Marked for Danger [Marked 3]

by Jennifer Leeland

  Her head felt like it was going to explode into a million pieces.

  "I don't remember. I don't know if I want to remember,” Carina said fiercely. “I don't want to be manipulated by any prophecy. It's all bullshit."

  "You may be right,” Atlana said calmly. “But you are the fulcrum, the heralding of a new age. Through you, and the bond you create, a message will be given. With that message, another will destroy the evil behind the Brotherhood. The destroyer will create the bond that will ensnare the one who attempts to wrest power from the very center of the universe.” Atlana pointed to another picture. It too seemed familiar, just on the edge of Carina's memory.

  Something violent stirred beneath Carina's skin, something dangerous and hot. She resisted the urge to draw a knife and press it against this woman's throat. They were just words, but they carried weight, and Carina wanted to reject them. “Listen to me, Ardasian. The bond I have is a joke. Xandros marked me for no other reason except to track my ass.” How did she know that? Memories were just within reach.

  The cave whirled and spun. Atlana was beside her to catch her as all strength left Carina's muscles. Her head pounded.

  Atlana stroked her head. “Take deep breaths. The Brotherhood tried to obliterate your memories, but you are not a simple Nyral submissive. You are much more."

  It hurt to breathe.

  Tears sprang to Carina's eyes. So much death. So much anger. And for what? To be alone again. Her breath came in gasps, jagged bits of memories floating in and out of her consciousness. When she tried to grasp them, they were like shards of glass cutting into her mind. Pain was ripping through her.

  "What the fuck are you doing to her?"

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  Chapter Eight

  Xandros's infuriated voice filled the cave, and lightning flashed behind him. Quite dramatic, Carina thought drily.

  "She's had a memory.” Atlana remained calm, stroking Carina's hair rhythmically.

  "She shouldn't be remembering anything,” Xandros snapped.

  Atlana stared at him. “No, she shouldn't. But she is. We have to help her break the hold the mind wipe has over her."

  "Let her alone, Ardasian. It hurts her to remember."

  "You know what's at stake.” The woman met Xandros's glare steadily.

  "She's mine, and I'll decide what's best for us."

  Carina shot to her feet, ignoring the pain, ignoring the dizziness. “Stop it, both of you,” she shouted. “I'm not a bone to be fought over. I'm not some helpless female who needs a protector."

  "You're not yourself,” Xandros snapped.

  "So what?” she responded. “I'll make my own decisions."

  Xandros glared at her, rain water dripping from his face and hair. “Go ahead then. Decide. What the hell are we going to do? Succumb to some fucking prophecy and save the universe or try and live?"

  "It's that simple?” she asked and glared back. “Either we let the universe go fuck itself or we die?” She slashed her hand down, rejected both options. “That's bullshit. You're as bad as she is.” She jerked her head at Atlana. “I've seen what happens when the prophecy is ‘followed.’ I watched them slice my sister into a million pieces,” she choked out the words, the memory fresh as if it just happened and made her dizzy. “So you can take your prophecy and shove it. But I'm not going to just run away and live some mythical bullshit life either."

  "You're remembering.” He narrowed his eyes. “You need to stop it. It's not good for you."

  "You don't know what's best for me.” Her head was spinning, but she tipped her chin. “ I decide that."

  "Right then. So stand and fight?” he asked furiously.

  "Damn straight."

  "Fine. Then figure out how we're going to defend this cave, because those soldiers are probably going to find us."

  "What's the matter? Forgot how to cover our trail?” Fear rippled through her. The only way she could keep the terror at bay was to lash out at Xandros.

  "No. But it doesn't matter how good I am,” he said. “They've got an Ardasian with them."

  "No,” whispered Atlana. “It can't be."

  "Trust me,” Xandros said bitterly. “It can and it is. I managed to cover our tracks and create a false trail. But I caught sight of the Primarian soldiers, and the Ardasian is unmistakable."

  Atlana's gaze narrowed. “Because he has green eyes?"

