Passionate Desire (28 page)

“What do you need?”

“Storm’s DNA.” He couldn’t lie. Al would know if he was trying to avoid fertilizing the egg, and he wasn’t about to say he had his DNA with him already. Without it he couldn’t do anything.

“I’ll have it within twenty-four hours.”

****

“We spend more time here than anywhere else. Why don’t we move in here?” He found he couldn’t keep his eyes off the lace, and he didn’t want her to cover it up just so they could return to their room.

“In the compound?” She gave him an odd look. “After all the work your mother did to free those rooms upstairs for us?”

“For now.” He came within inches of her, his fingers sliding under the lace wrapped around her shoulders. “Then we can use it as we need it.”

“You just love that damn chair, don’t you?”

“This computer can anticipate my every thought wherever I am so I can have that chair anywhere. I was just thinking between watching the data stream on your brother and my sister, and reading these books, we’re going to be here all the time anyway. Why trek back to our rooms every night.” He tried to give her an innocent smile. “You can accommodate us, right computer?”

“There are rooms set aside for that purpose.”

“See? I think it’s a good idea for now.”

She shook her head but saw no reason not to go along with it. “We do spend a lot of time here.”

“Good.” He spoke to the computer then, asking to see the room they should use and then taking off to help set it up for them to live in.

Heather held the book in her hand again. She still hadn’t quiet gotten the nerve to open it up. Not knowing what was on the pages had her second guessing herself on a regular basis now. Her life had been turned upside down since she met Storm and each day it got just a little bit stranger. “My heart, why are our lives in such turmoil? Why can’t we have one normal day amongst the chaos.”

“Now what fun would that be?” He took her hand and pulled her with him. “I have done my share. You need to add your touches.”

“Fine.” She walked into the room and was not surprised to see a huge bed dominating it. Heather shook her head. Was that the only thing he worried about? She half expected to see the chair in here.

Tomorrow she would bring down the things they would need while staying here. She sensed her mate behind her and she turned around. “I see you got the most important piece of furniture placed.”

“Wanted to be sure you were comfortable.” He gave her one of his heart stopping smiles as he crowded her backwards toward the bed. “Want to try it out? Make sure I got it right?”

“You are incorrigible.” She had to laugh as her knees hit the edge of the bed. “But you’re going to have to wait. We’ve been asked to join your mother for dinner. She wants an update on your sister.”

He eased her onto it and started to nibble on her neck. “We don’t have to eat with her. I can call her right now and give her three words. I don’t know.”

“And then your mother would lecture you on having to change your ways if you’re going to be the leader of the council for about an hour or so.” She said it softly, not wanting him to stop either, but knowing his mother needed their company. “Personally, I’ll get hungry waiting so why not just play nice and have dinner with your mother?”

“Because I don’t know what to tell her.” He pulled up and looked at Heather as he helped her to her feet. “We have no idea where they are so can’t get them out and their time there is starting to run out. Especially after he tried to take over your body to gain information he had been shut out of.”

“So he didn’t get anything?”

“Not much.” He looked at the bed one last time before he looked at his mate. “He pulled up information on the injections he gave my mother but none of the chemicals that he used were able to load before you shut down.”

“So he knows he needs a catalyst and has figured you’re it.” She touched his arm with her hand. “He’s now going to come after you.”

****

Kuarto and Toki sat in their cramped room, trying to figure out how they could get out while it was dark. There had to be a way. He decided to try the direct approach. Banging on the door, he waited until someone answered. “Is there any way we can go for a walk? We’ve been cooped up in here for hours and I’d like to, you know, be kind of romantic and a walk might help me out a bit.”

“You’re not allowed out.”

“Come on. Ask the boss, see if he’ll let us out for a little while.” He leaned against the door and dropped his scanner into the man’s pocket with it on. Hopefully, he dropped it in the right direction and it would scan the sky, not the ground as he walked to Al’s office. Assuming his office was in another section of the compound. The amount of time it took for him to get to them made Kuarto think it was.

