He scowled and almost took her to task over such a foolish risk, before reminding himself she wasn’t his to worry about it and wasn’t under the protection of anyone who was. Even if he’d been so inclined, he had bigger concerns. None of the hostages were supposed to have contact with Earth, other than the daily conferences on board ship. Plus Eldridge shouldn’t have been able to participate in any kind of call since there was no meeting on board today.
His suspicious mind immediately turned to other possibilities. There weren’t many. The Earth soldier could have smuggled the technology on board to communicate with his people or bribed someone on their ship. Or much worse, not had to bribe anyone. Kendall was right when she suggested not all of the Delroi were happy with the way events were unfolding. Some preferred a less civilized approach.
He spun around and started through the rocks, calculating how long it would take him to reach the demonstration site with his hovercraft. It was faster than the wheeled Earth vehicles over this rough terrain, but it would still take four, maybe three hours if he pushed.
“Hey! Where are you going?”
He turned to see the doctor following him and held up a hand to stop her.
“To see my Lord. I’ll carry your message.”
“Laney’s in trouble, isn’t she? I’m coming with you.”
“No.” Hell no. Kendall opened her mouth and he just knew it was to argue. These Earth women. Fascinating and infuriating at the same time. “You said yourself, you’re not a spy. You’re a healer. I don’t know what I’m going into but I won’t take a woman along.”
She arched an eyebrow, then shook her head with a half smile on her lips. “You Delroi have a lot to learn about women. At least the women here.”
Before he could answer that the last thing he wanted was to learn more about one of these oddly fierce, very independent Earth women, she turned away. He couldn’t seem to stop himself from following her to her vehicle. She climbed inside and started the engine.
“You’ll tell her to get in touch with me? Immediately? There are … other avenues I can pursue if you don’t come through. Other people I can contact.”
He admired her loyalty and determination. It was obvious she cared deeply for her friend. He felt his first real smile for months.
“I will.”
Barak watched until she was out of sight before returning to his own craft and making his way to the demonstration site, where he hoped he’d find his Commander and Overchief fine and his imagination nothing but overactive.
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Chapter Eight
Laney was silent for the shuttle ride down to the planet. There were things she knew should ask. Like, what the hell am I doing? But her brain was too addled from that kiss. Her breasts were uncomfortably swollen. Her pussy was too wet and hot. And her heart. She didn’t even want to ponder what was happening to her heart.
She’d been just fine. Resigned to maybe having a satisfying political career as a diplomat and a hot sex life. Determined to keep any emotion out of it that surely would never be returned. Then he had to go act all vulnerable and shit.
Except she was damned sure it wasn’t an act. The flash of pain and remembrance and love on his face and in his eyes when he mentioned his parents had not been imagined or faked. He was a man uncomfortable, maybe even scared, of emotion. He’d never bother to contrive it.
She leaned her head back against the cold metal of the shuttle’s hull and closed her eyes. Normally a move she would never have indulged in, and a show of weakness, but the hell with it. Let them assume she was just tired. She sure as hell hadn’t been sleeping much.
She’d been so sure she could do this. Keep her heart out of it. What could be worse than loving someone who couldn’t love you back? And God, wasn’t she screwed then? If she loved him. Did she? She bit her bottom lip hard enough to draw a bead of blood. She couldn’t; she didn’t know him.
“Are you okay?”
She opened her eyes and rolled her head against the bulkhead, turning to meet Daggar’s gaze without straightening from a pose she knew must appear weary to any onlookers. She didn’t know when he’d sat next to her but he looked concerned. It was such an odd expression to see on his face. He’d only been withdrawn and severe in public before. More open but with a heavy dose of sarcasm in private with his brother. Other emotions seemed so out of character. She frowned. Hadn’t she just been thinking along similar lines at least about Alrik?
“I’m fine.” She closed her eyes again unwilling to see his scrutiny. It was curious how he’d hesitated over okay. Which reminded her. “How is it you speak our language so well?”
She heard the smile in his voice. “We studied.”
“Ah. I see.”
They fell silent. It wasn’t comfortable. She opened her eyes and stared at the far wall. Wondered if she was expected to make small talk. What the hell? Might as well give it a shot. She looked at him.
“So where are we going?”
Daggar looked surprised and frowned at Alrik, who was sitting several seats away speaking with his men. “He didn’t tell you?”
She shrugged. Tried to avoid the bitterness welling in her throat. “He doesn’t tell me anything.”
“Perhaps he’s not sure if he can trust you.” It was a softly spoken jab, but there nevertheless.
“Of course, you can’t. Not any more than I can trust y’all.”
He shook his head. “I’m not speaking of trust between Delroi and Earth. I meant trust between Alrik and Laney.”
She turned to meet his gaze. “The two aren’t so easily separated.”
He shrugged before standing. “I think you know that’s not true, Sergeant Major.”
He walked away and she muttered under her breath, “Maybe for anyone else, but it is my truth.”
And weren’t they all screwed then?
