by Ivy Barrett
Jasmine wouldn’t put it past the governor to have his office bugged. Ventori Defenders were all paranoid. She led Celeste out the front doors of the former school, across the faculty parking lot and onto a grassy area near the street. Few of the streets were still passible, so skimmers were the closest thing to automobiles still utilized in Camp Accord. They shouldn’t be interrupted here, and it was unlikely anyone would overhear them.
“So what’s this about?” Jasmine prompted, not even trying to temper her impatience.
“Are you attracted to Commander Styre?”
She’d already told the envoy it was none of her business, but Celeste had no intention of letting it go. “I find a lot of the Ventori attractive. They look like they walked off the cover of one of my mother’s bodice-rippers. Much to my mother’s chagrin, I started reading the silly things when I was about twelve. Now I’m a sucker for alpha males. So what?”
“And what about Minister Nomani? He is very different from a Ventori Defender.”
“I didn’t expect to like him, but I do. He’s charming.”
Celeste moved a little closer to Jasmine and lowered her voice. “We have several human females either bonded to, or contracted with highly placed Ventori, but we know very little about the Tavorians. As I’m sure you’ve noticed, they keep to themselves and trust no one. It’s extremely hard to get accurate information about the attitudes and opinions of the refugees.”
“I won’t spy for you.” Jasmine’s emphatic tone left no room for compromise.
“I’m not asking you to spy, exactly. All I’m asking for is a warning if something significant is about to take place.”
“The Tavorians are desperate, homeless, and completely demoralized. What do you expect them to do?”
Celeste’s features tensed and a hint of hostility flickered to life within her gaze. “They can work magic. They opened portals that allowed them to move between dimensions. We know they can heal and manipulate the thoughts of others. We need to know what else they can do.”
Shaking her head, Jasmine found herself defending a race she usually resented. “I can see why they don’t trust other races. Do a few thousand refugees threaten you and your superiors? They have no weapons, few possessions. Without our assistance, they would starve to death. Do you honestly believe beings in such dire straits are going to start trouble? That’s ridiculous.”
“We’re already at the mercy of the Ventori,” Celeste pointed out, not backing down in the least. “All I’m asking is that you report anything that could become a danger to humans. If the Tavorians are as harmless as you say, you’ll have nothing to tell me.”
“You’re asking me to betray one of my potential mates,” Jasmine argued. “I won’t be disloyal.”
That raised the envoy’s brows. “Do you feel no loyalty to your species or your home world?”
Jasmine released a frustrated sigh. Of course she felt loyalty to other humans, but none of them could escape reality. The Ventori were technologically superior to humans, and the only reason Earth was still inhabitable was because of their intervention. Similarly, the Ventori had assisted the Tavorians and invited them to Earth, which obligated humans to welcome them. “I haven’t decided if I’m going to let them court me or not, but I’ll think about your request.” If the Tavorians started plotting a magical coup, they deserved to be betrayed.
The envoy handed Jasmine a business card for a temp agency. “That business is a front. Any voice or electronic message left at those numbers will forewarn my office. Don’t hesitate to use it, even if you’re not sure if what you’ve learned is important.”
Jasmine had no intention of using it unless she was damn sure it was important, but she just nodded and tucked the card into her pocket. “Can I go now?”
“This doesn’t need to be adversarial.” A bit of her professional detachment fell away, and she sighed. “We’ve all lost so much. It’s hard to find the bright side of any situation, but that’s what I’m trying to do.”
“It’s easier to have a sunny outlook with a steady income and the power of the State Department at your back. Most of us aren’t that fortunate.”
Celeste nodded, accepting the criticism with surprising grace. “You’re right. I’ve been damn lucky. Still, I’d like to be a resource for you, not an enemy. We’re both human females. That puts us at a tremendous disadvantage.”
Annoyed by the entire conversation, Jasmine just wanted it over. “I told you I’d think about it and I will. First and foremost, I have to decide whether or not I’m going to agree to the courtship.”
