Primal Heat (3 page)

“At ease, Sergeant Major.”

She relaxed, tucking her hands behind her back, feet shoulder width apart. “What can I do for you, sir?”

Sitting back in his chair, he picked up a paperweight and tossed it from one hand to the other. “A new country will be joining our coalition. It's going to be a lot of work for you in the next few months. You know how difficult it can be to get a new member up to speed.”

“Yes, sir.” She'd been in the thick of it when they formed the worldwide coalition of militaries and had done more paperwork to make it all happen than she'd wanted to do in her entire life. She'd much rather be out in the field, but if this is how she could best serve her country, she'd do the best job that could be done. “Which country, sir?”

A triumphant, almost cruel expression crossed his face. “China.”

That was not an answer she wanted to hear. The bottom dropped out of her stomach.

Oh, shit.

B
ren licked her lips and tried to keep her voice even. “I thought China didn't want to join the coalition, sir.”

Arthur's dark eyes cooled. “My efforts to convince them it's the best thing for their citizens were successful.”

“Congratulations, sir.” Another wave of dread went through her, numbness following in its wake. She wasn't sure what measures he'd taken to ensure their cooperation, but it would have to be extreme. China had made it very clear from the beginning they wanted to stand alone on this issue, that they wanted no part of an operation run solely at the discretion of the United States.

Who had Arthur threatened or killed to get what he wanted? She curled her fingers into tight fists, horrified she had to ask herself the question, and yet…not surprised by it at the same time. It
wasn't
paranoia that had kept her up at night, and that lame excuse crumbled in the face of the unrelenting truth before her. He wasn't the man she remembered, the man she'd respected, almost worshipped. Something had changed in the last few months. She wasn't sure if she was just seeing it
now
, and it had always been there, or if it was a new development.

He still looked the part of the perfect officer and gentleman. Soldier. Hero. The kind of man who ended up with commemorative statues after he died in battle. She stifled a snort at that—as if any of them did this for the glory.

But something about that caught her, made her pause.

She focused on his face and realized that that was the difference. Since the Kith had come and Arthur had had the chance to band together the militaries of Earth to fight them, it had gone from
saving
the world to
controlling
the world. Perhaps it was the glory or just the power, but it really didn't matter why, did it? Arthur, a man she would have sworn a year ago was a dedicated soldier to the core of his being, had lost whatever internal compass guided him. He'd crossed the line one too many times and never suffered any consequences for it. People were scared and they were desperate for the safety they had once known. The safety of ignorance.

All those people were willing to let Arthur do whatever he wanted in order to reclaim that security. They'd hand over their armies, their control, their independence, their money. Everything.

She could see in Arthur's eyes how much he liked that. It wasn't about safety for him anymore; it wasn't about protection or what was good for humanity. It was about
him
now. His power, his control, his ability to convince people they would never be safe without him in charge.

A chill rippled down her spine, and she swallowed hard, forcing her expression to impassivity. “You have a meeting with the president at ten, sir.”

“Thank you, Preston.” Arthur continued to stare at her for a long moment, and Bren refused to give in to the urge to fidget. “Dismissed.”

She nodded and executed a quick about-face, marching out of his office and closing the door behind her. It wasn't until there was a thick wooden barrier between him and her that she let out the breath she'd been holding.

Perching in her office chair, she logged in to her computer and just stared at the screen. Her thoughts ricocheted in her mind, unable to settle. She kept coming back to the same conclusion she had the night before. Regardless of the Sueni fleet being here or gone, this was going to be a no-win situation for Earth.
Arthur
, the savior of humanity, was going to make it a no-win situation. People had died, and more people were going to, if Arthur remained in command.

So what was she going to do about it?

Her hands folded tightly in her lap, her nails digging into her skin. Whatever remained of her initial numbness evaporated. Panic and terror bolted through her, made her uniform dampen with sweat.

She could do nothing. It was in her best interest to keep following orders and just…living her life. Because the army
was
her life. This was who she was. It was all she'd ever wanted to be.

