Heather wants to fight beside her people, not watch from a safe distance. So when her brother comes up with a way to disguise her she jumps at the chance. Now she can try out for an elite team to help defeat Reasta who now has a stronghold on Vespia.

No one knows who she is, including her mate, who has also been disguised. They must find each other, qualify for an elite team and help release the Elders without being found out.

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Release Date: November 5, 2024
Genre: Sci-Fi Romance

~ A Red Satin Romance ~

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Excerpt

Chapter One

Heather stood near the screen in their room on Bert’s command ship and glared at the injustice she saw happening to the Vespian people. They were being lied to. Those who realized it was all a lie and fought against Reasta’s guards were getting hurt in the process. “I hate this.”

“My heart, you say that every time you watch the feeds.”

“We should be out there leading these people, not hiding here on this ship.” She turned to face her mate, Storm. “They are dying for us.”

“I know, but you know the consequences of getting caught.”

“It still doesn’t stop me from wanting to be there on the front lines. That is what I was trained for, not sitting back while others die in my stead.”

Storm came up to her and wrapped his arms around her. “I feel the same way, but until we can find a way to be undetected, we can’t risk it.”

“I know.” She snuggled against him. “But it doesn’t make me feel any better.”

“I know how to make you feel better.”

“You do, don’t you?” She leaned back to look up at him.

He gave her that heart-stopping smile that turned her insides to jelly. His hand went to the seals of her gown. “And I know how to make you melt.”

“Already there.”

His lips massaged her mark as she eased his uniform off him. The fact he wore it showed he felt the same way she did. He despised this as much as she did. The heat of his skin against her palm made her smile.

Storm wrapped his arms around her and carried her to their bed. “I can do this all day long if it will make you feel better.”

Heather laughed at that. “You know as much as I do that I would love that, but there are too many people demanding our attention. Since this war has started, we have been interrupted a lot, and you growl every time.”

“Time with my mate is precious to me.” He nibbled on her throat. “Now, we have much better things to do than think about what is going on outside this room.”

She lay back on the bed as he joined her. “I agree.”

His tongue slid against her mark, filling her with need. Her hands caressed his chest, following the contours of his muscles. The thought of him filling her had her heart pounding in her chest.

“Your desire just spiked, my heart. I thought I was here to relax you.” He pressed a kiss against her collarbone before he worked his way down to her breast.

“And you will, right after you make me so boneless I can’t speak.” She quieted when his lips closed on her right nipple. The man knew how to make her body sing. Heat pooled in her core. Need had her legs wrapping around his hips, sending the silent signal of what she really wanted.

His hands worked their way down to her legs, stroking several of her sensitive spots before they slipped around her thighs and eased them away from his body. “Not yet, my heart. You have been edgy and very frustrated, and I want to see that beautiful smile of yours. You need to relax completely, and to do that I need to build you up to a white-hot flame.”

“You always do that. All you have to do is give me that sexy smile of yours and I’m a puddle.”

He rested his chin on her stomach as he looked at her. “Yet when I use that same smile in the security center, I strike fear in my soldiers. They don’t melt at my feet the way you do.”

“Ha. It’s not the same smile. I’ve seen that evil one you give my team when you want to push us a little harder than normal.”

“Evil?” He climbed back up her body. “You like it when I challenge the group. All of you do.”

“Of course.” She smiled up at his face only inches from hers. Her hands continued to caress him, touching places she knew ignited his need. He shuddered when she gripped his buttocks. “You do, too. The pride you feel when we master some complicated technique you dreamed up is hard to miss.”

His fingers brushed along her jaw line. Storm’s voice was soft as he spoke. “You have done a good job of distracting me from my mission. This time you win.”

Her smile widened when she felt him drive into her. Her legs wrapped around his hips once more. She felt the heat of his mouth on her mark as he set a slow, but deep pace. Angling her body so he could get the best penetration, she met him thrust for thrust.

“Don’t let this go to your head, my heart. There is always round two.” Storm shifted his hold on her, which changed the pace.

That drew a moan out of her. Now he was hitting that sensitive spot he always aimed to stimulate. Soon she was shaking in his arms. Her voice was barely a whisper. “So close.”

Then she felt her release bubble up from inside her. It flowed through her, filling her with a beautiful euphoria that only Storm could get her to feel.

“That’s my girl.”

 

* * *

 

Kuarto called them to his lab. He had been cryptic, but excited when he contacted them. They found him waiting by the door. “I want you to see this.”

