Tamed (Exchanged Power #6)

Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1

K endra stood at the very edge of the fitness center, feeling small and forgotten. The room was enormous, the arched ceiling soaring nearly thirty feet high at its peak. Her session with the sparbot ended ten minutes ago, but she couldn’t make herself leave. All around her warriors bent and twisted, flexed and lunged as they practiced established routines or learned new skills. They were strength personified, powerful and confident. They were free to make their own decisions, free to define their own life path. They helped secure the future for those not strong enough to defend themselves. And if everything went as planned, they would end this dreadful war.

It had been almost three months since Kendra was brought to the Citadel. Located in the center of Star System 942, the outpost was the primary training center for empowered people. There were four inhabited planets in this sector of space: Altor, Torret, Pyron, and Houkdi. Kendra’s genetic testing indicated that she was from Altor with at least one close relative from Pyron.

Unable to suppress her frustration, Kendra released a sigh. The planet names were meaningless words. She’d been filled with excitement and wonder when she arrived at the Citadel. She wanted to explore the alien worlds, to meet people from vastly different cultures and experience their customs. And most important, she wanted to actively participate in the war efforts. She wanted to help free the people of Torret. Kendra’s mentor had assured her that it would happen. She just needed to be patient and focus on her training. Yet weeks turned into months, and Kendra was still waiting.

She’d been raised on Earth believing she was human. According to the founders, Kendra and the other forty-six residents of Still Water Farms were destitute orphans completely dependent on the farm for survival. The founders fed and clothed them, put a roof over their heads, and educated them. Kendra had no choice but to follow their rules and obey without argument. She owed them everything, and the founders made damn sure she never forgot it.

Then a spaceship arrived and Kendra’s entire concept of reality had been redefined. She was not human. She was a ‘conduit,’ an empowered female destined to be part of a power triad. Power triads were genetically engineered beings who could manipulate magic. Working together, the three parts of a triad—the conduit, source, and controller—formed elemental energy into whatever they wanted or needed it to be.

The warrior nearest her landed an especially hard punch, snapping Kendra back into the present. His opponent’s head whipped around and blood gushed from his obviously broken nose. She gasped and took an automatic step backward. Someone placed their hands on her shoulders and tingling awareness swept through her entire body. Her nipples instantly tightened and heat erupted in her core.

“Steady there, red,” Arcon’s deep voice rumbled from somewhere above her left ear.

She twisted around and looked up at him, and her breath lodged in her throat. Her hair was auburn, not actually red, but he refused to call her anything else. Arcon had mentored Eden, one of Kendra’s closest friends, and Kendra thought he was the most appealing male at the Citadel, maybe in the entire star system. He was tall and blond, muscular yet capable of such gentleness when he chose to leash all that power. His features were perfect: sculpted cheekbones, strong jaw, straight nose, and utterly kissable lips. At least they looked utterly kissable. Kendra had yet to find out. And his eyes. He had the bluest eyes Kendra had ever seen. Concern and confusion shaped his expression, reminding her that she was just staring up at him like a lovesick fool.

“Are you all right?” he prompted. “You turned a little green there for a moment.”

Eagerly latching on to the excuse, she said, “I’ve seen broken noses before. It just caught me by surprise.”

His large, warm hands gave her shoulders a little squeeze, and then he lowered his arms. “Are you waiting for an open square, or are you on your way out?”

The training room was divided into twenty-three squares. They varied in size, providing the appropriate amount of space for the activity going on within them. “I just beat the crap out of one of the sparbots. Now I’m off to have lunch with Ansley and Eden.”

“Congratulations on the win,” he grinned. “Sparbots are not easy to best.”

A vivid blush heated the crest of her cheeks and she shivered. Why couldn’t she stop blushing whenever Arcon was around? Granted her experience with males was limited, but she wasn’t that innocent. “Sparbots provide a great workout, but I’m ready to graduate to a live partner.”

That arched his brows. “Are you now?” He smiled again, but there was nothing playful about the expression. His gaze heated and the curve of his lips turned predatory. “I suspect you’ll not lack for volunteers.”

The hungry expression was familiar. Many of the warriors undressed her with their eyes. She’d just never seen Arcon look at her that way before. She took a step closer and smiled flirtatiously. “Will you be among them?”

His gaze narrowed and his features tensed. “You’re one of my students. It wouldn’t be appropriate.”

Unsure where the boldness came from, she moved even closer and placed her hand on his chest. “It’s only inappropriate if someone finds out.”

His long fingers closed around her upper arms, and he dragged her out of the training room.

“Wait,” she yelped, tugging against his hold. “Where are you taking me?” Was he angry with her for flirting with him? She flirted with him all the time. No, she hadn’t flirted with him this time. She’d propositioned him, and apparently he took exception.

