Undaunted (Battle Born Book 6) (5 page)

“And to answer your question,” Rachel called from the kitchen. “Ulrik told me you two had been ‘summoned’ to some secret base inside the moon. Then Haven mentioned the name Lunar Nine. It just made sense that the two were one and the same.”

Rachel strolled out of the kitchen and set a plate down in front of Berlynn. She handed her a fork wrapped in a cloth napkin, then seated herself in her customary chair.

“So much has happened,” Berlynn began. “I’m not sure what you know.” The plate was heaped with succulent pot roast, potatoes, baby carrots, and crusty bread. And everything looked as good as it smelled.

“I know the council gave Haven permission to negotiate on behalf of Tandori Tribe because Ulrik was being such a pain in the ass.”

“No surprise there,” Berlynn grumbled as she unwrapped the fork and spread the napkin on her lap. “Uncle Ulrik has been particularly difficult ever since—” Tension closed her throat and tears blurred her vision. She stubbornly blinked back the tears and took a deep breath. Just when she thought she’d come to terms with her father’s sudden death, something would trigger a rush of emotion that shattered her composure.

Rachel reached across the table and squeezed her hand. “We’re all still reeling from what happened to Vinton. You appeared strong and composed at the memorial service, but I know you’re devastated. How could you not be? You two were inseparable.”

“Death is an inevitable part of life, but Dad’s passing was so abrupt and so senseless.” She shuddered, frantically fighting back images of that horrible day. Milanni, a messenger/spy from their home world, arrived with information for Vinton. Her father became agitated and attacked Milanni and Milanni retaliated. The resulting scuffle ended with Vinton dead and Milanni running for her life. Berlynn knew Milanni hadn’t meant to kill Vinton, but others in Tandori Tribe—Ulrik in particular—were not as understanding. “One moment they were arguing and the next he was…gone.” Despite the appealing aroma and picture-perfect appearance of the food, Berlynn set down her fork. “It’s still hard to believe I’ll never see him again.”

“In this reality,” Rachel assured with another comforting squeeze. “We’ll be reunited with all those we’ve lost when it’s our turn to make the journey.”

“I know.” Berlynn slipped her hand out from under Rachel’s, too frustrated with this reality to be comforted by thoughts of the next. Unable to eat, yet needing something to do with her hands, she picked up the cola and took a sip.

After a long pause, Rachel asked, “Where’d Danvier and Haven go and where does the negotiation with the battle born stand?”

“Pyre Sterling’s death freed the other guild masters to negotiate with the battle born.” Rodyte society was controlled by eight specialized guilds. The most influential by far was the Integration Guild. The IG controlled technology and Rodytes depended on integrated technology for even their most basic needs. Harbinger Guild, on the other hand, was smaller and less significant, yet they used fear and intimidation to expand their reach. At least that was how it had been until they lost their leader. Now Harbinger Guild was directionless, no threat to anyone. “Harbinger Guild has always been the holdout. So Danvier and Haven went to Rodymia to take advantage of the opportunity. At the same time, General Nox and I came here to negotiate with a human taskforce. Everything is really starting to move.”

“You said Danvier and Haven are on their way back. Do you know if they came to an agreement with the guild masters, and if so, what does it entail? We all know Quinton will have to be deposed, but who will replace him?”

Quinton Keire was crown stirate of Rodymia. His family had ruled Rodymia nearly from its inception, though many felt that honor truly belonged to the Tandori family. Worse, Quinton was weak and foolish, not to mention incredibly corrupt. Most of the policies oppressing the battle born had been decreed by earlier generations, but Quinton had been more than happy to continue abusing a large portion of the Rodyte population simply because of the circumstances surrounding their birth. Every attempt to advise or control him had failed, leaving the rebels no alternative but to make a permanent change.

Berlynn shook her head. “If Danvier shared the details with Garin, the general didn’t share them with me.”

Rachel motioned toward Berlynn’s plate. “If you don’t eat at least some of that, I’m going to take offence. You’re the primary reason I cooked tonight.”

With an audible sigh, Berlynn set down the soda can and picked up her fork. She took several bites before she spoke again. “Our part of the negotiations weren’t progressing, so Garin decided to take a break. That’s how we ended up here.”

