Skhye Moncrief - [Feral 01]

by Feral Fascinations (lit)

  Goro whirled to face her, tucking the torch back beneath his coat.

  And the were-assassins were dust.

  At least, he’s not pointing that death stick at me. She teetered back, caught herself with two steps, and shoved against a solid wall. “You aren’t going to kill Jake are you?” Staring at the floor was better than watching his stoic expression.

  “No.”

  Blessed Devros.

  Her knees shook.

  Her gaze slid to his. “You should have confided in me with the plan,” she spoke to avoid revealing anything of his plan to the crew through mindspeak.

  He reached out one muscular hand as if to touch her.

  As if he still held the title of friend. She stepped away from the approaching palm. “No friend puts a friend through that kind of torture.”

  His hand fell back to his side. “I’m sorry, Kindrist. I hope you can bring yourself to understand my objective was to protect your child and our people.”

  My people equated to one man in Detention. Time to release Jake. “Then I hope you can understand how long it will take for you to regain my trust after your failure to show me equal respect.” She walked away.

  Let the commander choose to torch me or not. A psychic mercenary could only believe a soul mate.

  * * * *

  With little else to do but stand around trying not to think about the discomfort in having his hands locked behind his back, Jake paced the barren cell. Talk about down on luck. I don’t even get to die with my pants on.

  Where was Kindrist? Odds were against the crew hurting her until the baby was born. Unless Goro worked for Voldon. Why not? Paul did. And where did Paul stand with his soul mate now?

  A strange movement flashed in his periphery.

  He turned to the detention-area’s entrance.

  Something had moved. But what? Or maybe the lighting flickered. He studied the light strips set into the ceiling.

  Nothing different. His gaze slid back to the door.

  The luminous barrier had vanished!

  Why? He hadn’t touched the light because everyone else avoided it. But what if this was some sneaky way to lure him over to where he would get zapped like a moth in a bug light when a hidden person turned the energy back on? Jake Straightarrow might be royally screwed. But he’s not stupid.

  Something moved beyond the door.

  A black-haired Kindrist.

  She bullied into the detention area holding black leather clothes, wearing the old familiar mercenary mask.

  “Don’t tell me we’re off to play poker.” He tried not to laugh. But the whole kissing-his-ass-goodbye scenario really begged for a good guffaw.

  She stopped at his side and touched his psychic handcuffs with something. “It’s over.”

  The handcuffs vanished.

  Not a bad answer. He rubbed his aching wrists. “Over?” He stared down at the shiny black hair on the crown of her head.

  “As far as I’m concerned, Goro can fight this war. I’m finished.”

  Was everyone dead but the commander?

  She fussed with a pair of leather pants.

  Avoidance. Wrong answer. “Hey. Whoa.” He grabbed her and forced her back to where he could see her yellow eyes, to look at him. “What happened?”

  She blinked and made a hesitant feminine smirk. “I’ll cry now if I talk about it. Spare me the humiliation. It’s over. Let’s just return to our quarters.”

  Kindrist The Invincible falls apart? He grabbed her soft cheeks and turned her yellow eyes back to him.

  Tears pooled in them again.

  Okay, she deserves my patience for getting my ass off of death’s shoulders. He yanked on the decent-fitting leather pants.

  His broke-in jeans must be torn to shreds after were-wolf transformation. That treasure needed a funeral itself.

  The slick leather warmed instantly and gave his hide a bit of breathing room.

  Not bad. More like weird. His last link to earth—his life--was gone, shed like an old snake skin. Did the change really matter? Purpose was purpose. And now he had a hot wife who not only risked her neck but kept things interesting. Rebirth was kind of cool. But Kindrist needed some privacy. Time to head back to their quarters to learn what happened. He wiggled his bare toes. “Let’s go.”

  “What about the boots and vest?” She held the clothes up like a sacred offering.

  “You need to get back to gestating.” He laid a palm against her firm hip and shoved her toward the lift.

  “No. I want you ready for surprises.” She shoved the clothing into his knuckles.

