Once Bitten

Once Bitten by Autumn Dawn

New Concepts Publishing www.newconceptspublishing.com

Copyright ©2005 by Autumn Beaudreault First published by New Concepts Publishing, January 2005 NOTICE: This eBook is licensed to the original purchaser only. Duplication or distribution to any person via email, floppy disk, network, print out, or any other means is a violation of International copyright law and subjects the violator to severe fines and/or imprisonment. This notice overrides the Adobe Reader permissions which are erroneous. This eBook cannot be legally lent or given to others. This eBook is displayed using 100% recycled electrons.

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ONCE BITTEN by Autumn Dawn (c) copyright January 2005, Autumn Beaudreault Cover art by Jenny Dixon, (c) copyright January 2005 ISBN 1-58608-318-x New Concepts Publishing Lake Park, GA 31636 www.newconceptspublishing.com This is a work of fiction. All characters, events, and places are of the author's imagination and not to be confused with fact. Any resemblance to living persons or events is merely coincidence.

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Prologue Earth, 2765 "Daddy?" Bali asked softly. The deeper they went into her daddy's laboratory the more nervous she became. It was dim down here, sterile. The concrete blocks were unpainted, and there was an odd smell, something that set her short hairs on end. Something was very wrong. Rudriv Itara smiled and patted her hand. His white hair fluffed in that adorable way it had and his cheeks were ruddy with health. "Do not be frightened, my child. I promised to show you something wonderful, and so I shall. You're a very lucky girl." They stopped before a heavy wooden door and glanced through the tiny bars on top. Whatever he saw made him smile. His smile warmed her, for Bali knew her daddy loved her. Hadn't he always taken good care of her? But this was different. Though she was only nine, she was a perceptive and thoughtful child. The moment they'd entered his lab it was as if her daddy had become a different person, a frightening stranger. He removed a key and opened the massive door. It didn't squeak, but there was something chilling about the silence. Reluctantly, she preceded him into the cell-like room. The light level was very low, so the first thing she saw was an elevated, tub-like pool. There were controls on the side and it had a glass cover over the top. A green glow came 4

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from inside. Curious, she peered at it. The transparent, viscous liquid warped as fat bubbles slowly rose to the top and popped. The holes left behind slowly filled with glowing goo. "It's a genetic pool," Rudriv said cheerfully. "Ordinary life forms go in and extraordinary beings come out. It's for you." Horrified, Bali glanced at him, then froze. There was a youth chained to the wall behind him. Incredibly thick links and massive cuffs led from his wrists to big rings sunk deep into the floor. His shaggy hair covered part of his face, but the hellish glow to his eyes was unmistakable. Low growls came from his throat. Stiff with fear, she took a step back, but Rudriv caught her wrist. He patted her shoulder. "Don't be shy, dear. I wanted you to see one of the best examples of my work. I've found the pool works best on the young," he said confidentially. "Unfortunately, the prisoners of war I've had the most access to have been older. This fellow here is big for his years and I suspect he lied about his age in order to enlist. Didn't you, lad?" he asked the boy fondly. The lad snarled at him and lunged against his chains. Bali jumped. "Don't worry, dear. He's Draconian. They dislike being caged. They're more animal than reasoning being, which makes them perfect test subjects. I made certain to perfect the procedure before trying it on you." "Daddy.... "Fear made her tremble. Surely he was not going to do an experiment on her? 5

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He pulled her small, resisting body to an upright frame and secured her wrists and ankles to it. She fought, but he was far stronger. "Don't worry, child. It's no different than getting your teeth cleaned or receiving a shot. There's a slight discomfort involved, but the results are well worth it. Just think, you'll have almost unlimited healing potential and a longer lifespan. You'll thank me." "No!" Bali struggled. For a moment her eyes met that of the boy. Something that might have been compassion flashed in his eyes, then was gone. He couldn't save her. "It will all be over soon." Rudriv stood back and flipped a switch. The platform hummed as it lifted her up, then reclined and slid directly over the tub. There was soft shush as the glass top slid back. The platform started to lower. Terrified, she screamed, "Daddy, no!" The warm liquid hit her back. Any second now she would be under the goo. She would drown. Another piercing shriek rent the air. "The pool is oxygen rich. You'll be able to breathe. Just relax," Rudriv advised. His tone was patient, as if this was the ordinary sort of thing one might do to a child. Perhaps for him it was. The green closed over her head, burned her eyes. Pain made her gasp, and the gel rushed into her lungs, searing her throat. She fought against the restraints and the terrible itching that invaded every cell. It felt as if a million ants were crawling all through her. The burning seared deep, clear to her marrow. The pressure built. For a moment it felt as if she 6

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might black out and be spared the pain, but it didn't happen. Eternity passed in that pool before she was finally lifted out. The instant Rudriv released the straps she fell to the floor and vomited. He tried to steady her but she pushed him away with what little strength she had. Coughing brought up more gel. Fever and chills seized her, and she became too limp to fight as Rudriv helped her to a cot. "Now you just lay here and rest while I run some tests," he said pleasantly. "You're a very lucky girl, you know. Not every child has the chance to experience this." Bali closed her eyes on a whimper. Suddenly she understood how the chained boy felt. Earth, 2786 "How do you feel about your father's assassination?" Bali stopped on the steps of the courthouse. Rain drizzled on her face as the wind tugged at her coat and hair. For a moment she simply stared at the reporter who'd shoved a microphone in her face. Of all the questions.... Encouraged, the woman went on, "It's known that you and your father have been estranged for years. Now that he's dead, would you care to comment on the reasons behind your separation?" Her lawyer would tell her to answer that. "He thought he was out to reinvent the world. I thought he was a fanatical psychopath." She made it two steps before she was halted again. "But what about the lawsuit against your father's medical research company? If the mutant faction wins its case you 7

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stand to lose out on a substantial inheritance, yet they say you refuse to align yourself with the company. Why?" Bali looked straight at the camera. "As far as I'm concerned they deserve whatever they can get." And then some. She moved on. "But what about the rumors circulating about yourself?" someone demanded. More microphones were shoved her way. Tired of it all, Bali moved on. "I'm not responsible for rumors." There. She was at her transport, had her hand on the door. "They say you're a mutant yourself." Bali started to sweat. She hadn't heard this latest story, Long practice at hiding her feelings made her turn to the reporters and smile as she spread her hands. "Do I look like a mutant?" Ignoring the rest of their questions, she unlocked her transport and slipped inside. Only when she had driven a block did she start to breathe normally again. Rudriv Itara had gotten more than he bargained for when he transformed his POW's. Once their nations cried peace and he'd been forced to free his prisoners, another war had nearly broken out. Knowing he'd eventually be tried for his war crimes, he'd tried to destroy as much 'evidence' as possible, but the military had been too quick. More experiments than he'd liked had been discovered and released. Fearing imprisonment, he'd fled, leaving thirteen year old Bali in the care of an exclusive boarding school. Bali had been grateful. There had been more experiments over the years. Rudriv was forever 'tinkering' with his favorite 8

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creation. He'd augmented her eyes to allow her to see in the dark, leaving her with acute photosensitivity. The implant he'd used to alleviate it helped, but sunny days still left her with excruciating headaches if she left her protective contacts or sunglasses at home. In the end she'd been left with enhanced night vision, extraordinary powers of self-healing, nightmares and a blinding fear of green water. She'd only seen the boy once, but Bali often wondered what had happened to him. She'd never seen the final results of any of her father's other experiments, but what she'd heard made her feel fortunate her father hadn't done worse to her than he had. There were rumors of amphibious men and men with the many times the strength, speed and agility of normal men. Part of her father's research had been funded by the military, so those traits made sense, but Rudriv's dream had been larger. While in his lab and gripped by his scientist persona, he'd told Bali that it was his dream for her to someday mate with one of his creations. He'd wanted a whole race of superior beings stemming from his blood. Rage made her grip the wheel until the housing cracked under the pressure. Not in my lifetime, Bali vowed. Swearing at the damage to her transport, she hit the freeway and accelerated until she was just one more moving blur on the highway. She needed to escape. Flashing blue lights caught her eye, and she slowed to watch a ship slowly settle onto the spaceport tarmac. The city lights drowned out the stars the ship had come from, but the 9

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hiss of decompressing vapor shrouding it testified to its journey. An idea flickered to life and grew stronger by the heartbeat. Why not? She had her pilot's license and enough money to buy a ship. There was nothing keeping her here. Maybe there were places that had never heard of Rudriv Itara or his daughter. Could she make a new life for herself? Adrenaline and the first surge of joy she'd felt in a long time hit her. Where there was a will.... She whipped her transport around and floored it for the spaceport, ignoring the honks and muffled curses sent her way. She had a ship to launch.

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Chapter 1 "What you need is a man." Bali whipped her head up to stare at her friend and personal doctor. Icki had always had a wacky sense of humor, but at a time like this.... "Unless he's going to help me pass the flight physical, a man is the last thing I need." Icki snorted and picked up one of her hands. The fine trembling that had gotten her grounded was still there, pending further testing. He waved the appendage like an exhibit, his handsome Asian features pulling into a grimace. "You have your father to thank for this. Your genes are going bonkers, changing your body in ways Itara could never have predicted—kind of like an ancient plastic surgery victim. Remember the pictures of that rock star's aging face they showed us in school?" Bali cringed. Multiple surgeries had done ugly things to that African. Every year the school had shown the slides in its "Just Say No to Cosmetic Surgery" campaign. If that kind of thing was happening to her insides.... "Can you fix me?" He shook his head but reached purposely for a stack of magazines and binders, handing the pile to her. He tapped the guy on the cover. "This is what you need." Bali stared at the golden-eyed alien on the cover. Shoulder length black hair, trademark zebra stripes on his forearms, a stylish goatee. Wild, dangerous, and so gorgeous that she became a little breathless just looking at him. He was posed with one knee drawn up, looking seductively at the camera. 11

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Or maybe that was his normal look and the camera couldn't capture anything else. A club with the name "Domino's" was shown in the background in shades of red. "I've been looking into this for some time, anticipating this moment. The binders have snapshots of other therapies, but they're experimental, dangerous and have a huge failure rate. This guy—or rather his race—is the only treatment I can recommend." Bali frowned at him. "I don't get it." The only true aliens in the human galaxy, Draconians, had crash-landed on Antarctica and promptly declared it theirs. None of the Earth governments had argued. They hadn't been using it. Besides, all efforts to eradicate the Dragon Lords had been met with a frightening rebuff. Nobody messed with them. And then there were the rumors. Men whispered that Dragon Lords were secretly vampires who devoured women, which is why they had so few. Women swore that Draconian women must die in bed—of pleasure. They pursued the handsome males with a zeal that infuriated human men. Some warned that Draconians would soon out-breed the native population, for they always bred true. Except for that captive boy, she'd never set eyes on one. Guilt over that one still ate at her, making her unenthusiastic about seeking out an adult, as if they might know just by looking at her who she was and what she'd witnessed. But Icki said they could help her. "So what do they have, superior medical technology?" she asked unhappily. 12

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"They have fangs." Icki grinned widely, exposing his own unimpressive canines. "What?!" He pulled out a short binder from her paper pile. "This report says it all. And I promise you; it was hard to get. Don't worry, I charged it to your account." He smirked when she rolled her eyes and flipped open the cover. "Their hollow fangs contain needle-like spines full of adaptogen. When triggered by feelings of passion, these needles fill. The Draconian is overwhelmed with the instinctive need to bite his mate, inducing climax in a woman of his species or adaptogen in an alien woman, thus enabling impregnation." He flipped the folder closed. "Freaky." Bali had no desire to be bitten and even less to become pregnant. "Why do we care?" Sighing as if the answer were obvious, he explained, "Your genes are mutating, kid. Slowly killing you, if you want the hard truth. Draconian adaptogen is powerful stuff. Maybe even powerful enough to override what Itara did to you. You won't be fully human when the Drac is done with you, but you will be alive and healthy." She hated her options. Either she got a Drac hot and horny enough to bite her, or she died painfully, maybe going mad. She massaged one eyebrow, smoothing it as she thought. "Can you give me something to help until...?" She couldn't say it. Probably lacked the guts to do it. Icki smiled. "I've ordered you a drug that will settle things down, give you time. I don't like the side effects, but it will hold you until you find your man." 13

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Bali gritted her teeth. "You don't know that I will." He snorted. "Speaking strictly as a man, you've got what it takes, babe. Long black hair, blue eyes, and a figure to die for. You're a cute kid." He frowned and looked her up and down. "We've just got to do something about those granny clothes you wear." She glanced down at her brown sweater and tan slacks. "What are you talking about?" Okay, she knew she wasn't a prize, but no one had complained about her clothes before. Come to think of it, no one had seemed to notice one way or another what she wore. Icki winked at her. "Nothing, if your goal is to attract your better grade of computer nerd. For this project you need clothes that scream, 'Jump me!'" He sighed dramatically. "Well, it's a tough job, but as your personal doctor, it's my duty to help you. We'll go shopping. Don't worry, I'll bill you for my time." He always said that, but he never did. Grunting with ill humor, she eyed his tailored clothes and slick hairstyle. Well, maybe the man knew what he was doing. Guaranteed, he dressed better than she did. She surrendered to the inevitable with ill grace. "Fine. Do your worst."

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Chapter 2 "Icki!" She blushed ten shades of red when Icki tossed half a dozen pairs of racy underwear and matching bras into her cart. "Put that back," she hissed, mortified that someone had seen him. Brow raised, he challenged, "I will if you swear you own anything better than white underwear." He nodded knowingly at her blush. "That's what I thought. We'll grab some stockings for you later, after we check out the outfits. Then we'll know what shoes and boots to buy." Glowing with embarrassment, she said through stiff lips, "How is it you know so much about women's clothes?" He gave her rogue's wink. "Spent enough time taking it off." Forty minutes later, she stepped out of the dressing room in a beaded blue slip with flapper fringe. Icki looked up from flirting with the dressing room attendant and whistled. "Hello, gorgeous. You make me wish I were a Drac." She snorted. "If you were, I'd be dead for sure. You're not my favorite person right now." She'd never worn a skirt that hit her above the knees or a neckline that exposed the slightest hint of cleavage. At the moment she felt as bare as if she were wrapped in nothing but a towel. Icki lightly chucked the busty brunette under the chin, whispering something that made her giggle. She wiggled her fingers at him as he escorted Bali away. 15

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"New friend?" Bali asked acidly. If she wasn't in charity with him, nobody should be. "We've got a date. I told her you were my sister." He smirked. His comment made her heart lighten. Icki was the closest thing she had to a brother, and she was lucky to have him. Maybe she would chicken out and be unable to assist in her own seduction, but she loved him for trying. Unfortunately, there was still one thing she was worried about. "How am I supposed to get to know any Draconians? I freeze up whenever I meet someone new, especially a man. My idea of small talk makes most people's eyes glaze over. This is never going to work." Icki draped an arm around her shoulders and bumped his hip encouragingly into hers. "Don't worry about it. I've got it all worked out. In the meantime, we've got to get you some dress boots ASAP. What were you thinking when you bought those shoes?" He glanced down at her loafers in mock dismay, winning a laugh from her. There were worse things than having a naughty guardian angel watching your back. **** Two weeks later "Look, I don't give a flying flip about your stupid immigration laws. I'm not immigrating. I'm visiting. Just let me do the tourist thing and then I'll be off this rock at the speed of light." Bali couldn't believe her rotten luck. Nine days in a cramped spaceship and now a cushy official was sticking 16

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his nose where it didn't belong. She'd passed customs. The little bureaucrat was just being obnoxious. Probably had a thing against off-worlders. Become a courier, see the stars, she mocked to herself, quoting a popular advertisement. If they went through this every time.... The stubby little fellow jutted out his chins, the second one jiggling like a bowl of jellied veal. Eyeing her formfitting, knee-length, black leather jacket with the low cut neckline with distaste, he said firmly, "We are strongly discouraging the Craft here, Miss Shane." Icki was going to die. She coughed, unsure whether to be amused or annoyed. After all, she was wearing pants and a bustier underneath. Black leather, sure, but they covered what they should. It wasn't like her black boots had spike heels on them, either. She didn't like making scenes and hated confrontations of all kinds. Normally she was so retiring, she made Amish women look like Amazons in comparison. But this was just the sort of thing to spark her dormant temper. Her evil instincts urged her to put on a show designed to make this jerk think twice about bothering innocent passengers with bad fashion advisers. Adopting the dramatic air of an ancient Victorian maiden, she raised her voice to an outraged, carrying howl. "Are you accusing me of being a hooker?" Several travelers in the spaceport turned to look at them. Shooting them an irked look, the man said, "Miss, kindly keep your voice down!" 17