The guard seemed to be caught. He wasn’t sure what to do. Kuarto just hoped he’d be able to get his scanner back.

He contacted another guard who just about laughed in his face. Well, that got shot down pretty quickly. Kuarto pretended to stumble so he could get his scanner back and thanked the young man. He came back into the room and shrugged his shoulders.

“No?”

“He didn’t even leave my sight. We’ll have to come up with something else.”

“It can’t pick up the stars during the day time?”

“It’s not designed to do such long distance scans.” He sat it on the table. “I don’t have what I need to modify it and if I try to get the part he’ll know what I’m up to. He hasn’t been the same the last few days.”

“I noticed it too. What do you think happened?”

“No idea.” He walked over to her side. “I’m more worried about him. He seems more volatile now. One wrong move and we could be in real trouble.”

****

Dinner had gone better than expected. Storm escorted Heather down to the ancient compound. The moment they walked into the main part he worked on ridding her of her cumbersome dress. He grinned when the dress disappeared and left nothing but lovely skin for him to look at.

“Storm!” She turned to look at him. “I can have that thing deactivated if you abuse it too much.”

“What?” He was just as naked as she was. She couldn’t help but smile at his innocent look. “I’m just more comfortable this way and I thought you would be too.”

A beep filled the air before an image came on the screen. Heather scrambled to stay out of sight. “Sir, you’re needed at headquarters.”

“Now?”

“Yes, sir. We just got a communiqué from your sister.”

He glanced at his mate. “On my way.”

The screen went black.

“Why didn’t you just think your clothes back on?” He was fully dressed again.

“I’m not as good at it as you are. My brain said ‘hide’, not ‘clothes’.” She watched him for a moment. “You’re not going, are you? You know it’s a trap.”

“One I’m not supposed to know about.” He touched her face. “I have to do this.”

“He’s too dangerous.”

“My heart, I felt the same way when you knew you were going to be kidnapped. I know he’s going to try to ambush me, and I’ll be ready. I’ll be back before you know it, and we’ll make sure that bed is the right one for us.” He pulled her to him, lowering his mouth to hers. His tongue begged entrance which she gladly gave. The fruity flavor of the wine they had shared with his mother after dinner still lingered. He drank his fill of her then broke the kiss. “There’s more where that came from when I get back.”

He walked out into the night and headed for the security office. His senses told him he was safe enough at the moment. Walking into the main office he found no one there. Oh, that couldn’t be good. He had his weapon with him, but had a feeling that it wasn’t going to do him much good.

Methodically he worked his way from room to room. They had to be here somewhere. Just as he crossed through another archway his world went black.

Chapter 15

Heather contacted the people in her team the moment she felt Storm fall unconscious. Not being able to touch his mind frightened her a lot, but she tried to stay focused so she could get him back.

She called them to meet her at the rooms Storm and her shared at the palace. Before she left she spoke to the computer. “Computer, follow him. Don’t lose my mate. I need to bring everyone home.”

“His vital signs are good and the ship he has been loaded into has left the atmosphere.”

“Thank you. I’ll be back as soon as I can.” Her snug fitting uniform helped keep her focused. Once everyone had assembled in the main room she filled them in on what was going on.

“You can’t go.”

“Excuse me?”

“I’m sorry Heather, but you know the deal,” said Fridon. “Anyone involved with the extraction of family isn’t allowed on the assignment anymore. The commander put that out after your kidnapping.”

“Which one of you is going to stop me?” She looked at each of them, daring them to try. “If I have to take all of you on at the same time, I will.”

“We know what you’re capable of, Heather,” Fridon said. The two of them had bonded after he had been wounded because of her. “And none of us will stop you, but the commander will not be happy with any of us.”

