Ecstasy Bound

by Kerce, Ruth D.

  “Perfect. Thanks, Erik.” Braden appreciated Erik’s concern for his family more than he could ever say. “Does Leila know you took that?”

  “Yes, she offered. I told her about the plan. Sorry, Braden. She caught me working on the devices when she stopped by our quarters to pick up some medical notes she’d made last night. I hadn’t expected her to do that but she won’t tell anyone. She gave me her word.”

  Braden nodded. He turned to Alexa. “We need you to get the babies ready to take to medical now.”

  “Wait, everything is going too fast here. Why are we going to medical? Leila said she didn’t need to see the babies again until tomorrow.”

  “I’m going to pull Pitch from guard duty to help Erik with the orbiters. I need to do some computer work, so I’ll be watching over you and the triplets.”

  “I’m armed now.” She smiled at him, albeit a bit shakily. “The babies will be more comfortable here. We don’t need to relocate.”

  Braden glanced at Erik before meeting her gaze again. “I’d feel better if you stayed with me for now.”

  Alexa’s smile faded and she looked at him hard. “Is something else going on? What aren’t you telling me?”

  “Tell her, Braden. She has a right to know.”

  Alexa looked from him to Erik and back to him again.

  Braden couldn’t fault Erik for saying something. He was right. She needed to be on alert for the sake of herself and the babies. “Someone down here contacted Frost. She and the Egesa might be on their way.”

  “What? How? Who?”

  “We don’t have a lot of details yet. I want to see if I can find any evidence or information in the computer system.” He didn’t want to tell her about suspecting Halah and detaining her and Kam. Not if he didn’t have to.

  “I thought we couldn’t communicate with anyone up top.”

  “We can’t. Not with the installed equipment. Someone down here has to have a preconfigured handheld comm device, set for the proper frequency to send and receive pulse codes from Frost.”

  “I can’t believe anyone down here would…” Her voice trailed off. “Who would have the skills to do that?”

  “Probably everyone except you and Josella.”

  He saw worry and fear enter her face. “Don’t worry. Please. If the worst happens, we’ll take the babies and go to the decontamination room. That’s the safest place.” He looked around. “Where is Josella, by the way? We need her.”

  “Leila called for her to go to medical. Something about them possibly needing her for the Initiation. Leila wanted to do some tests on her first.”

  “Well, hell,” Erik said. “We’ve got everyone else on duty or otherwise occupied.”

  “You and I can handle the triplets, Braden,” Alexa said.

  “Not if Frost shows up or if I’m fighting off an Egesa. I’d like someone else close and available at all times.”

  Alexa chewed her bottom lip a moment, then released it. “What about Delemar? Is he assigned to anything?”

  Braden’s brow furrowed.

  “Yeah, where the hell is he?” Erik asked.

  “I passed him once in the corridor but that was a while back. He’s probably sulking somewhere, since his power and privilege no longer carry any weight.” Braden walked over to the comm panel and pressed a button. “Delemar, this is Braden. Report.” When he didn’t get an immediate response, he walked back to Alexa. He rested a hand on her shoulder. “Go ahead and get the babies ready while Erik and I talk to Pitch.”

  “All right.” She leaned forward and kissed Braden’s cheek. “We miss you,” she whispered in his ear.

  “Me too,” he whispered back.

  Erik cleared his throat. “We need to get on this, Braden.”

  Braden turned toward Erik and straightened his shoulders. “Yes of course.”

  “Thank Leila for me,” Alexa said. “For the weapon.”

  Erik gave her a quick wink. “You bet.”

  With Erik in step beside him, Braden headed toward the corridor where Pitch was standing guard. Braden let the door to his quarters slide shut behind him and Erik before he said anything. “I’m replacing you for now. I want you to help Erik secure the orbiters. We’re going to take Alexa and the triplets to medical where I can watch them while I’m doing some computer work.” He hesitated a beat before continuing. “We have a traitor among us.”

