Brianna (41 page)

We did wish, however, to learn what the woman who had married into the Alalakan clan and become the adopted daughter of the Hardan royal family was like. You always have been an ambassador of your planet, Brianna, and it should be very proud of you.”

“Oh, come on, Bri,” Meri said tugging her hand. “Don’t start an argument now. I’m starving. I was so nervous this morning, I couldn’t eat a thing!”

Brianna looked from Char to Meri. “Well, I guess I could eat a little.”

Marljas bark of laughter filled the room. “A little, Bloodsister!

I’ve seen you eat as much as one of the Gattan royal guards.”

Brianna scowled at the grinning Marljas. “Ever since you and Ban settled your quarrel, you’ve been acting more and more like him. I think I liked you better when you wanted to rip out his heart.”

“Ban? Bandalardrac Hardan?” Mendas Teekeson roared as he rose from his seat and stalked around the table. “He’s here in Benishan?”

“Now, Mendas,” began Kavlalardrac.

“Alalakan don al’ Bandalardrac, accompanied by other members of the Alalakan clan, arrived in Benishan with us yesterday, Mendas Teekeson,” Brianna answered coolly. “The blood feud has been satisfied. Do you question the word of a Gattan bloodsister?”

Mendas’ eyes bulged.

“But…”

Denieen slipped her hand under his arm. “Come, Mendas, much has been revealed in the last few weeks. I had a long conversation with your wife this morning.”

“Do you think there will be any problems with him?” Char murmured in Marljas’ ear.

“Not if Denieen talked with his wife this morning,” Marljas answered, slipping Brianna’s hand under his arm. “Come, Bloodsister, if your husband will not feed you, I will.”

Brianna, Char, and Marljas had just returned from their meeting with the Federation Council when Jami and her sister burst into the room. “Have you seen Sheala?” she asked in a vexed tone. “It’s not very funny of her to leave us waiting for her downtown.”

“A package from one of the infant’s shops was delivered about an hour ago, but we haven’t seen her,” Xdana answered.

“It’s not like Sheala to just leave you. I know she’s got a playful streak, but she never purposefully causes undo worry. When did you last see her?”

“It has been over three hours, Alalakan dem al’ Xdana,” Feni answered from where she stood by the door.

Worried looks appeared on everyone’s faces. Marljas’

nostrils flared.

Xdana glanced at her husband. “Where do you think she could be?”

Brianna cleared her throat and all eyes leaped to her. “Are people kidnapped on your planet?”

Char said only one word. “Bakom.”

A vicious snarl erupted from Marljas’ throat as he ripped the arm from his chair.

*

Eliana grimaced as Bakom fondled her buttocks. “Are you finished with the entries my dear?” Squeezing her breast, he clamped his mouth on hers.

Eliana pretended an interest she didn’t feel, grateful when he pulled away.

“Come, we have much to do tonight.”

Fifteen minutes later, Bakom landed the unmarked shuttle on the roof of a building in downtown Benishan.

Eliana didn’t have to look at the navigation control to know it was the same place she had left him two days ago. He led the way to the elevator that, interestingly enough, was waiting for them, the doors open.

“Now pay attention, my dear. Any time you come here, press the gray panel underneath the basement button. This is an Academy building, but most of the floors contain residential apartments. The bottom two floors contain shops, and all of the rents are used to help fund various Academy projects. However, the three levels below the basement are where you will want to go.”

As the elevator began its descent, he continued, “Very few people know of the existence of these laboratories. You’ll tell no one else.”

“Of course, Doctor, you can rely on my discretion,” Eliana murmured as he caressed her breasts.

“You’ve proved your loyalty on more than one occasion, Eliana, and you’ll be rewarded for that loyalty. I’ve decided you shall be one of the women who will bear my children.”

He’s mad.
“Doctor, I…I’m speechless.”

“An unexpected honor, I know,” he answered and pulled her one-piece uniform from her shoulders. Soon she was naked from the waist up, but the opening of the door halted further sexual progress.

Bakom grabbed Eliana’s arm and pulled her through a dimly lit corridor and down two flights of stairs. “Another time, I’ll show you the experiments on those floors, but tonight our destination is the bottom level.” Pushing open a door, he led her into a large, brightly lit laboratory.

