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  “You said ‘on the surface’. Does that mean you’ve reconsidered?” Fyran scooted closer and rested his forearms on the desktop. His eyes narrowed and his lips pressed together.

  “You gave me three days to consider the proposal and I’m damn glad you did. I was ready to hand over our compound, but then I realized something.” He let a crafty smile curve his lips, wanting the inexperienced commander to know he was bested. “If you actually had the transformation formula, you’d have no need for the other compound. Both drugs claim to accomplish the same thing, reintroducing magic into Rodyte bloodlines. However, the original compound accomplishes this indirectly and only works if the child is female. The new formula, according to the battle born, empowers the male himself and has worked in every test subject. Which strategy would you choose?”

  Fyran’s upper lip curled and his nostrils flared. “I have an operative in place that will steal, or perhaps has stolen, the formula. I expected to hear from her by now. Unfortunately, I haven’t.”

  Ulrik fought the impulse to roll his eyes. Was Fyran really so gullible? “If you’re talking about Milanni, she’s locked in a detention cell aboard the Destroyer. Your operative failed.”

  Though he tried to control his expression, the shock in Fyran’s gaze gave him away. “A momentary setback. Don’t underestimate her resourcefulness.”

  Ulrik laughed. “I don’t consider tits and ass legitimate resources.”

  Fyran fidgeted for a moment, clearly trying to salvage the rapidly crumbling deal. “What’s your interest in the transformation formula anyway? I thought Tandori Tribe was the long-lost group of Rodytes who could still control magic.”

  Suspicion rolled over Ulrik. Was this Fyran’s real motivation? Had he learned the true scope of the Tandori crisis and was trying to exploit their weakness?

  Tandori Tribe was relatively small, making it nearly impossible to maintain a healthy gene pool. Interbreeding with humans had been inevitable and by the third generation many, if not most, of the descendants could no longer manipulate magic. The few healers that remained insisted that they could still sense Bilarrian energy in many of the tribe members, which made the transformation process very appealing. Except for the fact that the battle born bastards controlled the entire program.

  Thankfully, Ulrik’s family had been protected from this erosion of power. They were the original family, Tandori by blood not just association. Their mates had been chosen with the utmost care and regular infusions of Bilarri genetics had been added back into the mix. It was their responsibility to maintain the sacred bonding grounds, a task that required powerful magic.

  “You don’t have what you promised. This conversation is over.” Ulrik stood and turned toward the door.

  “Wait.” Fyran came out of his chair and flew around the desk, grabbing Ulrik’s upper arm.

  Ulrik twisted out of the light grasp and glared at Fyran. “You have nothing I want, so why am I here?”

  “You want Garin Nox dead and the battle born in chains. Is this true or not?” Challenge combined with resentment to make Fyran’s tone growl.

  Again Ulrik hesitated, afraid Fyran was fishing for information. “You have one ship. It’s impressive, I grant you, but what possible use can you be in counteracting the battle born coupe? And it is a full-blown coupe. Quinton has already been deposed.”

  “I’m aware.” A secretive smile slowly parted Fyran’s lips. “And I’m not alone, far from it.”

  Rather than argue with the claim, Ulrik asked, “What do you want from me?”

  “The original formula. I still believe Milanni is going to come through for me, but the crew shares your skepticism. I need something to pacify them until I hear from Milanni.”

  “Worried about a mutiny?” Ulrik chuckled. If he could see through Fyran’s façade, no doubt his crew could too.

  Fyran didn’t respond to the mockery, he remained focused on his goal. “What do you want in exchange for the compound? I firmly believe I’ll be able to honor our deal soon, but I need the original compound now.”

  Ulrik thought for a moment. Tandori Tribe was financially secure, but they’d always resisted the temptation of Rodyte technology. Their survival had depended on successfully blending with humans, but Garin’s foolish messages had made such caution unnecessary.

