Leaving Earth (17 page)

by Loribelle Hunt

After it was decided Barak would accompany the new Lady Torfa, both she and the Overchief had visibly relaxed. She fussed over him quietly for several minutes, once again bringing up the rejuvenation tank. He didn't think she noticed his lord's shudder of revulsion, a feeling Barak shared. The green viscous liquid may speed up healing, but there was something revolting about it. He knew Daggar's refusal to use it had more to do with the disgusting nature of the machine than the time required to be spent in it. Finally Daggar, who definitely looked the worse for wear, left to go question Hakon and Barak set off for the Ambassador's office with Kendall. The look he'd exchanged with the Overchief made it clear he held Barak personally responsible for his mate's safety. Barak scowled at her as they turned into the corridor that led to the Earth contingent's quarters.

"What?"

"You Earth women are impossible." He should have kept his thoughts to himself, but he was frustrated with his investigation, with all the time he was spending watching over the Torfa women and Britt. And he couldn't shake the feeling the problems were just beginning, not only with the women, but also with the rebels and Earthlings on planet. The disturbing new rumor he'd heard, that his clan, his father, was now involved with the rebels didn't help his state of mind. He should have gone straight to Alrik with that news, 157

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but he wanted to be positive, to have concrete evidence one way or the other.

Kendall laughed and shook her head. "See, and we think the problem is just the opposite. You Delroi are the impossible ones."

She seemed remarkably cheerful for a woman whose mate was frustrated with and fighting against her independent streak and his need to protect her. If he didn't know better, he'd think she wasn't aware of it, but with the bond she had to know. Maybe she just didn't care. Gods, that better not explain her attitude. If it did he was certain Britt would be worse and he was not nearly as tolerant of defiance as Daggar and Alrik were.

He was so lost in his thoughts, he didn't notice when they turned into the Earth offices, registered too late the unnatural silence of the place. Kendall stepped ahead of him and pushed the Ambassador's office door open before he could stop her. He followed her in with a sinking sensation in his gut, warred with rage and despair when he saw Britt crumpled on the floor. He could discern no movement from her, no rise and fall of her chest. No signs of life. Kendall rushed to her side, but he focused on the man standing behind the desk, still holding the weapon, a long baton, he must have used on her. The Ambassador froze when they entered, gaze zeroing in on Barak's face. He took one long stride forward, imagining the man's throat crushed between his hands, when Kendall stopped him. From where she knelt on the floor, she drew her pistol, leveled it at the Ambassador.

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"Barak." He met her gaze, knew his eyes were wild, but he just didn't give a fuck.

"I need to get her to the infirmary.
Now
." And then he saw it. The shallow rise of her chest, the fluttered eyelashes. He squeezed his eyes shut briefly. She lived. Barely. But she lived. He swung his head back towards the Ambassador, who hadn't budged a muscle. He had the wild look of a cornered animal in his eye. He would die. The one who'd dared touch Barak's
der'lan
. His mate. He moved towards the Ambassador, stopped and frowned at the door. Did he hear footsteps running down the hall or only sense a coming attack? The man laughed and Barak jerked his head around to face him, noticed Britt stirring back to consciousness.
Wake up, sweetheart
, he willed.
I need you
with me now
. Why did it seem so natural to assume she'd stand at his side? It was completely contrary to the instincts of the male of his species. He should be thinking about getting her away, not enlisting her help. She wasn't in any position to do that now. The safety of both women was in his hands.

He quickly strode to the outer office, slammed and locked the door before returning inside and repeating the action on the Ambassador's door. He stalked the Earthling across the room and slammed him against the wall with one hand gripping his throat. From his peripheral vision, he noted Britt sitting up, then using the edge of the desk to climb to her feet. His relief was immense, but he didn't have time to focus on it. His fingers convulsed around the man's neck and he leaned in close enough to smell his rising fear. 159

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"What the fuck is going here, Ambassador?" he asked, but didn't loosen his grip enough that the man could respond. He was too focused on Britt, who approached carefully, one hand pressed to the back of her head. When she reached his side, she stroked his back with her fingers, the touch so light he wondered if he'd imagined it.

"This one is mine."

He shook his head. "No. For daring to touch you, his death belongs to me."

Her answering smile was rueful. "How did I know you would try to claim it?"

A delicately cleared throat. He spun his head around, found Kendall watching them with her eyebrows arched.

"Before you get to the killing, could we get some answers?" He fought his first instinct, a resounding hell no, and forced his hand to release the Earthling's neck. He sagged against the wall, gasping for air, as banging started on the outer doors. Fuck.

"Did you call Daggar?"

Kendall nodded. "He's on his way. That's not him out there."

"No." He had a good idea who was out there, the rebels who'd until recently believed he was one of them. It had long been believed by the southern clans that the Torfas kept him close to ensure cooperation from his father. No one knew he'd stayed willingly, that he worked with the brothers. That was why he'd been able to infiltrate the rebels and he still didn't know how they'd discovered he was a spy. Even knowing he was Vasin Trace's son wouldn't exonerate of him of that 160

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crime. He unlocked the door and prepared to step into the reception room. He'd hold them off until Daggar arrived with reinforcements. Britt stopped him before he could open the door.

"What are you doing?"

He rested his palm on her check and she turned just slightly into the caress. So beautiful. "Delaying them long enough for the Overchief's men to get here."

"I'll help."

"No." Hell no. He jerked his head in the direction of the cowering Earthling. "I need you to get answers out of him and guard Kendall."

She wanted to protest, he saw it in her eyes, but she only bit her bottom lip. He couldn't resist, bent his head to hers and kissed her. He wanted to inhale her, to own her. To claim what was his. Before he knew it, the words were coming out, whispered against her lips with all the craving he felt for her. He didn't know if it would work without sex, but he thought it might, felt relief when the bond snapped into place. She was psychic, like him, and he'd thought that would make the difference.

