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  “For now.” The man on his back sounded winded, yet far from cowed.

  Dravon helped him up, slapped him on the back, then walked over to his uninvited guests. Kaden glanced at Lexie to see how she was reacting to Rex Dravon’s appearance. Portions of his long dark hair had been braided to each side of his face. The braids were decorated with bits of metal and beads. Dravon looked more Bilarrian pirate than Rodyte outlaw. His phitons were gold and a short beard accented his strong jawline. Most considered him handsome, yet all Kaden saw in Lexie’s expression was curiosity.

  “What can I do for you, Commander Lux?” He continued to speak in Rodyte as Kaden expected.

  “We’ve been negotiating with Milanni since her capture, with little success,” Kaden began in the same language. “Yesterday we had a bit of a breakthrough. She agreed to provide the information we need in exchange for safe passage to a destination she’ll only reveal to you.”

  One of Dravon’s eyebrows arched dramatically. “Why me?”

  “We were hoping you could tell us.”

  He shrugged, swiped his hand across his damp face, then wiped the sweat on his pant leg. “I’ve done business with Milanni in the past, but it was nothing unusual.”

  “We need this information,” Kaden stressed. “What would you charge us to deliver her safely to her destination?”

  “Depends on the destination.”

  Kaden nodded, having expected the stipulation. At least Dravon seemed willing to run the errand, if the price was right. “She’ll only tell you.”

  Dravon didn’t seem concerned by the restriction. “I’ll go see her in a bit, then I’ll let you guys know what I need to play chauffer.”

  Again Kaden nodded. “We’ll be waiting for your com.”

  Lex crossed her arms and glared at Kaden as he made no attempt to translate his conversation with Rex Dravon into English. The mercenary glanced at her, smiled, then left the cargo bay/gym. She watched his retreating back for a moment, knowing it would annoy her rude companion.

  “So, what’d he say?” They’d left the Marauder and were headed toward who knew where before she broke down and asked the question. Kaden didn’t answer, so she tried a different one. “Where are we going?”

  “To the Pavilion.” His tone was low and crisp, but she couldn’t read his expression.

  “Any particular reason?”

  “It’s either lock you in my cabin or let Zilor and Indigo entertain you for an hour or so. Which would you prefer?”

  “Where are you going and why can’t I come with you?” She sounded like a frightened little girl despite her best efforts to calm herself. What was it about this man that made her not just willing, but eager to play the damsel in distress? She refused to be that helpless with anyone else. Why did he make her feel all weak and needful? She was in a skirt, for God’s sake, and she never wore dresses.

  He looked at her and smiled. “I’ll be back for you in an hour or so. I promise.”

  “Whatever,” she whispered under her breath, but the word sounded petulant rather than indifferent. It was hopeless. If she couldn’t convince herself she was better off without him, she would never convince him. “Will you at least tell me what Dravon said?”

  He shot her an annoyed look, but answered. “He didn’t say no. He just needs Milanni to tell him where she wants to go before he can tell us how much it will cost.”

  She fluttered her eyelashes then rolled her eyes. “Was that so hard?”

  Her antics finally earned her a reluctant smile. “I’m not angry with you. I find this entire situation frustrating. It’s been one delay after another.”

  “Right back at ya, sweetheart. Every hour we waste chasing our tails is another hour Libby spends on the Relentless.”

  “I’m aware.” His tone grew even rougher, so Lexie just marched along at his side. An hour or so apart would likely do them both a world of good. Last night had made her hungry for more and she had no doubt he felt the same. Tension arced between them, looking for any form of release.

  Indigo was waiting for them in the courtyard, but Zilor was nowhere in sight.

  “Are you alone?” Kaden’s brows drew together and he kept looking around as if he expected Zilor to roll out from under one of the stone benches.

  Indigo waved away his concern. “I have a blaster and Zilor will be back in a few minutes. There’s nothing to worry about.”

  Clearly, Kaden wasn’t convinced. “I’ll wait until he returns.”

