by Robyn Bachar
“Toulouse?” Loren asked.
“He’s one of their financial officers. Clever bastard, and careful enough not to step on the wrong toes,” Cantana said. “He’s also a regular on the kink circuit. We know what he likes.”
Malcolm winced. “How bad?”
“Kink circuit?” Galen asked. Malcolm was vaguely surprised by that. Yes, he knew that Galen had been a virgin until recently, but there had to be some kinky stuff going on among the Cy’ren high lords.
Cantana’s face flushed and she cleared her throat. “Toulouse is a sexual sadist. Vicious too. He sent a few boys to the hospital before he started being banned. He’s still allowed in a few clubs, but he has to pay triple the membership fees.”
“I can handle him,” Andee said.
Peprendi shook her head. “No you can’t. He doesn’t do females. Males only, and they have to be a certain type.” Her gaze flicked to Galen.
“No,” Malcolm said. “No way.”
“Lord Degalen is precisely Toulouse’s type. Toulouse will be drooling the moment his lordship enters Sinsation. We might be able to pretty up your shadow sword here.” Peprendi waved at Lieutenant Loren. “But he looks too much like a warrior.”
“Sinsation?” Galen repeated with a roll of his eyes. “That’s pretty cheesy.”
“The patrons there aren’t looking for subtle. Or classy,” Rook said. “It’s not a high-end club. Most of the patrons there did something to be banned from somewhere else.”
Arguments over the propriety of letting a Cy’ren lord be brutalized by a mark erupted and boiled through the room for a few moments until Galen held up a hand for silence. “What would be required of me?”
Rook sat forward. “We’re familiar with the security system of Sinsation, and we have contacts there. The building housing it connects to the Eppes Tower through subterranean tunnels, so if we can neutralize Toulouse and acquire his code and retinal pattern, we can get you into the Tower and out again before they notice anything’s missing. You would need to get Toulouse into one of the private rooms and keep him occupied long enough to give us something to loop on the security vid feed.”
“Two minutes at least, but more would be better,” Cantana said. “Club security monitors the private feeds. We can pull a few stunts to keep them distracted from keeping a close eye on them. Should buy you enough time.”
“I’m not going to risk Lord Degalen’s safety on ‘should’,” Lieutenant Loren said. Malcolm was inclined to agree. Galen had no idea what kind of damage a sadist could do, even in the span of a few minutes.
“Depends on how you define safety,” Rook countered. “Toulouse won’t kill him. Beat and bloody him, yes. You can patch him up before you head on to the Tower.”
“I am willing to withstand a few minutes of bloodshed in order to save our people,” Galen said. “There are many fighting for the resistance who have suffered far worse.”
Malcolm’s jaw clenched as he swallowed a litany of reasons why this was a horrible idea. Terrible. Awful. He couldn’t stand the thought of Galen being hurt the way that the Archivist had hurt him, even if only for a few minutes. No one should have to endure that. There were those who enjoyed such things, but consent was the key. Malcolm had never been able to consent. Not that it would have made a difference to the Archivist if he had. There were no safe words in Archivist de la Cruz’s world. He whipped you until he was satisfied. He beat you harder if you cried or lost consciousness.
Rook nodded. “Okay. Let’s work out the mission details, then.”
After a long, drawn-out mission planning session, Commander Soth was dragged off by Cantana and Peprendi, hopefully not to actually use him as a breeding stud. Malcolm wisely didn’t ask. Lieutenant Loren and Rook continued discussing the building layout and security weaknesses as Andee dragged Malcolm and Galen off to bed.
“I don’t like it,” Malcolm said once the three of them were alone.
“I know, but there isn’t a scenario where this would be easy or painless,” Andee said.
“You don’t know what it’s like,” Malcolm protested.
“You’re right. We don’t,” Andee said softly. “But you do. Do you wish to talk about it?”
Malcolm swallowed hard. Did he? He’d never talked about it before, not even to Alexi, who probably would have understood. How could he explain to Galen, who was practically royalty? Andee was too, but she seemed to understand better.
