Dating Outside Your DNA

by Karen Kelley

  “And yet you’ve been stuck on the mountain training.”

  “But I’m away from my mother’s colony.”

  “Was it that bad?”

  She combed her fingers through her hair and looked out the window at the scenery. There were fewer trees the farther they drove. The woods had been replaced by fenced pastures with cows grazing on the thick, almost knee high grass. Occasionally, she would see a farmhouse. It all looked so normal. Not that her life had been abnormal, just isolated.

  “Bad? No, it wasn’t that bad. It was lonely.” She’d wanted to be with other girls but Aasera had continuously drilled it into her that they were different. Even her mother’s best friend, Anna, hadn’t known who they really were. Her mother had been caged as much as Lyraka.

  A smile curved her lips. But now they both had their freedom. Her mother was training other interplanetary travelers, and soon she would take to the air again.

  A few times, her mother had told stories of the places she had traveled, but not often. For the most part, she hadn’t talked about her life on Nerak. Lyraka hadn’t pressed the issue. When her mother had spoken of her home planet, there had been such deep sadness in her eyes that it had hurt Lyraka almost as much.

  How long had she been lost in her thoughts? She sat up as they approached the town. “Is that a Ferris wheel?” She pointed toward a slowly turning circle of chairs that appeared to dangle in midair. She’d never been on one. There were a lot of things she’d never done. She glanced toward Roan and wondered if they might at least drive by it.

  “Looks like there’s a carnival in town.” He gave it a cursory glance.

  Sometimes men weren’t that good at taking a hint. “I’ve never been to one.”

  “You know what a carnival is?”

  She frowned when she looked at him. “I can read.” She’d read a lot growing up. Her mother had let her get a library card and she’d always had a stack of books checked out. She probably hadn’t read as much as Warren, but she’d bet it would be close to his count.

  “Reading isn’t the same as experiencing one.”

  It was all she could do to not wiggle in her seat. “I suppose.” She didn’t want to act as though she were ten years old.

  He parked the Jeep near the entrance, then glanced her way. “You can barely contain your excitement.”

  She shrugged. “It looks like something that will pass the time.”

  “We could walk in the city park.”

  “No!”

  He laughed.

  Ass. She grinned. “Okay, I’m excited.”

  “Then let’s go.”

  He got out, then locked up as she stood in front of the Jeep and stared at the flashing lights and the crowd milling about. He was right, she was more than a little excited. Her mother would have never allowed her to go to a carnival.

  But she was here now. She grabbed Roan’s hand when he joined her, then pulled him toward the entrance. Everything looked magical and she felt like a fairy princess.

  “Have you been to many carnivals?”

  “Two or three.”

  A man twirled something pink onto a paper cone.

  “What’s that?”

  “Cotton candy. Want some?”

  She nodded. He paid for one and handed it to her. She took a bite. The pink sugar confection stuck to the tip of her nose, but melted in her mouth. Roan leaned over and licked it off. Laughter bubbled out of her.

  This was what it felt like to be a kid. To laugh with someone you enjoyed being with. To feel as though she could conquer anything.

  “Come on and I’ll take you to the top of the world.” He tugged her along with him.

  “You already have.”

  “I wonder if we could start a new mile-high club.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Never mind. I have a feeling it would never work.”

  He gave the operator some bills, and they sat on the bench. A bar was dropped in place and then they were climbing. She grabbed his arm and held on. The Ferris wheel stopped at the top and gave her a clear view of the river that ran through the town.

  “It’s beautiful.”

  “Not as beautiful as you.”

  When she turned to look at him, he lowered his mouth to hers. Warmth filled her. She wrapped her arms around him, drawing him closer as his tongue caressed hers. She never wanted this day to end. She wanted it to go on forever and forever.

  She vaguely felt the jerk of the wheel as it began its descent. But she heard the clapping when they got to the bottom. They pulled apart. Great, an audience.

  “You make me forget where I am.”

