“Not in your time.”
He froze. “Why did you only bring one dose?”
“Rogan insisted. He said discovery of the antidote too early would skew the timeline beyond repair.”
“No, Mairi. You take it.” The wealth of pain in his voice nearly crushed her. Years of training, of living by a strict code of honor, kept her sane. She was killing both of them with her decision. The choice hurt more than she’d ever dared imagine. But that didn’t mean it wasn’t right.
She shook her head. “If we die, the world goes on. What will happen if he dies?”
She watched a myriad of emotions flash behind his eyes, until he closed them on resignation.
“Raiden, if he dies the council will fail to convict the false king. You’ll go back to prison, or worse. Both the imposter and Apolo will walk free. The Fire Beasts will revolt. All will be as it was before I arrived. War. Death. The Triscani waiting in the wings.”
She wanted to scream, to cry, to explode with rage, but she didn’t deserve the release. She was condemning them both to death. “God, I’m sorry Raiden. I never should’ve touched you. You don’t deserve to die with me. I’m sorry.”
“I’m not.” He crushed her lips in a punishing kiss, then took the antidote to the king. Raiden didn’t tell him that there was only one dose, and Mairi loved him all the more for it.
Returning to her side, he lifted her into his arms, cradled her like she was the most precious thing in the world when she deserved to rot for the fate she’d dealt both of them.
“Where are we going?” She didn’t really care, as long as he was holding her. The strong, steady beat of his heart beneath her ear finally released the flood of tears she’d held back. His arms tightened around her as the first shudders of sorrow wracked her body.
“Back to our room at the palace.” He lowered his head to kiss away a tear from the corner of her eye. “Don’t cry for me, my love. When I left on this mission, I knew I might not make it back. We saved them all, Mairi. We saved them all.
“If we die, it’s a small price to pay. I don’t regret a single moment I spent with you, would gladly trade my life for the time we’ve had together. We’ve got at least one spin before the poison sets in. And I intend to make love to you every minute we’ve got left.”
Chapter Ten
Raiden held her until they reached their rooms. They clung to each other in silence as he opened the door to the last room they’d ever see. Their sanctuary.
Heart in her throat, Mairi preceded him into the room and froze. A lovely young woman sat waiting for them. Perhaps two years younger than Mairi, she wore a formfitting white suit similar to the one the Dark Walker had worn in the street. Short and spiky, her brown hair framed a heart-shaped face and huge brown eyes. Sad eyes. Eyes that had seen too much.
Raiden closed the door softly behind them, then slid an arm around Mairi’s waist. They were waiting for the young woman to speak when Mairi noticed the small doll tucked under the young woman’s arm.
“Jena?” Mairi took an involuntary step forward and opened her arms to the poor lost little two-year-old girl Farra had spoken of with such love.
That girl was gone. In her place stood a woman who’d suffered too much to accept comfort from a stranger.
“Yes. I am Jena. And I brought this for you.” She opened her palm to reveal another yellow pill, another dose of the antidote.
Mairi’s heart stuttered with hope. “Thank you. But how? The Archivers...”
“Rules! You think I give a damn about their rules?” Fire in her eyes, Jena slammed the pill down on the table and turned to stare out the window. “They broke every rule. Forced me to play a game I never wanted to be a part of.” The look in Jena’s eyes when she turned back to face them sent a chill down Mairi’s spine. “Rogan condemned me. Now both my parents are dead. That bitch broke the rules coming here, darting you, so I can break a few rules to save you. I’m finally free. Nothing and no one can stop me. Now they’ll all have to live with the monster they’ve created.”
Jena picked the pill up from off the table and headed straight for Mairi. “You gave my mother a reason to live. I would save you for that alone.” Exactly as Mairi had done to Raiden earlier, Jena laid the pill in her palm and closed her fingers around it.
Mairi had a strong urge to pull Jena into her arms, stroke her hair and promise that everything was going to be all right. But perhaps it wasn’t. Mairi knew any overture would be unwelcome. “You aren’t a monster, Jena. Your mother loved you very much.”
“I know.” Jena gripped the tiny doll to her chest.
