Authors: Aubrey Ross
Listening to Desmond is how you ended up on this wretched
planet.
The thought sent frustration and shame cascading through
her. The result might have been a disaster, but Desmond’s motivation had been
pure. Prejudice and corruption within the royal family had made Desmond’s life
a living hell. The worst of the physical abuse had ended by the time Caresse
met him, but every day she helped him combat the ghosts left behind by decades
of abuse.
He was known as the Royal Bastard or Lady Mara’s Shame. They
quickly realized there was nowhere on Strigoia Prime that the illegitimate son
of the king’s sister could live in peace. Everyone knew his face and the story
of his conception. Lady Mara had been raped by a Levari and Desmond resulted
from the brutality.
It was extremely rare for a child to be born to parents from
different strains. When Lady Mara realized she was one of the few, everyone
encouraged her to end the pregnancy. But Mara was horrified by the idea of
ending the life of an innocent babe. It was not the child’s fault that his
father was a monster.
Then Desmond was born with his father’s dark eyes and pale
hair, so he became a continual reminder of the horror Mara had endured. Even
more surprising, he’d inherited both Strigo and Levari symbionts, something the
experts hadn’t believed possible.
The cruelty that followed was too abhorrent to comprehend.
High King Alta insisted on “cleansing” Desmond of his Strigo symbionts. It was
unthinkable that a rapist’s son might maintain any claim to the throne, so Alta
ordered continual blood transfusions and targeted viral injections until
Desmond’s Strigo symbionts were purged or at least neutralized.
The excruciating treatments began when Desmond was three and
continued into adulthood. In the end the doctors hadn’t been able to rid his
body of all traces of Strigo strain, but they had successfully created a sort
of hibernation.
Twenty-three years of incarceration and degradation left
Desmond physically ravaged and nearly insane. But he’d survived. He joined the
military, determined to rebuild his strength and hone his skills to lethal
efficiency. Year after year his bitterness grew, along with his determination
to have revenge. He became a member of the
Felean Marton
,the
most elite fighting force on Strigoia Prime. He’d been consumed by hatred and
resentment, until he met Caresse.
Caresse changed Desmond, allowed him to channel his burning
resentment into protective passion. She loved him unconditionally and soothed
his ravaged soul with her body and her gentleness. They were two lost souls who
finally found a home, yet their home didn’t want them.
Though Caresse was blissful with Desmond, she was miserable
on Strigoia Prime. Everywhere they turned there were reminders of the people
who had hurt them and the horrors they’d endured. They couldn’t escape their
past unless they escaped the planet, so Desmond set out to do just that. He
swallowed his pride and accepted Prince Alexi’s offer to transport him and
Caresse to Earth. Alexi, the only member of the royal family who had ever shown
Desmond anything resembling kindness, made them promise to disappear, have no
contact with the other hosts and find an isolated haven where they could live
out their lives in peace.
They’d had every intention of keeping that promise until the
spaceship neared its destination. Somehow the Levari Brethren networked their
collective power and took control of the Levari hosts on the ship. They used
Desmond, Caresse and three others like puppets. They’d been aware but
completely under the control of the Levari Brethren.
Alexi and his crew hadn’t given up without a fight and a
devastating crash resulted. The collision nearly claimed both Desmond and
Caresse. They had been so weak from loss of blood they’d lost contact with the
Levari Brethren. Unfortunately the freedom had been temporary. As soon as they
fed and regained their strength, the Brethren sank their metaphysical talons
into the couple again.
“Do you want this or not?” The guard’s harsh tone snapped
Caresse out of the past.
“Of course I want this.”
“Then get a move on.” He gave her a little shove.
The safe house was one of many scattered in the mountains of
Montana. Completely surrounded by trees, the small log cabin appeared isolated
yet charming. Fragrant smoke curled into the brisk afternoon air, channeled
through a stone chimney, and a dilapidated rocking chair sat at one end of the
railed front porch.
She followed her escort onto the porch. He nodded to the
host standing guard beside the door. “Anyone in or out?”
“No.” The other guard sounded insulted by the possibility.
“It’s been quiet since I got here. I don’t think Eloise is even awake yet.”
“Well, if the Vladya bitch wakes up now, she’ll have to wait
until Desmond gets his rocks off. Farren might be a cruel prick but he keeps
his word.”
Caresse cringed at the crude exchange. Farren, primary
spokesman for the Brethren, had promised Desmond one hour with her each day
during the interrogation and a full night together as soon as he found out what
the Brethren needed to know.
Her escort deactivated the shield then unlocked the door.
