Stargazers 4 Wayward Read online

  She frowned. “They had shiny green scales, and they were tall, and really wide. The one who grabbed her appeared to be the leader. His eyes were black with yellow diamond-shaped pupils. They wore some sort of light chainmail type of suit.” She shuddered. “They all hissed when they talked, like snakes in those old vid shows.”

  “Their clothes? What color were they?”

  Kat paused, trying to picture the three. “Gray. Dull gray with some kind of black edging. Why?”

  Tore sat up straight and ran his hands over the console. Images flashed up in the air, cycling so fast that everything was a blur of color. “There!” An image of a reptile materialized, so lifelike that Kat took an involuntary step backward. “Does this look like it?”

  Kat’s stomach tied itself into a queasy knot. “Yeah. That’s him.” It was powerful and ugly, but those flat black eyes, with their total lack of emotion, were what scared her. “What the hell is it?”

  “Like I said in the bar, it’s definitely an Aviroan. They’re sentient reptiles. These are the Omari Aviroans, a particularly nasty bunch. Officially, they have no ties to the Council. Unofficially, they are the Intergalactic Council’s pet slavers. People that annoy the Council just disappear. The Council uses them when they don’t want to get their hands dirty. No one’s sure where their home planet is -- but it’s somewhere outside Council space.”

  He snagged her wrist and pulled her down to his lap. “They make a lot of money off the slave trade. They’ll land on a planet, kidnap some of the locals and disappear before anyone realizes what’s happened. The upside to this is that they probably don’t know your sister is a Stargazer. The Council would never condone grabbing a Stargazer like that; they would have sent the militia. She must have been targeted for her looks.”

  He paused, and Kat’s heart sank. Pity shone in his eyes. “But what?”

  Tore ran a finger down her cheek, tracing the bone structure. “They’ll likely be headed for one of the auction houses outside Council territory. And if they find out she’s a virgin, it will be that much harder for us to get near her.”

  Kat cringed. She really didn’t want to ask this. “How would they find out? Reptiles and humans aren’t compatible, and I can’t see it being the type of information that Abbie would volunteer.”

  “Reptiles and humans aren’t genetically compatible.” He wrapped his arm around her and held her close. “But that doesn’t mean they won’t rape her. Just that she won’t conceive if they do.”

  She lifted her head to stare at him in horror. This just kept getting better and better. She sucked in a deep breath and tried not to give in to panic again. “So, at least, if they find out, it might buy her some time. If they rape a virgin, her value on the auction block drops.”

  He nodded, and she could see a glimmer of respect in his eyes. “We’d better get cracking. Do you have any feel for where she is?”

  Kat closed her eyes. As a twin, she could often pinpoint Abbie’s whereabouts. And as a Stargazer, she should be able to locate her by her energy signal. The fact that she hadn’t felt any hint of Abbie’s presence in over a full cycle had to mean they were blocking her. Kat refused to consider any other explanation.

  They would find her. Before anyone hurt her.

  Chapter Three

  Kat looked up as Tore strode into the chamber. Although she was starting to get used to them, the multitude of scars visible on his arms and face caused her to wince. She hadn’t asked him exactly how he got them. She wasn’t sure she wanted to know.

  “We’re at the edge of the space controlled by the Intergalactic Council. Are you ready?” He held out his hand.

  She could feel him, a light touch in the back of her mind. She could feel his anxiety, his worry about her sister. He thought the genetic experiments had made him something other than human. He was wrong. She nodded, rising gracefully from her lotus position. She’d been meditating, getting herself centered before she attempted to locate her sister. “Yes. I can feel Abbie’s presence, but only as a general direction. Normally I’d be able to share her consciousness, feel what she was feeling, and see what she saw.” She refused to let that distract her.

  Tore led the way to the bridge in silence, and Kat appreciated his thoughtfulness. She concentrated on her breathing. Slow, deep breaths to help keep her calm and centered.

