Tied up in Customs (The Department of Homeworld Security Book 4)

by Cassandra Chandler

  “Great.”

  “Brendan needs your help to sort out how to handle the situation.”

  “And how did Brendan get involved?”

  “He made contact with the soldier who was operating our listening station.”

  “That makes as much sense as anything else, I guess.”

  He needed to keep her talking while he figured out a plan for what to do next. If she’d done something to Brendan, Eric couldn’t kill her. Not until he found and retrieved his asset.

  The thought tugged on his heart with surprising strength, like the woman carrying him. He didn’t want to have to kill Sorca. And he wanted Brendan to be okay—not just as an asset, but as a friend.

  “And I’m sure Brendan won him over with his charming personality,” Eric said.

  “Her. Kira is the woman Brendan has pair-bonded with. They fell in love while conversing using his encoded communications array.”

  Fuck.

  How the hell did Sorca know about that? She should not know about that.

  Eric wasn’t the only one in deep water. Brendan was way out there, too—surrounded by sharks. If he’d shared information about the classified projects he was working on… There was nothing Eric could do to protect Brendan.

  Eric revisited the possibility that Sorca was an enemy agent. And immediately dismissed it. The entire situation was too bizarre.

  Sorca kept on talking, not winded by carrying Eric’s weight while walking uphill. His feet were almost dragging on the ground.

  “Apparently, Earthlings have quite an effect on Sadirians,” she said. “Since Earthlings are initially of the same species, I suppose it makes a bit of sense.”

  “The same species?”

  “A colony ship crashed on your planet millennia ago. The Sadirians who survived lost touch with their origins as they assimilated with the environment and took over from the evolving hominids.”

  “Of course they did.”

  The ground bounced along below, the trail left behind as she ventured into the brush. She managed to avoid most of the low-hanging branches that might have hit him, and the foliage seemed to be thinning.

  She wasn’t bothering with trying to restrain him as she carried him. Either she didn’t know any better or—the more alarming possibility—she didn’t see him as any kind of threat. He kept running through various scenarios of ways he could get free, with different levels of physical ramifications for her.

  “You’re like a glimpse into the past,” she said. “Back when Sadirians actually interacted on a more intimate physical and emotional level. I must say, having now experienced this myself, I understand the appeal. I was curious about whether something similar would occur between us when I received the assignment.”

  “Wait, you mean falling in love? Because sex in a park isn’t the same as falling in love.” Even super hot sex.

  “Don’t be ridiculous. My duty is to my ship and to General Serath.”

  “And the Coalition.”

  She shrugged, accidentally digging her shoulder into his stomach. He let out a grunt and she stopped.

  “Did I hurt you?” she said.

  “Yes.”

  She set him down, negating his need for any of the plans he’d been working on to escape her clutches. Well, to a point. She still had a grip on one of his wrists. He looked around at where they’d stopped, trying to get his bearings.

  The trail was long gone. They had emerged from the trees at the top of a cliff. There was only a narrow space a few yards wide with sparse grass between the forest and a sheer drop-off.

  What the hell did she plan to do next?

  Chapter Six

  “Nice view,” Eric said. “Do you mind if I get a better look?”

  “Proceed.” Sorca didn’t see the harm in Eric exploring his surroundings. She would be curious as well, if their roles were reversed.

  She let go of his wrist, but walked at his side, just in case he should try to run. He didn’t seem like the running kind, however. A thrill shot through her as she wondered if he was the type who might issue a challenge to her instead. She’d felt his body tense a few times while carrying him, as if he was considering an attempt at breaking away from her hold.

  They stopped near the cliff’s edge and looked out at the hillside. Sharp rocks dotted the ground at least a dozen meters below them. It would be best not to fall.

  The skimmer was close. She’d flown it in over the cliff, landing in a large clearing they could easily reach by walking along the space between the trees and the drop-off. When it was time to leave, she’d have a clear path. And the ship was also far enough out of the way that it was unlikely Earthlings would accidentally discover it.

  “Protocol dictates that we leave at nightfall,” she said. “That way, if the ship’s cloak fails, Earthlings are less likely to notice the skimmer.”

  “Let me guess. Your ship is right next to us, but it’s cloaked.”

  “No, it’s meters away, in a larger cleared area. If it were that close, the cloak would have disengaged after sensing my proximity.”

  He laughed and shook his head. The light caught in his hair. She hadn’t truly tested it to see if it was as soft as it looked. She hoped she would still have a chance.

  Something in the way he was standing made her tense. There was a quiet readiness to him, an ease that belied impending action.

  “I caution you against trying to attack me,” she said, even though the thought of it sent another wave of excitement through her.

  Their physical interactions had already been intense beyond anything she’d experienced. The idea of having the opportunity to face him in combat was…stimulating.

  “If I try to leave, will you try to stop me?” he said.

  “I will not try. I will succeed.”

  He snorted and shook his head. “Damn, you’re cocky.”

