As soon as the bedroom door closed behind Drex, Jenna attacked his clothes. The orgasm he’d given her in the family room left her warm and tingly yet anxious for more. She needed her mate deep inside her, filling her completely as only he could. He tugged off his boots while she took off his shirt. His undershirt followed, leaving him bare to the waist. His chest was too tempting to ignore, so she took a moment and appreciated the sculpted contours with her hands and lips.

His need smoldered across the transfer link, revealing the energy he expended remaining in control. Touching her had excited him just as much as it had pleasured her. He ached for her, yearned on a soul-deep level. He wanted to claim his mate, to prove to the universe that they belonged to each other. She wanted that too, eventually, but she wasn’t sure now was the time. If they could just capture Abaddon, or expose his true nature to his followers, then things would be stable and… She shook her head and dismissed the thought. There would always be something or someone threatening their future. It was inevitable with the roles they played within their societies.

She refocused on the present and unfastened his pants. Each time they’d made love, he had been determined to give her pleasure, often at the cost of his. Tonight would be different. It was time for her to pleasure him, and for him to lose control.

His pants sagged low on his hips, showcasing his toned abdomen. The head of his cock peeked out from the V created by the open seam. She reached in and carefully grasped his shaft, amazed by his heat and hardness.

Drex groaned at her touch and shoved his pants lower. Gravity did the rest. She stroked him, fingers sliding up and down his entire length as she debated how best to proceed. “Sit on the side of the bed.”

He caught her wrist and shook his head, expression suddenly stern. “Not until you’re naked.”

So much for asserting her authority. He clearly allowed only what he wanted to allow, and took back control whenever he chose. But she would see him tremble and hear his cries of surrender as she shattered his composure. She would have that much at least before she resumed the passive role.

Stepping back, she raised her hands to the front of her dress and began freeing the buttons. She took her time, teasing him with glimpses and shy smiles before exposing anything important. Her sweater hit the floor first, then she turned to the side and slipped the strap of her dress down her arm.

“The longer you take undressing, the longer I’ll take devouring you.” The sensual threat in his deep voice sent shivers down her spine.

He’d already given her an orgasm with his fingers. She wasn’t sure she could wait through another round of teasing. Keeping the thought to herself, she pulled her arm free of the strap and let the material slip just enough to give him a glimpse of her breast from the side. She faced the opposite direction as she freed her other arm from the strap. Her breasts were bare now, but she kept her back turned as she pushed the dress past her hips.

“Keep it up,” he growled. “I love teasing you.”

Unable to fight back her smile, she bent from the waist to pick up her dress, knowing the provocative position displayed her lower body perfectly. Suddenly his hands were on her hips and his face pressed against the backs of her thighs. His warm tongue pushed into her folds, but she jumped forward with a startled cry.

“No you don’t.” She spun around and pointed to the bed. “It’s my turn to devour you. I’m naked as you requested. Now sit down and behave.”

A wicked smile parted his lips as he sauntered over to the bed and sat. He spread his legs and crooked his finger, then pointed to the floor between his spread thighs.

She tensed. It ruined the setup if she followed his orders. She looked at his erection, boldly jutting out from between his legs. She’d have to exert her authority in other ways, make him wait forever like he frequently made her wait. She moved into position and knelt, running both hands up the inside of his thighs. When she reached his sex, she wrapped one hand around his shaft and cradled his balls with the other. He moaned and his head dropped back as a ragged breath expanded his muscular chest.

“I’ve dreamed about this for so long.”

His admission thrilled her, as did the obvious tension in his entire body. She wanted to make this last, but he was already close to coming. Instead of immediately taking him in her mouth, she touched him, stroking his thick length and circling his tip lightly with her thumb. He was a study in contrasts, rock-hard flesh, covered in velvety skin.

He clenched his jaw and lifted his hips, his message obvious. She pressed her teeth into her lower lip as feminine power unfurled within her. “Doesn’t this feel good?” She stroked him from base to tip.

“Yes.” The word exploded from his mouth along with his pent-up breath. “But I want your mouth. Please, love, I need it.”

It was as close as he’d ever come to begging, but she wasn’t quite satisfied. “Like this?” She leaned down and circled his tip with her tongue.

“No. Yes!”

She laughed and did it again. “Which is it?”

