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  “And we have at least two to locate and neutralize.” He blew out a breath, obviously frustrated. “I should have realized it wouldn’t be that easy.”

  Her smile was tinged with sadness. “Nothing ever is.”

  “DID IT WORK?” ALONOV stood in the doorway to his private quarters.

  Isolaund looked up and down the corridor before responding. Only the common areas of the underground were surveilled, but curious ears were always lurking about. “Just like I knew it would.” She finally relaxed enough to smile. “I still don’t know what’s interfering with the lenitas communication, but I received confirmation that the new mission parameters were successfully uploaded. The distraction worked perfectly. By this time tomorrow Arrista will be dead, and then you can kill that faithless karron.” She scowled. “I still can’t believe Certice betrayed me. It’s very disappointing.”

  “You showed weakness by sparing the cubs. Karrons hate weakness, just like me.”

  She raised her chin and glared into his eyes. “You think I’m weak?”

  “I think you’re inexperienced, but you have great potential for strength.”

  “And you’re going to help me reach my full potential?” She scoffed. “That’s a novel approach.”

  “I don’t want you in my bed, Isolaund. I thought I made that clear. I want your connection among the Ayrontu. You are popular in certain circles. You can influence the sorts of people we’ll need to support us after the coup.”

  She wanted the Ayrontu back in power more than anything. Giving each designation a voice had just confused things. Instead of calming the conflicts, the new strategy deepened resentments of the lesser designations and compromised the Ayrontu’s ability to rule. Even so, the younger sect, her brother Indrex’s sect, grew stronger with each passing day.

  “The only thing holding you back is your fixation with those stupid cats.”

  The statement jarred her out of her contemplations. “What about my cats?”

  “The program is childish and impractical. Besides, you have another tool at your disposal that is far more valuable. It deserves your full attention.”

  “The Shadow lenitas.” She knew he was right. Many had tried to make Shadow lenitas work properly. They needed to control completely without damaging the host brain so badly, the host no longer functioned. Many had struggled for the balance down through the years. Her father was the only one who had succeeded, and she was the only one bold enough to test his prototype in a live host. Still, the karrons had been her focus for so long, it was hard to let go.

  “Mind slaves are your future,” Alonov persisted. “You need to accept it and stop wasting time with your pets. Obviously, they are undependable.”

  “I’ll think about it.” She took a deep breath and rolled her shoulders. “In the meantime, you need to figure out how to retrieve your son from the Outcasts. Our plans cannot progress until Farlo is returned. That was your condition.”

  “As if I needed the reminder,” he grumbled. “If I’d led the mission, it wouldn’t have failed. I won’t make that mistake again.”

  “My Shadow agent did his part,” she pointed out. “The failure was entirely yours.”

  “I’m aware,” he snapped.

  “Hopefully, the next mission will conclude without revealing the identity of my agent. It’s wasteful to only use them once.”

  “They’re Outcasts, who the fuck cares?”

  And she was back to glaring again. The cranky old goat was incredibly hard to like. “I don’t have an infinite supply. As you said they are valuable.”

  “What did you have Malik do with the first one? I saw you talking to him.”

  A certain edge in Alonov’s tone drew her attention. He swore he didn’t want her, but he’d sounded almost jealous. Malik was young and virile. Some even expected him to replace Alonov—if the old goat ever retired. “I asked him to arrange a message for me. I wanted to make damn sure the Outcasts understood my intentions, so tonight wasn’t a complete waste.”

  He made a grunt-ish sound then shut the door in her face.

  She rolled her eyes. “Always nice speaking with you.” Whirling on the heel of her boot, she walked away as fast as she could. Why had mother creator burdened her with such a disagreeable partner? If his army wasn’t necessary to enforce the coming takeover, she would have killed him a long time ago.

  TORRIN WAS NEARLY TO the Wheel when he asked Arrista, “How did you get out of our cabin? I know for certain I locked that door.”

  She glanced at him, then away. “Sarronti secret.”

