Theirs to Correct by Ivy Barrett

Chapter 6

“Iwill see you in the morning,” Lahval reminded her coldly as he pulled the bedding up over Emily’s trembling body. She was sobbing, had been sobbing off and on since he explained how he intended to punish her. Thanks to Emily’s newfound affinity for pain, being dominated was no longer intimidating. However, the idea that her mother—and everyone else on New Kobar—would be able to watch her ravishment had shaken her as nothing else could. She whimpered and begged, then helplessly surrendered to one screaming orgasm after another.

Lahval had been even more conflicted than Emily. What he wanted most was to wrap his arms around her and protect her while she slept. Instead, he followed through on his threat to fuck her in every way possible. He had been ruthless, so much so that Brydon and Nayez looked as if they would stop him several times. Luckily, they hadn’t interfered or it would have compromised his overall plan, a plan that neither of his cadre mates understood yet.

“Get some sleep if you can,” Lahval suggested, maintaining his apparent detachment. “If you’re too sore to sleep, use this time to reconsider your stubbornness.” Fighting hard to keep his face blank, he activated the surveillance drones. They each projected a different image of what had just taken place in the ‘closet.’ The rhythmic slapping of flesh against flesh and Emily’s moans and cries of pleasure echoed off the walls. “Decrease audio output by eighty percent.” This form of manipulation was bad enough. He refused to torture his mate.

Her only response was a muffled sob that broke Lahval’s heart. He desperately wanted to wrap his arms around her, but he could not. That would ruin his plans as well. Believing he was a coldhearted bastard was critical to their eventual success.

Nayez rushed toward the bed, but Lahval warned him back with an urgent gesture and angry look.

No one spoke as they left the guest suite. Nayez was clearly furious and had been for some time. Lahval couldn’t read Brydon. His mind was meticulously shielded and his expression was blank. Lahval locked the door then led the others briskly down the hallway.

They had just reached the ground level of the house when Brydon slammed Lahval against the wall and crossed his throat with his forearm. “What the fuck was that about? Emotional extortion is still extortion. She is our mate, for destruction’s sake!”

“I can explain,” Lahval insisted then motioned toward Brydon’s office.

Angrily shoving off the wall, Brydon stormed into his office, waited for the other two to join him, and then slammed the door. “This better be one hell of an explanation. I can’t remember the last time I was this angry.”

Lahval understood Brydon’s reaction. “Emily had to believe that what just happened was real or the rest of my plan will never work.”

Confusion combined with anger scrunching up Brydon’s features. “What the hell does that mean? It looked pretty damn real when you shoved your cock up her ass knowing I’d just taken her there. It was needlessly cruel to—”

“He used jarsin cream as lubricant,” Nayez told him. “I was about to stop him when I saw what he was doing. By the second thrust there would have been no pain.”

Brydon crossed his arms over his chest and glared at Lahval. “Then we are back to emotional extortion. We have all punished Emily with our cocks, but what you just did crossed the line. You will not share the recordings with anyone.”

“That was never my intention,” Lahval assured him. “She just needed to believe it was.”

“I’m still waiting for the explanation that will keep me and Nayez from beating the shit out of you.”

Lahval cleared his throat and ignored the frantic thudding of his heart. He wasn’t afraid of a beating. He had endured many in his life, but being part of this cadre was extremely important to him. Brydon and Nayez were his family and his best friends. He did not want to do anything that might compromise their relationship. Yet Emily was their mate. Building a future with her was every bit as important as maintaining a strong cadre.

“I think it is obvious to all three of us that Emily is not going to tell us anything. Pain was ineffective and… what I did brought her no closer to confessing. Whoever she is protecting is more important to her than anything else. She will never betray them.”

“I agree, so why the twisted setup?” Nayez demanded bitterly.

“When spanking her pussy with an ekolet didn’t loosen her tongue, I started thinking about alternate ways to access the information.”

“Meaning?” Brydon sneered, emotions surging right along with his temper. “Just spit it out, Three. What the fuck are you trying to accomplish?”

Lahval grimaced at his harsh tone. “She needs to believe that Nayez is upset enough by how I treated her to help her escape. In a couple of hours, after you and I have gone to bed, he will go to her and comfort her, then convince her that he is disabling her tracker. He will spirit her away in our shuttle and take her wherever she wants to go. The tracker will not actually be disabled, of course. So once she leaves him, she will lead us right to Vixen’s hideout.”

Brydon leaned against the edge of his desk, expression speculative. “And if Emily doesn’t lead us to Vixen?”

“Capturing Vixen would be the optimum outcome, but regardless we are bound to learn more about the rebel leaders than we know right now. The penalty for harboring a runaway lottery girl is a massive fine and up to five years in one of the penal retraining camps. Emily would never endanger her family or the staff at her charities. Her only option is to contact the rebels. They are already fugitives.”

