The Demon's Change

by Donna McDonald

  Chiang snickered. He felt like he was explaining physiology to a young male feeling arousal for the first time. “Been having any wicked thoughts about a certain female lately?”

  Malachi’s mind zoomed instantly to the raging hope he’d felt knowing the emissary was somewhere on the ship. He liked knowing she was nearby. How odd. Why was he so pleased to think he might see his torturer again? She was the only being he’d encountered that could cause him physical pain. “I can’t believe you asked me that question when you know all my thoughts are wicked.”

  Chiang smiled at Malachi’s defensive answer because the demon wasn’t shielding his emotions. He’d probably forgotten to do so. They were so used to being together these days. “Perhaps I will be blessedly free of wicked thoughts about females for a short time. Look at us, Malachi. We’re changing places.”

  “Indeed, and I will change this unfortunate circumstance as soon as I can.”

  When Chiang laughed again and moved his attention back to the com port, Malachi gave up trying to make sense of the Greggor’s statements. Instead, he stripped the medical table to prepare for the next patient.

  ***

  Ania lifted a bare foot and used it to push down gently on Gwen’s back. Her actions elicited a hiss that preceded a string of curses. “Do your arms feel like they’re falling off yet?”

  Straining under the weight Ania had already placed on her, Gwen ground her teeth so hard it set off a headache. Damn her mother’s genetics, her father’s endurance, and Zade’s mating gift of even more strength. Ania’s torture might go on for hours.

  “I’m hurting, but not to the point you indicated was needed before we stopped.”

  Ania removed her foot and walked to the pile of weight bags along one wall. Shuffling past the smaller ones, she plucked two large ones from a few layers below the top. She returned to where Gwen was balancing on fingers and toes, and draped the bags over the others on her back.

  The weights were designed to increase the endurance of broad-backed males, so the heavy, drooping sides melted over Gwen’s more slender form. The resulting groan of agony coming from the strong-willed Earthling hybrid brought a satisfied smile to Ania’s face. It wouldn’t be long now before Gwen failed and felt true humility.

  “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?” Gwen demanded, arms shaking under the extra weight Ania had piled on her. “I’m going to fall any second and you’re going to have to call Zade to dig my dead body out from under all these weight bags.”

  “Your complaining is a good sign. It means we’re much closer,” Ania said, fighting not to laugh at Gwen’s renewed cursing. “Now blank your mind of it all. Forget the weight bags. Forget your arms hurting. Stop participating in the pain.”

  Gwen closed her eyes and breathed. First, one arm steadied, and then the other followed it. Buoyed by her success to ignore the crushing weight pushing her downward, she was working on her legs when Ania let out a fierce yell that would have scared any warrior. Her gaze located her Khalsa trainer just as Ania collapsed into an ungainly heap on the mat.

  “Holy fucking shit.” Yelling the curses, Gwen grunted hugely and tossed off the weights as she headed to Ania’s side. But just as she was standing over her, a blinding light blazed, filling the room. “Damn it . . . ”

  Shielding her eyes automatically with her arms, Gwen only lowered them when the blazing receded. She saw a misty light easing around the edges of the training room door as it left. Shocked at what she’d observed, she stared at the exit point for a few moments trying to figure out what she had seen.

  “What kind of freak-ass, spiritual crap is this?”

  And then she looked down where Ania lay unconscious at her feet.

  “Shit—got to save the babies,” she exclaimed, cursing and stumbling away until she found the nearest com unit. Fortunately, it had a one touch connection to Medical.

  “This is a code ten summons. Assistance needed in the officer training area. Peace Keeper Looren is down. I am without my portable communicator. Send help immediately. Malachi, if you hear this, get your ass here as soon as you can.”

  Gwen released the com to go back to Ania, bending to check her vitals and straighten her crumpled body. It was a relief to feel Ania’s even breath on her fingers. All seemed well to her, except that once again some invisible force had taken down her nearly invincible teacher and friend.

