In Service

IN SERVICE

Mima

www.loose-id.com

Warning This e-book contains sexually explicit scenes and adult language and may be considered offensive to some readers. Loose Id® e-books are for sale to adults ONLY, as defined by the laws of the country in which you made your purchase. Please store your files wisely, where they cannot be accessed by under-aged readers.

In Service Mima This e-book is a work of fiction. While reference might be made to actual historical events or existing locations, the names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Published by Loose Id LLC 1802 N Carson Street, Suite 212-2924 Carson City NV 89701-1215 www.loose-id.com

Copyright © September 2008 by Mima All rights reserved. This copy is intended for the purchaser of this e-book ONLY. No part of this e-book may be reproduced or shared in any form, including, but not limited to printing, photocopying, faxing, or emailing without prior written permission from Loose Id LLC.

ISBN 978-1-59632-773-3 Available in Adobe PDF, HTML, MobiPocket, and MS Reader

Printed in the United States of America

Editor: Vanessa Lillie Cover Artist: Anne Cain

Dedication To my Dad An example of the integrity found in all my heroes You always told me I could do anything

Chapter One The emergency lights flashed midnight-aqua, midnight-aqua. After a battle, Shon always regained color first. As usual, today he’d come out of Fury into a world of silent chaos. Sound would come later, along with pain. Please let me not have turned on my own. Please. The same old prayer because he could never remember. His gut twisted. Had he maimed any of his team this time? It was always a mental test to put together what had happened from the moment he lost himself in his…gift. The current scene arrived like a lightning strike to his consciousness. A quick scan of the room showed situation critical, no hostiles present. Or rather, none alive. The shattered carapaces of two stalker bugs and half a sucker lay scattered around his team. The disk of light that was the bastards’ jump gate, a particle transport, rippled as it did after a recent use. Kor, his youngest soldier, was planted right in front of it, defiant and too fragile without his armor. Shon wracked his memory, retracing. Remember what had come before… He and Vel had been laughing over some foolish political story from court. Then the alarm had blared . The spirit-damned bugs weren't supposed to be here. He'd run from their apartment, pausing only to grab a weapon and his torso armor. Grady had been on duty guarding the bug's jump gate. Vel had phazed in a direct line through the station walls toward his lover. With a gift like Vel's, nothing could separate him from Grady. He went molecular and passed right through absolutely anything. Kor's psychic gift had reached out and mentally knocked. Shon had let him into his head. Instantly, the four-man team had connected into a seamless fighting machine as each warrior became aware of the other through Kor's gift. Vel, a mental static in midphaze. Kor, hauling ass from the far side of the station, unarmed, dressing on the run. And then Grady had taken a hit. Grady, burning with pain, struggling to hold his position. Grady down on

2

Mima

one knee, the only thing between starving bugs pouring out the gate and the small space station. That was the last coherent thought Shon had before Fury had splintered his brain away. There was nothing but a black shadow in his head to tell him he’d lost time. Now Kor was double fisted with a standard laser pump in one hand and Grady’s monster ion bolt in the other. His lips were moving and the taut cords in his throat indicated shouting. Shon managed to read one word from his lips: medic. Kor dripped bug guts, a vivid purple on the pale skin of his bare back. The glowing green oval gate he now guarded framed his wide shoulders perfectly. The collusion of the blue emergency lights, the purple gore, and the absinthe gate was kind of pretty. No, there weren’t any hostiles anymore. But having taken in the prior scene in a moment, he still judged the situation critical based on the two men on the floor. His team. His men. Shon looked down. Red. Black-red, violet-red across a silver floor. Grady’s immense body leaning over Vel. One of Vel’s legs bouncing in a flopping movement Shon recognized as shock. A muscle’s spasm of disconnected nerves. Shon fell to his knees opposite Grady, choking to get his voice back and help, but he was still trapped in a temporary deafmute state. Sound would return soon, and with it, his voice. Glancing across at Grady’s furious, focused face, he caught a glimpse of white bone through the flaps of skin and muscle hanging amid the tattered half of his body armor. Grady was going to crash soon. Looking at the red mess that was Vel, Shon tried to assess. When he saw the wounds, he was able to take a clear breath. It hadn’t been him. Once more he’d avoided shredding his own men in Fury. Yet another lucky roll of the dice. It looked like Vel had taken two pincer strikes in his torso and shoulder, and narrowly missed a carotid strike with a proboscis. Shit. Grady was on the torso and neck, so Shon took the shoulder. He ripped open his torso armor one-handed and got a fistful of shirt. He grabbed and ripped and stuffed the fabric into Vel. He’d just finished with a third handful when he sensed movement. He leaped and spun in midair, landing low and battle ready. It was the human combat team, swarming in, finally, dressed to the nines in full armor, right down to face plates. They stank of fear. Still, a med tech trotted in after the team, secured the corridor, and took over on Vel. Shon moved back. Bits of sound were coming back by now, tinny and distorted. “-- fucking survive, you mother-fucking bastard! Hear me Vel! You have no right --” “-- evidence of three hostiles, team leader! Repeat! Do we decontaminate or do we collect?” “-- shut the fuck up, Grady, and let the men work! Get your ass down on the ground before your stupid shit-for-brains falls down!” At the same time the last of Kor’s words became clear, pain exploded through his right leg. He glanced down. Red didn’t show up on black fatigues very well. Fatigues? Ah, yes. He’d only taken the time to grab his torso armor. Shon finally heard the low, pulsing drone

