Finale in Blood

Finale in Blood Madeleine Oh All rights reserved.

Copyright ©2008 Madeleine Oh

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ISBN: 978-1-59596-926-2

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Editor: Margaret Riley

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Finale in Blood Madeleine Oh In this exciting series conclusion, Ferda, Drake and Rand search Zadde’s stolen business records, looking for any clue as to the origins of their mysterious stowaway’s cryo-unit. All are desperately aware that time is running out. Eventually, news of their felony may well leak out, despite Ferda’s contacts. Kalid, Rand’s new lover, is finally settling in, and Rand, presumed dead, may be able to evade both bounty hunters and the law with his borrowed identity, but Drake knows Ferda finds herself torn between the pull of open space and her growing family on Praeden. Even the ancient vampire is finally beginning to feel his age. Together, they have one last chance to set the record straight…

Chapter One “Any luck?” Kalid asked. Rand looked up from the console. “Not much,” he replied, closing down the screen. He knew it irked Kalid royally that he wasn’t in on this, but Rand went along with Ferda’s insistence that only he and Drake go through the files she’d stolen. She had a point. Breaking galactic law was something you only did with trusted friends. Did that mean he didn’t trust Kalid? He should. Damn it, Kalid had killed for him. But this was Ferda’s felony and she wanted it kept between the three of them. “What is it you’re doing for Ferda?” “A bit of research.” The hurt puppy look would have been laughable if it wasn’t so pathetic. “Come off it, Kalid. It’s work, all right?” “But why the big secret?” “Because this knowledge could put you on a penal planet! Ferda insisted. She said she didn’t want you put in danger.” That worked. Kalid paled visibly. “It’s illegal?” Rand nodded. “Then what about you three?” “Can you see vamps staying on a penal planet?” “What about Ferda?” The lad never gave up. A good trait in other circumstances. “With her contacts? It would turn out the judge was an old lover and she’d given birth to half the jury.” At least that got a chuckle. “True. Amazing really. How old is she?” “Why don’t you ask her?”

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He shouldn’t tease the lad, but the look on his face was priceless. “She’d chew me up and spit me out for asking.” Quite possibly. “Maybe give you a scathing smile and make some smart arse comment about being older than her eyes and a little older than her teeth.” Kalid gaped. “You asked her?” Awed wasn’t the word for it. “Before I knew any better. It was just after we signed her on. I wasn’t at all sure about her. Drake was. He knew. He was right too.” Kalid didn’t look convinced. He fiddled with the console a few minutes, then asked, “You ever fucked her?” He did cut to the chase. “Ferda?” That got him a wide-eyed stare. “Yes.” “My God!” Kalid paled. Rand reached out to grab his hand. “Hold on. Why the look?” “She’s a… I mean… a woman!” “I’d noticed.” Rand shook his head. “She might be old and most definitely female but her blood is rich and sweet.” Drake was damn well right there. “Sweet as mine?” Bless the lad. He was fishing for something or other. Reassurance? Compliments? Rand smiled. “Well, lad, since it’s been several hours since I tasted yours, I better refresh my taste buds and let you know.” The satisfied smirk was almost cute. No, cute was the wrong word. Enticing. “Better come close.” He snagged the front of Kalid’s zipsuit with one finger. “Now, what were we saying about a taste?” “I didn’t say anything.” “No, but I did. I’m the big, bad vampire and I’ve got you.” With both arms wrapped around him into the bargain. “I think it’s time,” Rand went on, running his tongue along Kalid’s chin, “that you let me try your neck.” He took the pull of the zip and lowered it to mid-chest, pushing aside the fabric to give handy access to a most enticing expanse of mortal chest.

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“Hey! Hang on.” Kalid pulled back -- or would have if Rand wasn’t holding him. “Wait!” Rand let his shoulders go, but held his hips, pressing against Rand’s erection. The lad had better not say he wasn’t interested. “What’s the matter?” “We’re up here on the bridge. What if someone walked in?” “I believe they’d be tactful enough to pass on by and wait until we’re finished.” The little catch of breath was quite… mortal. But Rand wasn’t so long a vampire to forget what mortal panic was. “Does that worry you, Kalid, lover?” Kalid’s Adam’s apple bounced under the soft skin. “Yes!” “You’re going to have to get over this youthful coyness, and now, I believe, is the perfect moment.” “You’re serious!” “Indeed I am. I need you and your blood and I want them now. We made a pact. Remember?” “I don’t remember signing on for public sex.” Rand had to laugh but made sure it was just a kindly chuckle. “Sex in the middle of a bar on the Hallidan Hub is public sex. Sex on the bridge of my own ship is not public.” “What is it then?” He wasn’t actually objecting anymore. Good. “It’s fun. Trust me and you’ll learn that before I’ve finished.” “Rand, honest, I’m not sure…” But he wasn’t pulling away and Rand had eased his hold. If Kalid really wanted to run, he could have. Rand smiled down into the lad’s bright eyes. “Let me,” he whispered, leaning close until his mouth was against Kalid’s ear, “convince you, that you really want me to fuck you, right here and now, and we will be gloriously undisturbed.” He hoped. “What if…” Kalid began, but broke off as Rand placed his hands on Kalid’s chest and stroked, brushing his nipples with his fingertips.

