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  “The Empire sent a military envoy to Chale to bring back women for their warriors. Our father, the King, had signed an agreement with the Rysalian Tribunal and word had gone out for interested women to appear at the court the next day. Hundreds came for we were a poor kingdom and many had empty bellies and empty pockets. Drae Cree was only a lieutenant then and he was the Keeper in charge of transporting the women back to Rysalia Prime. The ships were loaded with eager brides for the Rysalian warriors, yet Cree had not found a woman among the throng who interested him.” Hael threw Beryla a damning look. “I suppose it takes a special woman for a man like him!”

  “Get on with your tale, Sejm.”

  Hael locked her eyes on the Reaper. “Our father had kept us hidden from the envoy, for he did not want any daughters of the Royal House to be seen by men he considered to be evil beyond words. My sisters and I, seven of us, had been taken to the Shadowlands, the sanctuary of the Daughters of the Multitude by our mother and aunts. There, we would be safe until the Rysalians left.”

  She stopped, her jaw hardening as she glared at him. “We thought they were gone. We had seen five Class Nine transport ships streaking toward Rysalia. Eager to be back with our parents, we left the Sanctuary and headed home. Little did we know there was a Keeper and his crew lurking about the forest, searching for the seven daughters of King Rian Brell.”

  “The crew,” Cree said. “Coure, Kullen, Kiel…”

  “Tohre, Gehdrin, and Belial,” Hael Sejm finished for him. “They raped us. Each of them took turns raping the rest of us, but Analeis, the youngest and prettiest, had been claimed by the Keeper, by Commander Drae Cree, and no one dared touch her.”

  “He saved her to make her his Bride-mate,” Beryla put in. “He loved her very much.”

  “He lusted after her!” Hael sneered. “She wanted nothing to do with him, was terrified of him, and pleaded with the bastard to return her to our father, but he would not. It was already too late for my other sisters and myself. We were damaged goods and under Chalean law, unfit to marry. We could never go home!”

  “Even though you were raped?” Dorrie gasped.

  Hael lifted her head. “Our Tribunal was strict in those days. Women whose virginity had been taken by a man other than her legal mate were considered whores, sluts, and unworthy to bear a legitimate child of a good household. It mattered not at all that she had had no say in the loss of her purity. That was the law and all, even the King, had to abide by it.”

  “That is why he never sent warriors to reclaim you,” LeJong remarked.

  “That is why,” Hael spat. “The Rysalians thought he had accomplished a great feat when Drae Cree brought home the fabled Seven Sisters of Swords as the daughters of the Royal House of Brell were called. Not one member of the Tribunal questioned the crew's claim to the women and all but one of us became concubines to those bastards.”

  “All but you,” Cree said, beginning to understand more than he knew his aunt would ever admit.

  “I was the oldest and I fought like a banshee! None could tame me!” Her mouth twisted. “They feared coming to my bed for I had sworn to slay them when they slept!”

  “It's a wonder they didn't slit your throat and be done with it,” Beryla commented.

  “Analeis would not have allowed that to happen,” Hael responded. She came closer to Cree, her eyes wild with fury. “She was the Seventh Daughter of a Seventh Daughter and was born with a cowl. Do you know what that means, Reaper?” He nodded. “She was Morrígú. I know that.”

  “Aye,” she mimicked. “You know that!” She regarded him with a venomous look. “She was a witch. A very powerful witch and on her Joining Day, she laid a curse on the Rysalians that not even the gods, Themselves, could break!” She came within two feet of him. “She told Drae Cree that despite the impotence of his seed, the inability to impregnate other females, there would be children born of the evil unions forced upon her and her sisters. She warned them the children would be tainted with beastly blood, black blood. The children would become jackals like the fathers who had sired them!” Her vicious eyes narrowed. “But Cree and his men did not listen! They did not believe in the power of the Morrigú! They thought no issue would come from their foul deed.”

  “But it was not only the children of those unions she cursed, Hael. She cursed herself and her sisters, as well, and that is where the real tragedy in this lies.”

