The Cyborg's Lady: A sci-fi romance novella (Prequel to Keepers of Xereill)

by Alix Nichols

  When the sign above the bar’s entrance came into view, she stepped behind a tree and looked around to make sure no one saw her transformation. Then she visualized a jerriya and walked her mind through every detail of the trader’s distinct appearance from head to toe.

  A moment later, she looked like one.

  Sashaying around the thick trunk to get into the groove, she realized she was picking up Keiron’s aura.

  What the hell?

  If her mind was playing tricks on her, it had chosen a bad time. Linni peered in every direction. It had to be a trick because the aura-reader in her brain told her Keiron was less than thirty feet away. Except she had an unobstructed view in every direction—and she couldn’t see him.

  On impulse, she looked up. There he was, circling above roofs and trees, watching her.

  She put one hand on her hip and beckoned him with two fingers on the other.

  He bore down and landed in a crouched position with surprising grace for someone so brawny.

  She cocked her head. “You were following me.”

  “I’m sorry,” he said.

  He didn’t look sorry—he looked thrilled.

  She pointed to the bar. “I must go in now. Please don’t follow me inside.”

  “If that’s your wish…” he trailed, his excitement dampening.

  “If you take the same route back,”—she glanced up—“you can still enjoy the full meal. The menu looked delicious.”

  He let out a sigh. “I’d rather grab a bread roll from a street vendor than endure another minute of Zuzeh telling me about her ah-may-zing beach holiday last year, and the one before, and the one three years ago…”

  “You can’t blame a girl for trying,” Linni said in a surge of female solidarity.

  It was easy to feel sympathy for an unsuccessful rival.

  Wait—what? A rival?

  “Fair enough.” Keiron gave her a crooked smile. “But can you blame a man for preferring someone else?”

  She humphed, doing her best not to show how pleased she was with his comeback.

  “A shifter, huh?” he surveyed her. “So, which one is your true self—an investigator from Ittroise or a Sovyda jerriya?”

  Linni raised her eyebrows. “You know about jerriyas?”

  Then again, she shouldn’t be surprised. What with being the galaxy’s top enforcer, it was Keiron’s job to know about everyone involved in criminal or sketchy activities.

  “They’re legend.” He shrugged. “A female-only trader community, all from the same region in the south of Sovyda’s Windy Continent. They deal in gems, rare metals and minerals, rare objects, rare species, machines and androids, walking a thin line between the legal and the banned. Oh, and they make it a point to look flamboyant—like you now.”

  “I’m impressed.”

  “So.” He peered at her. “Which one is your primary shape?”

  She tried to dodge. “I’m not doing anything illegal, and even if I were, you can’t arrest me. You’re on vacation.”

  “No one’s arresting anyone—I’m just curious.” He quirked an eyebrow. “You want me to get out of your hair, don’t you? Then humor me.”

  Right. Linni had a job to do. If satisfying Keiron’s curiosity would result in him letting her complete her task, then so be it. They were on the same side after all.

  “I’m not the kind of shifter you have in mind,” she said. “Not the kind that switches between two physical forms.”

  He bunched his brows. “What kind are you then?”

  “The smoke and mirrors kind.”

  And then she burst out laughing when Keiron’s jaw dropped at the sight of a bushy white beard she sprouted before his eyes.

  Chapter Five

  Keiron stared at Linni’s lengthening beard, round-eyed and too flabbergasted to say anything.

  She laughed a silvery, happy laugh, and then, poof—her beard was gone, and she looked like a jerriya again.

  “I’ve never met a rich-blood with that kind of gift,” he said.

  She took a step toward him. “That’s because it’s rare. But not unheard of.”

  “All right, I’ll take your word for it.” He peered at her face covered in raised tattoos. “But you still haven’t told me which one is the real you. Unless it’s neither.”

  She laughed again, flashing diamond-studded golden teeth—another one of jerriyas’ many ostentations.