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“Too many ‘what ifs’ spoil the mood,” Rand said. “Would you rather ‘what if’ or would you like me to kiss you?” The tiny smile and the dimple at the corner of Kalid’s mouth answered that one. “I thought so.” Rand kissed the dimple, then brushed his mouth over Kalid’s. He looked up at Rand, an odd expression in his eyes, part desire, part caution. The caution faded fast, melting away with his increasing pulse rate. Rand opened the lad’s zipsuit a little wider and kissed his left nipple, running his tongue over the warm flesh until it hardened under his tongue. Kalid’s sigh was just a complimentary extra. “Happy?” Rand asked. Kalid nodded, his eyes half-closed. “Oh! God, that’s so good, but…” Rand lifted his mouth, kissing a line up Kalid’s breastbone to the base of his neck. “Forget the buts,” he said. “No one will come. And you won’t be naked.” He ran his hand up and down the side of Kalid’s neck. “All I need is access to your luscious neck. Or perhaps your lovely arms, or your delectable chest.” He paused to lick up Kalid’s neck and back down, letting his fangs brush the flesh. “This won’t be a full scale fuck.” He ran his tongue in a tiny circle just above Kalid’s collarbone. “Just a taste of your blood. It’ll be so good for you. And me.” He moved to the other collarbone. “A foretaste of what you’ll get back in my cabin.” The flutter of pulse under his tongue was almost too good to be true. But it was real. As real as the mortal shivering with need in his arms. “Hang on a minute.” Kalid took him at his word, clutching at Rand’s suit and letting out a little moan. “Rand…” he began but broke off as Rand kissed him hard on the mouth. Not that Kalid was any slouch in that department. He seemed to come alive at Rand’s kiss, pressing his tongue deep and running the tip over Rand’s descended fangs. Rand drew him close, one arm around his shoulders, the other hand holding his head and running his fingers through the soft hair. As Kalid relaxed into his embrace, Rand picked him up and deposited him in the navigator’s seat, then swiveled it so it faced away from the doorway. “No one can see

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you now,” Rand murmured into his ear. “Only me, and I will do whatever I want. That’s what you want, isn’t it?” The gulp seemed to echo across the bridge. “I need…” Kalid began but Rand cut him off with another kiss. “I know what you need, lad,” he said, lifting his mouth just a little. “You want my touch and my bite and you’re getting both.” As he spoke he walked around the chair so he was standing behind Kalid. “Shut your eyes,” Rand told him. “Block out where you are. All that matters is this.” He ran his fingers up and down the side of Kalid’s neck. As the little groan escaped his lips, Rand bent, kissing the side of his neck. He ran his hands down Kalid’s chest and into the waist of his zipsuit, stroking his thighs and just casually brushing the fine erection with the side of his hand. It would be fun to fuck him hard, but Rand had his limits too and getting interrupted at the moment of passion wasn’t his idea of fun. Keeping his hands on Kalid’s thighs, Rand fastened his mouth at the base of his neck and fluttered the tip of his tongue over the pulse point, feeling the blood under the skin and the flowing life within the vein. Kalid let out a sound like a growl and reached up, grabbing Rand’s hair. Getting impatient, was he? Why make him wait when he was so obviously in need? One more soft kiss, then Rand rubbed his fangs over the warm skin and bit. Kalid gasped and arched his back, stretching his neck to make himself even more available. Rand drew on the rich life, taking the strength of blissful mortality until he broke his hold, licking the wound and smiling down at Kalid. “Enjoy that?” “Yeah. But I want more.” “Of course. So do I. Later. That was a taste of things to come.” The lad seemed to have abandoned all notions of coyness or modesty. He was sprawled in the seat, his suit hanging open and his eyes blurry. He had enjoyed himself very much by the look of his crotch. “Here,” Rand said, reaching down to pull up Kalid’s zip and cover his chest. “Think you need to nip to your cabin and change?”

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Kalid glanced down at his damp zipsuit. “Oh my God! Haven’t done that since I was a teenager.” “Bet it wasn’t as much fun as a teenager.” “Hell, no! It certainly wasn’t. What if I meet someone?” Coy Kalid was back. “If they are rude enough to ask, tell them you spilled java brew.” Watching him dart out the door and down the companionway, Rand shook his head. Talk about a bundle of contradictions. Shy, almost naively modest and yet could throw a knife with lifesaving accuracy. Maybe that was why Kalid fascinated him so.

Chapter Two “Is the coast clear?” Ferda asked, popping her head around the doorway. “What makes you ask?” Had Kalid been right? Had she been lurking? “I thought I heard sounds of passion coming from this direction. Figured I’d wait a while and let you two compose yourselves.” She looked around. “You didn’t swallow him whole, did you?” “No.” He meant it as a cutting remark but Ferda was either oblivious or ignoring him. “Good,” she said, as she crossed the bridge to her seat at the console. “We need him on board. He’s coming along quite nicely.” She turned to look at Rand. “Don’t you agree?” “Yes, but I thought he got on your nerves.” “He does. But once he gets over his ‘I’m so shy’ nonsense, he’ll make a good crewmember. He’s young and that’s curable. Besides, with his skills with a knife, he could be a handy person to keep around.” She gave her attention to the scrolling screen. She’d brought up the one point that rather nagged at him. And no doubt she knew it too. “Yeah,” he said, going for casual and nonchalant. “I wondered about that. He seems so clean cut and young but a skill like that isn’t picked up on the fly.” And it was too damn precise and swift to be dumb luck. She glanced his way, a little crease between her eyes. “Ever talk to him about his family? Brothers? Sisters? Parents?” Odd question. “No.” She shook her head. “I suppose you’ve had other things on your minds.” She looked intently at the screen. “Ask him. You never know, he might trust you.” “What the hell do you mean, Ferda?”

