 
# Praise for Nightfall

> _Nightfall_ is a hot, spicy read featuring a threesome, plenty of intrigue and cool fights. If you enjoy a little adventure and action in your romance, this is the one for you.
> 
> Author Shelly Munro, at _Adventure into Romance_

> The story in _Nightfall_ was great.... If you are into erotic ménage sci-fi romance then this is for you.
> 
> _For The Love of Reading_

> [T]he author skillfully navigates what could become a love triangle in which two characters compete. As the story gets deeper, so do the intimate encounters. Bachar creates solidarity and trust within the ménage à trois while also including exciting moments of intergalactic warfare.
> 
> _RT Book Reviews_

# Nightfall

## Cy'ren Rising Book 1

## Robyn Bachar

# Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Epilogue

About the Author

Acknowledgments

Other titles by Robyn Bachar

# Chapter One

"Help me, please!"

The cry shattered the quiet of Talena's workroom. She fumbled with the delicate gold wire she had been wrapping around the stem of the rose and knocked the entire sculpture onto the floor. It shattered into several pieces and delicate metal shards crunched beneath the soles of her shoes as she hurried toward the speaker. He nearly crushed her as he fell through the doorway. Talena fumbled to catch him but he slumped to the ground.

"Sir? Are you hurt?" she asked. Her voice was high and thin, but she fought to remain calm. Passengers sometimes celebrated a bit too much on their cruise and stumbled into her shop, though it seemed extreme to be drunk before the ship even left port. Perhaps he was the sort who hated space travel, and was drunk long before he arrived on Aquantia.

Talena knelt next to him and rolled him onto his back. The stench of blood assaulted her, and she recoiled at the sight of his indigo skin—a male Cy'ren. Red eyes stared back at her, glazed with pain, as Talena peered at the lean lines of his face. Shoulder-length black hair—rare for a Cy'ren, who tended toward shades of white and silver—framed a face she didn't recognize. She made a point to know all of the males who served aboard the ship, so she could avoid them. She had to, in her condition. Talena hadn't been alone with a male in the long months since the phase started.

"Help me," he repeated, his voice strained.

"Are you hurt?" she asked. Despite the scent, she didn't see any blood or obvious wounds. The injury must be concealed beneath his long black coat. "I'll call the medical bay—"

"No."

He hissed with pain as he reached into his coat, and Talena pulled the garment aside to get a better look. Her pulse jumped and she snatched her hand away as she spotted a concealed shoulder holster and laser pistol. She tore her attention from the weapon and focused on the dark stain spreading from a wound torn in his side, matting the fabric to his skin. Talena swore under her breath. He'd lost a great deal of blood. No wonder he collapsed.

"I'm calling the med bay."

"No." Snatching her forearm, he stopped her from getting to her feet. "No doctors. No feds."

"You're a runner?" Talena asked, and he nodded. She swore again, louder this time. He was an escaped slave. Talena was fortunate to have been freed as a child, and she was well aware of the penalties for aiding a runner. "Had to pick my shop, didn't you?" she muttered.

"Sorry." He cracked a weak smile in apology. "Please, help me. I have important data. I need to get it off this ship."

For a moment she considered listening to the practical voice in her head that instructed her to call ship security and let them cart the male away. It was sensible...but she couldn't hand one of her own people over to the slavers. There were enough Cy'ren all too willing to do so. If she hadn't been rescued by her adopted father, she could well be in his position. Owner's marks marched in a column of black ink down the left side of his throat and disappeared beneath his shirt. She didn't think it possible for one Cy'ren to have been bought and sold so many times. How awful...

"I have a med kit. I'll get it," she said. "But I need to lock the front doors first. I'll be right back."

"Thank you." He nodded again and let go of her arm.

Talena rose and hurried into the salesroom of her shop. Stylized metallic birds and flowers glinted on their display pedestals like little clockwork gardens. The room was empty at this hour with the majority of the passengers enjoying their evening meal in the restaurants of the ship's dining quarter. Talena's business was always light at the beginning of a cruise, because passengers tended to wait until the last minute to pick up one of her pieces as a souvenir of their trip. At the moment the _Trident_ was still docked at Nathanis Station, receiving the last of her passengers and supplies before leaving to cruise the nearby coral reefs. Aquantia was famous for its spectacular reefs.

Pausing by the double doors, she peered out into the courtyard. Sunlight filtered through the seawater covering the enormous domed viewport above, sending ribbons of light dancing about. A few passengers milled nearby, but no one seemed alarmed or suspicious. Perhaps the male hadn't been followed—but if he was a runner, someone would be looking to reclaim him. Talena's hand trembled as she punched in the security code on the access panel next to the doors. The locks engaged, and the glass in the doors and the display window frosted over and became opaque, signifying that the store was closed.

Taking a deep breath, she clenched her hands to stop the shaking. It wasn't fear but the flood of phase hormones that shivered through her. Her heart pounded like the frantic beat blasted at one of the ship's dance clubs. Talena had spent the past few months avoiding male Cy'ren, and now one had fallen into her workshop. If she didn't fight the urges, the phase would overwhelm her, demanding that she take the male as her mate, no matter how inappropriate the situation was. With another calming breath Talena squared her shoulders and steeled her resolve. She'd resisted for months, a few more moments could be managed. Besides, the last thing she wanted was to take on a runner as a mate—to take on any mate for that matter.

When she returned to the workroom, she shut the door behind her, and then grabbed a med kit from a storage cabinet. "What did this?" she asked.

He grimaced. "Got shot."

"I'm really not equipped to deal with a laser wound."

"It's fine. Just a graze."

Talena frowned as she examined the injury. She had fired a pistol before, but only during practice at a shooting range. "If this is a graze, I'd hate to see what a full-on wound is like."

"Wouldn't have made it this far."

"I don't doubt it."

A horizontal slash cut through the flesh above his right hip. The edges of the wound were burned and blackened, as was the cloth of his shirt, and she thought she spotted a hole burned through the back of his black coat. Blood oozed from the center, dark and sluggish. Cy'ren were fast healers, and judging from the amount of blood staining his clothes, the injury had been worse at first.

"This might need sutures, and I don't have any," she warned him.

"I heal too fast for sutures. Bandage is fine."

She rolled her eyes—males were too stubborn for their own good. Opening the kit, she removed a bottle of antibiotic spray.

"Painkillers?" he asked, raising a brow.

"No. I thought this was only a graze?" Talena replied. The male snorted a pained laugh. She shook the bottle once and sprayed a fine mist over the wound, cleaning it.

"I'm Dack. What's your name?" he asked.

She paused before answering, but she supposed it couldn't hurt. "Talena."

"What's your full name?"

Talena scowled down at him. "None of your business. You should still see a medic when—where are you going to go? You can't stay here," she said, slightly horrified at the idea.

"I have a ship."

"Oh, good." She would patch him up, send him off to his ship, clean up her workshop, and never think on it again. The sooner she was rid of him, the better. Thankfully his attention was on his injuries, the scarf around her neck hid her lack of mating marks, and the stench of blood might drown out the phase pheromones. For now. Males always noticed the scent. It was why she kept as far away from the other Cy'ren on the ship as possible.

Talena concentrated on her task, ignoring the weight of Dack's red gaze upon her as she worked, his blood dark against her lavender skin. She cleaned the wound and the skin around the edges to give the pressure bandage a chance to form a proper seal.

The store's door chime sounded as Talena finished sealing the bandage, and she jumped.

"Don't answer it," Dack ordered. He struggled to prop himself up, looking as though he intended to get to his feet, and she placed a hand against his chest. Something low in her belly clenched at the contact, and she swallowed past a sudden tightness in her throat.

"Be still. The bandage needs proper time to bond to your skin, or you'll tear it."

The chime sounded again, and Talena sighed. "It's probably only a customer. I can chase them off." She closed the med kit and began to stand, but he caught her arm again and held her in place. "You think I'm going to turn you in?" she asked indignantly.

"Are you?"

"If I was going to, I wouldn't have helped you at all. Now let go." Dack's grip loosened, and she tugged her arm away. "That's better," she said. "Stay here."

The door chimed again as Talena hurried to the workroom's sink and quickly washed the blood from her hands. She tossed the stained apron over the back of her chair and closed the door behind her. Talena paused at the front counter and picked up her data board, hugging it to her chest like a shield. She unlocked the doors and pasted an expression of polite interest on her face as she opened it.

A human male stood on the other side, radiating displeasure. Though her stomach sank, she decided to play it safe.

"Are you here for Lady Azure's order?" she asked. "I'm afraid it won't be ready for a few days." The woman was a repeat customer who had sent her servant to order two dozen of Talena's signature clockwork rose sculptures as soon as she'd come aboard.

"No. I'm looking for someone." His voice was a low, surly growl, and she suppressed a shudder.

"Are they interested in my art? I can reopen if you wish. I'm always happy to meet with new potential buyers."

"No." The man scowled. He was unattractive, even by human standards, and a long, jagged scar ran from his hairline down the side of his face to his jaw. Squinting, he peered past her into the shop, and Talena froze as icy fear raced through her veins. Were there any damning signs of Dack's presence? A trail of blood, perhaps? Had he knocked over any of her displays?

"The ship's computer is able to locate registered passengers. If you speak with security, I'm sure they can help you find whoever you're looking for," Talena suggested.

"I'm tracking a Cy'ren runner."

She hugged the data board tighter. "My paperwork is all in order, sir. It's readily available through the ship's crew database. I have no current slave marks." To prove her point she tugged aside the bright paisley scarf around her neck, revealing only one brand marring her throat. Talena had been born a slave, and she would always bear the crest of her former owner inked into her skin.

The man snorted. "A male Cy'ren runner."

"I don't associate with males. They're not trustworthy." Talena stood straighter, doing her best to appear aloof instead of afraid.

"At least we're agreed on that." He glared past her again, but then took a step back. "If you encounter any suspicious Cy'ren, call security immediately and tell them to alert Jack Malenson. That's me. And don't try to stop the runner yourself. He's armed and dangerous."

"Of course." Talena nodded dutifully, though she assumed humans found most Cy'ren worthy of suspicion.

Malenson left without another word, and relief flooded Talena as she locked the shop again. When she returned to the workroom, she frowned at the empty, blood-smeared spot on the floor where Dack had been. The whine of a pistol being held to her head made her jump, and the data board clattered to the floor as she held her hands up.

"Who was it?" he asked.

"He said his name was Jack Malenson."

Dack cursed, and Talena flinched. She glanced in his direction. One hand held the gun, and the other supported him as he leaned against the wall. He looked pained, and she didn't feel sorry for him.

"Is that bad?" she asked.

"He works for the Eppes."

"Who?" she asked, morbidly curious.

"One of the biggest slaver groups. Did you say anything about me?"

"No," Talena replied. "I think the fact that you're not dead or in restraints at the moment should support that. Though I'm beginning to regret my decision if this is your idea of gratitude."

"I'm not at my best today. Thank you." Dack lowered his pistol and holstered it. "What'd he say?"

"He was looking for a runner. I said I hadn't seen one. Now, if you're well enough to threaten me, you must be well enough to leave."

"There a back door to this place?"

"Yes. It accesses the crew corridors, but you can't use those. You don't have authorization."

Dack snorted, smirking. "I don't need authorization."

"The doors won't open without it," she countered. "The bioscanners require an authorized user's palm. It scans the veins or bloodflow, something like that. You'll have to use the front door." Talena turned and pointed toward the storefront. "Please leave."

"Do you have authorization?" He tilted his head to the side as he regarded her, and Talena scowled.

"Yes. But I can't help you. I've already done too much." Talena folded her arms across her chest. A trickle of sweat slipped between her shoulder blades and trailed down her back, her skin flushed as though burned by a fever, but it wasn't due to sickness or faulty temperature controls. She prayed he didn't notice.

"I go out those doors and I'll be caught for sure. Do you know what they'll do to me?"

She flinched, her resolve faltering as she glanced away. "Well...you should have thought of that before you ran. Do you know what they'll do to me if I'm caught aiding you?"

"Then come with me."

"With you? Where?"

"Anywhere," he replied. "The galaxy's a big place." Dack grinned, and for a moment—a short moment—she found the expression charming and the offer tempting. It would be such a great relief to give in, to let her body have its way and let her mind rest. He was handsome...must be the pheromones, she mused. It was a bad sign, for if they were affecting her, they were likely affecting him as well. She needed to be rid of him soon.

"I can get you to your ship, but that's all." Talena sighed, feeling like an idiot for agreeing to help him. At least she was an idiot with a clear conscience.

Dack motioned toward the back of the workshop. "Lead on."

"Fine. This way," she directed.

Standing next to the store's rear door, she punched in the access code and it slid open. Much to her relief, the authorities were not waiting on the other side, and the corridor was empty. The docking area was several decks beneath them. Usually she only traveled between her cabin and the shop, with occasional trips to the crew mess hall when she felt a desire for company and conversation. Talena was the sole free female Cy'ren on the _Trident_. The human crew avoided her, and she didn't have much contact with her own kind. With any luck, this would be her last contact with a male for a very long time, or at least until her phase wore off. It had to end at some point.

The crew corridors were narrow, and Dack followed close behind her. Too close, in her opinion. When they reached the first security door, she pressed her palm against the reader. Her heart raced as the scanner glowed—what if Malenson had suspected her of aiding Dack? Would the door stay locked and trap them? After an agonizing moment the light blinked green and the door whooshed open.

"Nice and easy," Dack commented, his voice low.

"What would you have done if I didn't agree to help you?" she asked.

"Gone out the front door. Probably killed a few security people if they got between me and my ship."

Talena flinched. He seemed so casual about the idea, she wondered if he had killed many people, and she fought back the urge to ask.

They hurried through the corridors and down to the docking deck. Crew members passed them, but due to the busy dinner hour most were too wrapped up in their own concerns to notice anyone else. Talena's palms grew slick with sweat—either from fear or pheromones, probably both—and she furtively wiped them against the skirt of her work dress. Dack exuded an aura of calm, looking as though nothing was out of the ordinary. He moved without pain, and that was impressive, for the wound in his side must be agonizing.

When they reached the docking level, Talena hesitated at the door leading into the terminal. "This is as far as I can take you."

"Come with me." Dack placed a hand on her shoulder, and she shied away as though the contact burned.

_Tempting, far too tempting_. She licked her lips as she resisted the sudden desire to kiss him, stepped back and bumped into the wall behind her. "No. I'm happy here. At least I was, until you showed up. Now go."

"Don't you want to be free?"

Talena frowned. He thought she was still a slave? "But I—" she began, but was interrupted by the flare of a laser bolt exploding near them.

"The door," Dack shouted as he drew his weapon and returned fire.

Talena slapped her palm against the scanner as a volley of bolts hit the walls around them. The door opened and Dack grabbed her arm and hauled her with him as he charged through it. More shots followed as they rushed into the arrival area, and crew and passengers scattered. The door shut and Dack blasted the scanner, jamming the lock and keeping the security team from following.

They hurried on into the terminal and more shots zinged their way, this time from ahead of them. Dack skidded to a halt next to an arrival counter and ducked behind it, pulling Talena down with him.

"Let go of me," she demanded.

Dack peered around the corner of the counter and jerked back as a bolt scored the floor near him. "Malenson's between us and my ship."

"That's your problem. Let go!"

"I can't leave you here. They'll arrest you."

"You put a gun to my head. I think they'll understand."

The computer screen on the counter above them exploded, raining pieces of plastic over them. Dack grimaced. "The Eppes aren't real understanding."

Panic gripped Talena, and she struggled to breathe past the fear. He could be right—she didn't know about this mysterious Eppes group, but the authorities might not care if she was coerced. She'd helped a runner, and now she was as guilty as he was.

"Stay behind me. I'll clear the path, you get the door. Ready?" he asked.

_No,_ she thought, but she nodded. Better to get it over with before she fainted from terror.

Dack fired over the counter, and then he charged forward. Talena hurried to keep up, but slowed when they neared Malenson. Dack knocked the man's weapon aside and punched him in the jaw, and Talena turned to the airlock door and hit the release. The door opened, and Dack hustled her inside.

The ship was small, probably nothing more than a short-range shuttle, and she followed him to the two front seats in the cockpit.

"Strap in," he ordered.

Talena fumbled with the harness as Dack flipped switches and punched buttons. Lights blinked to life around them, and the engines hummed in response. The ship jerked as it separated from the _Trident_ , and Talena stared out the viewport as the water slipped away and they climbed into the open air. She hadn't been off the _Trident_ in two years, and she had almost forgotten what it was like to be above the water. The clear sky gave way to the blackness of space, and one of Aquantia's moons slowly loomed ahead of them as the ship approached it.

"We're going to land here and wait for pickup," Dack explained. How could he be so calm when Talena's heart was racing? "I'm ahead of schedule, so we have a few hours yet. Are you hurt?"

He touched her shoulder and she jumped. "Don't," she snapped.

"Is that a yes or a no?"

"I'm not hurt. Just don't touch me."

"Sorry."

He sounded sincere, and she almost regretted her tone. But a few hours together in this tiny shuttle...a fresh wave of lust washed over her, searing its way through her body. She shook her head and rubbed her eyes. Helping him was going to cost Talena her freedom in more ways than one.

She kept her eyes shut until the ship shuddered as it touched down on the moon's rocky surface. Then she unlatched her harness and retreated to the other end of the shuttle, putting a scant few feet between herself and Dack.

"It's all right. I'm not going to hurt you, I promise. I'm in your debt," Dack assured her. "The entire resistance is in your debt." He held his hands up as though to show his good intentions, and she shook her head.

Talena fidgeted with the sleeves of her dress to keep her hands busy, because the urge to touch him made her fingers twitch. Need bubbled up from within her as though her blood boiled. Since the start of the phase she lived with the constant burn of desire simmering beneath the surface. Some days she visited the _Trident's_ clubs in search of a human lover to take the edge off, but it was only a temporary relief.

"You should have left me there. It is—was—my home. I could have convinced them that I was innocent. Captain Rutherford would've believed me."

"No, they wouldn't," Dack argued. "They never believe us. A Cy'ren's word is worth nothing in the Syndicate systems."

"That's not true."

"It is. You just haven't lived free."

"But I am free! Or I was. Now I'm a criminal." Talena held her head in her hands as tears welled in her eyes. She hated crying. It never solved anything, and it wouldn't help now.

"You're...you're not a slave?"

"I was freed when I was six years old. The ship I was on strayed into Alliance territory, and an Alliance cruiser caught it and liberated everyone aboard," she explained.

"Then why the scarf? Why hide your marks?" Dack sounded bewildered, and she stole a glance at him. His expression was horrified. Knowing she couldn't avoid it anymore, she tugged the scarf off and turned toward him. The left side of her throat bore her slave mark, but the right side—which should have displayed the marks of her ancestry, her house, and her mate's marks—was blank.

"Because I'm unmated, and I want to stay that way," she said.

"I understand. I'm not in the market for a mate."

"It won't matter. I'm in phase," she admitted, her voice little more than a whisper.

Dack's red eyes widened, and then he cursed.

# Chapter Two

Dack assumed it was luck that had turned his attention to Talena's shop. Instead the subtle perfume of her pheromones must have drawn him there, like an invisible hook pulling him along through the corridors of the ship. He hadn't noticed her scent before, distracted by pain and the stench of his own blood and singed flesh, but now it was clear. Warm and intoxicating, the effect wove through his body like the glow of a strong brandy.

Damn.

Talena's golden eyes watched him warily, and her hesitation quieted some of the desire stirring in his veins, buying them time to talk. He thought he'd been rescuing a reluctant slave. He'd freed countless Cy'ren, and sometimes they were afraid of freedom at first, because they'd never known another life. Guilt flooded Dack at the realization that he'd kidnapped a free female, bringing her ruin instead of rescue.

As the initial shock passed, he wondered why she had no familial marks. After a few generations many slaves no longer knew their houses, but they usually had a mark bearing a parent's name. "You have no house?" he asked.

"Not that I know of. I was separated from my family, and the ship I was on erased all their records when they were boarded."

"What's your full name?"

She bowed her head, and stray locks of her hair fell into her face. "I don't know my Cy'ren name, if I had one. I don't remember anything of my life before I was rescued. The doctors said it has something to do with trauma."

His heart sank. Poor girl. "My name is Mordackai Loren, shadow sword of House Nightfall."

Talena nodded, but he didn't see any recognition in her expression. Being freed at such a young age, she might not know anything of their people. At least she would gain a house by becoming his mate. Dack sighed—he'd gone out of his way to avoid taking another mate after he lost Kira. It appeared fate had other plans.

"How long until your ship arrives?" she asked.

He glanced at the chronometer. "Four hours and ten minutes. If they aren't delayed." She flinched at the number, and he grimaced. He couldn't avoid her for more than an hour, not in this small, enclosed space. Dack already felt an insistent need elbowing its way past the pain of his wound and the adrenaline of the gunfight. "I'm sorry, Talena. I won't hurt you, I promise."

She laughed, high and nervous. "You kidnapped me."

"With good intentions."

"Well, your good intentions have ruined my life. I was perfectly happy. I owned my own business. I had an offer to show my work in a gallery on an Alliance world. Now all I have left is this dress." Talena glanced down at herself. "I don't even like these shoes."

"I swear I will repay every credit you've lost. I'll make sure you're set up in a new business on a safe world."

Talena peered up at him through her pale lashes and his pulse raced. "How can you promise that? You're a runner."

Dack smiled grimly. She really must not know anything about Cy'ren society. "I'm much more than that. You can trust me."

"Cy'ren can't be trusted," she said softly.

"Is that why you haven't chosen a mate?" She looked away, and he knew he was right. Dack shook his head—runners lived hard lives, and gave their people a bad reputation. With little or no education and nowhere to go, runners often became mercenaries, thieves, smugglers and worse.

"How long have you been in phase?" he asked.

"Seven months."

Dack suddenly felt very sorry for the other males aboard the _Trident_. They must have been going half mad with want of her from the constant scent of her in the air. The months couldn't have been easy for Talena, either. Females were also affected by the phase, as it dramatically increased their sex drive. "How did you deal with the...urges?" he asked, curious.

"Humans. It's easy, aboard a cruise ship. There are always men—or women—looking for company during their trip."

He twitched with a surge of jealousy and took a deep breath to calm himself, but it only made the situation worse as he inhaled. The pheromones created a heady sweetness with a musky edge, custom tailored to tempt any Cy'ren male who caught the scent. Heat prickled across his skin like the burn of a fever, and Dack glanced at the shuttle's temperature readout and saw it was normal. This sort of heat wouldn't register on the ship's instruments. He shrugged off his duster and tossed it on the empty seat next to him. The shoulder holster followed—he didn't want to appear threatening, and he didn't want her to make a grab for his pistol and try to shoot him. He rose and moved toward her.

"Don't," she warned. Talena shrank back into the corner, hugging her arms to her chest. "I don't want to be owned by anyone, even a mate."

Dack paused. "I know, and I'm sorry. I won't demand you do anything you don't want to. You're free to leave once we find a safe place for you."

"And I have your _word_ on that, I suppose?" she said, eyeing him skeptically.

"Yes. I won't demand that you stay with me if you want to leave."

Her shoulders slumped, and she nodded. It was as close to acceptance as he was likely to get. Dack inched closer and knelt beside her. A slight tremor ran through him as he ached to touch her, but he held his hands still at his sides. Dack's heart pounded and his hard sex strained against the fly of his pants, but he waited. Most males would take a female in phase without hesitation, but she'd resent him for it after the lust faded. Dack knew what it was to be owned, forced into an unwanted life by someone else, and he would be patient as long as possible.

Though judging by the shudder that ran through his body, his patience wouldn't last long at all.

"I didn't get a close look at your shop. You sell your own artwork?" he asked. His voice had dropped an octave, and he cleared his throat.

Talena blinked. She was still wary of him, but the change of subject eased some of the tension from her pinched shoulders. "I carried my own work, but I offered a variety of other items. Souvenirs, mostly. I'm not well-known enough to live on my own art alone."

"What kind of art?"

"Sculpture. Metalwork. I create organic things out of tech parts, like flowers out of wiring and birds out of gears and circuits. I like turning bits and pieces of broken machines into something new and beautiful." Her eyes lit up as she discussed her passion, and Dack smiled.

"How long have you been doing this?"

"Since I was old enough to daydream in class about art instead of biology." Her pale lavender skin darkened with a blush, and his breath caught. Gods, she was beautiful.

"I never went to school, but I daydreamed about spaceships when I was young." He raised a hand to touch her face, and she tensed. "May I?" he asked. "Please?"

Talena eyed him for a moment before nodding her assent. Dack brushed his fingers across her cheek, his skin tingling at the contact, and then trailed his hand to rest against the unmarked side of her neck. His jaw clenched as he uncoiled her soft white hair from the strict bun that held it, and it fell in thick waves down her back. He wanted to plunge his hands into that hair, pull her head back and claim her mouth, but she stared up at him with wide golden eyes. _Soon, but not yet._

Dack swallowed a growl of desire. "Why don't you like these shoes? They seem nice." He placed a hand atop said shoes, and then caressed her bare ankles. Her skin was soft and silken, and she shivered and gasped at his touch. Talena's gaze softened and her breath quickened as she shifted toward him slightly.

She licked her lips. "They're comfortable, but they're not pretty."

"I hadn't noticed. I'd rather look at your eyes than your shoes," he said. She blushed again, smiling shyly, and he leaned in to kiss her as he knelt at her side. Talena was so close that Dack could feel the warmth radiating from her body, but he stopped abruptly before his lips brushed hers. "May I?" he asked again. The words were ground out from behind gritted teeth, but he managed them.

"Yes," she whispered in reply.

He pounced, and her lips unraveled his control. He needed her naked—naked, beneath him, moaning as he thrust into her. Much to his surprise, she returned the kiss with equal hunger, and Dack drew her into his arms. The taste of her lips was as intoxicating as the sweet scent of her skin. His hands tangled in her unbound hair, holding Talena in place as he devoured her. Relentless, Dack kissed her until she opened for him, and he plunged his tongue into her mouth. Talena was sweet, soft and as eager to give as he was to take. When he reached for the zipper of her dress the sound of tearing fabric gave him a moment of pause, but then he yanked the zipper down and slipped his hand through the opening to rest against the small of her back.

Talena began unbuttoning his shirt, and when the last button was undone, she pulled away and looked down at his chest. "You're still wounded."

Dack blinked—he'd already forgotten about the wound. "I'll be fine."

Talena pushed the shirt from his shoulders and he shrugged it off. He moaned as she ran her hands over his chest, and she wrapped her arms around him as she crawled into his lap. He slipped her dress down until it bared her torso. Talena gasped as he cupped her breasts; they were a perfect handful. She whimpered, grinding her hips against him, and after caressing the dark peaks of her nipples for a few more moments, he laid her back against the deck of the shuttle. Dack slipped her dress, panties and shoes off, leaving her spread naked before him. She was beautiful—there wasn't a single scar or imperfection on her body. Whatever life she led after her rescue, it must have been an easy one.

Dack trailed kisses along her inner thigh and then glanced up her body, his last shred of control holding him back for one last question. "Talena?" he ground out. Gods help him, but he wouldn't be able to stop if she said no.

"Yes!"

With a hungry growl he lowered his mouth to her sex. Talena's hips bucked as he teased her with his tongue. There would be time to study her responses later, but now the urge to make her come consumed him. Dack nipped, licked and sucked until her back arched and she screamed from the pleasure. Even as he tasted her climax, he continued, pushing her further. Though his cock strained almost painfully, still confined by his clothes as he ached to fill her, he waited. Not yet. She was wet, but he wanted her fully aroused, dripping with need for him and begging him to take her.

Talena cried out again, and Dack growled and increased his attention, plunging two fingers into her and pumping them in and out.

"Yes," she gasped. " _More_."

Something dark and hungry uncurled in his chest as another growl rumbled from him. He could give her more—fueled by the phase, he would take her again and again until they collapsed.

Dack slipped a third finger inside her sex and she moaned. With a wicked grin he gazed up her body and watched her as she writhed and panted as he tormented her, fast and hard. She came again, screaming her approval, then again, before he finally drew away.

"Don't stop," she protested.

"I'm not," he assured her.

Her skin was flushed and her body trembled, and she watched him with an eager gaze as he stripped off the rest of his clothing. When he lowered his body to hers, he kissed her, letting her taste herself on his tongue.

The tip of his cock brushed the entrance of her sex, and she angled her hips toward him. "Please, Dack."

The _please_ fractured his control, and he thrust into her. For a heartbeat he closed his eyes and savored the sensation—she was heaven, hot, wet and tight. Then Talena threw her arms around him and they were lost to the raw need for each other. He pounded her. There was nothing gentle or tender about it, and her fingernails raked his back as she moaned in ecstasy.

He growled and nipped at the unmarked side of her neck. In sex or in battle, Cy'ren always went for the throat. It was the reason they inked their markings there. Dack sucked at her skin and grazed it with his teeth, drawing a small bit of blood—a taste was all he needed to indulge in the pleasurable effects of Cy'ren blood—and then he drew back and offered his throat to her. Talena bit him in return, and he groaned as pure pleasure rocketed through him. Dack devoured her mouth with another hungry kiss, and the shared blood mingled on their tongues, stronger than any aphrodisiac.

Talena cried out his name as she tightened around him, and the sensation overwhelmed him. He threw his head back as he came, and as the pleasure faded, the pain in his side returned, and he collapsed next to her. Dack rolled onto his back and Talena snuggled up to him, resting her head on his chest.

"Are you all right?" he asked. The fog of lust lifted for a bit as they recovered, long enough for them to catch their breath before the phase demanded the next round.

"Yes. You? That didn't aggravate your wound?" Talena propped herself up on one arm and looked down at the burn. For now it was still safely sealed beneath the bandage, and though it ached, the pain was bearable.

"It's fine. I've been hurt worse."

"You've been shot before?" she asked, her eyes widening in surprise.

"Few times."

"Because you're a runner?"

"Because I'm a shadow sword, and I work with the resistance," he replied. Her brow furrowed, and he brushed a stray lock of hair out of her face.

"I don't know what that means."

"How much do you know about our people?"

"Very little." Talena glanced away as though ashamed to admit it, and he rubbed her back.

"That's all right. I'll teach you. Have you ever been to our home world?" he asked, and she shook her head. "We'll go in a few weeks once your phase has ended. With a blood test we should be able to find out your ancestry, and your family can help get you back on your feet."

Talena sat up and frowned down at him. "It isn't over now?"

Dack frowned at her in return. "The phase? No."

"But I thought—shouldn't it be over? We mated."

"It's more complicated than that. Your doctor didn't explain it to you?"

"The ship's doctor is human, and he wasn't familiar with Cy'ren biology. I tried looking for information about the phase, but everything I found was...vague," she explained. "I kept hoping it would wear off."

His heart sank. "No. It gets stronger. If you had taken a mate soon after it began, it would've lasted a few days. After a few months...I've never heard of anyone holding out that long. How did you keep the males away?"

"Captain Rutherford is a friend of my father. He threatened to throw the crew's males into the brig and geld them if they laid a hand on me."

His brow rose in surprise. "Your father?" he questioned.

"My adoptive father," she corrected. "I was raised by a human family after I was freed. How long will this last?"

Dack winced. "I'm not sure. My best guess is a few weeks, or until..." he trailed off.

"Until when?"

"Until you conceive. Pregnancy is the point of the phase."

Her face fell and she looked away. Silence hung heavy between them, and he continued to touch her comfortingly while she struggled to process that information. He and Kira had become mates before she entered her first phase. They'd been prepared for it, and for the child that followed. Dack never expected he'd lose them both...

He vowed to take better care of Talena, and to keep her safe and happy no matter what the cost. Even if it meant letting her go.

"What happens now?" Talena asked.

Dack rolled her beneath him and kissed her. "Now we continue getting to know each other until the _Talon_ arrives to pick us up."

# Chapter Three

Talena fidgeted as she stared out the shuttle's viewport at the approaching ship. Worries buzzed through her thoughts like the complaints of irritated customers, but there was nothing she could do about any of them at the moment. There was no going back. She couldn't rewind the day's events, and even if she could, she wasn't sure she would do things differently. Talena knew there would be consequences for aiding a runner, but even with all her misgivings about the Cy'ren, she could never have turned her back on one of her people, especially not one in as dire need as Dack had been.

There was no going back, so she would focus on going forward. The next step was boarding Dack's ship and meeting his captain and crew.

"I'm not familiar with civilian ship design, aside from the _Trident_. Is it a transport?" she asked.

"Of sorts. The _Talon_ is a modified transport. She's the flagship of our fleet."

"Modified for what?"

"Catching slavers, among other things. You're not familiar with civilian ship design but you're familiar with military ships?"

"With Alliance ships. My father is captain of the _Constitution_."

Dack's hands froze above the controls, and then he shook his head with a dry smile. "Well, once we get you back to your family, please tell him not to shoot me."

"I'll see what I can do."

The _Talon_ seemed small to be fighting slavers, or at least it was much smaller than the _Constitution._ The hull was dull gray, and it had a boxy body with awkward wings stuck to the back, which were studded with engines. It looked a bit like a bird—an ugly, lumbering bird—but she kept that observation to herself as the shuttle flew over it. They maneuvered through an opening atop the _Talon_ and settled into the shuttle bay.

Talena picked at her skirt as Dack powered down the engines, and he gave her a reassuring smile. "Captain Hawke can be a bit brusque, but don't worry. It'll be okay."

She nodded with a weak smile. Dack reached over and stroked her hair affectionately, and she blushed as her pulse jumped. They had worked through the initial overwhelming needs of the phase, and had settled into a calm before the next storm, but she noted that his touch already affected her differently—her desire was stronger, and it burned hot and fast. It was a strange feeling. Odd, but not unwelcome, and she wasn't sure what to make of it.

As though sensing her confusion, Dack leaned in and kissed her. "I'll take care of you. I promise."

"That's a lot to promise someone you've just met," she pointed out.

"It's what I do."

"Really. How many mates do you have?" Talena peered at him, and his face fell. She had meant it as a joke, but judging by the sudden change in his mood he didn't find it funny.

"That's a long story."

"Wait, you have other mates?" she asked.

Dack flinched. "No, not anymore. My first mate died. Come on, let's go."

Talena winced, feeling like an idiot as they exited the shuttle. She shivered when they stepped into the chill air of the shuttle bay, and Dack draped his coat around her shoulders. "Sorry, it's cold onboard," he apologized.

"Lieutenant Loren," a sharp voice called out. Talena turned and spotted a human woman marching toward them with a displeased expression. She wore a dark uniform and a pair of pistols slung low on her hips. "I told you to stop bringing strays home from missions."

"She's not a stray," he replied.

No, she'd been kidnapped, so she assumed that made her a victim, but Talena kept the comment to herself and focused on the captain. She was tall and lean like Dack, and her dark brown hair was cropped short. For the most part she was pretty, for a human, but a mottled red scar masked a quarter of the left side of her face, as though the bronzed skin had been burned away.

Despite the scars, Talena recognized her instantly. "Carmen?" she said hesitantly.

The captain's attention whipped toward her. Recognition dawned across her face, and her jaw dropped as she gaped.

"Tali?" she asked.

Talena nodded and grinned, an electric thrill running through her. She threw her arms around Carmen and hugged her, overjoyed at not only finding a friend onboard the _Talon_ , but Carmen, someone she knew and trusted. The past ten years had hardened and changed her, but though Carmen stiffened for a moment, she returned the embrace.

"You two know each other?" Dack asked, bewildered.

Carmen stepped back, her face reddened with a blush. "Yes. Congratulations, Lieutenant, you rescued a free woman."

"I know. I'm going to make it up to her—"

"Damn right you are. You'll be lucky if her father doesn't put you in front of a firing squad," Carmen warned. She was a navy brat as well. Her father had been the captain of the _Constitution_ , the ship that rescued Talena, and Tali's adopted father had been its first officer. Carmen glanced Talena over and frowned. "Are you hurt? You've got a laser burn on your skirt."

Surprised, Talena looked down and spotted the scorch mark, but she shook her head. "I'm fine. It must've been a near miss."

"I'm sure it was meant for Lieutenant Loren." Carmen glared at him, but he seemed impervious to her temper even though Talena was sure she could hear the captain's teeth grinding as she clenched her jaw. She swore, and Talena flinched. "Damn it, Dack. Did you at least get the data?" she asked.

