by Liza Probz
The captain met her gaze, her discerning eyes taking in more than Kat wanted to reveal.
“Fill me in on what’s happening,” she told her lieutenant.
“After you’d left with this one,” Jeffrey said, gesturing at Major Ontarii, “we waited. After a few moments, you came back. He told his crew to remain on the ship with you and the others, while the rest of us were taken to the flagship. We thought it was you, so we followed orders, even though I didn’t want to leave you alone.”
The human female nodded. “It’s understandable.”
Kat saw Jeffrey make a sigh of relief. He continued, “On the flagship, we met this one, Kat’Chinna, Major Ontarii’s second. Long story short, we figured out that the Major Ontarii we’d brought back wasn’t the real one.”
The lieutenant frowned, his eyes searching his Captain’s face. “Where’s Mike? And Diego? And Talia?”
His captain shook her head sadly. “Mike and Diego didn’t make it. Talia was the Hareema plant. Although there had to be more.”
“Oh, there were more, at least two others,” Jeffrey said. Kat shivered at his frozen tone.
His captain had a similar reaction. “How do you know this?”
Jeffrey’s smile was sharp. “Because I caught one, and it talked.”
Kat didn’t like the cocky tone in Jeffrey’s voice. Why does he make light of everything? Even an enemy that threatened to destroy both their worlds.
Her head swiveled when Major Ontarii spoke. The surprise in his voice made her sick to her stomach. “You have a Hareema prisoner? We haven’t managed to catch one in centuries. How did you do it?”
“It’s all in the wrists,” the lieutenant joked.
His cavalier attitude made her nauseous. Coupled with Major Ontarii’s announcement, Kat was close to losing her lunch. We haven’t managed to catch one because we never tried, she wanted to say.
Before she could open her mouth to insult a superior officer, the Supreme Regent stepped forward. “We will discuss all of this further shortly. We have briefings scheduled all day. For now, I’d like to discuss assignments.”
Kat took a deep breath, turning herself on autopilot. I can deal with my feelings later.
To Major Ontarii, the regent said, “We need to debrief, obviously, and I want your help in interrogating the Hareema prisoner. Drake informs me that you have information about a rebel alliance among the enemy. I want to see what our captive has to say about this.”
Rasveen then turned his attention to Kat and Jeffrey. “You two, you’re charged with recovering the missing Earth vessel and reclaiming it from the Hareema. I want this done as quickly as possible. I think the next step in this war will involve a trip back to Earth, and I want it to be in your vessel.”
The human captain lodged her protest, but Rasveen was brooking no resistance. “Your lieutenants have proven themselves more than capable. They will recover your ship. You will remain here. Am I clear?”
Kat could see that the human captain wasn’t used to taking orders from alien alpha males. Good luck. You’ve tied yourself to one of the biggest alphas on Zanthar. Time to get used to it.
Dr. Cohen came forward to usher Captain Brooklyn to her quarters to freshen up. The knot in Kat’s insides tightened when she saw Major Ontarii fight to accompany her. Zantharian males hated letting their chosen female out of their sight.
After the human scientist led her colleague out of the briefing room, Major Ontarii and Rasveen put their heads together, discussing what would happen next. Jeffrey had put his arms around his crewmates and they were talking in excited tones.
Kat stood there, staring at the ground, her mind caught in a whirlpool of shock, disappointment, and anger.
The lieutenant lifted his gaze to her face, and she could feel his eyes on her, as if his stare had weight.
Without waiting for him to resume their earlier conversation, Kat turned on her heel. “I’ll begin making preparations,” she said over her shoulder as she opened the membrane, then escaped out into the corridor.
Her steps were rapid as she fled the briefing room. She wished she could run away from the whole situation, just leave it all behind her.
Major Ontarii has mated with a human female.
The words sounded foreign in her brain. They didn’t make sense.
Although she’d always hoped they’d end up together, she’d admitted to herself that Major Ontarii might never take a mate, even her.
And now he’d shown up with a human mate, even though he’d known the woman for only a couple of days.
Can you really fault him his passions? an inner voice asked. You submitted to the lieutenant’s charms after only a couple hours.
“Shut up,” she told herself. “Fooling around on an interrogation table isn’t the same thing as matehood!”
Two soldiers who were passing by fixed her with confused stares, and Kat scowled at them, forcing herself not to break into a dead run.
Calm down. Breathe. Try and forget what’s happening.
Even if it means the death of your dreams.
Although, if Kat were being honest with herself, she would have to admit that she felt the tiniest bit relieved. Carrying a torch for someone for years, letting desire linger unfulfilled for so long, was a difficult task.
If it wasn’t the unrequited love lost that was making her stomach feel like it was doing flip flops, then what could it be?
The image of the handsome human lieutenant rose in her mind. Oh yeah. Him.
The regent had charged them both with bringing back the human ship. She’d planned to avoid Jeffrey as much as possible, promising herself that she’d never be alone with him again. If they weren’t alone, she wouldn’t be in a position to be vulnerable to his charms.
Or her own desires.