“Yes, but more. Put me inside.” His eyes opened, phitons burning. “Suck my cock, Jenna. I want your hot, wet mouth.”

The rawness of his tone and explicit words eroded her determination. Their gazes locked as she slowly wrapped her lips around him. His chest heaved and his hands pushed into her hair, but he didn’t try to control her. He watched her with rapt fascination as if he’d never seen her before. She slid her lips lower, taking more and more of his flesh into her mouth.

“Yes, oh gods, yes!” His eyelids lowered then he arched his neck, his legs shaking.

Thrilled by his response, she grew bolder. Desire blazed across their link, making her dizzy. She bobbed her head, taking him as deep as she could. Her fist encircled the base of his shaft, squeezing and sliding in tandem with her mouth. His taste grew stronger and his scent was reestablished with each deep breath. Mine. Her spirit affirmed. This male is mine!

“I can’t wait,” he cried, then lifted her straight up, his big hands under her arms.

She quickly folded her legs as he settled her astride his lap. She’d really wanted him to completely lose control, but it was hard to argue when her entire body ached to be filled by him.

He positioned himself at her entrance, then his gaze bore into hers as he slowly pulled her downward. She opened for him, stretched around him, welcoming his thick length with wetness and heat. He didn’t stop until she’d taken all he had to give.

Their harsh breathing was the only sound as they stared into each other’s eyes. There was no hiding from the emotions now, no guessing what the intense expressions meant. He pulled her head down to his, their eyes slowly closing. Their mouths meshed, aligning until there was no space between their lips. He caressed her with his tongue and she responded, showering his mind with tenderness.

Ride me, love. Drive us both crazy.

He was indulging her, but his willingness to give her back some measure of control surprised and pleased her. He was dominant to the marrow of his bones. Surrender in any form ran against his basic nature. She flexed her knees, sliding her body up until only his tip remained inside her. She paused for a passionate kiss, then slid back down, filling herself completely with her mate.

Her gasp momentarily separated their lips. He adjusted the angel of her head, then reestablished the connection of their mouths. Desire and affection surged back and forth between their minds. The scalding emotions sent pulses of sensation tingling all through their bodies. She tightened around his shaft and braced against his shoulders, her hips moving faster and faster.

His tongue moved boldly as she found a rolling motion that maximized the slide of her body over his. By arching her back, she increased the pressure of his shaft against her clit. Each sensual rotation brought her closer to orgasm. He grasped her hips and thrust upward, increasing the penetration of his cock. She cried out and twisted her face away from his, not wanting to come without him. But it was too late. The pleasure was too intense and her body was too responsive. She threw her head back and dug her nails into his shoulders as an orgasm pulsed inside her.

Before the last ripple faded, he rolled, sweeping her beneath him, then drawing her hips to the edge of the bed. He stood on the floor and her legs were draped over his forearms. His gaze drilled into hers as he took control of their movements.

“My turn,” he whispered, his need scorching through her mind.

Her breasts jiggled as she panted and moaned, her nipples tight and dark. His gaze focused on the inadvertent display and he narrowed his eyes. His hands grasped her waist and pulled her even closer to the edge of the bed. Then he bent forward, forcing her legs higher on his arms. His thrusts slowed, but didn’t stop as his lips captured one of her nipples. He drew on the sensitive crest hard enough to make her gasp. Her inner muscles clenched and she arched, taking him deeper. He moved to the other side, using just a hint of teeth as he filled her with sharp thrusts.

When her nipples were pebble hard and bright red from his intense attention, he lifted his head and concentrated entirely on the motion of his hips. Her legs had caught in the bend of his elbows, keeping her pelvis angled up. He filled her deeply, staking his claim with each forceful drive. She couldn’t really move, could only surrender and revel in the pleasure he unleashed in her.

Their link vibrated as they both neared completion. Desire and hunger, tenderness and longing, swirled through their minds and cascaded through their bodies. His features tensed and his thrusts sped, becoming almost frantic. He looked savage, utterly engrossed in the joining of their bodies and souls. His urgency released the same in her. She lifted to meet him, offering him everything, body, mind and soul.

He came with a strangled cry, buried deep inside her. The heated pulses of his release triggered her final orgasm. They shuddered and moaned, clinging to each other as wave after wave of pleasure crashed over them.