  Xandros clenched his fists. “Because he used his hands on the ground to sense our direction. What other race can do that?” He focused on Carina. “The seer is bringing them straight here. They'll be here by tomorrow night. They've got over a thousand Primarian soldiers with them."

  Atlana rose to her feet and picked up her small pack. “I must go."

  "What?” Carina blurted out.

  The woman stepped closer to her and gently squeezed her arm. “This is mine to deal with, Carina Tao. The Ardasians live to preserve life, not seek to destroy it. If one of my kind is working for the Primarians and the Blueshift Brotherhood, I must eliminate him.” Her smile was weak. “Or die trying.” She headed for the entrance of the cave and stopped briefly beside Xandros. She stared at the ground. “If I don't return, pirate, would you help the Nariadians? They depend on me."

  "I will.” Xandros gripped Atlana's arm when she started to move forward. He held her startled gaze. “Don't get caught, Ardasian. I'll have to come after you."

  A quick grin was there, then gone, and she slipped out of the cave. There was a moment of silence, the wind and rain howling outside, the fire crackling inside.

  Xandros stared at Carina, and she couldn't hold his gaze, the anger blown out of her. “Xandros?” She didn't even know what she was asking, what she needed. She was afraid. Not of dying, which was a fact of life, but of failing. He was her anchor regardless of her words.

  "What is it, machinka?” he asked softly.

  She started to shake uncontrollably, and he crossed the space between them in two quick strides. He wrapped her in his arms. Funny. He'd been in the rain and was soaked to the skin, but all the heat came from him.

  He laid her down beside the fire and kept her close to him until the worst of the shaking was over. She buried her face in his chest, her fists clutching his shirt. He stroked her back and a gentle crooning sound came from him, soothing and low. With his body draped over her, she felt safe. Part of her knew that wasn't normal for her.

  Unexpectedly, her mark flared to life, burning, throbbing. “I need you, Xandros. I don't want to, but I do."

  He groaned. “I don't want to hurt you."

  "It burns,” she whispered. The heat from his body increased, and she slid her hand to his inner thigh where his matching mark lay beneath his pants. She squeezed the flesh and got a fierce satisfaction from the swift intake of his breath.

  "Carina,” he said like a caress.

  She tipped her head up and stared at him in the firelight. His harsh features and the long scar along his neck stood out even in shadows. She wanted him, had always wanted him. Memory or no memory, she desired his touch.

  Her right hand still clamped on his hip, she arched to urge him closer. Slowly, she slid her hand along his rib cage, his collarbone to his neck. He dipped his head down and touched her lips with his. It was a precious moment filled with tenderness and care though fire lay just beneath the surface.

  "My little machinka, you presume much.” He teased her mouth with his tongue and resisted the pressure of her fingers on his neck. “I think you need to be reminded who is in charge."

  She stared into his face. “I presume too much?” she asked, a need to tease him rising to the surface. “How do I know I truly belong to you?"

  All the teasing stopped. She noted intensity in his gaze. “You are mine, Carina Tao. Now and forever, memory or no memory. I will remind you that you are my marked mate, my machinka. If I have to beat you to remind you."

  A tightness in her chest loosened, and she sighed. “Yes. Remind me."

  H
e waited. She blinked, and then she begged him. “Please, Xandros. Please remind me."

  The growl he let loose vibrated through her, and she moaned, surrendering everything. Take me, she thought. Take it all.

  He jerked both her hands behind her back and held them there with one of his hands. His other hand unbuttoned the flight suit and slid it down her shoulders and legs. She panted, needing his touch to steady her, to complete her.

  He let go of her hands long enough to toss her flight suit away. He didn't speak again until he'd removed his. He tipped her head to meet her gaze. “Keep your hands behind your back, Carina,” he ordered, and she shuddered. When she complied, he cupped her ass, his fingers digging into her flesh.

  His mouth closed over her nipple, and she jumped, fire coursing through her veins. He teased her with his tongue, and she whimpered, wanting to press his head closer to her. His teeth scraped her nipple, and then he worked on the other one until she was damp with need.