“So all we have to do is sit back and track her movements and monitor her conversations.” Brydon was clearly warming up to the idea.

Lahval nodded, but he wasn’t nearly as enthusiastic. “I hate tricking her like this, but the other options are even worse. If I probe her mind, there is always the risk of damage. I would rather have her furious with me.”

“It’s a solid plan.” That was high praise coming from Brydon.

Nayez shook his head and released a heavy sigh. “I’m too damn angry about this morning. I don’t think I can be as convincing as I would need to be to make this work. At my best, I’m not a very good actor and I am definitely not at my best right now.”

Lahval understood Nayez’s concern, but the setup worked much better if she was still emotionally off balance. “I guess we can wait until just before dawn. I said I would upload the recordings in the morning. I didn’t give an exact time.”

“It should be you,” Brydon decided. “Let her think the act was for Nayez and me, to make us think you were just as angry as we are. I ordered you to punish her. It was obvious you didn’t want any part of it. Use that. Make her think the entire episode was to ensure that we won’t be suspicious until after you two are long gone.”

“That actually stays truer to our basic personalities,” Nayez agreed. “You are always the first to comfort her and the most reluctant to cause her pain.”

“There is no way she will trust me after what I just did to her.” Lahval shuddered. “I was horrible.”

“And we weren’t?” Nayez challenged with a heavy sigh.

“Let her see your regret or better yet let her feel it,” Brydon suggested. “The only part of what you did that upset her was when you threatened to share the recordings. Once she realizes that was a bluff, you shouldn’t have any trouble with her.”

“Things are never that simple with Emily,” Lahval muttered.

“Keep her on the shuttle as long as you can,” Nayez suggested. “Talk to her, remind her of all that we’ve shared and how many humans she will be able to help as our mate. Plant the seeds for a smooth reconciliation after—”

“After we use her to find the rebels.” Lahval shook his head. “That is when the real challenge will begin.”

Brydon pushed off the desk and circled around behind it. He switched one of the surveillance drones from project to record. Soon a holographic image of the guest suite appeared above his desk. Emily had barely moved since they left her but the steady rise and fall of her chest assured them she had fallen asleep.

“Go to bed,” Brydon directed. “Both of you. I’ll wake you as soon as she stirs.”

Lahval nodded then looked at Nayez. “Are you sure you’re not up to this? I played the villain so someone else could be the hero. I’m not sure she will accept me as both.”

Nayez dismissed Lahval’s concerns with a wave of his hand. “No one will ever confuse me with a hero. This is a much better plan.”

Reluctantly accepting the cadre’s decision, Lahval left the office and headed to the utility room. He needed to print several props for his performance before he went to bed.

* * *

Dressed in a calf-length robe, hair damp from her shower, Emily stood at the large picture window staring out across the side yard. There wasn’t much to see just a narrow expanse of grass and the pine trees that covered the surrounding hills. The sun still hovered over the horizon, so it was still relatively early. Darkness would have fit her mood better, but there was no holding back the dawn.

She woke twice during the night to the obscene images of what had transpired the night before, yet this morning the playback was gone. Lahval was probably uploading the files even now.

Emotion burned in her throat, but she had no tears left. She couldn’t tell the cadre what they wanted to know, so she was about to be the next internet sensation. Her mother would become an international laughing-stock. Could a president be impeached for the indiscretions of their children? Emily was relatively sure the answer was no. However, her mother might be pressured to resign, and then Emily would be responsible for shattering her lifelong dreams.

The only bright side, if it could be called that, was that her mother was not in actual danger. Charlotte, on the other hand, would be arrested if her rebel activities came to light. Emily took a deep breath and focused on her sister. Charlotte’s safety was more important than their mother’s reputation. That left Emily only one choice: utter humiliation.

Someone knocked on the door. Emily didn’t respond. She had nothing to say that wouldn’t earn her more punishment, so she continued to stare out the window.

She heard the door open then Lahval spoke in an urgent whisper. “We don’t have a lot of time. I’ll explain everything once we’re on the shuttle.”

She had no idea where he wanted to go and didn’t care enough to ask. Shoving her hands into her pockets, she ignored him.

He moved in close behind her and lightly placed his hands on her shoulders.

She twisted away and moved out of reach. “Don’t touch me,” she sneered, unable to pretend she wasn’t furious. If the final ‘punishment’ had come from Nayez or Brydon she would have taken it in stride, but Lahval had always been different. He coaxed and seduced while the others simply took. The result might be the same, but Lahval’s sudden change of attitude still felt like a betrayal.

“We don’t have time for this. Brydon is already in his office. I was hoping to be gone before either of them woke, but Nayez is up too. He’s in the shower, so if you want to escape it must be now.” He held a casual outfit, including running shoes and underwear.