In Service

3

of the alert siren that kicked in whenever the gates went live. The sound settled into his wound. Shon went to Grady, wrestling him back from Vel, getting up in his face. “Grady! He’s alive! Focus!” Grady stopped shouting long enough to focus on Shon, those incredible blue eyes melding with the flashing lights. “Do you have him?” Shon shouted over the siren. He saw the terror flash across Grady’s face and knew it was bad. Ah, shit. No. Not that. He grabbed the neck of Grady’s armor in his fist and shook it. He barely moved the larger man, but Grady focused on him again. Shon’s throat burned as he screamed over the voices of the men, the constant siren. “You keep him! Hold tight! He’s yours now! Focus!” Grady’s face got that icy, vicious battle look Shon loved to see. He nodded once at Shon, a thin purple trickle of viscera dripping off his clenched jaw. Shon turned on the human team leader. “Turn that fucking siren off now! Collect anything bigger than your hand, decon anything else!” “Yes, sir!” Shon turned back to Grady, who was practically vibrating with rage as he stared down at Vel’s field-patched body being loaded onto a mag mover. He worked on opening Grady’s armor seam. “Your goal is to hold him. That’s an order.” “Yes, sir! He’s not going a fucking inch, sir!” “Make sure, Grady, ’cause when you go under that bond has to be like iron.” Grady’s eyes seemed to disappear every time the aqua flashed across the room. Shon glimpsed his steady stare as the darker blue pulsed. “I’m ready, Shon.” Grady lowered himself down into the muck on the floor, knocking a bug leg out of the way. He nodded to Kor. “My gun looks good on you, kid.” “Shut the fuck up, Grady.” Kor’s standard reply to most comments. Shon cut the armor from around the wound area with a heat knife, trying to pick out strips of muscle from the armor so they could be reattached. By the time Grady passed out, the damn alarm was off. The white lights on full were almost another sort of attack. Eventually, the humans took Grady and Vel away. They fussed at him but he snarled and they fell back. “Are you going to be able to stand duty?” he asked Kor. The younger man never took his eyes off the gate. “I’m certainly not going to be sitting on my ass.”

4

Mima

“Thanks, Kor. Is your armor in your room or the lock up? I’ll get it for you.” “My room.” It wasn’t supposed to be, but Shon didn’t say anything. When he turned to go, Kor’s low voice stopped him. “There were sixteen, Shon. A full quad. What’s with that shit? This station barely has enough life to feed them all, let alone gorge.” Shon looked around the room at the men scooping parts into little glass boxes. It was unusual to have this many leftovers. Most times, the bugs took their dead with them. “You must have taken at least six before Vel fell, and then Grady went offline, and I thought we were all dead, but I managed to get a few. Grady and Vel had taken a couple before you got here. It was some righteous carnage, Shon. Fucking brilliant, until Vel fell. You are a thing of beauty when you get your crazy on.” Shon didn’t feel beautiful. He felt old. He turned to go to their rooms, but Kor’s voice stopped him again. When he looked over his shoulder, Kor’s eyes were still glued to the gate, weapons at the ready. “Shon, we won’t lose them. It isn’t gonna happen.” He forgot sometimes how young Kor was. Still, he triple-timed it back to their apartment, gritting his teeth through the pain in his thigh. He collected Kor’s gear, and sprinted back. Once Kor was suited up and armed with his own weapons, he knew the soldier would have a fighting chance. The decon was done, the floor sparkly clean and reeking of solvents. Shaking, he followed the humans to the hangar and oversaw the containment of the bug parts. Every piece of their enemy, the Veylon, would be analyzed. Barely standing, he went to sick bay. Grady was still in surgery, expected to recover, and Vel was in a coma from blood loss. They were still assessing whether or not he'd live if they took him to surgery, and he needed surgery to live. All Shon could do was say, “No matter the risk. You get him in surgery. He has to live.” The humans didn't know that Grady and Vel were lifemated. They didn't know that if Vel went, Grady would go, too. Shon staggered to their rooms, sick with despair. He’d sworn he’d never lose another team member after Rik. He wouldn’t consider the pain of losing two. Anya and Bea waited at the door. They took good care of him, giving him a field patch on a really spectacular, textbook cross-slice on his thigh. As they finished washing him down, he looked at them. The women were his team’s servers, trained to transfer energy to them, the Luo. They were both beautiful, both professional. He ached to lay them down and drink. It burned in his spine and his core and his throat. But he couldn’t. Grady would need everything they had.

