She searched, flowing through thoughts and memories, complex equations and surges of joy. She concentrated, seeking out his instincts, the oldest, most elemental impulses of his being. His soul. She wasn’t surprised by the darkness. No one could live the sort of life he’d lived and not darken their soul. But her soul was just as dark. Perhaps together they could find a small glimmer of light.
Pouring her energy into the core of his being, she wove portions of her soul through his. She made the pattern as intricate as possible, needing it to last until their dying breaths. The thought was humbling and motivating. She concentrated, fusing strands and tying complex knots until she had exhausted her creativity.
It’s beautiful, my love. Absolutely stunning.
With those words, he assured her it had worked. They were now soul bonded mates.
Joy and aching desire drew her into the physical. His hands framed her face, and he kissed her mouth as his hips started rocking again. But it was different this time, so very different. Her senses expanded and intensified. She felt the fullness he created inside her, but also the snug grip of her core around his cock. They were one, body, mind and spirit. She would never be alone again.
His emotions flowed through her, heightening each sensation. She shared herself just as freely, holding nothing back. They moved together, easily sensing what the other needed and giving it to them. He was tender and fierce, filling her deeply while he gently kissed her mouth. She surrendered to his strength, open and accepting, warm and welcoming.
They both tried to fight off the ending, but it was impossible. It felt too good, and the complexity was too new. They came together, crying their pleasure into each other’s mouth. She wrapped her legs around his hips, holding him deep as he shuddered and spilled inside her.
“That was intense,” he whispered into her hair.
He covered her completely but took most of his weight on his knees and forearms. “How do you feel, mate?” She grinned when all he did was chuckle. It was a needless question. She could sense exactly what he was experiencing.
“Has it only been two weeks?” He locked his elbows and lifted his head so he could see her face. “How is that possible? I feel like I’ve known you forever.”
“Well, I feel like a completely different person than the pathetic creature you met not even two weeks ago.”
“Your mental chains are gone. You are a different person.” He slipped his arms around her and rolled to his side, taking her with him.
Miraculously, their bodies stayed joined. “It feels so good like this.” She hooked her top leg over his hip and wiggled even closer. “I want to stay like this all night.”
He chuckled. “I’m game, but I doubt we’ll do much sleeping.”
She could feel him hardening already, so she smiled against his chest.
“Kage was hoping Certice could take a message to Isolaund’s brother.”
“Indrex Farr? Why does the overlord want to speak with Indrex?”
“Isn’t he on their high council?”
Her thinking was still passion muddled. Of course. “Yes. In fact, he’s high councilor. Contacting him directly makes perfect sense. Maybe Merella can arrange it.”
He tensed, and suspicion rippled across their link. “Can we trust her?”
“I told her about the compulsion, warned her not to trust Isolaund. She seemed genuinely horrified and concerned.”
“What if Isolaund does the same thing to Merella?”
“The compulsion changed my personality, made me meek and docile. Merella is very good at pretending to be the perfect servant, but she is even feistier than me.” She paused, thinking through the possible outcomes. “Indrex might be tricky to approach. Because he is high councilor, his security is extensive.”
“Are there any other councilors that might be willing to negotiate with us?”
“Alonov’s sister. She is the second member from the Ayrontu, but she is one of the younger sect.”
That surprised him. “Why does his younger sister sit on the council?”
“General Alonov isn’t allowed to hold the position because he commands the military. It’s considered a conflict of interest. And Ezalondra is the only member of his family still alive.”
“What about Farlo?”
“Farlo is of the next generation. He is not eligible until both his father and aunt have passed beyond.”
“Wow. It’s more complex than I realized.”
She shook her head. “It’s only complex because they keep changing the rules to suit themselves. Every time someone tells them no, they make up a new decree.”
He eased away from her and sat up, then drew her against him. She sighed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to depress you.”
“It’s not depression, more frustration. Is it even worth trying to contact any of them? It sounds like the younger sect isn’t much better than the older.”
“They want to be, but they’re sabotaged at every turn. The older sect has the advantage right now. The Layot representative is young, but he generally votes with the older sect. Many think he’s being controlled in some way.”
“Could he be a Shadow agent?”
She pushed away from him, then turned so they faced each other. “I hadn’t thought of that, but it’s a definite possibility.”
“So what do I tell Kage? Do we send a message or not?”
“I’ll ask Merella to contact Ezalondra. I think that’s our best move.”
“Deal. Now no more talk of any conflict. I won’t to focus on us.” He pulled her onto his lap and buried his hands in her hair. “I’m going to lick your sweet body from neck to knees, and you’re not going to distract me.”
She grinned at him as heat cascaded through her body. “As you wish, my love.”
THE FOLLOWING DAY DAWNED dark and cloudy, promising storms in the afternoon. Torrin escorted Arrista to the enclosure, then kissed her and went on his way. As promised, guards were now stationed at the four corners of the enclosure. She let herself in and walked over to Sara, who stood apart from the cats, silently watching.
“Certice is surly this morning. She won’t even talk to me.”
