Crusader (Battle Born Book 1)

by Cyndi Friberg

  She lowered her head and her silvery hair swung forward, concealing her face again. “I told you, I’ve seen nothing.”

  “I think you just require the right motivation.”

  A subtle tremor passed through her, but her voice remained even. “Your whip can’t trigger one of my visions. If anything your impatience is driving them away.”

  “Is that a threat?” He laughed and moved away from the exasperating harbinger. She’d been a gift from Quinton two years ago, a rare and precious prize. Harbingers were uncommon, those born with the gift even more so. But Chandar Evon was one of only nine female organic harbingers ever known to have existed.

  And she belongs to me.

  Silver light flashed behind her hair and Akim smiled. Apparently, she’d heard his boast. Despite the reality of her existence, she frequently insisted that she belonged to no one. “There are many forms of persuasion.” He picked up his glass and leaned back against the beverage station. “Some we’ve yet to explore.”

  After a long pause her voice floated through her hair, light and eerie. “The fight is over. They are too far ahead. You cannot regain the ground you’ve lost.”

  Infuriated by yet another setback, he threw the glass at her head. She ducked at the last minute and the glass thudded against the wall. “You prophesy now!” For a moment he was too angry to speak. He turned his back and closed his eyes, fighting for control. Violence had been useless with her, at least as a motivation. He could temporarily correct the worst of her misbehavior with corporeal punishment, but she was right. His whip, and more creative forms of cruelty, had yet to trigger one of her visions. Without turning around, he tried a new strategy. “Let’s barter. What will it cost me for useful information?” When she didn’t immediately state her conditions, he turned around.

  She crouched on her sleeping mat, knees drawn up to her chest, slender body lost in her shapeless pale blue gown. She’d tucked her hair behind her ears and her eyes were particularly luminous in her tense face. “Why should I believe you?”

  “Because I’ve never made this offer before.”

  “You know what I want.”

  “I will never free you, but I’m ready to work with you rather than battling for even the simplest things.”

  Her lips pressed together and she averted her gaze as her expression turned pensive. “I want my own cabin.”

  “I keep you here to protect you from the crew.”

  “You command the crew. Your word should be enough to protect me.”

  Another provocation? Did she have a death wish? He sighed. That was the problem. She’d be relieved if he snapped her neck. And without the fear of death, most of his strategies became far less effective. “Fine.” He gritted out the word, unable to relax his clenched jaw. “Now speak.”

  “They’re headed to a cabin in the mountains of New York. I’ve seen the structure, yet I’m unable to pinpoint the location. The property belongs to Ashley’s maternal grandfather. I don’t know his name, but it shouldn’t be hard to find out. Ashley isn’t certain her father’s research is there, though she believes it’s likely.”

  He crossed his arms over his chest, one eye brow arched. “Was that so difficult.” He motioned toward the doorway. “You may sleep in the cabin across the hall for one night only.”

  “What?” She shot to her feet, eyes flashing. “That was not the deal.”

  “If you’d like another night alone,” he sneered, “have another vision!”

  * * * * *

  “You’re going to do what?” Ashley backed away from Nazerel, unable to hide her distress.

  She’d lingered at the table in Morgan’s office while Bandar went to “suit up”. Morgan tried to keep Ashley entertained, but she was undeniably distracted by Bandar’s absence. Then he’d returned wearing the black body armor she’d first seen when Bandar’s shadow attacked her. The matte fabric, or fibers, or whatever the garment was constructed of, followed his every move, accenting his broad shoulders and lean hips.

  Bandar’s return prompted the other three away from the table, but they’d yet to settle on the chairs surrounding Morgan’s desk. The scene suddenly felt threatening to Ashley with two large Rodytes flanking her, their gazes dark and penetrating. Even with contacts camouflaging the alien beauty of Bandar’s eyes, he emanated strength and command. She dragged her gaze away from Bandar and looked at Nazerel, dreading his explanation.

