Fusion (Crimson Romance)

by Candace Sams

  It was a last, desperate plot devised by Allied Command. Lyra, at her lowly rank, would have no need to know of such a thing. He’d excused her behavior on all counts because that general rule still stood. She still didn’t know, and didn’t need to know, the extent of what had been dubbed Operation Broadsword. Allied powers didn’t want their populations perceiving such mind control powers existed, even if they were as rare as to have limited scope. General knowledge of it now could serve no purpose, but might create havoc in war weary populations who were heartily sick of fearing what they couldn’t combat. In short, the average allied veteran, save for a very few, simply didn’t need to know there were empathic, psychic, and mind control super beings that might be able to sway officials against popular will. The operation was over. Those involved were to move on and forget or be so manipulated that their parts in the plan were dimmed by time.

  Unfortunately, he was not one of those slated to let the matter drop. As a commander in Craetoria’s High Guard, he was one of a few who would always need to know. There might come a time in the future when his shifting might be necessary. He’d argued that up until current times his emotions caused him to use the darkening inappropriately and in anger. He’d gone to great lengths detailing what had happened on the Venus. Still, his part in the operation had been deemed a total success. D’uhr and his son, Fornax, were dead and with minimal casualties. He was ordered to maintain his status and his shape shifting abilities. Aigean was helping him in this regard. Cordis’ more limited power, on the other hand, would be excused. That was news he could celebrate.

  For those who needed to forget, Aigean heartily insisted she could wipe her crew of their collective memories concerning the event. The surviving allied fighters were told varied stories that jumbled into a maddening collection of disinformation. In short, there was no shape shifting. It never happened at all. This was the edict from various highly placed officials throughout the allied worlds.

  As for Lyra … she’d accept nothing but the truth. Since she hadn’t got it after making repeated attempts to obtain files, she was angry. General Shafter and others recounted the times they’d had to threaten her into leaving the past alone. The woman just didn’t understand that Shafter’s call concerning whom to tell or not wasn’t his choice. As a supervisor and veteran, she should have shown more patience and acceptance of the situation. Displaying fierce tenacity, she’d proven she wouldn’t. And he took the blame for what she didn’t know.

  Where he’d understood her fears and frustrations before, they bordered on petty and arrogant now. He was tired of chasing a woman who — if she really loved him as she’d claimed — wouldn’t have shut off all communication save general missives sent by a low-ranking flunky.

  She was his mate. He was being treated like some conspirator in a vast sinister plot to withhold knowledge from Her Highness. And what really galled was the fact that even Cordis and Myranda had found a way to develop, maintain, and cement their loving relationship. Lyra’s infantile response to the situation on the Venus was unprofessional and he meant to tell her so. Then he’d demand his armband back and tactfully ignore her for the rest of the weekend.

  He wasn’t about to disrupt his brother’s happy day. But enough was enough. He was no lackey to chase a woman whose heart had obviously turned as cold as ice.

  He picked up a crystal whiskey decanter, poured a good measure of amber fluid into a sparkling glass, and strode to the balcony. He awaited dusk and the arrival of Myranda’s wedding entourage. Fixated on one result and with no sense of time, he started when the door to the castle study opened and Cordis walked in.

  “Sorry … did I disturb?” Cordis asked.

  Soldar took a deep breath, shook his head in denial, and put his attention back on the front lawn. No one could approach without his seeing them.

  “Myranda sent a message. She and her friends are on their way.” Cordis poured himself a drink before joining Soldar in his silent vigil. “Are you all right?”

  Soldar glanced at his younger sibling and shrugged. “Why shouldn’t I be?”

  “I sense a bit of nervousness. It’s surprising since I’m the one who should be suffering a bout of anxiety, not the Best Man.”

  Soldar refused to rise to the bait. He sipped more of his drink and kept his countenance stoic, trying to show as little emotion as possible.

  “This is none of my business and you can tell me to go take a flying leap off Dragon Mountain … but since learning of Lyra’s appointment to the embassy and her participation in the wedding, you’ve made yourself notably scarce in regards to family gatherings or any other social events. Father and Mother have commented. The girls too,” Cordis told him.

  “I have duties. Setting up a new law enforcement agency with officers that are too young and inexperienced is proving difficult. Sadly, that’s what’s applying for the position these days. Our older, more qualified veterans just want to be with their families. The war took its toll in that regard and they aren’t open to shift work or dealing with criminals.”

  “Father has suggested recruitment off world.”

  “That takes time. Hence my absence from evenings with the family,” Soldar reiterated.

  “You’ve been remiss in other areas. You haven’t taken the opportunity to welcome the new Earth Embassy staff. Personally. As the eldest son you have obligations in that regard.”

  “Most of them are part of Myranda’s entourage. Because Father will be officially welcoming them during tonight’s festivities, I saw no point. I’ll add my greetings to his.” Soldar said as he turned from the exquisite view and faced his brother. “Where’s this going? You should be in the foyer awaiting our guests. Not standing here finding excuses to chat with me.”

