Chapter Six
THERE COULD only be one explanation for the turmoil Milo had been through the last three days.
He was losing his mind.
Disturbed sleep, heightened senses, lack of appetite…. He couldn’t account for any of it, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t nail down the moment it had all started—the day Jana arrived at the camp.
He’d had glimpses of her on and off, but they hadn’t exchanged words. That didn’t seem to matter: Each glimpse set off a reaction inside him, something akin to a nuclear explosion. Okay, it wasn’t that severe, but Milo’s world lurched off balance every time she was near. She had a scent like nothing he’d ever smelled before. What made it worse was that he didn’t even have to be near her—it wafted across the compound, into his nostrils, and all the way to his dick. He put that down to going far too long without sex, but he’d never experienced attraction like it.
Jana filled his head, messed up his senses, and drove him to distraction.
I need to talk to the medics.
Except that was not going to happen. Such behavior would be seen as a sign of weakness, and weakness was not tolerated, especially in someone of his rank.
Then it hit him.
Maybe she holds the key to all this.
It was a long shot, but he’d try anything to get his life back on an even keel.
Milo strode into the administration block. The main office contained six desks, but what dominated the room were the walls covered with images of the inmates, each one with their name, system number, and date of arrival.
One hundred fifty faces took up a lot of space.
Off-duty soldiers used the office as an unofficial recreation lounge. There was no provision for such a thing, which said a lot about the way the camp functioned. Someone had set up a tablet connected to a pair of speakers, and music filtered through the air, low and unobtrusive, because heaven forbid one of the Geran leaders should decide to put in an appearance and take exception to it.
Milo hadn’t witnessed any such visits for about three months. The last one had coincided with the arrival of the two inmates whose presence had caused no end of speculation, especially about what went on in the experimental block.
Someone high up was very interested in them.
Milo remembered seeing them at the Bozeman camp before he’d taken up his present post. According to their files, they were father and son. Not long after Milo’s arrival, the pair were also transferred. What came to mind was the scrawny individual who’d remained at the camp. Milo had an idea there’d been something going on between the two young men.
The soldiers stiffened as Milo walked over to the wall of images, and he waved his hand.
“Pretend I’m not here. And I’m not about to tell you to kill the music, okay?”
He’d been in their position once upon a time, and he would never forget that.
“Thank you, sir.” The men relaxed, and the chatting recommenced.
He scanned the faces that were listed alphabetically, searching for Jana. When he found her, he stared at the photo. Even though she wore the same deadpan expression as all the other inmates, those eyes seemed to lock onto his.
Milo prayed she had the answer to his questions.
“Is something wrong, sir?” One of the soldiers joined him.
Milo stabbed at Jana’s photo with his finger. “Have her brought to the reeducation center. I want to talk to her.”
The soldier snickered. “I wanna do more than talk to her. Been thinking about it a lot since she arrived. You’ve got great taste, if you don’t mind me saying so. And if you want, I’ll make sure you’re not disturbed—as long as you return the favor.” He leered. “I’m sure she won’t complain.”
White-hot rage surged through Milo, and it took every ounce of self-control not to shift and rip the bastard’s arms out of their sockets.
“I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear you say that, soldier.” He kept his voice even, unable to explain his visceral reaction to the idea of anyone taking Jana against her will.
But it’s more than that.
Milo didn’t want anyone else touching her, and for the life of him, he had no clue why that should be.
The soldier froze, his face pale. “Yes, sir. Thank you, sir. I’ll fetch her myself.” He scurried out of the room.
Milo glanced at the impassive faces of the soldiers, and he wondered what they were thinking. No one could fault his reprimand; sex between soldiers and inmates was frowned upon, but maybe he’d spoken a little too harshly.
Raised too many eyebrows.
He left the office, walked out of the block, and headed toward the reeducation center, where he’d first laid eyes on Jana. The place was empty.
Obviously no one needs reeducating today.
The walls had posters stuck to them, and they all followed a similar theme: The rules of the camp. The consequences for breaking those rules.
Milo paced, his heartbeat racing, his skin tingling again. The door opened, and Jana entered the room, coming to a halt when she saw him.
“You.” Her lips parted, her eyes shone, and there was a glow to her face that made his heart race even harder.
Gods, that same delicious scent still clung to her. He could smell it from right across the room.
Milo gestured to the empty chair in front of him. “Sit, please.”
Jana walked slowly, exhibiting not the slightest trace of fear. When she reached him, she sank into the chair.
He’d expected questions.