  Even as he considered the possibilities a pang of guilt reverberated through his being. Fyran intended to allow his crew to hunt human females and force them to bond against their wills. Could he really be a party to such cowardice?

  Then another complication shouldered its way through the others. “It takes more than bonding with a human female to gain access to their magic. Do your men realize that?”

  Fyran returned to his desk, apparently feeling more secure behind the barrier. “It’s a stopgap. It will seem like progress and hopefully back them off long enough for Milanni to do her thing.”

  He was deluded. Milanni was firmly under battle born control. There was no way she’d get her hands on the transformation formula. Ulrik was about to reassert his position when Fyran’s intentions became clear. “You’re not going to tell them. You intend to pass it off as the transformation formula. You allow a handful of your men to serve as ‘test subjects’ and you’ll be confused and infuriated when the process doesn’t work the way the battle born doctors claim.”

  “It’s temporary,” he snapped. “It will take at least a week for the test subjects to figure out that the formula failed, and by then I’ll have the real thing.”

  It was diabolical and desperate, yet Ulrik couldn’t quite slam the door and walk away. What if Fyran had connected with others who opposed the battle born? And what if by some miracle Milanni managed to steal the formula? Ulrik needed to keep his options open.

  “Technology,” he stated. “I want Rodyte technology in exchange for the original compound.”

  “What sort of technology?”

  Fyran wasn’t the only one who could utilize stall tactics. “I’m not sure. I need to meet with the other council members to compile a prioritized list.”

  Clearly frustrated by the delay, Fyran ran an anxious hand over his head, scrubbing at his short hair. “You have three more days, then I’ll find some other way to pacify the crew.”

  Chapter Seven

  Indigo had Lexie laughing like a teenager by the time Kaden returned to the Pavilion. Her quirky sense of humor and talkativeness was just what Lexie needed to help relieve the stress of the past few weeks. Nothing would make her forget about Libby, but it felt good to relax just a bit.

  “Seriously, they call Zilor the puppy,” Indigo was saying as Kaden walked into the courtyard. “And secretly I think he likes it.”

  “But he’s enormous.” Lexie couldn’t stop smiling. “Are the other Nox brothers even bigger than Zilor?”

  Indigo shook her head. “It has nothing to do with his size.”

  “After their father died, Zilor followed Garin around like a shadow for weeks,” Kaden explained as he joined them on the far side of the fountain. “Garin asked him if he was a boy or a puppy, and it just sort of stuck.”

  “They were still fairly young, I take it?” Awareness built inside Lexie with each step Kaden took. How did he manage to affect her entire body without even touching her?

  “Much too young to lose both their parents,” Indigo confirmed, then waved away the subject. “Enough of my reminiscing. Did Garin approve the exchange?”

  “It was more like he made a counter offer.” He held out his hand toward Lexie. “We need to go convince Milanni to help us.”

  “Come back anytime,” Indigo called. “We females need to stick together.”

  Lexie waved goodbye, but Kaden was clearly on a mission. She had to lengthen her stride to keep up with his brisk pace. “What was Garin’s counter offer?”

  “He wants me to go undercover and see if I can find out if Fyran has support or if he’s still out there all alone.”

  She didn’t ask for details. He�
��d have to explain everything to Milanni anyway. There was no need to hear it all twice.

  “Did you enjoy your visit with Indigo?”

  She nodded. “I’m sure Zilor has his hands full keeping her out of trouble. She said Garin has two brothers. Are they both here on Lunar Nine?”

  “They were, but Bandar and Garin were part of the actual insurrection. After they removed Quinton from power, they stayed on Rodymia to oversee the transition to the new, more balanced form of government.”

  “I’m glad they didn’t replace one dictator with another. That sort of thing seldom benefits anyone.”

  His gaze was warm and caressing as he looked at her. “There are a lot of parts still in motion, but everything is moving in the right direction for a change.”

  They arrived at the Destroyer and were escorted to the detention center without incident. As Indigo predicted, the shock was starting to wear off and Lexie’s mind was filled with possibilities.