She scowled at Alrik who looked up just at the right moment to catch it. She felt him probe at her mind—she was getting the hang of this—and imagined a wall, imagined forcing him out of her head. He cocked an eyebrow and she realized she’d succeeded. There was no more pressure, but she didn’t feel any better. She just felt alone.
She didn’t have time to wonder where the empty feeling came from because the shuttle shuddered a little as it braked, and within seconds they were landing. The door lowered and the three warriors Alrik had been speaking to disembarked while he waited for her. There was nothing in his eyes of what had passed between them earlier. His face was impassive as ever, but he took her hand when she stopped at his side and lightly traced the curve of her face with his other hand. She leaned into the unexpected gentleness, savoring his touch for just a second before they walked forward. He didn’t release her when they stepped into the bright sun and strode down the ramp.
Neither spoke. It was stupid, this silence. What did she hope to gain? Sulky games were not her style and didn’t have a chance in hell of changing him. She sucked in her breath. The situation, Laney. Not him. You don’t care anything for what he thinks. She refused to allow him to be any more important to her than she was to him. With that thought firmly in mind and reminding herself she was a Sergeant Major with a reputation to protect if nothing else, she looked around the area they’d landed in.
There was a rocky incline on three sides of the craft. Not quite steep enough to be considered a cliff, but sharp enough to make it very difficult to climb. Before them was a large earth berm. The clear area was not large though, and amazed, she turned to see the ship with mere inches to spare on its sides.
“Talented pilot,” she muttered.
One side of Alrik’s mouth twisted up. Only half a smile but the bottom of her stomach dropped to her feet seeing it. “My best.”
She struggled to contain her physical reaction to him, the rising tide of lust in her veins, but he made it impossible. She felt his response to hers and they seemed to amplify each other, building and growing into something that couldn’t be fought.
Suddenly desperate for someplace at least semi-private she looked around again, cursing herself for ten kinds of fool. Hadn’t she said she wasn’t doing this again? And why look? The ship was right there.
She grabbed his hand and stepped towards the still lowered ramp and then the damnedest thing happened. He slammed up a shield between them. She still felt overwhelming lust but it was no longer hers and his mingled and she was able to take a steady breath. Well, steadier. He lifted her hand and nibbled the back of her knuckles. Fire licked through her, almost undoing the effectiveness of the shield. She wondered how long he could keep it up?
“Now’s not the time. Keep it for later,” he said it softly, calmly, as if he didn’t have a care in the world, but his eyes were hot and promising.
Her channel clenched in response but she took a deep breath, determined to control this … thing that burned in her. After a moment she thought she’d regained enough control to carry on.
“What are we doing here? Where’s everyone else?”
This time he did smile, but it was so cold she took a step away from him. She couldn’t retreat far with her fingers still in his grip though.
“We thought a demonstration might be in order. The others are behind a wall on the other side of this valley.”
She was almost afraid to ask and her voice was not as sure as she’d wish for. “What kind of demonstration?”
He walked along the wall to a place where steps had been cut into the earth and led the way up. On top she looked out over a small green valley. It was a pretty little place with a blue stream meandering its way through it. It wasn’t far from her home base and she’d spent many afternoons there. She felt Alrik’s gaze on her profile as she looked at it.
“Did you think your people are the only ones who’ve built world destroyers?”
She hadn’t but she was still horrified. Enraged and terrified at the same time. Was this for her defiance? Or something else? One thing she knew for sure. They didn’t have enough good land left to allow any to be destroyed. And if it was because of her, because of her actions or lack thereof or reticence she’d never forgive herself. She grabbed his forearm and turned her body into his, close but not quite touching.
“This isn’t necessary, Alrik. I’ve seen your ships, the size of your forces. I’ll … cooperate.”
He didn’t speak for several minutes and just stared at her. His expression was unreadable.
“How far would you go to protect your people, Sergeant Major?”
The words were a blow, like taking a punch in the gut. The shield he’d erected had slipped a little. She experienced his anger and disappointment and had no idea how to respond. She straightened her shoulders.
“As far as necessary for the people I love.” When he didn’t respond, she searched desperately for whatever it was he wanted to hear. “I’m not sure what you expect of me exactly, but I’ll do my best to provide it.”
She was careful to keep any bitterness she felt from her voice. His expression softened a little.
“It’s more for them than you, Laney.” He jerked his head to indicate the other Alliance members presumably watching from the other side of the valley. “And not just to show the force of our weapons. Our power. But how we can reverse it.”
She remembered Cilia’s words earlier in the gardens, that lush green place that seemed so at odds with the males of these people.
“You can fix the damage you propose to do here?”
“Yes.”
“Why?” She thought she knew, but she wanted to hear it.
“Your people don’t trust us. That we aren’t here to occupy and subject you. That we bring something other than war. You don’t trust us.”
“You shouldn’t go so far to earn one woman’s trust,” she whispered.
This time she knew she wasn’t imagining she saw emotion, some burning of something beyond lust in his eyes. He lifted his hand to her face. Brushed her cheek with the backs of his fingers.
“There are many reasons to do so.”
Before she could protest or sort out her own confusion—God she was sick of never knowing her own mind with Alrik—one of his warriors approached. He smartly saluted, his right fist thumping his chest over his heart.
