by Ivy Barrett
After a thoughtful pause, he said, “Andrea is analyzing your DNA. Hopefully she’ll be able to shed some light on what’s happening to us.”
“I thought you had it all figured out. We’re mates, destined from conception to find each other.”
He chuckled at her sarcasm. “There is no mistaking the nature of our bond. Still, it would be nice to understand the mechanism fate used to set these events in motion.”
“And if Andrea can’t explain it?”
“Then I’ll accept that it was just meant to be.” He punctuated the sentence with a casual shrug.
It would take a lot more than that for Lorelle to accept all the changes, but she was tired of fighting with herself. She wanted Mal Ton, felt safe and comfortable with him. Why not enjoy the attraction for a while and see what developed?
“Andrea was with someone when she made that recording.” Lorelle stood as well and they put their dishes back into the hamper. “Do you know who it was?”
“His name is Roark Talbot. He’s a scientist. They’ve been working together since she arrived on Stilox.”
Lorelle smiled. “He called her kitten. I suspect they’ve been doing more than working.”
“Indeed they have.” He took the hamper and led her back to the kitchen. “Are you and Andrea close?”
“Not especially. She’s more of an acquaintance than a friend.”
“I’ve known Roark for years. His affection is genuine. He’ll treat her well.” He put the hamper in the sink and made a bland gesture toward the lower level. “I need to speak with Fane for a few minutes. Can you make it back to your bedroom alone or would you like me to—”
“I’ll be fine.” She was a professional soldier. She should be insulted by his concern. So why did she find the protectiveness endearing? And why was she agreeing to wait in her bedroom like a child? This world was making her soft. Soft and hot and wet…
Lorelle felt eyes following her as she crossed the great hall. But each time she glanced at the people loitering in the massive room, they looked away. The mutants were secretive and suspicious. Fane might trust her to some extent, but she was far from winning the acceptance of his people.
The stairs creaked beneath her feet and moonlight illuminated the narrow hallway. She ignored the shivers speeding down her spine and rushed toward the doorway halfway down the corridor.
It was frustrating to be so out of sorts. If she were on Earth, she would know what to do, who to question, and where to search for her sister. As it was, she felt useless and helpless.
She pushed the door to her bedroom inward and automatically checked the shadowed corners before entering the room. Kicking the door shut with the heel of her boot, she took two steps toward the dresser, meaning to light a candle, when someone grabbed her from behind.
The hands were cool against the sides of her head and a presence pushed into her mind. Reacting instinctively, she widened her stance and bent her knees. She slammed her elbow backward, connecting with ribs. A soft grunt was her only reward until the hands slipped away from her head.
Pivoting on the ball of one foot, Lorelle grabbed the assailant’s arm and shoved her shoulder into a lean midsection. She lifted with her legs, flinging the person up and over. The assailant landed with a louder grunt and Lorelle straddled their chest, her fingers grasping their windpipe, ready to squeeze.
“Who the hell are you and why are you in my bedroom?”
“I won’t hurt you.” The woman didn’t sound frightened or even surprised. Some sort of twisting headdress concealed most of her face. Only her glowing amber eyes were visible in the darkness.
“I know you won’t hurt me.” Lorelle tightened her fingers for a second then relaxed her grip. “Answer the questions.”
Mutant fire brightened, expanding until the glow surrounded Lorelle. “Don’t threaten me.”
With no further warning, Lorelle was flung backward. She slammed against the wall and slid to the floor, astonished yet unharmed.
The woman struggled to her feet and candles flickered to life around the room. “I was going to show you the images and leave. I saw no reason for a lengthy conversation.” Candlelight revealed puckered, drooping flesh around her mismatched eyes.
Lorelle met her gaze directly, trying to conceal her apprehension. “What images? Why show them to me?”
“I thought you wanted to find the others. If I was wrong, forgive the intrusion.” She turned toward the door.
“Wait!” Lorelle tried to approach but some unseen power anchored her in place. “I’m sorry I attacked you. You surprised me.” The pressure eased and Lorelle was able to stand.
“I know I make people uncomfortable. I was trying to spare you the—”
“Sarah, what are you doing up here?” Mal Ton asked from the doorway.
“If you want access to my visions, you have to put up with my face.” Bitterness snapped through her tone and she adjusted the fall of her veil to more completely cover her deformity.
“We have all been changed by this war.” He stepped into the room and closed the door. “Some of us are able to conceal the changes and some of us are not. That doesn’t alter the fact that we’re all mutants. What brought you to Lorelle’s room?”
Mal Ton’s easy manner soothed Lorelle. Still, she wasn’t ready to relax entirely.
“I had another vision. This one was harder to understand than the one that led you to her.”
“You’re the one who led to my rescue?” Though Sarah didn’t bother to look at her, Lorelle felt obligated to add, “Thank you.”
“What did you see?” Mal Ton asked.
“The images were disturbing. I’m not honestly sure they pertain.”
“It’s better to be certain.” With infinite care, he placed his hand on Sarah’s shoulder. “Would you please share them with me?”
