Triumphant (Battle Born Book 14)

by Cyndi Friberg

  He moved closer, his stride casual, almost lazy. “Public records do not indicate an end to your union with James Dayton. Why do you refer to him as your ex?”

  “He fought the divorce every step of the way, but it’s official in fourteen days. Our ‘union’, however, has been over for years.”

  That seemed to please him. She wasn’t sure why until he asked, “If he no longer deserves your loyalty, will you help me find him?”

  His strategy surprised her. She’d expected more glares and intimidation, not a soft-spoken request. He took another step toward her and she fought off the need to back up. Never again would she be pushed around by anyone, regardless of how big and burly. There was nothing he could do to her that hadn’t been done already.

  “I don’t know where he is,” she stressed.

  “That’s not what I asked.” He extended his arm and rested his hand against the wall, blocking her escape in that direction.

  Cursing herself for a coward, she pressed against the wall, creating a little more space between them. He was so damn big, she still felt trapped. “He’s dangerous.” She screwed the lid back onto her bottle. “You have no idea how much.”

  “So tell me. When and why did your husb—”

  “He is not my anything!” She lunged to the side and darted past him.

  As fast as he could move, he could have stopped her, but he just let her go. Turning around, he crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back against the rough-hewn wall. “When did Big Jim join forces with the Evonti? What does he gain from the alliance?”

  “Why the hell would I tell you anything?” Instinctively wanting her hands free, she tossed the bottle onto the sleeping bag. As long as he kept his distance, she didn’t feel quite so helpless. It was an illusion and she knew it. If he wanted to hurt her, kill her, she couldn’t stop him. “You’ve been hunting me like an animal.”

  “Your ex-husband wants you dead. We’ve been trying to find you so you can be taken somewhere safe, somewhere beyond his reach.”

  “Somewhere like this?” she challenged.

  He pushed off the wall and stalked toward her again. Why did the Rodytes have to act like predators all the time? She looked into his eyes and shivered. Because it isn’t an act. This man was predatory to the marrow of his bones. And she was stuck in a solid rock cage with him for the next twelve hours.

  She was in serious trouble.

  “I managed to follow you here,” he pointed out, his tone deep, almost lazy. “What makes you think Big Jim or one of his men won’t do the same eventually?”

  She glared at him, but only because his words rang true. This hideaway had been her refuge, her safe haven ever since she escaped RF headquarters. The twelve-hour minimum stay was annoying, but she’d learned to adapt. Her only fear had been that an Evonti might one day appear without warning. She’d felt safe from humans, and Rodytes. Until this jerk proved her wrong.

  “A human wouldn’t have caught me in that alley.” She wasn’t sure who she was trying to convince.

  “Maybe not, but why risk it? There is no way they can follow you onto one of our ships. You’d be safe, truly safe, until Big Jim is apprehended.”

  She didn’t want to be tempted by his offer, needed to depend on no one but herself. But she was tired of being afraid, tired of living out of a suitcase because she never knew when she’d need to run again.

  He’s an alien! Her inner voice shouted. And he’s male. You cannot trust him.

  Instead of responding to his question, or his insidious offer, she went on the offensive. “You said I’d eluded your men. What makes them yours? Who the hell are you, and what do you want from me?”

  Chapter Two

  Sedrik stared at Rebecca, unsure how much he should reveal. She was horribly defensive already, which wasn’t surprising given her circumstances. He had a panic button hidden in a small slot inside his boot. He wasn’t sure if the signal would transmit from inside the cave, but he decided not to activate it. At least not yet. He needed more time with her. Twelve hours should be enough to start peeling away her defenses and earn her trust. So, how to begin? Would his rank motivate her to cooperate or feed her paranoia? Somehow, she didn’t seem the type to be impressed by titles.

  “My name is Sedrik Lux.” He held out his hand, hoping the human greeting would help put her at ease. “I command a ship called the Triumphant.” It was unlikely she’d understand the significance, and he didn’t want to lie.