He brought them to a monitor, grinning broadly. They looked at the screen, studying the information. Heather wasn’t quite sure what she was looking at. It looked like a finished formula to alter her looks but as far as she knew her brother hadn’t been able to complete it yet.

“I know you two want to be out there with your soldiers, and you know I have been doing some research.” He pulled up some more data. “The biggest problem we have is disguising Heather. Her DNA overrides some of the things we have tried in the past.”

“And you think you have something that can fix that?” asked Storm. He put an arm around Heather’s waist.

“I’ve tested it.” He pulled up a sample of her DNA and they watched as it altered on the screen. “It can be done.”

“You’re sure.” Heather wasn’t convinced this was the smartest thing to do. Kuarto was the only one who was able to alter her looks and there were still things he couldn’t change. What had he figured out?

“Oh, yes.” He looked at her, grinning. “I’ve been studying the data on the device you had in your back. It was designed to disguise your true heritage and have you read as human, but not your looks. It’s one of the reasons nothing worked before. The device didn’t allow anything to alter what it was hiding. Now that I know how it functioned, I can use some of the same technology with a few advancements to alter your identity.”

“And the first time I’m scanned everyone will know.” Heather shook her head, remembering how that device isolated her and had her tested time after time. “I can’t take that chance, Kuarto.”

“That last device was meant to be found. You told me that was what caught Anseri’s attention when she went through your files in the first place. The ones I will use will be much smaller and undetectable.”

“Ones?” Storm shifted so he stood behind Heather with his arms wrapped around her.

“For you, Storm, I’ll only need to use one to change your features to scans and the naked eye. Heather is a little more complicated than that. I believe three will do it, maybe four. One in the groin, one in the back of your hair line and one at the temple and if I need a forth one it will go in the second temple.”

“Altering my looks to the degree we need it done hasn’t worked in the past.” She knew he was trying to help, but even when they went to Micali’s planet he couldn’t disguise her completely.

“When you went to Aruka I was able to change your hair color and skin color, and I didn’t have access to the technology I can now use. Heather, you will look and read Vespian. No one will be able to tell who you are.”

“Really?” Hope filled her.

“Yes.”

She hated doubting her brother but remembered all too well what happened all the other times someone made a promise like this. “Is it permanent?”

“As long as you have the chip in and it’s activated, yes, but I will be able to turn it off and on as needed.” Kuarto looked at his sister, then her mate. “There are a few things we need to go over first.”

Heather knew there would be buts. “What is it?”

“The only thing I can’t hide is if your mind expands. I don’t know how it will affect the chips. It might do nothing and let them continue to work, or it could fry them. It could also leave them intact but not functional.”

“That is a big risk.”

“Which is why I want to put them in and wait for an expansion before I let you go out into the field. It shouldn’t take too long.” He waited for her agreement before he inserted one in her temple. “Once I know your mind won’t knock out the chips, we should be able to insert you into the command center easily. Fridon is working on that now.”

“So we wouldn’t be part of the security teams?” Heather wasn’t sure being trapped in the command center was what she wanted.

“Well, no. Is that what you want?” Kuarto activated the chip. “I’m not altering your looks right now with the exception of the tips of your hair. They are now violet. It will allow me to see what will happen to the color when we test it.”

Heather wasn’t sure what she wanted, but the thought of watching from the command center didn’t feel any better than doing the same thing from Bert’s compound.

 

* * *

 

“Ready?” Kuarto patted a table.

“Yes.” Heather climbed up on it. “You sure this will work?”

“The last expansion didn’t do anything to the chip, so I feel comfortable letting you do this.” He gestured for her to lie down. “The first chip will change your skin tone.” He inserted the chip. She held out her arms and watched as her fair skin darkened, but not enough to allow her to blend in with Vespian society.

“Wait. There is one thing.” She sat up then gestured between her and Storm. “We want to be part of the new teams Fridon is putting together.”

“What?” Kuarto shook his head. “It’s too dangerous. What if Reasta found out?”

“How?” asked Heather. “We’ve taken every precaution. That’s why we’ve been cooped up on Bert’s compound, why we were snuck off his compound and brought here. I don’t want to be cooped up anymore.”

Kuarto hesitated for just a moment. “Well, that is between Fridon and you two. You need to talk to him.”

“We already have,” said Storm. “He’s not happy either, but my mate can be very convincing.”

