Tamed (Exchanged Power #6)

Chapter 6

CHAPTER 6

B ack straight, legs crossed in front of her, Kendra sat on the padded floor in a small training room and attempted to ‘center’ her mind. The room was unadorned, with little furniture and no distractions. Provost Nadis sat near the door, silent and still. The environment was perfect for developing focus, yet each time Kendra tried to meditate, her mind filled with unimportant thoughts and images. Well, unimportant wasn’t the right word. More like counterproductive.

Hearing both of her mates say the L word released something deep inside Kendra. She felt restless and needy, and no amount of mental discipline could banish the hunger. Her friends often described the intimacy of a soul bond. They had continual support and companionship, and sex was enriched in ways that Kendra could barely imagine. Kendra had glimpsed the intimacy they enjoyed and she desperately wanted more.

“You should stop fighting your instincts and let them claim you.”

Provost Nadis’ authoritative voice drew Kendra out of her half-formed trance. Nadis was monitoring Kendra’s pathetic attempt at meditation so the comment didn’t surprise her. She’d given the provost permission to scan her thoughts and Nadis doubtlessly sensed her restlessness.

Blinking her eyes open, Kendra looked at her favorite mentor. Well, her favorite female mentor. Arcon was her favorite mentor. “I’m not ready. I still have concerns.”

“You don’t need to give me details, but what is the nature of your concern?”

Nadis was part of a triad, had been for many years. She might be the perfect person to help Kendra work through her frustrations. “Arcon and Zevon both have very strong personalities. I’m not sure I can keep up. I don’t want to lose my identity. I would never be content as someone’s mate if that was all I was allowed to be.”

After studying Kendra for a moment Nadis shook her head. “You really don’t understand your own power, do you? Seers are extremely rare and extremely powerful. You could never be lost in the melding. It will only make you stronger.”

“I’ve had one vision and a couple of impressions that didn’t amount to anything,” Kendra grumbled. “That’s not much of a seer.”

“Do you believe in a higher power, a force that guides the events in your life?”

“Are you talking about fate or God?”

Nadis shrugged. “Something in between. We call it anulix or the drawing. It is the force that pulls soulmates toward each other lifetime after lifetime.”

Kendra smiled. It was a romantic notion, but she didn’t believe in reincarnation, much less fated mates.

“I’m sure that physical appearance drew you to Arcon,” Nadis stated. “He is unusually handsome. What drew you to Zevon?”

Kendra thought about it for a moment but couldn’t come up with a concise answer. “I’m not sure. His strength and confidence. I don’t know. He just fascinated me.”

“And he felt the same about you?”

Easily guessing where Nadis was going with this, Kendra asked, “You think our attraction was anulix ?”

Nadis crossed her legs and pressed back into her seat. “I do and I’ll explain why. Zevon’s mother was a powerful seer. Not only did she have prophetic visions, but she could send her spirit into the body of others and perceive what they were experiencing. To my knowledge, she was the only conduit in recent history with the gift.”

It was a fascinating concept, and an interesting coincidence, but Kendra wasn’t sure what it proved. “Zevon never mentioned the gift. Is he able to do it?”

Nadis shook her head. “The gift manifests in conduits and he has yet to claim his mate.”

Kendra had to admit that she found the idea intriguing. Had some mystical force drawn her toward another seer so this rare and powerful gift could be passed on?

“What are Arcon’s gifts?” Nadis asked casually, but a cunning gleam shone in her eyes. She clearly knew the answer, so why ask?

“He’s telepathic and mildly clairvoyant.” Kendra thought back over their conversations and realized that she knew his background and family history, but he’d never listed his abilities. “He’s a wonderful teacher, but I’ve never seen his power in action.”

“Arcon can sense danger. He can read people and objects, even situations. The last part is much more impressive than the first. He has prophetic visions and psychic dreams. In other words, his abilities are similar to yours.”

It had been three weeks since they released her power. Why hadn’t Arcon told her any of this? “He is helping me focus my mind and access my clairvoyance, but he never told me that he was a seer.”

“The past few weeks have been particularly hectic,” Nadis pointed out. “Both of your mates have numerous responsibilities. Arcon has been extremely busy preparing the alliance conduits.”

Kendra just nodded. What Nadis said was true, but Kendra wasn’t sure that was the reason she knew so little about Arcon’s gifts. He wasn’t generally secretive. Still, this felt like an intentional omission.

“My point was not to cause conflict between you and your mates,” Nadis insisted. “I just find it curious that without knowing anything about their gifts, you chose two powerful seers.”

Kendra finally smiled. “I don’t believe in that sort of coincidence, so I guess I believe in anulix .”

“When power like yours and theirs combines, the triad becomes an oracle.” Nadis looked deep into Kendra’s eyes as she urged, “Let them claim you. We have never needed an oracle more than we do right now.”

Zevon sat back and sipped a mug of wessin as Arcon tried in vain to engage Kendra. She’d seemed distracted when they woke up this morning and her agitation had only grown during the hours he’d been at work. By the time they gathered for lunch, she was fidgeting in her seat and startling at every sound.

“What is wrong with you, mate?” Zevon asked, setting down his mug. “You’ve been antsy all morning and you barely touched your food. What’s bothering you?”

“I don’t know,” she cried, clearly frustrated. “That’s the problem. Something is wrong, but I can’t explain what.”

Unwilling to ignore the premonition, Zevon pinged the control center. “Is everything quiet up there?”

“Yes, sir,” the shift supervisor responded. “Are you concerned about something specific?”

