Marauder Page 15

  Isolaund gave a sharp verbal command and the first cub was released. She barreled across the chamber and leapt at Isolaund, teeth bared, sharp claws fully extended. Easily using the protective glove to deflect the attack, Isolaund tested the cub’s strength and tenacity. When she snarled and growled refusing to let go, Isolaund backed her off with a second command. Immediately, the cub disengaged and joined her mother off to one side. One by one the cubs attacked on command. Isolaund had expected nothing less. Even Weniffa and Tozo appeared vicious and clung to her arm tenaciously until they were told to disengage.

  Once each cub had been tested, all six were led back to the far side of the cavern.

  The hairs on the back of Certice’s neck suddenly bristled and she growled. Isolaund whipped around to find Toxyn had just entered the room. “My training sessions are private. I’ll speak with you later.” Males could be such a bother.

  He smirked as he ambled right up to her. “You’ve been avoiding me and we both know it.”

  “I’ve been busy.” She was tempted not to say any more. He needed to understand that she would not be ruled by any male, even if he were her bonded mate. Still, a wise tactician knew how to choose her battles. “All of the cubs must be tested and there are nearly a hundred this year. If you have something important to say, say it. I don’t have time for banter.”

  He moved even closer and lowered his voice. “I’ve recruited a small but, I believe loyal, group of acquaintances. However, before we make any crucial moves, I would like to test their willingness to act in direct violation of Guiding Council mandates.”

  A bit less annoyed, she nodded. “That would be a wise precaution.”

  “You spend half your time wandering about aboveground. Do you have any suggestions?”

  It had been over a week since her last attack on the Outcasts. It might be good to try something different. “They’re building a large oblong structure not far from their cluster of ships. Construction stops each night at sundown. Have your team burn the thing to the ground.”

  His smirk widened into a grin. “I like it.” He chuckled. “I knew you’d think of something destructive but not too risky.”

  “I’m glad you approve,” she muttered, then waved him away. “I really do have a lot to accomplish tonight.”

  “Don’t let me stop you.” He crossed his arms over his chest and took a step back, but clearly had no intention of departing.

  With a frustrated sigh, she turned back to the cubs. They seemed unusually restless now. She started to insist that Toxyn leave, then decided against it. If the cubs couldn’t deal with change, they would be no good to her. Cages filled with ogtissas were brought in and set to either side of her. Each cage contained two of the large rodents, so the cubs would have to fight over the prey animals. The first four to kill or gain control of an ogtissa and lay it at her feet would win a spot in her program. The last two, or any cub refusing to kill, would be turned over to the labor pool. Her gut clenched at the thought of losing even one of her babies, but several of the councilors watched every move she made. They wanted to discontinue the battle cat program, believed it was a waste of time and money. She had no choice but to abide by the long established rules.

  Triggering the cages with a telepathic pulse, she then gave the command to kill. With a threatening growl, the cubs raced toward her. Hearing the commotion, two of the ogtissas darted out of the cages, looking for a better place to hide, but two huddled inside. She picked up the cages one at a time and dislodged the terrified rodents. Then she watched in helpless frustration as her cubs chased down and strangled the ogtissas. To her surprise Tozo was the second cub to lay his prize at her feet. Maybe she had mistaken methodical attention for passivity. Luppa and Weniffa ran over to her with the other cubs, but Weniffa had watched the entire drama unfold without even attempting to participate. Luppa, on the other hand, had the hind leg of one of the ogtissas clutched in her jaws. She might have lost the tug-of-war, but at least she tried.

  Isolaund latched on to the unusual outcome and took a deep breath. This would allow her to save little Luppa, but her hands were tied with Weniffa, at least with her assistants present. She knew at least one of them was spying for the Guiding Council. She just hadn’t been able to figure out which one or ones.

  The hateful pronouncement couldn’t be avoided, but she would find a way to rescue Weniffa too. She looked at her lead assistant and said, “Take Weniffa to the labor pool.” Certice growled softly, clearly understanding what was happening. Isolaund couldn’t relent, not while her audience assessed every move she made. She would make it up to Certice, but for right now her heartrending reaction reinforced the lie.