“I won’t insult you by offering an opinion.” She looked like she wanted to say more. Instead, she made a helpless gesture and concluded, “I’ve taken up enough of your time. I hope to hear from you soon.”
Jasmine flashed a tight smile, then hurried back into the building. Who the hell did Celeste think she was? She knew nothing about the plight of most human females. The envoy still saw life as it had been before the Skarilians attacked. Back when American females—for the most part—were treated with respect and offered the same opportunities as men. Sure there were exceptions to the rule, but America—and many other countries—had made real strides toward true equality.
The Skarilian attacks had changed all that. Many jobs—hell, entire careers—had been obliterated by the destruction. Men were given priority with the remaining jobs, while women were expected to offer themselves to the aliens as sexual companions or mates. It was their ‘patriotic duty’ to either repopulate the Earth or join the Carnal Compensation Program. She’d love to see how Ms. Fancy Pants Envoy would react to either of those choices. She’d likely break down in tears and call her rich parents to rearrange the world for her.
Jasmine paused inside the main entrance, too angry for company. She knew a trust fund princess when she saw one, and Celeste perfectly fit the bill. Jasmine would bet a fortune that the snooty bitch had grown up rich and been offered every advantage in life. She’d been given a fifty thousand dollar car for her sixteenth birthday and vacations in the Hamptons. All her expenses had been paid at an Ivy League university, but she chose to study something useless. She’d never gone hungry or had to humiliate herself to keep food on the table. Life was so fucking unfair!
Forcing down the bitterness through long years of practice, Jasmine returned to the all-purpose room. Dwelling on the past was a pointless waste of time. And hating Celeste didn’t change Jasmine’s situation.
Nikki rushed up to her as Jasmine crossed the threshold. “So what did the envoy want?”
“Didn’t ‘Sintar’ tell you?” She didn’t quite keep the resentment out of her tone.
Nikki cringed. “Sorry. I can’t keep anything from my mates. That’s one of the only disadvantages of a soul bond.”
If she told Nikki what Celeste wanted, she’d be telling the governor too. She wouldn’t make that mistake again. “She just wanted to know if I’d decided yet, and to try and talk me into it if I hadn’t. She came up with this idea, so she’s a little too invested in the outcome.”
“Did you tell her what you’d decided?”
Jasmine smiled at the transparent ploy. Nikki was dying to know what she’d decided just like the envoy. “I told her to mind her own damn business.”
Nikki made a face. “Fine. I’ll watch how you react to them. Commander Styre just asked for permission to land, and he has Minister Nomani with him.”
Shit. Jasmine was hoping for enough time to drink a cup of coffee and regain her composure before facing those two. This day had no mercy.
Her suitors strode into the room side by side a few minutes later. Kellan commanded immediate attention, but Zilrath’s smoldering sensuality made it impossible to look away. What a wicked combination.
Nikki chuckled. “You’ll agree. You can’t wait to get naked with them. It’s written all over your face.”
Jasmine didn’t bother denying it. Her pulse doubled every time she saw either one of them, and the r
est of her body was in complete agreement. Her skin felt tight and warm, her nipples tingled, and her core ached, more than ready to welcome the first thrust of either of her potential mates. If she had to submit to someone, why not choose someone with authority and power. They would protect her better and provide a more comfortable lifestyle than—her thoughts were so cavalier. She felt ashamed.
Her college roommate, Elaine had worked as an escort to pay for her tuition. Elaine had ended up making so much money that she dropped out of school and focused entirely on her clients. Jasmine swore she would never trade sex for comfort and security. Wasn’t that exactly what she was considering?
The males reached her and her thoughts scattered.
“I’ll talk to you later.” Amusement still rippled through Nikki’s tone. She smiled at Jasmine, then hurried away.
“Did you eat something?” Kellan asked without bothering with a greeting.
