Tangled Shadows (6 page)

“The amnesia story seemed implausible,” Galen said, shifting in his chair.

“This is the first time they’ve taken so many people in one raid. We need to find out who and how far the knowledge of the operation has spread. Unless we stop them, they’ll continue and get more and more audacious and daring,” Nikolai said.

“And you picked me as the weakest link to interrogate,” she whispered. It hurt that they would think her capable of something so horrendous.

“No,” Nikolai interrupted her downward spiral. “The original plan was to read your mind and find the relevant information.”

Brooke’s brow rose. “Really.”

Nikolai sat up straight and smiled. “But we couldn’t climb into your head in the bar

—”

“And decided by climbing into my pants you get all the information, plus some tail on the side.” Brooke couldn’t contain her bitterness.

“No.” Galen rose, but sat back down when she flinched. “No,” he said in a quieter voice. “When we understood your mind was impenetrable, we knew we needed to get you away for a more thorough questioning.”

Nikolai nodded. “What he said. Your energy knocked us on our respective asses.

As soon as we got close enough, all plans went right out of the hyperspace window. We only wanted to touch you.”

Brooke shook her head and got to her feet. “And you expect me to believe my aura or presence or whatever you want to call it, made a Vampire and a Naema forget what they’re thinking? Dream on.”

She faced off against them, still attempting to come to terms with everything she’d learned.

They both remained sitting, studying her as if her next words would decide the fate of the galaxy.

“Brooke,” Nikolai began.

For a second her heart clenched. He called her by her name and not his little nickname.

“Brooke, if we still followed our plans, I would have attempted to invade your memories as we made love.” He shrugged. “All I thought about was you, your taste, your scent, the silky softness of your skin, watching you suck Galen’s cock and how much I needed to touch you.”

38

The words made a lump form in her throat. He sounded sincere, but they manipulated her once, they could be doing it again.

“As to your remark about a Vampire and Naema, Brooke, you have power as well.

It is different from ours and I’m not sure where it comes from, but you have power.

Yesterday you stopped when the need to touch my wings should have dragged you across the floor.” Galen leaned forward.

His words unclenched something deep inside her. Of course, there was the chance he lied, but she didn’t think so. Some of her confidence flooded back and the arms she crossed so tightly over her chest loosened the tiniest bit.

“We now realize you really cannot remember what happened. I believe the Ferals wiped or blocked your memory.”

“What?”

“Have you ever asked yourself why you were left behind?” Nikolai asked.

“Of course not, the thought never crossed my mind. Now I know Ferals are involved, I can only assume my blood wasn’t to their taste or I was too tall.” Nikolai winced as sarcasm dripped off her words, but what did he expect asking such a ridiculous question?

“We will find out why. Both Nikolai and I have abilities that will help to determine what they did and fix it,” Galen interrupted their exchange.

Brooke turned her back to them. She was cold despite the pleasant temperature on the bridge. The thought Ferals had done something to her mind made her feel tainted.

For a moment she wished she could find safety and comfort in Galen’s and Nikolai’s arms, but the memory of their lies stopped her.

They’d explained why they kidnapped her. From an objective point of view they had no reason not to suspect her. They didn’t know her. It didn’t mean she didn’t want to vent the hurt and frustration nagging at her insides like a loose wire in the engine tunnel, but they offered her a way to regain her memories.

Maybe.

She came to a stop in front of them. “What would you need?” Neither of them changed their expression, but Brooke thought their relief stroked across her body. Probably just her stupid hormones.

“Ferals will have left behind evidence of their tampering. As a Vampire I’m best equipped to discover and untangle any barriers. I need you to be as relaxed as possible, preferably lying down and as open to my contact as you can be.”

“Say all that happens, what will be your next step?”

“Attempt to find whatever the Ferals left behind to stop you from remembering.”

“Will you be able to read my every thought?”

39

Nikolai tipped his hand back and forth, indicating maybe yes, maybe no. “You have an unusual shield. Chances are I won’t be able to read anything but superficial thoughts once we connect.”

“But you don’t know for sure.” Brooke balled her fists. “No way. I don’t want you anywhere in my thoughts. My thoughts and feelings are not for public consumption.”

“It’s the only way to figure out what happened,” Galen interrupted.

Brooke looked at him. “How would you like to have your innermost thoughts read?”

Galen shrugged. “Nikolai and I share one mind. We have no secrets.”

“That’s just supernova for you, but I don’t want my one-night fuck partners to read me like a data port, thank you very much.”

For some reason the men looked insulted. Why would she trust them if the first thing they’d done was lie to her?
And give you explosive orgasms
, the little voice at the back of her mind said, the one Brooke kept pushing aside.

“You don’t even know if that would be the case,” Nikolai said.

Yeah right, Mr. Persuasive.

“What is the alternative?” Galen asked.

Brooke looked at him and wanted to punch him. Honestly, she wanted to walk over there and bash him over the head.

And then kiss him breathless.

He had to be all logical.

She strode away.

What
was
the alternative? She could stay stubborn and not let either of them close enough to connect with her brain, and have three days missing from her memory forever. With the possibility a Feral had tampered with her mind.

Talk about a happy thought.

Or she could trust two men who had lied to her with her innermost thoughts.

They’d know she still desired them, how she yearned to be part of their love. They’d see her loneliness and her hunger to belong. Unless this shield worked, they’d see everything. And if they used the knowledge as a weapon against her, they could destroy her, rip her to shreds.