She recovered first, watching as awareness gradually returned to his passion-muddled gaze. “We’re getting good at this.” She smiled at him and he chuckled in return.

“I don’t want to leave you, but my legs are about to give out.” With obvious reluctance, he separated their bodies and crawled onto the bed beside her.

She glanced at the alarm clock on the nightstand and laughed. “It’s barely nine o’clock. No wonder I’m not sleepy.”

He reached over and cupped her breast, thumb lightly teasing her nipple. “However shall we pass the time?”

“Actually, I’m starving. Popcorn isn’t much of a dinner.”

His gaze heated and swept down her body. “I can think of other things I’d rather eat.”

With a carefree laugh, she scurried off the bed and quickly found her bathrobe. “Let’s find something for me to eat, then I’ll let you have desert. As much of it as you want.”

“On the kitchen table?” he suggested with a roguish grin.

“I had no idea you were such an exhibitionist.” She laughed. “Desert will be served up here in the privacy of our bedroom. However, I won’t rush you. I’ll revel in your attention and patiently wait until you’ve had your fill.”

“I’ll never have my fill of you, sweetheart, but I accept your deal, and suspect you’ll enjoy desert as much as I will.”

She just smiled and pointed to his discarded uniform. “Better put on your pants. Our housekeeper/cook’s bedroom connects with the kitchen.”

* * * * *

Sated and exhausted from the night before, Drex and Jenna slept much later than they’d intended. It was nearly ten when they stirred and eleven thirty by the time they left the bedroom freshly showered and ready for the day. As with the day before, Drex dressed casually. Today he chose dark brown pants and a pullover shirt with a subtle earth-tone pattern. Still, the garments complemented his sophisticated good looks and lean body just as much as his customary power suit. Jenna followed his lead, donning a casual summer dress of forest green with a full skirt and wide straps that gave it a retro feel. Rodytes preferred their women in “female” clothing. Still, she tried to convince herself she wasn’t doing this entirely for him. She’d always enjoyed the freedom of flowing skirts and slip-on sandals. While Jenna completed her preparations, Drex contacted General Lux and Morgan Hoyt, but neither of the leaders had anything encouraging to report.

Jenna and Drex ate brunch in the kitchen, wanting to prolong the intimacy as long as possible. But they weren’t on holiday. They’d returned to Earth for a reason. After Jenna indulged in a second cup of coffee, they finally left the kitchen in search of Lenore and/or Thea. Neither was anxious for the conversation about to take place.

They’d just reached the main corridor when Drex suddenly stopped walking. Jenna collided with his side and turned sharply to face him, but her playful remark evaporated when she saw his tense expression. He stared off into space, obviously communicating with someone.

“This is Drex, go ahead.”

A long pause followed. Had one of the investigative teams learned something new? Had Thea’s grandmother, Helen, been found? Please God let that be the case. Drex’s expression remained tight and unhappy, so her tiny flicker of excitement sputtered out before it could build into hope.

“How dependable is the witness?” he asked.

A witness? But a witness to what?

“I see.” He spoke out loud, so he was probably speaking with Morgan or one of her agents. Rodyte com-bots could send and receive transmissions without any verbalizations. With humans, his com-bots emulated a cell phone or radio signal, so it was still necessary to speak.

“Understood.” He sounded discouraged. After another long pause, he added, “Thanks for the update.”

“What’s wrong?” she asked when his gaze refocused.

A twisted cluster of emotions pulsed into her mind. The flare only lasted a moment, then he painstakingly controlled the reaction, not even giving her time to unravel the tangle. It took years of practice and discipline to achieve that level of control. The realization left her sad and anxious to comfort her mate. He was no longer alone. He didn’t need to suppress his emotions, at least not with her.

“Resistance Force just struck again,” he explained. “They blew up a warehouse filled with supplies meant for Lunar Nine. Eleven humans were killed in the attack. Now all the other suppliers are scared. Several have already pulled out.”

“That’s horrible.” She moved closer, unsure how to soothe him. “I was hoping this was about Helen.”

“There was some of that too. It was Morgan and Sedrik. They conferenced me in.”

“Did they find her?” The stubborn flicker of hope sparked back to life. She desperately wanted to have good news to share with Thea. Their personalities seemed to clash, but she felt horribly sorry for the young woman. “You said something about a witness. What did they see?”

