She rested her palm on his jaw. “What is it?”
“Nothing,” he said, then averted his gaze, repeating the word as if he needed to convince himself it was true. “Nothing.” He paused a heartbeat and then took her hand, pulling her with him as he walked toward the truck. “We need to get out of here and I need to put gas in the truck.”
She tugged at his hand making him stop walking. He turned back to her, a question in his eyes and just a hint of irritation. “You spoke to me in my mind,” she said quietly as if confirming she wasn’t crazy.
“Yes,” he said but, before she could read his expression, he turned away again pulling her with him toward the truck.
“Who was that man?” she asked from behind him.
“He was an Arion,” Mason said evasively.
“How did he find us and what did he want?”
He dropped her hand and pulled out his wallet to fish out his credit card. “Arions can track anyone if they have their scent. They can get it from your home, your personal items, anything.”
Holly frowned. “Can you do the same thing?”
He stuck the nozzle to the gas pump in the truck. “I have to have one-on-one contact with the person and my skills are far less effective.”
“Maybe you just don’t know how to use the skill. Perhaps it can be developed,” she said thoughtfully. Then: “Who was he and what did he want?”
“I’ve already told you what they want.”
Holly put her hands on her hips. “What are you not telling me, Mason?”
His eyes shut and then opened. His brother was evil. How did he tell Holly about a brother so evil…and so like him. Telling her would be like revealing his own darkness. Something he didn’t want to accept, so how could he ask her to? “Holly, please. We need to get on the road. We’ll talk later.”
“Mason—”
“Holly, please,” he said, interrupting her in a low, strained voice.
Holly sighed in resignation.
* * * * *
Sterling propped his feet on Holly’s coffee table and stuck a Cheese Doodle in his mouth. He couldn’t decide if Holly had four bags of the things because she liked them or didn’t like them.
He’d spent the day trying to track down Roger to no avail. The man had simply disappeared. His connection to Holly might well have been a fatal one.
Pressing the buttons on the remote, he flipped the channels of the television, searching for a news update. There had been another abduction reported, a young woman from campus. He couldn’t shake the feeling Arions were involved.
They had to be trying to breed but their approach was crazy. Arions could only impregnate their mate. To hope a random woman they abducted would be their mate… His thoughts trailed off. Unless…
He jumped to his feet, making tracks for the computer. As he waited for the computer to boot, he analyzed his thoughts. The Arions wanted Holly for her knowledge of genetics, to create and improve their race. Perhaps they were also trying other methods of breeding, like artificial insemination and cloning. The Arions were dogmatic in their quest for growth. Logically they wouldn’t count on only one tactic.
The minute the computer was ready, Sterling began keying, eager to find some type of link to back up his conclusions. He started with a list of people, scientists and doctors, who might be able to help the Arions make such things happen.
Two hours later he found his link, a doctor in Canada who had been missing for several weeks. Marcus Phoenix had extensive experience with artificial insemination. Pulling a hand down the length of his long blond hair, Sterling let out a breath.
He needed to call Mason. Reaching for the phone, he went still. His senses sizzled with awareness of an Arion presence—one highly familiar.
Michael Roma, a former close friend. The strange thing was, he sensed no other presence with Michael. He was alone. Arions never traveled alone when seeking a battle.
Pushing to his feet, Sterling moved through the house until he was at the front door. When he pulled it open, Michael stood, back to him, his raven hair loose around his shoulders.
Slowly, he turned to face Sterling, black eyes locking with black eyes. “We need to talk,” Michael said simply.
Sterling stood in silence, assessing Michael, wondering how a man he had once considered honorable and brave, had become his enemy. “I can’t imagine what we have to talk about,” Sterling said, getting angry as he thought of his friend’s betrayal. “Perhaps it’s a battle you seek rather than conversation.”
Michael tilted his head back letting a deep roar of laughter escape his throat. “Always the renegade,” he said, “looking for a fight. Well, old friend, you won’t find one with me. I only wish to talk. How about inviting me inside?”
Sterling studied Michael intently. His Italian coloring gave him an edgy, dangerous look. But then, Michael was, if nothing else, a dangerous man.
When Sterling hesitated, Michael said, “I know where the man from the lab is, as well as several of the abducted women. I think we can save a lot of lives if we work together.”
That got Sterling’s full attention. Making a mistake with someone like Michael, especially an Arion version, could be deadly, yet… Slowly, he stepped back, offering a silent invitation. Michael followed Sterling into the living room and sat down on the couch. Sterling leaned against the wall, not willing to let down his guard.
Crossing his arms in front of his body, he studied Michael. “What’s this about?”
No hesitation. “Mason, among other things.”
“He won’t join his brother,” Sterling said fiercely.
“Good,” Michael replied.
“Good?” Sterling asked in confusion. “Did you just say ‘good’?”
“Mason may well be the only one who can ensure David’s defeat.”
Sterling let out a bark of humorless laughter. “Whatever your little game is, I’m not biting.”
