Assassin

by Cyndi Friberg

“I know what I want,” she argued without pulling away from his chest.

  “You don’t. How could you? Freedom is available, but you don’t really know what that means. Until you do, I won’t let any male, including me, come near you.”

  That surprised her enough that she eased back and lifted her head. “No one will summon me to their bed?”

  “Never again,” he stressed, his gaze locked with hers. “That sort of thing is not allowed among the Outcasts—ever.”

  Confused by his claim, she hesitated before asking, “If Outcasts never take pleasure from females, what purpose do the human females serve?”

  A low chuckle rumbled in his chest, but his gaze remained warm and caressing. “We are very interested in pleasure with females, but we believe pleasure should be shared not taken. Both male and female must want to share pleasure or it is forbidden. No one will ever take advantage of you again.”

  He’d made the claim before. She still didn’t believe him, but she nodded. Clearly, he believed it. Unfortunately, those of the higher designations tended to play by their own rules, or simply disregarded rules entirely. He thought he was protecting her, but in truth he was leaving her vulnerable to less honorable males. Her only hope was to find a way to motivate him to accept her, or at least protect her at all times. And the only way to ensure she was safe is if she was with him.

  “If I am not to serve you,” she tried to sound as calm as possible, “how will I spend my time?”

  “With Sara and Wenny,” he reminded.

  Sara. Arrista had almost forgotten about the feisty human. They’d only met briefly in the underground, but Sara had seemed kind and honorable. Maybe she would have some idea how to resolve this situation.

  He finally released her hands and stepped back out of her way. “Have you changed your mind about helping her?”

  “No. It will be wonderful to see Wenny again. I choose to serve Sara.”

  Chapter Four

  Arrista sat in the grass of Wenny’s enclosure, late afternoon sun warming her face. The poisonous rays felt wonderful, hinting at a freedom she’d never experienced before. Yet tension coiled through her belly. She could almost feel the harmful radiation seeping through the protective barrier, seeking out holes and crevices, venturing ever deeper. Even the Outcast healer wasn’t sure the formula would adequately protect her. She felt vulnerable and exposed, but the only way to know for sure if the lotion worked was to test its effectiveness.

  She pushed the disconcerting thought to the back of her mind and focused on the task at hand. Smuggling one of the karron cubs out of the underground and taking care of the cub until she was old enough to survive on her own had been the price for Sara’s release. The cub lacked the aggressive nature needed to be a battle cat, so Wenny would have been doomed to a life of hard labor if not for Sara’s arrangement with Lady Isolaund. Lady Isolaund often seemed cold and ruthless, but she cared deeply about the cats.

  Wenny lay with her head on Arrista’s lap, but the karron cub wasn’t asleep, just despondent. Her paws looked much too large for her small body, and even filled with despair, her eyes were vivid blue. The color contrasted with her dark fur, making her face even more expressive. “How long has she been like this?”

  “Since yesterday.” Sara sat nearby, compassion knitting her brow. Thick-lashed brown eyes reflected her worry as a cool breeze rippled through her long, dark hair. “Isolaund brought Certice to the hostage negotiation.”

  “Certice is my lady’s favorite. She rarely leaves her apartment without her faithful battle cat. Certice is part-protector, part-companion. They are very close.”

  Sara nodded, but her expression remained tense. “Wenny was thrilled to see her mother but went a little crazy when Certice left and didn’t insist on Wenny returning to the underground. Now she feels betrayed and abandoned.”

  Stroking the cub’s dark fur, Arrista’s heart ached for the young one. Arrista had assisted Lady Isolaund during Wenny’s birth. She had been one of six cubs, and Certice’s labor had gone on for many hours. Only four of the cubs survived, so Certice was very protective of them. “Wenny must be so confused. She has never been away from her brothers and sister. I would be upset too.”

  They talked about possible ways to cheer the cub, or at least engage her interest, but Arrista suggested they not push her for a day or two. “Let her grieve. She has reason to be sad and needs to process these emotions.” It was sound advice for anyone in a drastically different situation, Arrista realized. It would be unwise for her to make any pivotal decisions until she had a day or two to adjust to her new reality.

