Vanquished (14 page)

With a sigh, he searched her
features, lifting one shoulder as he seemed to recognize her determination not
to allow him any liberties. “I recognized several names you spoke, Neira. A few
I’ve already taken action against. But it is difficult to judge whether the
rest were shared within the context of the rout of the Juxtant, or otherwise,
and I require evidence. Baraith would have received updates of the last stands,
hence the use of those names, perhaps, but there is a chance he would also have
been continuing to forge and sustain alliances. He was always one to plan
ahead, and he would never plan to surrender. So it would stand to reason he’d
remain in contact with those he was engaged in for other nefarious purposes.

“The descriptions will be
catalogued and compared for evidentiary purposes. It won’t take long. And then
we shall see. I have reached out to my hunters of both Baraith and those who
perpetrated the unconscionable act on our species, so your additional pieces of
that puzzle will be of help.”

The side of Vayne she’d barely
glimpsed before—the one also written about during the earlier war—was suddenly
apparent. If she squinted she’d see the similarities to the Juxtant cousins he
disparaged and disdained, and she knew there would be no mercy afforded to
either her tormentor or those cowards who’d used genetic warfare, pinpointing
the Shadalla women and children. That lack of mercy didn’t bother her at all.

He slipped out of the bunk and
she willed her eyes to look elsewhere, anyplace but at his fine ass and broad,
muscled back. Had he really been intent on stealing her control? Or merely
sharing her burdens? Neira was back to feeling conflicted and very concerned
Vayne was wearing her down. And she felt abandoned yet desperate to make sense
of things.

After entering something on the
data display, he touched a corner with his thumb. “There. It’s done.”

“It seems strange that of all
women, all Home World women, you would come across me.” It was like she had no
will of her own. Rather than avoid any conversation about fate as she’d
planned, she had to go put it right out there. Damn it. It certainly didn’t
help that they were both nude. “And that I miraculously would be one of your
chosen and perhaps possess the means for you to obtain your ultimate revenge.”

Vayne stilled in the same way
he’d done when she’d last spoken her mind. It was
a tell
of sorts, and she filed it away. He then
smiled,
such
a wide, genuine smile she nearly smiled back. But she didn’t, because just as
quickly his expression took on a resigned cast. She wanted to look away, away
from what was surely hurt, and his naked body should have been the distraction,
but she couldn’t do it. This couldn’t be resolved by lust.

“What?” she demanded instead.

“Do you think this is a
conspiracy, then? Something cleverly constructed with the timing so exact and
all the players fulfilling their tasks so perfectly? I suppose it could happen.
I have already established my belief in fate. But a conspiracy must feel more
likely to you than trusting in the idea we are destined for one another, and we
crossed paths to complete the circle. And that you have developed feelings for
me as I have for you. I ascribe to the latter.”

“I’m not the only one for you,”
she said stubbornly. “You might have waylaid another transport, raided an
outpost and spied your chosen.”

A curious look flitted over his
face and she tried to interpret it, for it seemed important that she do so. Was
that fear she saw?
Impossible.
His next comment was
going to have a terrible impact. She could feel it.

“I’ve indeed botched this,
haven’t I?
Right from the beginning.
And your
conspiracy theory has only strengthened your resolve while I believe in what
was meant to be. That we were destined.” He paced away from her and ran a hand
through his hair, showing her a certain discomfiture that was sadly disturbing.
“I thought to use the influence of the Shadalla pheromones to seduce you, make
you mine and elicit your surrender. Because I am impossibly drawn to you and I
do not lie about how my feelings have developed into
…
more. And despite how effectively
you resist, there is something between us, quite separate from my…advantage.
But it can never be simple, at least not for me.”

The laugh he then gave was
self-deprecating. Neira made enough of those sounds in her life to know, and
she peered at him, puzzled. She found she didn’t want to ask, but the words
slipped past her lips anyhow. “I don’t follow.”

“There is a holding period, a
grace period, if you will. It allows our chosen to acclimatize and settle
within the male’s sphere, aided by the pheromones, and give consent. I failed
to mention that part, for fear you would withhold consent. I sensed that about
you, and it follows, because you aren’t Shadalla and haven’t been raised since
childhood to understand what that entails. You are the only chosen, in my
experience,
who
has the wherewithal to resist. And I
believe I now understand.” He squared his shoulders and she followed the play
of muscle across his torso, aware she might not wish to hear what he had to say
next.

“I cannot have it both ways.
Destiny—fate—has seen fit to put you in my path, and because of this I will
soon have the last of those responsible for the planned extinction of my people.
But fate is also cruel, and I am obviously not meant to have you as my
lifemate. Perhaps because by being the sovereign sacrifices must always be
made. Revenge has become an empty alternative but it appears it is all I will
have.” Vayne finished shrugging into his tunic, having stepped into his
leggings, and he moved to the door. “Rest, Neira. I will return when I have
news.”

She snapped her mouth shut, aware
she’d been staring after him in shock, and warred with such a sense of loss as
to hollow out her insides. His parting speech should have reeked of self-pity,
like a child denied a coveted toy. But instead, it was spoken quite
matter-of-factly, the pain it hid barely leaking through. But she felt it
deeply and wished for him to return so she could soothe him. Her body missed
him equally.

No amount of rearranging the
bedclothes, none of her efforts to swaddle herself like a small child, was
enough to ward off the head-to-toe chill that swept over her. She needed Vayne
for that, as she knew he needed her. She’d suffered the ague as a young teen
and thought she might die from it, regardless of the medicines available then,
even to the poor, and this hurt far worse. The body might not recall pain
despite the mind’s ability to remind one of the
experience
and warn against it, but Neira had no difficulty in contrasting the two. She
shivered and shook and suffered against the ache in silence, the only thing she
could master against it. If the pheromones he spoke of weren’t having the
anticipated impact on her, what was? A four letter word spelled out across her
whirling thoughts and she automatically erased it. But the faded outline
remained.

