Mystic Militia (6 page)

Lor looked at Allenton. The Shadow Assassin’s amused smirk had become something far more dangerous.

Is she a reader?

Lor wasn’t familiar with the term, so he didn’t reply. Instead, he asked Tori, “And just now? What did you see when you looked at Allenton?”

“It’s hard to explain.” Her hands rubbed her upper arms again.

“Try.” Allenton’s directive sounded more like a command than an encouragement.

Tori stepped closer to Lor. It was unlikely she even realized she’d moved. More than happy to be her protector, Lor slipped his arm around her shoulders. She shivered as she angled toward him. “Did I just shock you again?”

“Yes. It’s not painful, just strange.” She looked up at him with wide, uncertain eyes. “Do you know why it’s happening?”

“I might, but tell me about Allenton first. What happened when you looked at him?”

She rested her hand against his chest, the contact so light he was convinced the touch wasn’t intentional. “It was like a high-speed commercial or a movie trailer. A bunch of images flashed into my mind and then I saw another man’s face. He looked sort of like Allenton only meaner, much
much
meaner.”

“Nazerel,” Allenton muttered.

Lor looked at him and said, “You are obsessed with him.”

“I thought humans couldn’t read minds.”

Lor warned him to watch what he said with an impatient glare and a telepathic shove. “Don’t you mean Americans?” He smiled at Tori and tried to minimize the damage. “He’s still struggling with the nuances of English. It’s a tricky language.”

She finally realized she was touching him and took a step away. Lor reluctantly lowered his arm. It felt natural to touch and defend her. He enjoyed the attention of females, had been a self-confessed flirt his entire adult life, but this felt different somehow, more elemental, more serious.

Allenton moved toward them, his expression calm, gaze determined. “I head an investigative team that utilizes lesser known techniques to solve especially complex cases.”

“Oh, you mean like breaking and entering?”

Her spirit returned and Lor smiled, but every muscle in Allenton’s body tensed in response to her sarcasm. Clearly the Shadow Assassin wasn’t used to disrespectful females. But then Allenton wasn’t used to dealing with females in general. “He means something even more unconventional than my criminal tendencies.”

“I can’t wait to see where this is going.” Lor recognized her provocation for what it was, bravado rooted in fear. She was in trouble and she knew it.

Lor angled his body so he could more easily intercept Allenton if he charged the mouthy human. Hoping to defuse the escalation, Lor explained, “We were each recruited because of our unusual talents. Allenton is able to push images into others’ minds. It’s painless and won’t harm you in any way. Will you allow him to do this?”

“What does he want to show me?” She only crossed one arm this time, grabbing her opposite elbow.

“
He
wants to show you the person he believes is your sister,” Allenton responded, annoyance clear in every syllable.

Tori swallowed hard and looked at Allenton. “You can really do that?”

His lips curved into a faint smile. “I really can.”

“All you’ll do is
show
me an image? You won’t screw around with my brain?”

Awareness flared in Allenton’s gaze, the blue rings growing brighter. “I prefer to keep my ‘screwing around’ in the physical realm.”

“Glad to hear it.” She looked back at Lor, searching for something in his gaze. “Are you sure he won’t hurt me?”

Why is she so trusting of you? What did you do to her before I arrived?

Treated her with respect.
Lor kept the thought to himself. “He won’t hurt you.”
I won’t let him
. He shoved the warning into Allenton’s mind like a sword thrust.

Rather than becoming angry, Allenton chuckled.
I knew Mystics were territorial, but
do you always move this fast?
Then to Tori, “If it was not your sister I saw, we will be on our way.”

“All right.”
Tori took a deep breath and faced Allenton. After one final rub, she lowered her hand and lightly clenched her fists.

Allenton closed the space between them and pressed his hand against the side of her face. “Close your eyes and don’t resist. It won’t hurt unless you fight me.”

Lor cringed. How often did Shadow Assassins use that line on their captive females? Resentment festered despite his determination to keep his personal feelings separated from his professional obligations. He’d known Echo her entire life. His feelings for her weren’t
romantic,
more like a close friend or big brother, but it bothered him to think of her under the power of one of these cowards. Echo insisted that she was in love with Varrik, that he’d taken nothing she wasn’t willing to give. Still, Lor couldn’t help wondering what Varrik had done to create those feelings in her.

