The Conscripts: Fight or Die (Blood War Book 3) (3 page)

Naturally he had seen fashion videos and knew that enhanced nudity was the latest fashion, but it was an entirely different thing to be faced with a room full of beautiful nude and partially nude women. Some wore full-length dresses that did seem to have a function beyond emphasizing the woman’s figure beneath. They somehow highlighted their perfect breasts or their perfectly groomed pubic hair. One woman had what appeared to be pearls and other precious stones woven into her pubic hair. Others had lights that floated near them carefully calibrated to emphasize portions of their figures. The room was filled with the unique smell of cigarette smoke and an exotic mix of expensive perfumes. These were no regular cigarettes but private blends that contained tobacco and the purchaser’s desired mix of drugs. Dasan felt as if he could get high simply by standing in the room.

Decades of living the Spartan life of a Legionnaire and then a Marine had not prepared him for this. He stood there drinking in the sights, sounds, and smells of the richest people in the Confederacy. It struck him that it seemed as if they existed in another dimension that did not contain the threat of the Xotolis. Theirs was protected place of privilege and excess, one whose existence hung precariously in the balance at this very moment, yet there was not a single sign of the danger. For Dasan, the privileged sights in the room triggered visions of bloody combat, reflecting the different worlds he seemed to occupy. It was as if all of this display of wealth and power only made him more aware of the world he came from instead of making him forget it. He wondered what Aijuba would think about all of this. He could almost hear her say, “It is the way of things. That is why there are Wolfs and Sols.”

Dasan, the admiral, and Istas had been standing there for a few moments when the murmuring in the room stopped as everyone realized they had arrived. A woman Dasan had not noticed before turned from talking to a group of people to stare at them. She was simply the most striking woman he had ever seen, and all the other women in the room seemed to pale in her presence. Her streaked blonde hair was finger combed away from her perfect face. She wore little makeup except around her large, beautiful eyes and on her full, rich mouth. She turned. When she did, Dasan saw that she was conservatively dressed compared to the rest of the women in the room. She wore a black dress that was off the shoulder, one breast covered and the other naked. Her nipple was covered with a gold, diamond, and ruby flower held in place with a gold-bar through her pierced nipple. Her figure was rich and full, with large breasts, a small waist, and perfect hips. Her breasts moved gently as she moved. She came striding toward them with the confidence of someone used to having her every move observed. With each step the floor lit up under her with pale-green, effervescent light that would expand with her weight and slowly disappear as she lifted her foot. Her eyes were on Dasan, the admiral, and Istas, taking them in with obvious pleasure. Dasan was still staring when she walked up to them and spoke.

“Usiche, it is so good to see you. It has been too long,” the woman said as she strode up to them.

“Kat, you are as beautiful as ever.”

A small smile crossed Kat’s face and she said, “I love it when you lie to me.”

Usiche and Kat laughed together in what had to be an old joke between them. Kat leaned forward and kissed the admiral gently on the lips. Then she turned to Istas and said, “This must be Istas. Usiche has spoken of you often, but she never told me just how beautiful you really are, my dear.”

Kat’s and Istas’s eyes held for a very long moment before Kat said, “I have not had the opportunity to thank you personally for saving my old friend’s life twice now. It is a debt I can’t possibly repay.”

“It was nothing,” Istas said and held out her hand.

Kat took it and instead of shaking it, she leaned down and kissed it, in a very formal gesture.

“Istas, my dear, I do owe you a debt for saving my old and dear friend. Should you ever need anything, I am at your service.”

For the first time ever, Dasan saw Istas taken back for a split second. Istas gave Kat a very small smile and said, “I accept your kind offer and will not hesitate to call.”

Kat put her other hand on top of Istas’s and said, “Good.” She then turned to Dasan. Dasan could almost physically feel her gaze it was so powerful.

“And last but not least, you must be the famous General Dasan Daniel Sand. The Hero of Rift.”

Dasan was afraid he would not be able to speak.

“You are too kind,” Dasan finally managed to say.

Kat looked him up and down for several moments before she said. “Come, I must introduce you to a few of the less boring of my guests.”

