As usual Nazerel looked completely unapologetic. “Angie has gone into hiding. It was a trap.”
“A trap?” Her laugh was utterly humorless. Each failure, however small, created delays she wasn’t willing to tolerate. She had waited too long and sacrificed too much to be patient any longer. “How could it have been a trap if Allenton is loyal to the cause, as you claim? You can’t have it both ways.”
“May I speak, mistress?” Allenton asked.
She shifted her attention from Nazerel to the newcomer. Allenton was a bit taller than Nazerel and Allenton’s build was leaner. They both had sharp cheekbones and strong jawlines, but Allenton’s face possessed a graceful symmetry absent in Nazerel’s ruggedness.
“I bore easily so say something important.”
He met her gaze boldly, but that was expected. All of these men were insufferably arrogant and the alpha hunters were the worst of the lot. If the Shadow Assassins had been victimized their entire lives, how had the hunters developed such egos? “I knew Nazerel was up to something, but I had no idea the project was so sophisticated. I couldn’t imagine how we could possibly live free without causing an interplanetary war.”
“So you agreed to track him down and drag him back to Ontariese?” They stood in the foyer of her house/headquarters. She’d crawled out of bed to deal with their uninvited visitation. Marat stood to one side, his pulse pistol in hand, looking more annoyed than threatening. Only the alpha hunters were allowed in her house. But Allenton was an alpha, so technically Nazerel hadn’t broken the rules by bringing the other man here.
“I came to Earth to investigate the mysterious opportunity that the other hunters had been whispering about.”
“Nazerel told me you were loyal to Varrik, that you couldn’t even be trusted with the details of this project.” She looked at Nazerel and arched her brow. “What changed your mind?”
“Allenton has always backed the strongest player. No one can blame him for that. On Ontariese, Varrik had more power than any other Shadow Assassin. But we aren’t on Ontariese anymore.” Nazerel arched his brow mimicking her expression.
“Most people call that being flaky.” She looked at Allenton, waiting for him to react to the slur.
He tensed, but his tone remained calm as he explained, “They promised us freedom and security, yet their rules created an environment even more controlling than the Shadow Maze. And Varrik has become so obsessed with his female that I don’t recognize him anymore.”
“That’s heartbreaking, really.” Sarcasm sharpened her tone, intentionally provoking him. “I’m still not convinced I can trust you.”
He lowered his gaze while his stance remained proud. “If you give me the opportunity, I will prove I’m worthy of trust.”
“And the Ontarians will simply give up trying to find you and let you have your way with the women of Earth?” His defection was likely to fire up the sanctimonious Ontarians like nothing else. Allenton had been sent to solve this problem, not become a participant in the misbehavior. If she hadn’t needed every test subject she could get her hands on, she would have sent him packing.
“Only a Shadow Assassin can sense a Shadow Assassin and every skilled hunter is now part of this program,” Allenton said. “The Ontarians can search all they like. They will not find us.”
“They searched for two hundred cycles to no avail,” Nazerel pointed out with an irritating smirk.
“The Shadow Maze was entirely underground.” Their overconfidence was really starting to annoy her. “Our facilities are a little easier to find. And all of the hunters might be on Earth, but what about Varrik and the other sweepers? Won’t they be able to sense other Shadow Assassins?”
Allenton waved away the possibility. “There is no way Varrik is leaving Ontariese. He’s overseeing the entire transition.”
“And the other sweepers are being indoctrinated by the Mystics,” Nazerel said. “They won’t be trusted with any sort of mission until they’ve completed their retraining.”
She made a noncommittal sound as she milled over the alternatives.
She wore a full-length, royal-blue robe over a matching nightgown. The material felt cool and sensuous as it billowed around her legs. Both men were having trouble keeping their gazes focused on her face, which was why she hadn’t bothered to dress. She still had to choose which of the alpha hunters would become her mate and now she had another candidate. “Site four is not yet secure, but the other three are ready to go. One of the teams will have to stay at the motel until site four is ready. Everyone else can start moving to the new locations.”
“Team South will take site one,” Nazerel stated as if it were a forgone conclusion that he would have his choice of the sites. Who was she kidding? It was a forgone conclusion. Strength and cunning had ruled in the world below and Nazerel had each in abundance. “Who would you like at sites two and three?”
“Team North just arrived,” Allenton began. “We can wait until site four is complete.”
“I don’t think so.” She faced Allenton again and her gaze narrowed on his handsome face. “I want you close and easily supervised until I’ve decided whether or not I can trust you. Team East will wait for site four. Westbrook can move his team to site three. You and Team North will occupy site two.” She looked at Nazerel as she went on, “By the way, if Allenton screws up in any way, you’ll share his punishment.” Nazerel looked as if he’d argue, then he closed his mouth and nodded. “Neither of you mentioned what happened to Lor. Is he still alive?”
“He was shot during the conflict.” Regret sparked within Allenton’s gaze. He tried to hide the reaction behind indifference, but Sevrin wasn’t convinced. She would have to watch this one carefully. There was still a very real possibility that he was an Ontarian spy.
“And? Is he still a problem or not?”
