The Chalice (44 page)

A willowy arm  twined around Jaegar’s shoulder followed by a side view of abeautiful face. Tegan’s mind emptied of everything but the fem ale. A Chiagan-Sefemale! By the Gods, m ore than just Jaegar had survived!

“You …you are Chiagan-Se,” he stam m ered, overwhelmed by her appearance.

“I thought all the Chalices had perished.”

Jaegar grinned, a self-satisfied sm irk of male possession. “This is Bi’ertise,” he

pressed a fleeting kiss to the female’s neck, “my life mate.”

“There are more of us,” she laughed, returning his embrace. “But most are safe on Faelos.” She playfully nipped at Jaegar’s shoulder. “I couldn’t let this rogue travel without me. He has a wandering eye.”

“You wound m e,” Jaegar chuckled, nuzzling the locks of his life mate’s silvery

hair. “Have I given you reason to distrust my good intentions?”

Tegan gaped at the teasing interplay. The two gave the appearance of casualunconcern about the recent battle and their precarious position inside Deg’Naraterritory. Relaxed and nonchalant, their attitudes were far m ore in keeping with apleasure jaunt than a foray into enemy holdings. It is an unexpected respite fromthe hazards of our existence.

Jaegar gave Bi’ertise one last kiss and then returned his focus to Tegan. “Mycrew is readying quarters and we’ve already begun transporting the survivors ofthe Freedom . Their ship took the heaviest damage and life support system s arepractically gone. Once we’ve accom plished the transfer, we’ll bring your crew onboard— if that’s acceptable?”

Tegan nodded his assent, his m ind racing to assim ilate the unbelievable. Refuge from  the long arms of the destroyers. Could the Gods have finally sm iledon the Chiagan-Se?

The sy-com  system  buzzed and Vaux’s gruff voice rang out. “Lord Tegan!

We’ve captured the hybrid.”

Siri! The traitorous bitch. Hot waves of anger flowed through his veins. “If she

still lives, bring her to engineering.”

“You need to come down here,” Vaux replied. He sounded…distraught, hesitant. “I overheard the exchange with the Algarith. If he can, Mordaq needs to come as well.”

“I’m  on my way,” Mordaq’s brusque rem ark faded into nothingness.

Bi’ertise stepped in front of Jaegar, glaring into the viewing screen. Gone wasthe doting life mate of a few m oments before. Instead, the fem ale bristled withunguarded fury. Lips com pressed in a tight seam, her large aqua eyes glittered,sparking with fiery emotion. “We would welcome the opportunity to interrogatethe hybrid,” she ground out through clenched teeth. “We were in pursuant of the

spy when we intercepted the transport’s distress signal.”

“I take it you’ve had dealings with her before.”

Bi’ertise nodded, a stiff bob of her head. “More than you can imagine,” shesnarled. Her eyes glittered with hate, a difficult emotion to disguise and she wasdoing nothing to mask the tum ult raging inside.

“Bi’ertise,” Jaegar murm ured, drawing her away. “Now is not the tim e.”

“Just bring her with you,” Bi’ertise snapped. “We all have dealings with the

bitch.”

It seem ed Siri had a lot to answer for, not only with his people, but with Jaegar’s as well. Judgment would be swift and the penalty severe. It was his dutyto render punishment, but there were those who would gladly claim  that duty—the first being the life mate of Jaegar.

He hit the sy-com . “I’m  on my way.”

***

Kara sped after Mordaq, her shorter legs pum ping to keep up with the longerstrides of the Warrior. Dread scurried behind her, followed by Shagal to the rear. Mordaq paid them  little heed, intent on his headlong rush to the docking port.

No way he’s leaving without m e. I’m  not staying here! She wiped a trickle of

sweat from  her brow, panting from  exertion.

The few bits of information she overheard during the conversation between Tegan and Vaux sent chills racing up her spine. Siri m ust have been up to her oldtricks and disappeared during the battle and Tegan must have sent Vaux afterher. Made sense! Besides being the senior tech, Vaux was also a Warrior and fullycapable of handling Siri without Tegan’s help, but unless she was reading m oreinto that interchange, something was very wrong!

