Brooke relaxed even further and Galen gently disengaged himself, but still held her close. She slipped off his body and snuggled next to him. Her muscles felt as if she’d been piloting a ship through battle for hours without break. It had happened before, so she knew what to expect. “I need a shower,” she mumbled against Galen’s shoulder.
He held her. “Sleep first, we can clean up once you’ve gained some strength.” Brooke wanted to move, but couldn’t make her body respond. She gave in and closed her eyes.
She’d get a shower in a moment.
* * * * *
Nikolai stepped back inside the cabin after cleaning up. Brooke had passed out and Galen studied her sleeping face as if he expected to find the meaning of life in it.
Galen looked up at him. “She is everything.”
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Nikolai’s eyes blurred. His partner was right. Brooke had taken hold of not only their hearts, but also their souls. There was no going back.
He gently wiped her down with a moist cloth and then scrambled onto the bed to take up the already familiar position around her back. “What do you think our chances are?” He kissed her shoulder and met Galen’s gaze.
His lover curled his hand around Nikolai’s cheek. “I believe she feels as strongly about us as we do about her.”
Nikolai nodded, feeling as if the Obsfabra Peaks, one of the highest mountain ranges in the system, rested on his chest. “She trusted us,” he whispered.
“She did.”
But until she declared herself, there was always a chance she’d change her mind.
And there was the wall behind which she hid parts of herself.
Nikolai stretched his arm across Brooke until his hand rested on Galen’s thigh. He needed the contact.
Galen gripped his hand. “We’ll be in the Hamil Quadrant in five hours, in orbit of Abanthe in six. She’ll need a couple of those to recuperate. Once she’s more settled, we can go through what happened. Hopefully she will provide a workable lead to the Ferals.”
Nikolai’s fangs snapped down. Those bastards had put Brooke through hell with the tangle stuck in her brain. He wanted the scecxis in front of him right now so he could tear them limb from limb like they’d done in Brooke’s memories.
He stroked his thumb across Galen’s hand.
Galen hadn’t said anything about the Naema yet. That last energy strand had been powerful. Finding out more about his involvement with the Ferals would be priority after tracking down the Vampires and any clues about the missing settlers.
Galen leaned across and kissed him. Their lips met, the familiarity and connection hitting Nikolai in the heart. It sometimes happened like that, the realization of how much Galen enriched his life, how lucky they’d been to find each other.
Nikolai ended the kiss and caressed Galen’s lips. I want to lie in bed with you and Brooke as long as we can and soak up the moment. The mind-to-mind speech was more intimate.
Galen’s smile lit up his face. He nodded.
Nikolai closed his eyes.
* * * * *
Three hours later Galen extracted himself from the tangle of limbs and grabbed a shower. Fighting the web had taken its toll. The sleep had helped. Now he needed food.
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While making breakfast he heard Nikolai and Brooke in the shower. He grinned when he felt Nikolai’s need and saw Brooke’s heartfelt response. When her fist closed around Nikolai’s cock he had to lean against the counter.
As much as he wanted to join in, time was running short. They tended to get carried away. He gritted his teeth and continued to make eggs and bacon for breakfast.
Nikolai’s synth blood was already breathing on the counter.
He sent Nikolai a prod to bring things to an end. His partner groaned, but twenty minutes later Brooke and Nikolai walked in the kitchen.
Brooke’s smile grew when she saw Galen. She walked up to him and gave him a quick kiss before turning to pour a cup of tea. For a second Galen just stood there, stunned.
Nikolai grinned like a kid in the choc-toff candy store and came up for a kiss of his own, one that involved tongue, teeth and the fight for supremacy.
“I didn’t want you to feel left out,” he chuckled.
Galen smirked. “I’m in your head, how could I feel left out?” Brooke filled plates for Galen and her and took out the necessary utensils. Nikolai flopped down on a chair and sipped the blood.
Galen loved the scene of domestic bliss. He wanted every morning to be like this, to have them sit together and enjoy a meal.
He cleared his throat and randomly opened cupboards for a moment. It will happen, Galen. What you wish for will be our future, Nikolai said in his mind.
Galen composed his features and sat down.
Brooke had been waiting for him and began to eat. “What’s next?” Galen studied her face. She had rings under her eyes, but overall she looked healthier, as if an invisible load had been lifted off her shoulders. “How are you feeling?”
“Better, thanks. The sleep helped.”
Nikolai pushed the plate closer to her and took the fork away. “It won’t do you much good if you’re pushing the food from one end of the plate to the next.” He loaded the fork. “Open up.”
Brooke followed that order with a smile and Nikolai fed her breakfast. They didn’t say much, the underlying tension of what was to come present. Once everybody had finished, Galen refilled Brooke’s and his teas. Nikolai shook his head when Galen asked if he would like more blood.
They moved from the small eating area to the bridge. Nikolai sat in the copilot chair and pulled Brooke onto his lap.
Galen settled into the pilot chair. “How are your memories?” Brooke swallowed. “All there, unfortunately, in graphic detail.”
“Will you let us walk through?” Galen asked.
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Brooke looked at him. Galen read the struggles in her eyes, the guilt.