“According to Agnes, Helen’s closest neighbor, a ‘nice young man with a bushy mustache and the longest eyelashes she’d ever seen on a man’ told them Thea asked him to pick up Helen and take her to the airport, so Helen could fly to California where Thea would be waiting to pick her up.”

Jenna shook her head, feeling sick all over. Anyone who would victimize an elderly woman deserved a special kind of hell. “Wouldn’t Helen know better than to leave with a stranger?”

“I don’t know. We’ll have to ask Thea.” He sighed and admitted, “There’s more. Sedrik wants us to bring Thea to Lunar Nine. If she won’t cooperate with us, he wants Vox to take a shot at her. We’ve got to get the Resistance Force under control.”

“Who is Vox?” Jenna tensed, instinctively knowing she wouldn’t like the answer.

“He’s a Bilarrian mage, very powerful. It’s in Thea’s best interest to work with us. Needless to say, Sedrik has had it with the RF.”

The Resistance Force tried to paint themselves as the defenders of the human race, yet they slaughtered eleven humans more or less to make a point. As well as terrorizing senior citizens. “Could this have been the attack Abaddon ordered at the meeting we saw in my vision?”

He raised both hands in a helpless shrug. “We don’t know when the memory took place. It could have been weeks ago.”

Good point. “Well, there’s one person who knows, and she now has two compelling reasons to cooperate.” Jenna continued down the hallway with firm, purposeful strides. Drex followed close behind.

They found Thea in Jenna’s home office, which also served as a library. Floor-to-ceiling bookcases flanked a marble fireplace, giving the room a cozy feel. However, a large wooden desk took up most of the floor space, leaving minimal room for the three occupants. The desk was Lenore’s pride and joy, so she didn’t care that it was too large for the room. She’d found it at an estate sale and painstakingly restored it herself.

Not wanting to open with either of the bombshells, Jenna asked, “Have you seen my mother this morning?” She moved to the chairs in front of the desk and sat. Drex lounged in the doorway, his posture relaxed and watchful.

“She’s been here and gone. We had breakfast together a couple of hours ago.” Thea had a laptop open on the desk. The corporate logo on the back of the screen told Jenna it wasn’t her mother’s.

“Where’d you get the laptop,” she tried to sound casual, but she didn’t trust Thea. Even if her conversion was legitimate—which Jenna wasn’t convinced it was—Thea had willingly joined a group of murderous thugs.

“Your mother had one of her security guys go get my things. I’m still paying for the hotel room, so the RF leaders won’t get suspicious, but I need my clothes and laptop.”

Lenore’s compassionate impulses were going to get them killed. If someone was watching Thea, which was likely, they wouldn’t be fooled by the transparent ploy. “Where’d my mother go?”

“She said something about a card club. She’ll be back between four and five.” Thea turned back to the computer and tapped out something on the keyboard, then closed the screen. “I called my grandmother’s residence again.” She looked up as she said, “The receptionist said the place is crawling with cops, but that’s all she’d say. She still wouldn’t admit that Grandma Helen is missing. Do you two know more than they’re telling me? I honestly think the staff has a really bad case of C.Y.A. going on.”

Jenna scrambled for a way to soften the blow, but there was none. She’d promised Thea honesty. Hopefully, Thea would respond to a straightforward approach. “The battle born and a team of human investigators are searching for her.”

“Then she is missing and has likely been kidnapped?” If Jenna was expecting an emotional outburst, it quickly became obvious she wasn’t going to get one. It was equally obvious that Thea was not nearly as calm as she appeared. Like many with devastation in their lives, she’d become adept at hiding her emotions.

“Agnes, Helen’s closest neighbor, saw Helen leave with a man,” Drex told Thea.

“I know who she is. What else did she see?”

“According to Agnes,” he continued, “the man told Helen you had sent him and he would bring her to you.”

At first she just shook her head, too upset to speak.

“Would Helen fall for that?” Jenna asked.

“Depends on the day.” A hint of emotion crept into her tone, making it cool and brittle. “And what did this mystery man look like?”

“Dark hair, bushy mustache, very long, dark eyelashes,” Drex listed.

“Shit.” Thea covered her face, hands trembling. “This can’t be happening.”