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Enjoying herself—this from a girl who'd nearly flunked drama because of shyness—she bellowed back, "You're calling me a whore and you want me to keep quiet about it?" That brought another man trotting over. This one had a grim set to his mouth and nervous eyes. "Is there a problem here?" Over the official's sputters, Bali played to her gathering audience. Pointing her finger dramatically at the enemy, she said indignantly, "My papers are in order, but this pug here won't let me pass. He says, judging by my clothes, that I'm in the Craft. Have you ever?" She was tempted to stamp her foot, but that might have been overacting. "I demand an apology, and I am never using this spaceport again." She hid a smirk of satisfaction at the sheen of sweat that suddenly sprouted on his upper lip. Her rescuer glared at the official. "Apologize at once, Mawkbar, and let the lady through. Expect an official reprimand on your records." Lips tightly compressed, Mawkbar managed to say a tight, "Forgive me, miss. Have a nice day. Welcome to Tantalus." It sounded as if he were chewing rocks. Concealing her mirth, Bali drew herself up with a long sniff and looked down her nose. She stalked through the security barrier, the other official dogging her heels. "Allow me to pay for your cab, miss. It's the least I can do." If he wanted to, she wasn't going to tell him no. The heat slammed into her the moment she exited the spaceport. Surprised at the humidity, she glanced at the 18

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cloudless blue sky and fierce sun, thinking that the captain should have warned his passengers about the heat. She snorted and slid on her shades, already feeling a sun glare headache coming on. He'd probably had a good laugh when she'd disembarked, imagining her sweltering in her leather. They hadn't gotten along, but then she rarely took to men who made passes at her, and crude ones at that. Once in the transport, she gave the official a cool nod of thanks and let him close the door. "Domino's. Gun it," she told the cabbie. The sooner she was off this baking hot rock, the better. First business, then pleasure. Or ... she bit her inner lip, trying not to think about the nature of her mission. Her plan was different than Icki's—she suspected he was doing his best to rid her of her overripe virginity. Since her "over ripeness" was there by choice, she planned to befriend a Draconian instead, much as she had Icki. In her platonic version of events, the Drac would understand her dilemma, sympathize, bite her, and let her go on her merry way. Yeah, it might happen that way. The port city of Tantalus, Killaray was kept cool with a system of heat reflective bio-domes. Shimmering over buildings or entire blocks, the technology formed an interlocking series of energy umbrellas, allowing moving objects easy passage. The poor sections of the city could not afford this luxury, so many of the residents loitered or worked the sweltering daylight hours away under the domes. In spite of the high human traffic, the city was clean. Eager to see the sights while she was here, Bali rolled down her window to get the full effect. Many flowering plants 19

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and fruit trees dotted the sidewalks and window boxes. Rooftop gardens sprouted from almost every building, making her smile with anticipation. She'd never seen a city so alive. Killaray was built on the strength of stone and steel, but embraced the green world with a lover's hand. The sunlight faded away to night as she watched, leaving the pastel streetlights to chase the dark away. Hard to believe that such soft illumination could have such a taming effect on the powerful night, she mused. How often did softness conquer that kind of black heat? Domino's club was set on the edge of the city. Outside, it was plain gray stone with red, cut glass letters spelling "Domino" in English and Draconian. Inside waited the hottest thing this side of the sun. Or so said the rumors. Not that she expected to attract his attention. Anyone that gorgeous was never going to look her way. She was hoping for a mild mannered, nice sort of Drac. Rumor said that none existed, but surely it exaggerated. There had to be at least one among the many Dracs who made Tantalus their Mecca. If not, she was in trouble. The cabbie accepted his fare and let her out. "Getting an early night on it, are you?" He winked. Uncertain how to interpret the wink, she settled for a droll stare. "Quite." A line was growing outside the door when a bouncer propped it open, spilling music out around him. The golden glow behind him beckoned. 20

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He took the first ID, then looked the nervous owner over. "Nice try, kid. Try coming back when you can shave." Bali rolled her eyes and sighed as the kid slunk away. Ignoring her rumbling stomach, she cast an impatient eye over the parking lot and shifted in her sweltering clothes. It was so blasted hot, and she felt—moments later she felt nothing at all.

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Chapter 3 Domino looked up in surprise as his door guard lugged an unconscious woman into the club. They'd once had an underage girl fake a swoon to get in, but she'd revived fast enough with a pitcher of ice water. Judging by this woman's dripping black hair, she'd already passed the faking it test. "Heat stroke," Hari said, propping the stirring woman up in Domino's private booth. Businesslike, he stripped off the woman's long leather jacket. He dropped it on the seat next to her. "Nice armful. Too bad she's not bright enough to dress down in hot weather." He left. She groaned and stirred. "I heard that." Her voice was groggy. Domino grinned and ordered her some iced fruit juice. She needed to cool down, and he needed to look at her. Hari was right—she was cute. Black hair, blue eyes now squinting open and a long, elegantly built frame. Nice curves packaged in a fetching leather bustier and tight leather pants. Pity she hadn't exchanged them for a skirt. Tantalus demanded common sense fashion. She grunted. "Stop looking." "You dress like that and expect a man to ignore it?" "Fine, stop staring, then." She accepted the fruit juice from a server and pressed it to her head before sipping from it. "Here." Domino reached around her and gathered her hair up. She stiffened. 22

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He quirked a brow and used a set of clean chopsticks from the table to pin her hair up in a twisted bun. "Beautiful as it is down, you'll be cooler with it up." She eyed him suspiciously, then reached over and riffled in her coat pocket. She held a plain white, folded piece of parchment sealed with red wax between two fingers. "This is yours. Icki sends his compliments." Her expression smoothed out, though there was a note of cool defiance in her gaze. Curious, he slipped the card from her fingers—slowly. This was a woman he would take his time with, if he chose to answer her challenge. The odds were good—he'd never been the kind to face a dare without proving himself dominant. It was purely Draconian, and one hundred percent Domino D'rath. She'd learn, in time. He broke the seal and scanned the contents. "Happy Birthday. Consider her a favor repaid. She doesn't know you know, and she doesn't know who you are. Domino frowned. That was cryptic, even for Icki. A favor? He slid his gaze over her, quickly dismissing his first thought. She didn't have the look of a hired woman, and it wasn't Icki's style. Wasn't his style. So who, and what, was she? Standing up, he told her smoothly, "I'm going to make a call. Please wait here." The tone was pleasant, but he saw from her sharp glance that she'd heard the underlying command. Good. At least Icki hadn't sent him a stupid woman. He moved into the glass booth set aside a little ways away for private calls. Ignoring the terminal, he pulled out his private communicator and leaned one shoulder against the 23

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wall, keeping the woman in sight. After a couple of minutes of relay static, someone answered at the other end. "Icki here." "Icki ... I got your card. Care to explain it?" He watched the woman lean back in the booth and close her eyes momentarily, as if her head hurt. "She didn't tell you her name." It wasn't a question. Domino laughed. "We haven't gotten that far. She passed out on my front step and Hari deposited her at my table. I was more interested in getting her cooled down than in learning her name." There was an interesting silence on the other end of the line. "Hm. She wouldn't have liked that. Prickly about showing weakness. Not surprising, when you consider who she is." Goaded, Domino drawled, "And who is that?" "Bali Itara." Domino stiffened and looked at his phone. Shock kept him mute for long seconds. Of all the.... "Are you sure?" he asked carefully. "Very. If you'd mentioned you were looking for her sooner, I could have hooked you up years ago. Bali and I went to school together." Memories, and raw emotion, crashed over Domino. He turned his face away from Bali, concealing his turmoil. He hated the name Itara with a soul deep loathing, but he owed the girl. He'd spent years trying to locate her, never dreaming that the child who'd set him free was actually Itara's daughter. 24

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Pushing aside his anger, he said harshly, "What does she need?" He wanted his debt over with. This time there was silence on Icki's end. "She's in a bad way. I've given her some drugs to slow the damage, but she doesn't have much time. Less than she thinks, in fact. Give her some fun. Whether she wants it or not, she needs it badly. It's really all there's left to do for her." Fun. Domino glanced at the morose figure at his favorite table. She was built for fun, that one, but he wasn't in the mood. Especially not now. Itara! Just the thought of that name iced any heat he might have felt. Fun. He thought not. It would hardly soothe his honor or even their score. Well, she was Itara's daughter, wasn't she? She was bound to have someone hunting her head. Perhaps he'd even have a chance to save her life, and they would be even. With her face frequently on the newscasts as it was, she'd soon be recognized. A bodyguard was the least she needed, and she was stupid to travel without one. Then again.... She doesn't have much time. Less than she thinks, in fact. Icki's words came to him and he grimaced. What was the use of saving her life if she was about to die? Would she even thank him? For all he knew, the death she faced would be brutally painful. He frowned as he remembered what the card had said. "She doesn't know you know, and she doesn't know who you are." If she didn't know, then why was she here? Granted, Tantalus was where he'd choose to spend his final days, given a choice, but she didn't look the pleasure seeking type. Instinct told him he wasn't seeing all the pieces. 25

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"What aren't you saying, Icki? You didn't send a dying girl with no hopes to see me. That's not your style." He'd known Icki for a long time. They'd met here on Tantalus and struck up a friendship that had withstood the yawning space between planets. They were men of the same mind, and Icki never gave up without a fight. Another long pause. "That's her call, Dom. She's got ... morals." He said the word distastefully, as one would say head lice. "Combined with her peculiar sense of honor and her dislike of being beholden, it's going to take a minor miracle to get it out of her." "Or you could just tell me," Domino said menacingly. His patience was wearing thin. Icki snorted. "I'm shaking, Drac. You're a sly enough hand with the ladies—you figure it out." He hung up. Domino gritted his teeth and closed the connection. One of these days, he was going to murder Icki.

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Chapter 4 Bali ignored the Drac and nursed her headache. Handsome men made her nervous, and he was all of that. Sleek black hair touched his broad shoulders. And for a tall man, he was well proportioned. A fashionable black goatee framed his sensual mouth, and his teeth flashed white and straight when he grinned. The slightly elongated canines and golden eyes that marked him as a Draconian just added to her tension. She did not do men. Not for the first time, she wondered what she was doing here. He rejoined her at her table. "Well, that was informative." Her eyes widened and she drew in a quick breath. Icki had promised. The Draconian blinked slowly at her, his posture hinting at annoyance. "I was being sarcastic. Icki delights in jerking my chain. He didn't even hint at why you traveled light years just to deliver a birthday card." Wariness edged her eyes. "I'm sightseeing." His gaze moved over her leather clothes. "I hope you brought some lighter outfits to do it in." That arrogant note of his set her teeth on edge. "Oh, I don't know. I rather like walking around feeling like I'm trapped in a sauna." His teeth flashed in a quick grin. "There are worse things than looking at a sweating woman, I suppose."

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Those canines of his caught her eye. A frisson of interest hit her, sharp and sudden. What would it feel like to have them graze her neck? She looked away too late. He'd noticed. "Are you hungry, Bali? I can get you a bite, if you like." She appraised him for a rigid moment. Did he know? Icki had told him her name, but had he broken his word? He'd sworn the bite thing would be her secret to tell. Giving Icki the benefit of the doubt, she decided the comment was either the Drac's way of flirting or a subtle rebuke. "I rarely eat out, thanks. Nor am I known for my sweet tooth." A lie, for though she rarely indulged, she had a decided weakness for dessert. "Too many sweets can ruin the palate. I was thinking of something more hearty." His low, rough voice made the comment suggestive. Feeling the water close over her head, she dropped the conversational ball with a thud. "I need nothing." She stood and tossed some money on the table to pay for her drink. "Excuse me. I have a ship to catch." Not if he had anything to say about it. Domino stayed her with a light touch to her arm. A fearful look flashed into her eyes and she stiffened. Just as fast, the signs were gone. She feared men. Or perhaps it was only him. Keeping his touch light, he stroked the underside of her wrist with his thumb, just once. "Stay. Be my guest for the night. The ships will still be there tomorrow. Icki would not like it if you ran off and deserted me." The soft tone and careful choice of words weakened her. She cared what Icki thought. Useful to know, but it faintly annoyed him. Were they lovers? 28

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Looking far more vulnerable, she slowly resumed her seat. "He does nag. I never needed a brother with him around." A brother. Domino smiled and sat back. He ordered her another drink, this time something with a kick. Ignoring her words about not being hungry, he requested a sample of food to be brought and settled down to learn her secrets. "Icki said you went to school together. Did you become lovers afterward?" "No! We're friends. I've got more sense than to get my heart mashed by a dragonfly like him. Besides, he's my doctor." Domino didn't see what one had to do with the other, but he let it go. "Then your haste to leave was because of another man? Do you have someone else waiting for your call?" "I'm not involved with anyone," she said impatiently. "I like it that way." She gave him a hard look. "Though I would be missed if something happened to me." He laughed. "I'm not about to make you disappear, sweetheart. At least, not without your consent." He winked. That ornery streak of hers was cute in a backwards sort of way. No wonder Icki had taken to her—she was just the sort of pet a man would enjoy taming. As an amusement, that is. She was far too prickly to consider as a lover. Their food arrived. He hid his smile as she attacked it with good appetite. He'd have to remember that she made a secret of even basic needs when she didn't trust someone. The smile slowly died as he remembered that she had good reason to distrust. 29

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Chapter 5 Helpless and chained to the wall, he'd watched his captor run tests on the girl. He couldn't speak her language, but he'd understood her screams too well. The madman chattered on, then said something to her. He left through the heavy door. After a time, she struggled up and looked at him. The green gel had dried in places, giving her skin a plastic sheen. She said something to him. Unable to answer, he just looked at her. With a fearful glance at the door, she went to him. By the time she reached him, there were tears in her eyes. He knew what movement cost after a dip in the hellish waters. Again she said something. The plea in her eyes was clear enough. She didn't want him to hurt her. Warily, he held still. She fumbled with the control panel that restricted his chains, glancing often at the door with a dilated gaze. He couldn't tell if it was pain or an effect of the pool that caused the unfocused look. She found the right command, and his chains dropped away. Hardly daring to believe it, he rubbed his wrists. She sagged to her knees. He caught her and carried her back to the bed. He'd been a strong youth even before the experiments and she would have been light anyway. Thanks to his immense new strength, courtesy of the demon pool, he felt like he was carrying a shadow. 30

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Groaning as he set her down, she caught his arm in a weak grasp. The words were foreign, but the entreaty in her expression tore at him. "I'll help you," he had promised in Draconian. "I'll repay this debt." He hadn't been fool enough to think he could take her with him. There would be no hope if he tried to bring a sick child along. Their only chance would be if he could find someone of his own race to help. "I'll find you again."

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Chapter 6 She stopped eating, a fried tuber halfway to her mouth. "What?" Shaking the memories out of his eyes, he made a dismissive gesture. "Just an unpleasant bit of business I remembered. How do you like your dinner?" She blinked and looked at it, as if surprised to find she was eating. A frown gathered on her brow. "It's ... good. And you're as bad as Icky." She said it as if she'd just figured it out. A slow grin curved his lips. "How so?" "Feeding me. Tricking me. Managing people." Annoyance was sharp in her face. Domino laughed. "Why do you think we get along so well? Besides, sweetheart, you could use a little managing." Mischief glinted in his eyes. A little flirtation would do her good. Flustered color brushed her cheeks, and she glanced away, fixing her eyes on the musicians making the floor vibrate. Stylish veterans of the club and curious newcomers mingled below, flowing between the tables on the upper balcony and the dance floor. A few wandered into the game room, enjoying the pool and chess battles within. The atmosphere was relaxed and buoyant, and she watched it with the lost eyes of one who didn't know how to belong.

