by ML Guida
“Scarlett, calm down.”
“But…but…”
He gripped her trembling shoulders. “Take a deep breath.”
“But…”
He used a stronger, calmer voice. “Breathe in and out.”
She inhaled and exhaled slowly, then dug her nails into his shoulders. “Tash, we have to get your dad. He’s sitting on a secret that could bring him down.”
“I don’t understand. We already know that he abandoned half his crew on Sutois.”
She shook her head. “No, that’s not it. There’s a conspiracy.”
“Scarlett, I need to know more.” He put both his hands on either side of her head.
“I can’t. Nothing’s coming.”
“Concentrate.”
“I am. Don’t you think––”
He kissed her, silencing her protest. He picked up the speed of his hips, hoping another spark of love-making would thrust her into a vision.
She pushed on his chest hard and he reluctantly broke off the kiss.
She frowned. “What are you doing?”
His ears and face heated up and he lowered his gaze. “I thought…maybe…” His voice trailed off like a whiny cub’s.
“By fucking me again, you’d bring on the vision?”
His chest tightened. “I’m sorry. That was stupid. I was desperate.”
She lifted his chin. “Visions don’t work like that.”
“Forgive me?”
She didn’t answer right away.
“Yes.” He kissed her briefly on the lips. “And I’ll do all that I can every day to make you happy.”
She smiled. “I’ll take you up on that captain, but only if I get to see you smile.” She brushed her calf over the back of his leg.
He stiffened and sucked in his breath. Heat ignited in his groin. “You’re playing with fire.” He couldn’t hide the desire rippling through his voice and ending in his hard cock.
“Hungry again?” She played with his hair, sending shivers down his back.
“Always for you.”
She slipped her hand behind his neck and kissed him. He’d never met a woman who had so many moods. He’d have a lifetime getting to know each one of them. Pleasure loomed up for him and their pace quickened. The fury of another orgasm peaked, pushing his heart to beat faster, sending blood swooshing through him, shaking him to the core.
Scarlett locked her legs around his hips and screamed out his name.
He spilled his seed into her heat. He brushed her hair off her cheeks and held his breath. Her eyes were white again, and she trembled beneath him.
“Scarlett.” He clenched her hands, their fingers locking together. Closing his eyes, he willed her to tell him more about the secret.
“Tash…Tash…” Her voice was strained and scared.
He opened his eyes. Her beautiful baby blues were back. He held his tongue, allowing her to set the pace.
“I was back in that room, but this time there was a little light. I swear colors bounced off the walls like a prism, as if the walls were made of glass.”
“Could you see outside?”
She frowned. “No, I’m sorry that’s all I saw.”
“Shades.” He rolled out of her and put his arm over his forehead. “I think I knew where you were.”
She rolled onto her side and put her hand on her head. “Where?”
“Gancaster Palace. The Czar Ronan’s home.”
Her eyes darkened and her forehead wrinkled. She drummed her fingers on the bed. “Do you think your ruler would try and kill your father?”
He glanced at her. “You said the voice had a nasal tinge?”
“Yes.”
He dropped his arm. “The Czar doesn’t have a nasal voice. So, it’s probably not him.”
“But there were two. He could have been the other one.”
“I realize that, but we have to know for sure. But I know one thing.”
She scowled. “What?”
He gently bit her lip and tugged. “When we’re intimate, you had a vision but didn’t go into convulsions.”
Anger flashed in those baby blues. “So, you’re just going to keep me in your bed based on one vision? You have no idea if this will happen again. It might have been fluke.”
He inhaled a shaky breath. “I realize that, but we need to discover this secret my father has kept.”
His telicator buzzed.
“Tash.” He growled.
“Tash, this is Captain Topaz.”
Tash sat up immediately and ran his hand through his damp hair. “What’s your location?”
“We will rendezvous in less than five hours.”
“We’ll be there. Tash, out.”