“The general said he’d like to use the ranch as a training facility, but he didn’t explain why he needs a training facility on Earth.”

Berlynn took another bite before she admitted, “I’m not sure I can tell you until the negotiations are complete.”

“I have enough of the puzzle pieces. I’ll just work it out for myself.” A cunning gleam came into Rachel’s dark gaze as she stared past Berlynn. “If the guild masters agreed to support the rebels, there will be some sort of coup. Quinton will be removed and the Rodyte government will be reorganized so that it more accurately represents all of its people.”

A reluctant smile tugged at the corners of Berlynn’s mouth. Rachel’s quick and curious mind was part of what made her so likable. “That stands to reason.”

“So that leaves the human connection. What do the battle born need on Earth?”

Berlynn was pretty sure the question was rhetorical, but she quickly filled her mouth just in case.

Clearly undeterred by Berlynn’s refusal to cooperate, Rachel continued the one-sided conversation. “Vinton called me in a rage a week or so before the accident. He told me the battle born were hunting for mates in and around Boulder.” Her gaze shifted back to Berlynn’s face. “But that doesn’t make sense. The battle born are about to start a war. What could they possibly want with mates right now?”

Muffling her exasperated growl with her napkin, Berlynn lamented, “I’m so bad at keeping secrets. Are you going to sublet the ranch to the battle born or not?”

“I haven’t decided.”

“Well, if you agree, you become an ally and I’d be able to explain everything to you.”

Rachel laughed. “Yeah, that’s not manipulative at all. You’ve been spending too much time with Ulrik.”

Even though the rebuff had been semi-playful, Berlynn frowned. “I gave Garin my word and I take vows seriously.”

Rachel pressed back into her chair and crossed her arms. “It’s more than likely I’ll accept his offer. No one wants to admit it, but our population is shrinking. There are fewer camps every year, which makes it harder to maintain the facilities. Is that good enough to rescue your vow?”

Berlynn nodded. “How much do you know about the battle born?”

“I know the basics. Their mothers were taken captive during the height of the war with Bilarri. It was a cruel attempt to reintroduce magic into the Rodyte population.”

“That’s extremely simplified, but accurate.” Berlynn slid her plate to the side and pulled her beverage can toward her. “Rodyte warriors also considered it a feat of cunning to capture an empowered female. They were war trophies in a way.”

“At the risk of sounding impatient, what does this have to do with humans?”

Clearly Rachel wasn’t comfortable with the subject either, so Berlynn boiled it down to the essential facts. “Because their mothers are Bilarrian, battle born males are born with latent magic. Garin has a team of scientists working on a way to unlock this dormant magic. Empowered soldiers could be a big help once the war begins.”

Rachel uncrossed her arms and scooted closer to the table. “Go on.”

“Apparently human DNA is unusually easy to manipulate and it mixes well with the genetics of other species. Because of this characteristic, the battle born soldiers need to recruit human females who are willing to bond with them.”

“Sorry, you lost me again. I get that human DNA plays well with others. What does mating have to do with unlocking the battle born’s latent magic?”

“When a Rodyte male claims his mate, it triggers changes in both male and female. The scientists are using this process to smuggle in the other changes.”

“The body is already transforming, so it’s less likely to reject the altered code.”

“Exactly.”

Rachel rubbed her bottom lip with her index finger as she pondered the new information. “How far have the experiments progressed?”

Pausing to lick her lips, Berlynn debated how much to tell her. Rachel would never do anything to hurt a member of Tandori Tribe. However, if she felt that any of this was a threat to their females, she would do everything in her power to protect them and that included betraying the battle born.

Berlynn took a sip of soda then smiled. “I think I’ve bent the rules enough for now.”

“That’s why he asked about privacy. He doesn’t need this place for his soldiers. He’s planning on bringing newly bonded couples here while the males learn to control their magic.”

“It’s likely, but I don’t honestly know the details. If we can’t get permission to recruit human females, the rest is irrelevant.”

Rachel stared off into the distance again, clearly lost in thought.

“Thanks for dinner. It was delicious, as always.”