“No game,” Michael said. “Arions are not destined to be evil. It’s the soul of the human that determines the ultimate result. Otherwise Mason would already be no different than his brother.”
Sterling blinked. “You mean if he had been transitioned into an Arion.”
“He is an Arion.”
“No,” Sterling said. “Mason is not an Arion.”
“He is and I believe he secretly knows it or at least suspects as much. Everyone knows he is the most skilled of the Black Knights. He simply doesn’t accept his Arion abilities thus he cannot put them to use.”
Sterling laughed but it was dry and sharp. “You’re crazy if you think I’m buying this.”
Michael gave Sterling a level stare. “You have the ability to sense the truth. Not only do you know he is different, you know me well enough to read the truth in me.”
Sterling did know Mason was different. And he knew Michael spoke the truth. But, still, he worried this could be some Arion trick he didn’t understand.
“Assuming what you say is the truth—Mason is Arion—what do you hope to gain by telling me?”
Michael leaned forward, elbows on his knees. “Mason can defeat David, and David knows it. He wants him on his side before it’s too late.”
“What’s in this for you?”
“I’m on your side.”
“But you weren’t.”
Michael’s brows inched up. “Wasn’t I?”
Sterling grimaced. “You want me to believe you were never on David’s team.”
“I did what I had to in order to stay alive,” Michael said with a severity to his tone. “In the meantime I learned a hell of a lot.”
Sterling knew he was telling the truth. This was a man of honor he had once trusted with his life. Letting out a breath Sterling walked to a chair across from Michael and sat down.
“You’re certain Mason is Arion?”
“Absolutely,” Michael said. “David made sure of it.”
“How?” Sterling asked, mentally searching the past for clues. “We received
the same injections. At the time we thought they were simply vaccinations.” Sterling scrubbed his jaw. “Of course, you know that. You were there and a part of it all. I’m just trying to walk through all of this and make it come together.”
“I understand,” Michael said. “If you remember, I was among the men who volunteered to test the Arion enhancements. My little group thought we were the first. We weren’t. David had volunteered to be the first test pilot, so to speak. He told no one, not even Mason.”
“Apparently, he and Gina, who is now his Arion mate, plotted to spike Mason’s injections long before any of us even knew about the Arion project.”
“This is crazy,” Sterling said.
Michael nodded and continued, “David intended to build a bloodline of ruling power. He was certain the Arion power would bring Mason to him of his own accord. When that didn’t happen, he decided to come after him.”
“Why not leave him alone?” Sterling asked.
“He has been enhanced to David’s level and they are of the same bloodline. Mason might be the only person alive who could defeat David in a one-on-one battle. Look, there is much to be discussed. We need to get Mason involved and agreeable.”
Sterling still had unanswered questions. “Why the hell did David ever think his brother would join him?”
“David still thinks he can bring Mason to his side. They’re brothers and from what I understand they were once close. David believes he is doing the right thing, Sterling. He believes he can take over all of humanity and the end results will be a bigger, better place. He wants universal domination. If he succeeds here he won’t stop. And like all power hunger monsters of the past, he sees no wrong in his ways. Why should his brother, the man who has always been by his side, not follow.”
Sterling laughed, but not with humor. With bittern reality. “So your telling me he is insane.”
A muscle in David’s jaw jumped. “No. He’s not insane. To me that makes him all the more dangerous.”
“If this isn’t insane, I don’t know what is,” Sterling countered.
“Evil,” Michael said.
The word lingered in the air for long moments. “Right,” Sterling said, a frown on his face. “Our best bet is to talk to Mason in person. He’ll be more likely to accept this if he can see you face-to-face.”
“So,” Michael said standing up. “Let’s go. There isn’t a moment to spare. The Arions have some plans already in motion that we can’t let them complete.”
Chapter Twelve
The first thing Roger noticed when he woke was the splitting pain in his head. Then darkness. He was surrounded in blackness. He blinked. Was it his eyes or the room? Panic flared. He wasn’t sure.
The restriction of his arms reminded him of the ropes around his wrists. Vaguely he remembered being tied up. Squeezing his eyes shut, trying to block out the complete blackness of the room, he suppressed a shiver of fear.
The strain of trying to see was unbearable. Absolutely unnerving.
Memories seeped into his brain, the strange men, the caves and the needles. God, the needles. His head thrashed from side to side as he thought of the pinpricks, of being held down. His mind conjured such vivid imagines, he could almost feel the needles break his skin and then sink into his tissue. A light perspiration dampened his brow.
What had they injected him with?
“Someone help me!” he yelled into the emptiness of the room.
His voice echoed as if in a cavern, answering him with his own words. He was so alone and scared.
* * * * *
Holly let out a sigh of relief when the truck stopped in the driveway of a small wooden cabin. She glanced at the clock. It was nearly three in the morning. She had offered to drive, worried he was tired, but he had refused.
A storm was rolling in, brought by brisk winds. Clouds covered the moon and stars and the night felt downright spooky. It was as if Mother Nature knew something they didn’t. Thunder rumbled overhead seeming to get closer and closer with each roll.
