Talson Temptations 2: Talson's Test (2 page)

One practice of the humans he’d never understood. They had such loose family ties.

In Otra culture, families stayed together until they formed life bonds. Yet even after, they remained close. Though Roarke currently made his home on another planet, he did his best to visit often during the year. Z, Val and Romy still lived in the family home and would until they mated, probably in another twenty to thirty years. Though they took jobs elsewhere, this would be their permanent home until they expanded the family. He wondered if Roarke ever found it lonely to live so far away.

Z entered the kitchen and saw everyone already gathered around the meal table, speaking in English. A concession to Jamie, no doubt. The family normally spoke common tongue, native to the planet and their people.

His father quirked a brow in his direction. “Welcome to the land of the living.” Z ignored the unasked question, seeing the glance that passed between Val and his father.
Dammit.

He scowled, matching his father’s expression. He knew they looked enough alike to be twins. Rhenec Talson ‘Or Fal still had the build and mien of a warrior half his age, and he knew it. He never let the rest of them forget it, either.

Roarke, the youngest Talson, cleared his throat, thankfully distracting their father.

He wrapped an arm around Jamie, his pretty human, and smiled. “I just wanted to say thanks again to all of you for coming together on such short notice.”

“Like we’d miss your wedding,” their mother scoffed. Shea could have passed for Otra. Though fully human, she had the dark hair and dark eyes of their kind. Unlike Jamie, whose auburn hair and light brown eyes declared her uniquely human.

“Hell, I can’t believe Roarke found a woman who’d take him.” Val shook his head.

“I still can’t believe it.”

“Dick,” Roarke muttered.

“Roarke Talson, you watch your mouth.” Their mother glared.

Everyone laughed as Roarke flushed and stammered an apology, the huge bastard making Jamie and Shea look small.

Z grinned. “You afraid of puny humans, bro?”

“He is if he knows what’s good for him.” Jamie winked and shot Roarke a naughty smile.

Z liked her. She gave as good as she got. And any woman that could put up with his taciturn brother deserved praise.

“Sweetheart, I’m just sorry you met him first.”

Roarke glared at him and opened his mouth as if to say something. But after a glance at their mother, he closed it.

Romy smiled. Quiet, thoughtful and just as much a hell raiser, he had everyone fooled into thinking him harmless. As if. He cast Z an amused glance.

Quit reading my thoughts
, Z sent him.

Then stop broadcasting.
Romy turned to Roarke. “We’re fortunate to be getting such a wonderful sister to add to our family.”

Shea hugged Jamie. “So lovely.”

“And hot.” Val raised his brows. “Come on, Roarke. That’s a compliment.” 

Roarke said something under his breath, and their father interrupted, “Yes, Valis.

However well intended, you’re acting like—”

“Your father,” Shea answered tartly.

Everyone laughed and caught up on the goings on at Port Watch. Roarke mentioned the potential growth at his lane of the family business—Talson Shipping.

“And with Jamie’s help, we’re going to expand into the Outer Ports, maybe even hit Werfal 5.”

Rhenec snorted. “Good luck with that. Those people are barbarians.” Shea grinned. “Takes one to know one.”

“Damn right.” His father laughed. “But if I hadn’t raised my own barbarians, Roarke never would have seen what a gem his Jamie really is, would you, son?” Roarke’s large grin was worth all the ribbing, and Z considered how happy his brother seemed with the right woman by his side. Though Jamie would never know Selection, an Otra female’s version of The Testing, she complemented his brother. The pair would have happy, healthy children. A vision of two little miniatures of Roarke hit him hard.

“You okay?” his father asked.

Z blinked and shook his head. “Yeah.”

“Oh man, I don’t even want to know what you just saw,” Roarke groaned. “So don’t tell me.” When Jamie started to ask, he waved her away. “Don’t ask.” Feeling smug knowing what the others didn’t, Z whistled but said nothing.

“It feels like yesterday you four were still in training pants.” Shea sighed.

Jamie laughed, the men complained. Shea always managed to make them feel all of five years old.

Romy reached across Z to grab several sweet fruits from a nearby tray.

“Hey.”

“I asked you to pass it before, but you were zoning into the future.” Romy didn’t apologize. Little bastard never did. “Something we need to talk about, and I’m sorry to bring it up at such a happy occasion.”

