PART THIRTY NINE

Marco stared into the dark space ahead of him, his eyes flickering between the cell walls, and the high, exposed ceiling of the warehouse. He wasn’t sure how long they’d left him like this—alone, half-naked and still stunned from the disruptor. A low humming sound dulled his thoughts, making focus beyond difficult, and the ache within his chest was a constant reminder that his powers were still utterly useless.

But not his Empathy.

No, he hadn’t been able to temper it, not even at the height of Khivar’s assault, when he’d felt that blackest of souls as if it were dwelling in the midst of his own. And without his powers, he’d been unable to shield himself, which meant every dark emotion coursing through Khivar’s heart had pressed in on him. That alone had left him feeling violated, even before the mind rape had begun in earnest.

Now he could only stare ahead, grappling through the void around him for his near-mate…his unit. And he was beginning to feel Tess’s heartbeat, pulsating rhythmically toward him like a homing beacon. He was tuned to her perfectly, and even as he moved in and out of consciousness, like ocean waves lapping the shore, he never stopped feeling her…or Max and Liz who were only slightly further away.

He’d tried connecting with Tess, but was too weakened to successfully manage it—and he knew it would have been a tenuous proposition under the best of circumstances without their being mated anyway.

Instead, every time he reached his energy toward her, there was only the recurring image of her cloaked in danger, wearing it like a mantle. He clenched his hands into tight fists where they were bound above his head, shaking his head to dislodge the horrid image, but still it remained firmly imprinted. And his struggling bore no better result--he could barely feel his arms, much less free them.

And what of Max and Liz, he wondered, sagging forward in frustration. His arms fell limp above his head, useless to him. He longed to be Antousian at that moment, able to shape shift into ether, to move undetected among his enemies in the way they were told of doing. Not that he’d ever met a true Antousian—only the hybrid variety like Khivar, Nicholas and the others. But full-blooded Antousians were reputed masters of the night, of the atmosphere even; shifting and mutating like the wind.

Marco’s head dropped low, his chin resting against his bare chest as he remembered that even Antousians were affected by the disruptor. Which meant that a better man would have proved stronger, more equipped for protecting the king and queen than he evidently had. And certainly would never have left his lasthre susceptible to such a ravenous enemy.

Marco’s eyes drifted shut, and he floated a bit, feeling only Ayanna pulsing through his body, whispering in his ear.

Ayanna…the most beautiful name he’d ever heard, like a royal jewel, rare and precious.

Ayanna…the whisper of the Antarian wind across the sea, mystery and seduction…yet soothing all at once.

And then she was there, within him, surrounding him. Piercing straight into the heart of him like the sharpest of arrows. He jolted to consciousness, feeling her soft hand caress his chest like a lover.

Marco jerked his head upward, expecting to find Tess kneeling beside him—and yet he was completely alone. He knew she was connecting, even though no true union existed between them yet. She was working with the fragments they already owned, piecing them together into a tentative bond.

He pressed his eyes tightly shut and fought again. This time not against the wire that bound his wrists so painfully, nor against his circumstances. He battled to open his soul to her, to hear what she would say.



Tess crept along the back edge of the warehouse, the part that ran flush against the railroad tracks and felt adrenalin course through every part of her body, straight down to the molecular level. She followed Serena and Devon, with Anna and Michael bringing up the rear of their recon squad. It was their job to lead the other teams in, to scout out the landscape surrounding the warehouse and within. Anna would then communicate with Riley through their bond, giving the signal to move the other teams into the building.

Tess’s hand trembled slightly around the short barrel of her K-12, and she worked to still her fingers—even as she grappled with her newfound empathy, trying to detect their enemies’ locations. From her dreamwalk of Marco, she knew how the skins would feel, so deathly cold and void of emotional form.

At the same time, she catapulted her energy toward Marco, sought a temporary bond with him, so that he might tell her where he was being held. She feared that the images from their earlier meeting had been too unclear to be of much use in their search for him.

She sensed him a small distance ahead, like the center point of her compass, but that wasn’t enough. She needed to open communication with him…And between her team and the inside. It was their best chance of assassinating Khivar tonight, as well as for Marco’s survival.

With that thought, she lunged at him, hurtling her energy toward him like a power burst, just as she had done on the trail hours before. There was an answering crackle of electricity between them, as something vital and alive opened. Small shivers shot across her skin, even beneath the bulletproof vest and other clothing, as she sucked in a tight breath.

