Undaunted (Battle Born Book 6) (13 page)

“Didn’t Garin leave you at the Bunker while he checked in up here?”

Berlynn shook her head. “I was at Stargazer Ranch with Rachel.”

“That’s strange.” Haven set her empty mug down and turned toward Berlynn. “Why did Garin tell us you were at the Bunker? And why were you at Stargazer Ranch?”

Maybe he didn’t want anyone to know about his proposal to Rachel until she made up her mind? Negotiations with the taskforce had been failing at the time. Perhaps he didn’t want to admit to another alliance that didn’t work out—if it didn’t work out. Rachel had basically agreed to the proposal when Berlynn pushed her on it. Men could be so weird.

“Apparently, Garin doesn’t want anyone to know about it yet, but family doesn’t count. Right?”

Haven grinned. “Of course not. But what doesn’t he want us to know about?”

Feeling a wee bit naughty for sharing his secrets, Berlynn indulged in the harmless rebellion. “Garin approached Rachel with a proposal that the battle born sublet Stargazer Ranch whenever there isn’t a camp in session.”

“What would the battle born do with Stargazer Ranch?”

Berlynn shrugged. “Basically the same thing Tandori Tribe does. Female volunteers would be taken there for an in-depth orientation before they’re allowed near Lunar Nine.”

“That actually makes sense. There might be a lot of humans that volunteer just so they can visit the moon. The vast majority of humans have never left the planet.”

“Forget the planet, most humans have never left the country of their birth,” Berlynn amended. “The battle born are going to have to be very sure the female volunteers are serious about participating in the program and all that entails.”

“First and foremost, they’ll have to find out if each female is compatible with any of the soldiers. If they aren’t compatible with at least one, there’s no reason for her to go any farther than Stargazer Ranch.”

“If Rachel agrees to the arrangement,” Berlynn stressed. “And you can’t mention any of this to anyone. Obviously, Garin isn’t ready to explain his plan.”

Haven was silent for a moment, her expression tense and slightly troubled. “I can’t help feeling like some of the men are losing sight of the bigger picture.”

“Really?” Berlynn wasn’t sure why the comment irritated her, but she felt compelled to defend her potential mate. “Garin is coordinating events on two planets and his actions will likely change the power structure of Rodymia forever. I’m not sure how the picture could get any bigger.”

“I didn’t just mean Garin. Many of the officers seem completely focused on the war,” Haven pointed out.

Now Berlynn was completely confused. “What should they be focused on? Everything hinges on the outcome of the war.”

“I know that, but they can’t lose sight of
why
they’re fighting or they’re no better than Quinton.”

A surge of anger pushed Berlynn to her feet. “That’s insulting.” She pivoted until she faced her aunt, not wanting to fight, yet unable to remain silent. “Every rebel is risking his life so he can one day experience the freedoms we take for granted. No one has lost sight of the why.”

“I didn’t mean to upset you.” Haven sighed. “You asked me if the war bothers me and obviously it does. I’ve always been horrified by war, but I understand that, at times, there’s no other way to bring about change.” She reached over and took Berlynn’s hand, her gaze warm and compassionate. “Everything is escalating. They’re moving toward the final conflict. It has never been so important for them to reinforce the reasons for the fight.”

“I agree.” She started to say more, but someone pounded on the door, not waiting for the computer to announce them.

“Ulrik Tandori to see you,” the computer said as their impatient visitor pounded again.

Haven laughed and let go of Berlynn’s hand. “For a second there, I thought it was Garin coming to punish you for telling tales.”

“I’d much rather deal with Garin than Uncle Ulrik.” Berlynn sighed. “Access approved.”

The door parted and Ulrik rushed into the room, face florid, eyes wild. “She’s here. That bitch is on the
Intrepid
right now.”

Haven turned nearly backward on the loveseat so she could look at her brother. “Who are you talking about?”

“Milanni.” He snarled out the name, each syllable filled with rancor. “The creature that killed Vinton is on one of their ships.”

Berlynn’s heart missed a beat. She’d spent the first week after her father’s death imagining violent confrontations with Milanni. Sometimes she killed the spy, but more often she just injured her badly and left her to suffer alone. The loss was so acute, so painful, that any outlet had been welcome. But the anger gradually faded as the weeks slid by. Now she just felt sad and empty.