He hung up the telicator. The bed creaked. He glanced over his shoulder. Scarlett was pulling on her panties and he couldn’t take his eyes off her budded pink nipples. He licked his lips, wishing he could pleasure her one more time.
She raised her eyebrow. “Aren’t you going to get dressed?” She yawned. “Aren’t the dragons coming?”
“Yes.” He walked over to her. “But I think you should rest.”
“I’m not tired.”
He smiled. “Humor me. You can barely keep your eyes open.” His tone turned serious. “I need you to be alert when we rendezvous with the Zalarians and go on board the Ambassador ship.”
“Are you sure?”
He lifted her into his arms and she leaned her head against his chest. Her sweet scent unwound any bunched up muscles after talking to Topaz. He carried her to the bed.
“Sleep. For now.”
She cupped his cheek. “What about you?”
“I’m a bear. I don’t need as much sleep as humans.” Not exactly true, but she didn’t know that.
“You’ll wake me if there are any new developments?” She curled into a ball and put her hands underneath a pillow.
He draped a blanket over her, and then leaned over and kissed her on the forehead. “Absolutely.”
Willow hopped up on the bed and curled next to Scarlett as if to say, she belongs to me.
He headed toward the door and when he turned around soft snores tugged at him to join her. Satisfied that she was safe, Tash left to talk with both his brothers. Her visions had unnerved him and turned over rocks that he never suspected had such hidden secrets.
Shortly afterward, he sat in the conference room with both Vaughn and Rye. Each of them had a computer in front of them and they were going through the tedious task of re-looking at their dad’s mission on Sutois.
Rye drummed his fingers on the table. “Are you sure about this, Tash? Do you really think that Dad is hiding something?”
“Or protecting someone,” Vaughn muttered.
Tash nodded. “I’m sure.”
Rye flicked his hand at the computer. “But there’s nothing here to suggest there is a conspiracy.”
Tash put his hands behind his head. “Because Dad erased the evidence and if anything was discovered, he’d take the blame.”
Vaughn rubbed his chin. “Maybe we’re going about this all wrong.”
Tash dropped his hands. “What do you mean?”
“Maybe we need to look at the properties of Sutois.”
“We know what that cursed planet has,” Rye grumbled. “It has parasites and giant flesh-eating aliens.”
Tash shivered and his gut flip-flopped. A traitor had placed a parasite in his ear unknowingly, and if it wasn’t for Vaughn’s mate, that damn thing would still be crawling inside him.
“Okay, let’s look beyond the obvious.”
“Like what?” Rye leaned forward and folded his arms on the table. “We’ve been over this a zillion times and have found nothing.” He glared. “Why the hell would Dad keep this secret anyway?”
Tash met his angry gaze. “That’s what we’re going to find out.”
“We haven’t carefully analyzed the planet’s mountains or volcanoes,” Vaughn said. “Maybe we overlooked something.”
“We don’t need to be near Sutois,” Vaughn said patiently. “The ship’s scanners would have analyzed the planet’s surface. We were so concentrated on the Gogs and parasites that I fear we missed something.”
Tash scraped his hand over his face. “Bring up the information, Vaughn.”
For the next hour, Tash and his brothers combed through the files.
“Shades,” Vaughn said, his face had turned ashen.
“What?” Both Tash and Rye asked at once.
He turned his computer around. “Sutois’ mountains have veins of Nitrinium.”
Rye shook his head. “Holy hell.”
Bitterness burned in Tash’s gut. “Whoever Dad was protecting would be rich and powerful beyond belief.”
Rye tapped his fingers rapidly on the table. “The Czar?”
“Tash.” Vaughn shifted in his chair. “What if when we crashed on Sutois––”
Tash narrowed his eyes and clenched his fists. “The Gogs were there to protect the Nitrinium mine.”
Rye slammed his fist on the table. “They were a fucking diversion. And Dad knew about it? How could keep this secret? If the Nitrinium fell into the wrong hands…”
Tash rubbed his forehead. “It already fell into the wrong hands––the Kamtrinians.”