  “Now that’s insulting.” She planted her hands on her hips and tossed back her long, multi-colored hair. “The bridge is the only way in or out. This place is simple to defend. Besides, there hasn’t been another trespasser since Zilor claimed me.”

  “I won’t be long.” With obvious reluctance, Kaden headed for the bridge.

  “Take your time,” Indigo called. “Without two domineering men to judge every word, this conversation will be much more fun.”

  He looked back at her, eyes narrowed. “That’s what I’m worried about.”

  Indigo laughed and waved him on. Then she took Lexie by the hand and led her to the nearest bench. “Men are so easy. It’s almost not fair. All we have to do is show a little leg or push up the cleavage and they fall all over themselves trying to protect us.”

  The domed display over their heads simulated sunlight streaming through the branches of leafy trees. Lexie sat down and angled her body so she could see Indigo without twisting her neck. “But doesn’t all the ‘me Tarzan, you Jane’ crap get old? Kaden acts like there’s danger lurking around every corner.”

  Indigo sat as well, then shrugged with a good-natured smile. “Their world is significantly more dangerous than ours. Any battle born soldier who doesn’t anticipate danger is likely to end up dead.”

  “Then why drag females into such an unstable environment?” The fountain’s continual burble helped relax Lexie despite the rapid-fire events of the past day and the ongoing danger to her sister.

  Crossing her legs so she could face Lexie more fully, Indigo narrowed her gaze. “They’re fighting for a better life. Is that so hard to understand? Did Kaden tell you what it means to be battle born or how they’re treated by Rodyte society?”

  “He explained the basics. I understand why battle born males need human females. I don’t understand why human females should care. There are plenty of people being abused right here on, or down there, on Earth. Why should we get involved in an alien war?”

  “Humans are already involved. Your sister is proof of that.” Her tone quieted and compassion filled her sky-blue eyes. “Libby wasn’t Fyran’s first victim and she won’t be the last. Unless we stop animals like Fyran and his crew, the abuse will continue or even spread.”

  “But the battle born can stop Fyran without gaining access to their magic. I can’t help feeling that their quest for magic is what put us in danger.”

  Indigo nodded, but her expression remained subdued. “Unfortunately, the cat’s out of the bag. Rodytes know that humans are capable of producing offspring with other humanoid species. That’s extremely unusual. Now it’s only a matter of time before word spreads. Humans need to accept that we’re not alone in the universe and we’re not in a good position to defend ourselves.”

  Lexie heaved a sigh. “Now you sound like a Rodyte. I’m human therefore I need to be protected, and being female only compounds my helplessness.”

  “Being protected isn’t such a bad thing. And it doesn’t mean you’re weak or helpless. Even the battle born go into battle with someone they trust at their back.”

  After a thoughtful pause, Lexie asked, “How well do you know Kaden?”

  “I don’t know him well, but Zilor has known him for years and really likes him. Garin trusted him with the most important ship in the fleet. That says a lot about Kaden’s abilities and character.”

  The answer surprised Lexie. She hadn’t seen much of the Intrepid, but it seemed small and unimpressive compared to the massive, clearly
aggressive war ships surrounding it. “Why is the Intrepid so important?”

  “The Intrepid is a medical research hospital,” Indigo told her. “Sort of like a movable Mayo Clinic.”

  “Why do the battle born need a hospital ship? Never mind. You said research hospital. The transformation program is taking place aboard the Intrepid, isn’t it?”

  Indigo nodded. “Along with many other potentially important experiments. Garin recruited the most brilliant scientific minds from several star systems and convinced them to work with the battle born.”

  “And he trusted Kaden to supervise and protect all of these VIPs?” Again Indigo nodded and Lexie sighed. “You’re right. The general must think highly of Kaden.”

  “The real question is, what do you think of him?” A hint of challenge threaded through Indigo’s conversational tone.

