Dating Outside Your DNA (36 page)

Earth who knew how to take down the bad guys.

They were so going to kick ass now. Banyon had met his match, and then some with the team and her family.

Aasera stepped between the warriors, directly in front of

Banyon. He screamed and  did a little jig backwards.

Mom
. Lyraka should've known her mother would be in the middle of rescuing them.

"I see you're still a wimp, Banny." Aasera cast a disparaging look at Banyon.

He quickly collected himself and stiffened his spine. "I am

Banyon, Ruler of the Roverts."

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"I suggest you tell your guards to lower their weapons." Joe

smiled, but it held no warmth when he looked at Banyon. "As you can

see, we now have
 
you
 
outnumbered."

"I refuse to..."

Aasera doubled her fist and punched him in the nose.

Banyon grabbed his nose and screamed. "You're going to be sorry!"

"Urkel with a bad cold. Amazing. I didn't think anyone really talked like that," Aasera said.

"He didn't until Lyraka slammed her fist into his nose."

Alesha sniffed. "Does anyone else smell decaying roses? Bleh."

"Surrender or die!" Joe ordered.

The guards all laid down their weapons and dropped to their knees. Sam pulled a pair of handcuffs from his back pocket and handcuffed Banyon. Banyon was still screaming as they led him to one of the crafts.

A heavyset man stepped from the crowd. "I am Kragen, chief advisor. Please forgive us for our leader's faults. He was out of control."

Roan eyed the man with something close to contempt. He didn't

like the looks of the Rovert. Someth ing about him said he looked out

for himself and no one else.

"We will leave people here to assist in getting Rovertia back in

compliance." Apparently, Aasera had the same feeling.

Roan studied her. From what he'd gathered, she didn't like or

trust men.  He wondered what she would think of him.

Lyraka walked closer to where Roan stood, and touched his

arm. He smiled at her. She might make a pretty good agent after all.

His heart swelled with pride.

"I love you," he said before he thought, then felt the heat rise up

his face when he saw that most of the people had heard what he'd

said.

Lyraka looked at him. "Yes, I know. I love you too."

He grinned, then glanced around and met Aasera's glare. She didn't look too pleased with his declaration.

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He took a deep breath. "Traveler, I've fallen in love with your

daughter."

Aasera raised an eyebrow and turned slightly, but when she

did, her gun pointed toward him. He wondered if it was intentional or

by accident.

"It doesn't look as though you're very good at p rotecting her."

"She's still alive."

Her frown deepened. "You will come with us to Nerak so I can have a chance to talk with you."

"I love him, too," Lyraka said.

"It's not your choice. The elders will need to approve this earthling."

Lyraka stiffened beside him. "Did Mala ask for permission? Or  Lara? Mala came to Earth looking for more than what Nerak could offer, but found Mason McKinley. They married without getting permission. Okay, so maybe Sam and Lara had asked, but that doesn't matter. I've never been to Nerak."

"It was too late to get approval for Mala, but yes, Sam had to be  approved for Lara. It's not too late with you." She looked at them.  "Come."

"Now, Aasera," Joe began.

"You owe me this much," Aasera told him.

She turned and went to one of the crafts. Roan and Lyraka had

no choice except to follow her. Roan looked at Joe, who only

shrugged his shoulders.

Crap, how the hell had Roan gotten into this mess?

Lyraka bowed her head as she stood in the doorway of Elder

Torcara's chambers.

"Enter."

Lyraka looked up and for a moment couldn't move. The woman was regal and beautiful despite her many years. Lyraka took a deep breath and went inside.

"Sit."

Lyraka sat on the chair across from the elder. It was hard to

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believe she was a part  of this great woman through Aasera. Torcara's

DNA blended with Lyraka's, even though it wasn't a pure blend. This

was another part of who she was. The heritage that she didn't know,

the part of herself that had been blank all these years.

"You're very beautiful," Torcara said. "Did you know you were

named after my grandmother?"

"Yes."

"She was wise beyond her years."

"Wasn't she the one who altered the DNA so only females were  born?" Lyraka squared her shoulders.

"Maybe she wasn't wise in all things, but her heart was in the  right place."

"I'm half earthling," she reminded her in case the elder forgot  she wasn't of pure blood.

"That must be the stubborn part I see in you," Torcara said.

Lyraka felt duly chastised.

"Do you love this man you call Roan ?"

She met Torcara's gaze without flinching. "Very much."

"Why?"

"I beg your pardon?"

"Why do you love him?"

This was some kind of test and she had a feeling if she didn't  pass, then she might never see Roan again. She wasn't sure how the  elder would  be able to pull it off, but Lyraka had a feeling she would.

She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and thought about

her relationship with Roan. When she opened her eyes, calmness  had settled over her.

"Roan makes me feel alive. He loves the good in me , but he  accepts the bad, too. When I'm not with him, I feel as if there's  something missing in my life, and when he's with me, I feel whole  again. I can't imagine life without him."

"Very well said." Torcara nodded, her smile soft.

