Agitation riddled her words. “Then the Kiengir must be told.”
“They wield no power right now.”
“They control the universe.”
“They control nothing. They are prisoners.”
She was totally confused. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“The reason I was locked away.”
The roar of a boat motor made them both look toward the lake. A speedboat bounced along the water until it beached instead of docking at the landing. They jumped up, readying for a fight. Dio hit the ground running straight at them.
“We’ve got to go. Spotted a vimani.” He tossed a bag to Kal.
“Thought we were invisible?” Shia scouted the skies but saw nothing.
“We’re supposed to be. But it kept hovering over the lake, almost directly over the house, as if it knew exactly where we were.”
Kal stepped into a pair of gray sweats from the bag and jerked on a T-shirt with the words Ancient Aliens on it. Kal arched an eyebrow at Dio.
“If the logo fits.” He gasped, tossing a smaller bag to Shia.
“Where is the vimani now?” Shia asked.
“Don’t know, but I’m not hanging around to find out.” Dio wheezed, out of breath. “Think you can make the repairs in air?”
The hairs on the back of her neck rose and her muscles tightened. She nodded. “Yeah.”
Kal sat at the helm of the Cerulean XLT. Space. One place he thought he’d never see again. He leaned back in the chair, scanning the vast darkness. Once they’d cleared Earth’s atmosphere, it was wide-open skyways. He breathed deep then released it, seeing it mist as it left his mouth. Shia was below, fixing the climate controls. He liked the chill of space. It was far better than the intense heat of hell. But he knew it would only get colder the farther from the sun they got, too cold to survive without heat.
An angry curse rose through the open floor panel followed by the pound of metal on metal. He grinned. Shia intrigued him—Paoni warrior, mechanical genius, great cook and above all one sexy, beautiful female. She was the most well-prepared individual he could ever remember. The arsenal she’d produced from the heavy bag she’d carried onboard had astounded him. “You okay down there?”
“Yes.” Her head appeared in the opening. He stood and helped her out of the hatch leading to the forward engine room then closed it. “Sometimes you just gotta beat ’em to make them work.”
As if on cue, warm air filtered through the vents.
“Nice work.”
“Thanks.” She motioned to the VIS screen. “Determined to get us killed.”
“I can drop you on the next closest star planet, Paoni.”
“Paoni? What happened to Shia?” She stood with her hands on her hips, one eyebrow arched, giving him a hard-ass glare. He’d hurt her. He heard it in her tone even though she tried to hide it.
He ran a hand through his hair. He’d hoped to distance himself from her by sticking to Paoni, keeping this thing between them impersonal, but she was getting to him, making him like her. His dick thickened. It most definitely liked her. She flipped her braid over her shoulder. He wanted to unwind it, feel her hair slide between his fingers. Kal spun to stare out at the darkness before he acted on the desire.
Women can’t be trusted.
“Where’s Dio?” Anger quavered her words.
“Galley.” Kal hunched over the VIS. A large ship appeared out of nowhere, approaching fast, directed at them. “Damn.”
He attempted to take over flight control but he wasn’t fast enough and neither was the relic at his command. The ship violently jerked to a halt, sending Shia toppling forward. Kal caught her before she face-planted the console. Shia pushed away from him. Each drew their weapons instantly.
“Pirates,” came out of their mouths simultaneously.
Readings on the VIS screen showed the ship’s system being overridden remotely. A deep voice reiterated what they already suspected.
“Prepare to be boarded.”
Dio ran in. Kal tossed him a weapon. “You know how to use that?”
He grinned. “Yeah, but we don’t need them.”
Dio entered a command on the VIS, causing a portal above them to open. A round metal tube dropped down. A door slid open and a man stepped out of the portal elevator. Shia and Kal held their weapons pointed directly at the intruder. Dio stepped into their line of fire, back toward them before either took a shot.
“Father,” Dio proclaimed with a tilt of his head toward Kal. “Mission complete.”
Kal’s eyes widened, gaping in disbelief at Dio. He no longer looked like a scared kid as he stood tall, shoulders straight. “Mission complete?”
