Born of the Night (3 page)

continued down the corridor, disappearing from her sight, no doubt on his way to carry

out Nemesis' brutal order.

Kiara wanted to call Rachol back. The last thing she desired was to be left alone with this

creature, but her mouth was suddenly so dry, she couldn't get even a whisper past her

swollen lips.

Once inside their shuttle, Nemesis took her into one of the back rooms which she guessed

served as some sort of infirmary. Medical tools and bottles of medicine were carefully

placed in a glass cabinet not far from a large bed. The odor of antiseptic stung her nose.

Everything was pristine white and orderly, a welcome contrast to her kidnappers' filth.

Kiara glanced up at Nemesis, afraid he might kill her as well. But he seemed to be

ignoring her, at least as much as he could, given the fact she was in his arms.

He placed her gently on the bed, then moved to retrieve a blanket from a drawer at the bottom of the cabinet. With a kindness she would never have attributed to a ruthless

killer, he wrapped it around her.

Kiara was minutely attuned to him. The light gleaned off his helmet with an eerie sheen.

He seemed larger than a human, taller, stronger. She had no idea what species he

belonged to, yet he had to be at least humanoid.

She watched the play of well-defined muscles under his battlesuit as he pressed a panel

next to the door and opened the closet.

Who was this assassin? She wasn't the first to ask that question and like the others, she

knew she would never know the answer.

He turned around, holding a black battlesuit like the ones he and Rachol wore.

Kiara could feel his eyes on her, they were almost as tangible as a touch. She thought he

was about to speak, but the door opened to reveal Rachol.

Unaware of what he had interrupted, Rachol took the battlesuit from Nemesis' hands. "I

locked them in their munitions room. If they're quick, they might escape unscathed."

Kiara still sensed Nemesis watching her.

A sharp lunge told her their ship was launching away from her kidnappers' craft.

"Are you taking me home?" she asked.

A dreadful pause greeted her. Finally, Nemesis spoke, "Soon."

Before she could blink her eyes, he was gone.

* * *

Nykyrian locked the door behind him. He knew Rachol's doctoring abilities well enough

to guess the dancer would be sedated. An image of Kiara's body outlined by her sheer,

torn nightgown scorched him. He could still feel her pressed against his chest.

Forcing his mind to other thoughts, he removed his hot, sticky helmet. He freed his damp,

blond hair from the tie holding it at the nape of his neck. With a tired sigh, he pulled his

dark glasses from his pocket and moved to join the rest of his crew in the control room at

the front of the shuttle.

Dancer Hauk and Darling Crewell were joking with each other when he entered.

"Rachol said we had a guest," Hauk commented to him dryly. "I hope she doesn't come out of that room and catch a sight of you without your helmet!"

Ignoring him, Nykyrian dropped his helmet on the floor and took the pilot's chair. He ran

over their settings, knowing there'd be no corrections. Hauk and Darling were the best.

"Did Chenz and Petiri get away?" Nykyrian asked.

Darling shook his head. "They're asteroid bait."

Nykyrian nodded. Justice was served. Tomorrow Rachol would inform their employer

about Chenz's death. Granted it wouldn't bring back the councilor's son, but it would

ensure Chenz never decapitated another child.

Putting the matter out of his thoughts, Nykyrian stared out the window at the blackness

swirling around them. In the lightless void, an image of Kiara dancing in her last ballet

floated before his eyes. He damned the feelings surging through him as he thought about

her.

She had always been able to stir his senses. Every time he had seen her dance, she had

touched a part of his soul— a part of him he preferred to think was long dead and

damned.

If only things were different. If only he were different ...

Nykyrian sighed. He knew better. The way she recoiled from his touch and squirmed in

his arms told him what he'd get if he even tried to speak with her.

"Who's the woman?" Hauk finally asked, breaking Nykyrian out of his thoughts.

"Kiara Biardi, the dancer."

Hauk gave a low, appreciative whistle. "What was
she
doing with those space scabs?"