Lorelle was amazed by his patience. He spoke in a soft, non-confrontational tone and his expression was caring without being condescending. She’d seen flashes of his softer side before, but nothing like this.
“I don’t want to do this twice. It makes more sense to show her.”
Mal Ton dragged the chair away from the antique writing desk. “Have a seat, Lorelle.” He was positioning her with her back to Sarah.
She won’t hurt you, love. You have my word on that.
Accepting the telepathic assurance with a quick nod, Lorelle sat in the chair. Sarah pressed her hands to either side of Lorelle’s head and Lorelle closed her eyes. Sarah pushed into her mind, strong yet clumsy.
Mal Ton passed energy across their link, allowing Lorelle to stabilize the transfer. The images formed in sporadic flashes of light and color. She opened her mind, accepting yet controlling the information.
A blond woman sprawled on a rectangular pad, her legs spread, knees bent. She stroked her breasts with one hand and fucked herself with an alloy dildo. Lorelle recoiled from the image and the desperation surging through the scene. The situation was all too familiar. She already knew what the captives were enduring. How would this help her locate them?
Across the small room, a slender brunette lay naked on a similar mat. She was curled up on her side, arms wrapped around her knees. Her face was turned away, but Lorelle’s pulse thundered through her veins. Brianna’s hair was the same gold-tinted brown. The body type was hard to judge with her curled in on herself. Still, tension gathered with nauseating intensity.
The brunette remained in focus as colorful leaves drifted across the scene. Yellow, red, and gold gradually collected until the other image was completely concealed.
The transfer faded and Sarah’s hands slid to Lorelle’s shoulders. “I don’t understand the significance of the leaves, but they’re definitely part of the vision.”
Before Lorelle could reply, Sarah slipped from the room.
“What did she show you?” Mal Ton moved into her line of sight. His tone was cautious, expression guarded.
“A blonde and a brunette in the throes of… whatever you want to call what the virus does to us.”
“Were either of them Brianna?”
“I’m not sure. The brunette’s hair was the right color, but I couldn’t see her face.”
“Sarah said something about leaves. What did she mean?”
“The vision ended with autumn leaves floating down across the other images. Are there woods nearby? The trees in the park still had green leaves. When will the seasons change in this part of Protaria?”
“Summer is just winding down. We won’t see autumn leaves for several weeks yet.”
“Unless they took her to another part of the world.”
“Before we expand the search to all of Protaria, let’s see if Renée has any clues that might pull this all together.”
Lorelle wasn’t anxious to watch Renée devour Mal Ton with her eyes again, but he was right. They didn’t have the personnel or the time to search the entire world. She tried to maintain her side of the conversation as they made their way back to the data center.
“Are there many like Sarah?” What little she’d been able to see of Sarah’s face lingered in Lorelle’s mind. “She must be so lonely.”
“Are you referring to her appearance or her extraordinary abilities?”
“Both, I guess. If you walk down the street, no one would guess what you’re capable of doing. Are more of the mutants like you or like Sarah?” They reached the subway tunnels and Mal Ton lit their way with the intensity of his gaze.
“There is no specific pattern, but those who recover quickly from the onset illness are less likely to develop mutations. When people realized this, they started prolonging their exposure to the virus in the hopes that they would trigger a useful ability.”
“Are you saying Sarah did that to herself?” Disgust eroded Lorelle’s pity.
“She was mildly clairvoyant before she was exposed to the virus, so chances were better that she’d mutate. Most of the ones who refused the counteragent as long as she did turned feral. She’s damn lucky to be alive.”
“I can’t imagine trying to force my body to mutate.”
He smiled and dimmed his gaze so he could look at her. “Some would argue that recoding your DNA is basically the same thing.”
“I suppose. We’re all playing God to some degree.”
“Sean is her brother.” They continued down the deserted tunnel. “Do you remember Sean?”
“The living shadow who helped you rescue me?”
“We call them specters. Their abilities are extremely rare. Sarah watched her brother’s transformation and hoped she would achieve a similar result.”
“And instead she doomed herself to a life in the shadows.”
“The Protarians have every advantage. Sarah’s sacrifice has benefited our cause more than you know.”
They were silent for a time. Lorelle reevaluated her attitude. Sarah hadn’t been hoping for fortune and fame. She’d selflessly risked her life to benefit the greater good.
Renée sauntered across the data center as they entered a short time later. After launching a resentful glower at Lorelle, she turned her admiring gaze on Mal Ton. “I was about to come find you.” She slipped her arm around his and slowly licked her lips.
He unwound her arm before he spoke. “What were you able to learn?”
“I prioritized the locations according to probability.”
“Could any of the locations be associated with autumn leaves?”
Her eyes widened and she glanced at Lorelle. “Why do you ask?”
“Sarah had another vision.”
“Why did you bother me if you had Sarah working on the case?” She folded her arms across her chest and pressed her lips into a petulant frown.
“Her vision was inconclusive. Hopefully what you learned can verify what we suspect and pinpoint a location.”
“Mistress Effie Merautta owns a chain of sexual training centers. Each ‘den’ is named after a season and indicates the various stages of a relationship.” Renée rattled off the information with feigned indifference while her gaze traveled the length of Mal Ton’s tall form.
