by Laurie Roma
“He’s never pleased with me.”
Tavius let out a dark chuckle. “Oh, but he could be. But you, my friend, are determined to keep that particular man on edge. I find human mating rituals amusing. You are obviously attracted to Dominic Stryker. I can smell it all over you every time you are near one another, and yet you fight it.”
Skylar began to protest, but let the lie die before it could be uttered. Damn these insufferable races with their enhanced senses of smell. She was going to have to learn how to control her body’s responses better...or better yet, just stay the hell away from Dom from now on.
Yeah, like that could happen.
Her wrist unit pinged with a text message from High Commander Spartan, telling her to report to his suite as soon as she landed. Apparently, Tavius had been right.
“Your winged friend was also irritated by your absence. He is far better at controlling his reactions, but I could see it.”
“My time off is my own,” Skylar all but snarled as she jerked her arm away from him. “I don’t answer to them. Or you.”
Tavius stopped and turned so he was facing her. All the casual ease he had been emanating was gone as his face took on an intensity that had her body bracing as if for a blow. She didn’t like how he cornered her against the wall without seeming to move, reminding her of the dangerous predator that lurked beneath the surface.
Her own defenses kicked into gear, and she had to force back the energy surge that began to build in her hands. He was annoying, but Tavius would never hurt her. It really wouldn’t be wise to shock one of the owners of New Vega while she was on board.
Not if she wanted to leave there in one piece.
Tavius took another step closer, then leaned down to whisper, “No, you don’t answer to me. But if you belonged to males such as me and my brothers, you could be damned sure we would not allow you to go off on your own without letting anyone know. I say this as a friend, Sky. Know what you risk by forcing your independence.”
Skylar bristled at his gall. How dare he fucking lecture her!
“You don’t know me, Tavius. Not really. Who the hell do you answer to? Just because I have tits doesn’t make me any less capable of thinking than you. It’s so like a man to belittle the freedom of having independence in that fucking condescending tone.”
Tavius’ lips quirked up in a slight smile. “But they are such nice tits.”
She growled at him, temper flaring. “Damn it—”
“Settle down, Sky. It is an unfortunate reality of our world that females and males are not the same.” He paused for a moment, then asked, “Is it so bad that people want to care for you?”
It was when the caring could smother her to the point she was no longer herself anymore.
His dark eyes searched hers and she swallowed down the bitter reply that wanted to spew out. Over the last few days, she had recognized that getting people to talk—even if they didn’t want to—was a specialty of his.
But she knew that game well.
As an interrogator, she was just as adept as he was. Hell, it was one of the reasons they got along so well. Still, there was something about him that made her think that giving him any more information about herself was a really bad idea. He wasn’t the type of male she wanted poking around in her head. Actually, she didn’t want anyone poking into her psyche.
It just ended up pissing her off.
No matter what he thought of her, it seemed that all men—regardless of their race—didn’t understand how it felt to be viewed as a potential possession to own.
“There is a difference between caring and trying to lock someone in a box, Tavius. Anyway, it doesn’t matter. I’m not planning on getting claimed any time soon, so this conversation is irrelevant.”
“Keep telling yourself that, Sky.” He took her arm again and continued to walk. “Come now. I will escort you to your commander’s suite. Oh, and Director Stryker and Ambassador V’Dir are now on their way to X7 to relieve the current commander of his post. You wouldn’t happen to know anything about that, would you?”
“No.”
He shot her a look that told her he didn’t believe her. “You will have to face them sooner or later, my friend.”
Later...much later would be her choice.
If she had one.
****
Skylar felt like she was walking to her own execution.
Her stomach was in knots by the time she reached High Commander Spartan’s suite. Once she was at the elevators she had parted ways with Tavius, not allowing him to escort her all the way as if she were some kind of criminal or something.
No, she’d go to her doom all on her own.
Although Skylar had no clue why High Commander Jax Spartan wanted to see her, she knew it couldn’t be good. It never was when she was called into his office for a private meeting. She knocked on the door and waited until the doors opened to allow her entrance to the suite.
“Skylar. Come on in.” Sullivan Archer said, smiling in greeting. He was a handsome man, with light-brown eyes and dark-blond hair that was longer than regulation allowed, but Archer had always been a little rebellious.
Before Skylar could say anything, Serra Spartan-Archer pushed Archer out of the way and took Skylar by the hand, pulling her into the suite that was almost twice the size of her own quarters. Serra and her two bonded had been given a new suite after they had been kidnapped from their room a week ago, and from a quick glance around, had obviously been given a pretty sweet upgrade.
“Hi, Sky! I didn’t know you were coming by.”
“How are you, Serra?” Skylar studied her friend’s face that showed no signs of stress from what they had endured.
“I’m recovering from our ordeal quite nicely,” Serra said with an impish grin. “Jax and Sully have been taking good care of me.”
“I’m sure they are,” Skylar said with a laugh. Serra was a beautiful woman with rich, brown hair and pretty light-green eyes that warmed with greeting. She was one of the most intelligent people in the world, and her genius status had kept her isolated for most of her life, but since she had been claimed by Jax and Archer she exuded an air of contentment and happiness. Skylar was pleased that her friend had found her true loves, although their love story had not been an easy one.
