Sought

  “You…you won’t?” A rush of relief came over her so strongly she felt faint.

  “No.” Xairn shook his head grimly. “I don’t know how I am going to manage it, but I swear on my honor, I will take you away from this place unharmed and bring you back to your home planet. Do you understand?”

  “Oh Xairn!” She almost laughed through her tears. “I…I could just kiss you!” Throwing her arms around his neck she leaned forward impulsively and pressed her lips to his. They were surprisingly soft but before she could register much more, Xairn jerked away from the sudden contact.

  “Don’t.” His deep voice was harsh, strained. “Don’t ever do that again, Lauren. Or I can’t be responsible for the consequences. Do you understand?”

  Not really? Why did a simple kiss upset him so much? But she only nodded contritely. “I’m sorry. I’m just so glad. So glad you care about me enough to help me.”

  “Let us be clear about one thing.” He held her eyes with his. “You have aroused emotions in me—very strong emotions. But that is not a good thing.”

  Lauren stared at him uncertainly. “Do…do you mean that you hate me? Is that what you’re saying?”

  “Not hate, no.” He shook his head. “What I feel for you…let’s just say it will be better—far better—if those feelings are never explored or acted on.”

  “I don’t really understand what you’re trying to say,” Lauren said softly. “But I do want to thank you for promising to help me.”

  “There’s no point in expressing your gratitude yet—I haven’t even worked out a plan.” He sighed. “Until I do, I must pretend to comply with my father’s will. And you’re going to have to trust me. Can you do that?”

  Biting her lip, Lauren nodded hesitantly. “Yes, I trust you.”

  “Thank you.” He nodded gravely. “That means a great deal to me. And now I have to put you in one of these cells and secure the rest of the Complex before reporting back to my father.”

  “You’re leaving me alone? In here?” She couldn’t help glancing at the instruments of torture strewn around the surgery suite room again.

  “Nothing will harm you,” Xairn said, his rough voice almost soothing. “We are the only creatures alive on this planet. Well—other than a few minor life forms like the black crested lizards. But they live mainly on the beaches and won’t come inside.” He shook his head. “The point is, you’ll be safe, even if I’m in another part of the building.”

  “But what if…if your father decides he wants to come, uh, see me?” Lauren asked, unable to keep the fear out of her voice. “If he touches me, Xairn, I swear I’ll go crazy. I can’t help it.”

  “He often has that effect on females,” Xairn said grimly. “But you don’t need to worry about him—not yet. He is ensconced in his Souda—it’s a special room within the Complex which channels the power of the planet directly to his person. Once he enters it, a dravik forms.”

  Lauren frowned. “A what?”

  “A dravik—a large bubble made of nourishing blood which forms around him. He can move about the Complex while ensconced within it, but until it bursts, he will be unable to touch you.”

  “But how long will that be?” Lauren protested. The idea of the hideous, skeletal AllFather encased in a bubble made of blood was horrific enough. But the idea of him coming for her after the bubble had burst and he was covered in the stuff—well, it didn’t bear thinking about.

  “At least a few hours—most likely more,” Xairn said patiently. “But you don’t need to fear—I will return for you long before that. I promise. I just have to lull my father into believing all is well and we’ll make our escape.”

  “How? I thought your father had the only key to the ship we came in?”

  “He does but there are abandoned ships not far from here—many of them—from the last battle that was fought here with the Kindred. We can take one of those—they should still be operational.”

  “All right.” Lauren sighed and nodded. “I trust you to do right by me, Xairn. Just please hurry—this place gives me the creeps.”

  “It has been the site of untold horrors,” he agreed, taking her into one of the empty, glassed in cells. “But they’re over and done and in the past. You have nothing to fear now.”

  “I hope you’re right.” As he deposited her gently onto her feet, Lauren reached up impulsively and gave him a tight hug. “Come back soon,” she whispered in his ear. “I’ll be waiting for you.”

