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  “Who wants to know?” His tone was low and sensual. “Councilor Alonov or Eza?”

  “Definitely Eza,” she admitted, and her traitorous cheeks heated again. “I didn’t mean to absorb your memories, but I can’t pretend it didn’t happen. Will you please help me understand what I saw?”

  “What happened in the forest was spontaneous, but how long did you spend trying to read my ring?”

  She tried not to look as surprised, but he’d shocked her. “Why did you give it to me if you knew that was among my abilities?”

  He flashed a triumphant grin. “I suspected, but—”

  “I just confirmed it for you?” His only response was a regal incline of his head, so she asked, “Did you intentionally scramble the transfer in the forest or...I don’t usually struggle as I have with you.”

  “It’s a form of shielding,” he admitted. “I didn’t agree to the transfer, so my mind was protecting itself.”

  “It wasn’t intentional,” she insisted. “Nothing like that has ever happened before.”

  “If I believed otherwise, you wouldn’t be here.” He pushed back from the table with a sigh but didn’t stand. It took him so long to continue that she thought he was finished talking. “As you’ve already surmised, my mother’s family is...privileged.”

  “If your life was comfortable, why did you become a mercenary?”

  He studied her for a long, silent moment. His gaze drilled into her, assessing and exploring her secrets. “Like you, I find trusting people hard. I’ve been a fugitive my entire life, and it has made me suspicious of everyone.”

  Why was he a fugitive? Those from prosperous backgrounds had ways of avoiding consequence for almost any wrong. Had he been falsely accused of a crime? Rather than stab to the heart of the matter, she said, “I know you’re empathic. Wouldn’t you sense it if I had ulterior motives?”

  “Most of my abilities can be unpredictable. The most reliable way for me to sense specific emotions or motivations is to scan a person’s mind, and even my lightest touch absorbs massive amounts of information. I’ve been tempted to touch your mind numerous times, but I haven’t had your permission to be so invasive.”

  “You have it now.”

  He stood and rounded the table, pulling her to her feet. “Are we still negotiating? This feels personal.”

  “Trust is essential to a potential alliance, and...whatever this is.” She didn’t know how to define what was happening between them. Was it a flirtation, an affair, a courtship? “I want you to see that my motives are honest. Will you please scan my mind?”

  “I already did.”

  She tensed. She hadn’t felt a thing, not even a hint of his presence in her mind. What else could he do without her knowledge? She’d never met anyone with that much control.

  His fingers brushed her cheek as he whispered, “You don’t need to fear me. I will never hurt you. Never.”

  He’d had plenty of opportunity to harm or take advantage of her in the past three days, yet his behavior had been exemplary. It could be strategic, a ploy to gain her trust. She’d been surrounded by evil males her entire life. She knew how evil looked, how it felt. Kage was honorable and honest. He was also evasive and stubborn. “You’re still avoiding my questions. I don’t need to know every detail about your past, but I want to understand who you are.”

  “What do you want to know?” He stood close enough to touch her, yet his arms remained at his sides. Only his gaze caressed her.

  “How old are you?” She was less interested in the answer than in seeing if he’d explain what she sensed.

  “Not as old as you think.”

  The evasion was typical, and she sighed. She’d hoped for more after allowing him beyond her shields. “Your memories go on forever. How is that possible if you’re as young as you look?”

  “I didn’t say I was as young as I look. Self-healing is one of my abilities, so my appearance hasn’t changed in many years. However, one of my mentors chose to transfer his energy to me as he passed beyond. The custom allows the knowledge and experience of highly accomplished Mystics to be preserved from generation to generation. You’re sensing the collective memories he transferred to me as well as mine.”

  “Where did you receive your training? Was it extensive? Most Outcasts are hybrids. Is this true of you? You said you’re a fugitive. Of what were you accused?” She hadn’t meant to bombard him, but her curiosity had been building ever since they met. “I’m sorry. I’m being rude.”

  He carefully took her hand and pulled her closer. “You’ve been cooped up here for days. I think a change of scenery will do us both good.”

  He wrapped his arms around her and reality blurred for half a second, then she found herself standing on top of the ship. She gasped and clutched his shirt to steady herself. It was an observation deck, she realized as she looked around, complete with railing and scattered benches. “Did you build this up here?”

  “It’s always been here.”

  She relaxed enough to release his shirt and smooth it down. The simple motion accented the overtly masculine shape of the body beneath the fabric. “But this is a spaceship,” she muttered, distracted by her longing to explore.

  His white teeth gleamed in the moonlight. “There’s a dome to protect us from the vacuum of space. It’s retracted at the moment so we can feel the breeze and smell the surrounding woods. You should see the view from orbit.”

  Restless and achy, she eased out of his light embrace and wandered to the railing. The trees were mere shadows in the distance, but their fresh, clean scent was invigorating. Countless stars pricked the blackness high above their heads, sparkling with mesmerizing rhythm. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, comforted by the scents and sounds of nature. Holographic simulations were as close as most Sarronti ever came to this wonder.

