Marked 2: Marked for Desire (12 page)

The last confrontation with her mother had taken place on Sethos Five when they’d clashed over Sera’s errant sexual behavior. The moment was burned in her brain.

 “You’ve humiliated us for the last time, Sera. You’re the last of our line, and our planet needs us.” Her mother’s brown hair, turning gray, was ruthlessly pulled back in a complicated bun. Her blue eyes glittered. Determination tightened her features into a hard mask, one that Sera recognized. Not much had changed between them. Her mother still demanded, just as the planet demanded, her soul.

“I am not going to sacrifice my whole life for that fucking planet.”

Her mother’s hand lashed out and slapped her. It stung her cheek and her pride. But she refused to be cowed. She was twenty, almost legal. Her mother’s nails bit into her arm when she grabbed her.

“It’s your destiny. You must give the planet everything.” Her mother’s voice was shrill and piercing. “It’s your fate.”

“No, it’s
your
fate,” Sera snapped, trying to rip her arm away from her mother. “You want to sacrifice your life for that place. I don’t.”

“You’ll see,” her mother said in a tight voice. “It will devour you too.”

“No. It may take you, but it will never have me.”

“All your training has been geared to harness that power! We need it. Our people—”

Sera interrupted. “Our people have found new lives.” Her fists clenched. “They ran away from the power. Why would they want it back?” She glared at her mother. “You know Placido demands a price for the power. We wield it, but it steals from us.”

Her mother’s hand tightened on her arm in a painful twist. “We can be a force in the galaxy again. Our people can have a home.”

“They could also be dead. I’ll have no part in that.”

She’d run away from her mother and hadn’t seen her again. The next time they’d been in the same room, Placido had taken Queen Myla. The vision haunted Sera. A final stand, a performance staged for the faithful, had resulted in a spectacular show filled with blood and death. Her mother had thought to control the power, direct its destructive force. Instead it melted her skin, hollowed her cheeks, and turned her bones to dust. Her last words had been an agonizing scream.

Stumbling, Sera almost lost her balance, but a warm hand caught her arm. “Watch your step, Princess.”

In the eerie light, Leo’s gaze seemed to pierce through her as if he could see her thoughts. It both disturbed her and thrilled her. She stepped away from him, her arm throbbing where his mark glowed. “I’m fine. Thank you.”

His fingers stroked her skin and then released her. She missed the warmth, her body instantly responding to his slightest touch. Part of her wanted to crawl into his arms and seek comfort she wasn’t sure was there. She took a deep breath, seeking to calm her erratic pulse, and walked on.

“You said you were trained here. What kind of training?” Leo asked her.

The kind that still gives me nightmares. The kind that makes me run to every corner of the galaxy to escape this fucking place
. “Nothing unusual. I learned the labyrinth with a blindfold, and I had to learn the ancient texts.”

“What language is this?” Leo asked her, his finger tracing some of the writing engraved on the walls.

“The language of the stars,” she said shortly. She didn’t want to talk about this. He’d never understand. Her childhood had been about obligation and duty,. Memories of her mother were so clear, so vivid. Her father? He’d faded away, unwilling to participate in the creation of a religious acolyte. Her mother called him weak and pathetic, but he’d made an impression on his daughter. Sera would not follow her mother into the grave.

“Is that what you used at the ritual?” Leo persisted. He had no idea what she’d awakened. It wanted to devour her, use her to live. Tears blurred her vision. Fuck. She hadn’t felt this helpless in a long time. Destiny was what her mother had called it. Sera called it suicide. But everyone wanted her to give in, surrender to the planet, believing that was the key to bringing her people home. Except Leo. He just wanted her. Even that thought didn’t banish all the terror that churned inside her.

Leo’s hand brushed her neck. “You don’t want to talk about it?”

Her lips tightened. “My childhood was not some pleasant memory to hug close to my chest. There’s a reason I kept running.”

He nodded. “I can see what it does to you.”

Their companion was silent, and Sera wondered what he made of the conversation. She’d revealed very little about the power she’d inherited. Dangerous and threatening, she used it only when she had to. Like with the Teran Three priest who had stolen those artifacts.

Her people had little left of their planet. Their temple’s treasures were their future. Sera would loan items to museums, but she was no fool. She made sure they went back where they belonged. Her ancestors had known so little about the power they’d accessed. She was afraid whatever awakened the monster of Placido would create another monster on another planet.