“You’re going to help me escape?” Tears blurred her vison. She was still too emotionally raw for more head games. “I don’t believe you.”

His amber gaze pleaded for understanding and he looked tormented by guilt. He was either the best actor she had ever seen or he genuinely regretted his behavior. “I couldn’t hurt you, Em. I just couldn’t. But if Brydon hadn’t been satisfied with my punishment he would have taken over. It was obvious that you’d had enough pain. I didn’t know what else to do.”

She searched his gaze, wanting to believe what he was saying. But something about this didn’t feel real. It was like moving through a dream. “You didn’t upload the recordings?”

“Of course not,” he cried. “I have been thinking about letting you go for days, but I had to make them believe I was still on their side.” He pushed the clothing into her reluctant hands. “You have to get dressed, now.”

There was a tube tucked inside one of the shoes. “What is this?”

“Jarsin cream. I thought you might be sore after…”

“You didn’t hurt me. At least, not like that.” She set the tube aside then turned her back as she dressed. She pulled on the panties and jeans before slipping out of the robe. The bra and sweater came next, then she sat on the edge of the bed to put on the shoes. It felt odd to be fully covered after being nearly naked for more than a week. She still wasn’t sure that guilt alone was driving Lahval’s actions, but her stress-addled mind couldn’t lock on to his true motivation.

“I can’t go home,” she said firmly. “Brydon would arrest my mother for harboring a fugitive.” Her mother was a powerful woman. She could take care of herself. Charlotte, on the other hand, was an impressionable teen trying to define her own identity. Emily would sleep on the ground and forage in the wilderness before she brought danger to Charlotte’s door.

“Don’t tell me anything specific, but we both know you have other options.”

Suddenly the truth snapped into place and she shot to her feet. “Is that what this is about? You honestly think I’m so freaking rattled that I’ll lead you to the rebels? I haven’t forgotten that Nayez chipped me like a puppy. He told me the only way to remove it was to cut off my arm. Thanks for the outfit, but I’ll pass on the shuttle ride.”

Lahval held up a small device in each hand. “Chips are nearly impossible to remove, but one pulse from this will disable it.” He indicated the object in his right hand. “This will allow you to watch what I am doing, because I’m well aware of the fact that you don’t trust me right now.”

“Can you blame me?”

“Not at all. Will you please allow me to do this so we can get moving? Nayez is probably finished with his shower by now. If we don’t leave soon, it will be too late.”

He handed her the device with a small screen and pressed the other against the inside of her arm. “I’ll trigger a diagnostic cycle first. The chip’s location will be highlighted on your screen. When I trigger the disrupter pulse the image will go dark, indicating that the chip is no longer functioning.”

Her gaze was glued to the screen, but speculation and doubt filled her mind. The basic shape of her upper arm appeared, and then a small light blinked indicating the location of the tracker. A strange rushing sensation passed through her arm. The light faded then disappeared. Was this yet another trick? She couldn’t go running straight to Vixen. Even if Lahval disabled the chip as the device indicated, a strike team could easily follow the shuttle. She had to proceed as if she were bait for their clever trap.

“That should do it. No more tracker.” Lahval casually took the viewer from her and tossed both devices onto the bed. “We need to move, right now.”

The knot of tension in her belly tightened with each step she took. This was a trick. It had to be. Even when he was on his best behavior, Lahval wouldn’t let her go. There was too much at stake, and he knew she was softening toward them. Or she had been until yesterday. The only way to find out what he was up to was to play along.

They hurried down the main staircase and out the front door. The cadre’s private shuttle was smaller than the one the hunters used to bring her here. This one had four seats and they all faced forward. Lahval took his place behind the master control panel, so she sat beside him. The safety restraints flowed into place as he readied the shuttle to leave the ground. She kept looking toward the house, half expecting Nayez and Brydon to come storming out.

“Have you decided on a destination, or should I just get out of this general area?”

She had no idea what to do. As she’d said, she couldn’t go home but she couldn’t seek out the rebels either. She was more certain than ever that Lahval expected her to do just that. “Get us in the air. I still need a minute.”

The shuttle took off vertically then banked sharply to the right and circled the city once before heading east. If she only revealed things the Kobar already knew, she should buy herself enough time to figure out an actual plan. That narrowed her choices dramatically. Marissa Scott had been claimed by Command Cadre Eight because her grandparents were well-known rebels. Their refusal to curtail their activities had resulted in Lenard’s forced retirement and the family’s relocation from a luxurious estate to a shabby house in Dallas. All the attempts to humble and humiliate the Scotts had only made them bolder.

“Head to Dallas,” she decided. He could land in Lenard and Daphne Scott’s front yard and no one would be surprised by the development.

“Good choice,” he said softly, obviously understanding the significance of the location. He entered a destination into the navigational system before looking at her again. “I turned off the shuttle’s positional beacon, but I’m still going to meander a bit on the way there. I’ll do the same thing on the way back so there will be a variety of locations I could have let you off.”

