by M. Stratton
Most days I was able to keep the thoughts of what would happen to me if I didn’t find the relic at bay, but there were days like today when all I could focus on was what would happen to me if I was sold to the highest bidder and Fandare was lost to me forever, he would never to know we were bonded, and I would never be able to let my guard down and let him know the real me – the person no one knew.
Instinctively my body tensed, my heart raced, and I felt like I was going to throw up. I went to one of the back tables and started to clean it up, focusing on breathing in and out, trying to calm myself down. The last thing I needed was Fandare, Lucian, or Halley figuring out that something was going on with me. Because magic had already decided I was to be bonded with Fandare, I was already able to wield some of his powers. I didn’t need things starting to go haywire on me or them being able to feel the magic within me. I knew they’d all do whatever they could to help me, to protect me, but it wasn’t their battle—it was mine. I’d gotten myself out of situations like that my whole life; I could do it again.
When the door opened I slowly turned around, already knowing who it was. Fandare. He didn’t always know when I was in turmoil, but typically he would find me. I guess it was our bond that clued him in, even if he wasn’t aware of it.
I looked over and noticed that Halley and Lucian were nowhere to be found. With a sigh, I walked over to the counter he leaned up against.
“Hello,” he said in his deep voice. “How are you doing today, Cyn?”
How could his words make me think of him running his hand down my back as he was deep inside of me and watching me arch in pleasure?
“I’m fine, Fandare, thanks for asking. Do you want me to get Lucian? Or Halley?”
“I thought I’d spice things up and try something different today, and look, here you are.”
My stomach clenched and I tried to smile casually. “And you should know, Fandare—you’re always looking for something different.”
I turned from him and had started restocking the napkins when I thought I heard him say something about how he used to. I acted like I didn’t hear him, even though I was pretty sure he knew I did. And knowing the man, he did it on purpose.
He flattened his palms against the counter and leaned over toward me. “You know, Cyn, I was thinking.”
“That’s always dangerous,” I said sweetly to him.
“Oh no, darling, you have no idea how dangerous my thought are.” He gave me one of his half-smiles. “But as I was saying, they are planning to open the shields tonight on the roof of the Complex and allowing us to stay out past curfew since there is a meteor shower. I was wondering if you’d like to join me to watch the stars fall from the sky.”
It took everything I had not to gulp. “I’m sorry, but I already have plans for tonight.” I was pretty sure I’d deflected and would be safe.
Fandare smiled, and I knew at that point I had played into his hands. “That’s okay—the meteor shower goes on for the next few nights. I’d really hate for you to miss it.”
He caught me off guard, asking me out on a date. Rapidly, my mind spun. I really wanted to spend time with him; I’d never done something like that before—enjoy a meteor shower. I certainly hadn’t done anything fun on the Complex since I’d been there. Sure, everyone thought I was the life of the party, but it was all an act: I was working. Every minute spent in the clubs above and underground was dedicated to searching for the relic.
I bit my lip. It was probably one of the stupidest things I would ever do, especially knowing what needed to be done, and how hard it would be if things didn’t go the way I wanted them to. I knew I was strong. It must have been our bond making me weak. I knew what I wanted to do and I knew what I needed to do, but what I desired to do was something completely different, for a change.
He leaned closer to me and whispered, “Just say yes.”
I found myself nodding my head without any way to stop myself. The smile that spread across his face was as if I’d handed him the solar system.
“Excellent. I would say ‘until tomorrow,’ but we both know I will see you before then.”
A shiver flowed through the mark on my back at the thought of being able to see him again and thinking of tomorrow night. I watched him walk out the door and again noticed not only his grace, but my natural instincts told me he was also lethal underneath his charming exterior.
“So, you finally said yes to my brother,” Lucian said. “You know he’s a good man, and I’m not just saying that because I have to. My second in command is truly good. The opposite of me.”
I knew I had to deflect from Fandare. I couldn’t have Lucian looking too closely into Fandare’s and my…relationship, or whatever you wanted to call it. I ignored his comment about finally saying yes to his brother. It was the first time he’d officially asked me out. Maybe Lucian thought Fandare was asking me out every time he talked to me, but I didn’t want to ask him. “I’ve seen you with Halley. You’re not all bad.” I smirked and gave him a wink.
Lucian’s lips twitched. “Don’t let that get out. As leader of my clan, I cannot afford to have people thinking I am weak.”
“Loving a woman and keeping your bonded partner safe is not a weakness, it is a strength,” I said.
His smile faded. “Yes, but this system we live in, not all is peace and happiness. I cannot have people knowing how much she means to me. They can use her against me, and I can never allow that.” His eyes flashed red.
“Yes, but what you seem to forget,” Halley said, “is that I am a strong, powerful Strogi also. I can take care of myself.”
Watching the interaction between them, I was happy that for the moment he had forgotten about Fandare and me and had to concentrate on saving face with his wife.