  She stepped up onto the platform, feeling a slight smile curve the corner of her mouth at the memory of the passionate union they’d shared here. The energy she’d gained from that torrid session surpassed anything she’d ever managed while coupling with casual partners in the past.

  She removed her clothing, one piece at a time, folding it carefully and laying it aside. She slid her feet into the straps on the bottom of the platform, pulling them tight. The padded belt at her waist was next, and she made sure to fasten it firmly around her. She needed to be able to count on it to hold her up if exhaustion overtook her, so that the energy would continue to flow unimpeded in the correct direction. Satisfied that the belt would hold, she reached up and threaded her arms through the loops over her head, pulling them snug. They were precisely spaced, keeping her arms outstretched to capture and control the energy of the lines.

  She glanced over to where Tore watched, his chair swiveled to face her. Warmth and worry vied for position in his eyes, and she could feel his concern. She nodded to him, secure in the knowledge that no harm would come to her while he watched. She closed her eyes, and let her consciousness expand.

  The ley lines shimmered into view behind her closed lids, flooding her with their warmth, tempting her with their vibrant energy. The colors always astounded her. Here at the outer reaches of the system, they were brighter, greens, reds, and vivid golds vying for her attention. She reached out to each in turn, searching for the one that felt right, the one that would lead her to her sister. She couldn’t explain how, but each line filled her with energy, with knowledge of its origin, its planet and the systems it traveled through to get here.

  She let the brilliant green flow through her. It told of an ice planet with strange alien beings, sentient, but not evolved. It enticed her. Come. See my world. Meet my peoples. She discarded it quickly, before the invitation became a trap she couldn’t avoid. There was danger in the seductive call of the ley lines. They could absorb her essence; tempt her to merge completely with their joyous energy.

  She sent a tendril of thought out, seeking the comforting aura of Tore’s solid presence, reassuring herself that he was there. Stargazers needed an anchor, someone to hold them firmly in this world so that they didn’t give in to temptation and let the ley lines devour them. She’d always used Abbie to anchor her in this reality, and the loss of her sister’s calming presence left an empty spot in her heart. She stroked an imaginary finger down Tore’s scarred cheek before she turned her attention back to the glittering maze of the lines.

  She touched each lightly. Searching. Discarding. Looking for the one that would lead her to Abbie. Time slowed to a crawl as she worked her way through the tangled web. She’d never felt so many strong lines, pulling at her, tempting her. The lines connecting the planets within the Intergalactic Council were weaker, their energy siphoned off by the many Stargazers who worked them.

  There! She felt Abbie’s faint presence in the shimmering gold of the line. It would lead her straight to her sister. She opened herself up, gathering the sparkling energy into her, capturing it with her outstretched arms and directing it to the engines idling below deck. She could feel the moment the engines powered up, roaring to life. The Sun Runner started to move, following the line across the vast emptiness of space. To Abbie.

  Kat reveled in the power of the line as it flowed through her. Once she let her shields down, let the glorious power flow into and through her, the temptation to merge completely with the line, to let it absorb her very soul, became almost impossible to resist. If Abbie were lost to her, she wasn’t sure she’d even try to resist the temptation. Her twin was like the other
half of her soul, the good half, the one who didn’t take chances or flaunt her differences with scanty outfits and multicolored streaks in her hair.

  Other Stargazers used their mates to anchor them to this world. She’d never felt the need for one. There were more than enough unattached males available if she felt the urge for sex. She reached for Tore, felt his concern. He felt her sorrow. And he wouldn’t let her go.

  She relaxed, and concentrated on the ley line. The energy out here had a different flavor. It tasted cleaner, brighter, spinning off in unknown directions. Time ceased to exist. The engines ate up the energy as fast as she channeled it, and the Sun Runner continued to travel smoothly through the void of space. Eventually, their destination came closer and she could sense many different sentients crowded together on a planet. The kaleidoscope of emotions swamped her senses. Reluctantly, she let some of the energy bleed off, slowing the ship. Even with Tore to anchor her, she felt a wrenching loss and she was grateful for his calming touch.

