Chapter Thirty-one
“What do you mean she’s gone?”
Kat watched unhappily as Olivia leaned toward the viewscreen, her face twisted in fear. She and Baird had been summoned to an emergency call and Liv had asked Kat to come along. She had told Kat she was worried about Sophie—it was in the wee hours of the morning and she’d been having a bad dream right before the call came in. So now here they were, all dressed in their nightclothes and robes. But even Liv’s nightmare couldn’t compare with the news that greeted them when they opened the call and saw Sylvan standing there looking almost wild with grief.
Sophie was gone.
“She can’t be gone just like that,” Liv said for what had to be the tenth time. “People don’t just disappear into thin air!”
“They do if someone is using a molecular transfer beam,” Baird said grimly. “Clothes left behind—nothing taken but her—it has to be. The beam won’t transport anything but living tissue.”
“What?” Liv rounded on him. “What are you talking about?”
“It’s a new technology—the Kindred have been working on it, mainly because we were pretty sure the Scourge were trying to develop it too.” Baird shook his head. “Looks like the Scourge beat us to it.”
“Well if you guys have a beam too, then can’t you just beam her back?” Olivia demanded. “Beam her home?”
“I’m afraid not, Lilenta.” Baird put an arm around her shoulders. “Ours isn’t operational yet and besides, we don’t know where she is. The universe is a vast place—I don’t think you realize how vast. And Sophia could literally be anywhere in it.”
“Not if the Scourge have her,” Kat said, frowning. “Chances are she’s back on their Fathership.”
“I don’t think so.” Baird shook his head. “If she was back in our area, we would have seen the fold in space. There’s been no energy disturbance at all from the Scourge—in fact, they’ve been remarkably silent for the past couple of days.”
“I tried calling her on a Think-me, but there was no answer—she must be someplace that’s shielded against thoughts. But that doesn’t matter—I’m going to find her.” Sylvan ran a hand through his hair. Kat thought that even on the viewscreen he looked terrible—like a man on the brittle, crumbling edge of insanity. “I have to.”
“How?” Baird said reasonably. “She could be anywhere .”
“If they didn’t fold space back to your sector, they should still be in mine.” Sylvan shook his head. “Only…there aren’t any unidentified ships in the Tranq Prime orbit. But gods, I have to find her.”
“I know how you feel,” Baird said grimly. “But you have to get hold of yourself, Brother. You won’t do her any good flying off half-cocked.”
“You don’t understand.” Sylvan’s voice was low and troubled. “I have to find her—and in the next forty-eight hours.”
Olivia frowned. “Why the next forty-eight hours?”
“Because…” Sylvan pressed the heel of his hand to his forehead. “Because just before she was taken I found out that she’d contracted Blood Fever. I have to find her in forty-eight hours so I can cure her. After that…it will be too late.”
“Oh my God.” Liv put a hand to her eyes and started to sob. Apparently she knew something about the mysterious disease Sophie had been diagnosed with—maybe because of her work in the med station. Baird looked grim also.
Kat wished she could ask for details but there was really no time. Her eyes snapped back up to the viewscreen where Sylvan was talking again.
“I’m going to start with a narrow orbit and work my way out,” he was saying. “That way I can’t miss anything. And then—”
“Stop.” Kat spoke up for the first time.
Everyone looked at her. “Stop what?” Liv demanded.
“Sylvan, don’t go anywhere,” Kat told him. “Stay where you are—there’s no point in you flying around in circles. Just give me some time to see if I can locate Sophie.”
“You?” He frowned. “How are you going to locate her?”
Kat put a hand on her hip. “The same way I located you guys before when you were lost in the mountains.” Her heart was beating so hard she could feel it in every part of her body but she made herself go on. “I…I’ll get help from Lock and Deep.”
“But…but I thought you never wanted anything to do with them ever again,” Liv said though her tears.
