Triumphant (Battle Born Book 14)

by Cyndi Friberg

“If your thoughts are still wandering, I’m not trying hard enough.” He pulled her hips away from the bed then slipped one of his hands between her thighs. His middle finger effortlessly found her clit and sent sensation zinging through her entire body.

  She arched into his next thrust, taking him deeper than ever before. As if obeying his will, her thoughts scattered. There was no past and no tomorrow, only his body and hers, melding as only mates could meld.

  The pleasure intensified as his clever finger accented each deep penetration of his cock. Her nipples tingled and her core tightened around his thick shaft. She tossed her head and clutched at the bedding, lost in the raging storm. She was utterly out of control, yet she’d never felt safer than she felt wrapped in his arms.

  His control finally broke and he thrust deep one last time. His finger rubbed her clit while his pleasure blasted into her mind. She felt the warm splash of his seed and shook with her own orgasm. Her core rippled around him, dragging another groan from his throat.

  She collapsed across the bed, her legs dangling over the side. He held himself off her, panting harshly. “This is the disadvantage of this position. I have to pull out to calm down or stand here like an idiot.”

  “The position was your choice, not mine,” she reminded with a sleepy smile. He separated their bodies and she reconsidered her boast. “We definitely need to find a better position next time.”

  “Next time?” He crawled onto the bed and pulled her up beside him. “I’m still breathing hard and you’re thinking about next time? I definitely didn’t try hard enough.”

  She laughed, flopping over onto her back. “That was only the second time we’ve made love. You can’t expect it to be perfect that quickly.” It was utter nonsense. It had been perfect the first time and this time was even better.

  “Is that so?” He crawled on top of her and pinned her arms to the bed. “Are you dissatisfied with my performance?” The twinkle in his eyes and the continual stream of joy flowing from his mind assured her that he was teasing her.

  “It was…fine.”

  “Fine?” He laughed, unable to maintain his scowl. “Now that will never do.”

  Then his mouth covered hers and passion burned away their playfulness.

  * * * * *

  “Are you sure this will work?” Arton asked the following morning. It wasn’t like him to worry, but he’d never attempted anything quite this brazen before. Besides, he hadn’t yet decided if he trusted Torrin, and much of their strategy was his idea.

  Torrin shrugged with characteristic calm. Though Torrin had only joined the Outcasts a few weeks ago, Arton had never seen him upset by anything. He was cold, unflappable, which could be a benefit in stressful situations. It could also mean the man was a sociopath.

  “You have a legitimate reason for being on board your brother’s ship,” Torrin reminded. “I’m the one who should be worried.”

  And yet he wasn’t. He sat behind the navigator’s control panel, monitoring their course as if this were a supply run and not a kidnapping. He’d pulled his long dark hair away from his angular face, making him look mean rather than mysterious. Everyone knew he had unusual abilities. Most of the Outcasts did. But Kage was the only person who knew exactly what Torrin could do or the source of his power.

  Torrin looked at him, a hint of amusement brightening his gray-green eyes. “You’ve wandered all over battle-born-controlled facilities using a holo-mask. Why are you so wound up now?”

  “I don’t like being the diversion,” Arton admitted. “This is too important.”

  “I’m aware and we’ve planned accordingly.”

  Arton nodded, but his instincts were still on high alert. “Sedrik is harder to fool than most Rodytes. He has the uncanny ability to sense when things are off.”

  “Which is why I’m going after Lily and you’re distracting your brother. There is no real deception on your part. Your brother invited you to visit and you accepted his invitation. The rest has nothing to do with you.”

  Arton nodded, trying hard to adopt Torrin’s nonchalance. The plan was straight forward though more complicated than Torrin made it sound. Arton would distract Sedrik while Torrin abducted Lily. To accomplish the abduction, Torrin would render himself undetectable to scanners. Arton had no idea how that was possible, but Kage had verified that invisibility, at least to sensors, was among Torrin’s abilities.