“Where are we going?” the assassin finally asked. Brave man. Leo would kill him without blinking.

Sera didn’t glance backward to look at him. “A few years ago, I granted archeologists access to the temple above us. I put in an underground replicator room for them. We need food and water.”

Leo touched her again, a quick, reassuring slide of his fingers. He seemed to know she needed comfort. The closer they got to the heart of her planet’s power, the more her stomach churned and the drier her throat became.

“Here it is,” she said finally.

The assassin collapsed, and she slid down the wall as well. She was worn-out. It was Leo who replicated food and set it in front of both her and the other man. Leo touched Sera’s cheek. “Where’s the com room? I’m going to call the Nyral council for reinforcements.”

“It’s down the corridor, the next door on the right.” She picked at the food he’d given her.

Leo waited until the other man finished eating. “I need something to restrain him.”

“There’s some laser ties in that drawer over there.” Sera pointed across the room. “They’re used to keep the food stores from moving around during transport, but they should work.”

He retrieved a laser restraint and tied the man up. “I don’t want you to move until I get back.”

Leo left her alone with the assassin.

She studied him. “What’s your real name?”

His hazel eyes glanced at her and then back to the floor. “Shaun Fenway.” He kept his gaze lowered. “What did you mean you would use me as a human sacrifice?”

“When I use my powers, my planet sucks life away. I plan to use you for that if your friends show up.” She studied him. So young. And who knew if he was telling the truth about anything. The Brotherhood was a group of killers, not children. He didn’t react to her statement. As if he was resigned to his death.

“I see,” he said. He took a deep breath. “I’m not a monster.”

“Aren’t you?” she responded. “What about the children killed on Corilus? Collateral damage? How about my guards?” Every member of the Brotherhood deserved to die. Every single one of them. “It’s easy to kill when you don’t have to pick up the pieces, I suppose.”

His hand clenched into a fist. “You don’t know anything.” When he lifted his head, he glared at her. Shaun swallowed. “They kidnapped my sister. To keep her alive, I did whatever they told me.”

“You know she’s alive?” Sera asked.

The man nodded. “I’m allowed to see her each time I complete a mission. If I fail, they’ll…violate her. If I die, she will be killed.”

“Good motivation,” she muttered. She couldn’t blame the man. It was brilliant, really. To use hostages to keep them in line.

“Were you recruited by the general?” Sera knew two of the generals had been captured. Which one had forced Shaun to become a killer?

The assassin shook his head. “No. I was abducted and left in a cell. I never saw the man who threatened my sister.”

Disappointment slithered through Sera. This man didn’t know anything. “How many others?”

Shaun blinked. “What?”

“How many other Nyral male assassins are there?”

The killer’s lips tightened. “At least two others. Both of them have loved ones being held and tortured by the Brotherhood.”

Damn it. Sera stared at the boy. It made sense. Nyral males, dominant, efficient, and protective of their families, would be perfect victims. Sera thought about Leo, how he’d gone crazy when Shaun had ambushed her. Nyral men would do anything to protect their families.

“They tortured and raped my sister in front of me. I couldn’t do anything. I hate them. But if I defy them, if I fail, they’ll kill her.” An expression crossed his face. Something old and bitter rested in his eyes. “Every time I make a mistake, they rape her. If I don’t come back, they’ll kill her. We’d both be better off dead.”

“Don’t think that,” Sera said softly. She slid over beside him and touched his hand. “Shaun—”

“Princess.” Leo’s sharp tone made her jerk away from Shaun’s hand. Her mate’s face was hard, and his muscles bunched.
Uh-oh
. “What did I tell you?” The reddish glint appeared in his eyes.

She cleared her throat. “You told me not to touch another man.” She stood up and brushed off her ass. “I’m not going to stop providing comfort on your say-so.” Proud of the fact her voice didn’t shake, she tipped her chin higher.

“I also told you what would happen if you defied me in front of another dominant.” His eyes glowed. Oh shit, she’d blown it. And why did part of her get a thrill from that? Yeah, it made her hot to push Leo to the edge. Her heart pounded, and her blood burned in her veins. She should have been frightened, but her fear was swamped by excitement and need. She licked her lips, nervous, and reveled at the way his gaze focused on her mouth.