Unable to ignore her pain, Jenna placed her hand on Thea’s shoulder.

“Do you know who took her?” Drex asked, likely trying to keep her talking.

Thea just nodded, not even lowering her hands, so Jenna said, “Some would consider Big Jim’s mustache bushy. Does he also have long eyelashes?”

Thea lowered her hands to her lap. Her eyes were dry, but her voice still shook. “Very. It had to be him. I don’t believe in coincidences.”

“Neither do I,” Jenna agreed. “It’s obvious they took her to control you. Have they told you what they want, what specifically you’re supposed to accomplish?”

“I’m supposed to recruit you,” Thea snapped. “I don’t understand his obsession, but Abaddon wants you bad.”

Jenna was unnerved by the sudden conviction in Thea’s tone. “Can you contact Abaddon, or does he always contact you?” If their communications weren’t interactive, maybe Jenna didn’t need this prickly ex-radical. She’s simply pretend to be Thea and arrange the meeting herself.

Thea stared past Jenna as if the sight of her was offensive. “The thingy I use to call him is gone. The security guy must have taken it.”

“Thingy?” Jenna felt herself smile despite her distrust of the other woman. “What sort of thingy?”

“It’s bigger than a flash drive, but is used in the same port. And it has weird letters or symbols on it.”

“Do all of the RF leaders have them?” Jenna asked.

Thea nodded. “Why do you ask?”

“When I scanned your mind I saw one. It was inserted in Big Jim’s computer. Is his identical to yours?”

Jenna paled and moved her hands under the desk, her eyes wide and uncertain. “You can see specific memories?” Apparently, she hadn’t picked up on that fact when Jenna asked about Jim’s eye lashes.

“My abilities are not the issue,” Jenna said firmly. “Is your device the same as his?”

“Yes. Why is that important?”

Jenna ignored the question. She needed to find out about the meeting. When had it taken place? Did Thea know the full names of the other participants? What else was said or implied? But one subject at a time. “Who gave you the device and how did they explain what it does?”

Apparently feeling threatened, Thea pushed back from the desk and stood. She looked at Drex, then back at Jenna, hands fisted at her sides. “I haven’t done anything wrong. Why do you have to be such a bitch to me?”

Ignoring the charge, Jenna asked, “When did that meeting take place?”

She made a helpless gesture and her gaze kept darting toward the door. “I’ve only been in two meetings with Big Jim. I’m not sure which one you saw.”

“Abaddon was arranging some sort of ‘attack’ and Big Jim asked how many of you Abaddon wanted to participate. Abaddon responded that two should be enough. Any of this ringing any bells?”

“That was four days ago,” Thea admitted, her voice suddenly quiet and unsure. “Right after the meeting Big Jim took me to the airport and I came here.”

“What’s Big Jim’s last name? Can you identify the other RF leaders?”

“What about my grandmother?” Thea yelled. “Does anyone care about her?”

“There are highly skilled teams, both human and battle born, searching for her,” Drex reminded. “They will keep looking until they find her and bring her back to you.”

Thea licked her lips, her expression tight yet unreadable. “I only know most of them by first name. Big Jim’s last name is Day-something, maybe Daytona or Dayton.

The name sounded familiar, but Jenna couldn’t say why. Maybe she’d heard it in her vision. She looked at Drex. “Does that mean anything to you?”

He shook his head. “I’ll pass it on. Any information we give the analysts will speed up the facial recognition.”

Jenna nodded then turned back to Thea. “And what were you supposed to attack?” Jenna was pretty sure she already knew, but wanted to see if Thea would answer honestly. Thea might not have directly participated, but she’d known about the attack and had done nothing to stop it. So much for her innocence.

“A warehouse.” She paused to lick her lips. “Why are you so angry? Why do you hate me?”

“I don’t hate you, and the attack took place this morning. Eleven people were killed. Eleven human beings lost their lives because of the Resistance Force.”

Thea shook her head, tears gathering in her eyes. “That can’t be right. No one was supposed to be there! Why were people there?”

“Because of the Defiant.” Drex’s posture was no longer relaxed. He stood in the doorway, arms crossed over his chest. “Almost two hundred people died when RF fighters went after the supply convoy. But they were Rodytes, so I suppose they don’t count.”

