Zealot (18 page)

“Ever heard of propaganda?” Indigo challenged. “If the sources you researched were in Rodyte, they might not be objective.”

Raina smiled, unfazed by Indigo’s skepticism. “I thought I was the Doubting Thomas in our family. There’s no need for your suspicion. I have access to numerous sources in a variety of languages. Mimi wanted her journal entries registered with a specific group of scholars. Do you remember their name?”

“The Symposium. They manage the Wisdom of the Ages.”

“That’s right. I’ve submitted numerous information requests to the Symposium. Do you trust the results of those inquiries?”

Indigo had spent her entire childhood and much of her adolescence thinking Mimi’s stories were fanciful tales concocted by an imaginative, but lonely relative. It felt so strange to realize her grandmother had been recording actual events. “There really is an intergalactic internet?” Raina nodded and her smile widened. “And that information confirms what Kotto told you?”

“Yes, but it’s more than just my research. My bond with Kotto allows me inside his mind. I see what he sees, feel what he feels and know what he knows. He couldn’t deceive me if he wanted to, and I’m pretty sure he doesn’t.”

Indigo brushed her hair back from her face, feeling restless. “All right. So their cause is just. Tell me about the actual transformation.”

“I haven’t started the process yet. You might want to talk to Ashley. She’s about half-way through the process.”

The evasion set off alarms inside Indigo. “Are you afraid?”

“Of course I’m afraid. I understand how rapidly mutations can go wrong. I’m terrified, but nothing worth having comes without risk. I’ve been asked to participate in an experiment that is decades, perhaps centuries ahead of anything humans can accomplish. I’m a scientist. How could I refuse?”

It might be that cut and dry for Raina, but Indigo was still not convinced. “Zilor told me to ask about the grotto. Will you show it to me?”

“Of course.” Raina started walking down one of the narrow aisles between two plant trays.

Indigo followed close behind. “Raylon and Kotto beat the crap out of each other this morning. Did you hear about that?”

Raina stopped walking and looked back, eyes wide with dread. “What are you talking about?”

“Zilor and I were looking for Raylon so he could help us move Chandar to the Pavilion. We found him in the gym. He was in this energy cage ‘sparring’ with Kotto. Only it looked more like they were trying to kill each other than any sort of training exercise.”

“Were either of them hurt?”

“They were both bruised and bloody, but I don’t think they broke any bones. Zilor said they were fighting over you. Want to tell me about that?”

Clearly uncomfortable with the topic shift, Raina started walking again. “I’m genetically compatible with Raylon and Kotto, so when Kotto marked me before Raylon had the opportunity to so much as shake my hand. Raylon took exception. Hostilities have been simmering ever since.”

“I think it’s safe to say that simmer came to a roaring boil this morning.”

Raina glanced at Indigo as they reached a storage room. “Is this just curiosity or is there a reason you’re asking about Raylon?”

“Oh there’s a reason, one whopper of a reason. I’m genetically compatible with seventy-three men including both Zilor and Garin Nox.”

After motioning Indigo inside, Raina let the door swing shut. “But Zilor marked you.” Her eyes rounded and her steps faltered. “The others don’t know?”

“The doctor said something about a database that will prioritize the names for me. It sounded like they’ll be notified a few at a time.” Before Raina could comment on the development, Indigo hurried on, “But I’m here to help Chandar and that’s all. None of the rest means anything to me.”

“Really.” Raina scanned open a door in the back corner of the storeroom and led Indigo onto a raised landing. Rather than heading down the metal stairs, Raina faced Indigo again. “I know what it takes to mark a female. You felt nothing the entire time you spent in Zilor’s bed?”

“I didn’t say that. He’s a fantasy come to life. Any heterosexual female would enjoy being marked by him.”

“But not any heterosexual female is genetically compatible with him.” Indigo started down the stairs, but Raina stopped her. “You’ll never convince me it felt no different than with a human lover. I’ve been through it, Indigo. I know better.”

