Laura Jo Phillips (44 page)

He was trying to think of the most painful method of killing her when his eyes fell on the two silver cases sitting on the table just inside his quarters.  He had requisitioned the prime controllers before he transported himself to Jasan because he wanted the pleasure of installing them on his captives himself. 

The prime controllers were very expensive and the technology behind them deeply classified, so there was total accountability for each and every one issued.  Za-Queg knew there would be an uproar when these two were not returned to the security officer to be placed back in the ship’s vault, but why should he care about that?  He was still in command of his ship, therefore the security officer would not dare to request they be returned for several days at least.  By the time it was discovered that the controllers were no longer in his quarters, Za-Queg would no longer exist.

He picked up the cases, placed them in a protective transmittal container and activated the built in lock on the container.  He thought for a moment, trying to decide what code to use, and then grinned as he punched in the letters he wanted.  When he was finished, he placed the container on the personal transportation grid next to the door and sent it to Lio’s office.  Then he called Lio’s vox from his vid terminal. 

“The pick-up did not go as expected,” he began as soon as Lio answered his call.  “In truth, I don’t believe it could have gone much worse, and thanks to the recording you sent me, I know who is to blame.”

Lio swore softly into his ear. 

“Yes, your human female,” Za-Queg confirmed, realizing by his reaction that Lio had sent the file, but had not listened to it yet.  “She ordered your men to take along the Alverian Empath, Riata, having her placed in the trunk with the berezi.  The Alverian Empath
Healer
,” he emphasized.  “The tranquilizer I sent down for the berezi was not calibrated for an Alverian, so of course it wore off quickly on her.  The Healer was then able to remove the effects of the tranquilizer from the berezi, resulting in the death of one of the human males, perhaps both.  To make matters worse, one of the berezi is now an Arima, and a Dracon.  A very pregnant Dracon which I am certain this Darleen was aware of, yet she did not reveal that information to either of us.  The Arima was able to call her Dracon mates to her so that when I arrived, I was nearly destroyed by them.”

Za-Queg realized that he was nearly yelling into the vid mic and paused a moment to calm himself. 

“At no time did she inform the human males that the Alverian was a Healer, even though she must have known that fact,” Za-Queg continued.  “She was ordered to get two specific women.  Not three.  She should have either killed the Alverian, or at the very least, informed the human males of her abilities.”

“Yes sir,” Lio responded.  “I agree with you completely.”

“I have decided that killing her outright would be too good for her,” Za-Queg said.  “Instead, I think that you should keep her.”

“Ah,” Lio said, his voice carefully controlled, but not enough to fool Za-Queg.  He heard the dark note of interest and desire in the human’s tone.

“I believe she would make a fair replacement for your blue toy,” Za-Queg said.

“Yes sir, I agree with you,” Lio replied. 

Za-Queg heard the excitement in his voice, but few others would.  Za-Queg decided that if it were possible for him to actually like a human, he would like Lio.  The human was vicious, cruel, greedy and self-centered, not to mention treacherous, deceitful and manipulative, all while being very loyal to him.  All traits that Za-Queg found to be exemplary. 

“Lio, I will be leaving this sector and another will be taking my place.  As a personal reward for your years of loyalty to me, I have transported a special bonus to your office.  The code on the case is
toys for lio
.”

Za-Queg heard the soft gasp that Lio tried to hide and was pleased. 

“Thank you sir,” Lio said, his voice sincere.

“Just be sure that the female is properly punished for her role in today’s events,” Za-Queg replied. 

“You have my word on that, Sir,” Lio said.  “I will take care of it at once.”  Lio tapped the vox in his ear and sighed, a sound so soft that Darleen nearly missed it.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

Lio glanced at her, shook his head and gestured toward the side of the road.  “Pull over by that grove of trees ahead,” he said.

“Why?” Darleen asked.

“Because we must talk and I want your full attention,” Lio said, an edge in his usually soft voice.  He didn’t like being questioned, she realized. 