"Yes," he replied.

"Then take it to the comm. room and start analyzing it for distribution."

Dack hesitated. "I can't leave her. She's my mate."

With an irritated sigh Carmen pinched the bridge of her nose and squeezed her eyes shut for a moment. "Of course she is. Tali is safe with me. I gave you an order. Follow it or I'll throw your ass in the brig." Carmen stared at him, unmoving, and Dack growled and stalked away.

Talena frowned as she watched him leave. "He's injured. He should see a medic."

"He'll be fine. Come with me."

Talena followed the captain through the ship. The constant hum and buzz of machinery surrounded them, and she found herself missing the _Trident._ It was always quiet on the _Trident,_ because they didn't want the passengers distracted from their enjoyment of the voyage by the sound of the engines. Perhaps living on a luxury submarine cruise ship had spoiled her as much as it did her customers.

They rounded a corner and Carmen nodded in passing to a crew member—a male Cy'ren. He glanced at Talena as she walked by him, then grabbed her arm and nearly yanked her off her feet as he spun her to face him.

"Let go," she yelped.

"What have we here?" the male purred. He sniffed her hair as though scenting her perfume and grinned. His smile had a predatory edge to it, and Talena shivered.

"Jace, the lady asked you to let her go," Carmen said. "Do it now."

"No, I think not. She's in phase." Jace peered down at Talena, studying her as a cat would a mouse. Like her, he had white hair, but his skin was dull granite gray and his eyes were cold ice blue. He bore no slave marks, which surprised her. Jace was handsome, but not in the same way as Dack—Jace was pretty, but Dack was rugged.

"Let her go. Lieutenant Commander Harrow, that's an order."

Jace ignored the captain, continuing to hold Talena's arm in an iron grip. With his free hand he brushed his fingers over her throat. "Who bit you? Mordackai?"

"Yes," she replied. "He's my mate."

Jace chuckled, and the sound sent a shiver down Talena's spine. "We'll see."

" _Jace._ " Carmen drew a pistol and pointed it at his head. "Let her go now."

"You wouldn't dare," he sneered in reply.

She flipped a switch on the weapon and it emitted a high-pitched whine. The Cy'ren eyed her for a moment, and then released Talena and stepped aside. He turned to Carmen. "I'd like a word with you later, Captain."

"Fine. Walk away."

Jace held his hands up in surrender with a sly smile and left. Talena rubbed at her arm, wondering if it was going to bruise, and Carmen grabbed her hand and led her away. When they reached the captain's quarters, she locked the door behind them. Carmen stood for a moment as though considering something, and then she hugged Talena.

"Are you okay? What's going on?" she asked. Carmen's demeanor softened now that they were alone. Talena relaxed into the embrace, grateful for the comfort, and smiled as she realized that at least one thing hadn't changed in the years they'd been apart—Carmen's skin still smelled of the same vanilla soap.

"I'm all right. Or at least uninjured. Who was that who grabbed me?"

Carmen scowled as she drew away. "That was my first officer. His father's Lord of House Morningstar, so Jace doesn't play well with others."

"Why is he your first officer if you don't like him?"

"Politics. So what happened? I thought you were still on Athenia. Were you traveling?" Carmen motioned to the chair at her desk for Talena to sit.

"No, I wasn't. I've been on Aquantia. Captain Rutherford retired from the Alliance and now he's captain of the _Trident_. It's a cruise ship."

Carmen snorted. "Sounds boring."

"He prefers to call it relaxing," Talena replied with a dry smile. "It's quiet. I own my own little gallery and I sell sculptures and souvenirs."

Carmen paced while Talena moved on to the events of the day. She blushed as though her skin were on fire when she mentioned some of the more erotic details, but she didn't want to hide anything from Carmen. Talena and Carmen had shared a few erotic moments of their own once...

When she finished, Carmen sighed, rubbing her face with her hands. "Your parents are going to be worried out of their minds."

"Can you get word to them? Let them know I'm okay?" Talena asked.

"I'm not exactly on speaking terms with the Alliance, but I'll see what I can do."

"Thank you." She sighed in relief.

"Dack didn't hurt you? Cy'ren can get pushy during the phase."

"No, he was...rather polite, actually." Talena blushed at the memory of Dack's " _May I's?"_. Even consumed by the pheromones, he had asked permission, and that meant something. He could've torn her clothes off and taken her without any regard for her feelings, and thanks to the phase she would've let him, possibly even encouraged him.

"Do you want to stay with him? I can assign you your own quarters in the meantime until we figure out how to get you home. Or you could stay with me," Carmen suggested with a teasing grin.

"I'm sure I'd enjoy it, but you can't help me through the phase. Well, you could," Talena trailed off and cleared her throat. "But there's only one certain way to end it, and it requires a male Cy'ren. I have to stay with him... You're not seeing anyone?" Talena asked, curious. She had tried to keep in touch after they both went their separate ways, but they drifted apart. Talena had been busy with art school, and Carmen was off doing mysterious, classified things at the Alliance naval academy.

Carmen shook her head. "No. Not for a while. Though I should warn you, I did have a fling with Dack. Years ago, before he was part of my crew. I don't fool around with my crew."

"Good thing I'm not part of your crew then," Talena replied, and then ducked her head, embarrassed.

Carmen laughed. "I missed you, Tali. I'll take you to Dack's quarters, and you can wait for him there. Keep the door locked. You've met Jace, and there's another male Cy'ren onboard, Sam. I'll warn them off, but they might come sniffing around anyway. Can't help it, it's instinct and all. Sam's got a good heart, but he already has two mates. And you don't want to end up with Jace. I wouldn't wish that on anyone."

"Thank you. I'm glad I'm on your ship. Can I ask..." She paused, unsure of how to continue.

"How I ended up here, instead of on an Alliance ship?" Carmen finished, and Talena nodded. "I had an assignment go wrong a few years ago, and command kicked me out. Dishonorable discharge." She seemed so calm about it, but Talena found it startling. She never would have imagined Carmen being capable of doing anything dishonorable. "Did Dack tell you what we do here?"

"He said you fight slavers."

"Among other things," Carmen replied. "We work for the Cy'ren resistance. Cyprena is an independent world now, but that hasn't freed any of the Cy'ren offworld. The resistance tries to free as many slaves as we can, and take the slaver groups down. We've put a few of the major players out of business, but it's a little like killing the hydra. Lop off one head, two grow back to take its place."

"That sounds dangerous."

"It is."

"So Dack does free our people?" she asked.

"Yes. He's a shadow sword. It's like...you remember those ancient Earth stories about knights defending their kingdoms?" Carmen asked, and Talena nodded. "It's a bit like that. Shadow swords used to defend their individual houses, but now they work to defend Cyprena. Usually."

"Usually?"

Carmen grimaced. "Most of the houses don't get along. Speaking of which, I better get you squared away before Jace finds Dack and picks a fight over you."

"Good idea," Talena agreed.

She had a million more questions for Carmen—why had she been dishonorably discharged? How had she been injured? What had happened between her and Dack? But Talena clamped down on her curiosity. There would be time for that later.

Carmen led her to Dack's quarters, opened the door and gave her a reassuring smile. "If you need anything, call me on the comm."

"Thank you, Carm—I mean Captain Hawke."

"Keep the door locked," she warned before it shut.

Talena locked it as ordered, and then examined her surroundings. It was smaller than her quarters aboard the _Trident_ , but not claustrophobic. His bunk looked comfortable enough, and she sat on the edge of the mattress. She hoped to find pictures of his family, books, or vid chips, anything that would give her a better idea about who he was, but the room was rather Spartan. The only personal touch was a pinup of a naked Cy'ren female taped above his bed. Talena frowned at it. She was certainly not that buxom, but her waist was as thin as the model's. She wondered if he found her disappointing as a mate.

It didn't matter if he did, because they wouldn't be together for very long. This was a temporary arrangement—a short-term marriage—and after the phase ended they would go their separate ways. Unless... There was something terribly tempting about the idea of having a mate. And not just any mate, but a knight who traveled the stars fighting for their people. She couldn't have dreamed of a more romantic figure. Dack promised to take care of her, to help her find her long-lost birth family. Talena loved her adopted parents, but as the only Cy'ren surrounded by humans she had always felt like an outsider. This could be a chance at a life among her own people.

She sighed, and was distracted by the scent of him all around her, sultry and smoky. Her blood heated as she inhaled deeply, and she entertained the thought of burrowing under the blankets and pleasuring herself. Instead she stripped off her clothes and folded them, setting them aside. She slipped into the bed and drifted into an exhausted sleep.

# Chapter Four

Dack's skin itched as he waited for the computer to finish decrypting the data he'd stolen from the slaver lord vacationing on the _Trident_. This was the first time they'd succeeded at stealing data from anyone in the Eppes group. They were one of the most notorious slaver organizations, and their security was the tightest. At least he'd killed the bastard when everything went sideways, but he'd nearly been taken out by Malenson in the process. It wasn't his first run-in with Malenson. Dack should've put a bolt between his eyes when he had the chance, but he was more concerned with surviving.

He thought finding Talena had been a blessing, just as he thought he was rescuing her from a life of slavery. Instead he'd ruined her life and bound her to him. For now, at least. He'd be within his rights to keep her on a permanent basis, but he doubted she would appreciate that. Captain Hawke wouldn't either. And despite knowing that, all he could think of was having Talena naked beneath him again. _Damn._ This was going to be a very long mission.

The computer beeped as the decryption program finished, and Dack skimmed through the files. It was a goldmine of information about the Eppes organization—well worth risking his neck for. Records of sale, client contact information, and most importantly for the _Talon_ there were up-to-date transport schedules. The _Talon_ was built for taking on slavers by ambushing and disabling a ship, and then rescuing the cargo of slaves before blowing the enemy into tiny pieces. The more ships they destroyed, the harder it was for the slavers to move their product, and that put a dent into their business. It'd be more satisfying just to kill all the bastards and let the gods sort them out, but hitting the slavers in their bank accounts was an effective strategy. The resistance had toppled several groups that way.

Dack packaged the information and prepared to send it to command and the rest of their fleet, when the sound of a door opening caught his attention. He looked up expecting to see Captain Hawke's disappointed frown, but instead saw Najacen Harrow's familiar sneer.

"So she bit you as well. Interesting."

Dack's hands clenched into fists. "What did you do?"

"Nothing. Yet."

"If you touch her, I'll gut you, Jace."

"Is that a threat, Lieutenant?" Jace asked calmly. Pulling rank was a not-so-subtle reminder that Jace was Dack's superior.

"It's a promise."

Jace smiled. "I already did."

Dack snarled and leapt out of his chair. He swung at Jace, who sidestepped the attack. Rage blinded him, and before he could attack again he heard the captain shouting. She dragged him away and shoved him across the room.

"Enough! Separate corners, you two," she ordered. "The hell did you say to him?"

"I merely commented that I met the young lady he brought onboard."

"I bet you did," Hawke muttered.

Dack growled at Jace. He'd wanted to tear Jace's throat out so many times before that he'd lost count, but this was the last straw. This time he'd see him dead.

Captain Hawke stepped in front of him, blocking his line of sight. "Quiet, Lieutenant. I've brought Sam here, and we're going to have ourselves a nice talk about the _Talon's_ new guest."

Dack glanced at Samlen Wirett, the _Talon's_ chief engineer, who held his hands up in surrender. "I don't know why you dragged me up here, Cap. I already have two mates I barely see. Three would be pushing it. As long as you keep her out of sight and scent for now I won't have a problem."

"Because Dack needed to hear it from you and not me. We'll make sure we keep her out of your way," Hawke replied.

"Understood."

"You're dismissed." Sam hightailed it from the room, and the captain turned to Jace, her hands on her hips. "Just once, Jace, I'd like to see you avoid causing a problem. You're supposed to be setting a good example for the crew, not being a jackass."

Jace's lip curled in a snarl. "Sorry to disappoint you, Captain. Cy'ren tradition allows me to challenge for possession of the female. Once a female has been scented, a male has the right to—"

Hawke shook her head. "Enough. Not on my ship. The _female_ 's name is Talena Spenser, and she's my friend. Right now she wants to stay with Dack. She's staying with Dack. End of discussion."

Dack's brow rose in surprise. Talena wanted to stay with him? He half expected that she would've bolted the moment she spotted the captain, eager to cling to someone familiar instead of remaining with him.

"But the law clearly states—" Jace began, and Hawke cut him off.

"My ship, my rules. If you keep pressing the subject, I'll keep her for myself and neither of you can have her."

Both males started at that. Dack's mind was filled with a vivid image of the two women together, naked and moaning, and he was instantly hard. He couldn't blame the effects of the phase for it; having had them both, he could picture Talena and Carmen in intimate detail.

Jace scowled. "Very well. But when we're off the ship, she's fair game."

Dack bared his teeth at Jace, and the captain shook her head. "No, she's not anybody's _game_. Talena is one of my oldest friends, and if you so much as breathe on her in a way I find unacceptable, I will shoot you and space your carcass out an airlock. Now can we move on to actual business? Lieutenant Loren, did you decipher the data?"

"Yes. I downloaded a good portion of the lord's network before I was interrupted. I was about to send it to the fleet," Dack replied. Though granted, _fleet_ was a grandiose term for the dozen or so ships that served the resistance.

"Good. Do it. Anything within striking range?"

Dack returned to his seat and called up the Eppes's transport schedule. "A nice, fat transport ship. It's already in flight, headed to the Ramsay system, ETA in a week. We can catch them before that if we push it."

"Send the data to Rizzoli and have him plot an intercept course."

"Aye, Captain," Dack replied.

"Jace, I want full diagnostics on the weapons."

"I just ran—"

"Run them again, since you have so much energy. Dismissed."

"Aye, Captain." Jace glared once at Dack and left.

The captain stood behind Dack and watched him work over his shoulder as he sent out the data. "You're an idiot," Hawke said.

"Captain, I had no choice. She's in phase, I had to—"

"You're an idiot for attacking Jace. If he knows you want her, he'll try harder to take her from you."

He sighed. She was right, but there was little he could do about it. The phase had ramped up his protective instincts, and the thought of another male—especially Jace—near Talena made him furious. Dack's house had been at war with Jace's for generations, and even with the new spirit of Cy'ren unity they still didn't get along.

"Thank you for calling him off."

"I bought you some time, that's all. And I did it for her, not you. I meant what I said. If you hurt her, I'll kill you myself."

Dack's hands paused above the computer's touchpanel, and he looked up at her. She meant it, there was no doubt of that. After all he and the captain had been through together, Talena had to be special to Carmen for her to threaten him. "Understood. How do you know her?"

Hawke glanced back at the door Jace had just exited, and then her expression softened. "Tali and I grew up together. We were best friends. My father was the captain of the _Constitution_ when it rescued her. She was just a kid, and alone. There was no way to track her family, so Commander Spenser took her in, and he and his wife raised her. He was the _Constitution's_ first officer then, so our families saw each other often."

"So she had a good life?" he asked.

"Good family, best education. I'd say so. They love her like she was their own flesh and blood. If I don't kill you, her father might, so you'd better do right by her," Hawke warned.

Dack quirked a brow. "Were you only friends?" he asked, his voice low. She looked away and chewed her bottom lip, one of her tells that she was nervous. He touched her hand and she jumped. "Carmen?"

"She means a lot to me, Dack. I know you're doing this because of the phase, but if Tali has to be mated to anyone, I'm glad it's you," she said. "Treat her well."

"Is that an order?"

"Damn right it is. Look, I trust you. But I don't trust Jace, and he's going to do something stupid. You better be prepared for that."

"I know."

"Good." She nodded briskly and squared her shoulders. "I left her in your quarters. When you're finished here, I want you in the armory."

"Going to make me clean the guns, Captain?" he asked.

"Just an inventory check. We were short a taser last mission. I think Sam's got it in his shop, tinkering with upgrades again."

"Aye, Captain. Will do."

She squeezed his shoulder, which was as close to comforting as he expected from Captain Hawke, and she left him to his work. For a moment—a very short moment—Dack had caught a glimpse of the Carmen he'd known before. The kinder, gentler woman who had been his lover, who had been replaced by the no-nonsense, hard-ass captain of the _Talon_. He missed that Carmen.

His blood had cooled by the time he got the data packaged and sent, and he headed to the ship's armory. During his inspection he found three weapons missing, and suspected that all of them were squirreled away in Sam's workshop. The engineer glanced up from a circuit board he was soldering when Dack entered.

"I'm not interested in your female," Sam said. "I'm fully capable of avoiding her and her pheromones."

"Good. That's not why I'm here. I'm looking for missing weapons. Captain thought you were trying to upgrade them again."

"If she'd let me increase the rate of fire, I could—"

"Melt a few more lasers. The last one you _improved_ fried in the middle of a firefight," Dack pointed out.

Sam shrugged. "That mod needed more work."

"I'm looking for a taser, a rifle and a pistol."

"The taser didn't make it. I haven't started on the rifle and the pistol." Sam set the soldering iron aside and sat back, eyeing Dack thoughtfully. "You going to keep her?"

He shrugged. "If that's what she wants. It'd get my mother off my back. She's been complaining about the lack of grandchildren. Loudly, and repeatedly."

This time Sam chuckled. Dack glanced at the photos tacked to the wall behind the engineer's head. Sam had a brood of small children. Cute kids.

"You sure you're ready for that again?" Sam asked.

Dack winced. Sam was the only person onboard who knew the full story behind Dack's mate's death, because Dack had gotten drunk one night after a battle and spilled the tale to him. The rest of the crew recognized the blacked out mating mark on his neck and let it go at that.

"I don't know," he admitted. "I'm better prepared for it now. I can offer Talena a lot more than I could Kira."

"This is still a hard life. You spend most of your time in space, and when you get home your kids are taller and barely recognize you."

"We're not gone _that_ long between missions," Dack replied. "Here, hand over the guns so I can return them to the armory."

Sam did as ordered, and Dack returned the weapons to their proper places.

When he returned to his quarters, he paused outside the door, wondering what reception he was going to find on the other side. He keyed in the unlock code and stepped into the room, his eyes adjusting to the dim light. It was cool and quiet, and he spotted Talena sleeping peacefully in his bunk. Dack smiled, and then stripped and joined her. She curled up against him with a sleepy sigh. Talena seemed to trust him, though he didn't feel deserving of it.

_Right now she wants to stay with Dack._

But why? Was it only the phase? Did she want more, and if so, could he offer it? He couldn't keep her—shouldn't keep her. Now that he knew who she was he'd have to return her to her family in Alliance space after the phase had run its course.

_Treat her well._

He'd never disobeyed an order, and he didn't intend to start now. If by some slim chance Talena wanted to stay with him, Dack could offer her a decent life on Cyprena. His home wasn't much, but he could provide for her. She would be safe within the Nightfall compound. Safer than Kira had been on the godsforsaken rock they'd lived on. Dack wouldn't have to live with the constant fear that slave catchers might abduct his mate and their child every time he left on a mission.

Holding Talena close, Dack stroked her hair as new worries and old memories gnawed at him.

_She means a lot to me._

Talena was important to the captain, and Carmen was important to him. He still loved her, even though he'd accepted that there wasn't a future for them. If Carmen cared for Tali, then she must be remarkable, because Captain Carmen Hawke wasn't a woman who shared her affections lightly. Talena must be someone truly special. Unique. Well worth fighting for.

With a soft sigh Talena stirred in his arms and murmured his name, and the sound triggered a fresh wave of desire. Dack's weariness vanished, and as he rolled her beneath him he decided that they could sleep later.

Much later.

# Chapter Five

Talena was confused when she awoke. It took her a few moments to remember where she was and how she'd gotten there. Despite the drama that had brought her to Dack's bed, waking up in the warm circle of a lover's embrace had its appeal. She breathed in his scent and smiled. Snuggling closer, she nuzzled the side of his neck, and then she learned that he was both awake and happy to see her as he maneuvered her to lie atop him.

"Good morning," she said.

"Yes, it is."

Dack kissed her hungrily, and she savored the taste of him. Her body heated to his touch—every kiss, every caress made her burn with desire. Talena sat up and straddled him, and she moaned as his stiff cock slid into her sex. She shuddered as he stretched her inner walls—Dack's shaft filled her as no one else's had. It was almost too much, skirting the line between pleasure and pain, but Talena didn't care. His hands gripped her hips as she moved, riding him with increasing abandon. She needed him deeper, harder, and she gasped as he rose to meet her, matching her thrust for thrust.

Talena cried out as pleasure burst through her, and Dack drew her down to him and kissed her. His lips moved to her throat, and she whispered _please_ as he bit her. A second wave of sharp sensation crashed through her, and she whimpered as he teased the sensitive spot. Eager to return the favor, she pulled away, and Dack moaned her name as she bit him. She tasted the sharp tang of his blood and she sucked at the bite, enjoying his gasps and sighs as her mouth pulled at his skin. His blood gave her a warm glow as if she'd had a few glasses of wine, an effect she didn't understand but was happy to embrace. One of Dack's hands tangled in her hair and he tugged her away, forcing her mouth to return to his. Talena climaxed again as he kissed her, their shared blood mingling on their tongues.

When she recovered, he brushed his lips against her ear. "I want to take you from behind," he whispered.

She swallowed hard and nodded. After their first round of sex in the shuttle, there had been several more, and the memory of his cock pounding into her as he bent her over the shuttle's control panel was still fresh in her memory. In the privacy of the shuttle she'd been free to shout her encouragement, and she hoped the walls of this ship were thick enough to muffle her enthusiasm. Then again, she was sure the entire crew knew why she was onboard. On the _Trident,_ gossip had traveled faster than even the ship itself.

They switched positions, and she cried out as he buried himself inside her. Dack was relentless, plunging into her sex to the hilt before withdrawing and thrusting again. The sensations overwhelmed her as he fucked her, and she screamed into the covers as he pushed her senses past her limits and beyond. His fingers dug into her hips as he increased his pace, wild and frenzied, but she begged him not to stop. More, she needed more, as though she was starving for his touch instead of drowning in it. Talena came again, and again, until everything was blinding pleasure. Finally she felt him come inside her, and she wantonly wriggled her hips against him, savoring every last pulse of his cock.

Dack pulled out and she collapsed, sated, and then he lay beside her. He stroked her hair as he struggled to calm his breathing, and she grinned. "That was amazing," she purred. Her gaze flicked to the bandage on his side. "Are you feeling better?"

"Yes. I heal faster than most. Besides, I doubt I could keep away from you even if I tried." He touched the bite on her neck, and she shivered, fresh desire trickling through her.

"Will the other males be able to keep away?" she asked. Talena was afraid of Jace—she was certain he wouldn't ask for permission to touch her. He'd hurt her, and he'd enjoy it.

Dack frowned. "Sam will. He already has two mates, and he's not interested in another. He'll keep his distance, but Jace won't. I won't let Jace have you. I'll protect you."

The determination in his voice eased some of her fear, and she nodded. "Is there a mess hall on this ship? I haven't eaten since lunch yesterday."

"Yes. I think we both could use a good meal."

"Is there somewhere I can shower?" Her skin was coated in sweat and sex, and she assumed the rest of the crew would notice. She wondered what Carmen would say. It was odd finding her here and seeing her again. Carmen had been her first love. Her only love, really, for the flings that followed had never quite measured up. Their relationship had bloomed into more than friendship the summer before they parted ways, and like most young love, their passion had burned bright, hot and fast. It had taken Talena a few years after it ended to accept that it hadn't been meant to last, enabling her to move on.

"There is, but I wouldn't recommend it," Dack replied.

"Why not?"

"Because if we run into Jace, I want you covered in my scent." His red gaze was intense, and she blushed under his scrutiny. Dack trailed a hand down her body, and teased one of her nipples until it peaked. The hand moved lower and stopped between her thighs, stroking the slick petals of her sex. Talena should have discouraged him, should have warned him to stop so they could go in search of breakfast, but instead she parted her legs wider to give him better access.

"Do you want me, Tali?" he murmured as he brushed light kisses over her face.

"Yes." She closed her eyes and surrendered to his touch.

"Only me?"

"Yes," she repeated.

"Not Carmen?" he asked, his tone teasing. Her eyes fluttered open and she stared at him in shock. Had Carmen told him about their past? With a wicked grin he rolled the bud of her clit between his thumb and forefinger. Her back arched at the jolt of ecstasy, and she licked her lips. "How well do you know the captain?"

"That's not...your concern," she managed. Dack's cock twitched against her body, already hard again. She tried to wrap her hand around his length to distract him, but he mounted her and pinned her arms above her head.

"Were you lovers?" he asked as he thrust into her.

Talena refused to answer, and he nibbled at the sensitive skin below her ear. She moaned and tried to tug her arms free, but he held her in place, keeping her at his mercy.

"Were you?" he prompted.

"She said you were," Talena replied.

"Years ago. And my imagination's been working overtime picturing the two of you together. Of you lowering that clever tongue of yours to her dripping pussy, and of her moaning like I know she can."

Memories flashed through her mind of the two of them exploring each other's bodies, learning how to pleasure each other. Their secret, stolen time together. No one knew that she and Carmen had been lovers, and to her knowledge, no one had ever found out. Neither of them wanted to learn what their parents would think.

"Am I wrong?" Dack asked.

"No," she admitted. "I loved her."

Dack's breath caught, and she couldn't identify his expression. Sadness? Regret? His gaze darkened, and then he bit her again. Talena cried out at the sudden burst of pleasure, and he fucked her senseless as she lay pinned beneath him. She was consumed by the sensation, so overwhelmed by ecstasy that all she could do was moan her approval. Even when he came, he held her in place. "You're mine," he said simply.

"Yes," she whimpered.

She wanted to argue. Talena didn't want to be held accountable to anyone. She was a free Cy'ren, and she treasured that freedom. Dack had promised to let her go, and she wanted to remind him of that. Instead she moaned like a whore as she let him fill her with his seed.

God help her.

The mess hall was tiny, at least by her standards. On the _Trident,_ the crew dined in a spacious cafeteria that offered a variety of cuisine. The _Talon,_ on the other hand, had only a few tables with benches on either side, and offered only one dish, cleverly called "breakfast". Talena was far from impressed. But the cook was friendly as he handed her a plate—and better yet, he was a human male. She wasn't eager to face another Cy'ren. Sam and Jace were nowhere to be found as Talena and Dack sat down to eat, and she was grateful for that. Of course Dack had messaged Sam and warned him to avoid the mess hall, but Dack hadn't informed Jace, presumably because it would only attract him.

They'd arrived late, delayed by their exhaustive frolic, and Talena had never been so glad to see a cup of coffee in her life. She would need a steady supply of caffeine to keep up with Dack. This was another calm before the phase surged again, meant to give them time to rest and recover. It was strange to regain her sense, knowing that she would lose it again to wanton lust in a few hours.

They sat side by side at a table by themselves, and she glanced over the small crowd—humans, mostly, with a scattering of other humanoid races mixed in. It was probably too expensive for a ship like the _Talon_ to accommodate the needs of the more exotic non-humanoids. She knew from crew gossip on the _Trident_ that even a simple thing like fulfilling dietary needs could be extremely expensive for an insect race like the Aprians or the M'zz't.

"Are there duties you need to see to?" she asked.

"Not many at the moment. We're going after a slaver ship. We should reach it in four or five days, depending on how hard we push the engines."

"Oh." Talena blinked, surprised. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

Dack smiled. "Ready to take up arms to defend our people?"

Blushing, she shook her head. "I'm a good shot, but I haven't been to a firing range in years. I would like to do something. I have some experience with repairing electronics and computers. Usually I tear them apart for components, but I can put them back together too. And I'm good with numbers. I do my own bookkeeping."

He paused, and his brow rose. "Well, I can't let you near the engine room. Sam doesn't need the temptation. But you can work with account statements? Financial information?"

"Yes, of course."

"Then I may have a job for you. I'll have to clear it with the captain first," he replied, and she nodded. Talena glanced up and tensed as she spotted Jace approaching their table.

"Well, isn't this sweet? You bought her breakfast. How noble of you," Jace said dryly. He carried only a cup of coffee, and he took the seat across from them despite Dack's warning growl.

"Walk away, Jace," he warned. The other Cy'ren merely smiled.

"Surely we can all be civilized long enough to have a polite conversation. I already promised not to challenge for Miss Spenser as long as she's aboard the ship, and, unlike you, I don't have a problem exhibiting self-control."

The emphasis of _aboard the ship_ was not lost on Talena. "What happens when I leave the ship?"

Jace's smile widened. "That's another matter."

"But what does that mean? What sort of challenge?"

"Males have always fought over mates," Jace explained. "More so now, when so many of our females have been stolen from us. Slavers prefer females. At the moment there are more males than females on our home world, so mates are extremely valuable. A status symbol, of sorts."

Talena squared her shoulders. "I'm not a prize."

"Our law says otherwise."

"So it doesn't matter that I find you repulsive?" she asked. Dack snorted in amusement, and Jace frowned. "I've already made my choice, and even if I hadn't, I wouldn't let you touch me." She reached over and took Dack's hand, lacing her fingers through his.

Jace's cold blue eyes studied her over the rim of his coffee cup. "That's a bit harsh, considering you hardly know me." His gaze flicked to her throat, and he quirked one white eyebrow. "You have no house?"

"Not that I know of."

"Do you know anything of the different houses?"

"No," she admitted reluctantly.

"Then how can you be certain you wish to ally yourself with House Nightfall, and not House Morningstar? Before the peace accords, Nightfall held the most slaves."

"House Sunsinger held the most slaves, with House Morningstar a close second," Dack said.

Jace tilted his head as he turned his regard to Dack. "That depends on where you're getting your numbers. We did give up the practice long before you did. Some say that your house still continues the tradition in secret."

"Lies," Dack hissed. Talena squeezed his hand, and the gesture seemed to calm him.

"I'll admit I'm surprised that you're settling down, Mordackai. You seem to enjoy your bachelor life, considering how often you entertain new females."

A hot spike of jealousy lanced through Talena. This time Dack squeezed her hand, and she tried to comfort herself with the thought that no matter how many other females had come before, she was the one he wanted now.

Until the phrase ran its course and he tired of her.

"Aren't you supposed to be running diagnostics?" Dack asked.

"I completed them. Besides, this is much more entertaining."

Talena sighed. "What do you want?"

"I'd like for you to consider that I'm a better candidate. I am a son of the Lord of House Morningstar. I have superior resources to care for a mate. I may not have Mordackai's wealth of experience in pleasing females, but I've always been concerned with quality, not quantity."

"And you think I'd be a quality mate?" she asked, eyeing him skeptically.

Jace smiled. "As I understand it, you're an independent businesswoman who is both determined and creative. I appreciate that. And I've always had a weakness for golden eyes."

"I'm happy with my current arrangement."

Jace studied them for a moment more then shrugged. "You'll change your mind. Enjoy your breakfast." He rose and walked away, appearing unaffected by her rejection.

Dack growled again, and Talena leaned over and kissed his cheek. "Ignore him. I am."

"Good," Dack replied. "He's a snake. He wants you because I have you."

"What sort of fight is this challenge?"

"A duel of sorts. Swords or fists, and I can take him at both. Don't worry, he won't lay a hand on you," he assured her.

"This is precisely why I didn't want a mate. I don't want to be fought over like two hungry dogs with a bone." She pushed the unidentifiable mush on the plate around with her spoon before taking a reluctant bite. It was bland and lukewarm, but she was too hungry to refuse it.

"I'm sorry, Tali. You're safer with me. Jace would never let you go."

"But you will?"

"I will, if that's what you want. It's your choice, and I'll abide by your decision."

With the phase frying her brain, she wasn't certain _what_ she wanted. But it wasn't impossible to go back to her old life. Carmen would help her get back to her family, and her father could find a way to dismiss the charges she was sure had been filed against her for aiding Dack. Talena could start a new shop someplace else, or maybe open her own gallery.

Unless she got pregnant. Then that plan would be shot to hell. Dack promised her a life among their people. A new home, a new family...

"What if I want to stay with you? To be your mate?" she asked.

Dack stared down at his plate for a long moment, and then he smirked. "You'll make my mother very happy."

Talena chuckled. "I see. Is it true what he said about your house?"

"Yes and no. We did own a large amount of slaves. All of the Cy'ren houses did. It was tradition. When one house took over another, they kept the losing house's survivors as slaves. That's how the off-world trade started. The houses sold their excess slaves to offworlders, and when demand increased, the slavers began abducting free Cy'ren to sell."

"How awful." She knew so little about the Cy'ren. Talena had lived with human parents on a human colony, and most of her childhood was spent desperately trying to fit in.

They were silent for the rest of the meal, and afterward they went in search of the captain to gain permission for Talena to examine the slaver's financial files. Carmen was dubious at first, but when Talena began sharing tales of some of the finer points of her accounting experience, she was convinced. Or possibly bored, but it resulted in Talena being set up at a computer terminal in an empty room—the captain's ready room, but Carmen was working on something else at the moment.

Talena was overwhelmed at first. Not because the files were difficult to read or work with, but because it was horrifying to see her kinsman listed as products. Inventory records of mothers and children being bought and sold as though they were spools of wiring or sheet metal. Once she overcame her revulsion, she was able to begin analyzing the data. There was something odd about the numbers that she couldn't quite put her finger on. Maybe if she had more records to compare it to. Or maybe there were too many records, and it was hiding the problem. She needed more time, but the phase wouldn't allow for that.

Talena was so intent on her work that she didn't hear the door open and shut, and didn't realize she was no longer alone until Jace spoke.

"You smell of him. It's very unattractive."

Startled, Talena leapt from her chair and stumbled away. Jace quirked a brow at her reaction, but he didn't chase her.

"Dack finds it attractive."

"I imagine he does."

"The captain isn't here."

"I see that. Do you know where she is?" he asked, and Talena shook her head. "What are you working on?" He stepped toward her terminal and glanced at the screen, and she moved farther away from him until her back bumped against the wall.

"I'm examining the Eppes's business records. There's an anomaly there that I haven't identified yet." Talena wished she had her data board. It was like a security blanket she clutched close when dealing with difficult customers.

"Interesting."

"I'd like to get back to work, if you don't mind."

"Be my guest." Jace patted the empty chair, and she scowled.

"I'd also like it if you left."

"Afraid I'm going to bite you?" Jace grinned, flashing perfect, sharp teeth, and she swallowed hard.

Talena reached up and stroked the mark on her neck. "Please leave."

"The _Trident_ was to be my mission. Captain Hawke reassigned it at the last moment. It was chance that Dack stumbled upon you. It seems unfair that you favor him based on that, when it could have just as easily been me seeking your aid."

"Maybe it was fate," she argued halfheartedly.

Jace shook his head. "I don't believe in fate."

"Maybe I do. I also believe in the word _no_ , which you seem to have a problem understanding."

He smiled and stalked toward her. "I understand it. I merely believe in aggressively pursuing what I want. Right now that happens to be you."

Talena raised a hand to slap him, and he deftly caught her arm before she could connect. "I don't want to be pursued," she argued.

"I've never met a female in phase who didn't want to be caught. _Taken._ " The word was a silken purr that sent a shiver down her spine.

"Congratulations, now you have. Let go."

Talena tried to tug free of him, but he pinned her against the wall and kissed her. She struggled against him and turned her head to break the kiss. Jace ran his tongue over the bite on her neck in one long stroke. The mark throbbed with heat at his touch, and a scorching wave of lust surged through her. Though her mind wanted to get away from Jace, an aching desire unfurled within her. Talena's pulse pounded, and he chuckled as she cursed him.

"How many times has he bitten you?" he asked, his mouth hovering next to her ear.

"Let go of me now or I'll knee you in the groin," she warned.

"No you won't. How many times?"

She sighed in irritation and caught his scent. Jace smelled of sandalwood, and she shivered again. She'd always liked that scent. Talena closed her eyes and whimpered as he nibbled at the side of her throat.

"I don't know. Twice I think," she said.

"Hmph. Amateur." Jace kissed her again, plunging his tongue into her mouth. He was demanding, pressing her until she was too drugged by his touch to keep fighting. Jace pulled at her skirt and dragged it up around her waist.

"Get off her. _Now,_ " Carmen ordered. Talena had never been so grateful to hear a familiar voice, and she opened her eyes to see the captain grab Jace by the shoulder and drag him away.

