Last Guard

by Nalini Singh

  “I’ll help you search,” Payal said, and when Nikita raised an eyebrow, added, “I am now a part of the Ruling Coalition. Accept it and cooperate, or die, because without us, the PsyNet will collapse.”

  “An arrogant stance.”

  “No, only the truth.”

  “Payal is right.” Anthony Kyriakus’s voice. “Whatever the reason anchors were omitted from our leadership structure, that reason can no longer stand. Not now, in the face of total PsyNet failure.”

  “Welcome to the Ruling Coalition.” Ivy Jane’s smile was genuine. “Let’s go hunt in this archive.”

  “Not yet.” Krychek’s shoulders moved slightly, as if he’d slid his hands into his pockets. “Not if it’s the database I’m thinking of—Sigma18, Nikita?”

  “Yes, that’s the one.”

  “It’s been shuttered,” Kaleb told them. “Automatic security precaution during mothballing. It’ll take time to track down the codes and open it up in line with a step-by-step reactivation protocol. Otherwise, with a database this old—and given the archaic process most likely used to shutter it—there’s a distinct risk of fading.”

  Shit, he’s right, Canto telepathed to Payal. Old PsyNet databases that aren’t regularly maintained can lose coherence.

  “Will you undertake the task of reopening the database?” Payal asked Krychek. “It’s critical.”

  “I’ll make it my priority. How long it takes will depend on if we have any Net failures or Scarab incursions in the interim.”

  “It makes more sense for me to take on the task,” Nikita inserted. “It doesn’t require major power, just subtlety. I have that.”

  Since Nikita Duncan was said to possess the power to infect minds with mental viruses, Canto had no doubt of her ability to do delicate psychic work. She wasn’t a woman he’d ever trust, but she also had a lot to lose should the PsyNet collapse—her empire had diversified of late, but it was still heavily Psy-based.

  “As long as it’s done.” Payal’s words came out cool, almost autocratic.

  “You’d do well to remember that we don’t work for you,” Nikita said, icicles dripping off each syllable.

  “Right this moment, you do.” Payal’s tone was blunt. “After it’s done, I’ll work for you—as all anchors do on a daily basis. I reiterate again that we have no wish to be involved in politics for politics’ sake. Our only priority is the PsyNet and how to save it.”

  To Canto’s surprise, Nikita reacted well to the plain speaking. “A fair exchange,” she said, then went silent while everyone talked over the plan. But once they’d begun to sign off, Nikita lingered until she was the only one onscreen.

  “A problem?” Payal asked.

  “No. I have a J-Psy in my organization. Sophia Russo.”

  She’s an anchor, Canto told Payal. A very interesting one. We need to talk to her. Making contact with Sophia had been on his to-do list, but then had come the Delhi fracture and he’d had to shove it aside.

  “We know of her,” Payal said with smooth fluidity. “In point of fact, we wish to make contact.”

  “I thought as much. I’ll give Sophia your contact information and tell her to touch base.”

  “Thank you.” Payal held Nikita’s eyes. “Why did you not eliminate your child when you became aware she was a cardinal empath?”

  Canto didn’t know which one of them was more surprised at the question—him or Nikita.

  Chapter 33

  I would do it all again. To save my child, I would bathe in blood a thousand times over. I have no morality where her life is concerned.

  —Nikita Duncan to Anthony Kyriakus

  “THAT IS NONE of your concern.” The ice was back, frigid enough to burn.

  “It is,” Payal insisted. “Anchor infants are dying before they initialize. We need to know how to stop it, how to make their parents bond to them enough to keep them alive—because there is no way to identify child As before initialization.”

  Nikita shifted in her chair, the sleek strands of her hair falling back in perfect alignment after the movement. “I can’t help you,” she said, but it didn’t sound like a rejection.

  That, Canto thought, was about all the answer they’d get from Nikita.

  Again, she surprised him.

  “But,” the former Councilor added, “our race has been about power for a long time—long before Silence. You need to leverage your power as Designation A. Telekinetics are currently considered one of the most useful designations in the Net and are of considerable value and offer prestige to the families who produce them. But Tks are worthless should the Net collapse.”

  Nikita’s image blinked out.

  Payal glanced at Canto. “Did I misunderstand, or did Nikita just tell us that our problem is public relations?”

  “You didn’t misunderstand.” Canto rubbed his jaw, his stubble rasping under his fingertips. “It’s brilliant, you know. The reason no one watches for anchor children is because we’re just there, doing our work in the background. I think it’s time we step out of the shadows.”

  “I just met with the Ruling Coalition.”

  “But who knows about that?” He tapped the arm of his chair. “Are you up for an interview with the PsyNet Beacon?”

  “Me? The robot?” Payal folded her arms and spread her legs apart. “You do it.”

  He adored her. And he was not a man to use that kind of word. But he did. Adore her. “You’re our gladiator, my beautiful, intelligent, fascinating Payal. Also, wouldn’t you like to rub Gia Khan’s face in your rise to power?”

  Her eyes narrowed. “I don’t feel such petty emotions . . . but set up the interview.”

  Canto crossed the floor to grip her hips. “You dazzle me.”

