Undaunted (Battle Born Book 6) (14 page)

“It’s best if we don’t allow ourselves to be distracted,” the more sociable male said. “We’re here to protect you.”

“Am I allowed to know your names?” She tried to sound friendly without actually flirting. She didn’t want to do anything to fire up her over-protective potential mate.

“I’m Kollins and that’s Sayor,” the nice one provided.

Sayor whispered something under his breath that earned a warning glare from Kollins.

Confused, yet intrigued by the reaction, Berlynn moved closer to the soldiers. “Have I done something to offend you?”

“Of course not.” Kollins elbowed his companion in the ribs. “Sayor here has a chip on his shoulder and I’m about ready to beat it out of him.”

She barely concealed the smile tugging at the corners of her lips. “I’d prefer you didn’t, if my opinion means anything to you.”

“You’re soon to be mated with General Nox,” Sayor muttered. “Your opinion means everything.” Bitterness cut through each word and his gaze was downright hostile.

“My opinion might mean a lot to Garin, but it obviously means nothing to you.” She paused, hoping he’d look at her directly. When their gazes finally locked she said, “Why are you so angry?” Kollins tried to hush Sayor’s response, but Berlynn stopped him. “I want to hear what he has to say.”

Emboldened by her permission, Sayor stepped forward and squared his shoulders. “It’s been one promise after another, ma’am, and one excuse after another. It seems the only ones worthy of mates are in General Nox’s close circle of friends.”

It wasn’t a new accusation. Ulrik had used the fact more than once in an attempt to convince her that the rebel leaders were just as corrupt and self-serving as the elite officers. “If I’m not mistaken, the transformation program hasn’t officially begun,” she pointed out. “The females who are here were all recruited for other purposes and just happened to find their mates along the way.”

“For what purpose were you brought here?” His eyebrows arched and challenge sharpened his tone.

He was on the verge of disrespect, but she’d invited the exchange so she tried not to be offended. “I’m here on behalf of Tandori Tribe.”

The men exchanged meaningful looks and a bit of Sayor’s hostility eased. “You’re a full-blood Tandori?”

“I am.”

Sayor nodded. “An alliance between Tandori Tribe and the battle born has strategic benefits. I can see why General Nox is pursuing you.”

She forced a smile, suddenly more than ready for some alone time. “I’m glad you approve.” She turned back to the path and started walking. The guards fell in behind.

“Do you know when the transformation program will officially begin?” Surprisingly, it was Kollins who asked.

“Soon,” she assured them.

“Soon as in days or weeks?” Sayor persisted.

“There have been several important developments. I’m not at liberty to explain, but I suspect within days you’ll understand what I mean.”

Sayor huffed, clearly dissatisfied with her answer.

“It’s not a brush off,” she insisted. “I’m just not sure how much Garin wants to reveal right now.”

They completed the trip in silence. As always, the residential village looked deserted. The large, multilevel building was in good shape, had been recently maintained, but to her knowledge, she and Ulrik were the only inhabitants.

“You can return to your duties now,” she told the guards as she scanned open the door leading to the small lobby. Another scan was required to access her apartment, so the guards really were overkill.

Sayor shook his head. “We were ordered to remain with you until someone comes to relieve us.”

“Seriously.” She rolled her eyes as she crossed the lobby and summoned an elevator.

“You can’t blame the general for protecting his mate,” Kollins said as the elevator door closed them inside the small lift.

“Potential mate,” she stressed. “I haven’t made up my mind yet.”

Both men grinned as if she’d said something particularly amusing, but neither commented on her assertion.

The corridor leading to her apartment appeared empty, but Sayor quickly stepped in front of her as if they were picking their way through a minefield. She shook her head at his antics while allowing him to lead the way. They were well-trained, obedient soldiers. All of her objections wouldn’t mean a thing.

She scanned open the door to her apartment, but Kollins lightly touched her arm before she stepped inside.

“We need to clear the domicile before you enter,” he told her.

“This is just silly.” She crossed her arms over her chest and leaned against the wall as the two soldiers checked out her apartment.

Ulrik opened the door to his apartment and stood in the threshold. “Is it over? Is she dead?”

The obvious expectation in his expression made Berlynn cringe. “Is that the only outcome you’ll accept?”

“A life for a life.” He moved into the corridor and let his door close behind him. “That’s our way and you know it.”

She held her ground even though her heart was pounding. He was going to be pissed no matter who told him about the outcome. A coward would claim ignorance and rush inside. Berlynn wasn’t a coward. “It wasn’t murder. She didn’t intend to end his life.”

His teeth clenched so hard a nerve in his cheek twitched and an angry flush crept up his throat. “You
defended
her?”

“I told the truth,” she flared. She’d had enough of his temper tantrums and bullying. “It’s what Dad would have done.”

“Don’t speak to me of Vinton!” He lunged toward her and slammed his fist into the wall beside her head. Knowing he was all bluster, she didn’t even flinch. “You have no right to—”

Her guards rushed into the corridor, weapons drawn, and jerked Ulrik away from her.

“Get your hands off me!” Ulrik twisted and shoved until the soldiers stepped back and covered him with their weapons. “I wasn’t going to hurt her.”

“You will not touch her and you will speak to her with the proper respect,” Sayor insisted, his stance wide, pulse pistol aimed at Ulrik’s head.

“Was this your idea?” Ulrik snarled, more or less ignoring the guards.

“I know you won’t hurt me,” Berlynn told her uncle, “but they don’t. Get your temper under control or this conversation is over.”

For a long time he just glared at her, hands fisted at his sides. “What are they going to do with her?” When he finally spoke again, his voice was tense, yet controlled.