  He stopped walking and took her by the shoulders, turning her to face him. “Explain.”

  “My abilities are scattered and not very strong, but I’m able to do one thing well.”

  “Pick locks?”

  She smiled but still wouldn’t meet his gaze. “I can pass through solid objects. Some call it ‘flowing’.”

  He curved his fingers around her chin and tilted her head back until she looked at him. “You can flow through any solid object?”

  “It takes concentration and a massive amount of energy, but yes.”

  “Restraints won’t hold you?”

  “Not anymore.” A hint of a smile curved her lips. “It was much harder to do while the compulsion was still in place.”

  “What about containment fields? They aren’t technically solid.”

  “I’ve never tried. Is this important right now?”

  He shook his head. “I’m just curious.” He took her hand, and they continued on toward the Wheel.

  A crowd had gathered in the commons of the Viper. Conversations overlapped, creating an unintelligible din.

  “What’s going on?” she nearly shouted to be heard over the noise.

  “I’m not sure.” He tried to lead her away from the disruption. They’d had more than enough excitement for one night.

  She tugged on his hand, drawing him toward the crowd of onlookers. Torak and Kage stood in the middle of the throng, both looking grim and upset. The crowd shifted, and Torrin briefly saw the cause of the disturbance. He shuddered and quickly drew her into his arms, turning her face away.

  “You don’t need to see this,” he said firmly.

  “But what is it? It can’t be worse than my imagination.”

  “Don’t be so sure.” He quickly led her onto one of the elevators, trying to rid his mind of the gruesome image.

  “Tell me,” she insisted, her chin tilted up stubbornly.

  He sighed. Clearly, she wasn’t going to leave it alone. “It was Sonters’ body. Someone slit his throat and carved ‘I will make more’ into his chest.”

  She gasped and pressed her hand to her throat. “Isolaund is taunting us.” She shook her head, eyes wide and unblinking. “Just when I thought I couldn’t hate her more, she does this.”

  He wrapped his arms around her, rocking her gently against his chest. “She has no power over you. We will protect you. Tonight should have shown you that.”

  Her head moved against his chest. She was tucked under his chin so he couldn’t see, but he presumed she’d nodded.

  The elevator door slid open, and she pulled away, walking ahead of him toward their cabin. “We have to stop her. Gods, how do we stop her?”

  They’d already talked basic strategy, find the Shadow agents, expand the shields, post extra guards and so forth. He decided to shift her focus rather than reinforce her uncertainty. “You were incredibly brave with Isolaund. I was so proud of you.”

  She looked and him and smiled a little. “It felt good to stand up to her for a change. You wouldn’t believe the demeaning things that bitch made me do.”

  He brushed his knuckles across her cheek, then scanned open the door. “She enslaved your mind, love. Clearly, she will stop at nothing to get what she wants.”

  Arrista nodded as she stepped past him and into their cabin. “That’s what scares me. She’s dangerous, so very dangerous.”

  “We’ve got some pretty b
ig guns on our team too,” he reminded as he followed her into the room. “Kage reached into your mind and smashed Isolaund’s compulsion. Doesn’t that make him stronger than her?”

  “I don’t know, but it’s a fight I’d love to see.” Her smile finally reached her eyes, even if the gleam was a bit too bloodthirsty.

  “Unfortunately, I suspect it’s unavoidable.” He held out his hand, palm up. “Enough about that evil elf. Let’s go to bed.” She placed her hand on his, but her hesitant smile made him ask, “Why did that make you smile?”

  “Because Isolaund and I are the only Sarronti who understand what an elf is. It’s rather pointless to compare the Sarronti to something they’ve never encountered.”

  He returned her smile, more than ready to lighten the mood. “The Sarronti have been visiting Earth for centuries, correct?” She nodded. “The physical description of elves closely resembles the appearance of the Sarronti. True?”

  “Yes, but—”

  “I don’t believe in coincidences.” He pulled her closer and lowered his voice, trying to sound very dramatic. “Elves have magic power and come from the ‘other world’. Like it or not, my love, you are an elf.”