Kat made her way to central requisition hub, requesting the fastest scout ship on hand. They’d have to make due with a minimal crew, but a handful of them should be enough to deal with the Hareema plants on the human ship. As long as they didn’t run into anything more threatening…
She requested five of her most trusted underlings to be assigned to the scout ship. The head requisitions officer told her that he’d oversee the outfitting of the ship himself and would let her know when it was ready to fly.
With that finished, she headed toward her cabin. Although she had a small family home on the other side of the planet, she kept quarters here, as she wasn’t on the home world often for long enough to travel back to her home. She’d just filled her tub and settled herself inside the hot scented water when she received a summons from the regent’s office. She was to meet in the strategic planning center in ten minutes.
Kat rolled her eyes. It figured.
She grabbed her sponge and started running it over her tired limbs. It was soft but scratchy enough to exfoliate. The sponge had once been a living creature whose body contained a substance that was naturally antibacterial.
Rinsing off quickly, she hopped out of the tub and started drying herself briskly. A few moments later, she was straightening the tendrils on her head, forcing them back into a tight knot on her neck.
A fresh uniform followed, and she was speeding down the hall to the strategic planning center.
The membrane opened and she hurried inside, swallowing her disappointment when she saw who was gathered there.
On the other side of the large briefing table, Major Ontarii stood behind his human mate, his arms around her waist, his face nestled at her neck, planting kisses and harvesting enjoyment from his female.
Kat looked away quickly, her face almost heating at the sight of Major Ontarii’s skin flushed a shade very near to lavender. How embarrassing.
Looking at the regent and his lady love wasn’t much better. She was stationed on his knee, a possessive arm around her middle, while he smiled down into her cherubic face.
What the hell is happening around here? Kat considered the possibility that the humans were in league to take over Zanthar
through seduction.
Turning to face the other inhabitants of the room, Kat blanked her face. The three human crewmates were settled into chairs around the oval table, talking quietly.
Suddenly Jeffrey’s head came up, his eyes locking on hers. A ghost of a smile lit his features.
Kat looked away, pulling up a seat at the table and crossing her arms in front of her on its smooth surface. She stared at her hands, wishing more than anything to be anywhere else but here.
“I see you took your time getting here,” the regent said when he noticed her presence.
“Apologies,” Kat said softly. “I requisitioned the fastest scout ship available and selected my crew. We should be ready to depart when ordered.”
“Good,” the regent said. “I want you and the lieutenant on your way within the hour.
“Your Majesty,” the human male said. “If I may speak?”
Rasveen nodded. Sylvia giggled, amused by the ironic formality in the lieutenant’s voice. An irony that was missed by her mate.
“I think it makes sense to try and talk to the prisoner again before we take off. He might have information that could be of use.”
Kat considered his words, then shook her head. “I don’t think it’s worth wasting our time. That creature is not going to talk. And even if it does, how would we know if it was telling the truth?”
“It won’t take long,” Jeffrey countered. “And any information, whether trustworthy or not, has to be better than flying blind into God knows what.”
Rasveen considered their words. Kat’s eyes skittered to her commander’s face. Major Ontarii was staring at her, a considering light in his dark eyes.
“I agree with the human,” the regent said at last. “You will attempt to interrogate the prisoner before you depart. But don’t take too long. I want you out of here as soon as possible. We need that human ship.”
Kat nodded, rising from the table. She had no choice. She was stuck with the human. Any argument on her part would just burn much-needed minutes in the fight against the Hareema.
Without a word in Jeffrey’s direction, she headed toward the exit.
“Lieutenant Yarr.” The regent’s voice stopped her in her tracks.
She turned back to face him. “Yes, Supreme Regent?”
“I trust you to bring back the human ship with your crew intact. And I trust you to cooperate with your human counterpart.”
“I have no problem with that, as long as he obeys my orders.”
“About that,” Rasveen said, the corner of his lips curving up. “It’s actually the other way around.”
“Pardon me?”
Jeffrey stood from his seat and sauntered over with a gnarshark’s grin on his handsome face. “He’s saying I’m in charge, sweetheart.”
Kat’s overburdened brain couldn’t take anymore. Her control snapped. “You’ve got to be kidding me. I won’t stand for it!”
“Are you disobeying my orders?” Rasveen barked, his voice deep and full of authority.
“If your orders are to obey this…this…”
“Primitive?” Jeffrey said in a low voice that only she could hear.
“Human! It’s my ship, and my crew!”
Rasveen stood then, heaving his mate into his arms. He towered over the rest of the company, his skin mottled with yellow. “You will do as I command! Lieutenant Brunt is in charge for this mission. He’s had several good ideas, convincing you to catch the Hareema captive, and suggesting the interrogation. I want to see if his ideas hold on this mission.”
The regent scowled down at her. “I’m not used to having my orders questioned. Don’t ever do it again.”
“Xiv,” the human scientist whispered into her irate male’s ear. “I think you’ve made your point. Now how about you and I go partake in an Earth delicacy. It’s called ‘afternoon delight.’”
The female kissed Rasveen on his cheek and the yellow tint to his skin melted away. “I want that human ship returned,” he said, then carried his mate out the membrane and into the corridor.
