Harbinger

by Cyndi Friberg

  Slowly pushing two fingers deep into her core, he raised his head and watched her face. “Come for me, Haven. Let me see you surrender.”

  The command thrilled her, made her wild. She rocked against his hand, riding his fingers with complete abandon. He used his thumb on her clit, speeding her toward completion. Her hands clutched at his knees and her inner muscles tightened around his fingers as tension gathered in her core.

  “That’s right. Let it happen. Offer me your pleasure.”

  She rocked faster, taking him deeper, her breasts jostled by each firm thrust. She was glorious in her abandon, unconcerned with anything other than the feel of his fingers sliding in and out and the sensations building inside her. He sank deeper into her mind, mixing his energy with hers.

  Suddenly she cried out and arched nearly off his lap. He quickly wrapped his arm around her waist and supported her while she came. She shook and shivered, head thrown back as the sensations washed over her.

  He prolonged the spasms with his thumb, wringing every last tingle from her body before he slipped his hand free and quickly unfastened his pants. “Grab my shoulders.” It was the only warning he gave her before he pushed up with his legs so he could pull his pants down far enough to free his straining cock.

  Then he grasped her hips and angled her body, bringing his tip to her entrance. “Ride me. Hard.”

  She required no other instructions. Her hands moved to his shoulders and she slowly lowered herself onto his length. When he was completely encased in her creamy heat, she looked deep into his eyes. “Take me deeper into your mind. I want to feel more of your energy.”

  The easiest way to give her what she wanted was to anchor a mating bond. He closed his eyes against the temptation. That was not what she meant. He’d flooded her mind with harbinger energy a few moments before and now she wanted more. “Then ride me.”

  She lifted and lowered her body, sliding her softness over his hardness. Once she’d found a steady rhythm, he dilated their transfer link and saturated her mind with harbinger energy. She cried out, fingernails digging into his shoulders. Then her movements sped until she was slamming herself down over him, impaling herself fully with each demanding stroke.

  He braced his legs and tried to savor the tantalizing slide of her body over his, but he soon grew restless, needing more control.

  Wrapping both arms around her, he pressed her against his chest then shifted her to the side as he crawled onto the padded bench. She ended up on her back and he knelt between her thighs, still fully embedded in her core.

  “I like it better like this,” she confessed with another wicked smile.

  A growl escaped his throat as he caught the bend of her knees and drew her legs wide. “Mine.” He thrust into her hard and deep, unable to silence the word that had been echoing through his being ever since he caught her scent.

  She didn’t object to the claim, so he possessed her in the only way she’d allow, filling her body completely with his hardened flesh. Over and over, he filled her. Yet all the while it felt incomplete.

  Her fingers tangled in his hair, half free of its braid now. She drew his head down and brought his mouth to hers. Her lips parted and her tongue curled around his, not waiting for him to sink inside her mouth.

  Deep in her mind he heard the word his entire being ached to hear. Mine.

  Pleasure shot through him, triumph and joy like nothing he’d ever experienced before. Tearing his mouth away from hers, he threw back his head and cried out sharply. Their hips collided and he came deep inside her.

  She lay limp beneath him, her body pulsing with aftershocks. He’d been so swept away by his orgasm, that he hadn’t felt hers. But her sleepy smile and utter relaxation assured him she was sated.

  He released her legs and rolled to her side. They had to snuggle to fit side by side, but he was too wobbly legged to stand right now.

  Should he mention what she’d said? He shook away the impulse. She was moving slowly toward him. It was taking longer than his body would have liked, but as long as she continued toward him, he’d give her all the time she needed to be confident in her choice.

  * * * * *

  Rodymia’s sky often turned red when a storm was brewing. Letos had suggested a safe house on the outskirts of the capital for the meeting, but the risk of someone discovering the Phantom was too great. So Haven contacted Endar, the current head of Tandori supporters on Rodymia, and asked for a more secluded location. Endar suggested a small hunting lodge in the forest west of the capital. The tree cover was thick, the area hilly, and largely undeveloped.

