by Cara Carnes
I wanted him. I wanted the others as well.
The more time I spent with each Shadow, their spirits, the more I learned them all. I saw Dacian through the lens of Ren’s spirits. Slade’s. Varik’s. Though I’d spent no time alone with Dacian until now, it felt as though I’d known him an eternity because so many spirits had shared their interpretation of him. They were all connected on a plane of existence I was slowly being drawn into. The closer I came to fully grasping it, the more at home I felt.
“Relax against me, Snow. I have you.” He gripped my hips. Kissed the shell of my ear. “Focus on the energy pull, and we will play later. My spirits sense your agitation, your need.”
Shock and embarrassment crawled up my cheeks, but I shoved it aside. This was Dacian, more scholar in many aspects than warrior. He spoke his mind, was blunt to a fault, and was the most knowledgeable of them all. Of course he sensed my arousal, my desire. They likely all did.
“Close your eyes, focus on the Summoner’s Well, feel the ripple of energy it offers. Hone it into a single point, a narrow bead. Imagine the bead coursing through your blood, a tingle beneath your skin as it crawls along each toe and up each foot. Relax each area it grazes, feel the liquid heat stroking your muscle and healing each ache.” Dacian hummed a chant in my ear.
My heart beat in time to the tempo, but my mind focused on the bead, the tingling sensation snaking up each calf. He stroked my arms, down the sides of my torso as the energy traveled upward. I’d never experienced anything as magical and arousing as the combination of healing power and Dacian’s touch. His fingertips grazed along my knees as if sensing where the sensation had paused.
A gasp escaped me within the psychic plane. The connection was firm, yet almost invisible. Dacian. There. In my mind.
I opened to him, allowed each of his spirits to join us upon his will.
Imagine the bead moving along the connection we have, from you to me. Picture it touching me wherever you’d like. My mind, body, and spirits are yours to touch, possess whenever you wish, Snow. As are yours mine. And the Shadows. You are ours to protect, cherish, and love. This is the true energy of the Summoner’s Well—nurturing, healing light. You alone command its true nature.
I did. One bead turned into two, then four, eight. Again and again the energy multiplied. Unlike before, where I struck an entire area with a destructive wave, I fanned each pinprick of power outward. One to Dacian, then two. Two to Ashan. Ren. Slade. Varik. Zelig. I swallowed. Marden. Marden. He remained closed to me, the only one I never found on the psychic plane even though he was by far the most powerful within that realm, except for possibly Slade. I thrust bead after bead on the inky blackness where I knew he loomed. A lonely, haunted murkiness called me from there.
I returned to myself, focused on Dacian and the spirits grazing against my aura. So many. Scholars, historians. He had far more of them than warriors, as if predestined to be the knowledgeable one of his squadron.
Focus on my touch, Snow. Feel how the slight graze of my fingers along your skin makes me feel. Let me feel what my touch does to you.
The hand at my waist moved upward, beneath my top. The slow, agonizing pace heightened awareness throughout my body. The bead continued its path up my legs, but it was the molten touch along my rib cage that captured my breath. I envisioned a kiss, sent the image to Dacian. He groaned and returned one far more carnal than I’d imagined. The fusion of images continued as his touch prowled upward. He cupped my breast.
Suddenly, we were no longer on the psychic plane. Dacian growled, shifted until my back was against the floor and he was atop me. I wrapped my legs around him as the kiss turned real, commanding and fiery as I’d imagined. He flicked a nipple between two fingers. I groaned into the kiss, unsure how to respond. I needed more, craved so much more.
“This had better be life threatening,” he growled as he severed the kiss.
Confused, I blinked. Awareness returned.
“We’re under attack,” Ashan said.
The ship shook beneath us. Dacian cursed, grazed my lips with his, then leaped up. “Remain here where you’re safe, Snow. I’ll be back.”
Like hell I’d stay here. I didn’t comment. Both Shadows glowered. We’d been down this road before, not too long ago. They knew I wouldn’t remain here. Cowering.
“Be smart,” Dacian ordered.