The living room of the suite was luxuriously appointed, filled with beautiful gold and cream decor and plush furniture. It wasn’t any surprise though, considering everything on New Vega was lavish and elegant. Archer pushed two large duffle bags on the floor out of the way with his foot so they could continue into the living room.
“Sorry for the mess. We were just packing. Our new vessel, the Stargazer, should be arriving in a few hours. When it docks, we’ll be moving over to our quarters onboard.”
Skylar nodded. “It won’t take me long to pack.”
Serra gestured for her to take a seat on one of the lounge chairs. “Why don’t you sit down? Relax. Can I get you something to drink?”
Skylar shook her head at Serra’s offer. “Sorry, Serra. I’m not here for a social call. I was told Jax wanted to see me.”
“He didn’t tell me about that.” Serra’s brows creased into a slight frown. “He’s been in a really awful mood all afternoon.”
“Shit.”
Archer laughed while he stroked a hand over his chosen’s hair. “Sweetheart, I don’t think that’s something Skylar wants to hear before she has her meeting with Jax.”
Distress clouded Serra’s pale-green eyes. “Sorry. I guess it isn’t. He’s probably not mad at you.”
Skylar groaned. “Serra, you aren’t helping.”
“Want me to come in with you?”
“Thanks, but no. I think I prefer to get my ass chewed out in private.”
“He’s in the conference room. First door to the left down that hall,” Archer said. “We’re here if you need to talk...after.”
Well, shit. That statement said it all.
Skylar’s nerves started
to hum as she realized the sympathy she saw on Archer’s face meant he knew what she had been called here for. It had been months since she had faced the wrath of Jax, and she’d been racking up enough strikes in the last few weeks that she was about due.
With a tingle of trepidation, Skylar nodded to Archer, then made her way down the hall to the conference room. She rapped sharply on the door and pressed the panel on the side of the entrance when she was told to enter.
Jax looked up from his data unit as she walked into the room. He sat at the conference room table, as much at home there as he would have been in his own office. High Commander Jax Spartan was the epitome of what an elite soldier aspired to be. Until recently, Jax was the commander of the Capital, the largest and most prosperous city on Earth, but he had recently been promoted to the position of High Commander. It was an ideal situation since he could now travel the stars with his chosen.
It was said that one look from Jax’s piercing gray eyes could freeze a person in place, but Skylar knew his legendary temper made most people avoid him at all costs when he was angry. Jax was a man that was feared throughout the universe, but Skylar had known him since she was a little girl, so he didn’t scare her.
Well, not much.
Skylar could tell by the dark expression on Jax’s face that he probably hadn’t forgiven her for the latest...mishap she had been involved in that afternoon. The truth was that Skylar would have been more than happy to steer clear of Jax for the remainder of her time away from Earth, but that just wasn’t possible.
Suck it up, Elite.
“Reporting for duty as ordered, sir.” Skylar saluted the high commander by holding her fist to her chest, right over her heart.
Jax nodded in response then gestured to a chair on the other side of the table. “Sit down, Officer Aris.” He studied her for a moment in silence as she did so, then said, “First, I wanted to let you know that a new commander and two generals are on their way to X7 as we speak. Dom and Arik are supervising things there until the replacements arrive later this evening. The Stargazer should be here in a few hours, so we’ll be moving as soon as it docks.”
“Commander Archer informed me,” Skylar confirmed. “I’ll go pack as soon as we are done here.”
“Good. The Stargazer will be our base of operations until further notice, since it will allow us to travel wherever this mission takes us. We’ll pick Dom and Arik up tonight, and hold our briefing first thing tomorrow morning. In the interim, there is something I believe we need to discuss.”
“Sir, about today—”
Jax raised a hand, cutting Skylar off mid-sentence.
“Today wasn’t your fault, Sky,” he said with a sigh. By using her first name he dropped the formality of the meeting, switching it to a more personal level that left her feeling more at ease. “I’m aware that these incidents are rarely your fault, but we still have to deal with the aftermath. That is part of why we are having this meeting, but the main reason is there is some cause for concern about your participation in this upcoming mission.”
Skylar bristled with indignation at that. “Sir, my record stands—”
“Drop the damn sirs, would you?” Jax snapped out. “Yes, your record stands, Sky. But the Council of Regents have every right to question your involvement when this mission will most likely take us to Tartarus. Hold on, a few of the council members have requested to speak with you directly.”
As Jax sent the call through, Skylar took a few deep breaths to level out her emotions. Unlike other elite females, Skylar hadn’t been tested when she turned ten. Stars, she hadn’t even been born on Earth, but on the hostile planet called Tartarus.
No, not born.
She had been forged there.
Known as the Dark Planet, Tartarus sat at the edge of Alliance regulated space. It was a world that had frequent electrical storms and was home to volatile inhabitants known as the Lords of War. The Tarins were a barbaric, demon-like race that fed off the energy of others. They lived off the blood-lust they got when in battle, or the energy and strength they received during sexual release.