Nikolai tucked her closer. “We will be with you every step of the way,” he assured her.
Galen took her hand. “Remember all this has happened already. As horrible as it may be, it has happened. Your friends have been dead for weeks and by remembering, you will help bring their killers to justice and honor their memories.” Brooke nodded. She patted Nikolai’s hand and slid off his lap. “How do we do this?”
Galen ordered another chair to form. “Have a seat and relax.” Brooke sat, but tension still vibrated through her body.
“Have you noticed anything different this morning?” Galen asked.
She frowned. “What are you talking about?”
He’s talking about the fact that we are inside your shields now, Nikolai inserted himself into the conversation, talking mind-to-mind to both of them.
Brooke froze, but after a deep breath worked on loosening her muscles again. So…I can now talk to you in my head? she asked.
Galen’s heart nearly jumped out of his chest and his cock turned rock hard. Having her respond with mindtalk was beautiful and intimate. Yes, he replied. He read worry in her eyes and hastened to reassure her. We won’t go where you don’t want us.
It hurt that she felt she had to keep parts of herself protected, but he hoped time would take care of her fear. As a human she didn’t know about lifemates, the connection and trust that were the base of such a relationship.
She’d been tapping her fingers, but came to a decision before Galen could work on more reassurance. Here we go, she said and closed her eyes.
Galen entered her memories. Nikolai and he stood on the bridge of the Nebokka, next to their Brooke, and watched Memory-Brooke go through flight-check. Galen admired her poise and easy relationship with her crew. He read loyalty in her people.
They admired their captain and trusted her to lead right.
How wrong they were, Brooke said.
Galen sent her his warmth. Don’t be so hard on yourself.
Memory-Brooke talk
ed briefly to her copilot and then walked off the bridge. They followed her through the ship, observing as she stopped intermittently to talk to crew until she reached the cargo area. The Nebokka was a medium-sized vessel with twenty-three crewmembers, but the cargo area took up close to sixty percent of the ship’s space.
They all watched as hibernation chambers floated aboard, each filled with a settler.
It wasn’t strictly necessary for the relative short trip to be in hibernation, but it was cheaper to store the settlers in this manner than having to feed over one hundred people for a couple of weeks.
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Once everything had been settled and Memory-Brooke was satisfied with the loading, she returned to the bridge. The Nebokka left port.
Can you fast-forward to the day of the attack? Nikolai asked.
Brooke nodded and closed her eyes. For a moment everything around them lost focus and blurred into an amalgamation of colors. Seconds later they were on the bridge again.
Galen wanted to pull Brooke out and hold her. She’d paled and the rings under her eyes were more pronounced. Focus on the leader of the Ferals, not on what they’ve done. He wasn’t sure if she’d heard him.
The Nebokka suddenly dropped out of hyperspace. Memory-Brooke and her copilot were running scans on the systems, trying to figure out the cause, when a blast shook the ship.
“Shields up,” Memory-Brooke shouted. “We’re under attack.”
“Shields not functioning, Captain,” one of the crewmembers said. His face was pale yellow and his Adams apple bobbed.
Another shudder shook the ship, this time that of another vessel docking with the Nebokka. Memory-Brooke grabbed the intercom. “This is the captain speaking.
Emergency protocol five, I repeat, emergency protocol five. Enact immediately.” Is it to abandon ship? Nikolai asked.
Brooke nodded. Somebody on the ship worked with the attackers. My security force was too small to fight against an invasion. To abandon ship was the safest plan.
It c ould be they threatened family or got to the person and planted orders, Galen said.
Brooke didn’t respond, but watched herself grab a phaser from a compartment of her captain chair and race off the bridge. They followed.
The enemy ship had docked halfway between the cargo bay and the bridge. They heard the screams quickly. Memory-Brooke made her way to where the other ship had docked, shoving any crew members she stumbled across toward the rescue pods. She still didn’t know who was attacking her ship or why.
Then she found the first bodies, a group of catering staff.
They had been ripped apart. At closer inspection Memory-Brooke realized their throats had been torn out. Her heart racing, worried at her outlandish thought, she hurried on.
Vampires had lived in peace with humans for over two and a half centuries. Why would they suddenly start attacking a human vessel?
Memory-Brooke rounded a corner and quickly stepped back.
Three Vampires were in the process of killing staff. Her phaser would do no good and three were too many for her to fight off by herself. It killed her inside, but she had to change course.
That would be the smart thing to do.
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Good thing nobody had ever accused her of being smart.
Memory-Brooke set her phaser to its highest setting and came around the corner shooting. She hit one monster in the eye and he dropped the woman he held.
She wasn’t sure if he was dead, but she had no time to worry, because the other two focused on her. One just let go of the man he’d been draining, but the other snapped the neck of his victim with a malicious smile. Memory-Brooke shot again, aiming for the eyes, but they ducked and weaved, using Vampire speed to escape her blasts.
Within seconds the Ferals were close enough to grab her, but before they could, the backs of their heads exploded. Three men from security had opened fire, using steel bullets as opposed to phasers. Memory-Brooke didn’t know how the weapons had gotten on board, but she was glad they had.