  He grinned. “Yeah, well you do the same thing to me.”

  They went up again, but not as high as he’d taken her. She snuggled into the crook of his arm when he pulled her closer. It felt so right sitting next to him. She couldn’t imagine ever not being with Roan. He made her feel complete, that she’d only been going through the motions of living until he’d come into her life. It was more than Roan being her instructor. It was as though he were the other half of who she was.

  She’d fallen in love with him. Giddiness washed over her, until she realized he might not feel the same way. Roan had been with many women and she probably wasn’t nearly as experienced. Just the thought of their not being together made her feel sick. The cotton candy she’d had earlier only added to the nausea.

  They came to a stop at the bottom. She wished the ride could’ve gone on forever, but there always had to be an end. The operator unlatched the bar and they got off.

  She realized that no one ever mentioned the downside to loving someone. She wasn’t sure she liked the queasy feeling that went along with it.

  “Having fun?”

  She looked up at him. He still had his arm across her shoulders. Maybe people were just supposed to enjoy the moment and not worry about what would happen tomorrow.

  She smiled. “It’s the best day of my life.” Maybe Roan would fall in love with her, too.

  Banyon kept his distance, but followed the couple. Anger burned inside him as he watched the way the earthling held Lyraka close. He had no right to touch what belonged to Banyon. And Lyraka would belong to him.

  Soon.

  Maybe he would kill the man with her. He thought he might enjoy it even though he’d never killed anyone. He could always have it done and just watch. That might be exciting. Yes, that would be good. It looked as though she cared for this man. It would be exhilarating to see her suffer. To make her afraid.

  He continued to follow them, watching the way the man would brush his lips against Lyraka’s hair. He didn’t blame the man for being fascinated with her. Lyraka was even more beautiful than the picture Anna had shown him. Her skin fairly glowed with a golden tan. He would have preferred her hair longer, not cropped short like a warrior.

  He might keep Lyraka for a while. Dress her in gossamer gowns and keep her in a golden cage so that he might look upon her. She would fight him at first, but before he killed her, she would be begging him to take her.

  Revenge would be sweet.

  Chapter 24

  Roan couldn’t get enough of watching the different expressions cross Lyraka’s face. He would say she reminded him of a child, but she was snuggled against him and her curves told him that she was anything but a little girl. No, she was all woman.

  “Want to try the shooting gallery?” He pointed toward a booth where stuffed dogs and bears hung from the ceiling.

  “I want a stuffed dog. My aunt has four of the cutest puppies.” She looked up at him. “Did you have a dog growing up?”

  He shook his head. “A cat.”

  “A cat?”

  “Yeah, I liked to hear her purr.”

  She frowned, then punched him on the arm. “That was bad. You didn’t really have a cat, did you?”

  He laughed. “It was my aunt’s cat and the darn animal hated me. Every time I came close, she would hiss and spit. I never touched a hair on tha
t cat. I think my aunt secretly thought I might be torturing the poor beast. I’d swear the animal was just damned unsociable, though.”

  “That’s okay, you can make me purr later and I promise not to bite or scratch.”

  Everything around them stopped. It was all he could do to keep from flinging her over his shoulder and carrying her off to the nearest motel. Had she really said what he’d thought she’d said? He might have imagined it because he’d been thinking how later he wanted to make love with her. Wishful thinking, maybe?

  He trailed behind her like a zombie. The only thoughts going through his mind were of him slowly stripping off her clothes, peeling off the lacy wisp of material that covered her luscious breasts.

  The pop of an air gun drew him out of his fantasy. When he looked up, Roan noticed a man dressed all in black. Just as quickly, the man ducked around the side of another booth and was out of his line of vision. Intentional? Maybe. He could work for the carnival.

  There had been something odd about him, though. He’d reminded Roan of a Rovert, but what would a Rovert be doing on Earth? He mentally shook his head. Joe had him seeing aliens around every corner.

  There was another pop, drawing his attention back to Lyraka, then another.