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“Exactly what I said,” she replied, completely ignoring his irritation. “I knew his father. Explains a lot about him.” “His father was a thug? A bastard?” Surely Kalid hadn’t learned to defend himself against his own father? “Not at all. He was the ultimate charmer.” That didn’t sound like a compliment. “Kalid is a good lad from all appearances. Young, but as I said, we all suffered from that fault once. He’s not had an easy life. And I’m not going to tell you any more. It’s not my murky past to share.” Now she had stirred his curiosity. “Think he’ll tell me?” She shrugged. “I have absolutely no idea and if you as much as let slip I mentioned this much to you, I’ll have your guts for garters. But if he’s as fond of you as he seems… maybe. Now enough gossip. We still have thirty years of financial records to go through. Find anything?” “Nothing yet. They’re all jumbled. We might as well give up.” “No.” He rather expected that. “I’m going to comb through them no matter. But I do agree about the rotten record keeping. I don’t think they were ever audited. These ledgers are a mess.” “Think we’ll learn anything?” It was nice to leave the topics of Kalid and sex. “If nothing else, we’ve learned it’s a wonder they stayed in business as long as they did.” “How long do you think it will take?” “As long as it does.” Yep, she wasn’t giving up. She looked up from the screen with a rather uncertain smile. “By the way, ought to mention, I sent a message to the security admin on Praeden, asking Marla if she had a means to set you up with a new identity.” He had his mouth open to say something when she added, “Now that Rand Faràr is presumed dead…”

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She had a point. “An alternative persona?” She nodded. “Yup.” “Hear anything back?” “Not yet. Probably won’t until we’re planetside. I was pretty circumspect in my communication and any snooper might just think it was a sharing of bad news. But Marla is quick enough to cotton on.” “Marla is your daughter?” He’d meet umpteen of her relatives the last time on Praeden but had never sorted them all out. “Granddaughter-in-law. She’s married to my grandson, Blard’s eldest, Grakerlon.” “Thanks.” Seemed right to thank her but… “Not sure how I feel about assuming another man’s name.” “Why would you do that?” They both turned as Kalid came onto the bridge. “Survival,” Ferda replied. “The bounty hunters have good reason to assume they succeeded this time. It would hardly be a good idea for Rand Faràr to surface anywhere.” “So you just fix up a new identity?” “Not quite. I’ve put out a couple of feelers. We’ll sort out something. Now, I’ve got work to do, even if you two don’t.” They did. Although Kalid was technically off duty he went with Rand to check the cargo. Ferda went on scrolling screen after screen. No doubt Rand was right. It was a fruitless task. But she was hell-bent and determined to try. “Find anything?” a quiet voice asked. Drake. Ferda smiled at the screen. Couldn’t help it. After Kalid’s insecurities and Rand’s obvious worries, Drake’s quiet confidence was a nice change. “I think I’ve found the source of the calf fetuses, but that doesn’t mean he got Gelda from the same source.” “Think he never knew what he had?”

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“Not possible. She was hooked up with good connections and her container was old, but had been serviced. No. He knew what he was landing on us. That’s why he offered so much.” Money they’d no doubt never see now. “I’d like to know why they wanted her on Vansan,” Drake said. “And why they were so ready to space her.” Ferda shook her head. “Let’s just concentrate on finding out who Gelda is. Anything else we learn will be a bonus.” “Agreed.” With a nod, he sat down and brought up the same screen. Good. Two brains were always better than one and she’d have to sleep soon. Maybe Drake would find something.

Chapter Three Ferda was dozing, lying on her side, warm and relaxed in that lovely fuzzy space between drowsy and out for the night, when a cool body slipped under her bedclothes and snuggled up close. “Drake? What do you want?” Stupid question really, but she was three quarters asleep. He didn’t say anything at first, just kissed her shoulder and wrapped a strong arm around her to rest just under her breasts. “You’re leaving us,” he said at last. “You’re staying on Praeden, aren’t you?” How the heck he knew, when she’d only finally decided ten minutes ago, beat her. Maybe vamps could mind read after all. “Yes,” she replied. “For a while. I want to see the little ones grow up a bit and dandle babies on my knees.” He was silent, stroking her hair and dropping gentle kisses on her neck. “I just can’t picture you in a rocking chair by the fire,” he said at last. “Neither can I. But I can see myself taking it easy, helping sort things out in the colony and generally keeping busy.” “I can see you sorting things out, right enough.” She’d have jabbed him with her elbow, but he chose that moment to close his hand over her left breast. Plus, bruised or broken elbows hurt like hell. “I’ll miss you,” she said instead, “but this haring around the universe is getting a bit much for me at my age.” “What is your age?” The nerve of him asking! Especially with one hand on her pussy like that. But she had a very soft spot in her heart for him. “Let’s put it this way. I’m not quite into three figures yet.”

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“If that’s your goal, you’d better have some more vampire blood.” He said it so casually, it took her a minute to really grasp his meaning. Could be his fingers opening her and a fingertip stroking her clit were rather slowing her thought processes but once the idea penetrated… “No! No, thank you, Drake.” She turned a little to drop a kiss on his shoulder. “I know the honor involved in that offer and how seldom that gift is given. And am only too aware of the benefits.” She smiled, remembering. “But still, my love, I’ll go on growing old and when my time comes, I’ll go. I’ve had a damn good run, and will have no complaints.” And besides, the notion of immortality, or at least the risk of it, scared the knickers off her. Or would have if she’d been wearing any. “I pretty much knew you’d say that,” he replied, “but I had to ask.” Just as he had to slip his fingers deep into her cunt? Not that she’d refuse that. Good grief! It was wonderful! He knew just where to touch to arouse, and where to stroke to tease and how to bring her to the edge and keep her there. Between his fingers in her cunt, all but pinning her against his rather splendid erection, and his mouth on her shoulder, gently licking and rubbing his fangs against the skin, he pretty much had her where they both wanted her to be. His bite took her by surprise. Perhaps his fingers stroking deep inside were distracting her or maybe because it was so slow and gentle, she barely felt it until he drank. And then he took just a taste, but held on, his lips teasing her skin as her body ached for more. Or maybe it was her cunt aching. Then it struck her. He didn’t have his fingers inside her any longer. His cock was planted deep and hard, filling her to the core. Between that, his arm around her chest and the teeth in her shoulder, she wasn’t going anywhere. Not that she had any desire to, once he started moving. Damn. She was going to miss this. Miss him. Was she insane thinking of settling down with her offspring on a pioneer planet? Did she really think…

