Untamed Hawaiian Heat (Rift Hunters)

by MacLean, Shay

  Once everyone was seated, Kiana glanced around the room, surprised to see Ash had come with them. She and Mateo had to be here, since they’d been present at the man’s arrival. It was protocol for Monte, as platoon chief, to be present; the same went for Newt with his rank as leading petty officer. But Ash was their cybernetic medical tech, and he’d already said the stranger didn’t have any implants. She opened her mouth to ask, but Lieutenant Commander Pearce spoke before she had a chance.

  “Let’s skip to the chase. I’m Lieutenant Commander Sean Pearce, base commander here. Our interrogator, Petty Officer 1 Elias Marinos, will be asking you a few questions before we decide where to put you.”

  The stranger met the commander’s eyes. “I understand the need to ascertain if I’m a threat to your people.” He turned his attention to Elias. “I’ll do my best to answer your questions.”

  Elias pulled out the handheld recorder he used for interrogations and pushed a button. “All right, then, let’s begin.” He met the stranger’s gaze. “Please state your name and where you’re from.”

  The man shifted in his seat, then glanced at her and then Mateo before answering. “I am Centurion Tiaki Jamison, Primus Patefacio Rift Hunter of the Order of Kay. I hail from the planet Mākutu in the Phoenix Galaxy.”

  Kiana exchanged looks with the others. What the hell was he talking about?

  “You mean you’re from one of the newer islands in Oceania?” Elias prompted.

  “No. I mean exactly what I said. I am from the planet Mākutu in the Phoenix Galaxy.”

  Kiana leaned forward. “You must be mistaken. This is Earth, and we’ve no record of any galaxy by that name.”

  Tiaki turned and met her gaze. “I know I’m on Earth. Where exactly I am, and what time period I’m in, I am uncertain, since I didn’t have control of where the rift was taking me.”

  “You expect us to believe this load of shit? He’s lying, Commander. That, or he’s loco. Which I wouldn’t find too far of a stretch,” Mateo interjected, his voice vibrating with anger.

  “I’ll thank you to sit down and shut up, Castillo. This is not your interrogation, and I don’t have any problems ejecting you from it.” Pearce returned his attention to Tiaki. “Start from the beginning, Mr. Jamison, and go over where you’re from again. We’ll straighten out everything as we go.”

  “I’ll gladly explain everything to you, but it might be easier for you to comprehend what I’m telling you if I show you. If it’s all right with you, I’d like to borrow the use of your monitor there.” He pointed to the massive monitor taking up the wall behind Pearce’s head.

  Pearce glanced at the others. “Proceed, but know we’re watching you very closely. One wrong move, and you will be taken into custody immediately. Understood?”

  “Perfectly. I would do the same if I were in your position.”

  Tiaki rose from his seat and approached the com control at the side of the screen. He glanced over his shoulder and briefly met Kiana’s eyes, and then Mateo’s, before reaching for a small pocket on his sleeve Kiana hadn’t noticed before. He pulled out what appeared to be a tiny, wafer-thin microchip and turned his attention to the computer.

  Kiana watched as Tiaki assessed the com panel, then laid the chip upon the housing of the hard drive. She sensed a gently pulsing energy begin to flow freely from his hand, and her own energy fluttered in recognition. Her gaze flew to the com screen when it began to flicker wildly as data flashed across it. Documents, images of space, and all manner of other foreign sights flashed across the screen faster than she could make sense of them.

  There was a collective gasp from everyone present when he opened his eyes and turned to face them. His eyes had turned pitch-black with ribbons of molten gold swirling through them.

  Kiana’s attention was caught by more flickering images on the com screen as Tiaki continued to hold his hand over the computer terminal. Maps flashed across the screen. They appeared and disappeared before she had a chance to focus on any of them. It finally stopped on a picture of a solar system. Only it wasn’t their galaxy. This one had a deep purple sky so dark it was almost black, with red stars. Off in the upper-right corner was a planet in shades of green and blue.

  Her gaze flew back to his, and she watched as his eyes faded back to their intense shade of crystalline blue. She opened her mouth to ask what the hell was going on, but then thought better of it when she felt something calling to the energy inside her.