Why am I here?
What have I done?
Instead, she gazed at him with a serene expression that settled Milo’s unease. His heart rate returned to something more like its usual rhythm, and breathing became less of a chore.
When he found his voice, his words surprised him.
“You’re not afraid of me.”
Jana blinked. “Why should I be? You won’t harm me.”
He stilled. “How can you know that?”
Her smile widened. “Because you’re my mate.”
For a moment, her reply shook him to his core, but he quickly recovered. “You don’t think I’m stupid enough to fall for that, do you? Mates don’t exist.”
She gazed at him with obvious sympathy. “I felt the same as you, believe me. I’d heard stories, but I thought they were just that—stories. But after meeting you, I realized that was the only explanation for what you do to me.”
Milo sagged with relief. He pulled up a chair and sat facing her. “So you feel it too?”
She nodded. Then she chuckled. “I thought I was going mad.”
He laughed, and it was as if a huge weight lifted from his shoulders. “Why are you here? What did you do to be brought here?”
Jana shrugged. “Nothing—apart from exist.”
“What do you mean?”
She blinked again. “There’s no other explanation for it. I’m only an otter shifter. I’m nothing special.” Light filled her eyes. “Except that’s apparently not true, because I have a mate—well, I’ve found one of them.” Pride rang out in her voice, and she straightened in her chair.
Milo’s world came to a dead stop. “One mate isn’t enough?” Then he shook his head. “What am I talking about? There’s no such thing as mates. It’s a fairy tale, a myth.”
“What, like humans think shifters are a myth?” She smirked. “We seem pretty real from where I’m standing. So why shouldn’t mates be as real? How else do you explain what you’re going through right now?” Jana sighed. “All I know is what I’ve heard. That there are shifters out there who have found not one, but two mates. And if that rumor is true, then the other one might also be as accurate.”
“What other one?”
Jana held her head high. “That when all three mates find each other, there’s a… connection.” She flushed. “I’m not just talking physical. Mental and spiritual too.”
“Where did you hear this?”
She pointed toward the door. “Out there. I met a guy—he hasn’t been here all that long—who told me he’d met three shifters who could talk to each other without even opening their mouths.”
Milo gaped at her. “Seriously? It has to have been a trick.”
“That’s what he thought too—until they proved it to him.” She smiled. “We’ve found each other. Now all we have to do is find our third.” Jana grinned. “Don’t they say good things come in threes?”
Milo stood, scraping his fingers through his hair. “You make it sound so easy. Can I remind you that you’re incarcerated here, and that I’m one of the soldiers keeping you here?”
Jana rose from her chair. “Do you know how difficult it’s been to sit here and not touch you?”
“Jana, you’re not listening.”
“Yes, I am.” That serene smile was back. “It’s you who isn’t listening. To what everything inside you is telling you right this second.” She closed the gap between them. “Your name is Milo, isn’t that what you told me when I arrived?”
All he could do was nod, his throat tight.
“Well, Milo, what are you?” Her eyes twinkled. “You already know I’m an otter. I think it’s only fair to tell me what my mate is.”
And there she went again, saying things that couldn’t possibly be true.
“Milo?”
He couldn’t fight the urge to touch her.
Milo cupped her cheek. “I’m a gorilla.”
Her eyes widened. “Oh wow.” Then she grinned. “That’s cool. I do like a hairy man.”
“Whereas gorillas avoid large bodies of water and rivers. We’re not natural swimmers. Playing in it? That’s fine.”
All the desire to deny what he was feeling fled. Milo put his arms around her and drew her to him. Jana brought her hands to his nape, and their lips met in a soft kiss.
What happened inside him was anything but soft.
Something caught fire, sending heat to every extremity. What filled his mind was the knowledge that this was right , that Jana was his. He prolonged the kiss, and that only served to deepen their connection. He couldn’t get enough of her, molding her slim frame to his body, aware of the way her hair smelled like sunshine, her lips tasted like wine, her skin felt like silk.
Then a shout came from outside, and the moment shattered. They sprang apart, both breathing hard, her face flushed, his cheeks warm.
Milo took a step back. “Now what?”
He was in virgin territory with no map and no compass.
Jana took a deep breath. “I have to believe I won’t be in here forever. So I have to stay alive until we find our third.” She sighed. “They’re not going to breed me, because I’m not what they need.”
“‘They?’”
She frowned. “The Gerans. They’re only breeding the strongest, the fastest, the most lethal shifters.”
“And who told you that?” Cold inched its way through him.
