by ML Guida
He pushed her hair off her hot face. “Is this what happens when you have a vision? Your eyes actually turned pure white as if a veil came over them.”
Her gut dropped filled with lead and fell to the ground with a thud. She winced and lowered her gaze. “Yes.”
“Please, tell me what you saw.” Eagerness filled his voice and his hand shook as bad as hers.
She met his desperate gaze. “It will sound crazy. Maybe I just had a waking dream.”
“Has that ever happened before?”
“No,” she said glumly.
“Then, I doubt it was a dream. Please, tell me what you saw.”
She sighed. Heat slowly crept down her ears, her throat, and spread across her skin like wildfire. The crowd had gotten bigger as if she were in a freak show, but Tash squeezed her hand gently. He was the captain of the ship and she was drawn to his intense eyes.
As if under a spell, she said, “I was someplace with dragons flying overhead.”
“Go on,” he urged.
“There were glass and brick buildings. Some were ultra-modern while others looked like something out a fairy tale. In the distance, there was a huge three-turret castle.”
“Zalara,” someone murmured behind Tash.
Scarlett had no idea what that meant, but she clutched Tash’s strong hand, needing to feel his strength to continue.
“Up in the sky, a missile screamed and exploded. All the women turned to ash and died. I’ve never seen anything like it. It seemed so real.”
“That’s because it was real.”
Her eyes widened. “What? Dragons are real?”
“Dragon shifters are real,” he said. “The Kamtrinians released a dioxide missile on the Zalarians that killed all the women several years ago. No one was spared.”
“No one?”
“The Zalarians had a cloaking shield, but only one. The Kamtrinians were going to attack Earth, so the Zalarians used it to protect you. Their king didn’t realize the Kamtrinian had a hidden ship that nearly destroyed Zalara.”
Scarlett put her hand over her thumping chest. Guilt plopped down in her gut, burning the merops. “We…we…didn’t know.”
He rubbed her hand. “How could you? You don’t have the technology. Part of being a member of the United Planet Confederation is to protect the lesser planets. The Zalarians were doing their job. The fault of this wasn’t Earth. It’s the Kamtrinians.” His eyes darkened. “But this also means one thing.”
“What?” Her tiny voice was smaller than her deep gasps for air.
“It means you can recall both the past and the future.”
She frowned. “And?”
“Don’t you see. I was talking about the Kamtrinians and that sent you into a trance. You saw what happened to them.” His excitement made her nerves uneasy.
She shifted in her chair. “I still don’t understand.”
“If you can do this regarding the Zalarains, you’ll be able to recall what happened on Sutois and save my father.”
His eagerness choked her throat and her lungs refused to move. Spots flashed in front of Scarlett’s vision, but quickly disappeared. She didn’t know how to tell him that what just happened was a fluke.
She couldn’t turn her visions on or off. She was going to disappointment him just like she did everyone in her life.
5
Tash tried to push the excitement pulsing through him. He’d never seen anything like this. Scarlett’s beautiful blue irises had rolled up behind her eyelids, leaving her white corneas behind. Her mouth had gone slack and she appeared to have gone stone deaf.
She released his hand. “I can’t control my visions. I’ve told you this.” She stared behind him uneasily.
He glanced over his shoulder. Arians had gotten out of their seats and fanned behind them. Shock, intrigue, and curiosity flared in their faces, but one stood out.
Vaughn parted the sea of curiosity on-lookers with his wide shoulders. “Tash. Is this her? Is this Scarlett?”
Tash ran his hand through his hair. “Yes. Scarlett, this is my brother, Vaughn. He’s the Intrepid’s First Science Officer. And he’s the one who told me about you.”
She frowned. “Told you about me? I don’t understand.”
Vaughn cleared his throat. “Based on my research, we needed a psychic that possessed both telepathy, reality manipulation, and clairvoyance.”
She scratched her temple. “Why me? There are hundreds of psychics more powerful than me.”
Vaughn shook his head. “According to the computers, you are the most powerful.”
Scarlett crossed her arms over chest. “Well, your computers need to be reprogrammed. Like I keep saying, I don’t have any control of my psychic abilities. The visions just come. On Earth, the doctors think I’m having a seizure, because I blank out and am not coherent.” Tears glistened in her eyes. “And sometimes my prophesies are not what people what to hear.”
Tash’s excitement faded and a fluttering buzzed around the sides of his gut. He and Vaughn glanced warily at each other.
He cleared his throat. “What do you mean?”
“What if my visions that you are both convinced will help your father don’t go the way you want? What if I see that your father is guilty? Then what?”
“But…” Tash’s mouth ran dry and a glisten of sweat broke out underneath his clothes.
Scarlett stood and tilted her chin. “There is no but. I can’t control my visions. You can’t control them. They’ve done nothing, but bringing me pain.” She looked around and clenched her fists. “I want to go back to my condo.” Her voice sounded as if it were in danger of shattering.
“Scarlett…” His voice was low and he didn’t make any sudden moves toward her.
“Don’t Scarlett me.”
“We need––”
Tears glistened in her eyes . “To take me back home.” Her tiny voice made him shrink.
