Undaunted (Battle Born Book 6) (15 page)

As he walked along the arrival concourse on his way to the outpost’s main entrance, he returned greetings and silent nods from his men. Still, his mind was far away from the busy spaceport. He quickly prioritized the tasks awaiting him, but Berlynn’s image hovered in the back of his mind. He’d promised to back off, give her time to process all the changes. But coming face-to-face with her father’s killer had to have upset her. His protective instincts demanded that he check in and ensure that she was all right.

His gaze traveled upward as he entered the commerce tiers. He was amazed at how much his men had accomplished in a few short weeks. Not only had they refurbished many systems on the outpost, they’d cleaned and maintenanced nearly every sector, making Lunar Nine habitable again. Now merchants had begun filling up the shops and stalls lining the commerce tiers. Soon restaurants, clubs, and a wide variety of vendors would offer their wares and services to the battle born.

Lunar Nine would need to be more than a place where ships could stop in for repairs and supplies they were unable to produce themselves. It needed to provide entertainment and an opportunity for the space-weary crews to find a few hours of normalcy. If every battle born male was allowed the opportunity to pass through the transformation program, they would be at this for years, perhaps decades. Which meant Garin’s planning had to be long-term.

Eventually, he’d like to allow shore leave on Earth. But until he was sure of human loyalties, it was safer to minimize their interaction with his men. Human behavior so far had only reinforced his concerns and he suspected hostilities would get worse before they got better. No society that he’d encountered would give up their females without a fight. Even if those females were willing, even eager, to participate.

He passed through a security portal and entered the residential section of the outpost. Three of the ten villages were now ready for inhabitants. However, Village One was the only building currently occupied. Like the rest of the outpost, the large apartment building was utilitarian and drab. The gray composite used for the exterior provided little contrast to the cavern’s roughhewn walls.

Would having access to their magic keep the battle born content in such a dreary place? Discontent and boredom had caused the rebellion that resulted in Lunar Nine being decommissioned forty years ago. But the battle born wouldn’t just have access to their magic. They’d have access to their mates. He smiled and let his concerns slip to the back of his mind. If his men grew restless, he’d find a new location better suited to their needs. But such concerns were so far off, he couldn’t afford to be distracted by such things.

Kollins and Sayor stood guard outside Berlynn’s door. They snapped to attention as he approached. “Has there been any trouble?”

“There was a quick argument with the male in that apartment,” Kollins pointed toward Ulrik’s door with his pulse rifle. “We contained his aggression and no harm was done.”

Garin had thought Ulrik would be less trouble if he was isolated on the moon. Now Garin wasn’t so sure. Nothing here seemed to calm his angry outbursts. If Ulrik were one of his commanders, Garin would have demoted him long ago. However, Ulrik belonged to Tandori Tribe not the battle born. If his tribe was willing to put up with his outbursts, it was none of Garin’s business. Still, he would not allow Ulrik to disrupt operations on Lunar Nine.

Moving in front of Ulrik’s door, Garin waited for the computer to announce him.

After a needlessly long pause, Ulrik opened the door but blocked the opening, making it obvious Garin was not welcome inside.

“The
Harvest
is heading to Earth for supplies in the morning,” Garin informed Berlynn’s surly uncle. “She leaves at six sharp. You will be aboard.”

“Gladly.” Ulrik took a step back and the door slid shut in Garin’s face.

Rather than being offended by the insult, Garin smiled. As of six tomorrow morning, Ulrik was no longer his responsibility.

He turned around and shook his head. “He’s the friendly sort.”

“We noticed.” Kollins returned his smile while Sayor stared off into the distance.

“You two should go get some rack time. We’re going to have visitors in the morning. You’ll want to be there.”

“Yes, sir,” the two chorused, then headed off down the corridor.

Garin took a deep breath then stepped in front of Berlynn’s door. His heart thudded wildly in his chest and his entire body seemed to flush as he waited for her to respond to the computer’s greeting.

“General Nox to see you, Ambassador.”

Berlynn’s heart flipped over in her chest as she heard the computer’s words. Garin had promised to give her tonight, to let her relax and unwind. But seeing Milanni, and then arguing with Ulrik, had left her upset and restless. She needed a shoulder to cry on, someone who’d listen without judging her. But Garin wasn’t here to comfort her. He was here to seduce her.

Damning herself for a fool, she tossed back the covers and snatched a pair of jeans out of the closet. She wore an oversized T-shirt with a female werewolf featured on the front. After tugging on the jeans, she hurried across the bedroom and said, “Access approved,” as she crossed the outer room.

The door parted, Garin stepped inside, and then the door slid closed behind him. “I’m not planning to stay,” he assured her. “I just wanted to make sure you were all right.”

“I’m glad you—” Emotion burned in her throat and tears swam before her eyes. She blinked repeatedly, determined to keep herself from blubbering like a child.

“Oh, B.” He quickly closed the distance between them. “Don’t fight it. You’ve earned a few tears today.”

