Exposed

by Tana Stone

  Something clicked in his brain. Now it all made sense. It had been too easy to escape. Why had there been no other guards near the cells? He’d always heard several of them, but when he escaped the area was empty. He gritted his teeth. What he’d thought was good luck must have been planned all along so he could return to Drexian space with their device in his head.

  “What are you?” he said, rubbing the back of his neck. It seemed clear that he was part of the ship’s problems, but was that it? He couldn’t imagine the Kronock would bother to send him back just to make lights flicker on and off. No, it was more deadly. He was more deadly.

  “Zayn!” Katie’s voice shattered the near-silence. She stood just inside the door, but it was clear from her heavy breathing that she’d run to get there.

  He tried to smile, but he knew it was pointless to pretend. She knew. He could see it in the lines of concern etched on her face.

  “Mandy told me everything.” She walked to him, haltingly at first, then faster. When she reached him, she slipped her arms around his waist.

  He felt her body trembling and wrapped his arms around her, the feeling of her softness comforting him. “I’m okay.” It was a lie, but he didn’t want to scare her any more than she already was.

  Katie pulled back, her eyes wide. “It’s not okay. What kind of monsters put something in your head?”

  “The Kronock.”

  She let out a breath. “Yeah, I guess so. There really is nothing good about those guys, is there?”

  He brushed a curl off her forehead. “Mandy shouldn’t have scared you like she did. It could be nothing.”

  “Yes, she should have,” Katie said. “I’m your…fiancé…or tribute bride or whatever. Anyway, she was right to tell me. So what are we going to do?”

  Zayn tensed. “We can’t keep this a secret for long. I know Mandy promised not to tell her mate right away, but it isn’t safe to keep it from him or the captain for long. I’m not safe.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous. You aren’t dangerous.” Katie pulled his chin down so his eyes met hers. “I know you. You wouldn’t do anything to hurt anyone. Except maybe the Kronock and they so deserve it.”

  “Not on purpose,” he said, “but if whatever is in my head is damaging the ship, then it isn’t safe for me to be here. And if it’s some sort of weapon…”

  Katie fisted a hand in his shirt. “Don’t say that.”

  Zayn stepped away from her, dislodging her hands from him. “It’s true. Until we know what they did to me, I’m a danger to everyone on board, including you.”

  “So, what?” She put her hands on her hips. “You’re going to leave the station?”

  “If that’s what it takes to keep you safe.” He couldn’t meet her eyes as he said it, the idea of leaving her making his chest ache.

  “But we just…” Her words trailed off.

  “I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I hurt you,” he said, clutching the nape of his neck. “I’m supposed to protect you, but I can’t do that as long as this thing is in my head.”

  “Then let’s get it out,” Katie said, grabbing his hand and tugging at it. “Aren’t the surgeons up here supposed to be amazing? Mandy said the medical technology is wild. I can’t imagine they couldn’t get rid of one tiny device.”

  He jerked his hand. “Don’t you think the Kronock thought of that? What if it has some sort of self-destruct if it’s removed?”

  Katie glanced at his head and her skin lost whatever color it had. “I didn’t think of that.” She tightened her grip on his hand. “I still think we should talk to the doctor before you run off without me.”

  He pulled her close, running his hands up through her curls and forcing him to meet his gaze. “I don’t want to run off anywhere without you. I don’t want to be without you ever again. Don’t you know that?”

  Color sprang to her cheeks. “I guess I do. It’s just been so fast.”

  “That doesn’t mean it’s not real.” He kissed her softly.

  When he pulled away, she smiled up at him. “How do you still taste like doughnuts?”

  He laughed and kissed her more deeply this time, feeling her sink into him. When they came up for breath, he brushed his thumb across her lower lip.

