Dark Swan

by Gena Showalter

  Problem one: What was there to bargain over if Trinity couldn't be tested or treated?

  Problem two: AIR could plan something despicable without alerting Dallas.

  Problem three: What if he managed to hide his intentions from her?

  Gaze on Jade, she said, "Find me in the spirit realm tonight. We'll talk to Trinity. Her response will dictate our next actions."

  The tiny hairs on the back of Lilica's neck suddenly stood up, and a nervous sensation twisted her stomach. Nervous? Why?

  The answer stomped into the diner, a little bell over the door tinkling.

  Rage pulsed from Dallas as he neared her. She jumped to her feet, her heart thundering against her ribs. When Bride and Jade attempted to stand with her, she held out her arm, a silent demand for the pair to remain seated.

  Dallas's gaze locked with hers in challenge before it swept over her new clothes. He missed a step, the intensity of his rage . . . changing. A bolt of desire slammed into her with so much force, she stumbled back.

  He stopped a whisper away from her, cupping the back of her neck and hauling her closer--never close enough--bending his head to sniff her.

  "That scent . . . it was like a summoning finger. I didn't need to check the tracker."

  As he lifted, her attention dipped to his mouth, his beautiful, sensual mouth, and she couldn't look away. Couldn't catch her breath. Couldn't think of anything but kissing him.

  "Yes. Kiss." A growl rose from him. A second later, his lips were pressed against hers.

  12

  Every possessive instinct Dallas possessed continued to scream. Take Lilica here and now. Here. Now. The audience didn't matter. He would strip her out of her new clothes--Will be careful not to rip, look so good on her, want her to wear them again . . . so I can strip her out of them again. He would let the world know she belonged to him--and he to her.

  Here. He wound his arms around her and cupped her ass, lifting her as he continued to eat at her mouth. Now. She wound her legs around his waist, clinging to him, her breasts smashed against his chest. Her taste . . . as rich and decadent as she smelled, reminding him of everything he'd loved in the past, everything he loved right now, and everything he would love in the future. She was sex, victory, and a high like no other.

  No more waiting, he decided. He needed her, and she needed him. He would have her. Here and now. He would give her that orgasm she'd been wanting.

  Good plan. He bent down to lay her on the table. Her skin remained black rather than blending in with the countertop, and she'd never looked more beautiful. A hard shackle suddenly clamped around his bicep and wrenched him backward, forcing him to sever contact with Lilica. He roared with fury. No one kept him from Lilica!

  "Enough!" John No Last Name entered his awareness. "This is a public place, Dallas."

  Like he cared. He palmed a gun and aimed at the Rakan. In the back of his mind, he heard a woman shout, "No!"

  He heard Bride order, "You will not fire. You will put the gun down. Now."

  Compulsion. She'd used it on him before, and he'd been unable to stop his body from obeying her. This time he was able to override the compulsion, his finger twitching on the trigger.

  "Dallas," Lilica said, her voice trembling. "Put down the gun."

  He . . . obeyed. Not because he had to, but because he wanted to please her. He sheathed the gun, the fog of desire beginning to clear inside his head.

  He was in a public place, with windows, and he'd almost taken Lilica on a table. He'd aimed a pyre-gun at a fellow lawman, and he would have shot to kill.

  "I'm so sorry," he said, voice ragged. That damn bond! He had to shatter it or accept it, because he clearly couldn't go on like this much longer.

  "Trust me. I understand." John cast a side glance at the green-skinned beauty now standing beside Lilica.

  Jade. Lady Delirium. The knowledge filled him. Jade had the power to read the thoughts of those around her, as well as amph and borrow alien abilities, but only for a day or two.

  "I've got myself under control," Dallas said, and after a slight hesitation, John stepped out of the way. His gaze found Lilica of its own volition. She was panting and wringing her hands as she spoke with Bride about . . . his ears twitched . . . compulsion.

  "--the ability myself," she was saying. "I call it voice voodoo and--"

  "I call it voice voodoo too!"

  You've got to be kidding me. Dallas had just kissed her, had just threatened a fellow agent as well as his best friend's wife, and Lilica was taking a moment to connect with the female.