Kat slid her arm through his and pressed her naked, bejeweled breast into his arm. The feel of her breast and the smell of her perfume almost overwhelmed Dasan. He was stunned by the sexual presence of this woman. Without trying she had made the rest of the women in the party fade into the background, and he allowed her to lead him away like a child.

Istas exchanged a glance with Usiche as Kat walked away on Dasan’s arm.

“Really?” she said.

“I am as surprised as you are. I thought Kat might like Dasan, but I have never seen her react to someone like that before.”

“Our general seemed a little like a deer in the headlights. Excuse my pun,” Istas said.

“Yes, he did. She has that effect on people.” Usiche smiled and glanced at Istas before she said, “You should know.”

Istas arched an eyebrow and said, “I have no idea what you are talking about.”

“Good, because I would hate having to get into a fight with our hostess.”

“Really,” Istas said, obviously enjoying Usiche’s jealousy. “That is something I would like to see.”

They laughed together and Istas took Usiche’s arm.

“Seriously, I could not have hoped for it to go so well. If she really takes to him, and it's not just a momentary attraction, she will be a true advocate for the general and our needs. Her support will go beyond anything I could have asked for even with our friendship.”

Istas glanced up at Usiche, who was proving to be a more formidable and cunning player in the political arena than Istas had thought possible. To be willing to use an old friend’s emotions for future needs showed a side of Usiche she had never seen before. This woman continued to surprise and interest her. She squeezed Usiche’s arm and exchanged an affectionate glance with her. They were soon surrounded by guests eager to meet Admiral Raurk. They made quite a couple—the small, glamorous, golden-haired woman and the tall, beautiful admiral in full whites. They had spoken to several of the guests when Senator Carroll walked up with a tall, beautiful woman with white-blonde hair.

“Admiral, I am so glad to see you outside of the political arena.”

“The pleasure is all mine, Senator,” Usiche said politely.

“Admiral, I would like you to meet Raina, my wife.”

Istas stared at the woman at the senator’s side. Before she had even spoken, every Anjin instinct she possessed over her long career was suddenly on edge. Yet she had no idea why. The woman was dressed in a white, see-through gown that covered her from neck to ankles. Through the gauze you could see she had covered her breasts and pubic triangle with jewels. She was quite a sight, but that was not why Istas’s nerves were on edge.

“So nice to meet you, Raina,” Usiche said, shaking her hand. “Senator, Raina, I would like you to meet my companion, Istas.”

“It is my pleasure,” Senator Carroll said, shaking her hand.

Istas turned to the woman.

“Pleasure,” Raina said. The woman’s grip was like her own—steel wrapped in velvet.

“Admiral, I have not had a chance to tell you how glad I am to see you unharmed thanks to your friend here,” Senator Carroll said. “Istas, you do look as though you have recovered from your wounds. I am very glad to see you also.”

“Thank you, Senator,” Istas said. Istas had been gravely wounded saving Usiche, and she was just now completely recovered.

Raina’s eyes met Istas’s and held them for a long moment. There was no sympathy in them. If anything, Istas saw hatred.

“Yes, if it hadn’t been for Istas I would have been killed in the attack. How are your wounds healing, Senator?” Usiche said.

Istas met Raina’s gaze with her own unwavering stare. Nothing passed between them except the look she had seen in the eyes of men and women she had fought over the years. Raina radiated a physical confidence beyond her beauty, the confidence of someone who had fought battles as Istas had. Who was this woman?

“Completely healed. They were nothing. Thank you asking,” Senator Carroll replied.

Istas broke off her gaze with Raina and pretended to listen to the discussion between the senator and Usiche. She lost track of the conversation as she examined this woman as closely as she could while still seeming interested in what was being said, trying to understand her instant reaction to her. Finally, as the conversation continued, she began to see the micro eye movements, the subtle muscle tensing, and dozens of other small tells that someone without her Anjin training and experience would have missed. This woman was having a difficult time controlling her dislike for both Usiche and herself. In fact, Istas realized, she was the focus of her anger. Without being obvious, Istas moved closer to the woman. Raina immediately moved back. Finally, Istas decided she would push the envelope of her reactions. She touched Raina’s arm and released her sexual pheromones.

