by Lori Foster
“A break?”
Hell. Now her attitude was more heated than his own. “That’s right.” Mallet tried to moderate his tone. “Cut me some slack. Ease up. Stop pushing me.”
“You’re the one pushing!”
Being reasonable now wasn’t easy. “No, I’m doing the best I can, in the situation you put me in. And I’m telling you right now, if only one of us can be in charge, well then, sorry, sugar, but it’s going to be me.”
That way, he’d know for certain she couldn’t order Hauk to transport her away from him. She couldn’t leave him.
She couldn’t endanger herself.
Though she said nothing, her golden eyes burned with hurt and offense.
“He’ll still be with you, Kayli. You’ll still talk to him and order him and do … whatever it is you do with him. I’ll just have the final say.”
“That’s not good enough.”
Thanks to years of training, and because he knew this was so important to her, Mallet was able rein in his temper. “Look, I promise that whenever possible, you’ll have the last word. If I feel I need to countermand your decision, I’ll talk to you about it first.”
When that didn’t convince her, Mallet tried yet another tack. “I really do need your help with the warriors. In that, you’d be the one in charge.”
Curiosity edged in around her vibrating anger. “How so?”
At least she sounded interested, giving Mallet hope for a peaceful resolution.
“What I’d like is to train with you, and then the two of us can work with the rest of your army. We need to do this at Mach speed, and I have a feeling you’re a fast learner. Since everyone learns in a different way, I’ll trust you to know the best method for instructing the others.”
Now he had her. Her eyes gleamed with the challenge. “I suppose that might work.”
“I also want the men involved, if they want to be involved. We’ll let some of the AMAs help us train, too. In record time, I need to bring you all up to speed on unarmed tactics.”
“When would we start?” Excitement over the challenge helped to drown out some of her upset.
Relieved, Mallet shrugged. “That’s up to you. I watched some fighting in the media room, but it doesn’t give me the whole picture. I’m unfamiliar with what you and the others already know. I’m unfamiliar with your routines. I don’t know anyone, and they don’t know me.” He took her hands in his. “I need you in charge, Kayli, so that I can make an impact.”
She looked hopeful, and he hated that he’d brought her to that.
“Think about it, sugar. To your colony, you’ll still be the Claviger, and in reality you will be in charge of the troops.” He scooted her resistant body closer to his, relishing the feel of womanly curves and softness. “You’ll also have me. Now isn’t that enough?”
In a move that he chose to see as surrender, she dropped her forehead to his sternum. Mallet wasn’t sure, but she might have been snickering at him.
“Please tell me that’s a yes.”
She swallowed, and when she looked at him, she appeared resigned. “I admit that you make it all sound good. But I didn’t approach you blind. Before choosing you, I watched many of your fights.”
“Yeah?” He liked the idea of her studying him at what he did best.
She gave a slow nod. “You’re going to take over. Everything. Why not just admit it now?”
Damn, she had him pegged. “Maybe just a little.” Mallet kissed the top of her head. “But I promise to try to defer to you, and I swear to never, ever take your opinions lightly.”
She remained unconvinced, but said, “I suppose that for now it will have to be enough.”
For now? Mallet let that go. He’d pushed her enough for one day. “So what do you say, woman? Can we get this union business under way?”
She shook her head at him, and this time there was no mistaking her humor. “Did Hauk, by chance, explain to you any part of what happens with a union?”
“He didn’t go into detail, no. We had a lot of other stuff to discuss.”
“I see.” She cleared her throat. “Well, do you understand that once we’re joined in union, we’re expected to share our lives?”
“Yeah.”
“In all ways.”
“Yeah.” Sounded good to him. He’d enjoy keeping her close at hand.
That flush of color tinted her skin again, and she looked away. “Physically, too, I mean.”
Oh yeah. He put his forehead to hers and spoke low. “Trust me, babe, making love to you won’t be a hardship.” Then something occurred to him, and he straightened. “Unless … I’m not expected to do that with your busybody mother and the council looking on, am I?”
Horrified by just the thought, she gasped. “No!”
“Thank God.” In some things, he was an exhibitionist. But definitely not in the sack.
She shoved him in the shoulder. “The problem is that we’re expected to celebrate our union right after the council approves.”
“Celebrate? Like a party?” Or maybe a reception, the way they do at weddings.
She glared at him so hotly, her meaning sank in.
“Ohhhh, celebrate. I get ya.” Hell yeah. He’d called lovemaking many things, but never a celebration. Come to think of it, though, the word suited, especially if he was celebrating with Kayli. “Right after, you say?”
“Yes. We exchange a pledge, the council approves, and we are dismissed to … to …”
“Consummate?” Mallet provided, trying to help her out.
“Yes.”
The old John Henry sat up and took note of that. “No kidding? So it’d happen like … now? I mean, as soon as we do the whole kiss thing?”
She nodded.
Damn. He’d have to face the council with a boner if he didn’t get himself under control. Being more noble than he ever thought possible, Mallet said, “Then how about we ask for a short reprieve? Much as I’m hankering to get you under me, I don’t want to rush through it, so I think we need to deal with the whole sacrifice issue first.”
