Kyele's Passion: A World Beyond Book 4 (20 page)

Chapter 26

Kyele started with the easiest one first. Those who had purchased Joni. He crouched over the sniveling male, dragging the tip of his blade over the bruised and bloodied cheek. They were alone in the one room apartment. “Do you want to tell me anything more?”

“No,” Raite spat. “I admitted that I was jealous of my brother. He loved that she took an interest in the stupid flowers he grew. It was his idea to free her after his death but I sent her back to the Marenians for a profit.”

If he could howl in rage and not be discovered Kyele would have. “You’ve expressed no regret for your past actions so I’ll give you the same courtesy and not regret my actions.”

He made it quick. One moment the brown eyes flared in fear, the next they glazed over as death came with the brutal swipe of his knife. Kyele stood and cleaned the blood off on the ends of the ripped shirt the man wore. Speed and time meant he couldn’t take as long as he liked but Kyele had made every cut count.

Those next on his list received the same lack of care and consideration. If they hurt Joni, he hurt them. Three of the worst buyers were no more and Kyele had released his restraint to pay them their due. Then he moved on to the others in her vision. They weren’t buyers but they’d crossed her path and participated in adding to the misery of her captivity. By the fifth such person, Kyele expected to lose some of his need to retaliate on Joni’s behalf. To his satisfaction the violence swirling through him showed no signs of abating. Until one male blurted out what Kyele didn’t expect to hear.

“Arlo. You want a Marenian by the name of Arlo. He’s right hand to Lothar.”

Kyele held back the urge to tear apart the groveling male. He gripped a length of purple hair and yanked his head back. “Why would I want Arlo?”

Sensing a reprieve, Torg said, “He boasted about attacking a Jutak facility.”

Kyele had blindfolded Torg as soon as he’d entered his residence. There was no way for the criminal to know his identity. “What makes you think I’m interested in the Jutaks and their business?”

“Y-you could barter the info. They’re asking questions, searching for information about an attack at one of their bases on Enotia.”

Torkel would be very interested in this and it also answered one more question for Kyele. The attack on the facility and the one on Joni were from two different sources. “What else do you want to tell me?”

“Arlo hates the Unit Leader Torkel Alonson. He wanted to steal a Chosen in hopes of humiliating the Jutaks.”

Kyele toyed with one of the bleeding wounds on the man’s thigh, gouging it with the tip of his knife. Torg whimpered as Kyele leaned in closer to whisper in the man’s ear. “What do you know of The Collector?”

Torg stiffened. Then the chair he was strapped to rocked in jerky motions. The scent of fear rose in putrid waves from his pores. If not for his bonds, he would have fallen from the chair when it tipped over to the floor. As it was, he hung awkwardly by the straps Kyele had used to secure him.

“I don’t go near him. Only someone with a death wish would get involved with The Collector.”

“I must have a death wish.” Kyele placed his booted foot on the chest of the wheezing figure and whispered, “I’m coming for all of the others.”

“I told you everything I know. Please.”

Kyele wasn’t interested in the whining. Torg and his friends taunted Joni during auctions with lewd comments, begging for the opportunity to beat the female slaves to show them their place. Afterwards, they visited the cages of the women not purchased and stroked themselves. When they reached the cage Joni was kept in they pleasured themselves where she had no choice but to watch as they released through the bars and into her cage.

Too bad Torg wasn’t on his list to kill. He and his friends would suffer Kyele’s brand of justice but live. He removed his foot and grinned. That didn’t mean he couldn’t have fun.

A few hours later, Kyele left Torg’s place through the window he’d entered. There were only a few left he needed to track down to punish for Joni but his calling as a Jutak warrior compelled him to return to Enotia with the new information he’d discovered about Arlo.

***

“Report immediately, Kyele.”

Kyele didn’t question the swiftness of the demand blasting through the comm in his ear the moment he entered the Jutak facility. The security vids and door locks would have signaled his presence as soon as he arrived.

Despite his crawling need to find Joni first and assure himself of her recovery, Kyele knew he needed to face his Unit Leader and sought Torkel first. He grimaced at the condition of the clothing he wore. He’d shower after.

Torkel greeted him at the door of his home and shot him a dark look before stepping back and letting Kyele walk in. “You have no idea of the trouble you’ve caused.”

