The Price of Discovery (23 page)

“I didn't even realize he was gone, but when Greg came and got Ankra this afternoon we couldn't find him anywhere. I need to look for him.”

Questions swirled through Erin's head. What if Brundor told someone who he was? What if Brundor was lost somewhere and Drakor couldn't find him? What if Brundor had found a release for that ever-present hunger in his gaze—and it wasn't welcome?

She shivered at the memory of her encounters with him. She didn't really want to run into Brundor again, but she knew it wasn't wise for him to be out alone. “You want me to help you find him?”

Drakor shook his head. “No, I want you to watch Sitora for me.”

“Oh.” Not that she minded playing with the sweet cherub, but a part of her wished she could spend more time with him. To get information, of course.

“I'll try not to be gone too long. It would just be so much easier not have her along.”

Erin smiled. “I'd be happy to keep her here for you.”

They heard a crash in another room and a small cry of “uh-oh!” Erin resisted the urge to investigate the disaster or to check on her notes in the kitchen.

Drakor grinned but the lines around his eyes barely moved. She couldn't tell if he was concerned about Brundor, Sitora, or something else. Either way, he certainly wasn't the same man from last night. What she would give to torture him for more information again.

“Thanks.” He turned for the door.

“Drakor? How are you getting around? I mean, you can't drive a car.”

He visibly tensed and glanced away from her. Did they have a method of transportation that she didn't know about, other than the large spaceship? Hmmm…she might just have to ask Sitora about that.
 

“I've taken care of it.” The words were abrupt, giving Erin more proof that he had something to hide.

“Well, I hope you find him soon.”

Drakor's anxious expression softened slightly. “I'll try not to be gone too long.” Then he stepped out the door and pulled it closed behind him.

Erin found Sitora trying to pick up clods of dirt on the kitchen floor. One of her houseplants had toppled off the window ledge and now lay in ruins on the vinyl flooring.

The girl glanced up with dark, saucer eyes. “It was an accident…”

Erin smiled gently. “It's okay. Let's just get it cleaned up.”

Once most of it was swept up and thrown out, Sitora pointed to the now melted ice cream. “What's that?”

“Ice cream. It's a dessert. Most kids love it.”

Sitora climbed up on the chair in front of it. “Can I try it?”

“Sure. It's kind of melted now. Would you like me to get a fresh scoop?”

But it was too late, the girl had already spooned a dripping mound into her mouth. “This is better than the cookie,” she declared, and slurped up more.

Erin sighed and sat in one of the other chairs. She gathered the notes she was supposed to be sorting through into one pile. Far away from the messy five-year-old.

She watched Sitora eat. What was it like for her at home? What did she do for fun? Did she go to school? Did she have friends? What would she do now that her parents were gone? What would happen to her if Erin published a story on their existence?

Erin's stomach pitched, throat tightened. She just couldn't let herself get involved with their lives. She couldn't let herself care about them. War correspondents and photojournalists had to remove themselves emotionally from the story they were after. How else could they do their jobs properly?

Sitora continued to slurp the ice cream like a kitten. If she wasn't going to let herself feel sorry for the girl, the least Erin could do was use her for information.

“Sitora, how did you and Drakor get to my apartment?”

“Drakor told me I can't tell you,” she replied without looking up from the bowl.

Erin clenched her teeth. He either said that because they used some alien technology to get them here or was he just trying to be spiteful.

“But he's a meanie.” Sitora held out the dish. “Can I have some more?”

Erin gave her more ice cream. “Does that mean you'll tell me anyway?”

The girl swallowed a large chunk. “Oh, that's cold!”

“That's why it's called ‘ice cream' because it's cold like ice.” She tried to hold onto her patience. “Did you come here in a machine of some sort? Did you walk?”

“What is that thing called that you have?”

“What? My car?”

Sitora nodded. “We came here in one of those.”

Erin's mouth dropped open. But who would have taken them here but Greg? And if it were him, certainly Drakor would have just told her that.
 