“I’m not sure you ate enough to tell, but you’re welcome.”

Berlynn pushed back her chair and stood. “Did Garin happen to give you my overnight bag before he left?”

Rachel stood as well then picked up Berlynn’s plate and fork. “He said he’d be back.”

“I know, but the situation changed. He’ll either invite Haven to complete the negotiation or he’ll swing back by here in the morning. He has no reason to return tonight.”

“I’m not sure what’s going on between you two, but he didn’t seem like he was ready to let it go.”

She wanted to believe it,
needed
to believe it, yet she couldn’t ignore the facts. His kiss hadn’t ignited the mating pull. They weren’t genetically compatible. “I could really use a good long run. Is that all right with you?”

“Of course. I’ll round up something you can sleep in, just in case you’re right. We’ll worry about clean clothes in the morning. Run as long as you like, but stay on the property.” She turned toward the kitchen then stopped and turned back around. “You better stick with one of your dogs or a fox. A wolf pack killed some livestock last week. My neighbors might well shoot a wolf.”

Searing pain sliced through Milanni’s being, forcing her up through layers of blissful oblivion. She gasped, then groaned as another wave of pain drove the breath from her lungs. She held perfectly still and tried to focus through the pain. Her mind was a fog of impressions and hazy images.

Vinton Tandori’s lifeless stare cut through the confusion, creating a pathway for her muddled thoughts. She hadn’t meant to kill him, had only defended herself against his attack. And yet his death had been the catalyst for so many bad decisions.

Desperate and afraid, she’d run to her old mentor, Akim Farmon. Akim had agreed to let her hide on his ship the
Relentless
, but only if one of his officers agreed to protect her. So she’d seduced Fyran, the second-in-command, or at least she’d foolishly believed that she’d seduced him.

Fyran had been subdued, almost kind while under Akim’s control. But the battle born attacked the
Relentless
and captured Akim. Acting on instinct, Fyran ordered the crew to abandon Akim, and Fyran took command of the ship. That was when everything changed for Milanni.

She slowly rolled to her back and tried again to assess her surroundings. The surface beneath her was hard and cold, yet it had a coarse texture—like the floors on a spaceship. Okay, so she was still aboard the
Relentless
.

But why was she in pain? Had there been an accident, or had Fyran beat her? It didn’t make sense.

Stubbornness alone allowed her to open her eyes, but any other movement sent fissions of pain streaking through her body. She looked around as well as she could without moving her head. This wasn’t Fyran’s cabin. In fact, it looked more like a shuttle. Excited by the discovery, she carefully turned her head to one side and then the other.

Her heart thudded wildly, the pulse echoed in strange places all over her body. She wasn’t on the
Relentless
. This was her ship. Slowly, barely daring to hope, she activated the com-bots in her brain, instructing them to reestablish contact with the ship, the primary source of her power.

Nothing happened. Akim had known she worked for the Integration Guild and by taking her ship offline, he rendered her powerless. Had Fyran found someone skillful enough to activate her ship without giving her access to her abilities? She was presuming her ship was active. Had Fyran trapped her inside her useless ship as part of her punishment?

A frustrated sob escaped her throat. Why was she being punished?

Another face intruded into her rambling thoughts, a human female with messy brown hair and hostile green eyes. Nicole.

Milanni tensed and closed her eyes as memories rushed in with nauseating clarity. She’d rescued Nicole from a group of crewmen in the process of raping her. Twelve human females had been captured during Akim’s reign, but Fyran knew that releasing them would cause the crew to mutiny. So he implemented rules regarding their treatment, rules the crew continually ignored. Milanni confronted Fyran with Nicole’s abuse and offered to take control of the situation for him. After all, she’d been a highly successful madam before the fiasco surrounding Vinton Tandori ruined her life.

She’d barely had time to establish her authority over the traumatized humans when Fyran launched his next scheme, the one that landed her here and resulted in her injuries. Anger replaced her confusion and filled her with determination. Fyran found out that the rebels had developed some sort of formula that allowed them to free the magic locked inside battle born males. Every man aboard the
Relentless
was battle born, so Fyran was desperate to get his hands on the formula.