  The Great Devastation, many millennia ago, had involved horrendous biological weapons. Most of the survivors deserted the planet, the rest retreated underground. Because of their magic, the Sarronti fared better than most. Still, the airborne pathogens resulted in extreme vulnerability to ultraviolet light. The mutation forced them to remain underground even after their enemies moved on to other conquests. Worse, the mutation became part of the Sarronti genetic code, so it was passed on to their descendants. Eza had been an adolescent before she ever saw the setting sun or felt a natural breeze upon her face. Most of the lower designations lived their entire lives without ever experiencing anything of the world above. They were taught that it was toxic, forbidden, lost. They were to focus on their tasks and obey.

  “What happened to your mate?”

  The question was so shocking she gasped, and her eyes flew open. “How deeply did you scan me?”

  “I can’t control how much I see when I scan. That’s why I never do it without permission.”

  “Never?” she challenged. “You have never scanned the mind of an enemy?”

  “There are others among the Outcasts more capable of extracting specific information. Once I scan a mind, those images are part of me forever, so I avoid it as often as possible. But your point is valid. If lives were at stake, I do not hesitate to use any of my abilities.” He moved to her side, leaning his hip against the railing as he angled his body toward hers. “If you share this with me, Eza, I’ll explain who, and what, I am. It’s not an offer I make often, and it will not be repeated, so consider your options carefully.”

  She stared up at him, dreading the painful memories, yet anxious to hear his explanation. The ending might be more tragic than most, but her story was not unusual. It was highly likely that his secrets were more interesting than hers. “Like all Ayrontu females from ancient families, I was expected to accept whatever mate my father chose for me. His focus was the power and prosperity of the family, not my happiness, so I was terrified of his choice.”

  “You had no input into the decision?” His voice was tight, eyes narrowed.

  “Things might have been different if my mo
ther was still alive, but such was not the case. Also, seeing how unhappy this sort of union made her greatly intensified my fear.”

  “Was your father unkind or actually abusive?” His lethal expression made it obvious that he already knew. It was likely that he’d learned her entire life story with one glimpse into her mind. This was a test. He wanted to see if she’d trust him with the truth.

  Unable to bear his penetrating stare, she looked straight ahead, allowing the darkness to comfort her. “Father was horribly abusive to my mother,” she said. “With me, it was mostly verbal and emotional, but there were times...”

  “Does the bastard still live?”

  She shook her head, secretly pleased by his anger. If anyone in her acquaintance had reacted as Kage did—it didn’t matter. The past could not be changed. Instead of elaborating, she glanced at him as she said, “With Cagor gone, I now control my own destiny for the first time in my life.” She paused to be sure Kage understood the importance of the statement. If she wanted to explore their mutual attraction, there was no one with the authority to stop her.

  Awareness arced between them, crackling with energy. Kage accepted the statement with a solemn nod, compassion shining in his dark eyes. “And this male your father chose for you, was he as bad as you feared?”

  “Actually, Lorton was wonderful. In the beginning. He was first son of the chief in one of the other villages. Lorton was Jintta rather than Ayrontu, but Father wanted to expand trading with his clan. The union lasted less than a cycle of the seasons, but mostly it was happy.”

  “I’m very sorry. Losing your mate must have been devastating.” He sounded sincere, but his expression was lost in the dimness. “Was his passing recent?”

  She shook her head, anxiety speeding her pulse. It was doubtful he’d allow the subject to drop without a more complete answer and she really didn’t want to relive the rest. “The seasons have cycled many times.”

  “May I ask how he died?”

  Shame and regret threatened her composure, the familiar sense of inadequacy. If Kage already knew what happened, why make her talk about it? This was cruel. “It was my fault,” she whispered to the darkness.

  He placed his hands on her shoulders and turned her to face him. The heat from his big body penetrated her dress. “Did you plunge a blade into his heart?”

  “In a way.” Her vision blurred, then tears escaped her eyes. Though she faced him, her gaze was level with his chest. She hadn’t spoken of these events in a very long time. The pain was still remarkably sharp. “We both wanted a large family, so realizing I’d conceived within weeks of our joining was thrilling.”

  “You have a child?” Surprise was obvious in his tone. Perhaps his scan had not been so detailed after all.

  She shook her head, unable to speak past the lump in her throat. It didn’t seem to matter how many times the seasons cycled, the empty ache remained.

  One of his hands stroked up and down her arm as he brushed her hair back from her face with the other. “You miscarried?”

  She nodded, impatiently wiping at her tears. “No one could explain what went wrong with the pregnancy, so Lorton’s family blamed me. If I could not carry a child to term, then clearly I was defective. The most popular bachelor in their village deserved better than a broken mate.”

  And now Tajon Marr was ready to ignite the conflict all over again. She’d known Sculptor was from Wind Rider clan when she recruited him, but it never occurred to her that one of the chief’s sons would be interested in—her thoughts came grinding to a halt. Sculptor accused her of being an Ayrontu spy. Had the accusation sprung readily to his lips because he was actually the spy? Wind Rider clan traded extensively with all the villages, and they had many friends among the Ayrontu. Tajon was just as unlikely a rebel as she was. She’d been so shocked by his accusation that she hadn’t even considered the implication of finding one of the Marr brothers in her Shadow Circle. She needed to speak with the others again, warn them that they might have a spy in their midst after all.

