by Nina Croft
“I take it you don’t like him?”
“Can’t stand him.”
“What about his daughter?”
“Can’t stand her either.”
“She’s beautiful,” he murmured, more to see if he could get a reaction than because he found Tamara Beauchamp attractive—he liked his women a little more…earthy.
Saffira sniffed. “I see your taste hasn’t improved in the time we’ve been apart.”
“It has only been four days. And I never said I wanted to fuck her, just that she’s beautiful.” He gave her a long, slow look, lingering on the swell of her breasts in the tight black cotton. “There’s only one person I want to fuck right now.”
She leaned a little closer, and he caught her scent, the sweet musky aroma of aroused woman. “Later,” she murmured. “Let’s get through this first, and afterward…”
She broke the contact and sat back. Devlin’s blood pounded in his veins, heat pooling in his belly. Again. He forced the feeling down. “Later,” he agreed.
But he hoped not too much later. He wanted this meeting over with, and he wanted to be alone with Saffira. He was pretty sure she would come with them, stay on the Blood Hunter. After all, she’d done what she needed to do. Saved humanity. Now surely her life was her own, and there would be time to see if there really was something between them. He felt a faint flash of excitement at the thought of the future. The feeling was new, and he liked it.
The president had come to a halt just inside the room, his daughter beside him. He looked around, his gaze settled on Saffira, and his eyes widened.
“I take it you look a little different than your usual self,” Devlin murmured.
“Just a little.”
The man made to move toward them, but at that moment, Tamara let out a squeak and he turned to her instead. She was gazing at something across the room—Callum. Who was looking a little alarmed, wing tips twitching as though he’d like to make a dash for freedom.
Devlin had questioned him about his engagement to Tamara while they were checking out the systems on the Trakis One; Callum had claimed the relationship had ended by mutual consent. Mainly when he’d realized what a bitch she was. That didn’t sound mutual to Devlin. Also, the relationship had ended hundreds of years ago for Callum but only months ago for Tamara. That was bound to make them feel differently about the whole thing.
It came to him then, that this was pretty much the situation with Saffira and himself. To him it was four days since they’d parted. For Saffira, it had been over five hundred years. Plenty of time to get over him. Move on.
“Callum?” Tamara said, her voice filled with wonder. She broke away from her father and almost flew across the room, coming to a halt in front of him. Her arms went around him, and she pulled his head down and kissed him on the mouth.
“Aw,” Saffira murmured from beside him. “Isn’t that sweet?”
Devlin’s lips twitched, and he glanced across at Tannis. She was glaring at the couple, her foot tapping on the floor, her hand resting on the laser pistol at her waist.
Callum managed to break free. He edged back and glanced around the room as if searching for help. Tamara took a step toward him and rested her hands on his upper arms in a gesture of possession.
“Callum, I missed you. But what are you doing here? And you have…” A frown tugged at her pretty mouth. “…wings?”
And he looked like he’d love to use them right then and fly away. Unfortunately, for him it wasn’t really an option.
Rico gave a short chuckle. “Don’t you love seeing our esteemed Leader of the Universe terrified for his life? Caught between two forces. Though I’ll put my money on Tannis.”
“Me too,” Devlin said.
“I wouldn’t write Tamara off completely,” Saffira said. “She was always known for going after what she wanted.”
Rico laughed again. “This is going to be so much fun.”
Tannis strode forward. “I suggest you let go of him,” she snarled. “Right now.”
Tamara dragged her gaze away from the object of her devotion. Her eyes widened when she took in Tannis. Not surprising. Tannis looked pissed. Tamara very stupidly ignored the words.
Tannis took a step closer, whirled around, and kicked out, catching Tamara in the side and breaking her hold on Callum. Callum stepped back, a slight smile on his face. Looked like he enjoyed having two women fighting over him.
Not for long. Tannis turned on him. “Wipe that smirk off your face.”
