The Chalice (49 page)

Frustrated, Kara’s breath exhaled in an audible whoosh. “I’m  trying to find

Tegan. Any idea where he m ight be?”

Bi’ertise gave her an odd look. Almost…apologetic. She chewed her lip beforeanswering. “He’s in our quarters with Jaegar. We’ve received a distress signalfrom  another ship under siege in Deg’Nara territory. We’re making plans for arescue m ission. As soon as we’re cleared, we’re heading back in.”

“Are you frickin’ nuts…” Dread snapped. “We just got out.”

“You’re going back in and Tegan’s going with you!” Stunned, Kara’s m ind whirled, struggling to com prehend. He was leaving her. “But that’s ridiculous. W hy would you go back there when you know every scum bag Deg’Nara in the universe is gunning for you?”

Bi’ertise’s brow furrowed. “I thought you understood,” she said. “This is whatwe do, what we have done for many revolutions. It’s why we commandeered thisship…to save as m any of our people as we can.”

“That’s just so noble,” Dread voice dripped with sarcasm . “I’m  guessing

Shagal’s part of this whole frickin’ mess too.”

“He’s with Lord Tegan and Jaegar,” Bi’ertise adm itted, adding stiffly. “As Lord

Tegan’s bodyguard, it is his right and duty.”

“I’m  getting pretty tired of hearing about rights and duties,” Dread growled, tossing her head. “We almost died back there. And now you say Shagal’s going back in?”

“Be quiet for a m inute. Let me think.” An ache throbbed behind her eyeballs. Auras glowed around objects, focus dim inished. An upsurge of fatigue washed over her. She felt nauseated, disoriented. A m igraine in the making. Sure as shit.

Bi’ertise touched her arm . “Are you ill?”

“She’s stressing,” Dread snapped. “I’m  not feeling so good myself.”

Splinters of pain stabbed her brain matter. He’s leaving me! Heading back into

the thick of battle! Biting back a sob, her fists clenched, drum m ing against her

thighs as she stifled the urge to scream . Tegan! How could you?

“Perhaps you should return to your quarters and gather your things,” Bi’ertise said not unkindly. “We don’t have m uch tim e and Lord Tegan will want to know you’re safe before we depart.”

“Well, I gotta few things to say to Howdy Doody before we go.” Dread grabbed her arm , pulling her along as she threaded through the congestion. “If that dum bass artisan thinks he can just up and leave without telling me, he’s in for a big surprise.”

“W ha…what are you going to do?”

“I’m  making sure he doesn’t leave me behind,” she retorted, startling a Warrior guard as she jam m ed an elbow into his ribs. His brows drew together, the silvery eyes sparked but he stepped aside.

From  the rigid set of Dread’s shoulders and the exasperated tone of her voice, Shagal was in for some deep shit. For that matter, so is Tegan! Her jaws clenched. Molars ground together. Determination settled over her like warm  cloak. If hethinks he can just take off and leave me behind, he’s in for a big surprise. Hom eydon’t do that!

She wrenched her arm  free and raced ahead. “Screw this! What m akes those

frickin’ idiots think they can just take off and leave without us?”

She whirled, clasped the black woman’s shoulders and gave her a hearty shakecausing the black tresses to dance. “They can’t do this! We have as much right togo along as Bi’ertise does.”

Dread stumbled back, grum bling. “Problem  is we’re human. We don’t have a lot

of bargaining power when it comes to the Chiagan-Se.”

We’ll see about that! “Maybe you don’t, but I do. Being Queen comes with

some benefits.”

Dread snorted throwing out her hands. “Yeah, I heard that someplace. Makes

me feel all tingly inside.”

A tech strode down the hall, slowing as he noticed their presence. He perusedthem  in a casual once-over before his head dipped, fingers flying on his electronicnote pad. Probably tattling on us!

“You’re no more a queen than I am .”