Kuarto shook his head as the doors to his medlab opened. He stepped away from Heather when Fridon came in.

“I still don’t like this.” Fridon frowned as he crossed his arms over his chest.

His intimidation tactic made Heather want to laugh. He was mimicking her mate right now.

“How did they convince you?” asked Kuarto.

“Heather is right. If we put them in with my team people are going to wonder why. It won’t be much of a disguise if everyone figures out who they are. The point is to give them a little more freedom.”

“So what are you proposing?”

“We start from scratch.” Heather smiled. “We join the people to are trying for the new elite teams. No special treatment, no extra protection.”

“Are you sure that’s wise? It’s going to be hard to explain a mated couple just showing up.”

“You’re right.” Heather looked up at her mate. “But what if no one knew our disguises but Kuarto?”

“What?” growled Storm.

“No. We can’t take that chance.” Fridon shook his head. “You two are the future of this planet. Reasta knows that and has communicated with just you. What if she contacts us and demands to talk to you?”

“Kuarto will know who we are and can come and get us if that happens. It might destroy the cover we have at that time, but we could try another.”

“Heather.”

“Oh, come on, Fridon. We want to be with our soldiers, not hide while they are fighting our battle. Why are you fighting this? Are you saying you aren’t going to protect the people who are trying out for these teams?”

“Of course not.”

“Then we’ll be fine.”

“You draw trouble to you,” countered Fridon.

“I’m a security officer.” Heather fought a grin. What he said might be true, but she wasn’t about to back down. “A very good one, according to you. Storm was head of security before you took over and went on missions all the time. How is this different?”

Fridon didn’t respond right away. He looked at Kuarto before he sighed. “If I could lock you two away to keep you safe, I would, but I know better. I spoke to Bert, and he ran the timeline several times to see if this was a smart idea.”

“And Bert agreed?” Having Bert on their side gave them a stronger chance to win this.

“He pretty much said if we didn’t let you do this, we would lose this war. You draw trouble to yourself no matter where you are. Might as well keep you happy or you’ll be annoying me too much.”

“Thanks, I think.” Heather looked at Storm. “We won’t know what the other looks like.”

“Something I’m not happy about, but it will be a challenge figuring out who you are.” He gave her his heart-stopping smile.

“And what if you make a mistake?” She teased him.

“I didn’t make a mistake when we met.” He stepped close and brushed her jawline with the tips of his fingers.

“There are certain features I can leave,” Kuarto interjected. “Height, weight, and you’re personalities won’t be altered.”

“And we have our mental link.”

He was right. That link would lead him right to her and they wouldn’t fool anyone if that happened.

Kuarto looked at her mate. “Storm, if you’ll go with Micali, she’ll insert your chip, then I’ll be by to adjust it as soon as I’m done with Heather.”

Heather watched her mate move into the room he was directed to. She waited for the doors to close. “How do you feel about us not knowing what the other looks like?”

“That’s up to you.” He made adjustments to the first insert. “I know how you like to prove yourself and if no one knew who you were you’d be able to do that.”

“I guess I’ve grumbled a little too loud about that.” She watched as her fair skin darkened to the Vespian tone. “Wow.”

“Told you this would work. No one is going to know who you are, Heather.” He inserted the next chip, the one that would turn her hair black, into the back of her neck. That took a little fine-tuning too. “You will be like everyone else.”

“Hmm.” Heather held up the tips of her hair. “It even has the blue shine Vespian hair has.”

“I know.” He inserted one at her right temple. “So what color do you want your eye ring to be? And don’t ask for purple. That is a dead giveaway.”

“I guess the most prevalent color out there.”

“Believe it or not, that is green.” He worked the chip until she had the Vespian golden eyes with a green ring. The tone started to change and turned violet. “Hmm. Let’s put in that fourth chip.” The color settled to the green he wanted. “Perfect. Now all I have to do is alter your features enough to hide your identity, alter your voice and we’re done.”

“And what if they fail?”

“You worry too much. About the only thing that would knock them out is an EM pulse, and we don’t use equipment that would cause that, but I know you. Storm told me how you kept expecting the one I installed when you went to Akura to stop working, even though I knew it wouldn’t. There is nothing to worry about.” He gestured for her to jump down from the table. “Would you like to see the new you?”