  “I have an answer for you,” Kaden switched to English, prompting Milanni to do the same.

  She sat on the bunk in her cell, much as she had when they visited her the first time. “What did Raylon have to say?” She sounded weary, as if harassing others no longer amused her.

  “We have a counter offer. Deal with us directly or you’ll be transferred to Invectta Four tomorrow morning. We’re tired of the dance, Milanni. This is our last offer.”

  Like a spark to tinder, Milanni’s expression went from empty resignation to open rebellion. “That’s not an offer. It’s a threat.”

  “This is the offer, you’ll be taken to the Fortris Colony, and you’ll be provided with a new identity and enough common credits to start a new life. The colony is known for welcoming anyone who genuinely wants to start over. It’s remote and somewhat primitive, but it’s your best bet.”

  “You’ll let me go. Just like that, you’ll put me on a shuttle and let me go?” Disbelief rang through in every word.

  “Oh, make no mistake, you’ll have to work for it. But once our conditions are met, on the honor of the battle born, you will have your freedom.”

  “Conditions?” Her eyes narrowed and she swung her legs over the side of the bunk. “I thought we were bartering for the location of the Relentless. What else am I required to do?”

  Kaden stayed on task and didn’t react to her obvious displeasure. “You need to convince Fyran that you’ve sent me in your place to conclude the transaction. You will only be released if I’m greeted with respect and remain unharmed during my entire stay.”

  “It would never work.” Rather than looking deflated, Milanni’s gaze moved over to Lexie. “Fyran knows there’s no way in all of hell’s rings that I’d trust my future to any man.”

  “But he’d believe you sent me?” Lexie’s pulse kicked up as she realized where this was headed. She wouldn’t be required to stay on Lunar Nine while Kaden ran headlong into danger. Like true partners, they would have each other’s backs.

  Speculation filled Milanni’s eyes as she looked Lexie up and down. “You’re too old to pass for one of my girls. Maybe a hybrid relative, or friendly competitor. It doesn’t matter what you decide as long as you can sell it.”

  “She could sell it,” Kaden insisted, “but I don’t see why she needs to be involved.”

  Milanni stood and walked closer to the containment field. “You’ve made my freedom contingent upon your success. We can both get what we want, but you have to do exactly what I say.”

  Kaden just scowled at her.

  “You can be her bodyguard, or whatever, but your mate has to take the lead or there’s no way Fyran will believe you.”

  “Fine.” He sounded anything but pleased. “Give me the location of the Relentless.”

  “I need access to my ship.” Her expression was calm, unemotional, but Lexie felt her protective instincts engage.

  Apparently, Kaden felt the same. “Not a chance.”

  “That’s how it works. I send Fyran an encrypted message. He responds with his ship’s current position. If the message isn’t encrypted by my ship, he’ll know it’s not from me. The encryption program on my ship is one of a kind.”

  “Tell me the step-by-step process and I’ll send the message for you. There’s no way we’re letting you anywhere near that ship.”

  “Are you always so paranoid?” Then she rattled off the steps needed to send the message. “End by asking about his sister’s health. It’s another code to let him know it’s me.”

  Kaden acknowledged the warning with a nod. “How long will it take him to respond?”

  Milanni shrugged and strolled back to her bunk. “No idea.”

  Without further comment, Kaden turned and left. Lexie hurried along at his side.

  They reached the upper concourse before he spoke again. “I hate having to trust her. It would be so easy for her to send us into a trap.”

  “That might be amusing in the short-term, but it would keep her from what she wants most, her freedom.”

  “Yeah, technomages don’t do well in captivity.”

  “What’s a technomage?”

  “I keep forgetting how little you know about my culture.” He looked down at her and smiled, causing her pulse to jump into a now familiar rhythm. “Technomages are a group of operatives who work for the Integration Guild. Like Milanni, they have tons of internal tech that allows them to mimic Bilarrian abilities. Anyone who didn’t realize what they were would think they could manipulate real magic.”

