“Nevada?” He turned his head and looked at her. “I thought you lived in Colorado.”
“I grew up in Colorado. I’ll always think of it as home, but I live in Las Vegas.”
“One of the three sacred bonding grounds.” He nodded thoughtfully and turned back to the control matrix. “Then you’re a spiritual anchor like your brothers.”
It wasn’t really a question, but she responded anyway. He’d known about the sacred bonding grounds and the spiritual anchors, so there was no reason to deny her role. “Only someone with pure Tandori blood can maintain the spell.” The spell drew human/Rodyte hybrids to the nearest bonding ground when they were physically and emotionally ready to mate.
He pulled his hands out of the control matrix and unfastened his safety restraints. Apparently, they were free to “move about the cabin”.
“How many pureblood Tandoris are left?” He sounded so casual. They could be talking about the weather rather than the inner workings of Tandori Tribe.
“Nineteen.” She tensed, her chest feeling tight and hollow. That number was no longer accurate. “Eighteen now.”
Danvier swiveled toward her, compassion warming his expression. “Vinton’s death was not your fault. Even Berlynn says it was an accident and she has the most compelling reason to remain bitter.”
“Berlynn is sweet and loving by nature. She’d forgive anyone.”
“Did you intentionally endanger your brother?” His tone was flat, neither provoking nor consolatory.
“Of course not,” she snapped, confused by his attitude.
“Why did you send Milanni to Vinton?” Again with the emotionless tone.
Her first instinct was to tell him to go to hell. He already knew more about her than her blood relatives. She wasn’t sure if Garin had learned from Danvier or the other way around, but they were both ruthlessly efficient at extracting information. “I knew the search for hybrid females is what brought the battle born to Earth. So when Milanni told me the battle born had recruited a healer from Boulder, Colorado, I thought Vinton might need help. He was outmanned, out gunned, and the battle born were in his front yard.”
“And you had the entire IG at your command?”
She didn’t think he’d meant the comment to be insulting, but it still irritated the hells out of her. “What would you have done?”
“I’m not trying to provoke you. I already explained that it wasn’t your fault. Still, certain elements of the situation are unclear to me.”
“As if I care about your clarity.”
In a series of movements too quick to anticipate, he unfastened her safety restraints and pulled her onto his lap, draping her legs over the armrest of his chair. “Keep it up and I’ll warm your ass with the palm of my hand.” He whispered the sensual threat against the side of her neck, sending tingles down her spine. “Challenges are meant to be answered.”
She held perfectly still as heat spiraled through her body. Her core clenched and her mouth watered, hungry for more of his evocative taste. She resisted each sensation, hands fisted on her lap. “I don’t want a mate.” The reminder was as much for herself as for him.
“I know.” But his lips lingered against her skin and his body heat sank through her clothing.
She tried to swing her legs down. He caught them, pressing them against the armrest of his chair. “Let me go. This is unacceptable.”
A warm chuckle rumbled in his chest. “Is this more acceptable?” He lifted his head and found her mouth with his, sinking into the kiss gradually.
His taste spread through her mouth, speeding her pulse and melting her inhibitions. This was not what she wanted, knew any sort of romance would only complicate her life and her life was already too complicated. But her body didn’t care. Her instincts shifted, focusing on Danvier and only Danvier.
Are you hot for the general or that strutting harbinger? Ulrik’s hateful words echoed through her mind, cooling her ardor enough for common sense to take over.
She tore her mouth away from Danvier’s and scrambled off his lap. “We are not doing this. It makes no sense for either of us.”
His brow arched and challenge sharpened his expression. “It makes perfect sense for me. I’m a genetic anomaly. My chances of finding a compatible female were slim to none. Yet here you are. There’s no way in creation I’m letting you go.”
“It’s not your choice to make,” she cried as she moved farther back in the shuttle, putting as much distance between them as she could. “Being genetically compatible doesn’t obligate us to mate.”
He just stared back at her, desire smoldering in his eyes.
“This is what Ulrik was talking about.” She buried her hands in the seam pockets of her skirt as regret inundated her being. “I went to Rodymia to investigate the options for Tandori Tribe and ended up with a mate—who broke my heart.” The final admission was torn from her soul, leaving her cold and isolated.
Danvier rushed across the shuttle. His warm palm pressed against the side of her face as he looked deep into her eyes. “I’m not Javin. Your heart is safe with me.”
Her lips trembled and she stubbornly blinked back tears, but she didn’t turn away from his touch. “Why does this keep happening to me? Many people never find one mate. Finding two is statistically impossible.”
He pressed a kiss to her forehead then lowered his arm. “Obviously the Creator wants you securely bonded. You’re too much of a hazard wandering around on your own.”
His tone was playful, but the comment stung. She didn’t want to be a “hazard” without a male. She needed to prove to herself that she was strong and capable without the support of a mate. Besides, she couldn’t trust her own judgment where males were concerned. Javin had been warm and caring in the beginning. She’d been completely misled by his pretense. How could she be sure Danvier wasn’t pretending too?
Unwilling to dwell on the complication, she focused on the tasks awaiting her on Earth. “You were going to set up communications so I can contact the councilmembers.”