“There are other female captives on the
Relentless
. Garin wants to see if—”

“It’s Garin now?” he snapped, his tone growing sharp again. “Is it his scent you have slathered all over your body?”

They’d both lived so long on Earth it was easy to forget they weren’t human. Ulrik was a Rodyte male. She should have realized he’d sense Garin’s mark, even if he hadn’t spent enough time around the general to recognize his scent.

“General Nox and I are potential mates. He hasn’t claimed me.”

“But he intends to?” He took a step forward and Sayor shoved him back.

“This isn’t about me and Garin. Milanni will be questioned and likely released. You need to accept—”

“I don’t accept it and never will,” Ulrik sneered.

“It’s not up to you.” Rather than argue with him she said, “You need to go home. I’m sure the tribe leaders are desperate for information by now. You need to get down there and calm their fears.”

“Just like that? I’m supposed to walk away and get on with my life?”

“Yes.” She paused for a deep breath. The conclusion didn’t make her any happier than it made Ulrik, but it was reality. “Nothing we do can bring Dad back. We need to treasure his memory as we move on.”

Ulrik just glared at her, so she slipped inside her apartment and closed the door.

* * * * *

“Cut the kaunashit, Milanni. Why are you really here?” Garin pushed his chair back from the small metal table and crossed his legs. Milanni had been talking in circles for almost two hours and his patience was officially exhausted.

Resentment sparked in her gaze, making her green phitons shimmer. “If I’d escaped with Chandar, would we be having this conversation? I know how much you risked trying to rescue her. Nicole’s a lowly human and I’m a worthless whore, so we must have some evil motivation? That’s twisted.”

She was a fabulous actor. Her pleas and flares of temper would just about convince him she was telling the truth, and then he’d see cunning flash in her eyes. Well, he could be strategic too. If she had actually been a prisoner, it was unlikely she’d know about recent developments. However, a coconspirator would need to be apprised of current events.

“We contacted the IG,” he began, carefully baiting the hook. “Javin agreed to—”

“Did you hold a séance?” She laughed, the sound light, yet annoying. “I know Javin’s dead.” She leaned back in the chair and crossed her legs, mirroring his relaxed pose. “Now who’s full of shit?”

He ignored her provocation, more convinced than ever that she was not the victim she appeared. “All the IG wants is the ship. If it’s returned to them, in working order, they’ll drop all charges against you.”

She gasped and shook her head. “That ship is the only thing I own that’s worth anything. It’s no use to anyone else.”

“You don’t, and never have, owned the ship. It was always the property of the Integration Guild. And we both know it can be retuned to someone else’s DNA.”

She just stared back at him in silent defiance.

“Now.” He uncrossed his legs and scooted closer to the table. “Are you ready to start cooperating?”

“I’ve done nothing but cooperate,” she snapped. “You’re clearly determined to find fault with me regardless of what I say.”

This was a waste of time. “You’re out of options and so am I. Cooperate and I’ll help you relocate so you can start over. Continue with this pretense and I’ll have you transferred to a detention center.”

“For what crime?” She came up out of her chair, shackled hands splayed against the tabletop. “I haven’t done anything!”

Ignoring her outburst, he calmly walked from the interrogation room.

“She’s guilty as sin, but how do we prove it?” Kaden Lux was waiting in the corridor.

Garin moved farther down the hallway before he explained his plan. The interrogation rooms were soundproof and he was relatively certain Milanni couldn’t read minds, but carelessness was not in his nature. “She targeted the
Intrepid
. We need to know why.”

A sly smile curved Kaden’s mouth. “So we let her show us?”

“Exactly. Keep her cooped up for another few days until she’s climbing the walls. Then have whoever is treating her inject her with a nano-tracker—tell her it’s vitamins or whatever—then reluctantly tell her you have no choice but to let her go. Do not give her access to her ship. In fact, I’ll have it moved to the
Destroyer
. I know several engineers who would love to get a closer look at her.”

“The shuttle will need to be retuned before anyone else can pilot her,” Kaden reminded.

“I’m aware. Sental is aboard the
Crusader
. If he can’t retune the shuttle, he’ll know who can.”

Kaden nodded. “I’ll make the arrangements.”

Raising his hand to the back of his neck, Garin rubbed away the tension knotting his muscles. “Hell of a day.”

Kaden smiled. “I have news that might make things brighter?”

“Really?” He couldn’t suppress the sarcasm in his tone. Physical exhaustion was nothing new. He was conditioned to operate on brief intervals of sleep. But he was restless and distracted, needing the situation with his reluctant mate solidified. “Did Letos get tired of waiting and move against Quinton himself?”

“Not quite that bright,” Kaden admitted. “The battle born commanders have been responding to your message while you were questioning Milanni. The
Undaunted
will be here in the morning and thirty-seven of the ships have already gone dark and moved to their new locations. The others are either in the middle of missions that can’t be abandoned or haven’t yet responded.”

Garin laughed. “That’s supposed to help me sleep? This brings us one step closer to war.”

“Are we still trying to hide our presence from Earth’s inhabitants?” Amusement shone in Kaden’s eyes, making it obvious he was ready for whatever conflict might result from the new developments.

“The
Undaunted
is so large even Earth’s technology will detect her. Secrecy is no longer an option.”

“I’m actually shocked we got away with it for this long,” Kaden told him. “Is there anything you need from me?”

“Figure out what Milanni is up to and I’ll be in your debt.”

“Done.”

They clasped arms then Garin headed for the small room adjacent to his office on the top level of the commerce tiers. The room contained a cot, a chair and basic utilities, but Garin required nothing more. His opportunities to sleep were few and far between, so he opted for convenience rather than comfort.