Cloud Rebel: R-D 3 (11 page)

Something wrong?
Rafe's voice sounded in my head.

Nothing to see here
, I grumped as Val sent another wave of desire in my direction.

What the hell was that?
Rafe demanded.

You were mentally connected to Rinnelar when we ah, were being frisky
, Val replied. I
suspect you have an erection at this point.

None of your business
, Rafe snapped.

That remains to be seen
, Val snapped back.

You'll not be seeing
, Rafe began before another wave of desire hit both of us. Rafe stopped still, looking as if someone had sucker-punched him in the gut.

Honey, please stop. I don't want to have a climax next to the FBI
, I wheezed in mindspeech.

Very well. The moment I have you and Rafe to myself
, Val said.

Rafe lifted an eyebrow but didn't comment. Perhaps he was feeling the effects of intense sexual arousal after more than a year without, just as I was.

"I'm sending images to Matt," Opal said, breaking up our mental foreplay. It was just as well, I tended to be noisy while having an orgasm.

"What did I miss?" Matt Michaels walked up. Well, somebody didn't take the time to finish his flight.

It's Mr. Foldy-Space Pants
, I silently accused.

I really wish you'd give me a break
, he whined back.

Come on, you know that's funny
, Opal intervened.

All of us stopped still as Val sent another wave of pleasure, silencing even Matt.

Chapter 7

All of us returned to the beach house feeling depressed. After Val's last bit of tomfoolery, we'd witnessed first-hand where people had died. Thoughts of the children, some of them sleeping at the time of the assault, enraged me.

It shocked me, too, that Val held one hand while Rafe gripped the other when I was ready to become tall, blue and violent.

I wasn't ready to ask how Val had accomplished that feat with Rafe, because I didn't want to know. Not now, anyway. I still felt angry and depressed over the attack on Star Cove. Those Elemaiya were going to die if I ever found them again.

"Papa," Katya came to Rafe, "Opal says we can't go anywhere without Val or Rinnelar," she leaned her head on Rafe's shoulder.

"What is it, little moth?" he asked, rubbing her back.

"Cabin fever?" I offered.

"I think so. Sergei is feeling restless. I think we both need to get out for a while."

"Is there something in particular you want to do or somewhere you want to go?" I asked.

"I now own a villa in Italy," Rafe said. "Would you like to see that? Provided Rinnelar doesn't mind taking us?"

"I wouldn't mind," I breathed, once the shock wore off. He'd bought it, because that's where we'd spent our short honeymoon.

"I will provide transportation," Val said immediately.

"Where?" Matt said. "Just asking," he held up a hand before I could say anything.

"I was going to answer your question," I replied. "Not jump all over you."

"Truce?" he asked, holding out his hand.

"I guess," I sighed and clasped his hand to shake on it.

"Good. Opal and I would like to come with you, then. Bekzi will stay here to protect the others."

"I want to have dinner at Gino's while we're there," Rafe said. "That means we spend the night tonight and perhaps tomorrow night as well."

"Is that the restaurant you always talked about?" Katya turned a hopeful gaze on Rafe.

"It is," he smiled at her. "The food is wonderful."

"I'll be coming with you," Leo announced, cutting his eyes toward Sergei. I wanted to sigh. I didn't. Leo wouldn't include himself unless it was important to Sergei's health, mental and physical.

"All right," I shrugged. "Pack your duds. We're going to Italy."

"Duds?" Sergei blinked at me.

"Clothing," Rafe explained. "An American idiom that defies explanation."

"It derives from Middle English," Val began.

"Honey, they don't care about that," I patted his arm. "They just want to go somewhere."

I understood that he wanted to comment on short attention spans, but didn't say it. I rubbed his back to console him. Matt, the cheeky bastard, snickered.

"Don't be a jerk," Opal swatted at Matt. I snickered, that time.

They want to have energy sex
, Val informed me.

I thought so
, I replied.
I just didn't want to embarrass anybody
by saying it aloud
.