The only important event scheduled for today was delivery of the first set of conduits. “Have any of the alliance transports arrived at their destinations? When was the last time they checked in?”

“None of them are scheduled to arrive yet. It’s likely that all three are still in hyperspace.” After a tense pause, he added, “Is there a problem with the mission?”

“I’m just being cautious,” Zevon assured. “Comm me immediately if there are any concerns.”

“Understood, sir. I’ll let you know when they arrive.”

Zevon terminated the link and looked at Kendra. “Maybe one of the mentors can help you focus what you’re feeling. I’ll check into anything you perceive, but I need a little more to go on.”

“I have some time,” Arcon told her. “My next appointment isn’t until two.”

“That would be great.” She smiled, her expression and posture starting to relax.

Arcon led her into the bedroom and Zevon chuckled. He predicted that within an hour they would be in bed. That might be good for both of them. If this wasn’t an actual vision, maybe a good fucking was all she needed to release the excess energy. If Zevon didn’t have such a busy afternoon, he would have joined them. He pushed back from the table, preparing to return to his duties. His subdermal control band vibrated, notifying him of some sort of message. A chill dropped down his spine so he paused long enough to activate the message.

Verbet’s smug face appeared on the holo-display centered over the dining table. “As I’m sure you’ve figured out, my useless brother has ceased to exist.” Not wanting to alarm his mates, Zevon bumped the volume down until he could barely hear it. “You may now address me as Emperor Verbet. I intend to focus my energy on rebuilding Torret to its former glory. If you do not interfere with my efforts, I have no conflict with you. I am not my half-brother. His priorities are not mine. However, I learned about your offer to the other planetary leaders and I find it highly objectionable. There will be no alliance, and no more conduits will be dispatched unless the rightful leader of Torret is included in the deal.” Verbet’s likeness was replaced by a sequence of graphic images featuring the interior of the three alliance transports. “Any conduit sent to a planet other than Torret will share their fate. Do not test me on this. You will rapidly run out of conduits.”

Reluctantly, Zevon backed up the message so he could review the evidence Verbet had provided. The images had shuffled by so quickly the first time that Zevon hadn’t had time to examine them. The security teams had been stabbed repeatedly. The females, though dressed in Citadel uniforms, were burned beyond recognition. All the conduits were of Altorian descent, so it was possible they’d lost control of their Fire with no one there to help them control it. An armored Torretian stood in the cockpit of each transport proving that they’d boarded the ships. But the burnt females were suspicious to say the least.

He glanced toward the bedroom, heart thudding wildly in his chest. What should he tell Kendra and Arcon? If this was a deception, Verbet had to have planned it well in advance. Each burn victim had the same hair color and basic body type as one of the conduits. Zevon shook his head. Was he giving himself false hope because he didn’t want to accept what he was seeing? All evidence indicated that the conduits were dead, that everyone aboard those transports had been murdered.

Unbidden, the images scrolled back through Zevon’s mind, burned faces and charred bodies. Slashed flesh and blood-soaked seats. Fear and death, he could feel it, smell it as the images tormented him. There could have been a complex deception, but it was far more probable that untrained conduits lost control of their Fire while frantically fighting for their lives.

Emotions built inside Zevon. The rioting pressure was ready to explode. He fisted his hands and clenched his jaw, fighting against the emotional onslaught.

Arcon rushed into the living room, followed closely by Kendra.

“What’s wrong?” Arcon asked, looking confused and worried.

Zevon’s tenuous hold on his emotions snapped and he swept the contents of the lunch table with his forearm. A mournful cry ripped from his throat as fury overtook his grief. “That fucking coward! They were civilians. Most of the conduits wanted nothing to do with the war.”

“What are you talking about?” Kendra looked at Arcon then back at Zevon. “What happened?”

Before Zevon could answer, the apartment AI said, “Emergency interrupt from the control center.”

“Activate comm,” Zevon said, his voice tight, almost guttural.

“Are you alone, sir?” the shift supervisor asked. “I have some… disturbing news.”

“Continue. I’m with my mates and they both have the right to know.”

“I regret to inform you that the three alliance transports were simultaneously attacked by the Torretians. The Torretian fighters fired on the smaller ships and all three exploded. The bastards recorded the incident so there’s no doubt about the outcome. There were no survivors.”

“Understood,” Zevon gritted out. “Who else knows about this?”

“Just myself and the comm officer.”

“Keep it that way,” Zevon insisted. “I will decide when and how this information is disseminated.”

“Of course, sir.”

Tears shimmered in Kendra’s eyes. Her lips trembled and then a sob shuddered through her chest. Arcon had his arm wrapped around her shoulders, but Zevon pulled her into his embrace. “I’m so sorry, pet. This must be like losing family members.”

“Why kill everyone?” she sobbed. “They slaughtered six conduits along with their guards. It doesn’t make sense.”

Zevon pressed her trembling body against his chest, but he too was struggling to understand. He knew every member of the security teams, had fought shoulder to shoulder with many. He wanted to comfort his mate, but he felt as if his chest had been ripped open. And his responsibilities loomed large. All of the families needed to be notified and he had to see if he could salvage the alliance.

“Protecting the conduits is my job,” Arcon said regretfully. “I should have seen this coming.”

Zevon shook his head, meeting Arcon’s gaze over the top of Kendra’s head. “If anyone is to blame, it’s me. I command this station and I negotiated the alliance. I should have done more to conceal their flight plans. I should have sent them on different days. I should have had them teleported directly to the planet.” He paused for a deep breath. “Those sorts of recriminations are a pointless waste of energy. All we can do is mourn their loss and learn from our mistakes.”

