Confused by the contradiction, he ignored the impulse and remained polite. “The highlights should be sufficient.”
“Libby, my younger sister, and two of her roommates went to the concert together. Libby kept her ID and one credit card on her, but locked her purse in the trunk of the car. Approximately 9:40 p.m. Libby decided she needed something she keeps in her purse. If either of her roommates went with her, it left the other alone in the crowd, so they all went to the car together.”
She hesitated, clearly uncomfortable with what came next. “Go on.”
“Amber and Jodi, the roommates, were occupied with their phones, as always. Libby was partially obscured by the raised trunk when a large, muscular man with long dark hair walked up and grabbed her.”
Many of the battle born fit that description, but so did some humans. “This man acted alone?”
“No. He was with another man, similar in appearance and dress. But this is where things get really strange. Amber and Jodi screamed for help, and Jodi immediately called the police. Libby was fighting like crazy, making all sorts of noise, but her abductor seemed amused by her struggles.”
Tension gathered in the pit of Kaden’s stomach. What if the abductors had come off the Relentless? Fyran and his crew were craven beasts who treated females with complete disregard. They were battle born, but they were enemies of the rebellion. “How did they leave the scene?”
“That’s the strange part. The two abductors seemed to be toying with Libby when a second group of large muscular men appeared out of nowhere.”
“Do you mean that literally?”
“Yeah.” She dragged the fastener off her hair, reformed the ponytail, then replaced the fastener as she explained. “Both Amber and Jodi insist that the second group of men just blinked into existence. I figured they were focused on Libby and didn’t see the men approach, but then I saw Vox disappear right before my eyes. Zilor said it’s called bio-streaming.”
Rather than dwell on the detail, he encouraged her to continue. “What did the second group of men do?”
“They fought with the first, wrestled Libby away and then disappeared just as miraculously as they’d materialized.”
“What happened to the first group of men?” He was almost afraid to ask. Already it seemed likely battle born soldiers were involved.
“They ran off into the darkness.” Lexie sighed. “You can see why the police didn’t take Jodi and Amber seriously. They spoke to officers onsite and then at the station the following morning. They were smart enough not to mention what they thought happened and just stick to the facts.”
A certain catch in her voice made him ask, “What did they think happened?”
She quickly averted her gaze, as if she was embarrassed by her answer. “They thought it was aliens all along. And they’re going to be impossible when they find out they were right.”
“We don’t yet know that they are,” he pointed out.
Her head dipped and then she shifted her eyes back toward him. “Even without hearing the conspiracy theories, it was obvious the police thought they were on drugs or making it up to get attention.”
“Is that a possibility?”
She looked annoyed by the question. “Then what really happened to Libby? Unless Amber and Jodi are the best actors I’ve even seen, they honestly don’t know.”
“Good point.” He uncrossed his legs and scooted to the edge of his seat. “How does all this connect with Stargazer Ranch?”
“When the police gave Amber and Jodi the brush off, they called me.”
“Why? Are you in law enforcement?” She didn’t look like an enforcer. Her body was too rounded, too soft-looking for such a physically demanding occupation. He was in no way disappointed by her shape, but she didn’t appear strong enough to control uncooperative suspects.
“Libby’s my baby sister. I didn’t need any other reason.”
Her words rang true, yet secrets shimmered in her expressive eyes. She might not be an enforcer. Still, there was something she wasn’t telling him. “I apologize and I meant no insult.”
“I’m not insulted.” Her tone remained cold.
“Stargazer Ranch,” he prompted.
“Right. The only lead I had was the description of the men and the way they’d disappeared. So I had a friend who is in law enforcement search police reports for anything involving men with long dark hair, and/or people disappearing. She found two reports that fit the search criteria. Both were reporting events that took place at Stargazer Ranch.”
The reports weren’t surprising. Not only could the battle born bio-stream, but the ranch was owned by Tandori Tribe, a group of Rodyte refugees who had settled on Earth many years ago. And certain members of the tribe could teleport. Still, both Rachel Tandori and Garin needed to know about the reports. It was never good when the neighbors started calling enforcers.
“What would you have done if you had encountered her abductors?” Thinking of all the things that could have happened to her was agitating him. If men off the Relentless were involved in Libby’s abduction, she was in imminent danger. And so was Lexie.
She was definitely insulted now. Her chin came up and anger ignited in her gold-green eyes. “I’m not a complete idiot. I would have called the cops.”
“And yet you endangered yourself even more by sneaking aboard Zilor’s shuttle. You had no way of knowing he was an honorable man.”
As she heard his objection, color blossomed across her cheeks. “That was foolish, I admit. I saw the rings in his eyes and realized he was Rodyte. Following him was an impulse. I thought he might lead me to Libby. Besides, his ship seemed too small to leave the planet.”
“Rodyte technology is very different from human. I thought you’d seen General Nox’s messages.” She took a deep breath and he had to fight to keep his gaze on her face. This conversation would deteriorate quickly if she caught him gawking at her breasts.
“I’ve seen them, but I didn’t take them seriously until today.”
