“Your wish is my command, rageesh.” The blond man’s gaze remained focused on a sports game.
“Kaj, I will accompany you to the ship. I have some encoded messages to send from our secure channel.” Zohar had another reason for wanting to go onboard. He planned to give Paz a sample of Nira’s hair for DNA analysis. “Do not forget to bring the crystals I gave you.”
Kaj, reading messages on his PIP, waved in acknowledgment.
“Finally, Yaron, you will stay here and scan the ley lines for signs of congregated activity like Nira suggested. Look for theme parks, visitor attractions, and religious meccas. Like Drift World, these may be recruitment centers for mind slaves. The Trolleks may have opened gateways in their vicinity. Paz will scan the surface with our ship’s sensors for the same purpose.”
“Is Nira going shopping?” Yaron gestured toward the kitchen. “We need more food if I am to remain.”
Zohar snorted. Leave it to his men to worry about their stomachs. “One of us will restock the pantry. As for me, I will take a shuttle from the ship and revisit the Trollek village. I did not have a chance to fully explore the last time.”
Dal flexed his powerful muscles. “Allow me to accompany you, sire. You should not go alone.”
Zohar bristled. “Do you question my decisions?”
“Of course not, rageesh, but I do question your motives. Why did you allow Nira to go off alone? She is a target for our enemy, and so are you.”
“The Trollek female, Algie, took Nira’s blood sample. That may be all she wanted. Nira might not be of interest to them any longer.”
“All the more reason for them to destroy her.” Kaj stood and faced his leader with steely gray eyes. “I agree with Dal.”
Zohar strode to the opposite end of the room. A puff of air brushed his face, as if another presence crossed his path.
He glanced out the window, but Nira’s car was gone. Had he been wrong in allowing her some privacy? He missed her already, even though they’d barely been apart.
Tempting as it was to join her on her errands and learn more about her life, it would be futile. Why get deeper involved when they’d only hurt each other down the road? She belonged here with her people, while he had his own demons to quell.
“The lady wished some time alone.” He lifted his nose. “I was only respecting her needs.”
“You like her,” Kaj stated in a flat tone.
“Who would not? She is attractive, determined, and resourceful.” His mouth curved up as he pictured her intelligent eyes and resolute chin. “The woman has a body like a goddess and a wit as sharp as a blade.”
Dal folded his arms across his chest. “Why did you not give her a comm unit?”
“She has the ring for emergencies, and while she slept, I implanted her with a locator beacon.”
“Wise move, but if you ask me, rageesh, you choose to avoid our lovely associate because you care about her.”
Zohar’s face heated. “You and Kaj are reading things into our relationship that are not there.”
Yaron stroked his beard, a teasing gleam in his dark eyes. “She would make a worthy queen.”
Zohar’s blood surged at this sore subject. “Should I ever accept the throne, which I have no intention of doing, I will allow the Primer to select my bride.”
“You are entitled to happiness, sire.”
“I am only entitled to what serves my people.”
“The people would be served best if you took your rightful place.” Yaron stood and met his gaze squarely. “They would trust you to choose a proper wife and would rejoice with you.”
Like they’d rejoiced with his father? That road had led to weakness and destruction when the Emperor became the tormented puppet of his bride. Zohar’s stepmother may have hidden her true nature until she became queen, but it soon became evident. No one would forget the pogroms and other horrors that followed.
“I cannot risk falling for the wrong woman.”
“Some of us have already done that.” Kaj’s tone rang with bitterness. “You are smart to be cautious.”
“Nonetheless,” Yaron persisted, “you might consider Nira for the role. She has many admirable qualities, and you have feelings for her.”
“Thank you for your insights.” Zohar squared his shoulders. “Now, you each have your assignments. Get to them. I need another cookie.”
“Bring me a glass of that orange juice, would you?” Dal asked without any regard for Zohar’s rank. “I am plagued by thirst. The food on this planet has too much salt.”