With obvious reluctance, he returned to the pilot’s seat and finished programing a comlink so it emulated a cell phone.
There were six people on the guiding council. After two years away from Earth, Haven could only remember the phone number for one, but the one she contacted agreed to notify the others. Haven disconnected the call and turned to Danvier. “Head for the foothills west of Boulder. We’ll be staying with Rachel. Her cabin sits on nine acers so we’ll have plenty of room to land the ship.”
He altered their trajectory then looked at her. “I thought Colorado was Ulrik’s territory.”
She shook her head. “You’re confusing tribal territories with sacred bonding grounds. There are three sacred bonding grounds and each is maintained by a spiritual anchor. They only come into play when our people are ready to find a mate. The United States is divided into six tribal territories. Each territory has its own leader and each leader is a member of the guiding council. The council exists to balance the power of the spiritual anchors, though their roles are very different. And Vinton was the spiritual anchor for Boulder, not Ulrik.”
Danvier watched pain cloud Haven’s eyes, but the flash of emotion vanished as fast as it had appeared. Her reticence wasn’t surprising. She’d spent the past two years in self-imposed isolation, caged with a man she didn’t trust. And the last four months she’d pretended to be someone else. Worrying that any wrong word or hint of anxiety would expose her to the world, had made her hesitant to show any emotion.
Earth gradually filled the viewscreen as they neared their destination. “I need an address or GPS coordinates.”
She told him Rachel’s address then slumped back in her chair with a sigh. “I hate that this is undermining Ulrik.”
“He left you no choice.” A low hum erupted in Danvier’s ears. “Shit,” he muttered as he quickly pulled his hands out of the control matrix. “I’m about to have a vision. Don’t be afr—”
Pain
drove the breath from his lungs and blacked out reality. The vision unfurled inside his mind, the image out of focus and hazy. He saw a bedroom all done up in silver and gray. Was it a hotel or an apartment? A tall, muscular man stood at the foot of the bed, his hands restrained above his head. He was naked and wicked red welts striped his back and buttocks.
A female stepped into view, a long whip dangling from one hand. Her sleek black hair flowed well past her shoulders. She was fully dressed except for her bare feet and appeared comfortable with a whip in her hand. Her back was to Danvier, but something about her seemed familiar.
“I told you not to scream,” she told the man.
Danvier tensed, resentment and hate chilling his entire body. Pyre. She might have changed the color of her hair, but he recognized her voice. He poured energy into the vision, flowing deeper into the strange scene. There had to be a reason his gift had engaged. He’d spent the past decade driving Pyre’s image out of his memory. He would not be controlled by a specter from his past. So why was he seeing this bitch now?
His being was drawn into the man and information flooded Danvier’s mind. They weren’t just lovers. The male was Pyre’s bodyguard, and the fool was in love with her. Disgusted by the misplaced affection, Danvier eased out of the male’s mind. The details of their relationship held no interest for him. Their current location, however, could be vital information.
He pulled back slowly, seeing the room and then the building. It wasn’t a hotel, as he’d first thought. It was a sex club, compact yet well-maintained. The vision resisted his navigation, trying to pull him back into the room. Determined to learn Pyre’s location, he ignored the metaphysical pull and drew back even farther. He saw the bustling streets outside the sex club and then the massive dome covering the entire area. There was more than one domed complex under Rodyte control, but he sensed that this was Outpost LA.
Pyre was on Earth.
Unsure if warning him of her proximity was the vision’s only purpose, he allowed himself to be pulled back into the male. Pyre swung the whip and pain seared through Danvier’s back. He gasped, but the man remained silent.
“Better,” Pyre said with a cruel smile. “Too bad we only have one night. I think I could learn to enjoy the amenities offered here.”
“Once our shop is set up we can retrieve your ship,” her companion suggested, his voice harsh and breathless. “It’s less than an hour from Lunar Nine to Outpost LA.”
The whip bit with renewed intensity and the male cried out.
“I didn’t give you permission to speak.”
The vision released and Danvier emerged from the trance with a gasp. He blinked and raised his hand to the back of his neck, rubbing at the tension knotted there. He felt dazed and drained, as he often did after a vision.
Haven knelt beside his chair, worry knitting her brow. “Are you all right?”
“Of course.” He caught her hand and raised it to his mouth, kissing the back of her knuckles. “I’m a harbinger, love. This is what we do.”
His reassurance calmed her expression, but she remained at this side. “What did you see?”
“Pyre is in Outpost LA, but she’s headed to Lunar Nine.”
“How will she get past security? The general has the entire cavern locked down.”
“A fact Pyre obviously knew. The majority of the merchants have transferred over from Outpost LA. She’ll likely pose as a merchant and arrive on one of the supply transports.” He paused for a deep breath, trying to clear his mind of the lingering haze. “Hold on. I need to update Garin.” He averted his face and activated his private telepathic link with Garin. After explaining what he’d just learned, he returned his attention to his lovely companion.
“What’d he say?”
“There are three transports scheduled tomorrow. They’ll be ready for her.”
“What will they do with her once they catch her?”