That was where Nicole and Milanni came in.

Milanni took a deep breath and focused all her energy on her com-bots. If she could establish a link with her ship, she could activate the emergency medical functions. Without an energy source, her nano-bots had gone dormant, but the ship could reinject her and allow her to heal.

No. She could not reverse the damage completely. Fyran’s twisted plan depended on the battle born finding two battered and desperate females. The battle born were honorable and protective. They would not be able to turn her away.

A spark erupted deep in her brain. For a split second, she sensed the ship and it was definitely active. She located the spot and fed what little remained of her energy into the dormant com-bot. Another spark burst and then another until the com-bot vibrated with energy. The connection synced with sudden force and Milanni gasped.

Medical emergency. Stabilize occupants then wait for further instructions
. She sent the command with the last of her strength then slipped back into oblivion.

* * * * *

Lifting her face to the wind, Berlynn paused for a deep breath of crisp, pine-scented air before continuing her run. She’d walked into the trees surrounding Rachel’s cabins a couple of hours ago. After shedding her clothes and putting them where she could easily find them, she shifted into a black Labrador. But the shape was too similar to the form she’d worn the night her father died, so she shifted into a red fox with a long bushy tail.

She launched herself forward and wove through the trees, pushing herself to breakneck speed. The night was cool and calm, the polar opposite from her mood. She was restless and angry, ready to lash out at the world. She’d accepted that she was an oddity, that her abilities made others uncomfortable, even suspicious of her. People tried to act like it didn’t matter, but there had only ever been two people in Tandori Tribe that could shapeshift. She was one and her grandmother was the other. Despite the fact that she was a direct descendant of one of the original three, she’d always felt like an outsider, tolerated yet never fully accepted by the others of her tribe.

So she’d focused on her immediate family and began to wonder if she was meant to follow in Rachel’s footsteps. They had both been born with a strong mothering instinct, yet they’d been denied children of their own. The fate might not be so bad. Rachel had found fulfillment in her work. She seemed happy.

Then Berlynn met Garin and a life without a mate suddenly seemed intolerable. He was handsome and confident, strong and impressive, everything she could ever hope for in a mate and more. Best of all, he returned her interest and he wasn’t concerned about her odd ability.

She’d been thirteen the first time she’d shifted. Luckily, her mother had been aware of the possibility and had prepared Berlynn, as well as anyone can be prepared for spontaneously changing into a dog. No one knew why Berlynn and her grandmother had the strange ability, and no one knew why it was only canines. Berlynn had tried to shift into other animals, frequently and with great determination, but even the effort felt unnatural. Like it or not, she was a canine shifter. And since her grandmother had passed beyond, Berlynn was one of a kind.

“Berlynn?”

Her name seemed to float on the wind, coming from everywhere and nowhere at the same time. She turned her head slowly from side to side, trying to locate the actual direction. Her forelegs hit an exposed root buried in debris. She yelped then tumbled head over tail into a nearby bush, landing with a distressed yowl.

“Berlynn?” The familiar snap of Garin’s voice was much closer this time. A moment passed. She heard urgent footsteps crunching against the forest floor. He knelt beside the bush, sapphire phitons gleaming through the darkness. “Are you all right?” He carefully parted some of the branches and looked into her eyes. “Is that you?”

The rich amber color of her eyes remained the same no matter which form she took. She whined. Long thorns penetrated her fur and dug into her flesh in numerous places. If she moved at all, the pain worsened and other thorns found their way into her flesh. She was well and truly caught.

“Damn,” he muttered. “Those thorns are sharp.” Then as if he realized he was talking to an animal, he laughed. “I sure as hells hope this is you.”

She whined again and turned her head, barely reaching his hand. She licked the side of his thumb twice then returned her head to a more natural angle.

“Okay, so I’ve found you. Let’s get you out of there.” He shifted position, holding some of the branches back with his leg while carefully breaking off others from the opposite side. The process was time-consuming and apparently painful from his frequent and profane mutterings.

All she could do was hold still and wait for him to free her. But as she watched him work, questions flooded her mind. Why had he returned? Why had he been looking for her? Was this just generic concern for an ally or… She knew the answer to that. He’d been worried about an unescorted female running about in the woods. He would have been out looking for any of the females under his authority.