Kyele didn’t have a response for the direct statement. He’d been very careful in his actions. Nothing he did during his time away could be tracked back to him or the Jutaks.

Torkel sighed. “Faye is asleep. Sit down, Kyele.”

Once he sat, Torkel tossed an electronic file his way. “Do you have any knowledge about the death of several prominent criminals?”

“Yes.” Kyele didn’t touch the black disc on the table between them. He never lied to Torkel and wouldn’t start now.

“Is it a coincidence these men all died a violent death and their attacker left no clue behind?”

Torkel’s question didn’t require an answer but Kyele gave one. “They lived a violent life. It seems only fair their death be in the same manner.”

Torkel cursed and leaned against the wall behind him, arms crossed over his broad chest. His Unit Leader may have been raised Enotian but he had the body of his birth parents. Large and muscular of frame there were many who feared his Marenian heritage would one day overlap his upbringing. Kyele had no such worries. Torkel was true to his core and always would be.

“The men were tortured,” Torkel announced.

“Were they?” Kyele countered with an unconcerned lift of his brow.

“Two bled out and the internal organs of the others were destroyed. Even in death their faces wore a look of agony. Two more refused to speak of their injuries.”

Kyele waited, his breathing steady and even. The knife he twirled between his fingers never broke rhythm.

Torkel straightened, understanding in his gaze. “How many deaths should I expect?”

Kyele shrugged and leaned back in the chair, legs spread. He still had no lead on the doctor who had purchased Joni. The man had contributed greatly to her reoccurring nightmares.

“If I asked you to end this, would you?” Torkel was determined to get an answer.

“End what?” Kyele rose to his feet, never breaking the dark brown stare. “You said yourself there are no leads on their attacker.
And
there won’t be.”

Unable to stay in the room a moment longer, Kyele turned to leave, ignoring the frustrated sigh behind him. He needed to find Joni. Her presence would ease the rage seething in his gut at what he’d seen in her memories.

“At least tell me what you’re planning next.”

“I’m going to find him,” Kyele declared to Torkel as he paused at the door. “I’m going to kill Dr. Kirkem.”

Rage filled Kyele from just thinking of the name. “When I find him, I’m going to destroy anyone he holds dear.”

“Will you reconsider?”

He didn’t even think long on Torkel’s question. With a smile over his shoulder he gave his answer. “No.”

“Kyele, surely you know I can’t approve of that. As a Jutak we dedicate our lives to honor, to saving others.”

“Who saved Joni, Torkel?”

Kyele tossed his knife in the air and caught it by the blade tip. The sharpened edges bit into his finger, tiny slices bleeding red. “He dies for what he did to her. Just like the others. When I find the ones who planted the trigger in her mind, tormenting her, they’ll die too.”

And nothing Torkel could say would stop Kyele.

***

Joni woke in the middle of the night when the communicator by her bed went off. She reached for the device and recognized Faye’s extension. “Hello?”

“Greetings, Joni.”

Torkel’s voice was the last one she expected. Pushing up in bed, Joni shoved her hair from her face. “Is everything alright with Faye?”

“I’m not calling about Faye, Joni. My Chosen is sleeping.”

Her heart skipped a beat. Any remaining sleep vanished. “Kyele? Have you heard from Kyele?”

“Can I speak with you in person?”

“Yes.” Joni got out of the bed. Her eyes burned. If something terrible happened to Kyele she wasn’t sure how she’d handle it. “Just tell me he’s okay. Please”

“He returned tonight.”

She released the breath she’d been holding. “Finally.”

“I’m at your door now.”

He didn’t waste time. Joni ended the communicator call and hurried to the door. The somber expression on his face sent her gut churning. She stepped back as he came in.

His presence overwhelmed the small space the moment he stepped inside. Forgoing the chairs, he went straight to the point. “What I’m asking might seem a lot but I need you to speak to Kyele.”

Joni folded her arms over her chest and tried to maintain her calm. “Tell me.”

She listened to everything Torkel said, stunned surprise keeping her silent. She fell into the nearest chair, her legs too weak to hold her.

Torkel rushed over, a hand going to her elbow as he squeezed lightly. “He can’t go after The Collector alone and I can’t approve his actions. Do you understand what I am asking?”

Joni heard him. She heard what he said and a part of her wanted to ignore him. But she couldn’t. As much as it gave her pleasure, killing those who contributed to her plight wasn’t right. And it wasn’t Kyele’s responsibility no matter how good it felt to know those monsters paid for hurting her.