  The two even shared a small smile.

  "It requires all my strength, and after I use it," Lilica said, "I'm completely drained for the rest of the day."

  "You just need practice," Bride replied. "I mean, think of it this way. If you started lifting weights, you'd have to work with the lighter ones before you could move on to the big ones. The more you lift, the stronger your muscles grow." She lowered her voice. "But be careful where you practice and who you practice on. Among humans, voice voodoo is one of the most feared alien abilities, and where there's fear, there's violence. Oh, and voodoo rarely works on family, and that includes non-blood related family. Intimate ties create an immunity of sorts."

  Like the bond he had with Lilica.

  "Thank you." She embraced the vampire, actually clinging to her, holding on far longer than could be deemed polite, but Bride didn't seem to mind, was clinging right back. Together, the two reached for Jade, who clung just as tightly.

  How little affection the sisters had received throughout their lives.

  He rubbed the pang in his chest. Lilica would love to hug Trinity like this. How much would she hate Dallas for destroying the girl?

  First lesson he taught would-be agents: Never allow your emotions to supersede logic. Or a job. Or doing what's right.

  "Tonight Jade and Lilica are going to use my ability to spirit-walk." John spoke to Dallas but directed the words to Jade as she broke from the embrace. "Before you protest, don't. I'll be with them. They're going to meet with Trinity."

  His first instinct? Like hell! "Why?"

  "To help decide their next move. They're beginning to accept the need for Trinity's incarceration."

  That was something, at least. Far from mollified, however, Dallas stalked to Lilica's side and held out his hand. "Let's go home."

  She batted his hand away. "Dream on. My food hasn't arrived."

  "Forget the food. It's crap. I'll have crab cakes delivered."

  Her midnight eyes widened, and she licked her lips. "Today?"

  "So suspicious." He tsk-tsked. "Yes, today."

  "Lobster cakes too. And salmon. And you can't toss them in the garbage."

  "Deal."

  He offered his hand again, and this time, she accepted. Satisfaction bloomed even as the contact nearly sent him into another uncontrollable spiral of lust. He bit his tongue until he tasted blood. Calm. Steady.

  "What are these cakes?" Jade asked.

  "The devil's candy," John muttered, somehow nudging her away from the group without actually touching her.

  Through Devyn, Dallas knew a little about the guy's sitch. As an otherworlder foster child, John had endured some of the worst abuse ever recorded. Only a few months ago, he'd been captured while on an off-the-books mission, his skin peeled from his body. And as soon as his "pelt" had grown back, he'd been skinned alive again.

  Upon his rescue, Devyn had to lock him up for his own safety. He'd been little more than an animal, snarling and attacking anyone who neared him. The difference in him was astounding, and Dallas wondered whether Jade had anything to do with it.

  If she was anything like Lilica, she'd stripped John to the studs and rebuilt him into a stronger, better version of himself.

  "You," he said to Bride. "Devyn is looking for you and mumbling about finally giving you the spanking you so richly deserve."

  Merriment danced in her emerald eyes. "Ah, yes. A spanking. A one-ha
nded round of applause for my magnificent ass."

  Lilica nodded enthusiastically.

  "You are a bad influence on my girl," he said, and led Lilica to the door.

  "Your girl?" she whispered, her grip tightening on his hand.

  Silent, he shouldered his way outside. Releasing her--and swallowing a curse--he scanned the sidewalks. No suspicious activity or--

  His gaze returned to the short, curvy blonde across the street. Her back was to him. She peered into a shop window--a shop for power tools. She wore a dark jacket, a hood hiding her hair, but several strands had escaped, pale ribbons whisking in the breeze.

  A prickle of awareness crawled down the ridges of his spine.

  Lilica gave him a little shove. "Regretting your promise of cakes already?"

  "Do me a favor and blend in with our surroundings." That way, no one could get a lock on her.

  "No. If I'm in danger, you're in danger. I won't let you become the sole target." She must have read his thoughts.

