Mystic Militia (14 page)

She seemed pleased by this, but she wiggled away when he tried to pull her back into his arms. “I need to get dressed.” She snatched a towel off the rack and stepped out of the shower enclosure.

She was right. They needed to be presentable for High Queen Charlotte. Still, it felt like Tori was running away from him.

* * * * *

Lor had nearly married a princess. The realization pestered Tori as she dried her hair. How could he even consider a serious relationship with someone like her when he was obviously meant for greater things? Even on Earth she was nothing special. She had an interesting job, earning a better-than-average salary, but Lor was nobility. She didn’t know much about the Ontarian social structure, but it was obvious that Lor was from the highest echelon.

After braiding her hair, she slipped into the clothes that had been left for her. The length of the top indicated that it wasn’t meant to be tucked in and the pants were a simple slip-on style with a drawstring waist. The geometric pattern in muted jewel tones kept the outfit from being utterly boring. Still, she felt like she was wearing scrubs. Oh well, the only option was to put her dirty clothes back on and that would never do.

When she stepped out of the humid bathroom she found Lor seated at the table dressed in robes similar to the ones Tal had been wearing. The Head Master’s outfit had been pale gray. Lor’s was chocolate brown edged in turquoise. Though the color combination picked up the gold tones in his hair and perfectly matched the color of his eyes, she couldn’t help thinking of the clergy.

“Do all Mystics wear dresses?” she teased.

“When they’re at the Conservatory, most do. It’s a choice not an obligation. Our ‘dresses’ are remarkably comfortable.”

“What are you wearing underneath?” She flashed a saucy smile then joined him at the table.

“If the High Queen weren’t on her way, sweet thing, I’d show you.” He motioned toward the covered platter. “You still have time to eat, if you hurry.”

She lifted the cover and let out a happy cry.
“French toast?
How did you… Were you reading my mind in the shower? I’ve been craving French toast ever since I woke up.” She giggled then clarified, “Well, ever since I finished my appetizer.”

He
smiled,
his gaze warm and caressing. “There’s fresh coffee too.”

“I think I’ve died and gone to heaven.” She inhaled deeply as she filled a large mug from the insulated pot. “I like the smell of coffee even more than the taste.” She took several sips before turning her attention to her food. “Aren’t you eating?”

“Already did, but I’m always ready for more.”

Somehow she didn’t think he was talking about breakfast anymore.

“The results arrived while you were primping.”

“I do not primp. You’re vainer than I am.”

He arched his brows at her “Do you want to know what the tests determined or not?”

“You know I do.” Her pulse leapt and her belly tensed. She felt like an Oscar nominee waiting for her name to be announced.

“You are in very good health. They detected no diseases or even any serious risk factors.”

She glared at him. It was obvious he was intentionally drawing out the suspense. “You’re being a jerk.”

“Your father was Ontarian. You, my love, are a human/Ontarian hybrid.”

“I wonder if my mother knew.” The thought of having a faceless alien in her family tree had been unsetting enough, but the culprit was her father.

“We have no way of knowing for certain.” He paused, compassion clear in his gaze. “Was her death sudden?”

“No. She had cancer.”

He reached across the table and squeezed her hand. “It seems unlikely that she would have left you and Angie without ever having spoken about your origins if she knew the truth.”

Her mother seldom spoke of the man who had fathered both her children. When she did comment on him, she frequently referred to him as the sperm donor, which pretty much said it all. At times Tori thought her mother had been so heartbroken by his abandonment that she had never recovered. Other times she thought he had honestly not been that important in her mother’s life.

“According to Mom, Angie and I were fathered by the same man, but she should probably be tested as well. No need to freak her out if she’s a regular old human.”

He nodded then reached for his coffee mug. “You’ll have a lot to explain to her when we return.”

“But I thought you said I wouldn’t be able to talk about any of this.”

“We’ll protect her from the truth as long as we can, but I suspect she’ll need to know at some point.”

Knowing they didn’t have much time before the High Queen’s arrival, Tori only nodded and concentrated on devouring her breakfast.

“How do you make your living?” he asked after a pause.

“I design sets, mainly for live performances, but I’ve also done some movie sets.” She maneuvered the words around a mouth full of French toast.

“How did you choose that vocation? It sounds highly specialized.”

“I grew up in California.” When he didn’t react to the statement, she added, “That’s the movie capital of the world. You do know what a movie is, don’t you?”