The snappish com ment struck home. Her innate sense of hum or took over. “True, but the Chiagan-Se don’t know that.” She tapped her lips, lost in thoughtas she plotted their course. “And we just might be able to use that m isconceptionto force them  to take us along.”

“You aren’t going to have an anxiety attack, are you?”

“If I think it’ll help, I will.”

****

Tegan studied the navigation chart, ears attuned as Jaegar outlined theparameters of the mission. A brief overview confirmed his suspicions. They’d bematerializing in the middle of the battle—deep in Deg’Nara territory. The slapdashplan bordered on the foolhardy. But feasible in its sim plicity.

“You think we can get in, hit them  with everything we’ve got, grab the

survivors and jum p before the Deg’Nara have a chance to regroup?”

“I do,” Jaegar grinned, white teeth flashing. He brushed a hand through his loose flowing hair. “Same m ethod we’ve used in the past. They don’t expect one of their own ships to attack and it gives us a slight advantage.”

“How many tim es have you used this same approach?”

“More than I care to remember.” Jaegar’s eyes twinkled. “But we keep them guessing. Before we enter Deg’Nara space, we reconfigure the ship’s energy signatures and with some slight variations to the outer hull, we m asquerade as a different Deg’Nara vessel. Even now the techs are making those modifications.”

He opened up another view screen and continued as he ran a hand across thestar chart. “Our informants keep us advised as to which faction is in control of thevarious subdivisions within Deg’Nara territory. We use that information to m ake itappear as though one faction is attacking another. As a whole, the Deg’Nara are adistrustful lot, fighting each other for supremacy. We do our best to expand thosediversities.”

“Our unity has always been our strength,” Tegan said, experiencing a spasm  of

pain at the remem brance. “How m uch tim e before we depart?”

In all fairness, he owed Kara an explanation. Or is it just an excuse to see herone last time? His stom ach churned. Even thinking about a short separationcaused feelings of loss and deprivation, emotions he’d suffered too much in thislifetime. The em pty space in his heart had dissipated, filled to overflowing withthe presence of his Chalice. He drew a deep breath, exhaling slowly. She would bedispleased at being left behind and he had little knowledge of the ways to pacify adispleased human.

“ We leave as soon as the last transporter departs. We need…” Jaegar paused as

a commotion sounded outside the door.

“I order you to let me in!” Kara’s shrill demand pierced the air.

A voice m urm ured something unintelligible.

“I’m  Queen of the Earth females and I demand entry.”

The guard’s head popped through the door. The young breeder appearednervous, uncertain. Like all the males under Tegan’s com m and, he was unused todealing with the disparities of the opposite sex, even more so as it pertained tothe human females. He cleared his throat, dipping his head with respect. “Commander Jaegar. Lord Tegan. The Chalice Queen demands entrance. W hat isyour wish?”

Tegan bit his lip, fighting to hide a grin. Spunky and determined, his littlefemale was making herself known. His eyes slid sideways, catching Jaegar’sexasperated expression.

“Perhaps she just wishes to say good-bye.” But he doubted that was the

reason. Kara wouldn’t just do anything.

“She has a handmaiden with her,” the guard added unnecessarily. “They

demand entrance.”

“You better believe it!” The strident voice of the dark one called. “Shagal, if

you’re in there, you’d better haul ass before I get my hands on you.”

“By all the Gods!” Shagal slammed his fist on the table, face flushing crimson.

“Does she ever listen to anything I say?”

“I heard you!” The one called Dread sang out.

Shagal spun on his heels, searching for an escape route. He spotted a panel tothe rear and raced toward it, sweeping his wristband across the controls. Onequick glance over his shoulder and he bolted, gone in the blink of an eye.

Jaegar’s eyes rounded, his m outh gaped open. Tegan chuckled. These human

females were a constant source of unexpected delight!

“Give them   leave to enter,” Tegan advised. “Else we won’t accomplish

anything.”

“I heard that!” Kara huffed as she marched through the doorway. She barreled across the room , uncaring who might be in attendance or the confidentiality of the meeting. “We need to talk.”