“What was it like when you were with the shadow swords?” he asked Andee. “Did they ever hurt you?”
Andee sat on the edge of the bed, her hands folded in her lap. “There were some who were rough, but I did not mind that.”
“Who?” Galen asked. He growled, and she tsked at him scoldingly.
“I am not going to tell you, my lord. As I said, I did not mind it, and it was well before you began courting me.” Andee straightened her shoulders. “There is a vast difference between a bit of rough play and a sexual sadist.”
“Yes.” Malcolm nodded mournfully. “Not that there’s anything wrong with it. Some people are just wired that way. Everybody’s tastes are different, and it’s a big galaxy. But my master…well, he was my master. Didn’t matter if I said no to him, because there was nothing I could do about it. He had a lot of ways to torment us.”
“Us?” Andee asked.
“His other slaves.” Like Kai. Malcolm frowned. “The Archivist takes top and bottom very seriously. He used to fuck me when I was jacked in.”
“I’m sorry,” Galen said. “I’ve never…you don’t think that Toulouse will…?”
“Screw you?” Malcolm said, and then winced at his bluntness. “I don’t know. It’s possible, if he prefers males.”
Galen paled. “Perhaps…perhaps we should…”
“No,” Malcolm snapped. “I’m not going to fuck you just because you’re afraid someone else might. If we do that it’s going to be because we want to. I want to make love to you. Not fool around in some hotel room on Argent.”
With a growl of his own he stalked over to Galen and kissed him hard. The Cy’ren’s crimson eyes widened, but then he returned the kiss. “I want that as well,” Galen said, his voice barely more than a whisper.
Andee approached and embraced them both. “We have the rest of our lives to make love, a’mhainen.”
Only if they lived through this. Still, it was a nice sentiment.
Galen kissed them each in turn and then stepped back. “If you’ll excuse me for a moment, I want to speak with Lieutenant Loren. Feel free to enjoy each other in my absence.”
Andee smiled. “We’ll wait up for you, my lord.”
∆∆∆
Galen hesitated as he approached Dack, still poring over battle plans with Rook. Their serious attitudes seemed at odds with the comfortable, luxurious surroundings. The impulse that had brought Galen back into the suite’s sitting room seemed foolish now, but he might not get another opportunity for this discussion.
“Yes, my lord?” Dack asked.
“I wished to speak with you for a moment in private, but I don’t want to interrupt.”
The shadow sword shook his head. “We’re just about done here. We’re going around in circles at this point.”
“Yeah,” Rook agreed. “I’m going to collect my agents. We’ll be in touch in the morning. Get some rest.”
He walked off—the man seemed to lumber, much like Soth did. Galen assumed it was related to their impressive brawn, an issue he would never possess because he lacked the necessary build.
“Is something wrong?” Dack’s indigo brow creased as Galen joined him on the couch.
“No. I have a matter to ask you about, but it’s…personal?” Galen sighed. “It’s not related to the mission. You are my family, and I trust you.”
He smiled. “You need advice on life with a new mate?”
“In a manner of speaking. Andee is wonderful. She’s more than I ever expected in a mate.” He paused as Rook emerged from Soth’s
room with his two giggling female companions in tow. For a moment Galen wondered if Soth had truly mated with the females—they were all members of his house, and he was responsible for their well-being. But Commander Soth’s private life was no more his business than Galen’s was Soth’s.
When the room was empty again Galen continued. “Andee mentioned something about her experience in the Morningstar shadow sword barracks, and I was curious if it is common in the barracks in other houses.”
“I’ve served in both the Sunsinger and Nightfall barracks, and the experience was similar. Shadow sword training is pretty much the same across houses as far as I know.”
“This isn’t quite a question of training. It’s…”
“He wants to know how the victors celebrate at the end of the day,” Soth said. Dack and Galen turned to see him leaning against the doorway to his bedroom, shirtless. “Right?”
“I…yes,” Galen admitted.