You, my love, have never experienced energy sex. They have. They know to anticipate it greatly
.

While I feel like an awkward virgin
, I snapped.
Sorry, didn't mean it to come out quite like that
.

I will make sure you are cared for afterward
, he observed.

I need care afterward?
Now I was starting to worry.

The ecstasy is so great, the participants generally lose consciousness. If we are not on the Larentii homeworld, then other Larentii must be present to ensure the safety of all participants.

What. The. Hell. Are. You. Talking. About?

You'll see.
Val smiled gently.

And so will they
, I huffed.
I don't want a bunch of strangers watching me while I'm making whoopee
.

Dearest, it's not like that. They know to be discreet if anyone involved feels uncomfortable
.

Right. Who's coming? Anybody I know?

I just sent the call-there have been several replies. I expect them to work it out among themselves.

Right
.

Dearest, you're repeating yourself.

On purpose.

Ah
.
I assure you, I understood the first time.

I'm not questioning your understanding. I'm beginning to question my involvement in energy sex
.

Please, dearest-I have been looking forward to this since the moment we met
.

All men are alike, no matter what planet they're from
, I grumped.

I call your attention to the fact that I am Larentii. Men are, by definition, human
.

Fine. Didn't mean to ruffle your tail feathers
.

I do not have
, he held up a hand.

I know, I know
.
I should have said males. My bad
.
As for Larentii having tail feathers, it's only an expression
.
Wait, you're just yanking my chain, aren't you?

Dearest, you make me laugh
, he said.

"I think this is the most interesting conversation I've never heard," Katya interrupted.

"Young one, we didn't mean to converse at such length and exclude you," Val smiled. "We are-as you might say-merely poking at one another."

"Corinne had such a look on her face," Katya grinned.

Rafe went crazy, trying to get to me. If Val hadn't been there to intervene on my behalf, he could have done me harm. I was too stunned at first to recall that I could place a shield about myself when he came after me with murder in his eyes.

That meant I was forced to watch as he destroyed everything surrounding my hastily erected shield in an attempt to kill me. When the tears came, that's when Val put a stop to it and rendered Rafe unconscious.

* * *

"There was no harm done, young one," Val attempted to soothe Katya. "I merely placed your father in a healing sleep. He will wake shortly with his obsession in check."

"I didn't mean to say her name," Katya brushed tears away.

"Honey, don't cry-this really isn't your fault. A Sirenali did this to us," I said. My voice shook, but I was determined to keep Katya from having a breakdown.

Val and I hadn't yet cleared away the destruction Rafe had caused with only his fists and strength. It made me glad he didn't have his warlock abilities wakened-the damage could have been much more severe-to the house and to me.

He and I-we should be together on Karathia. As it was, that had been stolen away from us. My sigh was shaky and I was close to tears.

"Are we still going to Italy?" Katya quavered.

"I'll see to it," Val said gently. "We'll bring your father around. Please, someone take over for me-Rinnelar needs my attention," Val announced.

"I will." Opal sat next to Katya on what remained of a sofa.

"Come, dearest," Val said, gripping my hand and folding space.

* * *

"I wish I could say there is no cause for tears, but that would be an untruth," Val wrapped large, blue arms about me. Without a word, he'd convinced me to remove my human disguise once we arrived at a secluded spot next to a waterfall on one of the Hawaiian Islands.

Before I could wipe away the next tear that fell, he did it for me. "Hush, dearest. He loves you very much. That is why the obsession is so violent. If he could, he would turn that destruction upon himself, instead."

"I don't want him to do that," I quavered. "He doesn't deserve this."

"And neither do you. Wicked Sirenali have been a curse since their creation. If your Ilya had his way, you would be in his arms while he soothed your hurts and fears." A hand stroked and massaged the back of my neck-exactly where the tension was. I buried my face against Val's chest and sobbed.