“When we discovered a way for you to escape, my son was deliberately sent in to get you out.”
“I never stole a ring.” Dio wagged his eyebrows. “I stole a port-o-pod and this.” He tossed a small square object to Kal. “A seismic stimulator. The only problem with this device is I had to locate a source of increasing volcanic energy in hell for it to work properly, and that took time. It intensifies a volatile lava formation and drives it to the surface, thus providing its holder with a controlled eruption.”
The whole scenario hit Kal hard. Riding seismic energy to the surface had been Dio’s idea. He claimed he’d heard about it from another prisoner. Looking at the object, he realized Dio had created the escape route.
“The Aludra woman?” Kal stared directly at Dio. “The vimani you saw over the island?”
“Not a vimani, just a signal from Father they were in place for our rendezvous. And the woman…” He shrugged. “She caught me searching for an energy pocket and figured out we planned to escape. Couldn’t leave her behind to alert others. Cozying up to her added validity to that lovesick puppy crap Syros created as my cover.” He snorted in disgust.
“You’re welcome,” a male voice stated teasingly through the com system. Dio growled, which received a howl of laughter.
“Sons, enough.” The laughter instantly died at the stern command. “Is she loose?”
“No.” Dio shook his head. “She’s dead.”
Kal was at a loss. Had he been incarcerated so long his deductive skills had gone awry? He’d misjudged Dio completely. He wasn’t a lanky love-addled kid, but a competent young man with unique skills and a mission, which he accomplished.
“Why didn’t you tell me who you were?” Suspicion kept his hand on his weapon.
“Would you have believed him?”
Kal turned to the man Dio called father. He stood at least six feet. His brown hair hung loosely around his shoulders. His facial features closely matched Dio’s. Their brown eyes were exactly the same. He wore a one-piece black suit similar to leather and had a zipper-like closure down the front. There was no missing the large weapons strapped on each hip. If Kal had to guess from looking at him, a multitude of weapons were hidden upon his person. A deadly fierceness exuded off this man.
“It’s doubtful.”
“Then we chose correctly by keeping it covert. Kallikrates Valerianus, I’m Atrem Dingarios. It is good to finally meet you. Freeing you has been a long time coming.”
“Dingarios?” Kal kept his stare leveled on the man and his hand readied on his holstered weapon. Now he remembered where he’d seen the winged-dog emblem. It belonged to the Sirian nation and it was staring at him from a patch on the man’s left arm. “The Sirian representative to the High Council?”
Atrem smiled, showing sharp canines. “That is the face they need to see. It has given us greater access to information needed for the coming war. I prefer POWR, which stands for the Paoni Organized Warrior Rebellion.” He turned his attention to Shia. “Shikoba Saturnina. First woman to complete the rigorous training, I’m impressed.” His gaze wandered over her. “I thought you’d be bigger. One of those Amazonian-type women.”
“Don’t underestimate her, Father. I’ve seen her in action. Nearly killed Kal.”
“Impressive indeed.” He
looked over her head at Dio. “You have exceeded the plan by far bringing this one in as well, son. I’m proud.”
“Thank you, Father, but Saturnina was an unexpected bonus, not planned.”
“I’m no one’s bonus,” Shia practically growled, keeping her weapon aimed at Atrem.
Dio laid his hand on her Mega blaster. “No need for this. My father leads the alliance of Paonis who know the truth of the council. Please listen to him.” He nudged a weapon of his own against her ribs. “Or I’ll kill you before you fire a shot.”
Shia lowered hers and Dio took it. Her hands fisted as her entire being tensed. Anger narrowed her gaze and Kal knew she was coiled tight, not liking the situation. He wasn’t exactly fond of the fact Dio had fooled him, but they had saved him. Kal moved beside her in a show of unity.
“We’re listening.”
“For years, we’ve suspected the council of corruption. Power and greed consumes many of them. We formed a plan to infiltrate them and learn their secrets.” Dio’s father stared directly at Kal. “We discovered the same as you, except we weren’t caught and you were.”
Kal stiffened. “I made a mistake.”
