by Marie Harte
To which both Sernal and Temis answered, “Agreed.”
Chapter Fifteen
“I’ve heard of you.” Abjon swung a meaty fist towards Gren’s face.
Gren’s ribs throbbed, his eye swelled, and his shoulder was most likely dislocated. He used the pain to enhance his reflexes and narrowly avoided another blow to his cheek. Recoiling from the larger man’s lunge, Gren leapt to the side and leaned low, kicking at Abjon’s knees.
He made contact and the Ragga hit hard, knocking a priceless vase from a nearby table. A murderous curse rent the air. Both Abjon and Gren glanced back to see Rorn standing behind them in the mansion’s overlarge reading room. He held a phaser in each hand.
“You,” Abjon roared. He regained his feet with graceful ease, a curious motion from one so large. “You promised security for an ambitious trade. And now the woman that should rightfully be mine is out there with Mardu peacemakers!”
Rorn didn’t waver, his expression grim as he stared loathingly at both men. “It’s not my fault I stole Seriana before you could. Besides, if you really want to blame someone, blame the drun next to you. I didn’t invite the peacemakers to my party, but I’d be willing to bet he did.”
Abjon glanced at Gren in surprise, his orange eyes pulsing with a strange light. “You’re telling me a mercenary with more murders and thefts on his plate than most of the criminals out there, this man, is a peacemaker?”
“No, not a peacemaker.” Rorn spat and closed the distance between them all. “I suspect he turned to bail himself out of trouble.”
Sensing the rage building in the Ragga, the more dangerous of the two despite Rorn’s phasers, Gren improvised. “Actually, Rorn, I don’t know how the peacemakers arrived when they did. I knocked you out for the sole purpose of keeping Temis and your beks.” He shrugged, mindful of his ribs and shoulder. “Your security is lacking. I took out several of your interior guards myself. And you call yourself a professional?”
A muscle in Rorn’s cheek twitched. “You sorry fuck! You ruined what should have been perfection. I know you brought the peacemakers to my home, my sanctuary.” The light of madness entered his pale eyes. Rorn’s once pristine uniform now looked more grey than white, and his perfectly styled hair lay in disarray. “If I can’t have Temis, neither can you.”
A sudden burst of weapon fire tore one of the phasers from Rorn’s hands. Gren rolled for cover by one of the overlarge settees and out of the corner of his eye saw Abjon do the same.
Phaser blasts exploded while the thunder of booted feet raced through the room. The occupants of said boots fired on anything that moved. Unfortunately, Gren couldn’t tell if the fire was friendly or enemy. In little time the footsteps vanished, and more laser fire sounded outside.
“This isn’t over,” Abjon rasped, a hint of blood pouring between his fingers over his neck. He glared at Gren. “You’re going to pay for this. You and the peacemaker.” In an astonishing burst of speed, the Ragga sprinted for a nearby glass door leading to the outside. He broke through the thick panes, rolled to his feet and continued his stride into the frozen forest surroundings.
“Stupid bastard,” Rorn muttered from beyond Gren’s cover and fired at Gren, shredding the expensive settee.
Unlike the phaser Gren had set to stun, Rorn’s was set to kill, as evidenced by the massive black burns left scorching in the blast’s wake. Gren couldn’t risk being hit, but he needed to find Temis with an intensity that made it hard to focus on anything else.
Needing to keep his pain from affecting her, he’d been forced to shield himself. It was maddening to know she was out there and possibly in harm’s way. But he knew Temis could take care of herself, much as he didn’t want to admit it. He had to finish Rorn before the man escaped to do any more damage. Gren would just have to believe in Temis, both for her sake and his own.
“You couldn’t share, could you, Gren?” Rorn’s shrill voice hinted that his control was all but shot. “All week you had her on her knees, begging you for mercy. I know you fucked her in every way imaginable. Who wouldn’t, in your position? But you just couldn’t give her up. I would have paid you thousands, you know.”
Rorn fired again, this time coming close to taking off the top of Gren’s head. Gren glanced under the rubble of settee and saw Rorn’s feet nearing. If Gren didn’t move quickly, he wouldn’t live to see tomorrow.