Guilt broke through Thea’s stricken look. Jenna hadn’t been sure Thea knew about the incident. Apparently she did. “Sit down and answer my questions.” She’d only bring up General Lux if Thea stopped cooperating. Right now she was answering questions. Jenna hoped to keep it that way. “Who gave you the communication device and how was it explained to you?”

Thea looked at Drex, spirit gradually returning to her gaze. “Am I a prisoner?”

“You’re my mother’s guest. A prisoner would be in restraints.”

Thea glared at her. “If I can’t leave, I’m your prisoner.”

Jenna waved away the exaggeration. “You’re being detained for questioning. The faster you answer, the faster you can go back to surfing the internet. Shut down on me and we’ll move this conversation to one of the battle born ships.”

Rebellion gleamed in Thea’s eyes for a moment, then she sighed and sat back down. “Big Jim gave me the device just before he dropped me off at the airport. I figured it was some sort of encryption for the signal. I think Abaddon is, or was, a spy.”

“You’re not far off, but the real question is for which government does he spy?”

Thea’s blonde brows drew together and skepticism sharpened her expression. “You think he’s a Russian or something?”

“Oh, I’m pretty sure he’s from much farther away than Russia.”

“What are you talking about?”

Her impatience was annoying, but Jenna obliged. “Drex has seen similar devices on the spaceship the battle born took away from Solar Warden.”

“You think Abaddon works for Solar Warden?” Now she looked totally confused. “But I thought Solar Warden was basically disbanded.”

“They are,” Drex told her, moving farther into the room. “They were given the spaceship by a race of beings known as the Evonti. Their technology is distinctive, and they’re desperate to drive all Rodytes out of this star system. The communication device you’ve been using came from the Evonti.”

For a long, tense moment Thea just stared at him. “You think Abaddon is working for the Evonti, for aliens?”

Drex shook his head. “We don’t think he works for them. We think Abaddon is Evonti. The question is, how many of the RF leaders know?”

* * * * *

“Nice ship.”

The disbelief in Torrin’s tone drew Arton’s attention to his somber companion. Not willing to disclose the exact location of the Relentless, Arton arranged for Torrin to leave his ship on one of Jupiter’s moons and be transported the rest of the way without knowing their final destination. They’d departed three hours ago and now the main viewscreen displayed a detailed image of Kage Razel’s flagship, which was also his primary home and headquarters.

“If I’m not mistaken,” Torrin went on, “that’s a series 249 battle cruiser. They’ve only been in production for about a year. How in creation did the leader of the Outcasts get his hands on a brand new battleship?”

Arton chuckled. “Apex General Garin Nox bartered with him. We had something—or rather someone—they wanted and Kage told him the Relentless was the price.”

Torrin’s skepticism turned to suspicion as he heard the answer. “Why would the head of the entire Rodyte military give an outlaw such a valuable ship? Had you kidnapped his mother?”

“Something like that.” Arton had no intention of going into the details. He still hadn’t decided if Torrin was friend or foe. “To be fair, Garin wasn’t apex general at the time. The rebellion was just starting to escalate and the battle born needed muscle badly. An alliance with the Outcasts made sense at the time.”

Tearing his covetous gaze away from the screen, he looked at Arton. “When and why did the alliance stop making sense? You’re clearly not cooperating with the battle born now.”

“Reverse dynamic. They had something we wanted, so we agreed to behave.”

“But,” Torrin prompted, impatience edging his tone.

“But I found a way to achieve our goals that didn’t require kissing up to the battle born. Our primary focus is freedom—real, lasting freedom. And an alliance with the battle born was counterproductive to that goal. They are much too regimented and steeped in how things have always been.”

For a long, silent moment Torrin stared at him. His strange, gray-green eyes began to swirl, then he blinked several times and looked away. “True freedom is a myth, a fairytale. Everyone answers to someone, even the overlord.”

“Who does Kage answer to?” Arton asked, curious for another glimpse into Torrin’s perspective. How much did the cagey assassin know about the Outcasts?

“The brotherhood of course. If the overlord starts making decisions that are not in everyone’s best interest, he’ll be challenged, perhaps replaced. That’s not absolute freedom.”