The family quieted. Romy knew things even Z didn’t. Powerful, and growing stronger every day, Romy could do things other Otra only dreamed of, though he thought his gifts a big secret. “Rumor has it Chartrell Shipping is vying for our contract with New Hattan’s Outer Port.”

Whew. Business. For a moment, Z had worried Romy might mention something about his troublesome nightmares.

“Yeah, I heard the same thing yesterday,” Val added with a frown. “Seems to me they have an uncanny interest in our clients.”

“That’s the third one this month.” Rhenec looked thoughtful.

Z shrugged. “I can look into it, if you want.”

Roarke nodded. “You should. I’m getting a bad feeling they’re going to make a run at Port Watch. The bastards don’t care who they step on to try to one-up us. Not that there’s a chance in hell—ah, heck—they can.”

“Roarke has a point.” Jamie discussed a few options she’d proposed to secure Port Watch’s shipping lanes. Smart girl. Z approved, especially when he saw the warm look in his brother’s eyes as he regarded her.

“I’ve a couple ideas about that.” Their father frowned. “I think—”

“That’s enough,” Shea said firmly. “Roarke and Jamie are going to be married tomorrow. And you all want to discuss shipping?”

She glared, and even Jamie flushed.

“I’m sorry, Shea, it’s just—”

“No, dear. I’m not upset with you.” Shea smiled at Jamie. “You’re the daughter I’ve always wanted. And I told you to call me Mom, just like my boys do.” Jamie beamed. “Okay, Mom.”

“Suck up,” Val whispered under his breath.

Romy laughed, and their father coughed to muffle his obvious amusement.

Shea would not be deterred. “I want the rest of you to focus solely on tomorrow.

My baby boy is getting married.”

“Mom.” Roarke rolled his eyes.

“Hush, Roarke.” Jamie put a finger over his lips. “Your mother deserves this. I can’t imagine what it would be like to have a bunch of boys after raising my sisters.”

“You will,” Z couldn’t help teasing.

Roarke swore, and Jamie frowned in confusion.

“Oh, that’s wonderful.” Shea laughed, then explained. “Zaret sees the future, Jamie.

So you’re going to have boys, hmm? How many, Z? When?” Jamie paled, and Z decided to put her mind at ease. “I was just teasing, Mom.”

“Asshole.” Roarke’s epithet reached him at the same time Jamie’s wide eyes settled on him.

Roarke had found a keeper with his human mate. Her coloring intrigued Z, the light brown of her eyes as unusual as her flame-colored hair. She was pretty and exotic, so human. Z had detected a hint of
psychei
within her, surprising him. She and his brother suited one another, without a doubt. Their children would be well loved, and handsome as well.

A sudden flash of pale skin and blonde hair, of purple, almost black eyes burned through him. Dream walking, a bridge of fire. Flesh mingled and lovers caressed, audible grunts and groans of raw sex filled his senses. Two men, one woman, joining to share in unimaginable pleasure…

“Zaret!”

He blinked to find everyone staring at him. “What?” 

His father glanced pointedly at the fiery tablecloth in front of him, and he hastily dumped his juice over it. Jamie’s eyes were huge. Shea looked concerned. The others stared at him in shock, all except for Romy, who nodded.

Fuck.

“Son, we need to talk.”

Z flushed, extremely embarrassed he’d lost control. He’d been dealing with the dreams for months, and the last two weeks had been the hardest. But he’d never come so close to losing it, and in front of his family, no less. What the hell was wrong with him? He was far from ready for The Testing, wasn’t he?

Panicked at the thought, he blurted, “It’s nothing. I haven’t been getting much sleep and I—”

His father’s gaze narrowed, and Z wished he had Romy’s strength to block out the psychic intrusion. Unfortunately, his talents lay elsewhere. Like in foolish flashes of the future. Creeping tendrils of energy sifted through his mind, like invading ants prickling his skin. He itched, but he couldn’t scratch the areas of his brain his father furrowed through.

After what felt like forever, his father retreated.

“I hate that.” Z glared.

His father glared back. “How long has this been going on?”

“For at least two weeks,” Romy spoke before he could even try to avoid answering.

Traitor
, Z pushed the thought.

As usual, Romy ignored him.

“Longer than that,” Val added, ignoring Z’s anger. “He brought me into a few of his dreams as far as a month ago.”

