Beneath a Trojan Moon (8 page)

Another huge thud. But the door held.

She took a step backward, her heart hammering.

A patch in the center of door began to glow. It changed from gold to orange to scarlet red.

Another bang and this time, the heated portion of the door gave away.

Relda took a deep breath. She felt the energy flow around her and she opened her hands and held her arms in front of her.

Between her palms, electricity sparked.

A small object flew through the hole in the door, bounced once, then rolled along the floor until it smacked against her bare feet.

A small black canister. With a quiet hiss, a green gas released from the ends of it.

What the hell?
Relda stepped backward.
Sync,
she needed to get to her Sync. She scrambled away but the gas was spraying up, filling the room. She wrinkled her nose, but found it didn’t smell bad at all. The electricity between her hands died away and her vision blurred.

Her abilities…were gone.

And she felt dizzy.

She stumbled, aiming for the bedroom. But someone grabbed her from behind, lifting her off her feet.

She caught a glimpse of Deputy Westin’s face before something was pulled over her eyes.

“You’re worth a lot of e-creds, Ms. Dela-Cruz,” the man said. “A real life Vega-Lyran…that’s a lot of e-creds.”

She tried to kick and twist, but her limbs felt so incredibly heavy. And her head felt like it was plugged with glue.

The man stepped through the broken door and tossed something back into the apartment. She heard the clink as it hit the floor.

As they exited the building, Relda heard the boom of an explosion followed by breaking glass.

Hunt.
She tried to scream, but Hunt’s name was just an echo in her head.

Chapter Seven

Hunt sat in his office, staring at his computer console. He was looking through the short list of starships sitting in port. Nothing was jumping out.

A freightership owned by a trader who frequented Souk regularly. A retrofitted runnership owned by Miro Enterprises. They did pleasure tours around the star system. Hunt rubbed a hand over his face. Maybe his hunch to check out the ships was a bust.

The next image made him pause. A high-end, luxury cruiser called the
Oracle
. Registered to a Timothy Li. Hunt ran a prelim search. Li was part of a minor telepathic race from the Ming system. Tapping his fingers against his desk, Hunt executed a more detailed search on Timothy Li.

The man was a collector of ancient artifacts. Hunt’s instincts sprang to life and they’d saved his ass too many times for him to ignore it. Time to pay Timothy Li a visit for a random ship inspection.

Suddenly, an alarm blared from his Sync. Every muscle in his body tensed. The security alarm at his apartment!

“Marshal! Marshal!”

Hasan appeared in the doorway. The young deputy was panting from his sprint.

Hunt leaped to his feet. “What is it, Hasan?”

“Your apartment, sir—”

“Spit it out!” Dread curdled in Hunt’s veins.

“There was an explosion…”

Hunt ran. “Hasan, you’re with me. Get Suleman and Westin as well.”

“Yes, sir.”

Outside, Hunt jumped on one of the Department’s tracers. The tracer was a low-slung, water-powered motorcycle that could easily maneuver through Medina’s narrow streets. He started the engine, leaned forward and gripped the controls, and took off. Fast.

He zipped through the alleyways and around any people in his way. The smoke rising above the buildings made his jaw clench.
Be okay, beautiful.

Ahead his apartment came into view. Smoke still poured from the top of the building, but the firefighters’ fire suppression ship hovered overhead and had doused the flames with retardant foam.

Gods.
Hunt’s throat was so dry he couldn’t swallow. He slid to a stop and leaped off the tracer. He should never have left her alone.

He stared at the charred remains, the smell of smoke sharp in his nose. It reminded him of another awful day. His home burning. His parents dead. And of all the battlefields where he’d lost brave men and women.

He charged at the building. He had to find Relda.

Suddenly two of his deputies and three firefighters were there, holding him back.

“Let me go,” he roared.

“There building’s not safe,” one of the firefighters yelled.

“She’s up there. I have to get to her.” He’d told her he’d protect her.

The firefighter sighed, his voice softening. “If there was anyone up there, there’s nothing you can do for them now. A military-grade explosive was used. I’m sorry.”

The fight bled out of Hunt and a cold desolation stole through him. His head slumped his chest and he fought for air.

