Harbinger (21 page)

Haven shook her head. “I was given control over the situation. They trust me and I trust you.”

“Then it’s settled,” Garin concluded. “You and Danvier should leave ASAP. I’d prefer to solidify an alliance with Letos before Harbinger Guild appoints the next Pyre Sterling. Without a harbinger preaching the merits of neutrality, our chances of securing the support of the other guild masters increases exponentially.”

“What’s to be done with her body?” Chandar finally spoke.

Haven cringed. After their introduction, Chandar had carefully avoided eye contact with her. Did Chandar blame—how could she not blame Haven for Pyre’s death? Haven had killed her. Danvier resented Pyre and found her actions contemptible. Was it possible that Chandar didn’t share his antipathy?

“According to Letos, Harbinger Guild is officially asking for the return of her remains.” Garin paused as he looked at Danvier then back at Chandar. “You two are her next of kin. So I’ll do whatever you want done.”

“Incinerate her,” Chandar said firmly. “She doesn’t deserve the sort of pomp and spectacle Harbinger Guild is doubtlessly planning.”

Garin looked at Danvier again. “Do you agree?”

“Absolutely. She was consumed with the need for affirmation and power. She deserves to be forgotten.”

As the meeting adjourned, Haven hurried over to Chandar. Her response to Garin’s question had made it obvious that there was no love lost between Chandar and Pyre. Still, Haven felt the need to clear the air with Danvier’s sister.

Before Haven could speak Chandar took her hand and smiled warmly. “I don’t blame you. Learning of her death was shocking, but Danvier shared the memory with me. You have nothing to regret. You were simply protecting your—my brother.”

No doubt, she’d been about to say “your mate”. Like Garin, Chandar seemed to have drawn her own conclusion. “I’m glad you understand. I didn’t mean to harm her. I just kept her from harming someone we both care about.” They lapsed into silence for a moment, then Haven said, “I’d like to get to know you better. I’m hoping we can be friends.”

“I know we will be. Harbingers can see the future, don’t you know?” She punctuated the claim with a playful wink then moved off to join her mate on the other side of the table.

Harbingers couldn’t see into their own future, so Haven knew Chandar was joking. Still, she’d been less reserved than her first impression. Rather like her brother.

Haven looked around and found Danvier near the doorway, attentively watching her. Berlynn had slipped away, likely avoiding a one-on-one conversation with Garin. The tension between those two was combustible. If they didn’t act on it soon, it was likely to erupt without their permission. She cared deeply for Berlynn and wanted her to be happy. She just wasn’t sure Garin Nox was the key to that happiness. He was so autocratic, so militant. The adjective made her smile. Most generals tended to be militant. It sort of went with the territory.

Danvier placed his hand at the small of her back as he guided her out into the corridor. “We’ll likely spend at least one night on Rodymia. Can you quickly pack a bag?”

“Of course. Most of my things are still in the bag I packed at Stargazer Ranch.”

“I’d forgotten about that. And before I forget about this,” Danvier grinned, “one of Garin’s hackers was able to ‘liberate’ your funds. A sizable fortune is secured in a numbered account on Ontariese.”

“That’s amazing. Please let him know how grateful I am.”

“Once you figure out your long-term plans, I’ll help you transfer the funds to the financial institution of your choice.”

He walked her back to residential village one and paused for a deep yet tender kiss. “Can you be ready in an hour?”

“I don’t see why not.”

“Then I’ll meet you on the departure concourse.”

She watched him walk away, heart fluttering in her breast. Everyone else expected them to form a mating bond. Why did she still feel the need to resist?

The door to Berlynn’s apartment parted as Haven approached and Berlynn motioned her inside. “Do you have a few minutes to chat or are you going to wander around in the hallway?”

“Sorry. I get sort of dreamy whenever he’s around.”

“I noticed.” Berlynn laughed then added, “We all noticed.”

“And how do you explain the change in you whenever a certain general is around?”

Berlynn shot her an annoyed look. “General Nox means nothing to me. I just find him…”

“Don’t stop there.” Haven hooked her arm through Berlynn’s and led her toward the loveseat. “It’s just you and me now, sweetheart. You think he’s hot. Admit it.”

“Danvier is too distant for me, but I’m thrilled that you like him.”