Nazerel shifted his weight from one foot to the other, looking even more uncomfortable as Allenton. “I closed the wound so the female didn’t lapse into hysterics, but the damage was extensive. It’s highly unlikely he’ll survive.”
“What female?” Were these fools always so damn cagey? Getting a straight and complete answer out of them was nearly impossible.
“Tori, Angie’s older sister,” Allenton said.
“How much older?”
“I have no idea.” Allenton shot Nazerel a sidelong look and Sevrin felt the subtle ripple of telepathic communication.
Enjoy your secrets while you can. Soon I’ll join your supernatural club. She didn’t care if they intercepted her frustrated thoughts. They both had a lot to answer for after tonight’s disaster. “Did she meet program parameters?” she asked Nazerel. She hated loose ends, preferred all of her complications tied up in permanent knots. “Why didn’t you bring her with you? Even if you have your heart set on darling Angie, one of your men could have claimed her.”
“All of my men are hunters. They need to select and pursue their mates.”
“Of course.” She couldn’t decide if she wanted to smack him or have Marat tie him to her bed so she could teach him respect. “How foolish of me.” When he said nothing more, she went on. “You now have two unacceptable obstacles standing in your way. If Tori participated in the trap, she must have at least basic knowledge of our project. That risk must be addressed. After your men have settled into their new surroundings, you and Allenton will hunt down Lor and Tori and kill them both.”
Chapter Five
Tori looked into the spinning vortex, heart thundering in her chest. Lor was offering her an adventure unlike anything she’d ever dreamed possible. How could she refuse?
He could enslave you or abandon you on an alien world. What do you really know about this man? her logical side shouted. You would be entirely at his mercy.
“Tori.” His deep voice cut through her mental tug-of-war. “I have to go.”
He’d been protective and as honest as the situation allowed. For God’s sake, he’d taken a bullet for her. Well, not a bullet exac
tly, but he’d thrown his body in front of hers to protect her from an energy pulse that undoubtedly would have killed her. What else could he do to prove he was worthy of trust?
He lowered his arm and smiled as disappointment crept into his gaze. “I’ll see you when I get back.”
Panic made her bold. She would not let uncertainty rob her of this opportunity. “No. I’m coming.” She rushed toward him and the rest happened in a surreal blur.
His arms wrapped around her and he pulled her into the portal. Reality spun away in a breath-stealing rush of acceleration. Her body felt weighted and weightless at the same time. Colors streamed and spun, trailing out behind them like ribbons on a kite. She clutched his back and pressed her face into his throat, terrified yet exhilarated.
This was real. She was in the arms of an alien and they were soaring toward his homeworld. Giddy excitement bubbled within her and she couldn’t hold back a smile.
The oppressive heaviness lessoned. Were they slowing down?
She lifted her head as their surroundings gradually refocused. The streams of light became silhouettes in the distance.
“Almost there,” he whispered as one of his hands swept down the back of her hair.
The touch had been meant to soothe and reassure her, but her body warmed and hummed, spinning back to life with unfulfilled need. This wasn’t good. He shouldn’t be able to ignite her senses with just one stroke of his hand.
His arm moved to her waist and his body rotated away from her as he guided her out of the conduit. Her legs trembled and vertigo sent her head spinning. Apparently expecting the reaction, his arm remained snugly at her waist.
“The dizziness will pass. Just breathe.”
She inhaled through her nose and exhaled through her mouth, inadvertently filing her head with his scent. Clean yet slightly spicy, like cloves or hot apple cider. Was she smelling his cologne or did all Ontarians smell like October?
As her senses cleared, she looked around. They were in an open room. Rather than a door, a wide archway led to whatever lay beyond. There was no furniture or decorations of any kind. “What is this?”
“A landing zone. Most Mystics can teleport, so we use these landing zones to minimize the disruption as we come and go.”
“Where are we exactly? I know we’re on Ontariese.”
“This is called the Conservatory. It’s a training facility and global headquarters for Ontarian Mystics. This is my home.” He took her hand and led her out of the landing zone. A short corridor led to a covered gallery.
Tori’s steps lagged as she took in the tranquil beauty of the surrounding grounds. Tall trees flanked a wide lawn. The grass was thick and vivid green, but the leaves on the trees had a touch of blue mixed in with their green, making them appear teal in the dappled sunlight. And the sky was almost purple. Night had been falling as they left Earth and yet here it was midday. She smiled at the naive thought. This planet rotated around a different star. Why had she expected its orbit to be synchronized with Earth’s?
“Coming?” Lor gave her hand a little tug.
“Sorry. I’ve never been on a different planet before.”
“You’re right.” He released her hand and guided her to the railing. “I should allow you to soak it in.”
The gallery was lined with flowerbeds, the blooms colorful and fragrant. The pillars supporting the gallery’s roof had narrow trellises. Climbing flowers, similar to small roses, yet with multi-colored blooms, covered the trellises in a twisting weave of contrasting shades.
“It’s so beautiful.” A shadowy shape barely visible in the sky drew her attention. She leaned out so she could see the shape more clearly. “Is that another planet or a moon?”
