Page 20

Brace

The com I hooked over my ear instantly let me hear the chatter of the others as they spread out and began disabling the targets Sineater had given them. I had not realized that when the Varakartoom ’s second - in - command changed the plans to take Ruby with us, that also meant the shuttle was going to be left unguarded. But its hatch softly slid shut , which meant that all of Mitnick’s special security features would engage. Soon, Jal i m a ’s guards would be too busy to worry about one lonesome shuttle anyway.

I kept my hand on Ruby’s back, fighting the urge to pick her up in my arms. She was moving smoothly, and , covered in sleek silver , she looked like a brighter version of my brothers - in - arms. Dark circles sat beneath her eyes, and her braids were a little ragged, but she was moving far better than I expected — a s if the exhaustion had fallen away from her with the promise of a reunion ahead .

The snow seemed to melt away around her steps, not bothering her as she followed Sin’s careful, circuitous path toward the back entrance of the mansion. I was right on her heels, my paws digging deep and leaving a much deeper trail, the cool snow calming my anxious anger. I felt torn in two, wanting to haul my mate to safety and wanting her to have this so she’d be with her baby sooner. I would do anything to never hear her desperate cries again.

Huffing, I watched the air fog in front of my face. My eyes were half on my mate and half on the danger around us. The others were clearing a path, and Mitnick was taking care of the electronic security systems. Cameras powered down before my eyes, and the hum of his drones preceded a strike o n a turret tower before its weapon abruptly ceased firing.

We passed a male entangled in crisp , dark vines, and I knew Tass had been ahead of us —h is footsteps dogged by those of either Solear or Aramon, maybe even both. The twins had a habit of moving in such synchronicity that I couldn’t be sure. In any case, they’d left the door of f its hinges at the back of the house. The Sineater had squared up beside it, peering in carefully before proceeding, and Ruby was following his example.

Just before I followed my mate into the dark interior of a supply cellar, I saw the silhouette of the captain’s son. The younger Naga male was the spitting image of his father, and while he’d taken a while to adjust to life aboard the Varakartoom , there was no denying his skill with a long - distance rifle. His long body coiled up the recently disabled turret, finding a high vantage point at the top of the tower. His armor and thick scales afford ed him protection against any threat. He was settling in to provide cover fire through the scope of that high - powered weapon. Even inside the manor, he’d be able to track us with his heat sensors and provide cover should we need it.

“I am surprised the captain let Saisir out for a mission,” I muttered under my breath. I knew Sin would hear me — he was only a few steps ahead as we slunk our way around supply crates and headed for a door that would lead into the mansion. He kept his son close, refusing to put the young male at risk. Asmoded had ruefully mentioned it as one of his shortcomings during one of our last talks , after I’d gotten into a rage. I understood that sentiment very much. The urge to haul Ruby out of here was beginning to win out, and we had yet to encounter resistance.

Others definitely had, and I could hear pistol fire being exchanged outside. Flack and Tass were delivering smack talk in cheerful, dry voices as they engaged with the enemies outside. Saisir was quiet, and , uncharacteristically, so was Aramon.

Sin braced himself in the door way, h is symbiont slinking ahead and out of sight. “Stairs to the left,” he sai d. Over the com, Saisir responded by rattling off nearby heat signatures. I braced myself for a fight — there were over a dozen between us and the stairs. Ruby did not protest when I slipped ahead of her, my hand gripping her arm to keep her right behind me. We followed Sin, who took advantage of the distraction his symbiont created by leaping into the room first. A fight ensued, and th at was when I realized just how much control the second-in-command had over his silver companion.

Ruby tried to come into the room after us when I joined the fight, then howled in frustration when she abruptly became rooted to the spot. I’d never seen the Sineater use his companion as armor for another before—himself, plenty of times. But this was another means of control, and part of me was furious at seeing it in action. It wasn’t right that he had that kind of power over my mate, but he was doing what I would have done in his place: keep her safe.

“Captain is here,” Mitnick announced. The com picked up the beating of his wings, but it was followed by the sound of a shuttle flying overhead. No turret fire answered, which meant the communication s specialist had taken every single one of them out. I scanned the opponents, armed guards with hardened eyes. These were males with more than a few skills under their belts : Jalima’s personal guard. Jalima himself was not there, but their presence meant he was hiding somewhere. The captain would find him.

My skin itched ; red began to crowd in from the edges of my mind. Being this close to the bastard responsible for what had happened to me was worse than attacking his ships. I never thought I’d be able to keep control of myself in this situation, but I had only to glance over my shoulder and see my mate’s tired, fearful face to know what I was fighting for. Not revenge . N ot payback . T his was a rescue mission, and getting to Ruby’s baby was the only objective I had to focus on. The dangerous power of all - consuming rage faded, and then it was just me and the fight —t actfully disabling my opponents in the quickest fashion . N ot beast, but cool, calculating male.