“She was a beautiful, efficient spy, Kallikrates. You can’t blame yourself.”
“Was?”
“Oriana has been exterminated. I’m sorry. It was necessary. Unfortunately, we reached you too late to stop the port-o-pod. Never realized how fast those were until we tried to run yours down before it reached the chute.”
“You tried to save me? Why?”
“We’ve attempted several times. We want you on our side. The Kiengir need you.”
Shia’s eyes widened, staring at Kal. “Delrado shot you in the back with his Magnum and sent you to hell?” He nodded. She spun to face Atrem. “The crash in Roswell. That was a rescue attempt for Kal wasn’t it?”
“Lost three of my best warriors. The ship was heavily loaded with mining technology. Delrado suspected they weren’t unnocki travelers and sent a task force that took them down.” His eyes darkened with loss. “He made a spectacle of them for the universe to see and fear in hopes of squelching any other plans of rescuing Hellions. No evidence has been found that he knew which prisoner they were trying to free.”
“Why did he send you to hell? Why not kill you?” Shia asked.
“Kallikrates can’t be killed. Whereas we live for a few centuries, he’s immortal.”
“Is that true?”
“Kiengir Nefertitikus granted me immortally eons ago in order to create a force of warriors. Not only was I the Sun Superior, I was the first Paoni.” Shia’s lips parted and her face read stunned surprise, which made him smile.
“And that is why we need you,” Atrem stated. “We believe the Kiengir are bound to the sun, unable to leave, and that their powers grow weak. The reason is unclear as to how the council accomplished this feat, but it appears as if the Kiengir have been trapped for at least a few hundred years. I wanted to recruit you, but Delrado got to you first. We could use the greatest warrior ever known on our side. Our mission is to free the Kiengir and overthrow the council. You up for the battle of a lifetime?”
“Atrem, I was imprisoned over information I discovered about certain council members. I’ve got an idea how they trapped the Kiengir and maybe a way to free them. But I want a shot at Delrado. He’s mine.”
“You shall get your revenge, but in due time. Your release needs to be kept secret. We can’t have you showing up on Bellitrix and someone recognizing you. Could be a drastic blow to our cause.”
Kal understood the man’s logic but hated it. He looked at Shia. “Shikoba, are you willing to fight this battle as well?”
Her gaze met his and for a second he wasn’t certain if she’d accept. “I am.”
Kal shot her a wink, which garnered a sly smile from her that curled his toes. Damn, this woman had him by the balls with just a look. It both disturbed and intrigued him at the same time. He pulled his gaze from her and took Atrem’s arm. Each clasped the other by the elbow, sealing the solidarity between them. “We come as a team. Do you accept us?”
Atrem smiled. “It would be our honor.”
Chapter Seven
Atrem returned to his ship, leaving behind a crew including Dio and his brother Syros. Syros was the oldest of Atrem’s eight sons and Dio was the youngest. Over the years, the Cerulean XLT had secretly been restored with the latest weapons and technology, which had been hidden in the ship, never activated for fear it might be located and stolen. They worked quickly to initiate those systems within a few hours. Dio explained he had intentionally disabled the ship’s heat sensors to slow their progress so his father could rendezvous with them in space. The shopping trip had been a ruse to stall as well until he’d received a signal to launch.
The Sirian’s ship disengaged to return to Bellitrix and resume his façade. They were to meet at the POWR secret space station in a quasar nested within the Sirian galaxy. Being asked not to confront Delrado didn’t sit well with Kal, but he accepted it for the cause, for the moment. He’d waited over a hundred years, what were a few more days?
It felt good to be dressed decently again. He stretched, testing the fabric of the one-piece, soft leather suit he’d been given. He could see why Dio changed into one before starting work on the spacecraft. The material was astoundingly soft and contoured perfectly to his body. It looked even better on Shia. It hugged her bottom nicely and the V-neckline of the female version showed just enough of her breasts to make him uncomfortably snug in the front of his. He adjusted his stance, trying to gain a bit of room for his hardening cock at the sight of Shia clad in her black, body-hugging suit.