"We were merely discussing—"

"Discussion over. Get out." Carmen placed herself between them, and Talena wanted to hug her for it. Instead she struggled to breathe as she smoothed her dress back into place.

"Very well. Another time, Talena," Jace replied. He left without further comment, and Talena sighed in relief once he was gone.

"Did he hurt you?" Carmen asked.

"Not yet. I need mouthwash." She forced a weak smile, hoping to appear unaffected even though her body was on fire with need. Talena frowned down at her hands—they were shaking.

Carmen took her hands and held them steady. "You're safe now."

"Thank you. It's...strange."

"What is?" Carmen asked.

Talena took a steadying breath, and wrinkled her nose at Jace's lingering sandalwood scent. "The phase. My body responded to him, but I still hated him. I thought desire would drown that out, but it didn't. Like right now I can smell him on me, and it disgusts me, but even the simple scent of Dack on his pillow makes me smile."

"Dack's a good guy. You'd like him even if you weren't in phase. I did," Carmen replied. "Come on, you can use the head in my quarters to wash off the Jace stink."

# Chapter Six

Captain Carmen Hawke was a busy woman, so it stood to reason that there should be any number of things that could keep her mind off the naked Cy'ren in her shower. Messages, status reports, diagnostic results, and so on and so forth—none of which Carmen had been able to read for more than two sentences on the data screen in her quarters.

Sighing, she rubbed her face with her hands, her fingers lingering over her burn scar. Talena Spenser. Her first love. Here, on her ship. In her shower.

Damn, she needed a drink. Too bad she'd quit a few years ago.

Carmen had quit a lot of things a few years ago, after the accident. Drinking was first to go—not that she'd ever been a heavy drinker, but alcohol had tasted much too comforting after she'd been released from the med center. Too tempting, too easy to lose herself in, and so she hadn't had a drink since. No alcohol, no nic sticks, and no relationships—again, not that she'd had many of those before the accident either, because Carmen had been focused on her career. As the daughter of one of the Alliance's most respected and decorated officers—now an admiral—Carmen had a lot to live up to. Her career had always come first, until her reputation went up in flames.

"Hey, can I borrow something to wear?" Tali asked. She stepped into the room with a towel wrapped around her body and one wrapped around her hair. Instant desire spread through Carmen, and she cleared her throat.

"Yeah, sure. Feel better?"

"I feel more like myself."

"Good." Carmen opened her footlocker and sorted through her clothes. Her Alliance uniform was at the very bottom, stripped of its rank insignia, and her stomach sank as her fingers brushed its stiff fabric. After some searching she picked out a plain coverall. It wouldn't do much for Tali's figure, but it'd keep her warm. She handed Tali the coverall, a tank top and a clean set of panties, and the Cy'ren smirked.

"I'm honored that you'd share your unmentionables with me," Tali teased, and Carmen laughed.

"Only with you. Though if you're going to wear them while doing unspeakable things with Dack, you can keep them."

Tali smiled and blushed. She was always lovely when she blushed. Charming. Tali set the pile of clothes down and unwrapped her hair. Carmen watched as Tali walked away to return the towel to the head, and continued to eye her through the open door as the Cy'ren combed out her damp hair.

"It's so plain in your quarters. Why don't you have anything pretty?" Tali asked.

_You're pretty,_ she thought, but kept it to herself. Tali had always been the dreamer, her golden eyes drawn to beautiful things. Her thoughts worked in creative, poetic ways foreign to Carmen's straightforward, military mind. They'd complemented each other well as friends and classmates, and later as lovers. Clearing her throat, she steered her thoughts back to the present.

"I travel light. You never know when you're going to be reassigned," Carmen said.

"Is that what happened between you and Dack?" Tali asked. "You were reassigned?"

"Sort of. He was an observer on a mission while I was serving aboard the _Dallas_. It was fun for a while, and then we went our separate ways when the mission was over."

"That's it?"

"That's it," Carmen confirmed.

"That doesn't sound like you." Her voice was soft and it was hard to hear, so Carmen walked over and stood in the doorway.

"What doesn't?"

Tali glanced at her. "You being with someone because it was fun for awhile."

_Damn._ Carmen blushed and looked away. Most people would have accepted that, but not Tali. Tali knew better. Tali knew _her._ They were friends almost from the day Commander Spenser brought her home to Athenia. Her romance with Tali might have been short-lived, but it was filled with all the fire and intensity only young love can manage. It was one of the reasons Carmen avoided going home—she feared what would happen if she saw Tali again. She'd had to make a clean break, because an officer had no room for relationships. Now Tali was on the _Talon._ With Dack. What a mess.

"Okay, there was more to it than that," Carmen admitted. "It was all sex and adrenaline at first, but the more I got to know him, the more I fell for him. He saw me for me, and not as an admiral's daughter or a means to a promotion. But there was no way for us to stay together. Our lives were very different. We didn't see each other again for a few years, until I handpicked him for the crew of the _Talon_. I made it clear that I don't fraternize with my crew, so that was that."

"So you know him pretty well?"

"Yes. Why?"

"Jace said something about Dack," she replied.

"Jace is an ass," Carmen assured her.

"I noticed." Talena's reflection frowned at her in the mirror. "Why is _he_ on your ship?"

"Like I said, it was politics. The Cy'ren council made me take him. Supposed to be a balance-of-power thing. If I wanted Dack on my crew, I had to take someone from House Morningstar, and they sent me Jace."

"I don't like him."

"I don't like him either, but he gets the job done. I can't argue with his job performance." Carmen shrugged, admiring Tali's nimble fingers as she wove her hair into a complex braid. There was something softer about her. Talena was no longer an awkward teenager, but a woman. She was graceful and beautiful, and Carmen shoved her hands in her pockets to fight off the urge to see if Tali's skin was as silken as she remembered. When she looked up, she caught Tali watching her in the mirror.

"Do you ever think about us?" Tali asked.

"Sometimes. I miss what we had," Carmen admitted, "but I had to make a choice. There wasn't a place for our relationship in my career." She wasn't a woman who squirmed easily, but she wanted to fidget under the focus of Tali's golden gaze.

"Is there a place now?"

"You're with Dack," Carmen replied.

"That's not what I asked. I think about you," Tali said. "I wonder where you are. If you're safe. If you'll make an appearance at the Christmas party this year."

"I always wanted to make it home, but..." Carmen trailed off, deciding to change the subject. "Dad doesn't know."

"Know what?"

"Anything. Where I am, why I'm here."

Tali nodded. "Can you tell me how you were hurt?" she asked softly.

Carmen chewed her bottom lip as she debated how to best explain. Tali deserved the truth, but Carmen couldn't tell her, at least not the complete story. "There was an accident onboard the _Dallas_. We were loading explosive munitions for transport to a colony on the border between Alliance and Syndicate space. I was head of security, and I was in charge of overseeing the transfer. One of the canisters wasn't sealed properly and it exploded. Set the whole damn cargo bay on fire. We lost three crewmembers, and I was burned pretty bad..." she trailed off, unable to continue past the lump in her throat. It took her years to accept that the accident wasn't her fault, but she still mourned the loss of her crew. Their screams haunted her nightmares.

She took a deep, steadying breath before continuing. "I was scarred, but I lived. The Alliance brass wanted someone to blame for the accident. They picked me. Said I was negligent."

Or so the official story went, but the trial was a sham. Command hadn't planned on the explosion occurring, but they used it to their advantage and recruited her for their covert special tasks team. Her history of working with Cy'ren and sympathizing with their cause made her ideal for this mission. Alliance command quietly supported the Cy'ren and strengthened their world, with the intention of one day gaining them as allies in conquering the Syndicate systems. It was a lofty goal, one Carmen doubted she'd live long enough to see accomplished, but as always she gave everything she had to the mission.

"That's not possible. You'd never be negligent," Tali said, her voice tinged with outrage.

Carmen barked a bitter laugh. "Maybe I should've put you in charge of my defense. It doesn't matter now. I like it fine here."

"I'm glad you're here."

Tali finished braiding her hair and removed the towel she was wearing, standing naked in front of the mirror. Carmen gasped a sharp breath, her bad memories swept away by a lustful ache pulsing between her thighs. Tali turned toward her, one hand resting on her hip, and Carmen licked her lips as her mouth went dry.

"I'm not a member of your crew," Tali said simply.

"But you're involved with one," Carmen countered. "I doubt Dack will want to share."

"He might, in this case."

Frowning, she shook her head. Before she could reply her door chimed, and she glanced back at it. "Speak of the devil. He's probably looking for you."

Carmen's face flushed as she retreated. She crossed to the door to her quarters and keyed it open, and ushered Dack inside. "She's here. She's fine," she assured him as she locked the door behind him.

"Did Jace touch her?" he asked, his voice a low growl.

"He did," Tali spoke up. They both turned and spotted her—still naked—standing in the doorway to the head. "He didn't get far before Carmen stopped him. I washed his scent off. It made me ill."

Carmen glanced up at Dack, whose dark eyebrows had risen nearly to his hairline. He turned toward her. "Am I interrupting something?"

"We were talking," Tali replied. She sauntered toward them, and Carmen's pulse kicked into overdrive. Tali definitely had a woman's body now, and the seductive sway of her hips was distracting, almost hypnotic. Talena stopped in front of Dack and traced a finger over the bite mark on his neck. "Would you share me with her, if Carmen wanted me?"

"I didn't say—" Carmen began, but stopped when Dack said yes. She blinked as her jaw dropped in shock. "But...wait a minute, you were ready to snap Jace's spine at the idea of him touching your mate."

"Can I?" Dack asked.

"No. Why is this okay? Shouldn't you be growling and baring your teeth at me?"

"This is different," he replied.

"Different how? It's still sharing your mate."

"For one, you can't impregnate her. Males want to kill each other over a female in phase because each one wants to guarantee that the female carries his child. She might be won in several challenges, but the male who impregnates her gets to keep her as his mate."

"So Jace really could take me away from you?" Tali asked, her eyes widening at the thought.

"I won't let that happen." Dack peered at Talena's neck, and ran his thumb over her mark. She shivered, and Carmen couldn't help but notice that Tali's nipples hardened into taut peaks.

"Right. And it definitely won't happen on _my_ ship." Carmen caught Dack's gaze and they locked eyes for a moment. He inclined his head in a slight nod of agreement—Jace would not put his hands on Talena again. Carmen took a calming breath. "Okay. What else?"

Dack grinned wickedly. "It's common for a male with more than one mate to encourage his females to pleasure each other if one of them enters phase. Gives him a break once in awhile. Females in phase are...voracious."

"Am I?" Tali asked, sounding surprised.

"Yes, _a'mhain,_ you are." Dack stroked her throat, and Talena moaned.

Carmen bit her tongue, using the pain to distract her from the urge to reach out and touch Tali. She shoved her hands into her pockets again, and then she eyed Dack. Carmen knew that Tali didn't speak a word of Cy'reni, but she did, and she was surprised to hear Dack call Tali _darling_. He must have it pretty bad for her, yet he was offering to share Tali's affections. Carmen shook her head. "That's real generous of you, but it's a bad idea."

"Why?" Tali asked.

"Because Dack's a member of my crew," she replied.

"I'll just watch." Dack turned and walked away. He grabbed her desk chair, turned it toward the bed and sat down. The Cy'ren smiled, a mischievous gleam in his red eyes.

Carmen sighed, preparing a speech about the many ways this was a bad idea and not going to happen, but then Tali kissed her. She wrapped her arms around Carmen, pressing their bodies together, and the speech vanished from Carmen's thoughts. In fact most of her ability to think disappeared as she caressed Tali's bare skin—she was still as smooth as silk.

Tali whispered her name as she ran her fingers through Carmen's short-cropped hair. Their eyes locked, and for a moment it was as though the past ten years dissolved. They were two young lovers shyly undressing each other, excited about what was to come and a little afraid of getting caught. Carmen pulled off her jacket and undershirt, and Talena reached for the fly of her pants. Tali unbuttoned and unzipped the khakis, and then knelt before Carmen as she slid them down around her knees. Tali pressed her tongue against Carmen's mound through her cotton panties, and Carmen whimpered.

Tali looked up and smiled. She teased Carmen, licking and nibbling above the cloth. Carmen moaned, and then she gently drew Tali to her feet and kissed her. "The bed's that way," Carmen said, nodding toward it.

Tali grinned and moved to the bed as ordered, allowing Carmen time to undress completely. She scanned Tali's face, expecting horror when the rest of her scars were revealed. Carmen had been burned in several places over the left side of her body, and she was self-conscious about the scars. She was fortunate that there was no muscle or nerve damage, and that the doctors completely repaired the damage done to her left eye before her dishonorable discharge. But her official time as an Alliance officer ended before they could repair the scars, and she couldn't afford the expensive treatment to heal them. Most people stared or asked questions, but Tali's gaze remained locked on Carmen's as she joined the Cy'ren on the bed.

Hungry for her lover's touch, Carmen pounced on her. She hovered above Talena, kissing her passionately as she reached between Tali's thighs. Tali's hips bucked as Carmen stroked her slick slit, and she dipped two fingers inside her tight sex. Tali was already dripping wet, much to Carmen's surprise. With a wicked grin, Carmen stroked the velvet spot that made Talena moan. Carmen remembered just where to touch Tali, knowing the Cy'ren's body almost as well as her own. Pumping her fingers in and out, Carmen brought Talena to a loud and lusty climax. Tali's inner walls tightened around her fingers, and when the orgasm subsided, Carmen withdrew. She placed her slick fingers against Talena's lips, and Tali licked the juices from them.

A groan sounded from across the room, and they glanced over at Dack, who Carmen had forgotten was there. "Problem?" she asked.

"No. No problem. Please continue."

Carmen smirked and almost felt sorry for him. If he was any more aroused, he'd tear through his pants. Before she could comment on his discomfort, Talena pushed her onto her back and kissed her. Tali moved as though she intended to trail a path of kisses down Carmen's body, but Carmen grabbed her hair and maneuvered the Cy'ren's throat above her mouth. After watching Tali's reaction to having the mark touched earlier, Carmen decided to try it herself. She ran her tongue over the dark bruise and Talena moaned.

"Yes, Carmen. Please," Tali whispered.

Carmen moaned, so aroused by Tali's pleading that her sex throbbed, and then she bit down. Talena cried out in ecstasy, and Carmen's brow rose, because that was a new reaction, but she couldn't argue with the results. She sucked at Tali's skin, and Talena moaned as loudly as she had when Carmen brought her with her fingers. Suddenly Tali pulled away, breathing hard, and she lowered her head to Carmen's breasts. Her back arched at the pull of Tali's mouth and the brush of her teeth against her nipple, and pleasure jolted through her. Carmen hadn't been touched by a lover in so long, she almost wept at the simple joy of it. Tali's warm, wet tongue laved one nipple while she teased the other with her hand. Carmen closed her eyes and let go. She couldn't worry about her scars, what happened before or would happen tomorrow. Right now all she needed was Talena.

The slow burn of an orgasm built and bubbled over as Tali's teeth nipped at her. As Carmen cried out, Tali kissed down her torso and moved between her thighs, turning her enthusiastic attention to Carmen's aching pussy. She spread her legs wider as the Cy'ren licked and sucked her clit, stroking her inner walls with her fingers. Talena seemed to remember Carmen's body as well as Carmen remembered hers. Carmen gasped Tali's name and begged her not to stop as she neared another climax. She screamed when she came, and then she heard Tali cry out as well. Opening her eyes, Carmen saw that Dack had stripped and joined them on the bed, and he drove into Talena from behind.

Tali moaned her approval into Carmen's mound, and Carmen gasped at the sensations humming through her. She stroked Tali's hair, still damp from her shower, and Carmen met Dack's heavy gaze. He built the erotic experience with each slow thrust, but he kept his eyes on Carmen's. New scars crisscrossed the indigo skin of his torso, and her free hand moved to cover the burns on her side.

"Touch your breasts," he ordered. Her brow rose, and she considered reminding Dack that she was the one who gave the orders on her ship, but then he added a growled " _now_ ". Something dark and eager uncurled in her chest, and she obeyed, cupping her breasts and rolling the hardened peaks of her nipples between her fingers. Damn him for remembering. Dack was the only lover she'd had who realized that sometimes—not always—she enjoyed being submissive.

Her nipples were still tender from Talena's attention, and the added sensation pushed Carmen over the edge. When she came down again, Dack reached forward and tugged at the end of Tali's braid.

"How does she taste, _a'mhain_?"

"Divine," Tali purred in reply.

"Why don't you kiss her, so she can taste for herself?" he suggested.

With a seductive smile, Tali crawled up Carmen's body until their mouths met again. They kissed each other with eager passion, and Carmen savored the taste of herself on Tali's tongue. This time Carmen noticed the bed shifting as Dack repositioned himself, and she was prepared for Talena's delighted moan as Dack reentered her. Carmen turned her head to watch as Dack rode Tali, and Talena's lips moved to Carmen's throat. Tali nipped at the skin beneath her ear as Carmen wrapped her arms around her.

Carmen met Dack's gaze again, this time with an order of her own. "Harder. Fuck her harder."

Dack grinned and took a firmer grip on Talena's hips, and obeyed his captain.

She clutched Tali to her as Dack pounded her, caressing her soft lavender skin. Carmen thought of the times Dack had taken her, and imagined what it would be like to feel his thick cock inside her again. Talena moaned, gasped and begged them both to not stop. The sound of Tali's pleasure was enough to bring Carmen near another climax, and she took hold of Tali's hair again, turned her head to the side and bit her.

" _Yes,"_ Tali shouted.

Carmen gasped as Tali's cry sent an orgasm jolting through her. Dack moaned, and Carmen knew he was coming as well. Carmen nuzzled Tali's neck, and then returned to kissing her softly. Dack stretched out beside them and drew Tali against him, so that she lay between him and Carmen.

"You said you were just going to watch," Carmen pointed out.

Dack grinned. "Changed my mind. I couldn't resist. But I didn't break the 'no fraternization' rule. Tali made love to you, I made love to Tali."

Tali almost purred with bliss as she lay between them, and Carmen smiled. She caressed Tali's cheek, and Tali kissed her palm. Something tightened low in Carmen's gut—she'd missed Tali more than she had admitted, even to herself. She'd spent many nights dreaming of the time they'd spent together, and now she was here, like a dream come true. But like a dream, it wouldn't last.

"This does complicate things," Carmen said.

"In an enjoyable way," Dack countered.

Carmen sighed. "Troublemaker. Since you have so much energy, why don't you bring us something from the galley? I'm sure we're all hungry."

"Now?"

"Now. That's an order. We'll wait here." Carmen stroked a hand down Tali's side to rest upon her hip and smiled sweetly at Dack. Though she expected an argument, he chuckled and walked away.

"Your wish is my command, Captain," he said as he dressed.

Tali snuggled closer to Carmen after he left, and she smiled. "Can we stay here with you?"

"Both of you? In my quarters?" Carmen asked, and Tali nodded. She ached with desire at the idea, but she shook her head. "That's not a good idea."

"Why not?"

Carmen sighed. "So many reasons..."

"Do you care for me?"

"Of course I do, you know that," she replied.

"Do you still care for Dack?"

"That's...complicated. Besides, it doesn't matter how I feel about him, because it can't happen. He's a member of my crew. It's bad for ship morale if the crew can't respect me."

"Why wouldn't they respect you? Because you were with a Cy'ren?"

"No, that's not—"

"Because you were with another female?" Tali interrupted.

"Yes. No. Actually I'm not sure about that one," she admitted.

Her scars kept most people away, so she hadn't worried about her sexual appetites being an issue on the _Talon_. With the exception of Dack, most of her relationships during her time with the Alliance hadn't lasted longer than shore leave. Carmen kept everyone at arm's length. She was the daughter of Admiral Geoffrey Hawke, and she'd struggled to live up to his reputation. Her father had high expectations of her, none of which involved loving a Cy'ren, male or female.

"Are there any rules against the captain having a personal relationship?" Tali asked.

Carmen grimaced. "There aren't a lot of rules in the resistance. We're sort of making it up as we go along. But I've seen it happen time and again. If the captain gets involved with someone under their command, it interferes with all of their decisions."

"You're not just any captain. You're you. And it's your ship. Don't you get to make the rules?" Tali kissed her to punctuate her statement, and Carmen considered it. It _was_ her ship. If she wanted to indulge in spending time with Tali and Dack, shouldn't she be allowed to do it? Jace would throw a fit, which meant House Morningstar would as well, but it would be worth it to keep Tali with her, if only for a short time. After the phase ended, Tali would go back to her family in Alliance space, and Carmen could focus on her mission again.

Besides, as far as most of the galaxy was concerned, Carmen was a washed-up disappointment, so to hell with what anyone thought.

"All right. You both can stay."

# Chapter Seven

The bridge crew stared at the chronometer as it ticked down the last seconds until the _Talon_ pulled the slaver ship out of lightspeed. Though it had started life as a simple passenger transport, the _Talon_ had been torn apart, rebuilt and modified to ambush slaver ships. If they calculated it right, the slavers would appear within firing range, and the _Talon_ would disable their engines before the slavers even knew what happened.

_If_ they calculated it right. A few meters off and the ship would slip their net, or crash into them. Fortunately, none of the previous missions under Carmen's command had gone horribly awry. Her navigator, Rizzoli, was retired Alliance military, and he knew his craft. They'd pulled ships a bit too far out of range before and had to chase them down, but the _Talon_ was faster than it looked.

The chrono hit zero, and the slaver ship appeared off the _Talon's_ starboard bow, right on schedule.

"Fire," Carmen ordered.

"Aye, Captain," Jace replied. Four beams shot from the _Talon's_ cannons, but instead of impacting against the hull, the energy dissipated as it hit the protective wall of an energy shield. "Weapons ineffective."

Carmen cursed inwardly. Slaver ships almost never had shields—this was a bad sign. "Raise our shields and fire again. And broadcast the boarding warning."

"Aye."

The automated message warning the slavers to surrender and prepare to be boarded droned from the _Talon_ as it fired. Again their weapons hit the slavers' shields, and this time their target returned fire. The deck rocked beneath Carmen's boots as the _Talon_ shuddered, and she turned to Sam's station. "Damage report?"

"Minor damage to the starboard engines. They've got upgraded cannons. Cut right through our shields. If you'd let me modify _our_ cannons—"

"Not now, Chief. I want to know why that ship's still moving, Lieutenant Commander Harrow."

Jace glanced at her, his brow creased with annoyance. "I'm not familiar with their shield configuration. Our cannons aren't affecting it."

"Charge the EMP," she ordered.

The crew paused around her, and she noticed their hesitation with another silent curse. Using the EMP was risky, because it drained their ship of almost all their power for a few minutes. The slaver ship would be dead in space, but it put the _Talon_ in danger if reinforcements arrived. Carmen was already concerned about the situation, because a ship that should have been a nice, fat transport was showing teeth. She'd risk it.

Jace nodded. "Aye, Captain. Charging the EMP."

"Fire when ready."

Sam appeared at her side. "Captain, if we use the EMP—"

"Get down to the engine room. I want as much power to the engines as you can manage after we disable them."

"You got it."

Sam retreated from the bridge, and Carmen marched over to Jace's station. She looked over her first officer's shoulder as the EMP's indicator bar rose percent by slow percent. "Can I trust you on the boarding party?" she asked, her voice low.

"Of course. The enemy is firing again," he warned. The _Talon_ shook with the impact, and Carmen turned to Rizzoli, who had taken over Samlen's station.

"We've lost starboard engine two," he reported.

_Damn._ The indicator passed fifty percent. "I want your word, Harrow." It was not a request, but a demand, and the Cy'ren shot her a cool glare. "I need to know I can rely on you to do your job."

"My personal feelings for Lieutenant Loren will not interfere with my duties," he replied. "Can you say the same?"

"Of course," she said.

"Your scent says otherwise, but I believe you. You needn't worry. I will protect my crew."

Carmen blinked in surprise, and Jace smiled thinly. She cleared her throat with a brusque nod. "Go join the boarding party. Warn them there may be more resistance than normal. I don't like the look of that ship."

"Aye, Captain."

Carmen took over his station, staring at the indicator and willing it to move faster. When it hit one hundred percent, she hit the comm. "Firing the EMP. Brace yourselves."

The beam shot from the _Talon_ and lanced through the slavers' shields. The lights of their ship flickered and died, and then the lights on the bridge faded as well. For a moment everything was plunged into darkness, but then the emergency lights kicked in.

"Can you get us over to dock with them?" she asked, and Rizzoli nodded.

"It won't be pretty, but I can get us there on thrusters."

"Do it."

"Aye, Captain."

Carmen moved from station to station, frowning at the number of systems that were offline while the ship struggled to recover from the loss of power. The essential systems like life support were still up, but the ship was vulnerable, and she didn't like it.

Slow and ponderous, the _Talon_ limped onward to close the distance to their target. Carmen's palms began to sweat as they maneuvered alongside it, and the ship shivered as their hulls connected. Now the rest of the mission was up to the boarding party.

The boarding party was armed, armored and ready to go. Despite the danger, Dack was looking forward to the fight, until Jace joined the group waiting at the airlock. He eyed Jace with suspicion. The other male had kept his distance over the past few days, probably afraid to cross the captain now that he and Tali had taken up residence in Carmen's quarters.

"Why are you here?" Dack asked.

"The captain ordered me to join you, Lieutenant." There was a not-so-subtle emphasis on Dack's rank, a reminder that Jace outranked him aboard the _Talon_. "The target has shields and weapons, so they are likely to have a stronger resistance than usual waiting for us."

Dack nodded. That did not bode well. If the slavers were increasing their defenses, it would be harder for their allies to take them out. Not all of the resistance ships were as well equipped as the _Talon_. It would mean liberating fewer slaves.

A metallic clang sounded from the other side of the airlock, and the indicator lights flashed green. "We're good to go," Ensign Wyle announced.

"Proceed," Jace ordered. With Jace along it was no longer Dack's mission, and he had to follow the other Cy'ren's lead, much as it pained him to do so.

Wyle hit the switch and the airlock whooshed open with a rush of chilled air. The team moved forward to the second door and raised their weapons, ready for action. It took Wyle a few moments to power up the dead ship's airlock, and it opened into a darkened passageway.

They moved forward toward the ship's bridge, Jace in the lead and Dack bringing up the rear. Their human crewmates carried headlamps to light the way, but Cy'ren were adept at seeing in the dark, giving them an advantage. They also carried swords in addition to their lasers, which humans did not. Cy'ren still embraced bladed weapons when most of the galaxy relied on pistols and rifles. They all wore the same armor, a light suit of interlocking pieces meant to protect against laser hits, fire, shrapnel and the occasional bladed weapon.

The slaver ship was silent as they moved through it. If the EMP had penetrated the entire ship, the slavers' lasers would be dead and they wouldn't be able to mount much of a counterattack. But if the bulk of the charge had hit the ship's engines, then they had something to worry about.

Jace motioned for them to hold their positions and take cover. Laser bolts lit up the corridor from attackers before and behind them, and the team was caught in the crossfire. They returned fire, and though their armor could withstand a few direct hits, they were exposed and wouldn't last long. Jace charged forward as Dack engaged the group behind them. The Cy'ren were swift, and their enhanced blades pierced armor more easily than lasers. In the end the slavers weren't prepared for close combat—few mercs were—and they were overwhelmed.

After Dack yanked his sword from the last slaver's body, he rejoined the group. The bitter scents of ozone and melted plastic filled the air. His people were singed but alive. Jace looked the group over and nodded to Dack. "Take half the party to the holding cells. We'll sweep for other crew and set the charges."

"Aye, sir. Let's move out," he replied.

Four people went with Jace and four with Dack, and Dack took point as he led his team to the cargo hold in the belly of the ship. Without the buzz of lights or the hum of engines, the corridors were filled with eerie silence. He hated it when they used the EMP. It never seemed to end well, and it slowed them down as they forced their way through doors that were stuck shut.

The group reached the final corridor and he signaled for everyone to stop. "Something's wrong," Dack said.

"What is it?" Wyle asked.

A series of metallic pings skittered across the deck toward them, and Dack shouted as he turned to run. "Grenade!"

He managed a few steps before the explosion lifted him and sent him flying. His armor absorbed most of the impact, but it still hurt like hell. Dack landed in a clumsy heap, but then he rolled and returned fire. Their attackers were hidden by smoke and darkness, and a cry of pain beside him warned that one of his team was injured. Crouching low, Dack moved forward. He ducked as bolts zinged over his head, one so close it scorched his hair, and he second-guessed his decision to leave the armor's helmet behind. Finally he spotted his targets—three figures crouched behind crates just in front of the cargo bay door. A lucky shot from his group hit one of them, and as the man fell, Dack used it as his chance to attack.

Dack lunged forward and stabbed a man as he knelt to examine his fallen comrade. That left one still standing, and the slaver shot Dack point blank in the back. The bolt burned through Dack's armor and seared his skin, and he turned and howled in pain. He slashed at his attacker's arm, and his sword embedded in his forearm. This time the slaver screamed, and Dack pulled the sword free and stabbed it through the man's throat. The slaver gurgled and collapsed.

"Clear," Dack yelled to his team.

"We lost Greggs," Wyle informed him.

Dack swore and sheathed his weapon. His heart sank—Dack hadn't lost anyone under his command before. "We'll take care of her body after we get the passengers to the _Talon_."

"Aye, sir."

Every slaver ship was different in how it handled transport of its product. When his team opened the cargo bay door, they heard a chorus of gasps and stifled screams. The slaves had been packed in like cattle, and the smell of fear and unwashed bodies was overwhelming. A few bedrolls were scattered across the deck nearby—the bastards hadn't even given their slaves proper beds to sleep in—and then he turned his attention to the crowd. The lights of his party's headlamps swept over them, and the slaves shrank back as far as they could into the corners of the bay.

He recited his speech first in Cy'reni and then in galactic standard. They were hesitant, as usual, and an elderly female eyed him shrewdly from the edge of the crowd. Dack beckoned to her.

"My lady, will you help me lead our people from here?" he asked. A frightened mob wasn't likely to follow him, not in an orderly manner, but they would follow someone they trusted. All he needed do was win her over, and they would follow her.

"I have had many masters. How can I know you aren't _rescuing_ us to sell us yourself?" she asked in reply.

"I am a shadow sword. All I have is my word and my weapon. I am sworn to see our people safely returned to Cyprena."

"To what end?"

"So that we can all live free."

The female considered his words for a tense moment, and then she nodded. She barked orders to the younger females around her, and the crowd began to move. Dack smiled, knowing his mission was one step closer to being complete.

Carmen ran a hand through her hair as she stared at the status report. The _Talon_ wasn't crippled, but it had a way to go to recover. She glanced up from the data board as Jace entered the bridge.

"Report, Lieutenant Commander?" she asked as he joined her.

"Our new passengers are aboard. We encountered strong resistance. Lieutenant Loren and Ensign Wyle suffered burns during the assault and are in the medical bay. We lost Sergeant Greggs. She caught one in the head."

Guilt squeezed Carmen's chest, but she nodded calmly. She hated losing people, but sending crewmembers to their deaths was a burden of command. "Are the charges set?"

"Aye, Captain."

"Blow the charges once we reach the minimum safe distance," she ordered. Carmen crossed to the engineering station and frowned down at the sea of blinking red lights. She punched the comm. "Sam, why is that number two engine still down?"

"It's fried, Cap. We'll need to put into port to repair it," he replied, his voice strained.

"We don't have time for delays, Chief."

"I can push the rest of the engines to one hundred and ten percent, but not for long without risking a burnout."

"Do it," she ordered. Carmen turned to Rizzoli. "Get us out of here. Set a course for Cyprena."

"Aye, Captain. Disengaging from the target now."

A muffled thump sounded as the _Talon_ drew away from the disabled slaver ship. They turned and moved away, every movement slow as though the _Talon_ had just wakened from a long, deep sleep. Carmen tugged at the hem of her jacket, missing the security of the stiff fabric of her Alliance uniform. One day she'd wear it again, if she didn't get herself killed on one of these missions first.

Alarms blared as a ship dropped out of lightspeed near them, and Carmen swore under her breath at the sight of it. Probably another slaver, and she hoped it wouldn't be as troublesome as the last one had been. "Raise our shields."

"Shields are offline," Jace replied.

"Well, get them back online."

Jace grimaced. "You can have shields or life support. There's only enough power for one."

"Then give me shields. We won't need life support if they hit us," Carmen warned.

"Aye, Captain. Diverting power from life support to shields."

The lights dimmed and the hiss of the ventilation system vanished. Squaring her shoulders, Carmen gazed out the viewport. The ship was leaner than the average transport, and that did not bode well.

"Are they hailing us?" she asked.

"No. They're scanning the disabled ship," Rizzoli replied.

"Captain, we have reached minimum safe distance. Shall I blow the charges?" Jace asked, and she nodded. The Cy'ren flipped a switch, and the disabled ship exploded with a short-lived fireball. Debris scattered in every direction, and the new arrival turned to engage the _Talon_.

"How long to the jump, Rizzoli?"

"Three minutes, give or take," he replied.

The enemy ship fired, and the _Talon_ shook from the impact. A shower of sparks shot from a control panel, and orange flames leapt to life across it. Carmen grabbed a fire suppressor and covered the panel in freezing fog.

"We don't have three minutes. Return fire," she ordered.

"Weapons systems are offline, Captain," Jace reminded her.

"I don't care if you have to lean out the airlock with a sniper rifle, Harrow. Hit them back," Carmen snapped.

His lip curled in a sneer, but he nodded sharply. "Aye, Captain. Rerouting available power."

Jace's nimble gray hands danced over the panel of the weapons station as he acquired the power needed to charge the cannons. Carmen's lungs burned from fumes and anxiety, and finally two of the _Talon's_ cannons fired. This time the beams slammed into the shields, giving as good as the _Talon_ had gotten. Hopefully it gave their pursuers a second thought. Slavers weren't known for bravery or heroics.

To Carmen's irritation the ship kept coming, and it fired again. Sam barked at them over the intercom. "We're losing the number one port engine."

"Time to jump?"

"Still a minute out," Rizzoli replied.

"Drop the shields and transfer that power to weapons. Hit 'em with everything we've got," Carmen ordered.

This time when the _Talon_ fired, all four cannons lit up and hit the enemy ship. The ship ground to a halt, buying the _Talon_ enough time to escape. When they leaped into lightspeed, Carmen breathed a sigh of relief and turned to her navigator.

"Can we make it to Cyprena?"

"No," Rizzoli replied, shaking his head. "We can make it to Jump Station 9. Barely, if nothing else goes wrong. We can repair and resupply there."

Carmen nodded. "Set a course. And keep your fingers crossed."

Jump Station 9 was in the neutral zone between Syndicate and Alliance space. Jump stations were rough places, notorious for being filled with mercs and bounty hunters. The _Talon_ fit right in, but if they ran into any slavers it would get ugly fast.

"You have the bridge, Lieutenant Commander Harrow. I'm going to see how bad things are in the engine room."

# Chapter Eight

Talena found it near impossible to concentrate on the screen in front of her while the ship was bouncing around. She'd spent the past few hours analyzing data while Carmen and Dack were off preparing for battle. On one hand she trusted that Carmen would keep them all safe, but on the other she was terrified of something terrible happening. She kept obsessively sniffing the air for smoke, but only found the lingering scents of Carmen and Dack. The three of them had barely left the room over the past few days, thanks to the endless desire brought on by the phase. Now her lovers were putting themselves in danger while Talena hid in the captain's quarters, reading financial files. It seemed unfair that they risked their lives while Talena was safe, but she knew it was silly for her to be anywhere else. As they frequently reminded her, she was a civilian and not a soldier. The best way Talena could help her people was to solve the mystery of the Eppes's financial data.

_Her people._ After a lifetime lived among humans it seemed odd to embrace her Cy'ren heritage. Her biological family was a mysterious, empty hole in her history, and now she might learn the truth of what happened to them. Being with Dack made it easy to picture a new life among the Cy'ren, and she began to ponder the idea of opening a gallery on their home world. It could be fun...and then she reminded herself that her thoughts were influenced by the phase, and her fried brain would think of any way to build a life with her mate. Talena would think clearer when it was over. For now, she was going with the flow, and doing what she could with the slavers' files.

She looked up as the door opened and Carmen entered. Talena leapt from her chair and hurried to her side. "Are you all right?"