  After a tense hesitation, she placed her hand in his. He closed his fingers around her tiny hand and impulsively raised it to his lips rather than shaking it. Time paused as his lips pressed against her knuckles. He couldn’t move, could barely force air into his lungs. Her skin was warm and her tantalizing scent invaded his being, curling through his body like tingling fog. He turned her hand over and pulled her wrist toward his nose. Why did she smell so sweet, like linolly blossoms or Earth’s lilacs?

  She snatched her hand back with an alarmed sound. “Oh my God, were you sniffing me?”

  She sounded so affronted it made him laugh. Not the wisest reaction, but an honest one. Her brown hair grew in wild spirals, framing her heart-shaped face. Symmetrical and dainty, her features contradicted her personality. Only her bright green eyes hinted at the spirit contained within such a feminine package. Humans were all small compared to Rodytes, but this female’s head would easily tuck beneath his chin. She wore a black T-shirt with a stylized logo, likely the bar where she’d worked, and snug blue jeans. The garments might be masculine, but her shape was anything but. Though the shirt was at least a size too large the material shifted and clung to the fullness of her breasts. And the faded denim hugged her hips and ass as if they’d been fashioned just for her.

  He had to clear his throat before words would pass the tension gathered there. “I apologize for my rudeness. Your scent is…unusually appealing.”

  Even after she moved away, her smell lingered, teasing his senses and filling his mind with erotic images. He saw her pressed against the cave wall, legs wrapped around his waist as he kissed her senseless. Then they lay on the sleeping bag, both naked to the waist, breathless and trembling, mouths clinging as their hands explored. His body reacted predictably to the sensual onslaught and the fantasy grew even more explicit. He was on top of her now, inside her, thrusting hard between her thighs. She surrendered her body, arching beneath him, and still he wanted far more. He needed all of her and wanted to give her all of him so they could experience the absolute intimacy of a soul bond.

  He stilled, analyzing the signals his body was sending. This wasn’t just physical desire. Yes, it had been far too long since he shared pleasure with a female, but the longings surging through his system were much more complex than superficial lust. He wanted to learn her moods and mannerisms, to keep her safe and make her happy. In a word, he wanted to mate with her. He swallowed hard and dragged his gaze away from her flushed face. These impulses could only mean one thing. Rebecca was genetically compatible with him. She was the rarest and most precious find for any Rodyte male, not just a pleasure partner, but a potential mate.

  “Are you all right?” She sounded concerned yet kept her distance.

  His first instinct was to explain what he’d discovered, but her defensiveness warned him away. They had just met and she was suspicious of nonhumans. “I’m fine.” Fortifying himself with a quick breath, he shifted his gaze back to her. “I’ve changed my mind about the water though. May I have some?”

  Seeming relieved to have something to do, she returned to the corner in which she’d arranged her supplies and took out an unopened water bottle. She tossed it to him, then retrieved hers from on top of the sleeping bag. Despite her brave façade, she was clearly afraid of him. Why wouldn’t she be? The only thing she knew about him was he’d sent trackers after her and when they failed, he pursued her himself.

  He paused for a drink, needing a moment to strategize more than the liquid. A common purpose might make her
feel less threatened, and it would distract them both from the tense awareness building between them. “Have you located the power supply for the lights? If we can find the cave’s utilities, we might be able to trigger another way out of here.”

  She shook her head as she fiddled with the label on her water bottle. “I’ve searched every inch of this place. There’s nothing but stone walls and the auto-lighting, which will turn off in about forty minutes, by the way. Oh, and the drawings, every creepy cave needs ancient drawings.” She motioned to the wall opposite her possessions.

  He turned and narrowed his gaze. The markings were etched into the stone and then accented with some sort of dark brown dye. A large geometric pattern, like a two-dimensional representation of a three-dimensional grid, was surrounded by smaller, curving symbols. “Do you have any idea what it means?”

