Timeless (Pandora Book 1) (14 page)

Charli sighed. “I don’t understand.”

“I know, child. You will, though. One day, it will all make sense.”

While Neith gave instructions to the onboard computer, Charli gathered her courage to ask her next question. “What did you mean when you said that it was good Vane and I weren’t bonded yet?”

“He hasn’t explained it to you?” She looked absolutely horrified by the news.

“Well, he told me a little last night, and I…well, I didn’t take it very well.”

“That boy,” Neith grumbled under her breath. “When a Nekros bonds with his familiar, they create a kind of bridge between them. What happens to one, happens to both. Whatever Vane feels, you will also feel, both physically and emotionally.”

“So, if we had been bonded when…that happened, I would have felt his pain?” The more she learned about this mating stuff, the more it freaked her the hell out. “That’s cheery.”

“I understand it can be overwhelming, especially with everything else so new and strange on top of it. Might I offer a suggestion, though?”

Charli would take all the help she could get. “Please.”

“Stop trying to put labels on it,” Neith said bluntly. “Forget what was acceptable on Earth. Forget what society deemed acceptable in…what year are you from again?”

“2014.”

“Yes, well, stop trying to make a thirtieth century relationship on an alien planet fit into an Earth time capsule from nearly a thousand years ago.”

Charli offered Vane’s mother a wan smile. “I doubt it’s that simple.”

“My dear, when it pertains to matters of the heart, nothing is ever
simple
. You just have to decide if it’s worth it.”

“There’s not a mark on you. How is that even possible?”

Standing in his kitchen the next morning, Vane shivered when Charlotte traced her fingertips across the unmarred skin on his bare back.  “I’m completely fine,
prya.
”

Her soft lips pressed against his left shoulder blade. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

Beating back his desire, Vane turned and pulled the beauty into his arms to claim her mouth in a slow, easy kiss. “I promise, I’m fully healed.”

Charlotte had held his hand while she’d watched the bright green flames dance inside the wounds. She’d seen the flesh mend itself together right before her eyes, yet she still worried for him. The knowledge warmed and soothed him, chasing away the memories of the pain.

Sweet heavens, he’d never known anything could hurt like a fire whip. The first searing strike to his back had stolen the breath from his lungs, making it impossible for him to scream or even curse. As he’d hung there in the snow, waiting for his final lash, he’d been unable to move, too weak to even hold his head up.

Then the winds had shifted, and he’d heard Charlotte’s quiet, trembling voice. He’d clung to it like a lifeline, drawing strength from her presence, but all the while, hating himself for needing her so much. Fuck, he’d never wanted her to see that.

“Maybe you should take another day off work,” Charlotte said, interrupting his thoughts.

“Why would I do that?”

“Because I’m worried about you,” she admitted.

Touched by her concern, Vane brushed her hair back from her shoulder and bent to nuzzle against the side of her neck. “I’m sorry I frightened you. I would have given anything for you not to have seen that.”

“I know.” Lifting her arms, she draped them around his neck, pulling him closer. “Xavian isn’t very happy with me, but I needed to be there.”

Growling, Vane straightened but kept his hands on her hips to stop her from moving away. “I’m not very happy with Xavian, either.” He’d trusted his friend to keep Charlotte safe, including protecting her from the unpleasantness of his punishment. Not only had Xavian failed him, he’d encroached on Vane’s territory. “He was touching you.”

Charlotte snorted and rolled her eyes. “Are you kidding right now? I think Xavian was a bigger mess than I was. He just hides it better.” Softening her tone, she placed her hand on his chest, just over his heart, and smiled. “You have nothing to worry about, Vane. He wouldn’t do that, and neither would I.”

Some part of Vane knew that. He just didn’t care. “I don’t like him touching you.”

“The next time you go and get yourself whipped bloody, I’ll be sure to remember that.” Charlotte only laughed when he growled at her again. “Oh, stop it. Xavian isn’t even my type.” Pinching the ends of his hair, she tugged gently, pulling him to her lips. “I definitely prefer blonds.”

Vane didn’t know what had changed while he’d been sleeping, but Charlotte had been more openly flirtatious since they’d left his parents’ house. He liked this side of her and hoped he would see it often. Still, he worried her attentiveness stemmed from some sense of misguided guilt.

“I have to go,
prya
,” he mumbled against her lips. “I’ll be back soon.”

“Then I guess I should get you a shirt.” She nipped at his bottom lip before easing out of his arms. “I really wish you’d give it at least another day.”