“I don’t,” Kat said grimly. “But there’s no other way.” She looked back up at the viewscreen. “Just give me a little time, Sylvan. A couple of hours, that’s all I ask.”
“You may be asking too much,” Sylvan said grimly. “One or two hours could mean the difference between life and death.”
“But what if you go off and she’s in the opposite direction you’re flying?” Olivia demanded, swiping at her eyes. “Please, Sylvan, I believe in Kat. Just give her two hours to try.”
Sylvan looked at Baird. “Brother? What do you think?”
Baird nodded slowly. “I don’t honestly know if even Lock and Deep can find her over such a great distance. But my heart tells me we should try. Give Kat the time, Sylvan.”
Sylvan nodded reluctantly and looked at Kat. “Please,” he said hoarsely. “Please find her.”
Liv reached for her hand and squeezed it tightly. “Yes, Kat—please.”
Kat swallowed hard and tried not to let the fear she was feeling show. “I’ll do my best.”
* * * * *
“Well, well. Look who it is.” Deep’s voice was sardonic but his eyes blazed as he looked Kat up and down. He was standing in the doorway of the suite he shared with Lock wearing a pair of black sleep pants—and nothing else.
“Who is it?” Lock’s voice, floating out from inside the suite, sounded sleepy.
“Come see for yourself, Brother.” Deep folded his arms over his broad chest and leaned against the doorway, smirking. “It seems our little Kat has something to say…and apparently she’s in a hurry to say it. Too much of a hurry to even get dressed properly.” His eyes roved over Kat’s blue satin nighty and matching robe.
Kat resisted the urge to cover herself. “Give me a break,” she snapped. “It’s the middle of the night and I didn’t have time to change.” The set was a recent acquisition, bought from one of the clothing shops that catered to Earth brides. Kat had searched and searched for something more comfortable and less sexy—something like her sock monkey pjs back home—but apparently none of the new brides was into comfort over fashion. Which made sense—they were all essentially on their honeymoons. But still…
“What are you talking about?” Lock came to the door, rubbing his eyes. His dark blond hair was tousled and he was wearing sleep pants that matched his twin’s, but his were a deep maroon that showed off his golden tan skin. In fact, both brothers looked absolutely gorgeous. Which isn’t making this any easier, Kat thought grimly.
“Kat!” Lock seemed surprised, as though he hadn’t really believed his brother. “Welcome. Why are you just standing out there?”
Kat lifted her chin. “I haven’t been invited in.”
“What’s wrong with you?” Lock frowned at his brother. “How can you leave her standing there in the corridor half dressed, for any male to see? Invite her in.”
“Come in, Lady Kat.” Deep made a sweeping bow. “That is, if you can suddenly stand the sight of us.”
Kat took a deep breath. Well, she had known she was going to have to eat some humble pie—she just hadn’t known that Deep would start dishing it out quite so quickly.
“I’m here because I need your help,” she said. Stepping into their suite and passing between their two large, male bodies was incredibly hard but she forced herself to do it anyway. And she only jumped a little when the door swooshed shut behind her.
“Our help, hmmm? And why would we want to help you?” Deep arched one black eyebrow at her, his arms still crossed over his chest.
“Let her talk, Deep,” Lock snapped. He gestured at the couch. “Would you like to have a seat? It’s a little early for klava but I think I have some left from yesterday’s delivery.”
“ Klava would be great.” Kat smiled at him gratefully as she sank down on the extra long couch. “But I really don’t have much time.”
“It’ll just take a minute.” Lock nodded at his brother. “Deep, come help me.”
Giving her a last, speculative look, Deep nodded at Kat and sauntered into the kitchen.
* * * * *
Deep leaned back against the food prep counter frowning. “I assume you can manage the klava by yourself, Brother. So the reason you need me in the kitchen must be for a heart-to-heart chat.”
“Exactly.” Lock put down the klava tray he’d picked up and came to stand directly in front of his irritating twin. “Listen to me,” he said, trying to keep his voice low and reasonable. “Kat is obviously here because she’s in some kind of trouble and we need to help her.”