  Torrin would wait several minutes after Arton departed and then sneak off the shuttle. Using the holo-mask and an appropriate uniform, Torrin would disguise himself as a medic. He’d locate Lily and tell her that Rebecca had collapsed on one of the shuttles. He’d report that his team couldn’t figure out what was wrong with her, so they wanted Lily to assist them. If she asked why Rebecca hadn’t been moved to main medical, Torrin would tell her Sedrik was worried about spreading a contagion. And if Lily asked too many questions or put up any sort of fight, he was to incapacitate her and bio-stream back to the shuttle.

  Arton sighed. They’d tried to anticipate everything that could go wrong, but he wasn’t satisfied that they had succeeded. All it would take was one person to sound an alarm or to insist on verifying anything Torrin said and the plan fell apart. So why did Torrin act as if success was a foregone conclusion.

  “You worry like an old woman, harbinger,” Torrin muttered a few minutes later. He checked the readouts then angled his seat so he faced Arton. “Will you stop wringing your hands if I explain exactly how I’m going to do this?”

  He could either react to Torrin’s sarcasm with hostility or ignore it and learn why Kage was so impressed by this mysterious bastard. Arton shrugged. “We’ve still got time to kill. Entertain me.”

  Torrin laughed, clearly not impressed with Arton’s feigned indifference. “In some ways I have more in common with the Triumphant’s operating system than with you.”

  Arton narrowed his gaze on Torrin’s face. He appeared entirely humanoid, but… “You’re a cyborg?”

  Even the facetious humor faded from Torrin’s expression. His eyes turned to smoky-green ice and his lips pressed into a disapproving line. “This is why I avoid the subject. Cyborgs are bio-mechanical personnel manufactured for a specific purpose. They are not sentient beings. Intergalactic mandates forbid it. I, on the other hand, was born, just like you, then underwent numerous procedures to enhance my body and mind. Yes, I have an unusual amount of integrated tech, but I’m still the same person I was when I was born. I am not a cyborg.”

  Clearly, he’d struck a nerve, and sending Torrin off with a chip on his shoulder didn’t make sense. “I apologize. I wasn’t aware that the term was insulting.”

  “It’s not just insulting,” Torrin stressed. “It’s inaccurate.”

  “Understood.”

  Torrin paused for a deep breath. When he continued, his voice was conversational and his expression relaxed. “While you’re being escorted to your brother, I’ll interface with the ship’s computer. I’ve done it numerous times before. I know which systems will set off alarms and which I can access without detection. I’ll attempt to remain undetectable the entire time I’m aboard, but if I’m discovered the holo-mask is my backup. During my brief alliance with the battle born, I collected an assortment of images and indent-codes, so I can morph into a variety of crewmembers.”

  Arton arched his brows at that. “Is that any way to treat an ally?”

  Torrin’s grin was utterly unapologetic. “I had my doubts from the onset that I’d fit in with the battle born. I’m the first to admit I don’t do well with authority figures.”

  “So you disguise yourself as a medic when you approach Lily, then morph into whatever the situation requires if things go sideways?”

  “Exactly. I already found her ident-code, so I’ll be able to locate her as soon as we’re in range. Depending on her location, I should need no more than fifteen to thirty minutes to accomplish my objective. Can you keep your brother busy for that long?”

  “Don’t see why not.
” Arton was feeling better about the mission, and better about Torrin as the conversation went on. Torrin was unique and skilled. If he could do half of what he claimed, Arton was starting to understand why Kage liked him so much. “The shuttle has an emergency homing device. If either of us are backed into a corner, we can bio-stream back to the shuttle. If the trigger is activated twice in quick succession, both of us will be immediately streamed back to the shuttle.”

  “Neither of us will know the specifics of the other’s situation, so the double bailout should be an absolute last resort.”

  “Agreed.” Arton reviewed the information silently, analyzing each step of the plan. They were still walking in to the lion’s den with little more than a Halloween costume, but Torrin’s affinity with computers might just be enough of an advantage to allow them to pull this off. “If you’re comfortable with our approach, all I can do is trust you.”

  Torrin looked at him and smiled, “That would be a damn good start.”