“Figured as much. You seem to be friendly with the indexer but uncomfortable about it.” Soth joined them, sitting across from the couch in a chair that creaked from the warrior’s weight. Despite the skimpy clothing the Cy’ren had donned as part of their slave cover, Galen had never seen Soth bare-chested before. A line of slave marks marched down the side of his throat. Dear gods—how many times had the man been bought and sold before being freed? Galen realized with nauseous shame that though he was familiar with Commander Soth’s service record from Soth’s time as head of the Sunsinger shadow swords, he knew nothing about the man’s personal life.
“Is it that obvious?”
Soth shrugged. “If you know what to look for, though maybe I’m used to reading the signs in other males.”
“Oh. That?” Dack said. “I never participated. Tali says I have trust issues because of my slave days. She’s not wrong, but having mates has helped with that.”
“So you don’t have a problem with other males, it just wasn’t for you?” Galen asked, and Dack nodded. It was fascinating to see Dack and Soth speak casually about a subject that had tormented Galen for years. “Did you participate?” he asked Soth.
“Sure. I know the temple goes on about it being sinful and all, but I was never religious. If everyone enjoys it and it’s good for morale, it’s fine by me.”
“I wish more people shared that sentiment,” Galen said.
“They likely do, they just don’t admit it. Seems to me as long as you and Lady Andelynn are happy, that’s the important thing. Happy lord, happy house.”
Galen nodded. “Andee does approve of the arrangement.”
“She would,” Dack muttered. Galen quirked a brow, and Dack continued. “She’s a liathlinn.”
“What?” Galen spat the question like a startled curse.
“A soul eater,” Dack clarified. “They feed on the emotions of those around them. Usually pain, but pleasure likely works as well.”
“I know what a liathlinn is, and my mate is certainly not one. Andee is an empath with combat training, not a soul-sucking demon. How could you accuse her of such a thing? Liathlinn aren’t even real. They’re creatures of myth.”
Dack held his hands up. “I am not accusing, my lord. She admitted as much to me.”
“She admitted to being a demon?” Soth said, his tone skeptical. “Seems strange. They’re real enough, though. I met a liathlinn from House Icefall once. He was a little odd, but not evil. I never saw him eat any souls, but he couldn’t be trusted around biscuits. He had a weird obsession with food.”
Dack barked a short laugh and shook his head. “Not to being a demon, but I’m certain she’s hiding something. Jace always had at least one plot going on aboard the Talon. Morningstars always have an angle and a contingency plan.”
Galen straightened. “Well, if she is hiding something, that is my affair, not yours, and in the future I’d prefer that you keep any other wild speculations about Andee to yourself.”
“Of course. I apologize.”
Andee? Could his sweet, attentive mate be hiding a dark secret? It was madness.
You can tell me anything. Your secrets are mine to keep now, as mine are yours.
I feel your passion, your pleasure in each other. It’s like being intoxicated, but drunk on sensation instead of alcohol.
Dear gods—had she been feeding from his lust? Was that why she encouraged him to be with Malcolm? To drain them dry? Slake some unholy thirst? Impossible. And yet…
Dack cleared his throat, chagrined. “As to your relationship with Malcolm, I have set a precedent in the house for having a human mate. Carmen says the Alliance emphasizes marriage equality, so we would be legal mates there as well. They would support you if Cyprena joins the Alliance.”
“We will need to survive this mission first,” Galen said. “Thank you both. I appreciate your discretion in these matters.”
“Of course, my lord,” Soth replied.
In a numb daze, Galen returned to his room—Malcolm’s room—and lurched to a stop after a few steps. Andee looked so normal, casually innocent with her head resting on Malcolm’s chest as she curled in his arms. The floor seemed to tilt beneath him as he reexamined every moment he had spent with Andee. Tradition demanded that he choose Lord Najamek’s eldest daughter. Did Andee steer him away from that? Was this all a trap to take control of his house? Once Nightfall fell, House Morningstar would be the most powerful house on Cyprena. Had Najamek plotted to take over House Sunsinger by using Andee as his agent? As an empath, she would know just how to seduce Galen.
