Authors: S. E. Smith
Bulldog’s deep sigh echoed quietly as he came to stand next to him. Both of them watched as two other males carried a large crate to the center of a flower bed. After several minutes of struggling, the crate was opened to reveal a brilliant sculpture.
Three large circles, with multiple smaller circles within them spun around as the sailing ships in the center of each circle caught the light breeze spinning them. As they spun, the sun caught the colorful glass that was positioned throughout the circles.
“She is very special,” Bulldog murmured. “She sees the beauty and good in things that others don’t. Everything she touches comes to life. I have done my best to protect her from the darkness that fills the universe.”
Krac’s hands tightened on the balcony as he heard the caution in Bulldog’s voice. His eyes were focused on her beautiful smile as she nodded to one of the women standing near her. His throat tightened when she looked up to where he and Bulldog were standing. Her smile faltered for a moment before it returned, softer and warmer than before.
“She is very special,” he agreed quietly.
“Everyone has always feared me,” Bulldog stated quietly. “Even members of my own species. The Triterians are known as much for our blood-thirst as we are for our business sense. As one of the most successful members, I have had to do things that are often frowned upon by some planetary councils, including the Confederation.”
“You are a lead councillor for your own star system. As such, the council listens to you,” Krac responded. “And looks the other way.”
Bulldog chuckled and folded his arms across his massive chest. “At times, it was necessary and prudent if they did not want a war on their hands. You have done your homework, Section K.”
Krac stiffened at his identification section. “I am not the only one, it would seem,” he said in a quiet menacing voice.
“Does my daughter know who you really are?” Bulldog asked point blank.
Krac’s knuckles turned white from where he was gripping the stone railing before he forced himself to relax. He breathed deeply to control the unfamiliar rush of panic that threatened to choke him. His eyes moved upward until he was staring sightlessly out over the brilliant green of the ocean.
“No,” he replied in a short, quiet tone.
Bulldog studied the unusual male’s stiff form. He saw the proud, powerful jaw clench, as if waiting for him to attack. He saw a man of power. A man who lived by a code of honor he alone understood. This was a man whom many considered a monster. It was a title he was familiar with. A slow smile curved his lips as he glanced back down at his beautiful but unusual daughter.
“Tell her,” Bulldog suggested. “You will be surprised by her reaction. As I said before, she sees things others do not.”
Krac didn’t say anything at first. In truth, a part of him was stunned to hear the quiet acceptance in Bulldog’s voice. He had expected threats, even a possible attempt to kill him. Not this acceptance.
“I need to ask you a favor,” he said gruffly. “I have to leave. There is a… situation that requires my attention. I ask that you protect her until I return.”
Bulldog studied the tight expression on Krac’s face. “Does this have anything to do with the New Order and their attacks on the Earth’s council?” He asked in a voice suddenly cool and reserved.
Krac’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. “What do you know of the New Order and their attacks?”
“You are not the only one concerned,” Bulldog replied with a sigh. “I know more than you can imagine. All is not what it seems. I have ways of knowing what is going on. It is not only the Earth that is in danger should the council change. I have been observing some suspicious requests for items.”
“What type of items?” Krac asked.
“Anything pertaining to the Alluthans. Someone has been searching for anything about them, including debris from their ships, vidcom on them, even bodies.”
“The Confederation Council and the Zion military have control over that,” Krac stated.
“There is always those who are willing to exchange illegal items if the price is right. The New Order is searching for something. What, I do not know yet. But, they are searching for something,” Bulldog said grimly.
Krac’s mind raced as he tried to piece together what Bulldog was telling him with the information he already had. Why would the New Order want to know about the Alluthans? Why did they want Gracie Jones-Jefe? Frustration ate at him.
Harden had been working for Tillman’s corporation. He had delivered materials, supposedly mining equipment and basic defense weapons, to the mining colonies along the outer rims. Those were the ones the Alluthan’s attacked. Yet, there had only been the one Mothership. It had been destroyed and the remaining items collected by the Confederation’s top scientists to study. Everything Gracie knew had been recorded. He knew because he had tapped into the Confederation’s computer database and downloaded everything they had discovered.
