Marauder Page 2

  The stoic harbinger surprised Rex with a smile. “I understand all too well. Kage delegated the matching process to me. I spend most of my time sorting through data or notifying males of their potential mates. It’s hard not to wonder what my life would be like with a female by my side.”

  “And in your bed every night.” Rex groaned. “Can you imagine how wonderful it would be not to go months without the comfort of a female?”

  “Months?” Arton scoffed. “More like years.”

  They arrived at their vantage point a short time later and spoke softly, not wanting to give themselves away. They didn’t have long to wait. Two human females emerged from the surrounding forest, not far from where Rex and Arton hid. The females looked around briefly, then headed directly toward his shuttle. Rex didn’t know either, but Arton shook his head, appearing surprised by their visitors.

  “You know them?” Rex whispered.

  “The blonde is Thea. I would have been shocked if she didn’t show up, but the dark-haired female isn’t Shivon. That’s Lily Fontenot. She never causes trouble. I can’t believe Thea talked her into this.”

  Lily? Why did that name sound so familiar? “Isn’t Lily the geneticist that’s holding everything up for you guys?” If she was who Rex thought, Lily was vitally important to the Outcasts’ success. Without her cooperation, their transformation program couldn’t move forward and they might never have access to their latent magic.

  “The very same,” Arton told him. “Don’t give them too long on that shuttle. Who knows what Thea will do.”

  Rex looked at Arton closely. “Is she really that bad?”

  “She can be. You wouldn’t believe some of the things she’s done in the past four weeks.”

  Rex didn’t ask for details. He wanted to draw his own conclusions about his potential mate. If she was incorrigible, he’d be damn careful not to trigger the pull. But if he sensed any willingness to recover from her tragedy, he’d help her in any way he could. He knew loss and devastation firsthand, so he was uniquely qualified to assist her—if she wanted to recover.

  Accepting Arton’s advice, Rex only gave the females a few minutes alone on the shuttle. Then he cautiously approached and crept up the stairs. He stood in the doorway, waiting for them to notice him, but they were busy rummaging through compartments. So he said, “Can I help you with something, ladies?”

  Lily reacted first. She gasped and spun around, eyes wide in her pretty face. “We were just...” Her words trailed away and she shrugged.

  Thea ambled closer, shrewd calculation gleaming in her dark eyes. With a toss of her head, she sent her long blonde hair flying and drew his attention away from Lily. “Are you Rex Dravon?” Her voice was deep, intentionally sexy.

  “Who wants to know?” He mimicked her silky tone and stalked toward her.

  “I’m Wilma. She’s Betty.”

  He laughed, unable to suppress the reaction. He found her spirit reassuring. He’d expected someone horribly depressed and sullen. Thea didn’t appear to be either. “Does that make me Fred or Barney?”

  Clearly surprised by his response, Thea glanced at Lily then turned back to him. “I didn’t expect you to understand the reference.” Her false seduction fell away and he glimpsed behind her mask. Her eyes were soulful and filled with pain, her features delicate and well-balanced.

  “I’m aware,” he muttered.

  She looked a bit flustered, but her chin raised and her voice hardened. “You didn’t answer my question.”

  “Neither did you,” he countered. “At least, not honestly. Shall we start over? I’m Rex Dravon. And you are?”

  “Thea Cline. You are just as attractive as I’d heard.” He wasn’t fooled for a second by her flirting. She was trying to manipulate him. He just wasn’t sure toward what end. “I know you work with the Outcasts, but do you consider yourself one of them?”

  “Ahh.” He glanced at Lily, then shifted his gaze back to his potential mate. “You’re looking for a ride off this rock.”

  She didn’t bother with denials. “Wouldn’t you?”

  “Probably.” He closed the distance between them, unable to stay away. He hadn’t even picked up her scent yet, but already he sensed a connection, an attraction that was unlike anything he’d experienced before. Pressing one of his palms against the fuselage, he leaned down and echoed her seductive tone. “Problem is, even if I don’t consider myself an Outcast, they’re my only customer at the moment. If I piss off the overlord, I shut down a very lucrative revenue stream.”

