Are you willing to help us or not?

The overlord’s question echoed through Lily’s mind like the ominous rumble of thunder. If it were just the Outcasts pressuring her, she was prepared to resist them forever. But how could she turn her back on the very women she was trying to protect? Jillian thought she was in love with Stront. Who knew, maybe she was. And if Jillian’s claim about the other captives was true, withholding the formula now would do more harm than good.

“You win.” Her surrender sounded resentful and sad, an accurate representation of her mood. “I can’t fight you and my fellow captives. If they honestly want this, I’ll give you the formula. But I need to know for certain that bonding with your men is what the majority of them want.”

“And how will you achieve this certainty?” Kage crossed his arms over his chest, accenting the defined muscles cording his entire torso. The man was enormous yet still managed to move with inherent grace.

Were Rodytes naturally leaner than humans, or did their harsh lifestyle shape their bodies? She’d started exploring the genetic differences between Rodytes and humans on the Triumphant, but her supervisor kept her so busy she hadn’t had a lot of time for her own research. She shook away the distracting thought and explained, “Each ship housing females was asked to choose a section leader.”

“I’m aware.”

“I’d like each section leader to take a vote and report their findings to me.”

“Done.” He dipped his head, sending a lock of dark hair sliding across his forehead, momentarily obscuring one of his eyes. “Dr. Foran will meet you in main medical. He’ll ensure you have everything you need.”

“I need one more thing from you before I agree.”

“You already agreed.” His tone was more growl than grumble.

Her pulse began to race as she pushed her luck, but this was too important to ignore. “I want Thea returned to our cabin. She doesn’t need another reason to hate you.”

“Impossible.”

She tensed, annoyed by his imperious tone. “Why is that impossible? I thought the overlord was the ultimate authority.”

Her attempt to provoke him only made him chuckle under his breath. “I can’t send Thea anywhere at the moment. She’s no longer on this planet.”

“What?” Shocked by the revelation, Lily looked from Kage to Arton and back. “Where is she?”

“I’m not sure,” Kage admitted. “By the time the guards arrived to escort her to detention, Rex Dravon had taken off and Thea was gone. Scans confirmed that she’s not here, so I can only conclude that Rex decided to keep her.”

Lily gasped. “He can’t just decide to keep her. Doesn’t he work for you?”

“Depends on the day.” He tossed back his cape, clearly unconcerned with the development. “Some days he works for me, other days he works with me. As long as he brings me what I need, he can word it anyway he likes.”

“And you don’t have a problem with him stealing one of your women?” Shock gave way to simmering anger and she slowly clenched her fists.

Kage just shrugged and she wanted to punch him, but his next revelation took the wind out of her sails. “They’re potential mates. Rex is courting her. This will piss off her other five matches, but I admire his ingenuity.”

“Unbelievable.” She shook her head, unsure if she should be angry with or feel sorry for Rex Dravon. “He has no idea what he’s done. Thea will make him so sorry he barged to the front of the line.”

“Is there anything else I can do for you?” She didn’t miss the subtle mockery in the overlord’s voice.

She held up her arm. “Can we dispense with these? I’m sure Arton has better things to do than babysit me.”

Kage looked at Arton, his expression suddenly unreadable. After a tense pause, he shook his head. “The tether bands stay until the first successful transformation is complete.”

“That’s so unfair,” she cried. “Even on the Triumphant we weren’t guaranteed success. There are too many variables.”

Kage waved away her protests. “Then you better do everything in your power to compensate for them.”

“You don’t trust Lentar to supervise her?” Arton clenched his jaw and narrowed his eyes while his silver phitons gleamed dangerously.

“It’s not Dr. Foran’s job to supervise her. It’s yours. End of story.”

“Yes, sir.” He put just enough sarcasm on the title to communicate his displeasure while not incurring the overlord’s wrath.

Kage turned back to Lily. “With access to our technology and the assistance of Dr. Foran, can you have the formula ready by morning?”

She was still reeling from the overlord’s casual revelations. Thea was somewhere in space with that...pirate, and Lily would be tethered to Arton until the first couple was transformed successfully. She wasn’t sure what she’d done to piss off the powers that be, but it sure felt like she was under attack from some malevolent being.

“Well?” The autocratic snap in his voice revealed his impatience. Apparently, the overlord was ready to move on to the next crisis demanding his attention.

“It shouldn’t be a problem.” The Rodytes were closer to success than they realized. She hadn’t lied when she told Arton there were errors. However, each error was negligible, only requiring a minor adjustment to the existing formula.