“And make damn sure it never happens again,” Arcon stressed.

Zevon nodded.

Kendra pushed away from his chest and looked up at him with tear-bright eyes. “Verbet can’t get away with this. He has to be punished for the lives he’s taken.”

“Of course.” He framed her face with his hands and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “We will make sure Verbet is punished.”

Another harsh sob tore through Kendra and a fresh deluge of tears escaped her eyes. “Why didn’t my power warn us? I knew something was wrong, but I needed helpful information!” Her knees buckled and Zevon swept her up in his arms. “I should have… Why couldn’t… What good are visions if we can’t save them?” Another deep, shuddering sob shook through her.

Zevon walked into the bedroom and placed her on the bed. Arcon skirted the bed and lay down beside her. She immediately snuggled into his big body and pressed her face against the side of his neck. Zevon sat on the edge of the bed and stroked the back of her hair, but his mind drifted to all the tasks awaiting him.

Releasing a sigh of frustration, Zevon stood up. “I have comms I must make. I need to see what the alliance leaders want to do about this. Can you stay with her? I don’t want her to wake up alone.”

“Of course. Go on.”

Zevon left the apartment and headed for the command center. He stepped into the semi-circular room a few minutes later and looked around. Everyone was calmly doing their jobs. Only the stricken look on the face of the shift supervisor indicated that they had just suffered a horrible loss.

Zevon walked over to the male and tried to appear casual. “Have you heard from any of the alliance leaders?”

“No, sir. The last communication was the one I told you about.”

Zevon nodded. “I’ll be in my office for the next few hours.”

His office was farther up the spiraling walkway from the command center. An elevator ran from the bottom floor to the observation deck at the top of the spiral, but Zevon preferred to walk. It kept his legs strong and burned off excess energy.

After greeting his assistant, Zevon strode into his office and closed the door. He was dreading these comms. He always dreaded these comms, but they were a necessary part of commanding a large military force. Starting with the soldier he knew best, he placed a holo-comm to their closest family member. Most grew quiet and tearful. A few lashed out in anger. The one that tore Zevon up the most was speaking with Ornalf Wexler’s mate. They had been bonded for less than a year and were expecting their first child. When the last comm had been place, Zevon gave himself a moment to recover.

Verbet would pay for this needless slaughter. Zevon would not rest until he’d paid.

Heaving himself up from his desk chair, Zevon made his way down to the training level. All of the training rooms were along one central hallway, so he simply went from room to room and instructed the conduits to follow him. Once all the females were gathered in one large room, he squared his shoulders and clasped his hands behind his back.

“A short time ago the three alliance transports were attacked by the Torretians,” he stated clearly but with minimal emotion. “There are strong indications that there were no survivors.”

“What the hell does that mean?” Lilian asked. She stood near the back of the room and was frequently outspoken. “Are you saying our friends are dead?”

Allowing them to draw their own conclusions, he told them what he knew. “The security teams are dead and I saw images of six females. They were dressed in Citadel uniforms but their bodies were badly burned.”

Lilian moved up through the crowd, pushing other females out of her way as she went. “Where are the bodies? DNA tests will prove whether or not?—”

“The transports were destroyed during the battles,” he explained. “We will not have access to the bodies.”

“Then Jevara has them,” someone else insisted. “He must have planted those bodies so we’d think our friends are dead.”

Zevon’s attention had been focused on Lilian so he didn’t see who spoke.

“I hope she’s right,” he said to the room at large. “And I will do everything in my power to find out for certain. However, it’s more likely that your friends lost control of their power. Fire is extremely volatile when first released. That’s why it’s so important for conduits to bond with controllers.”

The room erupted in overlapping conversation. A few of the females were fighting back tears, but most were solidly in denial.

“Have any of you formed a telepathic connection with the missing conduits?” Everyone looked at him blankly, so he moved on to the next possibility. “Had any of the conduits been flirting with one of my soldiers?” They looked confused, but no one answered. “If any of the missing conduits formed a transfer link, we could find out what really happened.” Again, he was met with silence and hostile stares. He didn’t know any more than he’d told them. If they weren’t going to cooperate with the investigation, there wasn’t much left that he could do. “If anyone thinks of anything that might help, notify me immediately.”

Discouraged by their lack of trust, Zevon made his way up to the observation deck at the top of the spiral. Maybe the females would confide in Raina or one of the mentors. Contacting one of the missing conduits telepathically would be the fastest way of finding out if they were still alive. He was slightly winded by the time he reached the observation deck, but the exertion helped him think. He stood at the curving bank of windows staring out into the vastness of space. This was his favorite place to come when his thoughts were troubled and they certainly qualified right now.

He’d debated long and hard before he agreed to become president of the Citadel. The outpost had been in desperate need of strong leadership and he thrived on challenge. The biggest obstacle he’d faced had not been the empowered soldiers. It was the board of governors. Most of the governors were bureaucrats with ulterior motives driving each decision they made. The rich and powerful on Altor bribed them, ensuring that their decisions protected their wealth and influence. One by one Zevon had worked to replace the corrupt governors, but the old guard, as he liked to call them, still outnumbered his allies.

The old guard had fought him on the alliance, which was one of the reasons he found this development so devastating. He had been so close to a final confrontation with Jevara, one significant enough to bring about lasting change. Now fifteen people were dead and Torret was in the hands of yet another madman, one who seemed to be even worse than his predecessor.