“Yeah. No one has ever been able to alter my looks before. Besides you,” she added. Her brother walked her to the large mirror he had brought in for this reason. She looked at the stranger staring back at her through the mirror. Jet black hair hung down her back, her body was the honey-brown skin all Vespians had. And her eyes. That surprised her the most. Golden with a green ring. “My eyes look a bit like Toki’s.”

“Yeah, when I changed your features, I noticed that, but if I tweak it any more it doesn’t look real.” He ran the scanner over her. “Looking good.”

Heather touched the spot where her mark lay hidden. It was strange to not see it.

“You knew I couldn’t leave that, not if you’re supposed to be single.”

“I know, but I have gotten so used to it that it just seems weird that it’s gone.”

“Not gone, just invisible.”

She nodded as she plaited her hair so she had a long braid going down her back. Her brother handed her a uniform.

Being able to start with everyone else excited her. Being the mate of the future leader had its privileges, but it also had its limitations. This time she could prove her worth by her deeds, not who she was mated to. It also made her think about how no one knew who they were. Maybe she should shield her ability from everyone, including her mate. She bet Storm would still spot her in a crowded room.

If you do that I won’t be able to hear your thoughts, will I?

She could feel Storm wasn’t happy about the idea. They had gotten so used to them sharing everything. No, if I do this, I’ll block my thoughts off from everyone, including you and the children. It will help keep me hidden from our friends. No one will get that familiar feeling when they’re near me and it will allow me to be myself.

I like that familiar feeling.

She could feel he wasn’t happy about this, and she hoped he understood. My heart. I’m not sure how to keep you and the children in while I block everyone else out. I need to start with a clean slate and let you in later.

So I really will not know when I met you again?

I won’t know either. She reminded him.

I am so tired of proving we belong together, my heart. Why must we do this separately?

Because it will keep people from questioning us if we meet and then become a couple. She breathed a sigh of relief. He was going to go along with it. It won’t be difficult for us to find each other. Our personalities aren’t being changed. I’ll just look for a very domineering man.

And I will look for a woman who always gets into trouble?

We could use a code word to be sure we have the right person.

And sound crazy as we walk up to strangers and say something bizarre like the white room? Storm teased. He was referring to the code word Skye had when they first met Reasta who had been altering the timeline to get Storm out of the way.

I trust my instincts to find you.

Then I’ll see you soon, my heart.

 

* * *

 

Heather had been dropped off near one of the security outposts, where she had been told by Kuarto to sign in, then was directed to the large cave nearby. She saw about eighty other soldiers with her. This small crowd should make it easy for her to find her mate if he had been dropped off at the same place. Looking around, she didn’t see anyone who fit his build and height right away. She’d have to search for him later. The meeting was about to start.

Fridon’s image stood in front of them, waiting for everyone to gather and quiet down. “All of you are here because of your records. I am looking to put together several more elite teams to infiltrate our enemies’ stronghold. Our war is a private one, not sanctioned by the council. They have been compromised and can’t help us right now, so we need to help them.”

Soldiers around her murmured amongst themselves.

“As with any elite team, you must be tested. Once you leave this cave you will find out what your destination is. You’ll have two days to get there. That is all.”

As they filed out, they were given a handheld that contained all the information they needed to get to their destination. Heather looked at hers as she followed the people in front of her. Interesting. She had two days to get to the target that normally took three days to travel on foot if they followed the basic paths, and they weren’t allowed to use any sort of transportation because it could be traced. She grinned. This was going to be fun.

 

* * *

 

Storm looked at his small pad as he headed to the next site. He didn’t see his mate among the soldiers at their indoctrination, but that didn’t surprise him. Fridon called for everyone’s attention just as he joined the rest of the soldiers; then they were ushered out and handed these devices. After going through some of the data, he grinned. It was a mission scenario he had wanted to use but had never had a chance. Now Fridon was implementing it. Only the best would make it in time. Those who were worthy of being elite would make it undetected. This was going to be fun.

Several Vespian women walked in front of him, and he noticed they had cropped their hair. Vespian women didn’t cut their hair, so why did these women? He found himself walking with a few other men. “What’s with the hair?”

“They’re honoring Heather.” That was all they needed to say.

Storm wondered how his mate would react when she learned this. She had wanted to leave the planet because she didn’t want to bring war. This could upset her more. The people’s love for her humbled her. He just hoped his mate wouldn’t follow suit to fit in. He liked her hair long, and she knew that, but it would be a way for her to blend in with the rest of the women. He had tried to reach out to her several times with his mind and make her aware but couldn’t connect. She was going to make him find her the old-fashioned way.