  “Some things are more important than money.” Thea’s dark eyes challenged him while her soft-looking mouth begged to be kissed. Or maybe he just wanted to kiss her so badly he could barely think. “Take us to safety and we’ll pay you whatever you ask.”

  He let his gaze drift from her face and explore her curvaceous body. Damn. He wanted to touch her, kiss her, strip her naked and memorize every hollow and swell with his lips and tongue. “Tempting, but I can buy all the pleasure givers I want with what Kage pays me.”

  “That’s not what I meant,” she stressed. “Name your price and we’ll meet it. ‘Kage’ doesn’t need to know how we escaped.”

  “He’d know,” Rex insisted. “Overlord Razel has a pet harbinger who keeps him informed about anything that affects the Outcasts.”

  Thea fell silent for a moment, her gaze dark and calculative. Was she working on her next strategy? “You have no problem with their kidnapping us and dragging us to this godforsaken wilderness?”

  He shrugged with an indifference he didn’t feel. He didn’t approve of their actions, but he tried to stay neutral in everything. Neutrality was imperative in his line of work. “I see both sides of most arguments. You don’t like losing control and they just want to survive.”

  “And you’re just trying to make a buck?” The disapproval in her tone was obvious.

  Rex laughed. “I’m a businessman. There’s nothing shameful in focusing on prosperity.”

  “There is if people are being harmed in the process!”

  “You look pretty hale and hearty to me.” In fact she looked utterly edible. Desire stirred and it was all Rex could do not to pull her into his arms. Even with Lily watching every move they made. “I’ve seen abused prisoners, sweetheart. Neither of you qualify.”

  “So the trap worked.”

  Finally! Rex pushed off the fuselage and pivoted so he could see Arton without losing sight of Thea.

  The harbinger’s gaze immediately gravitated to Lily, his interest anything but casual. “I would have been surprised if Thea hadn’t taken the bait, but I expected better from you.”

  “Bait for what?” Thea moved away from the fuselage, but left plenty of room between her and the harbinger. Why was everyone so afraid of Arton? Rex found him agreeable, most of the time. “What was the purpose for your ‘trap’?”

  “It has been ten days since the last escape attempt. We were considering rolling back some of the restrictions. Obviously, that won’t happen now.”

  “We weren’t trying to escape,” Lily stressed.

  Arton arched his brows. “Really? Then what are you doing on this shuttle?”

  “Looking for weapons.” She glared at him, but Rex knew sexual tension when he saw it. These two were attracted to each other. Very much so, in fact. “We’re stuck on this planet whether we like it or not. We didn’t want to be defenseless.”

  Without warning Arton unclasped his blaster and handed it to Lily. She nearly dropped the thing, clearly not accustomed to handling weapons.

  “Do you feel safer now?” Arton asked, challenge sharpening his tone.

  Lily’s gaze narrowed and something surprisingly dangerous flashed in her eyes. “You’re right, I’m unlikely to shoot you, but we both know she won’t hesitate.” Lily passed the blaster to Thea, and Thea aimed it directly at the harbinger’s face.

  All right, enough with the pissing contest. “This is not happening on my shuttle.” Rex took the gun from T
hea and gave it back to Arton. Trying hard to keep the laughter out of his voice, he looked at Thea. “You blast his brains all over the walls, baby doll, and I’m the one who has to clean it up.” He hadn’t meant to use the endearment, but it seemed to fit. Despite Thea’s outward feistiness, her pain and vulnerability were easily apparent. Her spirit was a defense mechanism meant to drive everyone away. Well, regardless of her efforts, he wasn’t going anywhere.

  “Thanks for your help, Rex,” Arton’s deep voice drew Rex’s attention away from Thea. The harbinger grasped Lily’s arm as he said, “Someone will be along to collect her in a few minutes.” He nodded toward Thea, but pulled Lily toward the hatch.

  “No thank you.” Lily twisted her arm out of his grasp. “Thea is one of my roommates. The guards can escort us both. Females are not supposed to be alone with any of you.”

