Raylon turned off the display with an impatient gesture then faced Vox. “King Lotar of the Fire Islands requested the immediate extradition of Quinton Keire. You wouldn’t happen to know anything about that, would you?”
“My family has suffered horribly at the hands of Keire agents.” Raylon remained standing, so Vox did the same. “The request couldn’t have surprised you.”
“I wasn’t surprised by the request, just the timing. We’ve been extremely careful to keep Quinton’s location a secret. How did your uncle find out Quinton was here?”
The corner of Vox’s mouth twitched. He’d provided Raylon a permanent solution to the complications surrounding Quinton. He would not apologize for something so clearly beneficial. “I might have mentioned it to my father.”
“Why?” Raylon tilted his head and a spark of light flashed inside his right eye.
It would have been rude to ask, but Vox was certain Raylon’s right eye was artificial. The battle or accident that left the governor’s face scarred had likely cost him the eye as well. “Why did I tell my father that the man responsible for kidnapping and torturing hundreds in our bloodline was aboard one of your ships? Your mate is a harbinger. You know what the Keires did to my family.” The twisted medical experiments that had inadvertently resulted in harbingers had been conducted on Bilarrian prisoners in Vox’s bloodline. They’d been targeted for their clairvoyance, hunted down like animals, then subjected to years of captivity and torture all in the name of science.
“I understand why King Lotar wants Quinton. I want to know what you got out of arranging it.”
Indignation swelled inside Vox. He raised his chin and narrowed his eyes. “I’m insulted by the accusation.” Raylon resented Vox and always would. Vox had trained Chandar, Raylon’s mate, long before she met Raylon. Vox had never been Chandar’s lover, but certain forms of Bilarrian training required intimate contact between mentor and apprentice. Chandar understood that the interaction hadn’t been personal, but the thought of Vox touching Raylon’s beloved made the governor distrustful and hostile. “The blood of my ancestors cries out for retribution. I required no other motivation.”
“Maybe, but there was something in it for you,” Raylon persisted. “With Bilarrians, there always is.”
“Shall I return to Bilarri? I was under the impression that my assistance was not only welcomed, it was requested.” Raylon might long to send Vox packing, but the governor hadn’t asked him to remain. That had been newly promoted Apex General Garin Nox, aka Raylon’s boss.
“I just want to hear you say it.” Though Raylon remained outwardly antagonistic, he clearly had no intention of banishing Vox from Lunar Nine.
“Hear me say what?”
“That you used Quinton to…accomplish whatever it was you accomplished.”
Vox chuckled. Raylon was right, but there was no force in the galaxy that would get Vox to admit it. “I arranged a day of reckoning for a very evil man, disposing of an inconvenient prisoner in the process. Why are we fighting about this?”
“You should have come to me first.” Raylon’s enmity had deescalated to an annoyed grumble.
“By requesting Quinton’s extradition rather than just taking him, we offered you, and AG Nox, the opportunity to object.” Vox, and every member of his family, could teleport. The royal guards could have surrounded Quinton and teleported off the ship with him and none of the battle born could have done anything about it. Some of their ships had shields strong enough to keep a Bilarrian out. Lunar Nine did not.
Raylon just shrugged, his fit of temper apparently having blown itself out. It was hard to maintain an argument when there were no real points of contention.
“Was there anything else?”
Raylon started to answer when his office door swung open and Kaden Lux strode in with his new mate, a human female named Lexie.
“Pardon the interruption,” Kaden said with a distracted smile.
“Not at all,” Raylon was suddenly warmer and infinitely more tolerant. “We were finished.”
Vox didn’t take offense. Kaden and his brothers were very popular. Nearly as much as the Nox brothers, who had founded the battle born rebellion. Vox wasn’t battle born and didn’t expect to be accepted like one. He wasn’t even Rodyte, for creation’s sake.
“Actually, we were looking for Vox,” Lexie told them.