If Jena was breaking rules, why didn’t she go back a little farther? Save her mother’s life?
The question must’ve shone in her eyes because Jena answered it.
“There are rules that even I cannot break, Mairi.” Jena blinked, and the pain Mairi saw swirling in the depths of her eyes was gone. “The others will follow me if I stay any longer. I must go now. Take care of her, Raiden. Betray her, and you’ll suffer.”
Farra’s haunted eyes came to mind, and Mairi had no doubt that Jena meant every word.
Raiden’s eyes were filled with compassion, not fear, at the threat. “I love her. You don’t need to worry about Mairi. And thank you, Jena. You’re saving both of us.”
“Love isn’t always enough.” Jena waved her hand and a swirling portal of white energy grew behind her.
“Wait!” Mairi slipped Farra’s necklace over her head and offered the delicate golden chain to Jena. The Shen sparkled with a life of its own where it dangled between them. “Your mother made this for you so that you would remember, no matter what else they try to make you, you’re still a Timewalker.”
Jena’s hand shook as she took the necklace and slipped the chain over her head. “Goodbye, Mairi.”
Then she was gone.
Mairi turned around and threw herself in Raiden’s arms. They’d been granted a stay of execution by a young tortured girl. But they would live.
Trembling so badly that Raiden’s arms were all that kept her from collapsing, she clung to him, absorbed his scent into her pores, and his love into her soul. “I love you, Raiden.”
“Marry me, Mairi. Come home with me. Laugh with me. Let me take care of you.” Raiden framed her face with his palms and lowered his mouth to hers.
“Yes.” She whispered against his lips. Joy filled her to bursting and she crushed him to her. She wanted all that and more.
Michele Chambers
My first “novel” was begun at the age of eleven. I was hooked on writing…for about five minutes. I amused myself by reading, on average, one book every day, and with writing absolutely terrible, angst-filled poetry through my school years. (Gag. Ack!) After graduation, I went off to college to become a computer programmer. (Go figure. I still can't explain that twisted logic!) After my first insanely boring programming class, I went pre-med instead. Four years later, completely burned out on schooling I knew that I needed to head in a new direction. At the ripe old age of twenty-one, while trying to decide what to be when I grew up, I had a dream. This dream supplied the kernel of an idea that turned my passion for reading into an obsession with writing. I haven't stopped writing since.
Wimpy protagonists make me crazy! Strong characters that face impossible challenges are my passion. So, my heroines are strong, sassy, kick-ass women who always end up dealing with a paranormal plot twist. If you knew my family history, this wouldn't surprise you. But that is another story…
Visit Michele on the Web at http://www.michelechambers.com/ or email her at [email protected].
* * * * *
Read on for a tantalizing glimpse of
Virtual Murder
by Jennifer Macaire
Available Now from Loose Id
Virtual Murder
The air was torrid. It was noon, and the sun blazed overhead. Rhonda's head nodded and she dozed off; the heat pounding through the canvas roof of the jeep sapped h
er energy.
She woke with a jerk to the feel of sweat trickling down her neck, between her breasts, and tickling her skin. She plucked at her shirt, lifting her heavy hair off her neck and sighing in relief as the breeze touched her damp skin. In her virtual body, she felt as if her senses were magnified. Everything seemed brighter and stronger. She blinked and shook her head.
"It'll be cooler by the sea." Arthur nodded towards the blue expanse of water visible between two tall mountaintops. "We'll be there in half an hour."
All at once, no matter how she tried, she couldn't stay awake. She felt her eyelids getting heavy, and although she tried to speak, she couldn't. In an instant, Rhonda fell asleep and her mind slipped away. A minute later, her eyes reopened. She blinked and focused on the man next to her.
His voice was deep and warm, and when he spoke, she had the impression they were alone together. She stole a glance at the man sitting so close to her. She could feel his hand brushing her thigh when he shifted gears, and she wondered if he was doing it on purpose.
