Page 26 of A Mate for Vasek (Tallean Mercenaries #11)

Dawn

The soft female voice telling her that the simulation was going to time out soon had Dawn standing from the park bench she’d been sitting and crying on for the past who knew how long.

The training sim was easy to use, and there were even English translations available on the screen.

She’d selected spectator mode, opting for scenes from Earth.

At first it had been tempting to visit the Eiffel Tower and the Taj Mahal, but in the end, she’d selected Central Park.

She’d gone to Columbia University and had spent more than her share of afternoons there.

It was autumn in the setting, and the show of orange, gold, and red was exactly as she remembered it.

There were even NPCs wandering around, making the scene more realistic.

Squirrels too. But they didn’t quite behave the same way the real ones did.

She’d taken the route she used to take, but the moment she’d tried to leave the park, she’d hit a wall—well, not a hard wall, more like a giant marshmallow—and was reminded that this wasn’t real.

This was just virtual reality, a simulation of the real thing.

And that had brought her to tears. The Euphora hadn’t helped.

She really missed the Dawn of just a month ago, who cried at nothing.

Now, Dawn only had a few minutes left before the door opened and she’d be forced to face Vasek again, and she wanted to make them count.

She returned to the screen by the door and scrolled through the options.

She frowned at the ones at the bottom. One of them was labeled Central Park: Time-lapse .

There was a paragraph under it, but she didn’t read it. Instead, she just selected the program.

Nothing happened. She was still standing in Central Park, except the timer hovering in the sky had changed. It was now counting down from a new number, this one even shorter than the time she’d had left before. That sucked.

Oh well, might as well enjoy it while she could.

She started back toward the bench, but things started changing.

The leaves underfoot turned brown, and snow started to fall.

Soon, Central Park was covered in a thin layer of white.

When she tried to touch the snow, she found that she could no longer interact with the scene, and all the NPCs had disappeared.

This must be what they meant by time-lapse.

So she just stood and watched as the seasons changed.

But when spring arrived, the bench was gone.

So were all the other benches. Then some of the other trees started disappearing.

Seconds later, Bethesda Fountain vanished, and in its place was a grounded Dominion ship.

But a minute later, that was gone too, replaced by tents with Dominion insignia.

Dawn watched, her heart breaking as her beloved park turned into a Dominion base.

But even that did not last long, because those too were razed to the ground, and Dawn realized it was because the Dominion was being attacked.

The time-lapse ended suddenly, even though the date didn’t match the current galactic date.

She was back in the training simulator with its sterile white walls.

She walked back over to the screen and read the badly translated paragraph next to the selection, hoping to find some answers.

She did. But it wasn’t the ones she wanted.

What better way to get rid of the alien invasion than to nuke their base?

The park was gone. Her home was gone. It was all gone.

She waited for the tears to come, but she’d already cried herself out at the bench, and there were none left. Or maybe it was because in her heart, she’d already known.

She used the rest of her time in the sim to make herself presentable, grateful for the reflective surface around the door. She didn’t want Vasek to see her a mess. Things were complicated enough between them.

But when the door opened, it wasn’t Vasek who leaned against the wall, waiting for her, but Morad.

Kean’s celebration must’ve been the event Kotch had been planning to head to Vosthea for. He’d said it was his chance to work with and meet someone very powerful. Morad must be here in his stead.

“I’d expected to see the medic here, but I never would’ve believed I’d see you dancing at Kean’s table.” He came to block her way. “I guess with Kotch gone, you had your sights set higher.”

Dawn stood straighter, hoping she projected confidence and calm she did not have. She was a free person now and still in Kean’s stronghold. “What do you want, Morad?”

“Straight to the point, I like that. I found the two Fietes. They have no idea what the code is. Now, I’ve tried threatening you.

And I’ve tried ordering you. These tactics clearly did not work.

I have clearly underestimated you. That is my fault.

So let me try one more thing. I’m offering you a deal, Dawn. ”

“I’m not interested.” She started down the hall toward the double doors leading out to the gardens. She just had to get out there; the guards wouldn’t be far.

He blocked her way again. “I have the physical key. You can’t do anything with your knowledge without it. You want that artifact Kotch has been hoarding? So do I. We can help each other.”

She tried to go around him, and he grabbed her by the arm hard enough to make her hiss.

“Is it the fancy dresses?” he asked, eyeing the gown she had on. “The parties?” He pulled her close and inhaled. “The Euphora? You can have all that. We can be partners.”

Dawn was certain that Morad would go back on his word the moment he got his hands on whatever was inside that safe. And she didn’t know the code anyway. Seemed like Kotch had taken it to this grave.

She moved quickly, not letting herself think too much, her knee coming up and making very solid contact with his crotch. At the same time, she brought the heel of her hand up and into his nose.

Morad roared, and Dawn used this crucial moment to make a run for it.

She was glad she’d changed out of those sexy heels Sarah had lent her and was back in her only pair of shoes, flat sandals that many at the stronghold wore on a daily basis.

