by Isabel Wroth
Cassie spread her hands to enlarge the hologram, proud when all her work was displayed in a neat, orderly fashion. She turned around to watch the others take it all in, a little crushed when Falken frowned at her like she’d done something wrong.
“And what is all this, Cassie?” Clary prompted, offering her an encouraging smile. Cassie struggled to speak for a second, because Brennaugh and Tarek both were frowning at her in the same way as Falken.
Like she had just pooped in the middle of the street like a savage.
Refusing to cower, Cassie took a deep breath and nodded to the charts. “This is all the information I’ve gathered on how the spies were chosen and a profile on who the major players who started this game might be.”
That perked the men up noticeably.
“Explain.” Tarek ordered, leaning forward to catch Clary around the waist so he could pull her into his lap.
Cassie felt terrible, but the jealousy was eating at her to the point where she felt like her insides were starting to look like Brennaugh’s outsides. Even as busy and crazy as things were, Tarek made time to be with Clary.
Cassie had to look away quickly to keep it from her face, praying her cat was with her enough to cover her scent.
“Every Sarazen implanted with the Adiveeze tech had been or was currently enlisted in three specific branches of the military. Communications, transport of military personnel or mercantile goods, and protection detail for prominent members of the pride. Their complete files are uploaded into one place in the database.
“Personnel files, intelligence ratings, clan affiliations, psychiatric profiles, military performance, mission efficacy. All of it, right here. The traitors have built a profile to choose their spies based on specific traits or qualifications, within those specific positions or positions they gained once retiring. They have used it to compile a list of candidates for recruitment. Willing or unwilling.”
“You would not have had access to those files. I only linked the holo-room to the public database.” Falken told Cassie skeptically.
She could feel him looking at her suspiciously. “I used your security code to access the military database. I would be delighted to discuss it with you at a later time. May I continue?”
“Yes.” Tarek barked from his chair.
Cassie felt like her lungs were beginning to fail. Felt like she was struggling for her next breath as the disappointment she felt, the disappointment in Falken’s reaction, began to sink terrible claws into her heart.
It was almost too easy to retreat into the mind of her cat. To rely on the beast’s cool, emotionless, predatory mode to get her through. Just a subtle shift and the cat inside her surged forward to fill her with strength. Every time Cassie thought she couldn’t accept her beast, it went and did something like this to protect her.
“Right.” Cassie cleared the obstruction in her throat and went on. “So, I’m not the only one who has accessed this particular bit of data. I calculated the percentage of interest based on how much time was spent in each file and how many times a particular file was accessed. I made up a basic program to give the most probable data in regards to the traits and abilities the traitors appear to be looking for. The purpose being to give another list of potential candidates for later recruitment.
“I couldn’t tell you what the end game is, I don’t have enough data for that yet. I can tell you the majority of the Sarazens implanted were born from or affiliated with the Blackpaw Clan. I was rather surprised to learn that there were only seven original clans, but each clan had about a thousand tribes under those primary seven. Anyway, the access codes used to open these files could potentially identify the person using them. Though it’s likely they are either stolen or belong to dead people.
“The search can be narrowed down to personnel with the security clearance needed to access some of these files. I would suggest revoking all of those codes. Or issuing new ones and deleting the old. Or, I can create a program to track each time these codes are used. The traitors continue to use the same handful, so it’s possible they could be caught that way. Personally, I think now they know we’re on to them. Someone from the enemy will try to approach one of the human hybrids.”
Cassie could feel the doubt pouring from where Falken stood behind her and almost smiled at the derisive snort her beast gave. Tarek and Brennaugh shared a look, one of consideration, and then both looked to her.
“They wouldn’t dare to come within the same orbit of you or any of our mates.” Brennaugh growled, obviously bristling with insult at the very suggestion that someone would threaten his mate.
Cassie threw out her hip and cocked a facetious brow. “Just like they wouldn’t dare to try and interfere with a mate bond during the Breeding Festival? Just like they wouldn’t dare to place a female into the former Asho’s bed to keep him on a leash? Just like they wouldn’t dare-”
“Enough.” Tarek grunted. Leaning back with a sigh to cuddle Clary closer to his chest, his enormous hand rubbing circles on her belly. Cassie had to look away again or risk showing the envy coloring her heart green.
“Why do you believe the traitors will approach one of the hybrids?” Tarek asked, drawing Cassie’s attention.
She was glad at least to see that Clary seemed to be smiling smugly, proud of her it seemed. At least someone was. Cassie tapped her fingers on her datapad to bring up another file.
“We know they’re using Adiveeze technology. Things the Sarazen council has banned from use in the territory. We know how to identify it. Now I’ve found the trail the traitors have left through the records and, with what I have, I could follow or tag that trail anywhere.
“Chances are good they’ll notice the program sooner rather than later and have to switch tactics again. Soon they will run out of options and be forced to resort to coming out of the shadows to face us. It’s what villains do. They look for any point of weakness or vulnerability and they exploit it.”
“And you know this based on what experience?” Brennaugh challenged.
