Warrior Rogue (The Drift Lords Series) (30 page)

“Let’s go into the galley to debrief.” He spoke in a harsh tone, but her actions warranted it. She’d just dropped a canvas sail on a boatload of men. What if someday she hurt innocents by mistake?

Allowing her to precede him down the companionway, he gritted his teeth. If only he could resist her allure, it would keep him focused on his job. He couldn’t deny the effect she had on him, though, and that’s where he failed.

****

Jen leaned back in her chair after finishing a breakfast of sardines and rice. They’d stopped in their cabins to rinse off the saltwater and change into a set of dry clothes. Now she faced Paz across the salon table—dismayed by his silence.

She didn’t understand how he’d gone from the sensitive lover of last night to this taciturn man whose suspicious glare made her feel guilty. Where was her teasing, affectionate warrior? Had she turned him off with her act on deck, or had it started earlier in their cabin?

She’d sensed his withdrawal this morning and wondered if he’d regretted their lovemaking. Perhaps it complicated his mission. Or maybe he just didn’t want to get involved any further with a woman who would hinder his carefree lifestyle.

He’d confessed to casual flings in the outposts he visited. Did a fear of commitment keep him from intimacy, or were other issues at stake?

“We need a plan for when we reach shore,” she said to break the ice. Her stomach knotted, and it wasn’t from the ship’s movement. She wanted to earn back his regard.

“You’re damn right, but first tell me what happened up on deck.” His eyes blazed as he surveyed her.

She shrugged. “Remember the incident at General Morar’s fortress?”

“You mean where you strangled Leytnant Bosk with his own sash?”

She gripped her hands together so tightly her knuckles whitened. “I-I didn’t actually strangle him. It just sort of happened.”

“Right, just like Nira thought about how she’d like to get a Trollek’s paws off her, and the next minute, he's dead?” He leaned forward, his lips thinned. “If you possess a similar power, you have to learn how to control it.”

“I know that, and I’m trying to understand. Look, maybe my interest in fashion design is part of my legacy. What if our powers involve manipulating molecules at a very basic level? It could be related to Odin’s shapeshifting ability but in a different way. Like, I can twist fabrics to do what I want.”

He nodded slowly. “And your visions?”

“Part of the whole. When I stood on the deck, I saw myself on a Viking ship. We were defending against attackers. Those visions, while a link to the past, must serve some purpose in the present.”

“Perhaps. I’d suggest you curb your gift until you learn more about it. You can tell Nira about the visions, too, when you meet her.” His face relaxed. “So where do we go from here?”

Her gaze slid over his powerful shoulders.
Back to bed?
She wanted to feel his arms around her again, to relish his comforting embrace.

Bad girl! Focus on the mission at hand.

“Let’s suppose you’re able to reach your team. What then?”

He hunched forward. “We destroy the rift generators and seal the rifts.” They’d exchanged information on what each of them had discovered so far, Paz during his last trip to Togura Island, and Jen at the ride in Manga World. “Once we’ve shut down their gateways, we’ll deal with the Trolleks remaining on Earth.”

“What about the people under their mind control?”

“We’re hoping Nira’s blood will provide an antidote. She’s able to nullify the spell in humans, but we don’t know how. We have to be careful; since the federal authorities are involved, the tentacles of the invasion must reach far and wide.”

Concern creased her brow. “So what’s your next move?”

“Zohar should have been able to identify the portals with the jamming signal gone. That’ll pinpoint our targets. I have data about the generators keeping the inter-dimensional gates open. We need to devise a means to take them out.”

She tilted her head. “This all seems very factual. What about the prophecy?”

“I’m hoping Nira has had some success in locating your other so-called sisters.”

“While your team is shutting down the rifts, what are we supposed to do? Follow up on a vague prediction about a coming cataclysm and locate the mythical rune to prevent it?”

“That’s right.”

“Do you know how absurd that sounds?”

He jabbed his finger for emphasis. “We’re on a magic ship that unfolded from your pocket. We met a dwarf who turned a nail into gold, a serpent who swallowed us then spit us out, and a dog who changed into a man. Oh, not to mention a dragon who’s afraid of water. What would you call those?”