Eliana followed Bakom deeper into the laboratory. Though she longed to, she hadn’t bothered to cover her upper body.

Bakom would become suspicious. As she followed him, her sharp eyes darted around the cavernous room, memorizing all the details she could.

The laboratory was filled with various pieces of equipment resting on both the floor and tables. The eight large cages against the back wall, however, drew her attention. Only two were occupied, one with an unconscious Drakian woman, the other with a Gattan female obviously in thrall to the drug mithrin.

Both women were naked.

Bakom stopped before the Gattan woman’s cage.

“Interesting specimen,” he said as he absentmindedly stroked Eliana’s breast. “We’ve discovered that the Gattan can become addicted to mithrin. Once addicted, they are subject to very painful withdrawal symptoms if the drug isn’t administered on a regular basis. According to her chart, Sosha received her last injection an hour ago. From ongoing observations, we’ve learned that she’ll be sexually insatiable for two hours. Then, as the drug begins to wear off, she’ll regain control of her body. For approximately two hours, she’ll be as sane and levelheaded as you and I. Then her body will begin to demand the drug until she’s mindless with pain. Only another injection will relieve her.”

Eliana was very adept at hiding her disgust. “Very thorough, Doctor,” she murmured. “But are you sure she’s safe? What about her claws?”

Bakom’s breathing became harsher and his tail began to jerk as he watched the Gattan’s writhing body. “She’s quite safe now, my dear. She craves sexual satisfaction and is very receptive to anyone who cares to mount her. Odam enjoyed her body quite often. And we removed her claws.”

“Doctor, I didn’t know you arrived.”

Gathering himself, Bakom said, “Eliana, meet Gothran, Odam’s brother. He’s as well endowed as Odam.”

Gothran grunted, his eyes fastened on Eliana’s breasts.

Eliana heard a door open and shut, and a slender woman joined them. With a smile, she walked into Bakom’s arms, her mouth seeking his.

“Eliana, this is Tetiras,” Bakom said when the passionate kiss ended. “You must get to know her better.”

Tetiras turned to Eliana and smiled.

Eliana smiled in return as Tetiras cupped her breast. Aware of the ultimate objective concerning Bakom, she was ready to do almost anything to aid in his downfall.

Bakom caressed Tetiras’ buttocks and said, “Not now, my dear, we have other things to do.” Turning to Gothran, he said, “What surprise do you have for me?”

Opening the door to the other cage, the other man gathered the unconscious woman into his arms and carried her to an examining table. “Alalakan dem al’ Sheala.”

Chaos ruled the Alalakan townhouse. Xdana had been put to bed with a sedative while Jenneta and Fionilina sat with her.

Brianna remained downstairs with the men. “Bakom would never have taken Sheala if it weren’t for me,” she said with tears in her eyes. “Perhaps it would be best if…”

“Don’t complete that thought, Brianna,” Jamiros snapped.

“You’re married to my son and carry my first grandchild. You are just as much a part of this family as Sheala. You will go
nowhere
near Bakom. Do you understand?”

Gritting her teeth, Brianna nodded. If only she weren’t so pregnant and could move faster.

Ban dropped a hand on her shoulder. His tone was sharp.

“Do you really think Bakom would give Sheala back if he got his hands on you?”

Before Brianna could answer, a very loud commotion in the street drew their attention. Looking out the window, Rodane said in an astonished voice, “Someone’s landed a shuttle in the middle of the street!”

Before anyone else in the room could comment, he leaped away from the window and through the doorway into the hall. In what seemed only seconds, he returned, his hand clamped around the upper arm of Bakom’s assistant, Eliana.

“I know where he has her!” she called as she stumbled through the doorway.

Growling, Marljas leaped to his feet, claws extended.

Char laid a restraining hand on his arm. “Wait, she’s one of Bakom’s assistants.” He directed his next comment to Eliana, “How do we know this isn’t another trap?”

“Dr. Sendenton,” Eliana gasped, “I work for her. Cindar is my sister. Now hurry! There’s no time!”