Major Ontarii and his mate followed close behind, hand in hand. “You can do this, lieutenant,” he said as he passed.
Kat gave him a tight nod, unwilling to meet his eyes.
“Well, precious, seems like we should be on our way.” Jeffrey held out his arm to her.
Kat looked at it, offended. Does he think me too weak to walk on my own?
She stalked off, into the corridor, not bothering to look back to see if he followed.
Chapter 14
“Well, you’ve certainly got your work cut out for you with that one,” Dr. Tan said as the membrane closed behind Kat’Chinna.
“Yeah,” Chao said, giving him a grin. “I thought you said no female could resist your charms.”
“They can’t,” Jeffrey said, throwing a grin back at her. “Some just take longer to warm up than others.”
Chao laughed and Tan covered her mouth, hiding a smile.
“Sorry, ladies,” he said, patting them both on opposite arms. “Gotta run. Got another hot date in an interrogation room.” He hurried toward the membrane, not wanting to let Kat get too far ahead.
“Good luck!” Chao called after him.
“You’re gonna need it,” Tan chimed in.
He just made it into the corridor in time to see Kat turning down a left-hand spur in the distance. Jeffrey sped after her.
Damn, she’s fast. It must be those long legs of her. Legs that go on forever. Legs that are so toned and strong. I can’t wait to have them wrapped around my waist as I surge into her.
His cock instantly hardened and Jeffrey cursed. The alien female had such an overwhelming effect on him. And now they’d been thrown together again, another dangerous mission as it were.
Except this time, he’d be the one making the rules.
He would be lying if he said that thought didn’t excite him. It put a thousand images in his head. Kat’Chinna, lying beneath him, her spellbinding eyes begging him to take her. On her knees, looking up at him with longing, ready to submit to his every whim.
Better calm down, old boy. His cock twitched in his flight suit. We’ve almost caught up to her. Can’t let her know how much she gets to you. Not if you want to remain in control.
At last, he made it to her side and slowed down his pace, getting in step with the alien lieutenant. “Where are we headed, Kat?”
She refused to look at him. Her face was neutral, but her eyes were cold. “I thought I told you not to call me that, Lieutenant.”
“Let’s not be formal for formal’s sake,” he responded. “I’ll call you Kat, you call me Jeffrey, and Bob’s your uncle.”
“I don’t know any Bob, Lieutenant.”
So much for your winning sense of humor, Jeffrey thought wryly. “So we’re just going to call each other ‘Lieutenant’ like a pair of ninnies?”
“I’m afraid I’m not familiar with ninnies either, Lieutenant.”
Jeffrey wanted to groan. It was clear she was set on keeping her chilly attitude in place.
“Look,” he said, grabbing her arm to pull her to the side of the corridor, near a large round window. “We never talked about what happened.”
“And we won’t, Lieutenant,” she replied.
Jeffrey almost recoiled at the venom she put into his title.
“If you’re going to be working under me, we should at least discuss—“
“I’ll never be under you again, so you don’t need to worry about it. Let’s just complete this mission, and then we never have to talk to each other again.”
“I enjoy talking to you. I thought you enjoyed me too. At least—“
“You can be sure, I’m not enjoying this,” she spit back at him, streaks of yellow starting to climb up her limbs.
“Kat, I don’t know what I did to make you so upset, but—“
She was determined to continue interrupting him, it seemed. “I’m not upset,” she said, closing her eyes until the yellow
tint of her skin morphed back to green. Her eyes opened once more. “I’m impatient to follow the regent’s orders.”
Jeffrey realized the conversation was going nowhere, and they were wasting time. He turned away, his eyes lighting on something outside the window.
“What is that?” he breathed, entranced. A thousand willowy creatures floated outside the window, each flashing soft lights over their skin. They blinked in patterns, turning from blue to purple to green and back again.
“Jellies,” Kat said from beside him. “They gather in clusters to talk. To ward off enemies. To exchange information. To breed.”
“They’re amazing.” Jeffrey had never seen anything so picaresque in his life. The jellies floated there, seeming so calm, blinking at one another.
“They’re considered blessed on our world. We claim one species of giant jelly as our probable ancestor.
Jeffrey considered her words. They made sense, when one factored in the color-changing Zantharian skin and their bioelectrical abilities.
Still, no Zantharian he’d met yet had radiated the sense of peace these creatures did. He wished he could stare at them for hours.
Instead, duty called.
“Come, Lieutenant,” he said at last. “Lead the way.”
They didn’t talk as they headed toward the heavily-guarded chamber holding the Hareema prisoner. It took several minutes for them to be allowed access, and Jeffrey had to submit to another zapping to prove his human status. Finally, they entered the cell where the shapeshifter was housed.
It was in the center of the room, in a large cube that seemed to be made of glowing walls of energy.
“We’re running a constant current between those four posts,” the Zantharian scientist in charge confirmed. “So far, it hasn’t been able to break through yet.”
In the middle of the force field walls stood a towering red jelly. It seemed so innocuous, so unable to do the damage attributed to its race.
