The sensuous curve of her lips captivated him as they formed a smile. “You’re probably right. If I’d known I was going to break my leg, I might not have climbed up on that plateau, and I never would’ve found what I was searching for.”
“Why were you there?” He didn’t expect to receive a straight answer, but he asked her anyway. “I can’t help wondering…”
She leaned back against the pillows. “I was trying to find proof that primitive peoples have been purposely infected with the Scorillian plague.”
“Why would anyone do that?” Abuti asked.
“Because invading a planet to wrest it from its indigenous life-forms is messy and expensive,” Sula replied. “Mass extinction by a plague that leaves nothing behind except dust is much easier—something I witnessed firsthand on a planet called Ecos. How I managed to survive, I’ll probably never know.”
Aidan’s eyes widened as comprehension struck. “You were the only survivor?”
“As far as I could tell,” she said with a slow nod. “Only me. My boyfriend, Raj Arya, was among the first to die.”
“And you’re afraid whoever was responsible wants to shut you up permanently?” he asked as more pieces of the puzzle slid into place.
She nodded. “They’ve tried once already. While I was shopping for supplies in Damenk, a Terran man took a couple of shots at me. I managed to lose him in the crowd, and I’ve been in the mountains ever since, but now that I’m back in the city…”
“They might try again?”
“I’m afraid so,” she replied. “I should’ve told you sooner. Should’ve known you could be trusted.” Long dark lashes fanned out over her cheeks as she lowered her gaze, then slowly rose to frame eyes that swam with tears as she looked up at him. “What future do you foretell for me?”
“I see nothing of your future,” he replied. “Not the good or the bad. Just…nothing.”
She smiled again. “I’m so glad. Knowing the answer might make me despair or become overconfident, and I refuse to allow anything, especially my own complacency, to prevent me from doing my utmost to bring these atrocities to light and ensure that they never happen again.”
“You know, Aidan,” Abuti drawled, “if you can’t see her future, she’d be the perfect mate for you.”
In a few short moments, he’d all but forgotten that he and Sula weren’t alone. And now they’d both revealed their deepest, darkest secrets with a Norludian in attendance.
He was about to caution her, but Qinta got there ahead of him. “If you breathe one single, solitary word of this to anyone, Abuti, so help me, I’ll—”
Abuti drew back, waving her arms in protest. “Are you kidding me? No freakin’ way would I ever tell anyone about this! I’ve never been on a secret mission before, especially with a guy who can see into the future and fly—that is, if I understood you correctly. This is so cool.” Her eyes alight with enthusiasm, she asked, “What’s our next move?”
“Our next move?” Aidan snorted. “You girls are in enough danger simply from being in this house. You will not be going on any missions, secret or otherwise.”
Qinta burst out laughing. “You know what they say, keep your friends close and your enemies closer. The only way to keep an eye on Abuti and make sure she doesn’t tell everyone in the quadrant what you’re doing is to take her with you.” Her gaze darted back and forth between him and Sula. “When do we start?”
* * *
Sula would never have guessed that finding willing cohorts would be so easy. There was just one problem. “Um, when I’m able to walk again?”
Abuti’s expression of frank dismay nearly made Sula burst out laughing.
“We’ve got to get you on your feet, like, tomorrow,” the Norludian girl declared.
“I don’t think so,” Aidan said. “It’ll be several weeks before she can walk on a smooth surface. Climbing mountains will have to wait a while longer.”
“So, you found what you were looking for in the mountains, huh?” Once again, Qinta displayed an immediate and rather uncanny grasp of the situation. “What was it?”
Sula didn’t bother to disclaim. “A cave with drawings on the walls and a few primitive tools. Right here on Rhylos.”
Qinta whistled softly. “You think that’s what happened here? The indigenous people were wiped out by the Scorillian plague?”
“That or some other disease,” Sula replied. “While it’s true that a mass extinction could’ve occurred naturally, after what I saw on Ecos, I have some serious doubts.”