  Well, I can die with my boots this time. A few seconds couldn’t hurt. And Kindrist had been right before. “You can call the shots any time.” He yanked on his boots.

  She led him back through the corridor system.

  Back to Goro.

  Hell, maybe the wife’s tears covered up a bigger plan. After having my knees peeled and arms hyper-extended for duty, almost anything could happen next.

  Goro stood along the final stretch leading to their quarters’ door.

  But the torch wasn’t at the commander’s hip.

  Kindrist’s spine straightened.

  What took place while he was locked away in dead-end confinement? This was his final march. Her story may just be what it took to walk him down to where they planned to inject him with his last supper.

  She walked past Goro.

  Not brushing him. Or gracing him with a fraction of notice. Just heading onward. To where?

  Goro stuck his hands behind his back in an at-ease military stance. “It’s good to have you back at work, Straightarrow.”

  Kindrist walked past Goro without a glance.

  He is kidding, right? “So you rip my arms out of their sockets, burn the skin off my knees, lock me up like an ape where I’m informed I’m to be terminated, and then welcome me back?”

  Goro’s dark eyebrows arched. “A good show was the only way I could deceive Sevra. She claimed you were the bad seed. Undoubtedly, she meant to aid Voldon. To trick her and her soul mate into entering an isolated contained area where I could use her weapon on her, I had to make it look good.”

  Why did the explanation ring so true for Goro? Jake stopped and met Goro’s gaze. “You could have warned me you were going to sacrifice me like Christ.”

  Goro’s stoic mask slid into a faint smirk. “You make the event seem as if you were bled.”

  What do you call donating blood? Kindrist’s last supper!

  The whisper of a sliding door noted Kindrist’s retreat into their personal quarters.

  All the better. She didn’t seem to want to discuss the day’s events in public or with Goro.

  “Red Trekaar’s anger is all but unwarranted,” Goro added. “Paul could remote view. I had no idea what he could witness aboard the ship. Without absolute secrecy, my plan was doomed to failure.”

  Really, there was no way of knowing the extent of Paul’s psychic abilities. Still, the commander had no excuse for leaving a prized pawn out of the loop. Goro was the commanding master manipulator. “I wasn’t prepared.”

  “Is a mercenary ever prepared for what lies before him?” Goro scratched his bald head. “Couldn’t you tell I was on your side?”

  Who could read him? I’ll know better next time. “No.”

  “Straightarrow, always go with your gut. The logical man turns intuition’s brightest day into the darkest hour.” Goro patted Jake’s shoulder and walked away.

  Damn, I’m an idiot. But Kindrist wasn’t. She needed to hear about my stupidity and so much more. He stepped toward the sliding door.

  Kindrist stood near the portal’s bench, her arms crossed over her chest. Red streaked her black mane.

  “What lies did he feed you?” she demanded.

  She needed to calm down. “Well,” he stepped over to her side and stared down at her scowl, “my gut tells me he came clean.”

  She cocked her head and almost snarled. “I do not w
ish to listen to his lies at the moment.”

  The gut doesn’t lie. He slid an arm around her waist and pulled her curves against him to where her pointed elbows thrust into his armpits the way she had them crossed like steel. “You expected me to believe a lot when you brought me aboard The Seeker. So, it shouldn’t be much of a chore for you to buy into what I share today. Turnabout is fair play.”

  “Earth philosophy rarely applies in deep space.” She frowned and looked across the room.

  Oh, when the table turns.... That earth adage certainly holds up the roof of reason at the moment in this deep-space shack. He chuckled and squeezed her so tight that her arms fell to her sides.

  She watched his chest.

  So she had refused to look into his eyes. But she hadn’t plugged her ears. “Goro said he had no idea what Paul could see remote viewing on the ship. The only way he could ensure secrecy was to speak of the plan to no one.”

  Her scowl curved even more. Still she didn’t make eye contact with him. “I’m pregnant. He should have worried the stress would cause me to abort the child of legend.”