Carmen nodded and hugged her. "I'm fine. Dack's got a laser burn. He'll be fine. I'm here to take you to him so you can fuss over him."

"Thank you." Filled with relief for Carmen, edged with concern for Dack, Talena returned to her terminal and shut it off before hurrying after Carmen. "Is the ship okay?"

"We've lost two engines, but we're still moving. We're going to have to detour to a space station to make repairs."

"Is that bad?" Talena asked, wincing. The lights flickered in the corridor, and that couldn't be a good sign.

"Could be worse. We'll be okay." Carmen paused and gave her a tight smile, but it didn't ease the tension in Talena's chest. "It just means a few more days before we get to Cyprena."

She followed close behind Carmen, and when they arrived at the medical bay Talena gasped at the sight of the burn blistering Dack's indigo skin. He sat shirtless atop an examination table as the ship's doctor tended to his wound. Talena rushed to his side, and he took her hands in his and kissed her.

"Don't worry, _a'mhain._ It looks worse than it feels," he assured her.

"You said you've only been shot a few times. This is more than a few."

Dack chuckled. "It's been a busy week."

"Keep an eye on her. I'm heading to engineering for an update," Carmen said.

"Wait. I think I've figured out what the anomaly is in the data. Or at least where it is," Talena corrected.

Carmen paused. "Oh?"

"It's the supply numbers. They're too constant."

"How so?" Dack asked.

"It's very strange. Every product has fluctuations in its availability. Like wire, for example. Sometimes a supplier has too much, or they're out of stock in a certain gauge, or they discontinue carrying it," she explained, though it felt wrong to compare people to products. Talena doubted the slavers felt any guilt about it. "It prevents a buyer from being able to always receive what they want. But there isn't any evidence of that in the numbers. Every order has its demand met, no matter how large, small or specific."

"And there's no delay in meeting the demands?" he asked.

"Not that I've found, and that struck me as odd. I mean, I can't always rely on my vendors to have the supplies I need. How can these slavers deliver with such consistency? Where are they getting a steady supply of slaves?"

"Not from Cyprena. There would be reports of people going missing, and they'd have a hell of a time getting them off world," Dack said.

"Right." Carmen frowned, running a hand through her hair. "Most of the slavers we hit are brokers. They buy from holders and sell to other clients. If the Eppes had enough connections, they could cover orders like you're describing, but they'd have to have a massive information network."

"And they don't," Dack said. "Their group isn't that big. No group's that big. Hell, not even the Syndicate's military is that big. They have to have a constant source of new slaves to handle what you're describing."

"Like..." The terrible words stuck in Talena's throat, and she coughed to clear it. "Like some sort of breeding facility, like a purebred dog kennel?"

"It still wouldn't work," the doctor spoke up. She stepped out from behind Dack and bowed her head in introduction. "I'm Dr. Morgan."

"Pleased to meet you," Talena replied. The doctor was a human woman, with dark hair that was graying at the temples.

"Why wouldn't it work?" Carmen prompted.

"For reasons similar to those Miss Spenser mentioned. There would be a number of problems with maintaining a breeding population. Females may die in childbirth or have stillborn children, and that would affect availability. Without genetic engineering, which is costly, there is no way to ensure that the children have the desired traits, such as being born female. A facility would be needed to house them all, and that comes with additional issues—overhead costs, security and time. It would take years for their slaves to mature."

"So where are they getting them?" Carmen asked.

"Cloning?" Tali suggested.

"Also expensive, prohibitively so," the doctor answered. "I'd guess that they have another constant source of Cy'ren. Perhaps a colony."

"Someone would've noticed if the Eppes took over a Cy'ren colony," Dack said.

"It's worth looking into. The council may know something about it." Carmen sighed and rubbed her eyes. "Think I'm getting a headache."

"Would you like something for that?" Dr. Morgan asked.

"No, thank you. I'll be in the engine room. Stay out of trouble." The captain shot the two Cy'ren a warning glance, and Talena blushed.

"Understood," Dack replied. Carmen left without another word, and Dack brushed his fingers over Talena's neck. "Are you all right?"

She jumped at the sudden burn of the contact, but then she nodded. "I'm fine."

"If you'd like, I can take a sample of Miss Spenser's blood now and include it when I send the group's for processing," Dr. Morgan offered.

"Processing?" Talena asked.

"To determine your ancestry," she replied. "We send DNA data to the resistance, and they run it through their database to determine which family and house a Cy'ren belongs to. Most slaves have no information on where their family originated. Actually that's another strike against the cloning idea. The resistance would have noticed identical DNA results by now."

"True," Dack agreed.

"I would like that, please," Talena said.

"One moment."

The doctor walked away to find the necessary equipment, and Dack drew Talena close for a tender kiss. "I missed you," he said softly.

"I was worried about you."

He grinned. "The job's easier when I have armor. And less bloody."

She shook her head and sighed. "It's not funny. My father's a captain, and I grew up on a military base. I know how bad a mission can get. People shipped out for a tour and returned in a coffin too often."

Dack's expression sobered. "You're right, I shouldn't joke. We did lose someone on my team."

A spike of icy fear stabbed her chest. Dack was hurt—he could've been killed. Someone else had. Talena had to be mad to be considering taking a soldier on as a mate. He kissed her again and she pushed the thought away. _Temporary_ —this was only until the end of the phase, and then she would return home to Athenia where she belonged.

"Are the people you rescued all right?"she asked, changing the subject.

"They're scared, but they seem fine."

"Can I meet them?" she asked. His brow creased as he thought it over, and then he nodded.

"It should be safe. The group's made of females and children. I won't have to fight more males for your affections," he teased.

Talena blushed, and the doctor appeared with a hypo needle to take her blood sample. It was quick and nearly painless, and Talena marveled at the idea that such a small amount of blood might be able to answer all the questions she had about her birth parents. What if they were still alive? She might be able to meet them...

"If you wish, I can ink your mating marks now," Dr. Morgan offered. "It will only take a few moments more."

Talena blinked in surprise at the suggestion, and Dack peered at her. "Do you want that?" he asked.

"What sort of marks are they?" she asked.

"Two marks, here," he replied, running a finger over the unblemished side of her throat. "Beneath where your ancestry marks would be. The symbols would be my name and the crest of my house."

"And you'll have them as well?"

"Yes. For now just your name, and then your house once we discover it."

She pondered it. Tattoos were anything but temporary, but it would give her something on the unmarked side of her neck—a positive mark, unlike the ownership brand blemishing her skin. Dack promised to let her go if she wanted to leave, and if she bore his mark it would keep other males at bay in the future. It might even aid in continuing to keep Jace away for the time being, and that would be worth it.

"Do _you_ want this?" she asked.

"Yes," he answered without hesitation. His certainty stole her breath for a moment.

"Why?"

"Because this time has been special to me. I would be honored to have you as my mate. And should you choose to leave, it will be a remembrance of you."

_Special._ Talena couldn't remember the last time someone considered time spent with her to be special. Certainly not her customers on the _Trident_ , or the anonymous flings she'd had since the phase started. Likely no lover had considered her worth remembering since she'd been with Carmen.

Again, Dack made it her choice. Be sensible and return to the safety of her home, or take the risk and leap after the chance for a new life. That decision was too big to make at the moment, but the mating marks were a small thing in comparison, and Talena nodded.

"Yes, please do."

Dr. Morgan smiled. "Excellent. I'll prepare the inking instrument."

"Will it hurt?" Talena asked. Dack stroked her hair reassuringly.

"It stings," he replied, "and it will be sore for a bit. It's easier than being shot." He grinned, and she laughed.

"Good to know." Her gaze wandered to the line of slave marks starting beneath his left ear and ending an inch above his nipple. So many marks—thirteen in all, she'd counted.

Dack noticed her regard, and he caressed her cheek. "I'm a much better shadow sword than I was a slave."

"Well you must have been a terrible slave, considering how often you're shot as a shadow sword," she teased, and this time he laughed.

"That's true, _a'mhain._ "

Dack smiled, and she blushed. Once more Talena fought back the urge to ask him what the endearment meant—assuming it was an endearment. She didn't speak Cy'reni. She was almost afraid to know what it meant, as though knowing would remove some of its exotic mystique. There was, however, another question on her mind.

"What do your black marks mean?" she asked. Two black boxes occupied the space below his family marks, and he reached up and stroked them.

"They were my mate Kira's marks." He took a deep breath as though he was going to continue, but then he shook his head. "I'm not ready to share that story yet."

Talena swallowed hard and nodded. "I understand." _How awful_ , she thought, and wondered what had happened to Kira. It must be something terrible to have affected him so deeply that he couldn't speak of it.

"Here we are," Dr. Morgan said. She held a small silver box topped with a display screen in her hand, and it looked nonthreatening enough. "Are you ready to proceed?"

"Yes, please," Talena replied.

"These are the correct runes?" she asked Dack. He peered down at the images on the screen and nodded. "Very good. This will only take a few moments."

Dr. Morgan placed the bottom of the box against Talena's skin, and the metal was cold. As the instrument buzzed to life it did sting as Dack warned. The sensation was sharp and prickly, like being stuck with a multitude of pins, and when it was finished it left a heated ache as though she'd spent too much time in the sun. She was brave and didn't flinch, and though she couldn't see the results, Dack appeared pleased. Talena put her hands into the pockets of her borrowed coverall to avoid touching it. The doctor inked his mark next, and Talena liked the look of it. She had never seen her name written in Cy'reni. The curling script was lovely, and she began pondering ideas for a series of sculptures.

"If you two would accompany me, I would like to visit our new guests next," Dr. Morgan said.

"Of course," Dack replied. "They may be a bit too wound up yet to handle giving blood samples."

"Understood. Have you any medical training, Miss Spenser?"

"No, I'm afraid I don't," she said.

"Well you'll learn some today. I can use an assistant in collecting the samples, and the last time Lieutenant Loren aided me, he made a child cry."

Dack scowled. "Not on purpose."

"You don't like children?" Talena asked, peering up at him.

"I like children. They don't always like me back."

Dack dressed quickly, and Dr. Morgan slung a messenger bag over her shoulder and handed Talena a metal case slightly smaller than a briefcase. They left the med bay, and the corridor lights continued to flicker as they followed the doctor through the ship. Anxiety fluttered in Talena's stomach and she clung to Dack's arm. She had seen Cy'ren slaves before, but not often. Talena hadn't encountered her first slave until moving to the _Trident_ , because Aquantia was on the outer edge of the Syndicate systems. Passengers on the _Trident_ had always arrived with an abundance of luggage, including their slaves. They treated their slaves terribly, and it had been difficult to watch. It had been even worse when her customers assumed that Talena was a slave herself, and demanded to see the shop's "real" owner. Captain Rutherford had stepped in on a few occasions when difficult customers got out of hand.

They arrived in a large room that reminded her of a common room in a dormitory. It was meant to be a comfortable space, but the tension in the air was thick like smoke. Cy'ren clustered into tight groups, and Talena had never seen so many in one place before, particularly so many females. She'd never seen a Cy'ren child, and there were several, ranging in age from infants to teenagers. _They must be so afraid_ , she thought, and hugged her arms to her chest. She didn't remember her life before her rescue, or even the rescue itself, but she knew she must have been terribly afraid.

The doctor looked up at Dack. "If you would be so kind?"

Dack nodded and stepped forward. He announced that the doctor was there to examine them, and asked that if anyone had any injuries or ailments they should please speak up. He also explained that they would take blood samples and send the data to Cyprena to help locate the families of anyone who did not know which house they came from. He repeated the announcement in Cy'reni, and the language sounded as lovely as the script looked. It was lilting and lyrical, like a folk song, and she decided that she wanted to learn it.

An old woman approached first, her brow furrowed as she looked from Dack to Talena. The woman asked Dack something in Cy'reni, and he smiled and stroked Talena's hair as he replied. Talena looked up at him, curious.

"She asked if you are my mate," he explained.

"Oh." Talena blushed as she smiled and nodded to the woman.

"May I help you with anything?" Dr. Morgan asked. She pulled a data board from her bag and handed it to Dack.

The old woman shook her head. "I know my house," she replied slowly, the words nearly obscured by a thick brogue. "I am not sick. My name is Katya. I am Sunsinger."

Dack asked her something in Cy'reni, and they spoke back and forth for a few moments. Talena assumed Sunsinger was a house, like Morningstar and Nightfall, but Dack's brow was creased with concern. When they reached an agreement, Katya waved a young woman standing nearby to join them.

The process was slow, but with patience and a good deal of translating from Dack, Dr. Morgan was able to examine each Cy'ren in turn, over fifty in all. Some had been beaten and still bore fresh bruises, others were lined with old scars like the ones crisscrossing Dack's back. Many had been bought and sold by several masters, but like Talena had no idea who their family was or where they had come from. The doctor handed the small vials of blood samples to Talena, and she labeled each and set them in a tray inside the metal case. When they were finished they prepared to leave, and Katya placed her gnarled hand over Talena's as she shut the metal case.

"Your mother? Her name?" Katya asked.

"I don't know. I don't remember her," Talena said.

"You look Sunsinger."

Talena turned to Dack, and he frowned at the comment. He stroked her hair again, and then let his hand rest against the side of Talena's throat, brushing over the new mate marks. "Now she is Nightfall," he replied.

The old woman grunted as though unimpressed, and she turned and walked away. Talena shivered and rubbed her arms. "Is that bad? Being a Sunsinger?"

"No, not really. It's a large house, the third largest now. They had a great deal of tragedy before the peace accord."

Dr. Morgan motioned to Talena. "Give that case here. I'll take the samples back to the med bay with me. I'm sure you two have some energy to burn off." She smiled at them with a knowing twinkle in her green eyes, and Talena blushed.

"Thank you, Dr. Morgan," she said politely.

"I'll let you know the results of your tests as soon as we receive them," Dr. Morgan said.

She smiled and left, and Dack pulled Talena to him and brushed a kiss against her hair. Several soft sighs sounded from a group of nearby Cy'ren, and Talena's blush deepened as she realized the females were watching them, envious of the attention Dack paid her.

"Come on, let's see if Carmen's back from the engine room," Dack suggested. She took his hand and let him lead her away.

Once they were alone she glanced up at him. "What happened to the Sunsingers?"

"It's not important right now. It's a bit of a long story."

"But you seemed worried that I might be one."

"Worried for you. They can be...difficult to deal with. But you're my mate now, and that makes you a Nightfall."

"You think our families won't get along, if I have living relatives," she guessed, and he nodded.

"It's almost guaranteed. I wouldn't worry about it. A grandchild or two should mellow both parties."

Talena's brow rose at the casual mention of the possibility of children, and she kept silent until they entered the captain's quarters. Carmen wasn't back yet, and Talena put her hands on her hips as she sized up Dack.

"So, you think I'm going to breed with you, do you?" she asked. Talena fought to appear nonchalant about the idea, but the corners of her mouth twitched as she suppressed a teasing grin.

Dack advanced on her with a hungry growl, but he stopped within arm's reach of her. He flexed his hands and took a deep, shaky breath. "I don't want to force you, Tali. I don't want you to do anything you don't want to do."

Something eased within her heart, a squeezing pressure she didn't know was there until it was gone, and she stepped close to him. Talena held his face in her hands. "I don't know what I want. Right now, when you're near, all I want is you. And Carmen," she amended, blushing. "I want to stay here, but I know I can't. I'm a civilian, as you keep pointing out."

"It's not safe for you here," Dack said. He held her close as she slipped her arms around him, and he kissed the top of her head.

"I don't know where to go. My shop...that life feels so distant now, and it's only been a few days. It's like I'm dreaming. I don't know if I can go back to living like that. Not knowing what I know now. All those people..." she trailed off. Dack continued to hold her, murmuring to her in Cy'reni. _A'mhain, a'stera._ She didn't know what the words meant, but they were comforting. "What will happen to them? My family took care of me after I was rescued."

"Their houses will take them in, once we know where they belong."

"Will your house take me in?"

"Yes. You're my mate, and you will always have a place with my family."

" _Always_ ," she repeated softly. It was a heavy word.

Dack kissed her, and she closed her eyes and surrendered. He picked her up and carried her the few feet to the bed. He deftly removed her clothing and laid her back, and she watched him as he stripped as well. Talena's fingers itched to touch him, to run her hands over the flat plane of his abs and the tight curve of his ass. When he joined her, he laid his body over hers, and she clutched him close. Talena knew every inch of his body, just as he knew hers, but she knew so little about Dack himself. One of the problems of being caught up in the phase was that they did more moaning than talking.

"I need to know you," she blurted. "If there's going to be an always, or a child, I have to know more about you."

"I'd say you know me better than most."

"But I don't. I know where you're ticklish," she said, trailing her fingers along his sides, just above his hips. Dack flinched, as she knew he would, and she smiled. "But I don't know what your favorite color is. Or your favorite food. Or where you learned how to fight—I'm still not clear on what a shadow sword does."

"Hmm. At the moment, I'm very partial to lavender." His lips brushed hers, and then he kissed the newly-marked right side of her neck. Dack bit her, and she gasped as her body reacted. Pleasure traveled in a sharp line straight from her throat to her aching sex. Her back arched as she held him closer, tangling her fingers in his black hair to encourage him to drink. She spread her legs wider and angled her hips to meet him as his cock plunged into her.

She moaned blissfully. "That only answers one question."

His mouth pulled at her skin as he rode her, and she cried out as each thrust added to the pressure building within her. Dack's mouth moved away from her throat and he grinned down at her, his lips stained dark with her blood.

"I'll answer more," he assured her. "After."

He bared his throat to her. Talena nudged Dack until he rolled onto his back, allowing her to be on top. She rocked her hips and he groaned, and then she returned his bite. Before the phase, Talena never would have thought that biting could be erotic, or that the taste of blood could be arousing, but now she craved Dack's blood. He gripped her hips and thrust into her as she drank, and then she kissed him. This time she growled as she savored the taste on their tongues, lust raging through her like wildfire. Talena drew away and sat back, crying out his name at the feel of his hard shaft penetrating deep within her.

She rode him, fast and desperate, her body aching with need. Talena reached up and rolled one of her nipples between her thumb and forefinger, and she dipped her other hand down to massage her clit.

"Come for me, _a'mhain,_ " Dack urged her.

Her breath caught at the command in his voice, and she threw her head back as she came. Ecstasy surged through her in delicious waves, and Dack murmured to her in Cy'reni. He eased her hand out of the way and caressed her sex, and the contact renewed her desire.

"Again," he murmured.

Talena nodded, picking up her hurried pace again. This time she teased both of her breasts as Dack stroked her clit. His touch was rough, relentless and demanding, and she reveled in it. She stared down at him and their eyes locked. His gaze was heated as he encouraged her to come again, to come with him. Finally Dack groaned and closed his eyes as his cock pulsed within her, and it sent her over the edge.

Overwhelmed, she fell forward onto his chest. Dack held her close as they recovered, and then he rolled her beneath him and withdrew. He lay at her side, kissing and caressing her until her breathing returned to normal.

"You promised me more answers," she prompted.

"I did." Dack trailed his fingers over her neck, and then he drew the blanket over them. Tali snuggled close, and his breath was warm against her hair as he spoke. "Shadow swords are born, not made. I was born to fight, which annoyed my first few owners. Males are undesirable to slave holders because we're more aggressive, and I was a perfect example of that. I was six years old the first time I ran, and I've been a runner ever since."

"And after you ran you became a shadow sword?"

"Not at first. I'd never even heard of the swords the first few times I ran. I was a thief, then a mercenary, constantly moving from world to world to stay ahead of the slave hunters. That's how I met Kira. She was a runner and a merc..." he trailed off. Talena propped herself up on one arm to study him. His face was pinched with tension, and it was a strange thing to see him so affected by emotional rather than physical pain. Whatever had happened to Kira, it was a wound that never healed.

"You don't have to tell me now. It can wait until another day, but is that why you've been so understanding about allowing me to leave? Because you're afraid of what might happen if I stay?" she asked.

Dack pondered that for a long moment, and then nodded slowly. "Yes. I'm in a better place now than I was then, but my life is still dangerous. We're criminals in Syndicate space. You'd be safe on Cyprena, but every time I leave on a mission there's no guarantee I'll come back."

"You forget I'm a navy brat. Mother and I lived with that fear every time my father left on tour. There are plenty of dangers in Alliance space too," she pointed out with a dry smile.

"You're right, I did forget, _a'mhain_ ," he replied. He stroked her hair and pulled her close again. "After...I met a shadow sword who recognized my talent. I came with him to Cyprena, and my blood was analyzed. I learned that I was from House Nightfall, and they reunited me with my mother."

"You were separated from her?" Tali asked.

"When I was an infant."

"I don't remember my birth mother, or my father. My parents tried to find my birth family, but there was so little they could do. I didn't even have a name. I was named for my adoptive mother's maternal grandmother, Magdalena."

"I like your name. It's beautiful."

Talena blushed. "You must like it, you agreed to wear it." She kissed the symbol on his neck, and he chuckled. "So House Nightfall taught you how to be a shadow sword?"

"Yes. Before the peace accord, each house had a number of swords who protected it. Now we protect all of Cyprena."

"How long ago did the peace accord happen?"

"Almost thirty years now. Cy'ren history before that is long and bloody. Not that it's less bloody now, but at least we're fighting the slavers and not each other."

She wasn't sure she believed that, judging by Jace's behavior. "What's House Nightfall like?"

"Right now it's the largest house. There are thousands of members living within the Nightfall compound. It's its own city. I have a small home there. It's comfortable."

"Comfortable by bachelor standards?" she asked, and he laughed.

"My mother did mention that it could use a woman's touch. You're welcome to remodel it. If you want to stay," he added.

Talena peered up at him, unsure of how to respond. She was rescued from replying by the sound of the door whooshing open, and Carmen walked into the room. The captain paused at the edge of the bed, looking them over.

"Why didn't anyone tell me it was naked time?" Carmen said, smirking.

"There's still plenty of naked time left," Dack replied. "Tali's insatiable."

Talena blushed as she propped herself up and eyed Carmen. She crawled to the edge of the bed and knelt in front of Carmen, unzipping her uniform jacket. "You care for me, don't you?" Tali nudged the jacket off and continued undressing her.

"You know I do. I always have."

Again, _always_ was a heavy word, but it held different weight where Carmen was concerned. Being with Carmen was different now—her feelings had matured from the young love they had shared to something deeper. "And you care for Dack, don't you?" Tali grabbed her undershirt and insistently yanked it off. Without waiting for a reply, she unsnapped Carmen's bra.

"Yes..." Carmen answered, her voice wavering with uncertainty.

Talena grinned and stepped behind Carmen. She slid her hands up Carmen's sides and cupped her breasts. They were a smidge smaller than Talena's, but they were high and firm. She played with Carmen's hardened nipples, earning an eager sigh in response.

"I want to watch," Talena said.

"Watch what?" Dack asked from the bed.

With a wicked smile, Talena sauntered away and sat in the desk chair, her legs parted slightly. "I want to watch you two. Together. Like you watched Carmen and me."

Carmen bit her bottom lip as she eyed them both warily. "That's against the rules."

"No one believes you're keeping your hands to yourself with Dack sleeping in your bed. If there is damage to be done to your crew's opinion of you, it would have happened by now," Tali argued, and turned her attention to Dack. "I think it's only fair that you be allowed to enjoy each other. You do want her, don't you?"

Dack blinked, wondering if he'd fallen asleep and was dreaming. Was his mate encouraging him to make love to another woman? Not just any woman, but Carmen? He had accepted Carmen's "hands off" rule out of respect, even though it killed him not to touch her when she was so close.

Carmen looked to him for an answer, and the uncertainty in her eyes almost broke his heart as her hands moved to cover her burn scars. Dack doubted she even realized she had that habit; she'd changed after the accident. The woman he'd fallen in love with was different from the distant, rigid captain of the _Talon_. He hadn't seen a glimpse of the old Carmen until Tali arrived, and he'd be damned if he would let her retreat back into her shell.

"Yes, I do." Dack rose from the bed and took Carmen's hands in his. "You don't need to hide from us."

"I feel ugly," she admitted in a small voice.

"You're beautiful," Dack assured her. "Every warrior has battle scars. I have more than a few."

"It's not the same." She pulled away, and he caressed the unscarred side of her face.

"Yes it is. You're beautiful. When I look at you—when _we_ look at you," he corrected with a glance at Tali, "we see the woman we love."

Carmen flinched, and then looked from Dack to Tali. Talena nodded in agreement, and Carmen inhaled sharply, as though choking down a sob. Dack wrapped his arms around her and held her close, watching his mate's reaction over the top of Carmen's head. Talena nodded again, this time in encouragement, and Dack stroked Carmen's hair. He'd wondered what her hair would look like if she grew it out long and lush like Talena's. Carmen kept it cropped short per Alliance regulation, even though she was no longer an Alliance officer.

Dack turned Carmen's face up to his and kissed her. Dear gods, he'd missed the taste of her. Her body tensed, but after a long moment she relaxed into his embrace. At first he merely kissed her, savoring the experience. He didn't burn for Carmen the way he did for Tali, but he ached for her. When he joined the crew of the _Talon,_ he spent many long nights dreaming of touching Carmen again—of feeling her body beneath his, and hearing her moans and sighs. He'd distracted himself with casual flings, but no one had meant anything to him until Talena, and now thanks to Tali he had Carmen in his arms again. It was a strange set of circumstances. Maybe even fate, and if that was so, he was happy to accept it.

Dack reached for the fly of Carmen's pants, but she nudged him back toward the bed with a challenging grin. He sat on the edge and she knelt between his legs, stroking his shaft. She ran her tongue along his length, and then she moaned.

"I can taste her on you," Carmen said.

This time he moaned, and Tali echoed the sound. He looked over to see she'd spread her legs wider, teasing her slick folds as she watched them, and his cock twitched. Carmen took him into her mouth, her clever tongue swirling around the tip of his sex while she continued to stroke his length. Her cheeks hollowed as she took him deeper, and his breath caught—she was too damn good at this. Carmen teased him mercilessly until he neared the edge of orgasm, and he warned her to stop. She ignored him, and he took hold of her hair and tugged.

"Enough," he ordered. Dack knew that like Tali, Carmen was aroused by having her hair pulled, and she licked him one last time before moving away. "Strip."

Desire shivered through her, and he growled at the sight of it. Carmen was in the mood to take orders, and she stood and removed the rest of her clothing.

"On the bed," Tali said. They both glanced at her and Tali grinned.

Carmen chuckled as she obeyed, climbing onto the bed and spreading her legs. Dack joined her, but instead of covering her body with his, he took hold of her thighs and spread her even wider. He buried his cock deep into her sex and gazed down at her body. Carmen was wet, hot and tight, and every bit as sweet as he remembered. Again she tried to cover her scars, but he glanced back at Talena and beckoned her to join them.

"Hold her hands above her head."

Tali nodded and took Carmen's hands, pinning them above her head as ordered. Carmen glared at him, but she didn't fight Tali.

"You're beautiful," he said again. Carmen shook her head, but Dack thrust into her. He didn't give her time to argue as he began to ride her. Carmen's back arched and she cried out.

"Harder," Tali moaned. She trapped Carmen's wrists with one hand, and with the other Tali plunged her fingers in and out of her pussy in time with Dack's thrusts. Pleasure surged through him and he fought back an orgasm. Not yet. Not until he made Carmen scream as he knew she could. Though his instinct was to bite Carmen, she wasn't a Cy'ren, and he didn't trust himself not to accidentally hurt her if he did. Instead he did as Tali demanded and fucked Carmen harder.

Carmen whimpered as her hips rose to meet his thrusts, moving in time with him, drawing his shaft deeper inside her. She turned her head to the side, staring at Tali, and the two females began moaning almost in tandem. Urged on by their cries, he moved faster. Carmen screamed as she came, and as the silken walls of her sex tightened around him, he let go, allowing the exquisite sensations to wash over him. Tali's scream echoed Carmen's, and Dack grinned. He'd been blessed with two very vocal females.

Dack leaned down and kissed Carmen gently, and then reluctantly withdrew from her. He stretched out beside her, and smiled at Talena. She almost glowed with satisfaction, and she lay down on the other side of Carmen.

Tali and Carmen—it almost seemed too perfect, and he said a silent prayer for his good fortune and hoped it would last.

# Chapter Nine

The _Talon_ limped toward Jump Station 9. The station was a spindly, multi-tiered metal stick slowly rotating in the middle of nowhere, an oasis in the black. Carmen eyed the ships attached to it like bloated ticks. It was a ragtag mix of transports and shuttles, and not a reputable one in sight.

"Can you get a read on the broadcast IDs of the docked ships?" she asked.

Rizzoli scowled down at his screen for a few moments, and then the tension eased from his shoulders. "No known slavers. Most claim to be independent traders, but I'm guessing there's more than a few mercs in the fold from the look of them."

"Anyone we know?"

"Not at first blush," Rizzoli replied.

"Keep an eye on them and run their specs through our database. Just in case. You have the bridge, Lieutenant Commander Harrow. I'm going aboard the station with Sam."

"Aye, Captain," Jace replied. He'd been subdued the past few days since the mating marks appeared on Dack and Talena. Carmen hoped that meant he'd given up on pursuing Tali, but she didn't underestimate his ambition. Jace was likely plotting a new plan of attack.

"And make sure you transmit Dr. Morgan's information package to the ancestry archives, along with the warning about the upgrades and backup our last target had," Carmen added. She hoped that their encounter with the stronger slave ship was a fluke, and not the new norm. The resistance fleet wasn't equipped to deal with that much firepower on a regular basis. It could be as simple as the Eppes having the finances to arm their ships that previous resistance targets lacked, and the council would order them to back off for now.

"Aye, Captain."

She nodded and left the bridge with her chief engineer in tow. Sam was eager to shop, and Carmen would need to rein his enthusiasm in before he spent their entire budget on shiny new whoseit whatzits. Engineering had never been her strong suit, and she only understood the basics of what made the ship's systems tick. Sam had used that to his advantage on more than one occasion to talk her into unnecessary upgrades to the _Talon_.

When they arrived at the airlock, Carmen blinked in surprise as she spotted Dack and Tali waiting there. "I assume you're here to see me off," she said cautiously.

Dack held his hands up as though admitting defeat, and Tali squared her shoulders for battle.

"I want to go with you," Tali said.

"And if she goes, I go," Dack added. "I've tried to talk her out of it, but she's gotten this idea into her head..."

"I think we should speak with an indexer about the anomaly in the slavers' data," Tali said.

Carmen sputtered in disbelief, coughing as though she had inhaled a bug. After she regained her breath, she pointed an accusing finger at Dack. "What did you tell her?"

"It's not my fault—" he began, and she cut him off.

"Really? Who told her about the indexers?"

A corrupt government like the Syndicate allowed a number of criminal enterprises to thrive. Espionage was the favorite pastime of indexers, information dealers who specialized in selling secrets and blackmail material. They were shady underworld figures that an honest businesswoman like Talena should never have heard of.

Dack winced sheepishly. "Okay, I may have mentioned it."

"Do you want to discuss this alone?" Sam asked. He looked pained, and being this close to the female he'd been avoiding since Tali came aboard couldn't be good for him. He was already holding a hand over his nose and mouth in an effort not to inhale her pheromones.

"We're leaving. They're staying."

"Please, Carm—Captain, hear me out," Tali said. There was a plaintive note in her voice that gave Carmen pause, and the Cy'ren continued. "We need an outside source of information. This is something that the resistance hasn't encountered before. An indexer might know what the slavers' source is, or at least be able to point us in the right direction."

Carmen sighed. "That information will be costly, and we don't have that kind of budget."

"Isn't it worth it if we can save more people?" Tali countered.

Carmen gritted her teeth. Saving Cy'ren was their highest priority, but the resistance didn't have endless resources. Fixing the _Talon_ would be expensive, and adding a trip to Laurent, the indexer on Jump Station 9, could beggar them. They had a hold filled with newly freed mouths to feed, and they couldn't afford to break the bank on an uncertain lead.

"I'd pay for it myself, if my accounts weren't frozen," Tali added with a dry glance at Dack.

"She has a point, Captain," Sam spoke up, and Carmen glared at the engineer.

"And she'll be spending your repair budget on this idea," she countered.

Sam nodded. "I know. I can make do. I may have to trade a few things I hadn't planned on bartering today, but it's manageable."

She was outnumbered. There was no avoiding it. But then again, if Tali's idea ensured that Sam stuck to his budget, it might well be worth it. Though bringing a green civilian like Talena onboard a jump station involved all sorts of other trouble Carmen wasn't looking forward to. At least Tali was dressed like an average crewmember.

Carmen turned her attention to Dack. "You're not concerned letting her loose on a station that could have any number of male Cy'ren aboard it?"

Dack's eyes narrowed. "They'll have to get through me. I won't let them touch her."

"All right, fine. Don't make a habit out of it, or I'll throw you both in the brig. Dack, run and get her a pistol from the armory," she ordered.

"Captain?" Dack frowned as though she'd started speaking in tongues.

"You heard me. I know she can use one, we used to go to the range together," Carmen replied. "Sam, take Wyle and get what you need."

"Aye, Captain," Sam said. He left in search of Ensign Wyle, and Dack ran off to the armory.

"You are not to talk to anyone without my express permission," Carmen ordered, pointing a stern finger at Talena. "And for god's sake, don't draw your weapon unless Dack and I do first."

Tali frowned. "Why not?"

"You've never been to a place like this before. It's dangerous. A wrong look can start a fight, much less a poorly chosen word."

Talena pouted, but she nodded in agreement, and Carmen assumed that was the best she was going to get. When Dack returned, Tali strapped her new weapon on, and Carmen led them into the station.

The air smelled of smoke. Not the burnt ozone of fried wiring, but the stale, stagnant smoke of nic sticks. It was the harbinger of a place willing to break the rules, because in Alliance and Syndicate space, nic stick smoking was either outright banned or restricted to certain areas of a structure. A station security guard yawned as he glanced at their IDs, and he waved them on. Carmen wondered what someone had to do to be denied access to a jump station. The entire crew of the _Talon_ was made up of criminals who were wanted for piracy within the Syndicate systems, among other crimes. Well, if things went wrong, it wouldn't be the first time someone on her crew needed to be bailed or blasted out of trouble.

As they stepped into the station proper, a staticky announcement played over the PA system informing visitors that use of lasers while onboard was prohibited and would result in offenders being banned from the station. Carmen glanced behind her to see Tali staring wide-eyed at her surroundings, and that did not bode well. Tali might have been raised by a navy man, but she wasn't a spacer.

Because Carmen had the misfortune of visiting Jump Station 9 several times, she knew where to find Laurent. Like any information dealer, he'd set up shop in the one place on the station sure to draw all visitors—a bar. Or in this case it was more like a gentlemen's club, though there was little gentlemanly about the crowd the Blue Heaven attracted, or the activities that went on in the private rooms.

A thumping dance beat greeted them as they stepped through the Blue Heaven's entrance, and a migraine formed behind Carmen's eyes. The little bit of light there was came from the dance floor, and it was difficult to see—at least for Carmen. Her Cy'ren companions wouldn't be affected by the darkness. The crowd was thin enough to move through without difficulty, and Carmen led them around the dance floor and chose a booth in the back. The moment Tali slid into the booth, Carmen pulled her into her lap and kissed her deeply. Tali's golden eyes widened in surprise, and Carmen smirked when she pulled away.

"I'm establishing dominance," she explained. "Want to be sure that everyone here understands that you two belong to me." Carmen reached between Dack's legs and stroked his inner thigh. He growled, but she recognized it as one of arousal rather than anger. She continued to massage him until she felt his cock harden, and then Dack leaned close and brushed his lips against her ear.

"If you keep that up, I'll be too distracted to keep a proper eye out for trouble," he warned.

"I thought you were good at multitasking," she teased, but moved her hand to rest on his knee. Carmen turned to Tali, who watched the club's professional dancers intently. Several platforms hovered at various heights around the room with nude males and females dancing atop them. Most were female Cy'ren, but there were a few humans, and one human male.

Carmen nipped at Tali's earlobe to get her attention. "See one you want?"

"Want?" Tali asked.

"They're whores. We could buy an hour with one, if you like," Carmen suggested. She smirked at Talena's shocked expression, and Tali blushed.

"You're not serious," she said, and Carmen chuckled.

"I'm serious that we could. We won't, because Dack and I prefer to keep you all to ourselves."

