Dating Outside Your DNA (21 page)

"Same here."

Was that regret she saw in his eyes? She liked to think so. She smiled as she went back inside the building. It was nice to know he cared.

Roan barely paid attention to what Joe was telling him as he watched Lyraka walk back into the building.

"She's beautiful, isn't she?"

"Oh, yeah," Roan agreed before he thought. "I mean..."

"You're making a mistake. It's not good to get mixed up with someone on your team. It could cause problems."

"You know me, Joe. When it comes down to it, I don't let anything interfere with my work."

"Just make sure you know what your mission is." Joe patted

Roan on the back before walking away.

Crap, was Joe that intuitive? Or were they that easy to read?

Probably a little of both, but Joe should know that Roan would never jeopardize a mission.

He looked toward the row of windows where the trainees

stayed. Did one of the curtains flutter or was it just a trick of the  imagination? Wishful thinking?

He hadn't realized how much he was going to miss being with  her or how jealous he'd get because she was with other people. Why  the hell had Joe pulled Johnny for this team? The guy was notorious  for hitting o n the women. A known ladies man.

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He'd talk to him. Tell him exactly what the score was, and if that

didn't work-- he'd clobber him.

Roan frowned. When had he started getting this territorial? But

then, he knew the answer--since Lyraka had walked into his  life.

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Chapter 16

B
anyon stood on his balcony, surveying all that he reigned over. It was his, all his. His father had...conveniently died, thanks to  Kragen, but it had cost Banyon dearly. Kragen had wanted more power, more land. If Banyon wasn't careful, his chief advisor might decide he wanted to rule Rovertia.

He stepped back into his chambers just as there was a knock on the door. His weapon was on a table across the room. He walked to it, slipping it into the scarf at his waist. He trusted no one.

His gaze landed on one of the full length mirrors. He arched an eyebrow. Yes, he was quite stunning dressed all in black, except for the pale blue sash. He brushed a hair back into place. Better.

"Enter," he said.

The door silently opened . Kragen, of course. The man was becoming quite the nuisance.

"What is it this time? Are you here to tell me that Aasera is still on Nerak, safe and sound, and quite unreachable?"

"Your Majesty, I'm sorry, but yes, Aasera is surrounded all the time by other Nerakians, and untouchable."

Banyon fingered the weapon at his waist.

Kragen paled. "But we have located her daughter."

Excitement flittered through Banyon. Finally, revenge was close at hand. "I will leave tonight." He wasn't going to give her time to slip through his fingers, not like her mother. All these years and the bitch had been alive.

Kragen cleared his throat. "The ceremony to officially pass the crown to you is tomorrow. It wouldn't be wise to leave so soon after your father's death, not  without throwing suspicion your way."

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The palms of Banyon's hands began to itch. What he wouldn't give to end Kragen's pitifully pathetic existence right now. The day could not come soon enough when he had no need for his chief advisor.

His eyes narrowed . "How many days do I wait?"

"Three. No more than that."

Three days. Banyon could wait that long. He'd wait a lifetime if he thought the end result would cause Aasera so much grief that she would want to end her life.

"Leave me." He waved his hand. The  door opened. "No, wait.  Send me a female. I feel the need to inflict pain."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Kragen bowed as he left the room.

Banyon smiled. He was already planning what he would do  when he brought Aasera's child to his planet. Her torture would last  for a very long time. Maybe even years, if he were lucky. He knew all  the ways to keep someone alive.

If this female had as much fight in her as her mother, she would  prove quite entertaining. He might even let Aasera know he had her  daughter, and that  he was torturing her. Oh, yes, that would be  perfect.

There was another knock on his door.

"Enter."

Two guards brought a girl into his chambers. She was already crying and pleading. He looked at her in disgust. Were there no females left with a little fight in them?

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Chapter 17

T
hey were all dressed in green fatigues out in the middle of nowhere surrounded by trees. Lots of trees. Lyraka could handle that part. It was the rest she wasn't so sure of.

They'd been taken to this remote area in the back of a truck with benches so hard that Lyraka knew she was going to be bruised for the next few days. She took a deep breath and glanced at her teammates. They looked about as uncomfortable as she felt. Except  Johnny, but since she didn't like him, he  didn't count.

Roan had told them yesterday they would be going on a mock mission. What exactly was a mock mission? Her heart pounded inside her chest as she silently prayed that she wouldn't totally screw everything up. She wasn't sure she was ready.

The sound of an approaching vehicle invaded her thoughts.  Ready or not...

"Someone else is coming."

"Where?" Alesha looked around.

"You can't see them yet, but I hear them." She shrugged. "I  have better than average hearing, too."

"What are you, Superwoman?" Johnny sneered.

She glanced his way. He hadn't been in the room when she'd  made her confession yesterday. "No, I'm half Nerakian and half  earthling. I have skills that someone like you wouldn't understand."

His mouth dropped open, then snapped shut,  but not before he  mumbled something about that being the reason she wasn't attracted  to him.

Whatever.

Roan drove up in his Jeep, with Gavin in the passenger seat.

