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  All of the relaxation of the afternoon on the riverside poured away as she remembered those last few terrifying moments.

  “I'm sorry, but I need to know.”

  “She did,” she whispered. “It didn't make any sense though.”

  “It doesn't need to.” I squeezed her hand. “You just need to tell me.”

  “She said ‘Breaking Dawn,’ and then turned away like she didn't even know me.” Her voice wobbled.

  “You know she didn't have a choice.”

  “I know. I was just scared.”

  “So was she. If we haven't pulled this off, well,” I looked over at Geir showing Caze the best way to divert a bit of the river for a safe bathing pond. “We were all scared.”

  The guys came back, wet and grinning.

  Caze flopped down on the ground next to Abril. “Caze, did your parents leave you any message?”

  His face hardened. “No. They’re believers to the core. They were the first to turn away.”

  Abril squeezed his hand. “Not everyone did. Some might have helped, might have fought, if they knew they wouldn’t be alone.”

  “We don’t need them,” he insisted. “We’re out, now.”

  Geir stood behind me and brushed my hair back, his fingers running over my neck leaving a trail of shivers as they passed.

  “Ready to go?”

  I glanced out at the darkening valley. “Already? Tianna won't be meeting us for hours yet.”

  He leaned over until all I could feel was his presence, his body pressed against mine.

  “That’s true. But there's something I've been looking forward to all day.

  “Oh.”

  Did I think the trip between the river and our little room had gotten routine? Not this time.

  Geir said nothing, did nothing but rub his thumb in slow arcs over the back of my hand as we walked through the darkness, but by the time I stood before our bed every nerve was on fire.

  He paced behind me, his energy electric. “I don’t think you’ll need this for the rest of the night.” Gently he turned me around, slid the coat from my shoulders and let it fall in a puddle on the floor.

  I couldn’t look away from his eyes as his gaze roamed over my body, a predator about to consume its prey.

  Hungry.

  Wanting.

  This time, I didn’t wait for him, but slowly unbuttoned my shirt, dropped it on the coat, watching his reactions, the tightening in his jaw.

  He dropped to his knees in front of me. “I’ve been dreaming of this.” Pulling me towards him, he licked and nipped at my breasts while unfastening my pants, each touch of his mouth a shock, my breaths coming faster until dizzy I clung to his shoulders for balance.

  “Hang on, babe.” His mouth moved lower as his arms wrapped between my legs, lifting me, spreading me wide.

  “Geir, wait-” With a smooth movement, his head ducked forward, and a cry caught in my throat as I fell back on his waiting hands. No time to catch my breath before a rain of kisses turned into nibbles, up and down my inner thighs, somehow never quite where I wanted them, needed them, darting in, then back until I clawed at his arms in frustration.

  No answer, no mercy from the exquisite torment, until without any warning he pulled me tighter to his mouth, pierced me with his tongue, sucking and lapping at my core until I flew apart in his hands, wailing his name in the half-light.

  I barely noticed when he lay me on the bed, panting, my body alive and trembling in ways unimaginable. And still, I wanted more.

  Geir knelt beside me, his fingers roving over my skin as if he couldn’t stop touching me.

  Rolling towards him, I ran my hand over the front of his pants. The size, the massive hard length of him, caught me off guard, but instead of stopping, I rubbed harder, stroking him through the fabric until he groaned.

  A tiny thrill ran through me.

  I could make him shatter, too.

  My tongue ran over my upper lip. “I think you’re overdressed for the occasion.”

  He wasn’t for long.

  Stretched beside him, I let my hands play across his chest, then lower until I brushed the domed head of his cock.

  The muscles of his stomach clenched as I ran my fingers up and down the velvet shaft, tracked the corded veins, tried to circle the girth of him.

  “Val, you need to stop,” he bit out through gritted teeth.

  “I don’t want to.” I bent towards him, nipped at his shoulder, inhaled the spicy warmth of his body.

  “I don’t want you to.”

  He rolled, bringing me with him until I sat on top, straddling his waist. His broad hands grabbed my hips, grinding my folds down his length. Back and forth over his slick rod until the increasing pressure on my clit sent ripples of pleasure spiraling through me, coiling and building until my back arched, and I lost my voice.

  Fluidly he lifted me, lowered me onto his thick head, let me sink, spearing myself on him, then resumed the maddening pace, lifting and lowering me, sliding deeper and deeper until with a deep groan he pulled me down the last inch.

  His strong fingers stroked, kneaded my hips, my ass, as I settled, shuddering, limp against his chest, but somehow keyed up farther than I’d ever been.

  “Are you alright?” he managed.

  “Yes,” I sighed as I shifted slightly.

  With a low hiss, he held me still. “Stop that.”

  “Stop what?” I teased, as I contracted as hard as I could around him.

  A deep growl was my only warning before we flipped again, now he was on top, covering, caging me with his arms.

  “Stay still,” he whispered, then bent to nuzzle my ear, his hot breath spreading through me as gradually, bit by bit he rocked inside me.

  Every thrust drew me deeper into our tiny world where all that existed was the sound of our breathing, the scent of his skin, the wildness of his eyes. The relentless rhythm pushed me closer and closer to the edge, until I clung to him, frantically kissing, tasting.