“I had breakfast, but I was about to grab another cup of coffee,” she told him.
“Get it to go.”
“Why?”
One of his brows arched in a silent challenge. “Because I told you to.”
“Aye aye, Commander,” she muttered as she walked toward the kitchen. He was in a less tolerant mood than yesterday. It was a strategic misstep, in her opinion, to turn into an inflexible hard-ass before she’d agreed to the courtship. He was Ventori. She knew he’d expect obedience and more respect than any human female usually displayed. But he should have waited until the courtship began to start barking orders.
The workers were in the process of tearing down, so the beverage cart had already been rolled into the kitchen. Luckily, they had yet to empty what little remained in the massive pot. She quickly found a travel mug and filled it with coffee, added creamer, then secured the lid as she returned to the large outer room.
“Ready?” Zilrath asked with a sly smile.
“Where are we going?” It was unlikely they’d tell her, but she felt compelled to try.
“We saw a—”
“Wherever we decide to take you,” Kellan insisted.
She shot him an annoyed look. “I didn’t ask you, Sir.” She put just a hint of sarcasm on the title, then smiled innocently. “I asked Zilrath.”
Before Kellan could respond, Zilrath said, “We spotted a charming lake on our way in, thought it might be fun to explore the area.”
Kellan glared at him, but asked her, “Do you have a coat? It’s mild right now, but the weather changes quickly here.”
“I have one, but it’s at my house. Should I go get it?”
The males looked at each other. “There are blankets on the shuttle,” Zilrath said.
“Or we can print a new coat for you if need be.” Kellan turned back to her. “We’ll improvise. Let’s go.”
“And if I’d rather stay here?” She punctuated the question with a challenging expression similar to his.
He chuckled. “Haven’t you heard what happens when you provoke a Ventori male?”
She’d heard all sorts of stories, everything from a basic spanking to intensely humiliating scenes that she didn’t want to imagine. And each woman who told the tale blushed and insisted that she’d found pleasure either during or after her punishment. Jasmine wasn’t sure how that was possible, but she’d heard it too often to doubt their claims.
Instead of prolonging the tantalizing subject, she asked, “Why are you in such a hurry to leave?”
“The longer we stay, the longer you’ll feel secure enough to rebel. And each time you misbehave, I add to the list of punishments you’re about to experience. For your good, we should leave immediately.”
His convoluted logic made her smile, but a tingle of excitement dropped down her spine. She should probably be afraid, but she wasn’t. Several of her friends were married to the meanest Ventori in the Protectorate, and still, the females were happy and content. She knew damn well she was going to let Kellan and Zilrath court her, so they might as well get started. “All I cared about was my coffee. I have it now, so lead the way.”
Chapter Three
Jasmine had been on shuttles before, but never one as small and agile as the one to which Kellan led her. All eight seats faced forward, which made it feel more like a minivan than a spacecraft—until it took off! With nearly silent propulsion, the transport sped through the air, responding immediately to Kellan’s smallest adjustment.
She gasped as he banked sharply right, then swooped down toward the treetops at breakneck speed. “If you’re trying to see what I had for breakfast, you’ve just about accomplished your goal.”
Kellan laughed, but Zilrath groaned. “I’m with our mate. Behave, or we’ll be locked out of the shuttle while it runs a deep clean cycle.”
“Sorry.” Kellan sounded anything but apologetic. “It’s been a while since I flew anything.”
“What about the Elizian?” Jasmine asked. “Don’t you command a spaceship?”
“I have the best pilots and navigators at my command, which means I seldom get to do either.”
“After seeing how reckless you are, I can see why,” Zilrath complained, still slumped back in his seat.
She released her safety restraints so she could lean into the aisle and see Zilrath. He’d insisted on giving her a better view, which put him in the second row of seats. “You okay back there?”
“Tavorians are terrible travelers,” Kellan whispered loud enough that the other male could easily hear. “They’re used to zapping themselves from place to place, so conventional transports make them sick.”