He knew a shortcut that would allow him to make it to their destination point with plenty of time to spare. A lot of others knew it too, so what would he miss if he took the shortcut? There had to be more than just getting to the meeting place.

 

* * *

 

Heather noticed several of the women sported short hair. Storm had told her the women never cut their hair, so why did these women do it?

“You doing it too?” A young woman fell into step with her as she moved through a small village.

“What?” Heather looked over at the young woman, wondering why she singled Heather out of all the other women in security uniforms.

“Cutting your hair to honor Heather.”

“What?” They were doing this because of her? “I thought Heather had long hair.”

“She does now, but when she first came here with Storm her hair was short because of her position in security. Some of the women are cutting their hair and keeping it short until Heather can walk amongst us freely again. That Reasta woman needs to be stopped, but that is why you and I are here.” She worked on her handheld while they walked. “So, what about your hair?”

“Never thought about it.” It humbled her that they were doing this to honor her. To know they knew the truth even after the rhetoric Reasta was spinning amazed her. “It is a beautiful gesture.”

“I’ve been thinking about it. There is a medical facility nearby. They’re the ones doing it right now.”

“I don’t know.” Heather looked up at the woman. Kuarto didn’t change her height, so she was still shorter than most Vespian women. “My mother wants me to leave my hair long until I’m mated. Let my mate decide.”

“Are you bonded?”

“No. Haven’t met the right man yet, but you know how parents are. Mom might think it a wonderful gesture for other women, but not her daughter.” Heather shrugged. “I’ll think about it, though. She is mated to our future leader, so my future bondmate would understand, and that is only if I meet him right away.”

“True, your hair could grow out before you meet him.”

Heather wasn’t sure how to handle her new associate. They all had a job to do, and making friends wasn’t one of them, but there was a reason this young woman approached her, and she wanted to know what it was. She didn’t seem to know who she was really talking to unless she was a very good actor.

“There is one thing we can do to honor, Heather.” She stopped and held out her hand. “My name is Loli.”

“Nusi.” Heather looked at Loli. It was weird talking about herself in the third person. The young woman’s face was familiar. She was pretty sure she had seen her during some inspection, so she had been part of security for a while. “Know anything about this new squad?”

“Only that they want the best of the best.” She pulled out the small pad everyone had been handed. “I do know giving us these is not normal procedure. They must have more than our destination in them.”

“Yeah. I thought the same thing. There must be a target, something we have to get along the way.” Heather looked at hers. “Figuring out where the information is shouldn’t be too much of a challenge.”

“If it is too easy to find, then it’s not the right target.”

Heather looked at the woman and grinned. She just might be a valuable asset.

 

* * *

 

Storm kept looking for his mate as he made his way to the first checkpoint. He also knew he needed to acquire his target before he hit that checkpoint. It was simple enough. He had to go into the center of a small village and grab a chip attached to the main screen. There were a few things he had to follow. One was he couldn’t be caught, so he somehow had to find civilian clothes. The uniform would be a dead giveaway. He also had to get it before anyone else. Standard procedure would have more than one person going after the same item.

He wondered how Heather was getting along.

The screen blared random data. Ever since Reasta had gained control of the council, the news had changed to crazy stories that meant nothing to the people. He stared at the screen to find the chip. Fridon wasn’t pulling any punches. It was up at the top of the giant screen, dead center.

He noticed several people who had been in the cave eyeing the same chip he was. Storm grinned. He loved competition.

 

* * *

 

Heather looked at the information that would allow her to get her target. “Loli, you know anything about this area?”

“A little. I’m a bit of a tech, so I studied the area around our first meeting site.” She slipped her device in her pocket. “I can help you with your assignment.”

“What about yourself? You have a goal as well.”

“When it comes to an elite squad, what comes to mind?”

“The task force first.” Heather shrugged. “Then those in the background that make everything happen.”

“And that’s what I want to do. I don’t care about the chore given to me. I don’t want to be part of the task force. That is what the first set of goals are for.” She pulled the small handheld they were all given and showed Heather hers. “They also loaded information for those of us who are techs. If that is my goal, this is what I need to do to be considered.”

Heather looked at the screen. One of the first things it told her was to find someone who wanted to be part of the elite squad. “So that is why you befriended me?”