Haven made a face. “You know who I meant.”

“Garin is a bona-fide hardass. Why would any female be attracted to him?”

“He’s way too stern and stuffy for me, but there’s something about him that makes you challenge him. Open challenge to any Rodyte male means only one thing.”

Berlynn tilted her head, clearly fighting back a smile. “And what’s that?”

“You’re ready to wrestle. You want his hands on you, pinning you down while he kisses you senseless.”

“Is that what Danvier did to you last night? Sounds perfectly horrible to me.”

Haven laughed. “Keep telling yourself that. But if you really mean it, you need to stop challenging him.”

“I don’t challenge him. I speak my mind, as I do with everyone.”

“No. You’re downright bitchy with him and that’s not like you at all.”

That got Berlynn’s attention. “Was I really bitchy?”

“Well, maybe disrespectful is a better word. But you were waving a red flag in front of his face and he was more than ready to charge.”

“All right.” All playfulness fell away as Berlynn grew reflective. “I’ll make sure I don’t openly challenge him. It sounds like we’re going to be spending a lot of time together in the next few days.” The sigh in her tone belied all her objections. Berlynn might not be ready to admit it, even to herself, but she was very attracted to Garin Nox.

“I told Danvier I’d be at the ship in an hour, so I need to get moving. We’ll finish catching up when I get back.” She gave Berlynn a quick hug then headed for the door.

“Have fun and good luck with the negotiations.”

Haven blew her a kiss. “Same to you.”

Danvier checked the computer readouts for the hundredth time then swiveled his chair so he faced Haven. She’d converted the center-facing seats into a padded bench and was sleeping like a child. He should leave her alone. She was obviously exhausted, but he was bored and restless. And his desire for her had gradually built over the past three hours.

She was his mate and his body knew it. Everything that made him male, demanded that he claim her before some other male had the opportunity to steal her away. It was a primal instinct, impossible to ignore. Each time he took her, she’d understand more clearly that they were meant to be together. But each time he took her, it was harder not to anchor the mating bond, not to make the joining real and permanent.

With a sexy little groan, she rolled to her back and stretched her arms over head. “What time is it?”

“What time is it on Earth or what time is it on Rodymia?”

A sleepy smile curved her lips. “How long have we been gone?”

“A little over three hours. We’re about halfway there.”

She blinked herself awake and propped up on one arm. “Want to switch? I can watch the controls for a while if you need to catch some Zs.”

“I need something else a whole lot more.” Hunger made his phitons burn and his blood sizzle.

“And what would that be?” She slowly licked her lips, obviously understanding the direction of his thoughts.

“I want you naked and straddling my lap, so I can bury myself deep inside you.”

She swung her legs over the side of the bench as passion ignited in her eyes. “And will you be naked too?”

He shook his head. “Not this time.” After a long, electric pause, he admitted, “I want you to obey me.”

“Obey you?” Rather than sounding insulted by the word, she seemed intrigued. “Have you earned my obedience?”

“You saved my life. In some cultures that links us forever.”

With slow, sensual movements she stood and faced him. “And in other cultures, that makes you my slave.”

“True.” He stood and moved around her, taking her in from every angle without touching her. “Do you want to command me? Is that another one of your fantasies?”

“No.” She looked up at him through the silken fall of her hair.

“Then will you allow me to command you?” His cock bucked against the front of his pants, more than agreeable with the game.

Her pink tongue sneaked out again and slid across her lower lip. “Give me an order and let’s find out.”

“Unbutton your blouse.” He let authority ring through the words while trying not to sound harsh.

She raised her hands to the front of her blouse and unfastened the first few buttons. The transfer link activated, yet he wasn’t sure if she had opened the connection intentionally or if the link itself responded to the sudden spike in their emotions. “I still think this would be more fun if we both undressed.”

He shook his head. “Maybe next time.”

“Have it your way.” She went back to work on her blouse and soon had the front opened. “Better?”

“Take it off, the bra too.”

Anticipation rolled across their link, hot and electric. She was enjoying the game, which made it even more exciting for him. She took her time about it, slipping each side down before letting it slide from her arms. The bra took so long, he nearly reached over and did it himself. But as soon as her lovely breasts came into view he froze, so tense with need that all he could do was stare at the soft mounds.

