Harbinger

by Cyndi Friberg

  “Come here.”

  She closed the short distance between them and lowered her head. He turned her around, so she faced away from him and then methodically cut the back out of her blouse. He left the collar in place, so the sleeves remained on her arms, but her entire back was bare. Then he tucked the hem of her skirt into the waistband, exposing her ass and thighs. “You’ll be publicly flogged as Lutto suggested, but no one will be allowed to touch you. However, you will serve drinks in the mess hall twice a day with your back and ass exposed. You will do this every day until your marks have faded. Do you understand?”

  “Yes, sir.” She enjoyed a good flogging and had long since lost any sense of modesty. What he described was really no punishment at all. Relief washed over her again and she exhaled. “Thank you, sir.”

  “Report to the mess hall in one hour for your discipline.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Chapter Four

  Danvier clasped his hands behind his back and took a deep breath, determined to calm his surging emotions. Endless hours of meditation had failed to banish Haven’s image from his mind, so he wasn’t sure why he expected to have any better luck this morning. She attracted him, intrigued him and aroused him. He’d found his mate, or at least a possible mate. The mating pull was only this strong when the couple was genetically compatible. The question was, what did he want to do about it?

  He was part of a military rebellion. Not only were the battle born preparing to oust the current leader of their planet, they were in the middle of complex negotiations with the people of Earth. His life had never been this filled with conflict. Why would any female want to subject herself to the chaos surrounding him? And to complicate things even further, Haven was a widow. It had been four short months since she lost her mate. It was much too soon for her even to think of a serious relationship.

  Using the last thought to push away his primal urges, he moved in front of Haven’s door and triggered the scanner. He quickly smoothed his dark blue tunic and gray pants, then adjusted the fall of his braid. The computer told Haven she had a visitor, but instead of allowing him inside, she walked to the threshold and opened the door.

  She stood framed by the doorway for a moment, a tentative smile curving her kissable lips. Danvier’s chest tightened and desire sizzled through his bloodstream. She appeared fresh and rested for the first time since their unconventional introduction. Even disheveled and exhausted, he’d thought she was beautiful. Now he found it hard to breathe.

  He had no idea where she’d gotten the dress, but it suited her perfectly. The rich blue fabric brought out the highlights in her hair and made her skin appear particularly creamy. Tiny pearlescent buttons held the front together and the calf-length skirt flared from a wide waistband. The style was casual, almost demure, much like the dress she’d worn the day before. She’d pulled the front portion of her hair back, yet left the rest in soft waves to her shoulders. She wasn’t wearing makeup and her outfit was far from provocative, so why did he find her so damn sexy.

  “Good morning.” He moved out of the way so she could join him in the corridor. “You look lovely. Did you sleep well?”

  A delightful blush colored her cheeks as she said, “I didn’t realize how tired I was, but I went out like a light.”

  “That’s not surprising after all you’ve been through. Have you eaten?” He motioned her in the direction they needed to go, then fell into step beside her.

  “Berlynn and I grabbed breakfast in the shopping area. That’s where I got the dress.” She fanned out the skirt with another smile.

  “I’m glad you found something you liked. There’s not much to choose from right now, but that color is perfect for you.”

  “I had to borrow the credits from Berlynn and I’m not even sure I can pay her back.” She shook her head with a sigh, but kept up with his brisk pace. “I suspect everything I owned on Rodymia has been seized by the authorities by now.”

  “I’ll mention it to Garin. He might have someone who can help us unfreeze the accounts long enough to access the credits.”

  “That would be amazing.” When he led her back to the commerce district, confusion furrowed her brow. “Where are we going?”

  “Garin’s office is up there.” He pointed to the top tier. “The ships need to be able to come and go, so he set up a temporary headquarters here.”

  “That makes sense.”

  They took an elevator to the top tier and the offices were easy to find. They were the only thing in use on the entire oblong ring.