“Stop fretting. I’ve been through worse.” Technically, he’d died twice before. Somehow, he didn’t think Charlotte would find comfort in the knowledge.

“Fine. Let me go grab your shirt.” She smirked when her gaze traveled down to his bare feet. “And your boots.”

* * * *

Entering the sterile, harshly lit office, Vane found Xavian, Captain Eryx Roth, and Lieutenant Alexander Winn gathered around the commander’s desk.

“Schiva.” The captain greeted him with a nod, his shaved head reflecting the overhead lights. “You good?”

“I’m good.” Vane knew the captain referred to the fire whip, and he also knew neither of them would speak of it again.

“Asshole.” Lieutenant Winn grabbed his hand, squeezing hard enough to bend Vane’s bones. “I hear you went and found yourself a human.”

“Hey, Lex.” With a sharp tug on Lex’s hand, Vane jerked the guy to him and thumped him on the back. “When did you get back?”

Alexander Winn was one big bastard. At least four inches taller than Vane’s own six-feet-four, and so broad in the chest, Lex had to custom order most of his clothes, most people gave the male a wide berth. His hair hung down to the middle of his back, pin-straight and as inky black as the night, while his multi-colored eyes usually scared the hell out of people—one a gleaming red, the other a blue so pale is appeared nearly translucent.

“Yesterday,” Lex answered as he released Vane’s hand and stepped back. “We’re not talking about me, though.” His right eyebrow quirked up. “Tell me about this human.”

Vane had no desire to discuss his personal life, especially when it pertained to Charlotte. Lex had a reputation for being a dangerous, loose-tempered son of a bitch, and for good reason. Vane liked the guy well enough, and he’d go to battle with Lex any day, but that didn’t make them friends.

Thankfully, he was saved the trouble of spelling this out when Commander Schiva entered the office. The hair on the back of Vane’s neck stood on end, and a low growl built in his chest when an Atrean male followed in behind his father.

“Men,” the commander addressed the room, “this is Atrean Dignitary Asa Brax.”

Vane nodded, but didn’t step forward like the others to shake the dignitary’s hand. Tall with lean muscles and skin as flawlessly white as fresh snow, Asa Brax nearly disappeared against the bleached walls of the commander’s office. The light shimmered in his midnight-blue hair, creating an almost luminescent glow as the locks fell in relaxed waves around his face, just brushing the tops of his shoulders.

Turning his head, he pinned Vane with his glowing yellow eyes, and a wide grin stretched his lips to reveal his pointed teeth. “I believe we’ve already met.” The pupils of his eyes narrowed into elongated slits, cat-like but more feral. “Tell me, how is your new mate adjusting to life on Nekron?”

Letting free the growl he’d been choking back, Vane took a menacing step toward the Atrean. Lex’s hand landed on his left shoulder, while Xavian held a firm grip on his right bicep. He remembered Asa from The Plaza, distinctly recalled the way the asshole’s eyes had raked over Charlotte’s body, and the way his lips had curled into an appreciate smile.

At the time, Vane had thought nothing of Asa’s presence. It wasn’t unusual to see members of other races on Nekron. Some had even made the planet their home. He’d wanted to express his displeasure about the way the Atrean leered at his mate, but otherwise, he’d paid little attention to the male.

If he had realized Asa’s status, perhaps he would have been more cautious. At the very least, he would have put more effort into finding out what purpose the Atrean had on Nekron.

“Why are you here?” Vane demanded.

“Schiva,” the commander barked. “Knock your shit off.” Motioning toward the conference table that stretched along the wall on his left, Commander Schiva moved to take his seat at the end. “Sit down,” he ordered when no one moved.

Reluctantly, Vane turned away from the Atrean and stomped over to the table, sliding into the seat adjacent to his father. Xavian dropped into the chair beside him while Lex and Eryx chose to sit opposite them. Once Asa seated himself at the other end of the rectangular table, all eyes turned to the commander. All except Vane, who continued to glare at the Atrean.

“Are we going to have a problem?” his father asked.

Dragging his gaze away from Asa, Vane leaned back in his seat and stared down at the frosted glass tabletop. “No problem, sir.”

“A rebellion is starting on Promena,” Asa said when everyone had settled. “The Morphlings are—”

“Sorry I’m late, sir.” Hurrying across the room with his mossy green uniform billowing around him, Cato pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose and selected a chair near Asa. “My apologies for interrupting. Please, continue.”

Asa blinked at the guy twice and nodded, twirling a golden, hexagonal-shaped ring on his right, middle finger as she spoke. . “As I was saying, the Morphlings are…discontent.”