  She sent out tendrils of energy, searching for Abbie amongst the many life forms on the surface. Although she could sense her sister’s presence, she still couldn’t contact her directly. She could feel her own power waning, drained by the long journey. She let herself slip out of the trance, her tired body sagging against her restraints. In a moment, Tore was at her side.

  “Engage autopilot. Stationary high orbit.” He bit the words out between his teeth as he reached up to release her hands. The belt took longer to undo, her body weight holding it taut. When he finally managed to free her, he scooped her up, cradling her against his chest while he strode off the bridge. His cabin was closest, and tired as she was, she marveled at how quickly he managed to cover the distance, carrying her extra weight. She might not be as tall as him, but she wasn’t frail by a long shot. Many long practice sessions in zero-G had layered sleek muscle over her bones.

  She was tired beyond anything she could remember, but she opened her eyes. Tore stared down at her, worry and something else flashing in those gorgeous blue eyes of his.

  “Don’t you ever,” he ground out between clenched teeth, “ever do that again. I thought you weren’t coming back. The damn lines had some kind of hold over you.”

  She smiled weakly. He cared, and she could feel his fear. Fear that she’d lose the battle and let the lines absorb her into their wonderful energy. He didn’t understand, but he’d felt her slipping away.

  “I’m okay. Just depleted.” Her gaze dropped to his groin. There was only one way to replenish her energy quickly, but she didn’t think she had enough energy for sex just yet.

  * * *

  Tore let himself relax, just a bit. When she’d sagged against her bonds, he’d wanted to rip her from the damn platform. Nothing was worth losing her for, not even the twin sister she was determined to rescue. He didn’t understand it, but he’d been able to feel her energy dwindling, and that scared the hell out of him. When had he become so attached to the green-eyed witch?

  There was no future for the two of them. Stargazers were highly valued and could have their pick of any male in the galaxy. Thanks to the Intergalactic Council and their amoral research department, he wasn’t entirely human anymore. She deserved a real man, one who would cherish her and give her everything she wanted.

  The sleeping platform sagged under their combined weight, and he dipped his head to place a chaste kiss on her lips before he drew the blanket back and laid her down. His protective instincts flared into full gear at the sight of her limbs falling limp, her gaze sliding over him in one last wistful caress before she succumbed to the sleep she so desperately needed.

  He pulled the cover up to her chin and rose to his feet, pacing across to the doorway. Even at rest, her body called to his in a way he’d never experienced before.

  He’d hacked into the comp system at the Intergalactic Council’s research facility after his escape. He’d been almost feral then, on the verge of maturity and unable to control his impulses. He couldn’t recall interacting with other children much, and had virtually spent his childhood in isolation while the scientists studied his reaction to their computer manipulations. Much of what he learned meant nothing to him -- formulas and notations so complex that he sometimes wondered if they’d made them up to confuse anyone who managed to infiltrate the mainframe.

  He knew a cargo ship had found him huddled beside the dead crew of an ore freighter. They’d estimated his age as two or perhaps three galactic standards. From samples of his DNA, they’d assumed his rootstock came from the Vikings of Old Earth. After the Troubles, tribes of Norse had taken to the stars, looking to recreate their origins. Most of them had disappeared into the vastness of space. As an orphan, he was officially taken in by the Intergalactic Council and assigned to a research station specializing in genetic manipulation. The staff called him Tore, a joking reference to a warrior from ancient Norse mythology.

  Most of the records from that point forward had been encrypted. He knew they’d experimented on his basic cell structure, splicing in strands of animal and alien DNA. He remembered times when he’d been so sick that he’d been unable to rise from his sleeping pallet. Other times, his emotions raged out of control, and the scientists watched with detached clinical interest while he raged in the plas-steel holding cell and tried to claw his way out to them with his bare hands.