  “If he died less than a year later, how could his family be sure you were incapable of carrying a child to term? Many females suffer this sort of loss, but go on to have healthy children.”

  Allowing the present conflict to cut through her lingering sorrow, she mustered the courage to look up at him. “It didn’t matter to Lorton’s family. They were looking for any excuse to hate me. And he was so consumed by depression and grief that he grew careless. His death was an accident, but I believe he no longer cared if he lived or died. Needless to say, after his passing, his family made it abundantly clear that I was not welcome in their village.” And now the rebellion might be threatened by the same damn family. Would she never be free of their pettiness and hate?

  Kage pushed his hand into her hair, caressing her lips with his thumb. “I’m so very sorry you went through all of that, but none of it was your fault.”

  She licked her lips, tasting the salt from her tears. “The worst part was returning to my family in disgrace. I desperately needed comfort and received ridicule instead.”

  “Such cruelty is inexcusable. If they still lived...” There was no need to complete the threat. His meaning was clear. He leaned down and claimed her mouth for a slow, gentle kiss.

  She drank in the tenderness, needing the reassurance desperately. The contact was firm, yet his lips were soft, clearly meant to soothe, not arouse. “I often imagine how different my life would have been if—”

  He placed his fingertips against her lips. “Don’t do that to yourself. No one can rewrite the past. It’s better to focus on the future.”

  She agreed, but her past and future were determined to remain entwined. Unless all of the clans united behind the proposed reforms, the Ayrontu would continue to exploit the lower designations. She needed Wind Rider, which meant she needed at least one member of the Marr family. Unfortunately, it was highly unlikely that Tajon’s interest was genuine. Selflessness was simply not in his nature.

  Well, the rebellion needed the Outcasts too. And she needed their leader. Unless Kage was the best actor she’d ever met, his personal and professional interests were genuine so she would focus her energy on him.

  “Now you know all my secrets.” At least her personal ones. The others would have to agree before she could tell him about the Shadow Circle. With a sad little smile, she turned back to the railing and let the night breeze dry her cheeks. “It’s your turn to share. I’ve met the overlord. Who is Kage Razel?”

  Chapter Three

  Kage tensed. He’d guarded his secrets for so long and had gone to such lengths to confuse his enemies. It felt strange to share his story with anyone, dangerous even. “This tale is for you alone. I am risking my life to confide in you. I must have your word that you won’t share this information with even your closest friends.”

  Eza looked up at him with a sad little smile. “You have my word, but it’s unnecessary. The only person I ever confided in was my mother. There is a circle of females I enjoy spending time with, but none are particularly close.”

  He hated thinking of her so isolated. Most of his life had been solitary until he joined the Outcasts, so he knew how lonely it was to mistrust everyone. “This is a long, complicated story. Would you prefer to sit?” He motioned toward the benches scattered along the railed walkway. Each of the twelve ships in the Wheel had an observation deck above the command center. The Viper’s was his private sanctuary. Everyone knew if he was up here, he was not to be disturbed.

  “I prefer to walk,” she told him. “As you said earlier, I’ve been locked in your cabin for three days.”

  “We both know that’s an exaggeration,” he pointed out with a smile. “Did you ever leave while I was working?”

  Her smile broadened as she lowered her lashes. “Perhaps.”

  “Care to elaborate?”

  She shook her head, and a cool breeze rippled through her long dark hair. Moonlight shimmered in the iridescent strands, giving her a
surreal mystique. “I answered all of your questions. It’s your turn.”

  Tucking her hand into the bend of his elbow, he led her along the walkway. The access hatch passed through the hull rather than the bulkhead, so they were able to circle the entire platform. “The circumstances of my birth were unusual, to say the least. My parents were both extraordinary in their own right, but they were never lovers.”

  Her steps faltered, and she looked up at him, though her expression was lost in shadow. “I don’t understand.”

  He prepared himself for the reaction he’d endured his entire life. He was unnatural, an “abomination.” According to his enemies, he was an affront against nature unworthy of life. “I am the product of science, not passion.”

  She shifted, and moonlight revealed her features as she gazed off into the distance. Her face seemed almost doll-like as she carefully hid her reaction, erasing any hint of emotion. “I know such things are possible, but those sorts of procedures are forbidden in the world below.”

  “The Sarronti are not alone in their disapproval. However, I think it’s important for you to know that my parents were not willing participants in the experiments.” He found the last word so repulsive that he had to force it out.

  Her head turned, and their gazes locked. “They were forced to... If their powers were similar to yours, how was that possible?”

  “That’s a much longer story. I’ve agreed to tell you about me, not my parents.”

  She didn’t seem pleased by the stipulation, but she backed down. “Please continue.”

  “My mother was born in captivity. Her entire life was one long, torturous science experiment. When my father and others from her planet came to rescue her, my father was temporarily captured as well. His seed was extracted while he was unconscious and used to fertilize one of my mother’s eggs. All of this was done without their knowledge, much less their permission.”

  “That is horrible, so evil. Was this person or organization held accountable for these crimes?”