Turning from the tranquil vista, he took a deep breath and prepared to make the final comm. It might be easier to break this up into two conversations. No, that seemed cowardly. He wasn’t sure how this would affect the alliance, but he suspected that it wouldn’t be good. Zevon pinged Soro Kintar, the newly appointed leader of the Torretian rebels and Movu Surcatt, a prominent member of the Wraith council on Pyron. They were Zevon’s two closest allies, and he needed to make sure that hadn’t changed.

Movu responded immediately but it took Soro a few minutes to join the holo-comm.

“There has been a development,” Zevon began once both were present.

“What sort of development?” Movu prompted.

Never one to procrastinate, Zevon dove right in. “Are you aware that Jevara is dead?”

Soro nodded, but Movu’s eyes widened and he leaned closer to the camera. “When did this happen?” Movu’s long silver-blue hair and dark eyes announced his planet of origin to anyone who had ever been to Pyron. His flowing robes and mysterious demeanor made it equally obvious that he was a Wraith, the elite mystics who could manipulate Air.

“Two, maybe three weeks ago,” Soro answered for Zevon. “Verbet made an official announcement yesterday, but we’d suspected from the beginning.”

“And you didn’t think it was important enough to alert your allies,” Movu grumbled, crossing his arms over his chest.

Soro shrugged. “One brother is just like the other. They were both raised to believe they were God.” He wore fatigues of black and gray. His deep mahogany hair had been clipped close to his skull and his teal gaze continually took in his surroundings. He might have left the Torretian military behind, but he was clearly still affected by his training.

“Apparently, Verbet agrees with you because he just attacked the alliance transports,” Zevon explained before the conversation could get completely off track. “His soldiers slaughtered everyone on board, including the six conduits.”

Soro’s jaw dropped.

Movu actually gasped. “Why in the name of Destruction would he do such a thing?”

“Jevara was obsessed with the conduits. This was Verbet’s way of proving that he’s not his half-brother. It was also a loud and clear message that he disapproves of our alliance,” Zevon told him. “Verbet, and everyone in that bloodline, cannot manipulate magic so conduits don’t mean as much to them as to us.”

“Killing an enemy in the heat of battle is very different than murdering innocent females.” Movu shook his head, obviously disgusted by Verbet’s actions. “Verbet might be worse than Jevara.”

Zevon couldn’t argue with the statement. He’d come to the same conclusion.

They lapsed into tense silence for a moment, then Soro asked, “Can one of the Wraiths teleport the next set of conduits to their destinations?” His gaze shifted to Movu as he asked, “Can you?”

Zevon was shocked by the rebel leader’s callousness. “Six conduits have just been murdered. Can we give the others a day or two to mourn before we move on to round two?”

Soro appeared genuinely embarrassed when he spoke again. “I didn’t mean to seem crass or uncaring. Of course the females need time to mourn. But power triads are the connective tissue holding this alliance together. I was simply trying to ensure that no one else falls victim to Verbet’s ambition.”

“All of the conduits are staying here,” Zevon decided. “The courting rights outlined in our agreement are still in effect, but the males must journey to the Citadel to claim them.”

Movu shook his head as he shifted in his seat. “That’s unacceptable. We can take additional measures to keep the females safe but it’s simply not possible for most Wraiths to be away from Pyron for weeks on end.”

“Well, thanks to Verbet, it’s not possible for any unmated conduit to leave the protection of the Citadel,” Zevon countered. “Verbet vowed to murder every conduit that departs bound for anywhere but Torret. I will not risk the lives of any more conduits. Courting will take place here.”

“Did you record your conversation with him?” Movu wanted to know. Their gazes connected for a moment and Zevon spotted a flash of suspicion that hadn’t been there before. “I’d like to hear exactly what he said.”

And Zevon’s responses, no doubt. “Computer, replay message six-four-eight-six-one.” As the message played, Zevon watched the other two males, assessing their reaction to the content. Soro seemed horrified from the start, but Movu was harder to read. His features remained expressionless until he saw the images, then he looked even angrier than Soro.

“The instability on Torret is affecting the entire star system,” Movu stressed. “That family must be removed from power once and for all.”

“I agree,” Zevon said then looked at Soro. “How soon can your rebels be ready to attack?”

“It depends on what you mean by attack,” Soro countered. “We knew exactly what to expect with Jevara. He was corrupt and disliked. And more important, the military was on the verge of mutiny. We were counting on their assistance once the fighting began.”

“What about Verbet? Will the military follow his orders?” Movu asked.

“That’s what we’re trying to determine,” Soro admitted. “If the palace guards remain loyal to Verbet, we can’t risk a direct offensive. And Verbet knows damn well we’ll retaliate so it’s unlikely he’ll leave the palace any time soon.”

“How long will it take you to determine what we’re up against?” Zevon asked him.

“A few more days, maybe a week. My spies are working as fast as they can to gather accurate information. The turmoil at the palace has made everyone paranoid.”

Zevon nodded. Soro’s new cautious attitude slowed everything down, but Zevon agreed with the approach. They would only get one opportunity to force a regime change. They had to make sure it succeeded. “I’ll check in at the end of the week and we can determine our next move.”

The comm disconnected and Zevon released a long, ragged breath. Waiting never sat well with him and this was particularly difficult. He wanted Verbet to pay for what he’d done, needed the bastard to know that he hadn’t gotten away with the senseless murder of fifteen people.

Zevon heard the elevator door open and whipped his head around, ready to inform the intruder that the observation deck was closed.

Arcon stepped out of the elevator and strolled across the room so Zevon just turned back to the windows.

