3013: CHAOS (3013: The Series Book 8)

by Laurie Roma

  Katra studied the pairings on the mat. Jaden’s two warriors that he’d brought with him to Earth were almost as skilled as he was, but she could see that they also held back as they fought against the elite soldier opponents. It was obvious to see that the Tarin male fighting against Lieutenant Dean Caporele looked almost bored, but the one fighting against Officer Takeshi seemed like he was having fun. “Ryodan and Isak are going easy on them. Your father, on the other hand, is not.”

  “Actually, that is him holding back.” Skylar sighed. “If he wasn’t, I’d be down one bonding partner. Still, Dom has been determined to learn as much as he can from my father while he’s here. It’s good to see that Jaden, Ryo and Isak are all willing to come down here to teach the guys. We learn the basics in the Academy, and are given the option for advanced training, but it’s nothing like this. I just wish Dom didn’t have so many freaking bruises after each session.”

  “The Tarins are good trainers. Patient, and yet, they do not hold back enough to make it insulting. I am surprised that Arik did not join them down here today.”

  “He would have, but he couldn’t pass up the opportunity to go flying with Xavier, Thorn and Brydan,” Skylar said with a smile. “Even though he has other D’Aire friends who live here on Earth, it’s difficult to arrange a time when they’re all free to go flying. Archer and a couple other guys went along as well.”

  Amusement had Katra’s lips curving. “They allowed them to ride the dragons?”

  “Hell, no.” Skylar laughed. “They took a small shuttle out with them to act as an escort. I think the last thing the Alliance needs is some asshole rebel trying to take a shot at one of the Dragon Warriors, and one of your guys burning down an entire outpost or something.”

  “Rest easy. We do not normally attack villages these days,” Katra said dryly. “Though, if any rebels decide to take my brothers on, they will pay for their stupidity…very painfully.”

  “Oh, I bet they will,” Skylar commented cheerfully. “Damn, I sort of wish someone does try something just so we could see…never mind. That would be really mean, even for me.”

  Katra chuckled, enjoying Skylar’s wicked streak. “Let us hope their outing is uneventful for all. We have not had many opportunities to shift since we have been traveling, and I am sure they are enjoying seeing your land. On our way here, the only place we stopped was New Vega. Alexis was craving sweets from that D’Aire pastry shop on the main level. I believe the Adaro brothers would have strongly protested if we would have shifted on their vessel.”

  “Those would have been three very pissed off Krytos to deal with.” Skylar grinned, amused at the thought. “Then again, you guys have magic. Not many people can put them down, so that would have been pretty entertaining to watch if you had it out with them.”

  “Perhaps, but we appreciated their hospitality, so no shifting for us.”

  “Why didn’t you go with them today? You haven’t shifted in a while either.”

  Katra thought about how to respond for a moment before speaking. She couldn’t tell Skylar that knowing Jaden was going back to Tartarus soon left her feeling panicked. Katra hadn’t wanted to be away from Jaden, even to allow her dragon spirit free for a few hours. Since their first meeting, Jaden had done his best to avoid Katra as much as he could, but her own feelings made it impossible for her to leave him.

  Not when everything inside of her yearned to be near him.

  “I may go next rising. Did you come down here to workout yourself?” Katra asked, wanting to change the subject.

  “No, but speaking of, I would love a chance to spar with you sometime. Alexis told me she got to see you in action back on your home world. She said you were hell on wheels in a fight.” Skylar laughed at the confusion on Katra’s face. “It’s just an expression. It means you kick some serious ass.”

  Pleased, Katra nodded. “Aye, I do. And I would be pleased to spar with you whenever you desire…as long as I am here.”

  “I’m definitely going to hold you to that.”

  They were interrupted as Dom ran over and joined them. Before he could yank Skylar to him, she put up both hands to warn him off. “Hold it! You are not touching me when you’re all sweaty.”