  “I can scan your memories for the location of the cabin then teleport you there.” Nazerel sounded so matter-of-fact it was hard not to believe him. “Then the engineer aboard the Crusader will use my signal as a destination and bio-stream Bandar to us.”

  “You can really use magic?” She wasn’t sure why the possibility bothered her. Bandar already told her Nazerel could do things other Rodytes couldn’t. Besides, everything Nazerel just described could be accomplished with Rodyte technology. Somehow advanced technology wasn’t as intimidating as the reality of magic. “Aren’t you Rodyte?”

  “Nazerel was born on Ontariese. He’s part of a society called the Shadow Assassins. They face similar challenges to the battle born, yet their situation is unique.” The formality in Bandar’s tone warned her to leave the subject alone. “Let’s stay focused on my mission. All right?”

  She offered her agreement with a single nod then turned back to Nazerel. “What do you have to do to ‘scan’ my memories?” The thought of anyone poking around inside her mind made her skin crawl. She had no reason to believe Nazerel would harm her, but she had very little reason to trust him either. She didn’t really know him, didn’t really know any of them when it came right down to it. But this was as close as she’d come to understanding the secrets that had shaped her father’s life, the secrets that had ultimately taken him from her. She wanted to know more, needed to delve deeper.

  “I won’t harm you.” Nazerel took a small step toward her, his expression earnest and open. “If you’re not comfortable with this approach, we’ll use conventional methods to locate the cabin. But without an address, it could take some time and Akim is nipping at our heels.”

  Morgan had pulled out her desk chair but she’d yet to sit down. Her hand rested lightly on the back and she looked utterly at home in the environment. “He’s good, Ashley. He’ll find what he needs and withdraw from your mind before you even realize he’s there.”

  Her stomach tensed and her instincts rebelled against the looming invasion. “I’m not sure that’s comforting.”

  Bandar sighed. “It’s obvious she doesn’t want this. Let’s go—”

  “I didn’t say I wouldn’t do it. Just give me a minute to adjust to the idea.” His easy capitulation had likely been a tactic, but she refused to look like a coward—again. She was stronger than her first impression had indicated and she was ready to prove it. “What do I need to do?”

  Nazerel moved closer, but his hands remained at his sides. The faint blue rings in his eyes brightened as he searched her gaze. “Picture the cabin, remember as much detail as you can. Smells, familiar sounds, anything unique to that setting.”

  Her mother’s name was Abigail and their family had been rich for generations. Robert, Abigail’s father, had vehemently opposed her romance with Daniel. The young lovers eloped, forcing Robert to accept the marriage or lose contact with his “precious baby girl”. Reluctantly, Robert agreed to give Daniel a chance to prove himself worthy of the prize he’d stolen like a thief in the night.

  Robert was an avid hunter and Daniel accompanied Robert on hunting trips in an effort to gain Robert’s approval. Daniel never even fired the rifle Robert insisted he carry, but Daniel enjoyed the peaceful solitude of the remote location. Even after Robert’s death, Daniel used the cabin as a sort of hideaway, a refuge from the stresses of his high-pressure world. Ashley spent many summers as an adolescent tromping around in the trees surrounding the cabin.

  She thought of those lazy summers, of the rare occasions when she’d had her father’s undivided attention
. They’d sit on the floor in front of the fire and eat simple meals with their bare hands, concepts that would have scandalized Ashley’s mother. She pictured the main room of the cabin, stripped logs and rustic furniture, the smell of burning wood, and her father’s laughter.

  “Very good,” Nazerel coached. “Now pull back. Show me the area surrounding the cabin. Are there any distinct peaks or rock formations?” A short pause followed as she complied and then, “Excellent. Now picture yourself in your father’s vehicle. Drive away from the cabin. Take me back to a paved road.”

  She’d been eleven or twelve the last time she’d been to the cabin, but she did her best to recreate the scene. The dirt road seemed to go on forever, winding up mountainsides and through endless valleys. Finally she reached the paved road, but she had no idea what it was called. Then a different image flickered to life within her mind. “Germantown. There was a diner in Germantown. It was a total dive, but the food was amazing. We always stopped there for brunch.”