* * *

Ilya

The room was dim when I woke. I had no idea that Val or any Larentii could leave a mental or physical message waiting, like anyone might leave on a phone, a card or any other communication device.

She is most upset
, the message came.
I have repaired the bones in your hands. Do not make me regret that act by destroying your bedroom and harming yourself a second time
.

I cursed myself instead. Val was correct-there was no sense in allowing my anger to surface a second time, just so I could destroy more of a house that did not belong to me. And the harm I'd brought to
her
, well, I feared that would never be repaired or forgiven.

All it had taken was the mention of her true name. The obsession had surfaced after that, destroying all of Val's good work at keeping it submerged in my consciousness. Yes, I realized he'd been secretly working to hold it back. I wanted to thank him and curse myself again in the same breath.

"Papa?" Katya's voice came from a corner of the room. I'd failed to see her sitting there, waiting for me to wake.

"Little moth, I am better now," I reassured her. "I hope I didn't frighten you when the obsession manifested."

"They told me that's what it was. I didn't understand until now." I could hear the closeness of tears in her voice.

"Come," I sat up on the edge of my bed and beckoned to her. "Sit with me. We will talk about this."

"But," she began.

"No, my precious girl," I said. "I will never harm you. The obsession only makes me violent toward-you know." I gritted my teeth as I said the words.

"You love her," Katya said and rose from her chair.

"I do." I studied my hands in the dim light. Val had repaired most of the damage, just as he'd said. All the cuts and abrasions were healed; only a few small bruises remained of the wreck I'd made of my fists.

"This makes me afraid," she took one of my hands in both of hers while shaking her head. "If this obsession thing can make the strongest person I know do things he would never do," she didn't finish.

"I know, my little moth," I sighed, grasping her fingers with mine. "And I would never do that. Never."

"Papa, I was hoping she wasn't dead. That you would be together, and you would be happy. I know you weren't for a long time-not after Alexi's death. I worried about you going to the Americans. I worried that they'd only use you and then toss you away. She made sure that didn't happen, didn't she?"

"I think she had much to do with that," I agreed. I almost smiled when she said it, too. After all, if I hadn't been treated well and if I hadn't fallen in love with
her
, I would have found a way to escape.

Colonel Hunter had turned out to be an honest man. Those were rare, in my experience.

"What do you think it would have been like-if you'd been reborn on the world meant for you both?" Katya asked.

"I don't know," I said. "I can only hope that it would be as beautiful as I have imagined it. Now, who told you these things?"

"Opal. I like her, Papa. She answered most of my questions, and some I didn't know to ask."

"I get the idea that Opal-and Director Michaels-are much more than most think," I said. "I've heard
her
referring to it often."

"I hope a day will come when you can say her name again, Papa."

"As do I."

* * *

Corinne

I understood that I wasn't wholly awake. I heard the voice anyway. The one that told me all wasn't lost. The words were spoken by a male but softly, while a kiss brushed across my forehead. At first I panicked, worried that Val had left my side.

No, dearest
, he soothed.
I am here. Someone else who loves you has come. Do not be afraid
.

The hum that came was that of another Larentii-Val's song was different yet no less soothing. I fell asleep again quickly.

* * *

Valegar, Second Assistant

Larentii Archives

Secured Personal Notes

I hadn't expected Kalenegar to arrive. He'd ordered the other volunteers to stay on the Larentii homeworld and he'd come himself at my request for someone to guard us during energy sex.

Instead, there'd been no pleasure, only pain at a carelessly dropped name and the obsession that activated as a result. I'd assumed Kalenegar had muted his M'Fiyah with Corinnelar.

It became obvious that he'd unmuted it. I was surprised by the concern in his eyes as he soothed Corinne. Before he was done, Breanne, his first mate, arrived to help. I could see that both were worried about Corinne. I held her tighter against me as a result.

"She is weary," Breanne shook her head. "I'm considering calling for Kay to come, but I have no idea whether she can work through two sets of Ilya's aura lines to get to the proper ones."