That was curious. Why would this newly bonded couple be looking for him?
Raylon nodded, his features expressionless again. “The conference room is open.”
Which was a polite way of saying, “Get the hell out.”
Kaden didn’t seem offended by the dismissal. He took Lexie by the hand and led Vox into the conference room, one door down from Raylon’s office. They congregated just inside the door rather than sitting down around the large table.
“What did you need?” Vox prompted when they didn’t immediately state their purpose for seeking him out. “I’m in the process of moving down to Stargazer Ranch.” He was more than ready to be gone from the claustrophobic apartment in which he’d been staying since his arrival on Lunar Nine. And putting some distance between him and the surly governor wouldn’t hurt either. The ranch was spacious and secluded. He’d have his own cabin and the autonomy he needed to effectively train the newly transformed warriors.
Vox expected Kaden to explain, but Lexie responded, “I know you’re still recovering from your illness, but I need a big favor. It shouldn’t take long.”
The human seemed unusually hesitant, which piqued Vox’s curiosity. “I’m here to help. What can I do for you?”
* * * * *
Emily Jenson sat cross-legged on her cot, examining the pictures she’d taken the previous evening. It was too hard to see her laptop’s screen in the bright Serengeti sun, so she’d retreated into her tent to begin preliminary edits on the new images. Her current obsession was African leopards, and the Seronera region of Tanzania had a dense population of the elusive cats. Still, they were extremely hard to catch in action.
She came to an image of a sleek female who seemed to be foraging in the underbrush. Emily immediately recognized the cat’s markings. This was Binti, or Female 214 to the foundation funding her extended stay in Africa. She’d followed Binti’s activities for the past sixteen months. Emily estimated Binti’s age at six years, and seven months ago she’d delivered two stillborn cubs. Emily zoomed in on the bushes that had caught Binti’s interest and spotted the tiny feline face hidden in the underbrush. Rapid onset estrus was common following the loss of a litter. Emily should have expected this.
The tent flap parted, spilling sunlight into the interior, but Emily couldn’t drag her gaze away from the perfect little face. “Binti has a new cub, perhaps more than one.”
“Congratulations to Binti.”
Shocked by the familiar voice, Emily jerked her head up and looked across the tent. Momentary apprehension gave way to excitement as she saw her visitor. “Lexie!” She set her laptop aside and scrambled off the cot. She’d known Lexie Ward her entire life. They were cousins who had been close during childhood then lost touch for many years. But similar interests brought them back together during college. Then a few years later, after each had established themselves in their chosen profession, Emily joined forces with the tenacious reporter on several important projects. They worked well together and always enjoyed each other’s company.
Lexie looked her up and down then smiled. “Africa agrees with you. You look amazing.”
“Right back at you, Lex.” Emily laughed. “Not the Africa part, but you’re practically glowing. What have you been up to since I saw you last?” They embraced, then Emily realized the strangeness of the visit. “What are you doing in Tanzania? No, wait, how did you even find me? We moved camp two days ago and I haven’t notified anyone back home yet.”
“If that’s true, then shame on you. It’s dangerous for no one to know your exact location.”
She smiled. Giving each other
hell was half the fun of hanging with Lexie. They were both opinionated and stubborn, yet they always found a rhythm that complemented both of them. “I might deserve the lecture, but you didn’t answer my question. How did you find me?” And how had she arrived? Emily hadn’t heard an engine of any kind.
“I’ll explain how and why once you hear my proposal.”
“Proposal? You came all the way to Africa to offer me a job?” None of this made any sense. It was almost as if Lexie had just dropped out of the sky. Apprehension tingled down her spine. “Why didn’t you just call me? I have a satellite phone.”
Lexie tilted her head as she looked around the tent. It was tall enough to stand in, but by no means luxurious. Primitive conditions had never bothered Emily. Her hair was wash and go, and she never wore makeup. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d eaten something that hadn’t been heated up over a butane stove or roasted over an open fire.
