Davin's Quest (17 page)

“Great,” Rick said, moving toward the prisoner. He stopped opposite Sinclair Prime and faced him down. The men were about the same height, and both had that wiry musculature that indicated coiled strength. “Time is short, Bill. Do you really want to do this? Do you want to go with Callie and Davin and live, or return to the Alvians and almost-certain death?”

Sinclair took a deep breath. His mouth firmed as his body seemed to gain strength where before he’d been the picture of defeat. His posture straightened and his eyes shone with a new light.

“I want to live. I want time to figure out these emotions.”

Callie smiled but didn’t move any closer, much to Davin’s relief. “You’ll have help. I’m not the only empath on this planet. There are quite a few others, including most of my siblings. Speaking of which,”

she swirled and placed her hands against Davin’s chest, “we need to call my family.”

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Davin reached into his pocket for the private comm crystal he always kept on him, but it was gone. Lost in the shuffle of the assassination attempt, probably.

“Do you have your secure comm?” Davin asked her. “Mine’s gone.”

She bit her lip, making him want to bend down and kiss her, but time was of the essence, so he refrained. “It’s back in our room.”

“All right. I can bring power back to this console in isolation, but it won’t be secure.” Davin moved toward the comm station Callie had used to disable the entire system. He could bring back power selectively, but it wouldn’t be easy. It’d take some maneuvering. “Rick, watch the door. They should leave us alone for a little longer before Rilan’s men check on us. If necessary, I can buy us some more time. Leave Sinclair in the cuffs for now, until we know how much time we really have.”

Davin worked his magic and Callie called the most knowledgeable member of her family first. Caleb O’Hara had a strong gift of foresight. He’d know, if anyone would, what was coming. He was also the leader of their family, the one they all went to when there was trouble. Just hearing his voice made her feel better.

“Callie, baby, how are they?” Caleb O’Hara’s strong voice sounded in Callie’s ear.

“Papa Caleb! This is an open channel.”

“Doesn’t matter anymore, sweetheart. I saw what happened. You have to listen to me. Things will start moving fast from here. You need to take them all home.”

“Are you sure it’s safe?”

“Trust me. Your mother can help the new one while you see to your mates.”

“Then Rick—?”

“Definitely yours, sweetheart. Congratulations. But he’ll still need some convincing. Get him to talk to my brothers. That’ll do it.”

Callie chuckled despite the desperate turn of events. “Yeah, that ought to do it. Now why didn’t I think of that?”

“Get going, munchkin. You don’t have much time, but once you get to the ranch, you’ll be safe. They won’t dare send someone there. Not after I’ve had a little talk with Mara about the future. Harry’s going to stay here with me and see what he can find out.”

Callie trusted her farseeing father to know what was coming. He’d never steered a single person wrong yet and every member of the family trusted him with their lives. This time, she trusted him and his visions to steer a safe path for not only herself, but Davin and Rick too.

“I love you, Papa Caleb.”

“Love you too, munchkin. We’ll talk soon. Call me when you get where you’re going.”

98

A few hours later, the four of them arrived at the O’Hara ranch, nestled in a protected valley in what was once known as the Canadian Rockies. The weather was much colder up here and the air was dryer, but the scenery was every bit as majestic and beautiful as the jungle-rich mountain range they’d left below the equator. Only here, instead of jungle, the white of snow covered the mountain peaks and an invigorating chill permeated the air.

Jane and Justin were there to greet them. Callie raced straight into her mother’s arms and was enveloped in Justin’s arms a moment later. Davin envied the family and tried to imagine how it must feel to be part of an extended familial unit. His people had been that way in the distant past, but now most Alvians were bred in a lab and raised as one of many other children, in the collective.

He was so lost in his thoughts, he didn’t feel Rick sidle up beside him.

“Nice family,” Rick said, leaning back against the side of the small transport, next to Davin. Rick’s gaze was on Callie and her parents, standing some yards distant.

“Did you have a family like that, Rick?” Davin felt unreasonably isolated by the idea.

Rick shrugged, but wouldn’t meet Davin’s eyes. “For a while. I remember my mother, but she died in the first wave of crystal attacks. I had my dad longer, but we were separated by your people a few years back. Still, he raised me and taught me everything I know. He was a good man.”

Davin both envied and pitied Rick in that moment. “What happened to him?”

Rick straightened away from the hull of the craft and stared out over the horizon. “I don’t know.” His voice grew fainter. “But I always figured he’d been captured or killed. Otherwise he would’ve found me.

Or I would’ve found him. As it is, I never caught a trace of him.”

Davin didn’t know what to say to the pain he could hear in Rick’s voice. He said, “I’m sorry,” but knew it was inadequate.

Sinclair stood silent on Davin’s other side, watching all with a painful mix of emotions on his pale face.

Davin turned to him as Rick moved a short distance away.

“You’ll have to remain locked up for now.”

Sinclair glanced down at the cuffs manacling his wrists together, then shrugged. “It’s what I would do.

For what it’s worth, I’m sorry I shot you.”

