Cloud Rebel (R-D #3)(3)

"I have muted it. Now is not the time, if ever it will be."

"Now I know why you didn't influence the Council to kill her outright."

"She is Larentii, no matter how she arrived at that state."

"Sure. That's your excuse and you're sticking with it."

"She may not understand the concept of multiple mates—that is foreign to her in her other existences."

"I understand that. Let's see how it works with Valegar. I may consider dealing with the problem experienced by her previous mate—should I find him worthy."

"That is my desire," Kal agreed. "To see that he is worthy, before offering relief from the obsession and a place among immortals."

"Just keep those trackers away from him until I make a decision," Breanne said.

"I will inform Valegar."

"Thank you."

*

Notes—Colonel Hunter

"Did you receive the number and address from James?" I asked. Rafe had reached Vancouver and was now checking in.

"I have them," Rafe acknowledged. "It's late—I'll contact him in the morning."

"Good idea. Let me know what you've learned after talking with him."

"I will."

*

Vancouver

Ilya

Something about this assignment worried me. No—not from Colonel Hunter's standpoint—the name and phone number concerned me.

A great deal.

That's why I wanted to wait until the following day; I could plan my moves in case this turned out to be a trap.

I'd seen too many similar cases in my past to believe otherwise.

It made me wish for her—and her talents—to tell me whether the contact was a safe one. Instead, I found myself boarding a tourist bus headed for Stanley Park that afternoon, so I could clear my head and think.

*

Larentii Archives

Corinne

"Your acceptance was never in question," Nefrigar explained. "I am sorry you believed your life in danger at any time."

"But he said," I began. I felt like crying. Tears, when I hadn't taken in anything but sunlight for more than a year, were more than difficult to make. I wanted to cry them anyway.

"I know—and perhaps he meant those words when he first came upon you," Nefrigar replied. "I believe his mind was changed moments later. Perhaps he will explain that to you himself, someday."

"I don't expect the Head of the Larentii Council to waste his time on a drug survivor," I muttered, turning away.

Before our private meeting, Nefrigar had to chase Valegar away—Val was determined to see to my every need for some reason.

"Ah, but you are quite special. He should have explained that to you at the beginning," Nefrigar smiled gently. "I do not wish to upset you, but someday, I hope he takes time to tell you how special you truly are."

"If he doesn't intend to kill me, then he doesn't have to waste his time," I said. Yes, I felt shaky—a throwback to my previous lives that at times I couldn't dismiss. I wasn't sure any naturally born Larentii ever suffered from permanent emotional or psychological problems.

"I can tell you this much—every Larentii who sees you knows it," Nefrigar's smile widened. "You are an unreadable. Unless you expend a certain type of energy, as you did on Earth, or send mindspeech to one of us, we cannot locate you. That's how special you are."

"Then what's to keep me from just disappearing from here?" I asked.

"You have the tiniest of chips implanted—Kalenegar saw to that himself at the beginning. He will be able to find you, and now, because he has given permission, Valegar and I can find you as well. If anyone intends you harm and you are unable to protect yourself, we will know."

"Why tell me all this?" I hunched my shoulders.

"Because he has received word from one of the Three," Nefrigar beamed. "You and Valegar have been given permission to go back to Earth in the past and sort the difficulty created by the Lyristolyi and their drug."

"I'm not endangering Ilya," I said.

"Ah, but you will be in a position to protect him," Nefrigar said. "I believe that's the intention—I hear that those remaining are to have their blood neutralized of the drug—Valegar knows how to do this—in order to allow them to live their lives without fear of reprisal or of someone obtaining their blood for illicit purposes."

"So Val will be going, too?"

"I don't believe he can be torn from your side for long," Nefrigar chuckled.

"I don't believe this," I dropped my face in my hands. "What about Auggie and the others?"

"By all means, approach them if you want, merely explain that your doings are controlled by you and no other. You may take his suggestions under advisement, but your decisions will be your own."

"I want to kick Matt Michaels' ass," I said.

"Tell him that," Nefrigar said. "Although I doubt you'd follow through with that threat."

"He could have done something to protect Nick and Maye. He didn't lift a finger," I huffed. I was still angry—and sad—about that.

"It is often that way—when the powerful are undecided as to what to do in such circumstances. Whether their interfering will alter the timeline too greatly and affect everything adversely afterward."