“Oh,” Tori gasped. “It’s like a movie. Can you change the camera angle or zoom in on their faces?”

“It’s a memory, not an entertainment vid. I can only show you what I saw.”

Secretly glad for the excuse to join the meld, Lor pressed in tighter to Tori’s side. “I can assist.
If you both agree.”

I didn’t realize you had sweeper training
, Allenton muttered.

I’m a Master Level mage
, Lor reminded.
My training is far more extensive than yours.

Allenton’s only response was an impatient glare, so Lor wrapped his fingers around the back of Tori’s neck. He’d progressed beyond the need for physical contact many solar cycles ago. Still, he couldn’t resist the opportunity to touch her. Her nape was warm, the fine hairs soft against his palm, yet tension rolled beneath his fingers. She was even more uneasy than she appeared.

“Relax. No harm will come to you as long as I’m here.”

Sevrin turned from her workstation as someone knocked on the door to her office. The door was open, but her houseguest knew better than to enter her presence without permission. “Come in.”

Nazerel stepped into the sunny space. His military bearing clashed with the overtly feminine décor. Even dressed in jeans and a T-shirt he looked fierce and unapproachable. He was the smartest of the alpha hunters and the hardest to control. She wasn’t sure if he went out of his way to provoke her or if he was just naturally obstinate, but their conversations had a way of deteriorating into arguments.

“You wanted to see me.” He stood near the open doorway with his hands behind his back. Was he afraid of breaking something or was he worried that the cheerful surroundings might rub off on him?

“I did. Or actually I still do.” He didn’t react to her smile, so she pushed away from her desk and stood. The
holodisplay
blinked off, leaving the appearance of a human computer on a nondescript desk. The chances of discovery were minimal, but she never took unnecessary chances.

The alpha hunters had arrived ten days ago with their chosen teams. They’d been excited and rambunctious for the first few days,
then
they began to realize just how dependent they were on her.
Which, of course, was the way she’d planned it.
She’d promised
them
new identities, new lives. She intended to keep the promise, but it took time, and obscene amounts of cash, to procure believable documentation. Eventually the three groups of men would move into separate houses in different cities, but first they had to acclimate themselves to Earth.

She’d leased a rundown motel in a seedy section of Las Vegas and housed the twelve hunters in the sparsely furnished rooms. She’d offered the alpha hunters accommodations in the luxury house where she’d set up her office, but they had opted to remain with their men. All fifteen men had finally cycled through orientation, which included a language infusion and crash course in American social practices. They used the abandoned warehouse for daily training sessions to keep the hunters physically fit and combat the inevitable restlessness. They wanted to start their new lives, to finally experience real freedom. And more than anything else, they wanted to hunt.

“Did the men appreciate the visitors I arranged last night?” She leaned her hips against the front edge of her desk and watched him closely. If he was as sex starved as the rest, why did he seem oblivious to her as a woman? She wore snug jeans and a clingy tank top that clearly outlined her generous breasts, yet he kept his gaze fixed straight ahead.

As if he’d heard her complaint, his blue-ringed gaze suddenly bore into hers, but his stern expression didn’t change. “The pleasure givers were a pleasant diversion. When will we be allowed to hunt?”

She chuckled. He’d added the question so quickly it sounded like one continuous sentence. Ignoring his impatience, she asked, “And the driving lessons? How many of the men have completed that training?”

“We can teleport. Why do we need to learn how to operate primitive machines?”

“Because every time you teleport you risk discovery and someone could sense the energy spike. If you hope to survive here, you must learn how to blend in.”

He unclasped his hands and moved farther into the room. Despite his size, he moved with remarkable agility and stealth. It was easy to see how these men sneaked up on their prey. “Most of the hunters prefer the motorcycle to the car. I agree with their choice. I would like a motorcycle for my exclusive use.”

“Fine.
I’ll buy you a motorcycle.” And she could think of all sorts of ways he could thank her.

