Part 20 (1/2)

”They didn't discuss details. It was apparent they had spoken about me before.”

Lucius rubbed his neck, his expression darkening. ”I don't like this.”

”Like what? This is what we've been waiting for.”

”I don't like the plan. Letting them take you.”

”Why the h.e.l.l not? It's a good plan. And right now it's the only way to save the other slaves EenLi has taken. It's the only way to find out how he's using solar flares as portals.”

”You could get hurt.”

I rolled my eyes. ”Aren't you the man who told me he'd kill me if I got in his way? Aren't you the man who cares about no one and nothing?”

”That was before,” he mumbled, looking away from me.

I knew the feeling. I shouldn't have had s.e.x with him the first time, and d.a.m.n well shouldn't have again. But I had, and there was no going back. I couldn't pretend to dislike him anymore. I liked him. Too much.

”d.a.m.n it.” He jumped to his feet. ”We should never have gotten involved, because I can't stop worrying about you. I won't return here,” he said. ”It's too dangerous.” He reached inside his pants pocket and withdrew a small syringe. Sparkling red liquid swirled inside. He handed it to me. ”We don't know when they'll strike, and I can't be with you when they do.”

”Is this the isotope?”

”Yes. Inject it into your leg. I'd do it, but...”

He didn't want to hurt me. I tried not to soften toward him yet another degree. I wrapped my fingers around the vial, jabbed the needle into my thigh-suppressing a wince at the sharp sting-and pushed. Burning warmth spread from my leg, branching throughout the rest of me. I glared up at Lucius as I shoved the empty syringe into his palm. ”Done.”

”Thank you.”

I dropped my head in my hands. ”This has all happened much faster than I imagined,” I said, and we both knew I meant more than the case. I didn't know how to deal with Lucius right now, though. With us.

”Too fast?” He chuckled, but the sound lacked any hint of humor. ”Maybe. But from now on, we think about the case. Nothing else. Your life could depend on it.”

Chapter.

19.

Two days pa.s.sed without a single abduction attempt. Two angst-filled days.

I spent them accompanying the amba.s.sador on her rounds, translating idle chatter and more in-depth conversations about discrimination, while projecting a carefree facade. I'd seen Lucius only once, at a party hosted by one of the amba.s.sador's friends of a friend. He'd remained a safe distance from me but had watched me the whole evening.

His gaze had been a living ent.i.ty, reminding me of the way he'd kissed and caressed me, the way he'd brought me to climax so many times. I'd forced myself to ignore him, to think only of the case.

The following day, I received another message from Colin and used the cell unit Lucius brought me to read it to him. The conversation was short and sweet.

”I have a friend working on solar flares, and he told me he's begun experimenting with small, inanimate objects to find out just what type of magnetic device would be most conducive to molecular transference within a solar flare. So far he's had no luck.”

His frustration crackled over the line. ”I was hoping for more by now.”

”I know. But he did mention that a small, molecule-based magnet would work best. It offers photomodulated magnetization, can store data, and offers magnetic s.h.i.+elding and induction. And, unlike metal-based magnets, it can be deposited as a thin, transparent film or even inserted within another object.”

”Yeah, but can something so small generate enough power to transport a body astronomically?”

”I'll ask.”

”Let me know if you learn anything else.”

And that was it, the end of our conversation.

I disconnected and lay in bed, moonlight bathing me. Agent Luc was already asleep in the bathroom. I didn't want to take a chance that she'd be hurt when I was taken.When would I be taken? I hated waiting.

A cricket hummed a lazy tune, and a cool, dew-scented breeze wafted through the open windows. I was making it easy for my abductors. I was also prepared. I wore silver sleep pants and a clinging silver top. They allowed easy movement, but were difficult to pull off. Of course, I had two knives strapped to me-one at the small of my back, the other on the inside of my thigh. My hair clips were too aberrant for bed, as was the anklet. Part of me expected Lucius to arrive at any moment, but he stayed true to his word and didn't visit.

I glared up at the domed ceiling. Men! Who understood them? Not me, certainly. Well, that's not true. I'd once thought I understood them. They needed s.e.x, food, and water to survive, and their every action hinged on whichever need took prominence. Lucius was...different.

He worked hard, kept his mind on the prize. He did what was necessary for success, despite his own needs and wants. I respected that. I respectedhim. He was the best agent I'd ever come across. A partner I hadn't wanted, but couldn't deny had been the best thing to happen to this case.

Had I not been so lost in my thoughts, I never would have been caught so unaware. A hand whipped out from the darkness and pinched my nose closed. Panic rocked me at first, and I instinctively grasped at the hand to push it away. I even opened my mouth to suck in a breath. The man, whoever he was, dumped a tart liquid down my throat the moment I parted my lips. I tried to spit it out, but he smothered both my nose and mouth, forcing me to swallow.

”There you go,” he said, his voice low and soothing. I didn't recognize his voice. ”Sleep now,” he added gently. ”We won't hurt you.”

Finally, EenLi's men had arrived.

I almost laughed through my fading panic. ”What did you give me? Poison?” I demanded of my attacker, as any sane woman would. I kicked at him and, like a scared little female, scooted toward the headboard.

A black mask concealed his features, but he couldn't hide the strength and size of his frame. Only slighter shorter than Lucius, he filled out his black military fatigues menacingly. ”I gave you an opiate to help you sleep,” he said. ”We don't want to kill you, I promise.”

That showed exactly what he knew about Rakas. Not a d.a.m.n thing. I was impervious to opiates and most other human drugs. He would have had better luck with a nice aged Scotch or rich brandy.

”I'll scream,” I said, making my words slur.

He chuckled. ”Screaming won't matter, little girl. We drugged everyone else inside the house, too. They're sleeping the night away.”

”You...b.a.s.t.a.r.d.” I pretended relaxation, however, and after a few seconds, gave a grade A performance of falling unconscious. Contrary to what Lucius said, my acting didnot suck, thank you very much.

EenLi's men agreed with me. ”That was easy,” one of them said.

If the man decided to rape me, I'd have a miraculous awakening, however, and show them just how sweet I could be. There were some things I wouldnot do for my job.

Shockingly, he softly kissed my forehead, a gentle, innocent pressing of lips against skin. Perhaps I shouldn't have been surprised. After all, Jonathan had made it very clear I wasn't to be harmed in any way. EenLi had probably sent his sweetest abductors.

What a lovely oxymoron.

”Look at this gold,” he whispered.

”Pretty,” another man said, awed. I didn't recognize his voice, either. ”Do you know how much money we'd make selling her skin?”