With those words, she jerked free of Rodane and ran back the way she’d come.

Marljas wrenched his arm free of Char’s grasp. “Trap be damned! I go with the girl.”

Ban rose and followed Marljas.

“Char, Rodane,” Jamiros commanded, “go with them. If this is a trap, I promise you, I’ll pull the Academy down around Bakom’s ears.”

Brianna pushed herself to her feet. “Char!”

Taking the time to sweep her into his arms, he kissed her hard and said, “I’ll be back, love. Don’t worry.” Then he too was gone.

Tears rolled down her cheeks as Brianna planted her fists on her hips. “‘Don’t worry,’ he says. What does he expect me to do?”

When Jamiros put his arm around her, she buried her face in his chest.

*

Eliana had barely set the shuttle down when Marljas jumped Eliana had barely set the shuttle down when Marljas jumped out. “Wait,” she called after him. “You don’t even know where you’re going. This way.”

All four men followed her to the elevator. After Marljas made sure no one was waiting inside, they crowded in.

Char clamped his hand around Eliana’s upper arm.

“It’s not a trap!” she exclaimed in frustration as she pushed the correct panel and the elevator began its descent. “Bakom has secret laboratories below this building that I only found out about tonight. He’s never trusted me with this secret before.”

“If you’re lying…” growled Ban.

Marljas flexed his fingers. Four-inch claws appeared. “I’ll rip your guts out while you watch.”

She ignored their threats. “The elevator will open onto a dimly lit corridor. I don’t know what experiments Bakom is performing on the first two levels, but Sheala is being held on the third. There’s a stairway at the end of the corridor; follow it all the way to the bottom. There’s only one door that I saw.

Sheala’s in that laboratory.”

The hand clasping her arm tightened. “Laboratory?”

Eliana flinched but swallowed her pain. “You’d best prepare yourselves. I don’t know exactly what her physical condition will be.”

Char loosened his grasp—a little. “Are there any guards?”

“No, but two of Bakom’s assistants were still there when we left. One of them is Odam’s brother.”

There wasn’t time for any further questions. The door of the elevator opened, and Marljas sprinted down the corridor.

“Marljas, wait,” Char called.

The other three men kept Eliana with them and followed more slowly, still suspecting the possibility of a trap.

Ban glanced towards Char and Rodane. “Now may not be the best time to mention this, but Marljas and Sheala…”

Marljas burst through the door of the laboratory as Gothran crawled off Sheala’s naked back. Both of Bakom’s assistants whirled about as the door burst open.

Seconds later, Gothran lay against the wall, slit open from throat to groin. Tetiras made a beeline for the door. Marljas ignored her. Instead, heedless of the blood that stained him, he went to the table where Sheala lay sobbing and gathered her into his arms. “Shhhhh, you’re safe. It’s me.”

Sheala buried her face in his chest and sobbed harder.

“I’m here,” Marljas whispered as he hugged her to him. “I promise no one will ever hurt you again.”

“I waited and waited,” she sobbed in a voice hoarse from screaming, “but no one came. They, Bakom, he…”

Tears slid from Marljas’s eyes. “Hush, love, I’m here. No one will ever hurt you again.”

Sheala looked up into his face. “Promise me,” she hissed fiercely between her sobs. She held out her left hand. “Promise me.”

Marljas unsheathed the claws on his right hand. “I cannot do this for you. You must do it yourself.”

Eliana, Ban, Char, and Rodane entered the lab as Sheala pulled her left hand over Marljas unsheathed claws.

Releasing Eliana, Char leaped toward them. “Sheala, no!”

But it was too late. Marljas ripped his vest open and pulled his claws down over his pectoral below his tattoo. Lifting Sheala’s still bleeding hand, he held it against his open cuts.

“Blood to my blood, heart to my heart, we are one forever.”

As he placed a gentle kiss on Sheala’s lips, she fainted.

Lifting his head, he looked squarely into Char’s eyes and said, “She’s mine now, Alalakan.”

Ban broke the silence. “No more than you’re hers, Marl.”

Marljas refused to reply.

“Help me,” came a faint feminine voice from the back of the room.