Tangled Shadows Page 5

  She kicked the wall again.

  What were they hoping to achieve? Why would a Vampire and a Naema even be interested?

  She stopped her pacing and dropped onto the much smaller bed. The cabin was sparse, no personal items here. But the sheets were made from the same luxurious material. When she realized she caressed the bedding Brooke pulled her hands back as if she touched fire instead of fabric. The window opposite her with the flickering colors of hyperspace racing past drew her gaze.

  And why did they make love—no, that wasn’t the right word—why did they fuck her? They could have put her in the brig as soon as they arrived on board. There’d been no need to continue this farce.

  Brooke slumped. All these questions and no answers. Because, for the first time in her life, she’d run away. She’d turned tail, uncertain if she could stand up to those two.

  She rubbed her arms, trying to feel warm again. Compared to them, she was only human. They could break her in half without even trying. They’ve only been gentle with you, a voice whispered at the back of her mind. Yeah, Brooke agreed, it had been she who’d told them to fuck her, who’d been the initiator once they’d reached the ship.

  Brooke straightened and unclenched her arms. First things first.

  32

  They were the enemy now. It broke something inside her, but she needed to wash their touch off her skin, take off their clothes filled with their scent. The closet had a number of fresh suits to choose from.

  Then she’d have a closer look at the data ports and check StarNet. She needed more intel. Her personal comp was in the other room, but wouldn’t work in hyperspace anyway.

  While pulling off the clothes, Brooke instructed the data port hovering at eye level to run a background check on Galen and Nikolai. Jade, she didn’t even know their surnames.

  “More data required,” the comp replied in a husky male voice.

  Brooke froze. Nikolai’s voice. Her nipples hardened and a shiver ran down her spine. She pulled herself back to the task and instructed the comp to change its voice as well as list the few bits of information she had on the two men. There couldn’t be very many Vampire-Naema couples out there.

  “Acknowledged,” Galen’s voice replied.

  Brooke’s clit throbbed and she couldn’t suppress a growl. Damn these bastards.

  She stormed into the bathroom and planned the men’s downfall while washing away the traces of the most amazing night of her life. In an attempt to make them have to stop sooner than planned, she used water and lots of it instead of the sonic shower option.

  If she felt as if part of her soul was connected to the two men at the other end of the ship, she pushed it aside as fanciful imagination.

  They had no idea what they’d gotten themselves into by kidnapping her.

  * * * * *

  It wasn’t easy, but Galen gave Brooke the day. He got up the next morning, rubbing his dry eyes. Neither Nikolai nor he had gotten much sleep. Both of them had been hard, but neither had felt like fucking without Brooke there. Galen was not in what could be described as a particularly good mood.

  He was determined to get her attention today. The information she carried was vital. They’d been certain she was part of this heinous enterprise. He’d lost this certainty, but he didn’t know if it was because she was innocent or because he wanted her to be.

  Galen yawned. He studied Nikolai, who still lay in bed, his eyes half closed, stroking his hard dick.

  Galen shook his head. “You’ll only make it worse.” Nikolai growled. “Jade, I’d forgotten how bad this was. You wanna suck my cock?” Galen’s only answer was a rude gesture as he stumbled into the bathroom.

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  “Yeah, I hadn’t thought so. I hope your super plan works,” Nikolai shouted after Galen. “If this one day hasn’t been enough for her to vent her frustration, I’m holding you responsible.”

  Minutes later Galen came out of the bathroom fully dressed, and watched Nikolai squeeze the base of his cock, growling in pleasure-pain. He threw a towel he’d drenched in cold water. “Stop fucking around and get up.” Nikolai caught the towel before it hit him, but squeezed too hard and water dripped all over his face. “Hey, what was that for?”

  “To prepare you for your cold shower.” Galen walked out, going over ways to tempt Brooke out of her room.

  His head shot up when he heard noise coming from the galley, an open concept area a few steps from the sleeping chambers. Due to Nikolai’s limited need, the galley was small for a ship the size of the Mercy. He saw Brooke immediately.

  She stood with her back to him, stirring a bowl of what smelled like oatmeal. Galen couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen anybody eat oatmeal. He hadn’t thought the food processor would have it in its programming.

  Her presence raised goose bumps all over his body. He felt their connection like a living entity.

  Galen hesitated, not sure how she’d respond if he stepped closer. Brooke had stiffened, so he knew she’d heard him approach.

  “You going to stand there for the rest of the day?” she asked without turning to him.

  “If that’s what you want me to do.”

  Brooke scoffed. “I don’t really give a fuck what you do, as long as you stay away from me.”

  He stepped forward. “There is only so much space on the ship,” he said. “Will you let me explain?”

  Brooke continued to keep her back to him. “It’s not as if I have much choice.

  Between the two of you, you have every avenue covered.” She slammed her bowl on the clear surface of the counter, the spoon clanging against the edge. She picked up a cup. Galen smelled the distinct fragrance of strong Beral tea.

  Brooke took a drink and finally turned around. She leaned her luscious ass against the counter, crossed her arms and looked at him, her eyebrows raised and sipping more tea. “What’s your great explanation?”

