Sheena closed her eyes. So the cover-up was going on right under Guardian noses. “What about biologics?”
“Weapons of the weak. If humans are meant to die, so be it. Not every threat can be neutralized. Death with dignity is honorable.”
A fatalist. She was grateful for that. They ignored things like plagues and sickness and the horror such things took on people’s lives. “And what about our treaties? What about our peace with the aliens? They saved us. Our presence is only possible because of that history. Humans alone would have lost that war.”
“Not proven. Intervention was too costly. They have taken our women. With the matchmakers gone, that would be obvious. No one would believe the lies any longer.”
Sheena nodded sadly. “Yes. It certainly would look like true abductions were happening without Angus and Erin to mediate.”
“The matchmaker alternates must be eliminated.”
“Didn’t you hear? They’re not universe hopping alternates. The alternates the Guardians retrieved all died,” Sheena said firmly, making sure this was one lie she told well. “The new matchmakers are my clones—my personal experiment in saving my parents. If I get to study their evolving DNA, I believe I can perfect the process. They’ll live at least another hundred years or so. It would be a great discovery for New Earth humans if clones last that long. Imagine what that could mean for longevity.”
“Clones?”
“Yes. They’re clones, but you must not tell anyone except the director of Novus Prime. As my boss, he’s the only one allowed to know. I may have to stop my work though. It’s become obvious that I’m not safe here. Even you tried to kill me.”
“Can’t kill you now because of the clones. We must have that technology.”
“Yes. You must. And Bri saw only criminals that day, but she fears for her life too. She’s staying on in the AAS program.” Sheena shook her hands as she thought. Ideas. She needed something he could easily believe. “Nate’s firing the captain his mother hired. Brianna will be taking his place. I’m staying to study the clones… and to be with your son. The matchmakers may die any time. Do you understand what I’m suggesting?”
“Your sister is joining the airship crew. You’re studying the clones and fucking my son.”
“Close enough, I suppose,” Sheena said, exasperated with his personality. “Don’t forget it was your son who saved your ass because if it wasn’t for him, you’d be getting incinerated too. What are you going to do tomorrow?”
“Contact Novus Prime. Tell them about the clones.”
“Very wise of you. You should call your wife when you get done. Tell her you want a divorce. The woman needs to start over and find someone decent. Maybe she’ll get a real life and leave her son alone.”
“Some things cannot be changed.”
Sheena chuckled. The unconscious mind was a deep pool of truths. “Sleep now. That was a bad bump you got on your head.”
“What bump?”
Sheen walked behind him, picked up a guard baton, and whacked Nate’s father. She watched with great satisfaction as his head swung limply forward.
“That was for shooting my sister. Nobody messes with my family and gets by with it, you self-serving bastard. Be grateful I don’t make your dick limp for the rest of your life.”
Throwing the baton to the floor of the cell, Sheena walked out. She passed Darcone on the way and got a respectful nod. “Take him to medical. He’s ready for Nate now. Let him heal the bastard and send him back to where he came from.”
Chapter Seventeen
Nate stood over his father and stared into the face of the man who helped make him. He was still working to accept that someone in his famous family had chosen to walk down a path that led to six innocent deaths and money deals with criminals.
He was also still working to accept the new version of Sheena and the alarming skillset she’d developed during the hundred years they were apart. Did he really think he could live with a woman who’d probably brainwashed him to get him to tell her what she wanted to know?
The sight of her walking into medical made his dick start saluting. That answered the biggest part of his questions, but he still wasn’t ready to admit it yet. He was still upset and wanted her to confess her actions. He also wanted her to promise to never do it again.
“Thank you, Toorg,” Sheena said, patting the alien’s right pec the way Erin had told her Toorg enjoyed.
“I am Toorg,” he said happily, nodding to Nate over her head before trotting off.
Sheena walked to the medical table and stared down at an older version of Nate. “I am so thankful I gave us both the serum when I did. You look great instead of being half-way to this. We’ve got years before you’ll start to look this old.”
“Could we not debate my father’s appearance? How hard did you hit him anyway? That was a level 4 concussion you gave him.”
“He still has all his man parts, doesn’t he?” Sheena asked.
Stirred no doubt by their arguing, Nate’s father thrashed and finally opened his eyes. He looked at Nate and then at her.
“How are you feeling?” Sheena asked. “That was a bad bump you got on your head. Bri feels really bad for spilling her tea and not mopping it up. You walked in and hit the floor before she could get it cleaned.”
“Tea? What’s tea?”
Sheena laughed. “Sorry. I meant herbal stimulant. The new matchmakers call it tea. I’m not sure what they mean.” Sheena put a finger to her head and rotated it while he stared at her. “Clones get a little woo-woo sometimes. Programming weirdness.”
“Clones?” he whispered.
Sheena looked into his clouded, pain-filled gaze. “Yes. I assumed you had the clearance to know. That’s why Nate and I told you.”
“Right. Sorry. Terrible headache.”
Sheena patted his shoulder. “It’s no problem. Good thing you have such a hard head.”
“When can I travel?” he asked.