“Okay.” She took a deep breath. “Okay. I’ll say something.”

Joni exhaled and made to rise to her feet. Torkel caught her wrist before she could move, his brown eyes concerned. “None of us blame you for what happened.”

Joni managed a weak smile. They didn’t have to. She blamed herself. Her throat clogged and her nose burned. Joni hunched her shoulders in an effort to hide the fact she was holding back tears on the way to the door. After a slight hesitation, Torkel followed.

“Is there anything at all I can do for you, Joni? Anything,” he stressed.

In this moment of her deepest pain, there was only one thing Joni wanted. One person. “Is there anyway you can contact Earth and find my father?”

Leaving Earth, she’d accepted the possibility that going back was slim but if Torkel could arrange for her to speak with her dad and reassure him that she was fine, it would mean the world.

“I will reach out immediately. You should have asked sooner.”

She blew out a relieved breath. Everything in the last few months had her genuinely worried about asking for such a huge favor. The Singles Program pushed for the applicants not to make contact with their family in order to limit the difficulty with transitioning to alien culture.

“Are you going to be alright tonight?”

For all her initial fear of Torkel, he really was a good guy and Faye was lucky to have him. “I’ll go to Kyele first thing in the morning. Before he has a chance to leave again.”

Torkel stared until heat rose up her neck. He sighed and let himself out, leaving Joni to her thoughts. Her stomach clenched at the possibility of Kyele not wanting to see her. She’d attacked him. Tried to kill him. Her actions probably reminded him of the other woman in his past who’d scarred his face.

A lone tear rolled down her cheek, the salty drop hitting her quivering lips.

Chapter 27

After his shower, Kyele chose to burn off energy in the training room before going to see Joni. If he went in this mental state, he wasn’t sure how’d he’d react. Once he assured himself of her safety, he’d continue the mission he set for himself. Those plans changed when he spotted the Team Three Leader waiting for him in the center of the room.

Apparently, Torkel thought to dissuade him by other means. Kyele let a sneer twist his lips. “Let me guess, Torkel sent you.”

Rydak removed his gloves and tucked them into the pocket of his pants. “We spoke.”

“They hurt Joni.” Kyele circled around him in hopes of leaving without a physical confrontation.

“We’re Jutaks not revenge seekers.”

Easy for Rydak to say. “I do not want to fight you.”

Rydak exhaled and looped his loose hair in a knot at the back of his head. Torkel must have awakened him since Rydak tended to keep his hair bound during the day. “I can’t let you leave unless you agree to listen to reason.”

At least that answered his question of whether or not Rydak would let him past. Kyele swung without warning. The Enotian raised his arm and blocked the blow. Pain shot down his elbow as Rydak pushed him back. Heat and anger stirred inside his chest.

“You don’t want to fight me, Kyele. Give in.”

Kyele’s counter came quick. “Then walk away and let me do what I need to.”

Rydak smirked. “Looks like we will fight.”

This time Rydak launched a spin kick toward his head. Kyele ducked, coming up behind him but Rydak pivoted on his heels and his foot snapped out twice in rapid succession. Kyele misted to avoid the kicks but pulled back on his power to retain his physical form. Hurting Rydak was not his intent.

Before Kyele could regroup, Rydak rammed a punch into his mid-section. “Fuck, Rydak.”

“I could be sleeping with Lissi.”

Another fist flew past his face following the growled words. Kyele managed to dodge but the whoosh of air near his jaw warned it had been close. Taking the opportunity to ask something he’d thought about, Kyele increased his speed and taunted, “I’ve always wondered if you don’t have contact can you still read an opponent.”

Rydak’s expression remained glacier before Kyele attempted to strike again. He knew he was good. He didn’t telegraph his moves and yet Rydak countered each attack, blocking every attempt he made to take down the Team Leader. Faster and faster they whirled around each other, occasional grunts punctuated each hit they received.

“Give, Kyele.”

Instead of answering, Kyele surged forward. Time lost meaning while they grappled, neither willing to seriously harm the other. Or so Kyele thought.

“I left my Chosen to speak with you. Give. In,” Rydak snarled at one point after delivering a punch to Kyele’s jaw which snapped his head back.

It was no secret that Rydak valued his time with his Chosen and their children. “Let me finish this task.”