  Ouch, he thought, the Amazon is back. He cleared his throat. “Maybe we could sit down.”

  “Maybe we should do it standing up.”

  “If I remember correctly, we did it every way but standing up,” Nikolai said, putting an arm around Galen’s shoulder.

  34

  Galen had felt his lover walking up, but he’d stood in the doorway, making it impossible for Brooke to see behind him. She flinched when the other man came into her view.

  Her tense body went rigid. The arms, which had been loosely crossed, tightened across her chest.

  “Hey, gorgeous, how are you doing?” Nikolai leaned against him, resting his chin on Galen’s shoulder.

  “Let’s move on to the bridge, it’ll be more comfortable there.” In his mind he snapped at Nikolai, S top pushing. She needs to feel safe around us. Give her some space.

  Nikolai kissed Galen’s cheek. Don’t get your knickers in a twist, he said, showing his age. He turned and walked to the bridge.

  Some of the tension left Brooke, but she still held on to her mug as if it were a lifeline. She gestured to Galen. “After you.”

  He nodded, turned, and walked to the bridge, giving Brooke the space she so obviously wanted.

  Nikolai slouched in the pilot chair, backrest pulled back and legs stretched out in front of him. Behind him the flight consoles and scanners beeped and flashed as the autopilot carried them closer to their destination.

  He looked divine. Galen wanted to lie on top of him and make love, while Brooke watched. Naked.

  Nikolai’s lips quirked and he stroked one hand across his chest. Slowly.

  Galen snorted and dropped in the copilot chair, turning it so he faced the doorway.

  Brooke walked in, still holding her tea. Knowing his partner, Galen kicked Nikolai’s ankle before he could make a comment about her clinging to the mug.

  She stood before the empty wall and instructed it to form a chair close to the exit.

  “Explain,” she demanded.

  Brooke studied the two
men. Being in the same room calmed something inside her, but also made her feel as if lightning ran beneath her skin. She was horny as hell, but felt certain she had it under control. A nagging ache in her chest kept her headache company.

  She’d spent most of yesterday going through the ship’s systems and hitting her head against an iridium wall. The locks she’d noticed earlier were paranormal aura locks and they were all across the ship. As “only human”, there was no way she could decode those. It was impossible for her to get off the ship or change course, even if she managed to somehow trick or overwhelm them.

  The StarNet hadn’t been much more help. She found a couple of short articles about ArchNaema Galen Kinvin and Vampire Nikolai Ranweth starting a union, but the paper had been human-owned and didn’t carry many details. Neither Vampire nor 35

  Naema press had picked up on their liaison or given her any ideas why they would be after her.

  She perched at the edge of her seat, clutching her fingers around the heat of the mug. “Explain.”

  Galen leaned forward, hands dangling between his legs. “A Vampire friend of ours, Darius, a pack of Ferals kidnapped his mate—”

  “Since when do they kidnap people? They usually drain them dry.” She wanted to ask about Vampire mates, but bit her lip and stopped herself in time.

  “The pack leader had a plan.” Galen waved her off. “I won’t bore you with the details, but the aim was to take over Darius’ trade routes and smuggle humans as blood slaves for Ferals who can pay the price.”

  Brooke nearly dropped the mug. “But that would mean another Vampire war.” Dread froze her heart.

  Nikolai came out of his slouch and sat up straighter. “They don’t care. They live and work deep in the shadows. The chances of figuring out who runs this operation are slim. As far as we can put together, the victims have been from small communities on the outer planets with a limited Watch and the strand of society that doesn’t talk to Security.”

  For the first time this morning, Brooke met his eyes. His silver gaze warmed an empty space deep inside her. She tightened her hold on the mug. Anything less than Un-ob would have crumbled under the pressure.

  “Street courtesans, homeless, addicts, runaways, that strand of society,” he answered her unvoiced question.

  Galen picked up the tale again. “Darius and Stasia managed to kill one ring leader, but the operation is like a hydra. You chop off one head, three more grow, meaning they still kidnap and sell humans.”

  “How did you get involved?” Brooke asked.

  “We are part of a small strike force under direct authority of the Head of the Vampire Council. As soon as he received the information he organized the team. Also,” Nikolai leaned forward, resting one elbow on the arm of his seat, “I’ve lived through one war and I have absolutely no intention of wading through a second. When Darius told us what happened, there was no question we would help.” Galen leaned over and gripped his lover’s shoulder.

  Brooke turned away. It both hurt her and turned her on to observe the tender exchanges. A small part of her desperately wanted to be included in their love, to be part of their connection. But how could she after they lied to her? And she would always be only human compared to their Paranormal powers. They might fill a hole she hadn’t known was there, but she had too much pride to be the weak link, the fool who fell for them.

  36

  She stuffed those thoughts into a dark corner of her mind. Instead she cleared her throat and looked back at them. “How is this human trafficking ring connected to me?” She had a horrible idea, but wanted confirmation.

  Galen gazed at her for a moment, his eyes filled with darkness and something that appeared close to pity. Brooke felt her horror turning toward anger.