“Terra Minor has a similar history,” Aidan mused. “Claimed by a consortium and then sold off in parcels after being rendered habitable. Makes you wonder what that rendering entailed, doesn’t it?”
“I’m guessing it involved removing every trace of the previous inhabitants and their culture,” Sula said. “Even if the Rhylosian natives died out without any help from the plague, given what we found, they appear to have been cave dwellers. I’ve explored dozens of habitable caves, and that’s the only one that contained any artifacts whatsoever. I’m no archaeologist, but finding evidence only in one relatively inaccessible cave strikes me as highly unlikely.”
Aidan nodded. “Evidence you wouldn’t have found if you hadn’t fallen through that crack in the plateau, and a cave I wouldn’t have found if I hadn’t had a vision and been able to fly like one of the condors.”
“Kinda makes you believe in fate, doesn’t it?” Abuti remarked. “Which means you two obviously belong together.” Rubbing her hands together, she cackled with glee. “A dangerous secret mission and a sizzling romance. It just doesn’t get any better than that.”
“One thing I don’t understand, though,” Qinta began. “You were on a planet—Ecos, you said—and everyone died of the plague except you. The vaccine for that disease has been around for a long time. The people of Ecos obviously wouldn’t have been vaccinated, but I can’t believe Raj wouldn’t have been.”
“Me neither.” Sula didn’t dare look Aidan in the eyes to gauge his reaction to the “sizzling romance” comment, and she was thankful to Qinta for providing a diversion. “I did some research after escaping from Ecos. They had a really tough time developing a vaccine, because it took years to figure out how to culture the causative agent. Before that, the spread of the disease could only be controlled by the use of very strict isolation protocols. What if someone has developed a new strain that will even kill those who have immunity to the old one?”
“If so, that would be enough to get them locked up for the rest of their natural lives. Plus, you may have the potential to be the source of a new vaccine.” Aidan’s calm tone took on a note of dismay as he added, “And someone is trying to kill you—the one being in the known galaxy with a natural immunity to a new strain of the most dreaded disease in history.”
“I’m also the only witness to an act of planetary genocide,” Sula said. “Which makes me wonder why they only sent one guy after me. Considering what’s at stake, I’d have sent an army.”
“Scary stuff.” Qinta shuddered. “I feel like I should disappear for good.”
“None of that, now,” Abuti chided. “We must think positively. After all, they don’t know we know what they’re up to.” She stuck a contemplative fingertip onto her chin, then pulled it off with a loud pop. “Actually, the more people who know about this, the better. I mean, they can’t kill all of us, can they?”
Aidan barked out a laugh. “After destroying the entire population of at least one planet—and possibly three, if you include Terra Minor—I doubt they’d hesitate to drop a bomb on this house.”
“Okay, okay,” Abuti said grudgingly. “So secrecy really is important.” She turned to Sula. “Any idea who these someones might be?”
“Maybe,” Sula replied. “Raj and I were sent to Ecos by the anthropology department of Dalb University with the intention
of studying the people and their culture. My doctorate advisor, Professor Dalb, is the one who suggested us for the project, but we weren’t the only candidates. Several other faculty members had a say in the decision, and they certainly knew where we were going.”
“Professor Dalb of Dalb University?” Qinta echoed. “What, does he own it or something?”
Sula smiled. “You’d think that, wouldn’t you? Granted, he is a distant relative of the university’s founder, but he isn’t even a department head, much less the chancellor.”
“So whoever’s in charge may or may not be the bad guy,” Aidan said. “Anyone who knew of your mission could’ve infected you and let you go to Ecos as carriers of the disease.”
Sula didn’t have to think long before making the obvious connection. “Raj and I both received vaccinations and immunological boosters. We could’ve been injected with the disease then, but the incubation period for the plague is pretty short. We were in space for weeks before we reached Ecos. We should’ve been dead before our ship ever landed.”
