Discovery (Hybrid Book 1) (26 page)

“Hi,” she said nervously.

“What do you want Chesara?” His voice was as deep as she remembered, and his eyes were as blue. But instead of the twinkling humour or burning passion, these eyes were cold.

“I’m sorry I hit you, I know you’re just trying to do the right thing, as you see it.” He didn’t reply and she swallowed nervously. She hadn’t had a plan when she’d asked to see him.

“I’m sorry I can’t help you in the way you want, I swore an oath to do no harm, I can’t break it. If there was anything else I could do to help, I would in a heartbeat. I believe you about how rotten it is for your people. There are some decent people on Kalzir, like ‘super guard’ here, they deserve better.” She took a deep breath “but I can’t forgive your Uncle for what he did to Connor, the ends do not justify his methods.”

“Nothing to say about what he did to you? Most women would be traumatised by being tied down and assaulted by a stranger.”

She shrugged. “I’ll let you in on a little secret, in case you haven’t noticed already. I’m not most women. Besides, he had your shirt. You smell good to me.”

Tenset quickly rolled into a sitting position, and Melton tensed, but he only put his head in his hands and sighed deeply.

“I don’t know what to say to you Chesara, in a few short days, heck a few short hours; you’ve turned my life upside down. What was important, what seemed so clear-cut, is now foggy beyond all recognition. I’m not sure whether I want to kill you, to return to my sanity and resolve, or to run away with you and hide from the eyes of the world forever. Unfortunately, I don’t think the first option will work. You’ve unwittingly done something to me, and I don’t think I’ll ever be the same again.”

He looked up at her, and she could see the distress and confusion in his face, his eyes had dark circles under them, and he hadn’t shaved. This wasn’t the cocky dandy she’d met at the embassy.  She wanted, no needed to comfort him. He stood up and they took a step towards each other when Melton, cleared his throat.

Melton nodded at Tenset. “Sorry sir, I don’t think getting any closer is a smart move, please sit back down. I’m going to take her out now; I’m not so sure this was a good idea.”

“It’s fine Melton, I’ll behave. But you’re right, I don’t think touching is a good idea. Even seeing her is making me feel better. This isn’t her fault, you can see in on her face. She hasn’t got any more idea about the effect we’re having on each other than I do. Would you please bring her to see me again if you can? I won’t tell my Uncle if you don’t.” Melton nodded as he took Chesara’s arm and backed out of the cell, pausing to lock it.

Chesara’s mind was whirling, trying to figure out what was going on with Tenset. He’d appeared to be such a confident, together person, before. She’d caused this change, and it didn’t sit well with her. The confident Tenset made her feel protected and looked after. This one looked like he was the one who needed to be looked after.

“He’s a decent man.” Melton’s voice broke her out of her thoughts. “I know you’re fond of Mr. Temple, but Lord Tenset could give you a happy life, Miss, he’d treat you well.”

Chesara didn’t reply as she walked back to the interrogation room. She didn’t want to think about this being an ‘either/or’ situation. Surely, she couldn’t feel this strongly for two men at the same time? Maybe it was how Dakarans arranged things, but it certainly wasn’t a human thing. She certainly didn’t think either one of them would appreciate sharing her.

When Melton opened the to the interrogation room, she was shocked to see that Connor was again shackled naked up against the wall, but this time, he was facing it. Connor had a very fine backside she decided.

“It’s time you came to join the fun Madam Envoy.”

The cold voice of Tamas came from the corner where he sat on a wooden chair that hadn’t been there before.

She shot a look of hatred at Melton. She’d thought he was a civilized person, but he’d just been distracting her while Tamas prepared Connor for round two.

Pointing a finger at him, she said, “All bets are off Melton, you are now on my list.”

To his credit, instead of laughing, he had the decency to look a little ashamed.

“As much as listening to you threaten my staff is amusing, I have something even more fun to share with you. We are going to play a little game to pass the time. You young lady, will sit in this chair, and you will answer my questions. Every time you move, refuse to answer, swear or give an unhelpful reply, your friend here will receive a lash.”