  Sara agreed, so Arrista eased the cub’s head off her lap. Pushing to her feet, she brushed off her pants and headed for the gate at the other end of the enclosure. The “habitat”, as Sara called it, was surrounded by a tall metal fence, but a stream ran through the far end, so Wenny had continual access to fresh water and fish. It was likely they would need to augment her diet with fresh meat, especially if the cub remained this depressed.

  “How are you and Torrin getting along?” Sara asked, reluctantly leaving the cub in the grass as she followed Arrista from the enclosure. “I wasn’t sure how to feel about it when Xorran told me who had been assigned to protect you.”

  “Why?” Arrista stopped walking and faced her new friend. They’d reached the trees, and Arrista felt less defenseless in the shade. A healer’s assurances couldn’t undo a lifetime of fearing the sun. “Do you have reason to mistrust Torrin?”

  “I don’t mistrust him,” Sara insisted, “but I don’t trust him either. I don’t really know him.”

  “Does Xorran trust him?” She was almost afraid to ask. Torrin had already admitted that many, perhaps most, of the Outcasts were uncomfortable with him.

  “Torrin hasn’t been with the Outcasts very long, so a lot of the guys are still making up their minds about him. Xorran was like that. He wasn’t sure what to make of Torrin, but they’ve gone on several missions together, and Xorran’s attitude has changed for the better. The overlord clearly trusts Torrin, or he wouldn’t have assigned Torrin to protect you.”

  Arrista wasn’t as convinced as the human. “Maybe safety is not their true focus. The overlord might have assigned his most ruthless warrior to guard an enemy.”

  “You’re not our enemy,” Sara stressed. “You talked Lady Isolaund into setting me free. That makes us friends, allies.”

  She manufactured a smile, though she was still too tense to actually feel encouraged. “Do you know why Torrin was...altered?”

  “Altered? In what way?”

  Sara’s surprise seemed genuine, still Arrista hesitated. Torrin hadn’t told her it was a secret, but she had the distinct impression he preferred not to discuss it with anyone.

  “Are you talking about his cybernetics?” Sara asked after a lengthy pause.

  Thrilled that she wouldn’t have to betray his trust in order to gather more information, she nodded. “He wouldn’t tell me why it was done to him.”

  “I’m not sure. There are all sorts of rumors, but I suspect the overlord is the only one—besides Torrin—who knows the entire story. Kage Razel is extremely picky about who he allows into the brotherhood. Are you uncomfortable because of it?”

  “No. If he had not told me, I never would have known about any of it. I have read stories about such things, but Torrin is the only one I’ve met who has artificial body parts.”

  “Has no Sarronti ever lost a limb?” Sara looked at Arrista, clearly unsure of the claim.

  “Of course there have been accidents and illnesses that disfigured others of my kind. But the Sarronti have ways of regenerating damaged tissue. Is this not possible with humans and hybrids?”

  “Humans are definitely not able to regenerate limbs. I don’t know about Rodytes. Their regeneration tubes can repair all sorts of injuries. It’s possible that their medical equipment could regrow an arm or leg.”

  They’d drifted off topic because Arrista wasn’t sure
how to ask about what she really wanted to know. She only knew Sara slightly better than the males, and they all seemed to have strange ideas about how life was structured. It was unlikely that Sara would be any different.

  Arrista strolled along through the trees. The verdant scents and familiar sounds soothed her frayed nerves. She generally saw these woods by moonlight, but she felt more at home here than on the Wheel surrounded by alloy walls and unfamiliar technology.

  “We’re not supposed to lose site of the barracks,” Sara told her suddenly. “It’s the limitation I agreed to, so Xorran would let me stay here with Wenny.”

  The barracks, which were still under construction, were barely visible through the trees. Arrista sighed and turned around. “It’s a wise precaution. It’s likely General Alonov is plotting his next offensive.” They returned to the edge of the clearing where Wenny’s enclosure had been erected before Arrista spoke again. “If a human female has an interest in one of the Outcasts, how does she let him know?”