Jen grinned, grateful they were on the same page again. “I guess my life has been unbelievable ever since I met you.”

“I’m sorry about that.”

“Why?”

“Because it was my presence that activated your power and put the Trolleks on your trail.”

They locked gazes, studying each other’s faces. Jen’s glance dropped to his mouth, perfectly contoured for kissing. She reached across the table and grasped his hand. “I wouldn’t trade knowing you for anything, Paz.”

A responsive gleam entered his eyes but it was quickly replaced by firm determination. He slid his hand free and leaned back, folding his arms across his chest. “What do you plan to do once we reach shore?”

“Go home, get into some decent clothes, and do my nails. They’re a mess.” She examined her fingertips with a grimace. “Then I’ll check my mail, call friends, and pay bills.”

It sounded so odd to talk of mundane chores. Would her life ever be the same again? Did she want it to be?

She lightened her tone. “You can contact your team from my apartment. Then I’ll take you over to the showroom. I’ll introduce you as my latest male model. It’s a good cover for you.”

Her staff would fall all over him, especially when they learned he was straight. She’d have to stake her claim right away.

“I don’t want to stay long in New York.”

“I know.” Oh, but she was dying to have him try on her outfits. If he played along, she would design some fabulous jackets to fit his physique. And to see him strut down the runway, well, she wouldn’t be the only one panting at the prospect.

“General Morar may pick up our trail again,” Paz reminded her, “especially if your timepiece acts as a locator beacon. You need to consult Nira on how to block the signal.”

Jen took a drink of orange juice. They’d found some nonperishable packs among the food stores. “I need to talk to Nira about Algie’s experiments, among other things.”

Paz drummed his fingers on the table. “We know the Trollek scientist is injecting humans with Trollek DNA to find a stable recombinant strand. What if she gets to the point where her test subjects survive?”

“Then I suppose the Trollek DNA would replicate inside those people. She has a sample of my blood now. That may give her the element she needs. My so-called sisters…our serum could give her the key to complete her plans.”

She and Paz both fell silent, contemplating their tasks ahead. Their relationship problems were minor in comparison but there was no question they had to work together to succeed.

Otherwise, Ragnarok faced them, whether from the Trollek invasion or Algie’s experiments or the evil demon Loki who aimed to bring about the end of time.

Chapter Twenty-One

The enchanted ship deposited Jen and Paz at a deserted wharf in Manhattan where they scrambled ashore. As soon as they stepped foot onto land, the ship collapsed into a folded piece of paper that wafted into Jen’s hand. She stuck it in her purse, which she had miraculously preserved through their adventures.

A long walk brought them to a curb where Jen hailed a taxi. She rattled off instructions to the driver, and they proceeded to wind through a myriad of streets into the heart of the city.

“We should get out before we reach your place to see if anyone is watching,” Paz said, peering out the window.

Jen agreed and told the fellow where to let them off. She paid the man then grimaced at the diminishing funds in her wallet. At least it was Monday, so the banks would be open.

On the sidewalk, Paz gawked at the sights surrounding them. Buses belched toxic fumes as they roared past. Yellow taxicabs shuffled one behind the other in nonstop traffic. He craned his neck to trace buildings that reached toward the sky, while his nose sniffed garlic from a nearby eatery. Pedestrians crowded the street, rushing to and fro. Despite the many metropolises he’d visited, this one had its own unique character.

Jen nudged him with her elbow. “Will you stop acting like such a tourist? You’ll attract attention.”

“You’re right.” His training kicked in.
Blend with the natives.
He slouched and glanced at blotches on the ground from old chewing gum. A woman pushing a baby carriage jostled past. He jumped as though touched by a Trollek.

“What’s wrong with you?” Jen cast him an annoyed glance.

He dodged a fire hydrant as they moved on. “Danger lurks in big cities. General Morar’s agent found us in Hong Kong. He can find us again. How far to your lodging from here?”

“Not much farther.”

Smells of roasted chicken drifted their way from a restaurant they passed. “Should we pick up some groceries?”

“You know, I don’t really do the cooking thing too well. Let’s just stop at my place, deflate for a minute, and then we can go out to grab a bite.”