He scanned open one of the small rooms meant for private tutoring sessions and shoved her inside.

“I’m sorry,” she tried again. “I didn’t mean?—”

He shoved her up against the wall and pinned her there with his body. “That’s the problem, Ms. Harris.”

She cringed at his formality. He never used her given name, never called her anything but ‘red.’

He pulled her hands above her head and shifted her wrists into one hand. “If you look at a controller with those fuck me eyes, he won’t hesitate to accept your offer.” His free hand skimmed over her body, brushing her breasts before rapidly descending to cup her sex. “He’ll shove his cock balls-deep inside this tight cunt before you can convince him that you were only flirting.”

Torn between embarrassment and arousal, Kendra stood there, eyes tightly shut, shaking. Her breasts felt heavy, nipples tight. And her core ached beneath his fingers. Part of her wanted him to release her, so she could escape this humiliating scene. Yet an even larger part wanted him to continue, to tear off her clothes and show her all the wicked things this proverbial controller would do.

This turmoil had been building for weeks. She needed to choose her mates and surrender to her body’s fundamental needs. But she didn’t find any of the males who showed an interest in her appealing. Arcon, on the other hand, made her entire body ache.

She could feel his erection pressing into her belly. Something about her clearly aroused him. Maybe he just needed a push in the right direction.

Kendra forced her eyes open and looked into his, challenging him without words. She arched her back, thrusting out her breasts as she rubbed her pussy against his hand.

“Do you always follow the rules?”

Arcon growled, literally growled, then pulled her away from the wall and dragged her toward a nearby bench. He sat and draped her face down over his legs. Kendra was too shocked by his actions to resist. This couldn’t be happening. She had bonded friends. She knew males disciplined their mates, but Arcon was her teacher—no, she had teased him like a potential mate and he was acting accordingly.

With two firm tugs he had her pants and panties down around her knees, baring her upturned bottom. Heat suffused her face and she finally started struggling. She kicked and twisted, trying to push herself up off his lap. He drew her hands to the small of her back and held them there with one long-fingered hand. She continued to kick and buck, but he simply ignored her.

He brought his hand down hard against her bottom. The obscene sound of his open palm connecting with bare skin brought a startled gasp from her throat, but the biting sting momentarily halted her struggles. Another slap followed the first. He was spanking her. Arcon was actually spanking her. Shock gave way to anger and her feet started kicking again. She twisted and cried out as throbbing heat radiated through the initial sting.

“Stop it!” she yelled. “You can’t do this. You’re not my mate!”

“That’s right.” Smack . “I’m your teacher.” Smack. Smack.

She cried out and twisted as his hand fell over and over. It hurt much worse than she’d imagined lying awake in her lonely bed. He moved from side to side, peppering her entire bottom with stingy slaps. Yet under the discomfort, heat sank through her bottom and lodged in her core. Why was this humiliating spanking making her feel restless and needy?

“You know damn well I can’t have you,” he growled out, accenting the statement with several particularly hard spanks. “Yet you offered me your body.” He pushed his hand between her thighs and squeezed her pussy.

His grip was firm and possessive, meant to stake a claim rather than arouse. She pressed her lips together, determined not to cry out.

“You’re soaking wet, red.” He spanked her again, even harder this time. “I can smell your arousal.” More fast, hard slaps assailed her bottom. “Do you have any idea what that does to a male?”

Tears blinded Kendra and a sob shuddered through her chest. “I’m sorry.”

Arcon released her wrists and drew one of her hands between their bodies, pressing her fingers against his rock-hard cock. “I want to fuck you so badly right now, I’m not sure I can resist.” He continued the spanking, each swat intensifying the throbbing heat in her lower body. “Most would not even try to resist. They would have bent you over the nearest table and fucked you senseless.” He dragged her pants and panties to her ankles and forced her legs apart. “Is that what you want, red?”

He slapped her pussy. The sting was much sharper than on her bottom and Kendra wailed in reaction. He slapped her again.

“This pussy belongs to your mates.” Yet his fingers lingered against her folds, rubbing, exploring. “Do you want some random controller to fuck you hard and walk away?”

“No,” she lamented. She wanted him, but not as a frantic hookup. She wanted him by her side for the rest of her life.

His hand was still on her pussy as if he couldn’t make himself pull away.

She stilled, thighs shaking as his long middle finger sank between her folds. Pressure built, physically and emotionally. “Please,” she whispered, desperate for release from the tension coiling inside her.

He traced her slit, momentarily brushing over her clit before he pulled his hand away. “You don’t belong to me.” He pushed her off his lap and stood up, glaring down at her. “Pull yourself together and think about your behavior. If I have to discipline you again, it will be much worse.”