“Scarlett, you’re wobbling.” He gestured toward the chair and clasped her shaking arm. “Please, sit before you pass out.”
She narrowed her eyes, but she didn’t fight him and allowed him to move her toward the chair.
Tash turned around. “Please, return to your seats.”
His crew murmured to each other, but followed his orders.
Except for Vaughn.
“You need to tell her, Tash.”
Tash growled, trying not to plow his fist into his brother’s chin again.
“Tell me what.”
“There’s another reason why the computers chose you.” Vaughn didn’t look at her. He kept his gaze focused on Tash.
Tash growled, forcing his bear back.
Scarlett’s face paled. “Tash, what is he talking about?”
Vaughn bowed slightly. “I’ll leave you to address this with her.” He quickly left them alone.
A sour taste formed in the back of Tash’s mouth and bitterness gripped his throat. He couldn’t lie to her. He grabbed his chair and sat alongside her. “Vaughn shouldn’t have said anything, but my brother always seems to be interfering.”
She looked at him quizzically. “You’re scaring me.”
He sighed loudly. “You have nothing to fear from me.”
She cocked her eyebrow. “Even if my visions aren’t what you want to hear?”
He took her trembling hand. “Even if you’re visions aren’t what I want to hear.”
“Why?”
He released her hand and clasped her slender shoulders. “Because you’re my mate.”
She drew her brows into a deep knot. Her face turned five shades of white, even paler than her silky hair. She trembled beneath his hands. “What does that mean?” Fear echoed in her voice.
Chills edged down the back of his spine, he didn’t want to tell her with his crew watching his every move. He could feel their stares on the back of his neck. “It means were destined to be together. The Shades have marked you.”
She raised her wrist and frowned. “Is this
why I have a green star on my wrist?”
A sudden feeling of cold expanded down to Tash’s very core. His eyes widened. “You can see the star?”
She rubbed her wrist. “Yes. Sometimes. I don’t remember how I got this.”
Her innocent announcement set a bomb off inside him. His heart and lungs stopped. Black dots swam in front of his eyes and he shook his head to remain in control. He was the captain, after all. He had to stay calm, despite his insides quivering. He took a deep breath. “You’re amazing. Only Arians can see the star. Humans have never been able to see it until they were mated. But then you’re not a normal human, are you? You’re extraordinary.”
She lowered her arm. “That’s one way to look at it.” She sighed heavily. “So, tell me more about this mate business. Are we mated now?”
He shook his head. “No. We must have sex to become mated.”
“What happens if we don’t?”
He winced, but hid the pain that slammed into his heart. “Then, I will live and die alone.”
“You won’t force me?”
“Arians are not rapists, Scarlett. We do not force ourselves on our mates.”
“So, now what?”
He picked up her hand and caressed the top with her thumb. “Will you at least try to help me? I keep running into dead ends and my father’s life hangs in the balance.” He hated pleading, but his choices were nil.
“Even if my visions take you down a path you’d rather not?”
He flopped back in his chair. At least she was agreeing to help him and not demanding to be returned back to Earth. “Yes.”
She bit her lip. “I’ll help you, but as you saw earlier, I don’t have control over my visions.”
He smiled. “Maybe. Maybe not.”
She bit her cheek. “I don’t understand.”
“I was telling you about what happened with the Zalarians, and that’s when you had the vision.”
“That could be a coincidence.”
“Perhaps. Will you at least try?”
She shrugged. “I guess. What do I have to lose?”
A tightness spread across his chest and pressed his ribs against his racing heart. “My father’s life.”
She rolled her eyes. “No pressure there.”
He glanced at their half-eaten food. “Are you still hungry?”
“Not really.”
“Are you sure? I can still hear your stomach growling.”
Her cheeks turned a lovely shade of pink that made her eyes even bluer. She rubbed her flat stomach. “I guess I am still hungry.”
“Let’s finish then. I think you should practice.”
She scowled. “Practice? Like I haven’t tried that before.”
“Please.”
“Fine. We keep going over this, so let’s just eat.” She sat back in her seat and attacked her pizza.
They ate in silence. Tash was relieved they’d come to a truce. As they ate, Tash studied his mate. Usually, he would have been furious if he were away from the bridge, especially over a woman.
But not true with Scarlett. He didn’t want to be away from her. All he could imagine was running his fingers through her hair, skimming his hand over her skin, and discovering every sensitive spot. They hadn’t even mated yet, and he couldn’t bear to have her out of his site. What would happen when they mated?
Scarlett licked her lips, and he groaned. Shades, she was going to kill him.
She twisted her hair into a knot without using anything to bind it. She was so talented. He’d never seen a woman do that with her hair before.
“Okay, I’m ready,” she said. “Do you want to try and do this here?”
He shook his head. “No. I would guess the cafeteria would be too noisy for you to concentrate.”
She shrugged. “Maybe. But my visions can come anyplace, anywhere. You’d be surprised.”
He looked around at the busy cafeteria, complete with curious onlookers, delicious smells, and clanging and sizzling sounds from the kitchen. “This place is too noisy for me.” He got out of his chair and put his hands on the back of her chair and scooted it back. “Shall we?”
