Rayven's Keep (19 page)

“Thanks for the heads up, Callen. I’ll be in touch when I’ve dropped the package at Dendera and we’re headed back.”

“See you do.”

Nick disconnected the call and scrubbed a hand through his short hair. Frowning, he stared into space while he considered the information Callen had given him. If Geir had lifted off Lodestone, then he wasn’t far behind them. The delay at Zeegret Station narrowed the time difference considerably. He would be lucky if they managed to complete the commission and get away before Geir caught up to them.

He wasn’t surprised Geir was hard on his heels. After Nick had disabled the ship sent after them, Geir had to have known his hopes of a quick capture had failed. He would bet his last credit Geir had someone in place at Dendera Labs as a backup. Flexing his fingers, he thought about a confrontation with Geir, something he would relish if he didn’t have to worry about Tru. To destroy the bastard if for no other reason than he’d threatened her would give him a great deal of pleasure. He’d make sure she was safe, and then he’d take Anto Geir apart.

Leaving the bridge, he sought Tru. He found her sitting at the small table in the crew quarters humming tunelessly while she brushed her hair. It had grown considerably in the days they had been travelling. Her impatient swipe when it fell into her eyes was cute. She was so absorbed in the task she didn’t notice him. She put down the brush and twisted it into a knot at the back of her head, but the minute she pushed in the last clip and lowered her hands, it started to escape. She stopped humming.

She removed the clips, holding them between her lips while she pulled the sides back, and then shoved them in. He guessed she was hoping this would hold. It did, for all of two minutes. The clips slid out and curls fell into her eyes. Tight lipped, she slammed the clips onto the table and went in search of something else to keep her hair off her face.

Fascinated, Nick watched her, pushing aside the new danger facing them for a moment. He’d stopped midway to lean a shoulder against the bulwark so he could see what she would do next without intruding too much. She was back in an instant, flopped onto her chair and dumped several combs and strips of cloth on the table.

He wasn’t sure he liked the idea of all those delicious strands being contained, but he recognized determination when he saw it.

He’d just decided to make a quiet retreat and talk to her later when he realized she knew he was watching her. Her hands tremble before she clasped them together atop the table, and he wondered if it was from nerves or something else. She glanced at him and her eyes were a fathomless blue drawing him in. She licked her lips and his insides knotted as if he’d taken a fist to the solar plexus. His lungs burned from lack of air and he drew in a deep breath. Nick pushed himself away from the wall and headed her way, unable to stop himself from drawing closer. “Need help, Tru?” He stopped just behind her.

She nodded and relaxed against the back of her chair as he slid his fingers through the thick masses. She shivered. Eyes half closed, she seemed to enjoy his fingers tangling in her hair as he massaged her scalp. Almost purring, she leaned her head forward giving him better access.

“I think it would be better to just keep your hair down.” His voice sounded hoarse even to his own ears. “I like the curls as they are.”

With infinite slowness, drawing out the action as much as he could, he forced his hands from the silken strands and to his sides. He took a step back and cleared his throat. He still itched to bury his palms in the soft, thick curls. He wasn’t doing a good job of keeping his distance, but, damn, he would have to be a eunuch not to be tempted by those shining strands. Nick was no eunuch.

“We should be reaching Kaydet soon,” he said. “Dendera Labs is located in the small town of Killjoy. It’s close to the port, which makes it a little easier for me.” He sat across from Tru and stretched out his legs. “This world is cold, mostly covered in snow and ice and fairly inhospitable. This kind of cold can be deadly. I’ll have Siren contact the Labs so they know when to expect me. I don’t plan to be on Kaydet any longer than necessary.”

“Why in the world are we going there, then?” she asked. “Why didn’t we go to one of the other labs on a more hospitable world?”

“The head of Geotern Mining wanted the mineral delivered here for testing. It wasn’t my concern why. I was more interested in the amount of credits being offered to get it here.” His smile was brief, before he sobered to continued, “Tru, there is something else we need to discuss before we land. Callen informed me Anto Geir is coming after you, and I have to assume he’s somehow figured out where we’re headed. My guess is there has been a leak in Geotern.”

He watched the color drain from her face and clasped her hand to offer a small measure of comfort. “I won’t let him harm you, you know that right? We will only be there long enough for me to take care of necessary business and then we will lift off as soon as I’m done. I doubt he has had time enough to get there before us, which is to our advantage.”

Tru nodded.

“I want you to stay onboard
Dominion
while I make the delivery. You will be safer here.”

“No!” Panic coated her words.

“This ship is secure. Geir will not be able to breach the defenses,” he replied keeping his voice calm and reassuring.

“No. I want to be with you. What if something happens to you while I sit here? What if he figures out where I am? I won’t stay here, Nick. I won’t.”

“Tru, you are being childish. It is far too dangerous for you to leave the ship,” he said, beginning to get annoyed, his mouth firmed. “It is best you do as I say and stay onboard.”

“No,” she shot back. She slipped her hand from his and folded her arms across her chest. She lifted her chin. “You promised to protect me and you can’t if you leave me on board alone.”

Frustrated by her stubborn refusal, he narrowed his eyes. “You are being unreasonable. You will slow me down and get in the way of making this delivery.”

“I will not stay on this ship while you go to Dendera Labs, Nick Rayven, and you can’t make me. If you try to make me stay I will just follow after you.”

Determination was in every line of her body, but the fear he saw in her face gave him pause. His instincts told him she should stay on the ship, but he found he couldn’t force her when faced with the dread dilating her pupils and making her voice shake.

“This is a bad idea. I don’t have a good feeling about it,” he said with absolute conviction.

