Tangled Shadows (18 page)

He knew that he couldn’t store either in a safe bubble, but part of him just wanted to drag them aboard the
Mercy
and fly as far away as possible.

Brooke stirred on the bed. “Nikolai,” she whispered without opening her eyes. Her hands patted around as if looking for him. Before she woke up further, Nikolai climbed up the bed and curled around her. She relaxed as soon as his heat touched her skin.

“Everything will be okay,” she murmured. “Stop worrying. The three of us together are unbeatable.” Her breathing deepened and she was out again.

Nikolai frowned. What did she mean? They had myths about lifemates increasing each other’s strengths and gaining power, but Galen and he had never felt any of that.

And how would she know about it?

He dropped in an uneasy slumber and had nightmares about losing Brooke or Galen.

121

Brooke woke up surrounded by Nikolai and Galen. She felt not only their physical presence, but also their mindlink. A small part of her was still a little uncomfortable, but she was getting used to the idea. So far they had done nothing to betray the trust and her wall had not been approached or touched.

Behind her Nikolai twitched. She turned around, careful not to wake Galen. Nikolai had a nightmare. His eyes flickered back and forth underneath his lids and he balled and opened his right fist repeatedly. Sweat stood on his upper lip.

Brooke was tempted to wake him, but wanted to try something first. She followed the image of the shining light, which connected her to Nikolai and Galen when they removed the barrier. Images and emotions, flashes of her and Galen, raced through Nikolai’s mind.

She tried to decipher what the images meant, but they moved too fast. Losing patience, she grabbed an image of Galen. Before she could prepare herself, she was sucked into the dream.

Nikolai and Galen stood back-to-back in the office where they’d met Silas. A group of slathering Ferals had surrounded them, all of them armed. To her shock, her two men fought with everything they had, killing a number of Ferals, but more kept streaming through the door. In the end they overwhelmed Nikolai and Galen and held them captive. Silas approached, holding an elaborately decorated sword. “You really thought you could betray me?” he asked Nikolai. Then he turned to Galen, who had been pushed to his knees, and cut off his head.

Brooke’s heart broke with the pain pouring from Nikolai. He roared, trying to get to Galen.

She had enough. Brooke left her post as observer and stepped into the dream, her only thought getting to Nikolai. She pulled a sword herself and killed every single Feral in the room, too fast to be seen, until only Nikolai and her stood. He dropped down next to Galen, tears pouring from his eyes. Brooke swallowed but picked up Galen’s head and attached it back to his body. Galen gasped and began to breathe again.

Brooke sat in front of Nikolai and framed his face with her hands. “Nothing will happen to us.” She kissed him. “We will be together and we will protect each other.” She released her certainty into Nikolai. He calmed down and pulled both Galen and her tightly into his arms.

Brooke came back to reality. Nikolai, still asleep, had tugged her against his chest like a stuffed toy. Galen reached across her body and slung his arm around Nikolai. She felt squished, but right now giving Nikolai the support he needed was more important than breathing.

122

“Nikolai, we can do this,” she whispered against his chest.

He exhaled, his breath stroking her hair. “I can’t lose you, either of you.”

“You won’t,” Galen said. “We get the information and call in Darius for back-up.” Brooke rummaged through their memories until she found Darius. He was the Vampire who had started the investigation after his lifemate had been a victim of the smuggling ring. He led this small group of warriors.

Nikolai opened his eyes and relaxed his grip on Brooke. She felt a pang at the darkness filling his eyes. “Darius said he’d be here in a few hours. Once he knew we had a nest of Ferals, he called in whoever was in the vicinity.” His eyes turned fierce.

He poked Galen in the chest. “You will not take any unnecessary risks.” His glare focused on Brooke. “Stay beside me the whole time, you will not take more than two steps away from me, understood?”

Brooke kissed him. “I’m not going anywhere without you.” Galen leaned across her for a kiss. Some of the tension drained out of Nikolai. He flopped on his back, making it finally possible for Brooke to breathe. “I hadn’t expected to be so worried,” he said as if confessing a great sin. “I thought I’d be able to get the data without great fuss. Something changed last night.” Brooke cuddled up to him. “Maybe my worries carried over to you after our lovemaking. The connection was intense and it feels as if it grows stronger every time we make love.”

