Rebel Heat (17 page)

Suddenly everything snapped into place. Nazerel had never been a helpless victim of circumstance. He was General Nox’s spy. Significance pressed her back into her chair. When Garin spoke of correspondence, he’d meant frequent and ongoing. Nazerel had kept his powerful cousin informed about everything that transpired on Earth. But why? Was this a roundabout way for Quinton to find out what Sevrin was doing or was this arrangement independent from the royals?

She wanted to grill Nazerel with questions and clearly demonstrate her indignation, but she remained silent and still, watching, listening for all the inferences woven through their words.

“According to Flynn, Sevrin’s team succeeded in transferring Shadow Assassin abilities into several female hosts. All of the females were human, but many didn’t survive the transformation. Technically her experiments were successful, but I believe the risks outweigh the gains. We need to focus our efforts in a different direction.”

Morgan’s fingernails bit into her palms. He spoke so dismissively, as if the victims were no more important than cultures in a petri dish. She’d sweat and bled in her efforts to end Sevrin’s evil and he checked it off like any other item on an agenda.

“The alternative I’m about to suggest is safer, easier and much more reliable.”

“Were you able to secure a copy of Sevrin’s research?” Garin asked. “Even if we don’t pursue that avenue, much can be learned from her progress.”

“‘Pursue that avenue’?” Morgan’s control snapped. Pretending she was a willing guest was one thing. She was not going to sit here like a good little girl and listen to this. Rather than attack Garin directly, she turned nearly sideways in her chair and went after Nazerel. “You told me you were trying to stop Sevrin. You claimed you only allowed the murders to go on so you could find her lab and
shut her down
. What the hell is this?”

“Is she necessary for this conversation?” Garin’s voice cracked like a whip and Moran risked a quick look at him. He sat forward in his chair, hands flat on the table, gaze cold yet blazing. This was General Nox, not cousin Garin.

“Actually, she is,” Nazerel insisted. “Flynn has been compromised, so I need her to confirm any information given to us by him. That includes the final cache of data he sold me right before I left Earth.”

“I’m not going to tell you anything,” she sneered, not caring how disrespectful she sounded. “You dragged me here in chains. There is no way in hell I’m cooperating with any of you.”

“Your cooperation isn’t required.” Nazerel’s Rodyte heritage took over his personality whenever he was surrounded by other Rodytes. “I can access the information in your mind without your permission. It’s less painful and much less damaging if you allow the scan, but I can force my way into your mind.”

“This is your ‘insurance policy’, isn’t it? You sold out every female on Earth so you didn’t have to spend five years in an Ontarian detention center.” She pushed back her chair and stood, glaring down at Nazerel. “You’re worse than Sevrin. At least she came at us head-on. You’re deceitful and duplicitous. Worse, you’re a coward!”

Nazerel stood, the motion slow and menacing. He grabbed her upper arm then looked at Garin. “I’ll return momentarily.”

“That’s fine, but she remains in your quarters until you’ve claimed her. I will not have a rebellious female inciting the crew. Is that understood?”

“Yes, sir.”

“I’m serious, Nazerel. If you don’t take care of this problem, I will give her to someone strong enough to tame her.”

“I understand.”

No sooner had the door to Nazerel’s quarter’s closed behind them than Morgan flew at him. Unencumbered by restraints for the first time in days, she kicked and punched with remarkable strength and agility—for a human. Nazerel did little more than deflect her blows and avoid her kicks, hoping she would tire herself out. But she kept on. Calling him vile names and shouting accusations that were mostly true, at least from her perspective.

Finally tired of her tantrum, he caught her wrist and spun her around then jerked her tight against him, her back to his chest. “Calm. Down.” He wrapped her tightly in his arms, ever mindful of her head. He didn’t care if she slammed back into his chest, but one lucky impact with his chin could render him unconscious. “My intention is to negotiate with your planet not steal their females.”

“I don’t believe you.” Her voice was muffled and tight as if she forced the words out between clenched teeth.

“It doesn’t matter what you believe. Like it or not, this situation is beyond your control.” Oh she didn’t like that at all. She arched and twisted, then stomped on his foot. Her soft-soled flats were no match for his boots, so the attempt was merely annoying.

“Let go of me.”

He wasn’t fooled by her calm tone. She was still furious. “Do you know about the deal Pern made with the fifteen elite families?”

She heaved an exaggerated sigh as she wiggled one of her arms free. “That was thirty years ago and Pern is dead. What difference does it make now?”

“I’ll explain, but I need to know if what you believe is anything close to the truth.” She dug her fingernails into his wrist and tugged one of his arms away from her body. Needing to gage her reactions to his information, he allowed her to escape his embrace and turn around. “What were you told about those events?”

“The fifteen most powerful families on Rodymia funded Pern’s last trip to Earth, so he promised them first pick of the empowered females.”