“Yes. A recording intended for the entertainment of others.”

“I had always wanted to be involved in the entertainment industry, but I knew I wanted to be behind the camera not in front of it. I started out painting flats—the walls that create the illusion of a room—and worked my way up the proverbial chain.”

“What brought you to Las Vegas?”

“My mother’s death.
I moved back to San Diego when she found out she had cancer. She battled it for two and a half years, but cancer won. Angie really struggled after Mom passed and everywhere we went reminded us of her. I guess we just needed some place new and different.”

A firm knock sounded at the door and Lor went to answer it as Tori sneaked a final bite of French toast. Lor opened the door and two uniformed guards strode inside. They checked each room thoroughly, though Tori
wasn’t
sure what they were expecting to find. Was this the Ontarian version of the Secret Service?

The guards took up positions on either side of the door and a regal woman swept into the room. She was dressed in a silky-looking blouse with blonde lace trim and cream-colored dress pants. Her brown hair had been arranged on top of her head with spiraling curls and tiny braids. She crossed to Lor and smiled. That’s when Tori noticed the color of her eyes. Her eyes were the same clear turquoise as Lor’s. Were they related?

Her heart sank a little more. If he was a member of the royal family, why hadn’t he told her? She felt even more common than she had before.

“It’s wonderful to see you, Lor.” Charlotte stretched to the balls of her feet so she could kiss him on the cheek. “We’ve both been far too busy lately. I miss our talks.”

He had frequent “talks” with the High Queen? Tori wanted to find a rug to crawl under. Instead she stood there in her multicolored scrubs and did her best to smile.

“I’d like to introduce you to Victoria Logan, my friend and coworker.”

Well, they weren’t technically lovers, still the description stung. She started to curtsy then sighed and held out her hand. “It’s an honor to meet you.”

Charlotte’s handshake was firm and her smile seemed genuine. “Has Lor been taking good care of you?”

Heat spread across Tori’s cheeks. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d blushed before she met Lor and now that he was in her life she couldn’t seem to stop. “He’s been very attentive.”

Charlotte chuckled.
“No doubt.
Well, I don’t have a lot of time, so I hope you don’t mind my directness. My life mate would like me to scan you. Are you okay with that?”

“Of course.
I welcome any insight you can give me.”

Rather than touching Tori, Charlotte stared into her eyes. Light sparked deep in the High Queen’s gaze as she continued to search. “Tal’s right, you’re definitely a sensitive, but I see other gifts as well.” She paused and her gaze focused on Tori’s face instead of looking into her. “Do you know both of your biological parents?”

“I was raised by my mother. My father wasn’t around much, probably because he was Ontarian.” She smiled at Charlotte’s startled expression. “We had my DNA profiled while we were in the COT. The results arrived this morning.” Rather than dwell on the disquieting detail, she asked, “What other abilities did you sense?” Would any of them make her less helpless?

“Sensitivity is your primary gift. I also sensed telekinesis and a hint of farseeing, but you should focus on one gift at a time.”

“I know what telekinesis is, but what is farseeing?”

“The definition is in the name. Once you’re trained you will be able to ‘see’ situations and individuals great distances from your location. Some
farseers
can see into the future and the past, but your gift isn’t that strong. Focus on your sensitivity. It’s a highly useful gift once you learn to control it.”

“Give me an example.” Being able to determine the gifts of others sounded pretty useful to Tori.

“
Sensitives
make amazing interrogators. Your gift doesn’t just reveal Mystic abilities. It will reveal the basic nature of any person. You’re a living lie detector.”

That sounded more interesting. “How do I learn to control it?”

“You can train with another sensitive, but with passive gifts there isn’t a lot to control. Mainly you just need to learn to trust your instincts. I bet you’ve always had
an inkling
when people are lying to you.”

“There are many times when people have sworn they are telling me the truth and I knew they were full of shit.” She blushed again and whispered, “Sorry.”

Charlotte laughed. “I’m not offended. Trust me, I’ve said much worse. Have Lor test you. Have him read a list of statements and see if you can accurately tell which are true and which
are lies
.” She surprised Tori by giving her a quick hug. “Ontarian men tend to be bullies. Don’t take shit off anyone.”

Tori couldn’t help but smile. As Lor had predicted, Tori liked the High Queen very much. “I know you’re pressed for time, but may I ask a question?”