  They’d just about reached the door when Haven touched his arm. “Is that a flexblade?” She motioned toward the weapon strapped to his thigh.

  “Yes. Why do you ask?”

  “I’ve heard they’re incredibly hard to control, that they can take years to master.” When he just smiled at her, she asked, “Why does a harbinger need such a challenging weapon?”

  “I’ve lived my life surrounded by battle born soldiers. Sometimes I forget I’m a harbinger.” Danvier pushed open the door to Garin’s office as he tapped on the transparent barrier. “Are you ready for us?” he asked his longtime friend.

  Garin motioned them inward as he quickly finished his conversation.

  Danvier seated Haven in front of Garin’s desk then sat down beside her. She pressed her knees together and folded her hands in her lap. Danvier wanted to laugh. She certainly hadn’t been this reserved with him. But then, he wasn’t nearly as intimidating as General Nox.

  “I understand your point,” Garin said, his tone a bit impatient. “That doesn’t change the fact that I disagree. You’re where I need you, Kaden. End of conversation.”

  Danvier couldn’t quite make out Kaden’s response, but it sounded angry. It was easy to guess what the argument was about. Kaden Lux currently commanded the Intrepid, the hospital/research ship on which the transformation program was taking place. He was one of Garin’s most trusted officers, but he’d been a field agent for many years and was growing bored babysitting scientists.

  “My orders stand.” Without allowing Kaden to continue arguing, Garin pinched off the connection. “I gave him a taste of action and now he’s desperate for more.”

  Danvier chuckled. “You had to have known that was a risk when you sent him out into the field again.”

  “I did, but it made sense at the time.” He swiveled his chair around so he faced them and proffered his hand toward Haven. “I’m General Garin Nox, welcome to Lunar Nine.”

  Haven scooted forward so she could reach his hand. Danvier watched her closely, more interested in her reaction than he should have been. Most considered Garin handsome. All the Nox brothers were, but Garin also commanded great power and wealth.

  “Thank you for arranging my rescue.” She sounded polite and a bit hesitant. “Or should I say my second kidnapping. This has all been very strange.”

  “My latest report from Rodymia might help clear up some of the confusion.” Garin settled back in his chair as he explained, “Pyre’s claim to be protecting you was more or less true. She likely had ulterior motives, but Quinton raided IG Headquarters yesterday. The compound is still in lockdown.”

  “Which means everyone knows about Javin.” She shifted her troubled gaze from Garin to Danvier. “But you already knew. Did your power reveal what had happened or was it one of the general’s spies?”

  She’d quickly changed the subject yesterday whenever he asked about the details of Javin’s death. Though she’d admitted that her mate had passed beyond, she was clearly not ready to talk about it. Danvier was surprised she was willing to go there now. “I had a vision, but it wasn’t detailed. We still don’t understand why the deception was necessary.” Or if the deception was necessary.

  Garin remained silent, likely hoping she’d explain without further prompting.

  Haven fidgeted in her chair, then looked around the room as if fascinated by the austere space.

  “Alliances require trust, so I’m going to share a
fact I’ve not yet told your brother.” Haven returned her attention to Garin. “My research team now has a formula that will allow us to transform full-blooded humans.”

  Danvier touched Haven’s arm, drawing her gaze back to him. “Do you understand the significance of this development?”

  She nodded. “Your primary motivation for creating an alliance with Tandori Tribe was because your transformation program needed hybrid females. If that’s no longer true, you’re far less interested in indulging my brother.”

  “Ulrik was able to demand anything he wanted because he was negotiating from a position of power,” Garin told her. “That’s no longer the case. However, we’re still interested in an alliance with Tandori Tribe.”

  “Why?” Though softly spoken, challenge rang through the word.

  “For the same reason you were on Rodymia.” Garin’s expression gradually sharpened.

  This female was surrounded in unanswered questions and no one was better at convincing people to provide answers than the general. If all else failed, Danvier could scan her mind, carefully extracting the information they needed. He could probably do so without damage. However, it was unlikely his actions would go unnoticed, which meant he would shatter any hope he had of earning her trust.