“Sir?” Hasan’s voice was hesitant. “Ms. Dela-Cruz…she was in your apartment?”

He managed a nod, unable to get the words out of his closed throat.

“I’m sorry, sir.”

He glanced at his men, frowned. “Where’s Westin?”

“We can’t find him, sir. He’s been missing since this morning.”

Something wasn’t right.

Hunt glanced at the smoldering remains of his apartment. Finally his brain kicked in, working through the despair. There were too many old memories mixed up with his feelings for Relda and it was affecting his thinking.

Hunt breathed deep, pulling in everything and trying to sort through the scents. He moved closer to the door, fighting past the heavy smell of smoke. He scented the aroma of the Soukan stew his downstairs neighbor always cooked. He picked up the sharp scent of lastite explosive. And there…just the faintest trace of smoky spice.

Relda wasn’t there, he knew it. Whoever was after the Trojan Moon had taken her.

“Spaceport. Now.” Hunt ran for the tracer. “Hasan, get on the comm and send a no take-off order for all starships.”

Gods, don’t let me be too late.
I’m coming, beautiful.

***

Relda woke. Woozy, aching and confused.

She moved and heard chains clank. Her eyes opened and she realized her arms were stretched above her head and chained to the ceiling…of a starship. Panic snuck in, making it hard to breathe. She was naked and her feet were chained as well.

Infinite energy, her shoulders hurt.

“Excellent. You’re awake.”

The crisp, male voice made her raise her head.

He leaned against the far wall, beside a floor-to-ceiling window that showed a view of the many ships at the Souk spaceport. He was average height, lean, wearing a tailored suit made of some expensive fabric with a sheen. His face was long and narrow with a tiny goatee and eyes of a liquid black. He was older—and it wasn’t just the silver threading his space-black hair at the temples that gave it away—he had an air of a man who knew what he wanted and got it.

But his aura dominated. Lots of ugly shades of jealous green mixed with soulless black.

“Who—” her voice cracked, her throat dry. She swallowed and tried again. “Who are you?”

“Timothy Li.” He sketched a small bow.

She recognized the name. She made a habit of keeping a discreet ear to the ground on anyone who was overly interested in Vega-Lyrans. Timothy Li wasn’t just interested, he was obsessed.

Li came closer, studying her with an acute interest that made her skin crawl. When he reached up, she flinched. She tried to use her abilities, but her system was still sluggish, her abilities nothing but a flicker.

“The chemical we used to subdue you also nullifies your…skills.” He reached up, his fingers brushing her breast as he gripped the Trojan Moon. He held it for a second, eyes glittering. Then he reached up, his breath on her face as he undid the chain.

He held it up, the light catching the swirls in the blue-gray jewel.

“Incredible. I couldn’t believe when an associate described it to me. And that he’d seen it hanging around the neck of a beautiful fortune teller in the middle of nowhere.”

Just a random, chance encounter. The unfairness of it burned her. “How did you know it was the Moon?”

“He joked about the fact that he thought it had glowed red, just for a second, while you told him his fortune. And I just
knew
it had to be the Trojan Moon. I knew the red glow was unique to the Moon.” He grinned like an excited child. “I have some Vega-Lyran blood, you know.”

Yeah, right.
Relda rolled her eyes, made sure he saw her do it.

His teeth ground together and his nearly black eyes settled on her. She felt her skin crawl.

“I never in a million years thought I’d find a real, live, full-blood Vega-Lyran.” Timothy Li leaned closer, his aura sparking with bright orange and colorless black. He traced a finger down the side of her neck and she shuddered. His eyes flashed with a sickening mix of awe, fear and arousal. “They say fucking one of your kind can make a man immortal.”

Bile was an acid taste in her mouth. Where did they come up with these stupid ideas?

“And if eaten, your heart can transfer your powers.”

“If you believe that drivel, then you’re dumber than I thought,” she snapped.

He drew back. “Well, we’ll find out soon enough. And even without you, I have the Moon to amplify my powers.” He strode to a comm panel on the wall. “Darrah, begin preparations for takeoff. I’d like to get off this backwater world and back to civilized space.”