Tali laughed nervously, and Carmen stroked the side of the Cy'ren's neck, running her fingers over the bite mark. A shudder ran through Tali's body as her eyes slipped shut, and she purred at the touch. Carmen continued to pet her, only pausing long enough to order drinks when a waitress approached their table. She ordered for all three of them, earning a snort from Dack when the waitress was out of earshot. When the waitress returned and set their drinks down, Carmen leaned forward.

"I'd like to speak with the indexer."

The waitress eyed her with a weary expression. "He's busy. Come back tomorrow."

"I won't be here tomorrow." At least she hoped not. If repairs went poorly they might be there for a week. "But we can rent a room and wait if he'll have time to meet later."

"Did you have an entertainer in mind?" the waitress asked.

"I brought my own entertainment." Carmen threaded her fingers through Tali's braid and tugged her hair, and she whimpered, squirming atop Carmen's lap.

The waitress shrugged. "Room rate's a thousand credits an hour."

Carmen fought back a wince—it was expensive, but that was to be expected. Laurent didn't do anything cheap. She reached into her jacket and withdrew five cred chips, worth one thousand credits each. Hopefully they wouldn't need five hours, but it was a gesture of good faith. The indexer would know they were serious.

"Follow me," the waitress directed.

She slipped the chips into the pocket of her apron and led them up a flight of stairs to the first tier of private rooms. They walked down a curving corridor until their guide paused and unlocked a door. The room was small, decorated in black and shades of gray. A round bed dominated the center of the space, and a couch and chairs were scattered around the edges, along with a few sexual apparatuses. Carmen wondered if Tali knew what they were.

"I'll let the indexer know you're here," their guide said. "Feel free to use the comm. if you change your mind about hiring one of the entertainers. If you're into Cy'ren, I recommend Isabezza. She's one of our most popular females."

"Thanks, I'll keep that in mind," Carmen said.

"Are you going to splurge on Isabezza?" Dack asked after the waitress left. She shot him a dry glance.

"Greedy. You already have enough females to please." She nudged Tali in his direction, but he looped an arm around Tali's waist and drew her back toward Carmen.

"What did you do last time you were here?" Dack asked. "You were alone, as I remember."

"I hired an entertainer," she replied. Reaching up, she stroked Tali's neck to arouse her further, and Talena gasped. Carmen almost felt guilty for exploiting Tali's phase-enhanced reactions, but after having spent the last few years alone, she was starved for contact.

Dack tilted his head. "How was she?"

"He," she corrected. "Not bad."

With a nonchalant shrug, she took hold of the zipper of Tali's coverall and slowly drew it down. To be honest, Carmen didn't even remember the entertainer's name. He was a Cy'ren with deep purple skin and eyes so dark they were nearly black, and he only hesitated a moment at the sight of her burn scars. The male had been the first—and last—sexual encounter she'd had after the accident, until Tali showed up on the _Talon_. Carmen figured if a professional flinched at the sight of her, she had to look pretty repulsive. Yet Dack and Tali didn't seem to notice the scars at all. They made her feel beautiful, and she never expected she would feel that way again.

She leaned in to Dack and nuzzled his neck. "We're being watched," Carmen said, her voice low. "I'm sure you can convince them you're sincere."

"Right. Should I use the toys?" he asked.

Carmen eyed the nearest one, weighing their need to keep their hands free in case things went south versus her desire to watch Tali try one. Finally she shook her head. "No. It's not fair to her, in her condition. She can't say no."

"That's true." Dack leaned closer and whispered in Carmen's ear. "Then do I get to tie you up when we return to the ship?" Carmen licked her lips, suddenly warm, and she nodded. "Good." Dack grinned, and he turned and pounced on Tali.

Carmen picked a seat where she could watch both the door and the show and sat back, her hands resting near the grips of her pistols. Laurent had a reputation of being reliable as long as the credits held out, but Carmen thought it best to be cautious. Just because her last deal with him had gone well didn't ensure this one would. He might not be willing to go against the Eppes—they were wealthy and powerful, and the resistance's finances were pale in comparison. Freedom fighting wasn't profitable.

Dack was an expert at stripping Tali naked, though her new gun belt did give him a moment of pause. Carmen smiled. Though Talena had always been drawn to the sort of soft, feminine things that never appealed to Carmen, Tali was still a fighter. She had endless inner strength in addition to her creativity, and it was something Carmen had always admired about her.

When they were both naked, Dack laid Tali across the bed, parted her thighs and lowered his mouth to her sex. Tali moaned, and as she stroked Dack's hair, she turned her head and locked eyes with Carmen. Lustful heat spread through her as Talena whimpered. Carmen knew all the wicked things Dack would be doing with his tongue, and she shivered with a moan of her own.

She forced herself to look away with a stern reminder that she was supposed to be staying alert. A squad of mercs could've kicked down the door while Carmen was distracted...then again Laurent wouldn't have much business if he let his customers get killed. It should be safe for her to watch for a bit...

Damn it, this was a terrible idea.

Tali cried out, and Carmen's attention whipped back to the bed. Talena's back was arched as she writhed in ecstasy, her hands now fisted in the covers. She knew Dack would bring Tali to at least one climax, and Carmen shifted as the ache between her own legs increased. Dack had better have his wicked way with her when they got back to the ship.

After her second orgasm, Dack rose and left Tali gasping and panting atop the bed. He crossed to Carmen, grabbed her hair and tugged her head back for a rough kiss. Carmen moaned at the sweet, familiar taste of Tali's cream on his tongue, and as he pulled away, Carmen was sure she'd soaked through both her panties and her trousers.

"Are we more entertaining than your last visit?" he asked with a smirk.

"Yes. Now go fuck her before I do it myself."

"Aye, Captain."

He returned to the bed and laid his body over Tali's. They kissed, and Carmen was struck by the sight—they were beautiful, a perfect match of masculine and feminine. Dack's body was lean and strong, his muscles rippling beneath his indigo skin. Talena fit against him like a glove, her pale arms wrapped around him, her slender legs locked around his waist. He kissed her passionately, and for a room built for kinky sex, what followed was simple and tender. Dack didn't fuck her, he made love to her, and Carmen's heart and her sex ached at the sight of it.

Talena's moans built, and she cried out his name as she came. Dack murmured to her in Cy'reni, and Carmen's breath caught at his words— _my love, my heart, my sweet angel._ He turned his head and met Carmen's gaze, and this time he spoke to her. Dack called her his fierce warrior, and she smiled. It seemed fitting.

"What does that make you?" she asked.

"Very fortunate," he replied.

Carmen nodded, and he returned to making love to Tali. Dack bit her and she screamed with pleasure, and Carmen envied her for it. That was one thing she couldn't share with them. Not that she would be able to share with them for much longer. Once the engines were fixed it would be a few days' travel to Cyprena. Tali hadn't made a decision yet on whether she was staying with Dack or heading back to Alliance space, but either way she'd be out of Carmen's life, and both Cy'ren would be out of her bed.

_For the best_ , Carmen reminded herself, though the thought was bitter. They enjoyed their time together, but there wasn't a place for Carmen in Tali's life, and Dack would return to being nothing more than a member of her crew. Carmen was determined to enjoy the time they had left and cherish the memories afterward.

Tali came again and again—Dack had good stamina to begin with, and fueled by Talena's phase, he had _amazing_ stamina. Which was good, because she intended to have him herself later...

Carmen lost track of time. Her body ached with need, and she struggled to watch the door and not the Cy'ren. When Dack finally gave in to his own orgasm they quieted, and her own breathing returned to normal.

The door opened without warning and Laurent entered. Tali leapt for her clothes, and he smirked at her. "Don't bother on my account."

Tali hesitated as she looked from Dack to Carmen, and Carmen nodded for her to go ahead and get dressed. Dack stayed put. His pistol was in reach and he was between Laurent and Talena, and that mattered more than his clothing.

"I see you've made new friends since our last meeting," Laurent commented. He took a seat across from Carmen, looking calm and serene. He was human, and his silver hair and lined face spoke more of his reputation than burly bodyguards or laser pistols ever could. Few men lived to his age in his profession. Though he was alone, Carmen knew someone was watching them, and backup would burst into the room if any of them made a wrong move.

Carmen shrugged. "More like I reconnected with some old friends."

"And such lovely friends. Though your weakness for Cy'ren is well known. I assume that's why you're here. You're seeking information for the resistance?"

"I am."

"I'm not sure they can afford me."

"You haven't heard what we're looking for yet," Carmen pointed out.

"True. What is it that you're looking for?"

"We...acquired a number of files from the Eppes, and we found an oddity in their data. Their supply of slaves is constant. They fill every order with no delays. We want to know why that is, and where they're getting all these Cy'ren."

"No delays?" Laurent asked, frowning. "Every business has occasional supply problems. Are you sure the data wasn't doctored? Something to show their shareholders?"

"I brought a copy," Dack said. "We're willing to share it. If you're willing to figure our generosity into discounting your fee."

Laurent nodded. "If the data's good, that shouldn't be a problem."

Dack picked up his jacket from the bed and reached into the inside pocket—slowly, careful not to startle their host—and withdrew a data disk. He crossed to Laurent and handed it to him, and Carmen wondered if the indexer appreciated the view as much as she did. Like many former slaves, Dack wasn't modest, because he was used to living without privacy.

Laurent pulled a data pad from his jacket and popped the disk into it. His brow furrowed as he scanned the information. "You're right. This is strange. I don't have anything to offer at the moment, but I can research the subject. It may take a few days."

More delays. Just what Carmen didn't need. "Can you send me your findings?"

"It will cost more. Secure encryptions aren't cheap."

She grimaced. "I suppose we can wait a few days while we undergo repairs."

"Good. I will require a down payment, of course. Twenty thousand."

"Fifteen," she countered.

Laurent smiled. "Eighteen, if you allow me an hour with one of your companions."

"Seventeen, and they're off limits. I don't share."

"Pity." Laurent peered at Dack and Tali, and then he nodded. "Seventeen. You're a lucky woman, Captain Hawke." He rose and crossed to her, and she handed him the credits. Carmen hated parting with the money, but it was a surprisingly reasonable amount. For a down payment, at least. The final bill would be a lot uglier. "I believe you have the room for a few more hours. Enjoy the rest of your time."

Laurent smiled and left, and Carmen turned to Dack. "He must be in a good mood," he commented.

"You have that effect on people," she said, and he laughed.

"On you two, perhaps. Do you want to stay, or return to the ship?"

"We should get back to the ship. I'm afraid of how much Sam spent without supervision."

"He'll be fine. We gave him a good reason to be thrifty. Speaking of which, we did pay for five hours." Dack grinned, and she shook her head.

"You just want to play with the toys."

"Damn right I do."

"It's only fair," Tali added. She smiled lazily, and Carmen licked her lips.

It was tempting. Too tempting. Part of the appeal of her relationship with Dack was that he knew how to push her to her limits. He understood her occasional need to relinquish control, without abusing having that power over her. But that sort of activity was best left to the safety of her quarters, and not the dubious security of Laurent's pleasure rooms.

"Uh huh. Who's going to cover the door if I'm tied up? Tali?" she asked.

"You did give her a gun," he pointed out.

"For emergency purposes. This is not an emergency."

Dack sighed. "You're no fun."

"That's why they pay me the big money," Carmen replied. "Let's go."

# Chapter Ten

Dack scowled at the indicator lights continuing to flash red across the control panel. "Still no good," he said to Sam over the comm.

A muffled curse sounded over the speakers, followed by a few clanks and bangs. "How about now?" Sam asked.

"Nope."

"Damn it. It's all green down here. There's something wrong with the wiring between here and there. I'll have to check it."

The captain appeared at Dack's side and peered down at the panel. "But the engines are good to go aside from that?" she asked.

"Yes. I can engage them from here. Rizzoli's going to grumble if we take off before we can control them from the bridge though."

Rizzoli snorted indignantly from behind them, and Dack chuckled.

"We've already spent three days here. How long will it take to check the wiring?" Carmen asked.

"It shouldn't be too bad, I can—" Sam started, but he was suddenly cut off.

There was a loud screech, and Dack winced, wondering what had fried now. "Sam? You okay?"

Static crackled over the comm., and then a siren began blaring. It wasn't the fire alarm, which Dack would have expected, but instead the battle stations alert.

The captain cursed. "Either he fried something or we have company from the station."

"I'll check it out," Dack said.

He drew his pistol, just in case, and left the bridge. The alarm continued to sound as he made his way to the engine room, and when he rounded the last corner he barely dodged a laser bolt that zipped by his head. Instinct took over, and Dack ducked, rolled and returned fire. He expected to see a slaver shooting at him, but instead he spotted three Cy'ren. He didn't have time to be confused as his attackers fired another volley. Dack took cover in a nearby doorway, and he cursed. He needed to warn the bridge, and he needed backup, now. He eyed a nearby interface panel, but before he could make a run for it someone cut the power and plunged everything into darkness.

Talena didn't have much to do aboard the _Talon_ when Dack and Carmen were on duty. At first Talena tried to get her hands on some raw materials to create a piece to decorate Carmen's barren quarters, but Sam wasn't willing to part with anything. Fortunately Dack dipped into his pocket money and bought supplies for her from the station, including a secondhand data board that she used to sketch new designs. After creating a small garden of clockwork roses for Carmen, Talena began sketching an entire new series of sculptures. She spoke with the newly-freed females to get an idea of the sort of designs that would appeal to Cy'ren. They were eager to discuss something fanciful, needing to keep their minds off their uncertain futures as much as Talena did. Katya in particular had taken a liking to her. Despite the language barrier, Talena did her best to gather as much information as she could from the females. There were so many simple things about being a Cy'ren that she had never had a chance to speak about with another female before. They had a wealth of information about the phase, which she was grateful to learn.

Talena was sketching ideas for a new showpiece when the alarms began. Startled, she fumbled with the data board and almost dropped it. She didn't know what the alarm meant, but she assumed she should stay put unless told to do otherwise. The ship didn't shudder like it had when they were attacked, so she hoped it was a false alarm. Then the lights and the sirens died, and she knew something was very wrong.

Alone in the silent dark, she hugged the data board to her chest. After a few moments the emergency lights came up, bathing everything in a pale yellow glow. The sound of her breath was impossibly loud, second only to the pounding of her heart. She should go to the bridge. She should make sure that Carmen and Dack were all right. Setting the board aside, she retrieved the pistol and holster stored in Carmen's footlocker and strapped it on.

The door sprang open and she yelped. It wasn't Carmen or Dack, but Jace who strode into the room. He held a sword in one hand and a pistol in the other.

"Come with me," he ordered.

"No."

Jace growled. "We don't have time to argue."

"I'm not going anywhere with you."

He rolled his eyes. "Much as it would please me to steal you from Dack, that plan ended when you became involved with the captain. Captain Hawke is important to the resistance. We need her. She needs you. Now come with me."

Nodding, she drew her pistol and reluctantly followed him out of the room.

"What's going on?" she asked, and he shushed her.

"We've been boarded." His voice was little more than a whisper as they moved down the corridor. "I'm not sure what they're after, but they've broken into two groups. One's sweeping the ship and the other is with our guests."

"Where are we going?" she whispered.

"To free the captain."

Jace led her through the ship, and the corridors that were becoming familiar to her were strange and alien in the harsh emergency lights. She hadn't put her shoes on, and the metal floors were freezing cold. He stopped suddenly and she almost crashed into him. Talena frowned at the interruption, and gasped as she spotted a body sprawled in front of them. Jace dragged her into a cramped service corridor and clamped a hand over her mouth as he shushed her again. She squeaked as panic choked her, but Jace ignored her as he stared at the spot they had just left, his sword raised.

Approaching footsteps echoed down the hallway, and a figure came into view holding a rifle. Jace eyed him for a moment, and then he lunged forward and attacked. He skewered the intruder and dropped him in the blink of an eye before darting out of Talena's view as he pursued another target.

She took a steadying breath and stepped into the hallway, pistol raised and at the ready. A second thud sounded as a body hit the floor, and Jace knelt above a fallen foe. The smell of fresh blood filled the air, and she inched closer. She recognized the first body they had encountered as a member of the crew, but the other two Jace had just dispatched were male Cy'ren.

"Are they slavers?" she asked, confused. Why would Cy'ren attack them?

"No. They're members of House Nightfall. Mercenaries, perhaps. There are several merc ships docked at the station." Jace rifled through the males' pockets and produced a data pad. He scrolled through the information on its screen and cursed.

"What's wrong?"

"They're after you."

"Me?" she squeaked. "What did I do?"

"I'm not sure. We'd better hurry."

It was clear the rest of the way to the passenger bay, but as they approached they heard raised voices. Jace motioned for her to slow and remain silent, and she followed him like a timid shadow. They ducked through another tight service corridor and crept toward the shouting.

"Check them again!"

Talena flinched, and Jace halted.

"None of these females matches the description."

Jace motioned for her to stay, and then he moved closer.

"We're looking for a female named Talena Spenser," the first voice announced. Tali flinched again as fear iced her veins.

"She's not here."

Tali recognized Katya's voice, and she took an involuntary step forward.

"Where is she?"

"I don't know."

A laser shot thundered, followed by a chorus of feminine screams. Talena's own scream was swallowed up by the noise, and Jace appeared in front of her and shushed her again.

"Why do you want her?" Dack asked. Talena's knees buckled, and Jace caught her before she could fall. Relief that Dack was alive filled her, followed by terror that he would be the next victim.

"What's it to you?"

"She's my mate," Dack replied.

"Then you must know where she is."

"I thought she was here with the other females."

It was a lie, meant to buy time, and Jace leaned close to her. "There are four of them. I can take two, maybe three, if you distract them," he whispered.

"What should I do?" she whispered back.

"Go back and enter through the front door and surrender. I'll take care of the rest."

Talena nodded, holstered her weapon and squared her shoulders. She could do this. Jace nudged her to start her on her way, and she doubled back to the main corridor.

"Well, she isn't here," the leader roared. "Tell me where to find her or I kill another female. Starting with your captain."

"Stop!" Talena shouted. She walked into the room with her hands raised high. The female Cy'ren were huddled in the far corner. Most of the crew knelt to her right, their hands bound behind their backs. Dack and Carmen were at the head of the group, a male with a rifle standing over them.

"Check her," he ordered.

A nearby minion stalked toward her and she froze. The minion disarmed her, grabbed her hair and jerked her head back as he examined the marks on her throat. "It's her, but she bears a Nightfall mating mark."

"Doesn't matter. We have our orders."

"Those orders were to kill a Sunsinger. She isn't a Sunsinger now. We can't kill one of our own." The minion held her by her hair, but his attention was on his leader. Talena scanned the crowd for signs of Jace, and she noticed that though there were supposed to be four of them, she didn't spot the other two.

"I am a shadow sword of House Nightfall. She's my mate, and she may be carrying my child. Let her go," Dack demanded.

The leader hesitated, and then he shook his head. "I'm sorry. I can't do that."

Dack growled, but before he could act, Jace dropped down from the ceiling behind the leader and plunged his blade through his chest. Jace coolly shot the man holding Talena twice before the minion even raised his weapon. Both intruders fell, and Tali blinked as Carmen cursed loudly.

"Damn it, Harrow, we can't interrogate dead men," Carmen complained.

"You're welcome, Captain." Jace shook the blood from his weapon, sheathed the blade and holstered his pistol. He nodded to Talena. "You did well."

"Thanks. Next time you can be the distraction," she said, her voice shaky. She retrieved her pistol from the fallen mercenary.

Jace grabbed a key from the leader's body and began freeing the crew, starting with the captain. Talena spotted Katya's body and crossed to the old woman's side, her legs wobbly beneath her. Katya's eyes were lifeless, staring up at the ceiling, and a laser burn scorched her chest above her heart. Talena's hand shook as she closed Katya's eyes, and then she was spun around and pulled into Dack's arms. He crushed her to his chest.

"I'm fine," Tali assured him. "Are you okay?"

"Just a little banged up," he admitted.

"Did you get shot again?" she asked, and she heard Jace snort.

"Not today," Dack said.

"Sam, get the power back on," Carmen ordered. "Jace, I want you to take a team and sweep the rest of the ship for stragglers."

"Aye, Captain," Jace replied. "Might I suggest a meeting in your ready room afterward, with Lieutenant Loren and his mate?"

"Why?" Dack asked.

"Because I think I may know why these mercs were after her, and it's a discussion best held in private."

Carmen nodded. "Good reason. Go. Dack, take Tali to my ready room. I'll meet you there."

"Aye, Captain."

Dack began to lead her away, and Talena met Carmen's gaze. She wanted to hug Carmen as well, but she was in her _tough captain_ mode, and it would have to wait. The trip through the ship was quick and silent, and the lights came back on as they reached the ready room. As soon as the door shut behind them he wrapped his arms around her again. Dack kissed her long and hard until she was almost out of breath.

" _A'mhain._ I was worried about you."

"Why would your kinsmen want to kill me? What's so terrible about being a Sunsinger?"

Dack shook his head. "I don't know. It doesn't make any sense." He looked her over, his brow furrowed. "Jace didn't try anything, did he?"

Talena laughed. "No. He said he wouldn't because of Carmen. He doesn't want to make her mad."

"Oh, but it's fine to antagonize me?"

"I guess he likes her more than you," Talena said. "What does _a'mhain_ mean?" She needed to know now, to reassure her that she had a place with Dack even though his family might be working against them.

Dack stroked her hair. "It means _my darling_. I love you, Tali."

"You do?" She blinked, and he smiled.

"Yes, I do. I won't let anyone hurt you."

Talena nuzzled his neck. "I bet you say that to all the girls," she teased, and Dack chuckled.

"Yes, all two of you. Carmen can take care of herself. I think we're going to get you your own pistol. A permanent one, not a spare from the armory." He tapped the grip of her pistol, and she nodded in agreement.

"I'm a good shot. My father taught me."

"Good. Aim is important. I don't need you on the list of people who've shot me."

He held her close and continued to stroke her hair while they waited for Carmen. Jace arrived before she did, and he sighed at the sight of Tali and Dack's embrace.

"I don't suppose my efforts earned me a hug as well," he commented.

"You're not my type," Dack replied.

Much to Tali's surprise, Jace laughed. "True, and you're not pretty enough for me, Mordackai." Jace crossed the room and leaned against the captain's desk. "Our attackers were all from your house. I checked the IDs of the ships currently docked, and one is a shuttle from Cyprena. They weren't mercenaries. They were assassins. Poor ones, at that."

"But why?" Talena asked.

"I'll explain my theory once Captain Hawke arrives."

"You seem very calm about this," Dack said.

Jace shrugged. "I've always been more level-headed than you."

"You were ready to fight me over Tali. Why didn't you run off with her when you had the chance?"

"And abandon my crew? Perhaps House Nightfall isn't concerned with the welfare of their brethren, but we Morningstars take our commitments very seriously. Besides, Talena is no longer in phase, so my mind was not affected by pheromones."

Dack tensed at the insult, but Talena turned to gape at Jace. "I'm not—how do you know? Are you sure?"

"Quite. I noticed the change shortly after we arrived at the station." Jace smirked at her surprise. "I assume the three of you were too occupied to notice it yourselves."

The phase was over? How was that possible? There hadn't been any change in the frequency of her urges, or the way her body reacted to Dack's touch. If Jace was right, her system had been back to normal for the last three days. Normal—perhaps this was her new normal. Talena had become some sort of insatiable Cy'ren sex kitten. Her parents would be so ashamed...

Carmen entered before Talena could worry about this new development further. The captain glared at Jace. "Off my desk, Lieutenant Commander."

"Of course, Captain." Jace stood straight and folded his hands behind his back. "If you need a moment with your lovers, I'll avert my eyes."

Carmen glared at him, her hands on her hips, but Talena took the opportunity to break away from Dack and tackle her with a hug. Carmen stiffened, but then she returned the embrace.

"It's all right, Tali," she said softly. "Come on, let's hear Jace out." Carmen kissed her cheek and walked away to sit behind her desk. "Not enough chairs for a crowd this big."

Jace chose one and Talena the other, leaving Dack to pace behind her. Jace angled his chair to allow him to watch both the captain and Dack. "What do you know of the fall of House Sunsinger?" Jace asked.

Dack paused behind Talena's chair. "Just the basics. Their Lord and his family were killed by slavers, except for an infant son who was away in the hospital. The massacre prompted the peace accords."

"That's the official story," Jace said.

"And you know the unofficial story?" Carmen asked.

Jace nodded. "I do. There are few alive who do, and it cannot leave this room. The truth could start a war between the houses, and we can't afford that."

"Where did you hear it?" Dack asked, sounding skeptical.

"From my father. I overheard it one night when he was drinking with my uncle. It's the sort of tale one needs to be drunk to tell."

"All right. We're listening." Carmen crossed her arms over her chest.

Jace leaned back into his chair, his hands folded in his lap. "At the time, House Sunsinger wasn't the largest house, but they were the wealthiest and most powerful. They had extensive dealings with the slavers, and Lord Renden Fairren was quite happy with the status quo. The council approached him and asked him to join the resistance, but he refused to sign the peace accords. He threatened to side with the slavers, believing that our economy would collapse without the slave trade. There was some merit in that argument, though obviously we've found ways to adapt.

"Because the council believed we needed the cooperation of all the houses in order to move forward, they decided to make an example of the Sunsingers. Violently. An assault team led by House Nightfall invaded the Sunsinger compound during the night. They forced Lord Renden to watch as they executed his children, then his mates—all except for one. His youngest and most favored mate, Sharaiya, was taken and sold into slavery. A bit of additional punishment for refusing to support Cy'ren freedom. Lord Renden was killed last. Only one child was spared, a boy a few months old. The council arranged for a guardian sympathetic to the cause to raise the boy and serve as House Sunsinger's regent until he came of age."

"And that boy is Lord Degalen, right?" Dack asked.

"Correct. Completely wiping out the Sunsingers would have upset the balance of power by making one of the lesser houses a ruling house. By sparing Lord Degalen, they created someone they could control. And the public was suitably outraged that the 'slavers' had done such a thing and rallied to the resistance's cause."

"Why not kill Sharaiya too? Wouldn't she be a loose end?" Carmen asked.

"Because it sent a message to the rest of the council that no one was safe from retribution. The lords all knew of her fate, and it kept them in line. Death is one thing, but knowing the mother of your children could be sold into slavery and become a whore on some tawdry jump station, that's something else," Jace explained.

"What does this have to do with me?" Tali asked.

Jace withdrew a data pad from his pocket. "I found this on their leader. After a bit of digging I discovered the reason the assassins were sent here—your file in the heritage database. It sent up a red flag, because it identified Lord Renden as your father and Sharaiya as your mother. She must have been pregnant when she was taken. Lord Degalen believes the lie that his entire family was murdered. If you showed up on his doorstep, he would know the truth. I assume House Nightfall wanted to prevent that. Killing you was the simplest answer."

A numbing wave of cold spread through her body, and she rubbed her arms as she shivered. Talena had always wondered what happened to her birth family, and now she knew. Assassination, slavery, betrayal—she wished she hadn't left the _Trident_. What had she gotten herself into?

"Tali?" Carmen said. "Are you okay?"

"No." She shook her head and the simple gesture made her nauseous. "I feel ill."

"Do you want to go to the med bay?" Dack asked.

"Not yet. What happens now? Will they try to kill me again?" she asked.

"Yes," Jace replied. "They'll keep trying until you're dead or Lord Degalen learns of you. Even then, they may move on both of you and set up another supposed slaver attack."

"We should get you to your parents. You'll be safe in the Alliance," Carmen suggested.

"No, she won't be," Jace replied.

Carmen shook her head. "She's an Alliance citizen. If she was assassinated, the Alliance would retaliate."

Jace snorted. "Not for one Cy'ren."

"For the daughter of a decorated Alliance naval officer, they would," she countered. "Captain Spenser has a lot of friends, including my father."

"We should take her to the Sunsingers," Dack said. Talena craned her neck to look up at him. His face was ashen—hearing his family's involvement in killing her kin likely hurt him as much as it hurt her.

"I'd like that," Talena said. "I want to meet my brother."

Silence hung like an acrid cloud of smoke, and then Carmen nodded. "We can do that. We'll leave now for Cyprena, and when we get there we'll split up. I'll take Tali and Dack to the Sunsinger compound in the shuttle, and Jace will take the _Talon_ to headquarters and process our new citizens."

"No," Jace said.

"No?" Carmen repeated.

"You'll need my aid. Mordackai is better with swords than politics. I know how the houses work. I'm best equipped to deal with this situation. Besides, it can't hurt for you to have another pair of eyes watching your back."

"I'm not convinced you won't put a knife in it," Dack countered.

"You'll never be on my list of favorite people, Lieutenant, but I respect you as a member of this crew. I'm more concerned with the captain's safety than your own."

"I'm touched," Carmen said dryly. "Fine. You're in. Sam will take the _Talon_. We have work to do. I want to be out of this system within the hour."

"But the indexer hasn't gotten back to us yet," Talena argued.

"I'll make arrangements with him to have his results transmitted to us. Right now it's worth the up-charge. Dack, take her to the med bay to get checked out and then meet me on the bridge. Jace, you're with me."

"Aye, Captain," Dack and Jace said in unison.

Dack held his hand out to help Talena up, and she clung to him. He was warm and steady, and everything else around her felt off balance. She laced her fingers through his and clutched his hand as he led her to the medical bay. Dr. Morgan greeted them with a weary smile as they entered. Several of her tables were taken up by bodies with sheets drawn over them. Dead assassins, dead crew. Innocent people who had been killed because of Tali's connection to a family she'd never met.

"Can you check Tali over? She's a little shaken up," Dack said. He squeezed her hand reassuringly.

"Of course. If you'll give me a few moments, I have some things to see to first."

Talena nodded and the doctor walked away. "Are you all right?" Talena asked, peering up at Dack.

"It's a lot to take in. You're a lord's daughter," he replied, his voice low.

"No, I'm a captain's daughter," she corrected.

The corners of his mouth twitched in a faint smile. "True, but you'll have a right to the Sunsinger estate now. I can't give you that. I'm not sure I'll even have a home to go to."

Her eyes widened as a cold lump of fear formed in her stomach. "Do you not want me as your mate anymore?"

"I love you, Tali. I'm yours as long as you want me," he assured her. "But you might want a life in your family's home more."

Talena folded her arms across her chest and glared at Dack. "Do you want me to shoot you?"

Tension eased from his shoulders as he laughed and kissed her affectionately. "No, I don't. You're right. Do you need me to stay?" he asked, and Talena shook her head.

"No, the captain needs you. You should go." Talena kissed him again, and he nodded and left. It was for the best. She wanted to be alone with the doctor for this.

"Are you injured?" Dr. Morgan asked.

Talena took a deep breath. "No. I have two questions. First, can you check to see if I'm no longer in phase? And if I'm not, can you test to see if I'm pregnant?"

# Chapter Eleven

They'd gotten clear of Jump Station 9 without any further attacks, and though Jace wanted to lead an assault on what they suspected was the assassins' ship to dig for more information, Carmen decided it was safer to run. Every moment spent at the station was another opportunity for a second strike team to arrive. A better prepared strike team, or at least better trained. The first team had been good, but not good enough. It begged the question of how badly their attackers wanted Talena dead. The resistance should have known how well trained the _Talon's_ crew was, and would have planned accordingly. Maybe it had been a plot by House Nightfall. Carmen knew it would be simpler for the _Talon_ if Nightfall was to blame, but it would be harder on Dack. He was eager to bring his new mate home to meet his family. It was especially important now that Talena was pregnant, and would provide his mother with a much longed-for grandchild. Now that trip might never happen.

Carmen sent a report to her Alliance superiors on the attack, but didn't mention her new relationships. They would frown on an affair with one of her crew, but she was more concerned about what her father would think if he came across the report. Her parents probably believed she was still a virgin. She'd never spoken about her love life with them, and never about the specifics of her sexual preference. Carmen didn't know how to define it herself some days. It wasn't that she preferred men or women, or humans, Cy'ren or otherwise. She was drawn to a person's energy—Tali's boundless imagination, Dack's unwavering loyalty.

Then again, the Alliance might not care. Being romantically involved with two Cy'ren could only help her cover, and what was the worst they could do? Give her a real dishonorable discharge this time?

Carmen had stood several anxious watches on the bridge during their journey to Cyprena. She half expected to be pulled out of lightspeed at any moment, ambushed by one of the other resistance ships. The _Talon_ could hold her own, but she was still damaged from her last fight and the odds weren't in her favor.

When the _Talon_ arrived in the Cy'ren home system, Carmen eyed the viewport warily. "Any hostile activity?" she asked.

"None so far, Captain," Rizzoli replied.

"Good. Any known mercs in the system?"

Rizzoli's fingers danced across his control panel. "Continuing to scan...looks clear at the moment."

"All right. Sam, the ship is yours. Loren, Harrow, you're with me."

"Good luck," Sam called out as they left the bridge.

They'd need it. The Cy'ren were uncharacteristically quiet behind her as they marched through the ship up to the shuttle bay. Jace had been behaving like a nice guy since the attack, which the captain found a little off-putting. Carmen was used to him being an asshole, but the opportunity to get his hands dirty with Cy'ren politics seemed to agree with him. He was in his element. She hoped his good mood lasted—and didn't get them killed.

Talena was waiting for them in the shuttle bay, wringing her hands. She was in the dress she'd worn on her arrival on the _Talon_ , laser burn and all, including a suspicious rip in the seam near the top of the zipper. Carmen had tried to talk her into borrowing one of her outfits, but Talena proclaimed Carmen's clothing too masculine—which wasn't inaccurate. Most of her clothing was made up of uniforms, and they weren't very flattering, especially by Talena's high standards.

"Is everything all right?" Tali asked, her voice high and thin.

"Everything is fine, _a'mhain,_ " Dack soothed.

"We're good to go. Everyone in," Carmen ordered.

They boarded the shuttle and she settled herself into the pilot's chair with Jace at her side.

"I'd feel better if I copiloted," Dack commented as he strapped in behind them.

"Jace is a better copilot," Carmen reminded him. They'd already had this argument earlier.

"That's debatable," Dack muttered.

"Well, Lieutenant, if you spent more time in the flight simulator and less time on other activities, you wouldn't have fallen behind in your piloting skills," Jace said as the shuttle's engines hummed to life.

Carmen eased the shuttle up and away from the _Talon_ and said a silent prayer for her crew's safety. She hoped she wasn't sending them to their deaths, but she was confident that if assassins were watching from the ground, they would focus their attacks on the shuttle. The _Talon_ was headed for a neutral area controlled by the resistance, and the shuttle would be making a run for the Sunsinger compound.

"That's Cyprena?" Talena asked as they neared the planet.

"In all its faded glory," Dack replied.

"Why faded?"

"Faded on the surface," Jace said. "Nearly all the aboveground structures were abandoned generations ago, and there's nothing left but ruins. Our cities are underground. You'll see for yourself in a moment."

They began their descent, and Carmen scanned for signs of other ships. The ruins could hide any number of nasty surprises like small craft, or possibly mercs with surface-to-air missiles. Her stomach lurched as four one-man fighters zipped up from beneath the shuttle.

"Captain," Jace warned.

"I see them. Hold on, this is going to get rough."

Carmen kicked the shuttle's engines into full throttle. The acceleration nudged her back in her seat, and she dropped the ship into a dive.

"I don't suppose they're broadcasting ID?" she asked.

"Negative, Captain. They're also jamming our communications," Jace replied.

She cursed under her breath—there was no way to know if their attackers were slavers, mercs or resistance, or at least no way to prove it. The shuttle leveled out above the sprawling ruins of a large city that had once been the capitol of the area. Carmen wove in between crumbling buildings, and the fighters opened fire. A nearby tower exploded as they passed it, and Carmen rolled the shuttle to avoid the falling debris. Tali yelped, and Carmen winced.

"Well, at least you're getting a close look at the ruins, Tali," she said.

"This is a little closer than I'd like!"

The shuttle shuddered and she knew they were hit. "Damage?"

Jace reached across her and slapped at a flashing alarm. "Minor."

"It'd be nice if we could fire back," Dack said.

"Here I thought I left Samlen back on the bridge." Carmen scowled. Sam had been after her for months to upgrade the shuttle. The engines and armor were decent, but it had no shields or weapons. It wasn't supposed to be a warship.

