“Did the altercation with Amye damage you in such a manner?”
She rubs some of the orange bacterium over scratches. “The claw marks. The contusions are from attempting to reach the Hex Darmight.”
“The orb did harm to you?” Australia asks.
“I felt something darker.”
“If it attracts Sandmen—”
“We attract the Sandmen. They will destroy us for uncovering the orb,” JC says.
“Did you know this before you entered Ki-Ton’s temple? You said you had a future vision. What did you see regarding the Sandmen?”
“Flashes. Events out of context until we get close to their happening,” JC lies.
“But you witnessed your death?”
“You should be on the bridge. Your captain crashed.” JC zips up her jacket.
“Between your cryptic visions, a cat guide without a map and a captain who fails to remain aboard his ship compounds locating the Hex Darmight fragments and end these Sandmen,” Scott snaps.
Once alone in the medical bay, JC wakes Michelle.
Groggy, the princess realizes she’s back on the Silver Dragon. “Where’s Amye?”
“She’s on the main table. I sedated her.”
“It’s not her fault. I—”
“She told us she took you off ship to stretch your legs.”
“But—”
“I need you to speak with her. It will stimulate her mind.” JC instructs, “Whatever you do, or if she wakes, don’t release the straps.”
“DETERMINE THE CLOSEST point of impact with the water and launch a probe.” Australia hovers over Chelsie’s shoulder as she operates controls at the environmental station.
“I can’t get a reading on any scanner. The signal from the fighter just vanished from the screen,” Chelsie reports.
The main view screen displays nothing but blue-green waves.
“Do not panic, Cadet. It will not assist the Commander.”
Doug operates the communications controls plugged by cyber jack into the panel, giving him a direct link to Athena. “There is no trajectory in a crash, Chelsie.”
“I understand what happens in a crash,” the cadet snaps at Doug.
“Don’t worry, Doug and I reinforced the fighter, and we added the survival packs to protect him in the event of a water landing,” Scott adds.
Doug removes his headphones. “As long as those Throgen cannons didn’t incinerate the fighter—he should’ve survived the impact.”
Scott adds, “Besides, Reynard’s an expert…at crashing.”
THE TAINTED BONE phalanges rattle the cage. Fourteen-year-old Amye draws herself as far back into the corner as her thin body will fit.
“You failed!” it howls. “None of them will trust you again.”
Amye squares her shoulders, stepping forward. “You can’t harm me. You may need to scare me to control me, but you need me. You need me, or you would have eaten my brains.”
The creature speaks with Kymberlynn’s voice. “Careful, Little Sis, or the Sandman will roll back your memories, trapping you at fourteen—forever.”
“You’ll drink my mind before I let you return me to then.”
“You think you have control—you have no control.” The damaged mask transforms into the perfect face of Kymberlynn. “Why don’t you tell me what happened? You failed the exam by one question, and they kicked you out of the program. Didn’t you appeal? It had to be a misread. You’re too smart. No one gets into the program whose IQ doesn’t max out the chart.”
“You don’t understand.” Fourteen-year-old Amye has no control over her emotions, releasing streams of tears. “Just let me out. Take me back to Tartarus.”
“Why, so you finish what you started when you were buried in the landslide? Do it here, Little Sis.”
“Let me out, Kymberlynn,” fourteen-year-old Amye pleads.
REYNARD SPOONS AGAINST the girl, his fiery passion still pumping his heart. Her body remains cool against his skin. He draws his fingers over her body. None of her flesh contains hair. He wonders what species she is. He doubts her ancestors were primates.
His hand slides around the curve of her abdomen. He searches her tummy. Not even a divot where the navel would go. Why would anyone pressing against such a beautiful naked woman be thinking of her biological development? All of her equipment functioned beyond expectations. I just need a few minutes to prepare for another round.
His stomach burbles. A quick snack will restore his prowess. Reynard pulls away from her. Despite her cold skin he wants to remain next to her. The rumbles remind him he must eat for energy. He nibbles on what he hopes is fish. Learning never to take full bites of alien food on the first chomp, he pecks at it until he’s sure it’s edible. Following a few full bites, his stomach ceases its grumbling.
He breaks his connection with her by untangling his leg from hers. His knees wobble, still weak from passion.
The wall she entered from contains no seam break.
“Master.” Her voice remains submissively soft.
“Are you hungry?”
She scoots from under the blanket. Reynard appreciates her making no effort to cover herself, but her gentleness borders on the subservient side. He finds it undesirable in women. Amye lacks acquiescence, and he admires her for it.
She hesitates.
“You eat, if you are hungry.” It’s been hours.
“Master.”
“Eat.”
“I eat only after you.”
This can’t be good.
“Then I’m full.” Even if I’m not.
“Does the food fail to please you?”
He returns to the bed, drawing her into his arm. His gaze draws instantly to the purple in her eyes.
“Everything about you pleases me. It would please me for you to share this meal with me.”
“I’m yours to command, Master.”
The girls back on the Dragon are going to kill me. “Do you have a name?”
“When designated to a mate, he is allowed to choose.”
“So you never had a name?”
“Mothers name daughters until the day they are won.”
Won. Like in a tribal competition. She was so compliant because she was awarded to me. Now Amye’s really going to shoot me. “What did your mother call you?”
“Leeka.”
He kisses her cheek. “Beautiful. You keep your name.” He locks his lips on hers, drinking in her splendor. Releasing for a breath. “I don’t want a slave. As a free woman, you