A large branch beneath her snapped and she yelped as her body twisted within its thorny prison. Then Garin supported her hindquarters with his knee as he snapped off one final branch. The thorns protested with stinging determination as he carefully eased her free.

He set her down on the cool forest floor and she shook her entire body, inadvertently showering him with thorn tips and broken branches.

He laughed. “That’s not much of a thank-you.”

The stinging persisted, reminding her of the puncture wounds all over her body. She looked around, hoping to spot her clothes, but all she saw was shadowy trees and sporadic slivers of moonlight. She nudged his leg, but it hurt too badly to move. To hell with modesty. The pain wouldn’t stop until she shifted and her natural form was the easiest to summon when her energy was depleted.

She closed her eyes and drew energy from the air surrounding her. Warm currents washed over her, passing through her, becoming part of her. Any structure required a strong foundation, so the shift always started with her skeleton. Bones stretched and joints popped as her fox-self surrendered to her human form. Pain flared for one blinding moment, then she felt the earth beneath her palms and a small rock dug into one knee.

“Welcome back.” His strong hands closed around her upper arms and he carefully drew her to her feet. “Are you all right? I didn’t mean to startle you.”

“I’m okay.” She rested her hands on his chest, partially to keep some distance between them, but more so to cover her breasts. If he could never be her mate, then he had no reason to see her naked.

“Then shifting from one form to another heals any injury? I’d wondered about that.”

She nodded, still feeling a little shaky. His casual interest helped slow her thudding heart. This wasn’t personal, despite the fact that she was naked and in his arms. “As long as I have enough energy to adjust the transformation. Twice I was hurt badly enough that the injury followed me through the shift. But that’s the exception, not the rule.”

“Well, I’m glad this wasn’t a third exception.” He tried to pull her closer, but she locked her arms in place, refusing to move.

“What are you doing here? I didn’t expect you until morning.”
If at all.

He didn’t answer immediately, just stood there, searching her gaze. “Are you still attracted to me?” There was something confusing in his tone, like challenge, only darker.

“It doesn’t matter. If we were compatible, I would have felt the pull.” She tried to twist away, but his fingers tightened around her arms, holding her firmly until she stopped struggling.

“Answer the question.” A command not a request.

He was a Rodyte male. Doubtlessly, he could smell her body’s reaction each time he touched her. “You know I am. Why torture us both with what can never be?”

He spun her around and brought her back against his chest. “Do you trust me?” He whispered the question into her ear, sending tingles down her spine.

One moment he’d seemed almost angry and now, she wasn’t sure what this was. “It’s not a matter of trust. I—”

He caught the back of her hair and turned her head until their gazes locked. Despite the firmness of his hold, he wasn’t hurting her, just denying her need to escape. “Yes or no. Do you trust me?”

An odd, unexpected heat spiraled through her body. Rodyte males were all aggressive, but she’d never really thought about how that translated to intimate situations. The males in Tandori Tribe had been softened by the social mores of Earth. There was no softness in Garin, just ruthlessly controlled power and intensity. Even so, she wasn’t afraid. “Yes, I trust you, but—”

His mouth silenced her, sealing over hers in a deep, compelling kiss. He angled his free arm over her torso and lightly cupped her breast. This wasn’t the polite gentleman who’d spoken with her for hours even though they’d been alone in the
Phantom
. This was General Nox, a career military commander used to having his orders obeyed. She shivered, thrilled yet intimidated by the change in his approach.

He slid his tongue around hers then drew back, mesmerizing her with sensual motions and careful suction. Unable to resist the silent invitation, she pushed past their lips and explored the warm interior of his mouth. His scent grew stronger with each ragged breath and his taste gradually spread across her tongue.

Her passion-muddled brain tried to understand his motivation. He’d said he didn’t want a mistress, so why was he kissing her?

His fingers gradually released her hair as his other hand moved over her breasts. Her nipples hardened at the first brush of his fingertips and he groaned into her open mouth. Desire dropped hot and heavy into her abdomen, then lower. Her core ached and restlessness spread through her body like a transient itch.