  “And how long did it take you to reach the cabin once you left the diner.”

  “About an hour and a half.” She heard the familiar clicking of a computer keyboard and looked at Morgan, who was now seated at her desk.

  “There are three routes from Germantown to the heart of the Catskills but the fastest is NY-28,” Morgan informed.

  “Sundown,” Ashley blurted as another memory fragment surged to the surface. “There was a waterfall near a place called Sundown. That was maybe half an hour from the cabin.”

  The blue in Nazerel’s eyes intensified, shimmering with hypnotic light. “I’ve got it.” He smiled. “We always remember more than we realize.”

  He held out his hand and Ashley swallowed past the lump in her throat then placed her hand on his. Reality narrowed as his fingers closed around hers. He slowly drew her forward and wrapped his other arm around her waist. She braced for the sickening rush she’d felt when she’d been bio-streamed to the Bunker. The room blurred and her surroundings stretched, but the sensation was different, less forceful. Nazerel’s arm tightened, pulling her closer. She tried not to struggle, knew it was counterproductive to their safe arrival, but instincts were hard to control.

  “Easy.” His tone was gentle yet firm. “We’re almost there.” True to his word, they arrived a few seconds later. Her feet settled on something solid, but her head still spun for a moment. He shifted his hands to her arms and steadied her until the vertigo passed. “Better?”

  “Yes. Thank you.” His fingers released and she looked around, saddened by the condition of the cabin. Sheets had been draped over the furniture, but dust still covered every surface and the air was stale. “No one’s been up here since my father died. Mom keeps threatening to sell it, but she associates it with her father, not mine. So she can’t make herself let go.”

  Nazerel’s reply was interrupted by Bandar’s arrival. As he’d done in Ashley’s living room, Bandar flashed into existence without fanfare or warning. “Any luck?”

  Nazerel laughed. “We haven’t had time to look. Keyran’s crew is efficient. No surprise there.”

  “Who is Keyran?” The question was automatic. They continually tossed around names and terms unfamiliar to her.

  “Keyran Tarr commands the Crusader,” Bandar told her. “He’s a long-time friend and mentor.”

  “If he’s the commander, doesn’t that make him your boss?”

  “I arrived aboard the Crusader, but I’m a passenger, not part of the crew.”

  She looked at Nazerel and made a mocking face. “Simple military service is beneath Bandar Nox?”

  Rather than being amused, as she’d hoped, Nazerel jumped to his defense. “Of course not. Bandar is assigned to the Undaunted. He’s on special assignment from General Nox.”

  “A.K.A. General Big Brother Nox?” When both men continued to look annoyed, she gave up. “You two need to lighten up.”

  Without responding to her attempt at playfulness, the men resumed their conversation.

  “Do you need me to stick around?” Nazerel asked.

  Bandar shook his head. “The Crusader has a lock on me now and it’s doubtful my shadow knows about this place. We’ll be fine.”

  “Are you returning to the Bunker or heading back to the ship?”

  Ashley’s ears perked up at the possibility. Would she finally be able to see this mysterious spaceship? Was her shell-shocked mind ready for more of the fantastic?

  “Actually, Irron wants me to meet him at the Farm.” He paused and an electric current passed between the two men. She couldn’t actually feel it. It was more like she could sense it from their expressions and the odd hesitation in Bandar’s words, but they were definitely telling secrets. “Can you make sure Keyran’s engineer has the coordinates?”

  “Not a problem.” He nodded toward Ashley. “Until we meet again.” And then he flashed out of sight.

  A moment of tense silence passed before Ashley asked, “What’s the Farm and why does Irron want to meet you there? Irron’s the doctor who patched me up, right?”

  Bandar didn’t answer right away. In fact he hesitated so long, she was afraid he’d ignore the question. The stark body armor made him look lethal and his expression gave no clue to his thoughts. His eyes were so much more expressive without the stupid contacts. She wished he’d just take the damn things off.