“Oh, I have no doubt you can take care of yourself,” he said. “I just don’t ever want to put you in the position where you possibly have to kill someone to survive.”
A look I couldn’t interpret passed between the two of them. If I didn’t have my own problems, I would have probably been curious as to what was going on. I slipped away from the two of them and went to the back room to get more supplies for the front, happy to be out of the conversation. Now I just had to keep my evening with Fandare tomorrow night from dominating my every waking moment, which was going to be easier said than done.
With my shift finally over, I slung my pack over my shoulder and walked out the door, heading back toward the Alpine dome. I knew I had some time to do additional research before I had to go underground. My life had become nothing more than work and researching the relics and which of the Metas could possibly be holding it. I’d never needed much sleep, but I was still exhausted. Every day I felt like there was a sharp sword hanging over my neck, getting closer and closer as my time grew shorter and shorter.
It had become an uncontrollable habit to take in the building Fandare worked in as I walked down the street. My thoughts and steps stumbled when I saw him leaning up against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest and his legs spread wide. He was watching me. Always watching me. I nodded in his direction and kept walking. I had to continue to fight an invisible pull toward him. I couldn’t—I had too much to do. I had to stay focused on the job at hand and not think of Fandare, my bond. Not dream of our future together—a future where there was someone who would be there for me, that I could count on, that would never abandon me.
Chapter Three
FANDARE
March 7, 6 AS
Using my magic, I materialized underground in Marfa II. Six months after we started our first black-market bar, we’d had to destroy it because of the Intra officer Merrill who tried to take down Lucian and Halley. While the new location wasn’t as multifaceted at the first one, we still did an exceptional business. Everyone was looking for something the Complex wouldn’t allow, and we could get it for them. Every night both Human and Meta filled the place. While we might have been dealing in the black market, we still held everyone to
a high standard, and everyone knew what they were getting into down there. We made sure we always dealt with willing participants—especially those Humans who allowed the Meta to feed on them.
The amount of money we were making for our clan was unbelievable. Where once we were looked down upon as the scum of the system, now people sought us out and weren’t afraid to speak to us in public. The Complex was proving to be a very interesting experiment as to both the Humans and Metas. Those who didn’t have power before were gaining it, while those who used to wield it for their own selfish purposes were being knocked down. A real balance was being established.
Lucian and I had never had so much money in all the centuries we’d been alive. We had some good times and bad times, but the amount of money we held at the moment was staggering. Once our two years were up there, we were going to be able to do a lot of good for our Strogi Clan.
“Hey Bob,” I said as I opened the hatch on the bar and walked over to him. “Everything going smoothly?”
Bob nodded his large head and kept his eyes on the crowd. We were lucky to find him; no one wanted to mess with someone so lethal. He made sure everything was kept in order and everyone behaved.
I took a quick look at the transactions and knew it was going to be smooth sailing for the rest of the night. Besides, I knew at some point Lucian would also show up to make sure no one was causing trouble. Since I liked to size up the competition, I decided to take a walk through the tunnels and check some of them out.
Everyone said Lucian and I were like night and day. I was much more carefree and easy-going, while he was quick to anger and used his magic along with his fists in an argument. Most of the time I was using my charms and magic to calm the situation that stimulated his battle urge. If Lucian had anything to say about the matter, he’d spend all of the time away from people and out in nature. I didn’t mind people, but I did prefer the dark, so the underground fit me well.
Halley had brought out the best in my brother. He’d hate for anyone to say it, but he was a good man; he always did what was right for the clan, and now with Halley, well, she complemented him perfectly. Together I knew they’d make choices that would benefit the clan first. What I couldn’t understand was how her family would take her fee for being in the Complex for two years and then be happy never to see her again. It baffled me how a family could choose one daughter over the other, giving everything to one while the other received nothing.
From what she’d told me, things had gotten worse for Halley after her sister was violently attacked and left for dead by a Meta. She had to get an additional job to help with the medical bills, not to mention the fact her parents signed her up to go to the Complex without her permission. As far as I could tell, they didn’t care what happened to Halley as long as they received the money. At least she gained a new family here—one that truly cared about her wellbeing. I knew our clan would welcome her with open arms. She would fit in beautifully and rule by my brother’s side, making the clan stronger.
As I stepped through the magical barrier, the sounds of the club filled my ears as the lights danced around and bodies held each other close. Immediately I knew she was there. There always seemed to be a vibration in the air when she was around. I always figured it had something to do with the fact she spent so much time with Lucian and Halley—maybe their scents would mix hers.
Even though Cyn was deep in conversation with a Meta, her eyes snapped up and locked on mine before she glanced quickly down. How she knew I was there, I didn’t know. I strode over to the bar and leaned up against it, directly across from her. I studied the little things she did that made her seem not quite Human or Meta. I knew she was listed as a Meta on the manifest, but it didn’t fit with the person I had been watching. She was very good at charming people—almost as good as me. People—both Human and Meta—were drawn to her, but they both kept a certain distance. It was like they wanted her, but were instinctively scared of her at the same time. She intrigued me.