Nate narrowed his gaze on a grinning Sheena before shifting it to his father. “A few hours more, so long as you have a pilot. You’re in no shape to pilot a vehicle yourself.”
“You sound like a healer.”
“I am a healer, Father. I have a degree and everything,” Nate said.
“Right. Always forget that. Figured being an Admiral was enough of a job.”
“Well, it has been up to now. I hired a new Captain. Mom thought it was a great idea, though I’m sure it broke a few alien hearts. First time in nearly 500 years that a woman left the program before making a match.”
“You’re not making any sense.”
“Brianna MacNamara. She’s been assigned to the AAS ship with me.”
“Your mother…”
“Mother was thrilled. She’s hoping Sheena and I reconcile and give her a grandchild. Would you like that too?”
“I guess. I need to talk to your mother. We’ve let things go too long. Need to divorce.”
Nate nodded as he held his father’s gaze. “I always suspected you weren’t really a couple. She never said, but you were never around when I visited her. It’s been over 50 years since I’ve seen you.”
“Can’t see you if you never leave this fucking ship.”
Nate glared when Sheena crossed her arms. “Well, I used to—before I became Admiral.”
“I know. You’ll never leave this flying can now. You’re just like your mother, married to your damn job. Why do you think I left her? I wanted a real life.”
Nothing else the man could have said would have felt more like a verbal slap. Nate patted his shoulder like Sheena had done. “Okay. Rest now. Let the meds work their magic. You’ll wake up feeling better in a few more hours.”
Leaving word to be contacted when his father woke again, Nate and Sheena walked silently to his office.
Nate picked up her hand and tugged her with him to his chair. He sat in it and pulled her down into his lap. He hardened beneath her wiggling ass but ignored his arousal. They h
ad way too much to settle first.
“I need you to tell me the truth, Sheena. Did you do to me what you did to my father?”
Sheena patted his cheek. “Yes.”
“Just like that? You can be all matter of fact about brainwashing me?”
“Yes. Just like that, and it wasn’t brainwashing. I merely planted suggestions in your subconscious mind. I’d pretty much figured out what Angus and Erin were, but I needed confirmation. I couldn’t regret my actions after I discovered the truth about Scott. Enemies were surrounding me and Bri on all sides. You weren’t coming over to my side fast enough. For a little while there, I was afraid you never would.”
Nate pulled her head to his shoulder. “I’m still pissed at you. Maybe I have no right to be, because I know everything you said is valid, but I’m still going to be mad for a while. I hate being used, even when I can see I gave you no other choice.”
“It’s okay. We’re used to being mad at each other. I can deal, if you can. Just hurry and get over it. I would really hate to spend another century drifting from lover to lover looking for someone to replace you.”
“I’d hate that too,” Nate said, hearing the resignation in Sheena’s answer. She would do exactly that if he made the wrong decision—something he had no intention of doing. “So what now, Dr. MacNamara, Super Spy?”
“First, we tell the Guardians about your father and the director Novus Prime. I’ll have to make a trip personally to do it. This is not something to be done over a com line, no matter how private.”
“Maybe you can go when Angus and Erin do. John said the Guardians have agreed to see them.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Sheena said.
“The Guardians might decide to kill my father,” Nate said sadly, realizing the truth of his words.
Sheena nodded against his neck. “They might. Or they’ll watch your father and my boss once they know. Either way, your father didn’t die at your hands when he could have—or at mine—or even Darcone’s hands. That pissed alien really, really wanted to kill the man.”
“Darcone,” Nate said, thinking about it. “He’s started speaking to me. A hundred years of silence, and now he’s chatty every time I see him. I guess people really can change.”
“In love, he is,” Sheena teased.
“Stop,” Nate ordered. “Don’t make fun of his speech.”
Sheena snorted. “Bri’s right. You really need to get a sense of humor. Darcone thinks it’s funny.”
Nate chuckled in her ear. “He thinks it’s funny when Bri does it. He wants to sleep with her. Everything your sister does is pretty much okay with him.”
“Well, there’s nothing stopping them from having a relationship,” Sheena said.
“Except that he’s obligated to take a mate home to his planet. That won’t be Brianna now, will it?”
Sheena sighed. “All these complicated rules. Love is not supposed to be this hard, Nate.”
“Now you sound like Angus and Erin.”
“Well, they’re right about this,” Sheena said, raising her head to meet his gaze. “And they’re right about giving the alien matches a wedding send off. If you want this program to really work, you’re going to have to let the two groups mingle and get real. Those fucking computer match-ups are driving Erin crazy. It’s only so long before the woman blows up about it.”
Nate sighed and then laughed. “You don’t have to convince me. I’ve seen her blow up. I hide in my office when it happens. She’s one of those women who gets angry during their menses.”
“So do I. Did you really hit on her?”
Nate chuckled. “Jealous much?”
“Yes.”
His laughter over her instant answer earned him a couple punches to his chest. “Nothing happened. I was just attracted at first. She reminded me of you. It was pathetic how much in love with Angus she was. Stupid idiot almost messed it up. I kept having to get between them.”
