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"Hael," the Director said, "if you do not calm down, you will have a stroke."

Hael was now toe to toe with him, her hands clenching and unclenching at her sides.

She glared at him, her face an ugly mask of hatred. When she lowered her voice, every

one, save one, had to strain to hear what she said.

"She had just given birth to you. She had just thrust you out of her womb. She looked

down to see you struggling on the floor and was horrified at what she saw. The thing she

had delivered wasn't human. It was a beast, a jackal pup embedded in a thick membrane,

attached to her by a long rope of black as pitch afterbirth. She screamed and I came

running to help her. Just as I arrived, she began to change, to alter right before my eyes;

at the same moment the thing on the floor began to change from beast to human child."

Cree stared up into Hael Sejm's mad eyes and knew the woman no longer saw him.

She was seeing her sister, the woman who had given him life, and the memory must have

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been gruesome for there was horror stamped on her face.

"She was so lovely. Her hair was jet black and soft as silk. Her eyes were the color of

the sky in summer and her face was so lovely it would take your breath away just looking

at her." She shook herself. "But what lay on that floor, struggling to tear the membrane off its whelp with its teeth, was not beautiful. It was beastly. The most horrific sight I

would ever see in my lifetime. It was when she was in full Transition, suffering the curse

she had placed upon herself, that Drae Cree came running in. He stopped, his eyes wide

with shock. I saw his hand go to the phaser at his waist and I tried to stop him, but it was

too late. He drew the weapon and fired. Analeis was flung backwards against the wall and

her body burst into flames." Hael put her hands over her ears. "I shall hear her agonized howls on my deathbed!"

"He thought she was a jackal trying to devour his child," Beryla explained. "He did not know it was Analeis else he never would have fired."

"It doesn't matter! It was best she died!"

"Why? Because you wanted Drae Cree and he wanted her, instead?"

Cree's head snapped to the side as Hael's hand connected with his cheek. The hit had

had enough force behind it to split his lip and a thin trickle of black blood dribbled down

his chin. He put up a hand to wipe away the seepage. He looked around to see Beryla and

Dorrie dragging the enraged Hael away from him.

"Why isn't he dead?" the woman was screaming. "Why isn't he dead? I want this

bastard dead!"

LeJong said nothing as Beryla and Dorrie pulled Hael out of the office and down the

hall. "What do I need to do?" she heard him ask in a soft voice.

She turned so she could look at him and was stunned to see a tear rolling unchecked

down his right cheek. She ached to reach out and touch it with her fingertip, to taste the

saltiness of it on her tongue.

"None of this was done to make you suffer needlessly, Cree.

A bitter laugh underscored his words. "It was done to help me, was it?" He let his head drop to the back of the couch; he stared up at the ceiling. "I fancy I wouldn't care to have you women extend any more help to me, if this is your idea of not making me suffer."

She forced her hand to his knee and took comfort that he did not demand she remove

it. "You have found love," she said gently. "And love has found you. Isn't that worth—"

"You have me where you want me," he interrupted her. "You will get what you desire."

He swiveled his head toward her. "Stop trying to convince me. The moment you women

let Tylan Kahn have my mate, you gave me no choice but to help you."

LeJong searched his face for a moment. She nodded. "All right. I won't insult your any

further. I believe we understand one another."

"Aye," he bit out. "That we do."

THE DIRECTOR came back into her office frowning. "We had to sedate her."

LeJong was not surprised. "I fear all this is taking a toll on Hael."

"She's unhinged," Beryla Dean said. She glanced at Cree who was still seated on her couch. "Have you decided to help us, then?"

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Resistance?"

"Admiral Kahn is not a Terran."

The Reaper sighed deeply. She had not answered his question, but there was no need

for her to do so. Considering Kahn was Sejm's adopted son, he was as much a part of this

nefarious business as she was; but he realized it didn't matter. Slowly, he lifted his head.

"I want to speak to Bridget."

"Bridget is perfectly—"

"I want to speak to Bridget!" he yelled at her.

"Fine!" the Director yelled back. "Computer! Get me Admiral Kahn!"

Tylan Kahn motioned Bridget out of the range of the Vid-Com's screen when he

learned his caller was Dr. Dean. "To what do I owe the honor, Madame Director?"

"I apologize for the interruption, Admiral Kahn, but may I have just a moment of your

time?"

Tylan Kahn could see Cree seated in the Director's office. "How may I help you, Dr.

Dean?"

"As I'm sure you know, there was a commotion on Level Twelve this morning."

"Aye. The Iceman made an ass of himself."

Cree lunged from the couch, but Beryla put out a hand, warning him back. "No!"

"He called me—"

"Be quiet or I will terminate this conversation!" she warned. She pointed a rigid finger at the couch. "Sit down. Now!"

Kahn grinned as Cree plopped back on the couch, snapped his mouth shut, and looked

away from the camera. He was tempted to insult the man again—just to see what Cree

would do—but thought better of it. "I assume he wants to speak to Bridie."

"Bridie!" came a hiss of contempt from the couch.

Dr. Dean turned and gave her companion another warning look before looking back at

the Vid-Com. "Would it be too much of an imposition for you to allow him to do so, Sir?

As you can see, Captain Cree—"

"Lieutenant Cree," the Admiral corrected.

"Go to hell. You are going to re-instate my rank you asshole!"

The Director let out an annoyed breath. "Kamerone is quite upset about losing Dr.

Dunne, Admiral. He has strongly objected to you purchasing Bridget."

"I understand Commander Rhye objected, too, yet I seem to recall the Iceman made it

impossible for him to speak to Bridie. Why should I allow him to do something he would

not allow Konnor to do?"