  Cordis put his glass down on the balcony wall. “All right. I’ll get right to the point.”

  “If this is going to be a lecture concerning — ”

  “It is, Soldar! You’ve let this thing with Lyra Markham erode your contentment. It’s been two years. The incident on Reisen Four is over. If you don’t want her, tell her so and let it be done. There are any number of Craetorian debutantes who’d willingly offer you invitations. All you need do is appear more … available.”

  “Am I a child that you’d lecture me this way?” Soldar angrily asked. “Would a barely legal girl from a prominent family … a girl who probably never had to fight for anything in her life … have anything in common with me? Is that my future?”

  Cordis slowly smiled. “If you’re in the mood for someone more mature … someone who knows the value of discipline and honor and who’s been strengthened through adversity … why are you being such a dragon’s ass concerning Lyra?”

  “I’m beginning to picture you on the edge of that mountain you spoke of,” Soldar groused.

  “That’s not an answer.”

  Soldar sighed heavily and sipped more of his drink before retorting, “Let’s just say I tried. Seen that. Done that. Got the rejection!”

  “To paraphrase one of Earth’s most famous bards … methinks thou doth protest too much.”

  Soldar frowned and glared at Cordis. “That’s quite amusing. You’re the household sage now?”

  “Older brother … if it helps better understand Lyra’s silence, consider what she’s lost. Consider the fear she might have of losing anyone else she cares about. The war may be over, but you and she are still in precarious occupations. She was still assigned to General Shafter’s battle group, mopping up areas of the galaxy we’ve never heard of. She did this even as we began putting our lives together back here,” Cordis asserted as he pointed toward the ground. “Perhaps she’s not sure parts of the war are really over. It may be that she’s concerned over certain aspects from the past. Matters you and I consider closed.”

  Soldar couldn’t respond. If that was a scrap of information Myranda shared with Cord
is, he was sure Lyra had mentioned it only in confidence. Here at last was a real reason, not just an excuse, for her having dismissed him after Reisen Four. Even his shape shifting in front of her would pale next to that kind of fear. She’d sabotage a relationship, as many veterans did these days, in order to avoid any more pain. After ten years of war, that reaction was all that was left to some. Particularly those who’d lost their entire family.

  “Don’t think on this too long, Soldar. Others won’t hesitate.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  Cordis swallowed the rest of his drink before responding. “Think of her as a piece of prime real estate.”

  “She’s not property!”

  Cordis patted Soldar on the shoulder. “I know. But you’d do well to stake a claim before someone else does. Sooner or later, loneliness will have its way. And she might find herself eventually accepting someone into her bed. Someone unworthy of her.”

  Soldar’s gaze bored into Cordis’ back as his sibling left the room.

  The implication was that Lyra hadn’t been with anyone since Reisen Four. As her best friend, Myranda would know this to be true and would know the reasons why. In fact, Myranda might have even mentioned the matter to Cordis.

  He wasn’t tactless enough to dig into Lyra’s personal life once she’d dismissed his efforts to communicate. The idea of probing for information not freely given from the source left a bad, gossip-tinged taste on his tongue. This is why he’d kept silent concerning the specifics of having banded an Earth woman. His family knew about Lyra. They knew he had strong feelings for her only because she wore his token on her left arm. They also knew personal matters between them were strained. But he’d said nothing else, nor had he asked for more information other than to inquire after her safety and health.

  Cordis was only saying these things now, because something important had come to light. There was some piece of information his younger brother was tactfully trying to impart and without being overtly indiscreet.

  He thought on the matter for a few more minutes then saw the shimmer of silver hover shuttles. Over a dozen were headed toward the castle, and from the direction of the Earth Embassy.

  He took a deep breath and let it slowly out.

  If there was one chance in the universe that they could still be together, he had to take it. Gone were the derisive condemnations. In Cordis’ carefully worded explanation, he’d seen another scenario.

  As he stood there with his family intact, he hadn’t fully acknowledged the pain she was suffering because of the loss of hers. That might be the reason she kept asking for the truth concerning Aigean’s mind control techniques. She’d obsessed over the Elderian’s powers so much that mentioning the subject one more time threatened her career. He’d heard this from General Shafter’s own lips.

  It could be that she feared for his safety and any future with him if she didn’t know what hold the Elderian might have. Lyra didn’t understand that he was truly free from further mental machinations. Her mistrust was born of being ordered on the Venus against her will, and having little control over anything thereafter. Even he’d mentioned misgivings about the Elderian back then. But that was a different time. They’d had to be flexible and a soldier used to taking orders — a ground fighter like her — might not like the by-your-seat-of-the-pants maneuvering.

  Though she was a supervisor now, he seriously doubted Lyra would ever keep secrets from her subordinates unless put to the wall by superiors. She disliked hidden agendas. She saw certain tactful omissions as lies. It could be that field supervisors had lied to her and her friends. The result might have meant death for others, cementing her monumental inclination to get at the truth now.