  She was greatly relieved when Malachi came running through the door. His eyes were blazing red as he knelt on the mat next to Ania’s still form.

  “After she hit the mat, a giant white light came out of her and almost blinded me. I think your freaky-ass girlfriend waited until Ania had buried me under all those weight bags before making her move. I barely freed myself. I swear if she ever goes into someone I hate, I’m gonna kick the shit out of that person’s body just to prove two can play her damn thimblerig game.”

  Malachi’s hands raced over Ania’s body, scanning her as he went. Gwen’s seething anger over Ania’s condition nearly matched his own. His hands stilled as he realized he could once again sense the nuances of her.

  “Watch my body,” he ordered, lifting from it and zooming into Ania.

  Gwen looked at the kneeling male bent over Ania and wondered what the hell she was supposed to do. Should she order Malachi’s body to go sit somewhere?

  Before she could make up her mind, a black mist zipped out of Ania and back into the frozen form, returning it to normal function again. She shook her head over what happened, even as a chill crept up her spine. The whole possession thing was still alarming to her.

  Soon Ania moaned, rolled her head, and opened her eyes.

  “Ania? Are you okay?” Gwen asked.

  “I think I felt her leave. What happened this time?”

  Malachi helped Ania roll to her side, then waited until she maneuvered into a sitting position. “You are alone in your body once more. I was able to go into you and check. The children are fine. How are you feeling?”

  Ania put a hand to her chest, rubbing where it hurt most. “Mentally, I feel fine. When the energy being left me, it was like she tore out my heart. My chest is still on fire. It must have been where she exited.”

  Malachi decided not to tell Ania about the mark burned between her breasts. She’d find it soon enough. Right now, he needed her to get calm and stay calm. Ania’s chaotic emotions and spiteful desire to strike out might provoke her to attack her very anxious pupil again. Gwen’s emotional rollercoaster was more than enough drama to set the gestating Khalsa warrior off.

  “Can you stand up?” Malachi asked.

  “I think so,” she said.

  Ania lifted a hand and let Malachi help pull her to her feet. By that point, Chiang and Zade burst through the door. Both of them were winded.

  “I was talking to the bursar. This blasted ship is a lot bigger than the Liberator,” Chiang said, breathing hard.

  Malachi watched Zade walk to Gwen. She shook her head, but Zade still put a reassuring arm gently across her shoulders. The Siren knew how to offer comfort in just the right manner for his prickly Earthling mate. He supposed the Siren male had received compassion training from others of his species. What training had he ever received in offering support? None. Until Ania, he had not really known what it felt like. The Pleiadian lived the emotion.

  “Did you see the emissary leave me?” Ania asked, directing the question to Gwen.

  “Yes—in a bunch of white light.”

  Ania laughed as she weaved. “I’m dizzy. How did you get out from under all those bags by yourself? I obviously didn’t use enough. I hope I remember that when my headache eases.”

  “How can you think about my training when that energy bitch is messing with us?” Gwen demanded.

  “I thank you for your compassion,” Ania said slowly, lifting a hand to the top of her head. “Wow—I definitely feel strange. What has she done to me?”

  Malachi sighed. He needed to go find out who was hosting his nemesis ne
xt. While it didn’t appear the emissary had done Ania any lasting harm, there were some changes. And he had a few unanswered questions to ask her about the children.

  “Can we continue this discussion in Medical? Ania, please go with Chiang and let him do a complete scan of you and the children. I’d like to see the data. I only had time for a cursory analysis when I was in you. Right now, there’s something more important I need to do.”

  “I know what you need to do. Do you know where she went?” Ania demanded.

  Malachi frowned as he nodded. “No. But I know where I’m going to start looking.”

  He started across the mat toward the door, halting when he heard a click and slide.

  “It’s her,” Ania said coldly. “She can’t hide from me anymore. I know what she feels like.”

