Leaving Earth (11 page)

He didn't look like he appreciated the thank you at all, so she left quickly. It was bad enough to get lectured by Daggar, she wasn't putting up with it from a stranger. Outside the infirmary, she turned on the corridor that led to the common area and the Earth contingent offices beyond that. She shivered at the thought of seeking the Ambassador out, but no matter how distasteful she found the man, it had to be done. It seemed obvious that someone on Earth had smuggled the bomb to Delroi in the biohazard cases and that person was most likely a human with access to military 98

Leaving Earth

by Loribelle Hunt

ordinance. Once on planet, the rest of the task fell to a Delroi. One of the techs or were they merely part of the delivery system? And how far did the conspiracy spread? Did the Ambassador know? Had Dr. Peters known? She thought not, suspected he was dead because he found the device in his blood samples and confronted someone over it. It was nothing but speculation, but it felt right. Daggar was in her head again, growling mentally. He knew what she believed, knew she meant to confront the Ambassador, and let her feel his disapproval and displeasure. Let her know the punishment for putting herself in harm's way would be long and unsatisfying. She shivered, knowing he meant to torture her with pleasure, keep her on the edge with no relief. She only hoped he wouldn't follow through on the promise to leave her wanting. Probably a futile hope. She felt his anger and resolve, his determination to prove once and for all who she belonged to.

She tried to shove him out of her head, not wanting him to see how close he was to achieving his goal. He would be insufferable if he knew he'd already wound tendrils around her heart so strong she could never break his hold. That's why she had to do this, wasn't it? Someone had tried to kill him. Her stride quickened as her anger grew. The simmering rage was unreasonable, unexplainable. What was he to her after all?

When she reached the warrior's commons, Daggar was back in her head, ordering her to stop, and she focused her ire on him as she stepped out of the foot traffic and waited for him to appear. She felt him moving slowly, cautiously through 99

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the halls towards her. Why was she waiting? She felt his fury—directed at her—and knew he was going to bitch at her for sticking her nose in the investigation. She couldn't explain why, but she had to do that. Atonement? She snorted. More like revenge. Her own people had tried to kill him. Maybe he picked up her thoughts because he seemed to get a grip on his emotions.

And then she saw him, walking carefully towards her and ignoring everyone who spoke to him along the way. Her heart pounded, seemed to lodge in her throat when he stopped in front of her. He took her elbow in a firm though not painful grip and pulled her close enough to brush against her chest, bowing his head close to whisper in her ear. His breath was warm, smelled faintly of coffee, and brought every nerve ending in her body to screaming consciousness.

"Just where do you think you're going,
der'lan
?" She felt his desire then, both physically and mentally, and knew he was intentionally stoking the flames that raged between them, hoping to deter her from her task. Not fucking likely. She wrenched free, put some space between them, and glared. He swayed a bit, just for half a second, and she had to fight the urge to reach out and steady him. Damned, obstinate man.

"I'm going to see the Earth Ambassador and you are going back to bed."

He arched an eyebrow, one corner of his mouth kicking up in a sexy half grin. "Usually I'm the one giving orders around here. You'll have to pay for that later." 100

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She ground her molars together and breathed deeply through her nose. It was the only way to keep from screaming at him. After a moment she smiled with fake saccharine sweetness. "I have limits too, babe, and you ignoring medical orders is really pushing them. That's the area where
I'm
the expert, not you." He edged closer to her. "Exactly. Healing. Not chasing after conspiracies."

Uh oh. She'd walked into that one, but she wasn't without a little ammunition. She shrugged. "I've done some of that over the course of my career too. Officially, even." He frowned and curiosity flashed across his face. "Not this time. I forbid it."

She couldn't help herself. She laughed and almost doubled over at the look of shock on his face. How had he spent so much time in her head and not discovered she was no stranger to intrigue? That she was only submissive in the bedroom? She liked to harass Laney and Britt about their inability to follow orders, but truthfully she was no different.