“Of course.”

“Will the children rescued from the Shadow Maze be reunited with their mothers?”

Charlotte grew serious and sad. “After lunar cycles of debate, we decided to leave it up to the mothers. All of the boys were tested and genetically matched with the woman who gave birth to them. But many don’t remember that they’re mothers and some want nothing to do with what happened in the world below. It’s hard to find a balance between what’s best for the women and what’s best for the boys.”

“I’m glad there’s at least a chance that some of the families will be reunited. It’s sad to think of any child growing up without his mother.”

“Are the fathers still allowed access to their sons?” Lor asked, but she wasn’t sure if he was playing devil’s advocate or if he honestly felt sorry for the men.

“During their tour of duty, they’ll be allowed supervised visitations,” Charlotte explained in full diplomat mode. “If they complete their tour successfully, the boys will be returned to the men.”

“What if the mother objects?” Tori couldn’t help but wonder.

Charlotte chuckled. “We’re echoing countless council meetings. None of us anticipated the complications that would arise from the liberation. We just knew it was the right thing to do and so we acted. If the parents are at odds, they can each appeal to the Joint Council and we will determine what is best for the son. If we’re overwhelmed by appeals, we’ll create a court for the specific purpose of settling the cases.”

Tori finally smiled. “It sounds like you’ve been very thorough. There doesn’t appear to be any easy answers, but at least you’re addressing them.”

“I’m glad you approve.” Charlotte turned toward the door then suddenly stopped and pivoted toward Lor. “Oh, one more thing before I go.” She walked to Lor and handed him what looked like a business card. “That’s my contact on Earth. I know involving any government is a last resort, but this person has been helpful in the past. Most importantly, Morgan has earned my trust. Just tuck it up your sleeve in case you need it.” She kissed his cheek again and gave him a very maternal hug. “I can’t believe how big you’ve gotten. I still remember the day I first saw you as if it were yesterday. You were so adorable.” With one final wave to Tori, the High Queen of Ontariese returned to her responsibilities.

“And that was perfect again.” Lor watched a relieved smile part Tori’s lips with a mixture of pride and frustration. In less than four hours the accuracy of her predictions had gradually increased until she’d correctly identified each lie he told her. “As Charlotte said, it’s not a matter of skill, only of believing in your gift.” They sat at the table in the guest bungalow. The unassuming room was starting to feel comfortable, but Lor suspected it had more to do with his companion than his surroundings. Years of training and mental discipline had taught him not to overanalyze the developments in his life. Some things happened because of choices he made while others seemed almost preordained. He wasn’t sure why he felt connected to Tori. He only knew that the connection was real.

“It’s hard to believe in any of this. Two days ago I thought I was an ordinary human with zero paranormal abilities and now I’m on a different planet perfecting the art of being a human polygraph machine.”

“Polygraph machines are not as accurate as you, my love.” She looked away as she heard the endearment and Lor wanted to shake her. She’d been withdrawn all morning, emotionally distant and verbally stingy. What had happened to the feisty spitfire he’d tackled in Angie’s apartment? “What’s wrong?”

“Why do you think something’s wrong?”

“You were playful and happy when you woke up this morning but ever since I mentioned Echo, you’ve been…sad.” Sad wasn’t accurate, but he couldn’t pinpoint the emotion, or emotions, keeping her separate from him. “Did I upset you by mentioning someone else after
your
amazing good morning?”

“No.” She closed her eyes and averted her face. As if one or the other weren’t enough to make her point for her.

Unwilling to let it go, he reached across the table and covered her hands with his. “Talk to me.”

“You’ll just tell me it doesn’t matter, but I know better.”

“What doesn’t matter?” He could extract the answer with a simple scan, but he needed her to trust him enough to share her feelings. Without trust, their connection was doomed to shrivel and die. And that was not what he wanted.

She finally looked at him and the shame and misery he read in her gaze broke his heart. “Even while my mother was alive we struggled to get by, but after she died things got ugly. I could barely support myself much less take care of a demanding teenager. I did the best I could, but…we had nothing. And that’s not an exaggeration. We shopped in thrift stores and accepted food from charities.”

He wasn’t sure where she was going with the retrospective, so he just nodded and caressed her hands.