“And why is that?” Her attitude surprised him. How many on Earth shared her doubt?
“Anyone can claim to be anything on the internet. Lunar Nine isn’t visible from Earth. We had no tangible evidence that the general’s claims were true.”
“That’s not accurate. We allowed people in different parts of your world to see three of our ships. Was that not proof enough?”
“Maybe for the people who were actually there, but I wasn’t one of them.”
He considered her words for a long time before he spoke again. Was she more suspicious than the average human, or were the battle born in for more of a struggle than they were anticipating? The transformation project required the willing participation of human females. The project needed to locate the right females and locate them quickly. Raylon was progressing as if everyone on Earth had taken Garin at his word. If many, even most, had disregarded the messages, this could be a serious complication.
“You said the roommates believed General Nox.” He kept his tone light, not wanting her to realize how much hinged on her answer. If the messages were ineffective, they might need an entirely new strategy. “Have more humans reacted as they did, or have more dismissed the messages?”
She started to speak then shook her head. “It might be better if I show you.” Motioning toward the zippered bag near her feet, she asked, “Can I get something out of my backpack?”
“As long as it’s not a weapon.” He wasn’t really concerned, but it made her smile and that sent warmth cascading through his body.
After unzipping the backpack, she fumbled around for a moment then drew out a primitive datapad. “There are plenty of people who have packed up their RVs and gone off to find the aliens. Unfortunately, I’m not sure they’re the type of people you’re hoping to attract.” After locating the image file she wanted him to see, she handed him the datapad. “Just tap the arrow. It will start the video clips.”
He activated the file and watched as throngs
of people gathered in a field. They flashed signs and wore outlandish costumes. At least, he hoped they were costumes. The next segment showed a rooftop scene similar to the first. The crowd jumped up and down, yelling at the sky as if to project their—often obscene—invitations all the way to Lunar Nine. One boisterous female, lifted her shirt and shook her bare breasts at the camera.
“Charming,” he muttered as the image changed again. The final scene showed another field, this one cluttered with tents and mobile dwellings. “Why are all these people in the field?”
“That’s one of the sighting locations. They’re waiting for your ship to return.”
He cringed then handed her back the datapad. Perhaps Lexie could give them a clearer picture of what they were up against. She wanted the safe return of her sister and the battle born needed reliable information about human females. Maybe he could broker a deal that would allow both to get what they wanted. Of course, he needed to verify her identity and do a background search before he trusted her with any of their secrets. They still had to rescue Libby, so there was plenty of time for his investigation.
“There are very few females on Lunar Nine,” he began, watching carefully for her smallest reaction. “If anyone brought your sister here, someone would have seen something.”
“But,” there was a hopeful catch in her tone even though her expression didn’t change, “you know who took her?”
“More like I know someone who might know who took her.” Before the excitement in her eyes could expand too far, he added, “I’m willing to negotiate for the information.”
Chapter Two
“Negotiate?” Lexie tensed and scooted to the edge of her seat. She’d been just about ready to lower her emotional guard and confide in the handsome commander. If she were honest with him, she hoped he’d be more forthcoming with her. Then he’d shown his true colors. “You’re putting conditions on your assistance while my sister’s life is still in danger?” Her disgust came through in her sharp tone.
He had the audacity to smile. “That makes it sound so cavalier, which wasn’t my intention. I’m offering to help you find your sister, but I’m hoping you’ll help me in return.”
“And if I refuse?” This still smacked of ultimatum. She shoved her tablet back into her backpack and zipped it up.
“I’ll be disappointed.” His gaze focused on her face, the purple rings shimmering like polished amethysts.
“But will you still help me find Libby?” She returned his assessing stare, watching for reactions his expression didn’t reveal. He was a handsome devil. Not quite as picture perfect as Zilor, but striking. Kaden’s features were more rugged, more blatantly male. And Kaden’s steady gaze made her feel all hot and squirmy, while Zilor hadn’t really affected her at all.
“I’ll help you either way, but why would you refuse to help me? We’ve been nothing but nice to you.”
She wasn’t fooled by his light, conversational tone and pleasant manner. This was a dangerous man. “What do you need from me?”
“Information,” he told her, “nothing more.”
“What sort of information?” She couldn’t leave the outpost without his assistance, much less pursue Libby’s abductors. She wasn’t in a position to demand anything and he had to know it. This “negotiation” was for her benefit not his. He wanted her to feel like she still had some control over the situation.
“After we’ve rescued your sister, I’ll explain exactly what we’re trying to accomplish and how we intend to proceed. Then I want you to tell me where we’re going wrong, which strategies are likely to backfire and which should succeed.”
The proposition surprised her. He wanted a human consultant for this mysterious transformation program? Had the Rodytes really built Lunar Nine without knowing how humans would respond to the invasion? Talk about a lack of forethought. This was almost as bad as darting onto an alien shuttle without knowing where it was headed.
She smiled at the similarity, then asked, “There’s no one else who can offer a human perspective?”