“Your hour starts now, so use it wisely.” Rather than open the door, he swept
his hand toward the threshold then stepped aside.
Thrilled to be alone with her mate, even if it was only for
an hour, she flung the door open and rushed inside. Desmond spun toward her,
but his tormented expression brought her up short.
What’s the matter?
She carefully shielded the
question and slipped it across their private link as she shut the door. Some of
the Levari Brethren could sense telepathic communication but none could
penetrate their telepathic connection.
She’s gone.
He sounded horrified.
Who is gone?
Surely he didn’t mean—
Eloise. The Vladya captive.
More confused than concerned, she moved closer to Desmond.
How
did she escape? Didn’t they give her the paralytic?
I have no idea how she escaped, all I know is she did. I
went to get her a glass of water and when I returned the room was empty.
The guard indicated that no one had been in or out, so how
had she done it? Only Strigo hosts could teleport and the cabin was sealed.
Even if Eloise had been able to turn to mist, she couldn’t have gotten out.
Weren’t her symbionts neutralized?
Yes.
He raked his hair with his hand and began to
pace the length of the rustic living room.
I watched them inject her. There
is no way she did this without help.
But who could have helped her? No one knew where she was.
I don’t know!
Her questions were obviously upsetting him, so she changed
tactics. She crossed to the sofa and sat. They’d pretend nothing was wrong
while they gathered information. “Come, love. Sit down. We only have an hour
before they take me away again.”
He glanced at the door, obviously understanding her ploy,
then joined her on the sofa. “I’m too wound up to be good company right now.
I’ve got all our hopes pinned on that woman.”
“If anyone can make her talk, it’s you.” She snuggled up
close to him and put her head on his shoulder. “I can never keep secrets from
you. You’re too damn adorable.”
He snorted. “I don’t think my adorability is why Farren is
letting me do this.”
“Probably not.” More than likely the guards were listening
to every word, so long periods of silence would be suspicious. “I don’t want to
talk about Eloise. We only have an hour. Let’s not waste it.”
His arms came around her and dragged her onto his lap. Her
lips were parted and eager as he sealed her mouth with his.
We can’t play
this game indefinitely. We’re just postponing the inevitable.
With his warm arms around her and his taste in her mouth,
she didn’t really care. Being away from him was torture and their prospects
were looking bleaker with each hour that passed. Surrendering to the Brethren
wasn’t an option for either of them. They had both endured too much in their pasts
to tolerate subjugation. Still, they hadn’t figured out how to completely
escape the Brethren’s controlling pull and it grew stronger every day.
The guards think she’s still asleep. That buys us a
little time. Were you able to sense anything in the room, a psychic trail or
energy resonance?
Desmond released her mouth and shook his head.
Nothing.
She’s just gone.
“We have an audience.” He lifted her as she bent her
knees. Then she settled astride his lap. He quickly unbuttoned her blouse and
unfastened her bra. With her back to the windows her breasts weren’t visible to
the guards, but it was obvious what Desmond was doing.
He bent his head and sucked one pert nipple into his mouth.
She arched her back, pressing herself into the kiss. “I remember the first time
you did this,” she whispered, not caring if the guards heard her or not.
Without releasing her breast, he angled his head and met her
gaze.
That was a lifetime ago. You’re no longer a passive slave and I’m not
that embittered soldier.
She hadn’t brought it up to upset him. Her emotions were
just raw today.
I was thinking how far we’d come since those long-ago days.
He nipped her breast then smiled. “And I want you to stop
thinking and come.” One of his hands slipped beneath her skirt and cupped her
mound. He didn’t try to stimulate her, not that having his hand pressed against
her aching sex wasn’t stimulating enough, but this display was for the benefit
of the guards.
Will Farren let you go after her?
Possibly. I sampled her DNA, so I should be able to track
her.
His symbionts used the DNA of others to reprogram Desmond’s
physical appearance. They could also use the sample to locate the source.
She framed his face with her hands and peppered leisurely
kisses across his features.
We both know what you need to do. If you could
just—
I can’t awaken my Strigo symbionts.
He pushed her
hands away and glared.
Don’t you think I’ve tried?
I know you’ve tried, but our need has never been this
dire before. We must escape this web before Farren realizes that Eloise is
gone.
Moving his hands to her hips, he closed his eyes and blew
out an exasperated breath. His features stilled and his breathing deepened. Was
he trying to release the latent power of his Strigo heritage or was he just
avoiding her gaze? She tried to scan his mind but his shields were at full
strength. His fingers dug into her hips and his legs tensed beneath her. No, he
was definitely trying.