“I felt so inadequate.
So alone.”
She whispered the last phrase as she looked away. This wasn’t a play for attention. She was genuinely tormented by these memories. “I wanted to help Angie. I knew she was in pain, but everything I tried only made her more rebellious, more defiant.”

“Tori, you were little more than a child yourself. I’m sure Angie realizes—”

“Angie resents the hell out of me and always will.” She furiously blinked back tears as she added, “She blames me for Mom’s death.”

Compassion made it hard to breath. He wanted to wrap her in his arms and shelter her from these feelings, but she was barely tolerating his casual touch. “Didn’t your mother die of cancer? How can Angie blame you for that?”

“I’d moved to LA to start my career. Everything was so expensive so Mom was sending me money whenever she could to help keep my head above water. By the time she broke down and saw a doctor the cancer had spread through most of her body.” A sob disrupted the rhythm of her speech and still she stubbornly fought back tears. “If she hadn’t been so focused on helping me, maybe the doctors could have saved her.”

Lor couldn’t take it anymore. He closed his fingers around her wrist and pulled her around to his side of the table. She resisted for a moment then crawled onto his lap and pressed her face against his throat. He could feel her shuddering breaths and the moisture as it trailed between her cheek and his neck. Through it all, she barely made a sound.

“I’m so sorry you lost your mother, but none of this is your fault.” He stroked her hair and back, wishing she’d believe it. “You were brave and honorable to even attempt to handle your sister. If she can’t see all the sacrifices you made for her, then
she
should be ashamed.”

With her face hidden against his throat, she became more talkative. Emotion still thickened her voice, yet her thoughts were clearer. “Angie has buried her pain behind a wall of rebellion. She pretends not to give a damn about anyone or anything while inside she’s terrified and begging for understanding.”

“Your insight is remarkable. Most people wouldn’t look beyond her rebellion.”

“I don’t know how to help her.” Tori’s hand absently stroked up and down his arm,
then
she pushed her fingers into the back of his hair. “How do I save her from herself?”

Their conversation was important. He wanted to give her time to fully explore her issues. Still, her touch was seriously distracting. “Maybe you’re not destined to be her savior.”

She lifted her head and looked at him, clearly upset by the suggestion. “What do you mean? I won’t give up on her.”

“That’s not what I was suggesting,” he assured her. “You might be too close to the problem to be objective. Sometimes it takes an outsider’s voice to penetrate the pain.”

Accepting the concept with a thoughtful nod, she asked, “And what am I supposed to do while I wait for fate to deliver this magical outsider?”

He smiled at the sarcasm in her tone, relieved that her spirit was returning. “Focus on yourself for a change.” She tried to slip off his lap, but he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer. “What made you think about all of this?”

She caught her bottom lip between her teeth and lowered her gaze. Apparently there was more to her mood than frustration with her sister. “How rich are you?”

Her uncertainty was obviously real, but he couldn’t help but laugh. “Is
that
what’s bothering you?”

“I’ve seen enough of your world to know that there are ranks and stations just like on Earth. Rich and powerful people form connections with other rich and powerful people. It has always been that way.” She took a deep breath and met his gaze. “Are you toying with me?”

Tenderness made his heart ache, yet he wasn’t sure how to convince her. Pursuing their physical attraction at this point would likely make her even more insecure. “You’re an attractive female. That’s all the leverage you need to ruthlessly negotiate with any Ontarian male, regardless of his social standing.”

She shook her head “I don’t believe you. Are you related to the High Queen? Your eyes are exactly the same color as hers.”

Now the truth was coming out. He had no doubt her sister contributed to her self-doubts, but she was intimidated by his pedigree. He was tempted to
lie
, tell her he was no one of importance. Even if she believed him now, it would only postpone the inevitable. He was a first born son of one of the great houses. Eventually, she’d learn what that meant.

He sighed then explained, “Charlotte’s father was from the House of Joon and her mother was from the House of Aune, so we are distantly related.” The admission compounded the tension in her expression. He pressed his hand against her cheek and leaned in as he whispered, “None of it matters to me. I don’t have political aspirations.”

“I don’t want to talk about it anymore.” Just like that she shut down. Her gaze iced over and all emotion left her face. “I told you what’s bothering me, now let’s move on.” Much to his disappointment, she scooted off his lap and returned to her chair.