That I could do. I smiled, pressed up on my toes, and rewarded his comment with a kiss to the cheek. “You too.”
Dacian
* * *
“Destroy whoever it is. We’re in the Meridian now. There are no laws,” Dacian said.
“You just want to get back to Snow,” Ashan teased.
“Dacian’s right. Action keeps us alive out here. Reaction gets us killed. Or worse.” Marden crossed his arms. “Keep the female’s curiosity contained.”
“So, you felt it too,” Zelig commented. “What was she doing?”
“I was teaching her how to heal using the Summoner’s Well. She took it upon herself to send it to all of us as well.” Dacian didn’t disguise the pride in his voice.
Snow was a remarkable woman, one who deserved their respect and admiration. He couldn’t imagine someone as brilliant as her sequestered for so long. He wanted to hunt the king down and kill him for that alone.
They’d made a mistake. They should have assassinated the king and Queen Vilma when they had the chance. They may have been vilified, but Dacian was okay with that if it meant Snow was safe. Now? The ship rocked again as a large cannon-sized plasma blasted the hull.
“Who are they?” Ren asked.
“Unknown,” Slade replied. “We’re about to find out. We’re being hailed.”
An image flickered on the holoprojector. Dacian stifled his curse when the large reptilian appeared. Sagam.
“Pull away or incur the wrath of the Roteran Empire,” Zelig warned.
“I am Admiral Schla. Turn the female over or incur the wrath of Queen Vilma and the Crunan Skeron Empire,” he sneered. His tongue flickered out, licked his bulbous eyes. “You violated your agreement with the queen. Prepare to be boarded and imprisoned.”
Like hell.
Sagam travel in packs, so he isn’t alone. They’ll have vessels cloaked within striking range of us. Someone secure the female. They will board and do whatever necessary to take her. Death would be preferable to what they’d do.
Marden’s calm words rippled through the telepathic link. Dacian knew the warrior raged inside, though. His hands flexed at his sides. Red rose in his face.
Ashan, Ren, remain with Snow. Prepare the escape shuttle, just in case. Zelig’s command sent a ripple of argument within the telepathic link. Though no words were spoken, the two warriors’ dissent was evident. Warriors didn’t abandon their squadron. Ever. A squadron fought and died together.
Dacian doubted death was within reach today. It’d take more than a few Sagam vessels to take down a Shadow squadron. They’d faced far worse odds, which was likely why the two warriors didn’t want to comply.
She will try and assist. He’s right. Remain with her, keep her mind focused on something other than the battle until we can get the upper hand. Slade’s statement calmed the two warriors.
“What’s happening?” Snow charged onto the bridge, halted when her gaze landed on the holoprojector.
“Go with Ashan and Ren,” Varik ordered.
“No.” She shifted away from Ashan’s grasp. “They’re here for me, aren’t they?”
“Come with us, and we will not harm the Shadows. We have no wish to harm fellow warriors.” The outright lie hung in the air a moment.
Dacian pulled Snow behind him. She grasped his uniform. She squeezed his arm. He sensed her aura striking his.
What is wrong, Snow? I can hear you.
If they board, we can freeze them, right? You said Sagam were susceptible to cold, right? We could change the climate, prepare for their boarding. Then fight. They’d be weaker, easier to kill.
&
nbsp; The day a Shadow couldn’t kill a Sagam would be a travesty, but Dacian admitted the brilliance of the idea. I will tell the others. It is a good plan.
Okay, good. I’ll go sit over there, stay out of the way.
Dacian glanced over his shoulder and smirked. She’d donned enough weapons to arm them all. Despite her short, petite frame, she was a fierce fighter, far better than he’d expected. Varik had spent more time healing Slade in the Medical bay than they’d ever tell Snow. Ashan and Ren sat beside her at the back.
Zelig had turned the holoprojector off without comment.
“I’ve found three additional vessels so far,” Slade commented.
“Snow suggested we lower the temperature in here, prepare for their boarding,” Dacian said with a chuckle. “I’m liking how bloodthirsty she is.”