“Why doesn't Drakor want me to know?”

“I don't know. He just said not to tell you.”

So much for getting some information on a new technology.
 

“But the lady wanted me to tell you.”

Erin's head snapped up and she stared at the messy-faced girl. “What lady?”

“The one driving the car. Her smell hurt my nose and she gave Drakor weird looks.”

Hair rose on Erin's neck in anticipation of something she didn't want to know. Like waiting for a test score in Physics when she barely answered a question. “What–what else? Do you know her name?”

Sitora shrugged. “She said mean things about you. She's even meaner than Drakor.”

It couldn't be, could it? Erin felt her throat closing in. She could barely breathe. “What did she look like? What color was the car?”

“The car was the color of Earth's night. The lady's hair was yellow like Earth's sun. Her lips were bright red.”

“Rita.”

“Yes, that's her name.” Sitora finally looked up from the soupy mess in her bowl. “But don't tell Drakor I told you. Please!”

Erin collapsed on the table, her head buried in her arms. No, not again. She would not let Rita take away this story—or her man. Not only that, Drakor knew Rita was writing a story about Greg. His acceptance of that bitch's help was more than a slap in the face. It was clear betrayal.

 

 

They hadn't found Brundor and Drakor couldn't get Rita to leave him alone. The strong perfume scent from Rita increased the pounding inside his skull to such a level that he felt physically ill.

They sat in the parking lot of a small restaurant, where Rita insisted many young humans hung out. Whatever that meant.

“Drop me off at Erin's.” Drakor leaned his head back against the headrest and his eyes closed.

“Damn,” she trailed a long fingernail along his arm, “what muscles. Is the rest of you this…big?”

He clenched his jaw, refusing to answer. If only it were Erin next to him, seducing him. Like the first night, when her mouth licked its way down his stomach and over his—

“You and Erin, you don't have a thing together, do you?” Her fingers moved from his arm down his chest. He sucked in his stomach and held his breath. “You shouldn't waste your time on her,” she continued. “Erin is nothing. Whatever she's done for you will pale beside what I could do.”

A prick of adrenaline spurted into his veins. The unpreventable urge to protect Erin began its climb toward his heart. But he knew to defend Erin would only make matters worse.

“I–I need to get my sister and go back home.” He opened his eyes but stared straight ahead. “Please drop me off at Erin's.”

He could see Rita shrug from the corner of his eye. “Suit yourself. But come find me when you're bored with her.”

Rita brought him back to Erin's home and drove off with a squeal of her tires. He sighed and then knocked on Erin's door. He hoped she'd be willing to take them back home. If not, he would be forced to Transfer both Sitora and himself. He'd hate to frighten his sister that way.

The door opened to Erin's cold stare. She glanced beside him. “Where's your brother?”

Drakor breathed in her essence. Just being near to Erin soothed the incessant throbbing in his head. “I didn't find him.”

She raised her eyebrows. “He could be getting you into some real trouble.” Her voice had changed, become more monotone and hard.
 

“I know. I hope he has returned home. I need to get myself and Sitora back there.”

“Is that Drakor?” came his sister's voice from another room.

“We must go back,” he called to her.

Sitora whined in response.

Drakor smiled at Erin. “She was good while I was gone?”

She took a step back from him and he saw her swallow. “She was an angel. I'll get her cleaned up and then you two can go.”

He reached out and touched her arm, the contact spreading heat to his loins. “I would like for you to drive us back in your vehicle.”

Erin stiffened and yanked her arm away. “Why don't you ask Rita to drive you back?”

Drakor sucked in a deep breath, his shoulders tensing. Great Sun, he should have known Sitora couldn't keep her mouth shut, especially considering how much she loved Erin.

He chose his words carefully. “I would prefer for
you
to do it.”