  Sara’s reply was preempted by the sound of female voices and laughter. Three females emerged from the trees, following a path that led to the stream that flowed through Wenny’s enclosure. The sunlight gleamed on bright red hair, and Arrista realized one of the women was Heather. The other two were strangers to her, but Sara obviously knew them.

  “Hey there? Come to gawk at the shirtless workers?” Sara called as she walked to intercept them.

  Arrista followed, feeling awkward and out of place.

  “Very funny,” Heather grumped. “The last time I let you indulge your lust for naked chests, I ended up in the underground.” She glanced at Arrista and added, “Hi.”

  A lovely blonde moved closer to Arrista and held out her hand with a friendly smile. “I’m Thea Cline, and we didn’t come to gawk at the workers. We came to see the cub.”

  “I’m not sure you’ll get much of a reaction out of her,” Sara cautioned. “She’s really homesick right now.”

  “Boy, can I relate,” Heather muttered.

  “You didn’t seem homesick last night,” the third female said with a sly smile. Her face was a perfect oval framed by sleek black hair, and her delicate features were easily dominated by big blue eyes.

  “That’s Lily,” Thea told her. “And she’s right. Heather was having the time of her life last night in the commons. Two of her suitors started a brawl over her. Chairs went flying, as well as fists. It landed them both on the detention level.”

  Sara led her friends to the perimeter fence and called out to Wenny. The cub raised her head and looked at Sara, then just lowered it again.

  “Weniffa, ornell.” Arrista issued the command in a loud, clear voice.

  Wenny slowly pulled herself up out of the grass and lopped over to the fence.

  “Oh my god, she’s adorable,” Thea cried as the cub drew near.

  “Her eyes look so sad,” Lily commented.

  As Wenny reached the fence, her lips drew back from her teeth and she stilled.

  “Is she smiling at us?” Heath looked to Sara for the answer.

  “Smelling, actually,” Sara told her. “She has a gland on the roof of her mouth that—”

  Suddenly, Wenny lunged for the fence, growling variously and clawing at the barrier.

  “Deztee!” When the cub ignored her, Arrista shouted a more forceful halt command. “Deztee lot naltar!”

  With a whine and a telepathic, Bad one. Watch her, the cub walked across the grass and went into her shelter.

  “Did you hear what she said?” Sara asked, eyes wide with concern. “What did she mean?”

  Arrista gestured helplessly. “I can’t explain why she reacted that way.”

  “Must have sensed I’m a dog person,” Heater said with a tentative smile.

  “Maybe this is just more homesickness,” Thea suggested. “Didn’t you say she’s been acting weird today?”

  “She has,” Sara admitted, “but not like that.”

  Once the others left, they could see if Wenny would explain her reaction. There wasn’t much they could do while the visitors looked on. “May I ask you a question?” she asked Heather.

  “Sure.” The redhead sounded casual, but her gaze shot toward the others.

  “Did you enjoy seeing your suitors fight over you? Is that a common human reaction?”

  A guilty smile told Arrista all she needed to know. “It’s just never happened before.”

  “Arrista asked me how human females let a male know that they are interested,” Sara told the other three. “Lily and Thea have both found their mates. Maybe it would help to hear how it happened for them.”

  “Arton and I both fought it at first,” Lily began. “He was still struggling with some pretty powerful demons from his past, so things developed gradually. Also we weren’t genetically compatible, so we weren’t dealing with the pull. Don’t get me wrong. We still found each other attractive, but I’ve heard the pull makes resisting almost impossible.”

  Tilting her head, Arrista studied the human for a moment. “I thought Rodyte hybrids had to bond with genetically compatible mates to reproduce. Do you not want children?”

  “My focus has always been my career,” Lily admitted. “I probably would have had children if I’d matched any of the males, but I didn’t. So it isn’t possible for me to have a child with anyone on this planet.”

  “You don’t know that,” Arrista pointed out. “You might have been able to produce offspring with a Sarronti male.”

  Lily just smiled. “The point is moot. I’m happily bonded with the love of my life. We’ll just have to spoil everyone else’s babies.”

