Triumphant (Battle Born Book 14)

by Cyndi Friberg

  They worked quickly and efficiently for a couple of hours, but none of the clear images seemed to contain anything helpful.

  “We’re going to have to go deeper,” she whispered when he paused to catch his breath.

  “The rest are blurred, out of focus.” That was mostly true. There were only two vivid memories left, but there was no power in the universe that could make him show her.

  She opened her eyes and searched his gaze. “You’re hiding something. I can sense it.”

  “You don’t need to see the last two fragments, but I’ll explain what they are.” He wasn’t pleased with the compromise, but he didn’t see any other way to follow his mother’s advice and protect his mate at the same time. “For obvious reasons, the last few minutes of Jim’s life on Earth are especially vivid. He knew he was going to die because of what the Evonti did to the others.”

  “What others?”

  With a frustrated sigh, Sedrik explained, “When we raided the L.A. location the trackers not only found Jim, they found a group of humans trying to repair the portal. But they were mind-slaves like Jim. The Evonti threw a switch in their brains and made one kill two of his coworkers. So the trackers shot him. The last two had seizures like Jim.”

  “And Jim watched it happen before they flipped the switch inside his mind.”

  Sedrik nodded.

  “Why did they murder everyone? That makes no sense to me.”

  “It’s ruthless as hells’ icy rings, but it’s solid strategy. By wiping out anyone who can reveal their secrets, the Evonti protect themselves.”

  She didn’t argue or ask any more questions about the image. Instead, she moved on. “You said there were two fragments. What is the last one about?”

  “It’s more of the same. Jim either saw or was told about a device that keeps the Evonti from being captured. If they know they’re about to be taken prisoner, they have a trigger implanted in their wrist that vaporizes their body. They are determined to remain a mystery.”

  “Even at the cost of their own people?” She shuddered and looked away. “You’re right. I don’t need to see that.”

  He stroked her hair back from her face and pressed a kiss to her temple. “Do you need a break?”

  She shook her head, stubbornness raising her chin. “Show me the blurry ones. Skyla said the answers are there. We have to keep trying.”

  Not only were the images blurry, they were filled with echoes of emotions and an oppressive sense of dread. Sedrik had hoped to spare her a voyage through her ex-husband’s tortured mind. He quickly found the least offensive of the images and shared it with Rebecca.

  She groaned as the emotions hit her, then her nails dug into his hand when the scene unfurled. Jim lay restrained on a narrow table, but he couldn’t have been more than nine or ten. Three of the Evonti surrounded him, examining him and taking samples while he writhed and screamed. The scene bent and twisted, but Sedrik could see Jim’s tormentors well enough to identify them as Evonti.

  “Jim told me he’d been abducted as a child,” Rebecca whispered as the image faded. “Even after you guys revealed your presence on the moon, I’m not sure I ever really believed Jim’s stories. I tried to take him seriously, but it was just so unbelievable. Back then,” she added with a sad little smile.

  Many of the other images were similar, so Sedrik dug even deeper. “This one doesn’t seem to make any sense at all.” Needing more contact with her, he pulled her onto his lap and held her against his chest.

  She quickly kicked off her shoes then settled into the cradle of his arms. “Go ahead.”

  The scene was longer than most, so he fed it to her slowly.

  Jim floated through peaceful blackness as if in a dream, but strange, emotionless voices sounded in the distance. The voices conversed in a language Sedrik didn’t understand, but Jim knew enough to pick out random words and phrases. “Arrival”, “habitability study”, “conversion”, and “portal connectivity”. Only by concentrating with all his might was Jim able to pluck the words out of the conversation. The effort made him nauseous and quickly drained his strength. He slipped back into the darkness and the scene ended.

  “‘Arrival’ and ‘habitability study’ are pretty straight forward,” Rebecca concluded. “But what are they converting and what does ‘portal connectivity’ mean?”

  Sedrik shrugged, though he felt anything but indifferent. “Maybe they were having trouble connecting the portals with their home world or dimension, and ‘conversion’ could refer to all sorts of things.” Without more information, any conclusion was just a guess.

  She looked past him, eyes narrowed. “But were those simply the words he was able to understand or did his memory record them because they’re important.” She made an exasperated sound. “Argh, this is so frustrating!”

  They went through the rest of the fragments, but nothing else seemed applicable to the current situation.

  “Wait,” she cried. “What was that last one? Why did you flash it at me? Let me look at it.”

  He sighed. Her image was in the scene, so he’d tried to sneak it past her. He fought back his emotions as he slipped the fragment into her mind. If Jim weren’t already dead, Sedrik would happily end his existence all over again. Even if the Evonti were controlling him, this behavior was inexcusable.

  In the memory Jim sat at a desk next to a bed. Rebecca lay on the bed wearing nothing but panties. She was curled up on her side, facing the wall. Soft sobs shook her shoulders and angry red welts striped her back, likely caused by the belt draped over Jim’s chair.

  At first, Sedrik thought there was nothing more to the memory, then Jim activated a thin device similar to a datapad. A three-dimensional grid formed above the screen with brighter segments forming a distinct pattern. Jim studied the pattern, tracing it with the tip of his finger.