“Every shifter I’ve met so far who’s part of the breeding program.”
“I’m sorry to tell you, your source is incorrect. We breed all kinds of shifters here.”
Jana became very still. “We?”
He nodded. “That’s right. Gerans. Which includes me.”
“You’re a—” Jana widened her eyes. “I don’t understand. Why would they put us together? A Fridan and a Geran? On what planet would that make any sense?”
Milo stroked her cheek, and she calmed visibly.
“I don’t know the answer to that,” he said in a low voice. “But it seems it does.”
“Kiss me again?”
He didn’t hesitate, and once again a wave of bright joy rolled over him to have Jana in his arms, have her lips against his.
“We’ll work something out,” he murmured.
Then it struck him that he truly believed her.
She’s my mate.
He couldn’t doubt it anymore.
Milo kissed her fragrant hair. “Do me a favor? Keep a low profile? Try to stay out of trouble. Don’t go out of your way to aggravate any of the guards. I can’t keep an eye on you twenty-four seven.”
“I’ll do my best to be invisible, how’s that?”
He chuckled. “Sounds good to me.”
Maybe she had the right idea. They’ll release her one day, right? And then he and Jana would be free to be together.
He freed her from his embrace. “You’d better go.”
“Can we meet again like this?”
Yet another question Milo didn’t know the answer to.
“We can’t do this too often. It would only arouse suspicion, and that’s the last thing we want.”
Jana let out a heavy sigh. “I know I haven’t asked but… do you… have someone?”
He shook his head. “I’m single.”
Her face brightened once more. “Me too.” Then she chuckled. “Well, I was. Not anymore.” She paused. “Milo? Do me a favor, okay? Ask yourself this question: Why would they be forcibly breeding shifters? And don’t tell me they’re not, because I know otherwise.” She tilted her head to one side. “Do you believe in rape?”
Her words rocked him. “Why would you even ask that?”
“Because that’s what this amounts to.” She sighed. “Just… think about it, all right?” And with that, she turned and walked toward the door.
Milo followed. Outside, a soldier waited, and Milo gave him instructions to return Jana to the compound. The hardest thing was not raising his hand to wave at her as she walked away from him.
When she was out of sight, Milo stared at the admin block. Something Jana said had struck a chord, and he needed to investigate.
He strode across the compound, climbed the wooden steps into the block, then headed for the small room where seven laptops had been provided for staff use. Milo took the one in the farthest corner and logged on to the system. After searching for what felt like hours, he was ready to give up.
It seemed what he wanted to know was above his pay grade.
Fuck .
“That was a sigh and a half.” Roslyn Ollerton took the chair next to his.
Milo liked Roslyn. She’d transferred with him from Bozeman, and she had a no-nonsense way about her that was refreshing.
Then he remembered where she’d worked at the last camp.
“Do you still work out of the developmental block?” Not that he had a clue as to what went on in there.
Roslyn smiled. “Yup. Why d’you ask?”
“I’m trying to check the records of a particular inmate, to see if she’s going to be… involved in anything.” It was a pretty vague explanation, and Milo prayed Roslyn didn’t get suspicious.
“She?” Roslyn’s eyes sparkled. “Ooh, Captain Keppler. Don’t tell me you’ve fallen for an inmate.”
He laughed, because that was what she’d expect of him.
Roslyn tapped the keyboard. “Name?”
“Guzek, Jana. Otter shifter.”
Roslyn’s fingers stopped their dance. “Then I don’t need to look her up. We have a plan for all the species like her—otters, beavers….”
“Really?”
She nodded. “We’re developing different methods of warfare.”
That last word sent ice edging its way through his veins. “Oh? I didn’t think they could be of much use.”
“Far from it. An otter could have explosives strapped to them and be sent into locations to blow them up.”
Holy fuck.
“But wouldn’t that also kill the otter?”
Roslyn chuckled. “And your point is?”
For the first time, Milo saw what lay beneath the surface, and his skin crawled.
“But you’re right,” she continued. “We wouldn’t want to lose a valuable commodity. We could have the otter go in, shift, drop the payload, then shift again to escape.” She shrugged. “We simply have to accept that the odds of an exploding otter are pretty high.” Her eyes gleamed. “Now, aren’t you glad you’re not falling for her? Because that sounds like a relationship doomed from the start.”
It sounded that way to Milo too.
It wasn’t until he’d left the block and was halfway across the compound that the thought came to him, leaving him reeling.
If one mate dies, what happens to the other two?