  “Aye, she cursed herself!” Hael thundered. “She did not want Drae Cree to have joy in the act he would force upon her. She wanted him to suffer for what he had set into motion! He wanted pleasure? He received pleasure, but he reaped well what he sowed!”

  “He has suffered, Hael,” Beryla agreed. “More than you know.”

  “Not enough!” Hael seethed. “Not nearly enough! But he will!”

  LeJong looked down at her hands. “The sons even more than the fathers.”

  “So we were born Dearg-Duls. I was cursed by my own dam-”

  “Your mother!” Hael Sejm shouted at him. “Your mother! Not your dam, fool. Your mother!” Cree held her raging glower. “Aye, my mother.”

  “And because of you,” Hael jeered, “she was murdered! You were the cause of her death!”

  “Hael,” the Director said, “if you do not calm down, you will have a stroke.” Hael was now toe to toe with him, her hands clenching and unclenching at her sides. She glared at him, her face an ugly mask of hatred. When she lowered her voice, every one, save one, had to strain to hear what she said.

  “She had just given birth to you. She had just thrust you out of her womb. She looked down to see you struggling on the floor and was horrified at what she saw. The thing she had delivered wasn't human. It was a beast, a jackal pup embedded in a thick membrane, attached to her by a long rope of black as pitch afterbirth. She screamed and I came running to help her. Just as I arrived, she began to change, to alter right before my eyes; at the same moment the thing on the floor began to change from beast to human child.”

  Cree stared up into Hael Sejm's mad eyes and knew the woman no longer saw him. She was seeing her sister, the woman who had given him life, and the memory must have been gruesome for there was horror stamped on her face.

  “She was so lovely. Her hair was jet black and soft as silk. Her eyes were the color of the sky in summer and her face was so lovely it would take your breath away just looking at her.” She shook herself. “But what lay on that floor, struggling to tear the membrane off its whelp with its teeth, was not beautiful. It was beastly. The most horrific sight I would ever see in my lifetime. It was when she was in full Transition, suffering the curse she had placed upon herself, that Drae Cree came running in. He stopped, his eyes wide with shock. I saw his hand go to the phaser at his waist and I tried to stop him, but it was too late. He drew the weapon and fired. Analeis was flung backwards against the wall and her body burst into flames. ” Hael put her hands over her ears. “I shall hear her agonized howls on my deathbed!”

  “He thought she was a jackal trying to devour his child, ” Beryla explained. “He did not know it was Analeis else he never would have fired.”

  “It doesn't matter! It was best she died!”

  “Why? Because you wanted Drae Cree and he wanted her, instead?”

  Cree's head snapped to the side as Hael's hand connected with his cheek. The hit had had enough force behind it to split his lip and a thin trickle of black blood dribbled down his chin. He put up a hand to wipe away the seepage. He looked around to see Beryla and Dorrie dragging the enraged Hael away from him.

  “Why isn't he dead?” the woman was screaming. “Why isn't he dead? I want this bastard dead!” LeJong said nothing as Beryla and Dorrie pulled Hael out of the office and down the hall. “What do I need to do?” she heard him ask in a soft voice.

  She turned so she could look at him and was stunned to see a tear rolling unchecked down his right cheek. She ached to reach out and touch it with her fingertip, to taste the saltiness of it on her tong
ue.

  “None of this was done to make you suffer needlessly, Cree.

  A bitter laugh underscored his words. “It was done to help me, was it?” He let his head drop to the back of the couch; he stared up at the ceiling. “I fancy I wouldn't care to have you women extend any more help to me, if this is your idea of not making me suffer.”

  She forced her hand to his knee and took comfort that he did not demand she remove it. “You have found love,” she said gently. “And love has found you. Isn't that worth-”

  “You have me where you want me,” he interrupted her. “You will get what you desire.” He swiveled his head toward her.

  “Stop trying to convince me. The moment you women let Tylan Kahn have my mate, you gave me no choice but to help you.” LeJong searched his face for a moment. She nodded. “All right. I won't insult your any further. I believe we understand one another.”

  “Aye,” he bit out. “That we do.”

  Chapter 22

  THE DIRECTOR came back into her office frowning. “We had to sedate her.” LeJong was not surprised. “I fear all this is taking a toll on Hael.”