“All right.” He had no idea what she meant by deflate but grabbing a bite he understood. Besides, he was eager to see her residence. It would reveal more about her.

They approached a wide expanse of grass and trees that pleased his eyes. Trails ran through the park, crowded with joggers, families, and young lovers. A massive concrete structure rose to their left.

Jen pointed out the sights like a tour guide. “That’s the Museum of Natural History, and this is Central Park. My place has a view of the park although it’s not much.”

They walked a couple of more blocks in silence while he absorbed his surroundings. He liked the green spaces. Being surrounded by tall buildings made him feel closed in.

“What’s your home like?” Jen turned her curious gaze on him. “Do you have a house, an apartment, or what?”

He pictured his sprawling estate, imagining her surprise if he told her its acreage. “My world is a desert planet. Rivers are underground. My property sits on a plateau and overlooks a stark landscape of reddish-brown earth and pillars that point like fingers toward the sky. I miss the clean air and natural beauty but most of all the quiet.”

“I’d think an interstellar traveler like you would be drawn to the cities. They must be fabulous.”

A wistful smile crossed his face. “You have no idea of the wonders out there, but I prefer the peace of deep space. It’s vast and silent, and stars play like concerts of light far away.”

“Sounds lonely to me.”

He shrugged. “Nobody bothers me. That’s what I like about my job.”

Jen pursed her lips as though his answer didn't please her. Doubtless the bustle of the city and the hectic lifestyle stimulated her. They were polar opposites in that regard.

She turned down a street lined with sturdy buildings the residents called brownstones. The odor of sun-warmed trash drifted their way. Spindly trees stood at intervals down the sidewalk surrounded by protective fencing. Steam hissed from round cylinders in the road. Every now and then, a heavy truck lumbered past.

A white delivery van was parked up ahead, the name of a flower shop emblazoned on its side. Jen turned into the building opposite, where a uniformed man greeted them with a grin. He had gray hair, a stocky body, and a discolored front tooth.

“Miss Dyhr, how are you? I haven’t seen you in so long that I was worried.”

Jen gave him a hug. “I had a business trip abroad, and then I took some time off. Sammy, meet my friend, Paz Hadar.”

They shook hands as per the American custom.

“I figured you’d be back soon because you got a delivery.” The older man beamed at Jen. “They insisted on bringing it upstairs.”

She narrowed her eyes while Paz stiffened at her side. “What delivery? From whom?”

“A welcome home bouquet. I didn’t see the card.”

Jen and Paz exchanged glances.

“I’m going upstairs.” Jen grabbed a set of keys from her purse and marched inside toward the elevator.

Paz leapt after her into the lift. “This isn’t a good idea.” If his makeshift PIP hadn’t gotten wet in Fafnir’s cave, he could have scanned for life signs in her corridor.

“No one knows we arrived today.
I
didn’t even know when we would get here.” Her glance dropped to her watch. “This thing has become a liability, but I couldn’t take it off if I tried.”

“We should have gone directly to Florida. We’ve no protection here. The Trolleks may have picked up our trail as soon as we stepped off the ship.”

The elevator door opened, and they emerged into a carpeted hallway. Paz spied the floral arrangement on the ground in front of a closed door ahead.

Jen rushed forward, stooped, and snatched the card sitting on a stick in the midst of the mixed bouquet. Her handbag shifted, and she adjusted its strap across her slim shoulder.

“Don’t touch anything,” Paz warned. The doorknob could be booby-trapped. For that matter, the flowers themselves could be tainted with poison.

“It says,
This is a taste of what’s to come if you resist us. Your friends are next.”
She gazed at him in bewilderment. “What does that mean?”

He examined the door for signs of tampering. “We’ll find out soon enough. Stand aside.” Hearing nothing unusual from beyond, he twisted her key in the lock and pushed the door wide.

Jen gasped at the wreckage inside. Someone had trashed her apartment. The contents were broken and strewn about the carpet. His mouth tightened at the look of stunned shock on her face. She needed to face reality. The Trolleks would stop at nothing to track them down.

“Oh. My. God.” She stepped across the threshold, her eyes wide. “Who would do this?”