She'd run like hell from her foster family the day she'd graduated from high school, signed on with the army, and never looked back.

She'd been lucky and she knew it. Her foster father had satisfied himself with occasionally kicking the crap out of her and the other kids and neglecting them the rest of the time. And that had been one of the better homes she'd lived in after her parents died. She was just grateful to have never had to look herself in the mirror and see the empty, hollowed-out eyes of the walking ghosts some of those foster kids had become.

Bren had known then that she would do everything she could to make sure she was never anyone's victim ever again. She'd learn how to fight back, she'd learn how to never be weak, she'd learn how to protect people who couldn't protect themselves. And she had. The army had given her that. A sense of purpose, of duty, of belonging to something greater than herself.

But that was the problem, that was why she couldn't blindly follow Arthur now, because the army had given her a purpose, had made her country and its citizens more important than anything else. More than personal gain or power or prestige. She couldn't just stand back now and do nothing when the things she lived for were threatened.

She forced herself to cold, calm calculation. Now was not the time for panic. She had to do
something
. There was no question left in her mind about that. This was not optional. But what could she do? Who could she ask for help? Who could she trust? Conspiring against the most powerful man on the planet had gotten people far more influential than her killed. Who would be willing to step out of line to protect everyone
from
Arthur?

A flash of Farid's face entered her mind. She dismissed it, but then paused.

If Arthur was the enemy, then was the enemy of her enemy someone she could turn to? Farid hated Arthur, of that she had no doubt. He'd love some retribution for the preemptive strike against the Sueni armada. If she gave him the chance to exact his revenge, would it save the planet or make the situation worse?

There was only one way to find out, but she couldn't call him just to ask. No, this meeting would have to be private and it would have to be in person. She closed her eyes and sighed. Pulling her cell phone out of her purse, she opened up an encrypted email and composed a new message that would somehow interface with the Sueni ships. Her lips twisted. Apparently, they'd been able to dumb down their communication system to get the most advanced Earth technology to play well with them.

Lord Arj—

No, that wasn't right. She didn't want anyone who might intercept this to know what her real intentions were. Hell, she didn't even want the Kith nobleman to know what she wanted until she saw him. She wanted to look him in the eyes when she told him. She deleted what she'd typed and tried again.

Farid. No more teasing. Let's finish what we started in person. Meet me tonight at your original landing site. I need you. —Bren

Her hand hovered over the key that would seal her fate forever. There would be no turning back. Her career—her
life
—would be over. Hell, if she were honest with herself, she should have reported fraternizing with the enemy in her dreams long ago, but there was no hiding this kind of breach. Arthur would find out eventually. She knew it. And then everyone would know she was a traitor. If her fingers trembled, she'd never admit it to anyone.

Clenching her teeth together, she pressed
SEND
.

 

Farid was more than ready to fall facedown on his gelpad. He had three hours before his next meeting and he didn't care what it took to make it happen, he was getting some sleep and
not
linking with Bren. “
Vishra
, please add the somnolence dose to the air in my room now.”

The ship's response was immediate. “Of course, my lord.”

“Thank you.” He leaned back against the glass wall of the multiveyor while it moved backward and then slanted at a downward angle to take him to the floor with his quarters.

His work shift so far, like every work shift since they'd arrived, had been a lesson in the futile. Still, he refused to give up. This was what he lived for. The restrictions Kyber had placed on Farid's diplomacy made it all the more challenging. Given enough time, he
would
win, eventually. Whether he had that time before the emperor found his One was another story…and another challenge.

Lost in thoughts that had occupied every waking hour for months, he stepped out of the multiveyor and heard it swish closed and hum as it sped away.

A man came bursting through a door and slid to a stop before him. “Farid.”

He blinked and looked up. “Kyber.”

Of all the people aboard their ships, Farid was one of the few who could call his cousin by name. Even then, he usually did so only in private. It was a delicate balance between being family and being respectful of his ruler, no matter how much younger Kyber was than Farid.

“I think I've found her.” A wide smile broke across the emperor's face.

Farid stared for a moment before that information processed. “Your One?”