  And then, without warning, she grabbed his hand and touched it to her cheek. Her skin felt very different from what it looked like. It was soft and satiny smooth, exactly the way he’d imagined her skin would feel. With his hand on her cheek, he inhaled her scent—fresh and uniquely attractive—behind the heavy perfume she must’ve dowsed herself with.

  Slowly, Keiron traced her jawline and chin. Lifting his other hand, he touched her forehead, nose, eyebrows, and eyelids. Where his eyes saw triple-layered lashes, his fingertips found only one. The black nose ring was an illusion, too, and so were the multiple eyebrow piercings.

  Linni stood still and let him explore.

  Encouraged by her permissiveness, he plunged his left hand into what appeared to be an elaborate jerriya updo—and found unbound tresses.

  Was he imagining things, or did her eyes hood for a moment when he pressed his palm against the back of her head?

  He walked both of them behind the tree and ran the pad of his thumb over the contours of her mouth—that delicious, full, infinitely desirable mouth he’d been itching to kiss ever since he laid eyes on her.

  Her eyelids fluttered shut and her lips parted.

  Goddess help me. He bent down, angling his head.

  Instead of pulling away, she lifted her face to him. Keiron pulled her forward until their lips met. When his lips brushed hers, Linni smoothed her hands on his chest and… melted into him. Keiron had no other word to describe the deliciously sexy way in which she abandoned herself to their kiss.

  Enclosing her lips with his, he nibbled, teased, and sucked them. Her hands gripped his neck. Unable to resist any longer, he slipped his tongue into her mouth. Linni gasped, and her breathing quickened as her chest rose and fell against his. With his blood coursing hot and thick through his body, Keiron let his hands explore Linni’s exquisite shape while his tongue stroked hers.

  When she slid a hand down his back and placed it on his ass and squeezed, he almost gave in to the urge to press his erection to her belly. But they were in public, and Keiron wasn’t a demonstrative kind of guy.

  Tonight, he promised himself.

  Lifting his mouth, he murmured, “Show me your face, just for a moment.”

  Mesmerized, he watched the jerriya features fade and Linni’s reappear. Smiling contentedly, he took in her flushed cheeks and swollen lips. Then he backed away from her, putting a few inches between them.

  When she opened her eyes, they were dazed and bright.

  A smile touched her lips. “That was nice.”

  How about I show you epic?

  “Do you absolutely have to go in?” He glanced at the bar entrance. “I can think of better things we could do with the next couple of hours.”

  “I’m afraid I have to,” she said, regret touching her eyes. “And I’m afraid we won’t be doing other things tonight or any other night.”

  His gaze bore into hers. “You must have a damn good reason to forego what you manifestly want.”

  She looked at her feet.

  Groaning with frustration and a desire that wouldn’t go away, Keiron dropped his forehead to Linni’s and cupped her cheek with his hand.

  That was when the inside of his wrist began to glow.

  Drawing away, she grabbed his hand and inspected it. “What is this?”

  “Nothing—just a bionic gadget,” he said, his tone dismissive.

  It was quite embarrassing, actually.

  “What sort of gadget?”

  “Do you really want to know?”

  She nodded. “You’re not the only curious one h
ere, Colonel Yaggar.”

  “Fine.” He trained his eyes on his wrist. “It’s a little subcutaneous implant that some parents on Drecer choose to give their babies. I was born with it.”

  “Go on.”

  “I wouldn’t have opted for it, but since I had it, I kept it…” He flicked a glance at her. “Couldn’t be bothered with having it removed.”

  “Uh-huh.” There was suppressed laughter in her voice. The minx was enjoying his distress.

  He rubbed his neck. “In fact, I was convinced the thing was faulty. I really thought it didn’t work anymore—”

  “Yes, but what is it?” Amusement shone in her eyes. “Whatever it’s called, I promise I won’t tease you about it.”

  He forced himself to look at her. “It’s called OPS, optimum partner sensor.”

  Linni pursed her twitching lips, visibly struggling not to giggle.