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Her mind pretty much fogged out as his tongue, cock and hands brought her closer and closer to the edge. Little whimpers and gasps filled the narrow cabin, accompanied by a few terse masculine grunts. The scream had to be hers, as something inside imploded, shattering her reason and consciousness with a wild burst of sensation that coursed through every cell and nerve ending until she yelled his name again and again as her body roared with satisfaction. She was still shaking in his arms when she went quiet, her throat tight, every muscle limp, and her brain as sharp as mush. “You are incredible,” he whispered. “Utterly magnificent.” “You’re not so bad yourself, you know.” He let out a sharp dry laugh. “Sure you’re ready to settle down as a nice old granny?” It was actually great-granny, but who’d split hairs? “I’ll miss you like hell.” If he replied, she was out completely and missed it.

*** Ferda woke early. Kalid was snoring quietly on the upper berth. She lay still for several minutes enjoying the utter peace of a sleeping ship. Vamps hardly counted, they moved so noiselessly. She turned over but couldn’t sleep. Damn. She should be able to, she was as limp and relaxed as a sleeping baby, but her mind ran on, thinking of her decision to leave the crew. She had time left on her contract, but knew they’d never hold her to it. But what about her promise to Gelda? Shouldn’t she be sure she solved that mystery? Or at least do all she could before skipping out? Ten minutes later, Ferda gave up on sleep. She pulled on a fresh zipsuit, ran a comb through her hair and went on up to the bridge. Only to freeze in the doorway. Drake and Rand were locked in a definitely carnal embrace on the floor, totally engrossed in each other. Neither looked in her direction,

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although with vamp hearing they had to know she was there. Seemed neither cared that they were observed. Perhaps it added to the thrill. Certainly thrilled her. One naked vamp was a sight to behold, but two? She was grinning and trying hard to stay back and still see it all. Wasn’t every night of the week a woman got to see two randy vamps pleasure each other and if she kept to her plan, this might be her very last chance. Drake was obviously the lead. Hardly surprising, that. As he pinned Rand on his belly on the floor, holding him there with a hand between the shoulder blades, he kissed up his spine to the nape of Rand’s neck. Rand meanwhile wasn’t lying idle. Reaching back, he took hold of Drake’s cock. Ferda felt her own hand close almost instinctively and move up and down in a gentle caress. She knew only too well how that cock felt between her fingers, or enclosed by her lips. Hell! She could still feel the ache inside from their last, definitely possessive on his side, fuck. Drake let out a few rather contented-sounding groans, then rolled Rand onto his back, running his hands over Rand’s chest, stroking his face and lifting his head up to kiss him. Some kiss too. A mortal man would have passed out from lack of air. Vamps had no such limitations. Ferda swore and let out a soft moan at the thought of Drake’s lips. He’d certainly used his millennium or so to perfect his kissing skills. Maybe he was teaching Rand. Perhaps this wasn’t just a wild fuck but a tutoring session. She giggled. Drake turned his head to glare at her. “What is so amusing, mortal?” No point in lying. Better skip the question entirely. “Couldn’t sleep, so I thought I’d come up here and do a bit of research, and found you two.” “So you decided to watch. Enjoyed the view?” “Oh, yes!” She let herself grin. After all, who wouldn’t? They were both utterly beautiful. “Then come on over here and help out.”

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She went. “Hello,” she said to Rand. He didn’t seem quite as blasé about this as Drake. He was a thousand or so years younger, after all. She looked back at Drake, her own, personal vamp lover. “What do you want me to do? I can’t take any more of you, not for a while anyway. I can still feel you from the last time.” He grinned at that. And wiggled his cock at her. Whatever he needed help with it wasn’t in getting that up. “Kneel behind his head and hold his arms down. He’s not allowed to move.” And she could stop him? Hah! Had to be the thought that counted. She took both of Rand’s hands in her own and pulled his arms over his head and held them down. She was in the perfect position to admire the muscles of his arms, and the flat, sleek lines of his chest. And she had a lovely view of his fine, upstanding cock. “Stop ogling him, Ferda!” Drake said, scowling. “Rand doesn’t mind me looking, do you, Rand?” Rand’s reply was a bit muffled. Drake kissing him hard on the mouth saw to that. Again she marveled at the strength and length of that kiss and the fierceness in Drake’s body. There were white marks on Rand where Drake held his neck and face and bleeding scratches on both their bodies. Yes, sex was very different when two vamps got going at one another. They couldn’t bite or scratch or kiss a mortal like this without causing harm. Even with hands held down and keeping them there, Rand managed a good bit with his fangs, and when he raised one leg, his toenails left a row of narrow scratches on Drake’s arse cheek. Maybe she’d been that supple once, but she rather doubted it. Drake was now kissing and pinching Rand’s nipples and being greeted with a series of odd, high-pitched groans. She bent over and kissed Rand on the mouth. Not quite what he’d expected, but he responded, opening his mouth and using his tongue. She was beginning to think perhaps she wasn’t that sore after all, when Drake growled, “That’s enough, Ferda. You’re here to help out, not hone in on the action.” This time, he didn’t seem to mind her laugh. Just met her eyes and smiled. “Hold him down. Don’t let go of his arms.”