“Sorry. I could tell by the way you carry yourself that you’re going to be successful. There is a particular type of person who can do this. Many want to, but only a few can actually do it. You are one of those people.” She tapped her screen again and everything disappeared. “The smarter members of a squad start to create their group long before they are actually picked. It’s part of the test. A loner won’t do well in an environment when you must rely on other people.”

She was right. “So how do you propose I can get into this bonding celebration without an invitation, my uniform, or getting noticed?”

“Oh, you’ll be noticed, but not as a member of Vespian security.” She smiled. “I know just what to do.”

 

* * *

 

Storm slid the chip from the screen into his handheld, showing he was the first to retrieve it. The screen cleared and loaded a new task. He’d thought his assignment was too easy. Now he had to make his way to a small town having a bonding ceremony. His goal was to keep others from retrieving a small gold leaf from the main hall. It didn’t tell him where the leaf was or who would be trying to retrieve it. The notes led him to a particular house where he could dress for the occasion.

The hall was full by the time he arrived. He saw several people from the cave there, mostly women. There were a few males dressed like he was. They must have been successful with their mission as well and had gotten the same assignment as him. So the women were to try to retrieve this leaf. Several of the other men had already corralled and taken away a couple of the young women. They were trying to break the rules, so they were easy to stop. The instructions were clear. They weren’t allowed to wear their uniforms, and they couldn’t attract the wrong attention.

He noticed one woman the moment she walked into the hall. It was her beauty that caught his attention first. It made him look, mated or not. That was when he noticed her hesitate. It was only a second before she smiled and slipped into character, but he saw it. A Vespian would never show hesitancy, but his mate would. Storm smiled as he approached her.

 

* * *

 

Heather felt she was showing a lot more skin than she was used to, even though she knew it wasn’t true. The gowns she wore at Vespian functions exposed a lot. They were made of a lot of see-through material, so she felt covered even when she wasn’t. Looking around, she realized most of the women around her bared just as much skin. Fear was not a Vespian trait and she needed to shed hers. Plastering a smile on her face, she looked around to see if she could see her goal. What she did see was a man, a good-looking one at that, coming right at her. Her smile brightened. He would allow her to move about the area without anyone noticing she was looking for something.

 

* * *

 

The height was right, so was the length of her hair. The one long braid made him happy. She hadn’t cut it yet.

If it was her. Only one way to find out. Time to dance with her.

He bowed to her, and she returned the bow, allowing him to take her into his arms and move her about the floor. Bright gold eyes looked up at him. The intricate dance had them touching and moving against each other as well as around each other. The intimacy of the movements aroused him. One of the steps had him bending her backwards as he moved with her. He spoke softly, his breath brushing against her throat. “I wonder what would happen if I were to press my lips against the nape of your neck. Would you melt in my arms? Become boneless for a moment?”

Those golden eyes widened, and she studied him. “And if I were to slip my hand inside your shirt and brush you here?” Her fingers brushed his mark and sent a shudder through him.

He pulled her close. “My heart.”

She laughed and it sounded like music to his ears. The steps coming up would separate them and have her dance with another partner, but he didn’t want to let her go. He had to, though, and he watched her move away from him toward the large cake in the center of the room. Moving with the steps, she leaned toward the cake then back out again. Then she was gone.

Where the hell did she go?

 

* * *

 

Heather came out of the hall a little breathless. Storm might not be very happy with her, but she needed to get the leaf recorded in her handheld before someone tried to take it from her. A smile spread across her face as the data was uploaded to the proper people.

“I need to go back in.”

“You can’t. Once you sent the data, a new assignment downloaded, and it’s timed.”

Heather looked at the data Loli was pointing at. “Well crap. That just makes matters worse.”

“Where do you think you are going?” His voice sounded different, but she remembered how it made her feel when she first heard it inside. He must have realized she ran outside the moment he lost sight of her.

“My next assignment.” Peeling the skimpy dress off, Heather climbed back into her uniform as she spoke to him.

“We need to talk.”

“Nusi?”

“It’s okay, Loli. He’s an ally. He helped me get the leaf.” She pressed her lips to his, quick but heated. “Got to go, but we’ll talk when I can.”

He wrapped his arms around her so she couldn’t move. “I don’t think so.”

“I am going to be on that elite squad, and you aren’t going to stop me. You can try, but I will make it and so will Loli.”

Storm’s handheld alerted him to a new assignment as well. He looked down at the screen. “Today is your lucky day, Nusi. I need to go as well, but we’re not done, not by a long shot.”