“I asked you not to leave Kendra alone,” Zevon grumbled, ready to fight with anyone. Emotion had been simmering inside him all day and it was just about ready to boil over.

“She’s sound asleep and I’m monitoring her through our link. If she starts to wake, I’ll leave.” When Zevon continued to stare out the windows, Arcon asked, “How did the comms go? That couldn’t have been pleasant for you.”

“It wasn’t, but it was even less so for them.”

Arcon walked up beside him then pivoted to face Zevon. “I sensed more uncertainty than you were revealing to Kendra, so I spoke with the communications officer. He forwarded Verbet’s message to me and I studied the images.”

Unsure if he should be impressed or annoyed, Zevon dragged his gaze away from the darkness and looked at Arcon. “Were you able to read the images or just study them?” Though not traditionally empathic, Arcon could pick up fragments of information off objects or even his surroundings. The impressions allowed him to see into the past and perceive things that others had no way of knowing.

“I didn’t see anything, but the conduits’ bodies seemed staged to me.”

“In what way?” Zevon had reacted the same way, but he didn’t want his opinions to influence Arcon’s. “What about the images seemed staged?”

“They were just sitting there with their safety straps on,” Arcon noted. “If they were terrified, they would have been crouched down between the seats. And if they’d been brave enough to fight, they wouldn’t have been strapped in. They were placed there and secured.” Arcon paused, waiting for Zevon to respond. When he said nothing, Arcon went on, “I think that’s what you believe too.”

Zevon shook his head. “That’s what I hope . I am honestly not sure what happened.”

“But you have doubts,” Arcon persisted.

“Of course I have doubts,” Zevon snapped, finally turning from the windows. He walked into the center of the room then started pacing. Long ago he’d learned that it was easier for him to keep his emotions under control if his body was in motion. “The entire thing is suspicious as hells, but I did not want to give Kendra false hope. She has been through enough. It will be easier for her to start the grieving process now than to wait and wonder if they’re alive or dead.”

Arcon shook his head, his features tense with disapproval. “You should have told us the entire truth. Kendra is not just grieving. She is torturing herself with guilt.”

Zevon sighed. The last thing he wanted was to add to her pain. Still, he wasn’t sure he agreed with Arcon. “If we learn that the conduits are still alive, Kendra will be thrilled. If we verify that they’re dead, then Kendra is already dealing with the loss. I stand by my decision.”

Arcon shook his head again, anger sparking within his eyes. “That’s not the way a soul bond works. Members of a triad share everything. We both had the right to know.”

“You had the right to know what I decided to tell you,” Zevon countered, the controller within him surging to the surface. “Not only am I the controller in this triad, I’m your commanding officer.”

“I accept your authority as my commander, but triads are equal partners,” Arcon stressed just as vehemently. “If you see it any other way, then we have a serious problem.” Pivoting on the ball of his foot, Arcon stormed across the room and summoned the elevator.

Muttering a string of curses under his breath, Zevon stomped over to the windows and stared out into space. He wasn’t used to having his decisions criticized. He analyzed situations, made the best decision possible, and then issued orders that others followed. That was a gross exaggeration. Yes, he was the president, but he frequently asked for input and listened to suggestions.

So why had Arcon’s objections angered him?

He accused you of upsetting Kendra , his inner voice clarified, of adding to her pain.

It had been Zevon’s intention to protect her, not upset her, but was Arcon right? Had Zevon compounded her guilt by not telling her that there was a chance that the conduits were still alive?

He quickly reviewed his conversation with Kendra and realized that there was validity in Arcon’s objections. She clearly expressed how responsible she felt for the tragedy. He’d responded to her pain, but his mind had already begun listing all the things he needed to do as president of the Citadel. Instead of reassuring her, he’d handed her off to Arcon. That was unacceptable.

Nothing was more important than his mate. But apparently, he needed to adjust his priorities before he could hope to convince Kendra of the fact. The first step in that process was trusting her with the truth. There was a real possibility that the conduits were still alive and Kendra deserved to know.

Surging emotions drew Kendra out of a dreamless sleep. She struggled against the sensations, knowing instinctively that the emotions weren’t hers. The velvet blackness parted and vivid images scrolled through her mind.

Jessie huddled in the seat of a long-range transport, her face unusually pale, eyes filled with dread. “You didn’t need to kill them.” A harsh sob broke free as she lost the battle with her emotions. “I’d already agreed to come with you.”

For just a moment the scene expanded, revealing the rest of the small ship. Bodies were sprawled in the aisle and slumped over the backs of seats. Slash wounds and pools of blood indicated that they were dead or dying. A Torretian soldier walked onto the ship carrying the body of a female. She was dressed in the same uniform the conduits were expected to wear and she had long brown hair, just like Jessie.

The image shifted, blurring for a moment before a new scene appeared.

Jessie stood inside an elegant room facing a beautiful dark-haired female. Judging from the richness of the woman’s clothing, she was part of the social elite. But which planet was this? Who was she? Had she kidnapped Jessie?

What about the other conduits? Had this woman kidnapped them all?

“I see that I’ve caught your interest.” The brunette smiled at Jessie. “According to my spies, Zevon’s mate put you in the hospital a few days ago. Was she punished for her brutality?”

When Jessie just stared at her in silence, the brunette continued, “Do people like that really deserve your loyalty? I’m offering you a choice. That’s more than anyone at the Citadel has ever done.”

What utter nonsense. The conduits might not have ended up on the planet they were hoping for, but they would choose their mates. A power triad could not be formed unless the female was willing.

“Zevon protected her,” Jessie said bitterly. “Kendra beat me senseless and Zevon did nothing about it.”