“Why should we?” Deep frowned. “Why should we care if she’s in trouble?”
Lock pointed a finger at him. “ You care. You can lie to yourself, Brother, but you can’t lie to me. I can feel the need inside you—you want her as much as I do.”
“And if I do? What good would it do me?” Deep growled. “What good would it do either one of us? She’s made up her mind, Lock—she doesn’t want us.”
“Well maybe we can change her mind—did that ever occur to you?” Lock ran a hand through his hair in frustration. “Maybe if you could get over your grief for Miranda for one second, you could see the possibilities.”
“There are no possibilities. Not with Kat. Not with any Earth female.” Deep pounded one fist on the food prep counter. “Can’t you see that by now?”
Lock took a deep breath. It wouldn’t do any good to get into a shouting match. Deep had been hurt— deeply hurt —by Kat’s rejection of them after their joining. And unfortunately that rejection had reinforced his negative ideas about claiming a bride from Earth. Not that he needed any extra negative reinforcement after what happened to Miranda… Lock pushed the painful memory out of his mind. He needed to concentrate on Kat now—they both did, if only Deep would see it. Lock could still see her in his mind’s eye, sitting on their couch waiting. She looked so lovely and vulnerable in her deep blue silky nightgown, her auburn hair spilling down around her shoulders…
“The fact that she’s here at all tonight means she must be desperate,” he said quietly. “She needs our help, so we’ll help her. Not because we want to claim her or have any hope of calling her as a bride. But because it’s the right thing to do.”
Deep smirked. “When have I ever cared about doing the right thing?”
“You care more than you let anyone see,” Lock said softly. “Come on, Brother—will you help me to help her or not?”
Deep frowned, his black eyes narrowed. “Once. Just this once I’ll help. But after that it’s over. And I don’t want to hear anything else about calling her as a bride. Understand?”
Lock nodded. “All right. I’ll try to keep my ideas to myself—though you know I can’t help how I feel.”
“I know. I’ve been trying to tune you out about her for days .” Deep nodded. “Come on, bring the klava and let’s get this over with—whatever it is.” He turned to go but Lock stopped him with a hand on his shoulder. “What is it now?” Deep demanded.
“Thank you.” Lock squeezed his shoulder. “Just…thank you.”
Deep shook his head. “She really means a lot to you, doesn’t she?”
Almost as much as she means to you, Brother. But Lock didn’t say it out loud. Instead he just nodded. “Yes.”
Deep narrowed his eyes. “Then you’re a fool.” Turning, he pushed back through the door to the living area where Kat was sitting.
Picking up the klava tray with a sigh, Lock followed him.
* * * * *
“So what do you need?” Deep dropped beside her on the couch, slouching like a lazy predator. His pose was casual but his black eyes burned into her with frightening intensity.
“Sophie’s been snatched—we think by the Scourge,” Kat said, diving right in, as Lock sat on her other side and began making up cups of klava. “Baird and Sylvan think they must have used some kind of transport beam.”
Lock raised his eyebrows as he passed her a steaming cup. “A molecular transport beam?”
“Exactly.” Kat took a sip from her cup, grateful for the instant sense of warmth and well being the klava imparted. “Anyway, the Scourge haven’t folded space, so we think she’s still in Sylvan’s sector of space around Tranq Prime. But no one knows where.” She took another sip, trying to gather her courage. “So I need you two to help me find her—the same way we did before.”
“What?” Deep gave her an incredulous look. “Do you have any idea of the distance from here to Tranq Prime?”
“I know it’s far—”
“Far? It’s fifty damned light years! That’s more than far— it’s fucking impossible ,” Deep snapped.
“All right, fine,” Kat snapped back, glaring at him. “Forgive me for not realizing your limitations. I was just trying to save Sylvan some time—if he doesn’t find her in forty-eight hours, Sophie will die.”