Darleen did not want to pull over.  In fact, she did not want to spend any more time than she absolutely had to in Lio’s company.  Ever since she had picked him up just outside of Granite Falls after dropping the women off he had been acting strangely.  The easy charm he had shown her the day they’d met was gone as though he’d removed a mask.  She could not really put her finger on what it was that bothered her about him, but she sensed danger coming off of him in waves.  That, on top of the strange premonition of danger she had felt since touching that damn stone around Saige’s neck, had her nerves strung tight.  All she wanted right now was to get herself as far away from Lio as she could, as soon as she could. 

“We’ll be at the spaceport in just a few minutes,” she said.  “Can’t it wait till then?” 

“No,” he said abruptly.  “Pull over now.”

Darleen considered disobeying, but a quick sideways glance at him changed her mind.  Lio was a small man, but he was still bigger and stronger than she was.  More than that, there was something in his eyes that warned her not to push him.  She slowed the vehicle and pulled over to the side of the road and into the grove of trees as he told her.  She cut the power and turned to face him.

“What is it?” she asked, trying hard not to let her impatience show.  She had never been good at accepting orders and not even the dangerous glint in Lio’s eyes was enough to make her hold her tongue for long.

“Apparently you abducted three females, not two,” Lio said.

Darleen shrugged.  “The Alverian was there so we had to drug her and take her as well,” she explained carelessly.  “So what?  I told them it didn’t matter what happened to her.”

“Was the Alverian known to you?” Lio asked.

“Yes,” Darleen said with a cruel smile.  “Her name is Riata and I hate her nearly as much as the other two.”

“Ah,” Lio said, his expression not changing so much as a hair.  “Did you tell the men that she was a Healer?” he asked.

“No, why would I?”  Darleen was getting tired of the conversation.  She wished he would come to the point because she really wanted to get to the spaceport, collect her luggage and get off of Jasan.  Lio smiled faintly as though he could read her mind.

“Did it not occur to you that the Healer might heal the two Arimas so that the drug no longer effected them?” he asked.

Darleen froze, her face flushing an ugly brick red.  “No,” she replied finally.  “What difference does it make anyway?  They were all still paralyzed when we opened the trunk.”

“No, they were not paralyzed, you stupid bint,” Lio said in the same cool tone.  “The Alverian healed both of the other women.  Then one of them killed my men before Za-Queg arrived.  He was unable to collect his booty because the Dracon Princes arrived, forcing him to return to his ship without them.”

As he spoke Lio reached into his pocket and pulled out a small dart exactly like those his men had used on the women.  He turned it over in his fingers, studying it closely. 

“Za-Queg is furious, and, after watching the digital recording of events before he arrived on the scene, he has concluded that it is your fault.  You told the men to include the Alverian, yet you did not tell them that she was a Healer.”

Darleen opened her mouth to speak as Lio flicked his fingers almost nonchalantly toward her.  She felt a light sting in her throat.  She reached up and pulled the dart from her skin, staring at it with fear in her eyes.  Then the world went dark. 

Saige turned away from the door and smiled widely at Lariah who sat propped up in the bed against a mound of fluffy pillows, her red-gold hair spread around her.  Saige was sure she had never seen such joy in anyone’s face as she saw on Lariah’s at that moment.

“So, you had those babies without me, huh?” she demanded.

“Well, you were off playing with your men somewhere,” Lariah replied with a careless shrug.  “What was I supposed to do?  Stick a cork in there?”

“If you were a true friend that’s exactly what you would have done.”

“That’s true,” Lariah agreed lightly. 

Saige hurried across the room and bent to give her friend a fierce hug.  “I love you Lariah Dracon,” she said.  “I am so relieved that you and the babies are well.  I was very frightened for you.”

“We are fine,” Lariah said, patting Saige’s hand soothingly.  “I was more than a little worried about you as well.”  Saige pulled back and Lariah studied her face carefully. 

“Don’t you worry,” Saige said.  “I am fine.  Better than fine.  There is something so amazing about this whole linking souls thing.  I feel as though I am no longer alone.  I feel connected to my men and I love it as I love them.”