Kal leaned against the counter in the galley, arms crossed, watching Shia make them hot guamana to drink. It was similar to tea but much stronger and tasted of mixed berries and honey. They’d made a huge decision together and yet he knew little about her.
“Tell me, Shikoba, what drove you to become Paoni?” He caught the subtle change in her body language from ease to a slight tautness in her shoulders.
“Sheer will.” She handed him a cup. When she took a step toward the door, he gently clasped her elbow, stopping her.
“I sense there’s more to your story.” She looked at him over her shoulder. “You know mine. Please share yours. It shall go no further than me.”
She stepped over the backless bench that encompassed the round silver table and sat. Kal took a position across from her. Indecision flittered in her eyes before she closed them and took a deep breath. When she opened them, they held an anger he wished he’d never seen.
“As a child, I saw my parents slaughtered in a raid upon Aldebaron. It was a small village on an outer rim star planet, Zephron. I was the only survivor. We were a peaceful people, farmers mostly. No weapons. No way to fight.” Her chin tilted and her jaw tightened, making her lips thin as if she waged an inner battle for control over her rage. Kal reached for her hand but she lowered it from the table. He’d simply meant to console her but apparently she didn’t want it. “I ran but they captured me.”
“Who did this?” He hated hearing her pain. It tore at him, making him ache to soothe her. She’d seen such violence at a young age.
“Squatchians.”
Kal sat straighter. Squatchians were huge, hairy and incredibly strong with bad tempers. They’d been banished to live solitary lives spread throughout the universe. “There was more than one?”
“The intel on them is wrong. There were three of them working with destroyers. They took me to Tandora’s Moon where I was sold to a woman named Eliventi Corsaviar. She saved me from slavery. I became one of her many children.” He heard the change in her tone when she spoke of this woman. It hinted of respect and love, taking the edge off her anger. “Mamma Elli has made it her life rescuing stolen children and raising them. She gave me a second chance. But I never forgot where I came from and never will. I worked to become a warrior so I could climb the ranks until reaching High Guard Council
level in hopes of discovering who marked my village for destruction. My guess was the Kiengir but—”
“If Atrem is right, they were imprisoned long before. What made you think your village was marked and they worked for the Kiengir?”
“The ship was imperial and they wore the Kiengir emblem upon their foreheads.”
Destroyers were outlaws, pirates and scum of the universe, the worst of the worse. A band of them had been branded with the official seal on their foreheads and working for the Kiengir didn’t make sense. Why attack a farming village? What were they farming that warranted destruction? And why take a solitary child? Questions swirled without answers. He could see where a child would believe the Kiengir destroyed her village. Shia carried that image embedded in her brain, which fueled her anger as an adult. That was the only thing making sense to him. If he’d seen such, he’d feel the same.
Kal laid out what he thought. “Looks like someone on the council has a band of destroyers in his pocket pretending to be Kiengir officials. We find them. We find the person pulling their strings.”
“And the person who ordered my village’s destruction.” Shia sounded hopeful.
He nodded. “What did your village farm?”
“Vegetables.”
“That’s it? You sure they weren’t a front for a mining operation of some sort?”
“No. I thought that as well. Went back to the quadrant a few years ago. Found nothing but charred remains of a ruined farmer’s village. My home.” She visibly shook before a single tear escaped.
Kal slid around the table and hugged her. She tried to push away from him but he refused to let her. Cupping her chin, he made her look at him. “It’s okay to cry.” He grinned. “Even I cried once.”
“Really.” She sniffed as she wiped her eyes. “The great Kallikrates Valerianus cried.”
“For about a second before the heat of hell dried them.” He laughed.
Shia brushed his cheek. “I’m sorry you were sent there.”
He took her hand. “For the first time since it happened, I’m not. I wouldn’t have met you.” He kissed her fingers then tugged her close and captured her mouth with his. This wasn’t supposed to be happening. Women weren’t to be trusted. But Shia was different. She wasn’t a woman. She was a warrior. He reluctantly pulled from her lips. He liked the way her eyes darkened a deep golden brown with desire. “You want to continue this in my compartment?”