He searched her gaze before he answered, unsure if she was simply making polite conversation or if she truly cared about the answer. “She stood by and allowed my sister to be horribly abused. Raylon will demand her life.”
Haven moved back to her seat, her expression clearly conflicted. “Chandar wasn’t the only one Pyre hurt. She murdered your father right in front of you. What do you want to happen to her?”
A sharp, humorless laugh broke free from his throat. “I’ve killed that creature so many times, in so many different ways, that it’s become redundant. All I really care about is making sure she never hurts anyone ever again.” Her only response was a thoughtful nod, so he happily changed the subject. “Is Rachel pureblood Tandori?”
“Nope. In fact, she’s only one quarter Rodyte.”
“Then why was she chosen as territory leader. Or is leader an inherited position?”
She shook her head. “Tandori Tribe has always chosen its leaders. The spiritual anchors are an exception, I suppose. But maintaining the spell requires specific abilities that only a few of our people possess.”
They arrived at their destination a few minutes later. Danvier locked down the ship and activated the covert shields. Unless someone literally ran into the ship, no one on Earth would ever know it was there.
Rachel’s “cabin” was more like a rustic conference center tucked away in the rolling foothills outside Boulder, Colorado. Five smaller buildings were arranged in a messy half-circle around a larger main house.
Danvier looked around in wonder. With the rugged Rocky Mountains to the west and pine-tree-covered hills surrounding a wide, verdant valley, the setting emanated tranquility. “This is beautiful.” Then he motioned toward the cluster of stripped log buildings. “Surely this isn’t a private residence.”
Haven smiled. “Rachel runs the orientation camps, or what the council calls awakenings.”
They walked across the field in which he’d landed the ship, then crossed the wide back lawn leading to the main house. “Explain what that means.”
“Tandori Tribe has existed so long on Earth because we assimilate with humans. We only use our abilities when doing so won’t make others suspicious, or if there’s no other choice.”
“Do all of your people have abilities?” He looked at her, speculation narrowing his eyes. “Do you?”
“That’s a very personal question.” She flashed a smile filled with challenge. “I’d be more likely to go into detail if we were allies.”
“I suppose I deserve that,” he conceded with a smile. “You were explaining about awakenings.”
They continued their leisurely trek toward Rachel’s cabin. “Because we strive for anonymity, our children don’t realize they’re different. So when they’re old enough to deal with the truth—usually around puberty—they’re brought here and taught everything they need to know to function as a productive member of Tandori Tribe.”
“Are these individual classes or do they ‘awaken’ groups of adolescents?”
“The basic orientation is done in small groups.” She pointed to one of the smaller buildings. “That’s the classroom, actually, classrooms. There are two. After orientation, the students are assessed and the teaching becomes more individualized. See that path through the trees?” Again, she pointed it out and he nodded. “It leads to the training center. There’s a swimming pool, gym and all sorts of conditioning equipment.”
“Both Raina and Indigo are members of Tandori Tribe. Were they awakened here?”
She suddenly stopped walking and faced him. “Indigo Carlson is on Lunar Nine? Both Raina and Indigo have joined the rebellion? How in creation did that happen?”
He thought back and realized this was the first time he’d mentioned Indigo. “Kotto recruited Raina because of her knowledge about hydroponics and Raina suggested Indigo might be able to help Chandar.”
“I’ve heard stories about Indigo’s abilities, but I don’t really know her that well. Has she adjusted to life on the moon?” Something about the question made her smile.
“Indigo i
s bonded with Zilor Nox, so I presume she has adjusted quite well.”
“Zilor Nox, as in some sort of relation to General Nox?”
Her interest ignited a spark of jealousy, but he carefully concealed the reaction. “Garin’s youngest brother.”
“Wow. You guys don’t waste time. Has every female that joined the rebellion been claimed by a battle born soldier?”
“So far there have only been three female recruits, but yes, they have all found mates among our men.” That sounded less predatory than the way she’d put it. “You do understand that bonding with a battle born soldier is an intrinsic part of the transformation program, don’t you?” Her only response was a distracted nod, so he repeated his original question. “Were Indigo and Raina awakened here?”
“Raina’s awakening was postponed when her sister died and I’m not sure what happened with Indigo. Vinton was still making plans when I left for Rodymia.”
The concept was fascinating, and he knew Garin would be intrigued as well. He had many more questions, but the sliding glass door in the back wall of the main house was heaved open by an exuberant female, ending their conversation.
“Haven!” The female ran across the railed deck and hurried down the stairs.
Haven rushed to meet the older woman, clearly just as excited to see her. They embraced, laughed then embraced again. “Rachel, this is Danvier Evon.”
Rachel’s gaze narrowed and her excitement evaporated as she turned toward him. “A souvenir from back home? Are you a harbinger?” She glanced at Haven as she admitted, “I’m never seen one before. Well, not in person anyway.”
She held out her hand with a friendly smile, but he inclined his head rather than touch her. “Pardon my rudeness, but physical contact often results in inadvertent transfers of thoughts and emotions.”
Haven shot him a startled glare. He hadn’t offered her the same protection. From the moment he first saw her, he’d been unable to keep his hands off her. She wasn’t sure if she was flattered or insulted.
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