He held up a wooden handle about eight inches long, topped with four or five long leather tails. He stood up and Melton propelled her gently to the chair, sitting her down.

“You may go home to your lovely wife and family now Melton.”

“You don’t want me to stay like I usually do?” Tamas lost his genial expression.

“Sorry Sir,” Melton said quietly, and after shooting her an apologetic look, he bowed to his Lord and left.

T
amas strode over to where Connor was hanging, and ran his hand lightly down his back, finishing by squeezing his naked butt firmly.

“You've certainly done a superb job on him. His skin’s so wonderfully smooth again, thank you my dear.”

Chesara murmured ‘wanker’ under her breath. Tamas swung the lash without hesitation at Connor’s back, leaving numerous bleeding welts on his skin.

“I wasn’t joking about what I said. You may find it useful to know that I get a terrific amount of pleasure from this, so I expect and even hope you show your normal, sweet disposition as much as possible. Shall we begin?”

At the deafening silence, he smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes.

“Firstly, are you going to treat The Harmons’ as asked?”

“No.” She winced as Connor received another stroke. His back was tense, the muscle bunching beneath his skin. But he didn’t make a sound.

“Next, what happens when a Dakaran is pregnant?”

“She gets fat.”

She heard Connor snort in amusement, followed by a grunt from Tamas as he put his weight into another stroke.

“Pay attention, Madam Envoy. Mr. Temple is doing very well today, but soon he’s going to start screaming.

“Again what is special about a Pregnant Dakaran?”

“Up until you mentioned it, I was unaware of any differences. And to be honest, I didn’t even know the name of my mother’s species before I came here, so you probably know a hell of a lot more than I do.”

Connor received another lash. “Hey, that was within the rules you bastard, I answered truthfully,” she rose to her feet.

“Sit down whore.” The steel in his voice had her sitting back down despite her anger.

“That’s unfair. Your nephew was the first person to worm his way into my underwear. But from what he said, if I’m a whore, he owes me a fucking lot of money, because I’m a bloody fantastic one.”

Tamas examined Connor closely as his shoulders shook slightly as he tried to suppress a laugh.

Not looking at her, he took an implement out of his pocket and jabbed it sharply into Connor’s thigh. Connor didn’t react.

Tamas turned and advancing menacingly towards her. She plastered an innocent and relaxed expression on her face although she was feeling exactly the opposite.

“What have you done to him?” Tamas spoke through gritted teeth.

His fury was almost a living thing in the room. Chesara unconsciously pushed back into her seat and licked her lips nervously, before shrugging. His hand shot out so fast, she didn’t even see it before she found herself on the floor with a burning cheek.

“Leave her alone, you bastard,” Connor shouted. Tamas directed a hard kick at her side, and she gasped as pain exploded in her ribs.

“Chesara, Are you all right? What’s he done to you?”

“Thanks to the interference Mr. Temple, it appears that my usual methods are no longer suitable for this occasion.”

Tamas had clearly regained his composure as Chesara still lay gasping on the cold floor, trying to breathe gently so she didn’t aggravate what she assumed was at least one cracked rib. Unable to reply to Connor’s frantic questions about whether she was all right, she was quite gratified to hear that he’d picked up at least some of her more colourful insults.

“What to try, what to try,” Tamas mused after Connor had seemingly exhausted his store of expletives. “I think since everyone around here has been enjoying shall we say ‘pleasures of the flesh,’ it’s about time I joined in.”

Tamas pulled her upright and thrust her back in to the chair. The movement made her ribs scream in protest, and he waited patiently in front of her while she came back to herself and glared at him.

“If you think I’m going to let you get anywhere near me, you’ve...” she stopped when Tamas held up a hand.

“No, not you my Dear. Although if I wanted to, you wouldn’t have a choice. Apart from the fact I don’t feel aroused by animals, which you most certainly are, I’ve never been really interested in the so called ‘fairer sex.’ However, young Connor here is an entirely different matter.”

Chesara watched in horror as Tamas licked his lips and started to remove his belt as he turned back towards Connor.

“My nephew and I both seem to share an interest in virgins, taking something so precious from someone is certainly a pleasant way to spend and afternoon. It’s certainly something you will never forget Mr Temple.”