  “Please,” I begged, and that one tiny word cracked any restraint he’d held on to, the steady tempo increasing as he drove into me, again and again until together we shattered, and he shouted my name.

  Geir

  Even in my dreams, I could hear Valrea whimper. I rolled, reaching for her, eager to get another taste before we left for our midnight appointment. But she wasn't there.

  The weak sound caught my ears again and I sat up straight.

  Not a moan of pleasure, but of pain.

  Valrea curled into a ball in the far corner of the room, sweaty and shaking.

  “Hey,” I pushed her hair out of her face, shocked. “You’re burning up,” I whispered. “Let’s get you back to bed.”

  “No.” She shook her head. “No, I didn't want you to see me like this.”

  “You’re sick, that's all.” Though I couldn't think of anything that could have struck this quickly. Was she bitten by an insect while we were outside? Just because nothing had happened before didn't mean it was safe.

  I cursed myself while I searched over her, looking for a puncture, a stinger, anything.

  “No,” she weakly jerked her leg away from me. “I'm fine. Just give me a minute.”

  She rolled off the bed and pulled herself up on the wall until her legs gave out beneath her and I caught her.

  “Val, you've got to stay in bed.”

  “No.” Silent tears washed down her face. “They've won. I have to go back.”

  “What are you talking about? Everyone gets sick sometimes.” None of this made sense.

  She closed her eyes. “I'm not sick. I'm an addict.”

  My heart stopped, my breath caught in my throat as her words sunk in.

  An addict.

  No. I wouldn't believe it.

  “I've been with you for days,” I insisted. “You've never needed to take anything.”

  “I have, you just haven't noticed. I never know how strong the dose is, exactly how long it will be before I need anothe
r one.”

  “But what is it? If you don't know what it is why take it?”

  Spasms wracked her body, a cruel mockery of the pleasure we had just shared. I held her until it passed, and she could speak.

  “I take it because I have to. I don't know the first time they gave it to me.”

  A slow building rage replaced my confusion.

  “They gave it to you? Who?”

  “The Companion,” she looked away, shame clouding her face. “It's always from the Companion.”

  She pushed away. “You have to let me go back. I’m a risk to your mission now.”

  “You're out of your mind,” I argued. “You can barely walk.”

  “The worst of it will pass. It always does. I'll be better for a while before it strikes again.”

  Another cramp struck, and she coiled on herself.

  “Usually.”

  I drew her back into my lap, forcing down my fury.

  “Val, you may be addicted to whatever they gave you. But you didn't choose this. This isn't your fault.”

  “Fault doesn't matter, don't you get it?” her flat eyes passed across my face, empty, hopeless. “This is my punishment. It just happens.”

  “Punishment for what? If they've drugged you with this poison since you were a child, what could possibly justify it?”

  She closed her eyes, sagged against my chest, quiet for so long I thought she had collapsed back into unconsciousness.

  “I don't know,” she finally whispered. “I used to ask, but they never told me. Now I don't give them the satisfaction.”

  I held her, rocking, my mind in chaos.

  We had to get those codes. If nothing else, I needed access to a shuttle, a hopper, anything to get Valrea off this accursed island.

  I owed it to my brothers, dead and living. I owed it to myself to get the plans that would lead to a successful attack, get us all answers.

  But I couldn't let Valrea go back to the monsters that had done this to her.

  “I trusted you when it was time for that rescue plan, right babe?” I kissed her forehead, watched her eyes flutter behind the lids.

  “Yeah. You did. Probably shouldn’t have.”

  “Then I need you to trust me this time. I'm going to go to the meeting with Tianna. And then I'm going to get your pills.”

  “Tianna won’t trust you, not by yourself.”

  True. “I’ve got the phrase from Abril,” I muttered. “She’ll believe that.”

  Valrea choked out a barking laugh. “Yeah. Fine. Tell her the clamp is backward, and I couldn’t make it. Maybe she’ll believe that, too.”

  “What?”

  “If Abril can send a code phrase, so can I.”

  “Fine, I can do that.”

  “But you can’t get the pills. Get the codes and go.”

  I smoothed the hair back from her face, wishing I could smooth away the lines of pain as easily. “Not happening, babe.”

  “The pills are in the Companion’s room. Only the Companion has access to them.”

  Then I will rip the Companion apart until I get access, I thought.

  “You don't worry about that. You just wait for me, all right?”

  Her hand gripped mine tightly. “But what if you don't come back?

  I would. Nothing would stop me.

  But in her fever-induced fears, she couldn’t believe me.

  “Wait as long as you can, promise me that? I'll tell Tianna to keep checking the tunnel. If she finds you, she can take you back. But she won't need to.”

  I tucked Valrea into the bed, wishing for deep pillows and cool sheets, rather than a rough blanket stretched over branches. Hell, a narrow bunk in medbay would suit me just fine.

  “I'll be back for you, I promise. Get some rest.”

  I forced myself to turn away, hurrying to the meeting place.

  And I'd burn the Compound down around them all to return to her safely.

  By the time I pulled myself up into the maintenance corridor I was furious.