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Surprised at her shyness, he lightened up a little. "Do you like them? They've become popular this year. By the next season, even Earth will have heard of them." "It's an exchange for you, isn't it? Sponsoring an upcoming band, then trading on each other's success to enhance your status." The thoughtful frown warned she was taking his light question much farther than he'd intended. A vague annoyance settled deep, mixing with rampant curiosity. Save for his sisters, he never took relationships with women too seriously. She was making this more challenging than it had to be. "I pay them, of course. And yes, we trade on each other's fame. That's the nature of business." 'Business' seemed to be a magic word for her. A confidence settled about her, and she visibly relaxed. Unwittingly, he'd stumbled onto something she could relate to. It annoyed him. Oblivious, she said coolly, "I do the same thing with my mutant relief project. It's surprising how getting the right names on board—" "Do you dance?" Pushing away his drink, Domino stood and took her hand, pulling her to her feet. He was not going to let this discussion degenerate into a board meeting. Nights were for fun, and he was going to have some. Bali sent an anxious look toward the dance floor. "No. I'm—" "I'll teach you." Sliding from the booth, he took a firm grip on her hand and towed her toward the stairs. 33

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Suddenly breathless, likely with nerves, she protested, "I have awful reflexes, Domino. You'd be happier with someone else." The band changed to a slow ballad with sweet bass. Ignoring her jitters, he pulled her into his arms. "Relax. We'll go slow. I promise not to bite." He gave her a cocky grin. Bali's blood was steaming. No man had ever taken her in his arms. Certainly no one had stood so close. When he slid his knee between hers and rocked them to the sultry beat, she stumbled and nearly swallowed her tongue. Fire shot from the point of contact straight to her stunned brain. A fine tremor shook her. "What's wrong?" Curiosity glimmered in his dark gaze, but he didn't release her or lose the beat. "I.... "Tongue-tied, she looked down to escape his eyes. It didn't help. A few more centimeters and she could rest her cheek on that chest. If it felt anything like his arms and waist, it would be solid steel. Another shiver wracked her. Murmuring something reassuring, he placed his hand on the back of her head and gently closed the inches between her head and his chest. Holding her close, he stroked her nape and back in a soothing rhythm. Certain she was going to die of sensation, she closed her eyes and tried to come to grips with her feelings. Domino knew what he held. Innocence. Sweet passion. If he wished, seduction. It had been a long time since he'd encountered something that pure. When had he grown so jaded? Bali might be a woman, but she'd never played with fire. For a Draconian, it was pure temptation. 34

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Feathering a kiss over her hair, he told himself to watch out. She was damaged. Her father had probably killed what little trust she had of men. Icky must have fought like crazy to give her as much confidence as she had. As it was, she could be easy prey, whether he wished it or not. Others might not be so scrupulous. His fangs ached. That rarely happened, and he was used to the most sensual of women. Taking it as the warning it was, he eased her off his chest, but he didn't release her. Arms locked around her back, he enjoyed the mellow arousal flowing between them. "What are you doing tomorrow?" "I ... hadn't decided." Her answer was faint, matching her unfocused expression. Glancing upward to conceal his smile, he casually suggested, "Spend the day with me. It's been some time since I shared the sights with anyone." Tension edged out boneless submission. Bali took a deep breath. "I wouldn't want to put you out." "Good, then you'll go with me. I'll pick you up at nine. Where are you staying?"

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Chapter 7 She wasn't sure how, but Domino convinced her to agree. Then he had handed her into a transport, smiled, and wished her pleasant dreams. Now she paced her elegant room and analyzed his motives. Why, was the main question. If asked to bet, she would lay odds he wasn't wildly excited by her. Curious, maybe. Perhaps he was simply doing a favor for Icki? That she could believe. When analyzing Domino's motives proved fruitless, she flopped on the bed, clicked on the radio, and called Icki. The phone rang five times before he answered. "Icki," he said shortly. "It's me." Bali heard a woman's sleepy murmur in the background. His voice husky, Icki assured whoever it was, "It's my sister." There was a rustle, then Icky yawned. "What's up?" Bali's lips quirked. "The dressing room attendant?" "Not tonight. How was your day?" Suction released, jars rattled, and there came the sound of glass scraping over a grid. She could almost see the insides of his fridge. Icki was snacking, which meant he was settling in for a long chat. She hugged a pillow under her chin and leisurely kicked her heels in the air. "Where do I start? The guy at the spaceport took one look at my leather and accused me of being a hooker. I fainted outside Domino's club, had water thrown in my face, then got hauled to his table by his 36

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bouncer. You didn't warn me that Tantalus was a steam bath, Icki." He was laughing and choking on his drink. "Mercy, girl! Why didn't you just waltz in naked? Talk about making an impression." The coughing died down, but he still sounded amused. "Was he interested?" Reluctant to admit anything, she let the moment drag out. "He danced with me, but I think it was because he was bored." "Oh?" There was a wealth of interest in that one word. "Mm. He's picking me up to go sightseeing tomorrow." Just the thought of it made her blush. It wasn't a real date, but it felt like one. Icki crowed. "Hah! I knew you'd hit it off. You're just his type." He sounded so smug she wanted to hit him. "He's just doing you some kind of favor." She sounded petulant and hated it. "There's no real interest there." Icki's silence sounded thoughtful. "No reason why he should. Tell me the truth—can you see yourself kissing him?" Heat flashed through her insides, making her breathless. "The subject didn't come up." Bali winced at the difference in her voice. No way would Icki miss it. She could almost see his deep, knowing smile. "Don't expect him to ask first," Icki warned. "Dracs don't. Domino's a conqueror to his core. Keep that in mind when you get involved. For him, 'possessive' and 'women' go together. He's not going to want to let you go." 37

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Uneasy, she sat up, still hugging the pillow. "You're jumping way ahead. We don't know that's ever going to happen. Right now I'm a curiosity, a friend of a friend. And you can't tell me he's in the habit of keeping women around long. He's too much like you." "This is different." He sounded annoyed. "Under the circumstances, he's not going to play with you, and that's what we want. Dracs don't go around biting just anybody." Afraid to ask, she let it go. Guilt already rode her hard over this biting thing. Maybe it was the necessary intimacy involved. It was scary enough without walking through a play-by-play of what might happen. Her voice flat, she said, "I'd better get some sleep." Gently, he said, "Don't stay up worrying, hon. He's not going to break your heart." He disconnected. She sat there, holding the phone, and prayed he was right.

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Chapter 8 Domino walked into the cool hotel and sucked in his breath. Bali was waiting for him, and she was a vision to still a man's heart. A beaded blue slip with matching fringe at the bottom hugged her body from bust to mid-thigh. Strappy sandals laced up her calves, enhancing their delicate curves. Someone must have told her about the social rule of braided hair—on Tantalus women were judged promiscuous if they refused to wear braids. The bare minimum of two braids tipped with azure beads fell to her shoulders in front of her ears. The rest of her hair was twisted up and secured with sapphire crystal hair sticks. Most provocative of all was the cerulean gauze cape that floated around her body like a mystical cloud. The throat clasp was formed of sequined, blue lace motif frogs. A matching motif adorned the top of her hood, which was pulled over her luscious hair. He stood cemented to the floor, staring with a rising hunger. Bali laughed self-consciously and twirled her sunglasses in her hand. "It's a little much, I know, but it is cooler than leather." Domino blinked. "Turn around," he managed hoarsely. It was worse than he thought. The fringe drew attention to the sweet curves just above it, and the cape's swirling folds excited with the glimpse of the coyly visible body beneath. She was going to cause a riot, and he would have his hands full. 39

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Aware of her questioning, vulnerable look, he cleared his throat. His voice came out an octave lower than usual. "Beautiful. You should have warned me. I'd have come armed." At her puzzled look, he explained, "Men are going to rush us." Pink whispered across her cheeks, and he felt his heart lurch. In self-defense, he placed a light hand at her back and escorted her to the door. "You've challenged me. A dress like that deserves an unforgettable day. Let's see what I can do to live up to it." He took her to an amusement park surrounded with a carefully maintained jungle of exotic fruit and spice trees. When her pink, full lips parted in wonder at the glorious scents and riotous colors, he quickly plucked a berry from a hedge and popped it in her mouth. It was either that or tip up her chin and slip his tongue between her lips. That gown was killing him. Laughing, she chewed the berry, then licked her lips, staining them an inviting red. Suppressing a silent groan, he quickly offered her another. To his surprise, she plucked it from his fingers and pressed it to his mouth. Slowly, he took the fruit between his teeth, trapping her fingers within his hot mouth for long seconds. Her eyes flared, and her chest began to rise a little too fast. "Um, your eyes are glowing," she said skittishly. He didn't doubt it. He sucked lightly on her fingers, then reluctantly let them go. "Small wonder. We'd better move on." Before he led her off into the trees and explored the unconscious invitation in hers. 40

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Elegant and whimsical shops and concession stands lined the cobbled street. Domino let her browse, then escorted her to a building labeled, "The Crystal Gardens" in three languages. He slipped a token in the collection box and opened the door for her, his eyes on her face. Bali gasped. It was like a cave. Pastel lights illuminated an enchanted garden of hand blown glass and crystal. Fully detailed trees in colored glass lined the smooth path, and flowers on stems so fine she marveled that they didn't break supported blooms of breathtaking design. Tiny lights like stars twinkled above their heads, and a yellow crystal half-moon slowly traced the sky. As they watched, the brilliant colors of dawn chased away the moon, followed quickly by a fuchsia sunset. Chords from a hidden symphony switched from the light, ethereal music of their entrance to wild chords mimicking nature's power. Suddenly fire engulfed their feet and the path they walked. Bali screamed and backed into Domino, who wrapped his arms around her protectively. She felt him shaking, and whipped her head around to glare. "You could have warned me about the hologram, you slug!" He grinned wolfishly. "And ruin the effect? Watch." The flames slowly died and the path seemed to fall away, leaving racing clouds beneath their feet and a dizzying expanse of blue. She swayed with vertigo, and his arm tightened around her. The clouds transformed into a pink mist that curled around their legs and slowly colored the air. Tiny pink and lavender 41

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butterflies fluttered about them, joined by red hummingbirds. The music turned dreamy.... Domino slowly turned her, smiling faintly as his eyes brushed her mouth. He tilted his head slightly, met her gaze. Icki was wrong; they do ask, Bali thought faintly. But was she ready? No. Abashed, she looked away and swallowed. Shame washed over her, and she didn't understand why. His hand gently cupped her jaw. Respectful of her privacy, he didn't force her to look at him, only offered comfort. "Easy, love. I'm not here to force your hand. I don't mind when you tell me no." It was an aching whisper, a reassurance she'd never heard. Fighting the hitch in her breath, she nodded and hid her face in his hand, just for a moment. Slow heat flowed into her from the point of contact. Her reaction shook her. How could she want him mere seconds after fearing his kiss? Yet his scent, male, elemental, wreathed her head and made her dizzy. There was nothing coercing about the calloused hand cradling her cheek, and the knowledge intoxicated. No force, no pressure, just his fingers stroking lightly, encouraging without words. It went to her heart. Helpless to fight it, she turned her face and brushed her lips over his palm. Again. Emboldened by his low rumble, she let passion grab her hand and run. Greatly daring, she opened her lips and touched her tongue to his palm. Domino exhaled as if he'd been punched. Murmuring something in a foreign tongue, he bent his head—brilliant 42

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shades of red and pink flared around them, and suddenly vanished. While they'd been talking, the program had run its course. Now they faced a fish-eye shaped door. It spiraled open, prompting action. Domino's sigh held regret. "Another time, sweetheart."

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Chapter 9 He wasn't as sanguine as he sounded. This thing between them was dangerous. Her vulnerability and shy sensuality were a lodestone to his protective instincts. When she looked at him with the eyes of a lost child, he wanted ... too much. It was time he got back his perspective. She wasn't here for that. They stepped through the door. Seconds later, his fine resolution was shot all to pieces. Bali took one look at the tunnel under the water and froze. Moments later, she was trying to back out a sealed door with surprising strength, her eyes wide with horror. He got in the way, braced with effort against her retreat. The amusements didn't allow people to go back, just forward. "It's green." She was panting with fear. Sweat stood out on her skin. He glanced at the water on the other side of the glass tunnel. Fish swam harmlessly by, uninterested in the drama inside. "It's blue, love. Clear blue. Look again." She shuddered and waited long moments before opening her eyes a slit. They slammed shut again. Her fear hurt and dragged him back in time to Itara's lab. Rage swamped him, and he wanted to kill her father. "Blue, you say?" Bali's question wavered, though she infused it with a humor that was endearing. "My mistake." She drew in a shuddering breath and looked again. "I can do 44

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blue." It was clear she was fighting to believe that as she calmed by force of will. A pride he had no business feeling swept him, and he tightened his arms before slowly releasing her. Pretending as if nothing had happened, as if she hadn't suffered a panic attack moments before, she squared her shoulders and looked around with determination. "Nice fish. How long is this tunnel?" She started walking at a rapid clip. He caught up and threaded his arm through hers, slowing them both. Running away from her fears would never slay them, and this tunnel was as good a place to start as any. "You're missing the coral. See that pretty formation over there? It reminds me of a cluster of pink cactus." She spared it a brief glance. "Very nice." Then she did a double take. "What the...?" Beyond the glass a figure was swimming closer. It took only moments to realize it was no fish. Domino looked away from the glass and watched the emotions play across Bali's face. Shock, then a wariness settled in. He'd known who they would see here. The mer was a decent sort, and he often frequented the club. He was also a biologist, and well paid to care for the aquarium's diverse life forms. Sometimes Domino thought he enjoyed being a merman, though nobody questioned his feelings about Itara and the mutation process. Rabid hate was a pretty transparent emotion. Domino would never tell Bali, but this was a test. He knew she was a mutant, but did she accept others of her kind? Or had Itara poisoned her mind against them? 45

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The merman swam closer. Handsome, with the tanned torso of someone who spent plenty of time in the sun, he had diamond in one ear and a military cut. His eyes were bright and sharp as he looked her over, mere inches from the glass. Recognition set his face to stone. Baring sharp teeth at her, he flipped her the bird. Her head came back slightly, and her eyes narrowed. Coldly, she mimed a kiss. "His name's Sirocco, one of—" Domino began. "I know who he is. Mutant 347, one of my father's military specimens, though our government denies involvement. I bought his ticket here. Obviously, he's decided on a new career as a circus freak." Her tone was clipped. "I see he still adores me." "—many of the mutants who relocated here," Domino gritted out. He hated being cut off. "Not one of your fans, obviously, but not out for blood, either." Bali turned her back on him, barely glancing at the blond mermaid who joined Sirocco at the glass. The blond looked at Bali, then placed a hand on Sirocco's shoulder when he moved to follow Bali. "You dislike mutants?" Domino said, with a last glance at the pair. He hadn't expected this virulent reaction from her. Granite faced, she stalked ahead. "Most of them think I'm my father's daughter. Some have accused me of tracking them to further his experiments. The rest just try to kill me." He froze, then caught up and spun her around. "Try to kill you?" 46

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"Leave it. They're entitled to their vengeance, I suppose. Maybe some mutant and I will both get lucky one day, and he will be successful. My alternatives are ugly." She broke off with a curse and glared at Sirocco, who smirked back. Rubbing her ear, she muttered viciously, "Subsonic freak." Domino stiffened. Draconians had their own form of high frequency communication. Bali wasn't endearing herself. At the moment he was glad he hadn't kissed her. Thinking of that, he felt moved to find a way to repay his debt quickly. "You said you'd been attacked." "Look it up in the news files. Most of them made headlines." She saw how he was looking at her and relented a little. "Sirocco and I ... let's just say he made his vengeance more personal than most." She looked away, refusing to say more. He let it go. This little adventure had shown him what a mistake it would be to soften toward her. She could hold her own. Obviously, it was time he started holding his.