In Service

5

“Shon, we know Vel and Grady are hurt. We got it through the station news.” Bea’s mouth trembled. She’d been with them for four months, quite awhile by his team’s server record. “We’re all alive, Bea. Everything else is manageable. Kor just has superficial wounds.” “All right. When will we get Vel and Grady back from sick bay?” He looked at Anya. She’d been with them for two months. She hadn’t performed well in her first month, when they were on missions, but he’d known the R & R was coming up and wanted to give her more consideration because she was stronger than several of the servers they’d had recently. R & R. What a joke. “Vel won’t be coming back soon. I hope Grady will return to us tomorrow.” If he woke up. If his bond with his lifemate didn’t drag him into a coma as well. “Grady’s bad. I’m assigning both of you to him.” The two women looked at each other, then looked down. His throat swelled. Spirit damn him to eternal pain. He could order soldiers till the stars went dark, but he hated it when his servers had to take risks. Grady was going to come back drinking for two. It was extremely probable he’d crash both women. The crash would leave them shells in terms of energy, possibly never able to serve again. “You should let one of us work with you tonight,” Bea protested. She was never very good at tactics. She was much too soft-hearted for an active team. “No. I need you to be at full strength.” “But we could heal you, and we’ll still --” “He said no, Bea.” Anya turned to Shon, blinking enormous brown eyes. “I should take him first,” she said. “But when is Trina’s replacement coming?”

Good question. She’d been gone two days. He should have been notified by now. Well, wasn’t that an interesting revelation? His team down one server, and a highly improbable bug attack hits on Grady’s duty. Spirit-down-a-hole, this was the Duke’s doing. That son of a bitch. That traitorous, bug-sucking, weasel-fucked -“Sir! Shon, Sir! Please, don’t!” Anya’s fear scent jolted him more than her chatter. She was out of her chair and turned toward the door, about to run. A flare of interest sharpened his eyesight before he managed to bring it under control. “Anya, how many times have I told you? Don’t run from me when I get like that. It just makes it worse.” A quick glance showed Bea curled into an inhumanly small ball in her chair. Her fear scent was only slightly less. He sighed. “Thanks for the help, ladies. Get some sleep. Grady will need you soon.” Before the door had closed, he was already reaching for the com. He was going to go out of the chain-of-command for this. He needed three new servers, and he needed them yesterday. He also needed an investigator at the High Post who didn’t have any ties to the Council. His leg throbbed and burned. He’d do anything he could to get his men a new

6

Mima

server within twelve hours, and then he’d settle in for a long, bitter hunt. The Duke was going to pay.

***** Malla held the cold vid plate in her hand. The luxurious office of the headmistress faded as she focused on her first assignment portfolio. Team Epsilon 983 specialized in extractions. The four-man Elite team was on an easy backwater watch for a month of R & R, their first in five years. The gate had been dormant for twenty years. They’d been stationed there for two weeks with three servers, when one of their servers petitioned for a lifemate and was granted leave by the team and by High Post. Forty-four hours after she left, the incursion occurred, wounding three of the team. One of them had since gone into a coma. Within twelve hours of the incursion, one of the servers had crashed and been recalled to her base at Rialto. That was two days ago. The team’s emergency request for three new servers had been given two days’ scrutiny at two other server training bases before landing here. There was a blinking red thumb reader in the corner of the screen, telling her that sensitive information was embedded further into the report. If she pressed her thumb there, she was under oath to never speak of what she saw. Malla looked up. Headmistress was at her window, which was currently displaying a massage class. A lovely cottage garden had been pictured when Malla entered. “Well? Shall you continue?” Malla licked her lips. She was eight months from graduation. It was very early to be offered a placement, and these men really couldn’t wait. Headmistress was in effect asking if Malla was willing to leave school early. She must think she was ready. Servers were desperately needed across the worlds. Luo teams weren’t effective without them, limiting their mobility to short range efforts off of large carrier ship bases. The war was in a holding pattern, and had been for the last year. All the bittersweet gains they’d made in the recent years were teetering on the brink. Yet volunteers for servers had trickled away after a few high-profile team disasters. Luo were volatile, and their missions were dangerous. What did people think? It was going to be nothing but great sex? Malla turned her attention to her headmistress’s question. Should she continue? Alarm bells went off in her head. The bugs were unpredictable. That’s why all known bug gates were guarded, no matter how old. But the coincidence of a bug incursion on a twenty-year dormant gate just after an Elite team had lost one of their servers seemed suspicious. The team had some sort of restricted file. They should have had priority service and been restaffed within a day. But now they were down two servers, and had wounded to heal. Their file was shuffled from school to school like steaming fresh poo. Malla reviewed their basic team makeup.

