Reclaiming Mystique (SpaceStalker Saga Book 2) (16 page)

Jace felt Koneru and Castor’s keen stare and sighed. “If you must know, she tried to get out last night and I found her. Rather than burden
you
, Castor, with looking out for her, I took her into my room and spent a peaceful night without worrying about her doing any damage.”

Castor eyed him curiously and shook his head. “You do look more relaxed, but not
that
relaxed.” He sighed shaking his head, causing Koneru and even Jace to laugh at his innuendo.

“You know, Castor, I’m getting the feeling we should hit Vembi soon. Your mind seems fixated on sex,” Jace mused.

“Well what do you expect when you’ve got not one, but two sensual females slithering around this ship?” Castor asked with a good-natured growl. “Sure it’s got my body in an uproar.”

Koneru coughed lightly. “You know, Jace, that’s not a bad idea,” the Rovi added. “It might help us to unwind.”

Jace nodded. “Fine. As soon as we’re through on Rovi, we’ll set course for Vembi. I’ve got a few contacts there that might be able to help me further,” he said softly.

Castor frowned. “You know Jace, you never did tell us why you’re looking for these mythical Cazeth.” His eyes narrowed. “And that’s not all you haven’t told us,” he said knowingly.

Jace stared at Castor with an innocent expression on his face. “I don’t know what you mean,” Jace said blandly and left the control room, Castor on his heels. Castor followed him into the captain’s room and sealed the door shut behind them.

“I think you do,” Castor said firmly, leaning back against the door and studying Jace with a disconcerting intensity. “I’ve known there was something very different about you since we first started this journey together, Jace, and even before. I’ve waited with patience for you to tell me. But after Dark World, I think I’m entitled to a few explanations, don’t you?”

Jace shifted uncomfortably in his seat. Now he knew what Dare had felt having to tell her crew about her hidden abilities as a Fenturi. Jace felt rather badly that he’d been putting off being completely honest with Castor. But he liked the man. He didn’t relish the disbelief, or even worse, the fear and distrust in the man’s eyes upon learning of Jace’s identity as a Psi.

“It’s rather telling that Lord Demise chose you right away to leave our little band of prisoners in that cell, Jace. And you never did tell us what he did to you while you were gone,” Castor persisted. “I know that demon easily took information from my mind. But I’m sure he didn’t take anything from you. For some reason you seem to be mentally stronger than the lot of us,” Castor said with keen insight. “And don’t make me give you examples of what I’m talking about. Over the past year you’ve done a number of remarkable things that defy explanation.”

“Castor,” Jace paused.

“I’m your friend, Jace,” Castor said quietly and sat across from him at his desk. “We haven’t known one another all that long, but I feel that I know who you really are, deep down. Don’t you know that you’ve got my loyalty? I don’t care if you’re secretly a member of the Horde, though I would find that surprising,” he joked, his full lips curving. “I’m your Second and right now the best friend on this ship that you’ve got. I know you’re after something important. Maybe something to do with the Cazeth,” he murmured as he stared at Jace’s taut features.

“Castor.” Jace sighed. “I just hope you mean what you just said.” He shook his head. Then coming to a decision, he looked Castor in the eye. “This goes no further than this room, not yet,” Jace stated firmly.

Castor quickly nodded and he continued.

“I need to find as much as I can about the Cazeth because they are responsible for the ruin of my planet.” At Castor’s confused expression, he explained. “There are not twelve Nearworld planets, Castor. There are thirteen.”

He paused while Castor absorbed that. “But then, you’re saying Mystique is real?”

“Yes,” Jace nodded. “Mystique is the thirteenth Nearworld planet, and the home of the Psi.”

Castor’s eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at Jace. “The Psi?” he asked incredulously, his eyes enormous as he gazed on his captain.

“Yes, Castor. I’m a Psi. I escaped a hostile overtaking of Mystique over ten years ago. The Cazeth, another group of beings that are shrouded in myth and legend, captured my lands and enslaved my people—enslaved the Psi.”

“You’re not kidding, are you?” Castor asked in amazement. “Unbelievable!” Castor sat on the edge of his seat and stared at Jace in awe. “Stories of the Psi are told to us as children. To think that they’re actually real… So what exactly
can
a Psi do?”