  He’d eventually learned to control the beast raging within him, to keep it in check and pretend to go along with the scientist’s games. He hated the head of the facility, a human female named Smith, more than the rest.

  She often came to observe him, never saying a word, her eyes flat and emotionless while her underlings poked and prodded him. She dictated notes to her record pad, her voice clinical and detached, describing the torture of the day and how his frail child’s body reacted. He’d vowed that one day they’d meet without the protective plas-steel between them, and he’d make her pay for each and every indignity inflicted at her cruel command. His only regret when Tarik rescued him was that she’d been off planet and hadn’t died in the fiery explosion that ensured no other child would have to endure the same living hell.

  He stepped onto the bridge, sliding into the pilot’s chair. It sensed his presence, folding itself around his bulk. Kat had brought them to one of the outer planets in the Triangulum system. The autopilot had parked the Sun Runner in high orbit, out of sensor range of the port below. He moved his hands with practiced skill across the control panel, and a schematic of the port facilities shimmered into view above the console. He studied it carefully.

  The Docking Ring extended in an arc to the left, and all of the amenities were listed. Besides the usual places for food, lodging, and recreation, there were three separate auction halls. The holding area for slaves awaiting the block was huge, hinting at a lively trade. They’d have to hope they found Abbie quickly, before someone purchased her and whisked off planet. Then again, maybe it would be easier to see her in less crowded conditions.

  No! We get her now.

  Tore’s head jerked up. What the hell?

  Kat had said having sex would give her a connection to him, allowing her to read his intentions, but she hadn’t mentioned anything about being able to communicate telepathically. He concentrated, trying to feel her presence. Kat?

  It’s not me! I’m not telepathic. You’re invading my mind. And this is giving me a headache.

  He felt a reluctant smile play around his mouth. His little Stargazer sounded tired and grouchy. Tore stood and let the chart fade. He didn’t recall Tarik mentioning telepathy when he talked about Krystal and the other Stargazers, but then again, this felt intimate, maybe not something they’d want to share. Tore had never been able to communicate telepathically, so it must be Kat’s talent. If she’d been hiding all these years, she wouldn’t have had much chance to explore her abilities.

  He checked to make sure the Sun Runner’s orbit was stable before he exited the bridge and headed back to his stateroom. Kat wasn’t the only
one who needed some rest before they mounted a rescue.

  He felt a mischievous grin curve the corner of his mouth. He wasn’t averse to sharing his bed.

  * * *

  Kat darted her tongue out to wet her lips as she watched Tore’s firm butt disappear through the hatch. The black ship-suit he’d donned looked like it was painted on his muscular frame and did nothing to hide his many masculine attributes. If anything, it accentuated the breadth of those massive shoulders and the bulky muscles that roped his upper torso. She felt a tiny shiver of want slide through her. That quickie when she’d awakened to find him sharing her bed had been like an appetizer, priming her for the main course.

  Then, instead of the prolonged romp she’d expected, he’d announced they needed to explore each other’s fighting skills. Somehow, until he’d produced the ship-suits and shimmied into his with absolutely no sexual overtones, she’d assumed he’d been kidding. There were a whole lot of things she’d like to explore with this mountain of a man, and fighting wasn’t one of them. He turned and looked at her through the open hatchway, one brow lifted in challenge.

  Taking a deep breath, she stepped through the circular opening and into the zero gravity tube. The floor fell away beneath her feet and she closed her eyes, taking a few seconds to center herself and allow her body to adjust to the feeling of weightlessness.

  The tube was smaller than the one she normally worked out in. Not surprising considering this one needed to fit on a spaceship. She could sense Tore hovering above her near the top of the tube. When she opened her eyes, he pushed off and drifted toward her. He managed to look mouthwateringly tempting, even in zero-G. She kicked a foot out, angling her body in his direction.

  “How about some light sparring first to warm up?” And to give her a feel for his style, although she didn’t mention that. She’d learned early on that what she lacked in sheer bulk and muscle, she needed to make up in strategy. Fight smart, not hard.