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Chapter 10 Bali felt awful. While polite, Domino had noticeably cooled toward her. By the time he dropped her off at her hotel, the temperature had become subzero. She hated it, but she hadn't wanted to spill her guts over Sirocco. The whole thing made her feel stupid, and she wasn't sure Domino needed an explanation. Unfortunately, it made her come off looking like dirt. She sighed and slipped out of the blue dress, her mood matching the color. Maybe it was for the best. He'd been getting too close, and she knew better than that. Even so, when night fell, she slid into a cutwork leather body suit, drew her hair into braided coil on top of her head, and went on the prowl. **** Domino reclined in his booth, his arms resting on the backs, two of his favorite women on either side of him. Bass thrummed, low and deep, through the soles of his feet, though the music level allowed for conversation. He'd been strung tight for most of the afternoon and was just beginning to unwind. It was late. There was no chance that Bali would show up. On the thought, he looked up and saw her. The indigo leather she wore was solid where it counted, but cut in star shapes all over the arms, legs and neckline. Adequate 48

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ventilation was not in question, and neither were her curves. Eyes were already turning her way. Hers were trained directly on him. A newborn recklessness lurked there, and pain. As if he didn't exist, she turned her face away and kept on walking. To his shock, she paused before a table with a very interested Draconian male warming it, rested her weight on one hip, and issued what could only be an invitation. Predictably, the male smiled, stood, and pulled out a chair for her. "What's wrong? You've gone as stiff as a pipe," Belsi asked from his right. A dark-haired beauty, she was ever quick to sense his moods. "It happened when that woman walked by. Is she yours?" Vasha, on his left, observed. As dark as her sister Draconian and gifted with their trademark golden eyes, she leaned forward and slowly stroked her chin with her thumb as she studied Bali. "I think you want her," she teased. Domino looked down at her and said nothing. Belsi snorted. "Well, he'd better move quick. Degoth there looks all but ready to bite her over the table." "Don't be crude, girl," Domino snapped reflexively, though she was telling the truth. Degoth looked fascinated ... and hungry. But did he want to interfere? The memory of her hurt rushed him, and he slid out of the booth. Belsi had already cleared the way, joining her sister on her side. Degoth looked at him inquiringly as Domino neared his table. Bali ignored him. 49

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Domino nodded to Degoth and addressed Bali. "My party would like to meet you." She smiled cynically and refused to look at him. "Your party is large enough. I've no interest in joining whatever activities you have planned for the evening." A muscle jumped in Domino's jaw as he drew in a slow breath. "You misunderstand the nature of our engagement." That won him a cold look. "I don't approve of casual flirtation," she said as primly as if she were not engaged in that very thing. Degoth looked between them, his expression leery. "You two have an understanding?" "No." "Yes," Domino countered, staring down her angry shock. "We had a misunderstanding, and now she's punishing me. And since she's not the kind of woman to engage in a casual flirtation.... "He left it hanging, grimly satisfied by her mute outrage. Degoth regarded him, then her with a long stare. He inclined his head. "Good evening, then." Mortified at the clear dismissal, Bali turned her face away and slid out of her chair. She still refused to look at Domino. He took her arm. She snatched it back and hissed, "Have you no sense of privacy? What is he, your brother?" His own temper at a simmer, Domino reclaimed her arm, steered her past his booth and into his private office, which was next to it. The noise level dropped to nothing the moment he closed the door. That was good—they needed a 50

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moment to yell at each other. He let her go and retorted, "No, but I was not about to get into a fight over you. That was a brainless move, woman." Slits of blue fire glared back at him. "We do not 'have an understanding,' Drac. I can talk to whomever I want." "Not when your motive is revenge." He took a step toward her and regretted it. Instantly wary, she moved back. Changing tactics, he held his ground. "Those women out there—" "Are no concern of mine!" she spat out so quickly that she nearly tripped over her tongue. "They're my sisters." He winced. Draconian protocol frowned on mentioning family ties to outsiders, but under the circumstances.... Bali crossed her arms and looked at her toes. After a long moment, she said lightly. "Oh." There was an awkward pause. He let it drag. Sometimes there was nothing as telling as silence. Jealousy and chagrin over it was stamped in every line of her body. It was so expressive, it was almost as good as reading her mind. She cared and didn't want to. The effort to deny it was costing her. She cleared her throat, but didn't speak. Anything she might venture on the subject would be very revealing. Domino held his ground, refusing to help her out. An apology from her would acknowledge that she owed him some emotional allegiance. Interesting possibility, and not one he was sure he wanted to address yet. Argument he'd interpret as guilt. 51

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She chose evasion. "I promised Icki I'd call tonight. If I wait much longer, he'll worry." Oh, that was lame. By the way she grimaced, she knew it, too. Domino snorted. "Bali?" Reluctantly, she looked at him. "Yes?" He couldn't help a half-smile for her sheepish look. "Come meet my sisters." Bali exhaled noisily, "Domino, about this thing with us—" He held up a hand. "Not tonight." She opened her mouth, but he cut her off. "We don't know enough about 'us' to make any decisions. I'd rather wait." "I can't do that." She chewed the inside of her cheek, then worried her lips. Quickly, as if she'd never get it out before she lost her courage, she said, "Sirocco pretended he was normal. I fell for his tricks and he used me to break into my private labs. He didn't find the cure he was looking for, and when I figured out what he'd done and confronted him.... "She took a ragged breath. "He unleashed, showed me what he'd been made into. My ... father ... made me follow him around the lab as I was growing up. I looked older than I was. Maybe he thought I was an assistant instead of—" She choked off whatever she'd been going to say. Domino silently finished the thought. An experiment. She breathed deep. "Many of the mutants think the same. I was there for more tests than I like to think about. Father wanted to make me over into his image, but all I ever felt when I saw what he did to them was horror and guilt because I couldn't stop it." She squeezed her eyes shut, then opened them quickly as if shaking off a nightmare. 52

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He took a chance and asked a hard question. Maybe she'd have enough trust to give an honest answer. "Did he experiment on you, Bali?" That fast, her breathing went into overdrive. Eyes wide, she tried to calm it. "No!" "All right." He was disappointed, but knew what it would cost her to be honest. To be fair, there were many who would love to use that knowledge against her. "Come and meet my sisters," he said soothingly. Noting her reluctance, he added, "Or we could stay in here and talk." He was almost trampled in her rush to the door. His sisters welcomed her warmly. When Domino introduced her and gestured for her to sit beside Belsi, Bali complied, then glared at him when he slid in beside her, blocking her escape. Vasha laughed. "Big brother is possessive. Interesting." She ignored Domino's quelling stare. "We haven't seen that in a long time." "If ever," Belsi added. She was shorter than her statuesque sister, more curved. "Are you in town for long?" Bali studied the menu on the table's central screen. "I was thinking of leaving town tomorrow. There are some business affairs I need to see to." Actually, she needed to get as far away from Domino as she could, as soon as possible. Seeing him with his sisters had been a shock, and she'd realized she was getting in too deep. Icki's medicine was losing its effect, and her tremors were getting worse. She needed to be bitten, and not by Domino. It was tawdry, but getting drunk with a Drac, getting him excited enough to bite, was her new plan, 53

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as long as he was a stranger. If she lost control with Domino, instinct told her that she'd never be able to walk away. He was watching her closely. Maybe he guessed that she was running. It didn't matter. Once she was gone he'd forget her. Men like him didn't have to go far to find distraction. How many times had she seen Icki forget a woman? "Leaving the planet?" Domino asked casually. "Not yet." But she wasn't coming back to his club. It might be a hot spot for Draconians, but it wasn't the only place they hung out. She might not even have to leave town, as long as she avoided Domino's. It wasn't as if he would track her down.

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Chapter 11 Five nights later, she was getting better at smiling at strange men. Unfortunately, she hadn't unwound enough to let them do more than buy her drinks. Never a heavy drinker, she'd been dismayed to find that her super-efficient, mutated liver made it impossible to get beyond a mild buzz. Even worse, she just couldn't relax. The shakes were getting worse. Her hot new looks attracted men and Dracs like flies, but anyone who spent more than ten minutes in her company caught on, and her lame excuses didn't satisfy them. They probably thought she was an addict. The more men who left, the more desperate and depressed she got until she was reduced to sitting in a shadowed booth in the back of a bar, listlessly dunking her ice in her drink with her straw. It had come to waiting for the night to end so she could admit defeat and go home. She hadn't even called Icki since she'd left Domino's. "There you are." Bali jerked and looked up. "Icki! What are you doing here?" Icki twitched aside his short leather jacket and sat down. Other than black leather pants, he wore nothing under it. "That's my question. Why aren't you at Domino's?" The hard lines in his face said he was furious. Taken aback, she blinked. "I ... decided that was an unfruitful avenue—" 55

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"Don't get all wordy with me, girl," he hissed. It emphasized his Japanese accent. "You haven't answered my calls for five days, and he tells me he hasn't seen you. You've been tripping around this dangerous rock alone, trolling for men for five nights, and ignoring the one who's been hunting you at your own hotel. Yeah, he told me you've always been out when he stopped in. He's the one you want, and you're running from him." His almond eyes narrowed. "Are you trying to die on me?" She looked away. "I might need him, but I don't want him. It's simple." "You're lying, and dying of it." He grabbed her hand. "Look at these tremors, girl! It's getting worse." Bali looked at him instead and saw the worry behind his fury. "Icki ... I can't. I-I'm not ... I've never even kissed a man. When he looks at me with interest, I go into a cold sweat. I can't trust that way." He looked at her quietly. "Bali, you need to. I never would have sent you to Dom if he would hurt you. Stop running." His eyes said so much more. Tears welled, blurring her vision. She closed her eyes and sniffed. They were friends, and Icki was making certain she knew it. He wasn't going to take a chance on breaking her heart. Womanizer that he was, he'd never touched her. His love didn't run to the romantic for her and never would. It hurt, but she knew he wasn't what she needed. He was sexy and familiar; she'd fall in love with him and cling, and he'd break her heart. Her love could never find its 56

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full expression with him, and he was wise enough, kind enough, to keep what they had pure. He tipped up her chin, sympathy in his eyes. "Little sister, go to the man. He's what you need." He can love you, remained unspoken. Because it was him, she nodded. Visually relieved, he stood up and dragged her out of the bar. She'd expected him to take a room at her hotel. Instead he'd taken a spare room in Domino's flat. "Won't that cramp your style?" she asked skeptically as they arrived at her hotel. He hadn't told her until they were safely in the lobby. He pushed the elevator button and watched the floor numbers come down. "Doubt it. The place is a mausoleum since the renovation. He'll hardly know I'm there. Besides, his sisters have suites on the same floor." She knew that smile. "I wouldn't try it. I think Domino would murder you and hide the body." The elevator arrived. "Ye of little faith," he murmured, allowing her to go first. Inclined to argue, Bali opened her mouth, then slowly shut it at Icki's expression. He wasn't looking at her, but at the ceiling, and he had a tense, listening look. She strained her ears, but couldn't hear anything. He punched the button for the floors below her suite, but nothing happened. The elevator kept going up. Icki reached for her and slid her behind his back, moving them both to the side. "I think we have company waiting, 57

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dearest. Stay behind Icki, won't you?" Not waiting for a reply, he reached around and pulled two guns from behind his back. Mouth dry, Bali didn't say a word. This was all too familiar, except for the part about Icki being there. How many times had her bodyguards intercepted vigilantes lying in wait for her? She'd dismissed them for her trip here, thinking she had little time left anyway. She'd thought she'd been ready to die. She'd underestimated just how strong her survival instincts were. Icki flipped the safety off his guns and ordered, "If you can, take a running leap at the first door you come to! Not yours, they'll have someone in there. I'll be right behind you." The elevator doors slid open, and Icki jumped out, firing with deadly precision. Two men with guns went down, but not before they got a couple of bullets hit their mark. Icki jerked as bullets tore into his left pectoral and lower abdomen, but he kept on firing as more men poured from the hallways. Bali didn't pause to think, just dashed out and took a running jump kick at the first door in range. It crashed inward on a mercifully empty room. Icki was seconds behind her, shedding his coat even as he ran for the balcony. "Come on!" Bali followed him out, trying not to dwell on the blood pouring from the wounds on his bare chest. "Grab on! Wrap your legs around me and hold on tight," he ordered as he jerked her into his arms, his jacket dangling from one fist. Then he leapt over the balcony and dropped three stories. Bali screamed. They had twenty stories to go before they smashed into the concrete like a couple of water balloons. 58

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Amazingly, their decent began to slow. Thinking she was losing her mind, Bali opened her eyes ... and caught sight of the huge bat wings that were battling gravity above them. They were attached to Icki's back. Understanding suddenly flooded her and she closed her eyes. Oh, Icki. He hissed in pain as his feet met concrete and quickly set her down. His wings folded tightly back on his back as he disguised them with his jacket. "Come on," he mumbled. Bright bubbles of blood seeped from his mouth. "Grab a cab." Bali snared a cab, using the excuse that Icki had been in a fight to excuse his appearance. They headed for Domino's. She didn't dare take Icki to a hospital. They'd treat him like a freak—if they agreed to work on him at all. She prayed Domino would know someone who could help. She was shaking with shock by the time they made it to the club. Hari sized up the situation in one look and started barking orders in his headset even as he half-carried Icki from the transport. Domino met them at the door, talking on his own handset. He helped carry Icki into the swiftly clearing game room and laid him on the pool table. Hari started stripping off Icki's clothes. "Help is on the way," Domino told Icki. "Hold on. I'm going to take care of Bali." Without preamble, he turned to her. "How much of that blood is yours?"

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While she vaguely recalled the sting of several bullets, Bali only shook her head. "Icki can't go to a regular doctor. He's..." "I know." Without preamble, Domino took hold of her short sheath and ripped it from bodice to hem, tossing away the pieces. "What are you..." Shocked, Bali stood there in her panties as Domino scanned her, looking for bullet holes. He found several, but.... "These are already closing," he said, looking into her eyes for an explanation. She gulped and crossed her arms over her breasts. "I heal fast." He gave her a sharp look but shed his shirt and wrapped her in it. "Skye will have to dig any bullets lodged in there out." He sat her in a chair and turned back to Icki, who was fading fast. The next half hour passed in a blur. A tall Draconian arrived and set to work on Icki. Another arrived and took the bullets out of Bali's thigh and arm. The one in her side had passed clean through, leaving a messy hole in its wake. That one had bled quite a bit before her body had sealed it, and she was grateful when he gave her a pain blocker. Shock combined with the effort to heal her body left her exhausted, and she didn't complain when Domino finally wrapped her up and carried her to his private elevator. The drugs kicked in as she felt him lay her on a soft surface, and then she was out. 60

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Chapter 12 "Will he live?" Skye looked up from the lines connecting Icki to the medical machines and nodded slowly. "I think so. He seems to heal almost as fast as your girlfriend does." With shoulder length black hair, the same golden eyes and tall build as Domino, he looked enough like his brother to be his twin, but he'd lost a little of his intensity since his marriage to Sesame Calais. "She's not my girlfriend," Domino grated as he ran a hand through his hair. It was late, and he had two injured guests and a couple of medical techs besides his brother Skye taking up his private residence, stealing his cherished peace. "She'd have kept her bodyguards if she'd had any sense." Skye shrugged. "Would you? She didn't know what it would cost her." He glanced at his unconscious patient. "At least she had the sense not to take him to a hospital." Too tired to pace, Domino sank farther into his chair and stared at the wall. "She has reason to be wary of them." And after tonight, she would have to confess her sins to him. He'd taken her and Icki in, blood and all, gotten them competent, discreet medical help and put up with her disappearing act of the last five days while Icki had breathed down his neck via long distance com. Her debts were swiftly adding up, and he was determined to get some answers.

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Chapter 13 Bali woke with a sharp ache in her head and several intolerable cramps. Recognizing the signs of speed healing, she forced herself to get up and relieve her bladder, knowing that food, a hot soak and some pain killer would go a long way toward clearing up the pain. Nausea hit her as she slid out of bed, and she barely made it to the bathroom before dry heaving in the commode. It was a struggle, but she levered herself up and used the pot for its intended purpose, breathing shallowly to still the toxin-induced queasiness. Her father hadn't been so smart after all. When he'd designed her body to heal so fast, he'd neglected to consider that her liver and detoxification organs would have to deal with an unnatural dump of tissue. A reluctant glance in the mirror confirmed that she was yellow as well as terribly dehydrated. She needed salt. She needed water. She needed clothes. Groaning at her near nakedness—all she had was the underwear of the night before—she stumbled out of the bathroom and wrestled a sheet from the double bed. Wrapping it around her, she shoved her messy hair out of her face and went searching for signs of life. "Bali!" Domino got up from his seat on the couch as soon as she entered the room. "What are you doing up? You're yellow." "Jaundiced. Need saltwater. Lots of saltwater." She let him seat her on the couch as he grabbed his com and headed into 62

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the kitchen. Since it was separated from the comfortable living room by a long bar, it was easy to watch him bustle around, all the while speaking tersely on the com. It only took him a minute to assemble a tray with fruit juice, water, a saltshaker and fruit. He hurried to her side and set the tray on the low refreshment table. "Here. Your doctor will be here in a couple of minutes." "What doctor?" She was feeling a trifle vague. Near death experiences did that to her. "My brother Skye. He's the one who saved Icki, and before you ask, no, you can't see him yet. He's sleeping." "Alive is good. He'll keep." Concentrating on keeping her habitual tremors down long enough to suck down the large glass of saltwater, she set it down with a clumsy thump and reached for the juice. "He could have told me he was a mutant. Did he think I would shun him?" Domino waited until she set the empty glass down before asking with deceptive mildness, "I could ask you the same thing. You should be dead." He glanced at her bandaged shoulder. She rubbed it self-consciously, stalling for time. "Stupid thing, speed healing. Shrapnel gets sealed in and has to be cut out, bones knit crooked and have to be broken and reset." "And your father did that to you. What else did he do?" Bali took a deep breath. They'd come to it, and there was no going around. No matter how he reacted to the story, she owed him answers. "He started experimenting on me when I was seven ... eight ... I don't remember which. Those years 63

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kind of blur together." She frowned, remembering the pain, the tears ... and finally the numb horror. "It stopped when I was sent to boarding school. Things were starting to unravel for him." He'd gone on the run after killing off as many experiments as he could, but it had been hard to hide that many bodies. Traces had been left. Files had turned up. Shaking off the darkest memories, she continued, "I'm highly sensitive to light and get migraines from sunlight, but I can see in the dark. I heal fast, though that comes at a price, too. There's nightmares, and green water freaks me out. I've tried to get over it, but I flashback almost every time I get near it. I've been in that pool so many times.... "Her breathing started to shallow, and she quickly closed her eyes and took deep breaths, fighting it off. To distract herself, she forced herself to continue, holding out her hand as an exhibit. "I'm falling apart. Icki can't fix me, and the medicine doesn't work anymore. He wants me to get bit." "What?" Domino had rounded the table to reach her. Her words froze him in his tracks. "What do you mean, 'get bit'?" Lightheaded, she leaned back against the cushions and closed her eyes. It was all too tiring. "Your fangs. The adaptogen. He thinks it will heal me, but I.... "Fatigue was pulling her down. She thought she heard the door open, heard Domino demanding an answer, and then she was out.