“This is much worse than we thought,” Vaughn muttered.
Rye looked between Vaughn and Tash. “What are we doing to do?”
Tash wished he had the answers, but everything that he thought he knew was wrong. Again. He rubbed the back of his neck. “We have to find that mine.”
“We don’t even know if there is a mine.” Vaughn pointed out. “All we know for sure is that the Sutois’ mountains have veins of Nitrinium.”
Tash gave him a hard stare. “You really don’t think that’s untapped, do you?”
Vaughn’s shoulders slumped. “No, I don’t. But we’re under orders to escort the Ambassadors to Zalara for Dad’s trial.”
“No,” Tash lifted his chin. “The Intrepid is ordered to take the Zion to Zalara.”
Rye frowned. “So, what do you plan to do?”
Tash shrugged. “Return to Sutois. What else?”
“But you would be court-martialed. Maybe even sentenced to death.” Vaughn’s voice was filled with dread.
“I was willing to risk that when I thought someone on board the Zion planned to blow up the Intrepid. Why would this be any different?”
Vaughn’s brow wrinkled. “Shouldn’t we present this new information to the United Planet Confederation?”
“With what?” Rye leaned back in his chair. “We don’t have any evidence. We only have suspicions. And Dad chose to keep his mouth shut on this little secret.” His bitterness rivaled Tash’s own.
Vaughn shook his head. “We can’t lament over Dad’s decision. The bigger issue is who is benefiting from the mine. Any planet would be at risk if they’re mining it for weapons.”
Rye snorted. “Of course, they are. What else would they be mining it for?”
Tash looked at his brothers, knowing they weren’t going to like his decision. “But we need help.”
“Which would be?” Vaughn asked uneasily.
“As planned, I want you to take command of the Intrepid.”
Rye folded his arms across the chest. “And me?”
Tash didn’t shrank from Rye’s angry gaze even though Rye had grown in size. His hair had gotten thicker on his arms and head, and his fingers had lengthened. He was about to shift into a snarling bear. Keeping his anger in check was always a battle for him. “I want you and a squad of security bears to go on board the Ambassadors’ ship and hunt down the traitor. Will you do this?”
“Of course, I’ll do it.”
“You could lose your position as head engineer on the Intrepid.”
Tash held his breath and clutched the edge of the table. The Intrepid was Rye’s baby.
Rye’s eyes darkened. “If I don’t do this, then I could be risking the Intrepid. Someone wants to blow her up. A very, very, very bad decision.” He lost control and shifted into a snarling bear, shaking its head and revealing sharp fangs.
Tash glared. “Rye, you will not kill the traitor. That’s an order.”
Rye roared in protest and pawed his foot.
Tash narrowed his eyes and slowly got out of his chair. “Don’t make me challenge you.”
Rye panted then hung his head. He shifted back and slammed into his seat. “I promise I won’t kill the traitor unless he gives me no choice.”
“Don’t assume it’s a man,” Vaughn said quietly. “The last traitor was a woman.”
Tash tensed. “Agreed.”
Rye cast his gaze over Tash. “Then, what do you plan to do?”
“That depends on Captain Topaz.”
Vaughn raised his eyebrow. “Topaz is a honorable Zalarian and wouldn’t want to risk his command.”
Tash sighed and rubbed his forehead. “Not if he thought Zalara was in danger. Nitrinium was the key ingredient in the dioxide torpedo that killed all of their women. I bet he wouldn’t hesitate to help.”
Vaughn gestured with his hand. “No time to find out like the present.”
A light quiver rocked Tash’s hard stomach. He kept his face passive as he pulled out his telicator, praying that he’d read Topaz right.
“Orion, this is the Intrepid. Do you read me?”
“This is Communications Officer Iagan of the Orion. This is a private frequency. “
Tash rolled his eyes. “I realize that,” he growled. “This is Captain Tash requesting to talk with Captain Topaz.”