  Malachi’s gaze locked on the female who walked in calmly and bowed her head to him.

  “There’s no need to bother the Ethosian with your unnecessary anxiety. Your usefulness to her is over.”

  Malachi walked across the floor until he stood nose to nose with her. This was possible only because Kefira’s body was nearly as tall as Conor Synar’s. When the emissary was in Rena’s body she was a lot shorter. He promptly decided that he preferred that as he was now forced to meet her glare straight on.

  Tension wound and unwound inside him as he felt her energy again. The being now facing him never failed to cause him conflicting urges. He had to remind himself that the physical body she chose was one forbidden to him to touch. Now if someone would just convince his disobedient bonding organ that there was nothing to hope for, he could focus on dealing with her instead of focusing on the discomfort of his physical form.

  He drew his body up as straight as possible so he could look down at her at least a little. It was a cheap trick of physicality, but he didn’t care. “Did Kefira know you were planning to use her body today?”

  “Interesting question—given all those I see running through your mind. Did Kefira tell you that she’s been able to read your intentions clearly since you went inside her? Her opinion was quite a surprise to me.”

  Malachi snorted. His bonding organ got harder. He ordered it down, but it seemed to be ignoring him. When had he lost all control of it? “Do you ever answer a question directly instead of offering some blatantly obvious observation to throw your sparring opponent off track?”

  She bowed her head slightly, acknowledging his point. “There was no reason to apprise Kefira of exact details. I was done with Ania Looren and needed to move on. As a vessel of the Creators, Kefira’s body is a willing host. Her spirit is resting while mine does its work. Her sleep will not last long. I am almost done with her as well.”

  “With Kefira, Ania, or me? You can’t seem to commit to any of us very long,” Malachi said. He fought back a smile when she gave a snort. Did that mean she had a sense of humor? That would be wondrous.

  “Fear not, Demon of Synar. I have no torture for you today. Your redemption requires much more than I could accomplish in the short time I will have in this host body. It will have to wait for another day.”

  When her words caused a clenching in his gut, Malachi frowned. “What do you mean? Are you running away again?”

  For long moments, she stared at him. Then, clearing her throat, or rather Kefira’s throat, she spoke again. “I’m not ready to answer that question yet.”

  He frowned when she turned from him to face the others who had walked over and now stood around them. He didn’t care if the emissary knew, but he hoped his physical arousal wasn’t obvious to the entire group. His lack of control over his body was humiliating.

  “Ania Looren, now that I know you better, I regret our initial animosity. The Creators favor you and I have been assigned to serve your greater good,” she said.

  “Serve me? How exactly is that going to work? And just what did you do while you were inside me?” Ania demanded.

  “I did what the Creators bade me do. In time, I will tell you all. For now, just know that I have been tasked with helping you care for your children. I am to be their daily keeper while you follow your destiny.”

  “No,” Ania said firmly. “I may not be at peace with the spirits I carry, but I will not let any harm come to them. I sense your contempt of me as much as I sense Malachi’s concern. Your emotions are clear to me now. Kefira may be able to read Malachi, but I am able to read you.”

  Malachi turned around and held up a hand to his host. “Please, Ania. I know you’d like to seriously hurt her, but Kefira needs her body to remain unharmed. Let me handle this. The emissary and I have some things in common. Some aspects of our arrangements with the Creators can only be understood by someone with the same sort of contract.”

  “Indeed,” the emissary said. “That may be the wisest thing I’ve ever heard you admit.”

  Malachi inclined his head at her answer. “Can you tell us why you were in Ania?”

  “Helping her was a direct order. As you well know, Demon of Synar, I carry them out even when I don’t want to do so.” She glared brightly into his glowing red eyes. “I like this body. It is good not to have to look up to you.”

  “Too bad. You can’t stay in Kefira and you know it. And leave us out of this discussion for now. State your purpose in helping Ania.”