“Her mistress agreed to kill her yesterday. She has reason to be grumpy.”
Certice suddenly rose and approached. The closest guard snapped to attention and raised his lethal looking weapon to his shoulder.
“I’m fine,” Arrista called, motioning for him to lower the gun.
The battle cat stopped a short distance away, but her armor snapped into place, creating a dramatic ruff around her head. I am not grumpy. I am enraged! Why does the Shadow still draw breath? I can sense her heartbeat and it—
“Her?” Sara cried. “The Shadow is female?”
She was here last night. I would have ripped out her throat if her mate were not with her.
“Lily,” Arrista and Sara said in unison.
“Oh shit, this is bad.” Sara faced her, looking slightly pale. “We have to tell...who do we tell? The overlord or Arton?”
“The overlord,” Arrista said firmly. “Seeking out the harbinger at this point will reveal to Lily that we know.”
“Good idea.” She looked around, her gaze somewhat wild.
You must stay away from her, Certice stressed. You are her target.
“Me?” Arrista asked, unsure which of them the cat meant.
Last night was a distraction. Something is wrong with the Shadow lenitas. Their range is greatly diminished. Isolaund needed Lily here so she could upload the new mission, which is to kill Arrista.
“How do you know all of this?” Sara asked, suspicion narrowing her gaze.
I swallowed lenitas when I bit Lily.
Sara gasped. “Then you’re a Shadow too.”
Wrong brain. The lenitas cannot fully engage, but I am able to hear their transmissions.
“That’s convenient.”
With an impatient growl for Sara, Certice moved in front of Arrista. She will come for you
. I have risked much to protect you. You must be ready.
Arrista nodded. “Does Isolaund sense that you are intercepting the transmissions?”
No. I am shielding my mind. She does not know the lenitas are there. Now go. Find your mate and devise a strategy.
“One last question,” Arrista said. “How many Shadows has Lily made?”
Just the one they killed last night. That’s why she must be stopped right now.
She nodded, then said, “Thank you. Again.”
Certice dipped her head and smoothed out her armor. I have not forgotten what you did for my cubs. They would not be alive if it were not for you.
And Certice had two male cubs still in the underground. Arrista sighed. They would need to do something about that, very soon.
She blew out a breath as she turned to Sara. “Stay with the cats. I will update the overlord.”
“Wait. What did she say? Certice shut me out.”
“Can you blame her? You accused her of being a Shadow when she risked her life to warn us.”
Sara’s expression fell. She turned toward Certice and said, “I’m sorry. I spoke without thinking. Your honor is beyond reproach.”
The karron just huffed and turned back to her cubs, clearly not yet ready to forgive.
Sara sighed, so Arrista took pity on her. “Give her time. She doesn’t generally hold a grudge.”
“What did she tell you?” Sara asked again.
She quickly explained what Certice had said. “I’ll be back shortly.”
Sara didn’t argue, so Arrista jogged for the gate. She took two steps toward the trail leading to the Wheel when the nearest guard ran to catch up with her. She thought he needed to talk with her, so she looked at him and said, “Yes?”
“Neither of you are allowed to go anywhere without one of us.”
“I see.” Given everything that happened, that probably was wise. “Then please use your com-bots to locate the overlord for me.”
He nodded, then paused. “Both the overlord and your mate are in the war room.”
“Could you please escort me to the war room?”
“Of course.”
Torrin met her at the door of the war room, his expression concerned. “What’s wrong? Your anxiety is so strong, it’s giving me a headache.”
She waited until the door closed to speak. She was glad that the guard remained in the corridor. The fewer people who knew about this, the better. “Lily is the Shadow. Certice just asked me why she’s still alive.”
“Godsdamn it,” Kage snarled out the curse. “Why can’t that couple get a break?”
“There’s more,” Arrista cautioned. She quickly took a breath, trying to organize her thoughts into concise statements. “Last night was a sham used to draw out Lily. The lenitas are malfunctioning, so Isolaund needed to be near her to upload the new mission, which is killing me.”
“Holy fuck,” Kage muttered. “You learned all this from the cat?”
“When Certice bit Lily, she inadvertently swallowed some of the lenitas. They don’t fully engage because they were programmed for a humanoid brain, but it allows her to hear their transmissions.”
“But Isolaund is the puppet master,” Kage grumbled. “What is keeping her from realizing that someone has tapped into her transmissions?”
“Certice,” Arrista said firmly. “She’s a powerful telepath and is shielding her mind.”
“We don’t really have a choice but to trust her,” Torrin pointed out.
“She hasn’t failed us yet,” Kage agreed.
“Certice also said Lily hasn’t made any other Shadows, except the one that died last night. This needs to be done as soon as possible. So what do we do?”
“We won’t know how much control the lenitas have over Lily until we test her,” Kage said.
Torrin folded his arms across his chest already irritated and worried. “And how do we do that?”
“Put her in a room alone with Arrista and see what—”
“Absolutely not! We are not using my mate as bait.”
