Rayven's Keep (11 page)

The pleasure of his touch was impossible to resist, so she didn’t even try. They boarded
Dominion
without speaking, and she watched while he stowed his bag.

Tru stopped as someone spoke in honeyed tones. She had no idea what had just been said, but recognized the musical language right away as the same one Nick and the others used when she’d first arrived. She glanced around for the woman, but there was no one else onboard.

In the same language, Nick rattled off something she made no attempt to follow.

“Acknowledged,”

Tru’s eyebrows rose, she understood what had just been said. “What just happened?”

“I’ve instructed Siren to use common speak in all communications so you can understand her.”

“Siren? Who is Siren?”

“The
Dominion
is the first ship in my fleet to have an artificial intelligence onboard. We named her Siren,” he explained. “This is her maiden voyage, and Siren has been programmed to learn as we go. She will be listening to voice patterns, learning preferences and adding to her knowledge. Tonlithian is her base language, with common speak secondary. She’s learning other languages and will be able to translate as needed in the future.”

Tru nodded, not sure she grasped the whole concept, but intrigued by the idea.

“Siren, secure the boarding ramp and seal the entry door,” Nick ordered as he guided Tru forward so she could take a seat at the front of the ship. He took his seat and buckled in for takeoff. Her seat conformed to her body and she looked at Nick for an explanation.

“The ship will remember your shape and preferences,” he said. “It is part of her design.”

She nodded. Fascinated, she watched the flight console lights and readouts. She didn’t understand what she was seeing, but wasn’t concerned. Nick was at the helm.

“Captain, I have scanned communications and we are clear to leave. Weather conditions should guarantee a smooth lift off,” Siren announced. “Would you like me to initiate final systems check?”

“Yes. Verbalize as well as display.” Nick scanned the readouts and listened to the engines come online and hum with power.

“Manual helm control, Siren.”

“Acknowledged, Captain.”

Nick took over, and the ship lifted from the landing pad, hovering in position before rotating for takeoff. Anticipation and exhilaration sped through Tru’s system, raising her heartbeat. She breathed through it, wondering how he could appear so unruffled by the force thrumming under her feet. The
Dominion
responded like a lover to his every touch, and he wasn’t as unaffected as she’d first thought, if his wolfish grin was any indication.

One minute they were hovering and the next, the ship shot through the atmosphere like a bullet. Their speed blurred the landscape below and took them to space so smoothly the transition from the planet’s gravity to space barely registered. The grav field came online without the usual hesitation and removed the standard stomach-churning weightlessness.

Tru abandoned her black mood of earlier and laughed. She thumped her chair arm. “This is incredible.”

Nick glanced at her and grinned before turning his attention back to the helm.

“Siren, notify base we’re safely away.” He pulled up information on their destination and scanned it.

“Base acknowledges,” Siren replied after a moment’s silence.

“Excellent.” He settled more comfortably in his chair before looking at Tru. “Siren has plotted a direct route to Kaydet, minimizing our journey time. At the speed this ship is capable of moving we should shave several standard days off the journey.”

“Classification of human female, Captain?” Siren asked.

“Tru Creighton, passenger and guest,” he replied. “Standard access required.”

“Acknowledged. Welcome aboard Tru Creighton, guest of Captain Rayven.”

“Ah, thank you, Siren,” Tru said, looking at Nick for guidance. It felt odd to be addressing the disembodied speaker and even stranger to feel insecure because of the lilting, sensual voice addressing her.

“Please place your right palm on the sensor, Tru Creighton, for ship’s designation and biological security scan.”

A thin, flat panel slid out of the console beside Tru and the outline of a hand glowed. She looked at it and then at Nick. “What is a biological security scan?” She asked concerned.

“The scan allows Siren to recognize you. It gives you access to the ship with your palm print and limited access to other functions within Siren’s control.”

“Such as?”

“The meal server, databanks, communication protocols, med system. Heck, Siren even has games and books available to help us pass the time.” Pride was evident in his voice, and Tru smiled. “She’ll also analyze your voice patterns for verbal commands.”

Satisfied, she placed her palm on the panel. Her palm tingled with energy and a slight prick of her finger made her jump. A tiny drop of blood showed on the panel before disappearing. She jerked her hand away.

Before she could get angry, Nick explained. “I should have warned you about the blood sample. The information is stored in case of a medical emergency. Siren will analyze and will have the data for treatment if needed.”

“Female passenger, Tru Creighton, standard access granted,” Siren crooned, distracting Tru. “Instructions, Captain Rayven?”

“Switching to auto, Siren. The helm is under your control until further notice. Initiate standard long range perimeter scans.”

“Acknowledged. Auto engaged.”

Nick unbuckled his seat straps and waited for Tru to do the same. “Let me give you a quick tour so you can familiarize yourself with the ship,” he said. “Everything is designed to be stowed out of the way when not in use.”

“Like what?”

He walked to the back of the ship and stopped in front of a wall panel. “Most of the crew amenities are accessed from this panel. The colors will determine what function. The blue touch screen will allow the beds to slide into place for sleeping.”

He touched the screen and she watched, fascinated, as two beds opened and lowered into place from the walls. Until that moment, she hadn’t even noticed them or thought about where she would sleep.

“The red section is for medical. The green is food service. You get the picture. I tried to keep the design simple to maximize space.”

“Everything in its place and a place for everything,” she quipped.