  A sudden hesitancy to her. “What if it doesn’t work?” Soft words. “What if the only way I can stay functional is to keep up the iron walls?” Her fingers lingering delicately against his jaw, as if he’d break if she pushed too hard. “I let them fall today with you, and I feel stable enough, but what if it’s a false hope?”

  “It doesn’t matter. We’ve had this conversation—no matter what, no matter how, we stick.”

  “7J and 3K?” she whispered.

  “Always. Always.” Sometimes it wasn’t a childhood thing; sometimes you found your person early. She was his person and always would be.

  “I don’t want to go back to Vara.” It came out naked, her face devoid of protective shields. “The repair is holding for now. It might be the only window of stability we have for some time.”

  “Can you stay?” She was the CEO of a major family. More, she was being watched by unfriendly eyes. “The medication?” he asked, biting back his rage at the ugly drug leash her father had put on her.

  “I need a dose of the meds—that’s the biggest hurdle.” Payal chewed her lower lip. “I can do a lot of work remotely.” A small nod. “I’ll tell Lalit and Father that I’ve been inducted into the Ruling Coalition and asked to remain close to Krychek so I can shadow him and learn my new duties.”

  “Payal, you don’t have to hide me from them.” It came out hard, a near-snarl.

  “Yes, I do.” A solemn statement that cut him to the bone. “Because you’re my person. The only one I have. I need to protect you.”

  Canto chafed against restrictions, protections, but when she put it that way . . . when she looked at him with such raw vulnerability . . . Fucked. He was fucked. He’d give her anything she wanted. He couldn’t, however, stop himself from muttering, “I’d prefer to just shoot your father and brother, but yeah, that should work. Chances they have a spy in Krychek’s base?”

  “Nil. His HQ is airtight—Kaleb is a man who inspires loyalty.”

  “I’ll ask him to cover for you.”

  He squeezed her hips when she parted her lips to reply. “It won’t be an official requ
est like you’d make, it’ll be one among friends.” Krychek and Mercant were now entwined. “It’s the less complicated way.”

  Payal frowned. “No, let me ask. In an unofficial way.”

  The way she said it had Canto holding his words. He watched as her gaze went distant, as if she was telepathing. She was back within seconds. “He’s agreed,” she murmured. “He also said he’d answer any other questions I want to ask him.”

  A stab of quite ridiculous jealousy had Canto scowling. “Why are you asking him questions?”

  “Because he’s like me.” A whisper as her body jerked a little toward Canto. “And he has the life I want.”

  Love smashed through every bone in his body, a love so pure and so visceral that it devastated pride and jealousy and anything but the desire to give her what she needed. “Come here, baby.”

  She all but melted into him, curling into his lap with her head against his shoulder and one hand on his chest. He wrapped her up, holding her close, this woman who was powerful and complicated and had been deprived of tenderness all her life.

  Canto knew zilch about tenderness, but he was a quick study. He’d watched how the bears treated their mates, seen how Arwen was with his bear. And the thing was, it came naturally with Payal. He wanted to hold her, wanted to kiss her stupid, wanted to keep her warm and safe in his arms.

  * * *

  • • •

  PAYAL could still feel Canto wrapped around her as she stood in front of the comm screen later that afternoon, ready to make the call to her father. Canto himself was upstairs, but she knew he’d be with her in a heartbeat should she need him, their minds entwined.

  The broken girl inside her had learned that it wasn’t only okay to lean on him, such things were unremarkable between the two of them. The watchful, robotic part of her had come to the same conclusion: there was no ledger between 3K and 7J. Canto Mercant would give Payal Rao whatever she needed and vice versa.

  Because they were each other’s person.

  “Payal,” her father said coldly when his aristocratic face appeared onscreen. “What’s the meaning of this disappearing act?”

  Her head was heavy, the pain a constant now, but she allowed none of that to show on her face. “I have been inducted into the Ruling Coalition. I wasn’t permitted to speak about the possibility until it was final.”

  Pranath Rao was a man who’d long perfected an expressionless—if cold—countenance, but even he blinked in surprise, his posture suddenly straighter. “I’ve heard nothing of this.”

  “The official press release will be going out within the next hour.” Ivy Jane had sent her a message alerting her to that fact. “I was permitted that time to advise my family unit.”

  “I must admit you’ve caught me unprepared,” Pranath confessed. “Why did they approach you? Gia Khan has always been the front-runner in our region when it comes to politics.”

  “I’m a hub-anchor, Father. A powerful one who is currently holding Delhi together.” This wasn’t the time to be modest about her abilities; her father reacted to power and she’d use that weakness against him. “The Coalition wants an anchor presence, and they need an A who is both stable and able to understand business. As for the approach, I made it on behalf of Designation A.”

  Before Pranath could interrupt, she continued, “Given my sudden elevation to Coalition-member status, I’ve been asked to stay in Moscow and liaise with Kaleb Krychek for approximately two weeks, to ensure that I know my duties and can access all necessary databases.” It was the longest she could be physically away from her anchor zone.

  Avarice fairly pulsed off her father. “Payal, I could’ve never predicted this, and I’m certain I won’t believe it until I see the release, but well done, daughter.”

