Defender (Battle Born Book 4) (2 page)

“Her distant past is more or less intact,” Raylon explained. “It’s just the last two years that were wiped clean.”

A particularly vile curse escaped with Garin’s breath. “Akim will pay for what he did to her. There is never an excuse for that sort of brutality.”

“All we have to do is find him.”

“We can’t detect the
Relentless
,” Garin muttered. Akim’s ship had a covert shield generator just like the
Crusader
. Both were undetectable to even the most sophisticated Rodyte sensors. “Our only hope is to catch him interacting with someone we can see.”

“Zilor came damn close the other day, but Akim streamed out before Zilor could do more than watch him disappear.” Bio-streaming was another new technology. Being able to teleport personnel and supplies from one place to another saved so much time and solved so many logistical problems, Raylon had no doubt every ship in the fleet would soon be retrofitted with the equipment.

“Zilor told me.” Garin’s expression turned grim yet thoughtful. “If Akim’s ship won’t lead us to him, we have to figure out something that will.”

“Agreed,” Raylon grumbled, “though I have no idea how to identify that elusive ‘something’.”

Apparently ready to change the subject, Garin asked, “How much did you tell Nazerel?”

“Not much more than he knew already.” Nazerel was a Rodyte/Ontarian hybrid who was now bonded with a human female. His mate, Morgan, directed the Top Secret taskforce in charge of alien interactions. Nazerel was also Garin’s cousin and they’d always been close. “I wasn’t sure how much you wanted them to know, so I just told them we needed a meeting tomorrow morning.”

“It’s probably better that way. No need to go over it all twice.” A moment of reflective silence followed, then Garin sighed. “If I hope to be coherent in the morning, I have to get some sleep. Did Kotto assign a cabin to me or should I just crash on
Phantom One
?”

Kotto was the ship’s commander. “Cabin 1-12 is ready for you, with Kotto’s compliments.”

Despite his obvious fatigue, Garin lingered, clearly enjoying his drink and the company of his best friend. “According to the gossip, I’m finding mates for all of my friends and family. Shall I find someone for you?”

Raylon laughed, though the subject was far from funny. “I’ll pass. Just like you, I don’t have time for a mate.” Three hybrid females had been recruited for various reasons since their arrival on Earth and all three had been claimed by high-ranking officers. Two of the three were Garin’s brothers. None of it had been intentional, but it was easy to understand why the men were suspicious. “We have to expand the transformation program, and fast, or we’re going to have a full-scale mutiny on our hands.”

“One of many things I intend to discuss with Nazerel in the morning.” Garin turned his empty glass over and rolled his shoulders. “If there’s anything else I need to know before the meeting, you’ll have to update me on the way. I’m fighting to keep my eyes open.”

“Understood. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Raylon walked with Garin as far as the elevator banks, then Garin continued down the corridor while Raylon summoned a car for his descent to deck four.

Most humans were unaware of the alien outpost tucked away inside their moon, but all that was about to change. Rodytes had been interacting with select humans for centuries. Human genetics was unusually tolerant of alien DNA. This had proved true during genetic engineering as well as attempts to interbreed the species. So Rodytes, and other explorers, returned to Earth again and again.

The outpost had been built in the 1970s in response to the “space race”. After several expansions, however, Lunar Nine was abandoned when hostilities on Rodymia forced the planet’s leaders to reassess their priorities. So now, after nearly forty years, the outpost was being reopened. Renovations were nearly complete and it was time to bring humans up to speed.

Raylon had never met Nazerel, though he’d heard a lot about him. All three Nox brothers had been shocked when Nazerel claimed a human female as his mate. And not just any human female, the one who led the taskforce that attempted to capture and prosecute Nazerel.

Strong females had always intrigued Raylon. There was nothing more appealing than a woman who knew exactly what she wanted and wasn’t afraid to go after it. Besides, Raylon was a warrior to the marrow of his bones. His entire life had been one battle after another, and he didn’t see that changing in the near future. A gentle, easily frightened woman would be horrified by the savagery that was an inescapable part of his existence.