Then his arms were around her and her face pressed into the warmth of his chest. She wound her arms around his waist and let the tears flow. “Ulrik is such an ass,” she said after the worst of her tears had passed. “I’ve never wanted to punch someone more than I did him tonight.”

Garin eased her back so he could see her face. “He’s leaving tomorrow morning.”

“You exiled him?”

The question made him smile. “In a way. There’s a supply ship headed to Earth and I told him to be on it. I’ll make sure he’s aboard before the ship takes off.”

“Thank you.” She moved her hands to his chest and his shifted to her hips. “I know he’s in pain, but I’m so tired of dealing with him.”

Speculation narrowed his gaze as he asked, “Why do the other tribal leaders put up with him?”

“Only full-blood Tandoris can fuel the sacred bonding grounds and there aren’t that many left. Besides, he’s not usually this bad. I think he’ll settle down once things return to normal.”

Without warning he swept her up in his arms and headed toward the bedroom.

“Garin, I—”

He gently shushed her with his lips. “You clearly don’t want to be alone and the only hope I have of sleeping is if you’re in my arms.”

“You promise we’ll just sleep?”

After another tender kiss, he whispered, “I promise.”

He set her down on the edge of the bed then paused. “Did you eat anything this evening?”

His concern warmed her even more than the desire in his gaze. She couldn’t remember the last time anyone worried about whether or not she’d eaten. Her mother had died when she was a child and though she and her father spent the majority of their time together, Vinton had never been very nurturing. “I had a salad.”

“A salad is not a meal.”

He sounded almost affronted and she smiled. “It had chicken and cheese as well as the veggies. I’m really not hungry.”

“All right. We’ll postpone this conversation until the morning, but I’ve noticed how little you eat.”

He tugged off his boots then pulled his shirt off over his head. She watched the muscles in his chest and upper arms ripple and found it hard to breathe. “Illumination ten percent.” She waited until the lights responded before she took off her jeans.

Garin chuckled. “I’ve already seen you naked.”

“That was for my benefit not yours.”

They crawled into bed and he pulled her into his arms before he asked, “Why are you uncomfortable with my body?”

She grinned, knowing he couldn’t really see her. “I’m not uncomfortable, at least not in the way you mean. I’m…”

“Aroused,” he supplied in a sexy whisper.

“And then some.” His lips found hers, but she only allowed the kiss for a moment before she turned her head. “I mean it, Garin. If you’re not here to sleep, then move to the couch.”

Another chuckle rumbled through his chest as he slipped his arm under her neck and pulled her close against his side. “These apartments have loveseats not couches, but I understand your point.”

They snuggled for a while, Berlynn’s head pillowed on his shoulder. She closed her eyes and tried to relax, but unanswered questions spiraled endlessly through her mind.

“You’re still really tense.” He ran his hand down her arm and onto her hip. “I’m not going to pounce on you, love. I promised to behave and I take promises seriously.”

“I trust you to keep your word. That’s not why I’m tense.”

“Then what’s bothering you?”

“I can’t help wondering how Earth will react once we go public. Humans tend to lash out at things they don’t understand.”

He piled pillows against the headboard then sat up and scooted back. “Come here.” He held out his arms, but didn’t wait for her to reposition. He just pulled her up and over until she rested against his chest, her lower body snuggled between his legs. “We aren’t here to conquer Earth. I’ll make sure they understand that.”

“Easier said than done.” She stroked his chest, savoring the feel of his strong body beneath her hand. “I know humans better than you do.”

“I thought full-blood Tandoris were kept in seclusion for their own protection.”

She shifted against him, tilting her head until she could see his face. Her eyes had adjusted to the dimness, but his features were still mostly lost in shadow. “Who told you that?”

“I did some research after our first meeting,” he admitted. “I wanted to know more about you.”

Pushing up with her arm, she sat, breaking contact with his upper body. “Illumination fifty percent.” The light intensified, allowing her to see his rugged features. He watched her closely, but as usual, his expression gave nothing away. “You investigated me? Like I was a target or an enemy?”

“Hardly.” A smile slowly rolled across his lips, revealing just a hint of even white teeth. “More like how humans use social media to find out what someone is really like before they agree to meet in person.”

He was right. She’d been guilty of a little cyber-stalking from time to time. Unfortunately, he wasn’t on social media. “What did you find out?”

“You’re an only child, as was your mother, which made me wonder if the genetic anomaly that allows you to shift will also make it hard for you to conceive.”

His first concern had been her fertility? She shouldn’t have been surprised. He was elite, with an old name and large estate. His estate would need to be returned to him by whoever replaced Quinton, but that didn’t change his basic perspective. He wanted healthy children.

When she said nothing, he continued his explanation. “Your mother passed beyond when you were six, so it’s been you and your father alone in his mountain cabin ever since.”

“You make us sound like hermits.”

“How much interaction did you have with anyone outside your tribe?” A hint of challenge rippled through his tone.

