Dark Swan

by Gena Showalter

  He was mad as hell, but only at himself. He'd treated Lilica just like the doctors at IOT had treated her. As if she were property. As if she were evil and couldn't be trusted. As if her feelings and free will meant nothing to him.

  He should have asked her to check in with him rather than forced her. She was many things--sexy, frustrating, easily provoked--but she wasn't a liar.

  "Let's just get this over with," he muttered.

  "My sweet Dallas." Mia patted his shoulder. "Does your vagina need to be iced?"

  He glared at her. "Kyrin should seriously consider taking up BDSM."

  "Why? He hates when I tie him up and whip him."

  Now Dallas rolled his eyes. Women!

  He followed Mia through the warehouse completely emptied of agents. Cameras monitored Trinity's newest victim: a Teran male in his early thirties with multicolored hair, the strands varying from the palest flax to the darkest ebony. His eyes had a slight uptilt at the corners; his teeth were sharp, especially his canines; and every move he made contained the feline grace inherent in his race.

  He was confined inside an invisible cage, lasers acting as walls. The Schon disease usually had a slow incubation and progression rate, but though this man had only slept with Trinity yesterday--to AIR's knowledge--he already had several oozing sores.

  Mia stalked around the edge of the cage, all business. Dallas remained behind her, the SS clutched in his hands. Despite his unhurried gait, he suddenly couldn't catch his breath. His heart hammered against his ribs, and sweat trickled down his neck.

  A sense of unease pervaded. Was Lilica running? Or being chased?

  "You're going to tell me everything that happened to you yesterday," Mia said. "From the time you woke up to the time we stormed into your home."

  The male stared at her with a disturbing mix of lust and desperation. "I bet you taste good."

  "Every time you ignore my demands or veer off topic, I'm going to make sure you regret it." She stopped in front of a control panel and pressed a series of buttons.

  Volts of electricity shot from the floor through the Teran's entire body, causing his muscles to lock onto bone. With another press of the buttons, the electricity shut off.

  "I'm sorry." The man's shoulders rolled in and tears spilled from his eyes. "I don't know what's wrong with me."

  "I do. And believe it or not, I'm trying to help you. So talk to me. Tell me what I want to know."

  His gaze found her again, and he licked his lips. Then he shook his head and frowned. "The woman I slept with . . . she told me to tell you I'm the first of many, and that I would be part of her army."

  The word army echoed in Dallas's head, a land mine set to explode. Left unchecked, Trinity could infect the world. And Lilica wanted her kept alive?

  A sharp pain lanced through his hand, drawing his gaze to his palm . . . a wound stretched across the center, blood welling and trickling.

  Lilica must have been cut, the bond ensuring he experienced the same injury. For a moment, fear nearly paralyzed him. How had she gotten hurt? Was she all right? Though he tried, he couldn't get inside her head.

  "We have to go," he told Mia. "Now." He didn't wait for a reply but raced for the door, switching on his cell phone and dialing Lilica's.

  11

  Lilica spit on the motionless body at her feet. She stood in the middle of a dirty alley. Her hand throbbed as she swiped up the blade that had nearly sliced her heart in two. If not for her quick reflexes and ability to camouflage herself . . .

  I'd be dead.

  She'd managed to block the second strike, strip, and blend into her surroundings. During the first strike, however, the sharp metal of her attacker's blade had slicked in one side of her hand and come out the other.

  She hadn't slain the man responsible, or even cut him in turn. No, she'd overruled her kill-at-all-costs instincts and, after disappearing from his view, grabbed him and amphed his alien life force only enough to make him pass out. She hadn't known he was fully Schon.

  He should have had two life forces: the Schon as well as Teran. He had multicolored hair, uptilted eyes, and skin with faint tawny undertones, the hallmarks of the Teran race. But there'd been no Teran power inside him, as if it had been stolen from him. It probably had been stolen. By Trinity.

  Her phone rang as she dressed, and she didn't have to wonder who waited on the other end. With a sigh of resignation, she pressed a button to answer.

  "Lilica." Dallas breathed her name, the relief in his voice disconcerting her. "Tell me you're okay."