Relda’s pulse jumped, then raced. “The marshal will come for me.”
Please find me, Hunt
. “He’s a single-minded man who never gives up.”

Li lifted a shoulder. “He isn’t coming, Ms. Dela-Cruz.” A sharp smile. “Who do you think sold you out to me?”

Her vision blurred and everything inside her just…stopped. The pain was so great she felt like she was choking.

“Everyone has their price.” Li’s smile deepened. “I’m very good at finding people’s weaknesses and exploiting them. The Marshal’s Office was very easy to infiltrate. Now, settle in, we have a long flight ahead.” His gaze slid over her body. “And we’ll enjoy it…together.”

Her chest was so tight she could barely breathe. She couldn’t summon any reaction to her captor’s grand plans.

She was shattered inside.

Hunt…her mind shied away. She couldn’t even think about him. It hurt too much.

“I’ll have one of my men come in and give you another dose of my special concoction. Can’t have you able to use those fabulous powers of yours.” Timothy Li strode out, bellowing orders.

Relda sagged in her chains. She needed to find a way to escape and then she had to decide what to do next.

She had to leave Souk.

She looked out the window, at the crowded spaceport, and beyond it the shadows of the Jabaal Mountains and the shiny jewel of Lake Gameelah nestled at their base. She thought of her girls there, waiting for her to return.

Hunt.
Could he really have betrayed her?

She managed to pull in a tiny bit of air. She moved, the chains digging into her wrists. The pain cleared her head a little.

Memories of Hunt rushed in. His bright, vibrant energy field. The composed way he faced her attackers and the nano-droid. The intense, possessive look in his eyes as he loved her.

Hunt, her tough, noble warrior who still honored the memories of the family he’d lost and the soldiers under his command who he felt he’d failed.

A man who would die before betraying anybody.

She had to get off this damn ship and get to Hunt.

The door slid open and a familiar man entered. Wearing a familiar uniform. Deputy Westin.

“Hunt will track you down and kill you,” she said.

The man neared, a pressure-injector in his hands, his eyes were filled with misery. “I know. I guessed where he’d stashed you…”

“Why did you do this? Do Timothy Li’s dirty work and betray Hunt?”

“I’m sorry. I have a daughter…she’s sick. Abolian Plague.”

Relda’s stomach clutched. It was an incurable disease that slowly destroyed organs.

“I couldn’t afford the cloned organs she needs—” His voice hitched. He raised the injector. “I’m so sorry.” A ragged whisper.

She lifted her chin and stared out the window. She was a survivor. Whatever happened, she wouldn’t accept this lying down.

Suddenly, an alarm blared through the ship. The deputy raced to the comms panel and slapped a hand against it. “What’s happening?”

“The fucking marshal’s issued a no take-off order.” Timothy Li’s voice thundered through the comm. “We need to go. Now! Inject her and get your ass up to the cockpit to help.”

Relda scanned the spaceport. Gasped. She saw a crowd moving through the starships, headed by a small group in dark uniforms. One dark-haired man in front stood taller than the crowd.

Her heart spasmed. He was coming.

Westin stepped in front of her.

“Please, don’t do this,” she said. “We’ll help your girl, but don’t do this.”

He sighed. “It’s too late.”

There was a faint roar and she heard the ship’s engines flare to life.
Oh, no.

Relda tried to tap her abilities again.
There
. Just a small flare. The poison had worked out of her system just enough. “I’m sorry, too.” She pulled as much energy to her as she could and tossed it at the man.

He flew backward, light flaring around him. He hit the wall, his head making a sickening crack against the metal. He slumped to the floor.

She looked up at her chains. She stared hard and watched as the silver links turned faint yellow then flared to molten orange. The chains broke.

She fell forward onto her hands and knees and barely stopped her face hitting the smooth floor. She felt the throb of the engines through the floor. Not long to takeoff.

Standing, she scanned the room. She needed some clothes, she needed the Trojan Moon, and then she was getting off this ship. She found the smooth panel of a storage cupboard. Inside were some silver jumpsuits.

She might want Hunt’s strong arms wrapped around her, but—she bit her lip—she knew she couldn’t keep him. She’d made a mistake here, letting people close. She didn’t want them hurt because of her.