She knew she’d never outrun him, and when he got his hands on her, she’d be in trouble.

But her goal was just to get outside. She did, with Morad cursing and hot on her heels.

“You bitch! I gave you a fucking chance.”

Once outside, she screamed as loudly as she could, cursing the fact that she was so out of breath.

She almost ran right into a burly chest. She recognized the Tallean as one of the thugs who had worked for Kotch. He was all decked out in Tallean formal wear, the military style, not the gaudy, bejeweled style Morad had chosen.

She made a hard left, avoiding his grasp. But Morad was already there. He caught her by the arm, swinging her around. And fuck! He was pissed!

Vasek

Vasek grabbed Ranek and tore him off the human female.

“Fuck!” Ranek roared, throwing a blind punch in his direction.

Immediately, Vasek knew something was wrong. That wasn’t Dawn’s scent, and that wasn’t her indignant gasp either.

Ranek’s second punch caught him on the jaw because he was too confused to duck. But his brother must have sensed that something was wrong because that was the only punch that came.

“What is wrong with you?” Ranek yelled. “I’m here for another chance at life. I do not wish to fight.”

The female, a Tallean, eyed him. “Ooh! Brothers. We can make room.”

Shit! This was not how he’d imagined it.

“Where is she?”

“What is wrong if you are not here to fight? I know you are not here for this female.”

The female glared at him, ire rising. “That’s rude!” She pulled her dress back up her body, shoved her way out, and started back toward the party.

“My mate. She ran off. You were gone and…”

“And you thought I’d gone to exact my revenge? Or maybe to steal her from you?” Ranek looked offended.

Fuck! Vasek felt like an asshole for assuming the worst. “I apologize.”

Ranek deflated. “I do not fault you for thinking I’d do something like that. I might very well have in the past when I was blinded with anger.”

Vasek spared a glance over at the female disappearing inside a door. “Still looking for love despite the curse?”

“The curse? I don’t believe in that shit.”

He gawked at Ranek.

“I am still alive. I mourned Channa for many years. But one day, I woke in my cell and realized I never knew her. But I am still alive. I am sane. Well, sane enough anyway. And I have a chance at a new life. I’m willing to try again. I will find my mate. And when I do I will give her the Stars.”

There wasn’t even a hint of the derangement in his brother’s eye that he remembered from their meeting so many years ago. There was only a zest for the life he planned on living.

“I’m sorry for leaving you locked up.”

Ranek bellowed a laugh. “I deserved it. I was… out of control. I’m sorry about your hand.”

It really was time to forgive and start fresh. He missed having a brother. Missed having someone he could depend on. Vasek held up his hand. “This one works just as well.”

A shrill scream had Vasek’s blood freezing in his veins. “Dawn!”

He ran toward the sound, weaving through trees and bushes and leaping across the low-planted flower beds. What he saw filled his vision with red. He snarled as bloodlust took over. He lunged for Morad, who had his hands on Dawn’s neck.

Morad met him, his fangs and cheeks extended. They exchanged several blows, their punches meant to kill and maim. But each had their edge dulled by Euphora, and they were well matched. They exchanged several blows before Morad sent a kick flying in Vasek’s direction, claws extended.

He rolled, acutely aware that next to him, his brother was going into bloodlust as well. He and the other male clashed in a mess of fists and claws.

But Morad didn’t fight fair; he reached for Dawn and put her in front of him as a shield. Rage filled Vasek, and with a fluid, practiced motion, he reached down for the knife in his boot. The hilt was sticking out of Morad’s neck before he could even flinch.

Vasek looked around and realized that they were now surrounded by Kean’s guards, and they had blasters trained on all of them. Even at Morad, who was clutching at his throat as red spilled forth, filling the air with the tang of iron.

Zharor marched in, looking irritated that he’d been dragged from the party.

His eyes landed on Morad, his quick brain coming to the right conclusion.

“Looks like these males have already done our job for us.” He turned to the other culprit, who was down but not out.

“Escort him out of the stronghold,” he demanded.

Zharor then knelt in front of Dawn. “Are you hurt, female?”

Dawn’s hand went to her reddened throat.

He reached for the marks. “We will get Ulkin to look at…”

Vasek growled and got in between them. Every blaster came out, aiming at him.

Zharor put his hand up, not even looking worried in the slightest. “Stand down.” He stood and turned to Vasek. “I put this female in your care, medic. I will give you access to our medical wing.”

“I will bring my mate to my shuttle,” Vasek said, lifting Dawn up off her feet and into his arms. She felt perfect there, and he would never let her go.

“As you please. At least you and Ranek are fighting together now as brothers should, instead of battling each other. Go through that door there and continue to the end, then turn right and follow the path around to the hangars.” Zharor turned to Ranek.

“I know you wish to start your life as a merchant, but know that you have a job here should you wish to join our forces. You are a commendable fighter.”

Vasek never heard his brother’s response, because the portal was already closing behind him.