  “She's unhinged,” Beryla Dean said. She glanced at Cree who was still seated on her couch. “Have you decided to help us, then?”

  Cree was staring at his hands and did not look at her as he spoke. “Is Kahn part of your Resistance?”

  “Admiral Kahn is not a Terran.”

  The Reaper sighed deeply. She had not answered his question, but there was no need for her to do so. Considering Kahn was Sejm's adopted son, he was as much a part of this nefarious business as she was; but he realized it didn't matter. Slowly, he lifted his head. “I want to speak to Bridget.”

  “Bridget is perfectly-”

  “I want to speak to Bridget!” he yelled at her.

  “Fine!” the Director yelled back. “Computer! Get me Admiral Kahn!”

  Tylan Kahn motioned Bridget out of the range of the Vid-Com's screen when he learned his caller was Dr. Dean. “To what do I owe the honor, Madame Director?”

  “I apologize for the interruption, Admiral Kahn, but may I have just a moment of your time?” Tylan Kahn could see Cree seated in the Director's office. “How may I help you, Dr. Dean?”

  “As I'm sure you know, there was a commotion on Level Twelve this morning.”

  “Aye. The Iceman made an ass of himself.”

  Cree lunged from the couch, but Beryla put out a hand, warning him back. “No!”

  “He called me-”

  “Be quiet or I will terminate this conversation!” she warned. She pointed a rigid finger at the couch. “Sit down. Now!” Kahn grinned as Cree plopped back on the couch, snapped his mouth shut, and looked away from the camera. He was tempted to insult the man again-just to see what Cree would do-but thought better of it. “I assume he wants to speak to Bridie.”

  “Bridie!” came a hiss of contempt from the couch.

  Dr. Dean turned and gave her companion another warning look before looking back at the Vid-Com. “Would it be too much of an imposition for you to allow him to do so, Sir? As you can see, Captain Cree-”

  “Lieutenant Cree,” the Admiral corrected.

  “Go to hell. You are going to re-instate my rank you asshole!”

  The Director let out an annoyed breath. “Kamerone is quite upset about losing Dr. Dunne, Admiral. He has strongly objected to you purchasing Bridget.”

  “I understand Commander Rhye objected, too, yet I seem to recall the Iceman made it impossible for him to speak to Bridie.

  Why should I allow him to do something he would not allow Konnor to do?” Cree was staring straight at the Vid-Com with a murderous look that told Tylan Kahn he would like to tear out his throat. The growl of hatred that passed over the link between them merely punctuated the thought.

  “We have assured Captain Cree-”

  “Lieutenant!” Kahn said again.

  Beryla rolled her eyes. “We can discuss this later. Will you allow him to speak with Bridget?” Kahn shrugged. “Given the circumstances, I suppose I can. Even though the Iceman refused Rhye, I won't since I am the better man.”

  “You gods-be-damned Diabolusian wartslug!” Cree bellowed as he leapt from the couch. “You want to see which of us is the better man?”

  “Cree!” Dr. Dean roared. She hurried to the Reaper.

  Kahn could not hear what was being said in the Director's office, but from the mulish expression that was stamped over Cree's face, she must be getting her point across.

  “Aye, but that bastard is gloating and I will not…” he heard Cree thunder.

  “And I told you…”

  Kahn crossed his arms over his chest and watched mutinous emotion enveloping Cree. Finally, the Director gave the Reaper a stern shake, and then came back to the screen. “I am sorry you were insulted, Admiral. Kamerone has assured me he will behave.”

  Tylan Kahn's left brow quirked. “I find that hard to believe.” He looked away from the screen. “Bridie? Do you wish to speak to this ass?”

  “Cree-” Dr. Dean warned, not even bothering to look behind her.

  Bridget moved into camera range. “Kam?”

  “Aye, Bridget,” Cree responded. He moved past the Director. “I am here.” He let his hungry gaze pass over her worried face.

  “Are you well, milady?”

  “Yes,” she said in a broken voice, her misery very real and lay bare for any and all to see.

  Cree saw the tears forming and felt like ripping the room apart in his fury. “Has he hurt you?” Bridget shook her head. “No. He's been very good to me.”