  “I almost forgot,” Katie said, pulling a silver capsule the length of her hand out of the slim side pocket of her pants. “Mandy wanted me to give you these. She said you ran out of the medical bay before she could give them to you. They’re to help with the pains until we figure out how to stop them. She said they’ve got more kick than Pirrin tablets, so don’t take one and drive heavy machinery. Like a space ship, I guess.”

  He took the capsule and heard pills rattling around inside. “Tell her thanks. She’s not so bad, you know. Even if she is the reason you’re up here.”

  Katie narrowed her eyes at him and grinned. “I know. Maybe instead of being mad at her for being the reason I’m up here, I should be thanking her.”

  “Maybe we both should,” he said, wrapping his arms around her again.

  As Zayn leaned down to kiss her, a pain knifed through his head and he dropped to one knee.

  “What’s happening? It’s the pain again?” Katie asked, kneeling down beside him. “Is it worse than usual?”

  He grasped the sides of his head with both hands, pressing his skull to try to stop the excruciating feel of a blade jabbing him over and over. The holographic scene around them disappeared, the lights flickered, and then the room went black. Instead of stopping, the pain intensified. Zayn rolled onto the floor, curling his feet up into his body.

  “Zayn!” Katie groped at him in the dark, her hands as desperate as her voice.

  The lights flashed back on, followed by the serene African savannah.

  Zayn’s head throbbed, and he felt a wave of nausea. He tried to push himself onto his knees, but dropped back to the floor as his stomach convulsed.

  “I’m going to get help,” Katie said, standing. “This is out of control.”

  “Wait.” His word came out like a croak.

  “If we don’t do something this is going to kill you, and I refuse to watch you die if I can do something to save you.” She ran toward the door. “Don’t worry. I won’t tell anyone else. I’ll get Mandy.”

  He watched the door close, knowing she was right but wanting to stop her. The longer he could put off reality, the better. He knew finding out more about the implant would not make him feel better. He wished he could stay in the suite with Katie and pretend nothing was wrong for just a little while longer.

  After a few minutes, he managed to stand, leaning against the railing to keep him steady. The pains were escalating; there was no denying it. He felt a burst of anger at the unfairness of it all. He’d wanted to die in the battle that had taken his unit, but he’d been kept alive. He’d wanted to return to battle, but he’d been given extended R&R. He hadn’t wanted a tribute bride, but he’d been forced to accept one. Now that he’d fallen for her and finally felt deserving of someone so beautiful, she was going to be ripped away from him. If the Kronock had wanted to destroy him in a way more painful than death, they’d found it.

  Zayn paced the room, the capsule of pills held tightly in his hand. He wanted to throw them across the room. What good were pills when he had an alien device in his head? He put a hand to the base of his spine, pressing down and trying to feel the thing. If only he could rip it out, he thought, his fingers digging into his flesh.

  He strode to the far side of the bed and opened the drawer in the nightstand, tossing the sleek container of pills inside. As he started to close it, his eyes caught on some papers in the back. Sitting down, he pulled the drawer out all the way. There was a cocktail napkin, a folded sheet, and a blank notepad. He read the words written on the cocktail napkin. What were descriptions of the Boat doing on here?

  He then unfolded the single sheet of paper. More notes about the station as well as details about Drexians, about him. This was clearly Katie’s wr
iting, but why was she writing all these things down? He flipped the sheet over and read the sentence at the top and felt like he’d been punched in the gut. She was drafting a story of some kind about being taken from Earth, but it was clearly written as if someone from Earth was reading it. He read the words “Back on Earth” along with a bulleted list of things to do that included ‘pitch exposé to mag’ and ‘recover car.’ The words National Enquirer, Daily Star, and Entertainment Tonight were scrawled in the lower corner. Was she planning to get this back to her planet somehow and expose everything?

  He dropped the paper and it fluttered to the floor. Had everything she’d done been to get information from him? The relative ease with which she’d accepted the match, her eagerness to plan the wedding, the sexy dress, the romantic dinner? Had it all been for a story?