Davin sighed. “I can only imagine how difficult this time is for you. Callie told me a little on the trip here of the massive fluctuations she feels in your emotional field. Perhaps it will even out over time, but for now, we’re going to ask Justin to keep an eye on you. Perhaps Jane will take pity and work with you on the emotional upheavals you must be feeling.”

“What can she do?” A note of despair colored the other man’s tone.

“Jane O’Hara is an even stronger empath than Callie. She helped me a lot, just by understanding. She is a great woman.”

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Sinclair turned to face him, surprise in his light eyes. “You really mean that.”

Davin nodded. “I do. You’ll find these humans have much more to them than we’ve been led to expect.

I believe, had we any understanding of emotion left in our people, we could have come to them in peace and been allies. Instead, we’ve committed unspeakable crimes against them by taking their planet and killing so many innocent beings. It is a guilt all Alvians will bear for the rest of our days. Give the humans a chance. I guarantee, they will astound you.”

Mick joined the group, swooping down to pull Callie into an exuberant hug. When he caught sight of Davin leaning against the vehicle, he suggested the group move to his medical office. He took a look at Davin’s injury with professional eyes and used some of the topical antibiotics the Alvians had given him in trade for his continuing medical observations of the O’Hara family. It was a deal they’d struck years before and only a small part of the complex compromise that kept most of the family safe on the ranch.

Justin took charge of Sinclair Prime and escorted him to an outlying barn where he could question the man, with Jane and her empathy to assist. So Mick was left with Callie, Davin and Rick.

“Looks like the guy who shot you either didn’t know how to aim at all or knew his business very well, and didn’t intend to do much damage. You should regain full use of the arm after it heals a bit.” Mick wiped his hands on a cloth, then threw the used bandages in a trash bin at the foot of his exam table.

“Sinclair Prime is the Council’s top assassin—or was—before he retired.” Davin grimaced as Mick began cleansing the area around the wound.

“Crazy thing that. We’ve heard rumors of a new experiment, but even Harry couldn’t find out what the goal was. If your people really want to restore emotion, well, I’d be amazed,” Mick said, concentrating on his work as he applied the fast-acting antibiotics.

“They’re not my people.” Davin was adamant on that point. “After this, they’ll be lucky if I don’t sabotage every crystal on this whole damned planet.” The fire in his blood belied the low rumble of his voice. Davin was pissed and only just starting to realize the full implications of the past few hours. His people—or the Council at least—wanted him dead. Sinclair could have just as easily shot Callie. They’d been sitting ducks. Just the thought of it made his blood boil.

Mick stopped working and looked up at him until Davin met the man’s eyes.

“Point taken.” Mick nodded significantly. “Didn’t mean to insult you. You’re nothing like them, and thank God for that.” Mick finished applying the dressing and sat back on his rolling chair. “If you want to discuss strategy, I’m thinking you should wait to hear what Justin and Jane get out of our visitor. And we’ll want to see what Harry knows. No sense going off half-cocked.”

Davin could see the sense in Mick’s words, but he ached to retaliate. Nobody put his mate in danger.

Nobody.

Davin bowed his head in respect as Mick rose. “Thank you.” It was clear, from the way he held Davin’s gaze that Mick understood the words referred to more than just the medical treatment.

Mick walked to the sink as Callie stepped close to place her arm around Davin’s waist. She reached for
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his hand and the soothing Hum of their compatibility sent tingling waves of warmth through him. Thank the stars for her. She was his entire world. Mick walked back and ruffled her hair, smiling at them both.

“The Alvian med team did a good job on your arm. They, at least, meant you no harm. Actually, they must’ve used something on the wound that sped healing beyond what I’d normally expect out of the supplies they’ve given me. Lousy holdouts.” Mick snickered as Callie laughed. “I never thought they’d given us the best of what they had anyway, but this confirms my suspicions. Unless…”

“Unless what?” Callie asked.

“Well, aside from Harry, I don’t have any experience treating Alvians. I don’t know much about full-blooded Alvian physiology. Maybe they heal faster than we do. I know Harry has a slight immune boost compared to the rest of the kids.” Mick’s eyes turned thoughtful as his scientific mind worked on the problem.

Davin recognized the look. “It’s not my specialty, but from what I understand, we do have some advantages over humans. I didn’t realize you were unaware of them, Mick. I’d be happy to answer any questions you have and if I can get to a dataport, I’ll hack in and give you a copy of the entire Alvian medical database.”

A cunning light gleamed in Mick’s eyes. He, of all the O’Haras, had a thirst for knowledge not easily quenched.

Rick watched from the edge of the room. He’d gotten a good look at the wound before the Alvian med team arrived, but hadn’t been able to talk to any of them or find out what they’d administered to replace Davin’s lost blood.

Rick was very impressed with Mick O’Hara’s laboratory and his doctoring skills. Here was a man he could learn from—if he ever got the chance. The way things were, Rick wasn’t sure sticking around would be a good idea.

