Crusader (Battle Born Book 1) Read online

  She had just put on her shoes and was working her damp hair into a loose braid when Bandar returned.

  He held up a steaming mug with a distracted smile. “I thought you might enjoy a cup of coffee while you were getting ready. Looks like I’m too late.”

  “I’ll never say no to coffee.” She took the mug from his hand and returned his smile.

  His gaze quickly swept her from head to toe before settling on her face. “You look refreshed. Did you sleep well?” He was wearing contacts again, concealing the golden rings in his dark eyes.

  She nodded as she took a sip. It was strong and hot, but not bitter. She preferred it with cream and just a touch of sugar, but there was no way she was going to complain. He’d been amazing last night, patient and comforting, the perfect gentlemen, even as she wrapped herself around him and wouldn’t let go. She’d been so distracted by her surging emotions when their cuddlefest started that she hadn’t cared that their bare legs were tangled or that her entire body was pressed against his. But the emotions gradually eased and she became painfully aware of how intimately he held her. She should have pulled away, disentangled their limbs and put some space between them. He was being gallant, compassionate, and she was taking advantage of his kindness. And still she stayed. She rested her head on his shoulder and lightly caressed his chest, unable to still the restless motion of her hand. She didn’t remember falling asleep. All she knew was she felt safe and protected for the first time in her life, so she’d savored the sensations.

  Shaking away the pleasant memory, she focused on the present. He’d obviously showered and shaved, and borrowed an outfit from Nazerel. Bandar’s cargo pants were olive green rather than camo, but the black T-shirt looked identical to the one his cousin had been wearing the night before. Bandar’s smooth skin accented the strength of his jaw and the jutting angle of his cheekbones. He’d also combed his thick hair straight back from his face. Without the messy waves to soften his appearance, he looked even more dangerous.

  “If you’re ready, they’re waiting in Morgan’s office.”

  “Is that where you’ve been?” Rather than risk walking around an unfamiliar environment with hot coffee in her hand, she set the half-full mug aside and followed him from the room. “Did you sleep at all? You were looking pretty ragged last night too.”

  “I’ve been up about an hour. There were some things I needed to do before we head off into the mountains.”

  As usual, he hadn’t really answered her question. The details of his obligations weren’t her concern, so she allowed the evasion. “Are we driving to the cabin or can you bio-stream us there without an address?” She had no idea how the as yet unseen machine worked, but she was anxious to learn more about it.

  “Nazerel will have to get us started, but we’ll make it work.”

  That caught her attention. She knew even less about Nazerel than she did about Bandar. “Isn’t Nazerel battle born? What can he do that you can’t?”

  “Nazerel is unique. Suffice it to say, he can do many things I can’t.”

  They lapsed into silence when he offered no other information. Figures. Bandar was frustratingly closed mouthed about everything. Besides, Ashley didn’t even know enough about Nazerel to decide what else she wanted to know so she just walked along at his side. It was one long, boring corridor after another until they came to a cafeteria bustling with people. She only caught a glimpse of the large room before his hand pressed against the small of her back, urging her onward.

  “How many people does Morgan command? I had no idea this place was that big.”

  His only answer was a secretive smile.

  They arrived a few minutes later and Bandar ushered her into a moderate-sized office. The work area was set up at one end of the rectangular room and a small round table at the other. As with everywhere else in the Bunker, there was no natural light. Ashley was starting to wonder if the complex was hidden inside a mountain or buried underground.

  Nazerel sat at the table with a beautiful redhead. Was this Morgan? She wore a crisp white dress shirt and dark pants and her hair was pulled back into a severe twist. Even so, her features were sculpted into the elegant curves of classical beauty. She looked more like an off-duty actress than a military leader.

  Bandar motioned toward the woman, clearly amused by Ashley’s reaction. “This is Director Morgan Hoyt, my cousin’s chosen mate.”