She didn’t speak, didn’t want to distract him, yet she’d
never felt so helpless. There had to be something she could do to help him,
some way of jolting his Strigo symbionts out of their virus-induced
hibernation.
The door burst open and Farren Doyle stood framed in the
doorway. “Why don’t we sense our prisoner anymore?”
Desmond lifted her off his lap and set her on the sofa as he
stood. Caresse quickly rebuttoned her blouse then stood as well.
“What do you mean? She’s still asleep.”
Caresse couldn’t see his expression but his denial sounded
convincing.
Farren scoffed and stormed past him, disappearing down the
short hallway. She heard the bedroom door bang open and then Farren bellowed,
“She’s gone, you fool! You let her escape.”
Desmond moved to the mouth of the hall so he could see the
other man. “You told me her symbionts were neutralized and not to begin my interrogation
until she awakened naturally.”
“So this is
our
fault?” Farren charged back down the
hall.
Desmond stepped out of reach before Farren could touch him,
but Farren’s anger was palpable. “Guards! Take her outside.”
Immediately the two guards rushed into the room and grabbed
Caresse. “Wait! Desmond did nothing wrong. If Eloise escaped, she must have had
an accomplice. There is no way…”
Farren silenced her with an upraised hand. The guards held
her firmly between them so she couldn’t avoid the blow if Farren swung. “Get
her out of our sight.”
The guards obeyed.
The world became a dizzying mix of flashing lights and
streaking colors. Eloise briefly closed her eyes but that only intensified the
nauseating rush so she reluctantly opened them again.
Darkness enveloped them until something cold and solid
pressed against her feet. Her rescuer’s arms loosened and she swayed then
stumbled as he started to pull away. “You okay?”
His rumbling voice sent shivers down her spine and filled
her mind with memories of his rippling muscles. Rather than find herself on the
floor, she placed her hands on his thick upper arms for support. The supple
leather of his hip-length jacket felt cool beneath her fingers, but the
distraction wasn’t enough to clear her head. “I feel…strange.”
“A first-time flash can do that to you.” He cupped her
elbows, the warmth of his fingers accentuating the size of his hands. “Take a
couple of deep breaths. It’ll pass.” The overhead light blinked on and Eloise
groaned. Pounding pressure attacked her temples and made her head throb. She
swayed toward him, legs trembling. He bent and lifted her into his arms,
cradling her against his chest like a child. “You’re white as a sheet, baby
doll. I don’t think they took very good care of you.” He carried her to a sofa
and set her down sideways.
“Thanks,” Eloise muttered as the pain gradually eased. “And
don’t call me baby doll.”
One corner of his mouth quirked as he stared down at her. “I
don’t think you’re in a position to make demands. If you haven’t noticed, I
just saved your pampered ass.” A touch of humor warmed his chocolate-brown
eyes, but the firm set of his jaw revealed his ruthless nature. She’d seen
firsthand how quickly his mood swung from teasing patience to inflexible
stubbornness. She’d never interrogated a more exasperating man!
“My ‘pampered ass’ is grateful.” She paused to look around,
unable to compose her thoughts while she looked at him. “My logical mind,
however, doubts that you did this out of the goodness of your heart.” The room
surrounding her wasn’t large but it was richly appointed, the couch firm and
comfortable. Though far too grand to be termed a cabin, the bare log walls gave
the house a rustic charm. The fully integrated décor was likely the work of an
interior designer. This looked like a rich man’s hunting lodge or the mountain
retreat for the head of Strigo strain. “Where am I and how did you find me?”
“It wasn’t easy.” The rumble in his tone could have been
annoyance or suppressed laughter. Eloise looked up, hoping to decide which
emotion had caused the inflection in his voice. He brushed his shaggy blond
hair back from his face as his gaze bore into hers. “If I hadn’t bitten you
during our playtime, I’d have had no idea where to look.”
“You’re Strigo strain.” She folded her hands in her lap and
kept her gaze squarely focused on his rugged features. She couldn’t let him
guess she was powerless, not that it would have mattered. She was an initiated
human and he was of pure blood, recently arrived from Strigoia Prime. “Why
would a prominent member of Strigo strain care what happened to Tara Kovac’s
daughter?”
“I don’t give a damn who your mother is or which strain
initiated you.” He slipped his hand into the pocket of his coat, his smile cool
and calculated. “My interest in you is
personal
.”
When she didn’t reply, he unzipped the jacket and draped it
over the back of the chair across from her. His movements were measured, his
expression watchful. The past two days had been good to him. He appeared hale
and hearty with faded jeans and a long-sleeved t-shirt showcasing his muscular
physique.