"If they're jamming us, we won't be able to warn the Sunsingers to let us in," Jace pointed out.

"Better hope we lose them then," Carmen countered.

"Do you want me to hang out the back with a sniper rifle?" Jace asked dryly.

"Don't tempt me."

She rolled the shuttle hard to the right down an abandoned avenue. One of their pursuers was slow to turn and crashed, leaving a bright fireball behind them. One down, three to go. The shuttle shuddered as they took another hit, and the engines sputtered.

"Power failure to the port engine," Jace announced.

"Reroute it."

Carmen struggled to keep the ship upright and moving as Jace dealt with the engines. They turned down another street and Carmen cursed as a bridge loomed before them. She hauled back on the stick, but the bottom of the shuttle screeched as the metal scraped stone. Her head slammed against the back of her seat, and Carmen blinked as she saw stars. The engine roared back to life, and they bounced clear of the bridge.

"We're almost to the Sunsinger tunnel," Carmen said.

"They won't let us in with our tail," Dack warned.

"Then they'll have to scrape us off their shields, because we're not going back."

Another direct hit jarred them, and the ominous scent of smoke filled the cabin, but Carmen fought the urge to turn around and look for the source. She concentrated on the approach to the Sunsinger tunnel and prayed their surface defense array didn't shoot them down. If their controllers were paying attention, they'd know the shuttle was from the _Talon_ even if they weren't broadcasting their ID. The tunnel entrance was surrounded by heavy laser cannons, and they sprang to life as the shuttle neared. Carmen braced for the worst, but the bolts whizzed past them and took out a fighter instead. The two remaining fighters zipped away, spooked by the big guns, and the jamming lifted.

"Hailing now," Jace said. "Sunsinger control, this is the shuttle _Hawke's Wing_ , requesting permission to enter."

"Permission granted," the comm. replied.

"Control, we're losing power to our engines. We may need emergency aid after a hard landing."

"Is that code for we're crashing?" Tali asked shrilly.

"We're not crashing. We're just not going to land pretty," Carmen replied.

The shuttled jerked and shimmied as she guided it into the tunnel. It was built to accommodate larger transport ships, so there was plenty of room to maneuver. It was a lucky thing, because the rough stone walls seemed awfully close as she struggled with the sluggish flight stick. They descended past several sets of shield doors and a multitude of turrets before emerging into the constant twilight of the main cavern of the compound.

"Engines failing," Jace warned.

"Just ten more seconds," she snapped. The engines died, and ominous silence filled the cabin. "Brace yourselves!"

A bone-jarring crunch rattled the ship as it dropped like a stone onto the landing pad. Metal screamed as the shuttle slid across the pad and crashed into a pile of cargo crates. When the shuttle ground to a halt, Carmen unbuckled her harness.

"Let's go before the damn thing catches fire."

"It's already on fire, Captain," Jace replied

"Everybody out!" she ordered.

The cabin filled with smoke as Dack opened the shuttle hatch. They stumbled onto the landing pad, coughing and wheezing. Carmen dragged Jace with her as Dack picked up Tali and carried her away.

Jace waved her help off when they reached a safe distance. He struggled to catch his breath, but he looked otherwise unharmed. Tali was quiet and still in Dack's arms, and Carmen frowned in concern.

"Is she okay?" she asked.

"I think she fainted," Dack replied. "She's breathing."

"Let me check her pulse," Carmen said, but before she could she was interrupted by an angry shout.

"Captain Hawke. I assume you have good reason for all this excitement."

Carmen turned toward the speaker and spotted Commander Durgen Soth approaching. She'd met him a few times in passing during resistance briefings. He was head of the Sunsinger shadow swords, a tall, broad-shouldered man of few words.

"Commander," she greeted. "I have an excellent reason, but I'd prefer to discuss it in one of your med centers. My crewmember needs medical treatment."

Soth nodded. "Very well. Come with me."

Every Cy'ren structure she'd ever been in suffered from bad lighting, at least by Carmen's standards. She was used to the brightly lit halls of the Alliance, where everything shined with bright silver polish. Cy'ren thrived in darkness, but for their guests they kept things illuminated just enough for other races to maneuver. It was bad form if a potential business partner tripped and broke their neck trying to descend a flight of stairs.

The med center was blessedly brighter, and the technicians leapt to Talena's aid. Jace tried to wave off one who wanted to examine him, and Carmen pointed a warning finger in his direction.

"Let the nice nurse look at you, Harrow," she ordered.

"As long as you let them look at you, Captain. You're bleeding," he countered.

"What? I am?" Startled, she looked down at herself for signs of injury. None were immediately evident until a tech appeared at her side and touched the back of her head. A spear of pain lanced through her at the contact, and she hissed.

"Scalp laceration," the tech said. "I can close it. Please sit."

Carmen did as ordered and Commander Soth loomed over her. The Cy'ren was built like a brick wall, with bushy slate-gray eyebrows knitted together in a disapproving frown.

"Why were those fighters after you? And why come here?" he asked.

"You want to run a heritage test on her blood." Carmen motioned in Talena's direction. Tali lay atop a diagnostic bed, and Dack held her hand. Carmen's heart lurched at the sight of them, and fear that Tali might be hurt clutched at her chest.

"Why?" Soth asked.

"Just do it. Trust me." She flinched as the tech poked at her, and she glared at him. All of the Cy'ren in the med center were male. It was a damn good thing Talena was no longer in phase. "You might want to up your security too. Whoever sent those fighters knows they weren't successful."

"We can handle a few slavers, Captain Hawke."

"They're not slavers. This is something different," she said. God help them, it might be something worse.

The first thing Talena saw when she awoke was Dack hovering over her, frowning with concern. She smiled up at him and relief filled his face. He squeezed her hand.

"How do you feel?" he asked.

There was an itchy tickle in the back of her throat, but nothing hurt, and that was encouraging. "May I have a glass of water, please?"

Dack nodded and glanced away, and she spotted a Cy'ren in pale uniform—a nurse, she assumed—standing at the end of her bed. The nurse fetched a glass as Dack helped her sit up. She smiled gratefully as the nurse handed her the drink, and she sipped at it. Dack rubbed her back, and Talena spotted Carmen and Jace speaking softly with a burly male in the corner of the room. A soldier, perhaps? He looked like a warrior.

"What's going on?" she asked.

"They're testing your blood," Dack told her.

"But you already did that."

"Yes. It's best if they see the results for themselves. I doubt they'd believe us otherwise."

Talena nodded. She hardly believed it herself. She leaned into Dack's comfort, and he kissed the top of her head. "You know, I had a nice, quiet life before you showed up," she teased.

"I'd promise you a quiet life once this is over, but after the baby's born it'll never be quiet again."

Tali laughed. The baby—just the thought of it was scary and exciting. She'd never expected to have children of her own. She wanted them, but her mistrust of male Cy'ren made that difficult.

Talena flinched as a doctor monitoring a screen at a terminal across the room yelped. He barked rapid-fire Cy'reni as he motioned to the burly man speaking with the captain.

"I assume those are my test results," Tali whispered.

"Yes. It's all right, _a'mhain._ "

The man joined the doctor, and Carmen and Jace moved to stand at the foot of Talena's bed like her own personal bodyguards. Carmen had always been her defender growing up. On her first day of school Carmen bloodied the nose of a boy who had teased Talena until she cried—it was the formative moment of their friendship.

Talena shrank back as the soldier stomped toward them.

"What trickery is this?" he demanded.

"No trickery," Carmen said. "We were surprised to learn it ourselves." She turned and gave Tali a reassuring smile. "Talena, this is Commander Durgen Soth, shadow sword of House Sunsinger."

"Pleased to meet you," she said.

The commander paused, apparently thrown by the polite introduction. "How old are you?"

"Twenty-eight galactic standard years. But that's an estimate by a physician. I don't know my actual date of birth."

"Then you must appreciate that these results are impossible," Soth argued. "There's no way she could have been the child of Lord Renden and Sharaiya. She was born after they died."

"It's not impossible, actually," Jace said. The man rounded on him.

"How?" Soth asked.

Jace smiled thinly. "I am the second son of Lord Najamek Harrow. I know a great many things. I am willing to explain how this is possible to Lord Degalen, but no one else."

Soth scowled, and then he turned to the doctor. "Run another test."

"That isn't necessary," Dack said.

"The results could be—"

"It's all right. I don't mind," Talena interrupted.

The doctor drew another blood sample, quick and painless, and left to run the test again. Soth eyed her warily, his bulging arms folded across his chest. Awkward silence hung heavy over the group until Carmen broke it.

"I believe this is why we were attacked," she explained. "We sent Talena's sample data to the archives several days ago with a batch from a group of newly liberated slaves. The archives never returned the results, but a team of assassins boarded my ship a few days after with orders to kill Talena. Her results were found on their leader's body."

"If it is true, this is joyous news for my house. Why would someone wish to kill over it?" Soth asked.

"I have no evidence to say who attacked us or why. All I know is that her life is in danger, and I suspect that your lord's life may be threatened as well," Carmen replied.

Soth's jaw clenched, and then he nodded. "If you'll excuse me, I need to make some arrangements."

The commander left the room, and there was little left to do aside from wait for the results of the second test. Carmen stepped closer for a moment and squeezed Tali's hand, but then she returned to her vigil.

"How badly was the shuttle damaged?" Talena asked Dack, and he shrugged.

"Hard to say without running some diagnostics. It's in one piece."

She shivered. "Let's not do that again."

"You get used to it. We get knocked around on the _Talon_ all the time."

"Maybe you should retire now that you're starting a family," she suggested.

Jace snickered and glanced over his shoulder at them. "Yes, please do, Loren."

"You'd miss me if I was gone," Dack said.

"Like one might miss a bad rash," Jace countered, but there was no venom in his tone. Talena assumed it was the closest to friendly banter he could manage.

Commander Soth returned, and he paced near the doctor while they waited for the test to finish. Talena felt sorry for the doctor, because _she_ wouldn't want Soth breathing down _her_ neck. He frightened her. If he walked into her store, she would find a polite way to suggest that she didn't have anything he would be interested in.

When the test finished, the doctor proclaimed the results again—or at least Talena assumed he did, because he continued to speak only Cy'reni. Soth nodded, and he eyed Talena speculatively.

"Come with me, please."

Carmen stepped forward. "Where are we going?"

"To the lord's manor. He needs to know of this."

Talena suddenly became very aware of how awful she looked. Her hair was grimy and smelled of smoke, and her already traumatized dress was smudged with black streaks. She was in no state to meet anyone. How could she make a good first impression looking like a refugee?

Then again, that was exactly what she was at the moment.

Against her better judgment she allowed herself to be coaxed into a shuttle. This time it was a military model bristling with weapons and shields, and no one attacked them as they glided over the underground city. It reminded her of flying over her home colony at twilight, when the buildings glittered with faint light like evening stars, but there was no light from above. No stars, no moonlight, only rocky darkness.

They approached a large building at the center of the city. Talena half expected a towering castle, but instead it was a round complex with a domed top and several outlying buildings. From the air it resembled a stylized sun with accompanying rays, and the dome glistened in the dim light. They landed atop one of the rays, and Commander Soth led them into the complex. Talena clung to Dack's arm, overwhelmed by the bustle of Cy'ren going about their business in the crowded hallways. Everyone spoke Cy'reni, and the signs around them were written in its flowing script. She was completely out of place on what should have been her home world.

The crowd thinned as they made their way into the heart of the building, and then they entered an enormous library. Talena gasped at the rows of shelves housing ancient-looking printed books, mixed with modern data access terminals and storage devices.

"This is their archive," Dack explained. "The history of the house and its people is kept here, going back centuries, along with whatever other data they collect."

"Does your house have an archive?"

He smiled softly. "Yes. My mother likes to spend her time there, researching our family history."

"The Morningstar archives are more extensive," Jace commented from behind them.

"Concerned about size, Harrow?" Carmen asked, and Talena giggled. Jace declined to answer, and their group slowed to a stop.

"Wait here," Commander Soth ordered.

Several people were seated at the tables in the study room, and a few glanced up quizzically at their group. They seemed most interested in Carmen, who was the only human present. Soth approached a male seated at a table at the far edge of the room, his head bent over an old book. Talena started as she realized that he shared her same shade of lavender skin and white hair—this must be her brother, Lord Degalen Fairren. Soth spoke to him, his voice too low to hear, but Degalen frowned up at him before looking in her direction.

Talena swallowed hard as she met his gaze. He had red eyes like Dack, and they widened at the sight of her. Degalen exchanged a few more words with the commander, and then he rose and walked away. Her stomach sank at the rejection, but then Soth motioned for them to follow. He led them down a corridor into a smaller room that held a desk with a computer. Degalen stood next to it, watching them with a furrowed brow as they entered.

"This room is secure. You can speak freely," Soth informed them. He stood watch near the door.

Degalen spoke, and Tali looked to Dack for a translation.

"He said you look just like your mother," he explained, and then he looked to Degalen. "She doesn't speak Cy'reni, my lord."

Degalen nodded. "Forgive me. I don't often have the opportunity to speak galactic standard." His accent had a lilt to it, reminding Talena of Katya. "The commander tells me that your test claims that you are my sister, and you can explain how this is possible."

"Well, Jace can explain how it's possible. I'm still new to all of this," Talena said.

Jace stepped forward and bowed politely. "Lord Degalen. I am Najacen Harrow, second son and shadow sword of House Morningstar. I'm afraid that though the explanation is simple, it will be difficult to hear."

"I'm listening," Degalen replied, eyeing Jace warily. Talena wondered if her brother had heard something specific about Jace to have earned that automatic distrust, or if it was directed at House Morningstar in general.

"Sharaiya wasn't killed with the rest of your family," Jace explained.

"That's impossible. She's entombed with them. I've been there countless times."

"If there is a body there, it isn't hers."

Degalen flinched as though struck, and his hand tightened on the back of the desk chair. "Where is she? What happened to her?"

"She was sold into slavery."

"By whom?" he asked. His voice was strained, and Talena shivered.

"I don't know for certain," Jace replied. "The attack on your family was approved by the entire council, but I suspect someone in House Nightfall was behind that order, as Nightfall agents have tried to kill Talena twice since her heritage was discovered."

"You don't know that," Dack said.

"The men who boarded the _Talon_ were of House Nightfall. They only hesitated because she is your mate," Jace said.

"That doesn't mean it was the house who sent them. The council could have sent those mercs." Dack took a step in Jace's direction, and Talena tugged at his arm before he lost his temper.

"Stop it. Both of you. You're not helping," she said.

"How do you know of this, Najacen?" Degalen asked.

"I overheard my father speaking of it. He doesn't know that I know," Jace said.

Degalen frowned. "I see. And you're telling me now out of the goodness of your heart? Or to encourage discord between the Sunsingers and the Nightfalls?"

Jace squared his shoulders and folded his hands behind his back. "No Cy'ren would benefit from a war between your houses at the moment. I am merely in a position to provide the truth of what happened to your family, and the truth is that they were betrayed by our own people. Not by slavers. Sharaiya was made a slave to punish House Sunsinger for refusing to sign the peace accord. She must have been pregnant when she was taken, and that is how Talena is your sister."

Degalen seemed to digest that information, and then he turned his regard to Talena. "You were a slave?"

"I was born a slave, but I was rescued when I was a child. I don't remember that life. I didn't know my mother's name, or my name for that matter. I'm sorry, but I don't know what happened to her." Talena sighed, wishing she had better news to tell him.

"But there could be records somewhere?" he asked.

"I suppose. My father—my adopted father," she corrected, "was never able to find any records of..." Talena trailed off as the words soured on her tongue. She paused to take a deep breath before starting again. "He tried to track down information on my owner, but he never found anything. We assumed it must have been a small business or an individual who didn't own other slaves, not important enough to be mentioned in the records."

"The resistance might have more information on that. They have a large database of known slave owners," Carmen said.

"If they're not trying to kill me," Talena replied.

Carmen grimaced and nodded in agreement.

"Commander Soth, I want a security lockdown. No traffic in or out of the city until we get this figured out. I also want all non-essential personnel removed from the manor until further notice."

"Yes, my lord." Soth bowed and left the room.

"You are welcome to stay here as my guests. I believe we have much to talk about," Degalen said. "In the meantime you appear as though you could use a meal and some rest. I will have my assistant assign rooms to you."

"That should be simple, as the three of them only need one room," Jace commented dryly.

A blush scorched Talena's cheeks, and she glared at Jace. It was not the ideal way to introduce her unique situation to the brother she had just met.

"I believe what Lieutenant Commander Harrow meant to say is that Talena and Captain Hawke would prefer to stay with me," Dack said.

"You have a human mate?" Degalen asked.

Talena peered at Carmen, startled and intrigued by the idea. Was that allowed? Could Carmen become Dack's mate as well? Would she even agree to that?

"In a manner of speaking. Captain Hawke is a remarkable woman," Dack replied.

"Interesting. Now, let's get you all settled."

# Chapter Twelve

Carmen was eager to hear word of the _Talon_ , but with the Sunsingers in security lockdown she would have to access one of their communication centers in order to get a signal to the surface. Though the Cy'ren had made themselves safer from slaver raids by moving their cities underground, it also made them isolated. Each city was an island, self-sufficient and able to be cut off from the outside world with a single order. Lord Degalen had given that order, and now all she could do was pray that her crew was safe.

She hadn't been expecting to share a room with Dack and Tali, but she was glad for it. Carmen had gotten used to having them near, and this way she could keep a close eye on them. Talena was vulnerable, and Carmen wanted to do everything in her power to protect her. Jace had been put in the room across from them. Close enough to come to their aid if something went wrong, but far enough to keep his snide remarks to himself.

"How do I look?" Tali asked.

Carmen turned, and her breath caught in her throat as she spotted Talena standing in the doorway to the bedroom. Because they arrived with only the clothes on their backs, Lord Degalen's assistant Kylie had scrounged up clothing for all of them. For now, Carmen preferred to stay in her uniform, but Tali had dived into the closet at her first opportunity after their dinner. She wore an outfit of knotted scarves that left her arms and midriff bare, paired with a long, flowing skirt. The golden fabric complemented her eyes, and she smiled.

"Breathtaking," Carmen answered.

"That's what I told her," Dack said as he followed Tali into the sitting room of their suite. He had removed his armor but kept his weapons, and wore a simple all-black outfit.

"You look like a princess." Carmen rose to meet her, and then hugged and kissed her.

"I feel a bit like a princess. It's all so strange. Like I'm living in a child's tale."

"Well, you have a castle and a handsome knight," Carmen said. She smirked at Dack, who grinned in response. "I'm not quite sure where I fit in though."

"You're a knight too. You're just beautiful instead of handsome," Talena informed her. Carmen shook her head, about to argue, and Tali pointed a stern finger at her. "You _are_ beautiful. Isn't she?"

"I have always thought so," Dack said. "And if you argue with me on that, I'm afraid I'll have to duel you for insulting my captain."

"So you'd duel me for insulting myself?" Carmen asked, raising a skeptical eyebrow.

"Yes, and I'd hate to have to thrash you."

Carmen laughed, shaking her head. "I'd hate to be on the list of people who've shot you."

Dack grinned and kissed her, and it sent a flutter through Carmen's chest. She'd missed this—the simple banter, the casual affection. It was a great thing to have a lover again—or lovers, as the case was—but it was even greater to feel loved.

God help the fool who was threatening Tali, because Carmen was going to tear him apart.

A knock sounded at the door, and Dack answered it. His hand drifted near his weapon, just as Carmen's did hers, but Kylie stood waiting in the hall.

"My lord would like to speak with you now, if you are free," she informed them. Kylie was an elderly female who exuded an aura of quiet authority. Carmen wasn't sure if she trusted her, because she could be involved in the cover-up of the previous lord's murder.

"Of course," Talena said.

"I have to contact my ship. I'll need access to a communications center," Carmen said.

"As you wish, Captain Hawke. If you don't mind, I can take you there now, and you can rejoin Lady Talena and Lieutenant Loren when you are finished."

Carmen hesitated, glancing at Dack. "Take Jace," he said, his voice low. "I've got Tali."

She nodded in agreement and smiled at Kylie. "Yes, that would be fine."

Kylie dropped Carmen and Jace off at a comm. center as promised. Jace's mood had improved, presumably because he was finally in his element. He wasn't a military brat like Carmen or a drifter like Dack. Jace had been born to wealth and privilege, and from what Carmen had seen, life aboard the _Talon_ didn't agree with him. Some days she wondered why he'd chosen this life, but when his head wasn't up his ass he was a good officer.

Only a few techs remained to man the comm. center, as Lord Degalen had banished most of the Cy'ren from the complex. In theory it would keep Tali safer, but if the resistance was behind the attacks there could be agents already within the Sunsinger's city, willing to take up the cause. Thanks to the security precautions, it took a little over an hour to establish a connection to the surface, and a wave of relief washed through Carmen at the sound of Sam's voice.

"Report?" she asked.

"Our guests have been processed through the returnee center and are being reunited with their respective houses. We're continuing repairs on the _Talon_."

It sounded too good to be true. "Everything's quiet?"

"Aye, Captain. I heard your ride was bumpy."

"Just a bit. You know how you wanted to upgrade the shuttle?" she asked.

"Yes?"

"Permission granted."

She heard a noise that sounded like a snort, and she pictured Sam grinning at the idea. "I'll start making arrangements for parts."

"No word from command about our uninvited guests at the station?" Carmen asked.

"Not a peep."

Carmen glanced at Jace, and he frowned. They should have heard something in response to the report that they had been attacked. The fact that command was quiet on the subject was not a good sign.

"Any word from the indexer?"

"Yes, I have a data package here to transmit to you."

"Go ahead. And authorize the payment for it."

"Do you want to hear how much it is?" Sam asked.

"No, I really don't." Carmen eyed the screen as the data downloaded. Normally she wouldn't risk sending sensitive information over someone else's comm. equipment, but she was impatient for the results. Besides, the people most likely to listen in were other Cy'ren, and unless said Cy'ren were looking for personal vigilante justice, they would leave dealing with the Eppes in the hands of the resistance.

"Got it. Until I return, I don't want anyone outside our crew on the ship."

"I can't guarantee that with the work we're doing," Sam replied.

"Then I want any visitors kept under constant observation. Don't trust anyone."

"Aye, Captain."

She moved the data from the terminal onto her personal data pad and opened the package. She skimmed over the information, and her stomach twisted as she read the news.

"Is it that bad?" Jace asked.

"It's worse."

Dack followed a step behind Tali as she walked beside her brother. He followed out of respect for Lord Degalen's position, but Dack would have preferred to lead. He didn't trust the Sunsinger's security, even under lockdown, because he wasn't familiar with their measures. Even if he had been, he still wouldn't trust Tali's safety to anyone other than himself and Captain Hawke. The young lord was under the impression that he didn't need a personal guard for this task, and Dack didn't agree, but he hadn't argued. Much.

Lord Degalen led them through the Sunsinger tombs. Dack found the place a bit morbid, but it would allow Talena to learn more about her fallen family. Dack had never been to the Nightfall tombs, though he knew his mother had. Genealogy was her hobby. She spent her days looking for heroes among their ancestors. She'd probably be thrilled to learn that his mate was descended from the equivalent of Cy'ren royalty. Dack wasn't thrilled—he was intimidated. Despite her assurances that she didn't care about his wealth, or lack thereof, he could never offer Talena the things the Sunsingers could. Shadow swords were respected, but they weren't rich or powerful. His home within the Nightfall compound was modest, though if his house was trying to kill her, it was doubtful she'd ever see it. Dack might have to abandon his family to keep her safe.

They descended through the upper levels of the tombs where the commoners of the house were laid to rest. The farther down they traveled, the more important the dead. When they arrived at the bottommost level, the air was still and stale. Dark marble statues of past lords lined the corridor, each lord surrounded by images of their mates and descendants. Each of the Cy'ren houses had gone to great expense to move their honored dead when they built their underground cities, and several generations of Sunsinger lords were entombed here.

They passed several haughty, scowling statues until Lord Degalen paused at the final one in the hallway. The empty corridor stretched on, ready to receive future Sunsinger generations. Dack frowned at the idea that Talena might rest there one day.

"This is our father, Lord Renden Fairren," Lord Degalen said.

Dack eyed the statue. He could see the resemblance between Degalen and Renden. They had the same high cheekbones and strong noses. Neither man had probably ever wielded a sword or pistol. Tali didn't look much like him, but he assumed she looked like her mother as Lord Degalen claimed. Portraits of Renden's mates and children lined the wall behind his statue, a collection of solemn faces staring back at them.

Degalen began to speak about his family, sharing what he knew of their history with Tali, and though Dack tried to pay attention, he soon found himself distracted. Something was off. He couldn't identify the source, but the place didn't feel right. If he were superstitious he would blame it on the restless ghosts of the dead, but instead he put his hand on the grip of his pistol and scanned their surroundings. The ends of the corridor were obscured by shadows, and anyone could be hidden in them. Damn. He should've insisted that Degalen bring guardsmen with him, but the lord had insisted that they would be safe here.

"I remember her."

Talena's voice caught his attention, and he looked back to see her standing in front of one of the portraits. Her hand was raised as though she wanted to touch the image, and she gazed at it with a dreamy expression.

"You remember our mother?" Degalen asked.

"Her hair was different. It was very short, like a boy's. And she had a mark like mine." Tali touched the slave brand on the side of her throat. "But that's all I remember. Just an image, like a portrait. She wasn't on the ship with me. I don't know why."

She turned to him, her golden eyes filled with tears, and Dack stepped forward to comfort her. Before he reached her he caught a flicker of movement at the end of the hall out of the corner of his eye. "Get down!" he shouted.

Tali grabbed her brother and dragged him into cover behind the statue as Dack drew his pistol. Bolts shattered a nearby statue with a loud crack, sending marble shards flying. Dack returned fire and spotted two figures approaching, but then bolts shot from behind him as well. He hissed as one grazed his leg, and then he ducked to join Tali.

"Take this. Cover me," he ordered. Dack handed her the laser, and she nodded. "Try not to shoot me."

Tali scowled. "Don't tempt me."

Dack wished he'd kept his armor on as he drew his sword and charged down the hallway. Near misses zinged past him as he ran, scorching his clothes and blistering his skin. When he reached his targets, he kicked the pistol out of the hand of one man and then skewered the other. Jace had called them poor assassins, and Dack realized that his rival was right as he subdued the pair. These were no shadow swords. A shadow sword wouldn't have missed.

Laser fire continued behind him as he finished off the attackers. Tali was pinned down, engaged in a firefight with the remaining assassins. She dropped one as Dack started in her direction, and then the other when he reached her hiding spot.

Dack paused, impressed, and then he grinned. "That's my girl."

"Are you hurt?" she asked.

"Just a graze. Are you?"

"I'm fine," Tali assured him.

"Are you injured, Lord Degalen?" Dack asked. The young lord stared up at him wide-eyed. It had to be his first battle. "I'll take that as a no." Dack held his hand out to help Tali up, and she handed him the pistol instead. As Dack holstered the weapon Talena stood up and helped her brother to his feet.

"Someone really is trying to kill you," Degalen said.

"Us," she corrected. "We did warn you."

"How could anyone have gotten down here, past all the security?" Degalen shook his head in disbelief.

Dack shrugged. He held his blade tightly, just in case. "It's possible a team was sent here before we arrived. To take Tali out before she got to you if the fighters failed, or to take you both out once you knew the truth. Either way, we'd better get out of here."

"Yes, of course," Degalen agreed. He peered at his sister. "Are you with the resistance? Where did you learn to shoot like that?"

"No, I'm not. I'm a sculptor." Talena shot Dack a dry glance, and he smiled sheepishly. "I learned how to shoot from my father—adopted father. He's a captain in the Alliance navy."

"I see." Lord Degalen frowned as he digested that information, but he followed as Dack cautiously led them down the corridor.

The burnt smell of ozone filled the stale air as Dack approached the two assassins Tali had taken down. Dack never trusted a body he hadn't killed himself, and he held his sword at the ready if one of them was only playing dead. One was a clean kill, shot in the neck, but the other man was bleeding to death from a wound in his stomach. Dack winced—a gut shot was a slow, ugly way to die.

"Keep back," Dack warned. He kicked the pistol out of the man's hand, and the Cy'ren glared up at him. "Who sent you?"

"Fuck you."

Dack grabbed the man's throat and tugged the collar of his shirt out of the way, revealing a Nightfall house mark. "Who sent you? Was it Corrin?" he asked. Corrin Kasse was the head of the Nightfall shadow swords, and most likely to be behind an attack on another house, no matter how lowly the assassins.

"Fuck you." The man exhaled his last and laid still.

"Damn it," Dack cursed.

"Sorry," Talena said. "My aim was off."

He shook his head as he sheathed his sword, and then he hugged her. "You did great, _a'mhain._ I doubt he would've given us much."

"Are they both of House Nightfall?" Lord Degalen asked. Dack checked the other body and nodded grimly. "This does not bode well for your house, shadow sword."

"I know, my lord," Dack replied. He looked down at Tali, and she wrapped her arms around him and clutched him tight. After brushing a kiss against Tali's hair, Dack looked up and met Degalen's gaze. "If the worst should happen, my allegiance lies with my mate and our child."

Lord Degalen's brow rose at the mention of the child, and Dack realized they had failed to mention that detail earlier. Degalen nodded. "I will keep that in mind, Lieutenant."

"In the meantime, I suggest testing the heritage of these men. It should help determine whether they are mercenaries or agents of House Nightfall," Dack suggested.

"Can we leave now?" Tali asked, her voice muffled against his chest.

Dack nodded. "Yes, let's go."

# Chapter Thirteen

Talena kept her hands folded in her lap in a desperate attempt to keep from fidgeting. She wasn't sure what information Carmen had found, but from the severity of her frown it couldn't be good. Anxiety made Tali's skin itch, and she longed for her own glass of wine as she eyed the goblets set in front of everyone else. Not that anyone of their assembled group was drinking any of their wine—except for Jace, who looked completely at ease. He was probably enjoying the idea of a potential war between House Sunsinger and House Nightfall.

Carmen spoke first. "We recently acquired financial data from the Eppes group. This is the first time anyone from the resistance has successfully retrieved information from them, and in analyzing it Talena discovered an anomaly."

All eyes turned to her, and she blushed. "I found an oddity in their supply data. I have bookkeeping experience from my business," she said sheepishly.

"We took the data to Laurent, the indexer aboard Jump Station 9, and he uncovered something remarkable in their archives."

"Remarkable enough to explain why there are assassins in my city?" Lord Degalen asked.

"Remarkable enough to explain where Tali was born, and where your mother may still be, if she's alive," Carmen replied.

Startled, Talena leaned forward. "What? But the records were destroyed. How is that possible?"

"It's a bit complicated," Carmen warned. "The indexers keep an archive of all the data they have collected in a server that's not connected to any outside source. They're insane about the security around it. It's safe from worms and viruses slavers like to use to remove evidence of their transactions. By the time Captain Spenser went looking for records of Tali's owners, there were none left to find outside of the indexers' records. But in Tali's case the record removal was more than just the Eppes trying to cover up a few slave sales. The mark on Tali's neck is the symbol of Nepheros, a mining colony."

Carmen held up a data pad displaying a larger version of the brand on Talena's neck. Tali reached up and rubbed at it, as though her skin burned at the mention.

"Nepheros was a Sunsinger mining colony, with Sunsinger-owned slaves providing the labor. From what the indexer was able to piece together, after Lord Renden was murdered, several of his off-world businesses were looted by his former business partners. Officially the colony was taken over by the Eppes, and with the lord gone it was forgotten by your house. The Eppes have been using the miners and their families to supplement their slave trade."

Talena exhaled a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. Nepheros. She half expected a flood of blurry memories would resurface at learning the name of the place, but there was nothing. No sense of recognition, and only a slight ease to the tension squeezing her chest. They had been right that the anomaly was due to a breeding colony, and apparently she'd been bred there. Well, perhaps not bred, but born. Was her mother alive? Had she been living at the colony all this time? Did Tali have several, maybe even dozens of half brothers and sisters who'd been born into slavery too?

"And you think Sharaiya was taken to the colony?" Degalen asked.

Carmen nodded. "I do. There's more."

"More?" Tali asked. "I don't know if I can handle more."

"Do you need to lie down?" Dack asked. He took her hand and squeezed it, and she was tempted by the idea.

"Not yet. Go on."

Carmen nodded again. "There is evidence that House Nightfall owns a share of the colony."

"That's impossible," Dack said.

"It explains why they've sent assassins. They're trying to hide both their role in Lord Renden's murder and their continuing involvement in the slave trade," Carmen said matter-of-factly. "I know it's not easy to hear—"

Dack leapt to his feet, his face flushed with anger. "It can't be true. The indexer must have given you false information. House Nightfall is the largest supporter of the resistance. We are dedicated to Cy'reni freedom. We've given the most in men and resources to fight the slavers."

"Out of a guilty conscience, perhaps?" Jace suggested.

Dack growled at Jace, and Carmen rose and put herself between them. "That's enough. I'm sorry, Dack."

"You're sorry? You're accusing my house of the worst sort of treason on the word of a sleazy information broker."

"It makes sense. We already know that they were involved with Renden's death," Carmen said.

"You don't know that either. You're relying on his word." Dack pointed an accusing finger at Jace.

"Are you accusing me of lying, Lieutenant?" Jace said.

"Yes. You've always been a conniving snake. If you were any more cold blooded you'd have a forked tongue," Dack snarled.

"Walk away, Mordackai. You need to cool off. That's an order." Carmen glared up at him, and Dack whirled and stalked out of the room.

Tali stared after him, frozen. She jumped as a hand touched her arm, and she turned back to see her brother watching her with concern.

"Are you all right?" he asked.

"I'm not sure. What happens now?"

"House Nightfall must answer these accusations," Degalen replied.

"And if everything is true?" she asked.

Degalen sighed wearily. "We can't afford a war between the houses. Not when we've made so much progress."

"A war may be unavoidable. By sending assassins, Nightfall has taken an aggressive position," Jace pointed out. "They may take this opportunity to silence your house permanently, and there are plenty of houses who would be happy to take your place on the high council."

"And I suppose this is where you offer an alliance between my house and yours?" Degalen asked, and Jace smiled.

"I'm not authorized to make such an offer, but I believe my father will be willing to promise Morningstar aid. In return for an official union between our houses."

"You're not using this as an excuse to get to Tali," Carmen warned.

"Perish the thought. Her affections are already spoken for. I do, however, have several sisters, and Lord Degalen has not taken a mate yet."

Degalen blushed. "Lord Najamek has mentioned that fact on more than one occasion. I will speak with him more on the matter." He turned his attention to Carmen. "Can your ship liberate Nepheros?"

Carmen blinked in surprise, and then leaned back in her chair. "Not alone. The Eppes could have several ships there by now, and no telling what the ground defenses are."

"Will the resistance aid you?" Degalen asked.

"They should, if I can convince them. I think they'll agree it's in their best interests, and if the resistance can send a scout ship in, we'll have a better idea of what we're up against. I'll need to use your comm. center again."

"Please do. And if you would be so kind as to contact your father, Lieutenant Commander Harrow?"

"Of course, my lord."

"Thank you." Degalen turned to Tali. "May I speak with you in private?"

She nodded, and Carmen and Jace left, leaving her alone with her brother for the first time. They eyed each other in awkward silence for a moment before she spoke.

"I'm not sure the proper way to address you," she admitted. "I'm not familiar with Cy'ren society. Dack's been trying to teach me, but there's so much to learn."

"You may call me Galen, because we are family. Do you prefer Tali to Talena?"

_Galen._ Her brother—the words were as foreign to her as if they were spoken in Cy'reni. She smiled as reassuringly as she could manage. "My friends call me Tali, but either is fine."

"Are you certain you're all right? You're a bit pale," he said.

"I'm not certain of anything anymore," she replied. "It's been a long day."

"I apologize. I should have let you rest and taken you to the tomb tomorrow."

Talena shook her head. "It's not your fault. You couldn't have known we would be attacked. Though it has happened often since I met Dack." She rubbed her hands over her face. "I used to have a quiet life."

"Do you trust your mate?" Galen asked.

"Of course I do. I love him," Talena replied. The words flowed so smoothly that it took her a moment to realize she had said them. She loved Dack—without doubt, without hesitation and without interference from the phase.