He expected Kayli to welcome the reprieve, but instead, she appeared equal parts disheartened, relieved, and insulted.
She shrugged. “I agree. It’s best if we prioritize. I’ll explain to the council that we’d like to settle the most immediate threat first. The fact that you don’t want to procreate until the matter is settled makes it a moot point anyway.”
“How so?”
“Every available male is encouraged to join in union and procreate to help strengthen the ranks of our colony. Since you announced to everyone that you wanted the matter of the sacrifices settled first, waiting shouldn’t be an issue.”
In other words, they’d planned to use him as a brood mare. “Gee, thanks.”
She looked beyond him to her mother and the Council Mavens, distracted by duty. “You have yet to tell me what your plan might be.”
Mallet gathered her to his side. “How about we head back over to the council and your mother, and I’ll explain it all at once to save some time. What do you think?”
“And the union?”
He started her on her way, smiling at the thought. “It’s on the agenda, babe, trust me. First opportunity, consider it done.”
THEY wanted to postpone the union?
Raemay had a difficult time disguising her joy, but after Michael’s dominant display, this was better than she could have imagined. She agreed with Michael and Kayli, of course, and praised them for their sense of responsibility and duty to the colony.
Priorities, she told them. They all had them.
Now her priority would be finding a way to sabotage the union so that it never happened. Michael had unwittingly given her the tools, and Kayli would benefit from her scheme.
She’d make the most of the opportunity. She had to. Her future depended on it.
CHAPTER 9
AT the edge of a high ridge, the wind in his hair, Valder Wildoon sat atop his sleek orbiter, the
obsolete engine purring like a pleased cat as he surveyed the neighboring colony below.
Just yesterday, he’d spoken with Kaimani, the twenty-year-old woman they’d last taken prisoner. He grinned. Labeling Kaimani a prisoner was a running jest among his people, because no woman was treated poorly under his domain.
Certainly no woman would ever be sacrificed to an enemy.
Like the rest of his people, Kaimani had smiled before him, unafraid of him, happy and carefree despite his reputation as a scofflaw. He kept order through strict discipline, but he was not harsh to his people.
Just the opposite. Under his studious care, they flourished.
Not that Raemay would ever accept that. Evil bitch. His skull burned just thinking of her and the spell she’d woven around him. She’d drawn him in, pretending to be thrilled by his wild rejection to conformity, his daring reputation—only to leave him, reducing him to a heartsick fool.
For years he’d worried for her, searched for her. When, from a reliable source, he’d finally found her location, he’d wanted to go to her, to win her love all over again.
But he was older, wiser. He’d asked around, at the Cosmos Confederation, at other colonies. Raemay had a reputation as an iron-willed ruler. Within the borders of her own colony, she was safe.
He learned that she was happy, that she had married and had children.
He’d harbored his love for decades, but now that love had turned to hostility.
He knew where she was, though he’d yet to see her. But he wouldn’t give up. Never. He’d find her. He’d have her again.
On his terms this time.
She could continue to hide while offering virgins for his men. It was a bounty he wouldn’t refuse, not when they ran short on women but high on lust. He’d take and take, and then, when he’d reduced the ranks of her colony, he would storm the lands until he uncovered the rock that shielded her.
He’d have his revenge.
Thinking about it set his heart thundering, his loins burning. He could almost feel her velvety skin, the silken texture of her hair, the warmth of her catchy little breaths while she … No.
He wouldn’t indulge those fantasies.
She had changed, aged, grown into a woman he didn’t know, a woman he no longer loved.
For now, he’d only bide his time while planning, advancing, gaining ground.
Kaimani was happy with the man who’d claimed her. She had bragged to Valder that she was already with child. It pleased him, especially since she’d wanted him first.
He’d had to disappoint her with his rejection, of course. The wants and needs of his men always took priority over his own.
And besides, for what he ultimately wanted, Kaimani wouldn’t do. So she’d gone with another, and now she claimed to be happier than she’d ever imagined being.
It seemed that Raemay’s rule hadn’t served her any more than it had served him.
Soon, Raemay’s rule would end.
EVEN though he knew that Kayli would miss him if he didn’t return soon, Mallet lingered. Hours ago, he’d snuck out with Hauk’s help, pretending that he wanted to explore the lands. And they were beautiful lands, no doubt about it. Fields and valleys, hills and lakes. Forests of thick trees and wildflowers everywhere.
Never had he seen anything so … surreal. It was like a painting, or a vision from a song.
At exactly two P.M., just as Hauk had claimed, it rained. Not a vicious thunderstorm, but a heavy, drenching rain that kept streams full and watered all the lush foliage.
Mallet didn’t mind getting wet.
He turned his face up to the sky and let the water run over him. It felt good, being free like this to think, to just be a man.
Life felt good. Having his strength back, standing on his own, felt better than good.
But being with Kayli felt … incredible.
He didn’t want to hurt her, but he also didn’t want to sit idly by and allow her to be hurt by others. Interfering with her mother … well, that’d surely lead to trouble. Relatives were always a pain in the ass. But he had to do something. When he looked at Raemay, he saw that she was consumed by the strangest animosity toward Kayli.