  Stubborn woman. Dallas turned to the side, keeping the shop window in his periphery. He could just make out the girl's reflection of health, vitality, and seduction. No doubt about it, he was looking at Trinity Swan, queen of the Schon.

  Acting casual, he led Lilica down the street. Trinity followed them. Excellent. He could lead her straight into a trap.

  Lilica whispered, "Are you sure it's her?"

  Accursed bond! She could spoil everything, alert her sister and send the girl running. "Don't look back. Please. She'll realize we know she's here."

  Lilica wound her arm around his, squeezing with more force than necessary, and smiled up at him, as if she were about to tell him a naughty secret. "All right. I concede. I won't wait to speak with her. Just promise me you'll lock her away and let Jade and me try to cleanse her. We'll be the only ones ever at risk."

  He blinked in surprise. She'd offered more than he'd ever expected from her. "Lilica--"

  "I'm willing to help you, Dallas, but we both need to get something out of the deal. So let's bargain. And despite everything, let's trust each other to do as promised."

  "Your bargain is too open-ended. If you and Jade can't cleanse her after a month . . . five months . . . a year? What then? The longer she's locked away, the higher the probability she'll rot and die or even escape."

  He knew he was getting through to her, but he also felt the despair picking at her insides like carrion birds who'd finally found a meal.

  "A year, then. Give us a year."

  "Judging by her newest victims, she might rot within weeks."

  "Just . . . give us a month. Please," she grated.

  Shock hit him. Because of the bond, he knew she had sworn never to plead with anyone for anything. "Why are you so concerned with saving her? She tried to kill you."

  "And you're clearly an only child or you wouldn't have to ask. The disease tried to kill me."

  "Sweetheart, she is the disease."

  She shook her head with violent determination. "The Schon disease was forced on her, and while I couldn't save her then, I can do everything in my power to save her now. I must. For years we wove rescue fantasies; they were our only real life raft. The only reason we survived. Now I'm free, but she isn't. She's still locked in a prison of the institute's making."

  Comprehension suddenly dawned. She loved her sister, yes, but more than that, she wanted to right what she perceived as a terrible wrong. She tortured herself with thoughts that if she'd just been stronger, she could have helped Trinity before all this started; she refused to accept the fact that she'd been a child herself, with no way to save herself much less her sister.

  How could he refuse her?

  "Let's see if I can convince Mia." He tapped his ear, turning on his cell phone and dialing his boss's number with only a thought.

  As soon as she answered, he explained the situation and the offered deal. He expected her to curse and refuse, and he wasn't disappointed. "This is the best deal you're going to get. Turn it down, and we may not capture Trinity at all. Say yes, and you get two new assets along with a prisoner. Lilica and Jade have abilities like none you've ever seen. You want them. Trust me."

  "You sound like Devyn and John," she grumbled. "Both called earlier today."

  Laying the groundwork before Dallas accepted what had once seemed like the unacceptable. Nice. "I need your decision. I've got a lock on the Schon right now."

  She sucked in a breath. "Yes, you mangy mutt. Yes, I agree."

  "Thanks." Click.

  For once--twice, thrice, whatever--he stopped cursing the bond and enjoyed the benefits. He didn't have to explain the conversation to Lilica. "Let's get Trinity into an alley. Without innocents in the way, I'll be able to shoot her with a gun created just for her and--"

  A tendril of betrayal drifted through him.

  "--and," he continued through gritted teeth, annoyed by her immediate distrust of his intentions, "prevent her from running away. It'll be a flesh wound; she'll recover while you search for a cure. You'll keep anyone from entering the alley. There's a pyre-gun at my side. It has a stun setting and should work on everyone. If it doesn't, press the small black button on the handle and a blade will pop out."

  "Thank you for understanding." She rested her head on his shoulder and wound an arm around his waist, letting her hand slide under his jacket. Her fingers curled around the weapon's handle. "And thank you."

  Feels so good against me.

  Concentrate. He turned them into the first alley he came across. A massage parlor on one side and a gourmet dessert shop on the other. Immediately they broke apart, Dallas standing in the center, aiming his gun while Lilica shooed away the handful of homeless men and women living in makeshift boxes, shepherding them toward the opposite end of the alley. When she finished, she pressed her back against a brick wall, the weapon steady in her hand.