He left her kneeling there with her clothes bunched around her ankles, cheeks nearly as red as her bottom. She stood up and pulled up her panties and then her pants, wincing as the sturdy material scraped over her inflamed flesh. There was a changing room with a shower tucked into the corner of the training room. She was thrilled at the opportunity to regain her composure before anyone else saw her.

She closed and locked the door to the changing room and then stripped off her exercise outfit, stuffing the garments into the recycler. Stepping into the shower enclosure, she sighed as the warm water ran down her body. Her thoughts were troubled and her bottom and pussy throbbed. She really needed a long, hot shower. No, she needed a long, hot cock!

She wasn’t the only one lusting after Arcon. All the unclaimed conduits gossiped about the males. It was natural. They were sexually curious and in the prime of their lives. More important, because they were conduits their lives would not really begin until they chose their mates. The changes engineered into their genome made it impossible to live a long and happy life as anything other than a power triad. The need to mate gradually intensified until each conduit formed a soul bond or literally went insane.

Arcon was a source. As well as being drop-dead gorgeous, he was personable, financially stable, and highly skilled, so many of the conduits considered him the best candidate for their mate. Unfortunately for them, Arcon had not shown an interest in anyone. He was friendly with Eden because he’d mentored her. And that openness extended to Ansley and Kendra because they were often around Eden. He seemed to enjoy teasing Kendra, but—as this disastrous episode proved—he was not romantically interested in her.

She’d been particularly restless the past few days. Her mind kept wandering into erotic fantasies when she was supposed to be paying attention. Heat would rush through her body and she’d break out in a sweat for no reason. Her dreams were even worse. Vivid images and shockingly intense sensations had plagued her for weeks now. Her lovers were always in shadow, more impression than actual person.

It was too soon for a suppressant booster. The one she’d been given when she arrived was supposed to last at least six months. Besides, suppressants were dangerous. She had been engineered to operate as part of a triad and mid-twenties was the optimum age for bonding. Kendra was twenty-five so her body, her imagination, and her instincts were urging her to choose her mates. Delaying that biological imperative was futile. Masturbation gave her a momentary rush of peace, but the restlessness always returned within a few minutes.

She wasn’t sure what to do, but the urgency was definitely building. The problem was she hadn’t felt a connection with any of the teams who had expressed an interest in her. She’d met with at least fifteen, some more than once, but she couldn’t imagine spending the rest of her life with any of them.

There were only two people who had sparked her interest since coming to the Citadel. Her infatuation with Arcon was easy to understand. Her other crush, however, was confusing as hell. President Zevon was autocratic and arrogant. His long dark hair and flashing gold eyes perfectly reflected his no-nonsense personality. Even by controller standards, Zevon was intense. Most of the other conduits were afraid of him, but Kendra found him fascinating. She was drawn to his power and had the irrational need to undress and sink to her knees whenever his penetrating gaze fell on her. He had never done anything to encourage her obsession, had never indicated with word or deed that he found her attractive. Why would he? Zevon could have any woman he wanted. Why would he choose someone so unremarkable?

Indulging in a deep sigh, Kendra grabbed her towel and dried off before leaving the shower enclosure. Today was her day off, so she went to the garment kiosk and quickly printed a wraparound dress. The leaf-green material complemented her coloring, but the utilitarian style was anything but fashionable. She was of average height with a too round figure. Her waist was small, but her hips and breasts put her on the plump side of curvy. There was nothing wrong with her features. There was just nothing memorable about them either. Her eyes couldn’t decide if they were green or gold, and despite Arcon’s silly nickname, her hair was more brown than red. She combed out the damp strands and bound them at the nape of her neck with an elasticized band. She seldom bothered with makeup, never went anywhere that required dressing up.

Depressed by her rambling thoughts, she left the training center and went directly to the main dining hall. Hopefully Eden and Ansley could cheer her up. Kendra spotted several of the former Still Water residents as she crossed the room. There had been a total of forty-six conduits evacuated that day, so it was inevitable that they run into each other. Despite all Kendra had in common with the other Earth-raised conduits, it was hard not to think of them as competition. The only two Kendra trusted completely were Ansley and Eden.

Ansley was waiting at a table in the far corner of the room, but Eden had yet to arrive. Ansley’s long blonde hair was loose around her shoulders and thick dark lashes framed her sky-blue eyes. She stood up and gave Kendra a hug before they both sat down.

“Your hair is still wet,” Ansley observed. “Did you sleep in for a change or did you just come from the gym?”