“It’s nice to have you onboard.” The overlord flashed an unexpected smile as he added, “Finally.” Then he inclined his head and teleported off the observation platform.

Kage’s apparent animosity toward Arton had puzzled her from the start. She’d heard they were best friends. “I understand why he’s annoyed with me. What did you do to anger him?”

Arton moved closer, his gaze warm yet assessing. “Kage isn’t angry with me.”

“Then why did he saddle you with me. This is clearly punitive.” She held up her arm again, indicating the tether band.

“Unlike most humans, Outcasts believe in accountability. I selected you to assist us, so your refusal reflected poorly on my decision.”

“But I’m cooperating now. This feels vindictive.”

His phitons gleamed as he moved even closer. “My DNA has been extensively altered. This makes compatibility with any female unlikely.” He gripped the railing with one hand and slipped the other in his pocket as if he didn’t trust himself not to touch her. “The overlord isn’t punishing me. He’s playing matchmaker.”

“I see.” She held her ground, tired of feeling vulnerable around him.

Suddenly he wrapped his hand around the back of her neck and tilted her chin up with his thumb. His smoke-colored gaze drilled into hers, demanding honesty and...surrender? “I thought his efforts were wasted until you reacted to Jillian’s taunting. Are you interested in finding a mate or not?”

Was she? Not that long ago, the answer would have been a resounding no. She’d thought she was in love, even agreed to help the battle born so she could be near the object of her affection. He was a dashing Rodyte spy named Jakkin. But short weeks after Lily’s arrival, Jakkin located his mate and promptly claimed her, leaving Lily alone and devastated.

She’d all but given up on romance of any kind. And then she met Arton.

“I might be.” The admission sent tingles down her spine. “Under the right circumstances.”

His other hand joined the first, anchoring her face at just the right angle. “Am I part of those ‘circumstances’?”

“Maybe.” It was an invitation and he didn’t disappoint. His lips brushed against hers, then settled into place, warm and intimate. She slowly parted her lips, craving his taste. Again, he didn’t hesitate. The tip of his tongue caressed her lips, rewarding her surrender. Then his arms wrapped around her, drawing her snugly against his body. She groaned at the penetrating heat and the strength so apparent in his embrace. This was what she wanted, what she dreamed of each night, as she tossed and turned in her lonely bed.

He drew back slowly, phitons glowing. “I’m not your mate, Lily. I can’t give you forever. But we can share pleasure in the here and now.”

He kissed her again, a deeper, hungrier exchange. She clung to him, allowing herself to exist in the moment rather than brood over all the obstacles in their way. When he pulled back the second time they were both breathless and more than ready for more.

“This has to wait.” He kissed the tip of her nose and eased away from her. “Dr. Foran is waiting for you.”

Actually, the entire settlement was waiting for her. The Outcasts were here to found a civilization shaped by their unconventional rules and freedom-loving philosophies. Families would be at the center of that civilization, which meant as many Outcasts as possible needed to claim their mates. She’d watched it all taking shape, knowing she would always be an outsider, among, but not one of the bonded couples.

Arton couldn’t change that, but he offered an alternative. They could spend time together, enjoy “sharing pleasure”, maybe even develop a genuine affection for each other. It wasn’t a fairytale ending, but wasn’t it better than being alone?

Lily’s mind continued to race as Arton led her to main medical. There had been a connection between them from the start, a visceral awareness that drew them together. Being at cross-purposes kept them focused on their arguments, so each ignored the undeniable attraction. Now that the conflict was resolved, all she could think about was him.

She wanted to know about his life before she met him. Why didn’t he speak with his brothers? She didn’t know the Lux brothers well, but they seemed honorable and well-respected. Their father was still alive. When was the last time Arton spoke with him? Was his step-mother part of the conflict?

But first things first. She needed to fix the formula, which would maximize the chances of Jillian and Stront undergoing the transformation without any sort of damage.

Main medical was a large circular room with treatment stations lining the outer wall. In the center were access terminals and highly advanced 3-D printers capable of producing supplies and medications. An adjacent room contained four regeneration beds, which made traditional surgery all but obsolete. She was familiar with the arrangement. The largest clinic aboard the Intrepid had utilized a similar design. The hospital ship was where Lily had worked before being transferred to the Triumphant.

A tall, brown-haired male hurried toward them as they stepped into the room. He held out his hand toward Lily, which surprised her. Most Rodytes didn’t shake hands. “I’m Lentar Foran. I’m thrilled to meet you.” Deep dimples framed his mouth when he smiled and his eyes were a unique mixture of green, gold, and brown. Was he Rodyte? She’d never seen one without phitons.

“I’m pleased to meet you as well.” She shook his hand.