Nykyrian shrugged. "We'll discuss that once we get back to the base and have our

meeting."

Within an hour, they began docking at their station. Rachol came from the back,

reporting that Kiara was in a sedated sleep. Nykyrian replaced his helmet before heading

back to their patient.

After the landing, Nykyrian carried Kiara from the ship. He took her to the upper floor of

the Command Center where he charged Mira to care for her until she woke.

Mira was thrilled to be assigned watch duty over such a famous personality. Smiling

nervously at Nemesis, she ran to her room to find sleeping attire for Kiara.

Shaking his head at Mira's undue haste to flee his presence, Nykyrian took his precious

bundle into one of the sleeping chambers and carefully placed her on the large bed. He

covered her with an extra blanket.

As he stepped away from the bed, he heard her whispering in her sleep. Entranced by her

melodic voice, he turned back to take a final look at her peacefully resting form.

He stood over her, intoxicated by the smoothness of her features, her pert nose, the high

cheekbones, her finely arched brows. Her long, dark brown hair fell in soft ringlets about

her. He traced the line of her cheek, tempted to remove his glove and feel the softness he

knew her flawless skin would hold.

He sensed Mira's presence as she returned. Looking up, he saw Mira's questioning brown

eyes.

Nykyrian ached to kiss Kiara. He almost did. Only the knowledge of Mira's curious stare

kept him from removing his helmet and yielding to his burning want.

Some things were not his to feel, or experience.

With a curt nod to Mira, he left the room.

Nykyrian rejoined his friends downstairs, anxious to finish his business and return the

dancer before she distracted him further from his obligations.

Quickly, he led his three soldiers to their council chambers, where Jayne was already

seated and waiting for them.

The room was covered with a myriad of star charts, maps and computer terminals. Beeps

and hisses filled the air as information passed through the equipment. Everything was

neat, tidy and efficient, just the way he liked his life.

Nykyrian walked to the printer nearest him and pulled off several sheets of paper.

As he waited for his friends to remove their helmets and take their chairs, Nykyrian

perused the listed items. While he studied the lines, an unbidden image of Kiara drifted

before his eyes. Grinding his teeth, he forced his thoughts to business.

Nykyrian gave the small group a cursory glance, took his seat, and placed the stack of

papers before him. He turned to Rachol. "I take it the Probekeins hired Chenz and Petiri."

Rachol nodded.

"Send a message to Tiarun Biardi stating that I'll return his daughter. I want him to know the OMG had nothing to do with her abduction." He narrowed his eyes. "I would hate to be shot down for a good deed."

Rachol nodded again, and made a quick note on his computer ledger. "I got the news

from one of our spies that the Gouran Consulate fell apart yesterday when the Probekeins

threatened to tear apart the Councilors' kids. Eight contracts were drawn up for the

terminations. Six children have been found dead, including Councilor Serela's boy we

saw last night. I'll make sure word gets around Chenz's death was because of his brutal

murder of the kid."

Nykyrian mentally flashed on Serela's tormented face and the sight of the poor, mutilated

boy. If Kiara hadn't been aboard Chenz's ship, he would have torn the scab into pieces.

"Other than Chenz, who were the others who accepted the Probekeins' contracts?"

"Don't know," Rachol answered.

Nykyrian rubbed his jaw. "What were the negotiations between the Probekeins and

Gourans over?"

At Rachol's negative head shake, Nykyrian scowled. "You're supposed to stay informed

of all contracts for assassinations. I want you to find out the definite reasons for the

killings as well as the name on the last contract and who holds it. My guess is, the

murders are over the new weapon the Probekeins are building. If not, we need to know!"

Nykyrian sat back in his chair. "You'd best inform Biardi immediately his daughter is

safe. I'm sure he's about crazed over her disappearance."

Rachol stood, moving to comply with Nykyrian's directive.

"I think we should target Emperor Abenbi," Hauk said, watching Rachol leave. "It's time we showed the Probekeins they can't continue to frighten other governments."