“Are we almost there?” She sucked in air, chest heaving as she gasped.

Mordaq glanced over his shoulder, the silvery eyes smoking with irritation.

“There’s no need for you to accom pany me.”

“Maybe not,” Dread puffed, “but we got a stake in this too.”

A panel slid open and the hectic hustle and bustle of the docking port spranginto view. Transports flew in, unloaded, and then im mediately lifted off. Thechamber rang with the whine of m achinery, excited male voices and the highpitched sobbing and wailing of injured women. These must be from  the Freedom . She jum ped aside as a crew of med-techs rushed by, propelling stretchers ladenwith medical equipment. Long lines of uninjured breeders and women trailed crew

mem bers who hurried them  from  the area, attem pting to ease the fast-growing congestion. The chaotic scene was both unnerving and profoundly exhilarating all at the same time! The whole working together for a collective purpose. Kinda like humans would on a good day!

A small transport landed nearby. As soon as it unloaded, Mordaq brushed asidethe surprised tech and jumped in, motioning for them  to follow. Kara barely hadtime to fasten her seatbelt before the transport lifted off and glided out. Bile rosein her throat as the vessel bucked, accelerating as it left the security of the Redemption Algarith. I wonder if it’s possible to fall in space! If it is, it’d be a hellof a drop. She gulped, forcing down a wave of seasickness as the ship rolled,vibrating as the speed increased. Wouldn’t be good to spew in the crampedquarters. The confined space was barely room  enough for six passengers. Six littlepassengers!

“Mordaq to Redem ption. I’m  com ing in,” the big Warrior spoke into the sy-com .

“Prepare for entry.”

“Thank the good Lord,” Dread hissed. “I thought this dang thing was going to

fall apart.”

“It’s an old model,” Shagal said, unconcerned. “Not top of the line even in its

prime.”

Dread clutched the armrests, her knuckles going white as the vehicle pitched

sideways. “Are any of your ships in good condition?”

“I suspect fully operational ships are hard to come by,” he said. “Better this

than nothing.”

The craft slowed to a standstill, preparing to dock. From  her vantage point, Kara studied the horrendous destruction wrought on the Redem ption. Grey steambillowed from  gaping holes located on every level of the ship. Orange flamesflickered from  various ports on the upper decks. Large quantities of debris floatedfrom  the battered vessel—engine parts, sections of weaponry and even personalitems. Kara leaned forward crying out in shock. Tears washed her vision. Bloodybody parts drifted among the waste, both male and fem ale, sorrowful testamentsto the sheer devastation wrought by the Deg’Nara. They could be som eone Iknow! She covered her face, a futile attem pt to deny reality.

“This sucks so bad,” Dread whispered.

“It has been the fate of the Chiagan-Se for so many revolutions,” Shagal muttered, fury threading through his voice. “I find it hard to remem ber anything but war and deprivation.”

The craft edged forward, the underside rattling as the ship settled on thedocking port. The engine whirred to a halt, the door slid open and Mordaq sprangout, silver braids flying as he elbowed his way through the bystanders, his huge

hand resting on the form idable Tar at his hipline.

Kara shivered, skin prickling as the hair rose on her forearms. More tragedy

was brewing.

The Warrior wove through the crowd at a dead run, heedless of thoseunfortunates who got in his way. Following his lead, Shagal dove into the mob,hot on the heels of Mordaq.

“They could’ve waited for us,” Dread growled over her shoulder as she trailed

after them . “Not like we know where any of ‘em  are going.”

Kara edged by a group of wom en waiting for transport. A small hand darted out

and grabbed her wrist.

“Kara,” Moira cried out, hugging her in ecstatic glee. “Ye dinnae die!”

“Imagine that,” Dread said wryly. “I dinnae die either— like you give a shit.”

The little redhead jigged from  foot to foot, her freckled face beam ing withunrestrained joy. “We gave up hope when the battle began, but Leah insisted ye’dbe fine.”

“W here’s Lord Tegan?”

Moira’s exuberance vanished. She frowned, rusty brows knitting together overher pert nose. “He’s in the storage com partments below decks…with Vaux.” Shenibbled at a fingernail, nervous under their sharp perusals.