As if to mock his conclusion, a pale face appeared in his mind.
Chandar
. His heart whispered her name, which was utterly ridiculous. Most claimed he didn’t have a heart. Silver-blonde hair framed her delicate features, making her look ethereal and innocent. Eyes, bluer than Earth’s sky were accented by silver phitons, the reflective rings separating a Rodyte’s pupils from their irises. Her expressive eyes said so much without the need for words. He knew when she was sad, or frightened, in need of comfort, or would rather be left alone. Chandar was the exact opposite of what Raylon wanted in a mate.

So why couldn’t he stop thinking about her?

Forcing her image to the back of his mind, he ducked into the express tunnel that circumvented the commerce district and residential sections of the outpost, leading directly to the Pavilion where he’d been staying for the past few days. He’d thought having a suite separate from Chandar would be a relief. Instead, he spent even more time worrying about her. It had been easier when they shared a cabin and he could see her, hear her, and know for certain she wasn’t in crisis.

A railed walkway spanned the short distance between the express tunnel’s end and the archway leading to the Pavilion. With six identical suites arranged around a small courtyard, the Pavilion was surprisingly luxurious compared to the rest of Lunar Nine. A three-tiered fountain sat in the middle of the common area and the simulated sky arching high above reflected the actual time. At present, the sky was nearly black and a multitude of tiny lights represented stars.

He crossed the courtyard and stood before Chandar’s door before he realized what he was doing. His hand rose, almost of its own volition, then he lowered it to his side. Instead, he activated thermal imaging within his cybernetic eye. The device was so convincing, most people didn’t realize it was integrated tech. Chandar was in bed, yet her restless movements assured him she wasn’t asleep.

Sleep was a precious commodity for both of them. He should probably just leave her to it. “Pavilion, announce me.”

“One moment, Enforcer Lasenger.”

A short time later, Chandar’s sweet voice replaced the emotionless drone of the computer. “I’m not really dressed. Can it wait until morning?”

He closed his eyes, fighting back the rush of heat and the unwanted images. “I was just checking in. Are you doing okay?” He forced the words out as his imagination rebelled against his good intentions. He hadn’t wanted to see her naked, had tried to avoid the temptation. But that first night she’d been terrified of being alone. So he turned his back while she showered. The bathroom was small and several of the walls defaulted to a reflective setting. One glance into the mirror on his right and her image had been seared into his mind. Her skin had the most amazing pearlescent gleam, and her long, lean body— He jerked his mind away from those thoughts, those images. She was completely unaware of her sexuality, her appeal as a woman. For all intents and purposes, she was a child again.

“I’m fine, Raylon. You don’t need to worry about me anymore.”

The strangest sensation rolled through his being, part anger, part possessiveness. He couldn’t explain the urgency, but the thought of her not needing him any longer upset him, badly. “That’s good.” His hands folded into fists even though his voice remained calm. “If you need anything, I’m right next door.”

“Thank you and sleep well.”

“You too.” He turned from her doorway with a resolute nod even though his heart was still racing.

Chandar sat up in bed, sheet clutched in both hands.
He knew
. She had no idea how he’d realized but it was obvious he knew.

Hearing her own panicked thoughts, she shook her head and lay back down. Fantasizing about someone wasn’t forbidden. They were both adults. If she chose to have lustful thoughts about an acquaintance, there was no harm done to anyone. And who wouldn’t have lustful thoughts about Raylon? He was strong and brave, fiercely protective, yet kind. His outward appearance might seem stern, his scarred face harsh at times, but she knew the real Raylon.

She rolled onto her side and tucked one of her hands beneath the pillow. Little by little her old self was starting to find her way through the darkness. She now remembered the majority of her past. There were still missing images and scrambled events. Still, for the most part she remembered. The two years she’d served Akim Farmon, on the other hand, were still missing. Indigo, her therapist/healer/friend referred to those years as Chandar’s “captivity”. But harbingers weren’t prisoners to their masters, they served willingly.

The conclusion didn’t sit well with Chandar. She might not remember her time aboard the
Relentless.
Still, all the external indicators pointed toward abuse and degradation. Even if she’d been willing in the beginning—and she wasn’t even sure about that—she’d wanted out badly enough to break her telepathic silence and endanger those she loved as they rushed to her rescue.