  “And the pretty little lady wins!” The operator of the booth sounded happy, but his expression was grim. “And which stuffed animal would she like? How about a parrot?”

  “The dog. The big brown and white one.” Lyraka pointed to the one she wanted.

  He faked a sad face. “Oh, sorry sweetheart. You’ll have to hit three more bulls-eyes to win the big animal.”

  “But that’s not what your sign says.” She glared at the man.

  “She’s right,” Roan said. When the operator looked as if he would argue, Roan eased back the jacket he wore so the man would see his gun.

  The man paled. “And right she is! The big brown and white dog it is!” He hurried and brought it down, then handed it to Lyraka.

  She hugged the dog as they walked away. “I guess I told him. I was not leaving without my dog.”

  “The look you gave the guy probably scared the hell out of him.”

  “That and when you pulled back your coat just enough to show him your gun.”

  “You saw that, huh?”

  “You taught me to see stuff like that.” She smiled, but just as suddenly, her expression turned serious. “Kind of like the man in black who’s been following us all evening. Who is he?”

  He hadn’t spotted him until a few minutes ago. Once again, Lyraka had surprised him. He didn’t know why the fact she’d picked up on the man in black should surprise him. Lyraka was a fast learner, and he’d trained her well.

  “Roan? Do you think he is following us? I only spotted him a couple of times.” She looked up at him.

  “I’m not sure who he is.” He aimed her toward a table at a small outside café within the carnival. “What about that guy you said stayed at the colony? Rick?”

  She shook her head. “Not him, besides Rick was scared of his own shadow.”

  He pulled out a chair and she sat, then he took the one across from her.

  “What about you? Any enemies?” she asked.

  “More than I want to count, but none that would stalk me. Let’s just hang out here for a little while and see if we can spot him.”

  “Sounds good.”

  A gum-smacking waitress came to take their order, then quickly left to get the sodas.

  “I’m sorry this man has ruined your first time at a carnival.” When Roan caught him, he would make sure the man apologized properly.

  By the time they’d finished their drinks and still hadn’t spotted the guy, he had to wonder if the man actually was a part of the carnival. He’d run across his fair share of crooked carnies.

  “Maybe we were wrong.” She glanced around as they stood.

  “Maybe.”

  She swung her gaze back to him. “But you don’t think so.”

  “Let’s just say, I’m not completely satisfied.” He frowned. “Have I gotten that easy to read?”

  “No, but I know you well enough that you don’t trust many people.”

  She was right, he didn’t. “There’s a small group moving toward the parking lot. We’ll go out with them. If there is someone following us, he won’t make a move when there are witnesses around.”

  They followed close behind the group of laughing, talking people, but had to separate from the crowd when they got to the parking lot. He didn’t relax until he was standing beside the Jeep, unlocking the door.

  He heard the sound of footsteps pounding the pavement.

  Lyraka screamed.

  He jerked his head up. Her mouth was quickly clamped to quiet her. She struggled against the beefy arms that easily held her, dropping the stuffed dog.

  Roan reached for his gun. Something slammed against his head. He tried to stay conscious, but darkness quickly enveloped him.

  “Lyraka, I’ve waited a long time to meet you.” The man’s high-pitched laugh was the last thing Roan heard.

  Fear swept over Lyraka. Was Roan dead? She bit down on the hand that covered her mouth. He moved it, muttering something she didn’t understand.

  Before she could scream, the hand she’d bitten was securely in place again, but tighter, practically cutting off her air supply. She could only glare helplessly at the man in black.

  “I can see by your expression that you don’t want me to hurt him.” He sighed nodding toward Roan. “There’s not a thing you could do if I killed him right now.” His eyes narrowed. “My words cause a fire of hatred to flare in your eyes. I like that. You’ll be very entertaining. I would expect nothing less from Aasera’s daughter.”

  She stilled. Aasera? He knew her mother.