  The energy strained toward both him and Mateo.

  Tiaki put the chip back in the pocket on his sleeve and turned to address the room. “What you see on the screen is my home planet, Mākutu. It resides in the Phoenix Galaxy 27,000 light-years from Earth.” He paused and waited while they digested the information.

  Kiana’s heart rate sped up when his gaze shifted back and forth between her and Mateo a couple of times as though he was trying to tell them something. She could feel that restless energy reaching out for Tiaki, urging her to accept… What, she didn’t know. She broke eye contact with him when Mateo shifted in his chair beside her.

  “How did you come to be here, Mr. Jamison?” Lieutenant Commander Pearce’s voice cut through her thoughts.

  TIAKI CLEARED HIS throat. “It will be easier for you to understand if I give you a little history of the Phoenix Galaxy.”

  Pearce nodded. “Proceed.”

  Taking a deep breath, Tiaki began. “When the gods began to fall out of favor, they gathered their most loyal subjects and journeyed to a sparsely inhabited galaxy, which they dubbed the Phoenix Galaxy.”

  “What gods?” Elias asked.

  “What you know of as mythology were actually religions pushed into extinction by newer ones. The gods that moved to the Phoenix Galaxy in hopes of reviving their following are from nine different pantheons, although a few combined and settled on a planet together. The most powerful of the nine is the Greek pantheon.” Tiaki glanced around the room and watched to see if anyone showed knowledge of this information.

  “And the other pantheons? Who are they?” Pearce asked.

  Tiaki flipped through some of the images he’d uploaded to their system. “The other pantheons are from Celtic, Norse, Native American, Polynesian and Australian, Egyptian, Japanese, Chinese, and Indian.”

  “You mentioned that the planets in this galaxy were sparsely populated. What happened to the people who were there first?”

  Tiaki heard the sharp edge in Mateo’s voice. He met and held Mateo’s gaze. “Yes. There were some alien life-forms. Most of them were welcoming. Those that weren’t, we were able to negotiate treaties with through one of the best arbitrators known to man.”

  “And just who might that be?” Mateo bit out.

  Tiaki glanced around at the men and woman sitting at the table. “King Arthur and his knights of the round table followed the Celtic pantheon. They were appointed ambassadors when it looked like the aliens were gearing up to wage war on those who’d followed.”

  “What does all this have to do with how you came to be here, Mr. Jamison?”

  Pearce’s question broke the tension that was quickly becoming palpable. Tiaki didn’t blame them. It was a lot to take in. Especially if they knew nothing about this history.

  “Shortly after the treaties were signed and some of the followers began to intermarry with the natives, it was revealed that the cores of the planets contained vast amounts of energy or magic, some richer than others. The gods, being who they are, battled over who would settle on each of the planets.” Tiaki scanned the faces of everyone present. Ash and the interrogator, Elias, were the only ones who didn’t look surprised at the information he was delivering. Interesting.

  He noted Kiana’s expression was one of curiosity, while Mateo’s held doubt and disinterest, although he could feel the other man’s magic stirring restlessly.

  Elias finally spoke up. “I sense there is more. Please continue.”

  Tiaki nodded. “Eventually agreements were reached, and new g
overnments were set up. Each planet now had a pantheon of gods, and a ruling family was chosen among those who had intermarried as well. The gods were loath to cut off all ties with Earth, though. Whether this was because of their fascination with the human race or not is anyone’s guess. For years they used rifts through time and space to travel back and forth between Earth and the Phoenix Galaxy. Possibly even other galaxies. They granted the privilege of using the rifts to their loyal followers occasionally.” He sent a pulse of his magic to the computer, and the images of the maps disappeared. As he explained the next succession of events, he flipped through a series of pictures.

  “Over the centuries, it became obvious the newer generations of followers were evolving. Some were born with a natural magic within themselves. When those individuals reached puberty, it was discovered they were able to harness the power within the planets’ cores as well. The gods took advantage of this and asked Merlin to train them to protect the cores and guard the rifts from being used inappropriately. Merlin divided the magic into orders and assigned them to the knights to master and teach. Those who are trained in the orders are called Rift Hunters. A cohort of Hunters is stationed on each planet.”