Just as he was about to send Rorn to his grave with a series of complicated Zeiren moves, he heard Temis.
“Gren?”
Rorn walked away from Gren and faced the direction of the front entranceway. “Temis, do step closer. No, no, my little slave, drop your weapon or I’ll kill you where you stand, and your clumsy oaf of a lover as well.” Gren couldn’t see Rorn’s hands and had no idea if the other man bluffed or had actually regained his second phaser.
Temis sighed and tossed her phaser to the ground in a clatter. Shit. The bastard had that second weapon.
“What are you doing?” He mentally shouted, trying desperately to stave the pain while communicating. “Why didn’t you shoot the drun when you had the chance?”
The pained gasp she uttered made him draw in on himself. Opening up even to communicate shared his sensations, as pained as he was. He made a mental note to hunt down Abjon and return his own myriad breaks and bruises to the Ragga’s body.
“What’s the matter, Temis?” Rorn asked snidely and closed the distance between them. A large pair of black boots gaining on the smaller set—all that Gren could see from under the couch. “Embarrassed to admit you liked feeling his cock inside you? Did you really think I wouldn’t eventually discover your feigned submission, the lack of needle marks on your arms and legs? You were never drugged, just a dirty little whore playing the mercenary to make me jealous.”
Rorn had lost his mind altogether. Gren took the opportunity to roll away from the settee, in full view of Rorn and Temis. He rose on steady feet, using his anger to boost his reserves.
“There you are, Gren. I think it’s time to live out my fantasies while you watch. What do you think?”
He glanced from Gren to Temis and back while he gained on Temis. The woman stood frozen, not in fear, but in concentration. If anything, she looked angry as she glared past Rorn at him, as if he’d done something wrong.
The knowledge that Rorn planned to rape Temis and force him to watch spurred him closer to the madman. One step nearer to ending the bastard’s miserable life.
And then, out of the corner of his eye, Gren saw Rafe slide unobtrusively into the room. Now confident Rafe could take Rorn down should the need arise, Gren’s worry eased. So long as Temis would remain safe, he could let go of his restraints and end this miserable drun’s life.
Gren folded his arms and smiled. “I’ll bet you fifty beks you can’t rape her.”
Rorn blinked. He now stood directly behind Temis, too damned close, in Gren’s opinion. “What did you say?”
“Make it a hundred. There’s no way you can rape that woman.”
Rorn shoved one of his phasers into the small of his back and stepped to the side. He opened the fly of his trousers, exposing a raging erection. “I can do all sorts of things with this,” he hissed and held the phaser to Temis’ temple. As he did, he humped against her leg, and Gren saw red.
“But you should see what I can do with this,” Temis said before she simultaneously butted the back of her head into his face and pushed away the phaser aimed at her head.
The phaser fired a hairsbreadth from her skull. Gren’s heart leapt into his throat. Just as Gren reached her, she threw her elbow back into Rorn’s stomach and pushed away, turning to fire as she did so.
Before her phaser tagged him, Rafe had a hand at Rorn’s throat and the other into the two-nerve at his shoulder. He choked Rorn unconscious, secured his hands behind his back and dumped the drun to the ground. The Mardu moved so quickly Gren almost missed his movements altogether.
“Didn’t I tell you not to leave my side, pa
rtner?” Rafe asked Temis, growling with reproach.
Temis had the grace to look shamefaced. “I know, but, well, I meant to stay with you. The confusion, the phaser fire—”
Rafe grimaced. “Forget it. Just help the stupid merc sit before he falls down. I swear, one week with the man and you’re useless with orders,” he muttered and dragged Rorn from the room, leaving them alone.
Temis hurried to Gren’s side, uneasy at the hardened set to his features. The left side of his face had swelled. His lips were bloodied, and his right cheek already sported a darkening bruise. His shallow breathing hinted at an injured midsection, and the set of his shoulder promised a bruise, if not broken, bone.
“What the hell were you thinking?” she shouted. Shaking with fear and a growing anger, she wormed her way under the shoulder that didn’t tense when she touched it and led him to a nearby couch.
