Hathor Legacy: Outcast (7 page)

"You were there last night when the officers arrived. But their report does not include what happened to Keel."

"Must be an oversight." As she'd requested, the officers hadn't added Jon's location to their report. But that wasn't a fact she was going to share with Brant.

"There is no record of Jonathan Keel being admitted at the medi-evac. And he is not at his h
otel."

"I don't know where he is," she lied. "Why are you looking for him?"

"Brandon Keel had ownership in the mine. If he's dead, his son is his only heir. He must be located as soon as possible so that proper company procedures can be followed." Brant's words tumbled out like he was reciting a script he'd been programmed to say.

"But if he's expected to take up management of the mine, he should return to Astarte. I r
epeat, why are you looking for him?"

"If you know where he is, you must divulge the information or you will be in violation."

"You didn't answer my question."

She heard more talking in the background. This time she re
cognized the voice. It was Zina.

"He had a relationship with the criminal, Ilana Travac. And we suspect his father was co
mplicit in the robbery. If you are shielding him from us, you will be in direct violation and we'll bring you before the Elders."

"Travac deceived him. Jonathan had nothing to do with it."

"As I suspected, you have allowed yourself to be taken in by him. Guardians must never become personally involved. You are well aware of the ramifications of such an action. If not, then remember the fate of your mother."

Nadira almost dropped the tablet. Those words didn't come from Brant, they came from Zina. Her mentor had never forgiven Minona for rejecting her duty as a Guardian. And she was using the Sentry Leader to deliver that message. 

"If you want him, find him yourself." Nadira disconnected.

There was something more going on, something that went deeper than the robbery. And now Jonathan was at the center of it. 

10
On the Edge

"Guardians must never become personally involved."

The Sentry Leader's words continued to ring in Nadira's ears as she drained the last of her tea and slammed the cup on the counter. How dare Brant lecture her on how to do her job. But it surprised her that Zina would put words into his mouth. What did she have to gain from for
cing Jonathan to submit to more questioning?

Unfortunately if Zina took charge of it, the session would be closer to an inte
rrogation. When it came to getting the truth from suspects, Zina's skills were unsurpassed. Though the methods she used were questionable. Forcing your way into someone's mind was no different than forcing yourself into their body.

It was only to be done in extreme cases and when Novacorp sanctioned it. But the robbery on Demeter was the first major theft on that satellite. Company executives would authorize any a
ction to insure the thieves were caught--even if it meant using force on a CEO's son.

She grabbed the teapot and poured hot water into her cup. After crushing a handful of leaves between her fingers, she sprinkled them into a small, metal strainer. One of her pleasures was the make tea this way, as she'd seen it done when she was a child in the North. It took more time, but the flavor was worth the work.

Bobbing the silver strainer in the steaming water, she closed her eyes and inhaled the sweet, citrus scent. An image of the seashore came to her mind, and her mother's smile. Her brown eyes glistening, as she beckoned Nadira to come over to the water's edge. Minona's pink and gold dress flowing in the sea breeze, fluttering like the feathery wings of a bird.

Come to the edge, Nadira. Come to the edge…  

The bathroom door slid back and Jon sauntered out, followed by a cloud of steam. He secured the towel around his waist as he joined Nadira at the counter. "That smells great."

Unable to take her eyes off of him, she took a deep swallow b
efore answering. "I'll make you a cup."

In the aftermath of the attack, she'd been too drained to do an
ything but collapse on the couch. But now, with him standing across from her, wearing nothing but a damp towel, it was a different matter.

His body still moist, his dark hair slicked back, and his tanned skin flushed from the hot shower, her awareness of him was ove
rpowering.

"I'm not a tea drinker. Got any coffee?" he asked, poking around in the cab
inet over the built-in cooker.

"Might be some instant packs back there somewhere. Are you hungry yet?"

He shut the cabinet and leaned his elbows against the counter so that they were face-to-face. "Not yet. I've been meaning to tell you. What you did last night--never seen anything like that. How did you know about the guards?"

Jon's skin smelled like fresh, clean soap. She watched a droplet of water slowly make its way down his muscular arm and disa
ppear. Focus, damn it.