Sin and I moved through the dozen males and the room in unison. I had never fought with another at my side, and it did something to me. I had always entered the arena alone, let the rage fill me and power me through the fight. Afterward, I would not remember anything—and I didn’t want to. But this? Fighting with the sleek, quicksilver-fast male? It was a revelation. When I ducked to avoid a blow, he was there to fill the void. When I was not fast enough to avoid a strike, his symbiont was there to shield me. I learned to watch for his openings too, and suddenly, I discovered this was almost fun.

Then we reached the stairs, and there he was — the male who had ruined my life and caused the deaths of my family with his greed. When raiders had stolen me from my homeworld at his orders, they’d killed everyone they couldn’t take. Rage threaten ed to overtake me when my eyes landed on his hated face. Instead, I spoke into my com. “Eyes on Jalima, C aptain. Bastard is right here.” The wordless snarl that answered my declaration embodied the rage I used to feel. Asmoded would be here, and he deserved to kill the bastard as much as I did. I’d let him have it.

Jalima was still a prime fighter himself, standing defiantly at the top of the stairs, all four of his arms spread wide. As a Pretorian, he was an excellent climber and a dangerous opponent in close combat. His four arms would match even my Hoxiam strength if it came down to hand - to - hand between the two of us. He was shouting, bargaining , perhaps. Didn’t matter . I didn’t care.

Dropping to my hands, I bounded up the stairs in three powerful leaps. I’d just keep him busy un til the captain got here —m ess him up so he’d get a taste of what he’d done to me.

***

Ruby

I cursed and swore, raged against the silver armor that covered me, but it didn’t help. As soon as the Talacan male and Brace had engaged in a fight with Jalima’s men, that thing had frozen me in place against the wall , m y silver “boots” hooking into the wooden floor and literally pinning me in place. I could lean to the side , though, peer around the door jamb to see what was going on. I could even raise my pistol and squeeze of f a few shots; most of them glancing shots because I could not risk hitting Brace or the second-in-command of the Varakartoom .

“You’re a bitch,” I said to the silver armor, patting my chest, which felt as if I’d rapped my knuckles against a metal panel. “Why won’t you help me? I need to rescue my baby, damn it!” The fight was taking too long . W hat if someone was smuggling him out while we were occupied here? What if they were getting away with him right now? I’d memorized every route on that map, there was a way to go around them. I had to try something . I couldn’t just stand here.

Brace was handling himself in there, dominating th e fight with his size and strength. He didn’t need my pistol as backup wh il e that Talac had his back. He’d told me to stay close, but surely I could sneak around them and find that room m ore easi ly on my own. Everyone was here, distracted by the fighting.

If only I could pry my feet off the floor and move. “Come on, let me go!” I urged again. It was useless ; if the suit could understand or even hear me, it didn’t respond. The other half of the silver creature was in that room, fighting in the shape of a silver Riho. I had no clue what this thing was that encased me. They called it a symbiont, but what did that mean? How was it connected to the Talac? He came from my part of the universe, the Alpha Quadrant, and yet I’d never heard of anything like this.

They had cleared the room, but it did not appear that that mattered to my prison guard. As Brace and his companion advanced toward the stairs beyond, I was forced to stay in place. Now I couldn’t see much beyond a glimpse of the fighting, but my hearing picked up everything, adding to my imagination. A com m andeering voice was ordering Brace to stand down while jeering taunts at him at the same time. I expected Brace to surrender to that rage he so feared, but there wasn’t so much as a roar. I didn’t know who it was that spoke, but he was definitely in charge. Jalima himself?

He was here? I had not expected that, though I vaguely recalled De’tor saying my boy was at Jalima’s home. I just hadn’t realized that Jalima was in residence. But if he was there, fighting with Brace, that meant he wasn’t with my son, did it? That improved my chances of getting to my baby, if only I could convince these stupid boots to let me move. “Please,” I whispered, “let me go! I’ll be careful.”

The sound of something huge — and made of glass — shattering into a million pieces was loud, punching through the sounds of combat. I jerked to ward the door, awkwardly leaning around the corner to see what had happened. The chaos was absolute up there now, but I couldn’t see a thing. Had something — or someone — crashed through the window? Had they gone in or out?

Only one shadow moved in the doorway across the room. A dark figure that stepped out to look at me through the wreckage of what had once been a well-appointed sitting room of some kind. A broken couch lay on its side, bookshelves had been ripped from the walls, and a viewscreen lay in smoldering pieces on the thick carpet.

The male who stepped into view wore the Varakartoom ’s black armor, but I did not recognize which male it was until he touched his helmet and the visor slid back. The grayish features of the Talac appeared, dark eyes undecipherable, a little sinister. He nodded once, and abruptly my boots came unglued from the floorboards. I did not wait for any more ; that was permission. I spun on my heels and jogged in the other direction.

My legs moved silently, and my body felt lighter than it should. Ever since that silvery liquid had poured over my flesh, it felt like the exhaustion just fell away. Like I’d drank a whole pot of extra - black coffee. Only, it was more than that ; it just didn’t make a lot of sense. I’d given birth probably less than twenty hours ago . I’d felt weak, my body still all floppy and soft. Now I felt strong. I felt the way I had pre-pregnancy, but that made no sense. Even the best modern medical science couldn’t do that in five minutes. But this symbiont thing, it sure made me feel that way.