“I had a hot date with a sparbot,” Kendra grumbled, but her memory perfectly reproduced an image of Arcon’s smoldering expression. The ache in her pussy had abated, but her bottom was still tender. A fresh wave of heat washed over her in response to the memories and Kendra shivered. Was this basic sexual frustration or something more? Was it a biological warning that her abilities were ready to awaken? Once released, her primary element would be Fire. She would be able to summon flames or cause objects to explode with the power of her mind. She’d seen others effortlessly manipulate Altorian energy, but her abilities were still latent and would remain so until her mates claimed her.

And why couldn’t she shake the feeling that one of those mates should be Arcon?

It’s nothing but wishful thinking , her inner voice mocked. Every female on this outpost feels the same way.

“Is something wrong?” Ansley asked after a long pause. “You seem distracted.”

“I’m not sure. Maybe.” If it was anyone but Arcon she would have thought that she’d finally captured his attention, that the spanking had been a bizarre sort of foreplay. But Arcon had made his position clear to everyone. He was unavailable.

Eden walked in before Ansley could ask Kendra to elaborate.

“What a morning,” Eden sighed, giving each of her friends a quick hug. “I’m exhausted already and it’s barely noon.” Her cheeks were flushed and her gray-green eyes shone with spirit. “There’s no line, for a change…” She tucked her gold-streaked brown hair behind her ear then motioned toward the nutrient synthesizers inset in the wall to their left. “Let’s go grab our food before the next rush hits.” There were only two dining rooms for the entire Citadel so they tended to fill up fast during meal breaks.

Kendra and Ansley rose and followed Eden across the room.

“How was Houkdi?” Ansley asked with a knowing smile.

Eden and her mates had flown to their home on the desert planet to enjoy some much-needed time alone. They’d been bonded for less than a week so their mating instincts were still incredibly strong.

“It was wonderful,” Eden assured them. “I just wish it had been three weeks rather than three days.”

“Don’t ever hesitate to take time for yourselves,” Ansley advised as she entered her selections into one of the kiosks. “The more involved you become in this war, the harder it is to sneak away.”

Eden and Ansley were both mated now, so they frequently spoke about things Kendra had yet to experience. They weren’t trying to leave her out of the conversations, but Kendra was excluded all the same. Kendra faced one of the kiosks and navigated her way through the complex menu.

“May I help with that?”

The male’s voice was deep and unfamiliar. Kendra turned her head sharply and found a warrior standing at her side. She didn’t know his name, but he’d been in the gym this morning. “Thanks, but I’ve got it.”

“You have really improved with the sparbot,” he said casually. “If you would like to move on to more complex routines, I would be happy to instruct you.”

Embarrassment washed over her, heating her cheeks and spiking her anxiety. Had he heard her playful comments to Arcon? “I’ll keep that in mind.” She quickly snatched her tray off the printer and brushed past the warrior. “Excuse me.”

“Okay, that was bizarre,” Eden said as she tried to hide her smile. “Do you know that guy?”

Kendra debated how much to tell them as she sat down. “I was flirting with Arcon in the gym and I think that guy heard what I said.”

“You flirt with Arcon a lot,” Ansley pointed out. “Is something going on there?”

Blushing hotly, Kendra muttered, “I wish.”

“Arcon isn’t ready to claim a mate,” Eden stressed. “Don’t set your sights on him or you’ll get hurt.”

“I know.” She looked at Eden and shrugged with an indifference she didn’t feel. “Just because he’s not on the market doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate his esthetics.”

Eden let the subject drop and they indulged in Citadel gossip for a few minutes, complaining about people who annoyed them and speculating about upcoming developments.

“Why was your morning so hectic?” Ansley asked Eden after they’d exhausted the other topics. “Didn’t you arrive last night?”

“Zevon met with Soro and finalized the alliance,” Eden told her friends. “That’s why Zevon wanted to meet with my triad this morning.”

Clearly Eden was about to dive into the political conflicts surrounding the current war, so Kendra quickly reviewed the important players. It was hard to keep everything straight because she’d never been to any of the planets and never interacted with any of the people. First there was Altor, the planet most closely associated with the Citadel. Altor was governed by a prefect and a group of lawmakers known as the Assembly, yet their true power came from controlling the Citadel. A fact the other planets resented.

The primary concern in the star system was Emperor Jevara of Torret. He was cruel and capricious, and advanced weapons allowed him to lash out indiscriminately. At the moment, his hostility was focused on Altor and the Citadel—along with anyone on Torret who wouldn’t support his erratic and self-serving decisions. Not surprisingly, a massive rebellion resulted, but despite the growing number of Torretian rebels, they were no match for the Imperial Army. Zevon, and the other planetary leaders, also wanted Jevara gone but no one was willing to step out alone and become Jevara’s next victim.