“Galen? What’s wrong?” she asked. Andee rose from the bed and approached him, naked and distracting, but he backed away and raised his hands in defense.
“Don’t,” he snapped. Galen looked from her to Malcolm and swallowed hard. He couldn’t let Malcolm know what she was. If the information got back to the Collective—
“Don’t what? Are you ill?” Andee eyed him with concern. Galen flinched when she stepped forward again, and she slowly folded her hands.
“You lied to me,” Galen accused in Cy’reni. “You told me you were an empath with combat training. But you’re a liathlinn.”
Her eyes widened as her gaze flicked past him to the door to the suite’s sitting room. “Lieutenant Loren said this?”
Galen’s heart sank. She didn’t deny it. His mate was a monster—a demon from Cy’ren legend. “It’s true then?”
“What’s going on?” Malcolm asked. He sat at the edge of the bed, watching them in confusion.
Galen waved the question away. “Answer me!” he snapped at Andee.
“The truth depends on what you believe.” Andee’s tone was gentle, and her eyes were pleading. “Most of the stories about liathlinn are just that—stories. I am not a monster. I would never hurt you.”
“Then why hide it from me? Did you kill for your father? Steal the souls of his enemies?” Galen advanced, and Andee retreated step for step.
“I defended my house,” she countered. “I shed blood for my lord like a good soldier, but I never stole anyone’s soul. That’s impossible.”
“Why should I believe you? How can I trust your word on anything?” Galen pointed an accusing finger at her. “Did you trick me into choosing you? You could have used your abilities to manipulate my choice of mate.”
“What?” Andee rocked back on her heels as though struck by his words. “I would never… How can you think that?”
“Because everything you’ve done has been designed to lead me into scandal and ruin!”
Malcolm approached Andee and placed a tentative hand on her shoulder. Blinking rapidly, she took his hand and held it tight.
“I didn’t want this.” Andee’s voice cracked as she stood shaking. “If Father had lived, he would have refused you. He would have given you Razi or Cari and they would’ve been content to sit at your side and nod and smile. To breed your children. I was the most deadly and dependable weapon in his arsenal, and I won’t apologize for that. I served my house. Father trusted me.”
<
br /> “He used you,” Galen countered. “A weapon is only a tool.”
“And what am I to you if not a tool? A vessel.” Andee spat the word. “I didn’t tell you because I wanted to put that life behind me. You said you wanted a partner, not an assassin. Why should it matter to you what I did before?”
“I said I wanted someone I can trust. That clearly isn’t you. When this mission is over, I’m annulling our match.”
Andee crumpled to her knees and began to sob, and Galen regretted the words. No—he regretted hurting her, but he was right. Liathlinn couldn’t be trusted. Those were empty, manipulative tears, meant to trick him into an apology.
“Get out,” Malcolm said.
Galen blinked at him. “What?”
“I said get out!” Malcolm balled his hands into fists and glared the lord down. “This is my room, and I don’t want you here. You can sleep in the sitting room if you’re going to be a prick.”
“Fine!” He would be safer in the sitting room, free from their temptations. Galen turned on his heel and stalked out, certain that he was doing the right thing, even though each step he took drove a spike of anguish into his heart.
Chapter Nine
Curled into a ball on the floor, Andee cried as though her heart was broken. Galen’s revulsion clung to her like sour, stale perfume, filling her nose and mouth with the awful stench of bile. He thought she was a monster, and the rejection consumed her. She wasn’t certain she could survive it—she might not, if Galen made her secret public. Andee wouldn’t be able to return to Cyprena if she was known to be a liathlinn. She would be hunted and executed.
Malcolm stroked her hair as he knelt at her side, his energy concerned and confused. He hadn’t understood their exchange, and Andee didn’t have the heart to explain it. After several agonizing minutes, Malcolm scooped her up and awkwardly carried her to the master bath. He set her next to the enormous tub as he flash-filled it with hot water and bubbles.
“What are you doing?” Andee asked.
“The setting says this scent is supposed to be soothing,” Malcolm explained. “Baths make me feel better, when I remember to take them. Bubble baths are even better.”