  “A traitor?” Pitch’s eyes widened. “Who?”

  “We don’t know for certain,” Erik said. “But someone sent a message to Frost from the subcommand station.”

  “Frost? Shit. Wait. Sent a message? They’d need an independent communication device for that. Something they could channel through our system outside Xylon’s grid.”

  “Yeah, we know,” Erik replied.

  “Why aren’t you assigning me to track it down? I’m head of security. I’m more likely to be able to find out who sent it, when the message was sent and even what it said.”

  “We need your security expertise to lock down the orbiters once the programming is completed.” He didn’t want anyone to be able to sabotage those ships again. If the malfunction had indeed been sabotage.

  Pitch looked back and forth between them. “You two are just as skilled in ship security as I am. I’m more skilled in computer security. What’s going on here?” His eyes suddenly grew even larger than they had a moment ago. “You don’t think I’m the traitor do you?”

  Braden saw how upset the possibility made Pitch. He was a good officer. Always had been. Smart and quick. Braden clapped his shoulder. “No. Don’t give it a thought. I just feel that I need to be with my family while this threat is looming. Once you’re done, if I haven’t found anything on the computer, you can take over.”

  “All right,” Pitch answered, still sounding a bit wary.

  Erik held out his hand. “Give me your disruptor.”

  Surprise crossed Pitch’s face. “You want my weapon? Why?” He glanced over at Braden, concern even more evident in his voice now.

  “You won’t need it as long as you’re not protecting Alexa,” Erik explained.

  His stare returned to Erik and narrowed slightly. “You won’t need it either. And since we’ll be working together in the same space, what’s the point?”

  Erik’s eyes hardened in response. “Are you refusing a direct order, Warrior?”

  Pitch stiffened. He hesitated in his response. But only for a moment. “Um, no. Of course not.” He handed over the disruptor, though reluctantly.

  Braden knew a security officer felt naked without his weapon. He would swear that Tara had slept with hers. As a command officer, Erik had a right to a weapon if one was available and taking it didn’t jeopardize a life or a project. He would have ordered likewise. Pitch knew the regulations, whether he agreed with them or not.

  “If Frost or the Egesa show up, everyone needs to congregate in the decontamination room. We’ll be able to control the atmosphere from in there and can suffocate anyone outside the room. Since we don’t have many weapons, that might be our only chance. If this facility is breached, whoever can get to a comm panel first needs to send out an alarm with instructions.”

  “Will do, Braden,” Erik and Pitch both answered in unison.

  “All right.” Braden nodded. “Let’s get my family moved.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  When Leila and Josella reentered the conference room, Sam’s head turned, his attention immediately zeroing in on the women, eager and also very anxious to hear what they had to say. Laszlo entered close behind them as if he’d been waiting in the corridor. Brianna had returned earlier and Sam looked over at her. A mixture of concern, wariness and anticipation showed on her face. Her feelings obviously mirrored his own.

  They rose from the chairs they’d found in the corner behind one of the hanging sheets. They walked over to greet everyone. Sam’s heart rate picked up as he waited for the news.

 
“Well?” Laszlo asked. “What were the test results?”

  “She’s compatible,” Leila answered. “She won’t be severely affected.”

  Won’t be severely affected—the words echoed in Sam’s head. “But she will be affected?” The test results sounded less than reassuring to him.

  “She most likely won’t be fully protected from all adverse affects. But the chemicals shouldn’t harm her in any permanent way. And she’s agreed to be a part of the rite.”

  Sam breathed an inward sigh of relief, feeling much better. He noticed a slight blush cross Josella’s face and she purposely didn’t look at him. Or so it seemed. She probably was not as sexually liberated as the Warriors. He knew her to be from another planet and Halah’s half sister but that’s all he knew about her, other than that she wasn’t mated. She didn’t talk much. Needing to reassure her of her choices, he reached out and touched her hand.

  Her head snapped up and she looked at him in surprise.