  "I'm fine. I'll be fine." Would she? Despair began to beat at her. "No need to worry about your precious life."

  He hissed. "I'm worried about yours."

  He truly cared? The realization shocked the truth out of her. "A Schon attacked me soon after I left your apartment. I won. I think . . . I think Trinity sent him." Hadn't she bragged about controlling her people?

  "I'm sorry," Dallas said, and he sounded sincere.

  Betrayal had left a wound far deeper than the one in Lilica's hand. She wanted to save Trinity, but Trinity hoped to end her. And she'd almost succeeded!

  After Dallas had taken off, Lilica had sifted through the memories of his stored in the back of her mind, determined to locate a weapon he'd hidden so that, when she was out in the world, she could properly defend herself if the need arose. Instead, she'd seen two of his missions. Dallas being attacked by a gang of otherworlders. Dallas refusing to take a bribe to let a predatory otherworlder go free.

  Underneath his charm and unwillingness to make a commitment, he was loyal. Honorable. And his strength . . .

  He could carry her through any storm.

  No! If Lilica wasn't strong enough to walk through a storm, she would crawl. At the end of the day, she could only ever rely on herself. She couldn't even rely on Jade, not really. She loved her middle sister with every fiber of her being and she would fight to the death to protect her, but the two of them . . . they'd been raised in different ways. One with encouragement, one without. They didn't always understand each other.

  Dallas's memories had continued to play through Lilica's mind and, in an effort to stop them, she'd made her way out of the apartment, into the morning light . . . trading one torment for another. People had whispered as she passed and children had pointed at her, but she'd walked down the busy sidewalk with her head high and, she'd thought, her instincts on high alert. Trinity's assassin had attacked as soon as she'd reached a dark alley, nearly succeeding because she hadn't even realized she was being followed.

  "I need to know everything," Dallas said. "Every detail."

  "The Schon is currently alive but unconscious. None of his blood was spilled."

  "Does he have open sores?"

  "Um. Yes." Could the disease spread through contact with one? She'd avoided touching the scabs but . . ."Am I going to sicken?"

  "No." But still Dallas cursed. "Stay there. I'm sending a crew to pick him up, secure the area, and check you out. They'll beat me there."

  In other words, more people to poke and prod her. Wonderful.

  "Lilica--"

  "Good-bye, Dallas." She hung up on him because--just because!

  A team of twelve AIR agents arrived soon after, all wearing full bodysuits. As promised, they carted the Teran away, blocked off the alley, and checked her out while she sat in the back of a van.

  When the tech gave her a clean bill of health without ever breaking her skin or testing her blood, another suit-clad figure walked over. A familiar face smiled at her through the mask.

  "I'll see to her wound care," Bride McKells-Targon said.

  The tech nodded and strode away.

  "A bandage really isn't necessary," Lilica said. "I'm already healing." A welcome surprise. Since her bond with Dallas, the ability to self-heal had slowed.

  "Humor me. It's protocol," Bride replied, already cleaning what remained of the injury.

  "I didn't know you worked for AIR."

 
"I don't, exactly. I work for a special task force Devyn oversees. A few months ago, I mentioned wanting to get a job. Since my skill set includes breaking and entering, dirty street fighting, and evading the law, there weren't many legit positions for me, but the next thing I knew, Devyn had joined forces with a black-ops team that's not so black-ops anymore, and my particular skill set was suddenly in high demand."

  "Your husband doesn't strike me as the type to sit back and cheer while you place yourself in the line of danger." And . . . was that a pang of envy in her chest?

  "Oh, he's not." Bride's smile only grew. "He complains regularly. He even commands me to quit--but you see, he would rather make me happy than anything else." She stowed the medical supplies in the van. "Devyn ordered me to take you to AIR headquarters. It's what Dallas wants. But . . ."

  Lilica arched a brow, mimicking Dallas at his most annoying. "But?"

  "I'd rather go with you to meet Jade."

  So. She'd accepted the fact that they might be related by blood. "I'd like that," Lilica said, and it was the truth. "Jade will too."

  "Good." Almost defiantly, Bride stripped out of her bodysuit. "First thing we're doing is buying you clothes that actually fit."

  "Um. Slight problem. I have no money."