  “That’s not what you said last night,” Dom growled playfully before leaning in to nip lightly at her lower lip.

  “Behave,” she warned, but softened the rebuke with a smile.

  “Never.” Dom let out an exaggerated grunt as Skylar’s elbow struck his stomach. Since he was protected with body armor, he didn’t seem harmed by the act. “You’re so violent. No wonder I love you.”

  Skylar laughed as she bumped her hip against him. “Says the man determined to learn how to kill people with swords.”

  Dom grinned as he braced one of his arms on Skylar’s shoulders. “Sorry, Katra. It’s good to see you again.” His dark eyes brightened with inner glee. “You should join us. I’ve heard all about your skills and would love to see you go up against one of the Tarins. It’d be good to see them get their asses knocked to the ground for once.”

  “Oh, no,” Skylar said, shaking her head. “Katra is coming with me. We’ve been summoned to Alexis’ suite.”

  Katra’s silver glowing eyes shone bright with concern. “Is she well?”

  “She’s fine,” Skylar quickly assured her. “She’s resting up in her quarters, but sent me to find you so we could have a little girl time.”

  “Ah, she is enjoying the time without her mates hovering over her.”

  “Damn right she is. Galan is still up there with her, but she told him he has to leave when we get there. It’s going to be a penis-free zone there tonight. Which means—” Skylar added, turning back to Dom. “—that you guys are on your own for dinner tonight.”

  Katra choked on a laugh as Dom scowled at Skylar.

  “I don’t like this,” he said. “Trouble follows whenever you get together with your friends.”

  Skylar’s frown was just as fierce as his. “Katra, Serra and I are having dinner with Alexis, not going out to hit the sex clubs. Alexis is pregnant and hormonal, so everyone has to agree. You should meet up with Arik, Archer and the Dragon Warriors when they get back. I’m counting on you guys to keep my father and his men entertained while I’m busy.”

  Dom threw his hands in the air. “Fine. Maybe I’ll convince them to get drunk with me while you and your crew plot against us.”

  Skylar rolled her eyes. “We don’t plot against you…unless it’s deserved. Jax is bringing Serra over now, so we’ll send him down to play with you when they get here. I’ll be right back. I just want to go tell my father the plan for tonight.”

  Katra watched her walk away, then her eyes immediately sought out her mate. She noticed Jaden was standing on the sideline watching while the other Tarins practiced with two new elite soldiers. When Skylar reached his side, he ran a hand lightly over his daughter’s hair. Seeing the affectionate gesture made Katra’s heart ache. She wanted to be able to join them…to be a part of that connection, but she knew she wouldn’t be welcomed.

  Not yet.

  Turning away, Katra focused on the human male standing next to her. “I will send Galan down as well. Perhaps you will have a chance to see a Dragon Warrior fight a Tarin after all.” Seeing his expression brighten a little, she smiled. “However, I should warn you. Jax is still angry with my brothers, so he may not want to drink with them this evening.”

  “What happened?” Dom asked.

  “The night of your claiming ceremony, Jax, Archer, Matt Malloy and a few of their friends tried to get my brothers drunk, not realizing that your human drinks do not affect us.” She lowered her voice as she added, “The humans and Tarins were very ill that night, leaving my brothers and I to help everyone to their quarters.”

  Dom burst out laughing. “No wonder everyone gets quiet when I mention that night. Jax told me earlier that he and Archer had to take the day off yesterday, but he didn’t tell me why.”

  Katr
a nodded. “I believe everyone was still recovering.”

  “I’ll have to give him shit for that later. We can’t have a repeat of that since we have the briefing scheduled for tomorrow, so we’ll find some other way to entertain ourselves after we’ve finished in here.”

  When Skylar walked back over to them, she went up on her toes to kiss Dom lightly on the lips. “We’re going to head upstairs now. Be careful with those swords. I don’t like seeing bruises on you.”