"We've already gone over this, baby." He glared down at her. "You don't get to put yourself in harm's way and you don't get to question me in public." She looked around. They were definitely in public, but no one was paying any attention to them.

"And I told you I wasn't going to submit to your will outside of sex," she replied softly just in case. His countenance changed. Became cold and austere and remote. She felt his resolve, his determination to protect her and damn the consequences, down to her marrow. There had 101

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to be a way to convince him he couldn't control her, couldn't force her. He tensed, waiting for the argument and she was reminded how big he was, how powerful. Well, physically he could compel her and she could see, could sense he was willing to do so.

"Don't." She couldn't keep the sadness, the regret from her voice if she tried. "I'll only end up resenting you. You think you want utter compliance, but I don't think you do." She shrugged. "Maybe I'm reading you wrong. Maybe that's exactly what you want. I can't be that woman. And I had the feeling you wanted ... I don't know. A partner. Not another soldier."

* * * *

Daggar took a deep shuddering breath and closed his eyes for a second. Tried to compose himself. He struggled against his need to dominant and protect, and her need for a little independence, but fuck it. She wasn't talking about spending time with her girlfriends. She was proposing he let her put herself into a dangerous situation. There was no way in hell he'd allow that and she was just going to have to accept that. Her features set in a mulish expression and he was suddenly weary. His head throbbed from the earlier blast and his body ached. He knew he should be resting, but his first priority was the safety of his
der'lan
and his people. There would be time enough for sleep later. He wondered if he could get her back to bed without causing a big ugly scene. He wasn't concerned for himself. He certainly wouldn't be the first Delroi warrior to reign in a recalcitrant mate. The bond 102

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between them was growing stronger by the hour so he wasn't surprised when she blushed and whispered harshly, "You wouldn't dare."

He wouldn't, he knew that was a line she wouldn't forgive him if he crossed, but he didn't let her see that. He shrugged, shifting close enough to press her back into the wall. "You're safety comes before everything else, baby." He wanted nothing more than to take her back to his bed, strip her of all her boundaries, and demonstrate how primitive, how absolute his need to provide for her wellbeing was. She felt it all, her nipples tightened to hard pebbles against his chest, her hips rocked his pelvis. The only thing that stopped him from taking her where she stood was a throat clearing behind him. The interruption infuriated him, but relief was close on its heels. He'd never been so close to losing control and fought to school his expression to one of calm indifference before turning to face the interloper. But he knew Barak Trace wasn't fooled for a second. Knowledge and something else, something Daggar almost called fear, flashed through the spymaster's eyes before he quickly suppressed the emotion. He nodded to Daggar, but focused on Kendall.

"Lady Torfa. The other Lady Torfa, Laney, is asking for you and Ms. Anderson." He cocked an eyebrow and looked Daggar over. "That's going to get confusing." Then he scowled and turned to Kendall. "Have you seen Ms. Anderson?" Ah, maybe it was fear he'd seen in the Spymaster's eyes. Trace would despise not feeling in control of his own needs and the man had to realize he was on borrowed time. 103

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Kendall was still flushed, looking drugged from the lust between them, and she answered softly. "No, I haven't. But I was going to the Ambassador's office. Maybe she's there." Daggar wanted to curse, to take her by the shoulders and give her a good shake. She was still determined to defy him.

"I'll accompany you after you speak to Laney, if that's okay with the Overchief."

Barak met his gaze before inclining his head, and Daggar wasn't sure if he should be amused or chagrined. Kendall's expression turned rueful. She knew they'd both been offered a face saving out. She'd have an escort he trusted, and he'd stay to their quarters where his healers had ordered him. It rankled though, was still an act of defiance he'd punish her for later.

"Stay with Trace," he told her, mentally adding, or
I
promise you'll regret it, my heart.
He felt her shiver of anticipation more than saw it and had to grin. She would push him past every limit, but he'd more than return the favor.