His expression went blank. “Aye, aye, Captain.”
“Callum, who is this woman?” Tamara asked.
Tannis closed the distance between them and prodded Tamara in the chest. “I’m Captain Tannis of the Blood Hunter. And I’m also the woman who will quite happily toss you out of the airlock without a spacesuit if you lay one finger on my man again.”
Devlin had always liked Tannis.
President Beauchamp must have decided it was time to intervene. He hurried across to where Callum stood leaning against the wall, arms folded across his chest, wings folded at his back, the amused expression back on his face.
“Callum,” the president said. “I’m not sure what’s going on, but can you tell these people that I’ll be taking over now? I’m not sure who’s been running this but—”
“That would be me,” Tannis interrupted.
“Then you’ll release command of this ship to me. I’ll be using it as my base and would like an explanation of what is going on.”
Tannis cast him a look of pure amazement. She glanced at Callum. “Is he for real?”
Callum’s lips twitched, but he straightened and moved toward the president and his daughter.
“Max, Tamara,” he said, his voice smooth and calm—he was a true politician, but Devlin supposed he’d had a lot of practice. Callum had been ruling the universe for over four hundred years. He wasn’t likely to get riled by an ex-girlfriend and her father, even if they had been in charge back on Earth. “Why don’t you take a seat, and we’ll give you a brief recap of what’s been happening while you’ve been asleep.”
“But—”
“Now,” Callum roared. He pointed to the nearest seats and the two backed away, shock stamped on their faces, until they reached them and collapsed. Callum followed them and stood staring down. He shoved his hands in his pockets, obviously considering where to begin. It was a long story.
“Five hundred years ago, the fleet reached the Trakis system,” Callum began. “Unfortunately, the Trakis One was pulled into the black hole that guards the system and we all presumed that you’d perished.”
“You didn’t come and look?” Tamara asked. “You abandoned us?”
“Well, of course he didn’t come to look.” Tannis said. “Which part of black hole don’t you understand?”
“You’re here now. Why—”
“Tamara, shut up,” Callum interrupted. “We’re in a hurry. Anyway, that was five hundred years ago. In the meantime, we discovered something on one of the planets in the Trakis system—the source of immortality. I discovered it. Consequently, I became immortal and took over the Universe.”
President Beauchamp sat up straighter. “I presume you will hand that authority over to me, now that you have found us.”
Tannis snorted.
“I am the true President of the Federation of Nations,” Beauchamp said stiffly.
She snorted again. “Like that means fuck all to me.”
Beauchamp opened his mouth but Tannis continued, “Get on with this, Callum. I want us out of this shitty system as soon as possible.”
“A few days ago,” Callum said, “we had a reason to investigate the black hole. We came through it and found you on the other side.”
“And took the time out of our busy schedule to wake up you lazy assholes,” Tannis added. “Be grateful.”
Beauchamp didn’t look grateful. He turned and studied the room, his gaze coming to rest on Saffira. “Tell them,” he said.
>
“Tell them what?” She sounded totally disinterested.
“That God guided us here. That I am to take my people to the Promised Land and lead them to greatness. It is my destiny.”
“Well, I might have made that bit up,” she said.
“I don’t understand.”
“Obviously not. The truth is, I had a hot date with a hot guy”—she reached across and squeezed Devlin’s thigh—“and you were the only means of getting here.”
“I don’t understand.”
Saffira turned to Devlin. “Is he starting to sound like a parrot?”
Devlin stared down at the small hand resting on his thigh, the fingers long and narrow, the nails manicured and painted red. Why was he skeptical that her reasons involved him? He wasn’t sure what they were; she’d changed beyond recognition. The old Saffira would not have been cruel—this one was. Maybe she had her reasons. Christ, living for five hundred years was bound to make you a little bitter and twisted. He rested his hand on top of hers, caressed her fingers, watched as her eyes darkened. Then she looked away.