“I love your dress. Do tell me where you purchased it,” Istas said, giving her what she thought was her best flirtatious look.

The pheromones’ effect was startling. Instead of reacting the way any other human would have, the woman frowned and jerked her arm away from Istas.

“Really, why would someone like yourself be interested in fashion?”

Raina turned and strode away. Istas stood there staring after her. Anjins had been surgically altered to control sexual pheromones—it was a potent weapon in her profession. The pheromones were human and intended to affect humans. Raina was not a human. She must be a hybrid! Istas watched the woman as she crossed the room.

“I’m so sorry. I don’t know what got into Raina. Please excuse me,” Senator Carroll said.

Senator Carroll quickly followed his wife. Istas took Usiche’s arm and squeezed it hard. Usiche looked down at her and said, “What?”

“Let’s find a place where we can talk. I need some air,” Istas said.

They slipped out of the main room and found a place to have a cigarette. Usiche lit Istas’s then her own. Istas blew a thick stream of smoke before she met Usiche’s eyes and said, “She is not what she seems.”

“I don’t understand.”

“I think I will have to kill her.”

“What!?”

“I can’t prove it yet, but I think our senator’s wife is a hybrid. If she is, we may have cracked into our hybrid embeds.”

“But.…”

Istas looked up at her and said, “Do I say things lightly?”

Usiche glanced in the direction of Senator Carroll and his wife. They were chatting amicably with another senator and his wife.

“What do you intend to do?”

“I’ll tell you when we are home.” Istas kept her eyes on Raina.

#

Kat led Dasan into the crowd. The first person she took Dasan to meet was Senator Anu Kago from the Wolf system. When Dasan approached the senator, he placed his fist over his heart and bowed in the Wolf tradition. The senator did the same. Kat watched with interest.

“It is my honor, Senator,” Dasan said.

“Thank you, warrior brother,” Kago replied.

“You give me an honor I am not sure I deserve from someone of your stature.” Kago was a famed warrior on Wolf and he had helped save Admiral Raurk during the recent assassination attempt in the Senate chambers. He was also Aijuba's uncle.

“No, my brother. It is I who stand in awe of someone a Wolf warrior of Aijuba’s stature would choose as her mate; she often spoke of you. Our loss continues to be difficult to bear.”

Kat saw a flash of sadness cross Dasan’s face, then he straightened and said.

“Yes, my brother. It is difficult to bear, but she died as a true Wolf warrior, with Xotoli blood on her hands. I will always miss her, but I will always cherish her life and the time we had together. I intend to honor her with the rest of my life.”

Kago’s hard face softened for a moment. Then he said, “Spoken like a true Wolf. My sister warrior chose wisely.”

Kago put his hand out and they each grasped the other’s forearm. Kat had never seen Kago welcome someone in this way. It was a sign of acceptance few outside the Wolf community ever received.

“Thank you, Senator,” Dasan said with obvious pride.

Others at the party noticed the greeting. Kat watched as they took note. She heard the buzz in the room increase as the other guests murmured to one another. Dasan’s stock had just risen significantly among the people he and the admiral would need in the future.

“We must share a meal soon. I would like to hear stories of Aijuba,” Kago said.

“Of course. I will contact your office and make arrangements.”

Kago bowed and Dasan returned the gesture. The senator moved away through the crowd—a tall, proud warrior among those who knew only other, less dangerous battles. Before Kat could lead Dasan to the next guest she wanted to introduce him to, the senator from Rigel Kent approached. Barish wore a very expensive jeweled suit, his hair styled in the latest Rigel Kent fashion. He had a beautiful, much younger blonde on one arm and a brunette on the other. They both wore little except jewels to cover their nipples and pubic triangles.

“Kat, you must introduce me to the Hero of Rift,” he said.

“Of course, Senator. Senator Alain Barish of Rigel Kent, may I introduce General Dasan Daniel Sand.”

“Well, it is an honor, General, to meet the Hero of Rift. Your exploits are well-known throughout the Confederation.”

He shook hands with Dasan. Kat saw the Senator’s hand crushed under Dasan’s iron grip. Barish grimaced slightly.

“Thank you, Senator, you are too kind.”