Freedom (Delroi Prophecy) (6 page)

“
How? They’re being watched for now.”

Zola gave her a look that made it clear she thought Kareena’s brains weren’t yet recovered from their captivity.
“They’ll fake a background and send a powerful telepath. One who can control minds and wipe memories if necessary.”

Kareena knew that. She just hadn’t allowed herself to think about.
“We’re screwed.”

Zola grinned, and then broke into laughter. It transformed her from reserved and almost dour to young and carefree and gorgeous.

“Sorry,” she said, getting herself under control. “I don’t know about you two, but I have no intention of giving up my freedom. And between the three of us, we can handle a telepath no matter how strong.”

“
You think they’ll only send one?” Parker asked what Kareena was wondering.

Zola nodded.
“The first time or two. Logistically it will be much easier. After that, I’ll have to get creative.”

There was an unholy glee in the other woman’s eyes that made Kareena damned sure she didn’t want to know how Zola intended to do that.

Roarr leaned against the wall outside her door unsure of how he should precede and that just pissed him off. She was his
der’lan
and she was trying her damnedest to get out of it. It was perplexing. Maddening. If she would just tell him what her objections were, he was certain he could overcome them. There was no denying the physical attraction. Even after two cold showers he was primed and ready. He knew she would be, too. They were too explosive together to remain unaffected. He’d never tire of her. Of her body beneath his, moving with his. Her cries when she came apart in his arms.

What wasn’t to love about that kind of connection? Why was she fighting it? One thing he knew for sure. He had to convince her soon, before the primitive side of him took over and he took the choice from her hands. Now was as good a time as any to start the convincing. Taking a deep breath, he straightened, knocked, and didn’t bother waiting for an invitation to enter.

“Are the customs that different on Delroi?” she asked waspishly, slipping into her shoes.

He shrugged one shoulder.
“Not with one’s
der’lan
.”

She stepped into the corridor with him.
“I thought we were dropping that.”

“
Nope,” he said, borrowing an Earth word. “You’d just like me too.”

She huffed and changed the subject.
“I thought Parker and Zola were coming too?” she asked when he led her away.

“
They said they weren’t up for it.”

He could feel her incredulity and knew he’d guessed right. If he’d given her the chance, she’d have done the same.

“Who is this dinner with?” she ground out.

“
The ship’s commander, one of his lieutenants, and their
der’lans
. On another ship, he’d called the captain but this is Daggar’s personal ship so the rules are a little different.”

She dragged him to a stop in the middle of the hall and glared.
“Is this some kind of ambush?”

“
Why would you think that?” he asked trying to sound innocent. “Falkor won’t be separated from Janice and she isn’t up for it, which leaves the final evening meal of the trip with the commander to me.”

“
And why am I going?”

He shrugged.
“You’re a guest. Don’t guests traditionally dine with the ship’s captain on Earth?”

He didn’t think she believed him, but she stopped arguing and changed the subject.
“So we’ll be there tomorrow?”

“
You’ll be on Delroi in time for lunch,” he responded.

Kareena considered protesting, but the truth was while she rarely let anyone get close to her, she was an extrovert. She liked people. She enjoyed company. And she’d never admit it to Roarr, but she’d been craving interaction with some of the people she’d soon be living with. Besides, it was time she got some answers.

He led her to a section of the ship that had been barred from her on her explorations.
“The ship’s bridge and senior officer quarters are here,” he told her as if he knew she’d wondered why. Hell, he probably did. She thought she’d rebuilt her shields, but when he looked her she wasn’t so sure.

They entered a comfortable dining room. There was a table that sat eight, but the other two couples lingered at the expanse of glass overlooking space. It wasn’t the vast expanse of black emptiness she’d grown accustomed to. A star was visible in the distance and a blue planet was much closer. It looked huge and swollen.

“We’re in your solar system,” she guessed.

“
Yes,” he said, setting his palm on her lower back and steering her forward.

The waiting group turned to greet them. She’d met the commander and his first lieutenant, both tall severe Delroi warriors. She was surprised at the tender, almost reverent look that came over the captain’s face when he turned to his mate, however. The woman said hello softly, stilted, and Kareena read her reserve as shyness not timidity. She smiled back at the younger woman, hoping to put her at ease. The other woman she’d met when she arrived, the healer who’d treated Janice. She assessed Kareena with a bold, friendly gaze before offering her hand. Kareena liked her instantly. They all sat at the table and Roarr handed her a glass of blue wine. She savored it a minute before Erika, the healer, spoke.

“So Kareena, what do you do on Earth?”

She froze until Roarr’s mind surround her with warmth and reassurance, then a slight pressure. A request for entrance. She let her own open to him.

“They know you were a prisoner we liberated. Nothing more.”

“
And no one objects to my being here? I could be an axe murderer for all y’all know.”

His reply was heavy with sensual amusement.
“Are you, baby? Perhaps I should keep you tied up in bed then. For my own safety, of course.”

“
I’m not amused.”

“
Hmm, maybe not. But you are turned on.”

“
I’m a self defense instructor. Well, I was,” she spoke aloud, desperate to banish his voice, the images he shared with her mentally.

For a moment, disapproval swamped her and again Roarr’s warmth surrounded her, rescued her.
“Perhaps you will be again, Kareena.” His voice was clear and concise, almost a rebuke against the other men at the table.