  “Is that a constellation?” Rebecca asked.

  “If it is, I don’t recognize it.”

  “What else could it be?”

  He released the memory and waited until she opened her eyes. “I have no idea. It could be troop movements, the Evonti’s idea of a star chart, or a strange form of entertainment.”

  She shook her head and looked away. “Jim’s nightly entertainment was lying on the bed.”

  Bitterness and grief flooded his mind, catching him by surprise. She appeared so calm, almost indifferent to the reminder of all she’d suffered at Jim’s hands. “He can never hurt you again.”

  “That doesn’t instantaneously make it all go away,” she snapped. “He… I…”

  “I know, my love. I’m so sorry.” He didn’t know what else to say, so he stroked her hair and gently rocked her in his arms. All the while he fed her affection and peace.

  She allowed the embrace for a long time, absently stroking his chest. When she finally spoke again, her voice sounded distant, almost sleepy. “I’m not sure if knowing the Evonti were controlling him makes it worse or better. Either way, I was helpless to stop it. Always so damn helpless.”

  She tried to twist out of his arms, but he wouldn’t release her. They’d come too far, accomplished too much. He couldn’t allow her to re-erect her emotional barriers. “You are anything but helpless with me, Rebecca. In fact, you have all the power.”

  Her quiet scoff reached his ears, but her emotions shifted, softened.

  “One word from you and I’d be devastated.” He leaned down and nipped her chin, then whispered, “Or I’d be the happiest male alive.”

  Despite the warmth spreading through her body, her smile didn’t reach her eyes. “It was never about happiness with Jim. It was about survival.”

  “You didn’t just survive Jim,” he reminded. “You outwitted him and ultimately led to his destruction. My mother is right. You’re much stronger than you know.”

  She tugged against his carefully restraining arm as anxiety hit her being like a flash of lightning. “I’m not stronger than you.”

  “Why does that bother you? Surely, y
ou understand that I would never hurt you, never intentionally harm you in any way.”

  Rather than answer, she tried to wiggle off his lap. Her emotions grew even more chaotic.

  Frustrated by her hesitation, he laid her down on the couch and pinned her arms over her head. Her legs arched over his lap and his face was directly over hers. He stared deep into her eyes, his mind open, ready for her mental touch. “Are you safe with me?”

  Instead of searching for the answer in his mind as he’d hoped, she tugged against his hands and whispered, “Yes.”

  He ignored her halfhearted struggles. “Are you safe from me?”

  Her brows scrunched together and her wiggling stopped. “What’s the difference?”

  “I think you know I’ll protect you from anything that endangers you, but I’m not sure you’ve accepted that I’m no threat to you.”

  She licked her lips, gaze darting away then returning to his face. “I don’t want to be afraid. I’m so damn tired of doubting everyone and everything, but it’s harder than I thought to let go.”

  Her honesty pleased him. Admitting the truth was the first step toward change. “Could I harm you if I wanted to?”

  “Easily.”

  “So why don’t I?” Her tongue returned to wet her lips and his gaze focused on her mouth. Gods how he wanted to kiss her.

  “It’s dishonorable for a Rodyte to harm any female,” she recited the tenet she’d doubtlessly learned from him.

  “True, but that’s not the main reason.”

  Mischief gradually lit her gaze and her features relaxed. “You learned how males treat females by watching your parents?” Playfulness crept into her tone and the corners of her mouth tilted up.

  “Also true, and also incidental. Why is it impossible for me to harm you, not just any female?”

  She knew the answer. He could see it in her eyes, but all she did was smile.

  “If you don’t answer me, I’ll have no choice but to punish you.” He raised his brows in challenge.

  “Is that so?” Her spirit returned with a vengeance. “What sort of punishment do you intend. I’m not a member of your crew.”

  He shuddered in mock horror and she laughed. “I wouldn’t even consider letting any of my men do what I want from you.”

  “And that is?”

  Without explaining what her punishment would be, he swept her up in his arms and carried her into the bedroom.

  Chapter Eleven

  Rebecca’s heart fluttered in her chest and desire cascaded through her body. Each time she shared intimacies with Sedrik, even as simple as a kiss, it was easier to imagine a future at his side. She was tired of fighting. Combating the past and resisting the future left her restless and discontent. Sedrik offered the sort of life she’d only dreamed about—when her desolate life allowed her to dream. What rational female would continue to resist when faced with the fulfillment of her dreams?

  Sedrik set her down beside the bed, his expression fierce and disapproving. The transfer link was still open so the tenderness caressing her being assured her that he was simply having fun. “Since you refuse to surrender with words, you’ll have to pay a penalty or walk the plank.”

  “‘Walk the plank’?” She laughed. His playfulness was so out of character that she found it charming. “I didn’t realize pirates still did that. Come to think of it, I didn’t realize you were a pirate.”

  His warm hands framed her face as he lowered his head and just brushed his lips over hers. “I kidnapped you from your home world so I could ravish your delectable body. Are those not the actions of a ruthless pirate?”

  Soothed by his silliness, she played along. “Clearly you’re a monster. I’ll do everything in my power to escape your evil grasp.”