  He crumpled the napkin and tossed it back in the drawer. Now it all made sense. She hadn’t really been attracted to him, hadn’t really cared for him. How could she? He’d known from the beginning that a pretty female would never fall for a damaged grunt like him. He’d been a fool to believe her.

  Blood pounded in his ears as he stood and his head swam. He was wrong. This was worse than a punch in the gut. This was worse than being tortured. At least that had an end. This pain twisted his heart and threatened to never let go. He’d been wrong. So wrong. She was never his. It was all a lie.

  He stumbled from the room, feeling more alone than ever.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Katie ran along the wooden walkway that stretched over turquoise water. They’d told her in the medical bay that Mandy was in her suite and had given her directions to the South Pacific wing.

  If Katie hadn’t been in such a rush, she would’ve stopped to stare. After passing through the automatic doors she’d been transported into a holographic environment that looked exactly like Tahiti. At least what she assumed Tahiti looked like. It wasn’t like Katie had ever been. Actually, she’d never been anywhere outside the US except for a jaunt to Tijuana years ago with her father that had gone very badly.

  She shuddered as she remembered almost landing in a Mexican prison. It had been the last job she’d pulled with her father. She shook the bad memories from her mind as she hurried down the path. Her shoes slapped against the wood, the only sounds aside from the water lapping against the white sand.

  She reached the suite number they’d given her and knocked hard. She shifted from one foot to the other as she waited, hoping Mandy was there.

  Katie didn’t know who else to talk to, but she knew she needed to talk to someone. She tried to steady her breath as she rapped her knuckles on the door again. After running all the way to the medical bay and then all the way here, her breathing was heavy and uneven. She didn’t want to appear hysterical to Mandy, even though the woman knew what was going on.

  The door swished open, and a big Drexian with dark hair that fell around his neck stood in nothing but black uniform pants. His broad chest was bare and sweaty and his face flushed. Katie didn’t know what to say. Maybe she’d gotten the wrong room?

  She looked past him and saw Mandy hopping off the bed and slipping on a robe. Now she realized what she’d interrupted. “I’m so sorry. I came to talk to Mandy, but I can come back later.”

  Katie started to back away when Mandy appeared behind her husband in the pink silky robe. Her face broke into a smile. “Hey, there. I see you’ve met Dorn.”

  “Right,” Katie said. “Dorn is your husband.”

  The man in question inclined his head at her. “You must be Katie.”

  “You know about me?” Katie asked.

  “The human with bright-red hair who was taken as a tribute bride because of my wife?” He gave her a half smile. “I might have heard about you once or twice.”

  Mandy swatted at his big bicep. “I haven’t talked about her that much. You’ll have to forgive my husband. He likes to exaggerate.”

  “Drexians don’t exaggerate,” Dorn said.

  “Whatever,” Mandy said. “So what’s up? I’m guessing you didn’t come here just to meet Dorn.”

  Katie looked from Mandy to Dorn, unsure how to proceed. “I wanted to talk to you.”

  Mandy’s eyes flared with understanding. “About that thing earlier?”

  Katie nodded.

  Mandy glanced at her husband and let out a breath. “I think we need to tell him.”

  Katie knew Mandy was right, but it still felt disloyal telling more people when she promised Zayn she wouldn’t. She also knew he might not be thinking straight, especially since he had something implanted in his brain.

  Dorn crossed his arms over his chest. “Tell me what?”

  “I was going to tell you anyway.” Mandy rested a slender hand on his forearm. “I wanted to give Katie a chance to talk to Zayn, first.” She looked at Katie. “Did you find him?”

  “I found him, and he told me the same thing you did. Then the power went out, and it was so painful he couldn’t get up again. That’s why I came to get you. I think it’s getting worse.”

  “What’s getting worse?” Dorn drummed his fingers against his arm.

  “It’s like this,” Mandy said. “Zayn came to see me in the medical bay about some pains he’s been having in his head. I didn’t think too much about it since he’d gotten the okay from the doctors after he arrived here, and it seems normal to have residual pain after being tortured like he was. But when I scanned him, I found something. Something that definitely shouldn’t be there.”