Until one security officer aimed his gun at her.
“Daniels, what the Jade are you doing?”
“What I’m being paid to do, Captain.” The other two men stepped next to her and restrained her. Memory-Brooke was too shocked to give any resistance. “Come with us,” Daniels said. “Their leader wants to see you.” Memory-Brooke straightened her back and marched between her two security guards, furious she’d been so easily duped. “I hope you’ve been paid enough for the lives of your friends and crew members.”
He flinched, but didn’t stop walking. “I have.”
Memory-Brooke addressed the men holding her. “And you, is the money enough to warrant the death of every human aboard this ship?” The men didn’t respond or look at her, but appeared to be in a trance. She shrugged and twisted her shoulders, trying to escape their grips, but neither man let go. Instead they tightened their holds without looking at her. “What have you done, Daniels?”
“He put them under. I needed men to help me transport you through the ship. And they accompanied me when I opened the docking door.” He shrugged. “Bad luck on their part.”
His casualness stunned Memory-Brooke. “People are dying here, people you’ve worked beside for ages. Does that mean nothing to you?” His gaze met hers. For a moment the hate in his muddy-brown eyes shot through Memory-Brooke like a laser beam. “The crew got what they deserved. Nobody ever gave me the respect I had earned, always tried to make themselves superior.” He shook his head. “It’s their own fault.”
Memory-Brooke had to scramble to regain her composure. They’d reached their destination, the balcony overlooking the cargo bay. Where she’d stood fifteen days ago watching the delivery and storage of the settlers, now stood a short blond Vampire. He was well dressed and looked harmless, but something about him raised the hairs on the back of her neck.
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He turned when they approached. “Ah, you’ve found her. Very good, Daniels, very good.” He stretched out his hand to Memory-Brooke. “Captain Deverell, such a delight to meet you.”
She kept her hands locked in front of her as she stood in parade rest. “I wish I could say the same about you. Who are you and what do you want? Are you aware this kind of attack will be the start of a new human-Vampire war?” He smirked, his black eyes completely void of all emotion. “I don’t give a flying Jade about a new war. Nobody will ever know the occurrences on this ship.” Memory-Brooke remained silent.
“Ah.” He chuckled. “You think some of your crew got away and are heading for the next human outpost. Unfortunately, none of the escape pods worked. Right now my men are collecting your wayward people and are either having a bit of fun or are adding to our loot.” He smiled and his fangs stood out like a beacon.
She swore she saw bloodstains. “Who are you and what do you want?” She needed more information.
“My name is not important. I am here to collect my spoils.” Memory-Brooke frowned.
“You have one hundred and-forty-nine people sleeping away in hibernation. When they wake up they will start a new life, a life they could have never imagined, and the most attractive and healthy of your crew will join them.” Memory-Brooke clenched her hands, her stomach churning. “A new life?” He smiled and the evil literally dripping off him made a shiver run down her back.
“As blood slaves, my dear, as blood slaves.” He clapped his hands. “And you know the best? Nobody will miss them. Your little baby,” he tapped the walls of the Nebokka,
“will suffer mechanical failure and explode, taking everybody with her into a fiery grave. Well, everybody except you. Once we’re done with you, you’ll have another task.”
Memory-Brooke stiffened. “What do you mean? Why do you think I won’t tell the authorities?”
He stepped closer and patted her cheek. Memory-Brooke jerked back, but the two men next to her made escape impossible. “Who said you’d be able to rememb
er anything?”
He pulled out a pressure syringe and injected her before she could respond. Then his brown eyes bored into hers. For a moment she thought she repelled him, but then agonizing pain shot through her head. It felt as if somebody pulled her brain through her nose. With magma-hot pokers.
He leaned closer and everything turned black.
* * * * *
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Brooke blinked a few times, relieved to see the metal roof of the Mercy before her.
Nikolai and Galen held a hand each.
Galen leaned in and kissed her. “Well done. I’m sorry you had to suffer through it again.”
Nikolai was next. He pressed her hand to his racing heart and kissed her hard. But Brooke sensed something different, as if he held part of him back. She released Galen’s hand and curved hers around Nikolai’s cheek. “What is it?” He only met her gaze for a moment before looking away. Brooke gripped his chin and centered her eyes on him. “Tell me,” she demanded.
Nikolai cleared his throat. “I know the bastard who’s responsible.” Brooke smiled.
“Why are you happy?” He frowned.
“You know the leader, which means you can track him down. There’s a chance to rescue some of the victims.”
“But I’ve known him for decades. As a youngster we’d been out together. He’s no Feral, he lives amongst humans and is respected by both Vampires and humans.”
“Then we need to make sure we have irrefutable proof before we go and kill him.” Nikolai gaped at her. She kissed him. “You’re not responsible for something another Vampire did,” she said. “I am sorry a friend betrayed you, but I am also relieved we have a lead.”
Galen stepped next to Nikolai. “She’s right. You haven’t seen him for close to a century. People change.”
Nikolai’s tension slowly drained away. He leaned into Galen. “When I recognized Silas in your memories I thought you’d hate me.”
Tangled Shadows Page 14