  Morgan stood and shook Ashley’s hand. Her grip was firm, her gaze direct. “Nazerel told me your name is Ashley. It’s nice to meet you.”

  “Likewise.” Bandar pulled out a chair for Ashley then sat beside her, which put him on Nazerel’s left.

  A large tray had been set on the table, but the dishes remained covered by three silver domes. “The food just arrived. Everything should still be hot.” Nazerel sounded hopeful as he reached for one of the covers.

  Morgan seemed more interested in Ashley than their breakfast. “Are you a scientist like your father?”

  “I’m not sure there are any scientists like my father.” Sadness hampered her smile. Despite their difficulties, she’d always idolized her father. “Unfortunately, I inherited most of my aptitudes from my mother.”

  “Do you know where we can find his research?” Nazerel asked, not wasting time with small talk. “It’s extremely important that we locate it.”

  “I’m aware and I’ve told Bandar all I know.” Were all Rodytes so direct? It wasn’t exactly rude, but it was starting to annoy her.

  “You’ll have to excuse my husband,” Morgan said. “He passed on some information that proved to be less than accurate, so he thinks it’s his responsibility to rectify the situation.”

  “It is my responsibility,” Nazerel insisted, his grim expression making him look even more intimidating. “I should have considered the source and verified the information before I made my move. Instead I believed what I needed to believe and gave everyone false hope.”

  Bandar chuckled, drawing Ashley’s attention to his handsome face. They’d known each other for less than twenty-four hours, so why did she find his presence so comforting? “You’re overestimating your powers of persuasion. We were cautiously optimistic at best. None of us believed it as fact.”

  Morgan motioned toward the generous mounds of food, fluffy scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, cottage potatoes, and several varieties of toast. “Please, help yourself.”

  Ashley was too tense to be very hungry, but she didn’t want to insult her hostess so she spooned a small portion of everything onto her plate. “How did this false information lead you to my father?”

  “When the report I gave Garin proved false, his research team dug deeper.” Nazerel paused. “Do you know who Garin is?”

  Ashley nodded. “Bandar’s older brother. He’s some sort of big shot in the Rodyte military.”

  “Exactly.” Nazerel’s expression relaxed, taking him from intimidating to intense. “Garin’s team traced the inaccurate results back to the original research project. Your father was the lead geneticist during that period.” Nazerel offered Ashley another cup of coffee before he went on.

  “Even if we find every note my father ever wrote, what makes you think Garin’s team can make it work when the project failed before?”

  “We’ve learned a lot since your father’s era,” Nazerel told her. “Manipulating genetics is commonplace now. What we need is his expertise on human physiology. We were disheartened to learn that he was no longer alive. We’re sorry for your loss.”

  She’d heard the phrase so many times it had become meaningless. The pain of her father’s death had faded to a distant ache, but she wasn’t sure it would ever disappear completely.

  Before Ashley could come up with an appropriate reply, Morgan rescued her. “Can we just enjoy breakfast for a change? You two have been grilling the poor girl nonstop since she arrived.” She took a quick bite of eggs then said, “I know you live in Tribeca. That’s an interesting neighborhood. How do you make your living?”
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  Ashley hesitated, knowing these action-focused people would find her occupation frivolous. “I…” There was no way to spin this so it didn’t sound trivial. “I provided private consultations for pets with emotional challenges.” She’d carefully worked out that verbiage over the years to make it sound as important as possible.

  The corners of Morgan’s mouth lifted, but she managed to suppress her smile. “Do you counsel the pets or the owners?”

  “Both. Often it’s the owners who are inadvertently trigging misbehavior in the pet.” She swallowed hard then rushed through her explanation, knowing their reactions would only get worse. “I identify the most likely triggers for the pet’s misbehavior then work with the owner to eliminate as many as possible. My goal is to create a harmonious environment for both pet and owner.” She glanced at Bandar and his confounded expression almost made her laugh. But rather than asking her to clarify, he turned to Nazerel and spoke in rapid Rodyte. At least she presumed it was Rodyte. She sure as heck couldn’t understand a word they were saying.