That sounded like a reasonable precaution, yet she still didn’t believe this was real. They were using her like a bloodhound, expecting her to obediently race through the forest and sniff out rebel encampments. This was less painful than their original strategy, yet even more demoralizing. “How long will it take us to get there?”

“Two, maybe three hours.”

She nodded and fell silent. The shuttle stabilized and the safety restraints retracted, giving her more freedom of movement even while seated. She’d been watching him like a hawk ever since they left the ground and it didn’t seem like he’d notified anyone of their destination. She could understand Kobar but not read their complex symbols so it was really hard to tell for sure. Even so, she couldn’t shake the feeling that this was an elaborate setup.

“I know you are still angry, but can you at least understand why I acted the way I did?”

She glared at him then averted her gaze. The hope in his expression was so unfair. If he gave a damn about her, why didn’t he stand up to the others instead of subjecting her to—the complete domination that she craved and multiple shattering orgasms? What a trial. “It doesn’t matter. As soon as I step off this shuttle I will cease to think about any of you.” Sure she would.

He had the audacity to chuckle. “I hope we’re not that easy to forget.”

A question occurred to her as they lapsed into silence again. “Will your cadre select another potential mate?” Was she escaping their control only to damn someone else to being their lottery girl?

“I don’t know. Maybe.” He didn’t speak again until she looked at him. “Brydon and SC Byrne are close, so I guess it will depend on whether Brydon wants a mate, or wants you as his mate.”

She started to ask but had no doubt he would swear Brydon only wanted her. Two days ago she might have believed him, but yesterday made it obvious that all sorts of things were more important to Brydon and Nayez than she was. Top among them was obliterating the resistance.

Unable to abandon the subject entirely, she asked, “Nayez’s moods change like the weather but I’ve always known where I stood with him. Why is Brydon so cold?” And why the hell did she care enough to ask? The cadre would soon be part of her past, a confusing incident best forgotten. “Is it the loss he suffered when your planet was destroyed? Or is there something more?”

Challenge arched Lahval’s brows, but his gaze remained warm. “I thought you were going to forget all about us as soon as you left the shuttle.”

“The ride isn’t over yet,” she countered. “We’ve got two hours to kill and I don’t like unanswered questions.”

He studied her silently for a long moment as if deciding what to say. Or was he asking permission to share the information? They were cousins, so it was likely they could communicate telepathically. But Brydon wasn’t supposed to know that she had escaped. She was about to confront Lahval when he began his explanation.

“You’ll have to ask Brydon for details, but he has some extraordinary abilities and has suffered greatly as a result. The things that happened back on Kobar made him untrusting and suspicious of almost everyone.”

His phrasing was curious. “Almost everyone? Then he is still capable of trust?”

“There are three people Brydon trusts implicitly: Nayez, Jesorax, and me. Each time he has allowed himself to trust anyone else, he has been betrayed.”

“I would never betray him,” she objected. “I think yesterday would make it obvious that I can keep a secret.”

Lahval’s brows shot up again. “Do you want Brydon to trust you? I thought you couldn’t wait to be rid of us.”

She ignored the challenge. They were just passing time. “You’re talking about his ability to heal, aren’t you? I only saw part of what he did for Nayez and it was still amazing.”

Lahval looked as if he might give in and offer more information, but then he shook his head. “I cannot say more without betraying his confidence, and I will not do that if you are merely curious. If you have changed your mind about leaving, I’ll explain. But as things stand now, you need to choose another topic.”

“I was just making conversation,” she muttered and stared at the main display. Her mind drifted back to the previous night. No one ever explained why Nayez’s shirt had been shredded but his back was untouched. Had Brydon healed him on the shuttle before bringing him inside? The gaping wound in his leg healed almost instantaneously. She had never seen anything like it. “Did someone experiment on Brydon or did they try to control his abilities? Was it other Kobar or another species that harmed him? When and how was the abuse stopped?” She hadn’t meant to say any more, but the questions came pouring out. Brydon was a mystery. She saw glimpses of his personality, but it was obvious he was resisting his feelings for her.

Lahval stared at her in reflective silence for a long time. She thought he wasn’t going to respond, then he said, “We don’t have to do this, Emily. If you are still interested in mating with us, we can return to headquarters and talk this out with the others.”

“I don’t know what I want,” she cried, feeling oddly emotional. “You guys knew my entire life story before I walked through the door, yet I still know very little about you. I know the scope of your responsibilities within the Kobar government but who are you as a person? Who are Brydon and Nayez?”

“You know more than you realize,” Lahval predicted, pausing to assess the control displays. Apparently satisfied with what he saw, he turned back to her. “Which one of us has the best sense of humor?”