Zevon knew an interplanetary alliance was the only way to win the war, so he had taken it upon himself to bring the factions together. Because of their symbiotic relationship, Altor always supported the Citadel. Houkdi wanted nothing to do with any political conflict, so Zevon focused on Pyron. Pyron was divided into two schools of thought. Mistress Air and her followers were pacifists who refused to use their abilities to harm anyone or anything. The Wraiths had a very different philosophy. They believed that Mistress Air’s approach stifled the true potential of her followers.

That left Zevon with two potential allies, the Torretian rebels and the Pyronese Wraiths.

Eden paused for a sip of wessin before venturing deeper into her explanation. “I don’t know how much you guys know about the rebellion, but the movement is not as stable as Zevon thought. They’re zealous and desperate for change, but they lack cohesive leadership.”

“Will Soro correct that weakness?” Ansley asked hopefully.

“He seems solid, but Zevon is understandably cautious. He has only known Soro for a few days,” Eden answered.

“The Wraiths refused to join unless the rebels were onboard,” Kendra mused. “Does this mean Zevon has the backing of Pyron too?”

“Movu signed the agreement this morning,” Eden told them. Movu was on the Wraith council and had supported Zevon from the beginning. The other Wraith leaders had been more cautious, but it appeared that everything was coming together nicely for President Zevon.

“That’s wonderful news, but what does it have to do with your triad?” Ansley wanted to know. “You said Zevon asked for your triad specifically.”

Eden laughed. “I thought I told you. Movu is Kyrex’s father.” Kyrex was one of Eden’s mates.

Confusion scrunched up Ansley’s brows. “I thought Kyrex was from Houkdi. Didn’t you just spend three days at his estate?”

“He inherited the property from his mother. Obviously, his father is Pyronese,” Eden clarified.

“Then the alliance is a done thing?” Kendra digressed. They had just scratched the surface of the topic and she still had a million questions. “They’re going to take out Jevara in the near future?”

Eden nodded. “They were still working on the details when I left, but they were talking days, not weeks.”

Kendra shuddered. If ever there was a planetary leader that deserved to be ‘removed’ it was Jevara, but what happened then? “Do they know who’ll take Jevara’s place? Who will govern Torret?”

“That’s up to the Torretians,” Ansley insisted. “We were raised on Earth so we presume that everyone wants the right to vote. But democracy isn’t the only form of government. Some insist that it’s not even the best form of government.”

“Well, whatever they choose, it has to be representative,” Eden argued. “The people have to have some say in the decisions that are made.”

Ansley shook her head. “If they’re more comfortable with a benevolent dictator than a democracy, who are we to force our way of life on them? It’s really arrogant to presume that we know what’s best for other cultures.”

Kendra sat back and sipped her wessin . Ansley and Eden loved to debate. Half the time Kendra was sure they brought up contradictory points just to prolong the discussion.

As a group of warriors ambled past the women’s table, they slowed considerably. Each male paused beside Kendra as if they would speak with her. None of them did and the group resumed their trek across the dining room. Still, their behavior was strange enough to draw the attention of Ansley and Eden.

“Are you activating?” Eden asked bluntly. Her gaze was filled with concern, not accusation so Kendra didn’t take offense.

“I think I’m getting close,” Kendra admitted. “I’m restless and hot all the time. Worse, I’m drawing the attention of people who wouldn’t ordinarily notice I’m alive.”

“Like Arcon?” Ansley grinned.

“Don’t encourage her,” Eden chided with a dramatic sigh. “Arcon isn’t here to find a mate.”

Not wanting to talk about Arcon, Kendra quickly changed the subject. She knew Arcon wasn’t for her, but Eden didn’t need to rub her face in the fact. “There’s a rumor going around that conduits will be part of the alliance. Do either of you know anything about that?”

Ansley just shook her head, but Eden flushed and then wouldn’t meet Kendra’s gaze.

“Oh, my God, is it true? What the hell do we have to do with taking out Jevara?”

Eden pushed her tray of half-eaten food aside and cradled her mug between her hands. “The other planets are using this conflict to force the Citadel to restore balance. It’s something that should have been done decades ago.”

“Restore balance to what?” Kendra had no idea what Eden was talking about.

“Power triads. Altor owns the Citadel and everyone knows it. The other planets have had it with the favoritism. When power triads were created, they were meant to be distributed evenly between the four planets. That hasn’t happened for a century or more.”

“And they suddenly have forty-four conduits to help even the score,” Kendra realized, tension knotting low in her belly. “We’re to be divided up and shipped off to different planets?”

Eden sounded a bit defensive as she elaborated, “The process will happen gradually over the next year, and each conduit will be able to choose which planet they prefer.”

“What if we all choose the same planet?” Unlike the other two, Kendra was directly affected by this. She understood that finding mates was inevitable but being pressured to do so as part of an alliance felt wrong.