“Exactly.” He studied her smiling face, his expression warning her she might not like what was to come next. “We need to talk.”

Sitting on a bench nestled between the bulkheads, he motioned for her to join him. She sat and folded her hands on her lap wondering what the problem was now. She didn’t look at him, only heard the stiffness in his voice when he spoke. “Your grandfather and I agree you will be safer with me for the time being. He’ll keep Sonne occupied while we deliver the mineral sample to Dendera Labs on Kaydet.”

Nick leaned forward and rested his forearms on his thighs, his hands clasped between his spread knees. “Geir is the wildcard here, Tru. I don’t know if he’ll come after you, but from what you told me I suspect he will. I would if it were me.”

Nick stared hard at her willing her to look at him. She turned her head and met the intensity of his gaze.

“He has killed one person we know of and he won’t hesitate to kill you if he can.”

“But, why?” She asked in a small worried voice. “What would be the point?”

“Men like Geir operate in the shadows. He has to have partners to pull this off and I can guarantee they won’t be happy to be put under any kind of scrutiny. If too much attention is drawn to their activities, they will take Geir out without any hesitation They will protect their identity. He has to find you. Anything short of stopping you is a death sentence.”

She was frightened and trying hard not to show it. Her breathing was uneven and fine tremors wracked her body. She stood up, only to sit down because her legs were too shaky to support her.

“Captain, bio scans show passenger Tru Creighton to be in mild distress,” Siren interrupted, her voice pitched to express concern. “Heart rate and respiration are accelerated, skin surface is clammy.”

“Understood,” he snapped. “Disregard.”

“Acknowledged.”

Tru dropped her head into her hands.

“There are still a few kinks to be worked out,” he offered in way of apology. “Privacy being one of them.”

She snorted a nervous laugh. Raising her head, she studied him desperate for reassurance.

“I’ll keep you safe, Tru,” he said simply, running the back of his fingers down her cheek. His touch was gentle, the barest whisper against her skin. She leaned into his touch, helpless to stop herself before he moved his hand away.

He leaned forward and dropped a light kiss against her jaw. Startled, she raised her eyes and locked onto his face, searching intently. With infinite slowness, he once again moved toward her, giving her time to turn away if she chose. She met him halfway and sighed when his mouth melded to hers. The kiss was a tender give-and-take and before it could evolve into more he broke it off. She felt dazed and off balance and regretted he’d ended the kiss, even while she acknowledged to herself it had been a mistake in the first place.

“Captain, scans indicate–” Siren intoned.

“Enough,” Nick barked and pinched the bridge of his nose.

“Acknowledged.” She sounded offended, and silence hung heavy.

“I seem to spend a great deal of time apologizing to you, Tru,” Nick admitted, his voice low and tone clipped. “I should not have kissed you. You are under my protection. It will not happen again, I assure you.”

“Whatever,” she tossed back, proud her voice was steady. In reality, she wanted to groan out loud because she was confused and exhilarated at the same time. She wasn’t sure why he’d kissed her in the first place but was annoyed he apologized and then told her it wouldn’t happen again. Unsure of what to say next, she stood and crossed the small space to the wall panel.

“So, Nick, how do I get a drink?” She studied the readout with her back to him.

He swore under his breath and she glanced over her shoulder with a questioning smile. He scowled. She ran the tip of her tongue over her lower lip and his eyes narrowed following the movement. It was good to know he wasn’t as unaffected by something which had just tilted her world as he would like her to believe. She turned away, mollified and infinitely more cheerful.
 

He helped her get the drink she wanted.

Chapter 10

Anto Geir fought the panic consuming him, tearing little pieces of his confidence away and spitting it out until all remaining was a jagged mess of raw nerves. Sweat beaded his upper lip, and he wiped it away with an unsteady hand. Too jumpy and angry to sit, he took another turn around his cramped office. Everything was falling apart, shot to hell because of one nosy bitch.

Slamming a fist into his opposite palm, Anto ground his teeth. He detested waiting and the fear gnawing his insides. Hated not knowing for sure where Tru Creighton hid. But, mostly he despised the bastards he did business with. Failure was unacceptable and if their little side venture was brought to light, he was as good as dead.

The callscreen chimed, and Anto jumped, his heart knocking hard against his ribs. Rounding his desk, he punched the button and waited impatiently for the channel to connect.

“What have you found out, Malvin?” he demanded upon seeing the other man’s image fill the screen. “Have you located her?”

Malvin Sonne was the perfect figurehead for Lodestone Mining. Tall. Tanned. Debonair. And not a thought in his head beyond what was put there by Anto Geir. Right now, his handsome face was gray with strain. Running a hand through his hair, he left it uncharacteristically mussed.

“You have no idea how difficult this is,” Malvin muttered, his eyes darting around the room. Leaning closer, his face filled the screen and Anto reared back startled. “Maddox Creighton is a hard man to question. I can’t let him get suspicious. The only thing he has told me about his granddaughter is she’s visiting a friend in a nearby town called Tuor.”

“Are you positive? He doesn’t know she was on Lodestone?” Anto shot back.

“Yes, I’m positive. He has no idea she was anywhere but where she said she would be and I don’t dare push. He’s already asking uncomfortable questions about Lodestone Mining. I swear he knows something, Anto. He’s asked about you and is wondering why you didn’t come to this meeting like you usually do.”