“I can get it.” Borius strode toward the kitchen. “I would like a smack myself.”
“A snack, Borius, not a smack,” Zohar corrected with a grin.
They meandered toward the dining room. Zohar grabbed another cookie from the nearly empty plate. He savored the treat’s gooey center while Borius returned with a glass of juice for Dal. Kaj disappeared toward his bedroom, and Yaron aimed for the study.
Shaking his head with fond affection for his crew, Zohar leaned against the table to mull over his thoughts. Rolling the melted confection on his tongue, he compared its pleasure to sex. No contest there. He’d give up a dozen cookies to lie with Nira, to stroke her smooth skin, and to hear her soft pants of delight.
What if he did consider her as a possibility for his bride? How would she feel about it?
She expected him to leave at the end of his mission. That meant she held no hope of a future for them. Likely she’d only bedded him as a release valve and to share her immunity. Once she regained her sense of order, she wouldn’t need him anymore.
Not that she needed him now. How had she escaped from Algie during their first foray into Drift World, and again from the Grand Marshal in the village?
Until he knew the true answer to those questions, he would do best to restrain his feelings for her. That was another reason why he wanted to revisit the village. Nira claimed to have hit the Grand Marshal on the head with a lamp, but she’d been reticent to provide details. Was he right to be suspicious, or was he so colored by his father’s faults that paranoia ruled?
Perhaps if his father had been more wary, he would not have succumbed to the witch he called his wife.
Losing his appetite, Zohar finished the cookie and retreated to his room. He spent the next fifteen minutes preparing for the tasks ahead. Wishing he could wear his uniform tunic, he’d just secured his weapons when a loud crash sounded from the living room.
His pulse pounded as adrenaline flooded his veins. Had the Trolleks broken through their perimeter defense?
Drawing his laser pistol, he raced down the hallway. When he rounded the living room, he skidded to a halt.
Dal lay facedown on the carpet, still as a corpse.
****
Midday traffic on I-4 moved at a decent clip as Nira drove east toward Winter Park. She regretted leaving the guys behind. Despite their bravado, the Drift Lords acted like Old West gunslingers arriving wide-eyed in the city.
Refusing to think about how Zohar’s attempts to fit in with society touched her, she gripped the steering wheel. He hadn’t wanted her to go off alone, being concerned for her safety, but he’d graciously allowed her freedom. A rush of gratitude swelled within her, mixed with longing for his company.
Had it been only twenty minutes since she’d left him? It seemed like forever. Already he had imprinted himself upon her mind and upon her heart. She’d never met a man who treated her with such tenderness and respect. He considered her an equal, both as a teammate and in bed, and she appreciated his esteem. Too bad nothing else could come from their relationship other than great sex.
Worry about it later.
That’s right, she should just enjoy him for now and forget about the future. They wouldn’t have one if the Trolleks won.
Nira didn’t know if Algie would still be interested in her or not but she wasn’t taking any chances. She’d phoned her sisters to meet her for lunch. This might be her only chance to warn them of
possible danger.
Tamping down her sense of urgency, she found a parking lot in downtown Winter Park on a shady side street. She pulled into an empty space, shut off the engine, and glanced around to make sure she hadn’t been followed. The coast clear, she exited to the street and headed toward Park Avenue.
Home of fashionable boutiques and bustling cafés, Park Avenue was a popular thoroughfare. Nira had sampled at least half the restaurants there and loved to shop in the Farmer’s Market on Saturday mornings. Across the street was Central Park, with its bandstand at one end and a rose garden at the other. As she strolled along, a train whistle tooted in the distance.
She dodged a woman walking a white poodle with a rhinestone collar. The café Nira wanted should be on the next block.
After locating the place, Nira claimed a seat at an outdoor table to wait for her sisters. She’d just taken a sip of water when Kristy arrived.
“Hey, Nira. What’s up?”