  Arrista nodded as her gaze shifted to the blonde. “Are you a genetic match for your mate?”

  “Oh yeah.” The admission turned her cheeks bright pink. “But I was the one with the complicated past. I lost my family in a horrific accident back on Earth and was not in any way ready for anyone else in my life. Rex was patient, but persistent. And the pull is like nothing any human has experienced before. ”

  “How long did you resist this pull before you agreed to bond with your Outcast?”

  “Rex and I will bond, eventually. I love him like crazy, and I know he loves me, but it’s just too soon. Allowing him to claim me now would be disrespectful to the ones I lost.”

  Again, Arrista found Thea’s words confusing. “And this Rex is willing to wait?”

  “If he wants me as his mate, he doesn’t have a choice,” Thea said with a laugh. “Actually, his willingness to give me time is one of the reasons I knew he was the one.”

  In both of these situations, it sounded like the male pursued the female. She needed to know how to convince a reluctant male.

  “We should get back,” Lily said after a long pause.

  “Thanks for sharing your baby with us, even if she didn’t like us very much.” Thea gave Sara a hug and waved at Arrista as the three headed back the way they’d come.

  Glad they were gone, Arrista turned back to Sara. She was Arrista’s last hope. “How did you attract Xorran?”

  “I’ve always preferred to attack things head-on.” The corners of Sara’s mouth tipped up, and amusement brightened her gaze. “And like Thea said, the pull burns away all the indecision and makes it harder than hell to resist. Is there someone specific you’re interested in?” Sara’s knowing smile revealed that she had a pretty good idea how Arrista would answer.

  Arrista tensed. She must serve someone, and the only person she’d encountered in the world above that would make service tolerable was Torrin. But each time she’d tried to explain this to him, he’d become indignant. It was unlikely Sara would understand either, so Arrista chose another strategy. “I am interested in Torrin, but he doesn’t think my attraction is real. When I expressed my interest, he moved me out of his apartment and insisted that I stay in a different cabin. It is humiliating.”

  “How did you express your interest?” Sara asked, a hint of dread creeping onto her tone.


  This was a waste of time. Humans would never understand a Niffal’s instinctual need to serve. “The details are unimportant. I seemed desperate, so he rejected me.”

  “He didn’t reject you, Arrista. He was trying to protect you.”

  The pity in Sara’s expression was even more humiliating than the dread. “I made him uncomfortable, so he got rid of me. It’s as simple as that.”

  Sara shook her head, dark hair swishing around her pretty face. “He was trying to be honorable. You’ve been through a lot in the past few days. He doesn’t want to take advantage of you.”

  “But I am...” She sighed, unable to construct a defense Sara would understand.

  “You are what?” Sara prompted after a long pause. “What were you going to say?”

  Arrista still hesitated. It was unwise to admit any sort of weakness to an enemy. She didn’t consider Sara her enemy, but she wasn’t yet sure she could trust the human either. Still, Sara was the closest thing she had to a friend, and trust had to start somewhere. “I have never been alone like this before. It makes me feel unsafe.”

  “Did you tell Torrin that?” Sara paused, then added, “Is fear why you want a relationship with him? Do you want someone to protect you?”

  He had already agreed to protect her. The situation was much more complicated than that. “I find him...intriguing.” The claim sprang readily to her lips. There was more truth to the statement than she cared to admit. Torrin was so different from any male she had ever known. He was fierce and powerful like Alonov, yet honorable and kind. The combination confused, yet attracted her. She felt as if two separate people lived inside her and they continually argued with each other.

  “I’ve seen how Torrin looks at you. I don’t think you need to do anything but spend time with him. If a Rodyte male wants a female, he won’t be able to resist her for long.”

  Which was the exact reason he’d banished her to the other cabin. She nodded and smiled, but like the other two, Sara had been very little help.

  Xorran arrived a short time later and escorted both females back to the Wheel. Sara invited her to join them for the evening meal, but Arrista declined. It was obvious that the couple wanted to be alone, and Arrista needed time to formulate a new strategy.