“There were other stipulations, but that’s the gist of it. Garin Nox is one of the men who was promised an empowered bride.”

“Good for him. What does that have to do with anything?”

Nazerel tensed. Garin was right. Morgan’s defiance was out of control. He’d been so enamored with her beauty and fiery personality that he’d allowed her belligerence. Most Rodyte males craved a spirted mate, but Morgan wasn’t just spirited, she was disrespectful and rude. Like it or not, he needed to tame her and his leniency so far would make the process even more challenging.

His purpose for returning to Rodymia, however, must take precedence over his personal affairs. “During Pern’s reign, the Nox family was the most powerful family on Rodymia. They’re still rich and influential, but Quinton doesn’t trust them. He will always see them as his brother’s henchmen regardless of their actions over the past fifteen years.”

“I’m still not seeing a connection.” Her defiance had eased somewhat. Now she merely sounded impatient.

“Sevrin assured the elite families that she would uphold the conditions of her father’s contract with them. Garin, and the others, only want what they were promised but Sevrin kept putting them off.”

“They were promised the
victims
of Sevrin’s experiments. If it weren’t for the elite families’ money, Pern wouldn’t have been able to continue his research. You speak of these events as if they were harmless medical procedures. They weren’t. People died and the elite families are partially to blame.”

“I’m well aware of the victims. Many Shadow Assassins died too. Garin never would have made the deal with Pern, and his primary motivation for demanding his bride is to protect her from abuse.”

“What about the other fourteen? Who will protect them?”

“He will.”

Morgan laughed, the sound humorless and bitter. “And you gave him Sevrin’s research for the same reason? To protect human females? Garin Nox must be the most philanthropic
general
the universe has ever known.”

“I haven’t given him anything and I’m not sure I will. Information is a form of power. The data is part of a much larger negotiation. I’m not sure when, how or
if
I’ll use it.”

“I don’t believe you.” She was shaking with suppressed rage, ready to explode into another fit of violence. Part of him wanted to encourage the reaction. She obviously needed the release and a period of vulnerability often followed such bursts of energy. He could use that openness to begin her training. It would allow him beyond her emotional barriers and—no. He was through manipulating her. Their battle of wills would be a fair fight and now was not the time to begin such a lengthy confrontation.

“This conversation is pointless. You need to calm down.” He turned and headed for the door. One of her shoes thunked
against the wall slightly to his left. The second one smacked the middle of his back half a second later. He started to turn around. Maybe he had time after all.

But the Nox brothers were waiting and the Shadow Assassins depended on him. He wasn’t here to claim a mate. He was here to secure a future for his people. With a frustrated sigh, he hurried from the cabin without even looking back. She was too angry to listen to reason right now. She needed to calm down before he had any hope of making her understand.

He hurried back to Garin’s quarters, knowing the general wouldn’t wait indefinitely. The three brothers had moved to the sitting area, but they appeared relaxed and attentive.

“Sorry about the outburst. Morgan can be volatile.” He crossed the room and chose a chair that allowed him to see the others without craning his neck.

“Fiery females have always intrigued me,” Bandar said with a distant smile. “Do you intend to claim her or is she open to suitors?”

“I intend to claim her, likely tonight.” All Bandar had done was pose a simple question and still Nazerel wanted to strangle him. It was never good to be so distracted by anything.

Garin’s glass was nearly empty, but he waved away the drink steward. “Was Sevrin unable to locate the original females as I suspected or is she simply playing games with me?”

There was no easy way to broach the subject, so Nazerel just spit it out. “Sevrin is dead. She was killed by the Mystic Militia when they raided her lab two, or has it been three, days ago.”

Setting his glass aside, Garin scooted to the edge of his seat. “And all of Pern’s contracts become null and void with the death of his only heir.”

Nazerel nodded. Garin didn’t seem overly upset, but it was hard to tell with Garin. He had mastered his expressions long ago. Pern had other offspring, but Sevrin was the only one he had honored with a legal claim. All the others were simply battle born, unable to inherit his titles or fulfill his contracts.

“Does Quinton know?” Bandar’s expressions were easier to read, though he often seemed grim and angry.

“The Ontarians will wait until they’re good and ready before they inform Quinton, but he has spies everywhere.”

“Unfortunately for him, most of them actually work for me.” It wasn’t an idle boast. Quinton wasn’t well liked. None of the Keires had been, which made it easy for Garin to flip Quinton’s informants. The problem with double agents was they notoriously flipped back whenever things became too dangerous.

“If he doesn’t know about Sevrin already, it’s just a matter of time before he learns.”

“How much of Sevrin’s research did she share with her uncle? Their relationship has always been strained.”

