CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Mia and Arek waited in silence until Suede Harrington and his acolytes were gone.
Then Mia sighed. "Is he talking about mawwrs, or what?"
"Sounds like it," Arek answered. "But on Altaria, could be anything. Holovision, psi-trap, or some creature Octiron has imported."
This was true. And knowing Octiron, it would be the worst holovid/psi-trap/creature they could conjure up.
"I may need something stronger than an ale," she muttered.
"Nah," he said. "You've got me. I can handle felines... of any kind. The feistier, the better."
Mia gave him a look from under her lashes. "Better stick to something you've already handled, Commander—like the blonde." She gave him a sugar-sweet smile and batted her lashes. "Oh, Prince Arek, you're so-ooo wonderful!" she cooed in a high voice.
She turned away, her smile gone. Until a strong hand on her arm swung her around and up against his hard, muscled body. He dipped his head and gave her a glittering look. "Wasn't the blonde who had me handling myself in the lav," he told her. "And anytime you want to find out for yourself how wondrous I am, just say the word."
"What word would that be?" she shot back, her cheeks flaming.
He grinned, and she realized too late she'd walked right into his trap of words. "Please."
Then he ran a finger gently down her hot cheek, and walked away.
* * *
By the time they landed on Altaria, Arek's partner still wasn't speaking to him.
At first, he'd found this amusing, but it was beginning to wear on him. She was like a rebellious recruit, only... not. Because he couldn't toss her in the brig or ship her back home, and he certainly couldn't set her to work picking rocks in the hot Hamor sun.
What he wanted to do was fuck her until all she could do was hold onto him and scream her pleasure. Hells, she could even claw his back if she wanted, as long as she let him inside her where she was soft, hot and wet. He'd bet she was a wild one, using that lithe body and that sweet mouth to take a male straight to paradise.
But that seemed as unlikely as her suddenly sprouting wings, so their recon would be done in silence, for now.
He looked around at the lovely, wide beach on which they'd landed. It was rimmed on one side by the pale green sea, and on the other by low trees and shrubs, some flowering. The sky was pale, the sun burning white in the southern sky. A slight breeze blew in from the sea, carrying with it the scent of salt water and the faint scent of flowers.
Arek scanned the area for Octiron spybots, and found only the two he'd expected, one hovering near himself, the other near the Tygress. He pulled open his pac and took out a bot of his own. Setting it free with a flick of his finger, he sent it flying above the cruiser, where it hovered, emitting a quiet hum.
The spybots flashed and whirred, vibrating as they attempted to deal with the sudden interruption in their feeds.
Quickly, keeping an eye on them, Arek pulled out the com his father had given him. "Eagle has landed. Repeat, eagle has landed. Location beach, ten cliqs from tallest peak in sight line from sun."
He heard nothing... then his heart leapt as he heard a series of beeps in a swift, but definite pattern.
Arek looked to Mia to share his elation, but when they made eye contact, she immediately looked away, tossing that beautiful mass of hair. Still angry with him. Too bad, but he had more important matters to attend to. Time to smoke this Race challenge. Kittens? Hells, yeah. He was ready.
Whistling softly to himself, he deactivated the scrambler bot and brought it back, catching it in one hand as if swatting an insect from the air.
"Captain, captain?" Deuce called. "Do you read me? We seem to have lost com."
Arek managed to look puzzled for the holocam. "I read you just fine, Deuce."
Followed by one of the Octiron bots, he sauntered out of the shadow of the cruiser and stretched mightily. "Nice weather here," he said, to no one in particular. "Temperate. Not too bright. Bit of humidity in the air. Even smells nice. I like it."
A huff of disdain sounded nearby. He turned to Mia. "Sorry? Did you speak, Tygress?"
She was already stalking toward the water's edge. Her small boots sank into the sand, and the breeze lifted her hair, furling it to one side like a banner. Arek admired the motion of her slim, curving legs and the sway of her pretty ass. Worth waiting for, definitely.
Then the water a few meters out from shore rose up in a shimmering, translucent column, twice her height. Seemingly animated, the column moved toward her.
"Mia! To me," Arek shouted, already racing toward her.