Demanding desire pulsed through his body, but he stubbornly held himself back. “So beautiful,” he whispered.

“You’re welcome to do more than look,” she offered with a sexy smile.

He ignored the suggestion and motioned toward her skirt. “Keep going. I want you naked.”

She unfastened the skirt and let it pool around her ankles for a moment before she bent to pick it up. She waited until he was behind her to bend over and the pose nearly buckled his knees. Her nicely rounded ass and sleek hips demanded his attention, while her long, shapely legs would easily encircle his waist once he moved on top of her. And her slit, already gleaming with desire, peeked out from between her thighs.

“Shoes and stockings.” His voice was tight, but not nearly as tight as the pressure in his crotch. Gods, he needed to be inside her. Soon!

When she stood before him in nothing but a pair of lace-edged panties, he could resist temptation no longer. He cupped her breast and bent to kiss her, delving deeply with his tongue. She wrapped her arms around his neck and returned his kiss, so he quickly pulled her panties down. He slipped his hand between her thighs as she scooted the undergarment aside with one foot.

“Open,” he ordered against her parted lips.

She moved her legs farther apart so he could more easily touch her, but it wasn’t enough. He wanted to touch all of her at once and hear her cries of pleasure. With his lips still covering hers, he rotated to the side then walked backward until he felt the padded bench against his knees. He sat down and pulled her onto his lap, her knees bent as she straddled his legs.

“Much better.” He ran one hand from her face to her mound in a continuous sweep. His gaze bore into hers. Her legs were spread by the position and her breasts were beautifully displayed. “Reach back and grab my knees. You don’t have permission to touch me anywhere else.”

Her eyes widened and uncertainty rippled through her desire. “Do I need permission to touch you?”

“You do today.”

She hesitated for a moment longer, then determination overcame her uncertainty. She moved her hands behind her, arching her back as she grabbed his knees. “Go on, touch me.” The challenge in her tone was inescapable.

So he touched her, exploring every curve and silken plane with extreme thoroughness. He stroked her arms and back, her legs and hips, intentionally avoiding her breasts and sex. Only when she was squirming beneath his hands and her nipples were tightly beaded did he focus in on the areas she needed him to touch.

He cupped her breast, teasing the tip with his thumb. Her passion-muddled gaze found his and desire pulsed across their link. She needed this, wanted him to command her, to bring her senses to life in a way no one else could. He bent to her other breast as he slipped his free hand between her thighs. She was slick and ready for his cock, but he wanted something else first.

Slowly pushing two fingers deep into her core, he raised his head and watched her face. “Come for me, Haven. Let me see you surrender.”

The command thrilled her, made her wild. She rocked against his hand, riding his fingers with complete abandon. He used his thumb on her clit, speeding her toward completion. Her hands clutched at his knees and her inner muscles tightened around his fingers as tension gathered in her core.

“That’s right. Let it happen. Offer me your pleasure.”

She rocked faster, taking him deeper, her breasts jostled by each firm thrust. She was glorious in her abandon, unconcerned with anything other than the feel of his fingers sliding in and out and the sensations building inside her. He sank deeper into her mind, mixing his energy with hers.

Suddenly she cried out and arched nearly off his lap. He quickly wrapped his arm around her waist and supported her while she came. She shook and shivered, head thrown back as the sensations washed over her.

He prolonged the spasms with his thumb, wringing every last tingle from her body before he slipped his hand free and quickly unfastened his pants. “Grab my shoulders.” It was the only warning he gave her before he pushed up with his legs so he could pull his pants down far enough to free his straining cock.

Then he grasped her hips and angled her body, bringing his tip to her entrance. “Ride me. Hard.”

She required no other instructions. Her hands moved to his shoulders and she slowly lowered herself onto his length. When he was completely encased in her creamy heat, she looked deep into his eyes. “Take me deeper into your mind. I want to feel more of your energy.”

The easiest way to give her what she wanted was to anchor a mating bond. He closed his eyes against the temptation. That was not what she meant. He’d flooded her mind with harbinger energy a few moments before and now she wanted more. “Then ride me.”

She lifted and lowered her body, sliding her softness over his hardness. Once she’d found a steady rhythm, he dilated their transfer link and saturated her mind with harbinger energy. She cried out, fingernails digging into his shoulders. Then her movements sped until she was slamming herself down over him, impaling herself fully with each demanding stroke.