His fellow Shadows agreed, offered a smile to Snow, whose face was redder than the Starth skies. Such a temptation. His lips still tingled from their kisses. Her breast had fit his hand perfectly. He hadn’t intended to take their sexual contact so far, but it’d felt too natural not to. She was a beautiful, passionate woman and her need for them escalated each time she bonded with their spirits. It was the natural cycle for a mate during this phase of a relationship, where the female was getting to know the males, establishing her own unique relationship with each.
Dacian.
Zelig’s admonishment was a single word, but enough to focus on the Sagam threat. He was the tactician, the one who’d used his enhanced memory to study and memorize every battle and skirmish on record for the past two centuries. He studied the positions Slade had flagged, marked a couple of others to be concerned about. The addition of those created a well-known battle maneuver where the enemy was surrounded. Theoretically.
Then he thought of Snow’s idea and grinned.
Sagam vessels were rudimentary at best, tanks designed to take many hits but not necessarily maneuver well, which was why they traveled in packs. They relied on numbers rather than skill. Their antiquated age, however, offered a chance to end the skirmish before a boarding of any kind. He entered their systems easily.
“I’m into their controls on all the ships we identified. I can kill their environmental controls, even vent the ship,” he offered.
“Kill environmental, give them a chance to leave. The last thing we need is the Sagam pissed off. This retrieval was likely for credits rather than a decision to remain on Queen Vilma’s side. They’re a small federation loyal to whoever pays the most, but a sector of their space is too near Tezan,” Ren said.
“Agreed,” Zelig said.
The three cloaked ships Slade had located appeared. The holoprojector beeped, but no one moved to respond. The ship rocked from another plasma blast as another two ships decloaked very near where he’d identified. Dacian smiled. They waited a few more moments.
Zelig reached over and clicked the holoprojector. “Pull away and leave if you want to live. Otherwise, my tactician will vent your ships.”
“You would declare war on the Sagam?” Admiral Schla asked.
“No, but your attack of a Roteran vessel indicates you have already declared war on us. Unless you want the entire Roteran fleet to attack every crevice of space you possess and obliterate your entire species, stand down.” Marden’s voice thundered over the com. “We vent one ship every five breaths, beginning now.”
Dacian whistled low, but counted out the five breaths, chose a ship and vented it.
“Halt!” Admiral Schla’s unsteady voice came through the holoprojector. “That was unnecessary.”
“That’s where you are wrong, Admiral.” Zelig stood. “Leave the area immediately or we will destroy you all. We are Roteran Shadows. We do not negotiate or surrender, we neutralize any and every threat against our empire and those we protect. The female you seek is ours in every way. Warn everyone what will happen if someone is foolish enough to think credits are worth our fury. I assure you, they are not.”
The four vessels departed quickly. Slade looked over at Dacian. “I’ll tow the other vessel into cargo bay four, in case it proves useful later on. We have a long way to go.”
Dacian nodded.
“Good work with the environmental controls,” Marden commented.
“It was Snow’s idea.” Dacian smiled over at her and winked. “I merely expanded on it.”
“Marden, Varik, and I will handle it from here. Slade will see to the vessel,” Zelig said. “Continue your evening.”
Dacian didn’t argue. He held out a hand to Snow. “Come, let’s get some rest.”
Snow nodded and placed her hand inside his. Silence descended, but he sensed the restless energy wafting from her aura in thick waves.
“You are quiet, but restless,” he commented.
“I’ve never seen a battle, not that this was a real fight.” She expended a breath. “There were so many ships and you all took the upper hand easily. I didn’t realize how powerful you were.”
“We were lucky. Sagam do not have the technology we do.”
“I wouldn’t have ever considered taking their ships over.”
“I studied from an early age to be a historian, then a tactician. I have memorized every battle in recorded history, Snow. You are a caring and generous spirit. I am not.”
“You are,” she argued.