He had to be certain of Callie’s safety. He’d stay until the immediate problems were resolved, but then he’d probably have to go his own way. He could be free now. Davin wouldn’t stop him, and neither would Callie’s human kin. The only threat that remained was the one he’d always faced—capture by Alvians¾but Rick thought he knew enough to keep himself hidden and free from now on.

Still, leaving Callie would be difficult. He knew it was wrong to want her—to want to share her the way Davin had suggested—but it was all he could think about. He wanted her like he wanted his next breath.

She was fast becoming the center of his universe and he knew that walking away from her would be one of the hardest things he’d ever do.

But it still had to be done.

Maybe not today or even tomorrow, but soon, he’d have to leave her to Davin and try to get on with his life. In the meantime, it wouldn’t hurt to make friends with Callie’s family. Mick, in particular, seemed like the kind of man his father would have respected. Justin, too, for that matter. Zach St. John had been both warrior and healer, and had passed both those skills down to his son. The O’Hara brothers were cut from the same cloth as Rick’s dad, and he already liked them both, though they’d only just met.

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Callie looked up and pinned him with a glance. Her beautiful green eyes lit as she smiled at him and Rick almost forgot to breathe. A single finger beckoned him closer and he was powerless to resist.

“I’m going to out you, if that’s okay
,” she told him in the privacy of their minds. Her voice felt like a caress in his head.

“What? Out me how?”

“Papa Mick is a good doctor, but you’re a healer. He’ll want to talk to you about that. If you
don’t mind.”
Big green eyes beseeched him.

Rick weighed his options. He didn’t go around telling folks about his abilities as a general rule. He liked to remain a mystery. But he couldn’t see the harm in telling Mick—and by extension the rest of the O’Hara clan. In fact, it might just help him build a rapport with the older man, which Rick found he wanted.

It’s okay, Callie. I don’t mind your family knowing.

Great!
Callie held out her hand to him and he went like a lemming over a cliff. “Papa Mick,” she said,

“Rick might also have something to do with Davin’s speedy recovery. He stopped Davin’s bleeding before the Alvian med team got there. There was so much blood.” Her smile dimmed as she remembered, but she shook it off. “Rick has a really powerful healing gift. He saved my life too, as a matter of fact, when I got hit by a crystal shard a while back.”

Mick’s gaze pinned him. There was no doubt the elder O’Hara was interested. Callie knew her family well.

“No kidding? I’ve always wanted to meet a healer, but they’re rare.” Mick looked him over minutely, his eyes narrowing. “And what’s this about saving my girl?”

“It was a silly accident,” Callie jumped in, probably to deflect the storm clouds Rick saw gathering in Mick’s expression. “I was facing the wrong way and didn’t know the crystal was about to explode. A big chunk flew off and hit me right about here.” She stood away from the exam table and Davin, lifting her shirt expose the area on her side where newly knitted flesh had been badly injured. The area was still a little pink, but otherwise healthy and showed no sign of the life-threatening trauma.

Mick moved closer to inspect the site himself. “Darnit, girl, you could’ve lost your spleen.”

“I almost did. But Rick fixed everything inside and out with his amazing gift. It left him flat on his back and drained for a day or two.” She reached for Rick’s hand again, tugging him forward to stand at her side, facing Mick. Davin watched from the side and knowing he was there made Rick uncomfortable.

He’d never been one to seek the limelight. He wasn’t comfortable being the center of attention.

“Whatever you did to stop Davin’s bleeding, Rick, it didn’t drain you as much this time.”

“It was just a nick to the side of the blood vessel.” Rick tried to shrug it off. “It only took a small zap, but made a big difference.”

“Well then.” Mick faced him. “We all owe you a great debt of gratitude, and I for one, would love to hear the details. I didn’t see any evidence of that kind of trauma when I examined the wound.”

Callie smiled at them both, retreating to Davin’s side. “We’re going to the house. I’ll help make lunch
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and we’ll expect you both within the hour.” Her teasing tone made Rick aware that this was something of a habit with the family.

“Don’t worry. We’ll be along,” Mick assured her before turning back to Rick. “I sometimes forget to go in for meals, which is why we installed the intercom. Janie will ping us when it’s time for lunch.”

Rick was touched by the easy way he’d been incorporated into the family’s little rituals. Davin left with Callie, and Rick couldn’t help the wistful expression that must’ve crossed his face as he watched them go.

“So you’re in love with our little girl, eh?” Mick surprised the hell out of Rick with the blunt question. He stuttered for an answer, but Mick forestalled him. “Oh, it’s obvious, boy. Don’t try to hide it. Besides, my brother Caleb saw this coming. He always knew there were two for Callie, but we never expected the first to be a damned alien. I’ll admit, I’m a bit more comfortable with you as her second. You’re more what I’d expected, though this healing business is something special.”

Mick moved to his desk and a small refrigeration unit that stood next to it. He reached in and grabbed two long-necked brown bottles, popping the caps and handing one to Rick. He took it and sampled the contents as Mick took a drink from his own bottle. It was surprisingly good beer. Something Rick had rarely had—and never since being captured.