  “She has a point.” Rex was fascinated by the attraction sparking between the other couple. Would his chemistry with Thea be as combustible? He was dying to find out.

  Instead of responding to Rex’s statement, Arton faced Lily. “Thea is going to detention. You’re coming with me.” He said nothing more.

  “If this is a punishable offense, I should go to detention too.” Lily did everything in her power to hinder Arton’s progress, but he easily pulled her through the hatchway.

  “Maybe later,” was Arton’s only reply as he dragged Lily off the shuttle.

  Rex turned back to Thea, arms crossed over his chest. “And then there were two.” He flashed his best pirate smile as his gaze moved over her face.

  KAGE PRESSED BACK INTO his chair and propped his boots on the corner of his desk. Xorran Entor stood facing him, hands locked behind his back. His shoulders were squared, hair neatly trimmed, eyes staring straight ahead. Everything about him screamed military. In or out of uniform, it was obvious Xorran had known no other life.

  “I need a favor,” Kage said casually, but he watched Xorran closely. He was new to the Outcasts, and Kage needed to know more about him. Xorran had backed the wrong side of the battle born rebellion. He’d stayed true to the establishment until his commander ordered him to murder a member of the Triad, Rodymia’s new governing council. Rather than following the immoral order, Xorran betrayed his commander, delivering him into the hands of the battle born rebels. Kage still wasn’t sure if the choice was noble or cowardly. That was why he decided to test Xorran’s loyalties to the Outcasts before allowing him to integrate any farther into settlement life.

  “If it’s within my power,” Xorran responded.

  A conditional yes. That was better than blind obedience in Kage’s opinion. “Rex Dravon has a secret and I’m desperate to find out what it is.”

  Xorran’s brows drew together for a millisecond before his expression smoothed again. “Rex is loyal to the Outcasts, sir. I’ve known him for years and he would never betray—”

  “I don’t want you to interrogate him. I need you to follow him. I was under the impression that you’re a tracker, in the Bilarrian sense of the word.”

  Xorran tensed. His shoulders came up and his lips pressed together. “My abilities are not widely known. May I ask how you found out?”

  Kage chuckled and lowered his feet to the deck. “No one joins the Outcasts without being fully investigated. You wouldn’t be here if I hadn’t been intrigued by what I learned. The vast majority of the battle born can’t access their magic. Why can you?”

  “I underwent a series of procedures when I was a child.” He sounded as if he was strangling on the words. “The outcome was only marginally successful.”

  Many, perhaps most, of the Outcasts had similar stories. Rodytes had been trying to create the perfect soldier for decades. And Rodytes weren’t the only species willing to manipulate nature in pursuit of some lofty goal. Increased intelligence, longer life, the eradication of disease, these concepts and many more had convinced scientists that the end justified the means.

  Rather than delve any deeper into Xorran’s past, Kage asked, “Are you able to lock on to a person’s location and follow them regardless of how fast they travel?”

  “Can Rex teleport?” Xorran countered.

  Kage arched his brows. “You know him better than I do. You tell me.”

  “Not to my knowledge.” Xorran grew more uncomfortable with each exchange. “As you’ve indicated, Rex can be secretive.”

  “To say the least. Now answer my question. As long as Rex is unable to teleport, can you track him?”

  “It would depend on his ship.”

  Kage nodded. “I’m assigning you to one of my stingers. They can keep up with anything in the fleet. This one is also equipped with covert shielding and a device capable of detecting the Marauder’s ident code even after Rex starts modulating the transponder.”

  “Understood.” Xorran looked as if he’d say more, then sighed and remained silent.

  “This isn’t the military, Xorran. If you have concerns, spit it out.”

  “Is there something specific you believe Rex has done? He believes you’re pleased with his work.”

  “Rex is too damn good,” Kage admitted with a shrug. “I gave him that ship, so I know exactly what it’s capable of. None of his last three runs should have been possible. He’s either lying about his destinations or... Hells, I don’t know how he’s doing it.”

  “Did you ask him about the inconsistencies?” Xorran unclasped his hands, finally starting to relax.