  Dom chuckled. “You mean, not unless you put them on me. Have fun tonight. Tag us when you’re ready, and Arik or I will come to get you.”

  “I can make it back to our quarters just fine alone.”

  “I know you can, but do it for me anyways.”

  Skylar sighed, then her ice-blue eyes went soft with love. Katra could tell by the way they looked at one another that they were communicating through their bond so that she couldn’t hear.

  The D’Aire were able to connect to the keeper of their hearts in a way that was similar to how Dragon Warriors connected to their own mates, so it hadn’t surprised Katra when she’d sensed Arik and Skylar talking to one another telepathically during their claiming ceremony. But Katra had been intrigued when Alexis had explained that Skylar was also able to create a bond with Dominic using a Tarin ritual that they used to claim a consort, the Tarin version of a mate.

  Thinking about that, Katra glanced over at Jaden again and caught him staring at her. As their eyes met, she saw something flashed in those dark eyes of his, but she couldn’t decipher what it meant before it was gone, those pure black eyes going flat and emotionless once more.

  Frustration ate at her. She wanted to know what he was thinking, feeling. It was the way between mates, but without the blood bond, she could only sense shadows of what was inside him.

  Perhaps a night away from him would be good for her, Katra decided as the couple next to her finished their private goodbye. It would give her time to plot, to plan so that when the time came, Jaden would have to deal with what was between them. Deliberately, Katra turned away from him, then accompanied Skylar out of the room without looking back.

  Aye, a reckoning was coming…and soon.

  And once it did, nothing would ever be the same.

  ***

  CHAPTER TWO

  Katra and Skylar took the elevators up to the floor where the Dragon Warriors were staying. The Dragon Warriors and the Tarins had been placed in the same visitor’s center in the heart of the Capital for the duration of their stay. Because it was the first time a Tarin lord was visiting Earth, and due to the special consideration given to the Dragon Warriors, the Council of Regents had ordered the entire building cleared to ensure their comfort.

  When the doors opened, Katra and Skylar step out just as Galan and High Commander Jax Spartan were coming down the corridor. Skylar smiled in greeting. “Dom and my father are down in the training center with the others.”

  “We were just heading down there,” Jax informed them with a nod. “I still don’t understand why you ladies need time alone tonight.”

  “It’s one night, Jax. Deal with it.”

  “I don’t like it when my chosen tells me I have to get lost for an evening. This wouldn’t keep happening if I transferred you to the penal colony on Mars.”

  Skylar grinned. “If you did that, Serra would never forgive you, and you’d end up sleeping on the couch for the rest of your life.”

  Jax’s scowl was black as night. “I really hate you sometimes, Sky.”

  “I know.” She laughed, then turned to greet Galan. The large male Dragon Warrior had the same glowing silver eyes and jet-black hair as his sister. Standing together, they made a striking pair. Both were dressed in black leather-like pants and vests, and Katra had a dark-silver tribal tattoo that ran the length of her arms up to her neck that stood out on her golden skin, while Galan’s matching tattoos were a mixture of dark-gold and silver. Out of Alexis four mates, Skylar felt the most at ease around Galan, but right now, the vibes she was picking up from him had her smile fading.

  Oblivious to the unseen, Jax studied Katra. “Can I count on you to be the voice of reason tonight, Katra? Keep the others out of trouble.”

  Her lips curved. “I shall do my best.”

  “Jax, I shall meet you downstairs. If you would excuse us, I would like to speak to my sister alone for a moment.”

  Without another word, Skylar moved toward Alexis’ suite as Jax entered the elevator after Galan’s abnormally abrupt request. When they were alone, Katra shot her brother a questioning look. “You will insult me if you feel the need to ask me to protect your mate in your absence as Jax just did.”

  “I know you would do so with your life without being asked.”

  “Good. So, what is it then?”

  “I have not seen you much these last few days.”

  She let out a loud sigh. “Brother, we just traveled across the universe together. A few days should not matter.”

