispered.
He nodded and left.
Chelan rubbed her hands together and then down her gown. Never before had she felt so helpless and insecure. And that said nothing of the level of her fear. She tried to calm herself and to still her throbbing head. But all her efforts were to no avail. Regardless, she needed to discover why the man who had decimated her world and now ruled the galaxy would invite her into his fold.
Finally, she closed her eyes and eased the tension in her muscles. She could see Yanis and Fremma before her, teaching her body language and self-control. She could hear Dar and Korba lecturing her on her regal elegance and how she should rise to the top. Then squaring her shoulders, she stepped through the doors.
The room fell silent at her entry. Chelan glanced around. Before her was a giant, U-shaped table, its outer edges surrounded by dozens of seated shrouds. Her eyes darted from face to face, registering without fail the Iceanean hallmarks. She held very still until finally, her gaze lit on Talon at the head of the table. His features were completely neutral. No one spoke, no one moved, and all eyes were on her.
She took a small step forward and curtsied low, her head bowed. “My Lord,” she whispered demurely. Then she straightened, hands clasped in front of her.
Her attention was caught as a man to her right near the head of the table stood. Chelan felt a tremor seize her, but she stilled it. He tipped his head to her and smiled. “A pleasure to meet you at last,” he offered in flawless Iceanean.
Chelan curtsied to the handsome man and then stood tall. The man took a step back from the table. “My name is Lethiason.” He glanced at Talon. “I am delighted that my Lord has finally released you from his clutches.” He smiled as he looked at the other officers. “Although I can see why he has kept you to himself all these months.”
All chuckled as they nodded to one another in agreement. Chelan averted her eyes momentarily, willing herself not to blush.
When the din settled down, Lethiason approached her. “May I escort you to the head of the table? I assume that you will dine with us tonight.” And he offered her his arm.
Chelan havered, her eyes darting to Talon’s. Then she sighed with relief when he nodded his permission. Chelan reached for the giant man’s arm and followed him around the table to where Talon sat. A chair was brought out and a space made on Talon’s left.
Chelan sat down nervously and watched as Lethiason returned to his seat. The silence that followed nearly killed her. Finally, she looked up at Talon. “I do not wish to interrupt or intrude, my Lord. I will leave if you wish.”
Talon remained silent, but Chelan jumped as a fist struck the table to her right. “Nonsense!” boomed a voice
.
Chelan looked down the table at an older officer. He smiled at her. “A pretty creature such as you interrupts nothing. I think I can speak for us all when I say that your presence is welcome and refreshing. It is not often that we are graced by such exotic feminine beauty as yours.” Then the man’s eyes shifted to Talon’s. “And in fact, I predict that more than superficial beauty captivates our Commander, for he has kept you to himself for an inordinate length of time.” Light laughter flowed through the gathering once again.
Chelan squirmed, unsure of what to say, or if it was prudent to speak at all. Talon remained motionless, his eyes studying her. Finally, she faced the man who had spoken and cleared her throat. “My Lord long ago gave me permission to wander.” She glanced warily into Talon’s azure eyes, but she saw no hostility. “But I have not taken advantage of my freedom until now.”
A murmur rose among the men, and Chelan looked down. She suddenly felt lightheaded. She had immersed herself in something that seemed beyond her ability to cope with. Korba had coached her in the beginning, but Talon was leaving her to her own devices in a completely alien culture.
Finally, her attention was directed to her left as another officer spoke. A sly grin traversed his somewhat ruddy face. “So, what do you think of the new Empire?” His grin broadened, and his eyes narrowed. “How does it compare to the old?”
Chelan ceased all motion. She wished with all her heart that she could flee, but she knew that was not an option open to her. She took in an uncertain breath. “I cannot compare, sir. I know nothing of the new Empire.”
Another murmur went through the group, and Chelan rubbed her palms over her dress. Finally, the man addressed her again. “Oh, come now. Surely you know a bit about it. After all, you have come to know both Emperors quite well, have you not?”
Laughter erupted all around, and Chelan’s eyes flew to Talon’s, but her heart sank when she saw him smiling too. She was humiliated, and suddenly, her fear turned into defensiveness. She did not like the insinuation that she had slept with the enemy. But she also knew that expounding her honest feelings regarding the new Emperor would quite likely get her killed.