  * * * * *

  After indulging their mutual passions until the wee hours of the morning, Sedrik and Rebecca took a leisurely bath then slept in each other’s arms. She had never felt so content or safe. The physical pleasure they shared had been exhilarating, but she was even more impressed with the emotions they’d exchanged. The transfer link allowed her to see into Sedrik’s mind, to experience what he felt and verify his character. Not having to wonder if she’d misjudged someone was wonderfully liberating.

  The following morning, Sedrik had breakfast waiting when she finally crawled out of bed. They chatted like old friends as they enjoyed the simple food, and Rebecca didn’t want the peaceful interlude to end. The tension between them was gone. Now all it would take was a little courage on her part and they could begin their new life together. But could she be that brave?

  They dressed and kissed, tempted to return to the well-used bed, but Sedrik had responsibilities and he’d ducked out early the day before. He was just about to leave the cabin when his audio-com activated.

  She could only hear his side of the conversation, so she waited until his gaze returned to her before she asked, “What’s going on?”

  “Arton just arrived. I told security to wait for my signal, then escort him to one of the visitor cabins. I also insisted that he be treated like a threat.” Sedrik remained near the door. She was seated in one of the tall-backed chairs facing the sofa.

  Trepidation rushed through her system like ice water in her veins. “Are you sure it’s even safe for him to be on the Triumphant?”

  “I’m sure it’s not. This wasn’t my idea. The less Arton sees of the ship, the better. The visitor cabins are just down the hall from the arrival bays.” Sedrik crossed the room and gathered her hands in his. Then he bent from the waist as he raised them toward his mouth, pressing a light kiss to her knuckles. “I would have suggested a neutral location far away from either of our ships, but I didn’t set up the meeting, my mother did.”

  The attention made Rebecca smile, but discomfort still knotted her stomach. “How did Skyla get Arton to agree to this anyway? I thought you said he doesn’t respond to any of your coms.”

  “Apparently, she enlisted the help of the only person with authority over Arton.” Sedrik sounded mildly annoyed by the fact.

  “The overlord?” she guessed.

  Sedrik nodded. “Kage Razel promised my mother that Arton would be here bright and early this morning and he’s down in shuttle bay twelve.”

  “Go Overlord Razel.”

  Sedrik made a face, obviously not nearly as enthusiastic as she. “This shouldn’t take long. I’ll be back before you miss me.”

  “I don’t even get to meet him?” She stood up and placed her hands on his chest. It felt so good to have the freedom to touch him whenever she liked. “I’ve never even seen a harbinger.”

  He shook his head. “Not a chance. I know for a fact that Arton can’t be trusted.” Seeing her disappointment, he sighed. “How about a compromise? It won’t be interactive, but I’ll let you see what all the fuss is about.” He walked to his work station and activated the control matrix. With flowing gestures and voice commands he transformed one of the living room walls into a real-time display of the visitor cabin. “I better get moving. Security is waiting on me.”

  “Be careful.” She hurried to him as he headed for the door. “I have a bad feeling about this.” Rocking up onto her toes, she kissed him lightly on the mouth.

  He brushed the hair back from her face with both hands, then echoed her kiss. “I suspect this is a waste of time, but maybe I can find out why they suddenly went on the offensive.”

  “Anything is better than turning a blind eye.” He had muted the transfer link without shielding it completely, so she could feel the emotions seething inside him. Despite his outward calm, he was anxious to see his brother after so long, yet angry that Arton was involved in something so unscrupulous. Most battle born males had no tolerance for endangering females regardless of the situation. Sedrik’s insistence that she stay here was a good example of their usual behavior.

  “I’ll be right back,” he assured her then left the room.

  It took several minutes for Sedrik to show up on the real-time display. The cabin was smaller than the one surrounding her yet equally nice. The bedroom was separated from the main living space by a half wall, but the seating area was almost identical.

  “Your visitors have arrived, General Lux. Security Officer Denarti and unidentified male. Should I allow them to enter?”

  “Yes, allow them in.”

  Thanks to her com-bots, she easily followed the conversation.