“And one for each of my men.”
His gaze finally dipped to her cleavage and his hands folded into fists.

So, he wasn’t as oblivious as he pretended. Good. One of the alpha hunters would eventually become her mate and right now she was leaning toward Nazerel. “The hunters descended from the South or all of the hunters?”

“I am only concerned with my men. Darian and Zacharous are responsible for the rest.”

“Dare and Zach.
You guys need to get used to your human personas.” Pushing off the desk, she strolled toward him, desperately wanting to run her hand up his arm and over his sculpted chest. Nothing about his clothing was provocative, but the shape of the body beneath begged to be explored. “You are Naz Southmor. Your friends are Dare Eastman and Zach Westbrook. From now on call them by their human names.”

His posture tensed again and his gaze narrowed. “My name is Nazerel. It will not be shortened.”

“Fine.”
She waved away the objection and took a breath. Now for the real reason she’d summoned him. “Did you make contact with one of the females?”

One corner of his lips quirked in an unrepentant smirk, but he said nothing.

“You have no idea what it took to compile those dossiers. If you—”

He lunged so fast a startled cry replaced the rest of her sentence. His hands grasped her upper arms and he pressed her back against her desk. “I am the highest-ranking alpha hunter. It is my right to choose my mate first.”

“That’s not the point.” She refused to let him frighten her. If she couldn’t control Nazerel, she’d lose control of the entire project. “You will have first choice,
when
it’s time to choose.” She tried to twist out of his grasp, but his grip remained constant.

“Release her.” The unmistakable snap of a gun being cocked punctuated the deep command.

She glanced beyond Nazerel and smiled at her head of security. “
It’s
fine, Marat. Nazerel was just being passionate.”

Nazerel arched his brows at her choice of adjectives. “You’ve never seen me passionate. Would you like a demonstration?”

“That will be all, Marat.” She waited until the other man left before she
said,
“This project has been years in the planning. I know you’re all anxious to begin, but there are details yet to be finalized. Which female did you contact and how far did it go?”

His hands gradually released and he lowered his arms, but he remained close, towering over her. “Are you disappointed that I’m investigating my options? I’ve seen the way you look at me. Everyone has. Do you have personal plans for my future or will I be free to choose like everyone else?”

“I haven’t decided yet.” She wasn’t sure why she was being so honest, evasion was the wiser course.

“But one of us will be your mate and the choice is yours?” His expression was openly challenging.

“Is it so high a price to pay?” She licked her lips, wishing he’d do more than stare. “My mate will gain access to all the power of Rodymia.”

“Why is that?” He leaned down, bringing his lips within a hair’s breadth of hers. His breath was warm and inviting. She could almost taste his urgent kiss. “Who are you really? You’re no mere scientist. This operation has to be costing you a fortune.”

“I have connections.” She was so breathless she could barely speak and her heart pounded with excitement. Would he force her back over her desk or take her roughly from behind? She didn’t care how he did it as long as he filled her aching emptiness. “My resources are nearly limitless.”

His hand suddenly tangled in her hair and he pulled her head farther back. “Too bad I’m not for sale.” He laughed then and moved back, leaving her humiliated and angry.

“It doesn’t have to be you,” she snapped. “I told you I haven’t decided. Now stop avoiding the issue. Which female did you contact and how far did it go?”

“I’d only intended to watch her, but an opportunity arose for a quick conversation and I took advantage of it. The exchange was fast and superficial. She knows nothing about me, not even my real name.”

Still reeling from his rejection, she scrambled to regain her composure. “You’re talking about Angie Logan. Correct?” It was time he learned exactly how much she knew and the true scope of her power. He might not be for sale, but he was helpless without her.

“Yes, but why does it matter? No harm was done.”

“I’m not so sure. Allenton and Lor dar Joon were asking questions about darling Angie. That sounds like harm to me.”

His expression froze then shock and hostility burned through his momentary pause. “Allenton is on Earth? When did that happen?”

“Six days ago. I’ve been littering their path with false leads, but you might have created a real problem with your unapproved antics.”

“I’m not afraid of Allenton,” he growled, literally growled.