  “I will come as soon as I can.” Xairn gently disengaged her arms from around his neck and when his face came into view, it wasn’t at all happy. “But you must stop touching me that way, Lauren. It…is not a good thing.”

  “Because it makes you feel?” she asked softly.

  Stiffly, Xairn nodded. “Yes. I must go now.”

  “All right.” She stood with her back to one glass wall and watched as he locked her in. “Goodbye.”

  “I’ll return,” he said shortly. “Remember, you’re perfectly safe. There is no one else on the entire planet besides the two of us, my father and his guards. And they are programmed to stay exclusively with him and protect him.”

  “All right.” Lauren nodded and watched as he left the medical wing. She listened as the echo of his boots died away to silence and then began to pace. The glass holding cell was small—barely bigger than the one she’d been kept in aboard the Fathership, although thankfully larger than the tiny cramped space she’d been shoved into on the adjunct ship. Still, it only took her five steps to get from one end to the other and eight steps to go across diagonally.

  Lauren supposed she ought to conserve her strength but she couldn’t help it—she was nervous. She had faith that Xairn would keep his word—or try to, anyway—but she didn’t like being locked in a cell on a dead planet with an evil being who wanted to rape her. Not to mention his monstrous, soulless guards. Those things were eight feet tall if they were an inch and she had no idea how Xairn was going to get around them if they got in the way when she and Xairn attempted their escape. Or—

  Lauren stopped pacing suddenly and listened. What’s that sound?

  At first she thought Xairn was coming back because the faint noise sounded like the echo of his boots in the hallway. But it was coming from the opposite direction he’d left from and soon she could tell that it wasn’t just one set of boots approaching her. There were at least two, maybe more, and the deep, masculine voices she heard murmuring over the tap-tapping of their boots were wholly unfamiliar.

  My God, she thought, panic rising in her like a tidal wave. There are other people here—strangers—and I’m locked in this cell like a sitting duck. They can do anything they want to me and I can’t stop them, can’t get out.

  She was trapped.

  * * * * *

  “I thought I told you not to disssturb me.” The AllFather floated forward, his skeletal form partially obscured by the round crimson-black orb of the dravik which surrounded him in a bubble of polluted blood. In each of the four corners of the Souda stood an eight foot tall soldier—the AllFather’s personal guard were silent as always. Xairn ignored them.

  “I know what you said, Father, but I wanted to let you know that the Complex is secure.” He kept his voice neutral.

  “I sssee.” The shape inside the blackish-red bubble nodded. “Well then, that isss all to the good. Where isss the girl?”

  “Securely imprisoned within the medical wing, as you requested.”

  “Very good. Sssee that ssshe isss ready.” The AllFather’s voice was a hiss of pure lust. “I’ll take her the moment my dravik burstsss.”

  Xairn felt a muscle in his jaw clench and forced it to relax. Nothing I feel nothing. But it was no longer true. Lauren had woken something inside him. Something that would have been better left undisturbed.

  “My ssson?” The AllFather floated closer, seeming to glide within the confines of the dravik. He was always in the exact center of the glistening, blackish-red bubble, no matter which
way he moved. “Isss all well with you?” he enquired.

  “Yes, Father.” Xairn did his best to appear stoic and unconcerned. “Of course.”

  “I sssense sssomething from you. A disturbance…” Claw-like hands reached out but the AllFather couldn’t penetrate the wall of the dravik, which was feeding him power, and his fingertips stopped inches from Xairn’s face. Thankfully, the bloody bubble also kept his mental powers in check so he couldn’t rifle through Xairn’s mind—though it was obvious he could sense that something wasn’t as it should be.

  Xairn didn’t move. “I yearn for the completion of the prophesy. The fulfillment of our race. Perhaps you sense that.”

  “Perhapsss.” The fingers withdrew and the vast, quivering, slimy bubble moved away. “We ssshall sssee in time. For now, leave me and prepare the girl. My guardsss and I will be in the medical wing presently.”