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Chapter 14 "Her color's better." Domino glanced at Bali, who was sleeping on the couch again after she'd roused enough for a quick shower. Clad in one of his button down shirts and snuggled on the couch, a cover pulled to her chin, she looked fragile and helpless. "But not good." Skye watched his brother pace, then shook his head and put away his scanner. "She needs rest and food. I can't do much more for her than that." Domino rounded on him. "Is Icki right about the adaptogen?" Skye had been avoiding that question, and his scowl said he didn't like it any better now. "Maybe. You know how powerful it can be, but you also know the cost. You can't just bite her and walk away. Our people will see her as your wife. You'll see her as your wife. She's a mess waiting to happen, and you shouldn't take the risk." A muscle jumped in Domino's jaw. "She set me free from that hellhole. I owe her." Unable to argue, Skye let his breath out through his teeth. "Swear her to secrecy, then. No one needs to know who bit her. You'll still be free." "They'll figure it out." Domino stared at Bali, trying to figure out how a sick, unconscious woman was going to inspire enough passion in him to activate the adaptogen. "She shakes so badly she can hardly hold her cup now. If I wait any longer, she'll die." 65

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"Her chances don't look good as it is. Rumor has it that the vigilantes who tried to kill her are hard to dissuade. She'll end up dead in a restroom somewhere, or drink poison at some restaurant. She's the daughter of the most hated man in our generation. Can you live with that?" "I can give her a chance to overcome that, but first I have to give her life." He looked at Bali's body in frustration, fighting his instincts to leave her alone, to listen to reason and his own desire to remain free. He didn't want a wife. What he felt for her wouldn't last ... but it was the right thing to do. Skye closed his eyes, then opened them forcefully. "I'm going to check on Icki. I'll let myself out the back way." He stood there, looking as if he badly wanted to say more, then stiffly walked away. Domino wished he could do the same. Bali opened her eyes and looked at him. "You were the boy." He looked at her quickly, then tensed. "You were awake." She sat up and pushed her hair from her eyes with unsteady hands. "You woke me up. For the record, I think it was mutant haters that tried to splatter me, not vigilantes, though I've had my share of those, too. They're going to remember Icki." Her eyes narrowed. "And I'm going to remember them." A moment passed before she looked up and assessed him. "You said you owe me. Are you willing to bite me, then?" He canted his head. Tension lines bracketed his mouth as he stared back. Something in her manner had changed. She 66

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was harder, more like the woman who had first entered his life with an explosive birthday card. He didn't trust the change, didn't know what to predict of this alter ego. "It's not that simple, but yes." A faint, mocking smile twisted her lips as she rose to her feet. "You won't get a bride out of the deal, Drac. I'm not going to do that to you." Her hands went to the buttons on her borrowed shirt, quickly working them free to just below her navel. Her blue eyes dilated and her breathing quickened as she sank to her knees before him in a flutter of white. "I have to arouse you, don't I?" "Bali.... "he said warningly. Slender hands crept up and slowly circled his thighs, moving in a light caress. He sucked in a slow breath and closed his eyes for a moment. Certain she didn't know what she was doing, he forced them open and looked down at her. "If I bite you, you won't have a choice anymore. You will be mine, woman. Are you prepared for that?" His voice had dropped a dangerous octave. In answer, her hands rose higher, moved insolently over his hips, caressed the creases in front. His voice was strained as he continued, "You won't get a second chance to say no." His blood was boiling, and a blue haze of desire was clouding his vision. In a moment he was going to be trembling as badly as she was. She hesitated, then her hands fluttered down to fumble with her last buttons. Slowly, she pulled the sides of the white shirt open. She was naked underneath.

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Breathing hard, she lifted her wide gaze to his. Utterly vulnerable, naked and trembling, she knelt at his feet and begged with her eyes. It was the most erotically charged moment of his life. With a growl, he reached for her, pulling her naked body flush with his, gripping the back of her head for the hot claim of his mouth. Her gasp gave him entry, and he reached down and grabbed her naked butt, pulling her forcefully against his erection. She tried to twist out of his grip, probably shocked at the speed of her seduction, but she'd primed him too well. Grinning savagely against her mouth, he raised her higher and slid his fingertip over the slick place between her thighs. Crying out with alarm, she twisted, only succeeding in impaling herself a little on his invasive finger. "L-let go!" Instead he laid her down on the deep couch and spread her out beneath him, savoring the view. Holding her wrists to keep her from trying to cover herself, he blocked her kicking legs with his own, then slowly sank down over her, pinning her with his weight. "Get off!" "Moody thing, aren't you?" he said huskily, then bent his head to gift her nipple with a little lick. She gasped and jumped under him. "S-stop!" It came out breathy and weak. "Wasn't I supposed to touch you? Or did you think you could just flash your body at me and I would be satisfied? How many men have you been with?" 68

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She went still, and he could see the lies forming in her eyes. "If I'm your first, I will know with a simple touch. Even if I'm not, you can't tell me you've been with many men. Your actions give you away." Never taking his eyes from hers, he slowly took her nipple into his mouth. She writhed under him and moaned as if in exquisite torture, as if it were her very first time. When he finally let her speak, her voice was strained. "You ... you were supposed to just bite me a-and not.... "she gasped at his light, punishing nip. "You thought I wouldn't bed you." Her naivety said it all. Icki must have left out the part about male orgasm triggering the adaptogen, knowing it would scare her away from his "cure." True, he could teach her to pleasure him without taking her body, but why would he? This was his wedding night, by Draconian law. She'd been warned and had murmured no objection. Languid with desire, he drifted down her body, exploring it with his mouth. Her hands were slack on his head until his questing lips drifted into the curls between her legs, then they tightened, trying to stop him, only to close in a death grip as he took the first taste of her sweetness. Bali wasn't quiet in love. She screamed, she begged, she bucked, and all the while she grew wetter under the lash of his tongue. When he finally thrust it through the ring of her maidenhead, she screamed in blistering release. Smiling, he rose up and stripped naked, allowing her a long, educational look. 69

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She looked stunned. "I can't..." "You will," he assured her as he covered her with his body, nudging at her slick entrance. "Oh, no! I can't ... ohh.... "she panted a moment as he paused just inside her, his weight on his elbows. Her wet tightness made him want to plunge deep, but he knew she couldn't take him fully this first time. What she could accept would cause her pain enough. First, he had to make her acknowledge that she wanted it. Already she was beginning to make tiny thrusts with her hips, squirming when he continued to hold still. He held her gaze until she focused on him. "Bali?" he said, strained. "What?" she whispered. "Tell me you want it, or I won't move." Her eyes widened at the threat. "Now? You're almost finished!" He laughed. "Hardly, but you seemed unsure earlier. Do you still mean for me to stop?" As she opened her lips, he gave a tiny little surge, making her gasp. "Don't stop." Her eyes fluttered closed, as if she were surrendering to the moment. So he didn't. Centimeter by centimeter, he conquered her body, invaded what had never been taken. He gloried in it, knowing she had no thoughts of his bite while she lay there, allowing him to make her his own. When she could take no more, he began to rock her, mindful of her mixed cries of pain and pleasure, halting for long seconds when she needed to catch her breath, until he could no longer halt the lunging plunge of his hips. 70

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He climaxed and bit her. Caught in her smaller orgasm, Bali winced as the tiny needles in his hollow fangs pricked her skin, causing a slight sting. Bliss spread like a drug through her system, leaving her senseless as Domino pulled out of her and padded away. She didn't protest when he returned, using a warm cloth to cleanse away his first climax inside her. Then he settled behind her and proceeded to do it all over again.

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Chapter 15 She woke up alone and naked, hugging a pillow in the middle of Domino's huge bed. He'd carried her there after he'd taken her the second time. First he'd made her want it; then he'd made her beg for it. Only after she was frantic for it had he mounted her, riding her like a conquering warlord over a battle won queen. He'd humbled and pleasured her all at once, made her long for and dread what only he could give. He was dangerous, and she had to leave. Wincing at the soreness, she climbed out of bed and discovered that she could hardly walk. Muttering under her breath, she limped toward the bathroom and made the happy discovery that someone had retrieved her luggage. Sighing with relief, she grabbed some clothes and took them to the bathroom. Hoping a hot bath would soothe her, she turned on the spigot and locked the door. It was impossible not to blush as she sat in the water, reliving everything that had happened. Domino had always been so gentle with her. She'd never imagined he'd be so masterful when it came to lovemaking. In fact, she hadn't gotten to that imaginary point at all, since she'd been so convinced it would never happen that she hadn't let herself dwell on it. Now the blindfold was off and she began to see her string of mistakes for what they were. She'd discovered a new determination to live, and it had spurred her to make Domino bite her any way she could. She'd thought he'd be a gentleman and leave it at that. Had 72

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she really been so naïve? Even after he'd warned her, she still hadn't believed him. Apparently Domino didn't make empty promises. Okay, her mistake. Now it was time to fix it. The moment his back was turned, she'd slip out the door and arrange for a bank draft to his account to cover her and Icki's medical expenses. He'd probably rip it up if she left one on the table on her way out, with or without a note. She got out of the tub and dried off, feeling slightly less tender. Once dressed she raised her hairbrush to her hair and froze as the long length tumbled into view. It was turning black. Horrified that her genes were mutating her into something hideous, she frantically rubbed the fog off the mirror. Two golden eyes stared back.

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Chapter 16 Domino and Icki broke off their conversation as she burst into Icki's room. "What did you do to me?" she demanded of Domino. His eyes traveled slowly over her body, then lingered on her neck. His smile was pure satisfaction. "Looks like I left a love mark. Sorry about that." Icki's lips twitched suspiciously. She flushed. He'd left a huge mark on the side of her neck, but he knew that wasn't what she meant. She pointed two fingers at her eyes. "My eyes! My hair. What did you do to me?" He leaned casually on Icki's footboard. "What did you think the adaptogen would do? It changes our mates to be receptive to our own DNA. It's a mating adaptation. Every woman experiences it." Mortified by his casual reference to intimacy, she turned her eyes on Icki. "You knew." He rubbed his ear. "Well, you weren't exactly quiet earlier. It was hard not to." Fury brought heat to her face. "You knew what the adaptogen would do! You knew that..." Shame choked her off. His face softened. "Yes, I knew. Just as I knew who I would send you to. Left to yourself, you would have let the mutation kill you." At her silence, he said, "I'm well enough to leave this bed. Let's go find a lab. I'm sure you're going to be pleasantly surprised by the changes." 74

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As a distraction, it was sublime. As a temptation, it was irresistible. Even the thought of leaving Domino behind couldn't compare. "Fine. We'll run a check," she said tersely. "Then I'll kill you." It was hard to maintain her ire in the face of Icki's weakness, though. He insisted on walking to Domino's private transport, though he leaned against the wall of the elevator on the way down. Once seated in the rear of the anonymous vehicle, he leaned back and closed his eyes, pretending to nap. Domino slid behind the wheel in front of them and eased them out into the light evening traffic. Bali eyed him, then looked straight ahead, her lips compressed in a tight line. She was wicked to punish him like this. She could have waited for a diagnosis, or gone to the Draconian doctor who'd worked on them. Icki was the best, however, and he knew her inside and out. If things were changing for the better, she trusted him to see it. If not, she knew he would be honest with her. Pensively, she raised her hand, stared broodingly at the spread fingers. The tremor was gone. While she didn't miss it, the absence was unsettling. She thought she'd known where her life was going: straight into the toilet. Instead, an unknown future had opened before her, a life of promise and obligation. She snorted softly to herself and settled back against the plush synth-leather seat. She didn't recognize Draconian custom or law, except where it meshed with the laws of her own world. She was no more his wife than Icki was, regardless of any intimacies between them. Should his 75

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adaptogen work, she would owe him a debt, one she would repay. Should it not.... Well, it had been honorable of him to try. Eyes closed, she shunted aside the memories of their mating and concentrated on business. First she would confirm her health status, then she would hire a bodyguard, move out, and move on. Domino would be free of her, and she.... Well, she'd figure out what to do from there. She had the wealth to accomplish whatever she wished and there were still many mutants who needed her help. Perhaps she would hire someone—maybe Icki—to study Draconian adaptogen with the hopes of synthesizing it. Of course, it would leave potential patients with a whole new set of problems, but some might consider it a small price to pay. At least they wouldn't have to suffer the emotional difficulties she was now experiencing. They parked at the laboratories Domino had arranged for, then she and Domino flanked Icki, who seemed rather pale. He slanted Domino a jaded look. "I can't look that bad." Domino just raised a weary brow and opened the door for him. "Just try to faint in my direction, if you can. You'll flatten Bali." She shot him a look, but couldn't argue the case. To her surprise, the Draconian doctor, Skye, was waiting for them in the lab. He glowered at Icki, who immediately dropped into a chair and leaned back, lids drooping. "What is he doing here?"

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Domino shrugged. "He would have followed us in a cab and fainted on the way here. He thinks he's well enough to follow her around." Startled by the Draconian doctor's presence, Bali demanded, "What is he doing here?" Skye ignored her and used his medical scanner on Icki. "Stay in the chair until we're finished. That bullet nicked your heart, and it's not appreciating the abuse." Bali glanced at Icki with concern, then jumped back when Skye pointed the scanner her way. "What are you doing? Icki was going to run the tests." Fear pounded in her chest, both familiar and powerful. Strange doctors with medical equipment freaked her out. It had taken her long enough to get used to Icki, and he'd been a friend first. "He's in no shape to do more than hand holding today, and I'm not going to hurt you." Skye looked at her steadily, then glanced at Domino. "If it helps any, you might want to know that I'm Domino's brother." Surprised, Bali glanced between them, distracted enough to let Skye run a quick scan. "I didn't know." He set down the scanner and reached for a syringe. "We're private about family ties. Arm." He reached for hers, and she leapt on top of the table, ready to take his head off if he got any closer. "Stay back!" Blind panic bolted through her, and she had a flashback to the last time her father had taken a blood sample. She'd been stronger then, more fearful, and he'd had to clean the blood from the table, walls and floor when he'd accidentally torn her vein in the attempt. 77

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Pain. She remembered the pain and her father's soft, coaxing voice. Coaxing, soothing, then the hard hands grabbing her and strapping her to the table for another swim in the pool of horrors. Green fluid choking her, closing over her eyes, her face.... "Bali." Domino's snapped command made her look his way. Her gaze landed on Icki's familiar, strained face before Domino blocked her view. "Get down, Bali. He's not going to hurt you." His golden eyes locked with hers and wouldn't let go. "Get down," he said, softer. A cold sweat dampened her face, trickled down the side of her face. Every scrap of martial training she possessed ran through her head as she assessed the Draconian's soft targets. If they rushed her, she'd kick for the throat, then grab the syringe and toss it. A haze clouded her vision, and she shivered. She couldn't go into the pool again! "Bali." Bali looked over at the quiet voice and saw understanding in Domino's eyes. The moment shifted, became incredibly surreal. Slowly, Domino reached for her cold, damp hand. "Come down, little one. I won't let him hurt you." She blinked hard. Nobody protected her. Her father had always done whatever he wanted to her, and nobody had ever stopped him. "You can't," she said simply, stating a truth she'd learned with painful repetition. "I can. I will," he said harshly, his grip firming. "He won't hurt you. I won't let him." 78

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The moment stretched out, unreal, uncertain, but somehow his offer raised a fragile trust in her. She remembered the boy in the lab who had carried her to the couch, who'd spoken such intense, alien words to her. It was that boy who eased her to her knees, who helped her to sit stiffly on the examining table, and it was a mixture of that boy and this man who cupped her cheek, then slid a slow kiss from the crest of her cheek to the corner of her mouth. "Let me help you, little love." What was he doing to her? Calm radiated from his touch, slowly seeped into her blood. He soothed her, enspelled her with his compassion. How could he be patient with her now? Slowly her wits returned to her. She glanced at Skye, still unhappy with his presence. Domino's thumb stroked her cheek. "We don't have to do this now. Why don't we wait? I can take you home right now if you wish." His words brought a final draft of calm to her tortured mind. Drawing a deep breath, she squared her shoulders and shook her head. "No. I'm here now. I need to know...." He stopped her from looking at Skye. "Then look at me for a moment. Talk to me. Did you know your eyes are turning gold? I will miss the blue. You have beautiful eyes." She hissed at the bite of the needle, but he wouldn't let her look. Trembling, she shook her head. "I'm not beautiful." He grinned. "You've lost the case if you're trying to convince me of that." Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Skye take the syringe and slowly fill several tiny dishes with it, which he 79