“Brooke, he’ll try not to look where he isn’t wanted,” Galen said softly. “Anything you want to keep secret, imagine a sky-high impenetrable wall in front of it. Nikolai will honor those boundaries.”

Brooke kept her back turned to them, hands in fists at her side. “Of course, you’ve been the poster boys for honesty and trustworthiness. I have no trouble believing you.” Silence fell between them.

“You can’t want to live with a Feral in your head for the rest of your life,” Nikolai said.

40

Brooked flinched. His blatant statement hit her like a punch in the gut. She exhaled and straightened her shoulders. They just weren’t getting it. “You are expecting me to trust two men who’ve done nothing but lie to me from the moment we met.” Galen sighed. Nikolai rubbed his face.

“Is there anything we can do to prove our trustworthiness?” Galen asked.

Brooke swallowed the lump in her throat when she saw the need in his eyes. She wanted to trust him, them, but the risk…the risk of being betrayed again was more than she could bear. “That’s the problem with trust,” she whispered. “It has to be earned.” Galen closed his eyes and his shoulders dropped. Nikolai took his hand. “We’re at an impasse, Brooke. We need your memories to find out what happened and who was involved, but without your consent, we cannot remove the Feral barrier. With every hour we wait, more humans could be suffering or dying.”

“You decide,” Galen added.

Brooke stared out of the main viewport in an attempt to close out their presence, their energy, their impact on her.

It didn’t work. She still saw them before her eyes.

But they were right.

As much as she hated Nikolai for bringing it up, people were dying right now, sucked dry by brutal Ferals, who more often than not played with their food before they tore it apart. When she took on the responsibility of being the captain of the
Nebokka
, she took responsibility for her crew and any humans she may transport.

She couldn’t turn her back on her duty because she feared these two men would rip her heart to shreds if they discovered her need.

“I am sorry for what we have done.
Milaya
, I will not betray your trust. I give you my word I will only look for the damage the Ferals left behind,” Nikolai said.

His words sank inside her. Since the horrific morning when she found out the truth, they had done their best to show her their regret. She needed those three days back. The Feral taint had to be removed.

And this would be the only way to prove her innocence.

She whirled around. “I am not lying down for this. And if you overstep the boundaries by just one inch, this operation is over. Understood?” Galen exhaled silently. Thank Jade, she would give them another chance. Nikolai put his hands in the air as if to fend off an attack. “Whatever you say,
milaya
.” Brooke glared at him.

Galen jumped in before either of them could set off another argument. “Let’s move to the lounge next to the galley. The chairs are more comfortable.” 41

She looked at him with her eyebrows raised, and hesitated for a moment. Galen was about to say something when she moved toward the bridge exit, her body screeching with tension.

We’d have more space in the main cabin
, Nikolai said inside his mind.

She’d never trust us in there
. Galen followed Brooke.
And she needs to relax for you to
work, doesn’t she?

Nikolai came behind him.
Yeah
.

Galen wasn’t sure what gnawed at his partner, but he didn’t have time to hold Nikolai’s hand as well as Brooke’s.

Brooke waited in the lounge, her arms still crossed over her chest. Every time he saw her hold herself so defensively, it stabbed Galen in the heart. He wanted her confident and full of energy, like during their first night.

The lounge was a small cabin with two reclining chairs before a massive screen.

They used it to watch vids or play games in virtual reality. Their journeys could be long and any distraction was welcome. He directed Brooke to one chair, after instructing it to expand its width so Nikolai could sit on the edge without scaring her.

Galen then instructed the malleable wall to form a seat in the corner. He wanted to be closer, but both of them hovering over her would make things worse.

“Sit down,
milaya
. Close your eyes and see if you can relax,” Nikolai said. “Have you ever meditated before?”

Brooke sank down and shook her head.

“No problem. I’m going to sit on the edge here.”

Even from where he sat, Galen could see her stiffening. Nikolai sat down and gently took her hand. Brooke’s eyes shot open.

“It’s okay, Brooke, I need physical contact to build the connection. I’m only going to touch your hand, nothing else, I promise.”

Brooke locked gazes with him for a moment and nodded. She closed her eyes and her body slowly unwound.

“Great,” Nikolai said. “Now I want you to relax each individual muscle, from the tips of your toes to the top of your head. Just let go. Don’t think about anything in particular, let your mind wander.” Nikolai continued with his hypnotic talk until Brooke’s body had relaxed and her breathing had evened out.

Nikolai leaned closer and Galen felt his partner’s aural energy becoming more and more focused until it resembled a spotlight. He carefully tried to penetrate into Brooke’s energy and stream inside her mind.

Galen expected to be pulled along on Nikolai’s journey of discovery, to stumble through Brooke’s mind and memories.

But nothing happened.

42

Nikolai’s eyes flew open and he looked at Galen. His lover could not establish a connection to Brooke.

To quote from the olden days, they were royally screwed.

Nikolai had no idea what had gone wrong. He’d followed his usual pattern of weaving his power into his subject’s energy, expecting Brooke’s mind to open up to his pressure. But abso-fucking-lutely nothing happened. It felt as if his energy bounced off a bubble, a bubble that blocked Brooke’s mind from any outside influence.

He couldn’t retrieve what had happened in those missing days.

“What’s going on?” Brooke’s husky voice pulled him back to the now.