He captured her lips with his. His tongue swirled against her mouth begging for admittance then swooped in when she gave it, searching for her tongue to dance with his. His desire for her grew as he ended the kiss. When he let her go, she gave him a promising smile that made him just a little bit harder.

What he found interesting was she didn’t connect their mindmeld like she’d promised. He could feel her happiness, her desire, but he couldn’t read her thoughts. She shielded them so he couldn’t use it against her. He grinned. He would have done the same thing.

 

* * *

 

“Wow, that was some kiss. You know he will be looking for you, right?”

“Yeah.” Heather couldn’t help but smile. The thought filled her with desire. She started moving to their next target at a fast pace.

“You also realize he is probably pitted against us.”

“What makes you say that?” But Heather had wondered the same thing. It wasn’t a coincidence that he was there when she went to retrieve the leaf. She saw other women try and were carted off by men she recognized from the cave.

“It would make sense to get the best. If we all worked for the same goal without a little sabotage, it wouldn’t really be competition.” Loli looked at Heather’s handheld, then her own. “Looks like they know we’re working together now. We’re synced up. They have already labeled us too.”

Heather checked to see what Loli was talking about. On her handheld was an image of her new face and the position she was being considered for. Loli’s image was on the same screen with the position she was being considered for. “You think everyone is on here?”

“If I look in the right places. Why? You want to know his identity?”

“It would only be fair, since he knows mine.” Loli looked at her strangely. “You said my name and he repeated it.”

“Oh. Sorry. Guess that wasn’t very smart of me.”

“Doesn’t matter as long as you didn’t do it on purpose. I know there are probably saboteurs within the group.”

Loli’s eyes widened. “Didn’t think of that either. I promise I’m not. I really am a tech.”

“Don’t worry, Loli. I trust you.” At least she did for now. Heather had been through enough training sessions to know what to look for and to know they could offer Loli a position if she were to turn. She just hoped the young woman knew that the test was to see where her loyalty was. If she did turn traitor, she probably wouldn’t be part of any team. “Now, how much time do I have to get to the next site?”

“At a run, you’ll make it with two minutes to spare.”

“How fast can you run?” Heather took off at a sprint. Running too fast for too long could cripple most, but she had built her duration time up, depending on the distance. It didn’t take her long to get there. She made it with ten minutes to spare. While she waited for Loli to catch up with her, she found a secluded spot to watch as others showed up.

She sensed him before she saw him. He must have sensed her too, because she saw him looking around. A smile spread across his face when he spotted her. Great, he was going to give her location away. It surprised her when he disappeared from sight. Then she felt his breath on the back of her neck.

“I see you have waited for me.” He slipped his arms around her.

“Not for you, Luprin, but for my partner.”

He pressed a kiss against her mark. She sucked in her breath as her body tightened. “I see you also learned my name.”

“Those handhelds have all kinds of information if you know where to look for it.” She turned in his arms. “They also seem to know everything we’re doing.”

“You mean things like this?” He captured her lips with his, pulling her up against him as he deepened the kiss. His tongue dipped into her mouth, caressing and searching for hers. They got lost in the sensations for a moment. He broke the kiss and rested his forehead against hers. “I wish I could take advantage of this, but we have jobs to do.”

“So I need to be careful of being alone or you might take advantage?” She looked up at him and smiled. “I guess I’m going to have to find spots like this more often. How many times can I push before you come through on your promise?”

He grinned. His fingers slid along the seals of her uniform, opening the upper section enough for him to slip his fingers inside. “Oh, my heart, if you want to challenge me you know I’ll take that challenge.”

She felt his caresses all along her upper torso and knew where he was headed. She stepped back, trying to get him to pull his hand out. “Okay! Time to get to the task at hand.”

“I am.” He captured her lips with his once more while his fingers slipped into her folds. Her breath shortened as those caresses caused her heart to beat faster and her desire to spike. “This is just a taste of what I want to do to you, but I want to take my time with you, find out what you like, and get to know you as intimately as possible.”

“You aren’t fighting fair.” Her voice came out soft as his hand continued to work its magic.

“I know.” His voice was deep because he was as affected as she was. “They will give us a safe place to sleep tonight. Wait for me and I’ll give you so much more.” Storm captured her lips once more before he released her so she could pull her uniform back together.

Heather took a moment to compose herself. “I will pay you back for that.”