Aidan was silent for a moment, his eyes narrow with evident concentration. “What if the germ was encapsulated in such a way that it wouldn’t be released into your system until after you were on the planet?” He met her gaze at last, albeit with an ominous furrowing of his brow. “And maybe your encapsulated germs haven’t been released yet.”
An icy chill gripped her heart and then seeped into her bones. “Meaning I might still be a carrier?”
“Possibly,” he replied. “We ought to run a scan on you. There’s a medscanner at the orphanage—a carryover from the days when the guys scanned their clients before each session.”
Sula didn’t need to ask why. Anyone working in a brothel would want to be very sure a client wasn’t going to infect him with something nasty, although she doubted they’d ever been at risk of contracting such a horrible disease.
“But we can wait until tomorrow to do that,” he went on. “No need to rush over there tonight.”
“Don’t you want to know before you’re exposed to the plague?”
“Considering how long you’ve gone without dying or infecting anyone, my money is on the immunity theory, which would make you very special indeed.” His smile and the touch of his hand drove the cold from her body, immediately replacing it with soothing warmth. “Not that you need any help in that respect.”
Snickering, Abuti gave Qinta a nudge. “Told you they were meant for each other.”
“Oh, come on,” Qinta scoffed. “Love at first sight or people destined for one another… That crap never happens in real life.”
“Oh yes it does!” Abuti insisted. “Especially with Zetithians. It’s a scent thing.” Folding her arms in a rather smug manner, she aimed a nod toward their host. “Isn’t that right, Aidan?”
Aidan looked as though he wanted to fade into the woodwork the way Qinta had done. “There’s a little more to it,” he mumbled. “And the less said about that the better.”
Apparently, Abuti had no intention of abandoning the subject. “But it’s still very important. You guys can’t get it up for a woman who doesn’t smell right.”
Sula’s burning cheeks reminded her that despite having learned about Zetithian mating behaviors during the course of her studies, she’d never expected to meet a Zetithian man, let alone become involved with one. At least not to the point where her scent mattered.
She wasn’t sure she was involved with one now.
“While that may be true, it isn’t an appropriate topic for young girls to discuss, especially when it causes embarrassment to a guest in my house.” The authoritative note in Aidan’s voice seemed at odds with his previous mumblings. However, Sula doubted silencing Abuti would be that easy.
Surprisingly, Abuti’s apology was swift and unquestionably heartfelt. “Sorry, Aidan. But you can’t blame me for getting carried away by so much excitement. Maybe we need to get out more often.”
“Yeah, right,” he drawled. “The thought of turning you girls loose on an unsuspecting public is one of Onca’s worst nightmares.”
“I know,” Abuti said with a roll of her bulbous eyes. “And I can’t blame him for that.” She turned to Sula. “We were always in trouble before Onca and Kim took us in.” Sighing, she continued, “I should try to remember that. It’s hard, though. Life in an orphanage may be safer than living on the street, but it can be kinda boring sometimes.”
“So is taking care of a woman with a broken leg,” Sula said. “I doubt there’ll be much excitement for a while yet.”
“Maybe so, but at least there’s a chance.” Abuti’s eyes lit up. “I mean, what if that dude comes gunning for you again? That would be very exciting.”
Sula managed to suppress a shudder. “I’m sure it would be. However, I hope you’ll pardon me if I don’t wish for it.”
“Oh, no worries there,” the Norludian girl assured her. “Qinta and I can protect you.” She nodded toward Aidan. “He’s not bad in a fight, either. Don’t let that pretty face fool you. He can handle a sword with the best of them, and he’s a damn fine shot with a pulse pistol.”
Sula doubted that demonstrations of that type were part of the orphanage’s curriculum. “How can you possibly know that?”
Abuti giggled. “I’ve met his parents. Trust me, with him around, you’ll be perfectly safe.”