  "Well, I have the solution. Devyn owes you, and it will be his pleasure to purchase you anything and everything your heart desires."

  I like this woman.

  They left the crime scene arm in arm, and no one dared protest the actions of the boss's wife. This time, as Lilica made her way down the sidewalk, she didn't have to pretend to ignore the stares and whispers she generated. She ignored them for real, wrapped up in the experience of spending time with one of her many moms/sisters/whatever.

  Buildings stretched as far as the eye could see. Some were box-shaped while others knifed through the skyline, disappearing in the clouds. No matter the size or shape of the building, however, each connected to its neighbors through shared walls or concrete tunnels. A postwar precaution. That way, if one building was bombed, the people inside it could race into another without having to go outside, where there might be gunfire.

  "In here." Bride drew her into one of the boxier shops, Mulier in Gloria, a boutique for women.

  A bell tinkled overhead, and a salesgirl rushed over to greet them. She missed a step when she realized the new customers were otherworlders, but quickly pasted a smile on her face; a sale was a sale, Lilica supposed.

  To her surprise, she remained in a state of euphoria as she tried on dresses, faux-leather pants, shirts, belts, hats, jewelry, gloves, lingerie, and a thousand pairs of high heels. Her first shopping extravaganza would go down in her personal history books as one of the greatest days of her life.

  She bought everything she tried on, even things that didn't fit, because screw Devyn. She even picked presents for Jade . . . and one for Trinity.

  Maybe I can buy her love? I'm pathetic.

  What would she wear out of the store? Oh! That one. Lilica dressed in a white spaghetti-strap top, skintight black leggings, and ankle boots with white lace around the edges.

  "Nice," Bride said with a nod of approval.

  Lilica smacked herself on the butt. "I don't always wear sassy pants, but when I do, I wear 'em classy and smartassy."

  The vampire snorted. She paid extra to have everything but the gifts for Jade delivered to Dallas's apartment. As she signed the receipt, she said, "I love a girl who speaks in meme."

  What would Dallas do when he got a look at her new clothes? Yank her into his arms as he'd done this morning? Would he actually kiss her this time, or spring away from her again?

  Kiss! Need shivered over her, her markings tingling.

  Can't think about him. She'd only sink deeper into a state of desire for him.

  --I'm working. Knock it off. And my balls haven't forgiven you.--

  Her eyes widened. She must have sent an image of them making out through the bond. But the most surprising part? He'd been able to push his voice into her head while she was so turned on.

  The bond was . . . strengthening?

  "Oh, wow." Bride leaned in and sniffed her nape. "What perfume are you wearing?"

  "Uh, I'm not."

  "You sure? Because whatever it is, it's making me want to find Devyn and destroy a bed." The vampire wiggled her brows.

  The salesgirl sniffed the air and shrugged. "I don't smell anything."

  Well, she was human, while Bride was a vampire with heightened senses . . . who'd probably detected Lilica's arousal for Dallas.

  "Let's get out of here," she muttered, her cheeks burning.

  Outside, the clouds had evaporated. Bright rays of sunlight stroked her markings, only making her tingling intensify.

  Bride pulled a tiny stick from her pocket, and with the press of a button, that stick grew and grew until it provided an umbrella of shade.

  "I can tolerate sunlight," Bride said, "but not for long. And just so you know, the scent you're producing hasn't lessened." She pulled at the collar of her shirt, a pretty flush spreading over her cheeks, her pupils expanding. "Is it hot out here or just you?"

  She wasn't the only one to react that way. Every otherworlder Lilica passed stopped to stare at her, and not with distaste. Not anymore.

  "I produce a special scent for Devyn," Bride admitted. "It drives him crazy."

  The bond with Dallas . . . Lilica wondered if she was unwittingly sending out smoke signals, for lack of a better phrase, to draw him to her side. "Yes, well, I'm sure I'll be able to produce this scent for many men."

  "Good luck with that." Bride bumped shoulders with her. "Speaking of unbridled passion, you'll be happy to know I'm withholding sex until Devyn properly apologizes for his poor behavior."

  Oh, to be a fly on the wall of the Targon's bedroom. "I liked you before, but now I think I love you."