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Restraining a vampire? Really! “How long am I supposed to do this? I do have that research waiting, you know?” “Bugger research,” Rand said. “I want to get fucked!” “You do, do you?” Drake asked, squatting back on his haunches, giving her a nice eyeful into the bargain. Two really nice cocks. Each lovely in its own way -- Drake’s was thicker, Rand’s longer, and both nestled in a beautiful cluster of curls. Drake’s dark, Rand’s a rather nice chestnut brown. She licked her lips. Couldn’t help it. Seemed Rand couldn’t help himself much either. Or didn’t want to. He let her hold him as Drake teased and stroked his balls. “Want my cock, do you? Want my hard cock in you?” “Yes!” Rand yelled so loudly, it was a wonder Kalid didn’t wake. “Want my hard cock right up your arse?” It was more of a gasp this time. “Want me to pump you hard?” “Yes! Please! Do it!” The sinews in Rand’s neck stood up as he arched his head back. “Quit teasing him and let him get it!” she snapped. Honestly, playing games was one thing but Rand, vamp or not, was in dire need. “Well then.” Drake cast her an almost evil grin. “Since you need an old woman to plead your case, you’re going to get it up you hard.” As he spoke, he put both hands behind Rand’s knees and lifted his legs, pulling him up so his arse was on a level with Drake’s cock. “Ready are you?” he asked, as he positioned himself. Rand’s low groan came out with a smile as Drake pressed home. Slowly. Only a vamp could have that sort of control. How long did he take? A minute? Two? Until the entire length of his cock was out of sight buried in Rand’s arse and the pair of them let out great grunts of pleasure. “Enjoying the view, mortal?” Drake asked.

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Ferda grinned at him. “Most definitely. I might make a habit of insomnia if this is what happens while I sleep.” Rand laughed, a laugh that ended as a gasp, or the nearest vamp equivalent, as Drake pulled him even closer. Drake appeared quite happy to rest there. If rest was the precise word. His hands moved constantly, stroking Rand’s legs and brushing his chest. His mouth kept up with his hands, his lips teasing and kissing and his fangs nipping. Rand shut his eyes. He seemed to enjoy the restraint, since he could have broken it in a second but showed no likelihood nor desire to do so. “Nice, isn’t he, Ferda,” Drake said. “Like his body, do you?” “You know that!” “I certainly do. Like seeing me fuck him?” “Guess?” Honestly, vamps never gave up. “Fuck him, Drake, he needs it. Stop playing with the lad.” She almost said “boy” but knew Rand would take umbrage at that. “Say please.” Sheesh! “Please, Drake, would you kindly fuck Rand!” There. That would show him. “Hmm,” Drake replied. “Well, lad, what do you want? A kindly fuck as Ferda requested, or a nice hard one?” Rand’s eyes flicked open. He was near the edge, every muscle and nerve tensed and his cock hard as an ancient ramrod. “Hard!” he said, “and forget about ‘nice’.” Throwing back his head, Drake took him at his word, driving deep and hard, pulling back but never quite withdrawing before driving deep again. They both seemed in another place, oblivious to her, kneeling there as she kept hold of Rand’s arms, ignoring the chirps and beeps from the computers and the images flitting across the visiscreens. Their grunts filled the air. Rand shifted his hips in rhythm with Drake’s thrusts, and then Drake took hold of Rand’s cock with his hand and moved up and down it in

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concert with the rest of him. Rand’s cries and grunts came faster. Drake let out what sounded like an oath swallowed in a shout and then Rand came, his jism shooting in little spurts. As Rand’s climax eased, Drake came, pressing in fiercely with a wild shout and the pair slowly stilled. She was worn out just watching them. They were spry and energetic as teenagers. Rand reached for a towel and tossed one to Drake. They both cleaned up and pulled on their zipsuits and with a peck on Ferda’s cheek from Rand and a longer more tempting and definitely possessive kiss from Drake, they both headed back to their places at the console. She needed a quart of javabrew.

Chapter Four As she watched her mug fill with the wondrously aromatic liquid, Ferda tried to remember if she’d ever shipped with a crew that fucked like this one. Seemed they were forever having a go at each other. Rather nice really. She’d miss it horribly, but… She reached for her filled mug and added a splash of milk. She had to admit, she wasn’t getting younger. The thought of children, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren pulled at her these days in a way it never had before. Once her lot were old enough to leave the house, she’d left it too. And never regretted it. But now… And why Praeden? It was the least secure of any of the planets her offspring had settled on. Maybe that was why. Plus they could certainly use her skills. Once she did her best for Gelda. And found a new persona for Rand. She chuckled. While she was at it why not scout out her replacement for Drake and help poor old Kalid come to terms with having a felon for a father? Too much! Far too much. Gelda was quite enough and if Marla didn’t come up with someone for Rand, he could take care of himself. And as for Kalid, Rand could take care of him. It was a vamp’s responsibility to care for his dinner after all. She took a deep swig of the javabrew. Yes, she’d miss shipboard life, but it was time to settle on some planet somewhere and a planet populated with several dozen offspring seemed the perfect place to… do what? Grow old? She grinned to herself. She already was old by most mortal measure and she wouldn’t have Drake to boost her ego. Damn, she’d miss him. No time to get maudlin. She was awake. Might as well spend a bit of time combing the records she’d pilfered.