“You played matchmaker?” Sheena asked.
“More like I refereed and mopped up the blood. I thought Angus was going to pickle himself with alien ale before they worked things out.”
“Are we going to work things out?” Sheena asked.
“Yes. We are going to work things out,” Nate said firmly. “I can’t lose you again. I punched out my own father to save an alien because of you. You make me do the right things, whether I want to or not. I need a strong woman in my life.”
“I’m not campaigning to be your mother.”
Nate snickered. “Okay. Then marry me—again. Be my wife. I’ll do better this time.”
“Can I think about it?” Sheena asked.
“Sure. I have my own methods of convincing you,” Nate said, sliding open his desk drawer. He pulled out a remote. “See? I have cool toys too.” The door clicked and locked.
He lifted Sheena until she straddled his lap. “I think this office needs to be christened with a screaming orgasm, mostly because I need back inside you. I’m having withdrawal.”
“Sex in your most sacred space. Why Admiral Tiberius, I don’t know what to say.”
“Say yes, Dr. MacNamara. Just say yes.”
Nate decided Sheena’s hot, needy mouth on his was far better than hearing the words.
Chapter Eighteen
Nate was reading the summary of her father’s notes that Sheena had sent him when the call from his mother came through. The door to his office was closed so he took the call on his desk com.
“Greetings, Provost. Thank you for approving my request for Brianna’s reassignment to the AAS airship. She is very pleased… as is her sister.”
“I couldn’t pull Captain off, but being Commander MacNamara should suffice for her duties there. I hope you know what you’re doing in taking her on. Brianna was a good agent, but my one complaint was that she did not have the self-discipline to pull back when the odds were against her. It’s been a lot of work keeping her alive.”
“If she can meet a shuttle without waking me up to help, I’ll be satisfied. I need someone to handle things so I can have a break. I may not look it, but I am on my second century of life. The last hundred years has taken a toll.”
“You don’t have to convince me. I’ll be rolling over into another century in a few years myself.”
His mother lifted a hand to her hair and said nothing else for several long moments.
“What’s wrong, Mother? Is there something else you need to talk about?”
Nate watched the woman who’d molded him tamp down her shock over his personal question and pull herself together. She sighed and closed her eyes, showing the first real weakness to him he could ever remember.
“You’re absolutely right. I need to talk to my son a moment, Admiral Tiberius.”
Nate straightened in his seat. “I’ve never been as good as you are about separating my work life from my personal one. Ask any of my wives. You can always talk to me, Mother. What’s wrong?”
“Your father…” She stopped and then started again. “Your father contacted me yesterday, and then came to see me at my office. He asked me for an official divorce, but said he intended to get an unofficial one if I refused. I had no choice but to grant him his request. The dissolution will be registered this week. I’m sorry to have to tell our child this news over a com line. I’m being as cold about it as he was.”
Nate shrugged. He should have felt more guilty about not telling her the whole truth, but he didn’t. “I’m sorry that you’re sorry, Mother. He came to see me too, but didn’t stay long. How did he seem to you? I thought Father was acting rather strangely, but then he and I have never been close.”
His mother sighed over that too. Was that grief manifesting over losing the man she loved? Or just a resistance to change like the kind he had? He felt like sighing himself because he knew now which parent he’d emulated most. It was yet another thing Sheena had been right about.
“Your father has become a stranger to me. The man I bonded with to create you has ne
ver in two centuries been that cold and distant with me. Even in our estrangement, when he sought out my company, it was always like the beginning of our relationship again. This time he left as quickly as he came. It was all very odd, Nathaniel. Did he talk about his work while he was there? My instincts were saying that was the source of his strange behavior.”
Nate nodded. “Yes. Father said he came to check on the matchmaker clones, but in the end, he didn’t even talk to them. Once he found out Sheena was staying to study Angus and Erin for the long term, he just left. He did have a concussion and some mental confusion from some accident he had. I hope he takes care of himself. He needed more healing attention than he let me give him.”
His mother shook her head. “When I met your father, I was so proud to be a part of the Tiberius family that I had my name officially changed to it. Almost no New Earth woman does that.”
Nate smiled. “I love Sheena like the sun, but that would be too much for me. I promise you I’ll never become a MacNamara.”
His mother chuckled. “Good. It’s bad enough you want to sleep with one. Have you two discussed having my grandchild yet?”
Nate sighed and leaned on an elbow. “We haven’t even discussed getting married again, but I’m going to wear her down. She’s my wife—my real wife—in every other sense of the commitment. I want it official everywhere.”
“I believe you, son. And I agree. I’m glad your father and I haven’t ruined your optimism about relationships. You get that from your Grandfather Tiberius.”
His mother let her smile drop slowly away. “So back to business for a minute. How are the clones doing?”
Nate raised his eyebrow. Instinct warned not to trust her innocent shift. His mother was and always would be married to her work. His father was right about that. He would feel no regret for protecting Angus and Erin from her, even if it meant telling a hundred lies.
Nate's Fated Mate: Aliens In Kilts, Abduction 2 Page 14