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then slid into a series of machines. She watched him broodingly, her vision dimming as she recalled the many times she'd watched her father do the same. "What do you want for dinner?" Domino said casually, forcing her to return to the moment. "I don't know. I'm not hungry," she said irritably. "I am. I'll call the cook at the club and have him fix something savory. You've barely had a taste of Draconian cooking. I'll enjoy spoiling you." She frowned and would have answered, but Skye returned. Unperturbed by her glower, he canted his head. "We need to check your hearing. Listen and tell me if you hear this. His mouth moved, but she didn't hear a thing. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Icki wince and rub his ear. Skye smiled. "Draconians have sonic communication abilities. Your profile said you once had it, but if you don't know, it's an indication that your hearing has returned to normal human parameters." For some reason, that made her frown. She'd come to take certain things for granted, and, useless as it had been, her hearing had been one of those things. Skye canted his head and crossed his arms. "Have you noticed anything different about your vision?" She frowned. It had been a minor thing, but now that he mentioned it.... "Things seem a little odd around the edges, like I'm seeing a fog of color.... "She trailed off, trying to examine the effect. Her eyes had been darting around all day, chasing ghosts, but she'd been too harassed to really notice it. 80

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"It's a normal experience for a Draconian," Skye explained. "Our emotions color the edges of our vision, making them hard to ignore. On the bright side, we have better tolerance to bright light than humans." He took a small flashlight and shined it in her eyes. To her surprise, she didn't flinch. "It doesn't hurt!" A slight smile tilted his lips. "Congratulations." He felt her pulse, examined her color and checked the glands on her neck before consulting the computers that had been working on her blood samples. He looked thoughtfully at the results on the computer screen. "Looks good from here, though I'd recommend a regular dose of adaptogen over the next few months to make certain there's no relapse." Bali saw Icki's head whip up, and he stared at the back of Skye's head penetratingly. As if sensing the stare, Skye turned and met his gaze. His voice was curiously neutral. "What do you think, Dr. Icki?" Icki held his stare for long moments. "You might be right." Bali's gaze darted between the two of them. The looked like lawyers haggling over a tough case. Her heart sank as their diagnosis sank in. "You can't be serious!" They turned twin, unblinking gazes her way, but it was Skye who answered. "You don't want to regress, do you? Give the adaptogen some time to take hold." She couldn't believe it. "Icki?" "I think it might be best," he said slowly, looking grave. She darted a wild look at Domino. "But he can't! I was going to...." 81

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Domino smiled and slouched against the examining table next to her. As blandly as if they were discussing the weather, he assured her, "I'm perfectly willing to oblige." A new tension gripped her, one that had nothing to do with doctors. She'd planned to leave him and was fairly sure that everyone in the room knew it. Maybe they had a conspiracy going, but she didn't dare go to another doctor. She was neatly trapped and resented it. Icki rolled his head from side to side and groaned. "If you don't mind, I'm ready to go back to Domino's. My bed is calling." His color was bad, and Bali held her tongue as Domino gave him a hand up. She wanted to lash out, to go a little crazy, but now wasn't the time. By the time they got back to Domino's suite, she was feeling unexpectedly tired as well. Anger and simmering resentment mixed with unease, even fear as she crossed the threshold. Happily, the smell of a feast also rose up to greet her, and she realized she was hungrier than she'd thought. Icki went straight to his room, so she fixed him a plate, delivered it, then departed with a meat roll while he and Domino talked. Domino's room was open, so she slipped inside, wary of going to her own room. It would be the first place he looked. She wanted to be alone, preferably for hours, but knew it was unlikely. He was going to want to talk, and he wasn't the kind to settle for a simple no. His bed was large, mussed and otherwise unremarkable. He had a nightstand, and it was the only other furniture in the room. Weapons of all types, mostly guns, hung on his walls. 82

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His room looked like an arsenal. Frowning, she wandered closer, examining the medals in a glass case on the wall. He had quite an array. "My sister's gift. They have the mistaken idea that I need to display my accomplishments," Domino said dryly. Bali spun around. He leaned against the doorframe, casually blocking the entrance. "Aren't you hungry?" he asked, raising a lazy brow. His eyes were beginning to glow. "I'm starving." The purr warned her. "Go eat, then. Your cook sent up quite a feast." He paced closer, his smile slow, seductive. "I hate to eat alone." She backed along the wall, aware that she was nearing the bed, certain she could dart around it at the last minute. "I'm not going to sleep with you." "Good. I wasn't going to sleep." He kept coming. She reached the bed and tried to bolt past him. He caught her easily, laughing as he held her to him, her back to his front. She should have attacked, but her mind froze as his hand slowly tracked over her belly, inching under her shirt. "This is crazy." "What is?" he whispered in her ear, tracing the shell with his tongue. She shuddered. "This. Us. This is never going to work. We don't even know each other; not really. I'm completely wrong for you."

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"But I'm right for you." His hands moved to her zipper, slowly eased it down. There was a sharp tug as he unbuttoned her pants. "This is right for you." "Domino...." He hooked his thumbs under her panties and slid those with her pants down her legs, then slid his hands up, raising her shirt above her breasts. Those wicked hands wandered from nipple to thatch, squeezing here, sliding down and barely in there. It was terrifyingly erotic, the power of his touch, the confidence of his lips on her neck, her ear. He waited until she was shuddering, then he turned her around and bent her over his bed. "Domino!" "Easy, love. You'll like this, too." His hands slipped between her legs, stroking and teasing until she was even wetter, squirming helplessly on the bed, abrading her tender nipples against the sheets. Only when she was pleading for it did he ease into her, mindful of her lingering tenderness. She liked it. Needed it. Begged for it as he rode her slowly, forcing her to buck, to impale herself in a desperate search for release. With a growl, he leaned over her and gave her what she needed, driving into her so swiftly that she climaxed in tortured pleasure. Curiously, when he climaxed this time, he didn't bite her. Maybe that came later, after.... Minutes later, she was lying in his arms clad in only her panties. It was delicious, naughty, and lingering shyness kept her from meeting his eyes as he pulled her against his chest. 84

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Unfortunately, the contact made her squirm with renewed heat. Common sense made one last gasp for speech. "I'm not your wife. I'm...." He rolled her on top of him, raised her up so he could suckle her nipples. He let her squirm at bit, then pulled her down and kissed her with drugging intent. "Why do you say that? Haven't you shared first rights with me? Don't I pleasure you?" He moved against her, making her gasp. "Why should it be more complicated than that?" His hardness against her damp panties was making her breathless with lust. "I can't love you. I have to leave." He laughed, oozing confidence. "You'll love me. Until then, let me give you what you need." He gathered her panties in one hand, pulling it tight in the back until it pulled hard against her tender front parts. As she sat up, her eyes wide, he eased them aside just enough to slide inside. She couldn't get enough. It was too much. She begged him to stop but rode him with wild intensity. He'd proved his point, if he'd wanted to prove she was a slave to the feelings he inspired. The man had power, he was beautiful, and she was as helpless in his arms as a sultan's favorite pet. She needed him. In her heart, she knew she was already lost. The pleasure left them too sated to move, and they lay there for a long time afterward, dozing. If they had begun as they meant to go on, their lives would never be the same. **** 85

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"You must have had lots of lovers." Domino blinked at Bali's tentative comment. He snuggled her closer and considered thoughtfully. "Why?" She sighed. "You're ... this wasn't your first time." He considered her statement and the emotion behind it. "I had a lover once, when I first joined the space force. I'd joined to spite my father, and I thought I could ignore thousands of years of culture and conviction while I was at it. We weren't married. At first I thought it wouldn't matter to me. When I found it did, she did everything in her power to drive me away. She finally took another lover to prove her point. "After that, I let my father choose a Draconian bride for me. We got on well enough, though there was no love between us. She died a few years ago of a blood disease. As advanced as our medicine is, there are some things we can't cure." "I'm sorry," she said, clearly shocked. He sighed. "As I said, we weren't in love. I regret her passing, but there was no substance to our marriage." She was silent for long seconds. "Then why would you tie yourself to me? Whatever's between us—I don't know what it is—but you'll grow to regret this." He rolled over and looked at her. "Give us a chance. We did this backward. It was a risk, one we had to take, but I regret the necessity. You needed more time to get to know me, to let our relationship grow. We can still do that. I'm willing." He let his question hang in the air. 86

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Bali let out a slow breath, then gestured helplessly. "I guess we can try. I don't know what you expect, what I expect, but we can see what happens." "Not good enough. I want us both to actively try. There's a huge difference. It means investing time into problem solving, being willing to forgive and change. Walking away is easy. A good marriage is the work of a lifetime." "Are you really sure that's what you want? A marriage? To me?" He grinned and kissed her quickly. "Should I prove it again?" Laughing, she shoved him off, noting that he went willingly. "I'm starving, you fiend. The least you can do is feed me." They adjourned to the kitchen and the forgotten meal. To alleviate her lingering shyness, Bali flipped on the kitchen screen and scanned the news headlines, her mind only half on what she was doing, thinking about her and Domino. Suddenly, a line caught her eye and she paused to read, her mood growing grimmer the more she read. "What is it?" Domino paused in clearing the counter to read over her shoulder. "'Two Dead In Execution Style Murder.' Did you know them?" Bali cracked her neck, rolling it slowly to alleviate the tension. "I recognize their names and faces from my security detail's files. They're with a group of vigilantes dedicated to wiping out mutants and their creators. I've always been a favorite target of opportunity. My bounty's probably gone up after this last attempt." 87

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"We'll hire bodyguards first thing in the morning," Domino said harshly. He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "No sense in tempting fate." She glanced over her shoulder. "I was going to handle it. It was foolish of me to let mine go." He kissed her softly. "Let me. I have Draconian friends who are exceptional security professionals. I'd feel better knowing you were surrounded by men I trust." Her mouth twisted up. "I have someone in mind already. He's saved my life more than once." "Compromise? One of yours and one of mine?" Domino cajoled, a teasing light in his eyes despite the serious subject matter. He stroked her hair, tempting her with his touch. "They may not get along," she warned, weakening. "Datsu is very autocratic." He shrugged. "The man I have in mind is mild tempered. He'll be willing to let your man be in charge, as long as he's satisfied with his judgment." His hands slid around her waist, wandered higher. "Mm. Maybe a thirty day trial?" she suggested, her mind already on other matters. "Done. Now...." There was no more talking for a very long time.

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Chapter 17 She lucked out. Datsu was nearly finished with a job, and he agreed to wrap it up quickly and meet her on Tantalus. He expected to arrive within the week. Just knowing he was on the way made her relax. Datsu never grew lax, but he gave her the freedom to relax even as he ensured that she made smart security choices. Her compliance with his reasonable dictates was the reason he liked working with her, though the handsome salary didn't hurt. He was a brick and she was looking forward having him at her back. Meanwhile, Domino introduced her to his friend Lore. The Draconian had the typical black hair and golden eyes, though his hair was cut short and curled like silken fleece. A gold ring winked in his ear, and his handsome face held a mellow, relaxed expression. Slightly shorter than Domino, he looked nothing like the hard-edged professionals she was used to guarding her back. Lore caught her slightly bewildered glance at Domino and grinned. "Not what you expected, huh?" She cleared her throat. "My bodyguard is almost seven feet tall and can crush a bolder in his fist. Er, no. I hadn't expected.... "she trailed off, at a loss for words. Even Icki and Domino exuded an aura of danger completely lacking in this friendly Drac. She could easily see him as a companion, but a protector? Maybe against your average mugger. He only laughed and claimed a seat on the couch, relaxing into the cushions. "I'm a fast hand with gun or knife, 89

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beautiful, and I know basic security. While I wouldn't want to take on your man mountain, I'm fast enough to make him rue the encounter." He selected a purple fruit from the bowl on the coffee table and took a bite. Bali sighed and turned to Domino. "As you wish. I've got some business arrangements to make, fund transfers, and I'm going to have some of my stuff from Earth shipped out here. I know you have at least a few hours of business to see to with your club. If you wish, you can join me this afternoon. I'd planned to rent a ship and get in some flight time." He smiled. "You fly?" "I almost bought a ship to fly here, but I failed the preflight physical. If I can get your brother to clear me for it, I'll go up." She frowned. "I suppose I should do that this morning." Sympathy in his eyes, he rubbed her bicep. "Would you like me to go along?" She took a deep breath. "No. I can do this. I will do this." He slowly bent his head and kissed her forehead. "If he makes you upset, I'll break his arm for you." She laughed. "I can do that myself." At his searching, curious look, she tilted her head. "I may not have super strength anymore, but I've still got martial training." "So does he. It's been a long time since you had only normal strength; give yourself time to rediscover your boundaries. Lore might be more useful than you think. By the way, he's a combat pilot, so I'd definitely take him along on this first flight." 90

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"Wouldn't miss it," Lore said cheerfully, looking up from his magazine. Bali finished her business arrangements, got cleared to fly—it didn't hurt that she was taking Lore—and rented a ship. Feeling better than she had in some time, she headed out on the baking hot tarmac, flanked by Domino and Lore. She was a little surprised that the heat wasn't getting to her. It was in the nineties and she wasn't even breaking a sweat. "I ought to be broiling," she mused aloud. Domino glanced at her and laughed. "One of the advantages of the adaptogen. We come from a world known for its heat. Why do you think so many of us have come to Tantalus? I wouldn't be surprised if the entire Antarctic Colony moves here before long. With the poles melting and the oceans rising, native Earth dwellers are beginning to eye Antarctica rather covertly." He looked entirely comfortable in his long pants, boots and short-sleeved shirt, his only concession to the murderous temperature. Bali glanced at him. "I'd heard rumbles of discontent. Will the Draconians just pick up and leave, then?" "For a price," Lore said with a toothy grin. "After all, we developed the real estate. Appreciation is a lovely thing." She laughed. Only a Dragon Lord would sell Earth back its own real estate. Domino stopped in surprise when he saw what she'd rented. "Slot 980. This is the little ship you rented to practice on?" The cruiser wasn't the biggest thing on the market, but it was top of the line, big enough for a crew of four and had a 91

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blinding chrome finish. "It's close to what I'd planned to buy. I think I'll wait on the purchase for a time, though. I'm not sure what my plans are. After you," she said, gesturing to her new husband. He raised a brow. "I think you have it backwards." He waited, clearly expecting her to enter first. Shaking her head at his old-fashioned courtesies, she keyed the remote and waited for the ramp to descend, eager for some fun. Built for speed, not leisure, the roomy passenger seats swiveled and had plenty of legroom with the option of full recline. A huge screen video viewer was mounted on the bulkhead, and there was a mini bar beside the snack galley. The lavatory was at the rear, beyond the galley. Though luxuriously appointed, the walls and ceiling still had the telltale curve of aircraft. "Nice," Lore drawled, impressed. "I can't wait to see it in action." Bali grinned. "A little ostentatious, I know. But I say if you've got it, flaunt it. Money gives no pleasure if it's sitting in a vault." She almost added that she wasn't going to live long anyway, but it suddenly occurred to her that she could. It was startling to contemplate that the cause of that would expect her to spend her advanced lifespan with him. She covered her sudden tension with an inspector's frown as she looked around. It was only when they'd settled into the cockpit and she was strapping in that she noticed Domino's grim expression. "What is it? I promise not to fly us into a star." 92

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He only smiled darkly and checked his safety harness. Lore chuckled as he did the pre-flight check. "He hates to fly." Surprised, she glanced at Domino. "Why did you come, then? You didn't have to." "You asked me," he said simply. Rattled, she looked back at the controls and tried to remember what she was doing. Nobody had ever done something they disliked just to be with her. It was disturbing on a level she didn't like to contemplate. What was he doing to her? He married her for noble reasons, but his presence now went above and beyond chivalry. Lore's presence attested to his natural protective instincts, but he could have hired a faceless professional until her bodyguard arrived. Was he calling in a favor, or creating a debt for her? Maybe he didn't love her, but he was laying the groundwork for both of them to lose their hearts. "Problem?" Lore asked, his hand hovering over a switch. She shook her head and put her attention back where it needed to be. "No. I'll call the tower." The craft rocked gently as she pulled out of their slot and taxied to the runway. Aware that Lore was silently scrutinizing her every move, Bali made certain the vertical liftoff was seamless, guiding them into a smooth roll of pure exhilaration once they'd achieved sufficient altitude. Lore laughed and they grinned at each other, ignoring the soft growl behind them. "Had to make sure everything is working right," she said, unable to keep the smile from her voice. She pulled back on 93