She whirled, darting back toward him, eyes wide in her pale face. The water-spout shot toward shore, coming after her. Arek caught her just before it reached her. He swept her up in his arm and raced back up the beach with her, her feet not even touching the sand.
Water splashed at his back so hard it stung, but they reached the shelter of the cruiser, and turned to see the water subsiding, lapping gently at the shore. The only sign anything untoward had happened were their footprints dug into the sand, and the dampness where the wave—or whatever the hells that had been—had flung itself at the beach.
Mia was shaking in his arms, her hands digging into his jacket like claws. "Wh—what happened?" she managed, her voice quavering. "I—the water..."
Relief flooding him, Arek pulled her closer, his arm around her slim waist, his other hand in her hair, stroking the silky waves. "That wasn't natural, for quarking sure," he said. "One of the traps left by the skrog-shit-for-brains who turned this place into their rezzed hunting ground."
"It would have caught me, if you hadn't grabbed me."
"You're fast, but my legs are longer. Also, if I let that wave take you, who am I going to argue with?"
She tipped back her head and looked up at him, her golden eyes stormy. "You saved me again," she whispered.
This close, her forehead was level with his mouth, and when she spoke, her warm breath puffed against his throat. But when he cocked his head to one side and bent, their mouths were close... close enough to taste.
"Anytime," he murmured back. And gave into temptation, and kissed her.
Her lips were softer than anything he could recall. Soft and damp and full. And when he pressed his lips closer, hers parted and clung to his. Then her soft little tongue met his... and his control snapped. Before he quite knew what had happened, she was up in his arms, her legs around his hips, arms around his neck, their mouths fused as they kissed, long and deep and wet.
He needed the kiss more than he needed air or water. Turning blindly, he carried her toward the cruiser, stopping only when they reached its shade. He broke the kiss just enough to speak, his gaze locked with hers. "I want to fuck you. Yes, or no?"
Her lovely eyes were dazed in a way he really liked, her mouth wet and swollen from his. Her breath was uneven, her soft breasts pressed into his chest, her sex notched over his, hot even through their flight suits. Her fingers dug into his shoulders, her gaze dropped to his mouth, and she nodded. "Yes."
Two things happened then—he took one step up the ramp to the open hatch of the cruiser, and a voice rang out in the quiet air.
"Team Starry Night," Deuce called. "Your challenge awaits. It's time!"
Arek gritted his teeth, fury racing through his chest like fire. Aarggh! His cock was so hard, his balls drawn up tight, ready to explode into bliss, and his mouth was watering for another taste of her mouth, his hands ready to explore each and every one of her silky, fragrant curves and hollows.
Mia let out a mewl of protest, her legs tightening on his hips as her forehead thumped against his collarbone. "No-ooo."
"I know," he muttered, giving her a last squeeze before he let her go. "Let's get this done, kitten. And then no man or tech will come between us—trust me on that."
She donned her helmet, and gave him a hot look from under her lashes. "They'll have to get past me too, Earknocky." She looked so lovely and fierce, her eyes gleaming from the shadow of the helmet.
As he strapped on his own helmet, he was chuckling. "Good. Let's go get suited up, and we'll quiz Deuce for any intel they care to give us."
General A'Renoq was on the training field on Hamor Base, watching his troops run through maneuvers, when he received a surprising link. He studied the name and face with narrowed eyes, and then accepted the link.
"Mr Jag," he said, standing at ease—which meant his soldier's bearing was perfectly erect, his hands clasped behind his back, gaze keen.
"General," said Jostyn Jag from the hololinks. The man stood in an office, his clothing fine business-wear, well-groomed, but his face was pale under his golden tan, and his eyes were red. The man looked as if he had not been sleeping. "You know who I am."
"Yes. Our offspring are partnered in the GSR. And if I am not mistaken, you are concerned about your daughter."
Jag's face hardened, and the General was reminded that the Tygeans were a ferocious race in their own right. "To say the least. Our offspring, General, are in the clutches of a ruthless, amoral media conglomerate who will stop at nothing to gain more audience share. And I realize that your son is a seasoned soldier, but my daughter is a civilian, and gently raised. She is not equipped nor trained for what is essentially a campaign of terror. I will not stand for this."
"I see. May I ask if you have a plan in place to voice your concerns?"