“Your piloting would make anyone sick,” Zilrath flared. “Slow the hells down!”
Again Kellan laughed, clearly enjoying himself.
Hoping to distract Zilrath from his misery, she asked, “How far away is this lake? I don’t want to be gone long.”
“He must be taking the scenic route, or we’d be there by now.” Zilrath gradually came back to life as Kellan smoothed out the ride.
She turned back to the main view screen and paused, transfixed by the panorama. The entire area was scenic. As long as she ignored the devastation along the interstate. The endless river valley dissected rugged peaks blanketed with pine and aspen. It was easy to see why tourists from all over the planet used to visit Colorado. Now no one had time for vacations, and much of the state was only accessible from the air.
“Are we going to Hanging Lake? I heard some of the women talking about hiking up to it as kids. They all agreed that it was beautiful back then.”
“I have no idea what it’s called,” Kellan said. “But there it is.” He pointed to his left.
She leaned forward and spotted a small lake perched on the top of a nearby mountain. Kellan swung around gradually, giving her a better view of their destination. Surrounded by cliffs and towering pine trees, the lake looked tiny, yet magical from the air. It seemed like a hidden treasure reserved for mountain spirits and forest nymphs. The fanciful thought made her smile. She was usually much more practical.
A series of waterfalls spilled down the cliff face, one long and narrow, two wider and closer to the lake. More waterfalls flowed out of the rocks on the far side of the lake continuing the water’s trek down the mountain. Several logs floated in the water, one long enough to nearly span the pool. From the air, the water looked vivid green, like the trees surrounding it, but the closer they drew, the glassier the water appeared, more transparent than green.
“Wow,” she breathed. “This is beautiful.”
Kellan set down on a narrow rim barely wide enough for the shuttle. He activated the hatch, then hopped off the side of the small ramp, which was the only way down without ending up in the water. She paused at the top of the ramp and smiled. “I should have brought a swimsuit.”
“If you’d like to skinny-dip, I’m game.” He held up his arms, clearly meaning to lift her down.
He’d sounded so human for a moment it brought her up short. “Where did you learn those phrases? I didn’t
think you spent a lot of time on Earth.”
“I don’t, but my men do. We’ve been here almost two years. It’s hard not to pick up the vernacular.”
She leaned down and placed her hands on Kellan’s broad shoulders. He easily guided her to the ground, sliding her body along his in the process. For a moment, reality blurred and all she could see was him. His blue-streaked eyes bore into hers, and his black lips parted, ready to take possession of her mouth.
“A little room, please,” Zilrath prompted, a smug expression indicating he knew damn well he was interrupting.
With an impatient growl, Kellan moved aside. Jasmine did the same, and Zilrath leaped to the ground, pausing to look around. “Much of Tavor looked similar to this before...”
Sorrow threaded through his tone, reminding Jasmine that Zilrath was still grieving. She glanced at Kellan and was pleasantly surprised by the compassion in his eyes. Maybe there was hope for their pod after all.
“Well, the setting is certainly pleasant,” she said with a smile. “Shall we see how long the conversation can remain so?” They strolled away from the ship. Only one side of the lake had a walkable shoreline. The other was cliff walls and jagged rock formations. They came to an area wide enough for all three to stand comfortably, so she stopped walking and faced them. “I told you my concerns last night. Have you come up with ways to address them?”
“It took some serious negotiating, but I think you’ll be pleased with what we finally agreed upon.” Kellan’s tone was even, his features carefully controlled. “You made it clear you do not want to be bounced back and forth between our locations, but permanently relocating would be detrimental to either of us.”
“So we came up with a possible compromise.” When it became apparent that Kellan intended to deliver the entire explanation, Zilrath insinuated himself into the conversation. She was pleased by the show of spirit. Kellan had a strong personality, but Zilrath was nobody’s doormat. “Both of us can be away from work temporarily without too many complications.”