"He is a soldier sworn to House Nightfall. Can you be certain he'll choose to honor his commitment to you over his commitment to them?"

Dack had been set on making her a part of his family. If that was no longer possible, would he be able to accept becoming part of hers? He had said that his allegiance was with her, and he loved her, as she loved him. Talena nodded, feeling confident. "Yes. I trust him. Are you really going to have to marry one of Jace's sisters?"

He grimaced. "Lord Najamek has been suggesting it for years. I had hoped to avoid it, but I suppose that's out of the question now."

"Then I'll hope that his sisters are better people than he is. Jace is an ass."

"He takes after his father then," Galen said, and Tali chuckled. He peered at her with a bemused expression. "You look so much like our mother. Do you think she might still be alive?"

"I don't know. I always assumed..." she trailed off. She swallowed hard past the sudden lump tightening her throat. "I thought she must be dead, and that is why we were separated. I know that slavers take children from their mothers all the time. But I've always felt something final about it, like I knew I wouldn't see her again. It was kinder to mourn her than think she might still be living as someone's slave."

"I've been mourning her—mourning all of them—my entire life. I assumed that the only family I would ever know would be my mates and my children. Now I suddenly have a sister. And a future niece or nephew," he added, and she blushed. "I'm not sure what to think of all of this."

"Neither do I. I never expected to find out anything about my birth family. I certainly wasn't expecting all this." Talena looked around the room at her surroundings. Her life would have been so different if she'd been born here and raised among her people. She wouldn't have met Carmen or Dack. She probably would never have been off world at all.

"You'll need your familial marks inked." Galen motioned to the blank space on her neck above her new mating marks, and she nodded. "I know you may want to rejoin your mate, but would you sit with me for now? I would like to hear more about you."

Talena smiled. "I'd like that."

Dack paced the room like a caged beast as doubt gnawed at him. He had devoted his life to fighting slavers. He was sworn to House Nightfall, and all this time his house might have been selling Cy'ren into slavery. Murder, betrayal, conspiracy—what else was his family capable of? How could he continue to serve them? It was easier to believe that it was all a lie, some big Morningstar conspiracy to cause war between the Sunsingers and the Nightfalls.

"Lieutenant!" Carmen snapped. Dack jerked to a halt at the sound of her voice. She stood a few feet from him, her hands balled on her hips. "Did you hear a word that I said?"

"No," he admitted in a low growl.

Carmen sighed and shook her head. "You have to stop this. You'll scare Tali."

He hung his head. "I know. I can't—" He broke off with a snarl. "Why? Why would they do this? They're devoted to freeing our people."

"Cy'ren sold each other into slavery for centuries. You know that."

"And we stopped. We should be better than that now."

"I'm sorry, Dack." Her expression softened, and she closed the distance between them and took his face in her hands. "I wish there was something I could do."

He sighed, and then touched his forehead to hers. His eyes closed for a moment as he breathed in Carmen's familiar scent. "You have done something. You've sacrificed so much to fight for the Cy'ren."

"And I've never regretted it. It was the right thing to do." Carmen stroked his cheek. "What happened to you and Tali should never happen to another Cy'ren. You deserve normal lives."

"I don't think any of us knows what normal is." Dack growled with frustration. "My own house is trying to kill Talena. I can't lose her."

"You won't," Carmen assured him.

"How can I protect her? I couldn't protect—" he broke off and turned away.

"You couldn't protect your first mate?" she asked softly.

"I should have been there. I left Kira alone with our son in a cheap apartment on a backwater Syndicate world, and the slave hunters found them."

"You couldn't know—"

"Of course I knew. We lived with the danger of being recaptured every day. I shouldn't have left them there. I should've insisted on bringing them to Cyprena. They would've been safe here. But we couldn't afford it." Dack flopped into a chair and held his head in his hands at the memory. "We were both runners. We could barely afford food, much less transport across Syndicate space. Kira tried to fight them off, but she was outnumbered. She killed herself and the baby rather than be taken."

Carmen knelt in front of him. "Oh, Dack. I'm so sorry."

"I can't..." Dack shook his head, unable to force more words past the lump in his throat.

"Hey, look at me," she ordered. He met her dark eyes, and she took his hands in hers. "You won't lose Tali, because you have something you didn't have then—me. I love both of you. We can protect her together, and God help anyone who gets in our way."

Carmen squeezed his hands, and he knew she was right. Kira had been a fighter, but Carmen was a warrior. She'd fly the _Talon_ through hell and back to keep Tali safe. Dack kissed her, and then he tugged her up into his lap and held her, taking comfort in her closeness.

"What did command say about the attack?" he asked when he calmed.

"Still nothing, but I ordered the _Talon_ to join us here. Commander Soth is going to monitor them and let them through the lockdown."

"Did you ask about liberating Nepheros?"

"I put in the request and a request for a recon mission along with the rest of my report. I have a feeling it's going to ruffle some feathers," she replied.

"Just a few," he agreed. "Jace has to be loving this."

"I left him speaking with his father. Probably arranging which of his sisters will become Lord Degalen's mate."

Dack's brow rose. "What?"

"You missed that after you stormed out. They're hoping to form an alliance between the Sunsingers and Morningstars."

"Poor bastard." Dack wouldn't want to be tied to Jace's family. Of course as the head of his house, Lord Degalen was bound to take at least one mate to satisfy the demands of politics. "Do you believe any of this?"

"It makes sense. Ugly sense, but in order for Nightfall to rise, the Sunsingers needed to fall. Once they were at the top they could do whatever they wanted. They'd hardly be the first house to hide dirty secrets."

"It can't all be a lie. Everything I've fought for—"

"Is still there," Carmen interrupted, "and now you have a mate to fight for."

"Two mates," he corrected.

She blushed. "I'm not sure that's a good idea."

"You did just say that you love both of us. We love you. There are no laws against having a human mate."

"It's not that simple," Carmen replied.

"It is that simple. Stay with us." Dack prevented further argument by stopping her mouth with a passionate kiss.

"Ooh, is it naked time?" Tali asked. Dack broke the kiss and turned. Tali's long skirt flowed around her as she entered the room with a seductive smile. "I was hoping I wouldn't miss it."

"You should rest," Carmen scolded.

"I'll rest better after we're all worn out," Tali replied. She grabbed their hands and led them toward the bedroom.

The bed was round and indecently large, reminding Dack of the behemoth in Laurent's pleasure rooms on Jump Station 9. That bed had been built for sex with multiple partners just as this had been, but this one was intended for a Cy'ren male with more than one mate instead of a frisky spacer on a bender. Tali had Dack stripped naked within a few moments—she was getting good at that—and then she was on her knees before him. She moaned eagerly as she took his cock into her mouth, and he growled as he threw his head back. Damn, she was good at that too. Tali's wicked tongue licked Dack's hard length, and then she took him deeper. He placed his hands against her hair, but then he met Carmen's gaze.

"Strip," he ordered. Her brow rose, and he grinned. "Slowly."

Carmen removed her jacket—slowly, as requested—and then her undershirt and bra. Dack licked his lips as she cupped her breasts, her nipples hardening into taut peaks. Stepping back, she sat atop a dresser to pull off her boots. She spread her legs wide as she reached for her zipper, but instead of removing her pants, she slipped her hand into them. Carmen's fingers dipped under her panties and she stroked her clit, sighing softly.

Dack inhaled sharply, and he tugged at Tali's hair. "Enough," he warned.

"I want to make you come," she said. Tali pouted up at him and ran her tongue along his shaft again.

"I will. Inside you or Carmen."

Carmen shivered, and then she hopped down from the dresser and tugged her pants and panties off.

"Both," Tali suggested. "Her first."

"You're so demanding, _a'mhain,_ " Dack teased, "but your wish is my command." He leaned close and whispered to Tali. "On the bed. I want you to play with yourself so you're nice and wet for me." She purred as he nipped her neck, and she stripped off what little clothing she had on—the outfit was made of handkerchiefs with delusions of grandeur. Dack stalked toward Carmen like a cat about to pounce.

He maneuvered her back against the wall and pinned her against it. Dack devoured her with his mouth and his hands, rough and possessive, as pent-up frustration at the accusations against his house turned to raw, angry lust. Carmen threw her arms around his neck as he picked her up and spread her legs wide. She gasped and locked her legs around him as he thrust into her sex.

"Harder," Tali called from the bed. Dack glanced back to see Tali lying upon the bed, fingering herself as she watched them. He growled eagerly at the glorious sight of her, and he obeyed her shouted encouragement and pounded Carmen.

He fucked her. There was nothing sweet or romantic about it, only primal need. Dack kissed her breathless, muffling her cries as she moaned in ecstasy. His blood burned, and he was hard and relentless as he drove into her. He needed this—to take his mate. No worries about rank or responsibility, only the feel of his body pressed against hers, the scent of their sweat and sex.

"Come for me," he demanded.

Carmen closed her eyes, and she gasped his name as the walls of her sex clenched around his cock. Pleasure roared through him, and as he came he growled and bit her. Not hard enough to break the skin, though he wanted to. It was his instinct to mark his mate, and since she didn't wear mating marks like a Cy'ren female, a bruise was as close as Dack would get.

He kissed her when he withdrew. Dack spun her around, putting his back against the wall, and then he eased her down. Carmen leaned against his chest, but he wasn't done with her yet.

"On your knees."

Carmen blinked and looked up at him. "Are you giving me an order, Lieutenant?" she asked.

"Yes." He threaded his hand through her hair and tugged at its short length. Her dark eyes clouded with lust, and she whimpered. "On your knees. Now."

Her legs buckled and she knelt before him, eye-level with his cock. He wanted her to suck him until he was hard again, and she appeared up to the challenge. Dack closed his eyes as she took him into her mouth. Carmen cupped his balls with one hand, massaging him as she licked his shaft. He moaned, his hands resting atop her head as she teased, sucked and stroked.

Tali moaned, and he opened his eyes to glance at the bed. Tali's lavender thighs were spread wide, and he growled with desire as Talena's fingers pumped in and out of her pussy. The sooner he was hard again, the sooner he could have Tali.

Carmen continued to pleasure him until he nudged her away. Dack was hot and hard again, and he pulled her to her feet and kissed her. "Why don't you join Tali?" he suggested.

She grinned wickedly, and he held back to watch as Carmen crawled across the bed to hover above Talena. The two women kissed each other deeply, their tongues plunging into each other's mouths.

Tali rolled Carmen beneath her. "You taste amazing," she purred.

Carmen captured the hand Talena had been teasing herself with, raised the fingers to her mouth and licked them clean. "You always taste sweet," Carmen murmured. "Like a sinful dessert."

Dack silently agreed as he approached the bed. Carmen ran her hands down Tali's back to cup her ass. Dack positioned himself behind Tali, and she gasped as he entered her sex. He moaned as he thrust into her, stretching her to her limit. Tali was tight and wet—Carmen was right, Talena was sinful.

Talena and Carmen kissed until they were both flushed and gasping for breath, and then Tali sucked at the spot Dack had bitten. Carmen gasped, her eyes meeting Dack's as he rode Tali.

"She wants to mark you as much as I do," he said with a seductive smile.

Carmen cried out as Tali bit down. Dack groaned and his pace increased. He murmured to them in Cy'reni— _my love, my heart, my fierce warrior and my sweet angel._ _I will love you both forever._

"Yes, forever," Carmen replied in breathy Cy'reni. "And we'll keep her safe together."

His heart swelled at her words. Dack couldn't ask for a more perfect pair of mates. Tali cried out loudly as she came, but Dack didn't stop, pounding harder and faster. He was close, but he needed more. Tali writhed above Carmen, moaning and begging them both not to stop, and Carmen echoed her moans.

"Dack, please," Carmen said.

When Tali came again, his hands tightened on her hips, and Dack moved in long, slow strokes as the bliss of climax shuddered through him. He collapsed on the bed, spent, and Talena climbed over him to snuggle next to him, so that he had a mate to either side. His fierce warrior and his sweet angel.

"Feel better?" Carmen asked.

"I think I'll sleep well now," he said. "Pleasing two mates is hard work."

"Is she our mate now too?" Tali asked.

"I didn't agree to that," Carmen replied.

"Why not? It would be perfect. We'd all be together." Tali propped herself up and peered down at Carmen.

"I can't marry one of my crew."

"There aren't laws against that in the resistance," Dack pointed out, and she sighed. "You're stalling."

"I'm not stalling. I'm being sensible."

"Stop being sensible, then." Tali reached over and gave her a no-nonsense poke in the shoulder. "You want us, we want you."

Carmen's expression softened. She stroked Tali's hair, and then let her hand rest on Dack's chest. "I love you both," she said. "You're right. I thought it would be best if I walked away after Tali's phase ended, but I can't go back to a life that doesn't have both of you in it."

Dack fought down the sudden possessive urge to bite her again.

"I love you both as well," Tali said. A happy thrill ran through Dack as he realized it was the first time she had admitted having feelings for him in addition to Carmen. "We could compromise. Blend the two cultures. You could get the marks to honor Cy'ren tradition, and we could all get rings to honor human tradition."

Carmen nodded in agreement. "I'd like that."

"We may want to wait a few days for your marks. I may not be a Nightfall for much longer," Dack warned. His heart ached at the idea, but he knew he'd already made his choice. His place was with Tali, and her place was with the Sunsingers.

"Right." Carmen grabbed the blanket and hauled it over the three of them. "And on that note, we'd all better get some sleep before the next disaster strikes."

# Chapter Fourteen

Captain Hawke hated meetings, particularly ones with politicians, but attending the resistance's council meetings was one of the burdens of her command. She loved captaining the _Talon_ —it was important work, and they got things done no matter what the odds. She would much rather be in a firefight than a meeting of the Cy'ren lords who controlled the resistance, but with the inflammatory nature of her last report, there was no avoiding it.

"My House will not stand for these lies!" Lord Bildanen Rathe pounded on the tabletop and glared at Carmen, as though she was responsible for Nightfall's crimes and not him. She suspected he was most outraged that he had gotten caught. Dack tensed behind her, and she prayed he kept it together. Normally she wouldn't have brought him to a meeting, but instead of acting as her first officer, Jace was seated with his father, Lord Najamek, and Carmen needed someone with her. Besides, Dack wouldn't have let her and Talena go anywhere without him.

The lords of the twelve high houses of Cyprena were seated around the table, each with their entourage in attendance. Several other captains of resistance ships had shown up as well, and like Carmen, many were human "former" Alliance officers. In addition to the head of his shadow swords, Lord Degalen had brought his sister with him. The young lord had requested that Dack and Carmen call him Galen, out of respect for their role as Tali's mates, but Carmen hadn't adjusted yet to the idea of being on a nickname basis with a Cy'ren lord. Poor Talena looked nervous—strikingly beautiful, with her snowy hair piled in an elaborate mass of curls atop her head and priceless jewels at her throat and wrists, but nervous. Aside from Carmen, Talena was the only other female in the room.

Lord Najamek leaned forward. "Come now, Lord Bildanen. There is no denying the fate of Lord Renden now that the truth has been told. House Nightfall was a leader in that decision."

"We all agreed to it. Everyone on this council agreed it was in the best interest of peace that Renden be eliminated, and that the truth would be withheld from his heir," Bildanen replied. "House Morningstar has broken that agreement, and they should be held—"

"Murdering my entire family was in the _best interest_ of the Cy'ren?" Lord Degalen interrupted, glaring at the elder lord.

"It was necessary."

"And now that I know the truth am I next on the list to be eliminated?"

Bildanen pointed a gnarled finger at him. "You should be grateful you were spared, whelp. You can be replaced!"

Lord Najamek rose and stared down Bildanen. "Be careful that you do not allow your temper to fuel your words. This council will brook no harm against Lord Degalen or House Sunsinger. He has done no wrong."

"But Lord Bildanen has," Degalen argued. "My mother was sold into slavery, and my sister was born a slave. Their suffering was not in the _best interest_ of the resistance. It was in Lord Bildanen's interest. House Nightfall profited from my family's blood."

Talena's chin rose slightly, as though displaying her newly-inked heritage marks for the room to see. A murmur of discontent went around the table as the council's dirty laundry was aired for all to see. Carmen wondered if they regretted it, or still lived in fear that one of their houses might be made an _example_ of next.

"How can you justify selling a lord's mate into slavery, when your entire argument for killing my father is that you meant to unite the houses to end the practice of it? You are the worst kind of hypocrite," Lord Degalen said. Carmen silently agreed.

Bildanen shook his head. "Sacrifices were necessary."

Carmen stood and glared at Lord Bildanen. "You may have had your reasons for what happened to the Sunsingers in the past, but from the moment we sent Talena's data to the heritage archive, agents of House Nightfall have attacked my ship and crew. Men boarded the _Talon_ and killed several crew members and a passenger. Fighters attacked our shuttle as we traveled to the Sunsinger compound. Assassins infiltrated the Sunsinger tomb and tried to kill both Talena and Lord Degalen. I demand an explanation."

"You have no proof that my house was involved," Bildanen replied.

"Every assassin has been identified as a member of House Nightfall. Do you expect me to believe that is a coincidence?" Carmen asked.

Lord Bildanen scowled, folding his arms as he sat back in his seat. "Believe what you like, Captain Hawke. There are rumors that your judgment may be...compromised on this matter."

She gritted her teeth and resisted the urge to glare at Jace. He had to have been telling tales of her relationship with Dack and Tali. Then again, the hickey on her neck was rather obvious evidence that she had been fooling around with a Cy'ren.

Carmen folded her arms across her chest. "So you have no objection to the resistance liberating the Nepheros colony?"

"That facility was closed after Lord Renden's death. There is nothing left there to liberate," Bildanen replied.

"You're wrong. I was born on Nepheros. I lived there for six years," Talena said.

"You'll forgive me if I don't accept the word of a long-lost mystery sibling," Bildanen replied.

"I am inclined to believe the data Captain Hawke retrieved," Lord Najamek interjected. "I am also inclined to believe the word of my second son, who fought the Nightfall agents who boarded the _Talon_. House Nightfall has been providing aid to the Eppes slaver group, which puts them in violation of the peace accord."

The room erupted into a chorus of Cy'reni voices raised in argument over House Nightfall's guilt or innocence. Nightfall was the largest and most powerful house, and they had many allies—and enemies.

"Enough! Send a scout to Nepheros and its existence will be confirmed," Carmen said. "It's that simple. Once we know whether or not Cy'ren are being held captive there, and what the colony's defenses are, we can proceed with liberating it. Agreed?"

Most of the lords grumbled their consent. A new round of arguing began, and when the dust settled the council decided that House Nightfall would be officially censured—a result Carmen didn't find satisfying, and judging from his scowl, Lord Degalen agreed. But it was also agreed that after intel was gathered, Captain Hawke would lead the Nepheros mission, and that was how she wanted it.

Before the meeting could be adjourned, Lord Bildanen had one last trick up his sleeve. "Captain Hawke. I am withdrawing shadow sword Mordackai Loren from your service and ordering his return to House Nightfall." Bildanen smiled thinly, and Carmen's stomach twisted.

"No," Dack said from behind her.

"Are you disobeying a direct order?" Bildanen asked.

Dack rose and stood at Carmen's side. "You are no longer my lord. You have no honor. My sword is no longer yours."

"You swore an oath. If you do this your name will be stricken from the records of our house. You will be an exile," Bildanen warned.

"I would rather live in exile than serve slave-trading scum like you," Dack snarled. He removed his sword and scabbard and shoved it across the table toward the lord. It rolled and rattled to a stop in front of Commander Corrin Kasse, head of the Nightfall shadow swords. His face was flushed with anger as he picked up the sword. Carmen wondered if he hated losing one of his best men as much as she would've hated losing Dack as an officer.

"Then so be it." Lord Bildanen rose and stormed from the room, and the rest of his entourage followed.

Carmen turned and peered at Dack, but he remained silent. Fury radiated from him like waves of heat. Tali left her brother's side and crossed to Dack, taking his hands in hers.

"Lord Degalen. Captain Hawke," Lord Najamek greeted as he approached them. "I want to assure you both that my house is at your disposal. If there is any way we can aid you, please let me know."

He was smooth—too smooth, which she was used to from dealing with Jace. Carmen smiled politely. "That's very kind of you, my lord."

"I am grateful for the offer, but I am well aware that your aid comes with a price," Lord Degalen replied.

Najamek smiled and waved a dismissive hand. "Don't think of it as a price. An alliance between our houses will benefit us both. I'm not asking you to choose one of my daughters today. You should meet them. Spend some time getting to know them before you make a choice."

"Of course." The young lord didn't look comforted by the offer. Maybe she should ask Dack to talk to him and give him some manly Cy'ren advice.

"It's a pity your sister is already mated," Najamek commented.

"I consider it a blessing, for she is happy, and if I am not mistaken my house has just gained a seasoned warrior," Degalen replied.

"You are not mistaken, my lord," Dack confirmed. "My service is yours, if you will have it."

"Gladly." Degalen smiled, though it was a grim expression. Nightfall's loss was Sunsinger's gain, but the circumstances were nothing to celebrate.

"My lord, if you will allow me my first officer back, I suspect we will have a battle to plan," Carmen said, and Najamek nodded.

"Of course. You may have more than that to prepare for. Lord Bildanen wanted to destroy your house, Lord Degalen. I doubt that desire has changed, and now you are a greater threat to him than ever. He will strike."

"The council won't stand for that," Degalen replied.

"He has many allies, and there are a score of lesser houses who would love to take Sunsinger's place here."

Degalen scowled. "We cannot afford a war now."

"We may have one regardless," Najamek replied, "and you should be prepared for it. Well, good hunting, Captain Hawke."

"Thank you, my lord," she said. Carmen watched Lord Najamek and his companions leave before turning to Jace. "Couldn't let it go, could you, Harrow?" she said, shaking her head.

"What? The misfortune of Talena's choice in mates? I believe my father was disappointed on his behalf, not mine. He is looking for a fourth mate," Jace replied.

Dack growled, and Tali hugged him. "Oh stop. They're just jealous of you," she said against his chest.

"My father is right. Bildanen will come at you again, and this time he will send his best. He's also likely to warn the Eppes that we're coming. To his mind it's better to destroy our fleet and maintain his innocence than it is to allow the resistance to retake Nepheros and uncover his dirty secrets."

"Good thing you're leading the ground assault then," Carmen replied. Jace's brow rose, but then he nodded. Dack grunted in disapproval, but he'd get over it. Carmen wasn't about to grant him special privileges because he was her mate. Jace was her first officer, and the ranking shadow sword.

"Lord Degalen, I have a personal request," Dack said. "Would it be possible to extend an offer to join House Sunsinger to my mother? I'm not sure she'll accept, but I'm concerned about her safety."

"Mention the impending grandchild and she'll accept," Carmen commented.

"Of course," Lord Degalen said. "I'll make the arrangements."

Dack smiled at Tali. "She can keep you company while we're off on the mission to Nepheros."

"But I want to go too," Talena said.

Carmen shook her head. "No civilians on this mission. You stay here."

"I'm not asking to join the fight. I just want to be on the ship. You'll need someone to work with the Eppes's data once you've taken the colony," she argued.

"If there's any data left to work with. They'll erase everything the moment we hit orbit."

"I need to be there." Tali squared her shoulders. "I need to know where I came from."

"Captain, as much as I would like to insist that Talena stay, if our Morningstar friends are right about Bildanen's plans, she may not be any safer here than on your ship," Lord Degalen pointed out. His gaze flicked to Dack. "She may be safest with the two of you."

Carmen turned to Dack, and he reluctantly nodded his agreement. "All right," she said. "You're coming with."

Much to Dack's relief, the promise of a grandchild was as successful as they'd hoped in luring his mother away from the Nightfall compound and over to the Sunsinger's territory. Natisha Loren arrived after a series of tense shuttle rides that she complained loudly about, but her travel woes were soon forgotten as she fell in love with her son's two new mates. Carmen seemed to take the attention in stride, while Tali was much more tolerant of his mother's fussing. Lord Degalen—Galen, Dack reminded himself, though the young lord's insistence on using the familiar name still felt wrong to the shadow sword—even gave Tish a tour of the Sunsinger archives, and she was taken with the idea of researching Talena's family to fill in the other half of her grandchild's family tree. It would keep her happy and occupied, and Dack slept easier knowing that his family was safe in Sunsinger manor.

Until the scout returned with survey results from Nepheros a few days later.

The _Talon_ had been sitting at the Sunsinger's docks, completing repairs and upgrading the shuttle, and Carmen insisted that her officers have first crack at the scout's data. They gathered in a small meeting room in Sunsinger manor, frowning at the images the scout captured as they were displayed on a large screen.

"I don't like this," Dack said.

Jace nodded. "Agreed." Dack blinked at him—they were seldom in agreement about anything. It was a bad sign.

Six transports orbited the planet broadcasting Eppes IDs, along with a handful of one-man fighters. The transports were to be expected, but the fighters were another matter. The crew watched the scout's footage in tense silence. Dack expected to see the transports landing, or shuttles flying back and forth between the surface and the transports, but the ships lazily circled Nepheros. The image shifted to the thermal scan, showing heat blooms of a handful of occupied buildings clustered on the surface.

"They're not evacuating the colonists," Carmen commented.

"I'm sure Bildanen must have warned them. In fact my father's spies believe they intercepted the transmission, and they're decrypting it now," Jace said. "The Eppes should be abandoning the facility, not fortifying it."

The captain nodded. "There must be something down there they want."

"Or they're not taking our fleet seriously," Dack pointed out. The resistance fleet consisted of a dozen modified transports like the _Talon_ , though not all of them shared the punch she packed.

Carmen straightened, her hands on her hips. "Then maybe it's time we show them what we're made of."

# Chapter Fifteen

It took a few days for the resistance to gather their forces, and then a few more days to outfit the ships with repairs and upgrades. They were putting the safety of their fleet in her hands, and the significance of the moment weighed heavy in Carmen's chest like a chunk of lead. This would be her toughest battle, and everyone was relying on her to lead them to victory.

No pressure there...

The chrono ticked down the final seconds and the fleet dropped out of lightspeed. Nepheros didn't look like much—a craggy, cratered chunk of rock without water or vegetation. After more research they'd learned it was rich in some valuable metal, and that was why the mining colony had been established. Sam had chattered on about uses for the metal and the refining process, and Carmen didn't remember any of it. To her, the important detail was that while valuable, the metal wasn't worth the resistance the Eppes were putting up, and the cluster of ships between the fleet and the planet begged the question of what the slavers were up to.

"Captain," Sam said, his voice raised in alarm.

"How many?" she asked.

"Twenty. Twelve modified transports, eight one-man fighters."

_Fuck me._ The enemy's numbers had doubled since the scout's survey, and now they were outnumbered. She prayed they weren't outgunned too. The Eppes had proved themselves capable of pulling nasty surprises.

"Launch the shuttles now. Tell them to try to take out a few of those fighters on the way down," Carmen ordered.

"Aye, Captain," Sam said. He relayed the order to the fleet, and Carmen watched their shuttle as it flew past the _Talon's_ viewport and darted away.

"Good luck," she murmured. Carmen straightened and tugged at the hem of her uniform jacket. "Shields up. All ships move in. Rizzoli, take us after their lead ship."

"Aye, Captain."

The _Talon_ glided forward. Because Jace was leading the ground assault, Carmen manned the weapons station. Her fingers hovered above the controls to fire the cannons, waiting until they were within range. The shuttles met the fighters first in a burst of light between the two factions.

"Status of the shuttles?" she asked.

"Heavy damage to the _Olympia's_ shuttle. Minimal damage to the others," Sam reported. Carmen wanted to hug him in thanks for adding weapons and shields to the _Talon's_ shuttle.

"Lead ship is in range, firing now," Carmen announced. The _Talon's_ cannons blazed to life, but the bolts impacted against the enemy's shields. "Minimal damage."

"They're returning fire," Sam warned.

The deck rocked beneath Carmen's feet, but the bridge stayed blessedly clear of sparks, smoke and flames. The cannons returned to full power and Carmen fired again. They were making a dent in the other ship's shields, but not fast enough.

"Tell the _Olympia_ to concentrate their fire on that lead ship," Carmen ordered.

Carmen chewed her bottom lip as the guns recharged. The _Olympia_ hit the lead ship and the shields flickered, and when the _Talon_ fired, the shields failed and the bolts hit the enemy's hull.

"Shields down, preparing to fire again," she announced.

"Captain, they're showing a power buildup."

Carmen frowned. "Is it their engines?"

"I'm not sure—" Sam started. Then the blast of an EMP blinded them, and when her eyes adjusted, the _Talon_ was silent around her. Only the lights from the battle outside illuminated the bridge, and Carmen cursed long and loud. The _Talon_ was dead in space, defenseless.

"What was that?" Dack asked as a bright beam of energy almost singed the shuttle.

"EMP," Jace replied.

"Are they crazy? Who fired it?" The shuttle rattled from a hit to their shields, and Dack returned fire. It was madness to use an EMP in a fight like this, because the ship that fired it was almost guaranteed to be committing suicide.

"Concentrate on our situation first," Jace snapped. They rolled and twisted, but the fighter on their tail refused to be shaken. It blasted the shuttle again and a line of lights went red on the console in front of Dack.

"Aft shields down," he said.

Jace growled, and with a nauseous lurch he flipped the shuttle around and charged at their attacker. A chorus of protests sounded from the team of shadow swords strapped in behind them, and Dack silently agreed. Jace's flying might kill them if the fighters didn't.

Their attacker was now ahead of them, and Dack punched the guns. The fighter exploded, and Jace looped around as he hunted for a new target.

"You're not heading for the surface?" Dack asked.

"Not yet. There are five fighters left," Jace replied. "I want one more."

As Jace zeroed in on another target, Dack scanned the comm. channels for an update on the _Talon_. He frowned as he realized that the ship was silent, and cold fingers of fear gripped his heart. "The _Talon_ isn't transmitting."

Jace peered at his display. "You're right. They were hit by the EMP."

"We have to go back for them."

"No," Jace replied without hesitation.

"They're defenseless!"

"We continue with the mission. The fleet will keep them covered. Besides, the captain can take care of herself."

"You cold-hearted bastard," Dack snarled.

"Do your job, Lieutenant, or I will have you relieved," Jace warned. "Target acquired. Fire."

"Aye, sir." The words were sour in his mouth, but he fired the shuttle's weapons as ordered. The fighter was caught in a crossfire with another shuttle and exploded. As they passed the wreckage, Dack vowed that if anything happened to Tali or Carmen, he would make Jace pay.

Without a word, Jace turned the ship toward Nepheros and began the descent to the surface. Dack's hands shook as they hovered above the weapons, waiting for a ship to give chase. He strained to hear news of the _Talon_ , and he was relieved that the _Olympia_ and the _Raptor_ were moving to her defense. It wasn't much, but it was something.

The colony didn't have its own defenses—it probably didn't get much traffic aside from Eppes ships. The shuttle set down on the landing pad outside of the main complex, and the team geared up. Shadow swords from every house—except Nightfall—were involved in the attack. Nepheros didn't have any atmosphere to speak of, so the team was equipped with rebreather helmets attached to their armor. Each soldier carried a laser rifle in addition to their traditional swords and pistols. The Eppes had had enough time to pack the colony with half the mercs in the Syndicate systems, and the shadow swords were prepared for a tough fight.

For a few thousand credits more, Laurent had provided them with an old schematic of the colony's layout. The plan was to split into two teams. Jace's team would head for the command center, and the other team would head to the living quarters to secure the colonists. It should be simple and straightforward—those were usually the missions that went horribly wrong.

Jace waited for the other shuttles to land before he popped the hatch. They were one shuttle short, and Dack tried not to think of its fate. The voice of doubt gnawed at him—he should have stayed on the _Talon_ , his mates were in danger. If they'd lost power it would only take a few blasts to destroy the ship.

"Alpha team, with me. Bravo, you're clear to go," Jace said. His voice was tinny over the helmet's comm. channel and devoid of emotion, which was usual for Jace.

Most of the complex was underground, with a few squat, one-level buildings scattered across the rocky surface. Bravo team cut away, headed for the building that would lead them down into the colonists' living quarters. Jace motioned for alpha team to follow him.

Dack's breath echoed in the helmet as he followed. Dack hated the damn thing, which was why he only used it when absolutely necessary. The visor obscured his peripheral vision and muffled outside sound. Sometimes the sound of an approaching enemy's footfall could be the difference between life and death in battle, and with the helmet on, Dack could barely hear himself move, much less an opponent.

They reached the top of the command center, and the team took up cover positions behind nearby cargo crates and loading equipment while a tech specialist hacked the door's lock. The controls continued to glow an angry red while the tech worked at it, but then with a flash of sparks the door unlocked and whooshed open. A storm of laser bolts erupted through the open doorway, and the team returned fire.

The building was dark, and it was difficult to see where their attackers were positioned. "Grenade?" Dack asked.

"On it. Everyone hold position," Jace replied. He pulled a grenade from his ammo belt, thumbed the arming pin and lobbed it through the entrance.

The ground shook with the explosion, and the enemy laser fire stopped. The team waited for a renewed attack, and when none came, Jace gave the order to move up. They entered the hallway and stepped over the bodies of dead mercs as they made their way to the second door. Thankfully the outer doors had only sustained minor damage and were still able to seal shut behind them. The hallway pressurized and filled with air, but the team kept their helmets on. There was no telling if other rooms in the complex could be depressurized at their enemy's command, or filled with toxic gas.

A metal staircase waited past the second door, and it rattled and shook ominously as they headed down it. Dack assumed the thing hadn't been built with supporting an armored assault team in mind. They continued past the second and third levels, and paused at the entrance to the fourth. The tech worked on the lock, and Dack stared at the stairs above them. It was a bad place to be pinned down.

"Got it," the tech announced.

"Rear guard, stay here and hold this exit," Jace ordered. Two shadow swords peeled off from the group and took positions on either side of the door.

There was a maze of corridors between them and the heart of the command center. Dack didn't know what a mining colony needed with so many offices, but it made for a deadly situation. An ambush could be waiting in any of them—or all of them for that matter, depending on how much money the Eppes had shelled out for mercenaries. The mercs at the first door were just the beginning.

They split into two teams, taking different paths to the control room. One of Jace's fellow swords of House Morningstar led the second team, and Dack stayed with Jace's. It was tempting to hit Jace with a little friendly fire, but he resisted the urge and concentrated on the mission. No room for personal grudges with all of their lives on the line.

Jace led them down several corridors without incident, and as they checked the empty offices, Dack became concerned. Not about the lack of defenders, but about the equipment within the rooms and the signs overhead. Something was off here. They checked another office, and Jace paused in front of a data terminal.

"Wait," he said. "This is wrong."

Dack frowned. "I thought so too. I lived at a mining colony for a few years, and none of this looks familiar. There should be mineral samples, and ore refiners."

"This is all medical research equipment." Jace waved a gloved hand at the surrounding collection of machines. "Tissue analyzers, DNA sequencers. They don't belong in a mining colony."

"Do you think this is what they're protecting?" Dack asked. If the Eppes were doing something other than mining on Nepheros, it could explain their reluctance to abandon the colony.

Jace powered up the terminal's screen, and Dack peered over his shoulder. He didn't understand most of the data, but the words _Tulurian fever_ jumped out at him, and he cursed under his breath. "Bioweapon research?"

"It would appear so," Jace agreed. He let out a low growl that sounded like static over the comm. "Bravo team, this is Alpha leader. We've located evidence of possible bio hazards. Be careful what you shoot at."

"Acknowledged," Bravo leader replied.

"It looks like the Eppes are diversifying their evil portfolio," Jace said dryly. "Let's move out."

"Good thing we brought the rebreathers on this trip," Dack commented as they moved out into the hallway.

"And it hides your ugly mug," Jace replied. His tinny voice held a note of humor, and Dack snorted.

A flicker of motion at the end of the hall was the only warning before the air was filled with laser fire. The team scattered, dodging into open doorways, but Jace fell in the middle of the floor. He clutched a wound that had burned through his armor and hit him in the thigh. Dack grabbed Jace's arm and dragged him into a doorway.

"How bad is it?" Dack asked.

"Bad." Jace dropped his rifle and drew his pistol.