Watching her, I enjoyed the little cat-and-mouse game we had going on—a ritualistic dance before we finally would give into our passion. I knew it was just a matter of time; I felt the heat of her body increase whenever I moved closer to her. Watched her breath hitch in her chest. Saw her eyes go black with desire. I could feel her body reacting to mine without laying a finger on her. I was sure she was attracted to me as much as she hated the fact that she was.
“Well, hello stranger,” a soft voice said next to me as she walked her fingers up my arm. “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you.”
I looked down and saw Jungbluth smiling, along with her considerable assets hanging out of her extremely small top. “It most certainly has. You look ravishing. What have you been up to?”
“Only as much excitement as they allow here. You know me,” she giggled. “I’m always looking for a good time. Remember when we first met?”
Absently I made small talk with her as I kept my eyes on Cyn. I wasn’t associated with who she was speaking to at the moment, but that would change. There was an intimacy between them, though not a sexual one, because she wasn’t his type. In fact, she was the wrong gender, but there was something that drew them together. What did he have in order for her to open up to him in a way she wouldn’t with me?
I enjoyed watching her try not to squirm under my scrutiny. Her eyes continued to flick over to me before quickly looking somewhere else. She knew I was taking in her beauty, and her body responded.
I looked down at Jungbluth, hanging all over, and smiled. “If you’ll excuse me, I see someone I need to conduct some business with.” As gently as possible, I pried her off me and walked around the bar. I wasn’t going to wait until the following night to spend time with her. As I came around the corner of the bar, the two barstools they had been sitting on were empty. She’d disappeared on me again. Smiling, I knew I could find her. My magic wouldn’t fail me. I would find my Cyn.
Chapter Four
CYN
March 7, 6 AS
Sitting at the bar with Duce, he filled me in on the information he had gathered since the last time we had met. He was my one true friend there, the one that was always there for me and wanted absolutely nothing from me in return, since I didn’t excite him like other men. As a half-breed, he understood what it was like not to be wanted by the Metas or the Humans.
“Any plans tonight?” I asked him. Taking a sip from my drink, I let my eyes skim the bar, always watching.
Duce shrugged. “The usual.” His red eyes turned toward me. “You need to relax, do something fun for a change. You’re always so serious.”
I shook his comment away as I thought about the next night and watching the meteor shower with Fandare. There was no way that was going to be boring. I couldn’t believe I was going out on an actual date with him. For so long I’d been able to resist his pull; but now, with happiness within my reach, I had to deny myself—and him—in order to find the relic. I was banking on the fact I’d be able to go to him after I’d delivered it, and we’d get our happy ever after.
“Hello.” Duce waved his hand in front of my face. “Where’d you go, girl? You practically started to twinkle before you dimmed your own light. You actually got excited about something. Do tell.”
I shook my head. “It’s nothing.” Picking up my drink, I focused on the swirling colors.
“Mmmm-hmmm. If that was nothing, I’d love to hear what something was.” Duce wiggled his eyebrows at me.
Slamming my drink on the bar, I glared at him. “Really, it was nothing. Drop it.”
In a split second, Duce became serious and put his hand over mine. “Oh no, what’s going on? You looked like you were about to get something you always dreamed of having.”
I couldn’t look him in the eye. “Dreams aren’t for someone like me.”
“Well, you never know when a dream is going to happen. There’s always tomorrow night.”
My breath hitched in my chest and I clutched his hand. “
What do you know about tomorrow night?”
“Whoa, calm down, Cyn, what’s to know? I was just playing.”
“Oh. Sorry.” I knew I had given him something to think about. I trusted him, one of the few people in my life I’ve ever given that to, but I also knew he was going to do everything he could to figure what I was upset about. He loved puzzles and peeling back the layers to discover exactly what was underneath any situation—which was one reason for being happy he was helping me and yet worried he’d start poking around and eventually figure out that I was bonded to Fandare. I needed to get back on track. “So, what can you tell me about Soncel?”
“There’s a big party going on in the aquatic dome tonight, which means he won’t be back up to his room until extremely late. You know how long those parties can go. He might not make it home for a couple of days.”
“I only need tonight. What about his guard?”
“He’ll be down there, too. I made sure Embick was invited. Considering the history between the two, he’s going to want his guard close by.”
“Excellent.” My back started to tingle and I knew Fandare was near. I looked up across the bar and there he was at the entrance, staring at me. Shivers went down my spine. It took all I had not to let either Duce or Fandare know the effect he had on me. I watched as a woman practically fused herself to him and he absently flirted with her, but his eyes never left mine. No matter how many times I broke eye contact, my gaze was always returned to him, meeting his gaze that never strayed from me.
I kept up my end of the conversation with Duce, but all the while my mind was on Fandare, the intensity of his stare making my body tingle and become extra sensitive to the cool, damp air that flowed through the underground tunnels. If I ever gave in to him, I knew he would take me to the Heavens.