  “So you’re saying the people who followed the gods developed the ability to wield this magic?” Kiana asked.

  Tiaki turned his attention to Kiana. “Not everyone. We’re still doing research to figure out how it happens, but the magic seems to choose those it feels worthy at a very young age. Once it’s recognized—”

  Lieutenant Commander Pearce interrupted. “Mr. Jamison, we don’t have time to go over every detail. Please finish with this so you can explain how you came to be in the middle of the Waimea Valley during a skirmish with our enemy.”

  “Of course, sir. I’ve uploaded a copy of what I’ve told you. The files explain everything in greater detail.” He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to decide what they needed to know immediately while attempting to block out the tempting scent emanating from Kiana’s and Mateo’s latent magic. It stirred each time he used his. Deciding it best to focus solely on Pearce in hopes his total devotion to the task at hand would help keep a leash on it, he opened his eyes and looked at him.

  “There has been unrest among those who are unable to wield the magic, and they have formed a rogue group. We had just discovered they’ve been building machines designed by Dr. Aizik Quintilius to harness the magic within a planet’s core. Among his machines was one called a transdimensional gate. We believe this machine would allow them to create a rift. During a meeting of the Ternion Council, which includes representatives from the Council of the Gods, the Kings Council, and the Rift Hunter Council, it was decided it was in the best interest of all the galaxies for all rifts to be closed permanently. I was sent back to the Milky Way Galaxy to the year 2013 to close an unstable rift we detected, while another team was sent to destroy Aizik’s gate and arrest him.”

  “Is that what opened up in the sky the night you fell at my and Mateo’s feet?” Kiana asked.

  Tiaki shifted his gaze to look at her and instantly wished he hadn’t. The curiosity he saw in her expression set his magic to a simmer as it tried to break free of its restraints. The desire to go to her side increased when he looked at Mateo, who was clenching his jaw as though holding tight rein on his emotions. Exhaling a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding, he replied, “Yes. That was a rift. I was in the process of closing the one in 2013 when there was a spike of energy within it. I tried to disconnect my magic, but since I was linked with Earth’s core energy to help strengthen the newly stitched web of magic as it was closing, I was sucked into the vacuum it created.” Clenching his hands, he looked away before she could ask anything else.

  “So you’re saying that Earth contains this magic just like your planet?”

  Mateo’s question drew his attention, and Tiaki looked at him. The hostility in Mateo radiated until it was almost palpable. He took a breath. “Yes. It does.”

  “How come we have never discovered it, then, Mr. Jamison?”

  Tiaki shifted his gaze to Elias. “Most of the planets I’ve visited have possessed the core magic to some degree. The Rift Hunter Council believes they all do. Though the strength within each one varies. As to why you’ve not discovered it, our theory is that because the magic is a semi-sentient entity, it prefers to remain concealed until it deems the inhabitants of the world are able to accept the responsibilities that accompany it.”

  “And why has it suddenly decided that it’s time to be found, then?” Mateo demanded.

  Tiaki met Mateo’s gaze. “I believe that has something to do with the threat to its very existence, Mateo.” He held the other man’s gaze a bit longer, trying to figure out what Mateo was trying to accomplish with his hostile attitude.

  Pearce shuffled the papers lying on the table before him. “What you suggest sounds very far-fetched, Mr. Jamison. So I hope you’ll understand when I say that we’ll need to keep you in a holding cell until I’ve looked through the information you’ve provided.”

  Tiaki returned his gaze to Pearce and nodded. Pearce’s tone indicated there would be no negotiating. “Of course, sir.”

  Pearce stood and headed for the door. “Good. Monte will take you to your new quarters until we can assess everything.”

  Tiaki turned to watch him leave, and his gaze collided again with Kiana’s. Her warm green eyes sparked with fire and attitude. He could see a hunger there and knew that with the slightest effort he could have her writhing against him.

  She jerked her head around and looked at Mateo, then turned and fled from the room. As though leaving the room could tame the desire tightening around the three of them. Tiaki shook his head. He didn’t know what was up. He just hoped it boded well.