Nykyrian shook his head. "That's not our decision. We had best attend to our contracted

hits. Our backlog is already too long. It'll be several weeks before we can take on any

new assignments. At this point, it would have to be a major emergency for new hire."

Jayne sighed irritably. "Why don't we expand our number?" she asked, toying with her long, black hair. "Surely out of the multitude we employ, there are a few suitable to doing the physical executions of contracts."

Nykyrian cocked his brow. "Would you trust them at your back? The five of us are

friends, have been so for years. Our loyalty to one another is without question. Are you

willing to put your life at the disposal of a stranger?"

"Not with the price on my head," Jayne answered. "I suppose you're right."

Rachol returned. "Biardi will be expecting you," he said to Nykyrian. "He also wants a meeting with me. Funny how we're wanted criminals until they need us," Rachol

mumbled, sitting down. "I think Biardi's going to propose a contact for Kiara's

protection."

Nykyrian's heart quickened. "Did you schedule a meeting?"

"This evening."

Hauk turned around in his chair, a smirk twisting his lips. "I thought we were too

backlogged to take on anything new."

Nykyrian shot him a venomous glare. Hauk held his hands up apologetically. Satisfied

that Hauk knew better than to question him further, Nykyrian retrieved the sheets from

the table and handed them out to the appropriate specialist.

Hauk complained immediately about his schedule. "Why am I always the back-up for

Darling and Jayne?" he muttered. "Especially Darling. I wish you would teach him how to breach access codes. He's dangerous!"

"Me dangerous? Last time we went out together, you set off two alarms. For a circuitry

engineer, you're seriously lacking."

"Careful human," Hauk warned, showing Darling his fangs. "I might get hungry one of these nights and decide we no longer need a Weapons Tech."

Nykyrian shook his head at their play, knowing they were good friends, but continually

harassed one another about their racial differences.

Darling was from Caron, a human system. Hauk was Andarion— an advanced human,

predatorial race that sometimes fed on lesser human's meat. A hybrid of the two races,

Nykyrian often found himself settling their skirmishes.

Hauk had the traditional Andarion features, an exceptionally handsome face—the

Andarions valued physical beauty above everything. Hauk's long, black hair fell in a

warrior's braid down his back to his waist. White irises ringed in red, stared laughingly at

Darling. The long canine teeth flashed as Hauk smiled. Nykyrian was grateful his own

teeth were smaller versions of Hauk's. Still, they were long enough to mark him as a

bastard half-breed, especially when combined with his eyes.

"Jayne," Nykyrian said, facing the assassin. "If you need help with your hits, I'll back you. That will free up some of Hauk's time." Jayne gave him a seductive smile. She loved

the thrill of hunting and killing the corrupt. Nykyrian remembered a time past when he

had shared her enthusiasm, but those days had long fled. Now, he just wanted peace and

solitude.

"The number is low this week, "Jayne said, scanning her list. "I think I could schedule an opportunity to take out Abenbi." She smiled at Hauk.

Nykyrian shook his head. "Stick with the assigned political assassinations. I want no

messages of the Probekein Emperor's murder."

Hauk curled his lip and sat forward in his chair. "He deserves to die!"

Nykyrian tensed at the direct confrontation. "We need solid proof before we act. When I

have it, I shall gladly allow you and Jayne to have him," he compromised, unwilling to

fight with one of his few true friends. He had enough enemies for that.

Hauk retreated back into his chair.

Nykyrian glanced around at each of them. "We haven't any missions in the near future

that will require the entire group. There are some overlaps, note them and plan

accordingly. Keep your links open in case of an emergency. Our next meeting is in eight

days, the time is noted on your schedule. Good luck," Nykyrian finished more out of

habit than necessity.

The members grabbed their helmets and took their leave. Rachol remained seated with

Nykyrian, waiting for the room to clear.

As the door closed, he turned to face Nykyrian. "I don't know if you should accept

Biardi's contract. We can't afford liabilities."