He stood behind Connor, and ran a hand down his back, smearing the bloody welts he’d made. He slid his trousers down, then grabbed Connor’s buttocks, spreading them wide.

“Fuck off you bastard,” Connor shouted and frantically twisted in his chains.

“I fully intend to.” Tamas’ voice was low with arousal as he stroked his erection with one hand, before moving flush against Connor’s back.

Chesara recovered from the shock of seeing what was about to happen to the man she loved and launched herself out of the chair.

“Leave him alone, smelap,” she managed to spin him away, by grabbing his shoulder. He was hampered by his trousers round his ankles and fell to the floor. Chesara followed up with a hard kick to his side, as payback for the fire that was currently consuming her ribs. Tamas rolled over, attempting to get up. Although he was an older man, he was still fit. Chesara knew he was bigger and stronger than she was, and the possibility of her prevailing was slim to none. She’d never even had basic self-defence training, she healed people, she didn’t damage them.

She heard Connor shouting something about ‘use it on him,’ and she cast about for the weapon he was referring too.

It suddenly dawned on her what Connor meant as Tamas got to his feet, and hauled his trousers back up. He directed such a look of evil fury at her that she instinctively took a step back.

“Chesara, do it now!” shouted Connor.

Fear of the man advancing on her, finally managed to push through the barrier that prevented her using her ability other than for healing.

Instead of retreating as Tamas expected, she stepped to Tamas and grasped his neck in her hands. His mouth dropped open in shock as his hands rising to grab hers. Chesara held her focus, feeling nothing but hate as she activated as many pain receptors as she could reach while constricting his carotid arteries.

Tamas convulsed in pain, and almost immediately sank to his knees, his eyes rolling up as he hit the floor. Chesara had kept her attack going, moving with the falling body until she was sure he wasn’t a threat anymore.

She pulled her hands away from the body as if they’d been burnt. She’d hurt someone, maybe even killed them.

“Chesara?  You ok? What’s happening?”

She didn’t reply as she just stared at Tamas.

“Now Chesara, get the keys to these cuffs and let me down. They’ll be coming back. Move!” Connor’s frantic voice shocked her out of the horrified fog she was in, and she woodenly walked over to him.

C
onnor was trying not to shout, as he didn’t want to alert any guards, but he had to know want had happened. He’d heard a body hit the floor, was it him or her?

“I think I killed him.”

Her voice was a mere whisper, and he knew he had to act fast before she went deeper into shock. Using her ability to harm was against every fibre of her being and he was certain it could do a great deal of damage to her psyche.

The scientists studying her had determined that it was possible for her to use her ability to harm very early on, and had instigated a program of subliminal conditioning to prevent ‘accidents’ almost before she could walk. Even now, part of her monthly ‘physicals’ involved repeat sessions to reinforce the horror of harming a person.

“You need to get the keys from his pocket. Do it now, Chesara.” When she didn’t respond, he shouted at her. “Move it!”

His panic lessened as she moved into his field of vision. If they were discovered with Tamas dead and him still chained, it could mean the end for both of them.

“Well done, now undo the cuffs.”

She didn’t speak as she reached up to his right wrist.

She spun round as the cell door slammed open, frozen in shock. Tenset stood in the doorway, his eyes darting around the room before he shut the doors behind him and went to kneel at his uncle’s side. His fingers went to the older man’s neck.

“He’s still alive, how did you do it? I don’t have to ask why.”

Connor wasn’t surprised that Chesara remained silent, in fact he was quite surprised she wasn’t curled in a ball, with her mind in pieces.

“She choked him from behind as he was about to, you know. Tenset listen, I know you care about her, this whole thing is wrong. If what you say is true, the Federation will help your people. But we need to get her out of here now, before he wakes up. You must know he’s not rational, he’ll kill her for what she did.”

Tenset drew in a deep breath as if making up his mind, then he rose and took the keys from Chesara’s unresponsive hand.

He swiftly unlocked both wrist cuffs followed by the ankle ones. Connor retrieved what was left of his clothes from the corner and put them on, before going to Chesara who was still just staring at the body on the floor.