The twenty-four year old leaned down to hug Nira, who gave her an extra squeeze. Kristy dressed casually in white shorts with a turquoise tank top, long beads, and flip-flops. Sterling silver earrings dangled from her ears.
“I’m good. Thanks for coming.” Nira’s glance rose to Kristy’s layered hair. “I see you’ve added red streaks to your blond this month.”
“Let’s not get started on my hair, okay?” Kristy plopped into a chair. “Where’s Diane?”
“Here I am,” called a singsong voice. Their younger sister tripped into view, dipping to give each one an air kiss. Her curly brown hair framed a face with modest makeup. “Nira, have you lost weight? You look thinner.”
“I haven’t weighed myself lately, but I’m fine. Really. I want to catch up on all your news.”
The waitress came to take their orders. After she left, Nira made desultory small talk until their food arrived. The inane chatter almost made her feel like life had returned to normal. She picked up her fork and dug into her trio of tuna, shrimp, and chicken salads on a bed of lettuce.
“There’s a reason why I wanted to see you both.” She swallowed a bite then took a drink of water. “What I told you about the explosion at Grace’s house wasn’t the entire truth. You can’t repeat to anyone what I’m about to say. It wasn’t an accident.”
“How could it not be an accident?” Kristy jabbed a finger in the air. “What else would cause an entire house to blow up? And where’s Grace? You said she’s okay, but missing. How do you know she wasn’t inside?”
“Because I was there. Listen, I’ve taken a job as a local guide with some guys who do dangerous work.”
“What kind of work?” Diane’s brown eyes narrowed.
“They’re agents from another country here to stop a group of terrorists. It’s all very hush-hush.”
A gaggle of teenagers strolled by, chatting as they window-shopped. Two mothers pushed strollers in tandem while a group of men in suits brushed past them all at a brisk pace. Traffic picked up as the corner light turned green.
“How did they hook up with you?” Kristy, taking a drink, glanced at Nira over the rim of her iced tea glass.
“We sort of ran into each other by accident.” Nira raised her voice as a motorcycle zoomed past with a belch of exhaust.
“Another accident, huh? What are you, a lightning rod?” Diane’s mouth tightened. Dressed for work in a skirt and blousy top, she could easily be taken for the oldest among them, and often she acted like it, too. As marketing director for a non-profit group, she had a more regular schedule than Kristy, a magazine photographer.
Nira twirled her water glass. “Actually, I had an unfortunate encounter with the bad guys, and Zohar rescued me. He’s the team leader.”
Diane and Kristy exchanged concerned glances.
“Are you aware the cops interviewed us?” Kristy dabbed at her mouth with a napkin.
Nira’s jaw dropped. “What? When was this?”
“After the explosion. Your car was parked at the curb, and a neighbor saw you drive off in a van with a bunch of guys.”
“I spoke to the police and gave a statement,” Nira said. “I needed the police report to file an insurance claim for Grace.”
“They’d like to speak to your friends.” Diane chewed a bite of her sandwich.
“What for? The cops are the ones who proposed a gas leak as the cause of the explosion. I was on my way out when the house blew up. The impact tossed me onto the lawn.”
“What were those men doing there?” Diane tucked a strand of curly brown hair behind her ear. “And why are the cops interested in them? Have you thought about the possibility that they’re the terrorists?”
“That’s ridiculous. The police would have said something.” Or not. Perhaps she was a person of interest to them, too.
Lava bombs didn’t leave residues, did they? Oh gosh, she didn’t need the police on her tail in addition to the Trolleks, not to mention any confounded humans they might control.
“I’ll tell Zohar to get in touch with the authorities. He’ll straighten things out.”
She signaled the waitress for the check, suddenly conscious of their exposure. She’d thought meeting her sisters in a public place would be safe, but she could be wrong.
“Listen, I brought you here to warn you. You may be in danger. Believe me or not, those bad guys Zohar is after…they’re trying to stop him from exposing their operation. His team was with me in the house when it blew.”