  She laughed and ran her hands up his chest, curving her fingers over his shoulders. “But other Sarronti don’t know that.”

  He kissed the tip of her nose, then her softly parted lips. “It’s a valid point,” he finally conceded. “I’ve had to explain the reference to more than a few Outcasts too. Earth really is secluded.”

  They reached the bedroom, and she playfully tugged her hand out of his light grasp. “What if I’m not tired yet?”

  “You’ll sleep like a baby in an hour or two,” he predicted.

  “An hour or two?” she laughed. “You definitely have more energy than I do right now.”

  “That’s fine, baby.” He swept her up in his arms and placed her on the center of the bed. “Just lay back and relax.”

  “Not a chance.” She got up and knee walked to the edge of the bed. “You keep promising you’ll let me taste you, but you never do. Well, ‘next time’ is right now.”

  She didn’t even try to undress him, just focused in on the front of his pants. Her showdown with Isolaund helped her feel powerful. He could see it in her eyes and her biological readings. Rather than let her fumble and grow frustrated, he tore off his shirt and opened the front seam of his pants. Then he lowered his arms and let her do the rest.

  Apparently finding her position awkward, she scooted off the bed and paused to run her hands over his chest and arms. He wasn’t sure if it was his tattoos or just the shape of his body, but the second his clothes were removed, she began touching him. He didn’t care what triggered her fascination, as long as she kept right on touching him.

  Eventually, her attention returned to her original goal. She hooked her thumbs over the waistband of his pants and dragged them down past his hips. His cock sprang free, already bone-hard and ready to fill her. She paused to stroke him for a moment, then continued undressing him. He quickly sat and pulled off his boots, allowing her to remove his pants.

  She tried to push him over onto his back. “Just lay back and relax,” she mocked him with his own words.

  “Make me,” he challenged.

  She shoved against his shoulders for all she was worth but failed to move him. “Fine.” She huffed and pushed his legs apart so she could kneel between them. “I know how to make you weak.”

  Her warm little fingers closed around his shaft, and then her breath teased his sensitive tip. He groaned, instinctively pushing his hands into her long blue hair. Her lips brushed against him, then parted, encircling just the flared head. He moaned, his eyelids drooping despite his desire to watch her.

  “What’s the matter, baby?” she purred. “Feeling...weak?”

  He tightened his fingers in her hair and slowly pushed into her mouth.

  She chuckled and went to work, stroking his shaft with one hand while her silky mouth moved up and down. He gathered her hair to one side so he could watch his length disappear into her mouth. The sight alone made his balls ache, but the sounds she was making made it damn hard to hold back.

  Don’t hold back. I want your taste in my mouth while you fill me up.

  The sensual rasp of her voice filled his head, and he snapped. He dropped his head back and rocked his hips, abandoning anything resembling control. He bumped the back of her mouth with each thrust, but she didn’t hesitate, kept right on bobbing, and licking as if she wanted to devour him. He understood the feeling. She unleashed it in him every time he tasted her.

  She sucked hard, letting her teeth lightly drag against this shaft. The sharp sensation was more than his control could withstand. He quickly thrust to the back of her mouth and let the pleasure come. Wave after blissful wave rippled through his body. He spilled his seed down her throat as he groaned out her name.

  Taking her own sweet time to release him, her sensual licking had him half-hard again. She grinned in triumph and shoved hard against his shoulders. He went over easily, and she crawled on top of him, straddling his hips.

  She braced herself against his shoulders and stared into his eyes. “See?” She beamed. “Weak as a kitten.”

  He laughed, too content to prove her wrong. “What are you going to do with me now?”

  Chapter Nine

  Torrin made Arrista so ridiculously happy, she couldn’t stop smiling. Each pleasure they shared was so stunningly different from anything that happened in her past that she’d stopped comparing the two. Torrin filled her heart and stimulated her body as only a true mate could. Nothing compared with that.