“Please tell me this is where we’re stopping,” she said, sitting up straight as she tired to make out her surroundings.
Mason didn’t answer. Instead, he drove to the back of the cabin and, to Holly’s shock, straight into the middle of the woods. Jostled from side to side as the tires crunched on rough terrain, Holly held onto the seat with a desperate grip.
“What are you doing?” Holly demanded.
He put the gearshift in park, killing the ignition and lights. “Parking, of course.” Then he actually had the nerve to chuckle. Holly couldn’t see his expression through the shadows of the truck cab but he obviously thought something was funny.
She didn’t.
Yes, she wanted the man to laugh more but his timing was crap, as far as she was concerned. With a more than a little irritation in her voice she said, “Why?”
As long as Mason’s reasoning ended with them going into the cabin and getting some rest, she’d forgive his behavior.
“Switching vehicles.”
He wasn’t forgiven. “What?” she blurted. “Why? Can’t we stay here a while?”
“I told you we have to get underground.”
“Can’t we rest until morning?” She hated the plea in her voice but, damn it, they’d been traveling for twelve hours and her backside was getting numb.
“Too dangerous,” Mason replied as he pushed open his door. “Stay put. I’ll be around to get you.”
The minute he pulled her door open, she hit him with a question. “Whose cabin is this?”
He held out his hand to her but the shadows hid his expression. “Mine,” he said flatly, offering no other information.
She slid off the seat to stand in front of him. “You live here?”
His hands settled on her waist. “You ask a million questions, woman.”
“Because you’re so secretive. Now answer my question. Do you live here?”
“No,” he said. “I don’t. I just want people to think I do.” He turned without giving her time to respond, taking her hand in his and pulling her through the woods.
Holly followed nervously, well aware of the high grass or, rather, weeds. She didn’t even want to know what might be crawling around by her feet. As soon as they were out of the woods and in an open clearing, Mason let go of her hand. Taking long strides forward, he left her standing there, staring after him.
“Hey,” she yelped, starting off after him, her gaze darting anxiously toward the sky as thunder rumbled. A flash of lightning made her jump. Her eyes settled on his back moving rapidly away from her.
“Don’t leave me here. It’s dark.”
She could just barely make out his actions as he stopped in front of a shed, grabbed the lock attached, quickly punched in a combination code and opened the door. He disappeared into the building just as Holly stepped up to the door.
How could he see? Holly peered into the blankness past the doorway. “Mason?”
A sudden burst of sound assaulted her ears, making Holly jump, her hand flying to her chest. “Jeez,” she grumbled. “Mason!” This time she yelled his name.
Seconds later, he appeared, sitting astride a motorcycle, looking sexier than any man had the right to, and holding a helmet out to her.
“Put this on,” he ordered.
Damn, the man was bossy. She grimaced. “As in, put it on and get on the motorcycle?” she yelled back over the engine.
His eyes twinkled with a hint of amusement. “Exactly.”
Holly liked looking at Mason on the motorcycle. The idea of riding it with him didn’t appeal. “Do I have to?”
He frowned and, despite the loudness of the motor, she thought he grunted. She made a face at him. “Fine.”
Putting the helmet on, she expelled a deep breath. Holly flung one leg over the seat just as the first raindrop hit her nose.
Great! Would this night ever end!
Mason grabbed her hands, pulling them tight around his waist, silently telli
ng her to hold on. It was also a hint of what was to come. She wasn’t going to like the ride. The rev of the engine was her only warning before they took off through the grass. Holly gasped as her body rocked from the force of the movement. Though she was certain Mason couldn’t have heard over the roar of the engine, she could have sworn she heard him laugh.
She had created a monster, laughing at all the wrong things. This was not funny. Not at all. Holly looked over his shoulder and quickly shut her eyes, appalled to see him heading straight toward the woods. Not to the road.
The bike jumped and jerked along with her body as rain began steadily pounding them. A thought hit her. Her things were in the truck. She didn’t even have clothes to change into.
But Mason had her research tucked in a pouch he wore around his ankle. At least it was safe.
Something, at least, was going her way.
But not much.
* * * * *
Mason took each bump in the road with practiced precision. He had made this run over the mountain too many times to count. The rain, however, made the ride a bit risky, considering Holly was with him. She was clinging to him as if her life depended on it.
Smart woman.
Though he knew she had a firm grip, he was tense when the rain became a downpour, making visibility almost zero. It took all of his focus to keep them soundly planted on the ground.
Still, the risk of keeping her above ground far outweighed the risk of the ride.
It took an hour to get to their destination, a specific mountain which hid an underground cavern. Mason pulled to a stop and killed the motor. The rain had slowed to a light drizzle, giving them a slight reprieve from the onslaught of the prior downpour.
Pulling off his helmet, Mason felt Holly doing the same behind him before she slipped off the bike. “Where are we?” she asked with heaviness in her voice.
Mason climbed off the bike and turned to face her, only to find her hair plastered to the side of her face and what makeup she still had on smudged into dark circles under her eyes. Still, she looked adorable to him.