“Are you saying the crooks tried to take him out?” Kristy scoffed.
“Yes, and I’ve been threatened—”
“You?” Diane raised her eyebrows. “Come on, Nira. Do you really expect us to believe this?”
“I know it sounds far-fetched, but the baddies regard me as a member of Zohar’s team now. By association, you could be on their hit list, too. You have to leave town until this is over.”
“What happened to Grace?” Diane persisted.
Nira scraped a hand through her hair. “She’s alive but in their custody. Don’t worry, I’ll find her.”
Kristy raised her hands. “Nira, you’re usually so sensible. Ever since Diane and I moved out on our own, you’ve been acting strange. And now you come to us with this wild story.”
Nira’s muscles tensed. She’d never mentioned what their mother had told her privately on her deathbed. Perhaps confession would cleanse her soul.
“I suppose this is as good a time as any. I have more news. This will come as a shock.”
She grabbed the check when the waitress brought it and threw down her credit card.
“What now?” Diane pursed her lips, her expression guarded.
“Mom spoke to me as she lay dying. We had enough to deal with after her death: making funeral arrangements, sorting through her things, deciding how to manage financially. It slipped away from me and then…” Her throat closed.
“Don’t keep us in suspense.” Diane’s voice dripped with sarcasm.
Nira swallowed beyond a lump in her throat. “Mom and Dad adopted me when I was a baby.”
“What?” Kristy stared at her in disbelief.
“My real parents left me on the church doorstep with nothing except this watch.” She showed it to them.
“You’re not really our sister?” Kristy squealed.
“Sshh.” Nira didn’t know who might have listening devices aimed in their direction.
For all she knew, the cops could have put her under surveillance since the bombing. She’d been so beguilded by Zohar and focused on the Trolleks that she hadn’t noticed anyone else paying attention to her. That didn’t mean they weren’t there. She’d have to alert Zohar, but now more pressing matters took priority.
She leaned forward, folding her hands on the table. “I am your sister in every way that matters. However, I want to discover my ancestry. That’s why I took time off from grad school this summer, so I could earn some money. I need it to conduct my research.”
Diane cocked her head. “Why didn’t you tell
us sooner?”
Nira glanced away. “I was afraid you…we’d lose our close relationship. I guess I’ve made that happen without any help from you.”
Kristy grabbed her hand. “Nira, you’ll always be our sister, no matter who your parents are.”
Diane added her handclasp. “All for one and one for all.” She repeated their favorite phrase from The Three Musketeers.
They sprang back, grinning.
Nira sobered. “I meant what I said about you leaving town. I’m involved in this mess and now by association, so are you. I won’t rest until I know you’re safe.”
Kristy’s eyes filled with concern. “What about you?”
“I have Zohar’s team to cover my back. We don’t know how far the tentacles of this terrorist organization reach. Meanwhile, I’m attempting to interpret this symbol on my watch. It may be a runic inscription, and somehow this relates to things in a manner I can’t explain.”
“So what will you do now?” Diane threw a surreptitious glance over her shoulder.
“I’m going to Cassadaga to see if one of the psychics there can answer my questions. Maybe a reading will point me in the right direction.”
“Cassadaga.” Diane shook her head. “Nira─”
“I know this sounds nuts. Just humor me and heed my warning, okay? Otherwise, the consequences could be bad, and I’d never forgive myself if anything happened to either of you. “
Chapter Seventeen
“Dal, what happened?” Zohar rushed forward, his heart thumping. He crouched and rolled Dal over. Thank the Creator, his friend still breathed but his face looked ashen.
“Stomach.” With a moan, Dal curled his legs up and clutched his midsection.
Zohar glanced at the broken juice glass on the floor as the others charged into the room. “We have to get him to the ship.” His mind made quick calculations to alter their plans.
Yaron knelt, performing a quick examination. “No time. It must be something he ingested, perhaps an allergic reaction. He needs his stomach pumped.”
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