  They reached the diner where Lilica was to meet Jade, and Bride breathed a sigh of relief as cool air-conditioning chased away her flush.

  While there were multiple waitresses and two cooks at a griddle, the only patrons were Jade and John, and both wore strained expressions.

  Had John politely asked everyone else to leave?

  The pair sat at the farthest table, their backs against the wall. As Lilica and Bride joined them, John's nose twitched and his shoulders straightened, but he revealed no other hint of unease.

  Jade looked Lilica over and gasped. "Wow! You are so beautiful."

  "I know, right?" She fluffed her hair. "But, uh, you look like crap." Her sister had a scratch on one cheek and a bruise on her chin. She'd lopped off her snow-white tresses, the uneven strands now swaying just over her shoulders. "Do I need to punish anyone in particular?" she asked, casting John a pointed glance.

  "Nope. I did this to myself."

  She frowned. "Why?"

  Rather than answer, Jade said, "John actually saved my life."

  Well. "Thank you," Lilica told him.

  He nodded curtly.

  She handed Jade a bag filled with accessories and feminine tops, and her sister thrilled over every gift, warming her heart.

  Jade's attention finally moved to Bride. "Who's she?"

  "I think she's one of our . . . donors."

  Emerald eyes widened with interest. "Really?"

  "Really," Bride responded.

  As the two girls fell into an easy back-and-forth, getting to know each other, Lilica studied John. Such an odd male. Anytime Jade moved, even the tiniest bit, he moved with her, ensuring that the same distance remained between their bodies, yet he couldn't hide the longing he projected, as if he desperately wanted to touch her.

  He was clearly an alpha used to getting his way. So why didn't he simply take what he wanted, damn the consequences? That's what the doctors at IOT had done--what they wanted, when they wanted.

  After a waitress had logged in their order, Jade noticed the bandage on Lilica's hand.

  "What happened? Do I need to punish anyone in
particular?"

  "Already done." She told her sister what she'd told Dallas. About the Schon, about her suspicions concerning Trinity. Tears burned in her eyes, but she blinked them away just as she had throughout her childhood. Tears revealed weakness. Weaknesses were exploited.

  "I can't believe . . . how could she . . ." Jade patted her uninjured hand. "We know it's the disease, not her, but more and more I'm having trouble distinguishing between the two. I just . . . I'm so sorry, Lilica. I really am."

  "Thank you. But I'm not giving up on her. I can't." It would be like giving up on herself.

  "I was able to find her through the spirit realm. I could, in theory, find her again and lead AIR straight to her door. So why didn't she try to kill me?"

  An excellent question. Clearly she considered Lilica the bigger threat. But why?

  "I won't sit idly by while she plots your murder," Jade said.

  The fierceness of her tone struck a chord within Lilica. I'm a priority to her. Higher on the totem than Trinity.

  The knowledge astonished her . . . secretly pleased her. I'm a horrible person. "Everything will change when she's cleansed of the disease."

  Bride traced a fingertip over the edge of the table. "I hate to ask, but what makes you think Trinity can be cleansed?" Her tone was gentle and without a single hint of malice.

  "Hope," Lilica replied honestly.

  "But what if you're wrong . . . ?" Still using that gentle tone. "How many will die while she roams free?"

  "Maybe I could lock her up in a secret location." A difficult suggestion to make. Captivity would be hell on earth for her sister, reminding her of her childhood, but at least it would buy her time and save others. "Just until we find a cure."

  "We've locked up the Schon before." Bride smiled sadly. "The doctors became infected."

  "Because they did their doctor thing and worked with infected fluids," John said. "On the other hand, when the hosts died, the disease was able to bypass security barriers to infect those who hadn't handled the fluids."

  Jade's brow furrowed. "How can a cure be found if doctors can't work with infected fluids?"

  Death couldn't be the only answer. It just couldn't.

  "I've told Jade you are both in a position of power," John said, speaking up for the first time.

  "You have something AIR wants. Bargain."

  "Good idea, except we're missing the key ingredient to a successful bargain," Lilica said. "Trust." Although, if she were to bargain with Dallas, she could unearth his every move and countermove, just as he could unearth hers.