“Please, Nick.” Her eyes pleaded, and she reached to clasp the hand she’d dropped earlier. He turned his hand in hers to link their fingers and gave a gentle squeeze.

“Fine, but you stick to me like we’re attached at the hip. Is that clear?”

She nodded, and he saw the relief on her face

“I mean it, Tru. You do exactly what I say without question or hesitation. You understand?”

She nodded again, more vigorously this time.

“Shit. I know I’m going to regret this,” he muttered, running his free hand across the back of his neck.

“Captain, we are on final approach to Kaydet,” Siren announced. “Instructions?”

“You know the drill, Siren. Contact the port for permission to land. Inform Dendera Labs we will be there shortly and let them know I’m here to meet with the Administrator, Pol Dirn. He should be expecting us if Geotern did what it was supposed to.” As he replied, he kept his gaze on Tru. He was going against his better judgment by giving in to her.

“Acknowledged.”

“C’mon, Tru, let’s suit up.” Nick sighed, rose from his seat and pulled her up with a gentle tug. “I want off this world as quickly as we can manage it.”

* * * *

The blast of icy wind was like a punch in the face, taking her breath away and stinging the tip of her nose where the protective hood of her coat had slipped down. She raised her gloved hands to tighten the fur-lined garment. Behind her tinted goggles, Tru scanned the desolate landscape awestruck by the designs etched in stark relief on drifts caused by the constant blowing snow. Visibility was poor beyond a few meters. Afraid she would lose him in the shifting light and near white out conditions, she clung to the back of Nick’s jacket.

A few ships occupied the landing pad, dark hulking shapes adding to the surreal landscape. Drone vehicles crisscrossed the tarmac in a futile effort to keep it cleared of snow. The spaceport building looked like nothing more than a smudge on the landscape, but thankfully was not too far away.

Nick plowed through the snow, forging a path for her to walk in. His body blocked the worst of the wind and protected her from the icy shards kicked up by the storm. Kaydet was as different from Lodestone as night from day, but both places were equally hellish in her opinion. Her mood didn’t improve with the comparison.

The entrance to the port building was a series of doors, each space adding a layer of insulation from the outside weather. The relief from the wind was instantaneous as were the slightly warmer conditions in the first entrance. Nick stomped snow off his boots and brushed it from his heavy outerwear. Removing his goggles and gloves, he turned to help her. He pushed her fur-covered hood back and smiled reassuringly once he’d swept most of the snow off her. Her cheeks stung from the cold and she dreaded to think what might have happened without her protective gear. The warmth of his fingers as he skimmed them over her chilled face felt odd, but she found herself leaning into the light pressure enjoying the brief contact.

“It will be easier going from here. There is a series of tunnels connecting the buildings, so we won’t be out in the weather again until we leave,” he said. “We just need to check in with the port authority with our plans and duration of stay.”

“Whatever for?”

“Policy. It wouldn’t be good for a visitor to get lost and end up dead from exposure.” He shrugged as if the matter was of little import. She followed him to the next set of doors, trying not to think about the horror of dying in this unforgiving landscape.

The main offices of the port authority were much warmer, and she wished she could shed her jacket. Sweat trickled down her back and dampened her hairline. Nick didn’t seem to be affected in the least and it was a small point of irritation keeping her focused on her growing misery. She barely paid attention to the woman manning the desk as their plans were logged and directions were given for the maze of tunnels connecting the various buildings and businesses. She was too busy feeling uncomfortable until she noticed the woman flirting with Nick.

Although she wouldn’t call the woman beautiful, she was attractive and exuded confidence. Tru scowled at her and moved closer to Nick’s side. The woman glanced at her dismissively and smiled at Nick, telegraphing her interest without subtlety. Tru’s irritation ratcheted, but she was saved from making a fool of herself when he put an arm around her and pulled her closer. The other woman exchanged a wry glance with Tru and her posture straightened until she was no longer leaning close to Nick. Tru tried not to gloat.

“You are all set, Captain Rayven. Please check in before departure so we can account for your whereabouts,” the clerk said, her tone brisk and businesslike now she knew he was off limits.

The well-traveled tunnels were brightly illuminated. Tru was surprised to realize there was a thriving community here, but couldn’t imagine what drew them to this cold world. Nick wasn’t inclined to talk and it took everything she had to keep up with his ground-eating stride. When he’d said he wanted business taken care of quickly, he wasn’t joking. His urgency transmitted itself to her and made her heart beat just a little harder. Anxiety she tried very hard to hide made her stay close to his tall form.

* * * *

Dendera Labs was huge, well lit and sterile-looking. Pol Dirn, a small, thin man of indeterminate age, greeted them upon their arrival and then escorted them to a plush office to their right.

“I understand you have a mineral to be tested?” The question was directed at Nick as they took their seats. Pol Dirn settled behind his large desk and clasped his hands on the desktop. “Geotern thinks this could have potential as an alternative power source so I’m very interested in getting my hands on it to see if there is any basis for excitement.”

Nick studied the man across from him. Warning signals were going off, but he couldn’t put his finger on what exactly disturbed him. “I was told to deliver the package to you and no one else,” he answered after a slight pause, “I just need you to sign off on the transfer for Geotern, acknowledging the delivery and then we’re out of here.”

“Of course, of course.” Pol nodded and tapped information into his hand-held tablet. He gave a perfunctory smile before he scooted it across to Nick. “Look this over to verify its accuracy and then leave your thumb print in the lower right. It will be scanned and then an acknowledgement will be transmitted to Geotern’s offices. That should take care of it.”