These energy vampires existed under a feudal system. Centuries ago, the Tarins had gone to war with Earth, but their swords were no match for humans and their more advanced weaponry. For years after the war, the Tarins had closed off their planet, choosing to remain isolated instead of allowing interference from other species. Now, the Tarins held a tentative truce with the Alliance, although they were still considered a hostile ally. The Alliance traded with the Tarins for a mineral they had on their planet that was used for high-powered jump drives installed in Alliance space vessels.
Because the Tarins were still fighting a civil war, all visitors were carefully documented. There was only one Alliance colony on Tartarus, nicknamed the Hades Outpost, and it was almost impossible to get clearance to visit the planet. There was a faction of lords who prided themselves on their harems of slaves, while the other half fought for the equality needed to officially have a treaty with the Alliance.
It was at the Hades Outpost where Skylar’s life had truly begun.
“Regent Newgate. Regent Spartan.”
Jax’s voice brought Skylar back to the moment, and she turned her head to look at the large viewing screen on the wall. The faces of two men stared back at her, both of them wearing the black uniforms with red sleeves that declared them members of the Council of Regents.
“Jax. Officer Aris.” Regent Ian Spartan’s face was so much like his son’s, it was like seeing a glimpse of what Jax would look like in the future. “Skylar, we’re sorry to have to speak with you about this, but we feel it’s necessary.”
This time, the use of her name made her guard go up. Yes, she knew Regent Spartan on a personal level, but he had never used that fatherly tone with her when dealing with Alliance business before. It didn’t bode well for her.
“As Jax will inform everyone during the mission briefing tomorrow, we have a new lead to aid you with your current mission, but we won’t waste time with that right now. What we need to speak with you about is the potential issues the council brought up regarding your involvement in this case.” He shot a glance at Regent Roman Newgate that had the other man shifting uncomfortably in his seat.
“Listen,” Regent Roman Newgate began. “I’ve only been a damn council member for what, a week now? Obviously, I’m still learning, and this isn’t something I’m used to doing.”
“What exactly do you mean by that, sir?” Skylar asked carefully.
Regent Newgate blew out a breath. “We’ve seen the reports about your...extraction from Tartarus when you were young. The Alliance’s relations with the Tarins are sketchy at best right now, and some of the council members are worried that having you involved in this will damage the relationship we have cultivated with that planet.”
Skylar blinked in surprise. Talk about a what the fuck moment. So, she was going to be the downfall of an entire treaty?
No pressure or anything.
As the surprise faded, anger began to surface. “Respectfully, sirs. I don’t understand why something that happened years ago would affect my ability to be a part of this investigation.”
Regent Newgate heaved out a sigh. “Officer Aris, you are half Tarin. No matter how much you try to ignore the past, it’s going to come into play when your mission takes you to Tartarus.”
“I don’t remember,” Skylar said, struggling to keep her voice calm. Her heart was pounding in her chest so loud it sounded like drum beats in her ears. “I did the testing...did all the council required of me when I went through training to become an elite. I can’t remember where I came from. As far as I’m concerned, I'm human. I choose to be human.”
Skylar had very few memories of her life before she had turned twelve. She had been told she’d arrived at the gates of the Hades Outpost on Tartarus, discovered in the back of a supply wagon, battered and bleeding. It had been determined that she was a half human, half Tarin hybrid child that had escap
ed from whatever hell she’d come from, and the commander of the Hades Outpost had immediately granted her sanctuary.
She didn’t remember her past, and she didn’t want to.
“Skylar,” Regent Spartan said, his voice soft with sympathy. “I know you don’t remember, but it doesn’t change the facts. Your mixed bloodline is what has given you your abilities and made you a Class-A Conduit. It’s those abilities that concern us now. Conduits are powerful and very rare, so most of the information on them have been kept classified, but we know that they can become...unstable if not properly regulated.”
“Regulated? Sir, I—”
“The last two men you put down are still in the medical unit, Skylar.”
Skylar opened her mouth, then closed it. She didn’t know what to say to that, hadn’t known she had injured the men so badly. She’d just given them a little shock, just enough to make them leave her the hell alone like as she’d always done.
“Which is why the council has classified you a liability,” Regent Newgate continued. “Because of that, a vote was held. You are to choose a bonding pair, or this will be your last assignment as an elite.”
***
Chapter Three
The silence in the room was deafening.
Skylar felt as if the walls were closing in around her. There was a pressure on her chest that made it difficult to breathe. Everything she was, everything she had worked for was being taken away from her...because the council wanted her on a leash?
“I don’t think I heard you right,” Skylar said slowly. “You’re saying the council voted to rescind my exempt status?”
“No,” Regent Newgate said with the shake of his head. “We are still allowing you to choose your own bonding partners.”
Well, isn’t that big of them...
“I don’t see why—”
“Sex, Skylar,” Regent Spartan burst out, looking extremely uncomfortable. “Even though you try to deny your Tarin half, you know that you need to control your energy levels through...you know.”