The commander’s eyes registered surprise then understanding.
“I forget you’re from the Keep,” he said.

“
The Keep?” she asked.

“
You would call it the capital city of my clan. I have a few things to settle in Saber City, but we’ll journey to the Keep as soon as possible.”

That surprised her and he brushed a finger over her scowl.
“What?”

“
I assumed you would take us to Laney Bradford.”

“
Why would you think that?”

“
You know I have no intention of giving you up,”
he admonished mentally.

She knew he didn’t want to, but she had expected others to have more say in what happened once they arrived. If she wasn’t so surprised, she would have given him a non-response. She didn’t know any of these people. She had no idea who to trust.

“As far as political prisoners go, I’m pretty valuable. There are a lot of people on Earth who’d pay a fortune for me.” Sadly, that wasn’t an exaggeration.

“
What, angel? You don’t trust me to protect you?” He looked amused more than insulted though. “You aren’t our prisoner.”

She hadn’t believed that before. Not really. She wasn’t sure if she believed it now. She’d figured asylum would just be another form of captivity, kinder perhaps, but the same thing in the end.

“If you’re travelling, Roarr, you should bring Kareena to visit us in the green zone. We’ll be at home for the next few months,” Erika said.

Kareena knew she intrigued the other woman and sensed a friend. If her mate disapproved of the invitation, he hid it well.

Roarr nodded. “Thank you. Perhaps we will in a few weeks.”

She was irritated he was making plans for her like they were together, a couple, but she was unsure of where she stood exactly with these aliens so kept her protest to herself. She’d confront him later.

“What about you, Delia,” she asked the other woman. “What do you do?”

“
Oh, not much,” she said, self deprecating. “Right now I’m just travelling with Zaren.”

He smiled at her and lifted her hand to his lips brushing a kiss over them. Kareena was stunned at the change that came over him.
“That isn’t true, sweetheart,” he said, then looked at Kareena. “Delia is president of the weaver’s guild in the capital. Daggar’s city.”

“
I saw a weaver demonstration a few years ago. It was very cool.”

Delia gave her a quizzical look.
“Cool? Cold?”

“
Sorry. Earth slang. It can also mean good. Interesting.”

“
Ah,” she said, offering a tiny smile. “Cool.”

Kareena grinned.
“Exactly.”

Dinner continued. It should have been relaxing and enjoyable but as the meal progressed arousal became a relentless ache. Roarr didn’t help matters. He touched her constantly. He brushed his fingers along her arm, stroked her neck and shoulders. He bumped her knee with his. None of which should make her wish for privacy and the strength to rip his clothes off. Finally it was over and they said goodbye. She moved eagerly back towards her room, but just as they reached it his comm unit beeped. He read the screen before sighing and turning to her outside her door.

“I have to take care of this, baby. Get some rest.”

He was leaving her? In this state? With an impersonal, perfunctory kiss on the cheek? Then he was gone while she gaped after him. Get some rest? Before she could stomp after him in fury, Parker’s door slid open.

“You’re back.” She gave her a shrewd look. “Are you okay? Come in here. We’re getting drunk together.”

Since she wasn’t getting laid, she figured she might as well. She followed, half smiling, wondering why. Zola lounged in one chair and lifted her glass in salute. Kareena helped herself to some of the blue wine the Delroi called
gazzi
. It was sweet and smooth. She’d already had a couple and probably shouldn’t have more, but what the hell? She sat at the desk chair while Parker took the bed.

“
What’s up?”

Parker gave her a shrewd look. For someone planning to get drunk they both sure looked stone cold sober.

“I think we should be asking you that. What did you find out? What do they plan to do with us?”

Her voice was heavy with suspicion and Kareena didn’t blame her, but she had another concern.

“Listening devices?”

“
Zola is doing some telekinetic mumbo jumbo just in case,”
Parker answered.

“
Roarr says we aren’t prisoners. He says we aren’t going to Laney Bradford.” Kareena paused, realized she’d allowed him to distract her and was irritated at her inability to get some simple answers. “He said we’ll be in Saber City tomorrow and a place called the Keep after that.”

“
All of us?”

Shit. She hadn’t even got that much out of him.
“Of course. Why would they separate us?”

“
But you don’t know that for sure,” Parker said. “I’m not sure if I should be happy you’re breaking your dry spell or worried about who it’s with.”

Kareena flushed hot.
“Both,” she muttered.

“
We need to speak to Janice,” Zola said. “I haven’t been able to get near her.”

The telekinetic assassin sounded more than a bit stunned by that news.

“I haven’t heard any news on her,” Kareena added. “But when they came for us, it was clear Janice and Falkor were together. That bond…”

She let the thought trail off and shivered. A psychic bond. Strong, true, and unbreakable. Kareena had only run across them a few times in her life, but even with her powers offline she’d known it was there.

“We can only hope,” she whispered. “That Janice has influence and is reliable.”

“
Well, she’s a hell of an assassin,” Zola said dryly. “I’m sure she’s both. That doesn’t mean we can trust she has our best interests at heart. She’s obviously chosen a side with the Delroi.”

“
So what do you want to do?”

“
Stick together,” Parker said. “If it becomes necessary, we escape and look for sanctuary.” She gave Kareena a shrewd look. “If you think you can manage that.”

She didn’t take offense, but she did roll her eyes at her old friend.
“I know what I’m doing.”