“I sure hope so.” He grinned devilishly. He looked over her head for a moment. “Looks like your partner has arrived.”

Heather turned to look. Loki was standing in the center of the area searching for her. When she turned back to Storm, he was gone. A sigh escaped her as she caught Loli’s attention. The young woman joined her in her hiding place.

“Um, you didn’t seal your uniform right.”

Heather looked down and grinned. Her mate was the only one who could break through her control, and he was having a little too much fun with this. “Right.”

“What have you learned?”

That her mate’s touch still took her breath away. “I saw several people go in, but none come out.”

“None?”

“No.”

“You sure you weren’t sidetracked? I saw your new sex partner leave a few minutes ago.”

“We haven’t had sex.”

“Not yet, but it will happen. There’s too much chemistry between the two of you to ignore.” Loli looked at her handheld. “It doesn’t show anyone inside.”

“Now, that doesn’t make sense.” She could still sense their presence but couldn’t explain why she knew what she knew. “Where would they have gone?”

Loli checked the blueprints of the building. “There is no other door to the building so they must still be inside.”

“Then the building must be shielded from your sensors.” Heather pulled her device out of her pocket and started working on it. “We just need to override the system blocking us.”

Within seconds Loli smiled. “That did it. You know, you could be a tech too. That was good work.”

“You think I should?”

“No.” She laughed. “You would get too bored too fast. Then I’d have to keep you out of trouble.”

“I have heard that before.” Storm had said the same thing, so had Bear, her commander in Earth’s security.

“Here.” She sent the data Heather needed to her handheld. “This will allow me to track you inside as well as tell you where everyone is. Now that I have the data you released, I’m seeing the people in there, but they’re not moving. I think you need to rescue them.”

“Has anyone else figured out what is happening?”

“No way to tell.”

Heather nodded. She checked her uniform once more to make sure it was sealed properly before she headed to the door where command had demanded everyone enter.

She checked the interior and pushed her handheld inside before she entered the building. As long as Loli could see and read her, she was willing to go in to see what was really going on. The darkened interior blocked her vision for a moment, but her eyes adjusted quickly. She caught a whiff of something and held her breath. In order to go in and out, she’d need a supply of oxygen if she didn’t want to fall victim like the others.

Dragging one of the people out, she started talking to Loli the moment she was in fresh air. “The air is drugged. That’s why they’re going in and not coming out.” She propped him against the wall so he could regain his senses. Heather inhaled deeply several times from having to hold her breath. “What do you have to help me with that?”

“It’s going to take me a minute.” Loli’s voice came out of the handheld. She came into view and crouched down beside the man Heather had rescued. After pressing a few keys, she scanned him to see what the chemical was. “Oh, he is going to have a headache later. It’s a water vapor mixed with a sleeping powder. It’s making them drunk and tired.”

Heather wondered what she should do. Water didn’t affect her the way it did a Vespian, but if she used that to save these people it could give her away. Her helmet was at the cave with everyone else’s. “I remember reading about a plant that can help us breathe underwater. You think there is any nearby, and could it help?”

“Actually, I have something better.” She pulled something out of her pocket, tapped on the screen for a few moments then held it out. The face of the device glowed as something materialized on top of it. “There you go.”

“You have a materializer?” Heather picked up the small breathing apparatus and studied it. “How did you manage that?”

“There was nothing about bringing handmade items with us. When they scanned me to make sure I didn’t have any contraband on me, this was accepted.”

“What else do you have hiding in your uniform?” Heather teased as she pressed it against her mouth and activated it.

“A few other things that might come in handy along the way.”

Heather went back into the building and dragged out two more people. She continued to bring them out until she had gotten everyone. She rested against the wall as she deactivated the mouthpiece. Her handheld made a noise, letting her know where the rest area was. She had done everything she needed to do for the day.

Loli came to where she rested. “You went beyond what was expected.” She showed her the numbers scored for each person. Heather was in the lead. “Of course, your future sex partner isn’t too far behind you.” Luprin’s stats were close to hers.

“Then let’s go to the safe zone so we can get some rest.”

“You go ahead. I have one more assignment.”

“What is it?”

“They want me to go to the leader of this village and pick up a key.” She looked at Heather. “I wonder what the key is for.”

“Let’s go.”

“What? No. You have done your assignments. I can handle this.”

“Yeah, and we know they keep throwing these wonderful little curveballs at us too. You helped me with my assignments. It’s only fair I help you.”

 

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