“Yes, I know what you mean,” Lariah said softly.  “After so many years of loneliness, it is wonderful to know I will never be lonely again.”

“Now, let me look at those babies you’ve been hiding from us,” Saige said as she turned away from the bed.

“Your lau-lotu are beautiful Saige,” Lariah said as she admired the black and white striped wolves now decorating Saige’s shoulders and arms. 

Saige laughed with delight.  “Your daughters are beautiful Lariah,” she said as she bent over the bassinets to gaze at the sleeping babies.  She straightened up and met her friend’s eyes.  “We sure are lucky, aren’t we?” Saige asked.

“Yes, we certainly are,” Lariah agreed.  “My only sadness is for Riata.”

“I know,” Saige said.  “I feel the same.  But we both know that Riata would not want sadness to ruin our happiness now.”

“No, she wouldn’t,” Lariah agreed. 

“Have you named your daughters yet?” Saige asked.

“Yes,” Lariah said with a smile.  “The eldest is Salene, after Eldar Hamat’s Arima.”

“That is very thoughtful of you,” Saige said.

“Well, she is my great grandmother, several hundred times removed,” Lariah said with a grin.  “The next is Rayne.”

“After your mother,” Saige said.  Lariah nodded. 

“The youngest...”

“Wait,” Saige interrupted, “let me guess.  The youngest is Riata.”

Lariah shook her head slowly.  “That’s what I wanted but Garen, Trey and Val objected.  They said that it is bad luck to name a newborn after one who has recently
left our world to walk the spirit plane
.”

“So what did you name the youngest then?” Saige asked.

““Tanjelia,” Lariah said softly.

“Angel,” Saige translated, smiling.  “In honor of Riata.”

“Yes, in honor of Riata.  Because of her, I am alive and Dracon.  Because of her, you are alive, and the Lobos are alive.  Because of her, both of us survived today, along with my daughters.  There is much to honor Riata for.”

“Yes, there is,” Saige replied.  “And Riata would be most pleased with the honor you have given her by naming your daughter for her.”  Saige bent low over the bassinets again.  “Lariah, they look identical to me,” she said.  “How will you tell them apart?”

“Their eyes,” Lariah replied.  “Salene’s eyes are golden like Garen’s.  Rayne’s are blue-green like Trey’s, and Tani’s are the exact same shade of grey as Val’s.”

“
Tani
huh?” Saige asked with a grin as she moved to gaze down at the youngest of the three infants.  “I like that.  Tanjelia is far too big a name for such a tiny girl.  And I love that they have their fathers’ eyes.  That’s very cool.”

“Where is Riata now?” Saige asked quietly as she continued to look down at the sleeping baby.  “Do you know?”

“Garen told me that they placed her in her guest room.  They could not put her with that...man.  Her family will arrive soon to take her back to her Alveria.”

“She gave me her healing power,” Saige said.

Lariah nodded.  “Yes, I saw that.  Do you think you can heal now, the way she did?”

“I don’t know,” Saige said uncertainly.  “Lariah, I’m going to tell you something that will probably sound strange, but I promise you that it is the truth.”

“Saige, I would never doubt anything you said to me,” Lariah assured her.

“When I was going through the transformation, I saw Riata,” Saige said in a low voice.  Lariah did not roll her eyes or grin as she half expected.  She just waited.  “She told me that she had been chosen to be my Spirit Guide, and that the Jasani were going to have some troubled times ahead, and that if the wrong choices were made, it could be the end of them.”  Saige hesitated, then sighed.  “She also told me that she had been chosen to reveal the lost prophecy of Semat Katre.”

Lariah gasped at that.  “Oh my goodness!” she exclaimed.  “Can you tell me what it is?”

Saige turned and met Lariah’s eyes.  “I don’t remember,” she admitted.  “She told me that I would remember it, and then she recited it, and I asked her if she was sure I would remember, and she said yes, but I don’t.  What is it anyway?”