  Lexie thought about it for a moment. She’d known him for a day and a half, yet she already felt like she knew him better than some of the men she’d dated for months. It was strange really, how comfortable she was with him. And how easily she’d succumb to his seduction. She shivered as tingling heat accompanied the thought. “He’s not like any of the men I’ve gone out with in the past. He’s intense, yet thoughtful, clearly accomplished, yet humble. Still, I’ve known him for less than two days and he’s already convinced we’re destined mates. That’s not quite rational.”

  A secretive smile bowed Indigo’s lips and mischief gleamed in her gaze. “This isn’t for everyone. I’m the first to admit it. A lot of ‘modern’ women will find Rodytes barbaric and chauvinistic. It’s understandable why they would want nothing to do with the transformation program.”

  Intrigued by Indigo’s sudden animation, Lexie guided the conversation away from Kaden and switched into reporter mode. “You don’t consider yourself a modern woman?”

  “Conforming to social norms has never been a priority for me. My mother was unconventional, to say the least, and my grandmother was even more unique. I thought I’d lead a life similar to theirs, but then I met Zilor.”

  “Did meeting him change you completely or do you still want some of the things you wanted before?” It had always bothered Lexie when she heard about women who altered their lives to please others. A good relationship was balanced. It encouraged compromise, not one-sided sacrifice.

  “My entire concept of reality has changed, so reassessing my priorities was inevitable. Zilor contributed to my awakening, but he was one factor among many.”

  “Awakening?” Lexie smiled. “You might feel more awake than before, but I feel like I’m dreaming.” And many parts of this new existence were more nightmare than dream.

  “Give it time. The shock will wear off after a day or two, and then you’ll start to think about all the possibilities.”

  “Let’s explore that for a minute.” It was easier to focus on Indigo’s experiences than to think about her own. All of this would be exciting if it weren’t for Libby still being in danger.

  Indigo laughed, then stood and shook out her long, colorful skirt. “Is this an official interview, or do you always sound like a reporter?”

  “I am a reporter, so it’s hard not to sound like one.”

  “Kaden made it clear that I’m not supposed to reveal Rodyte secrets.” Mischief returned to Indigo’s gaze. “Are you trying to get me in trouble?”

  Her expression was so naughty, Lexie couldn’t help but laugh. “Somehow I don’t think you need help getting into trouble.”

  “Guilty.” She moved to the fountain and sat on the wide stone edge. “The main reason Garin took this to the people was our government’s insistence on keeping everything secret. So what do you want to know?”

  This was the perfect opportunity to confirm some of the things Kaden had told her. He hadn’t had time to coach Indigo on what to say, so their answers would only match if they both spoke the truth. Or if they’d rehearsed a lie in anticipation of nosey reporters. Lexie wasn’t quite paranoid enough to believe that possibility.

  “How did Zilor know you were genetically compatible with him?” she began. The scent thing had seemed farfetched when Kaden told her about it, yet everything that followed made it hard not to believe.

  “Male Rodytes are more sensitive to the pull than females. Usually all it takes for a male to identify his mate is her scent.” Indigo paused and her brow creased. “Has Kaden explained about bonding fever?”

  “As with everything, he’s just skimmed the surface.” She didn’t want Indigo to realize she was verifying Kaden’s answers.

  “Has he kissed you yet?”

  Her only response was a secretive smile.

  “Fine,” Indigo huffed. “Don’t tell me. We’ll just keep this professional.”

  Lexie felt her determination to fact check melt. Indigo was too charming to resist. “Yes, he kissed me.” And a whole lot more. “And yes, I felt the pull, but it didn’t make me want to desert my old life and marry a man I just met.” No, it just made her want to have hot, sweaty sex with a man she’d just met, which was even more disturbing for a woman with her staunch moral upbringing. She wasn’t as controlled by dos and don’ts as her parents had been, but she’d always believed that sex should be about more than physical gratification.

  “We’ll talk again after he’s marked you.”

  The complete confidence in Indigo’s tone annoyed Lexie, even though she knew Indigo was right. Lexie didn’t believe in destiny or soul mates, which made all the things she’d felt last night extremely hard to explain.

  Instead of exploring her own feelings more deeply, she refocused the conversation. “How fast did it happen with you and Zilor?”