Cassie shrugged and indicated to her data. “Patterns. History is nothing but patterns. Ebb and flow. Action and reaction. The entire universe works this way and people, no matter the species, do too.”
By the time Tarek had finished drilling her with questions, Cassie was exhausted. Mentally exhausted. Enough that she momentarily forgot how much Falken’s gift of the holo-room was, by his own word, nothing important. Just something to keep her busy and out of his hair it seemed like. He clearly found her lacking of any real intelligence and had intended to simply keep her entertained.
Of all the disappointments and indignities she had suffered throughout her life, this one hurt the most. So much so, that if not for the strength of her beast, Cassie would have been unable to conceal her tears or the ugliness of her jealousy. Clary looked like she was half asleep now, still curled in Tarek’s lap, while Tarek and Brennaugh were in the midst of deciding whether or not to do as Cassie said and revoke all access codes past a certain level.
“I’d like permission to continue looking into things.” Cassie interrupted, drawing the two male’s attention back to her.
Tarek jerked his chin up at her sharply. “Do it. I will personally provide you with the highest security clearance.”
Falken bristled from where he stood at her shoulder, still hovering, still glowering darkly. Cassie gritted her teeth and ignored his disapproval.
“Thanks, but I don’t need it. I’m more interested in the original historical documents. These files were redacted for a reason. Until they are examined, we can’t determine a precise timeline and place to begin linking the attacks. The physical archive is on S7 and I would like permission to go there.”
“The Records Keepers can send you whatever you require-” Falken was cut off as Cassie shot her mate a look. She and her beast both unconcerned about controlling the anger in her expression at this point.
“Can you without a shadow of a doubt tell me, not a single one of th
ose Records’ Keepers are part of this conspiracy?” Cassie challenged.
Falken’s jaw bunched hard enough to blanch the skin. “I cannot,” he grunted.
Cassie turned away from the sight of him. “I need to see those records to complete my analysis.”
Tarek rubbed at his jaw thoughtfully, looking from her to Falken and back. The pride ruler’s expression was tight with speculation. With suspicion.
“Very well, Cassie. You have provided us with valuable intelligence that would have been quite helpful several months ago.” The Asho directed that last bit in Falken’s direction, obviously having cottoned on to the fact that Falken was the one responsible for the delay.
Part of her felt quite vindicated to see that at least someone around here with a penis could see Cassie had much more to offer than just a warm body. Though that didn’t lessen the feeling of dejection, of years’ worth of isolation and dismissal, one little bit.
Wanting to be out of there as quickly as possible, Cassie didn’t say any of that out loud. “Thank you. I’ll be ready to go as soon as Ohlen can arrange the transport.”
“Ohlen? Why would Ohlen be arranging transport?” Falken demanded harshly, the fine hairs on Cassie’s body standing on end in reaction to his anger.
Cassie saw Clary roll her lips under and glance down at Tarek’s desk in obvious amusement, quickly shooting Cassie a wink and a little nod of approval. For what, Cassie wasn’t sure. Foul, angry words piled up on her tongue. A muscle in her jaw ticked as she sucked in a slow breath and counted to ten before answering.
“Ohlen is in charge of seeing to the needs of the human hybrids. I am a human hybrid and I need transport to S7, he will see to it.” Cassie was proud of how calm and in control she sounded.
She might smell like she had been rolling in ash, her anger taking on that smoky, peppery scent. But she sounded calm at least. Brennaugh coughed into his hand to hide his amusement. Tarek hid his smile in Clary’s hair.
Falken wasn’t amused. “You have a mate to see to your needs, or have you forgotten?”
Cassie turned to face Falken’s accusatory tone and looked up at him, wishing that under the snarling growl of her beast, it didn’t hurt so much. Wishing it didn’t feel like Falken had just reached into her chest and clawed her heart to ribbons. Wishing Cassie hadn’t been so stupid and given in so quickly.
Wishing…for more.
“I do have a mate. A mate who apparently gives me access to information he classifies as ‘not pertinent’ in order to keep me entertained and out of his hair. A mate who seems to forget I exist except when I become an inconvenience. As for my needs, clearly, they don’t seem to matter much until his ego is threatened. I think he looks like you, except I haven’t seen his face in so long that I couldn’t say for sure.”
The bite in her tone made Falken jerk back like she’d slapped him across the face. Cassie was honestly tempted, but that would require more energy than she had right now. She turned to face the ruling pair, mortified to see that neither of them were wearing amused expressions any longer.
“Thank you for seeing me. I’ll get some stuff together and be ready to go as soon as Ohlen can iron out the details.”
Tarek gave a tight nod and Cassie left before anything else could go wrong.
Two
Cassie was glad her suite wasn’t horribly far from Tarek’s office. She was glad there wasn’t anyone to see her hustling through the hallways, or to see the angry tears she quickly dashed from her cheeks. Her hand was shaking when she lifted it to set her palm to the biometric lock, wondering how long it would take Falken to notice if she were to change the program to admit only her scan.
