Unique Ink (Shadow Assassins Book 5) (6 page)

Chapter Three

Sevrin stood in the middle of a sprawling field of wind turbines. The rhythmic
whoosh
of the massive blades vibrated through her body and made the air sizzle with energy. As wind farms went, this one was small yet strategically located along US 93. She was less than an hour from Las Vegas yet far enough removed from the never-ending action to remain inconspicuous, almost invisible. No more dank warehouses or shabby motels. She’d always found it amusing to hid in plain sight.

Her new headquarters sprawled beneath her feet; its massive need for energy provided by the oddly graceful giants surrounding her. Wind farms had become so common along these barren stretches of highway that no one gave this one a second thought. A small maintenance building was the only overt sign of civilization, so there was nothing here to draw attention.

Construction of the underground complex had blended with assembly of the wind turbines. Large equipment was large equipment to the untrained eye. And human projects were notoriously ineffective, stretching on for years when they should have been completed in a matter of weeks. All of this worked to her advantage and would continue to mask her movements well into the future. Her guards used utility trucks and SUVs stylishly labeled with the Boulder City Energy Solutions logo. And she filtered enough money through the imaginary corporation to make it appear legitimate.

A supply convoy had arrived two weeks before, landing deep in the desert. Her staff had been shuttled from the landing area in sightseeing buses and they were only allowed to leave “the Farm” a few at a time, escorted by one of her guards. She’d assured them they weren’t prisoners. However, interaction with the indigenous population was grounds for immediate
termination
. A smile curved Sevrin’s mouth as she pictured their faces. She’d used the word intentionally, leaving them to wonder if she meant she would end their employment or something more nefarious.

The laboratories and medical facilities were equipped with the newest and best Rodymia had to offer. She’d even tried to make the living quarters and common areas comfortable in an attempt to minimize restlessness. Besides, the faster each staff member completed their assigned task, the faster they could return to Rodymia.

“Everything seems to have settled into a routine below.” Marat, Sevrin’s head of security, walked out of the maintenance building and moved up beside her. Marat meant more to Sevrin than any of her family members. She depended on his wisdom, his steadfast calm. He was part mentor, part parent, and her only confidante.

“What about Orrit and Salidan?” She glanced up at him and paused. Usually she found character and experience etched into his wrinkled features. Today, he just looked tired. She started to ask him what was wrong then shook away the impulse. If she detected any weakness in Marat, he would demand that she replace him. Her safety was his purpose in life and he took the responsibility very seriously. “Have they stopped threatening to sabotage the program?”

“The warning from your uncle settled them down, at least outwardly. No one likes to be scolded by the Crown Stirate of Rodymia.” He crossed his brawny arms over his chest and gazed out across the churning field of turbines. “Orrit is the instigator. Salidan follows his lead.”

“Are they lovers?”

“I’m not sure. If they are, they’re extremely discrete.”

She walked toward the maintenance building and Marat fell in step beside her. “How close are their sleeping quarters?”

“Adjacent with one room separating them.”

She arched her brow at that. “Close yet distant enough to leave some doubt.” She had no problem with staff fraternization. The gods knew there wasn’t much else to do on this primitive rock. However, knowing about such relationships could be advantageous when it came time to motivate a reluctant subordinate. In this case, Salidan had a bonded mate and Sevrin doubted the wealthy female would react well if she found out Salidan was offering his body to someone else.

Marat opened the door for her and she stepped inside the blessed coolness of the air-conditioned building. “Why did humans choose to populate an area of their planet that is so inhospitable?” She looked up at Marat and shook her head. “It makes no sense to me.”

Marat chuckled. “Much of what humans do makes no sense to me.”

A numerical keypad limited access to a room labeled “utility closet”. Behind a sliding panel near the back of the long, narrow closet waited a second door, which required a facial scan. Only the élite members of Sevrin’s staff had been registered with the security system. Everyone else required an escort into or out of the Farm.

The primary elevator took them to the commons, which was currently empty. Good. Everyone should be hard at work. There was a freight elevator as well, but it was located on the other end of the complex, closer to the storage areas.

“Do you have specific plans for this evening? Anything I need to know about?”

Before she could answer Marat, Flynn rushed into the commons, obviously agitated about something. “It is ridiculous that I must endure these indignities every time I leave this place.” Anger tightened his features and made his voice snarl. A secret thrill raced through her body. She liked him best when he was like this, savage and impossible to control.

Always the consummate professional, Marat slipped away without another word.

Flynn advanced, yet she didn’t back down. Soon they stood toe-to-toe. He glared down at her and she breathed in his aggression, allowing his strength to soothe her in ways she would never admit. All her life she’d worked to convince those around her she was strong and ruthless, a worthy successor for her infamous father. She didn’t want a protector, didn’t need to be sheltered. But just once, it would be nice to have someone at her side, someone strong and capable, someone she could depend on and trust. Like Marat, only much younger and more attractive.

“You’re
earning
my trust,” she reminded him. “That’s an ongoing process.” He made a dissatisfied sound, but didn’t argue. “You were drugged the first time I brought you here. Today you were only blindfolded. My indulgence will increase as your cooperation continues.”

He grabbed the back of her neck with one hand and banded her waist with his other arm, drawing her against him with one firm yank. “You know I’ll punish you as soon as we’re alone. Is that why you continue to provoke me?”

She concealed her arousal with a bored expression. If she let him simmer for the next few hours, their nightly session would be even more intense. “The security measures are necessary. I won’t relent. Now what did you learn? How did Nazerel react to the new rules?”