“With you, perhaps.” He guided them into his quarters. “With everyone else, most especially those intent on doing you harm, I am never kind or generous. We should have vented them all. Leaving an enemy alive is a sign of weakness to many, most especially in the Meridian.”
“This wasn’t their fault,” she said. Anger filled her aura. “Queen Vilma is the cause. She’s the one who deserves to get vented.”
“Yes, she is.”
“You could have killed her and my father back at The Paradox. Why didn’t you?”
“Because we weren’t sure you were the one we sought. Many Shadow squadrons were dispatched on a search for you, Snow. We gave up long ago. Had it not been for the queen summoning us to handle someone for her, we would have likely never found you.” Dacian didn’t like admitting how close they’d come to not ever finding her. “We almost turned the assignment over to another squadron.”
“I’m glad you didn’t.”
“I’m glad too.” He smiled. “Come, let’s get some rest.”
“You’ll…” She licked her lips. “I can visit the rest of your spirits tonight, right?”
“Yes. I wouldn’t ever stand between you and them.”
10
Snow
Time flew faster than the damaged Roteran spacecraft. Each attack we won was another swipe of the Meridian’s maw. Though none of my Shadows told me, I knew the last skirmish wounded us far worse than the others. Dacian had closed off an entire section of the ship, the part Slade and Marden slept in. Had they been…
I severed the thought, unwilling to traverse that treacherous terrain. The what-ifs seemed insurmountable right now, far worse than they’d been. The closer we came to Tezan, the more doubt drowned me. What if I wasn’t the one they expected me to be? What if I couldn’t do what they needed?
What if I was?
What then?
“Snow.” Ashan drew me into his arms. “Tell me what makes your mind spin so fast. My spirits sense your emotional storm. Let me help.”
I didn’t know if he could. Honestly, he never exhibited anything but happy. Joy. He wouldn’t understand the dark, thunderous wave of thoughts crashing around me. I didn’t want to taint him with my troubles. He was the constant beacon of light. Hope. My Shadows needed their light bringer more than I needed to whine.
“We are approaching the Meridian Station. Zelig wants us all together since we aren’t sure what to expect. A few of Marden’s spirits have been here, but it was some time ago and things change quickly this far into lawless space.” Ashan kissed my forehead. “We have enough time for you to give me your troubles.”
“It is nothing important. I am n
ervous about seeing my mother’s home world for the first time. And terrified of failing you all.” The truth tumbled from me easily. For some reason, I couldn’t stomach the thought of keeping anything from Ashan, even if I should.
Calm and comfort blanketed me when he spanned his aura outward, encompassing me fully. “I forget how new the universes are to you. You are terrified of what is to come, but do not ever think you could ever fail us, Snow. The fact you are here with us is all we need, Tezan be damned. The others may not want me to say so, but you should hear the truth. We do not care whether you are the Summoner of the Well everyone has sought, the true wielder of its energy for the Oracle. I do not care, nor do they. All we want is to keep you safe. Happy. Loved.”
Loved.
I smiled hearing the notion. I was far safer and happier than I’d been in a long while. I missed Yora terribly, but recounting my memories of her with everyone had mended much of the grief. Love?
My heart swelled with the notion.
Was that the turbulent emotion consuming my every moment? Was that the riotous presence beneath each thought of the Shadows?
“Tell me of your home world. Rotera. What is it like?” I needed to know what kind of place my Shadows protected, defended with their lives. They sacrificed so much. Surely Rotera was a mighty place worth defending. Did they have family?
“It is a beautiful world, one with six moons, all a different hue when the sun’s rays wane. During the harvest all six moons shine so bright a tapestry of color sweeps the land.” Ashan smiled when I leaned my head back to look at him. “My mother and fathers farmed two days journey from the capital city. My brothers all went into the familial trade of raising crops, providing sustenance to the people. On our world, there are very few trades as noble as tending crops. My mother was blessed with twin daughters when I was six. I have not seen them in a long while. I was ten when I entered the academy and began training.”
“Were you all so young?”
“Yes, some even younger. Marden was four, a ward of Rotera. Zelig and his brother were as well.”