  “The unrest on our homeworld has created a renewed interest in Tandori Tribe,” Garin continued. “Many would like to see a member of your family on the throne.”

  “Will there still be a throne once the rebellion is finished?” Her silky brows arched again.

  “I’d like to see a more representative form of government. Quinton is the perfect example of why hereditary leaders should become a thing of the past.”

  She dipped her head and interest smoldered in her gaze. Little by little, the feisty Haven Danvier had encountered the day before was reemerging. Good. Garin responded best to strength and honesty. “I’m in complete agreement,” she said. “Ulrik is the eldest member of Tandori Tribe, but many aspects of his personality make him unfit to rule.”

  A silent pause followed her admission. Garin pressed back into his chair, gaze narrowed on her face. Danvier felt the tension mount and scooted to the edge of his seat.

  “I’m surprised to hear you say that,” Garin told her.

  “Do you disagree?”

  “Not at all, but I’m not his sister.”

  “I love my brother.” Suddenly moisture gathered behind her lashes and her voice sounded tight, almost strangled. “I love both of my brothers, but I love my people more. Neither of my brothers would have made a good ruler. Vinton was so concerned with the spirit realm that he frequently lost touch with the physical. Berlynn had to remind him to eat, and shower. He’d go days, sometimes weeks, without sleep.”

  “And Ulrik?” Garin’s assessing gaze remained fixed on her face, but his tone softened. “Isn’t he the current leader of Tandori Tribe?”

  “It’s not the same.” She smiled, appearing more comfortable than she had when the conversation began. “With careful handling, Ulrik can maintain order among our communities. But he’s quick to anger and to become argumentative. Does he strike you as the sort of person you’d want ruling an entire planet?”

  Rather than revealing his opinion on the matter, Garin pointed out, “With Vinton and Ulrik out of the running that leaves you.”

  “I have no interest in that sort of responsibility.”

  Garin didn’t push her, but Danvier recognized the speculative gleam in his friend’s eyes. Clearly Garin hadn’t dismissed the possibility. “You’re being candid, so I’ll do the same. I don’t trust Ulrik. I suspect the bounty on my head is the only reason he’s interested in an alliance. Are you able to negotiate on behalf of Tandori Tribe or should I move on?”

  She was silent for a moment and her expression became unreadable. “How will you keep Ulrik from betraying you, if that’s his intention?”

  Garin smiled, clearly not fooled by her evasion. “He’s harmless as long as I keep him here.”

  Her eyes widened and her lips parted in a subtle gasp. “We’re prisoners?”

  “Do you intend to betray me?”

  “No, but I won’t betray my brother either.”

  “How did Javin die?” The pleasantries were over. General Nox had officially begun his interrogation.

  “I didn’t kill him,” she insisted.

  “I didn’t say you did. I asked for an explanation and I’m expecting the truth.”

  She licked her lips and glanced at Danvier, then returned her gaze to Garin. The general hadn’t come right out and said it, but if she didn’t cooperate, she could easily become his prisoner too. If Tandori Tribe was honestly interested in forging an alliance with the battle born, it was time for Haven to swallow her pride and share her secrets.

  “I found out a damning secret about my mate and confronted him with it,” she began.

  “How damning? What did you learn?” Clearly, Garin wouldn’t accept generalizations. He expected a detailed explanation of everything that had taken place.

  Haven’s chin rose several notches and her gaze narrowed, but she continued with her story. “A shuttle exploded with one of Javin’s fiercest competitors abroad. It wasn’t the first time something like that had happened, but this time was even worse. The man had been traveling with his family. A wife and four children, no one survived the explosion.”

  “Was Javin aware that the family would be aboard?”