  “Of course, Father.” Xairn bowed submissively and left the room. As the door to the Souda hissed shut behind him, he took a deep breath and pressed the palms of his hands to his eyes.

  The feelings were growing stronger. The need to possess, to dominate, was flowering in his heart like an evil bloom. Xairn had always known that the seed was there—it was part of his very DNA. But he had hoped and prayed that it would never sprout, that he would never be tempted to the depravity he had witnessed for so long in his father.

  I must be calm. I must repress these feelings for a little longer—until I can get Lauren safely home.

  But how safe would she be if she was with him and the feelings continued to develop? Xairn feared to answer that question, even to himself. The need that was growing inside him was already so strong. Though he hated to admit it, he knew she would be better off away from him.

  I must take her home as quickly as possible, Xairn thought. The need is too great, the desire already too strong within me. If she is to be kept safe, she must stay away from me.

  The thought of just dropping her off on her home planet and leaving, made his heart ache fiercely. But it was the only way. And besides, what had he thought was going to happen between them? It wasn’t like he could stay with her once this was over. They had to go their separate ways and never see each other again.

  His life would be empty again without her. Meaningless. But if he cared for her, the best thing he could do was take Lauren home and then chart a course for the farthest star he could find.

  Lifting his chin, Xairn continued down the corridor, heading for the medical wing. He had no time for the storm of emotions boiling within him now—there was a plan to carry out.

  And if it didn’t succeed, they were dead.

  Chapter Thirty-one

  “Here it is—the psychic knife.” Deep pushed open a door and ushered them into a large space that appeared to be set up like some kind of laboratory. To one side was a vast silver cylinder that looked to Kat like a massive oil drum turned up on its end. There were steps leading up to it and a door cut into its side which seemed to indicate that you were supposed to go inside it. Although I’m sure the people who went in there, didn’t go voluntarily, Kat thought with a shiver.

  To be honest, the whole place gave her the creeps. The empty, echoing corridors and the medical complex, which Lock told her was just beyond this room, felt haunted. This is the place where they did those horrible experiments on the Kindred and their brides, she thought. How awful to be trapped down here and know that you were about to be torn away from the man or men you loved forever.

  But wasn’t that pretty much what was happening to her right now? Kat pushed the thought away angrily. Yes, she cared for Lock—maybe even loved him. And yes, despite all the hateful things he’d said, she cared for Deep too. But one half of the dynamic duo didn’t want her and since they came as a matched set, she was going to have to get over both of them at once. I just hope it won’t be too painful, she thought, staring uneasily at the psychic knife. The more she looked at it, the less she wanted to get into it, or go anywhere near it for that matter.

  To one side of the large silver drum was a bank of control panels. Deep went to them immediately and began manipulating the various slide-boards and holo-graphs.

  “Good power flow,” he remarked as he worked. “Must be running on a longevity source.”

  Lock frowned as he watched his brother work. “I don’t care how good it is, Deep, this is madness. Look at this place—this thing is an instrument of torture. And you want us to risk our lives in it?”

  “You won’t be risking anything but your pride,” Deep snapped. “When you find out what a coward you’ve been.”

  “Don’t be a dick,” Kat said, putting a hand on her hip. “I’m with Lock on this one—this entire place gives me the willies. And how do we know that thing is safe? I mean it has the word ‘knife’ in its name and it was previously used to torture people. Somehow I doubt it would get the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval—you know?”

  “No, I don’t,” Deep said coldly. “But I do know this is our only option.”

  “It’s not our only option.” Lock’s voice was quiet and tense. “We can go back home to the Mother ship and bond the lady Kat to us completely. Then we can spend the rest of our lives trying to make her happy.”

  Deep laughed harshly. “Trying being the operative word, Brother. Bonding her to us would bring her nothing but unhappiness and pain, no matter how hard you tried to do otherwise.”

  “That’s not true,” Lock protested angrily. “Or it wouldn’t be if you could just stop—”

  “Stop what?” Deep raised an eyebrow. “Stop being myself? I’m afraid I can’t do that, Brother.”