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***

Drake looked up as she entered the bridge. “Oh! It’s you, Ferda. Come and look at this.” She came and looked as Drake clicked a couple of icons and magnified details on several screens. “See? Remember the talk that Vansan was occupying a number of uninhabited planets and abandoned settlements?” She nodded. Where was this going? “Well, look here.” He directed the pointer and highlighted several threads of data. Took her a moment or two to catch his drift. “Good God! They’re shipping loads of salvage from their new possessions.” She followed the pointer to another screen and another. “Storing it with Zadde, and he was commissioning scads of independents to carry it.” “And thus getting under the radar of any Confederation investigators.” Drake was dead on but… “Still doesn’t explain how Gelda ended up in a crate of calf fetuses and where she came from other than probably one of their new acquisitions.” “Both cargoes needed to be kept cool. Makes a rough sort of sense.” “Think they came from the same place?” He shrugged. “Who’s to tell? None of the cargo is clearly identified. Just ‘crate,’ ‘enclosure,’ ‘container’ or sketchy details like ‘minerals’ and ‘organic samples.’ That could mean anything.” “And no reason to assume the descriptions even approach accuracy.” Were they wasting their time and effort, and indulging in a galactic felony, over a wild goose chase? “But it might,” Drake pointed out. “Remember the expression ‘Hide in plain sight’? Might be just what they are doing. Vansan does rejuvenation therapies, doesn’t it?” “And body sculpting,” Ferda added. Odd trades in her opinion but she supposed her long ago ingestion of vamp blood was its own rejuvenation therapy.

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“Right. So they’d probably claim all that stuff they’re gleaning is for medical purposes or experiments.” She didn’t want to think too much about the implications there. She might have to later, but not now. “Having gone this far,” Drake went on, “we might as well comb through the lot. Or at least narrow it down to cargoes originating from any of their newly acquired territories.” “Newly acquired in the time before we picked her up,” Ferda added. “They’ve occupied three more in the last month or so. We can eliminate them.” Which gave them nine possible sources. Assuming of course Gelda came from one of them. “I need to rest in an hour or so,” Drake said. Hardly surprising given his recent level of physical activity. Even vamps needed rest. “But until then, I’m rearranging some of these files, limiting our search to their new acquisitions. Will you check the ship controls?” Why not? It was Rand’s job, but still. “Fine,” she replied. “I’ll see to it.”

*** “What are you and Drake and Rand looking for?” Kalid asked Ferda later in the day. Not an unreasonable question given the hours they’d spent intent on the visiscreens. “We’ve some concerns about the cargo we were never paid for. Thought we might learn something by combing through the broker’s records.” “Which you stole.” He sounded far more impressed than shocked. Ah! Youth! She’d been that indiscreet once? Probably. “Please, don’t ever say that aloud in Drake’s hearing.” “Or else?” Kalid asked, head angled and a definitely cheeky smile. “If I have to spell that out, Kalid, you either have sawdust between your ears or a raging death wish.” “But what’s the big mystery?” If she didn’t satisfy him, or scare him witless, he’d never give up. “Unfinished business. It’s more than just not getting paid. Someone died over a cargo we carried.”

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Or at least that’s what she believed. “Don’t ask any more. You are better off and safer not knowing. At least right now.” That could be true after all. “All right,” he said with a shrug. “I’ll not ask, but promise to tell me when it’s safe.” “I promise.” The way things looked now, by the time it was “safe” she’d be long gone. Maybe even pushing up daisies. But her promise satisfied him. He gave his attention to the ship’s course and let her delve into Zadde’s lousy records, simpler now Drake had narrowed the search, but still a proper mess. After a couple of hours she took a break to see if she had a reply to her request to Marla. Bingo! “Kalid, when Rand wakes, tell him I have good news for him.” “Eh?” Kalid turned her way. “What news?” “I’ll wait and tell him.” “No need to.” Rand stood in the doorway. Ferda glanced at the ship’s chronometer. It was later than she’d realized. Just then, Drake appeared. “She’s got some sort of news,” Rand said. Drake crossed the bridge at vamp speed. “You worked it out?” “Not that, I’m afraid, but I got a communication from Marla on Praeden. No details, but she has a name and personality for Rand. Seems a pilot crashed on Praeden not long after we left. He was thirty-six, fully qualified and an independent. They have all his registration details. Looks like a good match for Rand.” “Until I encounter his brother on some planet somewhere or his mother wants me home for Christmas.” Ungrateful sod. Here was his chance to have Rand Faràr disappear for good and walk the galaxy without bounty hunters on his trail and he was fussing about hypothetical problems. “He might be an orphan,” Drake said. “It’s not that hard to take on a new name,” Kalid said. “There are a few things you need to do to cover your tracks but a couple of days and a computer bank with

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galactic access and it’s done.” He gave Rand a knowing smile. “I’ve done it. If a mortal can manage it, you can.” She wouldn’t point out that she’d recognized him on sight as Rajeh Graem’s son. It was tricky and risky but a heck of a lot better than the alternative and if Rand couldn’t work that out for himself she wasn’t wasting breath explaining. “Sure?” Rand asked Kalid.

Kalid grinned. “Sure as I am that you woke hungry.”

“I think,” said Drake, “we’d better check the cargo, and ready the ship for

landing. We’re only three hours from planetside.” “Two hours and forty minutes to be precise,” Ferda couldn’t resist adding. “Should be a simpler and easier landing than last time.” “What happened last time?” Kalid asked. Rand took his seat beside him. “It was during the blockade. We had to wait until the planet was in eclipse.” Kalid swallowed. “Wasn’t that risky?” “Yes,” Drake replied. “Extremely.” And that pretty much took care of that conversation.