  “I love you.” The words were out before she thought about them. But then she froze. Had that been wrong? Was he ready for something so...sentimental?

  His smile faded, and he sat up, wrapping one of his strong arms around her waist. “I wondered who’d break down and say it first.” He traced her lips with the tip of his finger. “I wanted it to be me.”

  “Sorry,” she whispered automatically, the old insecurities threatening to spark.

  He bent and kissed her, then whispered against her parted lips, “You’re sorry you love me, or you’re sorry I’m about to show you how much I love you?”

  Before she could answer, he kissed her again and wrapped both arms around her back. He distracted her with the deep, sensual kiss as he turned around and placed her on her back. Still kissing her, he unbuttoned her blouse and unzipped her skirt. Then his mouth left hers for a moment as he removed the garments, no easy feat with her lying on her back.

  “You are so incredibly beautiful. Sometimes I can’t believe you're real, much less mine.”

  Joy squeezed her heart, and happy tears blurred her vision. “Say it again.”

  “You’re mine, lovely elf, all mine.”

  She reached up and stroked his face. “That part is thrilling, but I meant ‘I love you.’ Will you say that again?”

  “I love you. I think I’ve been in love with you since I first saw you.”

  She refused to think about anything other than Torrin, so she pulled his mouth back down to hers. They kissed and kissed, lips clinging, tongues gently stroking. He lay mostly beside her, but one of his legs rested between hers. He occasionally moved, and his hard thigh rubbed against her needy core.

  In me, love. I need you inside me.

  He ignored her and began to stroke her breasts. She arched into the touch, but her core ached, throbbing almost painfully. Please!

  He tore his mouth away and muttered, “Damn it, female,” as he crawled on top of her. He urged her legs farther apart and positioned himself at her opening. “I wasn’t ready for this.” But he lunged forward, filling her with one powerful thrust.

  She gasped at the sudden fullness, then closed her eyes as pleasure burst deep inside. Her inner muscles tightened around him and sparks of light danced beneath her lids. Finally. She only felt whole when he was inside her. “Yes, my love. Just like that.” />
  “Stubborn minx.” He drew back and thrust again, punishing her with pleasure. Then he groaned and pumped in and out with long, slow strokes. “Good. So damn good.”

  She dragged her lids open as the pleasure ebbed. His eyes were closed now, features tense yet somehow peaceful. This was wonderful, but not perfect. It would never be perfect until their souls were joined. “Look at me, Torrin. See your mate.”

  He opened his eyes, and she slowly pushed into his mind. I am yours, and you are mine. I will feel this way forever.

  His eyes widened, and his hips stopped rocking. “Are you going to form the bond?”

  “If you’re ready.”

  He leaned down and kissed her. “I am so ready.”

  She smiled, relieved as well as pleased. “Then say the words back to me.”

  He stared deep into her eyes and allowed his emotions to show. Their mouths were no longer fused, but he still used his mind-voice. I am yours, and you are mine. I will feel this way forever.

  The sacred phrases thrilled her, but he wasn’t finished.

  I will lay down my life to protect you. I will use all my energy and resources to make a life that will please and fulfill you. I want you to be happy and content. Anything you ask of me is yours.

  Her lips trembled, and the rush of emotions was so overwhelming, she had to look away. Tears escaped with the blink of her eyes, and then a sob shuddered through her.

  “Hey. Why are you crying?” He gently turned her face back around.

  “How the hells am I supposed to compete with that?” she cried, sobbing again.

  He chuckled, then soothed her with a long, lingering kiss. “All I needed to hear was ‘I love you’. Now form the bond.”

  Steadying herself with a slow, deep breath, she found her center again and sank deeper into his mind. His vibrant energy surged all around her, making her tingle and giddy. The artificial components in his brain gave a unique rhythm to his energy. Rather than the gentle ebb and flow she was used to, he felt sharper, more...mechanical. The difference distracted her for a moment, but she soon calmed her own mind and focused on her task, the most important task she would ever perform.