  Pouting only made her sexier. But the expression had to prove she was softening to the news. And the softer a woman the better.

  She slid her gaze to his.

  The red faded to black in her hair.

  But she isn’t bloodless. And soft is really, really good. Like soft bottoms and breasts. Unlike the place where all his blood was running. He slid his hand down to her bottom and squeezed a firm mound.

  The corner of her mouth curled into a faint smile. “You’re not anywhere close to requiring a Beast Tamer.”

  Oh, interesting point to dissolve her anger. Did she fancy him attracted to her? He smiled back and wagged his head. “Why wouldn’t I think of soft things?” He gave her firm ass another squeeze.

  “Because Goro almost killed you.” She shoved out of his embrace and began to pace the room.

  What was wrong with her? Goro just admitted everything went down as planned. She had heard the news. Why was she so upset? “Kindrist, what’s wrong?”

  She shook her head and focused on her footfalls. “There is so little left to believe. My faith led me to this moment. I stood there on the edge of insanity with Goro pointing a torch at me.” She shook her head like a spider jumped into her hair. “And now, I’m supposed to forget it all with your touch?” She halted, facing him. “He almost killed us. What don’t you understand? I have been run through the fire, as you earthlings say.”

  More like ringer.

  “And I will be allowed time to think things through.”

  Okay, maybe my wife needs to rest. “Fine. But why did Goro point a torch at you and not use it?”

  She sighed. “He turned, holding it, slowly enough that it was pointed at me. After he torched Sevra and Paul. How was I to know he wasn’t taking aim?” Her stiff shoulders fell a bit.

  The poor woman finally relaxed a little. She just needed time to digest what happened. “Okay, I want you to stretch out on the bed and close your eyes. Just try to forget about what happened.”

  Her mouth twisted with a smirk.

  “Now, now. Stop that. I’m not calling you a liar. I just want you to rest and try to calm down.” Or he’d never get her past the anger of betrayal.

  And that’s the vile cud she chewed.

  Kindrist didn’t argue. She practically dove into the bed.

  What would be a good lie to keep her there? “I’m going to the armory.”

  She twisted up onto an elbow. “What? Why?”

  Talk about edgy. “To get my hands on a torch.” Or keep her thoughts on defense until she slept a good twenty hours.

  “Bring one back for me.”

  Like I’d give her a toy that could nuke both her and the baby. “Sure.” He headed into the corridor.

  Would Goro be waiting? Or eavesdropping?

  Nobody stood in the passageway.

  Now to find Strako.

  Goro stepped out from the passageway’s end.

  What did the commander want? I’ll just walk past him. What could Goro do? Kindrist will probably never trust him again. And she’s got the leverage inside her. He can’t make me do anything now that my duty is to guard my child. So, the worm is powerless.

  Goro stopped, and his gaze locked on Jake’s. “I heard you leave your quarters.” He paused. “How is Red Trekaar?”

  “Funny you use her formal name now instead of Kindrist.”

  Goro’s dark eyebrows arched.

  Like he hadn’t noticed a difference. The man used to be Kindrist’s best friend. Not after the grand plan to fry traitors. Talk about a fiasco. “What do you want, Goro? You blew your relationship with my mate to Hell.” He walked past the almost expression-less mask Goro donned.

  The commander followed. “How can she blame me for bringing an end to Voldon’s infiltration of the ship?”

  “I’d say ask her, but she isn’t very cooperative today.”

  “Talk to her, Straightarrow. There is much to do now that Voldon’s strategy has failed.”

  Maybe the two commanders were playing chess. Yes, we are all the pawns in that game to control what kind of stage upon which the universe’s occupants milked their cows. But people had feelings and standards. He spun to face Goro.

  The man looked helpless for a fraction of a second before he threw back his shoulders and waited.

  “You screwed up, Goro. Kindrist isn’t playing along anymore. Game’s over. Forget your plans.”

  “Not plans to kill others. The Seeker will never be safe for her and the child. This is a plan to provide you and her with a hiding place. A safe haven for the child to grow and learn.”