  “Are you sure you’re all right with this?” He didn’t want any woman to feel forced into having sex with him. Even though the stakes were high, Josella had no ties to Earth and this really wasn’t her fight.

  “Yes. Of course. I understand how important the rite is. I want to help.”

  “I only want you to do this if you’re truly going to be okay with it. Because if you’re not, even knowing you’re helping isn’t going to make you comfortable. From what I understand, I might not be in full control of myself at all times. I don’t want you living with any regrets, given what’s going to happen in here.”

  She squeezed his hand. “I’ll be all right. Really. I understand what might happen.

  Leila explained it to me.”

  Brianna eased her arm through his. “She’s good to go, Sam. You don’t need to coddle her.”

  He dropped Josella’s hand and glanced at Brianna. Her move and clipped words held a very distinct tone of jealousy. As did the look in her eyes. He almost chuckled but thought better of it.

  Still, he didn’t want to take advantage of Josella. Maybe she wasn’t as shy and inexperienced as he’d first assumed though, for she seemed certain in her decision.

  They had few options and he was grateful for her willingness to participate, so he hoped she wouldn’t change her mind once the rite started. As he understood things, she wouldn’t need to get involved unless Brianna required help. Maybe she’d simply end up being an observer. The others thought otherwise but very little seemed to be going as planned or expected lately.

  “Josella is ready,” Laszlo said, echoing Brianna’s words, seemingly convinced enough to proceed without further delay. “I’ll call Kam in for standby.”

  Sam stiffened. Kam? Laszlo couldn’t be serious. Not a good choice. On more than one level. He didn’t say anything for he doubted his words would carry any weight in the situation. He had to wonder though… How would Halah react if her mate needed to fuck her sister? In his mind, Pitch would have made a better choice. Not that he wanted any males present but Pitch wasn’t mated. Besides, he’d seen Pitch and Josella making eyes at one another.

  Josella cleared her throat. “Kam?” The tone in her voice reflected her own apparent concerns.

  “Yes, Kam. Is there a problem?”

  Sam didn’t understand how Laszlo wouldn’t realize that Kam presented a problem.

  He saw it clearly and Josella obviously saw it. Maybe not being able to identify, think through and analyze the possible outcome of situations was part of Laszlo’s weakness.

  A mental weakness that Sam hadn’t noticed before now. As he glanced at Josella, he felt sorry for the young woman. She was in a very awkward position all the way around.

  “I don’t think Halah—” When a frustrated look crossed Laszlo’s face, she quieted and lowered her eyes.

  Sam’s protective instincts rose to a level he couldn’t ignore. He had to speak up about this, even if they all dismissed his words. “Wouldn’t Pitch be a better idea, Laszlo? No personal connection exists with him that might cause a problem later.”

  “Yes, Pitch.” Josella’s eyes lit up and she shot him a grateful look.

  “No,” Laszlo and Brianna answered at the same time.

  Sam looked over at Brianna. He studied the odd look on her face, wondering what her objection could be.

  “Pitch is guarding Alexa and the triplets,” Laszlo said.

  Sam’s eyes returned to Laszlo. “Replace him with Kam.”

  “Pitch’s presence could cause too many problems in here. Earthlings are not known for containing their jealousies. I’m sure Brianna has informed you of their past association. I’m a bit surprised you even suggested him.”

  “Association?”

  “Laszlo,” Brianna said. “I haven’t—”

  “There won’t be a problem with Kam,” Leila supplied quickly. “Xylons don’t hold the same restrictive relationship attitudes when it comes to Initiation participation.”

  “Josella and I aren’t Xylons. Not even partly. What association? Brianna? What did that mean?” Obviously it was something important or Laszlo wouldn’t have brought it up.

  “I’m sorry, Brianna. I just assumed—”

  “That’s all right, Laszlo.” With a sigh, Brianna pulled Sam aside and lowered her voice as she spoke. “There are a couple of issues here that could cause us problems.