Gradually his fingers loosened and he lowered his arms, taking one step back. “Nazerel wants to see you, explain his concerns face-to-face.”

“His ‘concerns’.” She laughed, already missing the firm pressure of Flynn’s hands and the nearness of his warm body. She shouldn’t allow herself to enjoy him so much. Depending on him for her pleasure gave him power over her. But she couldn’t help the cravings of her body. Flynn was by far the most entertaining hunter she’d taken to her bed and they’d barely begun to explore the pleasure they could give each other. “He agreed to submit to the new procedures?”

“Of course not. He wants you to come to him.”

“Well, the next time I have a reason for visiting Team Southwest I’ll—”

“About the name. Nazerel has secured the allegiance of all the former Team West members. They are now members of Team South, so it’s really just the new Team South house.”

Labels were an incidental detail, yet the principle frustrated Sevrin. Every time she turned around, Nazerel found a way to rub her face in his authority. The men cooperated with her because there was no viable alternative, but they
chose
to follow him. “What about you? You’re a member of Team West. In fact, you’re the strongest remaining member of Team West. Why did you allow Nazerel to take over your team?”

“The men no longer trust me.” His hungry gaze swept over her body as he added, “They know where my allegiance lies.”

She scoffed under her breath. If only she were so certain of his allegiance. Like the others, Flynn was manipulating the situation to his advantage in every way he could. He might willingly pleasure her body, but he didn’t trust her, sure as hells didn’t respect her. “I’ll deal with Nazerel. Did you inform the entire house or just him?”

“I told the team leader and he’ll tell the men. It’s not my place to manage his team.”

“Then how do you know he told them anything? He’s stubborn enough to ignore the new procedures and continue on as if nothing happened.”

“In which case the guards you stationed at the Team South house will start shooting. Nazerel can be irrationally stubborn, but he’s not stupid. He will never intentionally endanger his men.”

“My men,” she snapped. “You are all
my
men.”

“Of course, mistress. It was just a figure of speech.”

It wasn’t and they both knew it. Nazerel was the true leader of the Shadow Assassins. She was just their employer. “I have work to do. I’ll see you later.” She dismissed him with an impatient wave of her hand.

She’d had enough of stubborn employees and insubordination. She was Rodyte royalty and people would start treating her accordingly or they would find out why the name Keire was whispered with fear and awe. Quentin wasn’t as brutal as her father Pern had been. Still, anyone who underestimated a Keire was soon shown the error of their thinking.

Storming through the living quarters, she headed for Orrit’s lab with long, purposeful strides. The research wing was on the right, medical facilities on the left, security and technology straight ahead. Four smaller labs surrounded Orrit’s work area. Researchers and scientists moved freely between the five rooms, sharing information and assisting each other with complications. The sense of community was tangible. But then, she’d given them a common ground when she sent each a royal summons. They had been dragged away from their own projects, forced to abandon their families. They’d been transported to a distant planet and were basically captives until they’d each accomplished their goals. And each despised her for her heavy-handed tactics. She didn’t care if they grumbled and glared, as long as the produced results.

Orrit paused his holographic simulation as her entrance silenced the room.

“Leave us.” She didn’t need to say more, the others hustled out the nearest door.

“I’m not quite ready for a full report,” Orrit told her as she approached his workstation. With silver sprinkled dark hair and perfect posture, he looked right at home in the orderly environment.

Her temper fizzled and her curiosity engaged as she absorbed the implications of his statement. “There’s been progress since your last report?” That had been five days ago. How much could he have accomplished in less than a week?

“Significant.” He slipped his hands into the pockets of his light blue lab coat as he glared into her eyes. “You wanted results. I got you results.”

A chill teased down her spine and she paused to lick her lips. “Explain.”

“My predecessor was on the right track, but her methods were too conservative.” That didn’t explain the nature of the progress, so she simply waited for him to continue. “Breakthroughs are so named because something usually breaks so that something else can survive.”

“Stop being so damn cryptic. What have you done?”

“I’ve replicated the bonding agent and used it successfully in several live hosts.”

Shocked that he would dare such a claim—unless it was true. She moved closer. Dr. Porffer, his predecessor, had been this close before. She’d thought she isolated the hormone complex that allowed Shadow Assassins to make genetic changes in their potential mates, but each time she attempted to use the synthetic version of the complex, the results had been disastrous.

“What sort of live hosts?”

His snicker was filled with derision. “As if you need to ask. I followed the established protocols to the letter. First rats, then primates, and finally humans.”

She gasped, unable to suppress the reaction. “You’ve already tested this on humans. Why wasn’t I notified before you began?”

“I wanted to be sure of my results before I reported my findings. Dr. Porffer thought she’d succeeded too.” He slipped off his stool and moved around the raised table until nothing remained between them. He didn’t approach her, just created a clear path between them. “I want to go home. It’s insulting and demoralizing to be forced into servitude. I am a world-renowned geneticist. I deserve better treatment than this.”

An apology slid toward her lips, but she stubbornly bit it back. She was
royalty
. It was an honor to be chosen to serve her in any capacity. “How were you able to accomplish this so quickly?”

“All you care about it results. Don’t ask the question unless you’re prepared for an honest answer.”

Something usually breaks so that something else can survive.
His words echoed through her mind, feeding her trepidation. How many Shadow Assassins had he butchered as he unlocked the secrets of their unique physiology? “How many?” Did she really want to know?

“Eleven.”