“I know, but he will know who was in charge. I’ll make sure of it.” She laid out a plan she hoped would work, and sent them to get whatever supplies they might need for the journey. They would all meet up within the next thirty minutes near the main hanger where Storm landed their vessel.

Heather hurried back to the underground compound. “Have you been able to keep tabs on Storm?”

“Ialog did use the scrambler, but I was able to get direction and speed before they took off. With the information I have from what the doctor had given us I have the data to show you where the ship should be going. I believe I can pinpoint the location once your ship is in close enough to the planet they are on.”

“And how do you plan on doing that?” Heather didn’t think her link to the computer would work that far away.

“There is a way to transport me. There is a portable unit I can be downloaded to.” A section of the main computer slid aside so she could see the unit it spoke of. “Put it in the alcove I have highlighted for you and we’ll begin the process.”

“What will happen if this unit is destroyed once I download you?” She pulled the unit out. “Will I lose you completely?”

“No. Only the version in this system. Majority of my memory will remain here but you will have what you need with you.”

“Good. I’ve gotten used to you now. Sure would hate to lose you.” Heather loaded the unit into the slot the computer recommended and waited for it to download. Once done, she slung it over one shoulder and headed to the hanger where the small ship waited. It was the same one she and Storm had used before. The thought of her sitting in the chair without him hurt, but he had shown her how to fly it, so she felt better using this one more than any other ship.

She attached the computer to the main frame of the ship and set up communication so the computer could control the ship. “You have the data on the people I wish to bring with me?”

“Yes.”

“Good.” She started the engines. “We have no clearance to leave so make sure you get out undetected. I’m going to be in enough trouble over this, if we’re not successful it will just compound the problem.”

She felt the ship lift off. “Once you’re in orbit you have permission to bring my team aboard. I have spoken to them and made them aware of what I wanted to do so they’ll be ready to be transported up.”

The moment the ship hit orbit her security team stood in front of her.

“I know this ship is small so it will be a bit tight for us, but our destination isn’t far. Our goal is to retrieve Storm. There’s a lot I can’t tell you about what you might see and hear, but I’m sure you’re used to that.” She gave them a sad smile as she turned to the computer. “You have his coordinates?”

“Yes. We’re following the trail at a discreet distance.”

“What was that?” asked Fridon.

“It’s a prototype.”

“Really? Can I get a look at it?

“Fridon, you know I can’t let you do that.” She looked at him.

“Sorry. Habit.” He put his hands up in front of him, knowing his mistake. “You know how I enjoy tinkering with computers.”

“Let’s get ready,” said Heather. “I have research for all of you to look at.”

****

Kuarto walked into his office and stopped short when he spotted the body lying on the table near his work station. Toki stopped right behind him.

“What?”

“It seems we have company.” He pointed to the table as he tried to shield her reaction from the camera.

She peeked around his shoulder to see her brother lying there. “Is he dead?”

Kuarto pulled out his scanner. “No. He is in deep stasis.”

“And why is he here? I thought all you needed was a sample of his DNA, not him.”

“I felt this way you can’t tell me you didn’t get enough sample material,” said Al. “Find out why he was able to impregnate Heather.”

Toki practically jumped out of her skin when she heard Al’s voice very close to her. She hadn’t expected him to be there.

Kuarto nodded. He wasn’t happy about the situation. The one person he thought would be able to rescue them was lying on the table. This put an unwanted kink in their plan.

The uniform incasing Storm was just like the one Toki had been wearing when he found her. “I’m going to need something to cover him when I remove this uniform.”

Toki didn’t question as she handed him a cloth from a shelf near her station.

He pressed the seam of the uniform and watched as it opened for him. Draping the cloth over Storm’s waist, he pulled the uniform from under him. He held it out to Toki. “Can you do something with this?”

She took the uniform, folded it up, and placed it on a shelf. He noticed she kept herself from looking at him, probably afraid she would give something away.

He took a blood sample and ran it through his equipment. He thought of talking to her, but decided to leave her be. Al was still in the room.