“He’s right, love.” She placed her hand on his upper arm, drawing his angry gaze to her. “I am her target, her mission objective. Nothing else will trigger the Shadow.”
“No. There has to be another way. We can convince her that—”
“We need them active, and you know it. They will activate when Lily sees her intended target and in a situation that will guarantee success. You already tried to interact with inactive lenitas, and it was useless.”
Arrista shuddered. Kage meant Sonters, the Shadow agent from last night. Torrin must have attempted to network with his lenitas.
“I’ll do it, but I need a plausible excuse for going to her. If I just drop by for a visit, it will seem suspicious.”
“You’re not doing this,” Torrin asserted. “I vowed to protect you with my life. I will not let you run headlong into danger!”
“Then figure out a way to keep me safe, but we need to do this,” she countered just as vehemently.
Kage chuckled. “I knew you two were perfect for each other. Is it finally official?”
“Yes,” Torrin grumbled. “She claimed me last night.”
The phrasing made the overlord laugh. “I just bet she did.”
“The only way this will work is if we involve Arton.” Torrin finally gave in. “Lily is his anchor, so he has some level of control over her mind.”
Arrista didn’t know what that meant, but the detail wasn’t important right now.
Kage nodded. “He can knock her out with a thought if all else fails. The tricky part will be bringing him onboard without alerting her in the process.”
“If anyone can do it, it’s Arton. His mind is more controlled than mine, and that’s saying a lot.”
“I’ll summon him and then tell him to shield his mind before I explain what’s going on.” Kage told them. “It doesn’t need to be any more complicated than that.”
“What about a reason for my visit?” Arrista reminded.
“Lily’s a geneticist,” Kage told her. “She’s supervising the program that allows my men to mate with the human females. You’re recently mated with a hybrid. Go ask her about interspecies procreation. That will seem completely reasonable.”
“I hate this plan.” Torrin raked his hair with both hands.
“You’ll hate anything we come up with, so shut the hells up.”
The suggestion made Torrin smile, so Arrista forgave Kage’s rudeness. “When should I go see her?” she asked the overlord. “How long will it take you to update Arton?”
“Give me an hour. If that’s not enough time, I’ll let you know. Otherwise, head for the lab adjacent to main medical. That’s where you’ll find Lily.”
“YOU CANNOT COME WITH me,” Arrista insisted an hour later.
Torrin squared his shoulders and prepared to win her over with logic. “If you show up without an escort, it would be much more suspicious than my going with you.”
“I agree.”
That was easy.
“That’s why I asked my escort to meet me here right about now.”
As if on cue, the computer said, “You have a visitor. Should I approve their entry?”
“No need. I’m on my way out,” she responded before he could take a deep breath.
“I will notify the visitor.”
“If I stay in this cabin, I’ll go insane,” he insisted.
“I don’t have time for this,” Arrista muttered. “Come along if you must, but stay out of sight. If she figures out something is up, I will kill you.”
“Deal.”
She made him walk a few paces behind, which the guard found extremely amusing. Torrin didn’t care as long as he was nearby if things went sideways.
“Stop smiling,” she cautioned the guard. “I’m an annoying female you’ve been ordered to babysit. Nothing about this should be amusing.”
“Sorry, ma’am.” His smile vanished, and he stared straight ahe
ad.
Torrin slipped into a vacant lab across the corridor from Lily’s. If he stayed far to one side, he would be able to see what they were doing. And if he used their link, he could hear every word. This was almost as good as being in the room with her.
She told the guard to wait in the hallway loud enough to draw Lily’s attention. Lily told her assistant to continue and walked over to greet her guest.
“I didn’t expect to see you again so soon,” Lily said with a friendly smile. “Nothing’s wrong, or is it? What brings you by?”
“It’s rather personal.” Arrista lowered her gaze, falling easily into the role Isolaund’s compulsion forced upon her. “Is there somewhere we can speak privately?”
Lily told her assistant to take a break, then motioned Arrista toward a nearby chair.
“I’m too nervous to sit,” she said with an embarrassed half-smile.
Good girl. It would be easier for her to run if she was still standing.
“There is no need to be nervous,” Lily tried to soothe. “Just tell me what you need.” Before Arrista could answer, Lily moved across the room and closed the door.
Was she honoring Arrista’s request for privacy, or had the situation just triggered the Shadow? He wasn’t sure, but he crept closer to the doorway. Arton, where are you? I think it has begun.
Nearby. Be quiet.
Happy to oblige, Torrin focused on the females across the hall.
“As you’ve probably heard, Torrin and I are courting,” Arrista was saying. “Things are progressing faster than I’d hoped, so I figured I needed to find out what my options are. I was told that you are the person with the most knowledge on interspecies mating.”
Lily didn’t respond, and Arrista took a step backward. She has been triggered. What should I do?
Arton burst into the room through a door on the far wall. Torrin rushed across the hallway and tried to enter Lily’s lab, but the door was locked.
Hold on. He heard Kage’s voice, then a familiar click as the locking mechanism was triggered. Try it now. Apparently, the overlord was watching the security feed.
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