One thing was sure, though, whatever she had thought, or told herself, she still wanted him and wasn’t particularly happy about it.
“Okay.” Tannis interrupted his thoughts. “Let’s move this along. Devlin, if you’ve finished holding hands, what’s the state of the Trakis One? Can you get her going?”
Devlin grinned. “She’s in good condition, considering. A little wear and tear, presumably from five hundred years traveling from Earth. A little external damage, I’m guessing from coming through the black hole. But the engines are functioning and the guidance systems look good.”
“Could she make it back through the black hole?”
“She needs a little fine-tuning, but I don’t see why not. If she had a good pilot there’s nothing to stop her, mechanically, from making it.”
“Good.” Tannis turned to Callum. “What about a good pilot? I don’t want you on there. Or Rico. I’m not risking my crew.”
“There’s no need,” Callum replied. “There’s still the last crew in cryo on the ship. I checked.”
“But Callum…” Tamara had obviously regained her courage. “Wouldn’t you take us? You were always the best.”
“No, he won’t,” Tannis snapped. “He’s staying here.”
“Then we’ll stay as well,” Tamara said. “I feel safe with Callum.”
There was a commotion at the door at that moment. It slid open, revealing Daisy’s diminutive form. She raised her head and sniffed the air, her nostrils flaring. Her eyes were covered with dark glasses, but Devlin could still feel her stare.
“Wow,” Saffira said. “She looks a little on edge.”
“Daisy?” Rico spoke softly, but the word held a warning.
“I’m hungry.” Her voice was midnight dark. As she licked her lips, Devlin caught a flash of fangs. His wrist tingled where Rico had fed. She turned her head, searching the room, her concentration fixing on Tamara. She took a step toward her, only to stop as Rico spoke her name again.
“Come here, Daisy.” The words were like a whiplash across the room.
Daisy hesitated, then turned to Rico and snarled.
“Come here,” he ordered again.
Casting Tamara one last hungry look, she stalked toward Rico. He took her hand as she reached him and pulled her to his side. “You need to control yourself,” he urged.
She bit her lip, and a bead of crimson welled up. “It hurts.”
“I know.” He looked around the room, his gaze resting on Beauchamp and his daughter as though considering them.
Tannis grinned. “I won’t stop you.”
“I will,” Callum said.
“Spoilsport,” Tannis muttered.
“Don’t worry,” Rico said. “I’ll take her across to the Trakis One when the meeting is over.”
“And do what?” Callum’s tone held suspicion.
“She can feed on them without disturbing the cryo.”
“That’s disgusting,” Callum said.
Rico’s lips quirked. “How do you think I survived five hundred years in space? Granted, it’s not as much fun when they’re asleep, but the blood is just as good.”
“Well, now we’ve all had a lesson in vampire survival in space—”
“Vampire?” Tamara sounded faint. She gazed at Rico with a look of horror. Rico obliged by flashing one sharp white fang, and she swallowed. Devlin suspected they wouldn’t have too much trouble persuading them to leave the Blood Hunter when the time came. In fact she backed up, her gaze never leaving Rico, to stand beside her father, then whispered to him.
He nodded, then spoke to the room in general. “I’ll be back once I’ve settled my daughter.”
“We’ll look forward to it,” Tannis said. She watched until the two had disappeared. “As I was saying—can we get on with this? We need to decide what we’re going to do.”
Saffira pulled free of his hand and got to her feet. “I’d like to formally request that we return to the planet and help save my people. I’ve spent five hundred years to ensure that mankind survive, that you exist. The least you can do is help me now.”
For a moment, Tannis appeared to consider the request, but she shook her head slowly. “No way. We’re not going anywhere near that planet or your friend Thorne.” She rubbed her head. “I’m not giving him a chance to knock us out again.”
“He won’t. Not if I tell him not to.”