Serena paused a moment just ahead of them, signaling them to stop with an urgent wave of her hand right behind her back. Immediately, Devon responded by crouching low against the wall of the warehouse and Tess did the same. The gravel crunched softly beneath their boots, but otherwise there was only silence. That, and the raw, ungrounded current of the connection opening between her and Marco.

She felt his breath on her neck, his energy pooling around her waist. It was like nothing that had ever happened between them, far more intimate, yet she couldn’t even revel in it, couldn’t stop and drink it in.

In fact, she couldn’t question the logistics of precisely how it was happening without their being properly mated—she could only assume that it was because he was her lasthre.

His fire shot down her backbone, wild and ungrounded and she leaned back on her heels, steadying herself against the stone warehouse wall with her hand. Tess watched with widened eyes as Serena lifted night vision goggles and studied the dark terrain around them, and wondered how she might bring the erratic connection with Marco under some sort of control. She glanced back at Anna, wishing she could ask for her help, or at least for some explanation, but Anna only raised a questioning eyebrow.

Serena squatted low in front of their squad, still as a statue, as moments spun out eternally as they waited for her all clear sign.

Marco, she breathed within her spirit, wondering how this might even work. How they might possibly communicate beyond simply feeling one another so very intimately. Marco…

His throaty rumble of a voice vibrated within her center. Tess, where are you? Are you alright?

How is this happening? She asked, her spirit-voice tremulous and uncertain, even to her own ears. Is this a connection?

Yes, my love. Tell me where you are.

We’re coming inside now, Tess explained. I’m in a team with Serena, Anna, Devon, and Michael. Tell me how we can find you.

You mustn’t come, Tess. Khivar knows about our near-bond…he will… hurt you.

Marco, I have to come, have to lead them to you. I’m the only one who saw your location in the vision.

Leave me! His voice was almost a roar, causing her to shudder a bit with its intensity, yet she knew his heart. The warrior within his veins had awakened, rising to protect her, as well as the others.

You know I can’t, Marco. I can’t leave you…and I can’t not fight.

Tess, he argued forcefully. He will hurt you…if you come, that’s how it will end.

And suddenly Tess realized that the tables had turned. That just as she’d begged him to leave Khivar’s camp earlier, now he begged her to do the same. Each of them would give their lives for the other, would die if necessary—yet each understood the truth. The king and queen came first. The vows came first. Because the vows were part of Tess now, as surely as they were imprinted on Marco’s heart and spirit.

Marco, I must come. For you…and for Max and Liz.

He was silent for a long moment, and there was motion from Serena as she lifted two fingers over her shoulder, raising her pistol with the silencer. Tess braced herself against the wall, knowing that the two fingers meant two of their enemy approached.

Leave me, he whispered quietly within her. All of you must do the same. I am only a trap for you now, left to draw you out of hiding…and then Khivar plans to have you, Tess. And I mean truly have you.

Why? She rasped. What’s special about me?

Marco’s energy jolted powerfully, causing her whole body to shake in response. The emotions were unstoppable that swept over her as she watched Serena aim her pistol in slow motion…flash of light, soft scuffle, muted sounds. Then silence. While Marco’s heart pounded crazily inside of her own chest, drumming with self-accusation and agony.

I did it to you, he admitted quietly. Because of what I’ve made you.

Shh, she soothed. Not even possible.

It’s what he wants, Tess. My gift…the Empathy. God only knows why, but because it’s controlled, disciplined…now he craves it. And means to take it from you.

Marco, that’s not—

Yes, Tess, it most definitely is possible. You’re unmated. I gave you the gift, yet you’re still wide open.

More silence followed as Serena raised her weapon to shoulder height again, studying the ground ahead of them.

I’m sorry for what I’ve made you, for how I changed you, Tess. If not for me…

She finished his words without hesitation. I’d be lost, Marco. Completely lost.

Serena rose silently, cautioning the squad with her hand to remain where they were. Yet Tess felt each of them tense, readying to make their entrance into the warehouse.

Shh…no more, sweetheart, she whispered. Lead us in…we’re coming. Either way, we come now.

I don’t know where Khivar is…I feel him here still, but I don’t know…

Lead us to you first then, Tess coached gently.

Tess sensed Marco’s internal debate, how he warred with his emotions for a moment, then softly he spoke within her mind, his voice so deep and familiar.