Nikolai’s eyes widened. “Interesting idea.” He caught Galen’s gaze over Brooke’s shoulder. “What do you think?”

Galen sat up. “I think Brooke is right. When you had your nightmare and she stepped in, the speed and skill she fought with matched yours.” Brooke nodded. “I agree, I’ve never been that good, definitely not with a sword, but I knew what to do and how.”

Galen rubbed his chin. “It is possible our link allows skill and feelings to cross over?

Nikolai, we’ve been doing it for so long we can’t identify the source of an emotion anymore. Brooke only just joined us.” He chuckled. “We weren’t prepared for her impact.”

Brooke checked the clock on the nightstand. “We need to get going if we want to be only slightly late for this gathering.” She scrambled out between the two of them.

“There’s making an entrance and there’s being unfashionably late.” She headed for the shower, but turned and looked back in the doorway. “And I don’t want company.” She heard her men chuckle, but knew they’d respect her wishes, which was all she cared about.

As she stood under the shower, washing away the evidence of their toe-curling encounter, she struggled to accept the link. Now it wasn’t just emotions that crossed, but skill as well. She’d checked and her wall was still in place.

123

Improved fighting skills definitely came in handy, but what else would pass between them without any of them realizing?

Brooke tried to push the thought to the back of her mind and concentrate on what was to come. She put her braided hair up and used two wooden spikes, which not only looked pretty, but also could double as weapons, to fasten it.

She stood in front of the wardrobe and studied the two dresses. Movement was mandatory, which took the emerald-green sheath out of the running. But the black dress had no collar, leaving Nikolai’s bite mark for the world to see.

She shrugged. There was no time to manufacture another dress and demonstrating their connection so openly would assure the Ferals. She slipped into matching black underwear and pulled the dress over her head. It was made from a silklike fabric, but had enough give to move without tearing.

The deep V-neck presented her neck and boobs on a silver platter and the blood-red sash drew the eye to her waist while showcasing the curves of her hips and ass. Brooke shook her head. She couldn’t remember the last time she stood in front of the mirror and studied a dress to anticipate every single consequence. The skirt of the dress fell straight to the floor. It also had a hidden seam. If she needed to fight, she could tear off the skirt.

The little bustle at the back covered the two knives she wore around her waist. The long sleeves covered the extra stakes she carried. Armed, she stood in front of the mirror and studied herself to make sure nothing gave her away.

What the Jade are you getting yourself into, girl?
part of her asked herself. Her cyborg implants evened out some of the Ferals speed and strength advantage, but if Nikolai’s dream came true and a never-ending amount of Ferals poured into the room, they were screwed.

Brooke touched the small compartment on the inside of her décolleté. The little pill killed instantly, a fate preferable to what the Ferals had in mind for her. But it was only the very last resort.

Galen stepped into the doorway. “You look beautiful. Are you ready?” Brooke exhaled and turned to him. “As ready as I’ll ever be,” she said and took his arm.

* * * * *

Galen sunk into the transporter’s seats. He felt Brooke’s and Nikolai’s tension, but rather than adding his concerns to the mix, he tried to send back confidence. There was a touch of worry, but there was also a deep certainty the three of them could overcome any obstacle, no matter how high.

He took Brooke’s hand. “There will be other blood slaves there.” She tightened her grip.

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Galen brought her hand up and kissed it. “You cannot allow your true feelings to shine through.”

She nodded.

Nikolai put his finger under her chin and elaborated. “You can’t interrupt an exchange, step in if abuse takes place or help any one of them before Darius arrives.” Brooke pulled her head back and stared straight ahead. “I understand. I can’t promise I won’t try to help, but I will do my best to stay in cover.” Galen stopped Nikolai from saying more. That was all they could ask of their Amazon. She was a warrior at heart and it would be tough for her to sit by while somebody was hurt.

They arrived at Silas’ house. Instead of the study, the butler led them into a massive room filled with about twenty or so Ferals, who had to be wearing colored contacts.