He stalked toward her.

She slid along the wall and shot a glance at Shaun. His gaze was also on her. It was like being under the regard of two panthers, one blond, one dark. A growl sounded from Leo, and he glared at Shaun. She had to distract him before he killed the assassin. “What did the council say?” Wasn’t that what he’d gone to the com room to do? Call the council? Her breath clogged in her throat. The tension in the room thickened, and she didn’t know why.

“Shaun Fenway. Son of Roberto and Lyla Fenway. He disappeared along with his sister, Mira, two years ago.” Leo’s gaze focused on Shaun. “She was kidnapped?”

Shaun swallowed. “Yes.”

Sera added, “They threatened to kill her if he doesn’t come back and they rape her to torment him.”

Leo raised an eyebrow. “Oh?” Sera heard the skepticism in his voice.

“It’s all true,” Shaun protested.

“The council will still punish you unless—” Leo glanced at her. She shivered. Whatever he had in mind, it was dangerous, erotic. The mark on her arm sizzled, and she clutched her hand over its surface, shards of pleasure cascading over her.

“Unless?” Shaun asked him.

“Unless you submit to me.” Leo stepped closer to her. “And her.”

“No!” Shaun struggled to his feet and glared at Leo.

What the hell was going on
? Sera blinked. She didn’t understand. But Shaun did, and he didn’t like it.

“Yes.” Leo moved and had Shaun shoved against the wall before she knew what he intended, his hand on the assassin’s throat. “Yield.”

“There must be another way,” Shaun said desperately.

Leo shook his head. “It’s submission. To whom, is the question.”

Shaun’s eyes widened. “You don’t mean—”

“Yes.”

The assassin’s nostrils flared, and he nodded sharply. Leo released him from the restraints and forced him down to the polished floor.

“I don’t understand,” Sera said, forcing the words from her suddenly dry mouth.

Her mate’s blue eyes glittered. “I’m going to mark Shaun. It’s an alternate form of punishment in our culture, a way to bind a man. To burn my mark into his skin, I must be connected to my mate. You and I will create the heat to burn him, to mark him.”

“You mean we have to—” She coughed and blinked. Did he mean to fuck her in front of this man?

Leo lifted his lips in a sexy smile. “Yes, Princess. We have to mate to create the heat that will mark him.”

His words were mesmerizing. “What kind of mark?”

“Like a brand,” Leo said, and he glared at Shaun. “In fact, it’s much like branding with hot iron.”

“What will he”—her gaze flicked over Shaun’s kneeling form—“be doing while we’re…” She didn’t seem to be able to finish a sentence. Heat swept through her. Visions of being fucked by her mate while the other man watched didn’t repel her at all. In fact, her pussy dampened, and she shifted restlessly.

“Oh, he’s going to be dominated in accordance to our planet’s custom.” Leo narrowed his eyes. “He’ll surrender or suffer the consequences.”

What was happening? Sera had been the one in charge, even when she played the submissive. Since Leo had marked her, she seemed to belong to him, connected in ways she couldn’t comprehend. This scene was no game. She would
be
his submissive here.

Shaun’s face twisted in a vicious scowl. Leo raised his gaze to her. “Strip, Princess.” His voice was mean, hard. She didn’t want to listen to him. But the mate mark seared her skin, already burning, desperate for his attention, his cock, his touch.

With hesitant fingers, she unbuttoned her flight suit and let it fall to the ground. Her underwear was next, tossed in a pile. It was both exhilarating and nerve-racking to stand naked in front of these two men, both staring at her, devouring her with their eyes. Shaun’s gaze was appreciative, but it was the desire in Leo’s that caused heat to spread over her skin. Whatever he demanded, she wanted to give him. Even though the unknown frightened her, it also thrilled her.

“You defied me in front of another dominant, Princess. And this dominant needs to be punished for betraying the Nyral way of life.” Leo’s grip tightened on the back of Shaun’s neck. “I’m the one in charge here. You will both obey me.”

Shaun jerked against Leo’s hold, but something in the way her mate held him contained him. It was so hot to see all that power restrained, controlled. Always, Sera had been the object of Leo’s domination. It fascinated her to watch him dominate another. Leo gripped the man’s coveralls. “Take them off.”