Cree was staring straight at the Vid-Com with a murderous look that told Tylan Kahn

he would like to tear out his throat. The growl of hatred that passed over the link between

them merely punctuated the thought.

"We have assured Captain Cree—"

"
Lieutenant!
" Kahn said again.

Beryla rolled her eyes. "We can discuss this later. Will you allow him to speak with

Bridget?"

Kahn shrugged. "Given the circumstances, I suppose I can. Even though the Iceman

refused Rhye, I won't since I am the better man."

"You gods-be-damned Diabolusian wartslug!" Cree bellowed as he leapt from the

couch. "You want to see which of us is the better man?"

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"Cree!" Dr. Dean roared. She hurried to the Reaper.

Kahn could not hear what was being said in the Director's office, but from the mulish

expression that was stamped over Cree's face, she must be getting her point across.

"Aye, but that bastard is gloating and I will not..." he heard Cree thunder.

"And I told you..."

Kahn crossed his arms over his chest and watched mutinous emotion enveloping Cree.

Finally, the Director gave the Reaper a stern shake, and then came back to the screen. "I am sorry you were insulted, Admiral. Kamerone has assured me he will behave."

Tylan Kahn's left brow quirked. "I find that hard to believe." He looked away from the screen. "Bridie? Do you wish to speak to this ass?"

"Cree—" Dr. Dean warned, not even bothering to look behind her.

Bridget moved into camera range. "Kam?"

"Aye, Bridget," Cree responded. He moved past the Director. "I am here." He let his hungry gaze pass over her worried face. "Are you well, milady?"

"Yes," she said in a broken voice, her misery very real and lay bare for any and all to see.

Cree saw the tears forming and felt like ripping the room apart in his fury. "Has he hurt you?"

Bridget shook her head. "No. He's been very good to me."

"Has he..." Cree could not ask. His attention shifted from his woman to the man

standing too near to her. "Did he..." He swallowed. "I wanted to be sure he had not done anything to you," was all he could say.

"What the hell are you implying, Cree?" Kahn snapped. "What was it you thought I would do?"

"You know your reputation better than I do, Kahn," Cree shot back. Their eyes locked and he thought he could see a smirk in the Admiral's; it drove him absolutely insane. "If you have dared use my woman..."

"Just what do you think you could do about it if I have?" Dr. Dean moved to grab

Cree's arm and keep him from tearing out of her office. She shook him, spoke low and

urgently to him in harsh, warning words.

"Don't tell me what to do, bitch!" Cree shouted and then staggered beneath the blow the Director aimed at his cheek.

"You stop this right now! Do you hear me, young man? Behaving like a spoiled child is

not going to help! And don't you ever call me that vicious name again! Do you

understand me, Kamerone?"

No woman had ever dared raise a hand to him before today and now he'd been slapped

twice in one afternoon. Cree was so infuriated, he didn't consider what he was doing. He

lifted his right hand and swung it back over his shoulder with every intention of sending

the woman reeling across the room.

"You do and I swear to you, Kamerone Cree," the Director warned him, "I will have them come in here and take you to my lab and I promise you you'll be strapped to my

therapy table for an entire month!" She came toe to toe with him. "Do you doubt I will?"

Bridget had grabbed Tylan Kahn's arm in her fear for Beryla's safety. She could see the

rage flashing in Cree's dark eyes. She stood rooted in place, holding her breath—as Kahn

was doing—until Cree lowered his hand, backing down from the challenge the Director

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you do, I will rip out your heart and eat it in front of you."

Beryla pursed her lips. "No, you will not," she snapped then turned back to the screen.

"Now that we have that settled, I am going to terminate this link."

"No" Cree bellowed.

"Beryla, don't!" Bridget cried. "Can't you see what you are doing to him?" Her tears were flowing unnoticed down her pale cheeks.

"When he learns to do as he is told, I will contact you again. Terminate the link!" the Director snapped.

"Bridget!" Cree's heart-breaking howl of pain made the hair stands up on the back of Beryla Dean's neck. She shuddered violently and backed away from the man who had

dropped to his knees, pummeling the floor with his clenched fists. "I want my woman!"

"You know what you have to do before that can happen," the Director reminded him.

She almost had a heart attack as he shot to his feet, grabbed her, and shook her so hard

her teeth clicked together.

"No more!" he roared in her face. "No...more! Just give me the gods-be-damned list of the men you've already turned and let me get on with it!"

Beryla jerked out of his grip. "You hurt me like that again and I swear I'll make you

wish you'd never met me!"

"I already wish I'd never met you," he said in a tone that relayed he was beyond

controlling his temper and less and less inclined to do so.

Rubbing her bruised arms, Beryla went to her safe and withdrew a sheaf of papers. She

was about to hand them over when he snatched them out of her grip.

Cree scanned the names on the sheet. "Drewe Lona! I should have known!" he

memorized the names of the others, then crumpled the paper and threw it in the waste

bin. "I'll need more muscle that just Tealson Hesar and a handful of Keepers!"

"Recruit who you need; they'll follow you."

"You'd better hope they will." He turned away. It was going to be a very dangerous

thing trying to recruit competent men to help him sabotage the Empire.

"There's one more thing," Dr. Dean said as she watched him rubbing his right temple.

"You were inoculated, as was all but one of your crew. We couldn't find him, but we will.

The other Reapers and their crews have been vaccinated as well."

"Vaccinated for what?" he exploded, remembering his own inoculation.

"It is too complicated to go into right. Can't you at least trust me on this?"

He snorted. "I would sooner trust a Diabolusian wharf rat than trust you!"

"Will you listen?" she asked, exasperated. "I'm only telling you because the antitoxin has made your father very ill. He is..." She stopped and watched the stunned surprise take shape on Cree's face.