  Sedrik stood beside one of the tall-backed chairs, hand resting on the top of the cushion. His position in relation to the camera gave her a slightly angled side view. He looked regal and comfortable, like a king surveying his domain. A uniformed security officer acknowledged Sedrik with a respectful nod, then took up a position in the corridor. The other man sauntered into the cabin as if he owned the place. Apparently confidence was ingrained in Lux DNA. The newcomer walked right toward her, his face to the camera. He wore faded jeans and a black T-shirt with a colorful dragon design on the chest. His collar-length hair was an unusual mixture of silver, black and white, but it was his eyes that kept him from looking human. The irises were light bluish gray and his pupils were ringed in shimmering silver. They would have been beautiful if they weren’t so cold.

  “I’m here because my overlord ordered me to come.” Without giving Sedrik time to greet him, Arton rounded the couch and sat down, stretching his arms out along the top of the cushions. “Say what you insisted I hear so I can get back to more important things.”

  Wow. What a rude asshole.

  Suddenly his nose twitched and his icy gaze snapped to Sedrik’s face. He leaned forward, inhaling deeply, then a cruel smile parted his lips. “You’ve located a mate. She’s marked, but not yet claimed. What are you waiting for, little brother? Do you need me to explain the proper way to fuc—”

  “Leave my mate out of this or get the hells off my ship!”

  Arton shot to his feet, eyes narrowed, openly hostile. “I’m here because you got your mommy to bully my boss. Throwing me off your overblown ship is not a threat. I want nothing more than to see the last of this star system.”

  “Be my guest,” Sedrik sneered as he made a sweeping gesture toward the door. “This was clearly a mistake.”

  Lovely. What about all the women the Outcasts had kidnapped? Were they to remain victims because of male pride? Rebecca scrambled for a way to defuse the situation before the opportunity was lost. Ask him what he wants in exchange for the females. This isn’t about me or you. She pushed the thoughts into Sedrik’s mind with a good dose of annoyance.

  Sedrik tensed then glanced toward the camera, assuring her he’d heard her suggestion. “Are you willing to negotiate? Is there anything we can offer in exchange for releasing your captives?”

  “Captives?” Arton smirked. �
�You’re presuming these females are unwilling. Our method of recruitment might be more direct, but they’re still volunteers.”

  “Sure they are. And the Outcasts are freedom fighters not mercenaries.”

  “Both depend on one’s perspective.” Arton stared back at him, expression a combination of amusement and insolence.

  “Why now? You’ve been in this star system for months. Why disregard their laws now?”

  He shrugged, his gaze drifting off into the distance. “We’re not citizens of Earth. Their laws don’t apply to us.”

  “The battle born are being blamed for the kidnappings. Are you really going to stand by and let us pay the price for your actions? Are you trying to start a war?”

  Again Arton shrugged, but the faintest hint of emotion sparked within his eyes. “It’s unavoidable. Humans love to point fingers and place blame. Besides, Rodytes all look the same to them. Don’t we, darling?” He looked right into the camera and wiggled his eyebrows. Sedrik lunged for him, but Arton just sidestepped with a laugh. “The romance must be new. Why are you still so possessive?” Rather than stand there and glare at Sedrik, Arton began to stroll around the room, casually inspecting everything he encountered.

  “Our relationship is none of your business.” Sedrik growled out the words as he clenched his fists.

  Rebecca knew the brothers were estranged, but she hadn’t expected this level of hostility. Ask him why they need so many women.

  “Step out of the shadows, sweetheart, and I’ll show you why,” Arton proposed in a deep, sensual tone.

  He hadn’t bothered looking at the camera, but clearly he could hear her. She concentrated on her link with Sedrik, trying to narrow and shield the connection. He’s purposely provoking you. Even if he’s not interested in any sort of alliance, why keep pissing you off?

  Sedrik narrowed his gaze, then issued several commands so rapidly, she wasn’t able to translate.

  Arton whirled toward him, anger blazing in his pale blue eyes. “What the fuck was that about?”

  Without shifting his focus from Arton, Sedrik explained, “I just locked down arrival bay twelve. You’re not going anywhere. Now, tell me why you’re really here?”