  “What about Luppa?” her assistant asked, gaze cold and cunning. “Technically, she did not finish the test either.”

  “I am concerned as well, but she has earned another week of training with her effort.”

  “Yes, mistress.” She led Weniffa away and Certice’s distressed sounds nearly broke Isolaund’s heart. She went to the karron and knelt, wrapping her arms around her favorite’s muscular neck. “I cannot make exceptions, dear girl. This life is not meant for everyone.” But telepathically, she sent a different message, promising that the cub was safe and she would explain once everyone else had departed. Certice was too upset to reply.

  “You honestly think that beast can understand what just happened here?” Toxyn sounded dubious and a bit mocking.

  Isolaund glared at him without releasing her hold on Certice. “Karrons might not speak, but they are more intelligent than many Sarronti I know.” Not only did she see continual demonstrations of Certice’s intelligence, their telepathic link allowed them in-depth conversations. But Toxyn wasn’t worthy of that information, so Isolaund didn’t mention it.

  After a long pause, she stood and faced her uninvited guest. “When will you launch the attack on the Outcasts? I’d like to be there.”

  “In the next day or two,” he told her. “I’ll let you know.”

  Chapter Nine

  Thea’s jaw dropped as Lily rattled off all the things that had happened in the two weeks Thea had been away. “Wait. Go back to the ‘Arton and I are bonded’ part.”

  Lily laughed, a wonderfully carefree sound. Thea had never seen Lily so happy before. “I know. I can hardly believe it either. I’d always heard that still waters run deep and boy was that true with Arton.”

  Careful to keep her weight balanced on the rickety folding chair, Thea soaked in her surroundings as she processed all the new information. The sky was cloudless and brilliant teal, a constant reminder that they were no longer on Earth. A cool breeze rustled the turquoise leaves on the trees all around them and the air smelled fresh yet subtly spicy.

  Desperate to escape the redundant corridors of the twelve connected ships, a group of females had convinced some of the Outcasts to “print” lawn chairs so they could sit outside the Wheel in the shade of the nearby trees. The Outcasts had done their best to duplicate a lawn chair, but none of them had ever seen one before. The result was interesting to say the least. The seat was solid and slightly convex, the back slatted, the legs short and rather spindly. It was easy to topple over if one wasn’t paying attention, but Thea found that pushing the legs into the ground helped stabilize the strange little chairs.

  “Does he make you happy?” Thea asked after a relaxed pause.

  “Very much so.” A tentative smile crept across Lily’s lips. “Does Rex make you happy?”

  Thea had arrived at the lab where Lily worked alone and hadn’t said a word about Rex and her being together, but Lily knew her too well not to figure it out. They had been gone for two weeks after all, which was an eternity in a Rodyte courtship.

  “Rex and I are still working out the details,” Thea told her, “but the pull is incredibly hard to resist.”

  Lily leaned forward, nearly toppling over in the process. Rather than fighting the challenging chair, she simply stood up. “I don’t have that excuse. Arton a
nd I aren’t compatible. We’re just surprisingly well suited.”

  Thea stood as well, suddenly feeling the need to walk. Everything was changing so fast. It made her head spin. “It’s not just an excuse. Yes, I was intrigued by Rex even before I met him, but the pull strips away inhibitions and spikes the libido like nothing I’ve ever experienced before.”

  Falling into step beside Thea, Lily asked, “Is lust all you feel for Rex? The pull amplifies the urge to mate. It doesn’t make a person likeable, or a more enjoyable companion.”

  “I understand that, and no, lust isn’t all I feel for Rex. It’s just happening so fast. It’s only been a few months since I lost everything. I feel like I’m being disloyal to the ones I lost by moving on this quickly.”

  “Have you explained this to Rex?”