Lyraka had to ask the question that had been burning inside  her. "He's okay, isn't he?"

"He's with your mother."

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That wasn't exactly what she'd asked.

"If love is meant to be, it will happen," Torcara said.

Some of her skeptism must have shown. After all, what did

Torcara  know about love?

"I know what you think. That since there are no men, I wouldn't  know what love is, but you'd be wrong." Her eyes took on a far away  look. "Before we banned space travel there was a man. A trader. Of  course, it would never have worked between us."

"What did you do?"

Sadness seemed to wash over her. "I did the right thing. I  banned him, and all men, from stopping on Nerak."

Lyraka could see just how much it had cost the Elder. She  doubted she would be able to go through life without ever  seeing  Roan again. "Was it the right thing?" She couldn't help asking.

"As a ruler I often have to make difficult decisions."

"Like allowing men on Nerak again."

Torcara's smile was soft. "That wasn't as hard as you might  think. I rather like Sam's undisciplined nature, and Nick is headstrong  and often does things without thinking first. I think we needed more  spontaneity."

"Roan is a good man, too."

"He'll need to meet with Aasera's approval, though."

Her mother didn't like men. Lyraka's father had been mean, and  when he'd found out Aasera was pregnant, he'd left. Things did not  look good for Lyraka and Roan.

The door swished opened and Aasera walked in. Lyraka stood,  looking anxiously at her mother.

"What?" Aasera asked. "I didn't vaporize him if that's what  you're thinking. He's down the hall in the blue room."

Lyraka didn't move, not sure exactly what that meant.

"Are you going to make him wait forever?"

"Then you like him?"

Aasera shrugged. "For a man, he's okay."

Disappointment filled Lyraka. She wanted her mother to more  than just like him.

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"He seems nice enough," Aasera conceded.

Lyraka flung her arms around her mother and gave her a quick

hug, then ran out of the room. She didn't like these separations she

and Roan had had to endure.

Aasera settled herself in the seat across from Torcara only after

Torcara motioned for her to sit.

"Times are changing, Aasera." Torcara sighed.

"Sometimes changes are necessary."

"I suppose."

"What will it be like with men on the planet again?"

"I'm sure it will be quite disruptive."

"But there are good men, too. I see that now. Lyraka's father

was cruel, but Nick and Sam are good."

"And Roan?"

"I'm not ready to make a final judgment. We shall see."  Aasera's gaze met the elder's. "He seemed like a good man."

"And very handsome."

"Looks aren't everything."

"It doesn't hurt, though."

"True." There was Joe. Not handsome like Roan, Nick, or Sam,  but he had a way of making her pulse speed up. Maybe it was time to  let down some of her barriers.

Yes, times were changing, and maybe, just maybe, it would be

for the good.

Roan paced the tiny confines of the room. Would he ever see  Lyraka again? Maybe they would just zap him and tell her that he'd left or something. Aasera hadn't seemed that pleased with some of his answers to her questions.

How the hell had he fallen in love with Lyraka in the first place?  He wasn't ready to settle down with one woman. He liked his free, easy lifestyle without the clutter of a romantic involvement.

The door was flung o pen and Lyraka barreled in. His pulse beat faster, his palms began to sweat, and just looking at her made his heart swell with love.

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Fool! Of course you can't live without her. She's what makes you complete.

She ran to him. He opened his arms, then wrapped them around her, holding her close.

"I don't care what they think of me. I'll never let you go."

"Aasera approves of our relationship."

He leaned back. "She likes me?" That was a shock.

"I don't think she actually used the word like. She said you we re

nice enough."

"I'll settle for that." He lowered his head and once more tasted

the sweetness of her lips.

How had he ever lived without her?

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And don't miss Cynthia Eden's ETERNAL  HUNTER, in stores next month from  Brava...

S
he reached into her bag and pulled out a check. Not the usual way things were handled in the DA's office, but..."I've been authorized to acquire your services." He didn't glance at the check, just kept those blue eyes trained on hers. Her fingers were steady as she  held the check in the air between them "This check is for ten

thousand dollars."

No change of expression. From the looks of his cabin, the guy shouldn't have been hesitating to snatch up the money.

"Give the check to Night Watch."

At that, her lips firmed. "I already gave them one." A hefty one, at that. "This one's for you. A bonus from the mayor--he wants this guy caught, fast." Before word about the true nature of the crime leaked too far.

"So old Gus doesn't think his cops can handle this guy?"

Gus LaCroix. Hard-talking, ex-hard drinking mayor. No  nonsense, deceptively smart, and demanding. "He's got the cops on  this, but he said he knew you, and that you'd be the best one to  handle this job."

Erin strongly suspected that Gus belonged in the
 
Other
 
world.  She hadn't caught any scent that was off drifting from him, but his

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agreement to bring in Night Watch and his almost desperate  demands to the DA had sure indicated the guy knew more than he  was letting on about the situation.

Could be he was a demon. Low-level. Many politicians were.

Jude took the check. Finally. She dropped her fingers, fast, not  wanting the flesh on flesh contact with him. Not then.