“Most of my close friends are blood relations, but I do have human friends. Dad’s cabin is less than an hour from Boulder. It’s not like he lives—or lived—in the wilderness.” A fresh rush of sadness drew her gaze away from Garin’s face. She didn’t want to think about her father right now. She’d allowed Garin in to distract her from such thoughts. “Tell me about your brothers. I know you’re close now, but did you get along as children?”

He raised one of his hands to her face, caressing her cheek before gently raising her chin. Their gazes met again and his thumb stroked over her jaw. “I didn’t mean to upset you. That’s the last thing I want.”

“Then tell me about your past. I don’t want to think about mine.”

“My father was a hard man. At times he could be quite cruel. His outbursts drew me and my brothers together. In our early years, it was us against him.”

She shifted her legs around and arched them over one of his thighs, so she could more comfortably face him. “When did he claim his first war bride?”

Garin glanced away and his lips thinned. For a moment she didn’t think he’d answer. Then he released a deep sigh and looked at her again. “My father claimed three different war brides. One never conceived, so he released her. The next was Bandar’s mother. The last Zilor’s. Bandar and Zilor don’t even know about the first. I saw no reason to tell them.”

Curiosity spread through her like wildfire. She’d been taught about the shameful practice of capturing war brides, but Garin was the first person she’d ever spoken with who had firsthand knowledge of the tradition. “I understand what it means and how the warriors justified the tradition, but I’ve never understood how it actually worked. Were most war brides kept on the warrior’s ship or… Did you ever meet Bandar’s or Zilor’s mother?”

“Most of the captives were kept on the ship until their pregnancy was confirmed. Then their situation depended on the resources of their captor.” He sighed and paused to rub his eyes. “If you really want to understand my past, I’d rather show you.” She started to reply, but he raised his hand, halting her response. “I’ll warn you, much of it is unpleasant.”

“I want to understand.” She reached over and slipped her hand into his. “I need this.”

He gathered her into his arms again, but only her shoulder and hip pressed against him now, allowing her to think more clearly.

“Close your eyes and open your mind. I’m going to establish a memory link.”

She’d shared memories before, so she knew what to expect. Still, the strength of his personality blazed into her mind, momentarily scattering her thoughts and filling her with the need to struggle. Garin slowed his penetration, spreading his tingling warmth with fierce control.

I won’t hurt you, love. I’ll never harm you.

Little by little she relaxed into the meld and took his energy deeper into her mind.
I’m all right now. You just startled me.

I frightened you and that was not my intention.
His hand swept up and down her arm, reinforcing the apology.

I’m out of practice. It wasn’t your fault.

The tingling intensified for a moment as he secured the link. Then awareness expanded and her mind registered his emotions as well as hers. She felt his hunger, but the need was much more complex than physical lust. He longed for his mate, the other half of his soul, the female who would fulfil and complete him. The desires were so staggering that it took her a moment to realize she had inspired them.

I’ll guide you until you feel comfortable enough to control the memory stream yourself.

His patient offer refocused her mind on the exchange he’d offered. She wanted to know him better and this was much more efficient than endless hours of superficial conversation.
I’m ready.

The transfer began slowly. Images flowed smoothly into her mind. She saw a dark-haired man and a lovely woman sitting on a blanket at the edge of a lake. A happy toddler climbed over and rolled around them, chattering away in a language known only to him.

Is the child you?

Yes. This scene is on a vidloop my mother created. I don’t actually remember the event.

You were adorable. Your father’s name was Harton, wasn’t it? What’s her name?

Yes, and my mother was Karli.
Even in her mind the name sounded hushed and reverent.
She was my father’s morautu, his chosen mate. She agreed to bond with him on one condition, that he retire from the military.

And he agreed? Wasn’t he a lifelong soldier?

He was, but he loved my mother as he loved no one else. Not even me.
Bitterness threaded through his sadness, making the admission even more poignant.

She wrapped her arm around his back, pressing more snugly into his warm body. Men seldom spoke about their emotions, so she moved on.
What happened to her?

Three weeks after the vid was recorded, Father found her in their bed. The doctors said there was no evidence of foul play, but they couldn’t explain her death. There were no chemicals in her system, no diseases or pathogens. She was just dead.

That’s horrible
. She shuddered against him.
I’m so sorry.

Shortly after her memorial service, Father returned to the only life he’d ever known, war.

She opened her eyes and tried to look at him, but he was staring off into the distance. “You were little more than a baby. What happened to you?”

Without looking at her, he explained, “He hired staff to meet my every need, until I was old enough to enroll in boarding school. They were kind, even loving, but they were not my father.”

A steady stream of images flowed through her mind, revealing the regimented, well-ordered routine his life became. The memory stream slowed and a scene expanded. Garin was six or seven and he stood in a hallway, peering into a room through a slightly open door. A woman stood in the middle of the room, a baby cradled in her arms. Thick auburn hair flowed down her back and golden phitons shimmered in her dark eyes.

“I don’t understand,” the woman said as she rocked the baby. “I’ve done everything you asked of me.”