Chapter Five “Want to take over communications?” Drake asked Ferda, a couple of hours or so later. “Rand and I can navigate.” “You bet.” She took the seat by the com link panel and flicked the audio on. She punched in the ship’s codes and waited for the crackle on the line and a voice. “Please identify yourself,” a crisp voice instructed. She gave the ship’s logbook number, and Drake’s name as acting captain. Better not mention Rand Faràr since he was now officially dead. Even if he was sitting a meter away. “Just a minute please.” It was more like five before the line crackled again. “Hello, Mum.” She laughed. Wasn’t every day a colony administrator acted as traffic controller. “Hello, Marvit. Everyone well? How’s Balla’s new baby?” “Baby Winna is gorgeous and we’re all blooming and we’ll be double blooming once we get you here on planet. I’m guiding you in. If I’ve completely forgotten my skills, Pensat here will save you from disaster.” He landed them without a hitch. Drake’s expert ship handling probably helped too, but she held back a smile at Kalid’s obvious astonishment. Impressed wasn’t the word. She bet he’d never before been guided down planet by the personal intervention of the said planet’s Chief Administrator. Okay, it was a pioneer planet, not one of the major hubs, but hell, it was her family’s planet and she was ready to leap off ship. “Here we are,” she said, as the engines died from the customary buzz to a slow hum and then virtual silence. “Praeden.” The others didn’t quite share her enthusiasm.

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“Let’s get off ship and see everyone. We can negotiate a price for the food supplies later.” “Pleasure before business, eh?” Rand asked. “You bet.” It wasn’t quite the reception they had on Damphir IV, but given the smaller population here, not a bad show. Rand had to smile as Ferda went from person to person, hugging and kissing and laughing. The first twenty or so she introduced, sons, stepsons, daughters, granddaughters, cousins of just about every connection, and inlaws, before she sort of gave up trying and left the three of them behind. Kalid all but disappeared in a group of young settlers about his age, all wanting the skinny on vampires no doubt. “Hello,” a young woman said quietly to Rand. “Just for the record, you’re Quard Wisden.” He turned to look at her. Short, dark curly hair clustered around an intelligent face. If he’d ever fancied girls, he might start with her except she seemed to be totally confused. “Excuse me?” “I’m Marla Wallace, Ferda’s granddaughter-in-law. I run communications and security here. She said you need a bit of help. How does Quard Wisden sound as a name?” “Oh!” Rand’s brain clicked into gear. “Fine. Fantastic in fact. Look, how is this going to work?” “Come with me. There’ll be a party later, but right now Ferda’s off to dandle babies on her lap and I thought this would be a good time to nip off quietly and explain things. Best if you’re Quard from the start.” Good point. Had to be why Ferda omitted registering any of their names as was usual galactic custom. “Brilliant. What are my new details?” “Follow me and I’ll go over it with you, then give you a data wand. Best not upload it direct to the ship. Might leave a trace.” Darn right there. There’d been too much illegal uploading already.

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She led them -- Drake sort of tagged along, probably as dead curious as he was -back into the hangar and across a couple of catwalks to what was obviously her office. “Have a seat.” She pulled over a rickety chair and a narrow stool. Her own desk chair wasn’t much steadier. “Sorry,” she said. “Decor and furnishings are a low priority on Praeden.” They sat down as she pulled up a screen and then shifted her chair. “Have a look,” she invited Rand. “See what you think. I believe he’s a little younger than you but it should do.” Quard Wisden had perished when his single manned skip crashed on Praeden with a cargo of supplies. He was three years younger than Rand, raised in an orphanage on Parrat -- a planet Rand had visited a couple of times -- and trained as a pilot. Similar hair color, different eyes, but who was to say he might not have taken to colored lens implants? “The only problems I see are that he’s not a vamp or an engineer,” Drake said. “Isn’t an engineer on paper,” Rand said. “People pick up skills in the space lanes. And besides, I could have become a vampire. People get turned in all sorts of circumstances. I did.” “True,” Drake agreed, his mouth twitching. “Think it will work?” Marla asked. “Yes, and thank you,” Rand replied. “Funny to think Rand Faràr is officially dead and I’m resurrecting some mortal’s persona to become Quard Wisden.” “Think of it as if you’re turning him into a vampire,” Marla said. “Here. I’ll copy everything I have.” She slid a data wand into the computer and a few moments later ejected it and held it out to Rand. “How are you going to conceal his death?” Drake asked. Marla shrugged and smiled. “It’s quite terrible how badly we keep records. Things get mislaid, filed in where they don’t belong, stored in the wrong database. Sometimes they even get erased by mistake.”

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Rand laughed. “Right!” Marla was no doubt as punctilious and efficient as her grandmother-in-law. He closed his fingers over the data stick and slipped it in his breast pocket. “Thank you.” “Glad we could help. Ferda said she had a friend and crew member who was in a bind and I got to thinking and remembered this chap. You’re inheriting quite a persona. Three times he defied the blockade and brought us supplies. Fourth time, after the blockade was lifted, was unlucky for him.” They all went quiet for a minute. Rand was taking the man’s identity. A minute of silence in respect didn’t seem a lot to offer.

Chapter Six His new identity safely in his pocket, Rand was happy to accept the offer of a ride to the guest quarters and an invitation to some sort of festivities in their collective honor the following evening. “After dark,” Marla said. Praeden might be a pioneer planet but they knew how to throw a party. It lasted three days and apparently the mortals never slept. It was the first time he’d really regretted having to sleep away the daylight hours. Ferda appeared indefatigable. She was constantly surrounded by children of all ages, including the newest one, who was so tiny Rand was scared to hold her but did at everyone’s insistence. He had to smile as he passed the little gurgling bundle to Drake for his admiration. On how many planets did mothers happily pass their newborn babies to vampires? Rand almost lost track of Kalid, who seemed forever in a group of young men, and once the festivities were over, disappeared for seven whole days to help harvest some crop or other. Rand didn’t grudge the lad the break but if it weren’t for Ferda, he’d have ended up hungry. In fact Rand was beginning to realize how much he’d miss Ferda when they took off. A far cry, he admitted to himself, from his utter skepticism when Drake first hired her. It was in this mood of admiration for Ferda, and realization of how much she’d be missed, that he went over to the ship one evening on waking, to look over things and consider his future in solitude. He found Ferda scowling at the visiscreen. “Is it that late?” she asked, looking up. “I seem to be losing track of time. Hadn’t meant to stay so long.” “You come here every day?”