"They were outside when I was leaving. I knew they were up to something."

"But how did you know?"

"It's hard to explain. A simple way to put it is that I was able to read their em
otions."

"Really? How do you do that?"

"It comes to me as pictures or conversations. It depends. If a target is very agitated, they give off a lot of energy and they're easier to read. Or it can happen if they're very passionate and have very strong emotions."

Jonathan grinned. "So, you were able to track me because I'm passionate or because I have strong emotions?"

"Both." She could feel him now. His desire for her was growing, reaching through the barriers she kept putting between them. Flowing under and around them like a rushing river pushing past every obstruction.

Nadira had never encountered someone without Guardian abil
ities who was strong enough to overcome her emotional shields. And what was more interesting, he seemed to have no idea he was doing it.

"You saved my life. That means I'm yours." He took her hand, rubbing his thumb over her wrist. "What are you going to do with me?"

Could he feel her trembling? She hoped not. That's all she needed right now. If he had any idea how much he was doing to her, he'd be totally impossible. He was so used to women falling over themselves for him. It was going to be hard, but she was determined not to be one of them.

"Do all Guardians have power like yours?" He continued to glide his fingertips over her skin.

Gulping, she willed her body to stop responding. It wasn't working. His touch was deceptively light. But combined with the force of his energy, her nerve endings were lighting up all over her body.

"For the most part, all Guardians can read thoughts and em
otions. Some of us have abilities to touch objects and read the energy that clings to them." Her voice faltered, shaking as she watched him come from behind the counter. "All of the descendents of the First Families have some ability…but for most of them it's not strong enough to be developed."

"So, how can people tell the difference between Guardians and everyone else?"

His voice was a low growl, his energy surrounding her in a cocoon of heat and the remnants of fresh soap. In her mind a picture materialized of him in the shower, water pouring down on him like a summer rain. Wiping himself down and leaving trails of soap along his arms…and chest…and…

"We--we have this." Trembling, she held up her left hand to show him the half-moon shaped line in her palm.

"Did they put that there?"

"It forms naturally when we've developed our abilities."

Jonathan approached her. Closing in on her as she sat helpless on the stool, her body aching in anticipation. Instead of touching her again, he braced himself against the counter, his sinewy arms trapping her with no escape.

Leaning down, he kissed the side of her face, trailing kisses across her cheek. "So tell me, what other abilities do you have?" he asked.

"I--I don't know what you mean." She closed her eyes as his mouth found hers, his tongue insistent. As his kiss intensified, she fought the urge to touch him and pull him closer. If she let this go on, she'd be lost.

How could she protect him if she let her physical desires get in the way? Brant and Zina were searching for him. Shielding Jon from them would use all the energy she had left.

Keeping them from tracking him would require her to connect with him, and create a protective wall around him. It was the only way to keep them from sensing him and dragging him back to be questioned--or worse.

"Guardians must never become personally involved."

"Jon," she whispered, fighting to focus so she could get the words out.

Nimble fingers undid the opening on her shirt and slid unde
rneath the crisp fabric to caress her peaks into hardness. Sliding his hand around her back to support her, he pressed her against him while he shifted his attention to another part of her anatomy. Lazily trailing his hand along her thigh, he found her center and slowly entered, gently teasing her until she melted against him.

She couldn't keep him safe if she let this go on. Staying d
etached was the only way she could wield her power without her personal feelings interfering. How could she do her job if she was overcome by her emotions?

"Jon…we can't…listen to me…"

"Shhh. Relax. It'll be all right."

To keep him safe--to do her job--she had to rely on logic and not emotion. He gripped her, molding her to him so close she could feel the vibration of his heart. His rhythm was aligning with hers--beat by beat.

His energy ensnared her, pulling her in deeper and deeper. It was like being caught in wave after wave of emotion that knocked her off her feet and sent her spinning, unable to determine what was up or down.

The tumult of emotions was stronger than her ability to reason. Jon's energy engulfed her, tur
ning her body into jelly.