“Nayez,” she answered easily. “He loves to harass Brydon because Brydon grumps and growls, but it’s obvious Brydon actually enjoys the ribbing.”

“Very few can get away with harassing Sector Leader Four. That’s why he enjoys it. Who is easiest to anger?”

“Nayez again. He doesn’t try to hide his emotions, so he can be a little volatile.” Lahval was right. She knew them better than she realized. Living together and watching them interact with each other had given her insight into their personalities.

“Nayez has never had reason to suppress his emotions. He says what he wants, and generally does what he wants.”

“You sound jealous.”

He scoffed lightly under his breath. “Who wouldn’t be jealous of Nayez? He is physically perfect, has an engaging personality and a successful career. Everything has always come easily for Nayez.”

“But not for you and Brydon?”

His shrug wasn’t convincing. He ignored the question and continued the game. “Which one of us is the most deeply emotional?”

She thought about it for a moment. At first she would have said Lahval, but after spending more time with them, she knew it wasn’t true. “Brydon. He hides behind indifference and ruthlessness, but I don’t think he is either.”

“What led you to that conclusion?”

Lahval should have been a shrink. He hadn’t actually told her anything, just used pointed questions to reveal how much she already knew. “He doesn’t like to look at me when we have sex because I can see the pain in his eyes.” The fact was obvious almost immediately, but she’d never been able to figure out why he was so reluctant to feel anything but lust. “He was just a child when the abuse started, wasn’t he?”

Lahval nodded then quickly looked away. The reaction confused her. Was he thinking about Brydon’s past or his own?

“He was twelve,” Lahval told her, emotion thickening his voice. “Many Kobar abilities develop gradually as they go through puberty. Brydon’s hit him like a blaster.”

“That must have been terrifying.”

Lahval shook his head and dragged his gaze back to her. “Healing abilities run in our bloodline. It would have been more of a shock if he never developed them.”

“Then what happened? Can you give me general information without breaking your vow?”

He smiled. “I’ll see how far I can bend the rules without breaking them. He was a typical adolescent boy, so he bragged about his abilities and showed off every chance he got. His indiscretion brought him to the attention of some very dangerous people.”

If she puzzled through the clues on her own, Lahval would just need to smile and nod. “On Earth, the most dangerous entity to find out about anything extraordinary is our government, especially our military.”

“It was the same on Kobar,” he said with a smirk. “Exactly the same.”

It didn’t take a lot of imagination to figure out the rest. “Did his parents know where he was, or did he just disappear?”

Lahval paused, clearly torn between his need to share the information with her and his vow to maintain Brydon’s confidence. “No one knew,” he said after a long pause. “Brydon inherited his ruthlessness from his father. Millu would not take no for an answer and he searched night and day until he located Brydon.”

“How long did it take Millu to find him?” The pain she often saw in Brydon’s eyes hinted at more than a brief scare.

“Two and a half years. And that’s not even the worst part. There were eleven casualties during the rescue. Millu was one of them.”

“Oh, my God,” she cried, tears blurring her vision. “The guilt must be horrific. I can’t even imagine what that would do to a teenage boy.”

“It makes him seem indifferent and ruthless,” he concluded.

By echoing her words, he reiterated her conclusion that Brydon was neither. Brydon had likely been suppressing his emotions most of his life. It was surprising that he had even considered the supreme commander’s directive to claim a mate. And the first opportunity she got, she ran away. He would see this as another betrayal. Closing her eyes, she rubbed her forehead and fought back the rush of guilt. This was not about what she did or did not feel for the cadre. She was protecting her sister. Brydon’s ultimatums had given Emily no choice but escape.

She opened her eyes and cleared her throat. “Thanks for sharing this with me.” Lahval’s only response was a tense nod, which surprised her. It was obvious he was hoping to talk her into staying. She still had a million questions. Maybe she should find out how long he was willing to indulge her.

If she still intended to leave, did she have the right to know?

He smiled as she argued with herself. “Go ahead. You clearly have more questions. Perhaps if we had been more forthcoming you wouldn’t be so desperate to leave.”

That made her feel guilty and she wasn’t sure why. She wasn’t desperate to leave. She had been settling in and adapting to life as a Kobar mate until Brydon decided she was a rebel spy.

“Maybe I was wrong,” he teased. “No more questions?”

“There is pain in your eyes too,” she said simply. “Does it predate Kobar’s destruction?”

A harsh laugh tore from his throat and the pain she’d just mentioned was suddenly stamped on his expression. “I guess it’s not fair to reveal all of Brydon’s secrets if I’m not willing to share mine. How much do you want to know?”

“As much as you’re willing to tell me.” This wasn’t just morbid curiosity. She genuinely cared about all three of them and wanted to understand the forces that shaped their personalities.