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104

Leaving Earth

by Loribelle Hunt

They found Laney pacing the length of the common area in the family's quarters, one palm pressed to the small of her back. She was flushed, as if she'd just run a great distance, and Kendall studied her looking for signs of distress, but her breathing was even. Alrik was nowhere to be seen. Kendall sighed. She was sure the big warrior was the only one who could get Laney to go lie down and rest.

"Sit," she snapped, her gaze including Daggar in the order. She felt his amusement, but he complied. Laney ignored her.

"Sergeant Major.
Now
."

Laney paused, faced her and the newcomers in the room, her gaze slowly taking them in, as if she'd been focused on something far away. She grinned. "Of course, Colonel." She took a place on the couch opposite Daggar, while Barak perched on the arm of one of the big chairs. Kendall joined Daggar as Alrik strode into the room.

"Where's Britt?" Laney asked as her husband sat next to her. He took Laney's hand in his, stroking the back of it with the tip of one finger, and Kendall was struck by his gentleness. There was so much more to these Delroi warriors than she'd first believed. Mentally, Daggar shared a chuckle.
Does that assessment include me, der'lan?

She shrugged, answering both Laney and Daggar. "I don't know."

"Damn it," Laney muttered under her breath before meeting Kendall's gaze. "There's been a coup on Earth." 105

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Kendall didn't try to hide her shock or anger. 'Damn' was much too mild. Fuck. She stood up and paced. All they'd worked for, all the scheming and fighting, and now what?

"Who?"

Laney half smiled, the expression full of wry frustration. "I don't know. I was hoping Britt could make some calls, find someone who knows something."

"What are the odds that would happen on Earth while someone is trying to kill our Overchief here?" Barak posed the question they all must be thinking.

"Someone is always trying to kill him," Alrik replied. "It could be a coincidence."

His words made her heart hammer in her chest. How had she gotten so deeply involved with a man whose life was always threatened? Would any of those attempts ever succeed? The idea made her throat close painfully. What would she do then?

Shh, baby. Don't worry. I'm harder to kill than I look.
Did she imagine the teasing note in that mental voice? She glared at him. His eyes were bright, always daring. Nope. It was definitely there.

She nudged his side with her elbow.
This is not amusing.
And quit eavesdropping in my head.

He shrugged.
It's my right as your mate to keep tabs on
you. Especially given your penchant for disobeying
instructions.

"Shit." Laney struggled to her feet. "I need Britt here, but I guess the Ambassador will have to do. I don't trust that man," she ended on a snarl and heaved a deep breath. "But 106

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my usual communication lines are shut down. He'll have to do. Barak, make sure you get Britt a communicator when you catch up to her."

"Of course, my Lady, but where do you think you're going?"

"Back to bed." Alrik scowled at her. "Don't even argue, Laney." He stood and pulled her close to his side, lowering his head to whisper softly in her ear. Kendall wondered what he said. Laney's expression softened, the determination morphing to resignation while her eyes brightened and a slight smile twisted her lips.

"Find me when you get back, Kendall."

"Sure." A long time after she got back if the gleam in Alrik's eyes was anything to judge by. Kendall stood, Daggar mimicking the action next to her.

"She isn't going either. Barak can handle it." She tilted her head back to study him, trying to decide whose resolve was firmer. This was one battle she knew she couldn't afford to lose. If she did, she'd spend the rest of her life giving in to him. Oh it would be little things at first, no doubt. But eventually she'd wake up and discover she had no will left of her own.

"You want us to let your Spymaster go to Earth's Ambassador to Delroi demanding to know what's happening back home
and
here?"

Daggar crossed his arms over his chest and glared down at her. Barak wisely stayed out of it, but she read his body language just as easily as she read Daggar's. It was clear to her that both men wanted her to stay just where she was. 107

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Safe and confined in the royal family's quarters.
Not gonna
happen, babe
.