Rydak growled in frustration and swiveled as they struggled. Kyele found himself pinned to the floor with Rydak’s legs around his chest, and his forearms clamped about his throat.

“You will cease this madness,” Rydak demanded in a low undertone by his ear.

“Would you if it was Lissi?” Kyele snarled, staying still in the deadly clutch.

The position Rydak used was dangerous. One move could snap Kyele’s neck or break his arm before he shifted forms.

“Joni isn’t like Lissi. Your female can take care of herself.”

Their eyes locked. Kyele gave in first and snorted. He was learning a lot in the way of females. “I should tell Lissi you said that.”

For a brief moment Rydak tightened his hold and Kyele choked in a sharp breath at the sudden blast of pain that was more warning than intent.

“You do and Joni will be very disappointed not to have you as her Chosen.”

If
Joni wanted him to walk the sands for presentation. Kyele’s humor turned grim. “You can release me.”

Rydak didn’t hesitate and loosened the clasp. Panting, they both sprung to their feet, muscles taut. Kyele had the pleasure of seeing the immaculate Rydak’s shirt untucked.

“Will you let this go?”

Kyele cocked his head to the side. “If it was Lissi would you let The Collector live?”

Rydak lowered his arms, tension no longer running through his body. “The Jutaks can not be seen as vengeful.”

It was a partial acceptance Kyele had not expected. “When I am finished, no one will dare touch her without fear of my retaliation.”

Rydak slid his fingers back one by one into the black leather gloves he removed from his pocket. “If she means this much don’t let revenge take you from her.”

“I won’t.”

“Are you done?” Rydak arched a blond brow.

He was talking about more than the match between them. Kyele nodded. He didn’t want to endanger his Unit or his role with the Jutaks. “I will apologize to Torkel.”

Rydak’s mouth curved up. “None of us expect your apologies, Kyele. We all would have wanted to do the same but now is the time for restraint. People are fleeing at the mention of a shadow soldier. That should only happen if my team arrives on scene.”

The spurt of humor from the stoic male surprised a chuckle out of Kyele.

***

After letting herself into Kyele’s living quarters, Joni waited impatiently for his return. Shoulders slumped in exhaustion, he stepped through the front door and froze when he noticed her sitting in one of his chairs.

“What are you doing here? You should be resting.”

Joni jumped to her feet. Did he expect to get away without explaining his disappearance? If he wanted the pretense, she wouldn’t give it. “Dr. Maku released me days ago. Whatever you did to me worked.”

Kyele didn’t come toward her. Joni shivered, fighting the desire to be held in his arms. “I’m glad.”

That was it? The pressure in her chest turned leaden. “I heard about the other stuff. I don’t know how you got their names but I didn’t need you to go after them.”

It meant more than he would ever know but she kept the words to herself.

“They deserved to die. Especially The Collector.”

She swallowed. “I agree but not at the expense of your soul. When you go too far into the darkness, you can lose your way back. Don’t let them take that from you, Kyele. Not on my behalf.”

His eyes flashed with pain he quickly masked by blinking.

“Please,” she said simply.

Tension vibrated between them. The hard-edged strum of power Joni associated with Kyele flared. He stalked forward, every line of his body rigid in an attempt to force her retreat. The hair at her nape curled with unease but she didn’t back away. She’d never back away from him.

When he reached her his mouth crashed onto hers, lips relentless. Tears stung Joni eyes as she wrapped her arms around him in relief. The strength of his kiss revealed his hunger and she gave him every bit of hers. Kyele broke away with a fierce mutter and shoved both hands into his hair.

Joni reached for him but he gripped her wrists, preventing from touching him. “Don’t.”

His voice cut like glass.

“What’s going on, Kyele. Tell me.”

He avoided her gaze. “You should leave.”

***

“What?”

Kyele met her furious gaze. Her defiance blasted him to the spot. He knew what he needed to do. He had been wrong. Torkel was wrong. If he claimed Joni he’d bring more bad things into her life. He took a step away, hearing Joni’s sharply indrawn breath and stopped.

Beneath the defiance flashing in her eyes, he witnessed that damnable hint of vulnerability and steeled his heart. He had to walk away even if it meant denying his feelings. If it meant she was safe, he would do what was necessary.

“It’s best you leave, Joni.”

The hurt on her face almost broke him.