He handed her a datapad with a video file on screen ready to be played. “Overlord Razel said you would want to see that before we begin.”

“That was fast,” she muttered under her breath, easily guessing what she was about to see. She activated the video and watched as all twelve section leaders reported the results of the vote one by one. As Jillian predicted, the majority of human females wanted Lily to cooperate with the Rodytes. The vote wasn’t unanimous, however. About thirty-five percent were still unwilling to accept what the Outcasts had in mind for them, but the other sixty-five percent wanted the option to go through with the transformation.

“Thank you,” she said after the last leader revealed her findings. Lily handed the datapad back to Dr. Foran.

“The laboratory is through there.” He motioned toward an adjoining door directly across from the regen units, then set the datapad aside. “I’d like to get right to work if you don’t mind. I’ll need to run a serious of simulations once you’ve modified the formula.”

“Of course.” There were hundreds of details that needed to be addressed before the first attempt at transformation began. She wanted to see if he was prepared. “Do you have regen units preprogramed with Jillian’s and Stront’s genetic profiles?” Her team had lost a volunteer while one of the doctors frantically entered her information. It had only taken him a few minutes, but they were minutes the volunteer couldn’t spare.

“I’ve studied Dr. Mintell’s notes extensively and emulated each step he took.”

She stopped walking and turned toward him. “How did you study Mintell’s notes? I thought they were unable to crack the encryption on his datapad.”

Arton pressed his hand against the small of her back, the gesture undeniably possessive. Did he feel threatened by the doctor? Lily hadn’t really thought about it, but she supposed he was handsome. “There’s more than one way to attain information,” Arton said. “We received a transmission from one of our spies nine days ago. It contained pages and pages of Mintell’s notes, but no formula.”

“I see.” She started walking again, taking herself away from his hand. It was much too early in their relationship for displays of possession.

Their relationship? A couple of kisses and they were in a relationship? Hadn’t she learned anything from the fiasco with Jakkin? The surest way to get her heart broken—again—was to read more into the situation than was actually there. Arton wanted to have sex with her. That was all he’d offered.

The laboratory was small, but well organized. Lily showed Dr. Foran the two places where his formula needed to be adjusted. He made the adjustments, then sent the revised formula to one of the 3D printers. Soon they had a dozen injectors filled with the stabilizing agent.

She felt Arton’s gaze on her the entire time. He sat on a stool near the door and remained silent and watchful. She sat beside Dr. Foran, their chairs huddled together so they could see the same display. Dr. Foran chatted away, his manner friendly and open. She’d clashed with her first Rodyte supervisor and the second had been introverted and secretive, so Dr. Foran’s friendliness was a welcome change.

“Do you mind if I ask a personal question?” she asked as they waited for a computer simulation to reach its conclusion.

He swiveled toward her, his knee brushing against her leg. “Not at all. Ask me anything.” He flashed an encouraging smile that deepened his dimples and made his hazel eyes shine.

“You don’t have phitons. Is Rodymia your homeworld?”

His smile faltered. “I’m not sure I have a ‘homeworld’.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pry.”

Despite her willingness to let the subject drop, he took a deep breath and explained, “My mother was human. I have her eyes.” He ran his hands down his thighs, smoothing out nonexistent wrinkles. The backs of his fingers brushed against her leg in the process, so Lily rotated her seat just enough to take her body out of reach. His touches were casual, almost unconscious, but they still made her uneasy. “My father was from a planet called Mejikon. I’ve never been there and barely remember him, so I consider myself human.”

“Have you ever been to Earth?”

“No, which is the reason for my original hesitation.”

Other questions swam through her mind, tempting her to venture deeper, to encourage him to share. But he was obviously uncomfortable with the topic, so she merely nodded. Thea wouldn’t have hesitated. She would have pestered him with questions until she couldn’t think of anything else to ask. But then, Thea’s boldness was born of pain not true confidence.

The simulation concluded without complications, so Dr. Foran changed the parameters slightly and triggered another one. “You’re quiet all of a sudden. What are you thinking about?”

“Thea, one of my roommates. She’s gotten herself into some trouble and I’m worried about her.”

The doctor reached over and patted her hand. “I’m sure she’ll be fine. Humans are resilient.”

Again his touch had been light and casual, but she glanced at Arton. Not surprisingly, his gaze was narrowed and his lips pressed into a disapproving line. She ignored his possessive behavior, not wanting to start a fight in front of the doctor.

They fell into a companionable silence as Dr. Foran programed simulation after simulation. Like a moth mesmerized by a flame, Lily kept looking at Arton. His expression changed each time their gazes locked. He acknowledged the contact, but said nothing.