  In case he did try to escape, she needed to be certain that he knew exactly what he was entering into. He had already glimpsed her strength, but there were more complex aspects to issuing her a challenge.

  “There are specific laws which govern combat with me.”

  “I can’t wait to hear about this.” He lifted his arms briefly, then dropped them to his sides. “Enlighten me.”

  “Anyone who defeats me in hand-to-hand combat becomes my bondmate.”

  “Bondmate?”

  “We’ll be pair-bonded under Coalition law.”

  “What does that mean. Like married?”

  “That’s a simplification, but an apt one. The laws are part of the agreement between the High Council and the people of Cygnus-1 who supplied the specialized DNA used in my creation. They are a warrior culture, and the Coalition must honor their customs. Pair-bonds are created through martial challenges.”

  “So if I try to leave and we fight—”

  “I will defeat you.”

  “Or, we’ll end up married,” he said.

  “I will defeat you.” She smiled as she imagined how much fun it would be for him to try to best her in battle. “I will also be required to log you among the many who have faced me in combat. It only seems fair I should let you know the ramifications of what you attempt.”

  He shook his head and turned back to the cliff, his hands on his waist. A small part of her—a ridiculous part—wondered what it would be like should he prevail. The thought was quite distracting.

  She almost didn’t notice when he quickly shifted his weight away from her, only to bring his arm around in a vicious, back-handed blow. She let the hit partially connect, gauging his strength as she staggered back a few paces.

  Unlike most of the Sadirians—and even some challengers of other species she had faced—there was purpose behind his blow that added to his innate strength. He was attuned to his body in a way that most of her challengers had long forgotten.

  This was going to be fun. She just needed to be careful not to hurt him.

  “Human, you have no idea who you’re challenging.”
r />   “If you think I’m going to keep playing along with you without a fight, you’re mistaken.”

  “It’s you who are mistaken, if you think you stand a chance against me.”

  “I’m the one who landed the first blow.”

  “And I shall land the last.”

  She lashed out with a quick kick, aiming to knock the breath from him to facilitate his recapture. He dodged to the side—which she’d expected. Even at the most basic training level, Sadirian soldiers knew to do their best to avoid getting hit.

  As she followed up with two quick punches, he feinted to her right, leaning back so that her attack met nothing but air. An interesting move.

  “I’ve never seen this fighting technique,” she said. “What do you call it?”

  “A little bit of this, a little bit of that.”

  Brendan had warned her that Eric was some kind of Earth soldier. She still couldn’t believe their military had such variety on the planet—even among each geographically-based community. “Countries”, they were called. And combat training wasn’t reserved for soldiers. They permitted their citizens to learn.

  Foolish.

  There was no way that Eric could stand against her strength and durability. She was being cautious, but eventually, she would land a blow that would make him concede. The skimmer was close enough—with its regen bed and med kit—that she was confident she could repair any damage he might sustain. And that was where she needed to get him anyway.

  He blocked another kick, but somehow managed to grab her ankle. Instead of trying to hold on to her, giving her leverage she could use in any number of countermoves, he twisted and released it, forcing her to twirl her body in the air to avoid damage to the joint.

  She staggered a few paces away when she landed, regaining her balance. What sort of maneuver was that?

  Eric stood still, regarding her calmly. He had yet to attack her. Not since that first strike.

  She launched herself at him, again with her fists. Perhaps he would get a little bit hurt. Except, once more, he stepped to the side—this time striking out and landing a blow to her back that sent her stumbling.

  Fun. Yes.

  Also infuriating.

  She wheeled around, letting go of her control even more. When he deflected her punch, he grunted, shaking his hand as he quickly backed away. Now he was aware of her strength, her speed, and her increased density.

  He was getting closer to the trees, but she didn’t think he was trying to run. Perhaps he was trying to maintain a safe distance from the cliff’s edge behind them.

  “Concede,” she said. “Before you’re injured.”

  He rubbed his forearm. “Tell me where Brendan is.”

  He wasn’t running because he was concerned for his friend. An admirable sentiment, and one she could perhaps use to end the conflict.

  “I already did,” she said. “He’s on the Arbiter, waiting for you.”

  “I don’t believe you.”

  The statement shouldn’t have riled her like it did, but her vision blurred red around the edges. She had never lied to him. Not once. And he continued to insult her honor by saying otherwise.

  She charged him, swinging around in a kick that had little control, but ample strength. He dodged it, his eyes wide as her foot connected with the tree behind him. The trunk fragmented in a satisfying explosion of force, sharp pieces of wooden shrapnel flying through the air.

  He barely managed to stumble away as the entire thing fell over. It was still partially attached to its base, leaving it at an angle between them.

  At least he was on the side nearer her ship. If she could herd him there and get close enough, the cloak would deactivate and he would see it. Perhaps that would be enough to convince him she spoke the truth.

  She could have leapt over the trunk, but she wanted him thoroughly convinced that she was not of his world. Bending down, she put her shoulder under the tree and lifted.