“Each planet will have eleven openings. When all the openings have been filled, the conduit will have to choose her second favorite and so on.”

Kendra figured it was something like that. “So the faster we make up our minds, the more likely we are to go to our top choice.”

Eden nodded. “It will also give groups an opportunity to stay together.” Not giving Kendra time to respond, Eden rushed on, “The Citadel is a training center. No one stays here indefinitely. Most conduits go to whatever planet their mates come from. This isn’t that different.”

A young green-haired male approached the table. He stopped a few steps away, boldly staring at Kendra, but he didn’t speak.

“Can I help you?” Ansley snapped. “We’re having lunch here.”

“I will speak with Mistress Kendra at a more appropriate time. I apologize.” He flashed Kendra a toothy grin then hurried off.

“You’re starting to radiate pheromones,” Eden predicted. “You need to go to the clinic and see if there’s anything they can do to slow this down.”

“And if there isn’t?” Panic welled up from deep inside her. She didn’t want to be subjected to the sort of sexual frenzy she’d heard described by some of her friends.

“You don’t feel connected to any of the males you’ve interacted with?” Ansley asked, concern creasing her brow.

Kendra shook her head. “Not even a little.”

“Have you let anyone touch you, kiss you?” Ansley persisted.

“A couple have, but it just felt wrong.”

Another group of leering males was headed for their table. “You need to go, now ,” Eden urged. “I’ll comm Dr. Damaris and let her know you’re on your way.”

Kendra nodded and then rushed from the dining hall. The clinic was two levels up and on the other side of the outpost. Heads turned whenever Kendra rushed past a group of males, but luckily the hallways were mostly empty. She felt agitated, restless in a way she’d never felt before.

She sped her pace, nearly jogging now. Her nipples peaked and her core ached so badly that each step became painful. If the doctor couldn’t help restrain this, Kendra was in serious trouble.

By the time she reached the clinic, her cheeks were burning and her skin was damp with sweat. Dr. Damaris spotted Kendra as she passed through the doors and hurried her into a private exam room.

“Detail your symptoms and give me the timeline for this escalation,” Dr. Damaris prompted, not bothering with a traditional greeting. Her statuesque frame and dark coloring revealed her Torretian blood. Her mates were both from Altor, which explained why her heritage had been overlooked by the board of governors.

Sitting on the end of the treatment table, Kendra tried to ignore the urges surging through her system. “It started about ten days ago, but it has gotten significantly worse in the last three days. I’m having erotic dreams and my sex drive is much stronger than normal.”

“Are you sexually active?” Dr. Damaris asked the question with casual professionalism.

Kendra shook her head. “No opportunity on Earth and no time since coming here.”

“Has anything changed in your environment? Are you interacting with anyone new?” As they spoke, Dr. Damaris activated various scanners and unfamiliar instruments. Readings scrolled across a holo-screen to one side of the table. The doctor assessed the readouts, reaching for other instruments as a result of what she saw.

“My environment is exactly the same and I only interact with the other conduits and our mentors.”

Dr. Damaris nodded as she crossed to the matter synthesizer and printed an injector. “This will mute your symptoms temporarily, but it won’t work for long. You are in the early stages of activation. If you do not choose your mates in the next few days, your body will choose for you.”

The injection burned for a moment, but the urgency soon faded and Kendra sighed. She let the tension continue to ease for a few seconds before she asked, “Why did you ask about who I’m interacting with? I thought activation was basically triggered by time.”

“A complex combination of factors determines when a conduit’s power activates. Yes, her physiological development is paramount to that change, but coming in contact with a potential mate will accelerate the transformation. Once your mind clears, you should assess your schedule for the past few days. I suspect there is someone new.”

“I will.” Kendra scooted off the end of the table and paused to roll her shoulders. “The shot is working. How long will it last?”

“A few days at the most. I can give you additional injections, but each will be less effective than the last. The only cure for this is bonding.”

“I understand and thank you. I know I was in real trouble.”

“You are still in trouble, Kendra,” the doctor stressed. “You must take this seriously.”

Kendra sighed, nodded, then hurried from the clinic. She’d lied to the doctor. There had been someone new. She just hadn’t seen the point in admitting it. Her symptoms began shortly after Arcon’s arrival and had intensified as she found ways to spend more time with him. But Arcon wasn’t ready to claim a mate. He’d made that perfectly clear when he spanked her for flirting too openly with him. It didn’t matter if she found him attractive, didn’t even matter if they were a strong genetic match. She’d planned to wait him out, keep flirting and remain on the periphery of his attention until he started looking for a mate.