“Given the images in Sarah’s vision,” he said thoughtfully, “it would seem we need the location of Mistress Effie’s Autumn Den.”
Chapter Eight
Keller leaned his elbows on his desktop and watched Cassie move about her lab. Tapping into security surveillance had been simple for someone with his clearance level. If anyone noticed the unauthorized access, he would claim he was following up on an anonymous threat. No one could blame him for verifying the well-being of the chancellor’s daughter.
Her grace was mesmerizing, her beauty undeniable. Her conservative clothes couldn’t hide her lush figure and her severe hairstyle only accented her features’ allure. He imagined those long-fingered hands unfastening his pants and freeing his aching cock. She’d slip to her knees in front of him and part those soft pink lips as she sucked him into her mouth.
Lust pounded through his blood and fired his imagination. He’d pictured her naked on every horizontal surface in his office and in her lab. He’d imagined fucking her against the wall and on the floor. His fantasies had featured her so often he was running out of positions and variations. He rubbed his erection through his pants, not caring if a random surveillance check caught him touching himself. They couldn’t see what was on his vidscreen, so let them laugh!
An interrupt signal chimed and Keller reached for his com console. The signal sounded again and he realized it was coming from Cassie’s laboratory. She turned from her workstation and checked the security screen. After releasing the lock, she stood back and waited for her visitor to enter.
Her father strolled into the lab and kissed her cheeks. “You were supposed to check in this morning. I was worried about you.”
“You could have commed me. I always answer for you.”
Keller narrowed his gaze on the screen. Countless times he’d been forwarded right to her message center. She obviously offered him no similar pledge. Resentment battled with desire. He hated her. He wanted her. He hated himself for wanting her so badly.
“Has there been any progress?” the chancellor asked.
“The newest adjustments increased the success rate from seventy-one to eighty-three percent. As soon as I get three consecutive simulations in the nineties I’ll ask for volunteers.”
“I told you I have volunteers lined up already. Won’t actual testing be more accurate than simulations?”
“And I told you I’m not willing to risk volunteer testing until the simulations are at least ninety percent.” She crossed her arms over her chest and shook her head. The obvious chastisement in her gaze made Keller bristle. Only Cassandra could get away with criticizing Chancellor Howyn. Everyone else had to bow their heads and agree. They were at the mercy of his fickle approval.
Howyn stared into her eyes, his expression mutinous. Keller expected him to object, to turn his notorious temper on his beloved daughter. Instead he broke into a reluctant smile. “You have until the end of the week to get your percentages where you want them.”
She didn’t argue. “I’ll keep you informed of my progress.”
“I know you will.”
Keller released the connection and turned off his vidscreen. What the hell was she working on? He’d been unable to learn the specifics of her current project. No one seemed to know what she was trying to accomplish. Cassie operated outside the current paradigm. She answered only to her father.
His private audiocom vibrated in his pocket. He removed the tiny device and glanced at the narrow display. General Bryson? How odd. He pushed the transceiver into his ear. “This better be important.”
“I wouldn’t have risked the connection if it weren’t. We had a situation at site number two. Our guests had to be relocated.”
“What sort of situation?”
“I’d rather meet so I can exp
lain in detail.”
Keller heaved a frustrated sigh. “Usual place. Give me an hour.”
* * *
“Renée was remarkably thorough,” Fane muttered, mischief gleaming in his eyes. “You’d think she was trying to impress someone.”
“That’s not funny.” Mal Ton crossed his arms over his chest and scowled at his longtime friend.
“According to this report, both the Autumn and Winter Dens are by invitation only. Not even their addresses are available to the public. We have six likely locations, but time is ticking away.”
“So how do we get an invitation?” Lorelle asked.
“This is a lot more complicated than sneaking into a condemned building in Old Towne,” Fane told her. “Mistress Effie’s main club is in the center of the pleasure district. If a Stilox warrior and a human female stroll in and start asking about the Autumn Den, it’s going to draw all sorts of attention.”
“Mal Ton can shift into whatever we need him to be.”
He smiled at her boast. She’d only actually seen him shift once. Still, he appreciated her vote of confidence.
“What about you?” Fane moved out from behind his desk. “You and Mal Ton have certainly spent enough time together. Have you picked up any of his abilities?”
“I don’t think so.” Her violet gaze darted to Mal Ton for a moment before she looked back at Fane. “Unless you count the language thing.”
“A full body shift takes years of practice to master,” Mal Ton pointed out. “Maybe she could alter her natural form enough to no long appear human.”
“How do I go about that?”
Mal Ton thought for a moment then formed an image in his mind. “The people of Gehinna are warlike. They’re popular mercenaries, yet their females are known for their passionate natures. Most important, they look very much like humans, except for their coloring.” Turning to Lorelle, he pushed his fingers into her hair and lightly circled her temple with his thumb. “Do you see?”
She closed her eyes, accepting the image with absolute trust. Her openness sent warmth swirling through his chest. His mate. She was extraordinary. And it had only taken three hundred years to find her. He smiled and passed affection across their link. He would protect her and surround her with—