  The connecting fibers were stronger than she anticipated, but couldn’t match her. With a yell, she tore the tree from its base, lifting it above her head just enough that she could hurl it over the cliff.

  She turned back to him, panting, and was gratified by the look of shock on his face.

  “You see, Earthling. You are no match for me.”

  He lifted his arms before him, hands fisted, elbows bent. He widened his stance, weight evenly distributed between each foot. A fighting stance.

  She felt her lips pull back from her teeth in a smile. This was a challenge. A full-challenge.

  Yes…

  “I’m not looking to be your match,” he said. “I’m looking for Brendan.”

  “Then let me take you to him.” That would end the chance of Eric being hurt, even if it meant ending their battle.

  “I’m not going anywhere with you.”

  “How can you still not believe me?” She gestured to the furrow in the ground near where she’d thrown the tree. Tightness was building in her chest, confusing emotions rising in her that made her want to break things.

  “There are drugs that can make people strong. The tree could have been rotted. Hell, it could have been a fake made of balsa wood. Brendan has the resources to arrange it. This whole thing has been a setup from the beginning.”

  “A setup?”

  “A trick.” He shook his head. “Why am I still explaining this to you? No more games, Sorca.”

  “This has never been a game for me,” she said. “Not truly. I haven’t tricked you, and to accuse me thus taints what we’ve experienced together.”

  “Would you give it a rest already?”

  The tightness in her chest erupted in a primal yell as she ran at him. Not holding back, she struck again and again. Each time, he deflected, dodged, or sidestepped her attack. Somehow, he was using her strength against her.

  “Sorca, stop. You’re out of control.”

  Why should he care? She screamed again, spinning around with a kick that shattered another tree. This one was much larger than the first, and as it fell, she couldn’t escape its low branches.

  It didn’t matter. She could lift it from her as soon as…

  Her thoughts scattered as her body flooded with warning. The ground was moving beneath her. No, the tree was pulling her. Pulling her toward the cliff.

  “No,” she screamed, clawing at the earth. “Not before I’ve imprinted!”

  She kicked at the tree to try to untangle herself from it, but it was moving too fast. They both went over. As it fell free of her at last, she barely managed to catch her fingers on the edge of the cliff.

  Eric stood above her, panting. Blood trickled from a scratch along his cheek. She didn’t know if it was from the tree or her attacks. All she remembered was the rage. The despair.

  Soon, she wouldn’t remember that. Her vision blurred at the thought of the loss of him. Of what they had shared.

  “I wanted to remember you,” she said.

  The earth gave way beneath her grip.

  Chapter Seven

  Eric threw himself to the ground, grabbing Sorca’s wrist as she fell from the cliff. He started to slide over with her, and dug his fingers into the ground as far away from the edge as he could. The earth had been loosened by the second tree she had somehow smashed with a single kick.

  He hoped he would have time to think about that later. At the moment, he turned all of his focus toward keeping them both from falling onto the rocks below. His shoulder felt like it was dislocating, but he ground his teeth against the pain and pulled, keeping his body as close to the earth as he could.

  Please… Please…

  He repeated the phrase in his mind until her head was above the edge, then her shoulders. As he rolled over, pulling her on top of him, he finally let out a breath.

  Damn, she was heavy.

  She would probably kill him now. He was vulnerable, his shoulder was sending arcs of pain through his body. With her unbelievable strength, all she’d have to do was punch him hard
enough and that would be it.

  Instead of picking up the berserker rage that had so clearly taken her over earlier, she straddled him, pushing herself up with her hands on his chest. Gently, thank God.

  Finally, she was panting as well. Now he had an idea of what it took to wind her. He wasn’t sure if it was adrenaline, fear, or exertion. He was betting on the first. Her eyes were wide and her full lips parted.

  “You saved me,” she said.

  “Yeah.”

  He struggled to catch his breath. Maybe she wasn’t going to kill him after all. She could still be planning to drag him back to her spaceship.

  Christ, was he really thinking that was possible? He didn’t know what to believe at this point.

  “You risked yourself to save me.”

  “It’s becoming something of a habit.”

  She snapped her mouth shut, eyes blazing with intention.

  Here it came. What the hell would it be this time?

  “I concede,” she said.

  He wasn’t sure he’d heard her right. She had him at a complete disadvantage—at her mercy. Feeling her legs on either side of his thighs, her hips pressing down against his dick, for a brief moment, that didn’t seem like the worst thing in the world.

  He shook himself internally, remembering the stakes. Either Brendan had been flipped by enemies pretending to be aliens, or…

  Or there were aliens invading Earth. One of which—a completely gorgeous one of which—was straddling Eric and gazing down at him with the most intense sense of wonder he’d ever seen.

  Shit.

  “I’m not marrying you.” He spoke mostly to distract himself from the terrifying thought of hostile aliens taking over his planet.

  Sorca shook her head. “It’s done. You knew the stakes when you challenged me.”

  “But I didn’t defeat you.”

  “You did. I would be dead if not for you. According to Coalition law, we are pair-bonded.”

  “Great.”