"Alpha leader is down and needs a medic," Dack ordered. "I'll cover you." He stepped into the hallway and fired a round of bolts at the mercs at the end. He spotted four—there were probably more behind them, waiting in the wings. Dack dropped one of the mercs with a shot to the neck, and the team's medic scurried over to his position.

They ducked back into the office, and the medic scanned Jace's wound. "It nicked an artery. I can field dress it, but you can't move," the medic said.

Jace cursed. "You're going to have to go on without me. Lieutenant, you're in command."

"Aye, sir. Try not to bleed out while I'm gone," Dack replied. He pictured Jace scowling at him behind his visor. Dack crouched low in the doorway and glanced at their opponents. The fallen merc had been replaced, and four shooters kept his team pinned down. Dack turned to Jace. "Got another grenade?"

"Just one. Don't miss."

Jace handed Dack the grenade. It was small and light in his hand, and he frowned down at it. He switched the settings to explode on impact instead of counting down, and he took a deep breath and stepped into the hallway. Bolts zipped by him and one clipped his side, but he concentrated on hurling the grenade at the shooters. Dack let it go and it sailed through the air, and he dove back into cover before it landed.

The explosion shook the room and rained streams of plaster dust from the ceiling. When the smoke cleared from the hallway, Dack peered at the destruction. The mercs were dead, crushed beneath debris which now blocked the path forward.

"We need an alternate route," Dack said.

"I have one mapped, Lieutenant," one of his team offered.

"Good, let's move out."

"Good luck," Jace said.

Dack nodded, knowing they would need it.

As they continued on, the Sunsinger's head shadow sword, Commander Soth, moved up to fight at Dack's side. The man outranked him in the house, but not in the resistance, and it felt odd to give orders to a commander, but Soth followed them without question. The team pushed on, cleaving through groups of mercenaries, until only a dozen mercs stood between Dack's team and the control center. Unlike the previous mercs, these had training past "point and shoot", and that made them tougher to take down than the rest had been.

"Ideas?" Commander Soth asked as a volley of bolts zinged over the desk they'd taken cover behind.

Dack shrugged. The Sunsinger was beginning to grow on him, if for no other reason than the fact that Soth had proved fearless to the point of insanity. "Wish we had more grenades right about now."

"Grenades are hard to come by."

"I'd settle for some good rocks to throw at them," Dack replied.

"We could charge 'em," Soth suggested.

"That's suicide. We're outnumbered."

"Fine. I'll charge, you cover me."

Before Dack could argue, Soth vaulted over the desk. Cursing, Dack leapt to his feet and fired a round of bolts. He gave the order for the rest of the team to charge, and he drew his sword. Soth took a hit, but his armor absorbed the blast and he kept going. Tough bastard.

Dack dodged several bolts as he ran, and one connected with his left shin. He stumbled but continued on, running the nearest merc through. Mercs always thought swords were quaint, archaic weapons until they died at the end of one. A fellow shadow sword fell beside him from a shot through the visor, but Dack and the rest of the team soldiered on until every mercenary was dead.

"Hacking the door," the tech announced. Good thing the man was still standing, because it would've taken Dack an hour to crack the lock.

The lights flashed green and the door opened. Frightened civilians were huddled in one corner—humans mostly, probably members of the Eppes cartel. A man stood at the controls of the main computer, and Dack hurried toward him and yanked him back.

"You're too late," the man said with an ugly smile. Dack recognized his familiar scarred face.

"Jack Malenson. I ought to shoot you right now," Dack said.

Malenson peered up at him, his hands raised as other shadow swords covered him with their rifles. "Have we met?" Dack removed his helmet and hooked it to his belt, and the man scowled. "The runner from the _Trident_. I should've known you were working for Hawke. You can't shoot me, I'm not resisting."

"Oh, by all means, resist," Commander Soth said. He raised his rifle, but Dack waved him off.

"This one's worth more alive. We can't interrogate dead men," Dack warned. Malenson would have information on all sorts of Eppes activities, and he was curious how Malenson had known that Dack was under Captain Hawke's command.

"You won't get anything from me, or the data banks. I just finished wiping them," Malenson sneered. Commander Soth struck him across the jaw with the butt of his rifle, and the man cursed and spat a mouthful of blood onto the floor.

Dack stepped toward the prisoner. "If you want to live, you're going to earn it. Start talking. I want to know everything about this facility. Who's involved with it, what research goes on here, the works. But first, I want to hear about a female named Sharaiya."

"Is that what this is all about? Didn't think the resistance would stick its whole neck out for one Sunsinger."

"Where is she?" Dack demanded.

"Dead. Just like your captain should be by now." The man grinned, and Dack's stomach twisted and fell. "Figured it'd be worth risking one ship to hit the _Talon_ with an EMP, and take out the famous Captain Hawke and the new Sunsinger heir in one blow. One strike to tear out the heart of the resistance."

"You son of a—" Dack snarled. He lunged for Malenson, but Soth whacked the man in the face again and knocked him out cold.

"Can't interrogate dead men, Lieutenant," the commander quoted. "Comm. equipment's over there if you want to check in on your ship. And better check if what he said about the computers is true."

Nodding, he hurried to the terminal, and prayed his mates were alive.

# Chapter Sixteen

The corridors of the _Talon_ were silent and dark. No lights, no alarms, no humming engines or whispering air vents.

"All hands, abandon ship!" Carmen shouted. Her voice echoed dully off the bulkheads, and she stumbled as she hurried down the hall. A groan sounded from the body she tripped over, and she stopped.

"Captain?"

"Dr. Morgan?" Carmen guessed.

"I was headed to the bridge. I think I hit my head when I fell," the doctor replied.

"Can you walk?"

"Yes."

"Good, we're getting out of here. I have to get Tali first." Carmen helped Dr. Morgan to her feet and swung the other woman's arm around her shoulders. "Just lean on me."

The deck rolled beneath them, and they struggled to stay standing. The _Talon_ had taken another hit. A few more like that and they wouldn't live to make it to the escape pods.

"What happened?" Dr. Morgan asked.

"We were hit by an EMP. Bastards must've been desperate, disabling themselves to get to us," Carmen said.

"Will the escape pods work without power?"

"Hope so." Carmen couldn't worry about that now. She had to get to Tali, who should be in their quarters. Probably trapped...

As they neared the captain's quarters the acrid scent of smoke became stronger. A wall of heat slammed into them as they rounded the final corner, and both women began coughing. Fire blazed at the other end of the hall, but the way to Carmen's room was clear. Fear surged through Carmen's veins as the painful memories of her burns seared her skin.

"Stay here," she ordered the doctor.

Raising her hands to shield her face, Carmen hurried to the door. She pried off the access panel on the wall next to it, and yanked on the emergency release lever. The door shuddered and screeched open, and a cloud of smoke rolled into the hallway.

"Tali?" Carmen called out. A shadow stumbled from the room and tackled her in a tight hug. Carmen clung to her as Tali sputtered and coughed. "It's okay, love," she assured the Cy'ren. "Let's go."

Tali's body shook with a sob, and Carmen pulled her along as she returned to Dr. Morgan. Carmen supported the doctor again, and they headed away from the fire toward the escape pods. At the start of each corridor she barked her orders to abandon ship. No one responded, and she prayed her crew was already at the pods. The ship lurched, throwing them to the deck, and the roar of an explosion shook them. Carmen cursed as she realized it came from the direction of the engine room.

"Come on, we're almost there," she encouraged, dragging her companions to their feet.

They neared the pods, and Carmen had never been so grateful to hear the sound of shouting, because it meant that some of her crew was alive. She recognized Sam and Rizzoli's voices bellowing instructions.

"Captain!" Rizzoli yelled. "We can take one more here and then launch."

"Go with them, Doctor," Carmen said. Dr. Morgan nodded and stumbled to Rizzoli, who helped her into the pod and hauled the hatch shut.

The _Talon_ had three crew escape pods. More were in the passenger area, but they didn't have any guests at the moment. One pod was gone, Rizzoli had just sealed the second, leaving one left. Carmen led Tali to it, and then stood in the corridor with Sam.

"Is this everyone?" Carmen asked.

"No. We're missing four people. Captain, I don't think we can wait," he replied.

Carmen shook her head. "No. If we can wait, we wait."

"The ship is on fire, and we have no shields. One more hit and we're done."

The ship rocked again, and a distant hiss turned into a rushing gale as the air around them was sucked away.

"Hull breach! We're venting atmo!" Sam grabbed Carmen's arm and hauled her into the escape pod. "I'm sealing the hatch."

Carmen grimaced and helped him haul the door shut, sealing the fate of any crew members left on the _Talon_. "Punch it," she barked.

Sam hit a nearby switch, and the pod lurched as an explosive charge catapulted them away from the ship. Without power, the charge was the only propulsion they had, and the pod slowly sailed away from the _Talon's_ hull. Carmen strapped herself into the seat next to Tali, and she took Tali's hand and held it tight.

Sam sat across from them, and the empty seats made Carmen's heart ache. The air was cold and quiet, and everyone stared out of the pod's tiny, round portholes. The battle continued to rage around them, and it was difficult to tell which side was winning.

"No power, no life support. We don't have much time," Sam warned.

Everyone stilled at the sight of an enemy ship looming over the _Talon_. The ship fired, and Carmen's breath froze as the _Talon_ broke apart. Flames shot out into space from the wreck, flickered and vanished, gone in a heartbeat. The enemy moved closer, and it blasted one of the other escape pods.

"You fucking bastards!" Carmen screamed. _Honorless mercenary trash._ It was one thing to destroy her ship, but it was another to fire on defenseless crew.

Tali's hand tightened in hers. "I love you."

"I love you too." Carmen forced herself to look away from the approaching ship and meet Talena's eyes. She looked so afraid. Carmen wished there was something she could say to relieve that fear.

"Unidentified ship approaching, and it's big," Sam announced.

Carmen craned her neck to see, and giddiness fluttered from her stomach to her fingertips as she recognized the graceful lines of an Alliance battle cruiser. The cavalry had arrived.

"It's the _Constitution_ ," Tali said, her voice little more than a whisper. Her face almost glowed as she smiled.

Relief flooded Carmen—the _Constitution_ was her father's ship. Or at least it had been before Captain Hawke became Admiral Hawke. Now it was commanded by Tali's father. As an Alliance ship it had no business being this deep in Syndicate space, but she suspected that Captain Spenser had disobeyed orders to ride to his daughter's rescue. Carmen would have done the same—it was why she'd sent him a report of their battle plans.

The _Constitution_ opened fire on the ship that had just destroyed the _Talon_ and pounded the bastard into a fine mist. It took a protective position near the two remaining escape pods, and Carmen grinned as the other enemy ships turned and ran. The battle was over within a matter of minutes.

The pod shuddered and began moving toward the _Constitution_. "They've got us in a tractor beam," Carmen said. "They're bringing us aboard."

"I've never been on an Alliance ship," Sam said.

"Stay out of their engine room. You'll just fall in love with their tech and end up heartbroken," she replied.

"I'm already heartbroken." He looked out at the wreckage of the _Talon_ with a mournful expression. Carmen reached over and patted his knee, her throat too tight with emotion to manage a reply. She'd lost her ship and some of her crew as well, and it ached like a hole in her heart.

The pods were drawn into the _Constitution's_ fighter bay and set down with a gentle bump. Tali was out of the pod the moment the hatch was open, and Carmen followed a few steps behind. She would've recognized Captain Spenser even if Tali hadn't made a beeline for him. It had been a few years since Carmen last saw him, but aside from the extra silver in his hair, he looked the same.

"Papa!" Tali exclaimed. He wrapped his arms around his daughter, and Carmen thought she'd never seen a man look so relieved. He'd probably been worried that Tali had been on the _Talon_ , or on the destroyed pod.

Carmen paused a few feet away. "Permission to come aboard, sir?"

"Granted, Captain Hawke. It's good to see you." Captain Spenser smiled. "Thank you for keeping Tali safe."

A blush heated her face, but she fought to keep her expression neutral. Carmen had left the more intimate details of their situation out of her report. She'd let Tali explain their relationship. Clearing her throat, she nodded briskly. "Of course. I tried to order her to stay on Cyprena, but she insisted on coming with."

"You would have been safer there." Spenser frowned down at Tali, and she shook her head.

"Not really. There were assassins there too."

The other pod opened, and Rizzoli was the first one out, followed by the doctor. A few more of her crew stumbled out behind them, and though she was grateful to see them, she mourned the ones who hadn't made it.

Carmen shook her head. "They fired on unarmed escape pods. Why?"

"That is an excellent question. I'm guessing there's a long story behind all of this," Captain Spenser said. "Let's have some tea and you can tell me all about it."

"Sir, I have an assault team on the ground attempting to take the colony. I need an update on their progress, and on the status of the rest of the fleet," Carmen replied.

"My XO will take you to the bridge." He motioned to an officer standing next to a nearby lift. "Give Captain Hawke everything she needs," he ordered.

"Aye, sir. If you'll follow me, Captain Hawke?"

Carmen nodded. She gave Tali an encouraging smile as her father led her away to a different lift. Tali was safe, and now her worries turned to Dack and the rest of the resistance.

As she walked through the ship, she found herself falling into the rigid posture of an Alliance officer. Though she kept most of her spit-and-polish habits from her official Alliance days, life aboard the _Talon_ was more casual, as was most often demonstrated by the fact that she had to threaten and cuss out her first officer on a daily basis. Carmen couldn't help but notice the startled looks sent her way as they traveled to the bridge—she knew many of the crew from the days when her father was captain, and she didn't blame them for staring. She was bloodied, scarred and singed, and would probably startle herself if she looked in a mirror.

The bridge was a flurry of controlled activity. The XO led her to the comm. center, and she listened to the chatter from the resistance fleet. Familiar voices of other captains barked status reports, and from the sound of it the _Talon_ was the only total loss, and the other ships were damaged but still flying. Finally she caught Dack's voice among the noise, and a knot of tension unraveled in her chest as she asked the tech to connect her to his channel.

"—dackcai Loren of alpha team, calling the _Talon_."

"This is Captain Hawke. Give me a status report, Lieutenant," she ordered. Carmen heard him exhale a relieved sigh, but he kept it together.

"We've lost a few members of alpha team. Lieutenant Commander Harrow is down. The medic says he needs to be evac'd to a med center for emergency treatment. We've taken the command center of the colony."

"Good. Rendezvous with bravo team and set a security detail to guard the control room. Grab Harrow and the medic and bring them to the _Constitution_."

"Sir?" he asked, sounding confused. Poor Dack. He'd be lucky if Captain Spenser didn't throw him in the brig.

"The _Talon's_ a complete loss. We were fortunate that Captain Spenser rode to our rescue, and the surviving crew is aboard the _Constitution_. And yes, Tali's fine, so get your butt up here so she can stop worrying about you, Lieutenant."

Another relieved sigh whispered through the comm., and Carmen pictured him nodding. "Aye, Captain. We're on our way."

# Chapter Seventeen

Talena fidgeted as she waited for Dack's shuttle to land. Carmen chuckled at her display of nerves. "Tali, he's all right," she assured her.

"I know, I know, but he could've been hurt. Jace was hurt," Talena argued.

"It's about time too. Scars build character. God knows Jace could use some," Carmen replied. Talena shot her a scandalized look, but judging from her dry smile, Carmen was only joking.

The shuttle touched down neatly next to the _Talon's_ escape pods, and Tali's heart sank at the sight of the pods. In a way, this was all her fault—if she hadn't helped Dack escape and gone aboard the _Talon_ , it would still be in one piece. But if she hadn't helped Dack, he would have been caught and arrested. The resistance wouldn't have learned about Nepheros, her brother wouldn't have known the truth about their family, and she wouldn't have found her mates. It was a complicated mess that she wasn't certain how to feel about, but she would be thankful that her mates were safe and mourn those who lost their lives.

"Shuttle bay pressurized. You're clear to enter," a tech informed them.

Talena darted from the control room and into the shuttle bay. Dack was the first one out of the shuttle, and she pounced on him. He grinned as he spun her around and kissed her.

"You'll spoil me. I'll expect that sort of welcome all the time," he warned, and she laughed.

"Let me check on the rest of my crew before you spin me," Carmen said as she passed them. Two medics followed her, and they entered the shuttle to collect Jace.

"Was he hurt very badly?" Tali asked, lowering her voice.

"He was lucky. If we didn't have a medic with us he might've bled to death."

Talena shuddered and hugged Dack tightly. He stroked her hair and kissed the top of her head. "Did you find out anything about my mother?" she asked.

"No, _a'mhain,_ and I'm sorry. One of the Eppes's men claimed she was dead, but we don't have proof of that. They wiped all their data before we breached the control room. The tech says he might be able to reconstruct some of it, but it will take time." Talena's shoulders slumped, as though all the hope of finding her mother left her in one disappointed exhale.

"My father wants to meet you," she informed him, changing the subject.

Dack smiled. "I'd like to meet him too. As long as he doesn't shoot me."

Talena laughed, and Carmen appeared and patted his shoulder. "I'll save you if he tries," the captain assured him. Dack eyed her thoughtfully.

"Am I allowed to kiss you in front of the Alliance?" he asked.

Carmen snorted. "Only if you ask nicely."

"Permission to kiss my captain?"

"Granted."

Dack drew her into their embrace and kissed her, and Carmen blushed. "Though they'll all be jealous," she pointed out. "Romancing the captain's daughter and an admiral's daughter? You really might get shot."

"Good to know," Dack said.

"Come on. Captain Spenser and I both want a full report, and then you can face the firing squad," Carmen said.

Dack should have been nervous at the prospect of meeting Captain Spenser, but hearing about the fate of the _Talon_ had left him numb. She was a good ship, and the loss of the crew and other good soldiers weighed on him. This was the largest Cy'ren battle since Cyprena won its independence, and judging by the research equipment they had found on the surface, it wouldn't be their last.

Captain Spenser rose to greet them as they entered his ready room. He was tall and lanky, with short salt-and-pepper hair. His brow was furrowed as he eyed Dack, who greeted the captain with a polite nod.

"Please, have a seat." Captain Spenser gestured to the three chairs in front of his desk, and Dack chose the center one. "If I understand it correctly, you kidnapped my daughter, and then married both her and my goddaughter."

Dack blinked and glanced at Carmen. He was unfamiliar with the term, but he assumed the captain meant her.

"Papa, be nice," Talena scolded.

Captain Spenser leaned back in his chair. "A father is entitled to be upset when his little girl is carried off by a pirate."

Dack straightened. "Begging your pardon, sir, but I am a shadow sword, not a pirate. I was wounded during a mission, and Tali was kind and brave enough to help me escape. She's a remarkable woman, and I love her."

"And Captain Hawke?" he asked.

"Is a grown woman who can speak for herself," Carmen replied. "I agreed to this arrangement. Happily, I might add. Dack has a good heart, and you'll have plenty of time to interrogate him about his intentions on the way back to Cyprena, if you're giving us a lift there."

"I am. Command is furious with me at the moment, but the worst they'll do to me is force me into early retirement. Which I may be ready for, considering I'm going to be a grandfather." Captain Spenser gave Dack a pointed look, and Dack had a feeling it was going to be a very long return trip.

"What did you find on the surface, Lieutenant?" Carmen asked, changing the subject.

"Not much. They dumped their data, but they waited until we got close. Our tech thinks that the rush job was sloppy, and we'll be able to reconstruct something. But I can tell you what I saw down there," Dack said. "They were ready for us, and hired a great number of mercenaries to defend the complex. While we were making our way to the control room, we discovered equipment that had nothing to do with mining. It appears that they're developing bioweapons."

"That's illegal," Captain Spenser said.

"In the Alliance. Not in the Syndicate systems," Dack pointed out.

"What would a slaver group need with bioweapons?" Tali asked.

"As a new revenue stream, maybe," Carmen guessed. "Or it's not for the Eppes, but for House Nightfall. They might be developing something to use against the other houses."

Dack bit back a snarl as he reined in his temper. "That's a bit extreme."

"More than a bit, but we won't know for sure until we recover the data," Carmen said.

"True. It's also possible they're developing weapons for the Syndicate's military. They don't have their own research facilities to speak of, and they contract out to private companies." Captain Spenser steepled his fingers. "It could be evidence that they're planning to move against the Alliance. They can't match our military strength, but if they released a plague..."

Carmen swore, and then she blushed. "My apologies. I hope you're wrong."

"So do I, but war between the Alliance and the Syndicate may be inevitable. Border skirmishes have increased over the past two years. It could be that they're preparing for something larger."

"It would explain why the Eppes ships were better armed and armored. They're protecting their secrets, and preparing for war," Dack said.

Captain Spenser nodded and turned his attention to Carmen, and she bit her bottom lip. "Have you told them about your...unique assignment?"

"No, sir. I wanted to, but I'm not authorized."

"What assignment?" Dack asked.

"Would you like me to? I've already broken a few directives today," he said, and she nodded. "Carmen is a covert agent. She never left the Alliance."

Dack felt numbed with shock, and he barely noticed her touch as she took his hand. What did that mean? Did it mean anything, other than learning someone else signed Carmen's paychecks?

"I knew you weren't capable of being negligent," Tali said.

"I couldn't tell you. I wanted to. Only a few people in the Alliance command and covert ops know, and the high council," she said.

"So Galen knows?" Talena asked.

Carmen nodded. "Yes, he does. All the high lords do, as part of the agreement with the Alliance."

"Why?" Dack asked.

"Command wanted to insert agents to aid the resistance, and I fit the profile of what they were looking for. Apparently they think I have a soft spot for Cy'ren." She smiled wryly—her affection for the Cy'ren would be all the more evident when she got her mating marks inked.

"No, why did _you_ agree to it?" he prompted.

"Because the Syndicate needs to be brought down. If we can end the Syndicate's control, we end slavery for all the races. Permanently," she explained. "Everyone deserves to live free."

Dack nodded and squeezed her hand—his fierce warrior, planning to liberate a third of the galaxy. "That's going to be a tough battle."

Talena reached over and took his other hand. "And we'll fight it together."

# Epilogue

"Are you sure that thing'll fly?" Carmen asked.

"Captain, by the time I'm done with her, she'll be able to dance," Sam assured her.

_Doubtful_ , she thought, but she grudgingly admitted it had some potential. The new ship was a bit smaller than the _Talon_ , sleeker and faster, but it was also older by about thirty years. Carmen suspected that its carcass had been dug out of a junkyard. Or a graveyard. They'd had to tow it to the Sunsinger compound with three tug ships. But it was a gift from Lord Degalen—a token of his gratitude for reuniting him with his sister, and to honor Dack and Carmen becoming a part of the family. As such, it would be rude to insult the thing, no matter how much the hunk of scrap metal might deserve it.

"All right. Carry on, Chief," she said.

Dismissed, Sam hurried off, his eyes gleaming with the promise of the new project. This ship was his new baby, but Carmen wasn't finished mourning the old one yet. It had been her first command, and you never forget your first.

Carmen stared up at the workers swarming over the hull and shoved her hands in her pockets to avoid scratching her mate marks. They didn't hurt or itch, but they were new and foreign. The golden wedding band on her finger was also new, but it was a more familiar symbol. She fidgeted with it, turning it round and round with her thumb as she watched the workers' progress.

"Captain Hawke."

She turned and quirked an eyebrow as she saw Jace approaching. "Lieutenant Commander Harrow. You're supposed to be resting. I thought you were with your family."

"I am, and I was. I brought my sisters to have dinner with Lord Degalen. May I have a word with you?"

"About?"

Jace folded his hands behind his back. "I have been offered my own command."

"Congratulations."

"I turned it down."

Carmen's jaw dropped and she gaped at him for a moment before recovering. "Why?"

"Because you would miss me," he replied dryly, and she chuckled. "Also, I thought it best that you not have to break in two new Cy'ren officers when the new ship sets out."

"You heard about that, huh?"

In an effort to preserve the chain of command, and to allow Dack to keep close guard over Tali, Lord Degalen had proposed an unusual arrangement. Dack would be made new head of the Sunsinger shadow swords, and Commander Soth would take Dack's place in her crew. Soth was a good soldier, so she had no quarrel there, but she would miss her mate. The knowledge that they would both be safe on Cyprena helped, along with the security of knowing that she would always have Dack and Tali to come home to.

"I'm glad you're staying," she said, and meant it. Jace was a good officer, and she had a feeling she'd need his input on Cy'ren politics in the months to come.

"Thank you, Captain. I also bring news for Talena and Lord Degalen. You may wish to be there when I deliver it."

"Oh?"

Jace glanced around the crowded shipyard. "It's better discussed in private." He turned his regard to the new ship. "It looks...durable."

Carmen snorted. "That's one way to put it."

"Have you decided on a name?"

"I think we'll call her the _Talon II_."

Jace nodded his approval. "Appropriate. Well, shall we?"

Thank you for reading _Nightfall_! I hope you enjoyed Tali, Carmen and Dack. The adventures of the crew of the _Talon II_ continue in _Morningstar_.

Read on for an excerpt from the beginning of the second book in the Cy'ren Rising series, _Morningstar_.

"Captain, we have a problem," Jace said.

Captain Hawke's exasperated sigh hissed above the static on the comm. in Jace's helmet—it was a sound he heard often enough, usually directed at him. Though Jace was her first officer, Captain Carmen Hawke had little patience for him on a good day. As the deck of Jump Station 3 rocked and rolled beneath the soles of his armored boots, Jace doubted today was going to be a good day. He hoped it wasn't going to be his last day.

"Sam says you've got fifteen minutes before the station's hull integrity fails. You don't have time for problems," Captain Hawke informed him. Sam was seldom wrong, and Jace glanced at the chrono on his helmet's heads-up display and made a mental note. Fifteen minutes was not a lot of time to work with. The mercenaries had to be insane to fire on a target while their own men were still on it.

"We've reached the market deck. There are mercs between us and the indexer, and the signage indicates there's a brothel here that isn't listed on the station's business registry," Jace said.

"You don't have time for a quickie either," she snapped.

"Pity," Soth muttered beside him. Jace fought the urge to shush him. Technically Commander Soth outranked him as a shadow sword, but Jace outranked him aboard the _Talon II_. The resistance was odd that way.

"It's a Cy'ren brothel, staffed by female slaves," Jace clarified. A lurid neon sign advertised _The Sexiest Cy'ren Fems in the Sector!_ a few doors down from the club that was their target. Freeing slaves was one of the main focuses of the resistance, and Jace refused to leave any slaves to die with the Jump Station.

The captain cursed. She was human, but she had two Cy'ren mates, both of whom had been slaves, so he knew she would be sympathetic.

"The mission is priority. Once you get the indexer out, you can go after the females."

"Acknowledged, Captain." A small knot of tension eased in his chest, and Jace motioned for his team to proceed.

Warning lights flashed around them, but Jace's armored helmet muted the blare of the sirens, and its filters scrubbed out the station's smell. Their mission was to rescue Malcolm de la Cruz, the station's resident indexer, before the mercenaries added him to the list of silenced sources who'd had information linking House Nightfall to the Eppes slaver organization. Judging by the amount of mercs between them and the dance club the indexer did business out of, their team might be too late. De la Cruz had been digging up data on the bioweapon the Eppes had been researching on Nepheros, and if they lost him, the resistance might not learn what the weapon was until it was used against them. They had already lost contact with two other researchers, and Jace was not about to lose another.

Four mercenaries armed with laser rifles stood guard outside the club's entrance, and Jace assumed that the rest of their team must be inside. The mercs wouldn't get paid unless they could prove that they had terminated de la Cruz—blowing up the station was cleanup, not the kill method. The sight of the mercs' guns combined with the wail of alarms had cleared out the bystanders, so at least there would be no civilians in the line of fire. Hopefully de la Cruz had good security and could survive long enough for Jace's team to get to him.

"Take the leader," Jace ordered, drawing his sword. Though he was a good shot with his pistol, Jace preferred to fight with his blade. Laser weapons were unreliable—they often overheated or misfired, and the shot could be blocked by armor—but his sword didn't miss.

"Right. We've got your six." Soth raised his rifle and took aim. Jace's brow rose—it was Alliance military slang. Apparently Soth had been spending too much time with the captain. Captain Hawke's mates were Sunsingers, and until recently Soth had been head of the Sunsinger shadow swords.

Commander Soth fired, neatly dropping the merc with a shot to the head, and Jace charged. His armor absorbed a blast to his left shoulder as he engaged the nearest target. The man shrieked as Jace's blade pierced armor, bone and flesh. Humans were always scornful of "archaic" bladed weapons, until they died on one.

Between the team's aim and Jace's blade they made quick work of the remaining guards and then proceeded inside. Though the club had emptied out at the first sound of sirens, the music still played and the lights pulsed in time to the beat. Distracting, but there wasn't time to cut the power. Jace was glad of his helmet's breather, because clubs like this always smelled of sweat, cheap liquor and stale vomit.

"Soth, you're with me," Jace ordered. "McNulty, you and the rest of the team hold the exit."

The two shadow swords wove through the empty tables and crossed the deserted dance floor. The indexer would be hiding somewhere in the back. He'd never met de la Cruz before, but Jace had dealt with other indexers at different locations, and they all tended to be based out of bars or nightclubs. Busy places where people got chatty after a few drinks, and where shady backroom deals were the norm.

Laser fire erupted from a back hallway, and Soth grunted as he took a hit to the chest. He shrugged it off. They ducked for cover behind an overturned table.

"Frag grenade?" Soth asked.

"Not in these close quarters."

"It's only a little shrapnel," he muttered in reply. It explained why Soth had so many battle scars, and his armor bore so many dents and burns. Soth was older than Jace, and his added years as a shadow sword seemed to give him more courage than common sense.

"No. Use a stunner," Jace ordered.

Soth pulled a stun grenade from his belt and lobbed it down the hallway. A blinding flash of energy thrummed past them, rattling the metal table. The enemy fire stopped, and Jace pressed on. Unconscious mercenaries lined the hallway. It was tempting to finish them off, but he ordered Soth to secure them instead. The stunner would only last for a few minutes, and Jace didn't want the mercs following them back to the ship. Then again with the pounding the station was taking, the mercs would probably be dead before the effect wore off.

Jace reached a reinforced door, and frowned at the wires trailing from the lock's control panel. At least the mercs hadn't succeeded in breaking in. He punched the door's comm. system, praying it still worked. "Malcolm de la Cruz, this is Lieutenant Commander Najacen Harrow of the _Talon II_. We've been sent to evac you."

There was no response, and Soth shrugged. "Can you hack it?"

"Let's hope so." They hadn't brought a tech with them because the team hadn't anticipated needing one for this mission. It should have been a simple in and out.

Jace picked up where the mercs had left off, and he managed to open it after a few tense moments and one failure that singed the fingers of his gauntlets. A human was sprawled on the floor in the next room, just inside the door, a laser burn to his chest. Without armor to absorb the blast, a wound like that was fatal. Soth pulled off one of his gauntlets and checked the man for a pulse, but then shook his head.

"Dead. Hope he's not the indexer."

"He's not. Too tall." Jace headed for the next door and tried the comm. again, announcing himself and his orders. This time the speaker fizzled to life.

"Remove your helmet and display your heritage marks."

Sheathing his sword, Jace complied, instantly assaulted by the cacophony of scents and sounds the helmet had shielded him from. He tilted his head so that the camera above the door could get a clear shot of the right side of his throat. The black runes inked into his skin proudly declared that he was the second son of Lord Najamek Harrow of House Morningstar—the spare, not the heir. House Morningstar was one of the twelve ruling houses of Cyprena. The second most powerful house, in fact, just behind House Nightfall—for now. Securing the indexer was another step to ensuring that Nightfall's days on the high council were numbered.

The door hissed open and revealed a room filled with data terminals. A human with rumpled black hair was perched in a chair, surrounded by data screens filled with scrolling lines of text. The words flew by too quickly for Jace to catch them. How could anyone read that quickly? Or hope to absorb any of it?

"I'm not finished. I need more time." The indexer waved a hand at the shadow swords as though warding them off.

"Are you Malcolm de la Cruz?" Jace asked. Though there had been a basic description, there hadn't been an image available in the man's file. The human was a bit young to be an indexer, but he had the scrawny look of a scholar. His fallen companion was well muscled—a bodyguard, Jace guessed, or a bouncer.

"What? Yes, I am," he muttered in reply.

"Then we need to leave. The station's under attack."

"I'm aware of that, but—"

"You're out of time," Jace warned. "A few more hits and the hull is going to fail."

"Five minutes."

Jace circled to the man's side. The indexer's dark gaze flicked from screen to screen as he peered at the data from behind a pair of gold wire-rimmed spectacles, and his hands danced over a series of keypads. A bundle of wires trailed from beneath his hair and connected him to the terminals—Jace had heard of people jacking themselves directly into the data stream, but he'd never seen it before. Jace turned to Soth, and with a grunt and a nod the commander pulled the cord free from the terminal, and de la Cruz yelped and jerked as though stabbed.

"I'm not finished," he protested again.

"Yes, you are. We're going." Replacing his helmet, Jace spoke into his comm. as they left. "Captain, we've located the indexer."

"Understood. Commander Soth, take the team and escort the indexer to the ship. Be advised there are reports of more mercs between you and the docking ring. Lieutenant Commander Harrow, break off and get the females. Now you have eight minutes."

"Aye, Captain."

De la Cruz's lip curled in disgust as he tugged the cord free from his head and tossed it on the chair. His irritation vanished the moment they stepped into the outer room. "No," he wailed. The indexer knelt at the dead man's side and held his hand. "Alexi. You have to help him!"

Soth shook his head. "It's too late. He's gone."

"No! He just needs help. A dose of adrenaline, or a cardio jump. Alexi was supposed to get to a lifeboat. I thought—"

"I'm sorry for your loss, but we need to move. Now." Jace placed a hand on Malcolm's shoulder, and the man nodded numbly as Jace pulled him away.

Jace's pulse throbbed in time with the beat from the dance floor—he needed more time. Safe in his armor, Jace could survive if the station broke apart, but the civilians wouldn't. They rejoined the team, Soth clapped him on the back for good luck and Jace split from the group. Seven minutes to round up a group of hysterical slaves and herd them to freedom. Another explosion shook the station, and Jace gritted his teeth and ran.

_Morningstar_ is available now wherever books are sold!

# About the Author

Robyn Bachar writes romance with swords, sorcery, spaceships and submersibles. Bachar's novels feature action and adventure, danger and suspense, found families and happily ever afters. Her books have finaled twice in the PRISM Contest for Published Authors, twice in the Passionate Plume Contest, and twice in the EPIC eBook Awards.

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# Acknowledgments

Many thanks go to Devin, Diana and Karrin, three good friends and brave beta readers; and to Suz, who thought this book kicked ass and then helped make it even awesomer.

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As always, I am grateful for the love and support of my family, who continue to allow me to be the madwoman in their attic.

# Other titles by Robyn Bachar

**The Galactic Cold War Trilogy**

**Sci-Fi Romance**

_Firefly meets James Bond in this action-adventure romance set in an alternate future where the Cold War never ended..._

Relaunch Mission

Contingency Plan

End Transmission

* * *

**Just One Spell Series**

**Fantasy Romance**

_Just one spell can change their fates..._

The Sephra's Tear

The Timefreeze Curse

* * *

**Bad Witch: The Emily Chronicles**

**Historical Paranormal Romance**

_Magic, matchmaking and murder!_

The Importance of Being Emily

Poison in the Blood

* * *

**Bad Witch Series**

**Paranormal Romance**

_Bad witches get things done._

Blood, Smoke and Mirrors

Bloodlines and Broomsticks

Bewitched, Blooded and Bewildered

Blood, Toil and Trouble

Fire in the Blood

Bad Blood

Blood, Book and Candle

The Bloody End

* * *

**Cy'ren Rising Series**

**Sci-Fi Erotic Romance**

_Sci-fi romance so steamy it will fire your engines into overdrive._

Nightfall

Morningstar

Sunsinger

* * *

**This Apocalypse Bites**

**Erotic Paranormal Romance**

_It sucks to be a vampire at the end of the world._

Bite Me
NIGHTFALL

Copyright © 2012 by Robyn Bachar

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This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer's imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is entirely coincidental.

* * *

Robyn Bachar

P.O. Box 1692

Riverside IL 60546

* * *

Edited by Sue Ellen Gower

Cover by Kanaxa

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EBOOK ISBN: 978-0-9963490-6-2

PRINT ISBN: 978-1-7335761-3-0

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All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embedded in critical articles and reviews.

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