Dread slapped at the younger woman. “Quit acting like an idiot and tell us

what happened?”

“I shouldnae ha’ be the one tae tell ye.” Her voice quavered, the blue eyes watered. She sobbed, wiping at her nose. “I was helping Vaux and Leah search for Siri. W hen we found them, Ume was already dead. Siri killed her,” the words

came out in a rush. “And she hurt Hanna really bad.”

Ume dead! Hanna hurt! Disbelief transformed to anger. She grabbed the

wailing girl and shook her. “W hat’re you saying?”

Moira’s teeth rattled in her bobbing head. “She murdered Um e and hurt Hanna. I dinnae know if Hanna’s still alive. That’s all I know,” she blubbered,rubbing her eyes.

Kara shoved her away and took off running.

****

Tegan stepped through the sentries guarding the entrance to the storage

compartment. Half-light illum inated the round cham ber, casting a soft glow on the

murky interior. Near the far wall, two shrouded figures sprawled on the floor. Judging from  the size of each, one was a breeder and the other a sm all female.

He bent down and pulled back the cloth covering the smaller form . The one called Ume! The corpse’s m outh gaped open in a [rictus/ rictos] of agony, the slanteddark eyes forever frozen on the doorway to eternity. He reached for the othershroud. One of the youngest breeders, Psylas! He reeled from  a swift stab of pain. Too many had died! And how many more would be lost before they found a newhome? Murmuring a brief prayer, he blessed their sad journey.

He stood up and turned, intense hatred welling as he glared at the hybrid. The

treacherous consort of death and destruction.

Arm s crossed over his chest, a grim  Vaux watched over the female. Gone wasthe haughty look he most often wore, replaced by one of merciless determ ination.

Siri sat on a low stool, slim  ankles secured to the chair’s sturdy legs. A lengthof twine circled her throat stretching down to a cord tying her slim  hands behind. I wish her dead!

“ W hat happened?” he snarled.

Siri’s lips spread in a sly smirk before she turned, facing the wall. Tegan’shands fisted and unfisted. He longed to ham mer the sneer from  the bitch’sarrogant face.

The senior tech reacted. He grabbed a handful of long dark hair and jerked,forcing her head back. “Lord Tegan asked you a question,” he spat, addinganother sharp tug. “Answer him .”

“They got in my way,” was her flip response.

Rage caused his hands to trem ble, his heart rate to elevate. “Why?” he ground

out. “W hy…?” He choked, overcome by anguish.

Her head snapped, ripping her hair from  Vaux’s hand. The fem inine chin lifted.

“I’m  Deg’Nara.”

“A bastard! Scorned and rejected by your father’s people.”

Siri winced, the barb scored a hit.

Vaux grabbed her chin, pinching her jaw apart. He pulled a dagger from  his

waistband. “You’ll look good with this shoved down your throat.”

Tegan stayed Vaux’s hand. “Not yet. I want answers before she dies.”

“You would kill m e?” Her brows arched, mocking. Finger prints marred the

smooth jaw line. “W hen we share such close blood ties?”

“We share nothing,” he snarled, denying the obscene claim . The bitch was crazy if she thought he’d believe such nonsense. He was a Chiagan-Se Warrior, honed in the fires of the devastation wrought by the destroyers of his race. W hat blood they did share was tainted by the Deg’Nara influx.

“But we do,” she continued. “My ancestor was So’elomi, a consort in your

father’s harem .” She grinned, a malicious twist of her mouth. “I am  fam ily.”

“You’re lying! None of the consorts survived. I was there.”

She shifted, rolling her buttocks. A look of annoyance crossed her face as thebindings held fast. “Liutrelle and So’elom i were captured and enslaved by my Deg’Nara ancestor. Liutrelle was worthless, weak. She died shortly after but So’elomi survived and later bore several Chiagan-Se children. The female childrenwere kept for pleasure and breeding purposes while the males were either killedor sent to the sagra m ines.” She flipped the long dark locks. “So’elomi died on abarren planet along with other Chiagan-Se females no longer considered useful.”