He was looking at her from the corner of his eye. She smiled to herself. The body she'd chosen was so ripe, so voluptuous, it was like a heavy fruit just begging to be picked. Her fingers trailed sensually down her chest, tracing the unfamiliar line of bony collarbone and the swell of exquisitely soft breasts. Her breathing quickened. It must be the heat that made her respond like this. It was overwhelming. The air was so hot she could feel it as a constant caress.
She looked at the man again and noticed he was sweating. A bead of perspiration trickled down his temple, over his cheek, down his neck to disappear into his shirt. She wanted to lick it away. Could the feeling growing in her body be love? It felt as if her blood were getting thicker, as if her limbs were too heavy for her. She wanted to lie down, stretch her arms above her head, arch her back, and spread her thighs wide open. A sharp pang in her belly made her moan softly. Was that love? She had never felt as completely real as in this virtual body. She felt her whole attention concentrated on one person, as if her personality suddenly distilled, and the drop of her that was left absorbed into the man right next to her.
Her eyes slid once more in his direction. He was beautiful. His wavy chestnut hair was tousled from the wind, and his bright, hazel eyes were nearly the color of amber. He had a deep, even tan on his muscular arms, and his lashes were very long. She yearned to feel those arms around her and have his lashes tickle her hot skin. He was driving with an expression of fierce concentration on his angular face.
The road twisted and climbed steeply. "What's your name?" she asked, her voice husky.
The man smiled. "Arthur, ma'am."
She whispered his name, her tongue trying it out, letting it slip between her teeth. He glanced at her, and she felt the weight of his look like a hot touch. Amber eyes made his gaze burn. Was she falling in love with his wide shoulders and narrow hips? Was that why her legs longed to wrap themselves around his lithe waist and draw him into her? The thought was so evocative she felt her head spin. She closed her eyes, leaned her head back and opened her mouth wide, drawing in deep gulps of air. Oh God, this heat!
"Are you all right?" Arthur asked her, concern in his deep voice.
She opened her eyes and licked dry lips. "I never thought it would be so hot. I suppose I expected something more, well, lush."
"It's greener during the fall, when the rainy season comes. It's April now. We're heading into the dry season, and the heat leeches the moisture out of the air. Most folks don't know that these islands are truly desert islands, with little or no source of water. Take care when you shower. Wet yourself, turn off the water, lather your skin, and shampoo. Then turn the water back on to rinse. The same goes for brushing teeth and flushing toilets." Arthur raised his voice so that the other tourists could hear him. "In this land of sun and fun, we never flush for number one," he quoted. "I hope you all know what that means?"
"I thought that this was a virtual trip, I mean, we can do as we like, can't we?" asked a woman, leaning forward.
"We'd like everyone to enjoy themselves exactly as if they were truly traveling," Arthur said with a hint of impatience. "If you thought you could do anything, I invite you to try jumping out of the jeep or off a cliff. Your experience will be quite the same as a real accident. You'll feel pain, and if your limbs break, you'll feel that too. Back in the institute, you'll wake up screaming with a whole team of psychiatrists ready to analyze your antisocial behavior."
"I understand." The woman gave a weak attempt at laughter. "I didn't mean to insult your tour company. You're doing an excellent job."
Arthur looked into his rear-view mirror and flashed a charming smile. "I try my best. And that's why I want you all to have the best possible time. Tonight there's going to be a live band at the hotel; I hope you'll all feel rested enough to come and dance the night away. If I can give any advice, it will be to lie down as soon as you reach the hotel and nap for a couple hours. Then go for an evening swim at the beach. The water will be calm, and you'll feel refreshed. Afterwards take a quick shower, put on a light robe, and join us for dinner. It's an Italian buffet tonight."
Arthur pulled around a corner and arrived in front of a low, perfectly kept bungalow. Three men in white uniforms trotted out to collect the suitcases. He stepped out of the jeep and opened the door with a flourish. "Here we are, ladies!"
* * * * *
Steel drum music woke him out of a sound sleep. Arthur stretched, yawned, and glanced at his watch. Almost seven-he'd better get moving or he'd be late for dinner. He sat on the edge of his bed and rubbed his face. His room was spacious, with a screen door leading outside to a thatch-roofed veranda where he had his breakfast. He loved to sip his coffee while watching the sun rise over the ocean. Tonight there was a gorgeous sunset, and the water was deep indigo with a bright, orange swath reflecting the setting sun.