You’re on the backside, along the tracks?

She didn’t question how he knew, simply understood that he did. Yes, by that rear door. We’ve just taken out two of their men.

The duty guards, Marco agreed quietly. Then enter that door, and follow the corridor almost to the end. I am there…second door from the last on the right. I am there.

Tess lunged forward, tugging on Serena’s jacket sleeve. Serena dropped immediately to the ground, her scowl visible, even in the darkness. Tess mouthed Marco’s name silently and Serena shook her head in confusion, glancing quickly around them in concern. Tess pointed toward the door, then in the direction that she knew Marco had indicated and mouthed his name again. This time, Serena blinked quickly in comprehension, her gaze darting wildly around the darkened compound as she calculated how to proceed.

Finally, Serena rose to her feet and waved the rest of them onward, as she began to move stealthily toward the backdoor of the warehouse.



Marco had begun shaking uncontrollably from the moment Tess’s energy started its erratic motion across his skin. Between his weakened physical state and his exposure to the frigid warehouse temperatures, he wasn’t strong enough for such an alien tempest. Yet even in the midst of battle, such tender intimacy had been a stolen pleasure, as he’d lost himself in the sensation of her spiraling electricity. She’d careened crazily inside of him, all light and color, and moved over his body like the Aurora Borealis.

How he’d yearned to remain like that, just savoring the scent of her, the taste of her…he could have ignored the war, tonight’s battle, and lingered in that place forever.

But warfare aside, his body was far too weakened and now he wrestled to breathe, his entire frame quaking from the intense explosion of alien power that Tess had inadvertently unleashed within him.

He was grateful that she’d never know the affect her power had wrought within his body, as he softly guided her toward him, down the halls, through the dark caverns of their enemy’s lair. And he prayed that the squad’s approach would go undetected, even as he felt their movement toward him.

Tess, where are you now? He asked, feeling restless and disconcerted about their approach.

Next hallway…probably twenty feet away. Clear so far.

Marco exhaled softly, but his relief was short-lived, interrupted by a sudden rattling sound at his cell door, as it clanked open loudly. Nicholas entered, flanked by Nathan and then Khivar. An outside guard immediately closed the cell door behind them.

Khivar folded his arms across his chest, and studied Marco quietly for a moment. He tilted his chin upward, sniffing the air a bit, and then he stared down at Marco again.

"What sense you, Protector?" he asked coolly. "In the air around us…the energy?"

Marco dropped his gaze, the tremors shaking his body even more violently than before. "No-nothing. There is nothing."

Khivar knelt low beside him. "Look at me, Protector."

Marco yearned to resist and closed his eyes, shutting out every sensation that accompanied Khivar’s vacuous presence. "Look at me!" Khivar commanded again, and Marco felt Tess’s energy escalate low in his abdomen.

Marco? Marco, what’s happening? I feel something changing with you. Her voice was urgent, yet filled with love, as Marco slowly turned his head to meet his captor’s icy blue eyes.

"I asked what you sense," Khivar explained with feigned patience, tossing his shoulder-length mane of blonde hair.

"And I sense nothing." Marco replied flatly.

Marco? Tess cried, her energy gyrating frantically within him. Tell me what’s happening?

Marco’s gaze never wavered from his foe. In my cell…Khivar…if you come now, the unit, you can kill him. Now, Tess!

Marco’s body quaked hopelessly with tremors, yet he remained perfectly collected within his warrior spirit. This was the moment they’d waited for, and they held Khivar within their crosshairs, ready for destruction.

There was an answering jumble of emotions and words from Tess’s end, nearly unintelligible. Marco had no choice but to ease away from her momentarily, as Khivar continued studying him with measured coolness.

"Then I shall mind rape you again," he smiled. "Otherwise I cannot know how your Empathy guides you."

Marco swallowed hard, as suddenly Khivar planted a chilling palm across his chest. "Ah, your heart betrays you, Protector. It beats like a mad man."

"I do not relish being raped."

"Mind raped," Khivar corrected, centering his palm a bit more squarely over Marco’s chest.

"Not a distinction I care to make," Marco rasped, feeling his breath hitch painfully. There was a lurch in his near-bond with Tess and he felt her grasping for him urgently. His eyes fluttered shut and he released her, allowed their bond to grow instantly cold, his only choice in protecting her from what Khivar obviously planned within his mind.