  Relationship issues. Pitch might not be able to handle seeing you with Josella. I’m sure you’ve seen his interest in her. It could adversely affect the rite’s outcome.”

  “But Xylons don’t mind sharing during Initiations. At other times too, from what I know. More than one of you have said as much. And Leila just confirmed it.”

  “It’s not that simple. You’re not a Warrior. You don’t play by the same rules or think the same. We do feel jealousy, Sam. It’s a normal emotion, even for us. It’s just that situations exist in our society where we have a more open or relaxed attitude.”

  “Yes. This is one of them, right?”

  “Normally it would be. An Initiation is a duty. It’s not personal. But our situation down here is anything but normal. Including this ceremony.”

  “Hmm. All right. I’ll give you that.” When she said nothing further, he realized he’d have to ask once again for an explanation of Laszlo’s words. “What’s this association thing about?”

  Brianna looked away a moment before once more meeting his gaze. “Um, Pitch and I have been together. At a Joining Party. It didn’t mean anything special. It was just sex.

  It’s what happens at those gatherings. I didn’t see the point in telling you.”

  “You and—” Sam’s head was spinning and he clenched his fingers into fists. She had been with Pitch. Sexually. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly, working hard at maintaining his control. He knew he couldn’t very well fault her for what she’d done before they met. He hadn’t exactly been a choir boy himself. But still, the fact bothered him.

  If Pitch had ended up involved in the ceremony and had sprung that bit of info on him either on purpose or by accident during the rite, Sam would have gone nuts. He was glad he’d found out beforehand.

  Now he was going to say something completely out of character but more was at stake here than just his own desires. “I still think Pitch is the better choice to join us.”

  “Why?” Brianna looked at him in surprise.

  “He and Josella will be comfortable together. You and he will be comfortable together. The other choices are Kam, Erik, Delemar or Laszlo. Laszlo isn’t well. Delemar is too old. Erik and Kam are mated. And I don’t care what you say, I can’t believe that wouldn’t cause a problem down the line.”

  “How would it feel for you to have Pitch here? Especially knowing I was with him.

  Earth’s sexual attitudes are quite different from ours. If it causes a problem during the rite, it could jeopardize the entire Initiation.”

  “I’d rather not have any ma
les here at all. You know that. Pitch, well, I’ll contain any negative feelings I might have. If you say it was just sex between you two, then I’ll believe that and try to keep in mind the differences between our two cultures and the sexual attitudes of each.” He wasn’t quite convinced he could really do that, though the words sounded good to his ears.

  “Are you sure?”

  No. He wasn’t sure about anything, especially lately. “If it’s Pitch, at least he’ll be the only one I need to deal with in my head. Unless you’ve had sex with someone else down here too.” If so, he might need to punch something just to get the frustration out of his system.

  A smile tugged at her lips. “No. No one else who’s down here.”

  As they spoke, Laszlo walked over to the comm panel. “Kam, this is Laszlo.

  Report.”

  Sam’s head turned. “He’s still going with Kam.”

  “I’ll tell him I concur with the decision to use Pitch. It might carry some weight.”

  A male voice filtered into the room before Brianna spoke up. “Laszlo, this is Braden.

  Kam is otherwise engaged.”

  A look of relief crossed Josella’s face.

  Laszlo obviously didn’t feel the same for a low growl escaped his throat. He turned his head. “Looks like you will get your Warrior of choice,” he said before turning back to Braden. “Then send Pitch.”

  “Also engaged.”

  The look on Josella’s face immediately fell and deep disappointment showed in her wide green eyes.

  “Well, un-engage him. We need him for standby in the Initiation. None of the Branded women can participate.”

  “Everyone is on emergency projects right now and can’t be pulled. Except Delemar, though he’s not answering my calls and I can’t find him.”

  Laszlo’s brow furrowed and he seemed deep in thought. After a moment his expression changed to resignation and his shoulders sagged. “Send either Pitch, Kam or Erik over here as soon as one of them becomes available. I’ll take anyone I can get.”