Jace felt uncomfortable under such scrutiny. “Depending upon the strength of the Psi, almost anything. To answer your next question, yes, I can read minds. But Castor, I don’t,” he said quickly to erase the unease clouding Castor’s face. “It’s very uncomfortable not to mention intrusive to know your friends’ every waking thought.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really,” Jace said convincingly because Castor relaxed. “The only time I use my mental gifts with the crew is for health purposes. Nesham, for example, saw me heal Mikhel the other day. I asked him not to say anything because I’m not yet ready to tell everyone who I am. The time is coming, though,” he said with a dark feeling. “I’ve got something to do, something very dangerous.”

“I’m in,” Castor said.

“You don’t even know what I’m after,” Jace said with some exasperation.

“Doesn’t matter. Look, I supported Gabren through his years against the Bylaran king. Do you think I would give you any less than the loyalty I showed him?”

Jace shook his head. “But you don’t know what you’ll be in for.”

“Whatever, as long as it’s got plenty of adventure, ale, and soft, willing women.” Castor grinned and sat back in his chair.

Jace joined him in laughter, feeling buoyed by Castor’s unquestioning loyalty and faith in Jace. He should have known. A man like Castor, one who could accept the Fenturi with ease though raised as a Bylaran to hate them, could do no other than speak and feel his own way through life.

“You want adventure, Castor?” Jace grinned. “Then you’ve definitely come to the right place. How would you like to be the first Bylaran ever to set foot on Mystique?”

-10-

Rovi

Naria and Carinna looked hopefully at one another in the galley, alone for the first time since they’d been on ship. But before either could speak, Nesham strolled into the galley and took a seat.

Sighing, Naria grabbed a cup of juice and waited for the large man to speak. Apparently Jace and Koneru had already left to visit Rovi.

“Captain says you two are to stay aboard ship until we determine that it’s safe for you to leave,” Nesham said after a lengthy silence. Naria watched as he stared hard at Carinna but her sister refused to meet his gaze.

“But we are going to visit the Motherworld?” Naria asked, too afraid to hope. She had dreamed of this moment since she’d been old enough to understand.

“Yes,” Nesham said in a low voice. He stared from one woman to the other before standing hesitantly. “Now I’ve got some work to do. You two are to stay here in the galley.” He looked uneasy leaving them alone together but Naria gathered he had no choice. “If you need me, buzz the intercom.”

He left with a warning glance to Carinna that she thoroughly ignored.

As soon as he left, Naria turned to Carinna though she spoke casually. “I trust your time on board this ship has been pleasant, Carinna.”

Carinna looked around her, frowning when she saw she couldn’t close the galley door as none existed. “Yes,” she said absently. “Thank you for asking. And your stay is going well, also?”

“Fine.” Naria stood slowly and walked to the doorway to look out. No one stood anywhere near the galley. She figured Castor and Nesham most likely worked in the control room, Mikhel still recovering down the hall.

“All clear?” Carinna asked softly.

“I think so,” Naria said and glanced at the intercom suspiciously. “But whisper just in case,” she said as she rejoined her sister at the table. The two put their heads together and spoke in low voices.

“So what do you think?” Carinna asked. “Do you think Father has sent out patrols to find us?”

Naria blinked. She’d been about to ask Carinna about her odd relationship with Nesham. This new train of thought took her aback and sent a frission of fear down her spine.

“I hadn’t thought about that,” she said quietly. “But if I had to make a guess, I’d say yes.”

“What should we do? We can’t stay here or we’ll put everyone in danger. And it was bad enough they found themselves on Dark World in the first place. Imagine Father in a rage,” Carinna said and shivered, worry evident in her dark eyes.

“You’re right,” Naria said, her heart breaking at thoughts of leaving Jace. For the past few days she’d been in another world, free of her homeworld and the darkness gathering there. She’d been treated very well, if with a bit of suspicion, perfectly normal under the circumstances. And her nearness to Jace made everything that much more precious.

“I’m not saying we should just leave, but we need a plan,” Carinna said softly, looking none too happy at the prospect.

“Well, maybe we could use this opportunity to study Rovi. I’m not exactly sure whether we’d be able to leave from there though. We need to see how long we’ll be on Rovi and where they plan to go next.”

“Okay,” Carinna agreed. “So we wait it out in Rovi. But then what?”