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the yoke and guided them into a steep climb, then dropped into a spiraling dive, pulling back well above the hard deck. Another growl. Lore glanced back. "Relax. She likes to play, but she's no daredevil. You'll survive this." Domino muttered something under his breath in Draconian. "I'm going to have to learn that," Bali said teasingly, not really meaning it. The language was too full of hisses and rolled vowels. She'd probably insult his mother trying to say hello. Lore tilted his head. "We have a blip on radar. Probably someone out for pleasure." He didn't take his eyes from the screen. Bali glanced at it and stilled. It was closing too fast for comfort. Taking a deep breath, she got altitude fast and executed some fast maneuvers. "It's closing fast." Without asking, Lore took control of the ship. One glance at his cool, intense expression and Bali let him. He was combat trained and the ship was unarmed. If someone was targeting them, she didn't have the power to save them, especially since this hotrod didn't have weapons. Praying that Lore could save them, she quickly called the tower. "Mayday! We're under attack." While she was relaying the situation to the tower, she heard Domino speaking softly in Draconian. Assuming he was either cursing or praying, she kept her mind on her conversation and her eye on the radar. 94

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"Three minutes until they can get airborne, Lore. Son of a ... we've got another missile, three o'clock." "Four o'clock. I see it," he said with detached calm as he took them into a roll that made her stomach flip. Three minutes was an eternity with a missile poised to kiss your ass. They were going to die. Colors flashed through her eyes, memories of every regret she had, every unspoken wish. She didn't want to die, not like this. "Domino, I want to live to regret saying this: I could love you." Lore shot her a startled glance, then jerked his gaze back to the screen and swore. "Pick a better time." "We might not have time!" Domino paused his soft conversation to snort. "Later, pet. Let the man drive." A black ship appeared out of nowhere and shot past them. Seconds latter a missile exploded. Two more fighters came into view. "Draconian fighters? Was there a battleship in orbit? Look out!" Three more missiles came from the ground, headed straight for their speeder's belly. Her vision got glassy as she looked at the radar, then the floor. Those things were going to piece their navel. Lore threw them into a dizzying maneuver that made her gorge rise. Solid ground. Just get me on solid ground, she prayed. The black ships swarmed like flies, picking off missiles that came thick and fast. Two more ships arrived and joined the fight. 95

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"They're locking onto the missile site now," Domino reported, and she realized that he must have a link to the ships. "It's seated in the mountains" A huge blast rocked the ship, throwing it into a flat spin. "Left wing," Lore grunted, fighting to get control. "Hang on." Eyes squeezed shut, Bali tried not to puke. Maybe dying wouldn't hurt too badly. Hopefully it would be over quickly. The spin evened out and stopped. Shocked, she opened her eyes and saw the mountains closer than she liked. "This is no place to land a ship," Domino said warningly from the backseat. The rocky mountains were far too sharp and ragged to afford good purchase. "Live with it," Lore gritted, selecting a reasonably flat valley barely big enough for their ship. A steep drop and a sheer wall at their back made him snarl as he engaged landing thrusters. They ended up tilted to the left on top of some boulders, breathing as though they'd run a mile. All they could see out their windshield was air. Bali gulped as the craft shifted. "My insurance agent is never going to believe this."

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Chapter 18 A Draconian rescue team fished them out of the scrubstrewn valley and flew them to the nearest base. Bali tried not to be intimidated by the predominately male, uniformed men who waited for them at the landing. They were escorted to a dun colored building and into a conference room. All of them were given drinks, though the men stood while she was urged into a chair. Maybe she looked as shaky as she felt, but she was glad to accept their concern. It had been a rough day. Military brass began to fill the room: one who looked like a general and three lesser commanders, plus aides. The general came forward and clasped hands with Lore and Domino. "Excellent flying, pilot. I'm just glad we were in a position to aid you." "Thank you, sir." The general looked at Domino, then considered Bali. "Someone doesn't like you, young lady." Startled by his sense of humor, she laughed weakly. "I'd say." He nodded kindly. "I'm General Txa. I've been briefed about your situation. Given the aggression and resources of your enemy, I'd suggest moving to base for a time until they can be neutralized. All it would take is one rocket to take out your private residence." He looked at Domino. Domino canted his head. "We'll consider it. I'll admit my security isn't up to that kind of firepower." 97

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Bali took a deep breath. Domino gripped her shoulder. "It can wait. I'd like to hear the reports on the missile site." At the general's gesture an aide came forward and spoke rapidly in Draconian. "The site was remote controlled and completely wiped out by our return fire. It was quickly constructed, maybe over ten hours. We're working on tracing the missiles. They were high grade and should be easily traced," Domino translated. Bali looked aside, her fingers tapping. Last she'd known, her vigilantes hadn't the cash or the moxie to pull this off. Two attacks, one vigilante murdered ... where was the money trail, and who was in charge now? "I need a computer." The general looked at her askance, then gestured for the aide to accommodate her. The men stayed where they were while she sat at the conference table to check her email and send some rapid queries.

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Chapter 19 Domino watched his wife's remote expression and answered the General's question. "Rich enough. She has connections, though she might not be looking in the same direction we are." She'd been sitting there for twenty minutes, ignoring the action around her, which had moved to the table. They were speaking in Draconian, so it was easy for her to tune out. He switched to her language. "Find anything?" She blinked, then frowned at him, still a little unfocused. "There's been a shift in leadership in the vigilantes, but I don't know who yet. A little recon might solve that." His brow went up. "Not by you. You're not equipped for that anymore, if you'll recall." She frowned, but moderated her reply. "Regardless of how it gets done, I'll need to know where their money has come from, too. Their suspect accounts have grown from skimpy to succulent almost overnight. I could, er," she shifted her eyes to the general, "trace that, but it will take time and might end up in blind walls." A gleam appeared in the man's eye at her reference to hacking. "Interesting. I think we could make more progress than you on both counts, though I'll give you credit for being resourceful. I'd also discourage it. There are better ways to conduct an investigation. You don't by chance think this is your father's work?" She jerked at the abrupt question. "No." 99

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"Are you certain? His body was never found." She clenched her jaw. "If I thought for a moment it was him, I would be carrying around a suicide pen. I spent years being his favorite experiment; I know how he thinks. He'd want to study me, note the changes the years have brought ... tinker." She drew a slow breath. "Death by injection would be far kinder, trust me." By his expression, she suspected the question had been a device to distract her, to override her objections. It had worked. She'd learned today that she wasn't the cold-blooded mercenary she'd thought she was, had hoped to be. Without Lore, she would have been dead of inexperience and fear. Domino had stayed cool under fire and called in help. Back at her hotel, Icki had been the one to save her. She was a soft target, unarmed in all the ways that mattered. Hard as it was to face, she would have to drop some of her defenses if she wanted to live. Depending on someone else would be hard. These men had proved themselves worthy, but the old fear was slow to die. Still, she paid men to protect her and thought nothing of trusting them. The currency had changed, but the principal was the same. This time the cost was cooperation, trust and respect. Respect. She could do that. She took a deep breath. "So tell me what you had in mind." Over the general's objections, she returned to Domino's that evening. He had sufficient security to deter all but an armed warhead, and the general loaned him an anti-missile 100

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team and assigned them additional security. While nice, she doubted they would need the men. Her enemy had twice tried grand measures to take her out. She didn't think they'd bother with a third. She expected the next attack would be more subtle, better thought out. Assuming they weren't dealing with a madman, of course.

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Chapter 20 Domino entered the sitting room and discovered her with her feet up on the couch, a thoughtful expression on her face. Easing her feet up, he slid under them and massaged her instep. "Rough day?" She rewarded him with a droll smile. "Interesting, at least. Whoever wants me dead has money and rather grand ideas. Today was overkill, though. Someone had the connections to set up a missile site on extremely short notice. I'm also being watched. It's not as if I advertised my intentions today. By rights, I should be dead. Someone is going to be very frustrated, very angry." He studied her face, surprised that she was so calm. "You've no stranger to this, are you?" "I've had practice. I'll be glad when Datsu gets here. He's been through this with me before." She was silent for a moment, then seemed to pull out of her deep thoughts. "So tell me about your mutations. My father seemed very proud of them." He jerked back, caught off guard by her sudden mood change and the vague malice behind her question. "Feeling nasty, are we? There's no need to take it out on me." "I think we've avoided the issue long enough. I'd like to know if your presence was incidental or providential in our attacker's eyes." "If you're looking for enemies, I have my share, but no one knows about my time with your father." 102

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Unblinking, she studied him. "I remember the chains he used on you. He must have enhanced your strength. What else did he do?" Domino sighed and released her feet. "A number of other things, none of which matter. The adaptogen in my system changed me back to normal. He'd be disappointed to know that his "great creation" completely wiped out his painstaking work." His lip curled in remembered hatred. Bali remained silent. There was no belief in her face. An unpleasant smile curved his mouth. "My race is naturally stronger and faster than your own, pet. We withstand the heat far better, have sonic capabilities and superior hearing. Apparently, we also resist tampering with our genes. If that's not enough for you, you'll have to remain disappointed." "I'm not disappointed." "But you don't believe me." "No." "Why?" She thought about it. "I spent too many years hiding what I was to think you would openly admit anything." "Fair enough. As long as you spend some time contemplating what you know for certain. I want you, and I will protect you. Do you doubt it?" His hand moved from her ankle to the inside of her calf in a slow circle. Her eyes began to glimmer. "Convince me again," she whispered and leaned into his kiss.

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Chapter 21 Icki was rummaging around in the fridge when she got up the next morning. Domino had already kissed her good-bye and gone about his business, so they were alone in the house. She eyed Icki thoughtfully as she slid onto a stool. He was still a little pale, and it looked ghastly with his brown skin. "Should you be doing that?" "Don't start. I need real food, and I'll start clawing the walls if I have to lie in that bed any longer." She grunted. "I take it you don't heal quite as fast as I do." "Probably for the best," he countered. "My body doesn't get depleted as fast. Here, have some." He slid reheated pasta her way and sat down to dig into his own. They ate in comfortable silence for a while. Finally she felt awake enough to inquire, "You heard about yesterday?" He glowered at her. "You're lucky to be alive. Thank God you had Lucky with you." "Lore." "Whatever. You take too many chances. Domino was supposed to keep a better eye on you." "He does his best. You know I don't leash well." He looked like he was dying to say something about that but refrained. "You had a message. Datsu should be here in a little while. Maybe he can keep your head on your shoulders."

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While glad, Bali refused to be distracted. "How old were you when father got his hands on you? I don't remember any other children." The lines around his mouth deepened. "It was before your time. Leave it." She studied him thoughtfully. "You always knew what I was. How?" He shrugged and cleared away their bowls. "Like knows like. You outright admitted it when I became your doctor." She smiled. "Who else would I trust? You've saved my life more than once. Thank you for that, by the way." He searched her eyes. "So I'm forgiven for sending you to Domino?" Pensive silence stretched between them as she mulled it over. "We get on well enough. He's good to me. However things turn out between us ... yes, you're forgiven." He looked away and released a deep breath. "You'll come to love him." She laughed and took a sip of steaming tea. "Icki, he's my lover. I'm not in love. You should know the difference," she added, giving him a sardonic look from under her lashes. He studied her warily. "It's not the same. You're not the same. You're not going into this with your heart guarded. You think you are, but you don't know the first thing about protecting yourself from him." "Are you going to give me pointers, heart thief?" "No. I want you to fall in love. You need him." Piqued, she demanded, "Is this an official prescription? Fall in love and all my troubles will be over?" 105

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Strain made his face tighten. Icki walked slowly to the couch and sat down with a grimace. He sighed and slowly relaxed into the recliner. He closed his eyes. "I don't have the strength for this conversation, bittermelon. You might want to do whatever it is women do in the mornings. Datsu will be here soon, and he'll want to talk." Frustrated, Bali left him alone. He wasn't always going to be sick. They'd have it out when he was better.

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Chapter 22 Datsu was a brick-built big wall. Icelandic, built like his Viking ancestors with a braided blond beard, a long braid down his massive back and huge, hairy arms, he stood almost seven feet tall. In his mid-forties his blue eyes showed the fearlessness that came from a long life of warring. Gruff, disinclined to shows of affection, he only grunted in the face of Bali's cheery hello. Undeterred, she gave his arm a squeeze and introduced him to Icki, Domino and Lore. Lore eyed the miniscule clearance between the top of Datsu's head and the apartment doorframe. "That has got to be annoying." Datsu made a low sound that might have been a growl of annoyance or assent. "I hear you've had some trouble." Bali quickly filled him in and handed him a data disk. "That's everything I know. You'll have to talk to Domino's general to find out what they've got. The general won't talk to me." "You're still new to Draconian customs, wife. He tells me what he knows and I pass it on to you. He won't consider telling you, since you're a woman. He'd feel it might endanger you." "Bloody stupid," Datsu rumbled. He sat down with his laptop and popped in the data disk, ignoring them all. Less than three minutes later, he stood and looked at Domino. "I need to see the entire building." 107

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"Be my guest." Bali trailed along for the tour as Datsu made his way from basement to rooftop, inspecting even the ladies room in his tour. More than one woman had met her end in a secluded restroom. He spoke little, but seemed mostly satisfied with the building's security. "Might get a weapons and explosives sniffing dog," was his only comment when he saw the club's guarded entrances. Domino appeared to consider the idea. He nodded his head and let Datsu finish his tour before demanding, "Well?" Bali, Datsu and Domino had adjourned to his private booth in the club for lunch. Datsu considered him over his mounded platter of food. "Your security's good. She's not likely to die in here. It's when she leaves the place that you'll have problems." He finished a sandwich in three bites. Lore returned from his errand and joined them at the table. Datsu eyed him. "Will you stay with her?" Lore raised his brow as he selected a morsel from a serving platter. "Why not? I'm on extended leave. Domino's is as good as any place to spend my nights. Most of the women congregate here, anyway." He grinned wickedly. Datsu grunted and forbore to lecture him, willing to judge by observation for a while. "Now that that's settled," Bali said brightly, "I've a mind to do some shopping. I need some time to myself." Three frowns came her way.

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She shrugged. "Make the arrangements. That's Datsu's forte. No more than three stores, I promise, but I must get out. I've never taken confinement well." "Can it wait until this afternoon? I need to hire at least two more men," Datsu said slowly, frowning in thought. "Give me time to get them in place, then we'll go." "Who did you want to hire?" Domino asked coolly. "Ferret. He's an information specialist and security equipment guru. Zag Tramysin. He'll be my backup." "A little redundant, don't you think? We've got myself, Lore and some military personnel in the building already, besides my personal security." "You can't be at her side night and day, your security covers only the building and the military will draw too much attention, besides not being trained for the work. Lore said he'd be here nights, which leaves me and Zag with her during the day." Domino nodded. "Very well." Chaffed by the unaccustomed bargaining going on over her head, Bali said irritably, "If you're through, boys, I've got some work I may as well do. I assume it's safe to walk up the stairs alone?" She didn't wait for an answer before she wandered off. Datsu waited until she was out of sight. "You'll have to fight that mulish streak of hers. She doesn't like being owned." "She's not."

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The first humor he'd shown crinkled Datsu's eyes. "That's not what I see when she looks at you. She's owned and doesn't like it ... yet." Lore winked at Domino. "You'll have to work harder at that, Dom." Domino just smiled.

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Chapter 23 Bali stormed the mall and returned victorious with her loot. In spite of Datsu's grim hovering, she'd enjoyed selecting a handful of books, a movie and a new jacket to replace Icki's shredded one. She'd been so completely relaxed, so focused on cheering up her friend, that when she'd looked up and saw her reflection in the department store mirror, she flinched. For a moment there, she'd thought she'd seen something of Icki in her face. Hours later, she was still troubled by the thought. Granted, her mother had been half Japanese, but she was long dead, and she'd never had any other children. Maybe it had been nothing more than an odd fancy. Domino was still in the club's office when she returned, and Icki was in his room. Knowing it was crazy, she sat down at her computer and looked up Icki's birth records. Since it was in a restricted database, the search took a little time, but when she was done.... Bali sat back, stunned, and stared at the screen. Then her mind began to whir as events clicked into place. The attack in her apartment, the murder attempt in the plane—either they were aimed at her, or they were aimed at removing her. With her out of the way, the true target became vulnerable. If that were the case, then the question became ... who would want her brother? One person came to mind. There was someone she'd publicly denigrated, one who'd have enough knowledge of 111

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genetics to know that the Draconian bite had rendered his experiments null. Only one who would care. Was her father alive? They'd never found his body. The explosion had left so little of the building, that hadn't been a surprise. Had he staged his own assassination? It wasn't much of a reach, and if he were still alive.... Feeling grim, Bali pondered the possibilities, then called for Datsu.