“The cabin is shielded,” he informed her in a calm, clear
tone. “We’re undetectable to scans and unreachable to telepathic communication.
It’s also sealed, so don’t bother turning to mist. It would be a waste of
energy.”
She almost laughed. The Levari Brethren had made such
precautions unnecessary, but she had no intention of revealing the fact to him.
“And I’m supposed to take your word for all of this?”
“Knock yourself out.” He motioned to the room around them,
challenge making his dark eyes shine. “I just thought I’d spare you the effort.
You look rather puny.”
“Puny?” She laughed. “This ‘puny’ female made you bleed.”
One of his brows arched as the amusement left his gaze. “If
you’re offering a rematch, I’d be happy to oblige.” Bending toward her, he
curved his fingers around the back of her neck and pressed his thumb against
the underside of her jaw. “I thought this would be more comfortable than
chains.”
She batted his hand aside and scrambled off the couch,
unsure if her legs would support her. For just a second she swayed then her
balance returned and she looked into his eyes. Damn, the man was tall! “I was
doing my job! How would Strigo strain treat a Vladya host found in their territory
without permission?”
“It was not our intention to land in your territory and you
know it. What were you really hoping to learn?”
She pivoted to the side and slipped past him then took three
quick steps before turning back around. Her thoughts scattered each time she
looked into his eyes and having him loom over her only amplified the
frustrating reoccurrence. “I’m so thirsty I can hardly speak. May I please have
something to drink?” It was the truth, but she also needed a moment to regain
her composure and develop a strategy. Had this change of venue improved her
situation or simply altered the identity of her captor?
Her stomach cramped and a fresh wave of dizziness rolled
through her. Stubbornness alone kept her on her feet. She could not let him know
how weak she was. Regardless of his casual demeanor, he was every bit as much
her enemy as the Levari. Caution, logic and observation were the only weapons
left to her.
After staring at her for a long, silent moment he shrugged
and turned toward the adjacent kitchen. “We’re thirty miles from the nearest
town, so even if you managed to escape you’ve got nowhere to go.” He tossed the
comment over his shoulder as he searched through the cupboards for a glass. It
was obvious he wasn’t familiar with the cabin itself, just the security
features.
She followed him into the kitchen, careful to keep plenty of
distance between herself and her imposing companion. He found a glass and
filled it from the tap then handed it to her. She savored the cool liquid as it
rolled across her tongue and soothed her parched throat.
“Thank you.”
His gaze narrowed as she quickly drained the glass. “When’s
the last time you fed?”
He was referring to blood, not solid food. If a host kept
his or her symbionts well-fed, the symbionts could pass energy directly to the
host. It was best to maintain a balanced diet of solid food and blood, but if a
host had to choose one or the other, it was better to go without food.
“It’s been a while.” She hadn’t had blood or food since
before the party began. Preparations had required her full attention and then
she’d been so absorbed in her role as hostess she’d only had a glass of
champagne.
Ambling over to the refrigerator, he opened the door and
peered inside. “Do you have a type preference?”
How had he known human blood came in different types?
Strigoian blood was all the same, all nutrient-rich and hospitable to
symbionts. Was this an indication… He’d likely been fully briefed on humans
before the mission began. She was being paranoid.
“O neg is fine. Vladya symbionts aren’t as fragile as Rom.”
He grinned at the slight. Apparently the conflict between
Vladya and Rom strains was well-known even on Strigoia Prime. Tara knew her
Vladya army was no match for Strigo strain, so she focused on controlling the
Rom.
He grabbed a bag of blood and closed the refrigerator door.
“Do you want it warmed?”
“Microwaves disrupt the energy. If you want it warm on
Earth, it’s better to tap the source.”
“I’m afraid that’s not an option at the moment.” He tossed
the bag to her.
Running her tongue over her teeth, she hoped for some sign
that her fangs were descending. Usually the thought of blood had her symbionts
clamoring for sustenance and their excitement triggered the physical changes in
her body. Would the blood do her any good if her symbionts weren’t able to
absorb the energy?
She set her glass on the counter and squeezed some of the
blood into it. “I don’t even know your name.” She shouldn’t care. It was unwise
to form any sort of attachment with the enemy. Or better yet, she should figure
out a nickname he’d find as annoying as “baby doll”. Setting the bag aside, she
raised the glass to her lips and took a sip. Her stomach knotted and her throat
tensed.
“Name’s Bronik.” He watched her closely, eyes narrowed yet
bright.