  “I’ve tried, but each time we touch the last thing on my mind is waiting.” A cool breeze brushed across Thea’s face, filling her nose with the fresh scents of the forest. With a mixture of pine, spring flowers and damp ground, the smells reminded her of Earth.

  “Is he pressuring you to accept his claim?” Lily sounded genuinely concerned.

  “Not at all. He’s promised he’ll wait as long as I need him to, but I don’t want him to think I’m playing games. I really do think he’s the one.”

  Lily’s brows drew together and she looked like she’d say something, then she shook her head and looked away.

  “What? You were going to say something.”

  “It’s a strange idea, and I don’t know if he’d understand.”

  Thea shrugged. “Tell me anyway. Let me decide if it’s useful.”

  “Okay. You could tell Rex about engagements—that couples on Earth commit to each other, but wait a few months for the bonding.”

  Thea soaked in the idea, trying to think of possible complications. “I kind of like the idea. It would show him I’m serious about him, but give me time to finish grieving.”

  “Exactly.” Lily smiled, then reached down and squeezed her hand. “Are you sure he’s the one. His reputation is terrible.”

  Thea wasn’t bothered by the criticism. Her reputation was bad too. “Rex is very different from his reputation, and yet aspects of his personality are exactly as he’s described. He’s surprisingly complex.”

  Lily’s smile turned mysterious. “Apparently we’re both attracted to complex men. Arton is all that and more.” Suddenly she perked up and touched Thea’s arm. “Arton’s parents are here. You have to meet his mother. Her name is Skyla and she’s quite a character.”

  Thea stopped walking and faced her friend. “Why are Arton’s parents here? Isn’t his father a bigshot general or something?”

  “Kryton is retired now and it was actually Skyla who arrived first. Kryton came later.”

  “That didn’t tell me why they’re here,” Thea pointed out.

  “It’s a long involved story.” Lily started walking again, clearly hoping the motion would motivate Thea to move on.

  Thea laughed and hurried to Lily’s side. “No way I’m letting you off the hook that easily. Give me the shortened condensed version, but I won’t stop bugging you until you tell me what happened.”

  Lily’s smile brightened and a dreamy quality came over her expression. “It’s all sort of surreal. After much extremely unfair persuasion, Arton convinced me to cooperate.”

  “I can imagine. I don’t know if they’re trained to be seductive or if it comes naturally, but they all seem to have it.”

  “Agreed.” Color deepened across Lily’s cheeks and she rushed on, “I gave them the formula that stabilizes the transformation and they used it on the first couple.” Lily shot her a sidelong glance as they strolled along. “You’ll never guess who volunteered?”

  Thea tensed, trepidation running cold fingers down her spine. “No way. Are Jillian and Stront compatible?” She shook her head, knowing it was true before Lily spoke. “No wonder they can’t keep their hands off each other. And no wonder you finally agreed to help.” Jillian was one of their cabin mates. She was young and sweet and hadn’t even tried to hide her attraction for one of their guards.

  “That was a big part of it, I agree, but it wasn’t just Jillian. The women took a vote and a majority agreed to participate in the program. They can’t even claim to be captives anymore. Kryton has agreed to take any of them back to Earth so long as they interact with at least one of their compatible males first.”

  Thea scoffed, frustrated by the stipulation. “We both know what that means. They meet their potential mate, the pull kicks in, and voila, no one wants to go home because they’re too busy boinking like bunnies.” The conclusion made Lily laugh and Thea glared.

  “Sorry.” Lily held up a hand and gradually regained her composure. “I feel the same way, honestly. Still, it’s closer to freedom than we’ve come since leaving Earth.”

  “True,” Thea grumbled, still annoyed.

  “You have to look at it from their perspective. They have—”

  “Don’t even go there. The only reason I’m interested in Rex is because he had nothing to do with the kidnappings. Arton on the other hand...” She didn’t finish the sentence. They both knew the truth. Arton hadn’t only been involved in Thea’s kidnapping, he had also been the one to actually commit the act.