“I know how absorbed you become in your work,” Lexie was saying, “but have you heard of General Nox? Or actually Apex General Nox. He was just promoted.”
Whatever his title, it was an odd question. “Larry and Stan were talking about him a couple of days ago. Speaking of the rest of my team, were they out there when you arrived? How the hell did you get here, anyway? Hot air balloon?”
“Later.” A secretive smile was Lexie’s only response for a moment, then she said, “No one else was in camp. They might be in the other tent.”
“Was a Land Rover parked by the other tent?”
“Are you avoiding my question?” Lexie folded her arms over her chest, starting to look annoyed. “AG Nox. Have you heard of him or not?”
Lexie wasn’t being any more accommodating, but one of them had to start cooperating or this conversation was going nowhere. “Isn’t he the guy on the internet who thinks he’s an alien? He’s trying to get female volunteers for some mysterious program.”
Something in Emily’s phrasing made Lexie snicker. “That was my reaction as well, but I’ve had a change of heart.”
“Really? And why is that?”
“It’s usually more effective to demonstrate than explain.” Lexie turned toward the doorway, such as it was in a canvas tent. “Vox, can you come in here, please.”
A tall, dark-haired man ducked through the opening, then stood beside Lexie. The first thing Emily noticed was his eyes. Strange red rings encircled his pupils, making his brown irises appear even darker. One corner of his mouth lifted, then he swept his arm before him and lowered his shoulders in a courtly bow. “Vox Loriet, pleased to meet you.”
He spoke English with the strangest accent. Emily had traveled all over the world, yet she’d never heard anything like it. “Emily Jenson.” She wasn’t sure if he expected her to curtsy or return his bow, so she just looked at Lexie and persisted, “If he’s supposed to clear things up for me, it didn’t work.”
“He won’t hurt you, but we don’t have time for long explanations or denials.” Lexie motioned Vox toward Emily.
He advanced slowly, clearly trying not to frighten her. Emily hadn’t been afraid until he started toward her with that strange gleam in his eyes. “What’s this about?” She held up both hands, hoping to back him off. “Why are you here?”
His long fingers closed around her upper arms and a ribbon of light formed directly behind him. The ribbon expanded, drawing back the fabric of space until it formed an opening. Shock gave way to terror as they were suddenly sucked inside. She screamed, instinctively clinging to Vox as reality faded to black. Despite her absolute panic, she never lost awareness. She could feel the firm press of his arms wrapped around her, anchoring her against him as they sped through the darkness.
I’ve got you, Emily. Don’t be afraid.
But his voice was inside her head, not in her ears. Her mind frantically scrambled for rational explanations for what was happening. Nothing came.
Light erupted behind him, like a train reaching the end of a long, dark tunnel. His arms tightened, pulling her firmly against his body as the ground reformed beneath their feet. A lion roared in the distance, adding to the surreal situation. Sunlight and wide open grasslands spread out around them in every direction. It didn’t seem like they’d gone far, but how had they gotten here?
“Where are… How did… Who the hell are you!” She wiggled free of his light hold only to stumble and nearly fall.
He caught her upper arms again and guided her back to her feet. “Breathe. Let your body process the changes.”
“What changes? What did you do to me?” She raised her hands to his chest as the world continued to spin.
“The vertigo is natural. It will pass in a moment.”
She could understand what he said, but his accent was distracting. And intriguing. It sounded almost Eastern European, yet it had a musical quality that made it unique.
He was right. After a few deep breaths, the dizziness passed, leaving her legs shaky, but her mind relatively clear. “Where are we?”
“Not far from your camp. We can walk back if you’d feel more comfortable.”
She tensed at his nonchalance. “How did we get here?”
“I opened a vortex.” His tone was so casual, so matter-of-fact. He could have been saying “I picked up milk on the way home” or “I put gas in the car”. When she just stared at him, he added, “Most humans call it teleporting.”