She stood and turned around, facing her irate uncle. “What do you want to do about it?”

“I want her to pay,” he shouted. “What’s wrong with you? She killed your father. I thought you would lead the charge.”

“It was an accident.” Berlynn crossed her arms over her chest, her throat so tight she could barely speak. “I told you that over and over. It was a horrible accident.”

Haven stood as well, then moved to Berlynn’s side. “Why is Milanni on the
Intrepid
? That’s a hospital ship.”

“I couldn’t care less. I’ll demand that she be turned over to Tandori Tribe. It’s the only way justice will be served.”

“You don’t want justice,” Haven objected. “You want revenge.”

Ulrik just glared at them as his face grew even redder. “You’re both useless,” he sneered. “I’ll take care of this myself.”

As Ulrik stormed out of the room, Berlynn rushed to the communications center and asked for a person-to-person link. “Berlynn Tandori seeking General Nox.” Her heart thundered in her chest as she waited for him to respond.

“Berlynn. What can I do for you?” His deep voice caressed her, sending a tingle down her spine.

“Ulrik found out about Milanni. He’s on his way to the
Intrepid
with fire in his eyes.”

“Shit,” Garin muttered. “I’m on my way.”

“I need to see her, maybe talk to her.”

“I’ll send someone to escort you. Do not leave until they arrive.”

She heaved a frustrated sigh. There was a fine line between protectiveness and control. “They better hurry. I’m not in the mood to wait.”

Berlynn clasped her hands in her lap, intertwining her fingers to hide their trembling. Haven sat beside her in the control booth of the
Intrepid
as they watched Milanni’s interrogation on a large vidscreen. “I want to hate her so badly, but I feel sorry for her.”

Haven nodded, but didn’t shift her focus from the tense scene on the monitor.

Garin had commed the
Intrepid’s
commander, warning that Ulrik was on his way and determined to cause trouble. So Ulrik only got as far as the docking platform before he was escorted back to his apartment and ordered to stay there. Garin had reached the hospital ship by the time Berlynn and Haven arrived. Even though Kaden Lux stood beside Garin, the general swept Berlynn into his arms and gave her a reassuring hug. She appreciated his thoughtfulness, but was almost too anxious to enjoy the embrace.

Both Garin and Commander Lux volleyed questions at Milanni as the session began. However, it wasn’t long before the continual pressure made Milanni shut down. A few minutes later, Kaden left the interrogation room and joined Haven and Berlynn in the control booth, obviously realizing they needed a different strategy.

Like all the battle born, Kaden Lux was tall and brawny. His dark hair was surprisingly long, and beard stubble shadowed his strong jawline. Most of the soldiers continued to adhere to military standards even though they were outlaws. Apparently, Kaden was an exception.

Milanni wasn’t any more cooperative with Garin than she’d been with both men, so Berlynn turned and looked at Kaden. “How did she end up on your ship?”

“According to her, she’d been a prisoner on the
Relentless
. When she grew tired of the continual abuse, she escaped and took a fellow prisoner with her.”

Berlynn glanced at Milanni’s image. Her face and throat were bruised, as were her wrists. “Has she been examined by one of your doctors?”

Kaden nodded. “Her injuries correspond with her story. The human female is in even worse shape than Milanni.”

“If Milanni was truly a prisoner,” Haven asked. “How did she manage to escape?”

“Again, this is all according to her, but she came aboard the
Relentless
while Akim Farmon was commander. He ensured her safety to begin with, but when he was captured by the battle born and his second-in-command took over the ship everything changed. The ship she’d arrived on was still aboard the
Relentless
and it was tuned to her DNA. That’s how she escaped.”

Berlynn was sure there was much more to the story, but she honestly didn’t care. “Why the
Intrepid
? Any Rodyte ship has medical facilities.”

“That’s the part that worries us,” Kaden admitted. “She claims that her friend needed regeneration and the
Intrepid
was the only ship she knew for certain would have a regeneration unit.”

“Did her friend require regeneration?”

He nodded, his purple-ringed gaze returning to the vidscreen. “Everything she said checks out, but I still don’t trust her.”

Berlynn turned back around, ambivalent and confused. It would be so much easier if Milanni were a coldblooded killer, but she wasn’t. She was desperate and alone, doing everything in her power just to stay alive.

“Is inadvertently causing my father’s death her only crime?”