  “There will be plenty of time to discuss this. I must return Kefira’s body to her room now. Her spirit is anxious to return to it.”

  When she turned to go, Malachi grabbed her arm. “Wait. Are you going to keep coming back into Kefira? I can’t. . . ”

  He bit off the words and made himself cease pleading. He couldn’t touch Kefira. She had to know that.

  And if she knew that, she also was using Kefira’s body intentionally to avoid him.

  As they stared at each other, or rather glared at each other, Malachi felt his body tighten. Deepening arousal set in quickly, compelling him to actions he really couldn’t control. He moved forward to erase the physical distance between them, anxious to press his host body against the one she inhabited.

  “Read me. See that I need to hold you,” he whispered.

  “No. That is forbidden with this body. Let go of it,” she ordered softly.

  “No,” Malachi said. “I need some answers from you. I need. . .many things. Why did you not return to me sooner? I was in agony wondering where you were.”

  “You just want without understanding, and you think you have the right to take,” the emissary spat.

  “Maybe I do have the right to take,” Malachi said.

  He watched as she raised her hand and then curled her fingers into a fist, smiling gently at him as he fell to his knees and called out in pain.

  “Shades of Kellnor. How is this possible?” he demanded. His weakness made him angry, but her strength only made him want her more.

  “Do not think to change my fate, demon. I am aligned with the Creators. As I told Ania, everything will be made clear in time. You know Kefira’s physical form is off limits. Do not approach her for bonding or I will incapacitate you for more than just a few moments,” she warned.

  “One day, you will be on the receiving end of this kind of torture,” Malachi promised, climbing slowly to his feet.

  “You may be right, but be at peace until then. All is as it should be now,” she ordered.

  Turning away from his confusion, Malachi watched as she went to the door. He saw her hesitate and turn back to him.

  “You must learn to trust me, Malachi. It is very important,” she said.

  “Really? You expect me to trust the only being who has ever been able to harm me since I was converted?”

  “Yes. That is exactly what I expect,” she said, bowing her head before she walked out.

  Malachi huffed out an exasperated breath, glaring at the door. When she had disappeared completely, he rounded on Ania.

  “Next time I insist that you put me in a Siren host body. If I possessed the power to beguile that female, she wouldn’t keep getting aw
ay so easily.”

  Ania snorted. “Sure, Malachi. You just keep telling yourself that.”

  Nearby, Gwen burst out laughing. “You’d make a lousy Siren, or at least your body would.”

  Malachi glared at a female he’d thought fondly of until that moment. “Really? Why is that?”

  Gwen nodded and grinned. “Conor Synar’s body just isn’t pretty enough. Though I will give you a few points for those awesome arms you’re sporting these days.”

  Malachi snorted, but looked at Zade with his hair touching his shoulders, deep blue eyes, and a half-grin lighting his full mouth. “Fine. I happen to agree with you that Zade is more attractive. He would make a great host body.”

  Dorian looked at his mate. “Did Malachi just admit I was better looking than he was?”

  Gwen shrugged. “That’s what I heard. Besides, it’s the truth.”

  “And this would be the reason I’ve never beguiled you with pheromones,” Dorian said. “I appreciate your honest reactions to me.”

  Ania rolled her eyes. “I’m going to Medical now. Gwen, we’ll start again tomorrow. Chiang?”

  “I’m with you. Let’s go check you out to be sure you’re as healthy as you sound,” Chiang said.

  Shaking his head, Malachi followed Ania out the door, still agitated to hear Dorian and Gwen laughing at his distress.

  Chapter 14

  The search team was using one of Chancellor Bartoff’s conference rooms to discuss the growing sense they had of being tracked. Seta had been leading the discussion until one of the chancellor’s guards informed her she was receiving an emergency communication from the ship. He led her to a smaller conference room where he assured her she could speak privately to the caller.

  “I asked for it to be transferred here. Your sibling is already on the com waiting for you,” he said.