“Bronik,” she acknowledged with a nod then returned her
attention to the task at hand. She had to feed. There was no option unless she
was ready to die. She could feel what little strength she had left slipping
away. Reinforcing her resolve, she brought the glass back to her mouth and
parted her lips. The metallic scent and bitter taste made her stomach heave.
She ignored her body’s protest and forced several mouthfuls down her throat.
“Has the blood gone bad?”
Apparently she wasn’t concealing her reactions as well as
she thought. She prepared to take another drink but her body rebelled even more
violently. She shuddered and gagged then set the glass aside. “I guess I’m not
as hungry as I thought.”
“I can’t remember the last time I saw a host gag on blood.”
His head tilted as he stared at her. “What did they do to you?”
Unwilling to reveal the truth, she changed the subject. “How
did you escape the Vancouver compound? The shields surrounding the bunker where
Garrett had you stashed are supposed to be impenetrable even to a Strigo host.
Or did Prince Alexi snap his fingers and demand your release? He had my mother
jumping through hoops like a circus animal.” She couldn’t keep the bitterness
from her voice. Tara was one of the most powerful hosts on Earth, yet she’d
trembled at the thought of Alexi Yeager.
Bronik stalked toward her. She instinctively backed up until
she found herself pressed into one corner of the kitchen. Placing his hands on
the counter to either side of her, he trapped her in place. “Let’s start at the
beginning and work our way forward.”
“The beginning of what?” Her pulse leapt and a familiar
surge of energy tingled along her nerve endings. She wasn’t sure if it was his
nearness or the threat of his sudden advance, but for just a moment her
symbionts had stirred, fighting against their sedation.
“Why were we treated like prisoners when our ship was
sabotaged?” His already deep voice became little more than a growl. “If it
weren’t for Prince Alexi’s unexpected return, I’d likely still be in chains.”
“If it weren’t for my brother’s interruption, you would have
enjoyed being in chains.” It was an intentional provocation and he didn’t
disappoint. He pushed her head back, baring her throat to his fangs. Another
tingle of energy accompanied his aggression and heat curled through her
abdomen. She didn’t care if it was fear or desire stimulating her symbionts.
She needed them awake and fighting and they’d reacted to nothing else.
He bent to her neck and scraped her skin with his fangs, a
sexual gesture every host understood. “I ached for hours after you left me that
night. Did you find someone to scratch your itch or are you still restless?”
“It’s none of your damn business.” She shoved against his
chest but he didn’t budge. She hadn’t really expected him to. “You’re the one
who came on to me. I tried to be professional.”
He released her head and returned his hand to the counter,
surrounding her with his brawny arms. In the depths of his dark eyes emerald
light began to glow. “Let me tell you how this is going to work.” His gaze
lingered on her face then gradually descended to the swell of her breasts, left
bare by the dip of her bodice. “We’re going to spend the next few hours
exploring this tension.” Suddenly he leaned in and nipped the sensitive spot
below her ear. Sharp pleasure skittered along her neck and dropped down her
arm. “Resist if you want, I don’t mind. I’ve never shied away from a challenge.
But remember our time is limited.”
“And why is that?”
He raised his hand to her chest and traced the scalloped
edge of her gown. His fingertip felt warm against her skin and tingles trailed
in the wake of his teasing caress. Her nipples tightened and sensitized, making
the inside of her bodice feel rough. “Prince Alexi has given me until tomorrow
to convince you to cooperate.”
Bronik must think her an addled fool to stand here so
passively. If she could just rouse her symbionts then she’d introduce him to
the real Eloise. She might not be able to best a pureblood, but she’d put up
one hell of a fight. “And what happens if I refuse to cooperate even after
hours of persuasion?”
“If I can’t offer him a full report when he arrives
tomorrow, he’ll strip the information from your mind.” He cupped her chin and
raised her face until she looked into his eyes. “Prince Alexi is more skilled
than most, but mining for information always results in brain damage.”
* * * * *
Garrett Mansfield crossed his arms over his chest and leaned
his shoulder against the doorframe of Tara’s office. Being summoned like a
servant tended to make him irritable. Tara might claim him as son, but he knew
she could remove the distinction just as quickly as she’d bestowed it upon him.
He was useful to her, nothing more. Expecting any affection or lasting loyalty
would have been foolish and naïve. Garrett was neither.
“Are the evacuations complete?” Tara sat behind her ornate
desk, looking composed and elegant, completely unruffled by the conflict raging
around them. There had always been tension between the strains, especially
Vladya and Strigo, but recent events had nearly escalated disagreement to
all-out war. One tiny push from either side and Earth would see the destructive
power of Strigoian hosts.