  “I get it. No more defending how we got here.”

  “Good plan.” Thea sighed. The last thing she wanted to do was fight with her only real friend. She liked Jillian and Sara, her other two roommates, but she’d woken up from the sedation Arton gave her strapped to a seat right next to Lily. They’d been together, more or less, ever since. The shared trauma had created a bond years of traditional friendship couldn’t replicate. “Back to your explanation. Arton convinced you to help with the transformations. What happened next?”

  “Jillian and Stront were given the injections. Everything seemed to be running smoothly, but Jillian—it’s hard to explain. She sort of locked up during the actual metamorphosis. She released Stront’s power, then became lost on the metaphysical plane. That’s where Skyla came in.”

  They rounded a bend and came upon one of the perimeter guards. He nodded respectfully, but didn’t seem in any hurry to continue on his route.

  “We have to head back,” Lily told her. “The karron attacks have gotten really bad. Kage doesn’t want anyone beyond the perimeter without an armed escort.”

  “What the hell is a karron?” Reluctantly Thea turned around and followed Lily back the way they’d come. She glanced back in time to see the guard resume his trek through the trees, apparently satisfied that they were abiding by the overlord’s mandate. How strange.

  “They’re also called battle cats. Think massive lion with plate armor instead of a mane.”

  “That’s right. Kage said you were attacked by one. I didn’t know what they were called. He also said one of Arton’s dream elves is controlling them.” After a short pause, she asked, “Has anyone else seen the elves?” She didn’t mean to sound condescending, but it was a wild claim.

  Frustration soured Lily’s carefree expression, and she heaved a sigh. “The elves are just as real as the cats, but Arton is still the only one who has actually seen them. Well, I’m pretty sure I caught a glimpse of one. Mostly I just saw her cloak.” She waved away the mystery, clearly defensive about the topic. “Let’s tackle one subject at a time.” She rushed on before Thea could ask any more questions. “We were ready for the medical side of the transformation, but we weren’t prepared for the metaphysical side. Skyla is more powerful than you can imagine. She’s been training guides to help the couples as they undergo the transformation. It all sounds very strange unless you’ve experienced it.”

  The casualness with which Lily spoke of the paranormal shocked Thea. Lily was a scientist. She was logical, even skeptical about anything she couldn’t touch or at least see. “Have you experienced the, what did you call it, metaphysical plane?”

  “Technically I think we were dream sharing
, but yes. I’ve experienced things no scientist on Earth would believe. Arton has opened my eyes to an entirely new aspect of reality.”

  “Wow,” she said under her breath. “I never thought I’d hear things like this from you. You’ve always been our resident skeptic.”

  “Well, scientific principles seem to bend and twist on this planet. It’s hard to deny what I’ve experienced firsthand.”

  They emerged from the trees a few minutes later and found their males standing near the ramp leading to the first deck of the Viper. They were deep in conversation and Rex didn’t look pleased. Thea bristled when she saw Arton. Even knowing her best friend was now mated to the harbinger didn’t make Thea comfortable with him. She might be able to forgive him in time. He had played a part in her meeting Rex. Still, right now all she felt was resentment.

  “This is not my fight,” Rex snapped, clearly frustrated by their conversation. “I’m not an Outcast for this very reason.”

  “Your mate is human,” Arton argued. “This is her fight, which makes it yours.” Though the harbinger hadn’t raised his voice, his tone was even more intense than Rex’s.

  “If I’d wanted to go to war, I’d still be a mercenary. I’m a smuggler. I don’t take sides in any conflict.”

  Arton looked at Thea pointedly. “Will you still feel that way when your mate is threatened or harmed by the conflict you’re not a part of?”

  “I can conduct business without ever leaving my ship. Let me worry about Thea’s safety!”

  “I never took you for a coward,” Arton sneered.

  Rex folded his hands into fists, jaw tightly clenched. His phitons flashed with golden fire, but he blew out a ragged breath and turned to Thea. “This is a waste of time. Let’s go.”