  After a tense pause she nodded. “That’s what escalated the fight. When I threw the accusation in his face, it was obvious he wasn’t surprised and couldn’t care less. I told him I was leaving, that I would not protect a baby-killer. He became enraged and tried to silence me. Javin had his hands around my throat when one of his bodyguards shot him. The bodyguard only meant to incapacitate Javin, but the pulse burst an artery. Javin bled out in a matter of seconds. Not even his medi-bots could stem the flow of blood.”

  Her utter lack of emotion made the sequence of events sound rehearsed. It was vital that they know whether or not they could trust her. Reluctantly, Danvier opened his mind, allowing her emotions to flow through him. It was still an invasion of sorts, but it was less intrusive than mining for specific thoughts.

  “Neither of you called for help? A medic might have been able to cauterize the wound,” Garin pointed out.

  “You weren’t there. I’ve never seen so much blood.”

  Regret pulsed through Danvier, the intensity shocking when compared with her stoic expression. He sensed anger and frustration as well as grief, but there was no hint of dishonesty or malice.

  Garin took another moment to search her gaze before he spoke again. “And the deception? Why didn’t you simply call the authorities? As you describe them, the bodyguard’s actions were justified.”

  “No one would have believed us.” She pushed to her feet and moved behind her chair. The barrier calmed her somewhat, though bursts of anger and sadness still pushed into Danvier’s mind. “My relationship with Javin had become strained. Rumors were rampant that the bodyguard and I were lovers.”

  “Were you?”

  Garin’s question didn’t surprise her or anger her as Danvier feared. In fact, all her emotions faded until all he sensed was profound isolation and a longing he couldn’t quite define. He shifted in his seat, restless with the need to comfort her.

  “We were attracted to each other, but nothing had happened at that point.”

  At that point? Danvier tensed. Did she mean something would have happened if the flirtation had had more time or had they become lovers after Javin’s death? He clenched his fists then forced his fingers to relax. He had no claim to this female. So why did the thought of her with another man fill him with rage?

  “Death can’t be concealed indefinitely,” Garin was saying as Danvier forced his attention back to the conversation. “What was your plan?”

  “I insisted that the bodyguard leave the star system and not tell me where he was going. All I was trying to do was po
stpone the news of Javin’s passing until the bodyguard, the man who saved my life, was safely away.”

  “What happened? Why did you maintain the deception for so long?”

  With a heavy sigh, she returned to her chair. Outwardly, she seemed more relaxed, but her emotions were even more restrained and conflicted. Apparently, Haven didn’t consider her mate’s death the worst part of the story. How strange.

  “Why is it necessary that you know every detail? I had legitimate reasons for what I did. Isn’t that enough?”

  “Not if Tandori Tribe is still interested in an alliance,” Garin insisted. “This sort of negotiation is impossible without trust.”

  Haven crossed her legs then uncrossed them, anxiety tensing her sculpted features. Danvier didn’t need to be empathic to understand her discomfort. Trust didn’t come easily to Haven. Unfortunately, Garin wasn’t giving her a choice. She could either entrust them with the entire truth or tell her tribe that there would be no alliance with the battle born.

  Not surprisingly, she took a deep breath and continued her explanation. “On the surface Javin was kind and pleasant, he was a shrewd businessman that made the Integration Guild the most powerful force on Rodymia. But he was very different from the man I fell in love with.”

  “How did you learn of his true nature?”

  “I was with him almost continually once our relationship began. I was a fugitive, so it was dangerous for me to leave IG Headquarters.”

  “You had to have known that when you decided to visit Rodymia in the first place,” Garin pointed out.

  “As you said, support for and interest in Tandori Tribe is resurging thanks to all the rumors that Quinton is about to be overthrown. We needed to see for ourselves how widespread the support had become.”

  “I understand that, but why go yourself? You risked imprisonment by setting foot on the planet. Why not send a trusted agent?”

  “I was born on Earth. To my knowledge, there is no record of my likeness on Rodymia. I arrived on an Ontarian trade ship and used an alias.”