She scowled and put her hands on her hips. Hips that he caressed only last night. Hips that tormented him in the most intimate of ways. Sliding up, sliding down, sliding up…

“Oh, is that so? Is that because you fear what she would do if she saw your house? And you're worried about me when Rita would have you guys as front page news without a second thought!”
 

Drakor grinned. He closed the distance between them, ran his fingers through her silky, short hair. “And so the difference is that you
do
have a second thought.”

Erin's mouth dropped open, but as he lowered his face to hers, no sound came from her lips. He didn't care that Sitora was in the other room. He didn't care about anything but holding on to Erin's good graces. And holding her in his arms.

Drakor pressed his lips to hers and she yielded to him, ushering a small gasp. He tasted the shiny gloss on her lips and a sweet flavor on her tongue. Kissing her was like savoring treats without having to assault his unsuspecting stomach.

But it was too hard to have this small part of her and not have the rest. Too hard to not take advantage of every moment he had with her. His erection throbbed, begging for her warmth.

“Erin…” he said against her mouth. “Come back with me. We can lock the door…”

She sighed but then suddenly pushed herself away from him. “Rita wasn't enough to satisfy you?”

He cocked his head. “Rita? What are you talking about?”

“Don't tell me she wasn't all over you. I know her. I know she'd jump your bones at the first chance she got.”

“Jump my bones?”

Erin rolled her eyes and crossed her arms under her tempting breasts. “She wants you, Drakor, and I know she must have tried while you were alone. And now you expect me to be a sloppy second. No, thank you.”

Sloppy second? “Erin, I did not touch her.”

“I know how much she wants you.”

He shrugged. “I don't want her, I want you.”

Something flickered in her sky-colored eyes and her face softened, but then the hard façade was back. “Get your sister and go.”

Heat still swirled under his skin but he pushed the desire aside. He worried about her anger more. “Erin, I did not touch her.”

She waved her hand in the air, dismissing him. “It doesn't matter. You and I…we aren't. I mean, we don't have a relationship or anything.”

He followed her to the other side of the room. “I don't want her, I want you.”

Erin glanced in the kitchen and Drakor followed her gaze. Sitora sat at the table in the kitchen, scribbling on paper with a writing tool.

He pulled her back to the front door, away from his sister's ears. “You must believe me.”
 

“Why did you go looking for Brundor with her instead of me?”

“Would you rather have had her watch Sitora?”

“No,” she answered immediately. “But we all could have gone together.”

Drakor brushed a stray hair from her eyes, steeling himself against her enticing scent. “She was out near the house and saw us walking. When she offered, I thought I was being polite to accept.”

Erin tensed. “She was near your house.”

“Yes. It concerns me, as well.”

“But how did she find it? How would she know?”

“I do not know the answer, but come back with us. I am unsettled at not finding my brother.”

Erin crossed her arms again and leaned against the front door. She seemed to have dropped her concern over his ride with Rita. “Things aren't going too well for you here, are they?”

Did she mean here in her home or on this miserable planet? He swallowed. The mission has been a disaster. But he would not tell her that.

“Drakor?” She touched his arm.
 

He smiled at the contact but when he looked into her eyes, his gut tightened. Something was wrong. “Tell me.”

“You told me you were looking for a friend.”

He nodded, not wanting to hear her next words.

“I believe your friend is my John Doe. He was the one in the cottage before you got here.” She bit her lip and glanced away. “He's dead, Drakor. That's why I was at your house that day a few weeks ago. I was trying to figure out who he was—”

He suddenly felt as if he'd been kicked in the stomach. “Why-why were you investigating him?” Great Sun, he'd hoped Alaziri was in hiding. But not only was he dead, the local government knew of him.
 

“Well, for starters, no one knew his name or where he came from. But also…” she walked across the room and tapped her nails on that creature's cage, “the coroner said he had an unknown malformation in his bone marrow.”

Helta
! Alaziri's body was locked up somewhere, having been dissected by these humans. They were suspicious. He had to get his family off this planet as soon as possible.