The two-year gap in her memory was a mercy. She understood that. Even so, it made her feel incomplete, broken. Besides, whatever Akim had used to wipe her memory had also interrupted the flow of her magic. She hadn’t been sure there was a direct correlation, but a few minutes after Indigo repaired a tiny section of the damage, Chandar had a prophetic vision.

So there was no denying that regaining her magic would come with a terrible price. If she wanted unhindered access to her magic, she would have to allow herself to remember exactly what had been done to her. The prospect was daunting and terrifying. Indigo would help Chandar manage the memories, perhaps even find a way to lessen their impact, but still she would have to remember.

Refusing to dwell on the unpleasantness doubtlessly awaiting her, she allowed Raylon’s image to fill her mind. He wasn’t the tallest or most heavily muscled warrior she’d ever seen, but authority emanated from him, making him seem bigger than his actually stature. His hands could crush with one blow, yet he always touched her with gentleness. Shrewd calculation frequently cooled his gaze, but his eyes warmed whenever he looked at her.

But he sees you as a child, or worse, some sort of pet to be cared for and protected.
Having someone to defend her against the harsher realities of life was wonderful. Still, she wasn’t sure how to make him understand that she wasn’t a child. She wasn’t even a virgin. Despite the seclusion of Harbinger Academy, she’d shared her bed with three different men. A sleepy smile curved her lips. More like two men and a boy.

Her first lover had been an adventurous sixteen-year-old, determined to experience sex before his master or mistress was chosen for him. She’d been seventeen and equally curious about what transpired between male and female. They’d indulged their curiosity twice and both times had been completely underwhelming. There had been no stunning peak or overwhelming urge to spend their lives together. So she’d focused on her studies for the next two years.

Late in her nineteenth year she’d met Mimbar. He was a handsome guard five years older than she. He’d flirted outrageously with her, his interest so obvious that he was reprimanded for it on several occasions. Of course, forbidding them to interact only made being together that much more exciting. She’d had her first orgasm with Mimbar, but something had still been missing. They’d been lovers for several months when her mother, the guild’s leader, insisted Mimbar be transferred to another location. Chandar had been infuriated by the interference, yet she wasn’t nearly as heartbroken as she allowed her mother to believe.

From that moment on Chandar was under continual surveillance. She was taught by tutors, most of whom were ancient and completely loyal to her mother. Chandar was only allowed to interact with trainees who had not yet gone through puberty. The stipulation was humiliating and isolating, but her mother didn’t care. She was determined to “save Chandar from herself”.

Her third lover had been her final tutor. The events were jumbled and hazy because of their proximity to the memory wipe. She knew he wasn’t Rodyte and her primary motivation for sleeping with him had been to defy her mother. Other than that, the rest was lost in shadow.

Which brought her back to Raylon. What would it be like to share pleasure with someone so fierce and commanding? Would he overwhelm her with raw intensity, or coax her beyond her hesitation with tender kisses and featherlight touches?

Both possibilities were impossible. He didn’t see her as a woman. He saw her as a helpless little girl.

She released the topic with a frustrated sigh and guided her wayward mind onto tamer subjects. Her recuperation was progressing well. Indigo was amazing, skilled and extremely patient. Chandar enjoyed spending time with her even when they weren’t in a session. Indigo seemed happy with her situation. Though she’d grown up on Earth, she was actually a human/Rodyte hybrid. The mating pull had engaged when she met Zilor Nox and now they were in the process of bonding.

Sleep rolled through Chandar’s mind like fog. Her muscles gradually relaxed and her troubled thoughts slipped into the shadows. She floated, sailing lightly upon currents of energy. Scenes scrolled through her memory, familiar yet distant settings. Harbinger Academy with its transparent domes nestled in a verdant valley, a blood-red sunset reflected on gently rolling waves, then the double concourses stretching toward the main entrance of Lunar Nine. Each image appeared within her mind, lingered for a moment then transitioned to the next. It was like a slideshow, or a—