  Instinctively, she tried to wrap her legs around him, but his hand rose and slapped her butt. The connection of his hand to her flesh echoed in the cave. “No. You don't move. You don't talk.” He loomed over her, his face intense. “I want you to remain still for me. Obey me. Show me how much you want to give to me."

  She bit her lip and obeyed. Her belly relaxed, and she experienced a sense of euphoria she didn't understand. Helpless, immobile, and silent, she bubbled with a rare joy she was sure she'd never experienced before.

  "That's it,” he crooned. His mouth slid over her body, branding her with his hot breath. He sucked on the side of her neck, marking her in a different way. He traveled downward, dipping his tongue into her belly button. Goose bumps rose on her skin, and she shook with desire. She wanted to scream, to cry out her need, but she let her body do it instead.

  "You have no idea how beautiful you are,” he murmured as he touched his lips to her skin. “Every tremble, every tense muscle shows me how much you want me, how much you want to give me.” He glanced up from the crease of her thigh. “Your obedience is beautiful. I want to see my cock fill your mouth, dildos in your ass and your pussy.” His eyes glittered in the firelight. “I want you in so many ways that there may never be enough time."

  Her teeth clamped down on her lips to stop the whimper of agreement from escaping. She swallowed and reveled in the way his gaze focused on her throat. Then he shifted his stare to her pussy. Helplessly, she felt wetness gather there as his face showed he liked what he saw.

  It took every ounce of her strength of will to remain still, not to shift restlessly, to thrust her hips toward his mouth. He controlled this moment. That alone made more fluid flow from her pussy.

  When his hot mouth descended on her clit, she had to tighten every muscle to stop the scream that rose in her throat. Her orgasm ripped through her, burning everything in its path. Her breath came in ragged gasps, and she fought to stay still, tears streaming down her face. Her climax went on and on, blanking all her thoughts, his tongue the only thing she could focus on.

  He lifted his head and watched her for a moment. When he grinned, she gasped, and he dived down again. This time, he sucked her clit into his mouth and used the scrape of his teeth to drive her higher.

  Again she fought hard to remain still and quiet to the point that it was painful. Pleasure and pain blurred, and blood oozed from the place where she bit her lip. Her release was hard, sharp, and long. Her hands flung out, and she gripped the cave floor, her nails scratching against the rock.

  Xandros rose and hovered over her. “Tsk tsk. I'll have to punish you for moving."

  He stroked her cheek, and she closed her eyes. Stars, she needed him so badly. She opened her eyes and gazed into his face. All she wanted was his cock inside her, filling her, making her his. But she couldn't beg him with anything except her eyes.

  Her arm burned, the mark bright red and glowing. His radiated red light too, but she couldn't read his expression.

  "Later. I'll punish you later,” he said hoarsely. “Right now, I want the bite of your nails in my back and those legs wrapped around me, pulling me deeper inside you."

  "Yes, yes, yes,” she screamed as he drove inside her. She obeyed, her fingernails raking his back, and her legs entwined around him.

  He went crazy and pummeled her over and over. He angled his penetration, and she stopped thinking at all. The scream ripped from her vocal cords reverberated off the cave walls, and he answered it with his own shout of release.

  The hot stream of his cum inside her set off explosions she didn't think she'd survive. The mark on her arm seemed to be on fire.

  Her brain spun, and suddenly, the cave disappeared.

  "Don't waste yourself on trash like me."

  "Because now I can find you when I want you."

  "You've found out too much, assassin. The identity of our leader must be removed."

  Tears coursed down her cheeks, and she sobbed. “No. Stars, no.” Memories slammed into her. Her parents’ death. Her sister's murder. Her actions for the Brotherhood. Xandros.

  She lifted her hands and shoved him off her. “You bastard. You fucking asshole."

  He rolled away from her and gazed at her, a jaded, resigned expression she didn't want to see. She wanted the desire back. She wanted to forget. He'd been wrong. She didn't want to remember.

  "Why the hell did you come after me?” Her voice was hoarse from the screams of her pleasure and only added to her bitter anger.