  Journalistic curiosity flooded her mind with questions. “Can you give me an example of what they can do? We don’t have anything like that on Earth.”

  “Their abilities differ according to their implants, but they’re all telepathic, telekinetics is another common choice. Controlling fire is also popular, and most can teleport, though individual ranges differ greatly.”

  “What can Milanni do?” Lexie was fascinated by the concept. Even if the abilities were created by technology, Lexie couldn’t imagine being able to do any of those things.

  “Nothing right now.” He winked at her. “And we mean to keep it that way.” A sardonic smile flitted over his mouth, but she saw a hint of pity in his eyes. “That’s why she can never have access to her ship. We can’t allow someone like Milanni access to her abilities. She’s proven repeatedly in the past that she can’t be trusted with that sort of power.”

  Before she could evaluate his possible reactions, her mouth was on the run again. “Should that be your decision to make? Are you going to psychoanalyze every battle born soldier to determine if he can be trusted with magic powers?”

  His brow wrinkled and his lips thinned. Clearly, she’d struck a nerve. “The battle born inherited this energy from their mothers. They didn’t mutilate their bodies to achieve it.”

  She shook her head, having heard similar arguments used to debate equally contentious situations. When and how aggressively should doctors intervene to keep a baby alive or who should decide when and how life ends? “If you’re going to make this about nature versus science, I’m afraid you’ll lose. Nature created you without the ability to use your magic. If we follow your logic, you must be unworthy of using it.”

  He stopped walking and clasped his hands behind his back. “Is this what you believe?”

  “No,” she stressed. “But what has Milanni done to deserve to be cut off from her magic permanently? You said she didn’t mean to kill the man. Was she tried for her other crimes? Is the opportunity to face one’s accusers and defend one’s self not part of your culture?”

  “Milanni is a prisoner of war, so she was tried by a tribunal rather than a jury of her peers. But she had ample opportunity to defend herself.”

  “All right, I’ll back off. You just sounded way too hypocritical. I couldn’t let it slide.”

  He said nothing, but started walking again.

  She presumed they were headed toward Milanni’s ship so she kept pace with him. “Can I ask one more question before we s
top talking about Milanni?”

  “Somehow I think you’ll always have one more question.” His hands were still clasped behind his back, but at least his expression had started to relax.

  “What would Milanni be able to do if you gave her access to her ship?”

  “I don’t know. I’d never met Milanni before she played chicken with the Intrepid.”

  “She did what?” She knew Milanni deserved to be locked up, but there was something about her that made Lexie feel sorry for her too.

  “She forced her way through the energy net protecting the cavern’s entrance, then made a mad dash for my ship. Her passenger was in really bad shape at the time, but it was a ploy to get Milanni on board so she could steal the transformation formula. Thus the detention cell.”

  She motioned toward the ships lining the concourse as his steps began to slow. “Which one is her ship?”

  “It’s not here. It’s impounded on the Undaunted.”

  She’d never keep all these ships straight, much less remember all the new names he’d mentioned and how they fit into the overall picture. She needed to sit down somewhere quiet and create a flowchart. “Oh, by the way, did you ask Raylon about my pictures? Will I be able to keep what I’ve taken already?” She looked up at him and batted her eyelashes. “Maybe even take a few more?”

  He laughed, clearly seeing through her flirtation attempt to sway him. “We need to have a longer conversation about this, so let’s wait until after I’ve sent the message.”

  “All right. Which one’s the Undaunted?”

  “We’ll have to bio-stream over. She’s too big to fit inside the cavern.”

  Lexie froze. She couldn’t decide if she was more intimidated by the idea of teleporting or by the fact that the battle born had a ship too large to fit inside this massive cave.

  Another warm laugh escaped Kaden. “You look suitably shocked. Would you rather stay with Indigo while I take care of this?”