  “Fast. In fact, embarrassingly fast.”

  “So take me through it step by step. And what does ‘marked’ mean?” Again, she wanted to see if Indigo’s answers would match what Kaden had told her.

  Indigo’s laughter seemed to float around Lexie like fairies on the evening breeze. There was something otherworldly about Zilor’s mate. And it wasn’t just her multi-colored hair. Her effervescent personality made her seem more than human. “I felt the pull as soon as Zilor walked into my shop. Some females do, but most need to be kissed.”

  “So what happened when he kissed you?”

  “It heightened the attraction and made me want more, so much more.”

  A hot flush crept up Lexie’s neck and bloomed across her cheeks as Indigo’s description triggered memories of Kaden’s masterful kisses and bold caresses. Lexie had never felt such hunger or been so intoxicated by a man’s touch. “And ‘more’ means being marked?”

  “Yes.” Indigo’s expression turned distant and a telling flush spread across her skin. “With so many single males concentrated in one place, it’s dangerous for an unclaimed female to run around unescorted. The most effective way to back the males off is for a genetically compatible male to spread his scent all over the female. It’s temporary, but effective.”

  “And how does the male ‘spread his scent all over the female’?” Tingles rippled across her skin and a deep ache erupted between her thighs. So far, Indigo’s information had perfectly matched Kaden’s.

  “Skin to skin.” Indigo made it sound salacious. “The couple doesn’t have to do any more than kiss and touch, but they need to be naked, or at least mostly naked. Needless to say, marking often leads to other intimacies, so the female should only allow it if she’s genuinely interested in the male.”

  That stopped Lexie in her tracks. Was she genuinely interested in Kaden? She was trying hard to convince herself she wasn’t, but he certainly hadn’t had to work very hard to get her into bed. “Kaden told me each female will have six months to decide if she’s genuinely interested? That doesn’t seem like a lot of time.”

  Indigo’s expression turned quizzical. “She’ll have six months to agree to a joining. She’ll need to be marked much sooner than that. Any unmarked female will be kept in seclusion and she’ll have to be escorted from place to place.
Besides, if a female won’t agree to be marked, it’s doubtful she’ll seriously consider any of her matches. The battle born don’t have the resources to provide a security detail to each applicant.”

  Each detail Indigo revealed made Lexie more uncomfortable. “So each applicant will be a veritable prisoner unless she allows a stranger to touch and kiss her mostly naked body?” She swallowed hard, humiliated at how quickly Kaden had been able to mark her with his scent. “How long were you interested in Zilor before you let him mark you?”

  The playfulness gradually left Indigo’s features. “How long do average humans know each other before they have sex? Ever heard of casual hookups or good old booty calls? You’re making it sound like Rodytes are sex-starved animals, and it’s not like that at all. They’re working toward something long-lasting and strong. The pull amplifies natural attraction. If the female isn’t into the guy, she won’t feel anything. But if she likes him, then the pull will make her every bit as sexually aggressive as her potential mate.”

  It was hard for Lexie to argue when she’d felt the pull firsthand. Instead, she moved on. “So the female is marked. What happens next?”

  “The male who marked her has seven days to convince her to choose him for her mate.”

  Panic threatened Lexie’s calm. Then she reminded herself that she wasn’t an official participant in the transformation program. She wasn’t bound by these rules. “What happens at the end of seven days?”

  “Either the male can mark her again or she can choose another male. If she has more than one match, of course.”

  Lexie nodded, but Indigo’s explanation filled Lexie with more questions. She had six possible matches. And two of them were Kaden’s brothers. It didn’t matter! She was here for Libby, not to find a mate. “What was involved in the transformation? Are we talking surgical procedures or…how is it done?”

  Indigo hesitated, likely debating how much trouble she’d be in if she explained. “A series of injections triggered targeted mutations while we were forming our mating bond.” She laughed, then tucked her hair behind her ears. “In other words, it took a bunch of shots and a whole lot of sex to create the changes we were hoping for.”