“Left, then right, there’s another stairs there,” I muttered to myself, certain of my recollection of the map. Brace was going to be furious that I’d disobeyed his order, but he’d deal . A ll that mattered was my son. I bit my lip, pressing my back against the wall at the sound of footsteps rapidly approaching. I’d ducked back behind a wardrobe that lined this hallway, out of si ght of whoever had just c o me around the corner. They clattered past me without seeing me, and I spun, aimed my gun, and shot the bastard in the back without hesitation. He went down like a ton of bricks — a large Kertinal — his tail limp, his horns thudding into the wall and g o uging two big furrows in the plaster.

I saw the silver Riho pounce over his shoulder, and then it silently moved past me, tail swishing. As it passed , it ai med a satisfied look my way . I followed it, as it was going in the right direction. I wouldn’t say no to a little extra help, and I was certain that’s what this was. We found the stairs without further hostile encounters, but the sounds of fighting were fierce and loud. The silver creature went up first, bounding in slinky, slee k steps up the stairs. I followed lightly, my breathing easy and my thoughts still calm. So close I could almost taste it, he had to be here.

I was going to name him after my dad, I’d decided that months ago, when I first learned the gender of my baby. It had felt like I’d jinx things if I called him that in my thoughts, especially now. Silly , maybe. Then I crested the top of the narrow servant stairs and stared straight into the open door of a room. The room.

A nursemaid stood beside a crib. She was a Ulinial, her blue skin and long braid giving her away. That was good, her species tended to be pacifists. Nobody else appeared to be in the small room with her, but I crossed the red carpet that lined the hallway silently , holding my pistol at the ready. This could be a trap, though for the life of me I couldn’t see why Jalima would care about my baby. De’tor had cared, but he was dead.

“Give him to me,” I demanded as soon as I stepped over the threshold. She was trembling, her head shooting up to glance at me, eyes wide. “That’s my baby . G ive him to me,” I said more firmly. She backed away, hands raised, shaking her head but not speaking. It was unclear whether she was a slave or a paid servant, but no collar graced her slender neck. I couldn’t count her out as a threat.

Then my eyes landed on my son, lying quietly inside the crib. He seemed so small, and he was wide awake but silent. His eyes were a silky brown, his skin black like his father ’s , but streaked with copper. The shock of hair he had was also a coppery brown, with hints of gold. Soft nubs s at on his forehead , an indication that he’d grow horns one day. He was holding his tail in his tiny fists, the pointed tip in his mouth as if it w ere a pacifier.

My chest ached ; my breasts ached even more. I forgot about the woman in the room with me, entranced by the sight of my son. “Hey there, Mateo. Mama’s here. I’ve got you now,” I whispered. I placed the pistol on the edge of the crib, then leaned in to pick him up carefully. He didn’t make a sound until I nestled him against my chest. Then there was a pop as his tail left his mouth, and the little appendage curled around my wrist instead. A deep sigh seemed to run through him when I rocked him gently in my arms, one that I mirrored as everything inside me righted itself.

A curious thing happened then. The silver armor that encased me so snugly melted away at the front of my body , n o longer a barrier between my son and me. I felt the warmth of his small body, felt him press against my swollen breasts, where he belonged. I could not look away from his face, or the way he seemed to know he was with his mama , r elaxing into a peaceful slumber , with what had to be a smile gracing his tiny, perfect little mouth. Babies didn’t smile — not on day one ; I knew that — but it sure looked like Mateo did.

There was a clatter behind me . I spun in reflex, pressing my baby to my chest with one hand, the other snatching up my gun. I gasped in surprise when I spotted the large figure in black standing over the sprawled body of the Ulinial female. She was out cold but still breathing, and the Varakartoom male was flexing his fist at his side. His helmet was open, allowing me to see the skull-like markings of his Asrai face. “What happened?” I asked, shocked. The female looked unarmed, but when he jabbed his finger down and pointed, I had to concede that she hadn’t been safe. A com device lay at her side, as if she’d been about to sound the alarm. Maybe she already had.

I started moving immediately, and the silver armor shifted back over me, this time pinning my arm and my baby into a protective shell against my chest. I stumbled by the doorway, a wave of weakness crashing through me and catching me by surprise. I’d felt so strong until now, so ready to face anything, but now it felt like the rug had been pulled out from under me.

The Asrai hissed furiously, but he caught my elbow with his hand and held me up. His shoulders twitched as if he w ere full of anxious energy , but his grip was steady as he propelled me down the hallway. The fighting was still going strong, the sounds had not abated, not even a little. He was taking me straight toward those noises, and I began to shake my head. “No, we have to get back to the shuttle. I have to protect my son. Unless…” A cold wave of fear ran down my spine like icewater. With it came an unexpected surge of strength, my legs straightening. I sped up, rather than let the Asrai take the lead. “Brace is hurt, isn’t he?”

The Asrai snarled silently, shaking his head, but his feral red eyes told me nothing. He said even less. There was nothing reassuring about staring into a face like a skull, with dried bloo d in the corners of his eyes and by his ears. Nothing reassuring at all.