“They’re ready to begin, General.”
“Good.”
Alrik set a hand on Laney’s lower back and, standing close to her side like a tall, silent sentinel, guided her to the steps. She didn’t protest the proprietary move even after noticing the others had gathered around. The other Delroi gathered in the small area didn’t bother to hide their curiosity when they watched her with Alrik. She had a sudden image of them taking silent notes and passing them around. How to deal with Earth women. She nearly laughed aloud.
Biting her tongue, she accepted a pair of goggles from Alrik with a soft thank you. It was a strange new reality she found herself in when she was thanking her enemy for taking safety precautions, marrying her enemy to save Earth and wishing it was more than simply that.
While she’d been on top of the berm with Alrik, the others had erected a small observation platform. She followed him up the short flight of stairs. The deck appeared to be simple wood and it was fronted by what looked like a wall of glass, but she suspected was so much more. She reached out to touch it. The pads of her fingertips connected with the smooth cool surface and she cocked an eyebrow at Alrik, who’d moved to stand beside her.
“Aluminum glass,” he answered her unvoiced question.
She repressed a sigh. How much farther advanced would her people’s technology be if they hadn’t spent much of the last one hundred years trying to annihilate each other? All the scheming and plotting and fighting she’d done over her lifetime to bring them together, was it all for nothing now the Delroi had invaded?
Alrik waved a hand in front of her face and she blinked.
“Where did you go?” There was the tiniest thread of curiosity in his voice.
She shook her head. “Nowhere. Thinking about things past.”
Her answer annoyed him and this time he didn’t bother to hide his feelings when he snapped back. “Well, stay in the present. We’re about to begin.”
With his words a ship came into sight, falling out of the sky and hovering over the center of the valley. He handed her field glasses and she trained them on the vessel, watched as a door slid open in its belly. A bright red light erupted and she jerked her head around, closing and shielding her eyes. She heard the ship’s engines roar and knew it was lifting. When she turned back around, the transport was high overhead and the fertile green valley had been transformed to the thing of her nightmares, scorched and barren of life. Gasping, she stepped forward and set both palms flat against the clear wall. She squeezed her eyes shut for a few seconds before forcing herself to look again. The thing she’d feared several days ago, the thing she’d surrendered to avoid, had come anyway. And from someone she was beginning to trust.
Could he fix it? Heal it? Maybe. But his willingness to use such a weapon, even as a demonstration that could be repaired, said something about him and his people didn’t it? She didn’t get to pursue that line of thinking. A rocket was launched from the surrounding hills. It hit the shuttle dead on and the craft exploded in a ball of fire crashing to the earth beneath it. Alrik cursed in his own language and dragged her down the platform’s stairs as small arms fire finally registered in her brain. They were being attacked.
Instinct made her reach for the sidearm normally strapped to her thigh and she added her own curses when her hand came up empty. She’d been unarmed for days, but hadn’t so keenly felt the loss until now. Crouched low, they ran to the safety of the shuttle. Unfortunately they were on the wrong side. To get to the door they would have to leave cover to round the front or back of the ship. There wasn’t enough room to crawl under it, which would have been a fine option in her opinion.
Every time one of the warriors tried to step around the hull or stern, gunfire answered his appeara
nce and she heard gunshots from a distance, presumably the other group on the opposite side of the valley. Her hand kept straying to her thigh and finally in irritation she snarled.
“I’d feel a hell of a lot better if I had a weapon.”
Alrik and Daggar looked at each other before turning to her. Slowly Daggar pulled one of the guns from his side and handed it to her butt first. He smiled a little as he handed it over, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes and he looked a little green. She reached for the weapon as reluctantly as he handed it over, wondering if it was some kind of trick. It was clear neither of them liked the idea of her being armed.
Well. Life was a bitch. And then you died. Unless you were better armed and trained or sometimes just plain luckier than your enemy. As soon as her fingers closed over the weapon, she felt ten times better, felt her old confident, controlled and capable self. She dragged in a long breath of relief and homecoming. It was good to return to a role she knew and understood. She grinned and watched her future husband and brother-in-law shrink back a little. They’d better get used to it. She wasn’t going unarmed again.
Gripping the butt of the pistol in one hand, she pushed herself up off the ground with the other so that she was squatting, sitting on her heels with her back braced against the shuttle. Their side of the valley had gone silent, but there was still gunfire in the distance. She cocked her head to one side.
“That’s not ours.”
She sat between Alrik and Daggar and felt their scowls on her face without having to focus on them. Must be getting used to them.
“Listen. Those aren’t Earth weapons. They’re Delroi.”
“I don’t hear anything,” Daggar replied.
She tried to describe the difference. “Your automatic fire is faster and after a burst there’s a kind of hissing sound. Those aren’t Alliance guns.”
Gazes intent, they both turned towards the direction of the other firefight and listened. Alrik reached over, ran his fingers up the inside of her arm. She shivered at his touch, but when she shifted to snap at him she noticed the look of concentration on his face and bit her tongue. He nodded.
Invasion Earth Page 9