He nodded then began with a sigh. “My mother died when I was three so it was just my father and I for the next two years. As you can imagine I grew incredibly attached to him. He was my source of security, my hero. But when I was five, he offered a social alliance to the widow of one of his comrades. This was a common custom on Kobar. The widow had two sons from her mate; both were several years older than me.”

Emily was fascinated by the concepts. Most Kobar refused to speak about the time before so this was the first she’d heard about social alliances. “Forming a social alliance is different than claiming a mate?”

“Very much so. A social alliance is formed on a temporary basis while the involved parties search for their mates, or as with my father, after both have lost their mates.”

“Did you like your stepmother?”

“The widow was not my anything,” he insisted vehemently. “She was deceitful and cruel and tormented me every chance she got. Her offspring were even worse. They physically abused someone smaller and weaker than them, which is inexcusable.”

“Did you tell your father what was happening?”

“He was a high commander in our military so he was frequently gone.”

Nothing made her angry faster than child abuse. The widow and her sons were to blame, but so was Lahval’s father. He brought the widow and her sons into his house, and that made him responsible for their actions. “What did you do?”

“I spent as much time as I could at Brydon’s and Nayez’s homes. It was the only way I could avoid the cruelty.”

Acting on instinct, she leaned over and gave him a firm hug. “I’m so sorry. As you know, I have a huge soft spot when it comes to children.” His arm wrapped around her waist and he tried to pull her onto his lap, but she eased his arm away. “Did your aunts and uncles protect you? Please, tell me something was done about the widow and her brood.”

“My extended family protected me until I was big enough to protect myself. Nayez’s parents even confronted my father about what they had seen, bruises and such, but he defended the widow and her sons. That hurt worse than the beatings. I felt incredibly betrayed.”

She just shook her head for a moment as she struggled to understand why his father would refuse to believe what he was being told by multiple sources. “I don’t understand. If it was just your word against theirs, it would almost make sense. But you had adults and physical evidence backing you up.”

“The widow claimed that it was all in fun, that her sons didn’t mean to hurt me. She pointed out that my aunt and uncle hadn’t seen what happened. They were reacting to my side of the story. But there was something else at work. The widow’s mate died while under my father’s command, so he felt responsible for her. Instead of ending the social alliance, he arranged for me to spend as much time with my cousins as possible until I was old enough to join the military.”

“Did you want to join the military?”

He smiled. “My entire bloodline is filled with soldiers. It would have been a huge scandal had I even considered any other vocation.”

“If your father was in the military, is he still alive?”

Lahval shook his head. “He retired two years before the cataclysm began. As Brydon told you, his middle brother survived. Two of Nayez’s brothers survived, but we lost everyone else.”

She reached over and placed her hand on his arm. “I know the words don’t change anything, but I am truly sorry that you guys have suffered so much.”

He paused to make several adjustments to the shuttle before he asked, “Have I finally satisfied your curiosity?”

“Almost. I know you consider Nayez’s adult life ideal, but did he have a happy childhood?”

“Nayez is, was, and will always be spoiled rotten. The universe is just kinder to some people than others.” Unlike before, Lahval no longer sounded bitter or jealous about the fact. “His parents indulged all of their children, but Nayez got away with murder. All he had to do was smile and his parents’ anger would crumble. His father was even worse than his mother.”

She laughed. “I can picture it clearly. He can be incredibly charming when he chooses to be, and his film star features don’t hurt, I’m sure.”

“His appearance was less helpful in the military, but he is brave, skillful, and—”

“Does he have special abilities? I know you’re empathic, but do you have other paranormal abilities?”

“My other abilities are not paranormal, but they are unusual. Brydon rattled them off right after you arrived.”

“That’s right. You have a photographic memory and the ability to identify patterns.”

He smiled. “You were listening.”

“I was pretty overwhelmed after our introduction, but I was also very curious about all three of you. What about Nayez? What can he do?”

“He is frustrated by his paranormal abilities so he tends to ignore them. He can heal but nothing like Brydon. He’s empathic, telepathic, and clairvoyant, but he struggles to control any of it.”

“That would be awful.” So much for Nayez’s perfect life. He was surrounded by superheroes while his abilities were—still extraordinary compared to hers!

Lahval rolled his eyes. “Trust me, he has succeeded quite well without depending on such skills.”

She smiled but dread slowly welled inside her. They were likely nearing Dallas and all this sharing changed very little. They were still at an impasse. If she returned, Brydon would continue the interrogation. He might not resort to pain again, but he would definitely lock her up.

Lahval’s smile faltered then faded. “Last night got away from all three of us, but I know we can work this out. There is a vibrant connection forming between us. I know you feel it too.”

She didn’t deny it. Their connection wasn’t the issue. “I only have one question left. How do we resolve the standoff? I will not betray my friends. Will Brydon back down?”

He started to say something then shook his head and sighed. “Why do these friends mean so much to you?”