Well, her body had just robbed her of that option. She’d allowed herself to believe in a cosmic attraction. In love at first sight and the sort of bond that lasted more than one lifetime. She should have known better. Her life had never worked that way, and apparently fated mates were bullshit after all.

Arcon felt his subdermal comm band vibrate and released a sigh of frustration. His workout had barely begun and he really needed the physical exertion. Spanking Kendra had left him keyed up and in need of victimless violence. He could still smell her arousal and see her lovely ass wiggling and jostling as his hand connected with the soft round cheeks. It would have been so easy to turn her and set her down on her hands and knees. Her thighs were open and slick with her juices, her pussy deeply flushed and ready for his cock.

The comm band vibrated again and he forced the tantalizing images to the back of his mind. This was the problem with being self-employed for so many years. Now it felt intrusive when others made demands on his time. President Zevon had instigated the comm, so Arcon had no choice but to accept it.

Knowing that his annoyance would show, he answered with audio only. “What can I do for you, sir?”

“Come to my office. I’ll keep it brief. I promise.”

“On my way.” He deactivated the sparbot and headed to the president’s office at the top of the spiral walkway.

Arcon had been about five when he realized that his family was unique. His father owned a small trading vessel and his mother negotiated contracts and organized logistics. When they started having children they’d debated, briefly, whether or not to establish a traditional household on one of the centrally located planets. His mother had insisted that she would never be happy if she was separated from her mate. So Arcon grew up on a spaceship.

At thirteen Arcon realized he was empowered, but he waited until he was sixteen to be tested. His scores were so high that the Citadel had issued an official invitation. Such invitations were rare and provided cost-free access to the star system’s best trainers. His parents left the decision up to him, but it was obvious that they thought he should go.

Six years at the Citadel taught Arcon many things. His mental control was increased exponentially, but he developed an intense dislike for the board of governors. Instead of signing a contract with the Citadel as most expected him to do, Arcon thanked them for their generosity and boarded the next shuttle off the outpost.

The next ten years were filled with adventure and challenges. He worked with and trained under empowered people on all four planets in this star system as well as two in neighboring star systems. Because of his exposure to so many philosophies and training techniques, he had a unique way of manipulating magic. His first two trainees had been close friends, but they had been so excited about their results that others soon requested time with Arcon. He hadn’t intentionally set out to be a professional mentor, but it quickly became clear that training others was his destined life path.

He trained controllers and sources, but his specialty was working with those who possessed both gifts. Until a few weeks ago, he avoided working with conduits. He had nothing against females, enjoyed their company immensely. Conduits, however, were complicated and inevitably surrounded by political intrigues. Then two of his former students commed and asked if he would train their mate. Neloff and Kyrex had been two of his best and brightest and the female was clearly deeply in love with them, so Arcon reluctantly agreed.

Training Eden led to his meeting with Zevon, and Zevon had assured him that the Citadel was different than it had been during his training a decade before. A large group of conduits had just been rescued from an encampment on Earth and they were in desperate need of innovative techniques. The females were being taught in groups so he would not be alone with any of them. Again, with much reluctance, Arcon agreed.

He reached the door to Zevon’s office but hesitated to go inside. Everything had been running smoothly until this morning. Kendra had looked up at him with her wide, innocent gold/green eyes and said that she was ready for a live partner. The comment had been mildly provocative, but his reaction had been anything but mild. When she touched him, desire inundated his entire body, instantly hardening his cock and speeding his pulse.

He had no right to touch her, no right to even imagine fucking her. But now that was all he could see. He shouldn’t have spanked her. She wasn’t his to discipline, but she needed to understand how easy it was to snap a male’s control. Especially when she looked and smelled like she did.

He knew she was infatuated with him, but it didn’t matter. He was a space bum, a traveler. He’d never had a permanent address in his entire life. Kendra was a second-level conduit. She would be claimed by some rich and politically connected team.

Shaking away the frustrating distraction, he pushed open the door and walked into the large waiting area. Zevon’s assistant announced his arrival, then told him, “Go on in. They’re waiting for you.”

They? That didn’t sound good. Being ambushed was bad enough. Who else was inside Zevon’s office?

Arcon opened the inner door and entered the large room. Zevon’s desk was on his left, but a small group had gathered around the oblong conference table. Zevon sat at the head looking dark and imperious as always. Arcon did not know the other two males.

“This is Movu Surcatt of Pyron,” Zevon indicated the male on his left. “And Soro Kintar, leader of the Torretian rebels.” He motioned toward the male on his right. “Gentlemen, meet Arcon.”

A Wraith councilmember and the leader of the Torretian rebels? Apparently, Zevon had or was in the process of finalizing the alliance.

“It’s nice to meet you,” Arcon responded.

“Have a seat.”

There was no reason for him to sit if this was truly going to be a quick meeting. Even so, he pulled out the chair and sat down.