Lor stared at her profile as she gazed across the room. Part of him wanted to throw her over his shoulder and take her to the bedroom where they could fight this out between the sheets. The more rational part of him understood that sex might give them a much needed release for the building emotions. It wouldn’t, however, resolve the underlying issues. His only real choice was to give her time. The longer they spent together, the more she would see how little social position meant to him.

“How would you like to test your ability in a real-world situation?” If they stayed this small room much longer, he’d probably do something he’d regret, like slinging her over his shoulder.

“What do you have in mind?” She turned her head and met his gaze.

“Someone is helping the Shadow Assassins, but we’ve been unable to determine if it’s the Rodytes or the House of Joon.”

Her eyes rounded. “Your family might be helping the Shadow Assassins?”

“The Shadow Maze was constructed under Fortress Joon. My father has been one of their primary supporters for longer than I’ve been alive.” He released a humorless laugh. “I told you he wasn’t a nice person.”

“If he was involved with the Shadow Assassins, why isn’t he incarcerated?” She asked the question with obvious care.

“None of the elders would incriminate him. I’m not sure why they remained loyal, but all the evidence against him was circumstantial.”

“What about the Shadow Maze? Didn’t that count as evidence?”

There was so much about this situation that she didn’t
understand,
probably didn’t need to understand. Even so, he tried to encapsulate the essentials. “My father claimed to have no knowledge of the Shadow Maze. The Joint Council couldn’t prove otherwise. You see, the original Shadow Maze had been constructed beneath the Conservatory and no one realized it was there.”

“How is that possible? No one was ever seen going in or out?”

“Both mazes were only accessible to those how
could teleport
. There were no entrances to find.”

“How did they breathe? What did they do for food? Nothing grows without sunlight?”

“There was adequate ventilation and hydroponic greenhouses. I only have a basic idea of how it all worked. You can ask Odintar for details on our way back to Earth.”

“Speaking of Odintar.
What’s his story? Is he even Ontarian?”

Lor smiled at her.
“Very good.
You’re starting to recognize the subtle differences between our species. Odintar is half Rodyte and half Bilarrian.”

“Bilarrian?
Is that a different race or a different species?”

“Same species from two different planets.”

She shook her head and laughed. “I’ll never figure this out.”

“Let me see if I can boil it down to the essentials. It’s really not that complicated. There are three prominent planets in this star system, Ontariese, Rodymia and Bilarri. Are you with me so far?”

“Three planets.
Same star system.
Got it.”

“Rodymia was colonized by people from Bilarri, so despite their hatred for each other now, they are the same species.” He watched her face carefully, making sure she was still absorbing the facts.

“Why do they hate each other?”

“Now that’s a long involved story. We’ll save it for another day.”

“So one of Odintar’s parents came from each planet, but he is not really a hybrid because Rodytes and Bilarrians are actually the same species.”

“Correct.” Despite her claim to the contrary, she was having no trouble grasping the connections.

“What’s his involvement with the Shadow Assassins?”

“Director
dar
Aune was going to have Odintar pose as a Rodyte interested in utilizing the services of the Shadow Assassins, but the Shadow Maze was liberated before the plan could be set in motion. Odintar has studied their Customs extensively in preparation for the mission. He already spoke Rodyte fluently.”

“And you’re sure you can trust him. He seemed sort of…uncivilized to me.”

Lor chuckled. “He’d find that flattering. He’s proven his loyalty many times over. I’d trust him with my life without reservation.”

“But not my body?”
She grinned. “I thought you were going to punch him in the face last night.”

“Would it have pleased you to watch me fight for your honor?” He wasn’t sure what had shifted her mood, but he was more than happy to follow along. “Ontarian men tend to be very possessive.”

She pushed back from the table and stood. “I won’t lie. It thrilled me that you didn’t want him near me. But I won’t be owned, even by you. If we’re going to do this, you have to understand that I’m my own woman.”

He stood as well and stalked toward her, his gaze locked with hers.
“If we’re going to do what?”

“I don’t think I can concentrate until we scratch this itch. I lay there all night aching for you.”

Moving within reach, he just stood there and waited to see what she’d do. “Why didn’t you tell me? I was meditating for most of the night. It was as close as I could come to sleep.”

“You were so proud that you’d kept your promise. I wanted to honor your effort.”

Tired of waiting, he yanked her into his arms and pulled her so firmly against him her feet barely touched the floor. “Don’t start this if there’s any chance you’ll change your mind. I want you too much to trust my control.”