“For the same reasons Brydon and Nayez mean so much to you.”

“They are blood. We are more like brothers than cousins. We have protected each other our entire lives. We fight, bleed, and risked our lives for each other.”

And Charlotte was her blood, but she wasn’t about to incriminate her now. “My friends and I lived through an alien invasion and the third world war. We might not be blood relatives, but trust me, we have plenty of shared trauma.”

He inclined his head, acknowledging her point.

“We both know Brydon will never back down,” she said sadly. “Which means I have no choice but to leave.”

“I hate it, but I understand.” He looked at the control panel then told her, “We are about twenty minutes out.”

They were in a tight orbit above Dallas half an hour later and Emily was irrationally depressed. The Kobar were overbearing and demanding. They had conquered her world and killed millions of humans. So why did the possibility of living without her cadre make her so damn sad?

Lahval scrolled through different views of the neighborhood, deciding how best to proceed. “There is a park three blocks from the Scotts’ house. Have you visited them before?”

“No. Do you have their address? I don’t want to knock on the wrong door.”

He pulled up a street view on the holo-display and zoomed in on the area. “This is the park where I will place you. Follow this street for two blocks south, then head down this alleyway.” He advanced the image along the route so she could see exactly where she needed to go. “The front of the house is under surveillance, but no one will know you’re there if you enter through the back.”

“Thank you. All this means more than you know.” She rubbed her eyes, trying to hide the fact that she was fighting back tears.

“You should stand up or you will materialize sitting in a chair that is no longer there.”

She quickly stood and tried to smile but failed.

His gaze locked with hers as he said, “I wish things could have been different. I can’t help thinking we could have been good together.”

Before she could reply, he activated the molecular transporter and the shuttle faded from view. Tears escaped the corners of her eyes as she materialized in the park. She shook away the excess emotion, took a deep breath, and hustled toward the rebel leaders’ house.

* * *

“This is not what we agreed to!” Vixen yelled, standing behind her chair to keep from strangling a couple of sexagenarians. “You had no right to approve Jacob’s mission and now an entire strike team is dead.”

“We are at war,” Lenard said calmly. “Killing the enemy is the point.”

“Everyone knows this sort of thing is not what you want,” Daphne Scott reinforced, her tone so condescending that Vixen was ready to slap her. If Daphne were thirty years younger, the situation would have come to blows by now. “But ask yourself, what would Chris have done?”

This wasn’t about what Chris would or would not have done. It was about their insubordination! “You spent your life in the military, Lenard. You above all people should understand the chaos created when anyone ignores the chain of command.”

He just smirked at her, so she tried a different tactic.

“The last three strikes have resulted in loss of life, and now some believe it was intentional. These are not battles. They are—”

“We wiped out one of their strike teams,” Daphne shot back angrily. “How many humans do you think those bastards have killed in the last three years? Every Kobar on this planet is a trained soldier. How can our attacks be defined as anything but battles?”

This entire trip had been a galactic waste of time. The Scotts were reckless and bloodthirsty. The combination would either get them killed or arrested. At the moment, she didn’t care which. “Don’t countermine my orders again.”

“Or what?” The challenge came from Lenard. “As you just pointed out, I spent my life in the military. I am better qualified to lead this militia than Chris Phaeton was. I am infinitely more qualified than you! Maybe it’s time for a change.”

“Yeah, well, get in line! You’re the third jackass to threaten me with that in the past week. I’m tired of hearing it.”

“If you’re hearing the ‘threat’ over and over, there is probably a reason.” He stood up and stalked toward her, eyes narrowed yet blazing. “Your people are tired of your indecision. Every time we turn around more of our freedom is curtailed. Fighting back means fighting. If you don’t have the stomach for bloodshed, move aside and make room for someone who does.”

“You don’t just ‘have the stomach for bloodshed.’ You crave it. That’s a hell of a lot more dangerous than my pragmatism. Don’t ask me for money. I’m going to tell Charlotte to block your access to all of our data streams and informants, and recruit your own damn fighters. I am finished with you! This has been delightful.” She stomped down the central hall, through the washroom and jerked open the back door. She shoved the screen door out of her way so forcefully that Emily Delacroix had to jump off the stoop to avoid being hit. “Emily? What are you doing here?”

“Long story,” she dismissed with a hesitant smile. “I didn’t expect to see you here. Where are you headed?”

“Away from those two idiots.” Vixen looked around suspiciously. Was Emily alone or was her cadre waiting to raid the house? Vixen sighed. She was being paranoid. No one knew she was here. She hadn’t even told the Scotts she intended to visit. “What’s going on? I heard you’d been claimed by one of the section leaders.”

Emily fiddled with the hem of her sweater, looking uncomfortable. “That’s part of the long story.”