  “‘Everything’ in your power?” he teased. “Shall we put that offer to the test?”

  The sensual growl in his deep voice curled her toes. “What would you have from me, you evil pirate?”

  He gently fisted the back of her hair and slowly tilted her head back. “I want your sweet mouth.” He paused dramatically then clarified the demand with the phrase, “on your knees.”

  Excitement curled through her body, tightening her nipples and clenching her aching core. The thought of touching him, tasting him, was gasoline to her smoldering desires. “But that’s wicked.” She pressed her teeth into her lower lip and batted her eyelashes. “Good girls don’t do that sort of thing.”

  “I don’t want a good girl.” A bit of his playfulness fell away as he whispered. “I want my mate.”

  Rather than object to his departure from their spontaneous roleplaying, she pulled off her shirt and looked into his eyes. His gaze moved boldly over her naked breasts as she searched for the fastenings on his uniform top.

  “How does this stupid thing come off?” she grumbled as her search continued in vain.

  “Like this.” He slipped his fingers inside the collar and triggered the invisible seam. The garment parted and he shrugged out of it, then pulled his undershirt off over his head. Without her prompting, he pulled off his boots and opened his pants, but didn’t remove them.

  She ran her hands over his chest and down his arms. His torso was sculpted with rippling muscles that stopped just short of bulgy. Every dip and angle of his powerful body made her feel small and feminine. Despite his obvious strength, he had never touched her with anything but careful tenderness. And she was finally starting to believe he never would. Eager to explore the rest of him, she reached for his pants, but he caught her wrists and shook his head.

  “I want you naked first.”

  Too aroused to feel self-conscious, she wiggled out of her pants and kicked them aside. When she reached for his pants again, he still stopped her.

  “I want to look at you.”

  “Can’t you look at me while I look at you?” The plaintive cry in her voice would have embarrassed her if she’d been less turned on.

  His gaze swept down her body, then slowly returned to her face. He released her hands with a smile. “Compromise.”

  He’d already indulged his visual hunger, so she wasn’t sure it was a compromise. Still, she wasn’t about to argue now. Slipping her thumbs inside his waistband, she pushed his pants down past his hips. Unlike her, he wore underwear, so she quickly rid him of the clingy garment as well. Now they were both naked and she couldn’t decide if she wanted to rub against him skin on skin or memorize his shape and textures with her hands.

  He decided for her. Pulling her against him, he sealed his mouth over hers and kissed her deeply, possessively. His aggression no longer scared her. She understood that it was rooted in commitment, not jealous cruelty.

  “I thought you wanted me on my knees,” she whispered against his lips. Kissing him was heaven, but she wanted the opportunity to arouse him as ruthlessly as he aroused her.

  “I do.” He sat on the edge of the bed and spread his legs, making room for her between his muscular thighs.

  Steadying herself against his legs, she knelt in front of him and shifted her focus to his sex. She’d taken him inside her body the night before, so she knew he was big. Still, up close and personal like this, he was even more impressive. She wrapped her fingers around his thickness, amazed at the hardness beneath his velvet-soft skin. One of her hands stroked up and down his length while the other touched his chest and abdomen, his side and legs.

  “Give me your mouth,” he directed in a strangled whisper.

  Pleased by the pleading in his tone, she bent and circled his tip with her tongue.

  He closed his eyes and let his head fall back. “More.”

  Unable to resist his obvious need, she opened her mouth and slid her lips halfway down his length. His smell filled her nose and his taste spread across her tongue. She felt powerful, knowing he wanted her so badly that he trembled. Powerful, fearless General Lux shook with his need for her.

  He trembles for his mate, her inner voice reminded. But the thought didn’t frighten her thi
s time.

  She moved faster, taking him deeper as her free hand cupped his sac. He let her set the pace for a time, remaining passive for as long as his dominant nature allowed. But his hips started rocking, subtly at first, then with more and more demand as his need escalated.

  He was close to release. She could feel his urgency across their mental connection. She sucked harder, wanting him to lose control, to surrender. But he suddenly stood, dragging her to her feet as he went, which forced her to release him.

  He spun her around and bent her over the bed. His knees pushed her legs apart and her objection became a gasp as he slammed into her from behind. She was wet and more than ready, but he still felt huge. Bracing herself against the bed, she waited for him to start moving, expecting a rhythm as frantic as his entry, but he held perfectly still.

  His chest heaved against her back and his breath stirred her hair. “I’m sorry. You drove me so crazy I had to be inside you.” He wrapped his arm around her waist and brushed her hair away from her neck so he could press his lips against her skin.

  She grinned, knowing he couldn’t see her. “Or you could have just let go.”

  He moaned and flexed his hips, drawing nearly out before he thrust into her again. Apparently, he liked the idea.

  “Why did you stop?” She tightened her inner muscles, caressing him the only way she could in this position.

  His moan was even louder than before. “I wanted this more.” He rocked into her, holding her hips to keep her steady.

  That was probably true, but she also knew he didn’t like losing control, not to anyone for any reason. Who could blame him. The entire Earth-side fleet— He nipped her shoulder just hard enough to sting. She yelped. “That hurt!”