  One minute passed, two . . . five. People continued to meander along the sidewalk, but none were a short, curvy blonde with a hood pulled up. Where was she?

  He waited another minute . . . another five . . . ten, but still no sign of her.

  "She must have realized we'd pegged her," Lilica said, a slight tremor in her voice.

  "Did you tell her?" He lowered his arm, shaking with fury. "Did you have a telepathic conversation with her?"

  "No! She blocked me years ago. But even if she hadn't, and I'd tried, you would have heard every word."

  True. He owed her an apology. "Failure made me cranky. Sorry."

  "Whatever."

  "Does she have any abilities I don't know about? Teleporting? Invisibility?" Could she be here even now, listening to their conversation?

  "No." Her eyes widened. "Unless . . . she stole someone else's abilities. The Teran I fought today. He'd been drained of that particular life force."

  The number of problems tripled. Terans were known for stealth, the ability to camouflage themselves, and an aptitude for climbing the unclimbable.

  On instinct, he glanced up--and met Trinity's gaze.

  13

  Her sister had scaled a building to watch Lilica interact with Dallas. But as soon as Dallas had spotted her, she'd hurried away, disappearing over the roof. Dallas had called for reinforcements, and a helicopter had arrived shortly thereafter, but Trinity had already vanished by then.

  Infecting men to steal their abilities. Creating an army of soldiers who would do anything she demanded, the need to please her more important than survival. Trying to harm her youngest sister. And that had been her goal, hadn't it? Not to kill Dallas, not even to kill Lilica through Dallas, but to straight-up destroy Lilica in the worst possible way.

  Sadness blended with devastation. What would Trinity do next?

  Dallas rushed Lilica to his apartment, stationing AIR agents throughout the entire building. He also used special equipment to bar every door and window. AIR issued a statewide alert for all humans and otherworlders to be on the lookout for Trinity Swan. They posted a photo of her be
autiful face with the words: If seen, do not approach. Do not engage. Do not injure. Call AIR.

  Bad move, AIR. Bad. Lilica knew people. Had hacked into camera feeds throughout the city to watch and observe crowds in the isolated comfort of IOT. If Trinity was spotted, she would be mobbed. Her disease would spread.

  My fault. I should have captured her when I had the chance.

  In an effort to keep her mind busy, Lilica unpacked the garments and accessories she'd bought during her shopping extravaganza. But she couldn't dredge up any excitement for any of the items. Light-years seemed to have passed, the girl she'd been no longer the girl she was now.

  The doorbell sounded. Dallas answered, a gun in hand. A man she'd never met handed him a bag and left without saying a word.

  Dallas offered the bag to her. Inside she found every kind of cake he'd promised, plus an array of dessert cakes, but she couldn't bring herself to eat a single one. Her stomach hurt.

  She sat on the couch, and he paced in front of her. "I want you to know I watched video feed of the fight. And before and after the fight. There were cameras everywhere," he said. "You have skill. I was impressed."

  "Thank you. But cameras are illegal." She made no mention of the ones she'd hacked. "Over the years, too many people used advanced software to manipulate what others would see."

  He ignored her, saying, "You think people stare at you because they consider you a freak. You're wrong. People stare and children point because you are the most exquisite woman on the planet. And because you glow as if you are life itself--as if you are my life."

  Her eyes widened, her breath catching in her throat. His life?

  And could he be right? She detected no lie through the bond.

  He ran a hand down his face. "Okay. I'm getting delightfully poetic, and that's not good for either one of us. I can't trust myself around you. The things I want to do to you . . ." He stepped toward her, only to stop himself with a curse. "Once I'm inside you, I have a feeling nothing and no one will be able to drag me out. Not duty. Not responsibility. Not all of AIR. And my need is only growing . . . better."

  Every word he spoke lit a new fire inside her. No, not true. She always burned for him. His words merely threw accelerant on the flames.

  "I'm going to lock myself in the bedroom before I do something stupid," he muttered, and stomped away. The door slammed shut, and the lock engaged.