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Chapter 24 "You look a little moody this evening," Domino commented over dinner. Bali picked at her food. "Just some business left undone. I'll get back to it later." She was debating what to tell him. For one thing, she hadn't confronted Icki yet. He'd sent her to Domino, set her free from her father's curse. He'd saved her life. It wasn't easy to confront him now and demand answers, but it had to be done. She wasn't fool enough to let this go, and she wasn't that good an actress. He'd know something was up, and he wasn't the only one. With a sigh, she rose from the table. "Domino, let's go talk to Icki. I need some answers." Icki was lying in bed with a book when they knocked. It lay face up on his stomach when they walked in. He blinked at them sleepily. "Yes?" Bali stared at him a moment, then crossed her arms. "Why didn't you tell me you were my brother?" Icki's mouth dropped open. The expression was at odds with his normally cool facade. "Direct, isn't she?" Domino said admiringly from his post at the foot of the bed. Despite his surprise, he looked raptly interested. Shooting him a quelling stare, Bali looked back at her brother. "I saw your birth certificate. Don't ask," she said, cutting him off. "All I want to know is, why didn't I know about you?" 113

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Icki frowned and visibly cast about for words. "Did you think I'd hate you because of father? Didn't you know I'd have loved to know I had a brother?" She gestured irritably. "Now I know what happened to you: he got to you first. Let me guess ... you were taken into protective custody? Either that or mother left him, then saw you settled before she died." She brushed the hair from her eyes. "All he ever told me was that she died. How did she end up with you and not me? Did he hide me from her? He certainly had the influence." Icki grimaced. "Give a man a chance to speak, will you? Though you seem to have answered most of your own questions." "He hid me?" He sighed. "She tried to get you back, but the courts were too slow, and she was afraid to expose what he'd done to me. She didn't want to ruin my future. She grieved for you, Bali. She didn't live long," he said, his face softening with remembered sorrow. "She'd been ill for some time, and the strain weakened her." A pang twisted Bali's heart. She'd never known her mother. From the sounds of it, she'd ended up with the worst possible parent. Of course, how could one get much worse than Itara? "Oh." It was all she could manage. "I wanted to tell you, but.... "He shook his head. "The old man wanted someone to run his empire. You were very public about hating him. It gained you some friends and some powerful enemies, him included." He looked at her searchingly, then glanced at Domino. "He contacted me." 114

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She sucked in a breath. "After his supposed death?" "Just before. He wanted to meet with me. I wasn't polite." He was silent a moment. "I'm not sure he's dead." She looked at Domino. "I think the attack on us at my hotel was aimed at capturing Icki. He's in danger. If my father's alive...." Domino nodded. "Then you're both in danger." That wasn't what she meant. "I'm always in danger. It comes of being that old rotter's daughter. We need to focus on Icki." Domino shook his head. "I'm going to talk to security. You two have a lot of talking to do." An awkward silence descended in his absence. Icki scratched his nose. Bali shifted in her chair. Seconds ticked by. "You know, I had a crush on you when I was a kid," Bali said uncomfortably. "I would have really liked to know you were my brother." He sighed. "I didn't know how to approach you about it. You were so angry at your father, our father, that you might easily have hated me, too. Especially when you found out mother was able to save only me. I felt guilty." "I probably would have blown a fuse ... at least at first. I would have calmed down eventually, though. I would have taken to you, Icki. As a brother, I mean." She swallowed hard. "We've lost a lot of time." His dark eyes grew shiny for a moment, then he cleared his throat and leaned back on the bed. "So ask me about my 115

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life. What do you want to know? I think I already know all your secrets." "Hardly," she said with a grin, but the smile faded. "Tell me about mother." **** Domino was waiting for her in their bed. Arms crossed behind his head, he listened to music as he watched her change into a silky nightgown. "You must have had an interesting talk." Still humming with latent emotion, she smiled at him as she joined him under the covers. "Very. There are so many things I never knew. It's like I had a bunch of dots scattered throughout my life and someone just went through with a big black pen and connected them. It's a relief to know I like my brother, too. I mean, if a stranger had showed up and we'd had to reconnect.... I'm just glad it's Icki." He snuggled her into his arms. "So am I. Now I don't have to worry about him running off with my woman." Surprised, she shot up to one elbow. "Icki? You've got to be kidding." One large hand hooked around the back of her head and pulled her down for a heated kiss. "You're right. You're too spoiled from me to leave with him." "Why you ... um.... "she bit off, as he rolled her under him and suckled her neck. Fires licked her nerves as he whispered a naughty suggestion in her ear. "Okay...." A little more spoiling wasn't going to kill her. 116

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Chapter 25 For once, Bali woke earlier than her lover. Out of habit, she tried to drop back off, but couldn't. Thwarted, she rolled over and studied his sleeping face. Beautiful in repose, he lay with one arm flung over his head, the other curled over his waist. Any woman would smile to wake up to that in her bed. Warmth uncurled in her chest, and she blinked in surprise as she recognized the emotion. Well, what do you know, she'd gone and fallen in love with the man. Closing her eyes, she shook her head with a little laugh. Stupid, impossible girl. She'd spent so much time trying to dodge the emotion, only to have it sneak up in plain sight, unrecognized until that moment. If it had been a snake, it would have bit her. Thinking of Domino's bite, she smiled and slipped out of bed. If she leaned over and kissed him, it would start something he'd finish, and she was starving. There was a message waiting for her when she reached the kitchen. Curious, she turned the scrap of paper around on the counter and looked it over. Aris Tallez, the blond merwoman who hung around with Sirocco, wanted to talk. Her message made it sound urgent. Debating the merits of a charitable meeting versus the inherent danger didn't take long. She had Datsu and his gang to watch over her, and she could arrange to meet Aris in the club while it was still closed. No worries. Picking up the com, she punched in the merwoman's number. 117

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Half an hour later she was seated in Domino's favorite booth enjoying a savory breakfast, while Aris sipped at her protein shake. She concentrated on her breakfast and small talk while the blond worked up the courage to speak. "I need your help," Aris finally ventured timidly. "I know what you've done for the others. The mutants, I mean," she said in a hushed voice, looking around nervously. Bali nodded calmly. "What do you need?" She took another bite. Aris took a deep breath, then said in a rush, "I'm pregnant with Sirocco's child." Other than a blink, Bali didn't react. This was new ... a mutant child on the way. Oh, how her father would rejoice. Pity the kid with Sirocco as a father. Unaware of Bali's thoughts, Aris said pleadingly, "I'm afraid to tell him. I love him, but I don't know how he'd take this, and if I decide to keep it.... I need prenatal care from someone who won't treat me like a freak. I'm so scared a doctor might hurt the baby, or take samples to experiment. II just don't know whether to have this child or not. What kind of life can I offer it?" Bali sighed. "How far along are you?" Biting her lip, Aris cringed for a moment. "Late. I'll be showing soon." Thinking quietly for a moment, Bali studied the problem. "You've waited this long ... I think you really want this baby. If you want a reliable doctor, I can personally recommend two. One's a Draconian, my husband's brother, in fact. He's patched me up a time or two. The other's a mutant and a 118

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close friend of mine. He's been my doctor for years. As for your lover.... Maybe you will lose Sirocco if you tell him; maybe you won't. I can tell you one thing, though. If you abort this child now, you will mourn it for the rest of your life. You've got options. You're bigger than this problem. As far as you know, this child could become one of the greatest joys of your life. Don't take the easy road out; take the right one." Aris closed her eyes for a moment, a look of relief on her face. "I can really trust this doctor?" "I have, with my life. If I get pregnant, you can bet I'll go to one of them." Aris' shoulders relaxed. "Okay. I didn't really want to lose the baby. I'm just so afraid ... was so afraid. I guess I just wasn't thinking about the options. You know, my parents will just freak when they find out." She got misty eyed for a moment, then shook it off. "I'll talk to Sirocco. I'll make him listen." Bali toasted her with her chopsticks, then pushed her plate over to Aris. "Atta girl. Here, eat. You've got a baby to think of now, and I'm not sure a protein shake is going to do it. I'll get with your new doctor and have him contact you for an appointment. Okay?" "Yes, thank you." Aris dug into the meal hesitantly, then with the gusto of a dieter tossing the menu plan. "This is really good!" Bali smiled and headed to the kitchen to get one more crab turnover. She couldn't get enough of those things lately. **** 119

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"Bali's gone!" Domino looked up from the morning newscast in alarm. "What?" "The delivery guys got her. One minute we were walking into the kitchen, the next she was gone." Hari the bouncer leaned heavily on the counter, blood dripping from his left leg. One hand curled around his ribs, eyes glazed with pain, he gasped out, "They took that big bruiser of hers, Datsu, down. The cook's got him laid out with a compression bandage on his chest. The other guy has a broken jaw and arm. I've never seen guys so fast in my life." Not waiting for Hari to finish his tale, Domino had already grabbed his com and was making rapid calls. Panic beat at the edges of his mind, but he blocked it out. Bali needed him. He got hold of Lore, passed on a curt message, then turned to see Icki on his feet and heading for the door. "Where are you going?" Domino demanded. "You're in no condition...." "I'm going to help Datsu and the others. I might not be in fighting condition, but I can still play doctor. Go save her," he shot back. Satisfied that Icki was out of harm's way, Domino turned his mind to getting his wife back. Bali's head was killing her. Groggily, she blinked and tried to focus. She was lying down, but it hurt too much to look around. Wherever she was, it was dim and gray and she didn't like it. Within moments, she passed out again. **** 120

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"Aris had nothing to do with it," Sirocco said, his arm around his woman. Domino didn't back down. "Prove it. We tracked them to a cove by the sea. They were fast, but not fast enough to stop one of the soldiers from tagging their transport with a tracking device. Your merwoman was there when they took Bali, and the cove is a place you could easily access by water." Sirocco scowled for a moment, then glanced at Aris, who looked at him with huge, misty eyes. "Stay here. I'm going to help Domino, then I'll come back and finish our talk." His eyes softened as he kissed her. When he looked at Domino, all softness had fled. "I wasn't in on this little mess of yours, but I'll help you get her back. When I do, remember that you owe me, Drac." **** Bali was on her feet, but only because the big wolf mutant on her right was holding her upright. They were in a sea cave that had been outfitted like a rough camp. She couldn't see any way out except by sea, and only one boat was tethered to the cave wall. She could see only five men besides her father. That was good, she thought cheerfully. So much easier for Domino to kill them when he got here. Someone shoved a chair roughly behind her and she collapsed in it, wincing as pain like ragged glass shot through her skull. Whoever had coshed her on the head had half-killed her. 121

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Not that her father seemed to care. Rudriv Itara scowled at her like an irritated schoolmaster. The expression twisted his nearly unrecognizable face. His skin had a golden, mottled cast, and his thick, wild hair was a shock of white with steaks of red where no color had been before. The right side of his mouth moved in a constant, distracting tick, and his movements seemed unnatural, jerky. Oddest of all was the reshaping of the face itself. She couldn't decide if it was the result of cosmetic surgery or gene mashing. Apparently her father had been experimenting again ... this time on himself. "I'm disappointed in you, girl. Getting tangled up with that Draconian and ruining all my fine work." "Hell-o, Dad," she slurred, offering him a pained grin. "I've been a little naughty. Are you going to dump me in your gene pool again? It won't do much good." "Had you remained with me, you'd have realized that I no longer use the pool, too clumsy. I've gone back to formula. I use an injection now," he said coldly. She quirked a brow. "Didn't want to scream your way through the change, eh? Sacrificing in the name of science not so appealing when you're the subject?" His face grew more mottled. "The shot is more effective." "I can see that," she said, eyeing his blotched skin. "You see nothing," he sneered, and turned his back on her to fiddle with the controls on the machine behind him. The remains of hastily amputated wings made lumps under his shirt. "I merely overreached myself a little. I've only got a 122

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slight glitch in the formula to overcome. To do that, I need one of my earliest subjects. By now your brother should have received my summons. Once I have a gene sample from him, I can repair the damage." "You're nuts," Bali said calmly. Maybe it was shock leaving her oddly detached, or the blow to her head. Maybe she just didn't care anymore. "Icki's not going to risk getting himself caught just to satisfy your demented experiments." Itara slowly reached for a scalpel lying on the table. He turned, eyeing it fondly. "Oh, I think he will. If he doesn't, I'll return you to him one piece at a time. How do you think he'd react to having your eye delivered to him in a flask of formaldehyde?" He smiled at her coldly. "I owe you for the bad press, daughter mine, and for helping the authorities every chance you got." Interesting. He'd completely shed the guise of loving father in favor of the mantle of lunatic egomaniac. While it suited him better, it was a little unsettling. She could only wonder what had brought about the change. Maybe years of being hunted down like a rabid dog could do that to a man. She wasn't terribly concerned about her eye—they made nice mechanical eyes these days, and they couldn't be worse than the vision problems she'd suffered all her life. Besides, Domino would find her. He had the resources, the connections and the attitude. Her father had made a fatal mistake when he'd snatched her. "Father."

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Bali's eyes had been drifting closed, but they popped open at the sound of Icki's voice. What the blazes was he doing here? Itara's eyes glowed as he watched Icki fly into the cave and land with a gentle grunt. His chest was bare to allow his wings full movement. No doubt his healing shoulder was killing him. "You're late," Itara said, moving toward him purposefully. "And you have something of mine," Icki said coldly. "I've come to collect her." He reached his hand inside his belt pouch, sending a cool look to the men and mutants who leveled firearms on him. "It's a blood and tissue sample," he said, holding up the vials. "Give me the girl and you can have them." Itara shook his head sadly. "Not one word of greeting for your father? How rude, Icki. Unfortunately, those tiny bottles won't be enough. I'm afraid you're going to have to stay here with me." Icki smiled coldly and dropped the vials to the ground. Instantly the air filled with a choking red smoke. Chaos erupted in the cave. Shots were fired. Men cursed. Bali flinched when she felt cold fingers brush her arm, then grip. "Bali?" "Icki! You crazy fool!" "Hang on." He swung her into his arms, ignoring her low curse as he half ran in the direction of the water. She gasped as cold water soaked her clothes, then struggled as another pair of arms received her. 124

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"Quit squirming," Sirocco ordered roughly, "and hold your breath." She barely had time to obey before he ducked under the water and swam them out of there at an astonishing pace. By the time he surfaced, the pressure in her head from holding her breath had almost finished her, but they were outside the cave. "Easy," Lore said as Sirocco helped him pull her into the boat ... and that was the last thing she remembered as her world went black.

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Chapter 26 Sirocco wasted no time getting back to the cave. He caught Itara in the water on his way out. Itara had shed his clothes and had a half-formed tail hampering his escape. A dagger was clenched in one hand, slowing him down. "Beautiful," Sirocco said, flashing his teeth. He had years more of living with his mutation on his side, youth, muscles and a terrible craving for revenge. He was no longer a helpless young man strapped down to a table. This time the advantage was his. He broke Itara's wrist taking away the dagger, then he took Itara's life. **** Domino looked his way through the clearing smoke and saw blood on the water. "Sirocco!" "Sorry, Drac. I caught him, I got to kill him," Sirocco said, tossing the body away from him. "Let the fish have him." Domino muttered under his breath, then looked around. He and his friends had wiped out Itara's little army; the authorities could do the rest. He was anxious to see to his wife.

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Epilogue "Quit hovering. I'm fine," Bali grouched, giving Domino the evil eye. Her head didn't even pain her unless she brushed her hair. He picked up her feet and joined her on the couch, placing them in his lap. "Settle down. I was just going to watch the movie with you. And the popcorn's not all for you, you know," he said, taking a handful. "Pregnancy is making you grouchy." "Men are making me grouchy," she muttered, mollified. Icki was as excited about the baby as Domino and constantly mothered her. That he did it with a doctor's license only made it worse. At least she had another woman to talk with about it. She'd become friends with Aris, Sirocco's new wife, and Aris assured her that Sirocco was every bit as protective as Domino, if not more so. He'd already made arrangements with Domino for their child's future education. A joint Draconian and mutant school was being planned, and they would break ground on the project next month. Life was good, Bali thought, wriggling down deeper into the couch. She had the man of her dreams by her side, an extended family who loved her and a little one on the way. It wasn't the way she'd expected life to go, but she had to admit it was better than her wildest dreams. Just went to show what a little good loving could do. The End 127

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