  “But they do.” He paused before speaking again, his glowing eyes dimming with sadness. “You are hiding something from me…something that is hurting you. I do not like it. Is there some reason you do not feel you can confide in me anymore, little sister?”

  Her stomach clenched at the hurt in his voice. It was true, she had always been able to speak to Galan about anything, but for the first time, she found that she couldn’t tell him what was in her heart. “I know I can tell you anything,” she told him through their bond, wanting him to feel the truth of her words. “I just have a few things to work out before I do.”

  He studied her for a long moment before nodding. “Then I shall give you the time you need. Katra…if you are unhappy here—”

  “It is not that, I promise you.” Katra smiled at him. “We should go flying together next rising. I would enjoy chasing the dawn with you.”

  His glowing eyes brightened with pleasure. “I would like that. Just you and I, like when you were a youngling.”

  Katra willed back the tears that stung her eyes as she watched her brother leave, and ruthlessly fought for control of her emotions so he wouldn’t sense her inner turmoil. She remembered the special times that Galan had taken her flying during her early years.

  Despite the fact that he and Xavier were so much older than her, they had both made sure to spend time with her, both together and alone. She knew her brothers loved her, had always known it, unquestioningly. And now, thinking about what could possibly be the last time flying with her brother made her want to weep.

  Nay, she told herself. Not the last…but it would be quite a while before she would do it again.

  Pushing back that thought, she strode to the doorway to her brothers’ suite and entered the code to gain admittance.

  The sight of the three women sprawled out in the sitting area made Katra relax. She would have thought she’d feel uncomfortable being in a room full of such small females, but she enjoyed Alexis, Serra and Skylar’s company enough that their physical differences didn’t bother her.

  Katra loved her brothers’ mate, and she had come to think of her as her own sister since meeting her. Alexis was the epitome of feminine beauty, with her pale blonde hair and glowing violet eyes that were warm with welcome as she stroked a loving hand over her rounded belly. Serra Spartan-Archer sat next to her, sipping from a glass of bright blue liquid. Her rich brown hair was pulled back in an intricate braid, and she flipped it over her shoulder as she smiled at Katra.

  “Jax is still mad at all of you.”

  Katra let out a chuckle as she sat down on a plush chair close to Skylar so she was facing the other females. “I assumed he would be.” Cocking her head to the side, she studied Serra, curious about the waves of happiness and contentment pouring from her. She did a light scan, and smiled when she found what she was looking for. “I hope there is none of your alcohol in that drink. It would not be good for your babe.”

  “What?” Alexis and Skylar shouted together.

  Serra
’s pale-green eyes widened with shock as her hands flew to cover her own flat stomach. “How in the worlds did you know? We just found out last night. Damn it, I told Jax I wanted to be the one to tell all of you.”

  “Nay, he did not say a word. I can sense the new life in you.”

  “You’re pregnant? Oh my stars, this is amazing!” Alexis reached over and wrapped her arms around Serra and squealed in happiness.

  Serra accepted the well wishes from her friends, but the scientist in her focused on Katra with renewed interest. “Can you really sense the baby inside of me? Can you see it, like what would be seen in a medical scan?”

  Katra hesitated before she shook her head. “I can sense the life force. It is faint, but she is tied to your own right now.”

  “Her?” Serra’s eyes filled with tears of joy. “It was too early to tell what the sex was when I went to the med-unit, but you said I’m having a daughter?”

  Katra reminded herself that things that seemed normal for her race were not something humans were used to. Even though some humans were given enhancements as children that gave them increased strength and other abilities, Dragon Warriors were born with superior sight, hearing and sense of smell, far greater than anything that the elite human soldiers had. And that was in addition to a Dragon Warrior’s magic that made the impossible possible.

  But with their immense power came great responsibility.

  They were taught that just because they could do something, it didn’t always mean they should. Remembering that now, Katra winced. “I should not have said that.”