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Roan turned off the ignition after coming to a stop and they both got

out.

"This will be  a search and rescue." Roan looked at each of

them, his gaze lingering a half second longer on Lyraka. It was  enough to make her feel warm on the inside.

Gavin reached inside the Jeep and brought out a black satchel.  "You have five hours before your victim s are ruthlessly murdered." He  motioned for everyone to come over to the Jeep as he brought out a  map. "This is where you are." He circled the area on the map with a  marker. Then he circled another spot. "This is where the terrorists are  thought to be hold ing the captives."

Lyraka looked around at the group. She could get there faster  than anyone. She could go in and...and what? No doubt it would be a  lot more complicated than just going in and untying someone.

Roan and Gavin reached into the back of the  Jeep and brought

out guns and knives.

"You're on an unknown planet, in an area we don't know much

about." Roan handed Lyraka a gun and a knife. "The guns are loaded

with paint balls so don't worry about killing any of your team --this

time. The knives are  rubber." They handed out the rest of the

weapons.

"We hope your mission is a success." Gavin climbed into the

Jeep.

"That's it?" Warren looked at the gun as though it were a snake

about to strike him. "Shouldn't we have a little more information?"

"Sometimes this is all you have to go on. Good luck." Roan got  in on the driver's side and they took off. The transport truck left right  behind them.

"I guess this
 
is
 
it," Warren said.

Alesha studied the map. "From what I can tell, the victims are

about four miles north of here."

Lyraka's eyes narrowed. "This seems too easy."

Johnny snorted. "Wake up, sweetheart. This is what it's all about. I've been through these before. They'll have men waiting for us with guns of their own. If we get past them, then we  have to make it

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past the booby traps."

She felt like an idiot, which is exactly what Johnny had wanted

her to feel like. Of course the instructors wouldn't make it easy. All the

intense training that Roan had put her through was about to pay off.

At least, she hoped it would.

Alesha tucked the map in her shirt and slung her gun over her

shoulder. "Anyone else feel the rush of adrenaline?"

"I have a feeling we're going to need it before the day is over."

Ray reached in his pocket, but came back empty handed. "I bet they

won't have a buffet waiting for us halfway between here and there,

either."

Some of her apprehension eased. She wouldn't be alone. She

was with her team.

"We can't all go clomping through the woods. Someone should

be in the lead."

"That  would be me since I'm the only experienced one in the

group," Johnny volunteered.

"No. It should be Lyraka." Reeka kept her gaze leveled on him.

"It figures that you people would stick together."

"No, she's right," Link said. "We already know Lyraka can run

faster than anyone. Her hearing is better, too. She's the obvious

choice."

"What do you mean she can run fast? I can run a mile in under

eleven minutes."

Lyraka moved behind Johnny in the blink of an eye. "But you're not as fast as me."

He whirled  around, hatred in his eyes. "I don't like being made a

fool."

"Then don't act like one," Ray said. "Lyraka will lead the team.  And we will work together. Understood?"

Johnny looked as though he wanted to argue, but apparently  changed his mind at the last second. "Try not to get us all killed."

Jerk.

"Stay focused, darlin'." Alesha smiled.

"And don't get too far ahead of us," Ray warned.

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"Watch up in the trees, too. I read where the enemy will drop  nets sometimes." Warren looked up as though someone might jump  down on them at any second.

Everyone was talking at once. She finally held up her hands for  silence. "I get it. It's not as though I haven't had any training. I'll do a  quick scan of the immediate vicinity and report back."

"We'll start making o ur way forward." Reeka tucked her knife in  her boot and adjusted the gun on her back. "Be careful."

"May the force be with you." Link grinned.

Lyraka slipped out of the clearing and into the denser woods.  For a moment, she stood silent and listened. There were only the  sounds of the woods. Her stomach fluttered as a rush of excitement

swelled inside her. It wasn't real, but it was exhilarating.

She zipped from one tree to another, stopping to study the

terrain. She was about a quarter mile deep in the woods and had

criss-crossed back and forth. Johnny was right about one thing --it

couldn't be this easy.

She started to move, but heard something snap behind her.

She whirled around and ducked at the same time a red paintball

splattered on the tree just above her head. Her heart pounded inside

her chest as she ducked behind some cover and scanned the area.

She rolled to the left, hiding behind the next tree over. The red paint had almost got her.

Someone was stealthily making their way nearer. She took a

deep breath and moved quickly to the next tree. She still couldn't see  anyone. No, wait, was that a flash of movement? She took a deep  breath and forced herself to relax.

Breathe in, breathe out. Relax.

She could feel herself becoming one with the tree. She waited patiently for the shooter to come to her. She didn't have to wait long.

Lyraka watched from narrowed eyes. Dressed all in brown and olive green, a woman eased forward. Lyraka had to admire her for barely making a sound as she moved.

The woman looked to her right, raised two fingers to her eyes, then pointed forward. Lyraka glanced in that direction and saw a man

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creeping closer.

Were there more than two of them? Not that it mattered. She