  Danvier landed the shuttle in the clearing surrounding a small lake, then activated the covert shields and intruder detection systems. Haven released the main hatch and climbed down the stairs as Danvier secured the ship. She paused beside the lake and took in the tranquil setting. Like Stargazer Ranch, this place created a sense of isolation and safety, yet this locale was distinctly Rodyte. The water was turquoise rather than blue and there were a wide variety of broadleaf trees rather than a solid wall of majestic pine.

  Her gaze drifted from the lake to the sky and she shivered. Hovering over the treetops were crimson and pink clouds. Despite the calm coolness surrounding them now, they were in for a violent storm.

  “Ready?” Danvier asked as he joined her beside the lake. “The ship is in full stealth mode.”

  “We made good time. Letos won’t be here for at least an hour.” She dragged her gaze away from the scenery and looked at her companion. He had his duffle bag slung over one shoulder and her overnight bag hung from the other. “I can take one of those.”

  He waved away the offer as if she’d insulted him. “Lead on.”

  She’d spent a couple of weeks at this cabin when she’d first arrived on Rodymia. Endar and other supporters often used it for secret meetings or to house visitors that couldn’t be seen in the city. “It’s nothing fancy,” she warned as she led him through the forest. “But there’s an intruder detection grid.”

  “Who owns the property?”

  Protective instincts made her hesitate. She wasn’t used to sharing Tandori secrets. Even Javin hadn’t known how widespread and well-organized the interests of Tandori Tribe were.

  Danvier chuckled. “I was just passing the time, sweetheart, not prodding you for information.”

  “Sorry. Protecting my people is instinctive. Admitting that you’re a member of Tandori Tribe can land you in a detention center.”

  “I’m a known conspirator with the battle born rebels. I’d be in the cell right next to yours.”

  There was no specific trail. She used landmarks to find the cabin. “This property is owned by one of the tribe’s holding companies. Many of our possessions were seized by the crown when we were exiled, but some fast thinking on the part of my ancestors allowed us to protect a good portion of our wealth. The capital has been managed and reinvested down through the years to help fund our causes here and on Earth.”

  “I’m impressed.” He strolled along at her side, occasionally moving a low hanging branch out of her way as they went. “I had no idea there were still so many members of Tandori Tribe.”

  “The people left on Rodymia are supporters rather than actual tribe members, but the network seems to grow every year. The battle born aren’t the only ones tired of Quinton’s incompetence and the rampant corruption among the elite.”

  They emerged into a small clearing surrounding a modest cabin. Danvier looked around, eyes narrowed as he assessed the area. “The cabin can only be accessed from above?”

  “Or on horseback.”

  “Horseback?” He smiled. “Don’t you mean feata back? There are no horses on Rodymia.”

  “Sorry. You might have rescued me from this planet, but I spent the majority of my life on Earth.”

  Endar had authorized Haven’s profile when she visited the first time, so she wasn’t surprised when her facial scan unlocked the front door. But trepidation tingled down her spine as
she reached for the handle. She looked at Danvier and found his expression just as troubled as hers.

  He motioned her back from the door and drew his flexblade. Neither spoke, yet they both sensed that something was wrong. There were no skimmers or featas indicating visitors. So why had their instincts engaged.

  Carefully keeping Haven behind him, Danvier eased the door open.

  “Surprise!” A chorus of voices called from inside the cabin.

  Haven pressed in close so she could see around his shoulder. “It’s okay. I know these idiots.” She eased past him as they squeezed through the doorway more or less at the same time. “You scared the crap out of me.”

  Endar rushed forward, a wide grin on her round face. She was a happily bonded female nearing middle age and Haven loved her playful humor. “I hope you don’t mind. Everyone was dying to see you again.”

  “Everyone” was Endar and her two sisters, along with a collection of supporters from the surrounding villages. The cabin’s main living space, which wasn’t that large in the first place, was crowded with Rodytes of every age, shape and size.