  His body language was wary, protective. “You're my marked mate."

  She snorted. “I'm a Brotherhood assassin and worth a lot of fucking bounty money."

  "You've got your memories back.” He rose and picked up his clothes. “How?"

  "How the hell should I know? They're back. I remember that you marked me to track me. I remember everything about that,” she spat.

  It hurt. She couldn't deny it. All her life she'd wanted him. Even though his father had been broken by the Mistresses. Even though she'd been a brat and he'd been a mercenary. She'd never existed for him.

  But he'd said he looked for her. And failed to find her. Her memories showed her why. She'd done a damn good job of eliminating her Carina Tao identity. She tightened her lips and asked the question she did and did not want the answer to. “Why didn't you come? When Shanie died? Why didn't you come for me?” Only Leo had been there. Leo and a hundred acquaintances she didn't give a shit about. But Leo's friend and hers, he'd been absent.

  He didn't meet her gaze. “Funny. Leo didn't ask."

  "Answer me, you fucking asshole,” she shouted.

  "I was in a Teran Five prison."

  Shock tore through her. “What?” She knew what some of those places were like. How could he have survived?

  A humorless smile twisted his lips. “While Shanie was being murdered, I was being tortured and raped once a day. I'd been arrested by the Teran Interstellar Force."

  "I don't understand.” She was so confused.

  "It's simple,” he said viciously. “Someone on the TIF knew about the Prophecy, someone who wants the Brotherhood to come out on top. They made sure the Brotherhood killed Shanie and made you an assassin. They wanted you all fucked-up and no one to turn to, Carina."

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  Chapter Nine

  For years, Xandros had managed to keep the memories of those early days shoved deep beneath the surface. They rose up now. He'd been tracking for the TIF, turning in interstellar criminals and collecting the bounty money. After Nyral society rejected him, he didn't have a whole lot of career options.

  But the TIF turned on him, accusing him of being a traitor as his father had been. Since Nylar had banished him for being his father's son, Teran Five spooks had a field day with him.

  In a holding cell for six months, he'd never been charged, never knew what secrets he was supposed to have revealed. He was tortured but never knew what information he was supposed to give.

  The rapes were...difficult. Xandr
os had shoved his male dominance into a mental box, protecting it from the humiliation the spooks wanted to put him through. Once, one of them went too far and cut his neck too near his carotid. For some reason, they revived him.

  Then they released him. No reason was ever given to him for his incarceration. No one told him a fucking thing. The first thing he did was catch a freighter to Nylar, to Leo, Shanie, and the little brat.

  In prison, when things were bad, he thought about Carina and what she represented to him. A natural submissive with a spark of fire who challenged him. He hung on to that, and when he was released, he went back to try and go straight.

  Instead, he found Shanie dead, both Leo and Shanie's little sister gone. Rumors flew they'd gone off together to console each other. Xandros had sought evidence of where the brat had gone but found nothing. He spent the next year trying, and succeeding, to forget her. She was inextricably bound with his horrific incarceration.

  Leo he found two years later. By that time, Xandros was a mercenary, a pirate, the scourge of the galaxy. He exorcised his demons through boarding and shaking down Teran Five transports and taking great pleasure in torturing and killing Teran Five spooks who were assigned to the ships.

  Dead was how he'd felt. Occasionally, he'd visit a club and try to find that elusive something Shanie's little sister had had even at the young age of sixteen.

  Then he'd found Rina when all hope had been burned out of him, when all innocence had been left on the floor of a Teran Five prison. He'd marked her knowing—or suspecting—she was a deadly assassin only to discover she was the long-lost brat he'd searched for all those years. The little brat who had saved his sanity in that dark hell that had been his prison.

  He shook his head. Marked mates. Fuck. The last thing he needed was someone sharing the hellhole that was his brain. He certainly didn't need someone who thought they had claim to him—he'd had enough of that in prison.

  While he was musing, he hadn't kept an eye on the very angry woman in front of him. She struck out at him. Her hand connected to his neck, and he felt dizzy. His instinct screamed to defend himself.