Arton retained his unreadable expression, but inwardly he smiled. It had only been a few days since first contact, but clearly Torrin had done his homework. “I never said we were striving for absolute freedom. We intend to create a situation with real and lasting change, a place where those who have been discarded by traditional societies can interact and flourish.”

“I have no use for platitudes. If one of you is not going to spell it out for me, just take me back to my ship now.”

Unable to hide his amusement, Arton chuckled. “Are you always so prickly? Relax. We’re almost there, and Kage will answer your questions.”

Torrin’s only response was a thoughtful nod.

The pilot maneuvered the shuttle into the landing bay and began his post-flight checks as Arton and Torrin departed. Kage had decided to greet their guest personally, which was highly unusual. “Overlord Kage Razel, this is Torrin Havier.”

The two mercenaries clasped arms, clearly sizing each other up. Torrin was dressed in Earth casual, jeans and a black T-shirt. He had a compact pulse pistol tucked inside his boot, but Arton decided not to make him relinquish it. Torrin was here at the overlord’s request, which afforded him some leeway. Kage wore his habitual costume of flowing red cape and synth-leather pants. Though the wide straps crossing Kage’s bare chest could hold a variety of armaments, the only weapon on him now was his flexblade. Arton was pretty sure the overlord slept with the silly thing.

“Welcome to the Relentless.” He swept his arm toward the exit, then fell into step beside his guest, forcing Arton to trail behind.

Arton didn’t mind. He learned more when people forgot about him. He was most comfortable when he blended into the background and watched, analyzing situations as they unfolded and people as they interacted.

Kage took Torrin to the officers’ dining hall. It was also a popular gathering place, a sort of lounge, but Kage quickly enacted privacy protocols. The officers would have to gamble in their quarters tonight.

“Can I get you a drink?”

“Organic or synthesized?” Torrin asked. “I don’t mean to be rude, but synthesized booze makes me nauseous.” Like his clothing, his vocabulary was heavily influenced by humans. Did Torrin spend much of his time on Earth? Or was he simply partial to their cultures?

Kage walked to an inset compartment and opened it with a thumb scan. He pulled out a bottle of g’haut. “My private stock, courtesy of Rex Dravon’s latest run.”

“Gotta love a smuggler.”

“And Rex is one of the best. The Outcasts are lucky to have him.” Kage poured two drinks and handed one to Torrin. They chose seats facing each other, and Arton sat slightly apart. As was his custom in situations like this, Kage basically ignored Arton, allowing him to watch and learn. They would talk after the interview and compare impressions.

Torrin and Kage chatted casually for a few minutes, taking frequent drinks of the murky blue liquor. Arton shuddered. He couldn’t stand the stuff and didn’t understand why it was so popular, but this wasn’t about him. They were assessing Torrin, deciding what to disclose if they chose to recruit him. Well, Arton was still deciding if they should recruit him. Kage was more instinctual when it came to new recruits, and he liked what he’d heard about Torrin. Basically the assassin would have to really piss Kage off for the overlord to turn him away. Besides, Kage only approved recruits to apply to the brotherhood. It was the full membership that decided whether or not to bestow membership on each applicant.

“So, how does this work?” Torrin asked as Kage refilled his glass. “I suspect you’ve already learned who I am and my skillset. Why should I offer those skills to the Outcasts? As I told Arton and Rex, I already have a job.”

Kage pressed back into his seat, black eyes openly assessing Torrin. “We’re not offering you a job. We’re offering you an entirely new life, an opportunity to start over and shape the future any way you like. Very soon, we’ll be leaving this star system.”

“And going where?”

“Our destination is only known to the brotherhood, but I will tell you we’ve located a planet that is capable of sustaining humanoid life. It is currently uninhabited. We intend to claim the world as our own and build a new civilization, a civilization entirely our own.”

“Really?” Clearly he was surprised by the revelation. “Do you have any idea what it takes to settle an uninhabited world? Are you prepared to live without nutri-gen kiosks and regeneration bays?”

“We have no intention of abandoning technology. We have several thousand ships at our disposal. Some will be kept for transportation, but many will be utilized in the settlement. Yes, the lifestyle will be challenging in the beginning, but we won’t be living in grass huts or dragging water in buckets from the river. We have a much smoother transition in mind.”

Torrin narrowed his gaze and seemed to consider Kage’s words before he said, “Tell me more.”