  Nobody pitied her.

  “You had one hundred and forty-nine settlers on the Nebokka, the majority young and fit, prepared to leave everything behind for a better life. You also had twenty-three crew members.” He continued to look at her as if he expected her to draw her own conclusions.

  Brooke leaned down and gently put the tea mug on the floor. She clasped her hands to stop her fingers from shaking. “You think I was involved.” She swallowed. “You think I sold out my fellow humans and handed them over to Ferals.” Her stomach churned and she had to swallow the bile racing up her throat.

  How the Jade am I going to prove my innocence if I can’t remember what happened?

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  Chapter Four

  “The amnesia story seemed implausible,” Galen said, shifting in his chair.

  “This is the first time they’ve taken so many people in one raid. We need to find out who and how far the knowledge of the operation has spread. Unless we stop them, they’ll continue and get more and more audacious and daring,” Nikolai said.

  “And you picked me as the weakest link to interrogate,” she whispered. It hurt that they would think her capable of something so horrendous.

  “No,” Nikolai interrupted her downward spiral. “The original plan was to read your mind and find the relevant information.”

  Brooke’s brow rose. “Really.”

  Nikolai sat up straight and smiled. “But we couldn’t climb into your head in the bar

  —”

  “And decided by climbing into my pants you get all the information, plus some tail on the side.” Brooke couldn’t contain her bitterness.

  “No.” Galen rose, but sat back down when she flinched. “No,” he said in a quieter voice. “When we understood your mind was impenetrable, we knew we needed to get you away for a more thorough questioning.”

  Nikolai nodded. “What he said. Your energy knocked us on our respective asses.

  As soon as we got close enough, all plans went right out of the hyperspace window. We only wanted to touch you.”

  Brooke shook her head and got to her feet. “And you expect me to believe my aura or presence or whatever you want to call it, made a Vampire and a Naema forget what they’re thinking? Dream on.”

  She faced off against them, still attempting to come to terms with everything she’d learned.

  They both remained sitting, studying her as if her next words would decide the fate of the galaxy.

  “Brooke,” Nikolai began.

  For a second her heart clenched. He called her by her name and not his little nickname.

  “Brooke, if we still followed our plans, I would have attempted to invade your memories as we made love.” He shrugged. “All I thought about was you, your taste, your scent, the silky softness of your skin, watching you suck Galen’s cock and how much I needed to touch you.”

  38

  The words made a lump form in her throat. He sounded sincere, but they manipulated her once, they could be doing it again.

  “As to your remark about a Vampire and Naema, Brooke, you have power as well.

  It is different from ours and I’m not sure where it comes from, but you have power.

  Yesterday you stopped when the need to touch my wings should have dragged you across the floor.” Galen leaned forward.

  His words unclenched something deep inside her. Of course, there was the chance he lied, but she didn’t think so. Some of her confidence flooded back and the arms she crossed so tightly over her chest loosened the tiniest bit.

  “We now realize you really cannot remember what happened. I believe the Ferals wiped or blocked your memory.”

  “What?”

  “Have you ever asked yourself why you were left behind?” Nikolai asked.

  “Of course not, the thought never crossed my mind. Now I know Ferals are involved, I can only assume my blood wasn’t to their taste or I was too tall.” Nikolai winced as sarcasm dripped off her words, but what did he expect asking such a ridiculous question?

  “We will find out why. Both Nikolai and I have abilities that will help to determine what they did and fix it,” Galen interrupted their exchange.

  Brooke turne
d her back to them. She was cold despite the pleasant temperature on the bridge. The thought Ferals had done something to her mind made her feel tainted.

  For a moment she wished she could find safety and comfort in Galen’s and Nikolai’s arms, but the memory of their lies stopped her.

  They’d explained why they kidnapped her. From an objective point of view they had no reason not to suspect her. They didn’t know her. It didn’t mean she didn’t want to vent the hurt and frustration nagging at her insides like a loose wire in the engine tunnel, but they offered her a way to regain her memories.

  Maybe.

  She came to a stop in front of them. “What would you need?” Neither of them changed their expression, but Brooke thought their relief stroked across her body. Probably just her stupid hormones.

  “Ferals will have left behind evidence of their tampering. As a Vampire I’m best equipped to discover and untangle any barriers. I need you to be as relaxed as possible, preferably lying down and as open to my contact as you can be.”

  “Say all that happens, what will be your next step?”

  “Attempt to find whatever the Ferals left behind to stop you from remembering.”

  “Will you be able to read my every thought?”

  39

  Nikolai tipped his hand back and forth, indicating maybe yes, maybe no. “You have an unusual shield. Chances are I won’t be able to read anything but superficial thoughts once we connect.”

  “But you don’t know for sure.” Brooke balled her fists. “No way. I don’t want you anywhere in my thoughts. My thoughts and feelings are not for public consumption.”

  “It’s the only way to figure out what happened,” Galen interrupted.

  Brooke looked at him. “How would you like to have your innermost thoughts read?”

  Galen shrugged. “Nikolai and I share one mind. We have no secrets.”