  Dorn narrowed his eyes. “Something that shouldn’t be where?”

  Mandy took a deep breath. “The scanner picked up some sort of device at the base of his brain stem. It’s not organic, but I can’t tell exactly what it is. And before you ask, I checked three times and used two different scanners just in case the first one was malfunctioning.”

  “The Kronock must have done it,” Katie said. “That’s the only explanation, except it doesn’t make sense that the doctors didn’t find it when they examined him here. If he hadn’t been having pains every time the ship malfunctioned, he might never have gotten it checked again.”

  Dorn’s face swiveled from Katie to Mandy. “So you’re telling me that a Drexian warrior who was tortured and held prisoner by our enemy has been having a physical reaction every time the ship malfunctions, and no one thought to mention it until now?”

  “They weren’t as bad at first,” Katie said. “At least, I don’t think so. And it took a little while to realize the pains were coming right before the malfunctions and not at the same time, or after.”

  “So this device could be causing the malfunctions?” Dorn asked as he looked at his wife.

  Mandy shrugged. “I have no idea. I think someone with a lot more knowledge about brains or technology would need to figure that out.”

  Dorn turned and strode across the room, snatching a dark shirt from the rumpled bed and pulling it on. “Where is he now?”

  “I left him in our suite.” Katie couldn’t help peering into their suite at the glass panel in the floor that looked down into the ocean. It was like one of those overwater bungalows she’d heard about, the ones so popular with honeymooners and people with loads of money.

  Dorn didn’t slow as he walked past her out of the room and into the hallway. “Let’s go.”

  Mandy gave a little yelp behind him. “Aren’t you going to let me get dressed?”

  He glanced back and winked at her. “You know I like you better without clothes.”

  Mandy pretended to be outraged, but Katie could tell that she loved it. She darted back into the room, running to the dresser at the far end, pulling out a yellow sundress and dropping the robe while she slipped it over her head. Even though she had on a pair of lace panties and a matching bra, Katie averted her eyes. Mandy ran back across the room and looped her arm through Katie’s when she reached the door. “Okay, now we can go.”

  It didn’t take long for them to leave the South Pacific wing and take the incli
nator one level down to the Safari wing. Katie felt like a bundle of nerves. On the one hand, she was glad to have Dorn with them because he had the authority to help Zayn. On the other hand, she felt bad for telling him after promising Zayn that no one but Mandy would know his secret.

  “We need to find out how this slipped by our medical team,” Dorn said, over the soft instrumental Muzak of the inclinator. “After I talk to Zayn, I need to talk to the doctor who cleared him.”

  Mandy tugged at her bottom lip with her teeth. “I can’t imagine how it happened. Drexian medical technology is so much more advanced than what we have on Earth. There is no way any doctor could have missed it. I mean, I caught it and I’ve only been training for a few weeks.”

  Dorn made a grunt of agreement. “Let’s hope it’s medical incompetence. Because if it’s not, we’re dealing with something much worse.”

  “What do you mean?” Katie asked, following the big man as he stepped off the inclinator and took long strides down the walkway of the Safari wing.

  “I mean, if someone intentionally hid this, then we have a mole on the station.”

  Mandy sucked in air. “Like an enemy spy?”

  “Or a Kronock agent of some kind.”

  Katie’s stomach churned. “You don’t think Zayn is a Kronock agent, do you?”

  Dorn didn’t say anything as they reached Katie’s suite. “If he was, he wouldn’t have told you about his pains, or gone to see Mandy. I suspect he’s the victim in this scenario.”

  Katie swiped her hand across the panel in front of their door and stepped inside as it swished open. She expected to see Zayn still on the floor, or at least on the balcony, but he wasn’t. Her gaze swept the room, but she didn’t see him. She ducked her head into the bathroom. Empty.