An hour passed, and then another as they focused on the task at hand. Lily tried to fight back a yawn and failed.

The doctor smiled at her. “You don’t need to stay for all of these. The computer does all the work. Besides, most of them are redundant at this point. I just believe in being thorough.”

Lily hesitated, but Arton happily accepted the out. He stood and motioned her toward the door. “You haven’t eaten in several hours. It’s time to go.”

Her first instinct was to rebel, to remain just to spite him. The tether band forced him to stay as long as she did, and that gave her a perverse pleasure.

“It’s fine,” Dr. Foran encouraged. “Go have something to eat. In fact, the rest of this is routine. I’ll contact you if there are any surprises.”

She couldn’t help feeling as if she were shirking her responsibilities. Still, she’d been ordered to assist Dr. Foran, not run the entire program. Seeing no other alternative, she pushed back from the workstation and stood. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Bright and early,” he warned with a goodhearted wink. “The overlord is anxious for us to get started.”

Arton’s mood darkened as he ushered Lily out of the clinic and back toward his cabin. Sitting idly by while she flirted with Lentar Foran had been torture. Arton had nothing against Lentar personally. He actually liked the doctor. He just didn’t want any other male near her. Each time Foran touched her, it was all Arton could do to keep from flying across the room and pummeling the doctor within an inch of his life. Her scent lingered in Arton’s nose, making him restless and aggressive. He needed to mark her, spread his scent all over her body so other males would know she belonged to him.

The possessive thought shocked and confused him. His being was so dark and twisted, thanks to Harbinger Guild, that Arton swore he would never inflict his moods on a female. He’d shared pleasure with a few, but a long-term relationship had seemed unattainable.

So why had he kissed Lily? If he took her to his bed without a formal commitment, it sent the wrong message to the other unmatched males. But what commitment could he offer her while still being honest? He wasn’t opposed to a long-term relationship. He’d just never found a female who would put up with his dark moods for more than a few weeks. It was unlikely Lily would be any different.

He shouldn’t have started this. She deserved so much more than he was able to give. But she was like an addiction. Every time he saw her, he had to be near her, and being near her made him want to touch her. And touching her only made him desperate for more, more of her taste and softness.

“I’d rather eat in one of the dining halls,” she told him as they stepped off the lift and onto deck four.

She’d stopped walking, so he had no choice but to do the same. “You weren’t afraid to be alone with me earlier.”

“And I’m not afraid of you now,” she insisted. “I just don’t want to be cooped up inside a cabin, yours or mine.”

He didn’t believe her for a second. She was afraid he’d kiss her again, afraid they’d end up in bed. Wise woman. After watching her flirt with Lentar Foran, that was exactly what Arton wanted. He needed her spread out beneath him, arching into each thrust as he buried himself inside her.

They walked toward the officers dining hall in tense silence. She kept her hands pressed against her sides, ensuring that they didn’t touch even inadvertently. “I don’t want to be your mistress,” she blurted suddenly. “I don’t expect a fairytale ending, but I need more than recreational sex.”

“‘Recreational sex?’” He’d never heard the phrase before, but its meaning was obvious. “I’m offering more than that, and I think you know it.”

“‘We can share pleasure in the here and now,’” she quoted. “Sounds like recreational sex to me.”

He clasped his hands behind his back in an effort to keep from shoving her up against the corridor wall. “I will protect you and care for you. I will—”

“Do you care for me? A few hours ago you didn’t seem to like me.”

They reached the dining hall and a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. If she was determined not to be alone with him, she was out of luck. The room was empty. Not too surprising. It was eight forty-seven p.m. and females were required to be in their cabins by nine. “You can be exasperating, but I’ve always been interested in you.”

She shot him an annoyed look. “How flattering.”

The officers dining hall was small compared to the ones located on the lower levels. Six round tables each seated eight, and nutrition generators and recycle units lined the far wall. The wall to their left was currently transparent, allowing the occupants to see the surrounding forest. The surface could also be used as a display for animations or videos.

Before he could reply, she hurried across the room and activated one of the nutri-gen kiosks, quickly making her selections. Half a turkey sandwich and a glass of blish, the spicy citrus beverage so many of the females favored. No wonder she was so small. She ate like a bird.

“Would you rather I flatter you?” he asked. “I thought you would appreciate honesty.”

She took her tray from the kiosk and headed for a nearby table. “So we have sex until the newness wears off. What then?”

Far more interested in their conversation than food, he joined her at the table. “First of all, it could take a very long time for the newness to wear off. I find sharing pleasure...well, pleasurable. Don’t you?”