  “You know Rex. He just laughed and said ‘trade secrets’. He’s scheduled to depart again in a couple of hours. I want you on his tail. Find out exactly where he goes and how in all of hells rings he’s getting there.” Kage sighed, still sensing hesitation in his new recruit. “I know he’s your friend, but this is important. All I’m asking for is information. There has to be a logical explanation for Rex’s speed. I want you to find out what it is. Understood?”

  Finally Xorran nodded. “Understood.”

  Chapter Two

  Thea glanced at the hatchway through which Lily had just disappeared, desperately wanting to go with her. Thea didn’t want to be alone with Rex, or any other alien. She didn’t trust him, and didn’t trust herself not to totally lose it. She was breathing much too fast and a swarm of butterflies was swirling around inside her belly. He looked like he’d just strolled off the cover of one of her mother’s bodice rippers. He was the dashing hero come to sweep the heroine off her feet and sail away with her on his pirate ship. After he’d ravished her, of course. Thea had read more than a few of those trashy novels herself, though she seldom admitted to such weakness. Only trouble was, this wasn’t a historical romance and Rex wasn’t human.

  Some sort of metallic beads had been woven into his hair. Only a few sections were braided, however. Most of the dark strands flowed to his broad shoulders in distinct waves. A short beard accented his jawline and sculpted cheekbones. With a strong, straight nose and endlessly dark eyes, he was classically handsome. At least, by human standards. Who the hell knew what Rodytes considered esthetically pleasing.

  He wasn’t wearing a ruffly shirt open halfway down his chest, but the dark green fabric covering his torso was so clingy it outlined every ridge and curve of his washboard abs and well-developed chest. His hips were lean, and strange braided leather pants encased his long, muscular—

  “Taking inventory?”

  She snapped her gaze back to his face as heat spread across her cheeks and down her neck. “Your outfit is unusual.” Oh God, that was the lamest excuse ever. “I’ve never seen pants like yours before.”

  He grinned, clearly amused by her nervousness. “They’re called stintalla in my mother’s language. These are the traditional garments of warriors. The leather is synthesized now, of course. But the strips are still woven by hand. I’ve favored the style since I was a boy.”

  His garments really were unique. Most of the Outcasts, and all of their female hostages, wore khaki uniforms. The females didn’t have a choice. The clothes they�
��d been kidnapped in had been collected the first time they’d been allowed to shower. All the women presumed they’d been destroyed, or recycled. Everything on spaceships was recycled.

  “What language does your mother speak?” It was a roundabout way of asking if he was battle born. His coloring and size made it likely. The gold rings in his eyes, phitons, indicated that he was at least part Rodyte. He just stared back at her with male interest burning in his eyes. The stare off grew tense, so she tried another question. “What’s with the braids?” There were three of them, each decorated with different beads and what looked like bits of metal.

  “They’re called familial braids. The practice originates on Bilarri, as did my mother.”

  He’d diverted her attention from one subject by offering incomplete information about the other. Clever. Now she had to choose which she’d rather learn about. Damn it. She was really curious about those stupid braids, but understanding his background would be more helpful. “Was your mother a war bride?”

  Rather than answering her question, he strolled over to the hatchway and retracted the stairs, closing the opening. “You still want off this rock?”

  Her heart slammed against the inside of her chest. “I thought you weren’t willing to take me.”

  “I wasn’t willing to take Lily.” He walked right past her without even glancing at her and sat down in the pilot’s seat. “They’d come after Lily. They need her too badly.”

  “And they’ll be glad to have me gone.” She wasn’t sure why that stung. She’d gone well out of her way to be unmanageable. Still, the prospect of flying away with a stranger, even one as handsome as Rex, had panic rippling through her system. What would he demand in return? She didn’t know Rex Dravon personally, but she’d heard plenty of stories about him. He didn’t do anything out of the kindness of his heart.

  “Now or never, baby doll.”

  “Don’t call me that,” she snapped. The nickname made her feel strange, uncomfortable. “What will it cost me?”