  He fingered the scar above his eyebrow. “All these years I didn’t know she was alive, but she’s on Nerak, safe and sound and I can’t get to her.” His smile was evil. “You’ll do, though.”

  She breathed a sigh of relief. Her mother was okay.

  “Take them both. He might prove useful. And I don’t want her trying to scream again. If she bites, choke her just until she passes out.”

  Lyraka kicked the man holding her. She had the satisfaction of hearing him grunt in pain, but then he squeezed his hand over her mouth. She couldn’t breathe!

  The last thing she thought about was that she wasn’t a very good agent if she couldn’t even escape from this brute’s hold.

  Chapter 25

  Man, he must’ve really tied one on last night. Roan reached up and touched the back of his head, then winced. Memory came flooding back, followed by a cold chill of dread. Where was Lyraka?

  He slowly sat up, blinking several times until his eyes adjusted to the dim light. As soon as the pounding inside his head eased, he glanced around. At first, he thought he was in the middle of some kind of void. It took him only a moment to realize he was in a room with glass walls. Beyond that, shadows. He stood and walked the perimeter. Eight by eight.

  An eerie feeling crept over him. Now he knew how a bug felt when it was kept inside a jar. Only one difference. He wasn’t a bug.

  How to escape?

  His captors left him dressed, but had taken his gun. He checked his pockets. Empty. But he still wore his ring. They must’ve thought it was worthless. Good thing for him. Did they not know a diamond could cut glass? He ran his hands over the wall. How thick was it?

  “I see you’re awake,” someone spoke from beyond his cage.

  Roan whirled around. The room beyond filled with light. He could see he was in a larger room with solid walls. A man walked toward him. Roan squinted. It looked like the same man from last night. He was still dressed all in black.

  “Where is she? What have you done to her? If you hurt her, I’ll make sure you die a slow and painful death.”

  The man laughed. “And how do you propose to do that?” He waved his hand as he stopped in front of Roan. “There is no escape.”
r />   Roan’s glass prison was the only thing between them. He slammed his hand against the glass and drew a small measure of satisfaction seeing the man jump back, but then anger flared in the other man’s eyes.

  “That wasn’t smart,” he snarled.

  Roan at least knew more about him. The man might swagger, but he was only overcompensating because he was a coward.

  “Why wasn’t it smart? Because I scared you?”

  “Because I hold Lyraka in another cage.” He gloated. “Because I can do anything I want to her. Does that scare you?”

  Roan refused to let the man see how much it did scare him. Instead, he went another route. “Who are you?”

  The man stood straighter. “I am Banyon, son of Ethgar, and King of the Rovert nation.”

  He’d suspected as much. They were all similar in their looks. What Roan couldn’t understand was why he’d taken them hostage.

  “Why would a king take two people who have no worth?”

  “Because I can.”

  “You’ll be hunted down, king or not.”

  “Will they travel to Rovertia? I think not.” He laughed again. “Oh, I assume you must have thought we were still on your disgusting little planet. We left many hours ago, and I covered my tracks well. The Adnams have been very helpful. Nasty, but helpful.”

  “What are you going to do with us?”

  Banyon looked as though he thought Roan would never ask. “When I tire of playing with the both of you, I will kill you. Maybe I’ll let you watch her die, see the absolute terror in her eyes just before her life force burns out. Would you like that?”

  Roan slammed his body against the glass. “I’ll kill you. I’ll make you wish you’d never been born!”

  Banyon only laughed as he turned and left the room. Roan pounded on the glass, but the leader of the Roverts didn’t turn around. A door slid open and he walked out leaving Roan to worry about what would happen to Lyraka. He didn’t doubt Banyon would kill them. There had been a look of satisfaction when he’d told Roan what he planned to do.

  As far as Roan knew, he hadn’t pissed off any Roverts, and he was pretty sure Lyraka hadn’t, either. But Aasera was another matter. Lyraka had said her mother was an interplanetary traveler. He probably had figured out the why, he just needed to know the how. As in, how the hell was he going to escape?