  “Not a clue. You’ll have to ask the Evonti.”

  He mulled over possibilities, but didn’t have enough information to draw a conclusion. Turning back to his prickly hostess, he said, “This place must have, or at least must have had, some sort of purpose. Why did the Evonti excavate the cave in the first place? When and why did they desert it?” She just stared back at him, so he asked, “How did you learn about the cave? I presume you knew what would happen the first time you activated the transport disk.”

  An audible sigh escaped her. She tossed her bottle back onto the sleeping bag, then walked toward him. “All this began years, not months, ago. Actually, decades.” She hesitated to say more, but he didn’t rush her. This was as close to cooperative as she’d been since they arrived. “Our fathers met in basic training and were assigned to the same squadron. They flew Tomcats.” His expression must have reflected his confusion because she added, “F14 fighter jets. They’ve been replaced now with newer technology, but they were very popular in their day.”

  “And by ‘our fathers’ do you mean yours and Jim’s?”

  She nodded. “We basically grew up together.” She motioned Sedrik to follow. “According to Clark Dayton and my father, they were on a mission near Bermuda when they encountered an energy pulse, or some sort of signal, that caused them to lose control of their jets. They, and their copilots, had no choice but to eject. All four men came down in the ocean, miles from any land.”

  He wasn’t sure what this had to do with the Evonti, so he just let her talk.

  “They were in the water for eleven hours. One of the copilots was injured on the way out of the jet and didn’t survive. The three survivors all tell the same story, and it’s a wild one.”

  “How wild?” They passed into one of the other chambers. As Rebecca claimed, it looked very much like the first room. There were no stalactites or stalagmites, further proof that the cavern had been formed by artificial means.

  “I heard the story for the first time when I was six or seven. We’d gone camping with the Daytons as usual, and we all gathered around the campfire to roast marshmallows. I thought they were trying to scare us, but my father seemed really upset.” She motioned toward the cavern wall. “Why don’t you see if you can detect a panel or compartment? I’ve tried repeatedly and come up with nothing.”

  Happy to oblige, Sedrik set down his water bottle, then meticulously ran his fingers along the rocks. They were uneven yet oddly smooth. “So what’s the story? What happened while they were in the water?”

  “All three were teleported onto an Evonti ship. They were subjected to testing and medical procedures—the dreaded anal probe.” He started to ask what that meant, but she waved away his confusion and continued. “They all swear they were on that ship for weeks, perhaps even months. But the rescue party swears it only took them twelve hours to locate the crash site. The government chalked it up to dehydration and exposure, but everyone involved is convinced it really happened.”

  “Interdimensional travel can screw with time. The soldiers were likely transported to some sort of facility in their dimension rather than a spaceship in ours.” Sedrik hoped that was all the anomaly indicated. If the Evonti could manipulate time as well as space—like the most powerful Ontarian Mystics—it made them even more dangerous. “Were there any lasting effects from the Evonti experiments?”

  “You could say that.” She glanced at him, pain obvious in her expression. “All three were dead within five years of the incident.”

  He hadn’t expected such a dire outcome. “I’m sorry for your loss.”

  She acknowledged his sympathy with a nod though she didn’t seem comforted by the words. “A few years later they abducted Jim. He claims it happened over and over.”

  “There’s doubt in your voice. Don’t you believe him?”

  “I didn’t at first.” She scuffed the floor with the toe of her shoe, her voice sad and distant. “But he bought all sorts of things we couldn’t afford and became more and more secretive. I tried to convince myself he was selling drugs or guns or something. Anything was much easier to accept than admitting aliens are real and Jim is working for them.”

  She spoke of her doubt in the past tense, but Jim’s involvement in the present. “What happened to change your mind about his claims?”

  “Coming here for one thing. It’s a little hard to dismiss the existence of aliens after you’ve been teleported.”