“As you’ve likely figured out, we’ve just established an alliance between the Torretian rebels, the Wraiths, and the Citadel. Our first goal is to nullify Emperor Jevara. Our second to restore the balance of power to the star system.”

Surprised and slightly confused by the statement, Arcon arched his brows. “How do you intend to do that?”

“Two of the Earth-raised conduits have already been claimed, so the forty-four currently in training will be distributed evenly between the four planets,” Movu said firmly. He sounded as if he were stressing a point the other two had not yet accepted.

Rather than replying, Arcon looked at Zevon and waited for him to react.

“Ensuring the safety and wellbeing of the conduits is now your job, if you choose to take it,” Zevon announced.

Arcon felt as if he’d been kicked in the gut. What the hell was Zevon thinking? The last thing he wanted to do was babysit a bunch of resentful conduits. “My ship is fast, but I cannot be in four places at once.”

“Personal supervision is not what I had in mind. I want you to run the program. You need to select a three-person security team to accompany each conduit, or group of conduits. Also, the females need defense training. I think it’s even more important that these women are able to protect themselves.”

If his primary function was delegation, both tasks were easily accomplished. Still, Arcon was baffled by Zevon’s choice. “Why involve me in this? Wouldn’t one of your staff trainers make more sense?”

“Most, perhaps all of my staff trainers have developed loyalties. These connections are nearly impossible to avoid in the current environment. You are completely objective. I trust you to make better decisions than someone who is factoring in their political obligations.”

Much to Arcon’s annoyance, the rationale made sense. He didn’t want to train the conduits, much less be responsible for their safety, but he was uniquely qualified for the job. “I wasn’t planning on remaining here that long.”

“I’m aware, but this is important. People tend to become ruthless when they think about controlling the power of a triad. Over and over I’ve seen individuals completely disregard the feelings of the conduits as they plot and scramble to gain control over them. We cannot allow that to happen.”

Arcon had heard all sorts of stories that backed up what Zevon was saying. Conduits were rare and without their abilities it was impossible for controllers or sources to access their own gifts. Wars had been fought over less. In fact, Emperor Jevara’s obsession with conduits was a contributing factor in the current war.

“How long do I have to set all this in motion?”

A pleased smile tugged at the corners of Zevon’s mouth. “Until Jevara has been removed, the safest place for the conduits is the Citadel. We plan to launch that operation within the week. The first two conduits will be sent to each planet shortly after that.”

“Two weeks? You expect me to give forty-four women defense training and assemble numerous security teams in two weeks?”

“I have faith in you, Arcon.” Zevon’s smile spread into an unapologetic grin. “I’ll let you know who I’ve assigned to the strike team, but feel free to recruit anyone else.”

“Yes, sir.” He started to stand, then paused. “If you give me a list of the first eight women, I will prioritize their training.”

“We’ve agreed to let the conduits volunteer.” Zevon didn’t sound happy about this concession. “It’s their lives that are going to be changed by this. They should have some say in who goes where.”

Arcon nodded. He agreed with the concept, but he also saw the complications that could, and likely would develop. “Very good.” He pushed to his feet then nodded to Movu and Soro. “It’s nice to meet you both.”

“Likewise,” Movu muttered.

Soro just returned his nod.

“Will there be anything else?” Arcon asked Zevon.

Zevon chuckled. “Isn’t that enough?”

“More than enough. I’ll update you once I have a plan in place.” He strode from Zevon’s office making a mental list of all the things he needed to do. First and foremost, find out which eight females had volunteered to ship out first. They would need intensive self-defense training. Next, he would assemble the security teams. Four planets each with a three-person team. That meant he needed twelve dependable, trustworthy people. He cringed. He tended to stay to himself, so he wasn’t sure if he’d gotten to know twelve people since coming to the Citadel.

He reached the bottom of the spiraling walkway and found himself heading toward the dining room. Kendra said she was having lunch with Ansley and Eden. Maybe he could— his thoughts came grinding to a halt and he stopped walking. Pursuing her was pointless. As Zevon just detailed, all the Earth-raised conduits would soon be courted by the best and brightest on one of the four planets.

Even if she agreed, Arcon couldn’t court her. He had never teamed up with a controller, and choosing a controller was just as important as locating a genetically compatible conduit. A triad had to function effortlessly. Their personalities needed to complement each other because they would spend the rest of their lives together.

Duty shoved temptation to the back of Arcon’s mind and he focused on the details of what he needed to accomplish. He pivoted on the ball of his foot and headed for the training rooms. Kendra was not meant to be his mate, but he could make damn sure she was protected as she embarked on her new life. Despite his selfless determination, her image tormented him for the rest of the day.