“Now, here’s the thing,” Tannis said, striding across to stand in front of her. “I don’t trust you. I didn’t trust you before, and it turned out, with good reason.” Her eyes drifted down over Saffira’s figure. “And I don’t trust you any more now than I did then—if anything, less. You’re up to something and I don’t know what. And that makes me twitchy. But to be fair, I’ll put it to the crew. All those in favor of going back to that piece-of-shit planet, raise your hands now.” She shoved her hands in her pockets as if to emphasize her own negative vote.
“Sorry, darling,” Rico said. “You fooled us once— I won’t risk Skylar again.”
Devlin looked around the room. Not one hand was raised.
He came back to Saffira to find her watching him. He tried to analyze her expression, but she’d become too good at hiding what she was thinking. “Sorry,” he said. And at last something flashed in her eyes, but he couldn’t define the expression. His hand twitched with the need to raise it, but he kept it at his side even though it wouldn’t make a difference with everyone else against her.
Maybe because he wanted to see what she would do when driven into a corner and her true self emerged. Or maybe he really didn’t want her to go back. He didn’t want her loyalty to be given to someone else. He wanted her to give it to him.
Hopefully, he’d have time to persuade her to stay, not to return to the planet, to come with them, with him.
Saffira stood, so sexy in her black leather, legs apart, hands on her hips. She studied the room and its occupants, then nodded. “Well, looks like it’s unanimous.”
“Sorry, but I have to think of my crew,” Tannis said. “But you’re free to come with us if that’s what you want. Or you can take one of the shuttles and go rejoin your people.”
“How long do I have to decide?” she asked.
“Callum?” Tannis asked.
“I’ll go over to the Trakis One, sort out the crew, wake them up…make sure they’re all functioning—cryo can affect people differently. But I should be done in, say, six hours.”
“Good. Devlin?”
“A couple of hours to fine-tune the engine. We could leave it to the crew, but it will save time.”
“Excellent.” Tannis turned to Saffira. “It looks like you have six hours, and we’re out of here. So make your decision by then.” She grabbed Callum, turned, and stalked from the room with him in tow.
Rico, still with his hand holding on to Daisy, rose to his feet. “We’re taking a shuttle over to the Trakis One. Sky
lar?”
“I’ll come along. In case you need help.”
And that left Devlin alone with Saffira.
Chapter Eighteen
Well, that had gone pretty much as expected, if not as she would have liked. Tannis was obviously aware of their vulnerability if she returned to the planet, so Saffira couldn’t blame her for avoiding the place.
On to plan B.
What hadn’t been expected was Tannis offering her a place on the ship. And she had to admit to a nebulous feeling, which she was reluctant to identify as guilt. She’d expected the captain to take what she’d done personally and want nothing to do with her. But maybe she was feeling magnanimous and didn’t see Saffira as a threat. Which, on the face of it, she wasn’t.
And Devlin had voted against her. Again. The bastard. It shouldn’t have surprised her, either, and she supposed it didn’t. What did surprise her was the hurt she had felt as he’d held her stare, his hand deliberately at his side.
“You could have at least pretended to want to help me,” she said.
“I don’t.”
“It wouldn’t have made a difference, anyway.”
“I don’t lie. And I don’t want you back on that planet.”
“You’d have me abandon my people?”
“You’ve given them enough. Maybe it’s time they stood up for themselves and stopped relying on you to save them. Live for yourself for a change.”
And what exactly did he think that involved? Him? Did he want her? And for what and how long? “And you? Are you going to live for yourself, take what you want?” She cocked her head to one side and studied him. “What do you want, Devlin?”
“Right now? You. I want you. I want to bury myself so deep inside you that I can forget what it felt like when I woke and knew you were gone.”
“So you did miss me? Was I managing to convince you that one day you might love me?”
His lids shuttered as he watched her through half-closed eyes. They gleamed like the turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea. She’d sailed there a few times over the centuries, and the ocean had always reminded her of Devlin.