"Oh, I'm going to do a great deal more than that. Now, I've heard certain rumors that your people are exploring the possibility of opening diplomatic talks with mine. Don't worry—I don't expect you to confirm or deny. But if I am correct, let's you and I be the first to work together."
"You're suggesting we effect the management of a media spectacle large enough to bring in universal audiences. I hope I don't offend when I say I looked into the background of my son's Race partner. I am impressed with your house's lineage and integrity, but am not aware that you have the… influence necessary."
Jostyn Jag smiled, looking more like a large predator sighting his next meal. "I would not presume to say we do. But I know someone who does."
"Indeed?"
"Yes. I presume you've heard of Logan Stark, of LodeStar Corp? He's a friend of my son's, and of our family."
The General was not often surprised, but he was now. "I have indeed. Tell me more."
* * *
Deuce was not programmed to give them more intel on their Altarian challenge. "Just follow the rhyme."
Arek's jaw tightened. "What. The. Hells?" he demanded. "That is what Octiron considers adequate intel for us, on a planet that is full of deadly traps?"
"Well..." Deuce said, "You were successful in your first challenge, Prince—"
"Stop calling me that," Arek snarled. "You may address me as Captain, or Commander A'Renoq."
"Yes, sir, ah, Captain. As I was saying, you were successful in your first challenge, so your handlers assume you don't need extra intelligence."
"Extra?" Mia snapped. "You've given us exactly none! And no, I'm not counting that stupid rhyme. So we're supposed to find some felines—where do we even begin to look? Over the entire planet? I think we might be here a while, in that case—say, a year or more!"
Arek gave her a nod of approval. "And, if you're giving the other teams intel, then you'll give us intel. Now."
"Very well," Deuce agreed slowly. "I've been authorized to tell you to look in the back of your ship's armor bay. You'll find a small box."
"I'll get it," Mia said. She ran up the ramp and into the cruiser, while Arek waited, scanning the horizon and fingering the com in his pocket. The one he daren't bring out in front of Octiron's spybots. He must save it until the right moment.
Mia came back with a strange look on her face, the box open in her hands.
Arek went to meet her, a hand on her shoulder, taking the box. "What is it?" The box appeared to be full of a kind of green plant or herb. It gave off a pleasant odor, reminiscent of the hydroponic garden on the patio of a fine restaurant he'd been to several times on Aurellon.
"It's catnip," Mia said. "An ancient herb believed to attract felines."
"Ah," he said. "I see."
Their eyes met, and her sweet mouth twisted. "Right. Holding this, we're essentially bait—if these felines are brought in by the scent."
And what if it was their own scent that brought the creatures in? What then?
"I'll carry it," he offered, holding out his hand. She handed it over, and Arek tossed the box onto the ground near the cruiser, and stowed the malleable plaswax bag in a chest pocket of his gaulites.
"Deuce," Arek said. "We have the herb. Now what?"
"I believe you will find if you proceed to the base of yon mountain, all will be revealed," the AI stated.
"All will be revealed," Mia mimicked, tightening the strap of her helmet. She rolled her eyes, making Arek grin despite his focus on the task—or battle—ahead. This female was hells on his concentration.
He mentally checked through his equipment. Armor, helmet, weapon, com, and secret com. "Ready?" he asked her.
She nodded tightly. "Ready."
"Good, let's go." They set off, walking slowly through the rim of trees along the beach. Nothing happened, and no warning signals rang out. Arek slid his hand into his pocket and thumbed his com. Three quiet beeps, that was good. "Let's pick up the pace. Stay behind me, and stay alert, okay?"
"Okay."
He was accustomed to his warriors agreeing immediately with his commands. But her agreement left a warmth in his chest. She was fiery, but in a tight situation she knew when to listen, when to defer to his experience. That was good, it meant they'd make it through whatever hit them, once again.
And whatever it was, would not be good. He understood enough now about Octiron's unscrupulous dealings to know that. The media giant was after ratings, at any cost, up to and including the deaths of their contestants. He and Mia and all the rest were bait, tossed into a gladiator ring to await the beasts, to be torn apart or survive. But he had no intention of dying to entertain the masses.
Which meant Octiron was in for an unpleasant surprise. And to give them that, he had to survive and keep his Tygress alive. Then they'd move on, and the hunted would become the hunters.