  “Bionics on my planet use it to ensure perfect genetic compatibility,” he said.

  She lifted his hand to her face and inspected the glowing area more closely. “Was it our kiss that triggered it?”

  “Yes. It lights up when its carrier exchanges body fluids with his or her perfect match.” He hesitated before admitting. “This is the first time my OPS turned on.”

  “Well, optimum doesn’t mean ‘one and only,’ right?”

  “Right.”

  “Or else it would be called something ridiculous like ‘soul mate seeker.’ ” She beamed, looking exceedingly entertained.

  “I’m glad you’re having fun.”

  She let go of his hand. “That was unkind of me.”

  “No worries. I’ll get over it.” He stared at her, an unspoken question in his eyes.

  Smiling tightly, she nodded to the bar. “I really have to go in now.”

  “I’ll be on my way then.” He bowed his head and prepared to take off.

  “Wait!”

  Keiron turned around.

  Linni was chewing on her lower lip. “If you really dread Zuzeh’s conversation as much as you say you do, I could use your help.”

  “Oh?”

  “According to my research, local police sometimes raid this bar, hoping to catch a jerriya in possession of something illegal.” She fidgeted with her watch. “I wouldn’t like to be caught.”

  Keiron tilted his head to the side, enjoying the role reversal more than he cared to admit. “If you get caught, you can just shift into your real self and explain to the officers what you were doing there.”

  “I can, obviously… it’s just… I’d rather not find myself in that situation.”

  “Why not?”

  He fully intended to stay and give her a hand, but it was fun teasing her… the way she’d teased him about his OPS a few minutes earlier.

  “Do you think the local authorities will be pleased to learn that a bigger planet’s government had an appearance-shifting investigator snooping on Sovyda?” Linni pulled a face. “And if word gets out I was asking about the next rare species auction, its organizers will certainly change the date and place.”

  “How do I know you actually are an investigator, and not an impostor?”

  She shrugged. “Do you want to check my biometric ID?”

  “No,” he said. “I’m on vacation. I don’t feel like checking anyone’s IDs.”

  She smiled. “That’s a good reason.”

  Except, that wasn’t the only one. If it turned out Linni was an impostor, Keiron preferred not to know.

  “I’ll help you,” he said. “What exactly do you want me to do?”

  “Just stay here while I’m inside, and ping me if a suspicious group walks in.”

  He pulled out his commlet, and she keyed in her number.

  “Ping me every ten minutes,” he said, “I won’t pick up, and you don’t need to say anything, but I’ll know everything’s fine.”

  “Yes, sir!” She gave him a mock salute and shoved her commlet into her purse. “I might be out in less than ten minutes, mind you, if I don’t find any jerriyas inside.”

  With a playful wink, she went toward the bar.

  When she walked through the door, Keiron’s enhanced hearing allowed him to make out one of the bouncer’s words, “The private jerriya party is in room five on the right, my dame.”

  “Thank you,” Linni said sweetly, and marched on in.

  Chapter Six

  What a woman! Keiron kept thinking while he scanned the street, waiting for Linni to come out of the bar.

  He’d never met anyone like her.

  To say he was intrigued would be an understatement. To say he had no idea how far he’d go for another kiss would be the truth. Would he follow her again? Would he knock on the door to her cabin tonight when they returned to the spaceship? Would he break the law or hurt people to rescue Linni if her jerriya stunt got her in trouble?

  There was a distinct and shocking possibility that he—Colonel Keiron Yaggar, head of the LOR Enforcers—just might. Almost more shocking was how much he trusted her, a virtual stranger. He’d refused to look at her ID. Right now, he was choosing not to ping Unie or any of the other enforcers to have them run a background check on all the investigators working for the Ittroise government, to see if there was a Linni among them. And to check if that Linni matched the woman he was falling—no, scratch that, plummeting—for.

  Forty minutes and three pings from Linni later, she emerged from the bar, looking unscathed and awfully pleased with herself.

  “So?” he asked as they headed to the restaurant.