She was a darling girl, a woman to be proud of, so why would her mother feel that way?
Denying her company on this little excursion wouldn’t sit well with Kayli, either. But having her pissed was preferable to risking her safety.
He walked a long time in the direction Hauk had indicated. On the media viewer he’d seen the path, so he felt pretty sure of his route. Along the way he saw creatures unfamiliar to him, but Hauk had assured him he wouldn’t run into anything too dangerous as long as he didn’t venture into the woods.
And if he did go into those thick, dark woods, according to Hauk the most treacherous things he’d find there were … birds.
Really fat, ugly birds, given what he’d seen on the media viewer. Not the type to fly overhead, but some strange breed that sat in trees and swooped down on prey, big or small, tearing with razor-sharp beaks and long claws.
Sounded pretty gross to Mallet, but he’d hidden his revulsion; he wasn’t a wuss to start worrying about feathered fiends, even the futuristic kind.
After a time, the rain let up and the sun came back out, and that, too, felt pretty damn good. At the top of a rise, Mallet stopped and, going low over rock outcroppings, crept to the edge until he could see to the valley below.
A sacrifice had been left there, all alone and vulnerable to danger.
She was a necessary tool to his overall plan.
Serene and poised, she looked lovely waiting there on a smooth boulder, her long, dark brown hair blowing in the breeze, her hands folded in her lap. She wore a diaphanous gown that reminded him of the expensive lingerie of his own time.
A transport—sort of like a floating car minus the rubber wheels—had taken her out to the valley and left her there to await her fate. Mallet thought of the women who had come before her, the fear they might have experienced, what they’d thought about while waiting.
Fury tightened his muscles.
He’d waited so long that his clothes had nearly dried when he heard the rumble of an engine, a foreign sound in the smooth-gliding solar vehicles of the colony. A big blond dude, dressed in an open-necked shirt and black pants, rode in fast and hard. He spun his purring vehicle in a tight circle around the sacrifice.
She barely moved.
The intruder grinned. He looked to be in his midforties, but still solid in the way of a man used to being physical.
A man in his prime.
Behind him, several other large men rode in on different forms of transport, just as fast but without the throaty growl of the leader’s vehicle. They all circled their prey; they all looked pleased.
Mallet’s eyes narrowed. Fucking perfect.
When the leader again circled, Mallet surveyed the guy’s transportation. It was unlike anything he’d ever seen, in his own time or since arriving here. It didn’t touch the ground, but it had more muscle to it than the other vehicles he’d seen.
It was louder, faster, showier.
He’d have to ask Kayli about it … His attention went back to the sacrifice when the leader asked, “What is your name?”
She said without inflection, “I am Lydina.”
“You will come with me now, Lydina,” he ordered, indicating that she should climb onto his transport.
Without a word, she climbed onto the back of the machine, put her arms around the man, and rested her head on his back.
The engine revved, but before leaving, he leaned down and dropped a package on the boulder where the sacrifice had waited. Then, in a blink, he and the others flew away, darting into the woods, shielding them from Mallet’s sight.
Not being an idiot, Mallet waited several more minutes before standing and dusting himself off. He could hear nothing, and trusted that they were completely out of range.
He looked over the edge of the rise and decided
that, despite the recent rain, it was navigable.
“Going somewhere?”
Oh hell. He recognized that annoyed female voice. Playing it casual, amused at her stealth, he shrugged and smiled as he pivoted to face Kayli. She stood there, feet braced apart, frown fierce, arms folded under her breasts.
“Yeah. I was.” He put his hands on his hips. “I didn’t hear you ride up.”
She relaxed her stance enough to wave a hand toward a floating vehicle. “I rode my aircycle.” At his questioning look, she said, “It’s silent, but fast enough to suit a trip out here.”
Even as Mallet noticed, and regretted, the fine tension in her lithe little bod, he said, “Our intruder rode something noisier.” He hadn’t wanted to upset her again, but she’d have to learn that he needed his space—especially when doing something he considered too dangerous for her.
“An orbiter.” She didn’t look at him as she neared the edge of the hill and peered over. “I’ve seen them, but never ridden one. Few people still have them since most colonies, including ours, have forbidden them.” Her brows pinched down as she moved farther away from him. “Not only are they against eco-friendly codes, they assault the ears and disrupt everyday life.”
Mallet said, “Huh.” Truthfully, he thought it was pretty damned cool. Sort of like a spaced-out Harley. But given her contempt when she described the orbiter, he decided it was better not to admit that to her. “He also left behind a package.”
Kayli, still stiff with irritation, looked toward the boulder where the sacrifice had waited. In a low murmur, she said, “He’s never done that before.”
“Maybe he sensed something this time. Want to go see what it is?”
“I intend to, yes.” Her arms crossed again. The sunshine was bright here, glistening on her pale hair and making her golden eyes glow. “You know the rules, Michael. My mother has declared that no one is to witness the exchange.”
“I’m not much for rules.” Especially when he didn’t understand why they were made in the first place. How the hell could they fight an enemy if they refused to ever confront him, or even lay eyes on him?
“Your being here could have disrupted things if you were spotted.”