****

Vayne made his way to the bridge,
pretending he wasn’t running from Neira and refusing to think about anything other
than completing the task at hand. He’d spoken from his hearts, handed them to
her without thought, and he’d never been so discomfited. But there was the
matter of getting home safe, so he needed to focus, though he suspected that if
he cut the serpent’s head off, its tail would shortly determine the lack of
direction and fly back home.

“Sir.”
Leric was back at his post. His
exec appeared weary—and extremely happy. The bridge crew looked pained and kept
their distance. Vayne, too, felt the lack and it was like a whisper of the lash
across his senses. He envied the other man fiercely and took a breath to let it
go.

“Anything from
our hunters?”

“Not yet.
But
soon.
How is your chosen? That information she recalled was priceless.”
Leric didn’t inquire how Neira came to have that data, and Vayne wasn’t about
to share. The other man knew about the medical emergency of earlier and was a
master at putting things together but would never voice his findings unless he
believed them to be necessary. It was what made him the best man for the job
and an officer Vayne could not imagine doing without.

“She’s fine.
And
the word from Nibiru?”

A quick blink was the only
indication Leric had noted Vayne’s brusque reply. “Jurlek advises the message
has been sent. We will wait at the rendezvous point.
A good
choice, by the way.”

Leric had a way of stating the
facts without fanfare or being obsequious and there was no man he’d rather have
by his side when it came to traveling through space, either. He opened his
wound. “How is your bride, Leric?”

His exec visibly swelled. “She is
well. All is well. I had no idea of the wonder of bonding, Sovereign. I feel so
fortunate.”

“And Eltrast?
Jurlek?
What of them?”

“I believe they are progressing
in the courtship.
Somewhat slower.”
Leric’s tone was
tinged with pride at being first, and Vayne nearly smiled despite a pang in his
chest.

“And what if the women had been
aware of our…extra persuasion, Leric? Might the courtships have gone so
smoothly?” He was aware he was challenging a dictate he’d put in place, and
rubbing salt into that very raw personal wound, but it was both a ruler’s
prerogative and duty in regard to the former. As for the latter, perhaps he
longed for the role of martyr. He pushed the thought aside.
Pitiful.

Leric opened his mouth and shut
it, his forehead creasing, and he looked away from Vayne, veiling his features.
When he again faced him, his face was guileless. Perhaps Vayne had imagined
that his exec was deliberately hiding something from him. “I believe others
knowing how the Shadalla pursue our chosen would deem it overly tenacious and
perhaps perceive it as stacking the deck to our advantage, but we would
convince our brides regardless. And time has been of the essence, sir.” His
exec used another Earth euphemism. “Desperate times require desperate
measures.”

That simple, if vague, assessment
should have reassured Vayne but he pressured Leric harder. “And if your
Victoria learns you seduced her and she was, essentially, powerless to resist?”

Leric shook his head.
Emphatically.
“She is my chosen.
And my
only.
She might complete me, but I have committed my hearts. And I owe
her more than I can say. Lifemate holds true for all except those who were
bonded through genetic manipulation.” The other man paled and flinched. “I apologize,
Sovereign. I am deeply sorry. I was thoughtless. Please blame it on my recent
bonding.”

“No, Leric. You were being honest
and it’s been a long time since Asula faded. I take no offense.”

His exec clearly wished to speak
further but maintained his silence, likely fearing another misstep. Vayne
cursed himself under his breath. He’d been given an unheard of second chance
and in his arrogance had failed to consider the variables. All Earth women were
different and his chosen was possibly the most complex female he’d ever had
occasion to meet. It was him who was lacking and now courted failure. How he
wished she had turned to him, and not away.

“Sir?”

“What is it, Leric?”

His exec appeared to choose his
words carefully. “Perhaps consideration can be given to finding other chosen in
different ways once your quest is satisfied and the Juxtant are finished. I
could envision contingents visiting the Home World and its colonies once our
security is beyond reproach.
Humans visiting our planet.
That would provide opportunities and we would perhaps not need to hide our lack
of procreative options.
Because we both know how compatible
our species are.
Humans could appreciate what we have to offer. We need
not speak of our desperation, but suggest a joining of our species in the
interest of maintaining peace.”

“Well spoken, Leric.
Something to ponder once we have matters in hand.”
And if
he’d failed with his chosen, others could learn from his loss.
The weight of such a thing caused him to seek out his chair, where
he brooded, watching and waiting for word.
His exec retreated to his own
station, respecting his sovereign’s obvious request for space.

The crew moved quickly and
efficiently about their tasks and prudently ignored him. No doubt they’d chewed
over his confession to Neira and while, generally speaking, the word of the
sovereign was law and willingly adopted as thought and action by his people,
they had to know something hadn’t gone according to plan given his presence
here.
When he should be bonding with his chosen.

“Sir.”
Leric broke into Vayne’s train
of thought and he focused on his exec, who was tapping away on his display.
“Ambassador Rush’s name has come up three times. I’ve confirmed it with all
sources.”

The lassitude that plagued him
since his revelation about Neira and his own ineptness was replaced with a
sense of elation. So his intuition had been correct, back when he’d seduced
Rush’s daughter, Fiona. The man’s reaction to him had teased the senses, a
mixture of fear, scorn and cunning. The fear had obviously won out, unless
someone with more brains had warned the ambassador. Vayne had no idea who had
assembled the assassination teams, but Rush used Fiona as the reason to expel
Vayne and bar him from Earth after he’d escaped. Now it appeared the man was a
still-living culprit, linked to the unleashing of the genetic weapon.