That was not true either, but clearly Jessie was harboring a grudge, a massive, toxic grudge.

“So fight for Verbet. Fight for me and you can make Kendra pay for everything she has ever done to you.”

Jessie paused to look around. The room was elegant and richly furnished, a stark contrast to the austere Citadel. Jessie seemed to consider her options for a moment then squared her shoulders and decided, “I’ll do it.”

“I’m thrilled.” Pushing to her feet, the woman approached. “I asked to speak with you first because you’re clearly a leader. Can I count on you to help me convince the others?”

Then she did attack the other ships. Were all six of the missing conduits alive?

“You leave the others to me,” Jessie insisted. “I know just what to say. Convincing them won’t be a problem.”

Before Kendra could guess at the reason Jessie was so confident, the scene shifted again. After a swirling moment of disorientation the new image clarified. Jessie was in some sort of clinic now, seated on the end of a treatment table. A stern-faced medic walked up to her with an injector in his hand. He lifted her sleeve and administered the drug without saying a word.

“What was that?” Uncertainty sharpened Jessie’s voice as she rubbed her arm. “Domar didn’t say anything about an injection.”

Domar? Was that the dark-haired woman responsible for Jessie’s kidnapping?

“Emperor Verbet wants the triads formed as quickly as possible. Activating your abilities is the best way to ensure that happens.”

“You just triggered activation?” Fear sparked to life within her eyes and she scooted off the table. “That’s dangerous and… you had no right—they had no right to do this to me.”

The medic rolled his eyes. “This is Torret, not Altor. No one here gives a damn about rights.”

Heat, desperation, and desire rolled through Kendra as the next scene formed. Her breasts ached and her core pulsed with the need to be penetrated. The images swelled in and out of focus for a moment before her mind locked them in. Jessie thrashed about on a bed. She was naked and one hand was pressed between her legs. Her moans, gasps, and cries echoed off the shadowy walls of the luxurious bedroom. If she was on Torret and Verbet was behind the attack, then this was likely Mercelon Palace.

The door swung open and two males strode in. Both were bare to the waist, their entire bodies corded with muscles. The lighter of the two pulled Jessie into his arms and kissed her briefly on the mouth. “Are you finally ready to accept our claim or should we return in an hour? These feelings will not go away. The urgency will build until your Fire consumes you.”

“The longer you resist,” the darker one said, “the more painful it will become.”

“I accept you,” Jessie sobbed, her hands clutching at his shoulders and upper arms. “Claim me now.”

Scooting to the side of the bed, the lighter male quickly freed his cock then arranged her astride his lap. He positioned himself at her entrance then grasped her hips. With one brutal thrust, he buried his entire length deep inside her body.

Jessie cried out sharply but immediately started bouncing up and down on his lap.

The males let her indulge her lust for a few moments then the lighter one lay back, taking Jessie with him. The darker male moved around behind her. His pants were open, cock now free. He paused long enough to liberally coat his shaft with lube then positioned himself at her back entrance.

Poised to take her, he grabbed a fist full of her hair and pulled her head back. “Now and forever, mate, you belong to us!”

Jessie screamed as her controller plowed into her ass.

Kendra shivered, fighting back a moan. Her body ached for the sort of aggressive possession Jessie was enjoying. Utterly lost in her power’s activation, Jessie surrendered to their grasping hands and forceful thrusts. The scene was savage, inescapably carnal, yet it made Kendra feel oddly envious.

The image gradually faded, freeing Kendra from the vision. Stunned and slightly disoriented, she sat up on the bed. This was the room she shared with Zevon and Arcon. Arcon had been here when she fell asleep but he must have gone back to work. Scooting to the edge of the mattress, she swung her legs over the side.

This vision left her feeling weak and shaky, so she didn’t try to stand up. The conduits were alive. But were they being held against their will or had Verbet and his female friend recruited them? Jessie volunteered to fight for the Torretians, but her claiming had clearly been coerced.

She needed to tell Zevon and Arcon what she’d learned. They both believed that the conduits were dead. She started to stand, but some instinct stopped her and made her sit back down. Zevon had known about the attacks before the shift supervisor notified him. How had he found out?

He had been angry, really angry, when she rushed into the room with Arcon. But the comm interrupted them before Zevon could explain his mood. And then she’d been too upset to think about the specifics.

Did it really matter how he’d found out? One of his spies must have warned him about the attack.

No. That didn’t make sense. The only way a spy could have notified him was if they’d participated in the attack.

She wasn’t sure why this was bothering her, but she couldn’t shake the feeling.

Her legs still wobbled a little as she made her way into the living room.

Arcon looked up from the report he’d been studying and smiled warmly. He sat on the sofa but stood and crossed the room as soon as he saw her. “Feel better?”

She nodded. “Who told Zevon about the attack?” The question burst out before she could stop it. Something wasn’t right here, and she needed to know what. “He clearly knew before the control center contacted him.”

Arcon’s features tensed and he exhaled in a subtle sigh. “Verbet sent him a message filled with mockery and ultimatums. There were also graphic images of what had taken place on the transport. I’ve seen them. They were truly horrific.”

She’d circle back around to all that in a minute. “Does Verbet have a mistress named Domar?”

“You had another vision?” Arcon guessed, brows arching.

She nodded again, unsure how much she needed to get into right now. “The conduits are alive. I only saw Jessie, but Domar mentioned the others. I’m pretty sure they’re all on Torret.”

Reaching across their telepathic link, Arcon asked permission to enter Zevon’s mind.