Dread stom ped around the circular room . “Where is that redheaded jackass?”

Jackass! He’d not heard that human word before. “W hat is jackass?”

“Er…” Kara hem -hawed, coughing. “It means…it’s a form  of respect on our

planet.”

He caught the glare of disgust she flashed her handm aiden.

The dark one snorted. Catching sight of the rear entrance, she stalked towardsthe panel. “Open this dam n thing,” she growled shaking her fist [as/ at] the inertobject. “He’ll learn a little respect before I get through with him .”

Tegan nodded at Jaegar, signaling his approval. The panel slid upward.

Dread m uttered an expletive and flew out the door, her m urderous intent all

too obvious.

“She will not harm  Shagal— will she?” The artisan would be at a definite

disadvantage if the handmaiden attacked. He could not nor would he retaliate.

Kara’s am ber eyes flashed with golden highlights. “Not permanently,” shegrouched scowling at the m ales. She crossed her arms, foot tapping. “Do you wantto talk here or shall we adjourn to someplace less public?”

A wisp of perfume teased his olfactory nerves. His body reacted with prim itiveabandon. Heart rate elevated. Waves of sizzling heat spread through his systemfueled by his need for this fem ale. All sentient thought vanished and instinct tookover. He wanted nothing m ore than to stroke the frown lines from  her forehead,weave his fingers through the m oonlight strands of long silken hair, bury him selfin her warmth and devour her with passion.

“I said,” she snapped, startling him  from  his reverie. “Do you want to talk here

or someplace else?”

He swallowed hard, a weight suddenly pressing on his chest. The sensation ofloss too hard to bear. “You have to go,” he murm ured, struggling to breathe. “Thelast transport is ready to leave.”

“No,” she said, the am ber eyes filled with steadfast determ ination. “Not gonna

happen.”

She squared her shoulders, head held high. “Why are you doing this? W hy are

you going?”

“I must.”

“But why?” Tears wet her eyes. “Why you?”

“Because I’m  the last of the royal blood line and it is my duty. If my people are in peril, I have no choice but to help them . They would expect no less of me, nor would I deny them  m y assistance. I am  what I was bred to be.”

“You’ll be late if you don’t hurry. The transport is ready to depart,” Jaegar

interrupted. “Make yourself ready.”

She tilted her head, the long strands brushing her trim  hips. “Bi’ertise goes

with you. I go with Tegan. Sim ple.”

“Bi’ertise is a valuable m em ber of the crew. She’s the most experienced

transport pilot we have. She knows the danger and accepts the risks involved.”

“W ho gives a rat’s ass?” she snapped, chin lifting. “I can be taught. I can be a

valuable m em ber of the crew. W hatever you need, I can be. Since I woke up in

this new reality, life hasn’t exactly been risk free, but it wouldn’t have been in any event. Did you ever hear the expression shit…er…life happens? There are no guarantees. Not here. Not on Earth. I understand and accept those risks. W hat I won’t accept is being separated from  Tegan.”

Tegan’s resolve vacillated a m iniscule amount. Her fervent speech tugged at

his heart. Leaving her behind was the right thing to do but still…

“The Chalices need   you,”  he   interjected.   “W ithout  you,   they   have   no

guidance.”

Humor glinted in the am ber eyes. She leaned over to whisper. “Between you

and m e, I’m  not queen. Never have been. I just got stuck in the position.”

“W hatever your beginnings, the fem ales follow your lead. Queens aren’t born,

they’re made.”

She whirled, marching on Jaegar. “Get my Handmaiden Anne on the sy-com .”

The Commander hesitated, his eyes seeking out Tegan. He returned thequestioning look but withheld any form  of commitment. The final decision restedwith Jaegar.

“Now,” she ground out.

Towering over the petite female, lips pursed and arms akim bo, Jaegar’s silver-

hued eyes glared. Kara stood her ground, glaring back.

Bi’ertise strolled into the room , sidling up to her m ate. “Call Anne,” she