He braced his legs and tried to savor the tantalizing slide of her body over his, but he soon grew restless, needing more control.

Wrapping both arms around her, he pressed her against his chest then shifted her to the side as he crawled onto the padded bench. She ended up on her back and he knelt between her thighs, still fully embedded in her core.

“I like it better like this,” she confessed with another wicked smile.

A growl escaped his throat as he caught the bend of her knees and drew her legs wide. “Mine.” He thrust into her hard and deep, unable to silence the word that had been echoing through his being ever since he caught her scent.

She didn’t object to the claim, so he possessed her in the only way she’d allow, filling her body completely with his hardened flesh. Over and over, he filled her. Yet all the while it felt incomplete.

Her fingers tangled in his hair, half free of its braid now. She drew his head down and brought his mouth to hers. Her lips parted and her tongue curled around his, not waiting for him to sink inside her mouth.

Deep in her mind he heard the word his entire being ached to hear.
Mine
.

Pleasure shot through him, triumph and joy like nothing he’d ever experienced before. Tearing his mouth away from hers, he threw back his head and cried out sharply. Their hips collided and he came deep inside her.

She lay limp beneath him, her body pulsing with aftershocks. He’d been so swept away by his orgasm, that he hadn’t felt hers. But her sleepy smile and utter relaxation assured him she was sated.

He released her legs and rolled to her side. They had to snuggle to fit side by side, but he was too wobbly legged to stand right now.

Should he mention what she’d said? He shook away the impulse. She was moving slowly toward him. It was taking longer than his body would have liked, but as long as she continued toward him, he’d give her all the time she needed to be confident in her choice.

* * * * *

Rodymia’s sky often turned red when a storm was brewing. Letos had suggested a safe house on the outskirts of the capital for the meeting, but the risk of someone discovering the
Phantom
was too great. So Haven contacted Endar, the current head of Tandori supporters on Rodymia, and asked for a more secluded location. Endar suggested a small hunting lodge in the forest west of the capital. The tree cover was thick, the area hilly, and largely undeveloped.

Danvier landed the shuttle in the clearing surrounding a small lake, then activated the covert shields and intruder detection systems. Haven released the main hatch and climbed down the stairs as Danvier secured the ship. She paused beside the lake and took in the tranquil setting. Like Stargazer Ranch, this place created a sense of isolation and safety, yet this locale was distinctly Rodyte. The water was turquoise rather than blue and there were a wide variety of broadleaf trees rather than a solid wall of majestic pine.

Her gaze drifted from the lake to the sky and she shivered. Hovering over the treetops were crimson and pink clouds. Despite the calm coolness surrounding them now, they were in for a violent storm.

“Ready?” Danvier asked as he joined her beside the lake. “The ship is in full stealth mode.”

“We made good time. Letos won’t be here for at least an hour.” She dragged her gaze away from the scenery and looked at her companion. He had his duffle bag slung over one shoulder and her overnight bag hung from the other. “I can take one of those.”

He waved away the offer as if she’d insulted him. “Lead on.”

She’d spent a couple of weeks at this cabin when she’d first arrived on Rodymia. Endar and other supporters often used it for secret meetings or to house visitors that couldn’t be seen in the city. “It’s nothing fancy,” she warned as she led him through the forest. “But there’s an intruder detection grid.”

“Who owns the property?”

Protective instincts made her hesitate. She wasn’t used to sharing Tandori secrets. Even Javin hadn’t known how widespread and well-organized the interests of Tandori Tribe were.

Danvier chuckled. “I was just passing the time, sweetheart, not prodding you for information.”

“Sorry. Protecting my people is instinctive. Admitting that you’re a member of Tandori Tribe can land you in a detention center.”

“I’m a known conspirator with the battle born rebels. I’d be in the cell right next to yours.”

There was no specific trail. She used landmarks to find the cabin. “This property is owned by one of the tribe’s holding companies. Many of our possessions were seized by the crown when we were exiled, but some fast thinking on the part of my ancestors allowed us to protect a good portion of our wealth. The capital has been managed and reinvested down through the years to help fund our causes here and on Earth.”