“Well, I told them I was originally from Seven. Thankfully Seven is in its Light Years,” she said with a sigh. Planet Seven was fairly close to Dark World and yet an entirely different planet. It had seven years of darkness followed by seven years of light. The vegetation during the Light Years would be lush and bountiful, the climate and people friendly and full of energy.

“So you want them to drop us there? But Naria, that’s awfully close to Dark World,” Carinna said with a frown.

“Yes it is. Father would never think to look for us there. Besides, getting a shuttle or work on a Nearworld planet will be much easier than finding it on Rovi. Neither of us looks like Koneru,” Naria said ruefully.

Carinna nodded, a slight grin on her face. “And we have neither his strength nor his ability to fix things.”

“Right. We’re set then through Rovi.” Naria nodded, feeling better that they’d made tentative plans. “Now tell me what’s going on with you and Nesham.”

Carinna blushed and Naria’s grin widened.

“Tell me,” she said again, her voice growing louder.

“All right, keep your voice down,” Carinna said nervously, looking over her shoulder. “For some reason that I can’t fathom, I feel a constant need to be around him. And apparently he senses it because he’s always looking at me. I don’t think he trusts me.”

Naria said nothing, just waited for her sister to continue. She’d seen the way Nesham looked at Carinna and thought it had little to do with distrust and everything to do with lust.

“And then the other night,” Carinna blushed and looked around her again. “He, well, he kissed me.”

“Really?” Naria sat closer, her eyes sparkling with excitement. She wondered if Carinna’s kiss had been anything like what she’d shared with Jace. “So was it good or not?”

“It, um,” Carinna’s face had turned as red as her hair. “He made my heart pound and my stomach flutter. Had I not hesitated last night, we would surely have coupled,” she admitted.

“Wow,” Naria grinned. “So my little sister has been taken in by a legendary Fenturi. I for one think it’s a good thing. Just think how different he will be from the men of our world. I hear the Fenturi are able to give a female such pleasure that she wishes it to never end.”

“And where did you hear that, oh untouched sister?” Carinna asked sarcastically.

Naria had the grace to blush. “Just because I’m innocent doesn’t mean I’m ignorant. I read a lot you know. I am a librarian.” She grinned and Carinna laughed softly.

“Yes, well, let’s not forget your fascination with our blond captain.” Naria felt flustered but she met Carinna’s eyes.

“He kissed me too. I thought I was dreaming but apparently we tangled together in bed.”

“You slept with him?” Carinna asked, curious.

“No,” Naria said hurriedly. “Well, yes. I slept, but nothing else… until that kiss of course. Carinna, he made me so wanting so fast. Is that normal?” she asked, a bit concerned. Perhaps Jace had done something to her mind that she was unaware of.

“It’s perfectly normal if the attraction is on both parts. And the more he makes it harder to think, the better suited you are to one another.” Carinna nodded. “The Incubus who trained me in the sexual arts did wonderful things to my body. But he left my mind cold.”

“Your heart cold,” Naria corrected her. “You know, Carinna. You really are more like me than you think. I believe it’s Mother’s blood running so strongly through us. You may look like father, but you’ve mother’s heart.”

Carinna smiled warmly, her whole face lighting up. “Do you think so? I used to both pity and envy you, Naria. You never fit in with anyone on Dark World, but you didn’t seem to care. And yet they all wanted to be more like you. I used to envy your exotic looks, wishing the men would want me as they wanted you.”

Naria stared at Carinna in surprise. “Truly? I used to envy your ability to blend in so well. And you have beautiful hair and eyes, the perfect shayna to make our father proud. Sometimes I used to wish I had been born of two Dark Worlders. But now, in the presence of these Offworlders, I feel so free. More like I belong.”

“Me too, surprisingly.” Carinna nodded looking thoughtful. “I just hope nothing we’ve done hurts them.”

“No, we won’t let it.” Naria shook her head. “And just remember, we didn’t force them to crash on our Nearworld. We saved their lives, Carinna.”

“Yes, we did, didn’t we?” Carinna asked and smiled, her dark thoughts fading away.

Nesham found the two talking quietly at the table. When he entered, Naria and Carinna quieted and looked up at him expectantly.

“Come along then,” he said quietly. “We’re going to be here for a few days and Koneru’s found us lodging.”