“Yes, sir. Right away.”
A few minutes later, Topaz answered. “What’s going on, Tash?”
Tash quickly relayed what they had found and what his plan was. Silence greeted him. Beads of sweat formed on Tash’s forehead and he glanced at his brothers who both had solemn faces.
“You realize I could be risking my command?”
“Yes, I do. I’ll be risking mine as well.”
“I need to confer with King Greum. Topaz out.”
Tash winced. Not the answer he wanted. “Understood,” he said glumly.
His heart shrink and his hope died. All of his plans might just have gone up in smoke. If word got out to the Confederation or the the Czar… He’d be sitting in a cell next to his father, waiting for execution as a traitor.
9
Sadness and fear slammed into Scarlett’s dream like a trumpet. She woke with a start. Tingles made the back of her hair stand straight up. Her wrist was warm and she looked at the green star that was glowing.
The vision came again…
Scarlett was locked in a room screaming. A glass window was in front of her. Tash’s brother stood on the other side of her with a sad expression.
Vaughn shook his head. “Tash said you needed to stay here.”
“No, Tash. He’s in trouble.”
She pounded on the glass. “He’s going to be trapped in a mine. Someone he trusts is going to be betray him.”
Willow meowed.
Scarlett came out of the vision hard. Tears streaked down her face.
“Something’s wrong, Willow.” Her voice choked.
She sat up and curled her legs underneath her. She put her hands on her temples and concentrated.
“Tash, where are you?”
She’d never been able to read people’s mind when they weren’t in the room before but maybe this different, since she and Tash were mated. Her heart zoomed and blood zig-zagged through her veins. She drew on every ounce of power she could muster and thrust it out.
Her spirit flew through the Intrepid like a shooting star. She couldn’t breathe. Her heart beat overtime.
But what drew her was smell, his smell. Spice. Like cinnamon.
Suddenly, she deterred into what looked like a conference room. Tash and his two
brothers were sitting at a table with drawn faces, staring at a telicator. The telicator beeped, and Tash snatched it up.
“Captain Tash.”
“Tash, this is Topaz. King Greum is in support of your decision. Be prepared to leave as soon as we arrive. You have less than two hours.”
Had she been asleep for almost four hours?
“I will. Tash out.” He slowly put the telicator back on the table.
“What about Scarlett? Your mate?” Vaughn asked softly.
Tash’s eyes darkened and he bulked up in size as if he were about to shift. “I don’t want her anywhere near Sutois. Lock her up in isolation if you have to, Vaughn. She stays safely on board the Intrepid.”
No!
Tash’s face paled and he spun around wildly in his chair. “Scarlett?”
Rye and Vaughn stood up. Rye frowned. “What are you talking about? There’s no one behind you.”
I’m coming with you! You need me!
“Shades!” Tash rested his head in his hands.
“What?” Vaughn looked at Rye then Tash. “Tell us. What are you talking about?”
Tash dropped his hands and leaned his head back on the edge of his chair. “Scarlett’s here. She can read my mind. She knows.”
I know everything. Your plan. And your fear. You need me. Without me, you’ll never find who is mining the Nitrinium.
Before he could answer, she slammed into her body. Sweat dripped off her skin and she climbed out of bed, but her legs shaking legs collapsed. Air refused to fill her starving lungs.
“Breathe,” she gasped. “Breathe.”
But black dots formed in front of her eyes. She climbed on all fours, her arms trembling.
She wouldn’t be left behind. Everything inside her told her if she didn’t go, she’d lose Tash forever.
Willow walked in front of her face, her fur sticking to Scarlett’s hot skin.
The door slid open. She raised her head up.
“What happened?” Tash lifted her into his strong arms. “You’re shaking like a leaf.”
She wrapped her arms around his thick neck and hung on tight. She had to fight to get the words out. “You can’t leave…me…behind. You’ll…die. The nasal voice man…He’s going to…kill…you. You need me…to stop him.”