  “Don’t call me that.” Lock’s voice was a dangerous growl. “I told you I don’t want that relationship with you anymore. I don’t want any relationship with you.”

  “Then press your hand to the scanner and get into the machine, damn you.” Deep sounded exasperated. “Look.” He pressed his large palm to a flat black screen on the control panel which lit up immediately with a low hum. “I’ve got the damn thing all set up—we just need to activate it and step inside.”

  “How will separating the two of us from the lady Kat free me of you?” Lock demanded.

  “Stop clouding the issue and just do it.” Deep took a step toward Lock who was standing his ground with his fists clenched. “You stupid bastard. If you think—”

  “Stop it! Stop it! Stop it!” Kat couldn’t take any more. She pressed the heels of her hands to her eyes, trying to hold back the tears as their negative emotions filled her to overflowing. More than anything she couldn’t stand it when they fought, when they hated each other out loud like that. Next they’ll be throwing things or Dad will hit Mom… No! She took a deep breath. They’re not Mom and Dad. They’re Deep and Lock. Get hold of yourself, Kat. Suck it up and deal.

  She opened her eyes to see both of them staring at her with concerned looks on their faces.

  “My lady?” Lock asked tentatively. “Are you all right?”

  “Fine, I’m sorry.” Kat ran a trembling hand through her hair. “It’s just…you two shouldn’t be fighting. Especially not over me.”

  “Are you saying you’re not worth it?” Deep gave her a penetrating glance. “Because I would have to disagree.”

  “I’m worth it, all right.” Kat raised her chin and glared at him. “But I don’t want it. And I don’t want to come between you and be the reason you two start hating each other.”

  “You’re not,” Deep said shortly. “So don’t worry about that.”

  “I am,” Kat insisted. “And it’s not right. Twin Kindred aren’t supposed to fight like this, are they?”

  Lock looked troubled. “It’s true that we’re supposed to be of one mind on just about everything. We used to be, anyway.”

  “Well we’re not of one mind on this,” Deep snapped. “You want to keep the soul bond and I don’t. So let’s just do this and get it over with.” He pointed to the flat black screen which had scanned his handprint
. “Go on.”

  Lock folded his arms over his broad chest. “I won’t.”

  “Well, I will.” Kat stepped forward and slapped her palm down on the scanner. There was a low humming sound and her hand was briefly outlined by a brilliant white light. “There,” she said, stepping back when the process was complete. “I’m sorry, Lock,” she said softly, seeing the agonized look on the light twin’s face. “But I’m not going to stay with a man who doesn’t want me and since you two are a package deal…”

  “I understand.” Nodding slowly, Lock pressed his palm to the scanner as well. Then he stood back and looked at Deep with real hatred in his brown eyes. “Now what, Brother?”

  Deep took a deep breath and a look passed over his dark features too quickly for Kat to read. Remorse? Grief? Whatever it was, it was there and gone again, leaving his face perfectly blank. She tried to read his emotions but all she got was a storm cloud of negativity—too thick and black to penetrate or understand.

  “Now,” he said. “We need to—”

  “What you need to do is turn around slowly and keep your hands where I can see them.”

  The deep voice behind them startled them all. Kat’s heart began to pound when she turned her head to see a huge male with glowing red-on-black eyes pointing some kind of weapon at them. He looked horribly familiar and suddenly Kat realized where she’d seen him before. That’s the one, she thought numbly, staring at him. The Scourge who kidnapped Sophie and was going to kill her. Oh my God, what is he doing here?

  “Guys?” she whispered as Deep and Lock turned around as well.

  “Get back.” Deep pushed her behind him and then he and Lock joined ranks, standing shoulder to shoulder to create an impenetrable wall between her and the threat. “What do you want?” Deep said, his voice a low, threatening growl.

  “I could ask the same thing of you,” the Scourge returned. “What are you doing here on my home planet without invitation?”

  “We didn’t realize we had to wait to be invited,” Deep said sarcastically.