Rhenec’s eyes narrowed. “You should have told me, Zaret.” He turned to Roarke and Jamie. “I need to talk to my idiot son for a moment. I’ll rejoin the festivities soon enough. Please excuse us, but this can’t wait. Z, come with me.” 

“It’s no big deal, Dad.” Z smiled at Jamie, who looked as confused as the rest of them. “So, Roarke, where are you taking her for—” Rhenec stood and grabbed Z by the arm, forcibly reminding him his father was still a power to be reckoned with, one who refused to be ignored. At his size, Z rarely had anyone forcing him to do anything. “This shouldn’t take long. We’ll be in my study, not to be disturbed,” he warned, directing his attention to Val and Romy, the family troublemakers.

Romy shrugged.
Good luck, Z. Dad has that look in his eye. You’re in it deep.

Val grinned.
Better you than me. I told you to talk to him.

“Rhenec, what’s going on? Is the boy all right?” Shea looked worried.

He sighed. “I’ll tell you about it later,
veyu
. Just, let me deal with this, now.” Shea glowered and promised Rhenec a look that said “we’ll talk about this later”.

“Fine. Jamie, Roarke, let’s talk about tomorrow. Boys, you’ll stay right here with me. I have a few things I need you to do.”

Val and Romy groaned. Trapped, like rats on a sinking ship. Z tried to look smug as he was dragged from the kitchen by a man three times his senior. He followed, resigned to the fact his father knew about his problems and curious as to what Rhenec might know about his dreams.

The moment the study door closed the two in privacy, Rhenec shoved Z into a chair with so much force, Z instinctively braced for battle. Not a weak Otra by any means, Z found himself unable to move from under his father’s
psychei
. Caught by eyes that had turned molten silver, Z fought his father’s burning stare. But in his struggle to control the sudden maelstrom of his thoughts, he faltered.

Purple eyes burning with heat, white-blonde hair shrouding a body made for sin, Val, a ship
on fire, metal burning, floating in space, naked breasts, a spark of life balanced, waiting, the
future unleashed like a supernova about to explode.
Images flashed and a dark, oppressive force pushed him down. The pressure squeezed the breath out of him.

“Zaret, breathe. Breathe deeply, Son.”

When he finally caught his breath, he saw his father staring down at him with an odd expression on his face. Rhenec appeared pleased, worried and in awe. “The good news is that you’re experiencing something completely normal, though extremely rare.”

“I…am?”
What the hell just happened?

“Very few Otra experience the
tranzwal
, so I never thought to mention it. It’s so unique as to be almost forgotten.” Rhenec stared at Z thoughtfully. “The last occurrence of a
tranzwal
in our family happened over seven hundred years ago.”

“Seven hundred?” Z blinked. “What the hell is a
tranzwal
?”

“Think of it as destiny’s guiding hand. The visions, dreams, you’ve been encountering involve someone very close to your true path. The blonde.” His father cleared his throat. “She, ah, you had a keen interest in her, I couldn’t help noticing. Not that I blame you.” He grinned. “She’s the key to your future. Whether that means as a partner in life bond or not, I can’t say for sure. She may in fact be the one who introduces you to your mate, or to a future you’re meant to live.” Rhenec grew serious. “The fires you’ve seen and the ability to draw fire while asleep, that troubles me.”

“Why? All Otra control the energy within our bodies. I could burn those papers on your desk now if I wanted to.”

“With a massive amount of concentration, yes, because it’s not as strong in you as your ability to foresee the future. But the flames from your dream aren’t within you.

They come from someone else. That encounter with the ship bothers me.”

“Piracy,” Z offered. He’d been thinking about the battle he’d envisioned since he’d begun having the dreams. “The space explosions are results of battle. It’s piracy, Dad. I know it.”

Rhenec frowned. “That’s not good news, especially with the reports I’ve been getting about our rivals.” He shook his head. “But that’s not the point. I don’t think you recognized it, but I did. The port you saw the woman in, the one where you first see her? It’s the site of our newest acquisition in New Hattan. I was thinking about placing you on the next freighter heading there, but now I know I will.”

“New Hattan? I don’t know. Roarke’s wedding is tomorrow, and after that I have pressing matters at the docs on Port Nule.”

“Of course you’ll attend the wedding.” His father spoke over him as if Z didn’t have an option on what to do. “After that, you’re going to New Hattan. I want you there to look into things.”