She looked away from Raina with a sigh. They knew each other too well for pointless denials. “It was different, much different. But I can’t let that matter. I wouldn’t mind having some fun with Zilor for the next six months, but I’m not interested in a permanent relationship. What would happen to the store? I can’t abandon my mother.”

Raina shook her head and let go of Indigo’s arm. “You can’t have an affair with Zilor. The mating pull is too strong.”

“So Zilor told me. Repeatedly.” They descended the twisting stairs as memories from the night before mocked Indigo. Each kiss, each intoxicating touch had felt as if Zilor was drawing her closer, merging their beings in a way she’d never experienced before. And all he’d done was touch her. How much more consuming would it be if they actually made love? “Will it be like that with any of the guys who are on that list? Does genetic compatibility automatically equal mind-blowing sex?”

Raina paused again and looked at her. Concern threaded through the compassion already warming Raina’s gaze. “It’s not that cut and dry. Our genetics amplify physical attraction. But if there’s no attraction to begin with, there’s nothing to amplify.”

“Is that what happened with Raylon?”

“Basically. When he found out Kotto had marked me, he insisted that we separate for an entire week.” She made a sound Indigo didn’t recognize. It was part whimper, part growl. “That was the longest week of my life. Then Raylon rushed in to make sure Kotto didn’t have time to reestablish the mark, but we had no chemistry. None. So he stepped aside and let me have Kotto.”

“But Raylon didn’t give up without a fight,” Indigo reminded with a smile.

“I can’t believe they did that.” Raina shook her head, but the corners of her mouth twitched.

“You’re so full of it. You enjoy the fact that two battle-hardened warriors wanted you badly enough to kick the crap out of each other.”

Raina finally gave in to the smile. “I’ll admit there’s a perverse appeal. I’ve never been the sort of woman to draw the attention of men. It feels wonderful to be desired.”

“I might feel the same if it were only two. Would you want seventy-three of those brutes trampling each other to get to you?”

“Zilor won’t let that happen.”

“I’m not sure it’s up to him.”

Raina’s smile turned knowing. “They have two nicknames for Zilor. They call him puppy to his face to keep his ego in check, but when he’s not around they frequently call him zealot. Once he commits to a cause, he’s fanatical about follow through. He’s passionate and focused, and he never quits. And our gorgeous young zealot has his sights set on you.”

“Wonderful.” Despite Indigo’s frustrated tone, a warm shiver tingled down her spine. “Passionate and focused” perfectly defined the way he’d touched her last night. The more she thought about it the more restless she became, so she quickly changed the subject. “What’s so special about this grotto?”

“You’ll see.”

The subterranean room was quiet and dank. A glow in the distance led them around a corner and into the expansive room beyond. Massive pools of liquid spread out before Indigo. She couldn’t tell if the tanks were lit from below or if the liquid itself was luminous.

“Is this what feeds the plant trays above us?”

Raina nodded. “It’s really just a giant circulating system, but the nutrient-rich fluid and a growth medium called
dontarim
keep the retention rate hovering around ninety-three present.”

“Wow. That’s amazing.” Indigo and her mother had always been interested in horticulture and Raina’s research projects had given them new ideas down through the years. She wasn’t an expert like Raina, but she understood enough to be impressed.

“Anyway, this isn’t what Zilor wanted you to see.”

Curious now, Indigo followed Raina along the narrow walkway between two of the long, narrow tanks. The surface of the liquid rippled and shimmered, the effect hypnotizing.

“
This
is the grotto,” Raina announced with obvious excitement.

Indigo reached the end of the tanks and turned to the side. Before her spread a smaller cavern filled with greenery. She took several steps closer, but hesitated to enter the fantastical scene. “How is this… How did they do this?” Gathering her courage, she moved farther into the strange room. Her steps were suddenly absorbed by thick grass and lush vegetation surrounding her. Arching trees combined with flowing bushes to create a primeval hideaway. “This is like a botanical gardens gone wild.” She shook her head as she looked around. “I don’t know nearly as much about plants as you do, but this shouldn’t be here.”