The banging grew louder out in the corridor and he reluctantly released her. She clung to him a moment.
Later,
der'lan. Keep Kendall safe.
Her eyes widened at the mental contact, but she stepped out of the way so he could exit. When the door closed and locked behind him, he hoped to the Gods there would be a later.

* * * *

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Kendall watched Barak leave with a sense of foreboding and silently urged Daggar to hurry. He was closer, moving through the Palace much faster than she would have believed he could in his current condition. He was still irritated with her, but was more focused on his worry now. Britt prowled the room, never turning her glare away from the door. Kendall jumped when the outer banged open, followed immediately by the sounds of fighting. The noise spurred Britt into action. In a blur so fast, Kendall almost missed it the other woman was in the opposite side of the room, a knife Kendall hadn't seen before in her hand and pressing against the Ambassador's throat.

"Start talking," she snapped.

He gulped and a drop of blood trickled down his neck. His eyes were wide, wild and afraid. Kendall stepped closer.

"Who killed Dr. Peters? Why?" They were pretty sure they knew some of those answers, but she wanted confirmation. He tried to shake his head.

"She
will
kill you." Britt pressed the knife against his skin harder and the drop became a trickle. The physician in her cringed at what they were doing, but the soldier recognized necessity when she saw it.

"The lab tech. Hakon. Peters wasn't supposed to get into those boxes."

"Who else in the lab is involved?" She hoped no one else. She'd liked the healers she met there.

"I don't know. Hakon is the only name I know. The only one I deal with here."

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And finally they were getting somewhere. "And on Earth?

Who is your contact there?"

"Jeffrey Scott." The name shocked her and she saw her surprise mirrored in Britt's eyes. Scott was the former Prime Minister, forced to resign for conspiring to kill Alrik Torfa and derail the peace talks. Resigning hadn't denied him his contacts or support though. Shit. So the two sides were involved. Britt indicated the reception room behind them where the fighting was still taking place with a nod of her head. "How do you explain that then?"

"You were asking questions yesterday." He almost smirked. "I called Hakon. He must have had them waiting for your return."

"Why are you people stupid enough to get involved with Delroi rebels?"

"They didn't want the invasion. The occupation. When they take over here, Earth will be ours again." Britt snorted. "Really stupid. If anything, the rebels want to use more force, a bigger presence on Earth."

"That's not true."

"It is," Kendall replied understanding the coup on Earth now. "Scott intends to grab as much power for himself as he can, and he's willing to hand Earth over to get it." She wondered if he had a plan for dealing with the rebels once he unleashed them. He wouldn't be able to control them and she doubted they would put up with him very long. Silence fell abruptly outside and all three of them jerked at the sudden lack of noise. They both stepped away from the Ambassador, Britt to the door and Kendall to punch the 163

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speaker option on the desk's comm console, allowing them to hear what was happening in the chamber beyond. A rough voice barked over the unit.

"
The Overchief's close. Bring Trace and let's get out of
here
."

"
The Earthling?"

"Leave him for the Torfas."
The Ambassador jumped forward at the words, rushing for the door, but Britt was there, her movement so fast Kendall didn't see the knife plunge into his chest. She stared at him for half a second, before flinging the door open. She knew without checking that the Ambassador was dead and stepped out behind Britt.

She counted three dead bodies. The furniture was toppled and moved around, the big reception desk shoved in front of the doorway but the door lying on the floor in the hall. Britt was climbing over it when Daggar and Alrik appeared, several men behind them. Alrik caught her wrist before she could run down the hall and Kendall did what she was sure was the only sensible thing. Threw herself into Daggar's arms, clinging to him for all she was worth.

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Daggar ran with Alrik at his side, pain and fatigue forgotten in the rush of adrenalin, the need to get to Kendall. He slowed as they approached the door, arriving just in time to see Britt climbing over a desk blocking the way, Kendall right behind her. Alrik grabbed Britt before she could run off, but he didn't pay much attention to their argument. All he saw was his blonde mate and when she flung herself into his arms, he caught her, squeezing her so hard he was surprised she didn't protest.

She was shaking and he soothed her, whispered assurances of safety before looking up. What he saw made his gut turn. There were dead bodies and no sign of Barak. Alrik barked orders to his warriors and Britt explained that the rebels had taken Trace, that she'd killed the Ambassador. Kendall shivered at her words and he wanted to shake her, to punish her for daring to put herself in such danger, but decided to wait until they returned to their rooms to yell at her. Damn it, this time he'd make an impression and it would have to be with words. He was too shook up, too out of control to dare lift a whip against her perfect, smooth skin.

"Brother." He turned to meet Alrik's gaze. "Let's get them back to our quarters. We can find out there what happened." Alrik looked around and Daggar knew he was worried about securing the area. He didn't say a word, just led Kendall away. Behind him, he heard Britt quietly arguing with Alrik. She wanted to search for Barak, was sure they hadn't 165

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had time to get far away. It seemed unusual for the Earth spy to take such an extreme interest in Barak, even if they were mates. Barak had done his best to avoid her, to not forge any ties between them. He turned his head to look at her, narrowed his eyes at what he saw. She looked shell-shocked but also a little frantic. Both reactions he'd come to know were totally out of character for her. Maybe Barak hadn't been successful in avoiding her after all.
What's wrong with your friend?

She shrugged.
I don't know.
She frowned.
I didn't realize
they knew each other. He kissed her before he left.
Whispered something to her.

He felt her suspicion and shared it. Fuck. Why would Barak use the binding prayer on the woman under those circumstances? He hoped for her sake, that the spymaster was okay.