He sat with her help.
Much as she wanted to knock some sense into him, she couldn’t help touching his bruised cheek with gentle fingers.
“Why didn’t you answer when I called to you?” The silence had been deafening. After sharing her thoughts before, she’d gotten used to being a part of him. When he’d limited her access and then detached that special part of himself, she thought she’d go crazy with worry. “I thought I’d lost you when you wouldn’t answer.”
Gren sighed and kissed her with a tiny flinch. “I’m sorry, sura. I didn’t want you to feel my pain. I knew it would distract you. You did get all the women away safely, didn’t you?”
She nodded. “They’re all accounted for, the slavers rounded up as we speak. I should warn you Sernal’s not very happy with you.” Or me. I wonder if I still have a job after this.
“I couldn’t let the women continue to suffer,” he said stiffly. “Their pain hounded me.”
“But they were drugged and ignorant of their surroundings.” Temis didn’t understand.
“Yes, but their spirits felt the abuse. Their pain gnawed at me, Temis. The dark energy under that tent was like a plague. Harm towards women is something my kind cannot tolerate, especially when inflicted on the innocent.”
And there it was, wide open. She couldn’t ignore his nature. Communicating mentally hadn’t really bothered her. Telepaths did it all the time and though not common, she’d run into her fair share. But reminders of his heritage heightened the tension between them.
Temis didn’t know what to think about his gifts. Awe, fear, pride? She sat next to a man thought more legend than real. But as she looked at his marred face and injured body, she couldn’t help seeing the man beneath the myth.
“Let’s get out of here. You need a medtech and I need a break. I don’t ever want to look at another slave auction for as long as I live. And I’m not up for more of Sernal’s lectures.”
He groaned and stood with her, nodding his agreement. To their consternation, Sernal met them at the doorway with a dark scowl.
“You two come with me. I’ll personally escort you back to Lady Justice. I’ve got a few things on my mind.”
“Just a few?” Gren raised an arrogant brow, which set off Sernal’s temper. Binding Gren’s hands behind his back, and none too gently, Sernal escorted Gren to his ship with Temis trailing behind.
She didn’t know whether to rejoice or worry that her boss ignored her.
“Good idea,” Gren grumbled as Sernal was forced to nearly drag him to the ship. “Torturing me in front of everyone will cement my cover as a slaver. I truly appreciate your consideration.” His all-too-polite voice didn’t win him any points. If anything, Sernal looked even more furious.
The peacemakers around them gave the trio a wide berth as they strode towards the shuttle.
No matter Sernal’s reason for binding Gren, his actions provided her mercenary with a measure of safety. No one seeing Gren bound would believe him in league with peacemakers.
Gren stumbled once and Sernal finally eased. She didn’t miss the worry that flashed on his face and thanked the stars Sernal wasn’t too mad at Gren. Out of sight of the others, Sernal guided Gren into the shuttle instead of throwing him into a seat. He left them a brief moment and returned.
“The ship’s on autopilot. Now let’s talk about what the hell you thought you were doing dragging my peacemaker on a dangerous, ill-thought out plan I assuredly didn’t approve of.” He spared her a brief glance filled with disgust. “And then we’ll talk about protocol and orders and regulations.”
It was a long ride to Lady Justice.
* * * *
Once settled on board ship, Temis quickly offered an excuse to begin her operational reports, which Sernal gladly accepted. He needed a word with a certain Thesha who had no respect for orders.
He turned to face Gren slumped in his office couch. “You look like shit,” he said bluntly, eyeing the large man’s injuries. “What the hell happened? And why didn’t you wait for my help?”
“Rafe was there.”
Sernal scowled.
Gren cringed and cupped his tender jaw. “Take it easy, Mardu. I’ll explain as soon as you pour me a drink.”
Knowing he wouldn’t get any answers out of Gren until the mercenary was ready to talk, Sernal muttered under his breath and brought Gren a cup of sweetened shusha wine.
“This is one fine cabin, captain.”