Continuing his explorations, he squeezed her soft nub between his thumb and forefinger. She clenched, instinctively moving to match his pace.

"Remember the fate of your mother."

Brant had made his point by addressing the one wound that had never healed. Attacking the most vulnerable part of her because he knew--no, because Zina knew--where to inflict the most pain.

In spite of her position as a Guardian, her mother, Minona had allowed her emotions to control her when she'd contracted with Nadira's father. Rather than follow the directives of the Elders, she'd chosen a non-Guardian partner for herself.

Even that action might've been overlooked if Minona hadn't left
Nova City with Nadira and gone into hiding. Driven by her desire to keep her daughter from being forced into the type of life she'd had to accept.

But Nadira's stronger Sentry energy couldn't be disguised. M
inona's cousin, Zina had located them in a seaside town in the North. Untrained, Nadira had no idea how to hide her natural abilities. Making it easy for a seasoned tracker to find them.

Shuddering, she gripped Jon's arms, digging her fingers into his flesh. His emotions conti
nued to pummel her, breaking through her reason and causing her shields to crumble.

"Remember the fate of your mother."

After that day on the beach, she never saw Minona again. She was gone. No one would tell her where.

Never forgetting the lesson, Nadira learned how to lock down her emotions. Following the e
xample set by the Guardians who'd trained her, she chose to remain detached from her feelings.

Unable to evade her fate, Nadira accepted it. Grudgingly obe
ying the directives, and trying to forget the destruction of her family.

"Remember the fate of your mother."

If Zina decided to track Jon, it would only be a matter of time before she found him here. Leaving Hathor on the shuttle wouldn't be an option. Once Novacorp authorized it, he would be taken before he stepped on board.

Gritting her teeth, Nadira summoned every bit of energy she had left. She gently placed her hands on either side of Jon's face, forcing him to look at her.

"Jonathan. Please…we have to stop this."

Staring at her blankly, like he was in a daze, it took a moment for him to f
ocus.

"What is it? Did I hurt you?"

"No…it's…it's not right. We can't do--"

"Because I'm not from Hathor or descended from the First Family or whatever the hell that is?" he asked, dropping his hands to his sides. 

"Why are you angry?" Wanting to put more space between them, Nadira nudged him. But it was like trying to move a boulder. "Not being from Hathor has nothing to do with it."

"Look, I don't like mixed signals."

"Mixed signals? Damn it, Jon. I have a job to do. I'm not someone you just met at a pick-up club." Another nudge, her hands pressed against his hard abdomen. Same result, nothing.

"So you think I want to bed every woman I meet?"

"Well, don't you?" Folding her arms across her chest, she waited for a response.

Jon glared at her, gripping his towel which, by now, was barely hanging from his waist. His e
nergy had changed all right, but his arousal hadn't dissipated. In fact, it felt even stronger than before. Maybe arguing with him was  the wrong approach.

"Jonathan, I should've told you…when you were in the shower, I talked to Brant. They want to bring you back for questioning. I don't know why."

"But I don't know anything about the robbery."

"I know that. Something's going on that doesn't feel right. I need time to figure it out. But in the meantime, there's only one way to stop them from finding you. I have to use my abilities to shield you."

"Shield me? Look, I'm grateful for what you did for me last night. But I can take care of myself."

"You don't understand what they're capable of."

"If you're so good at tracking people, why can't you find Ilana and my father?"

"Some people can't be tracked as easily. It's almost impossible if they're skilled at putting up emotional shields, or they're inc
apacitated…or they're dead."

Jonathan staggered back and ran his hands through his slick hair. "No. He can't be dead. There has to be another reason."

Should she tell him about the remains? But what if Brant had only said that to get Jonathan to come in?

If she told him, and it wasn't true…no, she had to be sure first. She couldn't take the chance that Jonathan would do something to put himself in danger.  

"Jon, do you know Mining Security Chief Mantee?"

"Sure. She's my father's second-in-command. She tried to talk me out of loo
king for him."

"Did she say why?"

"She said I was getting in the way." The scowl on Jonathan's face revealed more about their conversation than he was telling her. "Why do you want to know?"