“Teleporting?” She looked into his red-ringed eyes and laughed. She couldn’t help it. The disbelieving sound just burst from her throat. People couldn’t teleport. And he’d said “humans” as if the term didn’t apply to him. But aliens weren’t real, so he had to be human. Didn’t he?
Then how had they just moved from one place to another in the blink of an eye? Regardless of how unbelievable, she couldn’t deny something she’d just experienced for herself.
“You still seem confused,” Vox noted. “Do you require another demonstration?”
“No! Just give me a second here.” But the longer she looked into his strange, unearthly eyes, the less calm she felt. And it wasn’t just the rings. The savage angle of his cheekbones and the intensity of his stare made her feel vulnerable. “Are you General Nox?”
“I told you. My name is Vox Loriet.” He took a step closer.
She immediately backed up. “But you know the general. You’re part of this…invasion.”
“An indirect part, I suppose. And Apex General Nox is trying hard not to make this seem like an invasion. He wants to create an alliance with humans.”
“With human females anyway.”
He smiled, the first teeth-revealing smile she’d seen on his face. Dimples appeared to each side of his mouth and his angular features seemed less menacing. Now that her gaze was free from the hypnotic power of his eyes, she quickly took another look at the rest of him. Jeans and a clingy pullover shirt revealed the athletic lines of his body, yet his regal bearing seemed almost too sophisticated for such common garments.
“You’re an alien.” She had to say it out loud before her mind would even begin to accept the truth.
His head dipped before he spoke. “My species is not indigenous to Earth, so I suppose I am.”
“And on what planet is your species indigenous?”
He didn’t seem insulted by her questions. Instead, he watched her closely and provided more information than she’d gotten out of Lexie. “I’m Bilarrian. My home world is Bilarri. However, the battle born, the men interested in forming an alliance with human females, are from a nearby planet called Rodymia.”
“Then they’re Rodymians?” And were they as esthetically pleasing as this example of alien masculinity?
“They prefer to be called Rodytes,” he told her.
His answers had been more direct than Emily expected, so she pushed her luck. “It’s pretty obvious how Lexie arrived now, but how did she find my camp?”
“She didn’t. The battle born used their scanners to locate you.”
She swallowed hard, sh
ocked by the implications. “The battle born have scanners that can identify an individual person from way up there?” She pointed toward the cloudless sky as her eyes widened.
“It’s more complicated than that. I believe Lexie contacted someone who knew your last known location, which significantly decreased the area needing to be scanned. Few have any reason to be in an area of the wilderness this far removed from civilization.”
Relaxing somewhat, Emily began to wonder about Vox. “What’s your connection to the battle born?”
“I’m assisting them when and where I can,” he said with a shrug.
The claim was completely unbelievable. He was much too imposing to be unimportant. This was not a man anyone ignored.
When she didn’t reply, he asked, “Shall we return to camp?” And then he held out his hand.
She looked into the distance. He’d said they could walk back if she didn’t want to go through the vortex again. But she wanted to talk to Lexie as soon as possible, needed to understand why her cousin brought aliens into her life. Emily was reasonable enough to admit that Vox wasn’t human, or at least wasn’t like any human she’d ever met.
Taking another deep breath, she placed her hand on his and squeezed her eyes shut.
His warm chuckle made her open them again. “Was it really that horrible?”
A reluctant smile curved her lips and she shook her head. Sunlight picked up golden highlights in his dark hair and longish strands draped across his forehead, making her want to brush them back into place. He guided her hand to his chest then wrapped his arms around her back. The vortex opened behind him, but she kept her gaze fixed on his handsome face. Acceleration hit with enough force to make her gasp. His arms tightened and she pressed her face against his chest. She hadn’t realized he was so tall. Her head almost fit beneath his chin.
The dizziness wasn’t as bad the second time, but Emily took her time moving out of his embrace. It had been forever since any man touched her and Vox’s arms felt surprisingly natural wrapped around her torso.
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