“Dammit, I want some answers. Bad enough you took Temis under your ‘wing’. But did you have to start your own attack on Colony6 without backup? That’s fucking stupid. You could have been killed.”
“I tried to hold off. I even let your buddy Rorn Fenhal live after the drun touched Temis. But there, around so much pain… Look, I couldn’t wait any longer to help the women or I’d have been useless.”
“Huh?”
“Their pain weakened me.”
Sernal suddenly understood. “The whole Thesha energy thing right? Too much bad energy sets you on your ass.”
“Yeah.”
“In that case, I understand why you had to move when you did. But did it occur to you to explain this to me days before the auction? And why ignore me and use my brother of all people?”
“Because as Cheltam, Rafe used to work with the folks that deal with slaver planets. You’re too high up in the peacemaker food chain. I couldn’t risk a leak, not with Temis’ life at stake.”
“And about that. Why did you take her with you when you left? Rafe told me you enthralled her. I should whip you for that.” But he couldn’t, not when he sensed the deep feelings between the pair. Seeing them together, watching Temis go out of her mind worried for the bastard, spoke its own story. Love wasn’t pretty, but when true, there was nothing stronger in the universe.
“Temis made everything work smoothly.” Gren grinned. Despite his bruised face and swollen eye, he radiated with pride and affection.
“Smoothly, huh? So who gave you the bruises?”
The loving glow faded from Gren’s face. “Abjon Afier, that pirate wanted on more than three planets. He was there for a woman named Seriana. I’d advise you to put some protection out for her.” He rubbed at his ribs, which had to be paining him. “The Ragga scum ought to be hanged for being so damned stubborn.”
“And strong.”
Gren glared at him.
Sernal continued. “From initial reports, though fifteen women were rescued, there were sixteen listed on the sale vids. We didn’t find her among the slavers either. She disappeared.”
“Seriana.”
He nodded. “I’ve put out a search but I doubt we’ll find anything. Our hands are full as it is with the capture of so many slavers. This is the biggest arrest we’ve had in years.” Sernal was absurdly pleased the slave trade had taken a huge hit. “I hate to say it, but thank you.”
Gren nodded, his arrogance in place as surely as the bruises on his face.
“But on another note,” Sernal’s voice deepened, authority at the ready, “what the hell did you think you were doing enthralling my peacemaker? Kidnapping
her was bad enough. But a mind rape?” He deliberately poked Gren in the ribs, grateful for the man’s low groan. “I trusted you to be on your best behaviour.”
“It’s not a mind rape,” Gren hissed in anger and what sounded like agony. “Besides, it wasn’t my fault.” As soon as he spoke, he flushed. “Okay, yeah, I enthralled her, but I didn’t mean to.”
Sernal had seen similar lovesick expressions on both Lurin and his brothers’ faces when they’d fallen in love with their wives. “You’ve bonded. I should have known. Leave it to you to snag the most beautiful and talented peacemaker we’ve ever had.”
Gren tried to shrug and groaned again. “Sorry. Some things are beyond wishes and wills.”
“Does Temis understand what and who you are?”
Gren nodded.
Surprised, Sernal had to ask, “She’s fine leaving the peacemakers to make her life with you, wandering the system?”
Gren flushed, and Sernal knew it wasn’t due to the pain.
“You haven’t told her what she’ll be giving up to come live with you.”
Gren stood without help, his face pale. “It’s been a long day, Sernal. I need to heal, without a medtech, if you don’t mind.”
Sernal knew the Thesha would heal better on his own.
“I’d appreciate it if you could give Temis some time off. Say a week to return to Zeyr for a much-needed homecoming.” Gren must have been desperate to use such a wheedling voice.
Sernal loved it.
“No problem. Have her give Rafe a statement.” He smirked, glad of the power he held over his annoying, younger brother. The operational report for this assignment would be extremely detailed and obscenely lengthy. “I’ll have him record it to vid.”
Gren shuffled to the door.
Sernal wanted to make his point, concern for Temis, as well as Gren, uppermost in his mind. “Be sure, Gren. Be very sure Temis makes her decisions on her own. If you try to force the issue, you’ll only make yourself miserable in the long run.”