She glanced up at him. “Yes. Thank you.” Some of the stiffness in her voice had lessen and those beautiful eyes made him shift back and forth from one foot to the other.
His ears burned red. What was it about this woman that changed him into a bumbling bumpkin? “You’re welcome,” he murmured.
“Wait. Willow.” She turned toward the kitchen. “I’m sure she’s hungry.”
“Stay here. I’ll get her some meat.”
Within minutes, he returned with a bag of full of meat and a bowl of water.
She flashed him a smile that melted his heart and eased the nightmares that haunted him for months. “Thank you so much.”
He escorted her out of the cafeteria and headed back to his quarters.
“Door open.” He used his body to block Willow’s escape.
“Hello, Willow.” She brushed past Tash and picked up the cat. “Are you hungry?”
Willow tilted her head and curled her tail.
Tash put the bowl of water on the floor and took out the strips of merops and placed them on top of the bag.
Meow.
“She’s hungry.” Scarlett put Willow on the floor.
The cat hurried over to the food and sniffed, then sniffed again. She hesitantly took a bite, but then dug into the food.
Scarlett smiled. “She likes it.”
Tash’s nerves tingled. Scarlett’s face beamed and her eyes glittered. Earlier when she had smiled in the cafeteria, the corners of her mouth didn’t reach her eyes. But that wasn’t true with Willow. He liked making her smile, because he got a feeling it wasn’t something that she did a lot.
She turned away from the cat and frowned. “What? Why are you staring at me?”
“You don’t smile a lot, do you?”
She looked down at her shoes. “I haven’t had anything to really be happy about.”
“You’re really beautiful when you smile.”
She jerked her head up. “No one has ever said that to me before.”
“Then humans are blind. Should we get started?”
Tash’s telicator beeped. “Excuse me.” He pulled it out.
“Tash, here.”
“Captain, this is Krup. You’re needed on the bridge. Scanners have picked up an undefined ship.”
His chest tightened and his heart quickened. The horrors of the past flooded over him like a cold, wet blanket. “I’m on my way.” He stuffed the telicator back into his belt.
She crossed and uncrossed her arms. “What’s happening?”
He clasped her shoulders. “I need you to stay here.”
“I don’t want to stay here by myself.”
He squeezed her gently and tilted his head. “Willow will be here. It could be the Kamtrinians. I won’t be able to concentrate with you by my side.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Why?”
“Because I will only think of you. I’m the captain, and I need to focus on protecting my ship and my crew. I won’t let what happen last time happen again.
“I don’t understand.”
She really didn’t understand the danger. The Kamtrinians were cunning and would like nothing better than to hurt the mate of a Confederation captain. “Never mind. You need to do as I say.”
She lifted her chin and put her hands on her slender hips. “I’m not going to be treated like a prisoner.”
He clenched his jaw. “I don’t have time to argue. I’m needed on the bridge.”
“Then take me with you.” With each word, she stabbed her finger into his chest. “And don’t even think about using your knockout gas.”
He winced. “Fine. That wasn’t even an option.” He grabbed her finger. “But only if you promise to leave if I order it.”
She opened her mouth as if to argue.
“I’m the Captain, and I expect obedience when giving an order.”
She jerked her finger out of his hand and pressed her arms at her side. “I accept your conditions.”
“Then, let’s move.”
His gut churned and cold iced over his nerves. Tash hurried out the sliding doors. If Willow got out, then Scarlett was on her own. He didn’t have time to chase the damn cat.
Scarlett didn’t complain and Willow stayed behind. He led Scarlett to the elevator.
“Open.” The doors slid open. “Bridge.”
The elevator whoosh. Scarlett didn’t say anything, but her eyes were huge and she stood right next to him. He could feel her trembling.
He clasped her hand. “It will be all right. Trust me.”
She nodded, but doubt flashed in her eyes. Is that what the crew was experiencing right now? Last time he met a Kamtrinian ship, they decimated half his crew.
The doors swung open to his tense crew. All eyes were on him. Vaughn did a double take, but wisely kept his mouth shut.
Ignoring him, Tash took the captain’s chair. “Report, Krup.”
“We’ve reached the ship.”
“And?”
“It’s an ambassador’s ship––the Zion.”
Krup touched his ear piece. “Captain, I have a communication coming from the United Planet Confederation. It’s Judge Marley.”
“Put them through.”
Judge Marley appeared on the screen. He looked regal as ever with his golden hair and gold eyes. He sat in a purple chair that reminded Tash of a throne. “Captain Tash, Planet Dryke is currently experiencing some strife with some warring clans. Due to the seriousness of Finbar’s allegations, I’m moving the trial to planet Zalara. We are asking you to rendezvous with the ambassador ship in six hours and pick up the ambassadors who will be the jury and take them to Zalara.”
“Acknowledged,” Tash said. He was being asked to babysit, but at least, it wasn’t fighting the Kamtrinians.
The judge frowned. “Captain Tash, is there something wrong with your crew member? She appears to be going into convulsions.”
Tash whipped around.
Scarlett had gone into one of her trances again. Her eyes had turned white and she shook uncontrollably.