“You ran?” Vixen was impressed. It took balls to defy a section leader. It also meant a literal army would be searching for her. “Then you need a place to stay.” And it couldn’t be here because she intended to cut the Scotts off from all of the rebel resources.

“Yes, but I’m worried that—”

“Shit. I forgot my phone inside. Hold on.” She stepped back onto the stoop and flung open the screen door. She hadn’t meant for Emily to follow, but she was right behind.

Daphne ambled down the hall, Vixen’s phone in her hand. “Forget something?”

Vixen was surprised the smug bitch hadn’t thrown it away or stomped on it.

“There is no need to go storming off.” Lenard joined his wife in the corridor. He spotted Emily and scowled. “Ms. Delacroix. What a surprise.”

Vixen nearly laughed. He’d omitted ‘pleasant’ from the customary greeting. “She’s not your concern. She dropped by because she knew I’d be here.”

Emily shot her a look that said, I did? But wisely kept her mouth shut.

Someone knocked loudly on the front door and all four of them scrambled into the kitchen, out of view of the door.

“Did you come alone?” Lenard demanded angrily.

“Or were you followed?” Daphne’s question snapped with accusation. She leaned slightly out into the hallway then announced. “It’s Marissa. Are you two together? What the hell is going on?”

“I am definitely alone, but is her cadre with her?” Emily looked at Vixen, obviously panicked. “We have to get out of here now!”

The front door burst open, proving her point.

“Fuck.” Vixen sneered as she pulled her pistol out of the back of her pants. Taking careful aim, she shot at the blond Kobar striding toward them. The bullet barely missed his shoulder. He immediately returned fire, dislodging a chunk of plaster from the wall behind her. Daphne cried out and Lenard pulled her deeper into the kitchen.

“I’ve got your phone,” Emily told her. “Go!”

Vixen sprinted across the hall, Emily on her heels. They were greeted by a surveillance drone that hadn’t been there when Emily arrived. Vixen didn’t pause to fire at it. Marissa had seen them. There was no point trying to hide her identity now. They ran across the back yard, but energy pulses zipped past before they could reach the alley. This day just got better and better.

One of the garage bays was open, so Vixen dragged Emily into the only thing resembling cover between them and her car. Using crates, a lawnmower, and dilapidated wheelbarrow they erected a pathetic barricade. Vixen made sure there was a small break where they could run for the car if the opportunity presented itself, but chances of that were looking pretty dismal.

She had more guns in her car, though it was doubtful Emily could shoot. She’d been surrounded by armed security most of her life. “Are these jerks with you or Marissa?” She hadn’t meant the question to sound so accusatory, but she was having a shitty day.

“Marissa,” Emily insisted. “I chose to run because my cadre was trying to find out who the hell you are. I put myself in danger to protect you.”

“Sorry.” She scanned the area trying to ascertain the scope of the threat. Kobar warriors traveled in packs. There had to be more than two, so where the hell were they? “The timing was just suspect.”

“I know.” Emily sighed. “To my knowledge, Marissa couldn’t have known we were here, so why the hell did she come? And she brought her cadre. That can’t be good news for the Scotts.”

Emily was right. This soon after Marissa’s capture, it was highly unlikely her cadre would have allowed her to visit her rebel leader grandparents just because she missed them. A pulse blast ricocheted off the wall of the garage before Vixen could puzzle it through any farther. They both gasped and sank lower behind the barricade.

Damn it. Her bullets weren’t going to last long enough to get them to the car at this rate. She waited until the bastard fired again then used the arc of his shot to determine his location. She fired once, but wasn’t sure if she hit him or not.

Suddenly the blond she’d seen in the hall ran across the backyard. He alternated his path, zigzagging to decreases her chances of hitting him. Smart alien. She didn’t waste a bullet, returning her attention to the other target instead. He leaned out from behind the shed, likely to see her more clearly. She aimed carefully and fired, but the bastard jerked back just in time to avoid her bullet.

A barrage of pulse blasts followed and Vixen knew the situation was going to get worse not better. She’d lost track of the blond and reinforcements were doubtlessly on the way. “We have to run for it.” She glanced at Emily. “And run like hell.”

Emily nodded so Vixen took off at full speed. She made it to the car and glanced back as she threw open the driver’s door. Emily was nowhere in sight. What the fuck? She squinted into the gloom of the garage and spotted the blond leaning over what had to be Emily.

Had he killed her? Panic jolted Vixen followed by fury. She shot several times as fast as she could then dove in behind the wheel. Pulse blasts echoed her shots, a couple hitting the side of her car. She activated the engine with an impatient push of the starter button then looked in the rearview mirror. The blond stood just outside the garage with Emily in his arms. She hung there limp and still. Please, God, let her be unconscious and not—

Refusing to finish the thought and knowing she had no other option, Vixen slammed the car in gear and tore off down the alley.