His eyes flickered to where Skeeter had been. He frowned as his eyes searched for her. He turned when he heard her soft laughter coming from the room behind them.
“I need your promise you will keep her safe until I return,” Krac muttered under his breath as Skeeter stepped out onto the balcony.
“I gave her that promise long before I give it to you,” Bulldog replied. “I would start on Pryus. The parts store held more than Violet Jefe.”
“How do you know that?” Krac asked in surprise.
“Because you are not the only unusual male that was created in the labs. Another of your kind was searching for something there as well according to my sources,” Bulldog murmured before he stepped forward with a wide grin and pulled Skeeter into his arms for another hug.
Krac watched as the Triterian asked Skeeter about the new sculpture she had designed. His own heart warmed when her eyes kept searching out him even as his mind ran through the data pouring through it. He nodded and his lips curved up at the corners when her shy smile of relief sent a flush of happiness to her cheeks that he and her father had talked and not tried to kill each other.
Chapter 25
“Why? Why can’t I go with you?” Skeeter asked in frustration the next morning as they stood next to his sleek starship that had been readied for departure. “I can help.”
“You faint at the sight of blood. If things work out the way I suspect, there will be a lot of it,” Krac reminded her.
“But… what if you need help?” She asked worriedly. “What if you get hurt?”
Krac paused at the sound of fear and worry in her voice. It was taking every ounce of his self-control to leave her here. Her safety meant more to him than his own fear of leaving her. She would be safe here with Bulldog. She would be in danger as long as she was with him, especially if what Bulldog told him proved correct.
He had no idea that others of his kind had survived. He had been under the impression that all other models had been destroyed by the scientists at the labs before Anastasia’s team could rescue them. His mind swept over his conversation early this morning with Roarrk and Anastasia. Another attempt had been made on her life. She had been wounded but refused to let it stop her.
“They are getting desperate. This attack happened in broad daylight in the center of town,” Roarrk growled.
“Anastasia, what do you know about the other Alluthan clones at the facilities you raided? Do you know if any others of my kind were freed?” Krac demanded.
Anastasia bit her lip before staring him in the eye. Her face was bruised and dark circles under her eyes highlighted her exhaustion. It took several moments before she finally answered him.
“Yes,” she answered softly. “There are others.”
“Why wasn’t I told?” He demanded coldly.
“Krac,” Roarrk warned.
“No, Roarrk. He deserves to know. I take full responsibility,” she replied softly before turning back to Krac. “There were a total of five Allbreeds that we know of that survived. Six, now, if what Bulldog told you is true. You and four others were rescued. At first, we weren’t sure if you could link with the others. It was decided it was best to keep you isolated from each other to see. Two of the Allbreed escaped shortly after they were separated. We believe they could link together and communicate with each other. Their escapes were very well coordinated and it is believed they are together.”
“And the other two?” He asked stiffly. “What became of them?”
“One was killed when he attacked several of the scientists. The other… the other was moved to an isolated facility where she could live in a safe environment.”
“She?!” Krac whispered in disbelief. “A female?”
Anastasia sighed and leaned back against Roarrk as he wrapped his arm around her. “Yes. From the little we could find out, she was considered a surprise to those at the facility. As far as we can tell, there was never any record of the Alluthans having female offspring. The research showed that all attempts to clone a female had failed until Section A was created.”
“What about this sixth one?” He demanded. “How was he not discovered?”
“He must have either been taken from the facility before it was destroyed or…” Her voice faded for a moment as her eyes darkened. “Or… there was a cover up by one of my teams.”
“Find out which it was. I am headed back to Pryus to see if I can find out what he was looking for,” Krac replied.
“Be careful,” Anastasia whispered. “I would never hurt you, Krac, not intentionally. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you this information before.”