She ignored his question and stared into his eyes. “There’s more to life than sex. And you didn’t answer my question. What happens to me once you move on?”

“How would I move on? All of the other females have genetic matches. I would be depriving someone of their mate if I formed a social alliance with any of the other females.” He reached over and caught her hand. “I’m sorry I can’t offer you more, but neither can anyone else.”

A long, ragged sigh escaped her as she pulled her hand out of his. She picked up her sandwich and muttered, “Does your honesty have to be so brutal?”

He pressed back into his chair as she began to eat. “I don’t play games. That’s part of the reason we ended up with these.” He raised his arm, indicating the tether band. “If I’d been more willing to manipulate your emotions, it’s likely we would have come to an agreement before Kage lost his temper.”

She paused for a sip of blish. “Aren’t you hungry?”

He was famished, just not for food. “Rodytes don’t require food as often as humans.” It was true, but it wasn’t the reason he wasn’t eating. Courting her, as clumsily as his effort was, had his stomach tied in knots. “It’s not in my best interest to tell you this, but I really do hate the games people play with each other.”

“You already told me you hate games. How is that not in your best interest?”

“That’s not what I meant.” And he was pretty sure she knew it.

“So tell me.” She took another bite of her sandwich as she waited for his response.

“You are my only option, unless I’m willing to steal someone’s mate. However, I’m not your only option.”

“Really?” She’d finished her meager meal, so she wiped her mouth with a napkin. “Why is that?’

She sounded curious not hopeful, but he was already regretting his impulse toward full disclosure. “Some of the Outcasts are not battle born, and some of the battle born have chosen not to participate in the transformation program. There are nineteen males without a potential mate.”

“I wondered about that, but there is nothing in the database about it.” She looked beyond him as she finished her blish. “We ran into a couple of similar cases on the Triumphant. Both turned violent. Have you and the overlord anticipated the conflicts this will cause?”

“There’s not much we can do proactively. We’ll have to deal with each situation as it arises.”

She pushed back from the table far enough so she could cross her legs. “It’s not widespread on Earth, but there are those who become involved with more than one person at the same time. I think it’s more common with multiple women and one man, but the reverse is not unheard of.”

He shook his head, finding the suggestion amusing. “Rodytes don’t share their females. We’re much too possessive.”

“I see.” She lowered her chin and shadowed her gaze with her lashes. “Is that why you looked like you wanted to kill Dr. Foran the entire time we were working together?”

Was she flirting with him now? Desire surged through his body, momentarily stealing his breath. “You know I want you, Lily. I’ve made no secret of my attraction.”

“You want to share pleasure with me.” She didn’t sound happy about the conclusion.

“I want to spend time with you, to get to know more about you and allow you to become better acquainted with me.” Her hostility confused him. “Isn’t this how couples interact on Earth?”

“Your right. I’m being unfair.” Her words reassured, but disappointment still clouded her eyes.

“I know what you want to hear, what will ease your fears. But I will never lie to you, never make promises I have no intention of keeping. I’m offering companionship and pleasure. Anything else would be misleading.”

“I appreciate your honesty, but I still think I need more.”

He inclined his head, annoyed, yet understanding her disappointment. Part of him was disappointed too.

After a tense pause, she amended, “I might reevaluate my decision if you’re serious about letting me know more about you.”

He sighed. Why did it always come to this? Females sensed the darkness in him and wanted to understand it, they wanted to fix it. “What would you like to know?” The question came out like an impatient growl.

“I worked aboard the Intrepid and the Triumphant, so I met two of your brothers. Is it just you three or are there others?”

He stared back at her, his gaze drilling into hers. She had an advantage over the other curious females. She’d already guessed the source of his darkness. “They have another brother. His name is Dakkar. I no longer consider myself a Lux, so I have no connection to any of them.”

“I see.” And to his utter astonishment, she let the subject drop. “How long have you known the overlord?”

“Twenty-seven years.” Now he was really confused. It wasn’t like Lily to give up so easily.

“How did you meet?” She didn’t sound nearly as interested in this topic as she’d been in his family history. Maybe she wasn’t as interested as he’d first thought.

“Tell me about Jakkin and I’ll tell you about Kage.”

Cunning flashed through her gaze as she countered, “I’ll tell you about Jakkin if you explain why you no longer consider yourself a Lux.”

He fought back a pleased smile. Her indifference had been strategic. Good. Verbal sparring was only fun with a worthy opponent. “Fine, but not here. It’s been a long day and I want to get comfortable.”

“Fair enough.” She stood and swept her arm toward the door. “Lead on.”