Chapter 11
Aidan couldn’t argue with Abuti on that score. As a child growing up with a bounty on his head simply for being a Zetithian male, he had been trained in every form of combat the adults aboard the Jolly Roger had ever heard of. Even though that threat no longer existed, he saw no reason to allow his hard-earned skills to fade from disuse.
“I’ve also seen him practicing with Onca,” Abuti went on. “Onca’s no slouch, but Aidan is nearly always the winner. Doesn’t matter whether they’re using swords, pistols, or their bare hands. He’s awesome.”
“Guess that’s why he has such an incredible body,” Sula muttered.
“I heard that,” Abuti shouted. “And I couldn’t agree more.”
Aidan flapped his hands at the two girls. “Enough! You two run along now. It’s way past your bedtime.”
Abuti stuck out her tongue. “Sure thing, Dad.”
“Don’t give me that crap,” he warned. “And don’t make me sorry I hired you.”
“For the record, she’s the one who did the hiring,” Abuti said, pointing toward Sula. “You can’t fire us.”
“Yeah, well, keep it up, and she might decide to fire you herself.” Aidan hadn’t had much practice trying to out-talk a Norludian—in fact, he was fairly certain it was impossible—but he suspected that Abuti was better than most when it came to talking someone to death.
“All right, all right, all right,” Abuti grumbled. “You’re no fun at all.”
“I’m as much fun as the next guy,” Aidan snapped. “Just not right now. This has been a very long day.”
“Yeah,” Abuti said with a sneer. “All that excitement must really take its toll on an old dude like you.”
Aidan drew himself up to his full height and pointed imperiously toward the hall. “Bed. Now.”
“Don’t worry.” Qinta curled an arm around Abuti’s bony shoulders and steered her through the doorway. “We’re leaving.”
Once the two girls were out of earshot, Sula giggled. “Funny how you can go from awesome to old dude practically in one breath.”
“That’s a Norludian for you. But then, you already knew that.”
“I suppose I did, although it’s been a while since I dealt with one. They never cease to amuse.”
Aidan grimaced. “Amuse isn’t the word I would choose. I’ve always found Norludians to be more annoying than funny.”
“That one sure knows how to pull your chain.”
“I’ll grant her that. She’s a little eas
ier to take when she’s part of a larger group. This is the first time I’ve ever gone one-on-one with her.”
“A formidable opponent, to be sure.”
“She is that.” Having exhausted the subject of Abuti, Aidan was at a loss for further conversation, and the awkwardness between them returned. “Guess I’ll say good night.” He hesitated before adding, “I’ve never needed this feature before, but the house is equipped with a voice-activated comsystem. Somehow or other, it identifies everyone and knows where they’re located. Calling out a name will open a link between the two rooms.”
“That’s good to know. I wouldn’t want to disturb you unnecessarily.”
Meaning she probably wouldn’t be calling for him during the night.
Damn.
He reminded himself that this was only the first night of many she would spend beneath his roof. On that cheery note, he made sure she was warm and comfortable before taking himself off to bed.
He hadn’t been asleep long before wild, bizarre, outrageous dreams disturbed his slumber. Flying through the mountains, still searching for that one particular spot where Sula fell. Flying so high that his wings became scorched by the sun. Condors pecking at bodies that crumbled into dust. Predatory ships ripping great rifts in the atmosphere. Strange beings dying all around him while he was helpless to prevent their demise.
He awoke drenched in sweat, his bed sheets torn to shreds, presumably by his own fangs. He was alone in the room, yet the air around him reverberated with cries of anguish.
He rose from his bed, shaking the dregs of sleep from his mind and the tattered sheets from his body. Pausing to listen to the stillness, he heard only the sounds he should’ve heard in the middle of the night. The creak of timbers, the settling of the floorboards beneath his feet—and then a soft moan.
He stole from his room, his bare feet making no sound as he passed through the foyer and into the west wing. Sula’s room was dark, but the door stood open. Halting at the threshold, he listened once again and heard nothing except her deep, even breathing—until her respirations were interrupted by a gasp.
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