“Imagine that,” Lex scoffed. “You invade their planet and enslave their race, and they don’t like it. How ungrateful.”

“The Morphlings are not enslaved,” Asa answered with a slight curl of his lip. “They are controlled.”

“Clearly not.” Pushing his chair back from the conference table, Captain Roth swiveled toward the Atrean. “Does this rebellion have anything to do with the Legacy Relics missing from Pandora?” His eyes—one green, one orange—shifted to Cato.

Bobbing his head, the kid pulled a holopod from his pocket and placed it in the middle of the table. “The Jewel of Atrea,” he said as everyone watched the holographic projection screen rotate in the air. “Also, the sword Excalibur.” The image changed from the blood red diamond to a silver sword with a sapphire-encrusted, ornate hilt. “And the Helm of Darkness.” An image of a gold-plated, warrior’s helmet flickered onto the screen.

Vane watched Asa intently, but the Atrean only shook his head.

“I can’t say about the sword or the helm. However, the Atrean High Council currently has possession of the jewel.”

Vane exchanged a look with Xavian, and then glanced at the commander. “The Morphs stole the jewel
for
the Atreans?” If true, that also meant the Atreans had been the ones to send the Morph after Charlotte. Jerking out of his seat, Vane pressed his palms flat against the table top and leaned toward Asa. “If you fucking touch her, you’re going to have bigger problems than a damn Morphling rebellion.”

“Why are you telling us this?” Xavian demanded, shoving Vane back into his seat.

Grinning wide enough to show off his top row of pointed teeth, Asa cast a brief look at Xavian before turning his attention to Vane. “To combat the uprising, the High Council needed a new means to control the Morphling rebels. The pirates, the Morphs with no allegiance, were surprisingly eager to offer their services for the right price.”

“The price being?” Eryx questioned.

“The release of their loved ones from Promena.”

Shifting forward in his seat, Lex propped his elbows up on the table and sneered. “You’re disgusting.”

Vane agreed, but Asa still hadn’t answered Xavian’s question. “Why are you telling us this?” Revealing the Atrean’s playbook wasn’t the smartest strategy.

“While I believe the Morphlings need to be policed,” Asa began, and for once, he didn’t have that infuriating smirk on his lips, “I don’t agree with my government’s methods. The Atreans want Miss Rousseau, Lieutenant, and they’re prepared to go to war to have her.”

“All to keep the Morphlings subservient?” Xavian asked while Vane seethed.

“Not just the Morphlings.” Asa shook his head, his expression solemn. “The Council has the jewel. If they control the Legacy as well, there will be nothing stopping them from expanding their influence across the galaxy.”

“The Legacy,” Vane growled, “meaning Charlotte.”

In the Charlotte’s hands, the jewel could bring either peace or destruction to the galaxy, and potentially stretch to the farther reaches of the universe. With the power of the Atrean Jewel, everyone she met would instantly fall at her feet, following her every whim with blind adoration. Charlotte didn’t have it in here to be malicious or manipulative, but Vane shuddered to think of the methods the Atreans would employ to control her.

“What’s the big deal?” Lex asked, shrugging when everyone turned to glare at him. “Give the girl the fucking diamond and let her use it against the High Council. The Atrean problem is neutralized, and we get the jewel back. Problem solved.”

Commander Schiva cleared his throat and sat a little straighter in his mid-back chair. “Cato, would it work?”

Despite having an Atrean in the room, Vane suspected the chronicler knew more about the Legacy Relics than the rest of them combined.

Taking his glasses off, Cato cleaned the lenses with the hem of his shirt, his brow creased as if deeply involved in the task. Then he slid the frames back on his face and nodded slowly. “It could. The Atreans aren’t as susceptible to the magic of the jewel, but they aren’t entirely immune, either.”

“No.” Vane bit out the word while his hands clenched on top of his thighs. “We’re not using her.” If the plan had even a microscopic chance of failure, he wouldn’t risk it. “Find another way.”

“You haven’t told her,” Asa accused. “She has no idea who she is.”

“No, she doesn’t, and for now, that’s the way it’s going to stay.”

“She deserves to know,” Captain Roth interrupted. “You can’t keep her in the dark forever.”

“She’s still adjusting to life on Nekron. I’m not hiding anything from her.” Defensiveness saturated his tone. Part of him had worried if he’d revealed the truth, it would sway Charlotte’s choice of whether or not to bond with him. He wouldn’t blame her for choosing the life of a princess over being mated to a soldier, but he’d fight to make sure that never happened. “I was just waiting until it became relevant.”