"It hardly matters," Khivar whispered, cupping Marco’s face within his palm. "And you matter even less."



Tess pressed her eyes tightly shut, ready to fulfill her part of the mission, as she sustained an image within her mind—the hallway, empty and quiet, dark as it currently was. It was a simple illusion, the kind she could manipulate and maintain for quite a while if necessary—much less demanding than projecting individuals or action. Yet, as she felt the other squad members move past her like a waft of air, fear began choking her heart, especially without her tenuous connection to Marco.

She’d understood immediately, that he was laid bare to the enemy and had no other choice than to break off their bond. But it hadn’t kept her from feeling him, just beyond her physical reach.

They were doing something to him. Again. And while it took every bit of Tess’s willpower, she focused her energy away from him, because otherwise the mindwarp would falter. And right now, what he needed most was the covering her warp would provide as the recon unit raided his cell.

What if he’s killed? What if he’s shot in the crossfire…he’s bound, unable to move…

The voices taunted her, rising up in her consciousness uncontrollably, and she determined to silence them. She stood perfectly still against the corridor wall, feeling someone move past her, yet refused to look, even though she sensed an enemy presence. Her only focus could be the warp, the projected image of the hallway as her team made their way to him.

She heard shouts, gunfire…muffled cries.

And her eyes flew open, right as Anna slid on the floor outside of Marco’s cell, her M-16 raised as she moved in slow motion. Two of Nicholas’s men advanced on her, weapons raised and Tess took off running…saw the door to Marco’s cell careen open, slamming against the wall.

What had happened? She’d kept the warp in place, so how could their enemies have possibly observed their approach?

Tess tried to maintain the warp, at least cloaking herself as she ran toward the end of the hallway, where the gunfire was suddenly being exchanged. Everything was exploding so quickly, she had difficulty grasping what had gone wrong, despite how her mind clicked through the relevant details. When Marco had warned her only moments before, Khivar was entering his cell. With that knowledge, the unit had immediately advanced under the cover of her mindwarp, and now they were being fired upon just this quickly.

Nicholas came running into the hall, throwing up a shield with his hand, as Anna raised her weapon. Michael…where was Michael? Tess wondered breathlessly, falling on her knees as she drew her K-12. She saw another skin approaching from a different hallway, and fired off two rounds before he glimpsed her. He immediately collapsed to the ground, lifeless.

Tess jumped to her feet and took off running toward Marco’s cell, and heard more gunfire from that end of the hallway. She managed to conceal herself around the corner of an adjoining corridor, dropping low to the ground. She drew in burning draughts of air, and tried to formulate some kind of plan, a mindwarp that would protect them. Anything at all.

She caught sight of Michael inside a doorway across the hall, hunkered low against the frame. No sooner had she located him visually, than she saw that one of the skins was about to ambush him from behind. Without hesitation, Tess raised her weapon, immediately firing over Michael’s head and taking the skin down.

Michael nodded in quick appreciation, and then suddenly his eyes widened as his gaze moved behind her.

Tess was about to spin on her heel, but a pair of strong arms suddenly clasped her around the chest, lifting her straight off the ground. She kicked wildly, struggling to fight against her unseen opponent, as she was pulled backward from the battle. Whoever restrained her was a giant of a man, with arms that held her in a deathly vice.

"Still!" Her attacker commanded in an unfamiliar voice. She wrestled with her foot, trying to plant a swift kick in the man’s groin, but was unable to raise her boot high enough. She thrust her feet frantically within the air, never making contact with so much as his knee or leg, and she couldn’t turn her head to see him because of how he’d pinned her against his chest.

A small door flew open to another cell, dark and vacant—obviously her captor had utilized his powers because she never saw anyone else open the door. She was thrust roughly inside, and tossed hard on the cement floor, where she landed on her hands and knees. She couldn’t help the soft cry that escaped her lips as she rolled onto her back, feeling a strong force pin her to the floor.

"Wh-what?" she managed to cry, staring into the surrounding blackness of the frigid cell.

The door remained open, spilling dim light across the floor, and yet she saw no one.

Despite feeling her captor’s heel planted squarely against her abdomen, there was only a rippling energy, the sensation of a presence before her.

"Ayanna D’Ashani," the male voice shimmered in the air around her, seemingly from nowhere at all. "At last we meet again, my lady."