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She nodded. “For as long as I can spare. So does Drake. We both highlight what we think is possible, eliminate what couldn’t be in a month of Sundays and then we go over each other’s files. Between us we might come up with something.” And he’d imagined she spent her days bouncing babies and telling stories to grandchildren. He should have known better. “You won’t give up, will you?” “Not until I’ve followed up every possible lead. Between us we’ve eliminated about ninety-five percent of the data. Or I should say, ninety-five percent of the legible and decipherable data. Either we’ll work it out soon or we never will.” Somehow he felt the latter was unlikely. “Just a case of digging it out of the remaining five percent.” “A bit like finding a specific worm in an acre of mud.” She leaned back and let her chair swivel as she flexed her shoulders and arched her neck. It struck Rand that she looked tired. Hardly surprising if she spent her days here and the nights playing grandma, or entertaining Drake. And speaking of Drake… “Any luck?” Drake asked from the darkened doorway. The ship was on low power and with Ferda having the computers up full, the entire bridge was cast in gray shadows. “Maybe,” she replied, a glint of excitement in her eyes. “You have a look and see what you think.” She stood. “Can’t stay any longer. I promised Aggie I’d help put the boys to bed tonight.” With a smile, she left. “Well?” Rand asked. “Well what? How are you doing? Kalid seems to be off and away a lot.” Trust Drake to bring that up. “I hate to legshackle him. He’s enjoying being with other lads.” “Think he’ll stay?” “I asked him last night. He said no. It was fun but he didn’t want a bucolic life. He asked when we were leaving.” “What did you tell him?”

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“That I had no idea. I’m enjoying the break myself. But we need to leave and sooner rather than later. They took our entire cargo, and at a reasonable price, but we need to pick up another to keep going.” “Give us a couple more days. We’ll either be done or give up.” “Think Ferda will give up?” “She’s not stupid. She’ll give it her best effort for Gelda’s sake. She gave her word. But if we can’t work things out, she’ll accept that. Let’s see what she found today.” He spent several minutes scrolling down and following Ferda’s links from screen to screen. “Well, I’ll be blowed!” “What?” Rand looked over Drake’s shoulder and he drew the pointer from link to link. “She came from Annayx? It’s been a desert for three hundred years. Wasn’t it destroyed in one of the early atomic wars?” Drake nodded. “It was. But see this.” He skipped to a screen from the ship’s library. “Center for early experiments in cryonics,” Rand read. “That explains how she was so badly preserved. They were using primitive technology.” The thought made him shudder. “Seems like it. Ferda’s been busy.” He went on scanning row after row of data. “What was she doing getting shipped to Vansan then?” “I suspect, and so it seems does Ferda, for the same reason as those calf fetuses.” He skipped a few more screens. “Bingo! The universe needs a score of Ferdas. Look at this.” Rand looked. Between the clips Ferda made and her own notes, it was clear enough. “They’re extending their body sculpting and rejuvenation centers, using human transplants. Holy crap!” He’d seen and heard some nasty things in his time but this… “They wanted to use her parts? Or was it experiments?” “I don’t know and I don’t want to. They obviously saw her as disposable.” “What do we do, then?”

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“Ferda suggests we tell Gelda she came from a ruined planet and is the sole survivor.” “What if there are more?” Drake gave him an odd look. “Going all philanthropic on me, lad? Planning on chasing across the galaxy to find them?” Impractical in the extreme. “No, but if I happen to come across one, I know where to take it for refuge. To think those bastards knew she was there and ordered her jettisoned.” He pulled out the nearest seat and slumped into it. “What should we do now?” “I’ll go to Damphir as planned and tell Gelda what we know. You and Kalid find a cargo and Ferda stays here. We agreed.” They had. It was a good plan all things considered. “I’ll miss her.” Drake grinned. “So will I, but I think Julius Roma will miss her most of all. He really believed she’d come back to him. He actually apologized to me for poaching her.” “He’s in for a surprise.” “He is indeed.” “Think he’ll take it out on you?” Drake laughed. “Never. Would you risk pissing off Ferda?” Rand grinned. The future looked interesting. And fun. They’d be sharing Kalid on the trip to Damphir IV, initiating him into the thrills of satisfying two vamps at once. Rand got hard just thinking about that. They’d miss Ferda, but that was life in the space lanes. Besides, he’d be more than occupied getting acquainted with his interesting new persona, Quard Wisden. Now that was going to be a full time job.

Madeleine Oh Madeleine Oh is a woman of mystery. Some claim she is the granddaughter of an odalisque from the Bey’s harem in Algiers or that her father was a direct descendant of the line of Welsh princes. Others say that her parents met whilst working for the French Resistance during WW2, and there have even been rumors that she was born on a ranch in Patagonia (an alternative version says a farm in Ohio). Perhaps all of this is pure and utter fiction. But truth or fiction, readers love her wildly imaginative erotic tales. For excerpts and contests visit Madeleine’s web site: www.madeleineoh.com. For news of new releases, join Madeleine’s yahoo announcement list: [email protected].