Is she awake? Zevon asked.

Neither of them was shielding their thoughts from her, so Kendra heard every word.

She is and she has news , Arcon responded. Can the control center get by without you for a while?

I’m on my way.

“He’ll be here shortly.” Arcon reached for her hand.

Kendra stepped back. She wasn’t angry with Arcon. She just wasn’t in the mood to cuddle.

Zevon entered the apartment a few minutes later. “Did you have another vision?” His tone was cautious yet hopeful.

Annoyance built within her so she ignored his smile. “The conduits are still alive. But you already knew that, didn’t you?”

“I suspected,” he admitted, his smile fading.

Her annoyance flared into anger. What the actual fuck? “Was there a reason you allowed me to believe they were dead?” She had lain in bed for hours, aching with grief and guilt. And all the while he had information he chose not to share with her. How could he be so thoughtless?

“The images I was given were convincing,” he told her.

“Given by Verbet,” she cried, allowing her anger to show. “Why in the world would you believe anything that came from that creature?”

“I didn’t want to give you false hope.” His voice remained steady, his expression calm. “There was a very strong possibility that what I’d seen was real. I thought it would be better to let you start grieving.”

“It wasn’t your decision to make,” she argued. “I was convinced that they were dead because my power failed them.” He reached for her, but she twisted away. “You expect me to trust you. When are you going to start trusting me?”

“You’re right. I’m sorry.”

Shocked by his acquiescence, Kendra just stared at him. An apology was the last thing she’d expected. Controllers didn’t apologize. And President Zevon always stood his ground, defending his decisions without remorse or qualification.

He approached her slowly, their gazes locked. “I thought I was protecting you, but the crux of the issue was actually trust. I should have trusted you with the entire truth. It was unfair and I apologize.”

“Who are you?” she whispered as tears blurred her vision.

He smiled and pulled her into his arms. “Sharing myself completely is foreign to me. I’ll get better at it. I promise.”

When he bent and found her lips with his, she responded without hesitation. It was such a relief to know that Zevon could bend when she felt wronged by his behavior. Arcon had no problem compromising, but this was new.

As the kiss ended, Zevon took her by the hand and led her to the sofa. Arcon sat down on her other side.

“Tell us about the vision,” Zevon directed. He pulled her hand into his lap and entwined their fingers.

Kendra took a deep breath to steady her emotions. “It was like a montage from an entertainment vid.”

“I’m not sure what that means,” Arcon admitted.

“It was a bunch of quick scenes edited together one right after the other.”

“Take us through them one at a time,” Zevon suggested.

“I saw Jessie on the transport. It was a bloodbath. Her security team was obviously dead and Heather was nowhere in sight. Then the Torretians carried the bodies of two females onto the ship.”

“That’s who I was shown,” Zevon said thoughtfully. “The burns were designed to make me think Jessie and Heather lost control of their power. It happens frequently when conduits activate without the help of a triad.”

She nodded. The purpose for the bodies had been obvious, and both Zevon and Arcon insisted that the images had been convincing. Even so, Zevon should have told her everything. “Jessie was talking to Domar next. Domar told her that she could get back at me if she agreed to fight for Verbet.”

“And of course Jessie agreed,” Arcon grumbled.

“She not only accepted Domar’s offer, she volunteered to convince the others.” Frustration rippled across their link and Kendra squeezed Zevon’s hand. “Jessie quickly learned what happens when you trust the Torretians. She was in a clinic in the next scene and the medic injected her with something that triggered activation.”

Zevon muttered a curse under his breath and shook his head. “That compound is outlawed and has been since the Controller Wars. The results are dangerous and cruel.”

“But damn effective.” Kendra shuddered. She couldn’t stand Jessie, but no one deserved to endure what had happened in the next scene. Jessie might have enjoyed being claimed, but she hadn’t been in a state of mind to choose what had happened to her. “They used her activation against her. Two males, handpicked by Verbet no doubt, claimed her while she was so desperate that she begged them to fuck her.”

“A practice widely used during the Controller Wars,” Arcon told her.

“Verbet said that he was going to return Torret to its former glory. Now we know what he meant.”

The disgust in Zevon’s voice was obvious, but Kendra wasn’t sure what one had to do with the other.

Apparently sensing her confusion, Zevon explained, “Verbet’s grandfather was one of the driving forces behind the Controller Wars. He claimed his mate by force and encouraged his officers to do the same. Torretian brutality during those years was the primary reason conduits went into hiding.”

“The Citadel was founded to protect conduits,” Arcon added. “But many felt safer in the shadows.”

Kendra shivered as the final scene of her vision echoed through her mind. “I think I would have been one of them.” A moment of tense silence followed as all three absorbed the implications of the current situation. “Do we try to rescue the conduits, or are they considered traitors now?”

“It’s complicated,” Zevon admitted. “The conduits might well be victims, but their mates are doubtlessly loyal to Verbet. Breaking a soul bond is dangerous, and we cannot allow them to roam free as long as they’re connected to traitors.”

Kendra shook her head. “That’s so unfair. Jessie chose to work for Verbet but the others were kidnapped and coerced.”

“They were all kidnapped,” Zevon pointed out. “We don’t know what choice the others made or if they were even offered one. That’s why I said this is complicated.”

She nodded as she reviewed the identities of the other involved conduits. Jessie and Heather were best friends. Wherever Jessie went, Heather followed. Unfortunately, the other four were followers too. They never spoke up and were easily talked into accepting new situations. Their upbringing had conditioned them to obey without question.

“Did you see anything else?” Zevon asked after a long pause.