None of their eyes betrayed their feeding of adrenaline-laced blood. A much smaller number of humans was scattered between them. The room was lavishly decorated in expensive fabrics and art. At least eight sofas sat around the room and double that number of armchairs. Low coffee tables carried bottles of blood and spirits.

Brooke gripped Galen’s hand tighter.

The state of the majority of the humans was despicable. They were all clean and dressed, but a cloud of helplessness surrounded them. They were malnourished and their hollow eyes begged for the end. Galen spied a Feral grab a young woman at the back of the room and tear into her neck. The woman didn’t even flinch and no sound escaped her.

Brooke turned into Galen’s chest. “I can’t do this,” she whispered.

Galen pulled her close.
By enduring this atrocity for another hour, you will protect more
human innocents from experiencing the same fate
, he said into her mind.

Brooke nodded but clung to Galen for a moment longer. To cover her reaction, he pulled her chin up and devoured her with a kiss. Slowly but steadily she relaxed into him.

Nikolai slapped him on the shoulder. “Galen, keep it in your pants. You’re giving them a show that’s for my eyes only.”

The Ferals around them laughed.

Galen took his time, but ended the kiss. Satisfaction ran through him when he saw Brooke’s reddened lips and slumbering eyes.

“There are plenty of rooms upstairs, if you want to fuck her. Or you can do it right here,” Silas’ grating voice interrupted. “We wouldn’t mind the entertainment.” Galen ignored the comments, took Brooke’s arm and waited for Nikolai’s directions.

“What a well-trained little lap dog.”

Nikolai threw his head back and roared with laughter. “Silas, I would have never expected you to compare an ArchNaema to a lap dog.” Chuckling, he leaned over and 125

kissed Galen. “As to being well trained, this is my world and Galen prefers to defer to me on this one.” He looked around. “You have rather a lot of living food present at this gathering.”

Silas shrugged. “They’ve all signed a waiver and are bound to secrecy. Being treated like blood slaves is their wish, their fantasy.” Nikolai widened his eyes. “Really? Where have you found them?”

“Here and there.”

Galen watched Silas’ eyes. The Feral resembled a snake before its prey. Tension gathered in his stomach. He needed to gain access to the data quickly.

Bring it to an end,
Galen said to Nikolai.
Silas is not a happy Space Cadet. We don’t want
this to escalate.

The plan was for Nikolai to distract Silas while Galen attempted to hack into the Feral’s computer and gather as much intel as he could before Darius arrived and with him the danger that the data sources could be destroyed in the struggle.

Nikolai was about to begin when it happened.

What was that old Earth saying? Oh yes, the shit hit the fan.

* * * * *

Brooke struggled to keep the disgust and fury off her face. Galen’s embrace had helped, but she wanted to pull a gun filled with steel bullets and wipe out all these monsters.

Voluntary, my ass! Only another hour or so, then your wish will be fulfilled. You can hang
on another sixty minutes.
Brooke continued her pep talk and even believed it.

Until a massive Feral entered the room, dragging a young woman no older than eighteen after him. He smiled at all his friends and pushed the girl in front of him as if to show her off. The Ferals gathered around the pair in a half-circle. Unlike the other slaves, the girl still had her backbone. She raised her head and straightened her shoulders.

Brooke only heard vaguely when Silas bragged, “Ah, our entertainment has arrived.”

The Ferals had all revealed their fangs and some of them rubbed their crotches. Not good at all.

Nikolai and Galen stood on either side of her, but neither made a move to restrain her. They knew she would stop these perverts from hurting the girl.

Let’s hope Darius is close enough
, Nikolai thought.

Can you try and postpone the entertainment by making Silas discuss some kind of business?

Brooke asked. They had to stall for time.

Without another word Nikolai stepped next to Silas and crossed his arms in front of his chest. “You know I can’t stand here and watch you hurt this girl.” 126

Silas smirked. “She won’t be hurt, she’s here willingly. Anything else would be illegal. She enjoys it rough.”

“That may be, but I’d prefer if Brooke wasn’t here to watch. She might not understand. Also, I have gathered some disturbing information I would like to talk to you about.”