  He suddenly recalled a past occasion when Cordis and Myranda had a very heated argument about Aigean. Though it ended with a truce, he strongly suspected Myranda intensely distrusted the Elderian. Even now, Myranda refused to say more but her choice in this matter appeared to be a conscious avoidance of further conflict.

  His heart beat more quickly. Resolve concerning his intended breakup melted. He saw things clearer.

  If he wanted a future with meaning — a future with a woman of enduring strength — there was no other mate for him. Who else would ever understand what he’d been through but the very one who, even now, might be trying to protect him the only way she could.

  He hurried to his room. The old brown trousers, beat-up boots, and comfortable open shirt he wore weren’t appropriate for the occasion. Especially not since he now intended to make the impression of a lifetime.

  Ten minutes later he stood on the stairs in the grand foyer. Servants were gathering luggage and bags for those who intended to celebrate the rehearsal dinner tonight, the wedding tomorrow night, and the party on the next day, sending the happy couple off on what the Earthlings referred to as a honeymoon. He saw Cordis merrily push through the crowd and greet Myranda by picking her up and twirling her around ecstatically. The joy on his brother’s face was inspiring. He was grateful for their love and the appreciation of it. His parents and sisters were gleefully inciting the embrace to go on. He searched the faces of dozens already within the castle doors and those who were only now entering.

  Then he saw her.

  Fifteen campaigns on seven planets and he’d never frozen until now. Sadly, now was the most inopportune of times. He had a future to forge.

  He couldn’t stand there like a callow, embarrassed youth. He would be the master of this estate one day. He had duties to perform. But all that drifted into some mental folder where things just didn’t matter. Only her presence did.

  She let her hair grow.

  Swirls of very loose red-brown curls cascaded down her shoulders, to her sweet, full breasts. The very next thing he noted was how brilliant her blue-green gaze really was and how the happy look on her lovely face lit the entire room.

  Fading light outside still shone through stain-glassed windows high above the massively arched wooden doors of the castle. In the myriad patterns of glowing color there was an ethereal glow around her slender body. That radiance lent her a magical quality that made her stand out from everyone else.

  The halter-top black gown she’d donned for dining plunged deeply. The garment hugged her figure all the way to the floor. Something on the fabric shimmered as she moved. The effect was extraordinary. More so because it was sleeveless. His golden armband shimmered around her left bicep. Pride filled him. Even though he’d told Cordis she shouldn’t be considered property, he still couldn’t help the utter elation in having loved such a breathtaking woman.

  Other women there might have been similarly dressed but his attention was riveted on her.

  What she wore was so much more exquisite than the costumes aboard the Venus. This was how she really looked, in a normal life with friends, co-workers, and joy surrounding her. This was how their life should be — surrounded by merriment and bliss as they began their existence together.

  He saw her smile brightly as she reached for Cordis. His brother finally let Myranda go to acknowledge the Maid of Honor.

  Then the three of them — Cordis, Myranda, and Lyra — group-hugged. That heart-felt, wonderful embrace was a bonding experience he wished to share. But before that could happen, he needed to get his booted feet down the damned stairway.

  How could I have ever considered letting her go? She’s the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen. She’s everything I’ve ever wanted.

  Finally, he was able to move one leather-clad foot forward. The other followed, if rather woodenly.

  He slowly descended the grand staircase.

  • • •

  When Cordis and Myranda finally released her from their hearty hug, they immediately pulled her forward until she stood before a lovely, regal-looking woman with very pale hair. Her coif was intricately braided around her he
ad. In it, green jewels sparkled. These exactly matched her green, long-sleeved gown.

  A very tall, stately man stood next to this graceful lady. His chest was massive and his square jaw seemed intimidating on first glance, but the older man’s size and strength was offset by the graciousness in his silver-gray eyes. His black tunic, leggings, and boots were the uniform worn by a Craetorian High Councilman.

  Having familiarized herself with their data-based images, Lyra knew she was about to be introduced to Lord Rycos and Lady Aurel. Three lovely girls stood to the left of the mother, but several steps to the rear. All of them were flaxen beauties also bearing amiable, open smiles. From left to right, she knew them as Dorin, Brez, and Brean. Their current position indicated their birthright as ladies of the household. Lyra was grateful for the research she’d done concerning protocol. She could hardly serve as Earth Embassy Security Chief without some working knowledge of etiquette. Still, there was one person missing. She kept her attention on the family in front of her, resisting the urge to glance through the crowd.

  Cordis began the introduction. “Mother, Father … this is — ”

  Lyra was gently pulled backward against a very broad chest. The movement stopped Cordis’ introduction.

  She looked over her left shoulder and saw Soldar’s spellbinding, silver gaze. He stared down at her intently, as if he was really seeing her for the first time. If he was happy or furious, she couldn’t tell. But his hands were warm on her bare shoulders. His fingers closed gently around her flesh, almost possessively. Her body quickly responded to that gentle caress. The reaction was due to the surprising, unexpected gesture. Nothing more. At least, that’s what she told herself.