She shook her head. “The vision just faded after Jessie’s claiming.”

“So Verbet has, or soon will have, a small army of power triads,” Arcon concluded.

“He has six unskilled, possibly unwilling, power triads,” Zevon clarified. “All that means is that we have to end this conflict before that changes.”

“Are the rebels ready to act?” she asked.

“They’ll have to be,” Zevon said firmly. “Soro seemed hesitant when he learned that Verbet was in control, but the rebels are still committed to change. Movu and the Wraiths will back whatever we decide to do. Their real interest in this alliance is the conduits.”

“The Torretians outnumber us, but our triads are fully trained and battle tested,” Kendra mused. “Do we have any other advantages?”

“One feisty little seer who keeps providing us with valuable intel,” Arcon pointed out with a grin.

Kendra stilled. She’d been flirting with the idea of letting them claim her for the past few days and her conversation with Provost Nadis edged her even closer to the decision.

And then there was Zevon’s unexpected apology. His emotional rigidity had always bothered her, made her wonder if he was capable of compromising. I’m sorry . Those two simple words had demonstrated that he could change and left her aching for the intimacy of a soul bond.

“It’s time,” she said softly, looking at one and then the other. “I think I’m finally ready,”

The males looked at each other as excitement pulsed across the transfer link.

“You can’t ‘think’ you’re ready, pet,” Zevon told her. “You have to know for sure.”

“What changed your mind?” Arcon asked.

“There were several things,” she admitted. “I finally allowed myself to admit that I love you both like crazy.”

“That’s a good start.” Zevon flashed a pleased smile, then encouraged, “What else?”

“Trying to use my abilities is incredibly frustrating because I’m not designed to control them.”

“Damn right. That’s my job.”

Zevon pulled her onto his lap and kissed her, but Kendra wasn’t finished with her list. She held out her hand to Arcon, inviting him to come closer. “I’ve been working with Provost Nadis and she insists that your abilities are very much like mine. Is she right? Do you have visions and prophetic dreams?”

Arcon tensed, dread replacing the excitement in his eyes. “I don’t advertise the fact, but yes, most consider me a seer.”

“It’s not ‘advertising’ anything to share it with your mate,” she objected. “Why would you keep this from me?”

“Habit,” he said with a heavy sigh. He lifted her feet to his lap and stroked her calf, his touch light, almost unconscious. “My mother was murdered because of her abilities.”

“Oh, my God.” She reached over and took his hand. “Why? What happened?”

For just a moment, a surge of emotion inundated her mind, then he shielded his end of the transfer link. Clearly the events were still painful. “My father was a long-distance trader. Often his trips would take him months, even years, so my mother and I traveled with him. We stopped on Korlis, a primitive, notoriously superstitious planet. We were preparing to leave when my mother had a vision. A child not more than five or six had fallen into an animal trap and was badly injured. Without immediate assistance, it was obvious that the little girl would die.”

Dread washed over Kendra. It was easy to imagine what a ‘notoriously superstitious’ village would do with a psychic revelation.

“My father wanted to leave, but my mother insisted on telling the village elders.” Arcon took a deep breath and rushed through the rest of the story. “The child was saved but my mother was arrested and charged with what amounted to witchcraft. The trial was a farce. They hanged her for using her evil powers.”

“I’m so sorry. That’s horrible.” She didn’t know how old Arcon had been, but he’d still been living with his parents.

As if hearing her thoughts, Arcon said, “I was only nine years old when it happened and my powers manifested a few years later. Not surprisingly, my father was terrified by the development. He insisted on concealing my abilities from everyone. His attitude taught me to be extremely cautious about who I told and why.”

Hurt tore through her sympathy and tears blurred her vision. “Does that mean you don’t trust me?”

“Of course I trust you.” He squeezed her hand and tightened his grip when she tried to pull away. “I was shocked when Zevon asked me to join the triad. I honestly couldn’t tell you what I said that night.”

“You’ve had three weeks to tell me since,” she pointed out, hurt rapidly giving way to anger. “Did it slip your mind?”

“Watch your tone,” Zevon cautioned.

She shot him a glare then turned her attention back to Arcon. “Please, answer the question,” she said with factitious sweetness. “Why didn’t you tell me?” She’d thought that Zevon was the one in need of trust exercises. Apparently, they could both benefit from them.

“I’m telling you the truth,” Arcon insisted. “If you had asked me about it, I would have explained. But I never bring it up on my own. It’s simply habit.”

“It makes him feel threatened,” Zevon expounded. “Is that so hard to understand?”

“You clearly know,” she countered. “How did you find out?”

“My research indicated the possibility, so I asked him about it.”

Some behaviors didn’t have logical explanations. They were simply an impulse—or a habit. Kendra sighed. Even if there was more to the story than Arcon was admitting, as soon as they formed the soul bond there would be no more secrets for any of them.

She looked at Zevon, brows arching. “Nadis also told me that your mother was a powerful seer, that she was one of the only people in recent history who could cast her spirit into others and experience what they were experiencing.”

“It’s true, but what does any of this have to do with accepting our claim?” Zevon wanted to know.

“When you claim me, our powers will merge. All three of us will finally reach our full potential. Provost Nadis believes we could become a sort of oracle.”

“Does the idea excite you?”

She detected a hint of challenge in Arcon’s tone but didn’t let it deter her. “It intrigues me. You two excite me.” She took a deep breath and scrambled off their laps, standing so she could see their faces. “I love you both with all my heart and I want to be your mate. I have no more hesitation. I’m ready for you to claim me.”