Nazerel paused before he answered. Garin’s interest in the data was understandable. It was also dangerous. If anyone had the moral fortitude to control something so powerful, it was Garin. Still, ultimate power corrupted ultimately. Nazerel didn’t want to cause the downward spiral of one of the few honorable men he’d ever known. “According to Flynn she was playing the same game with Quinton that she was playing with you, excuses and evasions. She’d hint at developments that never happened, while she promised astonishing breakthroughs were just around the corner.”

“Sevrin isn’t or
wasn’t
a scientist,” Bandar pointed out. “What happed to her research team? They’re the ones with the actual knowledge.”

“Everyone was taken to Ontariese. If the Mystics are smart, they’ll scan everyone for details and then scrub their minds of the memories.”

Bandar waved away the possibility. “Ontarian Mystics are too squeamish for such a ruthless course of action. They’ll give them a stern warning or make them sign a contract.” He scoffed at the idea and shook his head. “Any chance we can intercept them before they’re returned to Rodymia.”

“Normally, I’d agree with you, but there’s a new player on the Ontarian team.”

“Varrik.” Garin nodded. “No Shadow Assassin will settle for a diplomatic resolution.”

“And he is now life bonded with the high queen’s daughter,” Nazerel reminded.

“A development, I still find hard to believe.” Garin shook away the speculation then summarized. Keeping things clean and simple was what Garin did best. “So containment is our objective in regard to the research. If the Ontarians are foolish enough to release any of the scientists with their memories intact, we’ll intercept them. Despite the very real temptation, such secrets are better left alone.”

Relief washed over Nazerel. He needed Garin’s power and influence, but he really hadn’t wanted to keep Sevrin’s research in play. It was time to move the conversation on toward other discoveries. “Flynn also provided me with copies of various messages.”

“What sort of messages?” Garin’s voice took on a growly undertone though Nazerel wasn’t sure what caused the displeasure.

“The sort that confirm Quinton’s duplicity. Even if Sevrin had managed to locate the empowered females—which I don’t believe she did—they had no intention of turning them over as promised.”

Despite the subtle tensing of his jaw, Garin appeared remarkably calm. “The entire situation became irrelevant the moment Sevrin died.” No Rodyte accepted betrayal with such indifference. He had to be furious. Yet he was disciplined enough to know other things were more important right now. “You mentioned an alternative.”

“Pern refused to divulge the specifics of his plan to even his closest allies. Your father assumed it was because they would object to the means by which Pern was producing empowered brides. The truth is much more interesting.”

“Go on,” Bandar urged. “Zilor hasn’t said a world. Obviously, we’re captivated.”

Zilor punched Bandar in the arm and Bandar responded with a semi-playful push. It was easy to picture the two as boys, wrestling and chasing each other with enough enthusiasm to shake the house. Nazerel had always envied the closeness of the Nox brothers. Each challenge they faced, and there had been many, they faced together.

“Pern didn’t genetically engineer empowered hybrids as he led everyone to believe.” Suddenly three sets of eyes stared at Nazerel with rapt interest. “He stumbled upon a naturally occurring genetic anomaly.”

“What sort of anomaly and how often does it occur?” Never one to mince words, Garin cut right to the heart of the matter.

“Every time a battle born male breeds with a human female their female offspring will possess magic abilities. They’re usually similar to the father’s, but there have been throwbacks to previous generations.”

Zilor shook his head, clearly confused by the statement. “Battle born males don’t have abilities. That’s the problem.”

“That’s what you were taught, what they want you to believe, but it’s not true. Battle born males can’t access their abilities, but they possess them. Apparently the genetic anomaly requires two xx chromosomes to manifest. Whenever a y chromosome is present, the abilities remain dormant.”

“Then only female offspring will be empowered?” Garin rubbed his chin as speculation narrowed his eyes.

“Yes, but it’s consistent. Every single girl born to a battle born male and a human female will be able to manipulate magic.”

“But this only happens when battle born males impregnate
human
females?” Bandar wanted to know.

Nazerel nodded. “It’s a very specific equation. Human female plus Rodyte/Bilarrian hybrid male equals empowered female offspring. If even one of the constants changes in any way, the equation fails.”

“Did the messages indicate if Quinton ever intended to tell us about this anomaly?” Bandar’s eyes glinted dangerously. Of the three brothers, he was having the strongest reaction to the information. That wasn’t surprising. Garin wasn’t battle born and nothing bothered Zilor.

“I’m not sure Quinton knows about it. Pern was the one who identified the pattern and Sevrin understood the value of the information. I think she intended on using it against Quinton. All of the messages between Sevrin and Quinton dealt with genetic manipulation. I’m relatively sure Sevrin didn’t share her secret with Quinton before the Mystic Militia ended her life.”

“But the Ontarians know?” Zilor mused.

“They have many more reasons not to tell Quinton than to tell him,” Nazerel pointed out.

“As do we.” Bandar was still glowering.

“I agree,” Garin stressed. “I’m not sure what, if anything, we should do with the information, but Quinton must never find out.”