Raina chuckled, following a step or two behind Indigo. “I think the cavern was terraformed, but Kotto swears Rodytes don’t have that sort of technology.”

“Then who?”

Raina offered a good-natured shrug. “I have no idea.”

The air grew lighter, fresher as they ventured deeper into the cave. Indigo thought she was imagining the change until they emerged into a small clearing. Water, or some sort of liquid, flowed down the back wall of the cave and gathered in a gently rippling pool.

“Where is the water coming from?” Indigo crouched at the pool’s edge and dipped her fingers in the water. “This makes no sense.”

“I can’t answer that yet. I’ve only had time to run basic tests on the water. Yes, it is water. It would need to be boiled before anyone could drink it, but finding it here is miraculous.”

Indigo pushed back to her feet as she shook the water from her fingertips. “And the Rodytes don’t know how it got here?”

“Oh, I’m sure someone knows, but they’re not among the battle born.”

Indigo sighed as she watched light ripple across the pool. “This is all so strange. You and Ashley had ambitions and goals, lives you found fulfilling. How can you walk away from everything without a backward glance?”

“I can’t speak for Ashley, but I wasn’t happy. I poured myself into my research because I had nothing else.”

“Then Kotto swooped in and offered you a brand new life, complete with challenges and adventure. All you have to do is agree to be ‘transformed’ into an entirely different species.” Indigo shook her head. “He’s using you. They all are. We’re a means to an end in this war, but you can’t see beyond his rippling muscles.”

Conviction ignited Raina’s eyes. She squared her shoulders and raised her chin. “Kotto is amazing. I won’t apologize for falling in love with him. But this conflict has nothing to do with desire. They’re fighting for survival. They’re hoping to experience the sorts of freedoms we take for granted.”

“I’ve been on that ship, Raina. I’ve seen how they live. There are no chains, no whip-wielding masters. The only evidence I’ve seen of true abuse is Chandar.” Even as the words left her mouth an image appeared in her mind. A handsome boy with silver-ringed eyes watching in terrified confusion as his father desperately tried to give him away. That sort of abandonment left deep and lasting scars on a person’s soul.

Raina shook her head as impatience crept into her tone. “You can’t judge the battle born by what you’ve seen aboard the
Crusader
. The ship is under rebel control. If anything Kotto has underplayed what battle born males endure. Finding a way to access their magic is their only hope of breaking free of their elite masters. I offer my help not just willingly, but enthusiastically.”

They fell silent as Indigo struggled with her emotions. Raina would never lie to her, not about something this important. Her cousin obviously believed the rebellion was justified and the battle born had earned her loyalty. A similar path awaited Indigo if she was willing to follow it. But love and marriage, the American ideal of two children and a dog had always seemed like propaganda to Indigo. All of her role models had been strong independent women who hadn’t depended on men for their happiness.

Happiness.
Her mind stumbled over the word. Was her mother truly happy? Did Aunt Lynette’s law practice keep her warm at night?

Indigo sighed. Zilor really was a fantasy come to life. He was exciting, and not just sexually. She was challenged by his wit, soothed by his charm, and amused by his sense of humor. “I understand the temptation, believe me I do. But one of us has to remain objective. I sense real danger here.”

Raina smiled, then laughed. “My crazy cousin has suddenly become the voice of reason?” She looked at Indigo, a smile still parting her lips. “You must admit, it’s a little hard to believe.”

“I’m not crazy. I’m unique.”

“Thank God. I’m not sure the universe could survive two of you.” Raina wrapped her arm around Indigo’s shoulders and gave her a squeeze. As she released Indigo, Raina’s expression changed and she looked off into the distance. “This is Raina.” A quick pause followed and Raina nodded her head. Then she smiled as if remembering the other person couldn’t see her. “Yes. She’s here. Shall I send her to— All right. I’ll see that she gets it.”