  “I don’t mind.” She looked at Danvier and smiled. “You can put the sword away, love. They’re harmless. I promise.”

  “How did they get here?” His suspicion persisted, though he transformed his flexblade back into a dagger and snapped it into the bracket strapped to his thigh.

  Endar walked right up to him, her gaze every bit as assessing as his. “And why should we tell you?”

  He crossed his chest with his arm, fist near his shoulder. It was the harbinger equivalent of a handshake. “Danvier Evon and I’m responsible for Haven’s safety, so it’s in her best interest that I understand the situation.”

  Endar arched one of her eyebrows. “Aren’t harbingers supposed to be psychic? Why don’t you already know?”

  “Ignore her,” Haven advised. “She likes to argue.”

  The next hour passed in a blur of laughter and conversation. Haven hadn’t seen most of these people since her first stay in the cabin two years before. Once her relationship with Javin restricted her to IG Headquarters, she’d been cut off from most of her supporters. Another sign of his abusive nature that she’d refused to see.

  Danvier tried to stand back and watch, as was his custom, but the supporters weren’t cooperating. The females flirted outrageously, while the males seemed genuinely curious about his experiences. Most of them had never been beyond their rural villages, so someone as highly placed and well-traveled as Danvier was fascinating to them. Once the initial surge of excitement mellowed, Endar eased Haven away from the others.

  “I won’t let them stay long,” Endar promised. “I know the technomage is on his way.”

  “How did you get here? None of these people can teleport.”

  Endar grinned, clearly enjoying the mystery. “We piled into my shuttle and I flew them as far as Jaritten Falls. We hiked over from there. I know how important it is that no one realizes you’re here, so I wasn’t taking any chances.”

  The caution was likely overkill, but Haven was thankful for the effort. “Is there a reason for this visit, or did you just miss me?”

  “We want you to come out of the shadows. It’s wrong that you live like a criminal when you’ve done nothing wrong.” She straightened her shoulders and looked into Haven’s eyes. “Are you here to negotiate on behalf of Tandori Tribe or are you simply supporting the battle born?”

  “I’m absolutely here on behalf of Tandori Tribe. I understand the power we possess and I intend to make sure the others understand it as well. The Keire dynasty is about to end and I will secure Tandori Tribe, and all of our supporters, a place in the new Rodymia.”

  Endar nodded, her dark gaze warming as she heard Haven’s answer. “That’s what I told the council, but they wanted to make sure before you met with the technomage.”

  “I’m thrilled to have seen everyone again, but you better get going. Letos could be here in the next few minutes.”

  After giving Haven a lingering hug, Endar rounded up her rowdy companions and hurried them out the front door. “Ping me when the negotiations are finished,” Endar said once the others had gone. “We’re all dying to know how it turns out.”

  “Of course. And don’t worry. Letos wouldn’t have asked for this meeting if the IG weren’t ready for action.”

  Endar waved at Danvier and offered him her first warm smile. “It was nice meeting you.”

  He dipped his head then Endar closed the door.

  “That was unexpected.” He rolled his shoulders, likely trying to ease the tension gathering between his shoulder blades.

  She walked over to him and slipped her arms around his waist. “I should have realized Endar was up to something. She was a little too eager to play hostess.”

  “You seem very comfortable with her, like you’ve known her all your life. Did you meet for the first time when you came to Rodymia? I thought you spent most of those two years locked away in IG Headquarters.”

  “Two years ago was the first time I’d been in the same room with Endar, but we’d been corresponding for more than a decade. Audio files convey a lot of a person’s personality, and as you saw, Endar is a character. She coordinates many of the Tandori Tribe’s outreach programs. And as for my stay in IG Headquarters, I seldom left the building. However, my close friends were allowed to visit. After a comprehensive vetting process, of course.” She made an annoyed face, then dismissed the memories with a wave of her hand.