  “I made friends”—she grinned, her jerriya teeth glittering in the dusk—“and got the intel I wanted.”

  “What happens next?”

  “I’ll inform the Anti-Trafficking Department, and they’ll tip off Tastassi’s new governor, Polit Horbell, so his wildlife and police agencies can prepare a strike.” She glanced at him. “Who knows, they might even ask for your help via LOR.”

  “I wouldn’t be surprised,” Keiron said. “Tastassi’s ambassador to LOR has been complaining a lot lately about the damage foreign traffickers are doing to his planet’s wildlife.”

  Linni rolled her eyes. “Foreign and local. The poachers are all local.”

  “Well, now they’ll have a chance to clean house.”

  Keiron slowed his pace, realizing they were almost at the restaurant. Once they went in, Linni might choose to mingle with others in the group as she’d done since the beginning of the tour.

  “When exactly is the auction happening?” he asked.

  “In a month.”

  “What’s the venue?”

  “An abandoned textile factory in Muls, a northern suburb of Palm City.”

  “Palm City, huh?” He halted and stared at her tattooed face. “That’s Tastassi’s capital, and we’re scheduled to visit it tomorrow after the wildlife reserve.”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “Please don’t tell me you plan to sneak out again to check out the auction venue in Muls.”

  She scratched her head. “Checking out the factory at this point might not be very useful, but…”

  “But what?”

  “I’m not on vacation, except the night on Upere 2.” She shrugged. “My ticket was paid for by my employer, so I must work on Tastassi.”

  “Doing what?”

  “Investigating, Colonel.” She gave him a duh look. “Do you mind blocking me from the street for a second?”

  He started at her sudden request.

  She batted her triple eyelashes. “I wouldn’t want a passerby to chance upon me shifting. It can be a harrowing sight.”

  He turned his back to her and folded his arms across his chest.

  A moment later, she touched his shoulder. “Done.”

  When he turned back, she was Linni again. And he was dying to kiss her again.

  “The dinner must be almost over by now,” he said. “How about we wait for them outside?”

  She touched her belly. “I’m hungry.”

  He
pointed his chin to the street vendor selling rolls and drinks.

  She peered at the vendor’s booth, then at Keiron, and then at the restaurant.

  He braced himself for a no.

  “We don’t know if street food is safe here,” she said.

  “No, but we will.” He touched the tip of his nose. “I have a nanosensor that analyzes smell molecules and sends a signal to my brain if the food is bad.”

  “Another bionic gadget?”

  “Yes.”

  With a nod, she headed toward the vendor.

  Thank you. Keiron touched the ouroboros around his neck and glanced skyward before catching up with her.

  “What other implants do you have, Colonel?” Linni asked after they bit into the rolls his sensor had deemed safe. “There are hardly any bionics on Ittroise, since most people have at least one gift, and no one wants to lose it to become a cyborg.”

  “It’s the other way around on Drecer—hardly any gifts, lots of cyborgs.” He smirked. “The Ra-human settlers who terraformed my planet must’ve been a lot more human than Ra.”

  She held her roll up. “Surprisingly good.”

  “Everything tastes good when you’re famished.”

  “True.” She took another bite. “So, your powers.”

  “We call them enhancements.”

  “Right.”

  “The wings, obviously.” He began counting on his fingers. “Larger size, stronger bones and muscles, including the heart; better vision, hearing, and smell.” He smiled. “Including the food safety sensor.”

  “What else?”

  “Faster reflexes and a translator chip so I can understand dialects on remote planets that have diverged too much from the standard Ra language.”

  She frowned. “Wait a second—I thought only hive cyborgs interfered with their brains. Xereill law prohibits neural enhancements to the brain.”

  “That’s correct. My translator is a noninvasive BMI device. It’s implanted outside of my brain.”

  “BMI…” She held her hand up. “Wait, don’t tell me! I know what it stands for… brain–machine interface!”

  He nodded.

  “Do you self-heal?” she asked.