Kaden moved forward, stepping back into her line of sight. “Are you saying your father’s death was accidental?”

“That’s what I’ve said from the beginning, but no one will listen to me. My father attacked her. All Milanni did was defend herself.” The weight pressing down on her increased with each word she uttered. Her father was dead because of this woman. How could Berlynn defend her?

It had been an accident. How could she not?

Kaden’s gaze searched hers for several seconds before he asked, “You were actually there when it happened? You saw everything firsthand?”

“I did.”

“Are you willing to enter a statement to that effect into the official record?”

She looked at Haven, but her aunt offered neither argument nor encouragement. If she did this, it would enrage Ulrik. He was determined to have his pound of flesh. But it was the right thing to do. Milanni was not a murderer.

Berlynn took a deep breath and met Kaden’s gaze. “I’ll make a statement. It wasn’t her fault.”

Kaden accepted her decision with a nod and left the room.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” Haven scooted to the edge of her seat as she reached for Berlynn’s hand. “Ulrik isn’t the only one who will see this as a betrayal.”

“Do you?” Berlynn’s tone was sharper than she’d intended, but conflicting emotions were twisting her into knots. Was it disloyal to exonerate her father’s killer? Was anything really gained by ruining Milanni’s life?

“No,” Haven stressed. “I understand how hard this is for you and I agree that you need to be honest.”

The door to the control booth parted and Garin stood in the opening. “Let’s talk.” He motioned Berlynn toward him with the curve of his index finger.

The tension in her stomach drew tighter. Was he angry with her too? She eased her hand out of Haven’s light grasp and joined Garin in the corridor. She didn’t know if the hallways were under surveillance or not, but they appeared to be alone.

“Kaden told me you want to make a statement regarding Milanni’s guilt.” His tone was careful, his expression unreadable.

“Is that a problem?” Her legs felt wobbly, so she leaned back against the wall. Now that she’d seen Milanni again, realized the specter from her dreams was really a pathetic victim of life’s cruelty, she wanted to return to her apartment and have a good cry. Then she’d get on with the rest of her life.

He moved closer and placed one of his hands against the wall near her head. “Tell me why you want to defend her.”

“It’s not a matter of defense,” she insisted. “I saw what happened. Milanni didn’t intentionally kill my father. She reacted to his attack and Dad stumbled. It was an accident.”

“All right. I just wanted to make sure you didn’t feel pressured in some way.” He ran his knuckles along her jaw, the simple touch remarkably tender. “The blowback from your tribe is sure to be intense. Are you ready for that?”

“I don’t have a choice.” She straightened her shoulders and looked into his eyes. “Punishing Milanni won’t bring Dad back.”

He bent down and brushed her lips with his, communicating kindness and concern. “I can’t release her right now, but soon. She has information that could help us locate the
Relentless
.”

“You’ve already got so much on your plate.” Unable to suppress the impulse, she reached out and touched his chest. “Is it your responsibility to chase down every criminal in the universe?”

His lips curved into a faint smile and warmth filled his gaze. Her concern obviously pleased him. “I’m not trying to police the universe. Those bastards still have human captives, which makes it my responsibility.”

Dread dropped into her stomach like a rock. This was the first she’d heard of more captives. “Are they hostages or worse?”

He hesitated, clearly wanting to shield her from the evil. “They’re female. Need I say more?”

She shook her head. “I’ve seen Milanni and heard about Chandar. I can imagine the rest.”

His hands framed her face and he leaned down to kiss her. She expected a deep, commanding claim, like the one he’d delivered on the
Phantom
. Instead, his lips caressed hers, comforting in a way that surprised and pleased her.

When he finally released her, he didn’t go far. His hands moved to her waist and he pulled her up against him. “It will be more professional if you submit the statement to Kaden.”

“Do I have to do it now?” She snuggled against his warm chest, surrendering to the strength in his embrace. “I’m exhausted.”

“Record it whenever you like. Make sure it’s audio and visual, then send it to the attention of Commander Lux aboard the
Intrepid
. If you’d rather wait until I’m free, I’ll help you record it. But we can’t release her without your statement.”

“I understand.” With a sigh, she stepped back and he reluctantly let go.

“Can I see you tonight?”

Sweet temptation made her hesitate, but her emotions were too raw, her thoughts too conflicted. She needed some time alone, just to reflect and unwind. “I really am exhausted.”