  “I’m glad. I hated thinking of you all alone for all that time.”

  They’d barely stashed their bags in the bedroom and decided to make a pot of civata brew when Danvier sensed their next guest. “Letos is here.” He motioned toward the front door. “He teleported into the front yard so he can knock on the door.”

  “Can he actually teleport or does he have a ship with bio-streaming technology?” Technomages loved to make their abilities seem organic, but such was seldom the case.

  Danvier shrugged as a knock sounded on the door. “You’ll have to ask him.” He crossed the room and opened the door. “Are you alone?”

  “Alone and unarmed as per our agreement.” Letos’s gaze shifted pointedly to the weapon strapped to Danvier’s thigh. “The rules only apply to me?”

  “A technomage is never unarmed and we both know it,” Haven pointed out from her position near the kitchen.

  “Haven Tandori, I presume?” He maneuvered around Danvier and approached her. Like most Rodytes, Letos was tall and dark-haired. His build was tightly muscled, promising agility as well as strength.

  She’d heard a lot about Javin’s favorite operative, but this was the first time they’d been in the same room. “I was about to make civata. Would you like some? Or can I get you something else?” She hadn’t even had time to look in the refrigeration unit to see what was available.

  “Civata would be fine. Where shall I sit?”

  The kitchen chairs were primitive, hard wood and spindle backed, so she pointed to the furniture grouped around the fireplace. “The living room would be more comfortable. This cabin doesn’t offer many amenities. I’ll just be a few minutes.”

  Danvier led Letos into the living room as Haven hurried into the kitchen. There was no nutria-gen, but there was a compact beverage station. She selected three servings of civata brew then found mugs while the beverage station prepared her order. She could hear the rumble of the men’s conversation, but didn’t try to follow along. Danvier wouldn’t start negotiations without her. After finding a tray so she could carry everything at once, she dispensed the steaming civata into the mugs and joined the men in the living room.

  Letos had chosen one of the chairs and Danvier sat on the sofa. She set the tray on the coffee table, passed out the mugs, then sat beside Danvier on the couch.

  “Before we begin, let me clarify my position,” Letos said. “I’m here as a representative of the steering committee not just the Integration Guild.”


  “We were hoping that was the case,” Danvier told him. “I represent the battle born and Ms. Tandori represents Tandori Tribe.”

  Letos nodded at Haven, acknowledging the distinction. “Shall we establish the basics? Are we all in agreement that Quinton must be replaced, not managed?”

  “I would take that a step farther,” Danvier said. “The only way to prevent retaliation, and bring about lasting change, is to end Quinton Kiere entirely.”

  “I agree.” Letos flashed an unexpected smile. “Though I’m glad you said it first.”

  Refusing to allow the males to negotiate around her, Haven insinuated herself into the conversation. “While we’re being candid, what will it cost us to secure the support of the steering committee? I presume you don’t want to be directly involved with the coupe.”

  “We’re business men, not soldiers. We can help equip the battle born if technology is an issue, but few of us would be any help in an actual fight.”

  “The battle born can handle the actual fighting,” Danvier assured him. “We’ll need your help once the new government is installed.”

  “And what is General Nox’s vision of this new government?”

  Haven looked at Danvier, very interested in the answer. If the battle born had made this decision, she wasn’t aware of it.

  “We’d like to propose that the crown stirate be replaced with a three-person panel, a sort of high council to oversee the governing bodies already in existence,” Danvier explained.

  “And who would have seats on this three-person council?” Letos stroked his chin as more details were revealed.

  “One would represent all of the guilds, one would represent the battle born, and one would represent Tandori Tribe and all its supporters.”

  “What about the elite?” Letos asked, speculation narrowing his gaze.

  “The elite are already represented by the guilds,” Haven pointed out. “And the guilds will have a seat on this new panel.”

  Letos settled back in his chair and took several sips of civata brew. “I’m not sure the guild masters will see it that way.”