“Ontariese has two moons. That’s the day moon, so named for obvious reasons. It’s the larger of the two. The night moon is desolate, incapable of sustaining life.”
“People live on the day moon?”
“The day moon is home of the City of Tears, our primary military compound. We’ll be visiting there after I’ve checked in with Head Master Tal.”
Finally ready to see more, she moved away from the railing. “Is he top dog around here?”
Lor chuckled. “Yes. Tal is the ultimate authority and my mentor.”
His hand settled at the small of her back as he led her into the Conservatory. They skirted a large open space that looked rather like a gymnasium. “What goes on in here?”
“Training classes mostly, but occasionally we hold competitions. We are taught how to control our impulses, but that doesn’t keep us from being competitive.”
They passed through an archway into a sort of lobby and three additional archways led to other parts of the building. “Do you guys not believe in doors?”
“Energy flows more smoothly without disruptions. Few of our activities require privacy.”
“You said you live here. Doesn’t your apartment have a door?”
“My home is separate from the main building and, yes, it has a door.”
She moved along at his side. Even the corridors were wide and airy. The ceilings were high and dramatically arched. The entire facility was bathed in natural light, yet occasionally she spotted glowing red stones inset in walls. “Are those decorations or are the stones a light source?”
“They’re called firestones and they emit both light and heat as required. The only disadvantage is they must be charged with Mystic energy to work, so those without Mystic abilities must return them to us from time to time.”
His mouth tensed and he quickly moved on down the corridor. “What’s wrong? Do you charge outrageous prices for this service or something?”
“Our fees are reasonable, but you’re not the first to make the claim. It’s costly to operate a facility as large as the Conservatory. Some apprentices can afford the admissions fee, but many cannot. The revenue generated by firestones allows us to train many more apprentices than we would be able to serve otherwise. Vee, the founder, was determined that cost would never prevent worthy apprentices from reaching their full potential.”
“Seems like a wise compromise.”
They came to a door and Tori smiled. Apparently the Head Master deserved privacy.
Lor didn’t knock or ring a bell, but the door slid soundlessly into the wall. Had he asked for entrance telepathically? He motioned for her to precede him and she moved into the room. Sunlight streamed in from numerous windows, drawing Tori’s attention to the surrounding scenery. Out one side was a garden with a stone-paved walking path. Rolling hills and the purple horizon spread in front of her.
“I wasn’t expecting you back so soon.” A deep voice drew her attention to the man standing in front of a transparent desk. Head Master Tal, no doubt. Dark hair swept back from his face and trailed down behind him in a thick coil. With pale skin, angular features and piercing grayish eyes, he’d make a convincing vampire. His gaze shifted from Lor to her as he floated toward her. Where his legs moving beneath those long robes or had he just command himself forward? “Tal dar Aune.” He inclined his head rather than offering his hand, but it was clearly a greeting. “And you are?”
“Victoria Logan, but everyone calls me Tori.”
“Welcome to Ontariese.” He motioned to the chairs in front of his desk as he skirted the desk and slipped in behind it. Holy crap. His hair flowed well past his knees in a shiny black spiral. “What’s going on, Lor. Why have you returned so quickly and brought a human to the Conservatory?” A bit of the formality left his speech and concern warmed his smoke-colored gaze. His eyes didn’t swirl like Lor’s had when he’d lost control, but they didn’t look human either. Gray, brown and streaks of green combined to create the unusual shade. Or at least unusual from her perspective. This might be the most common color on Ontariese.
She sat in one of the chairs and Lor sat in the other. Lor seemed comfortable with his mentor even though power and authority emanated from Tal. Tori tried not to be intimidated, but everything was still so new.
Lor heard the displeasure in his mentor’s tone even though it was extremely subtle. Only Mystics and their apprentices were allowed in the Conservatory. He really should have taken Tori to the visitor center before he spoke with Tal. “Time is of the essence, sir. Decisions need to be made and a new strategy established.” He quickly told Tal all that had happened.
“I appreciate the update, but what do you want from me? Overlord Lyrik is in charge of the Shadow Assassins.” He finally smiled as he added, “For some reason the Joint Council didn’t trust me to be involved with their integration.”
Tal might have reluctantly accepted his daughter’s choice to join with her former captor, but he obviously maintained a healthy distrust of Shadow Assassins. Lor more than shared his mentor’s opinion and recent events had reinforced his suspicions. “I wouldn’t have bothered you, except—I was hoping Odintar Voss was available.”
“Again, you should have gone directly to the COT. Trey invariably steals my strongest trainers and puts them to work as spies. But then you know that better than most. Odintar was on the day moon last time I spoke with Trey. I don’t know if he’s still there.”
“Then I won’t waste any more of your time.” He scooted his chair back then stood.
“I will always make time for you.” Tal stood as well. “Don’t take my impatience personally. The day has been more hectic than usual.” He looked at Tori and smiled. “Are you aware of your abilities? I keep sensing ripples of Mystic energy coming from you.”
Her lips pressed together nervously then she pushed to her feet. “I’ve been having odd reactions every time I meet an Ontarian.”
“What did you see when you look at Head Master Tal?” He should have realized she’d had one of her visions. No wonder she’d been so quiet.
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