He looked as if he’d object, then he inclined his head, accepting her decision. “I’ll see you tomorrow. Rest well.”

When Berlynn returned to the control booth Haven asked if she was ready to go. “Absolutely. I want to curl up in bed with a datapad and pretend the rest of the world doesn’t exist.”

They walked quickly from the
Intrepid
and headed back into the outpost’s main building. The multilevel structure hugged the interior wall of the cave, creating a horseshoe-shaped complex. There seemed to be more ships every day, which was one of the reasons Garin was so anxious to launch the transformation program. Releasing the latent magic inside the battle born was simply the beginning. Each soldier would have to be trained, taught how to control his new abilities.

“Is Garin going to release her?” Haven asked as they reached the commerce tiers. Visitors had to pass through the retail district to reach the residential areas, much like theme parks forced visitors to exit attractions through the gift shops.

“If I give him my statement, he’ll have no choice.” She looked at her aunt without slowing down. “What would you do?”

“I’d tell the truth, regardless of how angry it made my brother. Ulrik needs someone to rail against and Milanni is a convenient target. Once he’s vented his temper, he’ll see reason.”

People processed grief in different ways and it had been obvious from the start that Ulrik’s pain manifested as anger. She just hoped it wouldn’t take too much longer for his temper to be vented.

“I wish there was more we could do to help him.” Berlynn had tried to be patient and understanding even when Ulrik was at his most unreasonable. Still, it was hard to defuse someone when her own emotions were so unpredictable.

“He needs to return to Earth and get back to work. All this time to brood is counterproductive to his recovery.”

“I’ll mention it to Garin.” Berlynn hadn’t really thought about it, but locking Ulrik away with his thoughts likely added to his volatility.

“Are they following you or me?” Haven nodded toward the guards who had been shadowing them since they left the
Intrepid
.

“You’re safely mated. They’re following me.” Berlynn shook her head at the ridiculous rule. “Garin didn’t seem to mind my roaming around unescorted before he realized we were compatible.”

Haven chuckled. “Get used to it, hon. Rodyte males are very protective of their mates, even their potential mates.”

They stepped through an automated security archway then reached an intersection just inside the residential area of the outpost. The main walk path branched off to the right, leading to the villages, while an express tunnel on the left led to the Pavilion.

“Do you have plans for tomorrow?” Haven asked as they paused near the entrance to the tunnel.

“Not really. I presume Garin will want some time with me, but we haven’t actually scheduled anything yet.”

Haven’s eyes narrowed. “You make it sound like an obligation. Don’t you enjoy spending time with Gener—Garin. I guess if he’s courting my niece, I can call him Garin.”

“Enjoying ourselves is not the problem. The more time I spend with him, the more time I want to spend with him.”

“And why is that a problem?”

With a heavy sigh, Berlynn shook her head. “I’m not ready for all of this. Life on Earth was steady and routine. I knew how things worked and what to expect. This is…exhausting.”

“Do you love him?” Haven’s expression was calm, nonjudgmental.

Berlynn hesitated. Haven had just embraced this madness without a backward glance. How could she be objective about the subject? “If I’m not careful, I’ll end up in love with him. He’s surprisingly hard to resist.”

“Why do you want to resist him?”

The question surprised Berlynn. Not so much because Haven thought to ask it, but because Berlynn couldn’t think of an answer. Why
was
she so determined to resist Garin? He was strong and ambitious, well-respected and engaging. Every time they touched it felt as if the universe caught fire. And yet their moments of intimacy, when he just held her hand or gazed into her eyes, were just as consuming.

After a tense moment, Berlynn admitted, “I don’t know.”

Haven chuckled and wrapped her arm around Berlynn’s shoulders for a semi-maternal hug. “Can you trust him with your heart? I think that’s the question you need to answer.” She kissed Berlynn on the cheek. “I’ll com you tomorrow. Try to get some sleep.” Then she headed off down the express tunnel, leaving Berlynn alone with her protective shadows.

She glanced over her shoulder and smiled at the soldiers loitering on the walk path several steps behind her. One quickly averted his gaze, while the other returned her smile. “Are you allowed to speak with me?” She’d been injected with a translator nanites when she first arrived at Lunar Nine, so she was relatively sure the guards could understand her.