  Why don’t I walk away? Because I’m playing along with Goro. Right. It’s not that I care about my child’s future. I’m just toying with his false sense of being in control. “So what’s the plan?”

  “It’s been one earth day since I had a drink.” He waved toward the lift down the passageway. “Let’s discuss this over something warm.”

  Getting the guy wasted just might lead to disclosure of more interesting details of this plan to safeguard Kindrist.

  * * * *

  A presence shoved into Kindrist’s mind and knocked for recognition beyond the pounding headache she tried to sleep off. But blessed sleep evaded her.

  So much for rest and relaxation. “Go away.”

  “Red,” Strako said in mindspeak. “What happened? I leave the ship on a scouting mission and return to find every crew member hiding in their personal quarters. None of the operators will speak of what’s occurred.”

  Answering him might send him on his way. But Goro probably put him up to this informal interrogation. Could anyone aboard The Seeker be trusted again? Only my mate. “Did Goro send you to talk me into crawling out of bed and chatting with him?”

  Pain knifed through her skull.

  “No one tells an Illusian what to do. I fight for the right of free thought. I don’t swab decks or clean portals.”

  Easy to claim. But The Seeker was practically self-cleaning with psychics running everything telekinetically. Although, Illusians were known for their extreme sense of honor—the one thing he and I hold in common. Strako probably didn’t lie for Goro’s benefit. She shoved her head into the soft pillow. “Goro almost killed Jake. But we no longer have to worry about Sevra and Paul. Their dust darkens the heavens.”

  “At long last, my friend. Is Jake injured?”

  Holiest Devros, leave me alone. “Just scrapes and bruises.”

  Piercing pain shafted through her mind.

  “Has he reported to the infirmary?” Strako asked.

  Like Jake would waste time on ointments and bandages. But telling Strako where her mate was might send the commander yapping at Jake’s heels. That’s the last thing they needed. “Jake’s walking around. Apparently, I’m irrational. Go away. My head is about to explode.”

  “So once again you prove the secret weapon.”
/>   As if my head would actually detonate. “Are you laughing? Because I don’t think that’s funny.”

  “You must be in horrible pain not to carry through with a joke. Until you feel up to a drink, love and light, my friend.”

  Would love and light ever be possible again?

  “I heard that, Red.”

  “Nobody gave you permission to read my personal pontifications.”

  “I shall grant your wish.” Strako’s presence dissolved from her mind.

  The enormous brilliant being probably bowed with palms together, knowing Illusians. Why were these mercenaries bothering a useless pregnant female? Call life bad when the only person you have to count on can’t stand being in your presence. When Jake returns, I will try harder to be more pleasing. I have to because he’s all I have left.

  * * * *

  Jake stared across the table at the man who had made everything possible. Goro was the oil behind the wheel’s squeak. The commander who concocted his plans with the precision of a genius. Nobody would know whether to fear unleashing his wrath or buying into his game. Goro literally was God on The Seeker. But nobody said I had to like this god.

  Goro chugged his ration of neon orange magma in two gulps and plopped his ringing cup down on the metallic table top. “You’re safer on earth. Voldon will never think you’re hiding there with Kindrist and the baby. He’ll chase Darla and I across the universe and beyond before he searches earth for you two.”

  But earth has no defenses against alien werewolves and vampires. “How can you be so certain? You want to dump us on earth? That plan sounds more like an act of abandonment. Are you trying to get rid of us?” Sweep us under the carpet to hide and cover his tracks from other free-thinking authorities?

  Chapter Twenty Seven

  Goro smacked his lips in contemplation where he sat across the table from Jake in the ship’s lounge. “There is no room for error here. I live for The Cause, Straightarrow. You are The Cause’s best bet for free thinking.” His unwavering gaze never altered. “I’ve played out every scenario I can imagine with Voldon. Nothing is more unexpected than you and Kindrist hiding on earth. I know she’s incapable of thinking rationally in her pregnant state. So, you must do the thinking for her.”