Krac could see the sincerity in Anastasia’s eyes, but it still burned that she did not trust him, even after he had pledged to protect her and her family. He nodded stiffly before signing off. He had a lot to do before he left. One of which was making sure a certain curvy redhead was kept safe until his return.
He turned when he felt her hand on his arm. A low groan escaped him at the worry in her eyes. He pulled her into his arms and held her close to his heart. His eyes closed as the warmth spread through him. He never expected to find a female to call his own.
He had a better appreciation for Kordon’s rage when he kidnapped Gracie. In all honesty, he admired Kordon’s restraint in not trying to kill him for putting his mate in such danger. The thought of someone considering Skeeter collateral damage sent piercing waves of pain through him. Bulldog was right. She brought color to his world.
“I will return as soon as I can,” he promised in a husky voice. “Stay with your father. I will come for you when my mission is over.”
“But… what if you don’t come back?” She whispered.
“I will,” he vowed, tilting her head so he could brush his lips along hers. “I have something worth coming back for.”
Skeeter’s lips twitched as she tenderly touched his face. “You’d better or I’ll come find you and shoot your ass for making me.”
Krac chuckled. “That would be very painful,” he teased.
Skeeter’s eyes grew serious as she stared up at him. “Just be careful.”
“I will. Visit with your father. He missed you as well,” Krac said, reluctantly releasing her.
“I’m still in shock you two didn’t try to kill each other,” she murmured as he bent to pick up a small pack off the ground next to him. “Especially when you told him you were sleeping where I did. I’ve never seen him turn that dark a red before.”
Krac laughed again and shook his head. He had thought for sure that the huge Triterian was about to attack him as well, but instead he just muttered something unintelligible under his breath. He was sure Bulldog had refrained from attacking because of Skeeter. She had been sitting across from her father with a huge, happy grin on her face.
“Are you ready to leave?” Bulldog asked dryly from behind them. “I thought you were in a hurry. I’ve already approved your clearance to take off.”
Skeeter shook her head and sighed in reproach. “Daddy.”
Krac nodded to Bulldog when he folded his six arms across his chest and glared at him. From the glaring frown and the impatience in the Triterian’s voice, it was obvious he had not been forgiven for sleeping with his daughter. He shrugged his broad shoulders. It may take time but Bulldog was going to have to learn that he was no longer the only male in Skeeter’s life.
“Keep her safe,” he growled, brushing a hard, possessive kiss across her mouth. “I love you,” he whispered as he brushed another kiss near her ear before he turned and walked over to the sleek starship.
Skeeter stood still, her eyes wide as she fought back tears. She wrapped her arms tightly around her waist as she watched the silver ship rise off the ground and turn before it quickly gained altitude and disappeared.
She leaned back against her dad when he protectively wrapped his arms around her. She let her head drop back against his chest and released a sad sigh. Her eyes briefly closed before she opened them with a glitter of determination.
She still had cargo to deliver. If there was one way to cope with fear it was by keeping busy. Tila had taught her that. She would spend a few days with her dad before she finished her original run to Newport.
“So, tell me how Tila is doing,” Bulldog said, turning her back toward his private transport. “Is she ready for me to kill Artemis yet so I can bring her back home?”
Skeeter turned and rose up on her toes to kiss him on the cheek. “Not yet,” she responded, linking her arm through two of his and squeezing his hand, letting him know she knew he was trying to distract her. “Did you really tear off some of Lucas’ fingers?”
“Would I do something like that?” Bulldog asked, trying to look innocent.
He released a contented sigh as Skeeter’s infectious laughter rang through the air.
Perhaps I won’t have to kill the male after all. She is glowing with happiness,
he thought with satisfaction.
My very, very beautiful little girl has found her mate.
Chapter 26
Pryus Spaceport: Lower Level
“What have you discovered?” The raspy voice on the other side of the vidcom asked. “Did you find what I sent you for?”
Section L stared back at the cloaked figure with cold, emotionless eyes. “It is not here,” he responded.