“Yes. I know where she is now. I must go.” Kyber glanced over Farid's shoulder. “
Vishra
, call the multiveyor for me.”

The ship replied in that smooth, unflappable voice. “Of course, Your Majesty.”

“Oh. Wait.” Kyber turned back to his room and lifted a hand toward the open door. A pistol came whizzing through the air to slap into his palm. He slid it into a holster at his hip.

Farid couldn't stop a grin. “That's a handy trick.”

“It only works when I'm upset or excited. I don't think anyone else has the power to do it.” Kyber shrugged and forked his fingers through his long ebony hair.

“I don't,” Farid replied. Not that he minded. More energy to try to harness was not something he desired.

Kyber's violet eyes glowed with latent power, paler lavender sparks flashing in his gaze as his anticipation rose. His mind latched on to the subject that Farid doubted was ever far from the surface. “Every time I connect with her, she's somewhere different. And she's always gone before I arrive to track her. But not this time.”

Frowning, Farid gave his cousin's dilemma more thought than he might normally. “Perhaps her occupation requires her to travel a great deal.”

“Perhaps.” The emperor shook his head sharply, and his smile became blinding again as the multiveyor door slid open for him. “I'll find out when I get there. I'm sure I can get to her before she leaves.”

It wasn't the first time his cousin had been sure, but Farid sent as much faith and support as he could muster along their familial link. Then he ran a tired hand over his face and turned to walk toward the corridor that led to his quarters. A noise down a small side hallway used for maintenance drew him up short. What
now?
He sighed and backed up a few steps, allowing his superior vision to peer into the darkness.

His mouth fell open at what he saw. Shaking his head, he tried to clear it. Tylara Belraj, uptight commander of the fleet and captain of the
Vishra
, had her arms pinned above her head and her pants shoved down around her boots as a man fucked her ruthlessly from behind.

Farid watched her slim, firm body arch in ecstasy. Her head rolled against her lover's shoulder, her eyes closed. Farid had never witnessed such an unguarded expression on her face. She looked…happy, joyful, lighter than he'd ever seen her. He would never have guessed that the woman was capable of such an emotion, let alone displaying it so openly.

Especially considering they were in an unsecured hallway that any civilian had access to. Releasing her hands, her lover shoved her hard against the metal wall, and his hips hammered forward to slap her smooth buttocks.

She opened her mouth and hissed, every ounce of her feral naturel alive on her face.

Farid stood there staring in stunned silence. He couldn't make himself look away as a gentleman should. The carnal display was arousing, reminding him forcibly of his own powerless, fruitless delight at reaching for his One.

And that was who this man was to Tylara. Her emotions, as tightly controlled as they were, couldn't contain that truth, and it ripped him into her maelstrom. He jerked back, trying to wrench himself free of his stupor.

Tylara's eyes flew open, their midnight irises almost white with the sparks boiling to the surface. “Farid.”

Her lover's head whipped to the side and he snarled low in his throat. A predator possessive of his prize. His blue eyes flashed wildly, sweat ran in rivulets down his ebony skin, and waist-length braids swung around his face. A jolt shook Farid as he focused his senses on the man for the first time.

Johar Sajan. Brother to Cilji's perfidious, unstable One.

Shock made Farid sway on his feet. Tylara's One was a Sajan. He shook his head, clearing the fog of her lust from his mind as he turned and stumbled away.

“Farid, wait!”

He didn't listen, fleeing blindly down the hallways as he struggled to maintain the shields on his thoughts and emotions. What he felt was no one's business but his own.

His memories rose with horrifying clarity, brutalizing his mind. Cilji's face. His impetuous baby sister. Dead. Anun, no. Not that. Anything but that. Not those memories, not that failure.
No.

“Stop, Lord Farid!” Tylara's voice was that of the fleet commander, not one to ignore.

He pulled up, his gut churning with disquiet. Clenching his jaw, he waited for her to draw even with him. He could still scent the sex on her. He could also sense her upset, which was rare for the contained woman. Giving her a curt nod, he stared at a point just beyond her shoulder. “Tylara.”