The reaction was so pointless it made her laugh. “You should be far more concerned about Lor dar Joon. He’s a Master Level mage trained by the most powerful Mystic on Ontariese.”

Nazerel shook his head, clearly surprised by the revelation. “How did they learn where we’d gone? We were so careful to cover our tracks.”

“Don’t panic. I knew they’d send someone after you. I’d hoped they would all be Shadow Assassins, but we can still work with this.”

He didn’t seem nearly as convinced or as arrogant. “Allenton is as sanctimonious as Varrik. They both make me sick.”

“As long as we stay a step ahead of them, we’ll be fine. But we must know what they know.”

“If they’re trying to use Angie to find me, I can probably use her to find them. Besides, I wouldn’t mind seeing her again.”

“You better hope to the five hells they haven’t found her or it will be the end of you.” Allowing his rejection to fuel her anger, she glared into his eyes. “The Mystics cannot be allowed to find any of my facilities.”

“Angie doesn’t know the location of any of your facilities, so how is she a danger to us?”

“She came in contact with you, so they could scan her memory and isolate your energy pattern. Many Mystics can track energy patterns. That’s likely why Lor is here.”

“If that’s true.
Finding Angie won’t stop them. Allenton has known me for years.”

“When was the last time you connected on an emotional level with Allenton?”

“I’m not into men.” He looked genuinely horrified by the suggestion.

She laughed. “Why do you immediately make my question sexual? Anger is an emotion. So is joy. Have you and Allenton ever hunted together or fought side by side?”

Nazerel shook his head. “We each led our own team with our own missions.”

“Then we’re back to Angie. Find her and bring her here. I guess whether I like it or not, the hunt begins tonight.”

* * * * *

Lor slipped into Tori’s mind with the effortless grace of a dancer. Allenton had been brute strength and clumsy power, shoving the images at her with rough determination. She didn’t think Allenton had been intentionally hurtful. He just lacked Lor’s control.

“What did you want to see more clearly?” Lor’s fingers slipped up into her hair then returned to the nape of her neck, his touch so light tingles slid down her spine.

She was still trying to process the fact that they were transmitting information directly into her mind. Were they…psychic? The word had always brought to mind tarot card readers and cheesy helplines. But this was undeniably real. They were communicating telepathically. Or was this science rather than mysticism? Maybe they were part of some experimental project that was testing neurotransmitters and bio-integrated technologies.

Focusing on the lingering scene, she forced her rambling speculation to the back of her mind. “I need to see their faces.” Her voice sounded breathy and hoarse. She was tempted to open her eyes and see if he was affected by her nearness, but dismissed the impulse with a self-recriminating sigh. He was an investigator. As soon as he learned what he needed to know he’d be on his way.

She pressed her lips together and concentrated on the image of the female. Though the scene was animated, she couldn’t hear what they were saying. The woman fiddled with her hair and titled her face as if she wanted to be kissed.
All very Angie-like motions.
The man moved to her side as someone shouldered their way past them and the woman shifted as well. Tori couldn’t see her face now, but she could see the upper portion of her shoulder blade. An angel’s face and upswept wings peeked out from beneath the woman’s blouse.

“It’s Angie,” she whispered, dread accompanying the simple statement.

“Are you sure,” Lor persisted.

“I recognize the tattoo. She got it on her eighteenth birthday. It’s Angie.”

Allenton pulled out with the same care he’d entered and Tori gasped. The room around her spun and she swayed. Lor wrapped his arm around her waist, steadying her. “Take a deep breath. The dizziness will pass.”

“He wouldn’t have risked contact unless he was seriously interested in her. He’ll come for her in the next day or two.” Allenton began to pace the small living room. His anxious energy was palpable.

“Luckily, she’s not here so he’ll have no choice but to move on.” Lor’s hand flexed against her side.

The spinning gradually stopped, but Tori remained tucked against Lor’s side. “Can you set a trap for him? Use this opportunity to take him out of commission?”

Both men looked at her. Lor’s disapproval was obvious, but Allenton seemed interested. “He’ll only return if he thinks she’s here. We need someone to bait the trap, someone who looks enough—”