“What? Why?” Lock asked, looking concerned. “Have the Scourge sent some kind of message? Some ultimatum?”
“No, there’s been no contact with the Scourge. But Sylvan said that Sophie has contracted Blood Fever and…and…” Kat lifted her chin, trying not to cry. She wasn’t normally weepy, but somehow everything was sinking in now—especially since Deep had told her that finding Sophie was impossible. “Anyway,” she went on briskly after a brief internal struggle. “I don’t know much about the disease but apparently it’s fatal if he can’t find her and cure her.” She took a last sip of klava and set her cup carefully down on the low table in front of the couch. “I’m sorry I woke you up and thank you for your time. I’ll be going now—I have to let Sylvan know that we can’t help him after all.”
“Wait.” Lock put a hand on her arm when she started to get up. “It’s not impossible.”
“Yes it is,” Deep said. “No seeker/finder pair has ever been able to cast a net that far. Not with any accuracy.”
“None of them has ever had a focus like Kat, either,” Lock said quietly. “You’ve seen it yourself, Deep—her ability is extraordinary. I think we could do it.”
“Well, I don’t,” Deep growled.
“Why not?” Kat demanded impatiently.
“I’ll tell you why not.” Deep sat up and stared at her, his black eyes narrowed. “It’s impossible because it would involve a very deep and intimate joining. And you, my little Kat, made it abundantly clear the last time you were here that you weren’t prepared to go any deeper with us than you already had.”
Kat felt like someone had just dumped a bucket of ice cubes into her stomach. This was exactly what she had been afraid of—the intimacy of the joining. And now Deep was telling her that it would be even more frightening and invasive than she’d feared. She looked at Lock for confirmation and he nodded reluctantly.
“I’m afraid that Deep is right, my lady…er, Kat,” he said. “To cover such a vast distance would require an exceptionally tight connection between the three of us. I still believe it could be done…but—”
“No buts,” Kat heard herself say. She lifted her chin. “We don’t have a choice. I don’t have a choice. Sophie is out there lost and dying somewhere—I have to do this. So come on.” Standing, she turned to face both of them. “What do we have to do? Get naked? Have sex? What?” She tried to sound brave but her voice trembled.
“You really mean that, don’t you?” Deep gave her a look of grudging respect. “You’ll do whatever it takes to save your friend—even if it means taking both of us on at once.”
Kat swallowed hard but forced herself to meet his eyes. “Yes,” she whispered. “I will.”
“That’s very noble of you,” Lock said quietly. “And very courageous.” Standing, he took Kat’s hand in his. “It’s true we’ll have to have more direct skin-to-skin contact to make this work, Kat,” he said softly. “But it shouldn’t be necessary for us to enter your body—only your mind.”
Kat nearly sagged with relief. The thought of being pierced by both of their long, thick cocks at the same time scared the crap out of her. She’d made jokes about it in the past, but now that she found herself in this desperate situation it wasn’t funny—not at all. “All right,” she almost whispered. “Then how…how do we begin?”
“To start with, we can’t be standing this time,” Deep said, frowning. “Casting a net so far is going to take a lot of energy. I’ll go make up the sleeping platform.” Rising, he sauntered off to the bedroom, leaving Kat to clutch Lock’s hand.
“This is going to be bad, isn’t it?” she asked, looking up at him. “For Deep, I mean. He hates me now—really hates me.”
“No, he doesn’t.” Lock squeezed her hand reassuringly. “He just doesn’t know how to express his emotions. It’s hard for him to let himself feel. It’s always been hard since…”
“Since what?” Kat urged but he only shook his head. “Never mind. Come, the sleeping platform must be ready by now.”
Feeling a weird sense of unreality, Kat allowed herself to be led into the bedroom. Wasn’t this the situation she had run in a panic from before? Yet now she was entering into it willingly. Like a lamb to the slaughter, she thought grimly.
But there was nothing else she could do.