Uncertain how much time it would take for Tarek to contact Ohlen and permit him to make travel plans, Cassie hurried to pack some stuff. If she was honest with herself, she was more in a hurry to get away from the possibility that Falken might come after her.
Or worse, the possibility that he wouldn’t.
Feeling raw and emotionally abraded, Cassie didn’t really want a confrontation right now. She was far too close to falling apart. Too close to crying and boo-hooing over how her mate didn’t seem to want to be her mate unless it was convenient to him. But at the same time, it would be a devastating blow if he didn’t care enough to make that confrontation.
In the short time aboard the warship, just after the humans rescue from the Aria, Falken had displayed behaviors Cassie would have at any other time, classified as a pattern. Behaviors that should have made her realize sooner the probability of a poor match between them, before she had irrevocably allowed herself to fall for his ‘fated mate’ crap. As familiar as Cassie was with identifying patterns, she should have noticed the consistency of the one that suggested a relationship would not work between her and Falken.
At their very first meeting, Falken had called her a remarkable beauty. In answer to Cassie’s disbelief, he had spent hours using eloquent words to express his sincerity. Then Falken had disappeared for two days, only to resurface to explain he had been on duty, but had not for one moment been absent. Watching Cassie via his security monitors to ensure she was safe and well cared for.
At the time, Cassie had felt a little flattered because Falken had been so serious when he had told her there was truly no place he would rather have been than at her side.
For an entire day they had walked the impressively long hallways of the ship. Falken had explained to her how long he had waited, how long it had been since he had given up hope of ever having a mate. The honor and the relief to know with such certainty Cassie was the reason for hope.
Despite her own habit of suspiciousness, Cassie had melted. She had trusted Falken so quickly because, in truth, it had just felt so right. Cassie had felt the immediate connection, the bond between them. Falken’s emotions and desires were plain along what Cassie thought was such a miraculous psychic ability.
Falken had disappeared again for two more days and Cassie had had the time to reflect and grow suspicious again.
The day Cassie and the others had shifted, when Cassie had been frightened and needing that bond, needing Falken’s reassurance, he was too busy to be there. Then he couldn’t stand to be anywhere else and had diligently worked to gain her forgiveness. Allowed Cassie to slash and claw at him until her beast calmed enough for the mind-blowing sex that had followed.
Patterns. Falken’s actions and reactions had told a story. Cassie just hadn’t been paying attention.
“Cassie,” she stiffened, not having heard the door opening.
Speak of the devil. In a split second Cassie decided her reaction would be offensive. Perhaps a little passive aggressive. “Has Ohlen gotten everything ready so quickly?”
“No. Nothing is being readied until you and I have chance to speak.” Falken’s energy sparked along her back like tiny pinpricks of electricity. “Why did you allow me to believe you were simply a Records’ Keeper when you had such valuable insight to offer?”
Cassie froze in the process of shoving a pair of pants into her satchel, turning around to look at Falken with what she hoped was a withering expression of disbelief.
“You’re blaming me for the assumptions you made in regards to my intelligence?”
Falken’s lashes fluttered in reaction to the sudden change in her tone. The outright fury she blasted him with.
“Cassie-”
It pissed her off that Falken completely dodged the pair of soft-soled shoes she threw at his head. “I didn’t allow you to believe anything. I told you exactly what my function was on the Aria, and YOU assumed it was a useless function now that I was here in your world. YOU assumed that I just liked to read, and I wasn’t about to be a bitch after I thought you’d gone and given me such a sweet gift. Making a holo-room just for me.
“But apparently you filled it with things you thought were useless and of no value, your intent obviously to keep me entertained like I was a bothersome child always underfoot. There’s an old saying from my w
orld about what happens when you make an assumption. You make an ass out of yourself.”
She waved her hand dismissively, returning to her packing, dodging him when he reached out to touch her. If he got his hands on her right now, Cassie might go ballistic.
“You are right, my one. I have made an ass of myself.” Falken completely skipped right past the part where Cassie accused him of tucking her out of his way. Asshole! “I have upset you. Forgive me, it was never my intention to make you feel neglected. I have been so busy acting as Tarek’s second that I have not had time to-”
“No.”
“What?”
“No, Falken. I won’t forgive you.” Cassie buckled the straps on her satchel and turned around to face the shocked Sarazen standing in her room. She squared her shoulders and made herself speak, even though the words felt like razor blades in her mouth.
“I understand busy. I understand you having an important position within this pride. But busy is not what you are. Tarek is busy. Ga’rae is busy. Brennaugh and Ohlen are busy. Yet somehow they, and every other warrior mated to a human, finds time to spend with said mate in their extremely busy schedule.
“I have tried to connect to you through our bond in an effort to gain some sense of closeness, but you know what happened every time I managed it? I felt you react immediately with annoyance or impatience. Or worse, with rejection. You spent an incredible amount of time trying to convince me you had waited almost a thousand years to have a mate. To have me. Then you had me, and just like you did on the warship, you disappeared. The only reason I’m back on your radar now is that I just made you look bad in front of your peers.”