  Nazerel laughed, looked at her, and then laughed again. Two seconds later Bandar joined in.

  Ashley’s cheeks flamed and she dropped her gaze to her plate, too humiliated to withstand their expressions.

  Morgan reached over and placed her hand on Ashley’s forearm. “They’re acting like asses—which isn’t unusual when they’re together—but they’re not laughing at you. Many long-range ships are assigned pleasure givers known as space pets.”

  Bandar recovered enough to speak. “I’m sorry. I couldn’t picture you as part of the pleasure industry. You’re much too…respectable.”

  She wasn’t sure if she was insulted or amused by the description, but she was relieved to know they weren’t making fun of her. Then another thought made her tense. “Does your ship have a space pet? And do these women choose to participate in the pleasure industry or are they slaves?”

  Bandar seemed insulted by the questions. “Space pets are highly skilled and well compensated professionals. The vocation is not only voluntary, but each pet must undergo regular health screenings and intensive training. No one is forced into that line of work.”

  “All right. Things aren’t that simple on Earth. In fact in most states prostitution is still illegal, and human trafficking is still a very real problem.”

  “If you aren’t resolving conflicts between pleasure givers and their masters, what sort of ‘pet’ do you counsel?” Bandar was obviously still confused.

  “On Earth some people keep small, domesticated animals for amusement and companionship,” Ashley told him.

  “What sort of animals?”

  Morgan stood and walked over to her desk. “Dogs and cats mostly.” She activated the large monitor on the wall beside the table. The screen split into nine smaller screens, each displaying a video clip of a pet video. “These are dogs.” She used a laser pointer to indicate the canines. “And these are cats.” She pointed to the felines.

  “And humans keep these creatures in their homes?” Bandar sounded a bit skeptical. “What about their bodily functions?”

  Nazerel chuckled then slapped him on the back. “Dogs are taken for walks on leashes and cats use a small box filled with absorbent sand called litter. Instinct draws the cats back to the same location, so their ‘bodily functions’ are contained to that one area.”

  Bandar’s gaze shifted between the multi-screen display and Ashley. “And people pay you to correct the misbehavior of these small creatures.”

  His gaze reflected interest rather than ridicule, so she tried not to be so defensive. “Humans become incredibly attached to these creatures. They’re treated as members of the family. I do my best to maximize the enjoyment for everyone.”

  That seemed to satisfy his curiosity. Without further comment he turned back to his food, so Morgan powered down the display.

  “Do you have siblings?” Morgan asked as she returned to the table.

  Ashley shook her head. “Both of my parents were career focused. I’m pretty sure I was an accident.”

  “What about children?”

  “She has yet to give birth, but she is fertile,” Bandar muttered around a mouthful of food. Then he froze, eyes widening, as he heard his own words. Slowly, he shifted his gaze to Ashley, bracing for her reaction.

  “How could you possibly know that?” Tension crackled all around them though her tone remained calm.

  Bandar wiped his mouth, an obvious stall tactic. “The physician that mended your wounds mentioned the fact.”

  “What wounds?” Morgan asked.

  Ashley ignored her, focusing entirely on Bandar. “Where is this mysterious doctor? Every time I ask for specifics, you dodge my questions. Where did you take me to be regenerated and why is my reproductive system any of your damn business?”

  Bandar sighed, clearly uncomfortable with her questions. “The less you know the safer you’ll be.”

  “What utter bullshit,” Morgan snapped. “Nazerel tried to use that line on me and I didn’t buy it either. She knows about aliens, dumbass. The cat is out of the bag.”

  Bandar looked at Nazerel and shook his head. “I know what a cat is now, but what does the small creature have to do with any of this?”

  “Figure of speech,” Nazerel told him with a smile. “It means you’ve come too far to turn back. And I’m with Morgan on this one. If Ashley knows about your mission, there’s no reason to ‘protect’ her from the rest. Besides, human females can be incredibly stubborn. She’ll keep at it until you give in, so you might as well get it over with.”