  Chapter Four

  Mateo stood as Kiana exited the room, clenching his jaw as the emotions thrumming inside her burst through their link, despite his efforts to keep it turned off. It didn’t help any when the fresh, woodsy scent wafting from the forastero teased that place in his chest where the energy sparked and crackled. Beckoned for it to break free.

  “Come along, Mr. Jamison. Let’s get you settled in. I’ve got duties to attend to,” Monte said, breaking through Mateo’s thoughts.

  “Why don’t you let me take him to the holding cell, Monte? I know you’re behind on your reports.” He walked over and clapped a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “If you plan on spending your anniversary with Niki, you need to get on it.”

  “Ahh, shit. That’s what today is.” Monte swiped a hand over his face. “That’s why she was acting so strange this morning.” He glanced at his watch. “Are you sure you have time to do this?”

  Mateo nodded to the others as they left the room. “No problem, mi amigo. I’m not the one with a mountain of statements needing to be filed.” He smiled.

  “Yeah. How the hell do you keep yours up-to-date?”

  “Simple. I don’t wait until the last minute. Go. I’ve got this covered.”

  Mateo turned to face Tiaki and was surprised to find Ash standing near him. “I’ve got this, Ash. I don’t need help getting him to the holding cells.”

  “Are you certain of that, Mateo? Monte didn’t see what happened between you two earlier,” Ash said.

  Mateo met Ash’s eyes. “I’m certain. I just want to talk with him and set the record straight.”

  Ash watched him for a time as though assessing his sincerity. “Fine. I’ll let you have your say, but be forewarned that if anything happens to him before Pearce has made his decision, it’s your ass on the line.” Ash shot one last look at Tiaki and left the room.

  Mateo walked over to the man and stopped in front of him, the barest space separating them. Tiaki started to back away, but Mateo grabbed his arm before he could move too far.

  A jolt of energy pierced him at the contact, and Mateo released him and fell back a step as sensual awareness flashed in Tiaki’s eyes.

  Mateo curled his lip. “I don’t beli
eve anything you said, Hunter. I just wanted to give you a word of advice. If you value your life, stay away from Kiana,” he said. “She’s mine. Now move. I want to get as far away from you as I can.” He didn’t wait for an answer but motioned for him to move to the door.

  “She didn’t seem to mind when I had my tongue in her mouth, my hands caressing her soft curves.”

  Mateo took a deep breath. “I hope you do try to touch her again, Hunter. It will give me an excuse to kill you. Now move.” He rested his hand on the hilt of the laser pistol holstered at his hip, then gestured toward the door.

  Tiaki smiled at him and started forward. “I won’t touch her again, but only if she tells me she doesn’t want me to.”

  Mateo cursed and grabbed Tiaki’s shoulder as he reached for the door handle. The last thing he needed was for the Hunter to take off or wander into places he shouldn’t be.

  Awareness exploded through him upon contact. He didn’t need this shit happening now. He had enough to deal with in overthrowing the fucking Syndicate. Now he had to figure out what this asshole was up to.

  It didn’t help that some of the things he’d said echoed the vague memories he’d had of stories his Abuelo used to tell him before he and Papá had had their falling out.

  Could those old fairy tales have been true after all?

  He shook off the thought. There was no way the tales his Abuelo had told him could be real. He sure as hell didn’t like the reaction he had to the Hunter either. He briefly closed his eyes as the memory of hard muscles straining beneath his touch escaped from the box he’d locked it in.

  No!

  He shoved it back inside and forced it shut with a resounding snap that echoed through his heart. He wasn’t one to dwell on things already past. Especially painful ones.

  He spun Tiaki around and shoved him back against the door. “Don’t ever walk away from me, Hunter.”

  Tiaki met his eyes. “Or what, Mateo?”

  A premonition vibrated inside his chest at the sound of his name on the other man’s lips. He took a deep breath and instantly wished he hadn’t as the man’s woodsy scent invaded his body, mind, and soul and caused the restless energy he’d been feeling of late to burst free.