“Several of my friends have recently bonded with human females, but that in itself compromises their objectivity. We need someone with no tie whatsoever to the battle born. Fortunately for us, you’re just such a person.”
Even if this was just politeness, he was playing right into her hand. The crisis surrounding Libby might have led her to Lunar Nine, but the tenacious reporter inside her intended to learn everything there was to know about the Rodytes while she was up here. And in exchange for giving her the story of a lifetime, Kaden would also help her find Libby. Lexie fought back a triumphant smile. She felt like she’d just won the lottery.
Despite the excitement surging inside her, she spoke in a calm, cool tone. “If you help me rescue my sister, I’ll give you my opinion about anything you want.”
“Excellent.” He stood and motioned toward the hatchway. “Shall we begin?”
She stood as well, but trepidation kept her feet from moving toward the exit. Her transition from stowaway to honored guest had been a little too easy. Life never worked that way, at least for her.
Kaden was up to something.
“Where are we going?” She sounded much too unsure for the image she was trying to project. A predator would exploit any weakness and Kaden might be all smiles and kindness right now, but he had the laser-focused eyes of a predator.
“To the Destroyer.”
He offered no other information, so she had little choice but to follow. He led her out of the shuttle, through the docking bay and along a nondescript corridor. She tried not to be disappointed, but the slightly rounded ceilings and textured decks were the only indication that they weren’t in some industrial building on Earth. Then they passed through a security checkpoint and emerged onto a steep gangplank. Reality expanded around her, leaving no doubt that she wasn’t in “Kansas” anymore.
Lexie sucked in a breath and allowed her gaze to sweep the entire area. A combination of stairs and ramps led to the top concourse, which in turn led toward the main entrance of Lunar Nine. The outpost nestled against the cavern’s walls, but the wide walkway felt as if it floated in midair. How would Kaden react if she pulled out her camera and started shooting pictures, or better yet, video? Forget that, she needed a camera crew or at least a professional photographer who had the equipment necessary to do this place justice.
But she wasn’t a journalist. She was a desperate relative looking for her baby sister.
“Ready?” Kaden reached toward her and she started to dodge his hand, but he was too fast. His fingers lightly brushed her hair and came away with a piece of leaf.
“Thanks,” she muttered as their gazes locked. Why did her heart flip over every time Kaden looked at her? He motioned her onward, curiosity clear in his expression. “Sorry. This place is overwhelming.”
He waited for her to precede him down the gangplank, but as soon as they hit the concourse he took the lead. Kaden’s long legs created a brisk pace. She swung the backpack onto her shoulder and hurried along at his side. “What’s on the Destroyer?”
“Milanni, the Rodyte female I suspect will have information regarding your sister.”
She looked at him then farther up to the ships they were passing. Each one was similar, though their sizes varied greatly. Some sort of wide-angle lens on the shuttle had allowed her to see the entire area at once. Without the encapsulation, she felt as if she were walking down an urban street with massive ship-shaped buildings.
“How long has Lunar Nine been up here?”
He glanced at her and the corners of his mouth curved up. The rings in his eyes weren’t glowing right now, which made the irises appear even darker, more mysterious. “The outpost was built in the 1970s, but it was abandoned a decade later. We recommissioned it for our rebellion.”
She perked up at the mention of the rebellion. “Can we start right there? What caused the rebellion? Why do you call yourselves battle born?”
His lips thi
nned and he stopped walking. “I thought you’d seen Garin’s messages.”
“Garin?” She smiled. “Do you refer to all of your commanding officers by their first names?”
“I’ve known the Nox brothers for years and consider them all close friends. But no, I don’t refer to all of my superior officers by their first names.”
Their gazes locked and heat crawled up her neck. What was it about this man that made her so restless? She’d interviewed good-looking men before, plenty of them, and they didn’t make her pulse pound. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to distract you. What did you ask?” She was babbling like a schoolgirl. What the hell was wrong with her? She was an experienced professional. Interviewing people was part of her job.
His gaze lingered and slowly lowered. Was he looking at her mouth? Her lips tingled in response, then he shook his head and started walking again.
Was he feeling it too, the strange hypnotic attraction? Oh shit, was that why he was being so accommodating? Did he want to breed with her? And why wasn’t she horrified by the possibility. Dismissing the tangent, for now, she hurried to catch up with him.
“Garin’s messages,” he prompted when she reached his side. “What do you remember from them?”
She glanced at his face then away. The odd urgency increased each time their eyes met, so she’d simply avoid his gaze. “As I said before, I didn’t take the messages seriously.”
“Tell me what you do remember and I’ll fill in the blanks,” he persisted.
“All right.” She adjusted the backpack farther up on her shoulder, then suddenly the weight lifted completely. She turned her head sharply, but didn’t object as Kaden relieved her of the burden.
“What do you have in this thing?” Amusement threaded through his deep voice. “It’s much heavier than it looks.”
“I wasn’t sure what I’d need, so I sort of brought everything.” Actually, she tried to be prepared for anything whenever she was on the job, but she wasn’t ready to explain that to her handsome host.
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