  “Where did you take me?” Emboldened by her supporters, Ashley used a much sharper tone.

  He turned back around and the rings in his eyes created a faint glow even through the contacts. Apparently, he didn’t like being ganged up on. “I took you to the spaceship on which I arrived. It’s called the Crusader and it currently orbits Earth. The doctor’s name is Hindel Irron and reproducing with human females will play an intricate part in why we’re here, so it was natural for him to determine your fertility.”

  “How were you hurt?” Morgan asked Ashley this time.

  “I walked in on Bandar’s shadow. He turned violent when I saw his face.” She didn’t bother looking at the other woman because she wasn’t finished with Bandar. “Explain what human reproduction has to do with the battle born regaining their abilities?”

  Bandar remained tense and resentful, but he finally offered the information. “One of the reasons Rodytes can successfully breed with other species is because we trigger a subtle mutation in our mates that makes them more compatible with our physiology. Humans tolerate this mutation better than most.”

  “Interesting, but it didn’t answer my question. How does what you just described help you regain your abilities? Or is that not the true focus of your mission?” She shifted restlessly in her chair, her food forgotten. The more she found out about his mission, the less comfortable she was with any of it. Still, not knowing was worse.

  “The process is called bonding transformation. The majority of the changes take place in the female’s body, but the male goes through adjustments as well. Your father, and the other scientists, were using this naturally occurring process as a delivery mechanism for a variety of ‘targeted alterations’. Obviously, the alteration we are interested in is unleashing our latent abilities.”

  “They also had some success with transferring paranormal abilities from the male to the female,” Morgan mentioned almost offhandedly.

  Ashley snapped her head around and looked at Morgan. “Define ‘some success’.”

  “The information Nazerel received—”

  “I’m glad you brought that up.” Ashley knew she sounded bitchy, but she couldn’t help it. She’d been inundated with half-truths and evasions until she was ready to scream. “Everyone keeps dancing around the specifics. How did Nazerel receive this information and what exactly did it contain?”

  “We’ve kept things vag
ue so you wouldn’t be confused by all the details.” Morgan’s tone was smooth, soothing. “It really is a convoluted mess.”

  “I might not be as smart as my father, but I’m pretty sure I can follow along.”

  “All right.” Morgan paused for a sip of coffee and then showered Ashley with facts. “Your father worked for Pern Keire. His daughter Sevrin took over after his death, but she took the research in a slightly different direction. Pern was focused on producing offspring with paranormal abilities, while Sevrin tried to transfer abilities from empowered males into human females. As Bandar said, the bonding transformation was always at the heart of these experiments.”

  “I’m with you so far.”

  Morgan nodded, acknowledging Ashley’s statement. “We captured, or more like rescued, one of Pern’s spies. Sevrin thought he’d outlived his usefulness so she tried to kill him. He claimed to have detailed information about Sevrin’s experiments and offered the information in exchange for relocation and protection.”

  “And this was the information that proved to be less accurate than the spy led you to believe?”

  “Yes.” Miraculously the men remained silent as Morgan patiently answered Ashley’s questions. “We don’t know if the spy intentionally misled us or if he was fooled as well, but Garin’s team of scientists quickly punched holes in all the data. A few of the test subjects appeared to have successfully assimilated the genetic adjustments, but unfortunately their deterioration was just slower than their predecessors.”

  Test subjects. Ashley shuddered. Somehow she didn’t think the FDA would ever approve these procedures for human trials. “Are they all dead?” She could understand the Rodytes’ indifference, but how could Morgan be so blasé about all of this? The Rodytes had been, likely still were, experimenting on human females!

  “There’s one who appears to be completely unharmed by the transformation and she’s starting to exhibit flashes of the male’s abilities. However, there’s a protein in her blood that indicates she has more than one Rodyte in her ancestry.”