  Tianna waited for me, face taut and pale. "Why are you late? What happened?” She looked behind me. “Where’s Val?”

  “What is wrong with you people? I roared. “I thought you were her friend. How could you let that be done to her?”

  Eyes wide, Tianna raised her hands and stepped back. “I don't know what you’re talking about. Where is she?”

  “She is sick,” I ground out from clenched teeth as I loomed over the woman. “Because the madmen who run this precious Compound decided it would be fun to punish her for something. And never tell her what it was. Just randomly torture her.” I slammed my fist into the wall. “What the hell is going on in this place?”

  Tianna’s shoulders sank. “I don't know.” She leaned against the wall. “I'm not sure if I ever did.”

  “Then why are you here?” I demanded. “None of this makes any sense.”

  “It did once, I think. At least, it did to my parents. As far as why I’m still here, I've never had a choice.”

  “What?”

  She waved her arms over her head. “Everyone here, we’re pretty much all descendants of the General’s first followers. They came here to execute the plan. We’re still working on it. We’ve never left.”

  “What sort of plan takes this long? And what does this have to do with Val?”

  She shook her head. “By the time I took over in mechanicals the original files had been sealed, corrupted or lost. I don't know what the delay was, or if the plan changed. But it didn't matter. Here we were. We had to try to make lives, families.”

  I could see it. I could see the arrogant bastard of the dossier leading his people off to a hidden retreat, sealing them away from the Empire until the time was right. But what went wrong?

  “Please,” she risked touching my arm and I tried not to snarl at her for Valrea's sake. “My daughter, is she all right? Did she survive?”

  Dammit. I had just torn into a terrified mother for things she had no control over. Good job working on that caring business, guy.

  “Yes. They're both fine. Not interested in doing that again, but okay.”

  She looked at me expectantly and I remembered.

  “Abril said ‘breaking dawn’.” I remembered Valrea’s addition. “And Val says to tell you the clamp is in backward. Or upside down. That what you needed to hear?”

  She nodded, the tension finally seeping from her body. Tianna bit her lip, nodded. “Stanton was there, he could've overheard. But she trusted you. So will I.”

  I started to say more, but she cut me off.

  “I don't want to know where they are, it's not safe.” She swallowed. “They’ll have to find their own way, but at least they’ve escaped. You've done your part. I wish I could do more.”

  “If you've got those codes, that'll be enough.”

  She slid open a tile of the corridor and pulled out a tablet, no larger than my hand.

  “This will bypass all the seals in the compound.” She looked up at me. “Val said you could end this. If she right?”

  “We’re damn well going to try.”

  “Not everyone here wanted to be involved. We didn’t have any choices. When you come back, because I assume you will, try to remember that, all right?”

  I reached for the tablet then stopped, thought.

  She was right. Some people here were surely complicit in the General’s plan, whatever it had been, whatever he turned into.

  But some people, people like Tianna and Abril had just been born here, stuck in a trap they hadn’t walked into.

  I pointed the tip of a red cloth peeking out from the corner of her gray uniform.

  “Those rags easy to get a hold of?”

  “Sure, use them for damn near everything.”

  “Maybe make sure to have one with you, hand them out to other folks you feel confident aren't involved with this. When we come back I promise I'll let my brothers know.”

  She nodded. “That's fair. Thank you. Let me show y
ou what you've got in here.” She double tapped the screen and flipped to the side. “Here's a map, no use having a bunch of keys if you don't know where the doors are.”

  By the time she finished I had a good sense of the layout of the Compound. The lab that Valrea had been so desperate to get to, the generator for the security dome.

  “Now, I need to get into the Hall.

  “This will do it, but that's the most protected area of the compound. It won't be easy. The only maintenance access is above ground.”

  I shook my head. “Doesn’t matter. Valrea needs something there. And I'm going to get it.”

  I crept through the maintenance tubes, following the path Tianna had shown me.

  She’d set the cameras to cycle on and off here. This was how she'd been able to meet us while knowing that none of her juniors would be spying on her movements.

  When I emerged above ground I slid flat and stayed still.

  A map was well and good, actually seeing the campus around me was different, always was.

  If you didn't know better you'd think it was some sort of government facility, maybe a school. Lots of buildings scattered around grounds mostly paved over. Only a few highly regimented patches of the wildness past the dome were left as a silent protest against this intrusion.

  I might've spent most of my life on starships and stations, but I didn't like the look of the place.

  Under the pale, persistent light of the dome, everything was quiet. Maybe you didn't need many guards if no one knew who to trust, policed themselves out of terror.

  I took note of the small scattering of shuttles on the landing pad in the center of the campus.

  Any number of them would suit my purpose for getting back to Orem. Tomorrow, after I had Valera’s medicine, we’d take it and be gone.

  I turned my back to the landing pad and focused on the approach to the hall.

  Not the largest of the buildings, but the only one that had been designed with anything other than the most basic utilitarian architecture.

  I crept from shadow to shadow, all of my enhanced senses stretched to the limit.

  Couples giggled in the dormitory, a pair of young men scuffling over something probably stupid on the top floor, the whispers of guards on their patrols in the hall.