  She inclined her head. “I can deal with family business matters remotely, but I don’t also need to be dealing with Lalit. At present, he’s attempting to break into my personal quarters.” An angry Canto had just passed her that information.

  Her father nodded. “I’ll pull him into line—and I’ll put aside two vials of your medication for you to pick up.”

  “I’d appreciate it if you could courier it to my secure Coalition box in Moscow.” A service that had been put automatically in place once she was accepted into the group and had stated her aim of staying in Moscow for the time being. “I need to maintain my energy levels to deal with Krychek.”

  “Agreed.”

  “Father, courtesy of the recent fractures in the Net in our area, I’ll need a dose within the next two hours. Can you have a teleport courier make the delivery by then?”

  “I’ll organize it now.” A ten-second pause in his feed. When he reappeared, he said, “It’ll be there within the next five minutes.” His eyes bore into her. “Remember your family, Payal. You wouldn’t have been chosen for this position if you weren’t the Rao CEO. I put you there.”

  No, Payal had put herself there, after outperforming Lalit in every way. “Of course, Father. I won’t be able to report in regularly, due to my heavy schedule, but I’ll give you a full debrief when I can return home.”

  “Understood.” Pranath Rao was nothing if not practical when it came to matters of power. “Do you need us to teleport across your clothing and personal items?”

  “There’s no need.” And no reason for Pranath’s people to enter her apartment. “I’ll make local purchases. A small way to get my face and name out among Psy businesses once the news hits the public channels.”

  “You’ve always been a clever child.” Pranath smiled that cold, false smile. “Do the family proud, Payal.”

  After signing off, Payal glanced at her timepiece. Hmm . . .

  Exiting the tech room, she went to head upstairs but heard a sound to the left and went that way instead. She found Canto stripped to the waist, his lower body clad only in black exercise shorts. His upper body gleamed with sweat, but he was currently exercising his legs using robotic braces that had him gritting his teeth as he lifted his legs up and down.

  The brace was a webwork carapace of gleaming black that went over his legs, up his arms, and partially along his spine. Payal knew the devices were designed to function even on a fully passive patient, but it appeared Canto had set it so he had to use his ab and arm muscles to power the device.

  That took brutal strength—his legs would’ve become dead weights multiplied by the weight force he’d programmed on the device the instant he turned off the robotic lift assist. From the lights along one side of his thigh, she could see that he’d left on the muscle-stimulation function that kept his muscles from atrophying.

  But it was the teeth-gritted grimace on his face that held her attention. “This is not comfortable for you.”

  He grunted, clearly unsurprised by her presence. “Fucking thing feels like biting ants across my spine.” He lifted up again, his shoulder muscles defined as he curled up his arms to lift his legs as the brace pulsed his leg muscles to keep them strong and active. “But it’s the best way to keep my legs from turning into twigs.”

  Perspiration gleamed on his skin. His hair was damp at the temples, the scent of him a mix of fresh sweat and Canto. The primal nature of the scene spoke to the wild part of her she’d so long locked away.

  Walking closer, she waited until he’d lowered his legs.

  Then she leaned down and pressed a kiss to an exposed section of his shoulder. He groaned as the taste of salt and him entered her mouth. “That is doing nothing for my concentration, 3K.”

  3K.

  What had once been a dehumanizing label now felt like a kiss. “You look like you’ve worked hard enough.”

  A glance up. “I need to do ten more minutes. Stay?”

  Payal ran her hand through his hair, feeling a sense of ownership that was as primal as how he looked right now. Then she moved to take a seat on an exercise machine across from
the one he was using. It had weights; Canto probably used it for his upper body. Which she admired openly while he finished up his routine.

  “Baby,” he said five minutes later, “you can’t keep looking at me like that.” A harsh order, but there was nothing angry about it. “My damn erection is like a steel pole right now.”

  Baby.

  A term of affection when used as he used it with her. For Payal Rao, the robot. “Can I touch it after you’re done?”

  He dropped his legs so fast the machine screamed an alarm. He slammed it off with his palm. “Yeah,” he rasped. “You can touch anything on me you want. Full, no-holds-barred skin privileges.”

  She’d heard that term from one of the Delhi tigers at some point during negotiations, when they’d spoken about handshakes. This, however, was nothing so mundane. “You had five minutes to go.” Her skin was hot, her pulse a rocket. “I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

  His eyes glittered. “I’ll do another session later. Come ’ere.”

  * * *

  • • •

  CANTO’S mind blanked as Payal walked to him. As he watched, she kicked off her heels, her feet soundless on the special matting of the gym.

  He went to tell her to wait while he removed the robotic brace, so she could sit on his lap, but she hitched up her fitted dress to straddle one side of the bench seat on which he sat. “Hell.” Those legs, the creamy brown of her upper thighs . . .

  He wanted to goddamn bite into her.

  But Payal had other priorities, her eyes on the jut of his erection.

  His chest heaved.

  And she wrapped her fingers around his rigid length, over the top of the thin fabric of his shorts. He bit back a shout, the tendons on his neck feeling like they’d burst out of his skin.