He shrugged out of his shorts and headed towards the bathroom for a quick shower. His head felt a bit muzzy, as it often did after an afternoon nap. He wondered if the computer programmer could correct this. He would have to speak to Digby about that.
He opened the bathroom door and paused. The sound of his doorknob turning made him look back over his shoulder towards his room. No one ever came into his room, except room service in the morning. He grabbed a towel and held it around his hips as the door swung open, and a woman entered. He recognized her from the group he'd picked up that day. She'd washed her hair, and it hung in dark ringlets around her narrow face. Her skin was pale, faintly flushed, and her hands were trembling on the doorway. Her eyes were huge in her face, almost terrified.
He opened his mouth, to speak, but she raised her finger to her lips. "Don't say anything. They're listening."
Her face was so pale, her eyes so troubled, that he was caught off balance. "I don't..."
"Hush." She walked towards him across the wooden floor, her bare feet making no sound. A lavender silk sarong swirled like cool water around her long legs. Behind her ear was an exotic scarlet hibiscus, the same color as her full lips. She smiled tremulously. Her lips moved. "Arthur," she breathed.
"I don't think..." He backed away from her but stopped when his legs hit the coffee table in front of his wicker couch. "You're not allowed in here," he said weakly. Her hands were running up and down his bare chest; she hadn't stopped gazing into his eyes. There was something bewitching about her, something troubling. "Who are you?" he whispered, as his towel dropped to the floor.
"Shhh," she begged and laid her head on his shoulder. "Just hold me, please?"
His arms encircled her slender shoulders. Her skin was smooth, satiny, and scented with tuberose. Her hair tickled his neck and chest. His arms tightened. Her body was vibrating, as if an electrical current were running through it. Arthur tried to gather his thoughts, formulate words, but his mouth was dry, and he found himself pulling the woman towards his wide, white bed. A heat of desire was building within him so strongly it was like fingers reaching into his s
kull. The fingers danced downwards towards the very center of his being and set him afire.
This isn't right, he thought, as his breath grew ragged. You can't experience arousal on the Net. He felt as if his head were full of helium. Thoughts came and went, faster and faster as erotic images flashed through his mind. He was so stiff it was painful, and the only thing he wanted was release. He fell backwards onto his bed, harsh groans escaping his lips. Waves of electric, tingling pleasure paralyzed him, and he could only arch his back and shudder.
"Oh... my... Lord..." he gasped and closed his eyes. A frantic pulsing began in his groin. Ecstasy, he was swirling through ecstasy. He rolled over, heaving his body over the woman and thrusting into her. Excitement such as he'd never known seemed to explode in him. His breathing grew faster, his heart pounded, and still a powerful frenzy of sexual stimulation overpowered him. He ejaculated and then hardened again, and it went on and on, never slaking the incredible hunger he felt for his partner. She was a sexual vampire, devouring his entire virtual being, and he was helpless to do anything but thrust and strain towards unattainable fulfillment. Towards ecstasy.
I'm being eaten alive, was his last, incredulous thought.
* * * * *
What people are saying about
Virtual Murder
This book hooked me on page one and I stayed hooked straight through to the end. An excellent read, yet one, which left me wanting more of Monkey and Macaire's virtual world.
-- Maîtresse, Novelspot
Virtual Murder is a suspenseful story that will keep readers glued to it as the plot weaves and twists to its climactic conclusion… For a masterful tale of murder and science fiction, blended with a bit of spicy sex, pick up Virtual Murder.
-- Patti Fischer, Romance Reviews Today
With murder, love and government conspiracies, Virtual Murder is a well-rounded story. The cast of characters make the narrative but Monkey steals the spotlight. Monkey's innocence of the real world makes him a lovable character. Ms. Macaire effortlessly illustrates to the reader that anything is possible with technology and science in the future.
Timewalkers 2: Mairi Page 8