  “Irron found some unexpected readings in your scans and wants to run more tests.” Before she could completely freak out, he closed the distance between them and rested his hands on her shoulders. His closeness accented his height and her relative fragility, making her ache in a way she couldn’t quite explain. “There’s nothing wrong with you.” Then why was the heat of his touch making her entire body tingle? “The regeneration was successful. He’s just curious about the anomalies. Scientists are like that.”

  “I know.” She smiled despite the tension gathering between her thighs. “I was raised by one.”

  “Good point.” His hands slid to her elbows, the caress almost unintentional. His gaze shifted to her mouth as it had when he’d sort of kissed her the night before. Was he remembering the brief caress, wishing he hadn’t stopped?

  No, that was her. She was the one eager for more than the gentle press of lips on lips.

  He sighed and stepped back. “Let’s see if we can find your father’s notes.”

  Desperately hoping her disappointment didn’t show, she nodded. There was a real possibility his hesitation was strategic. He teased her, touched her just often enough to keep her distracted and unsure. If he’d really intended to seduce her, he’d had the perfect opportunity last night. She’d been barely dressed and in his bed, and still he—remained gallant. Refused to take advantage of her emotions. How could she fault him for that?

  With a sigh of frustration, she shoved the quandary to the back of her mind and focused on the task at hand. It wouldn’t be much of a search. The backup drive was either here or it wasn’t and she knew where it would be if it was here. Rather than explaining that to Bandar, though, she simply led him to the spare bedroom. The room was small, the limited floor space gobbled up by the queen-size bed and large mirrored dresser. However, the simple-looking closet was actually a cluttered walk-in and a small safe had been secured to a shelf behind the door. The casual observer would open the door and see the expected collection of off-season clothing and storage boxes.

  After she pointed out the safe, Bandar crowded in beside her and closed the door. They were momentarily left in darkness, which amplified the awareness already crackling between them. He was doing it on purpose. She was certain of it now. He was using their attraction to keep her slightly off balance. Well, two could play at that game. If she came on to him and he backed off, she’d know it was all an act. If she kissed him and he responded, she’d know it was genuine chemistry, mutual chemistry.

  She reached past him and grabbed a flashlight on the shelf next to the safe. He placed his hands on her waist as if to steady her. Flipping
the flashlight on, she turned it sideways on the shelf and pointed it toward the opposite wall. She could see his face now, yet her hands were free. She touched his chest plate then slid her hands up to his shoulders. He was so damn tall she wasn’t going to be able to kiss him unless he bent down.

  “What are you doing?” Amusement and desire made his voice rough and low.

  “I was going to finish what you started last night, but I can’t reach your mouth.”

  His hands tightened on her waist and he lifted her off her feet, holding her in midair as if she weighed nothing. “You really want to start this now?”

  She ignored the obvious warning in his tone and wrapped her legs around his waist. “Just a taste,” she echoed his words from the night before, then covered his mouth with hers.

  That was as far as she got before he took over. One of his hands lightly fisted the back of her hair while the other cupped her butt. His lips contoured to hers, urging them apart as his tongue pushed inside her mouth. Excitement surged through Ashley and she greeted him with an eager swirl, sliding her tongue over and around his until she heard him groan.

  She clung to him with her arms and legs, but his armor was a frustrating barrier. She wanted skin sliding over skin as they rubbed against each other. At least his attraction was real. No one was that good an actor. Still, it wouldn’t take him long to figure out her deception or why she’d really kissed him. Dreading the inevitable storm, she savored the kiss for as long as it lasted.

  He kissed her for a little while longer than eased her back and peered into her eyes. “This is delightful, but why are you trying to distract me?” He moved both hands to her hips.

  “I don’t know what you mean.” She didn’t sound at all convincing, but she managed not to smile.

  Without setting her down, he looked around. His gaze landed on the safe and his hands tightened on her hips. “I thought you said your father secured his research with biometrics.” His voice growled, his obvious displeasure even more ominous because of their intimate position. “How is the system maintained if there’s no power to the cabin?” He pushed her away.