  He nodded, distracted by all the questions her vague statements triggered. “One thing doesn’t make sense to me.”

  “Only one?” She released a humorless laugh. “Then you’re way ahead of me.”

  “Why would Jim even consider allying himself with the Evonti? Didn’t he realize they’d killed his father?” Or was he so callus he didn’t care?

  She made a helpless gesture, but bitterness sharpened her gaze. “I can’t explain half of what Jim did and continues to do. He’s prideful and ambitious. I’m sure they feed his ego as well as his bank account, but you’re right. It’s hard to believe he’s willing to help them.”

  “‘Help them’ do what exactly?” He completed his circle of the room and faced her. He found no hidden panel or compartments, just like her. “What is the Evonti’s interest in Earth?”

  Heaving a sigh, she moved toward the archway leading to the third chamber. “I’m not sure. It took years for the Evonti to trust Jim with details, and by then he didn’t trust me.”

  “How long were you married to…” As they stepped into the adjacent room, the lighting activated and the scene awaiting them shocked Sedrik into silence. This chamber was much larger than the other two. Some sort of moss had crawled across the back wall and coarse grass covered much of the floor. Peppered through the grass grew a variety of plants, some flowering, most what humans would consider weeds. The air smelled fresher, courtesy of the plants, and a small pool nestled in the far corner.

  “I don’t know how the plants grow without sunlight. The auto-lights don’t look ultraviolet, but with the Evonti involved, who knows.” She strolled toward the pool, lost in thoughts or memories.

  “This was likely a trial run.”

  Turning her head sharply, she looked back at him. “A trial run?”

  “There’s a cave like this on the moon, only the plant life is much more sophisticated.” He walked up beside her and stood at the edge of the pool. Peering through the slightly murky water, he pointed to a shape on the bottom. “And the portal is bigger.”

  “Portal? What portal?” She looked more closely at the shadowy oval, then shook her head. “How do you know that’s a portal? I can barely even see it. Where does it lead?”

  “We sent several probes through, but were unable to identify the dimension on the other side. Rather than risk an invasion, we destroyed it.”

  “If this leads to the Evonti dimension, you should probably destroy this one too.” Her voice lowered as if she were afraid the Evonti would hear them.

  “My thoughts exactly.” She continued to stare into the pool, so he took advantage of her distraction and looked at her. With her soft-looking hair loosely framing her face and her green eyes
wide and luminous, she was captivating.

  Mate. The word echoed through his being, urging him onward. He needed to touch her, tame her, and finally claim her as his own. This wasn’t the first time he’d encountered a compatible female. He refused to think about the first time. The next two times his brothers had courted and won their respective female before he’d even had a chance with her. He didn’t begrudge his brothers their happiness, but there was no way he was letting this opportunity slip away.

  Thanks to a powerful spell cast long ago by a group of Rodyte refugees, genetically compatible females were being drawn to certain areas on Earth. The areas were known as sacred bonding grounds and Sedona, Arizona, was one such place. Rebecca had likely felt the effects of the spell without realizing she was being influenced.

  “You never explained how you found out about this place,” Sedrik reminded her. “Or how Jim did, for that matter.”

  “The Evonti needed Jim to guard a large piece of equipment.” She looked at him then back at the pool, obviously uncomfortable with the topic. “They never told him what it did or why they couldn’t guard it themselves. They just gave him the disk and told him to check on it every few days.”

  “You don’t know what the equipment did?”

  She shook her head. “Neither did Jim. This was back before things got ugly between us, so he would have told me if he knew.”

  “How long did he guard the mystery item?”

  “Nine weeks.” She offered no other details. “When they came and got whatever it was, Jim asked if he could keep the disk, told them he had things he’d like to hide in the caverns. Obviously, they agreed.”

  His instincts were urging him to dig deeper. Something about her story bothered him, but he wasn’t quite sure what. “Would you recognize the item if you saw it again?”