  “Has he…” Cree could not ask. His attention shifted from his woman to the man standing too near to her. “Did he…” He swallowed. “I wanted to be sure he had not done anything to you,” was all he could say.

  “What the hell are you implying, Cree?” Kahn snapped. “What was it you thought I would do?”

  “You know your reputation better than I do, Kahn,” Cree shot back. Their eyes locked and he thought he could see a smirk in the Admiral's; it drove him absolutely insane. “If you have dared use my woman…”

  “Just what do you think you could do about it if I have?” Dr. Dean moved to grab Cree's arm and keep him from tearing out of her office. She shook him, spoke low and urgently to him in harsh, warning words.

  “Don't tell me what to do, bitch!” Cree shouted and then staggered beneath the blow the Director aimed at his cheek.

  “You stop this right now! Do you hear me, young man? Behaving like a spoiled child is not going to help! And don't you ever call me that vicious name again! Do you understand me, Kamerone?”

  No woman had ever dared raise a hand to him before today and now he'd been slapped twice in one afternoon. Cree was so infuriated, he didn't consider what he was doing. He lifted his right hand and swung it back over his shoulder with every intention of sending the woman reeling across the room.

  “You do and I swear to you, Kamerone Cree,” the Director warned him, “I will have them come in here and take you to my lab and I promise you you'll be strapped to my therapy table for an entire month!” She came toe to toe with him. “Do you doubt I will?”

  Bridget had grabbed Tylan Kahn's arm in her fear for Beryla's safety. She could see the rage flashing in Cree's dark eyes. She stood rooted in place, holding her breath-as Kahn was doing-until Cree lowered his hand, backing down from the challenge the Director had thrown at him. “Do not ever hit me again,” they heard Cree growl. “The next time you do, I will rip out your heart and eat it in front of you.”

  Beryla pursed her lips. “No, you will not,” she snapped then turned back to the screen. “Now that we have that settled, I am going to terminate this link.”

  “No” Cree bellowed.

  “Beryla, don't!” Bridget cried. “Can't you see what you are doing to him?” Her tears were flowing unnoticed down her pale cheeks.

  “When he learns to do as he is told, I will contact you again. Terminate the link
!” the Director snapped.

  “Bridget!” Cree's heart-breaking howl of pain made the hair stands up on the back of Beryla Dean's neck. She shuddered violently and backed away from the man who had dropped to his knees, pummeling the floor with his clenched fists. “I want my woman!”

  “You know what you have to do before that can happen,” the Director reminded him. She almost had a heart attack as he shot to his feet, grabbed her, and shook her so hard her teeth clicked together.

  “No more!” he roared in her face. “No…more! Just give me the gods-be-damned list of the men you've already turned and let me get on with it!”

  Beryla jerked out of his grip. “You hurt me like that again and I swear I'll make you wish you'd never met me!”

  “I already wish I'd never met you,” he said in a tone that relayed he was beyond controlling his temper and less and less inclined to do so.

  Rubbing her bruised arms, Beryla went to her safe and withdrew a sheaf of papers. She was about to hand them over when he snatched them out of her grip.

  Cree scanned the names on the sheet. “Drewe Lona! I should have known!” he memorized the names of the others, then crumpled the paper and threw it in the waste bin. “I'll need more muscle that just Tealson Hesar and a handful of Keepers!”

  “Recruit who you need; they'll follow you.”

  “You'd better hope they will.” He turned away. It was going to be a very dangerous thing trying to recruit competent men to help him sabotage the Empire.

  “There's one more thing,” Dr. Dean said as she watched him rubbing his right temple. “You were inoculated, as was all but one of your crew. We couldn't find him, but we will. The other Reapers and their crews have been vaccinated as well.”

  “Vaccinated for what?” he exploded, remembering his own inoculation.

  “It is too complicated to go into right. Can't you at least trust me on this?” He snorted. “I would sooner trust a Diabolusian wharf rat than trust you!”

  “Will you listen?” she asked, exasperated. “I'm only telling you because the antitoxin has made your father very ill. He is…” She stopped and watched the stunned surprise take shape on Cree's face.