Destin's Hold (The Alliance #5)(34)
“No, I have not,” Sula replied in what she hoped was a calm voice.
“Why not? What are you waiting for? Can’t you break his access codes?” Andric demanded.
“If you want access to them so badly, why didn’t you have Father send you to Earth? You are just as good at breaking into the computers as I am,” Sula snapped.
“Father thought you being a female would work better. Both the Trivators and the human males believe females to be less of a threat and would be less likely to suspect you. Why is it taking so long?” Andric pointed out.
Sula quickly hid her emotions. She would not let Andric know that his callous words hurt her. The oldest out of all of them, he was also the most blunt. Drawing in a deep breath, she glared down at the screen wishing she had refused Andric’s transmission. He had been tossing questions at her every step back to Destin’s living quarters.
“I know what my assignment is, Andric. I do not answer to you, but to Father. I will discover any information I can about the missing humans and report it directly to him,” she replied in a cool tone.
“Badrick’s family is pressuring for retribution. They want the human male and Razor held accountable for his death,” Andric warned.
“I am well aware of Councilor Badrick’s family’s petition and their desire to invoke the Law of Retribution. Father is also aware that the fact that Razor is a Trivator, a member of the Alliance, and the Chancellor and it would make it dangerous to allow any such action,” Sula reminded her brother.
“But not for the human,” Andric retorted. “Get the information, Sula. Father doesn’t care how you do it. Seduce the bastard if you have to, but get it.”
“I know what needs to be done, Andric,” Sula whispered, seeing the flash of grief on his face. “I also know why you are so desperate. As soon as I find out the locations of the missing humans, I will let you know. Be careful, brother. There are strange things happening in the galaxy.”
“Same to you, Sula,” Andric said with an expression of regret in his eyes. “I didn’t mean the last part.”
“I know,” Sula replied with a tender smile. “But, it isn’t a bad idea,” she added with a mischievous grin before she ended the transmission.
Her heart hurt for her brother. While she loved to pick on him, she also knew the heavy burden he faced. Their father was ill. Sula hadn’t missed the tiredness in her father’s voice or the concern in her mother’s eyes. Nor had she missed the frequent visits from a long line of healers the last time she had been home. She suspected that was one reason she had been sent to the Trivator home world, then to Earth. Her father wanted to right the wrong that had been done and he knew that she was not only very skilled in research, she could also be trusted to help find the women. He had her other brothers doing the same. While she hadn’t wanted to come at first, wishing Sirius had been assigned instead after her last disastrous encounter with the Trivators and Destin, she was now very thankful.
“Sounds like your brother is pretty determined for you to ask me something,” Destin commented.
Sula jumped and clutched the tablet to her chest. Her face flushed and she stared at Destin with wide, startled eyes. A shiver ran through her when she saw the icy reserve in his eyes. Automatically, her gaze swept over his damp hair, bare shoulders, broad chest, and down to the towel that hung low around his hips. He leaned against the door frame and crossed his arms.
“I… Yes, Andric…,” Sula started to say before she bit her lip and looked down. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you. It is just when we are together…” Her lips curved into a rueful smile. “I have trouble thinking of anything else.”
“I think you should talk to me now,” Destin said, straightening and walking over to pull out some clean clothes.
Sula watched his stiff movements. “Destin,” she whispered, placing the tablet on the table near the bed and walking over to him. Her hand ran down along his back. “It is not what you might think.”
She could feel him stiffen at her touch. Her mind played back the conversation she’d just had with her brother, seeing it from Destin’s point-of-view. If she had heard a conversation in reference to what was said like he had, she too would have felt betrayed and suspicious as well.
Destin turned toward her. “What should I think?” he asked, his jaw tight when she slid her hand up over his bare chest and tangled her fingers in his dark chest hair.
“That my father is mortified and devastated by Badrick’s betrayal. The Usoleum value family, and despite my desire to torture my brothers, I love them very much and they love me. What Badrick did was not only unthinkable to my people, but harmful to our relationship with the Trivators and the Alliance. We depend on them for protection,” she explained in a soft, hesitant voice, staring up into his eyes. “We are a peaceful people, Destin. Others know that and would take advantage. Our strength is our logic and tactics, which makes us a valuable ally, but left to fare on our own, we would crumble against the brute force of our enemies.”
“Do you honestly expect me to believe your brother is desperate enough to want you to seduce me in order to save a bunch of women – alien women – who he doesn’t even know in order to keep the peace with the Trivators?” Destin demanded with a cynical expression.