In Service

7

Grady. 42. Communications specialist, distance aggression specialist. Shon. 36. Team leader. Body aggression specialist, tactics specialist. Vel. 34. Medical specialist, vehicle specialist. Kor. 25. Systems specialist, navigation specialist. The perfect team. Their specialties blended seamlessly, and each had myriad other skill designations that provided redundancy and a deeper scope. Grady and Shon had been together for almost twenty years, from the beginning of the war. Vel had been with them for ten and Kor had joined them when they’d lost a member six years ago. An extraction team that had survived intact for six years of this war was a miracle. These men were the best. Should she continue? She wasn’t done with her program. They were an active duty team involved in battles she’d rather stay out of. But those faces. Malla’s fingers itched to touch the clenched jaw of the team leader, Shon. His eyes were black and full of rage. He stared out of the picture as if one false move would bring him right through the vid screen and onto her throat. She could help them. She knew she could. She, Malla, could serve each of these men. She was convinced of it. Her thumb pressed to the corner of the tablet. She heard the headmistress let out a deep breath. Shifting in her chair, she read the protected information with disbelief. Merdino Blakingvel Rum’ondis, known as Vel, was the Crown Prince of Shaubia, son of King Rosswenifal, who controlled the seat of Allied space -- and he had chosen to lifemate with Grady. Besides that multi-layered political bomb, every man on Team Epsilon 983 was gifted. In Luo terms, this made them leaders. In human terms, this made them terrifying. Grady was a mindwiper, hostilely psychic, wreaking havoc with people’s brains. Shon was a berzerker, summoning adrenaline beyond human capacity for extra strength and endurance. Vel was a phazer, able to pass through most objects, and Kor was a telepathic networker, connecting minds if they had psychic ability. No wonder they were one of the best. “What do you think? Intrigued? They would be a challenge for a novice.” Malla looked up, jaw agape. Headmistress was behind her opulent wooden desk, the window showing a soothing space scene of a pulsing, rainbow-hued nova. “Headmistress, why are you showing me this placement? I’m months from graduating.” The older woman opened a drawer, took out a polished bronze medallion, and laid it in the center of the desk.

Elite server Malla Quyoon Base, 34025 “Oh!” Malla stared at the disk, shocked. “I’m an Elite ?” To think she’d wondered why Headmistress was always throwing all those bodies in bed with her… This was going to set her apart. Delight, pride, and unease swirled through her.

8

Mima

“Malla, you tested Elite when you arrived. I’ve kept you here for over two years because I believed you needed the confidence a more complete education would bring, despite my advisors’ disapproval. Even when servers have raw power, they are more effective when they can master control. Given this opportunity, you’ve grown in skills and power. I hope your case has shown the cabinet the power of education, how it will serve the future greater for its investment.” Malla nodded seriously. “The training was invaluable. I don’t know if I still feel quite ready.” “In any case, this is an extraordinary group of men, and they are in extraordinary need. The team is adamant they will only accept female servers with Veylon experience. You fit their profile, and several of their psych profiles as well, I might add. You can look at those later.” Malla’s fingers twitched, eager for that access. “I have absolutely every confidence you will serve this team successfully. However, the situation is not good. The Prince is in a coma, and his lifemate is draining their remaining server to keep him alive. She will no doubt be burned out by the time you arrive, making you the sole provider. The other two men are starving themselves, fearing for a human woman’s safety at this point.” Headmistress flicked her robes smooth, an irritated gesture. “There's a highly suspicious High Post approval requirement on this placement, which is how the last two bases have had their offered servers turned down. Enough is enough. Someone is trying to kill this team slowly where the initial attack failed to kill them quickly. The situation is dire, and these men deserve better. They deserve you. You could be on their station in ten hours if you leave now.” “The Prince… I’m not exactly court material. I’ve never been good with formality.” “He’s only the Prince part-time. What have I taught you?” Malla’s lips twitched. “All men work the same.” “Yes, dear.” Malla reached out a shaking hand and lifted the heavy medallion. It was thick, the edges inscribed with a leaf pattern, the symbol of her base. The back contained a com patch that, once activated, would relate as much of her personal, medical, historical, and educational file as she chose. It was a travel pass, a medical update, a financial credit line, and a badge of respect that would grant her access to high-end facilities across Allied space. Shifting her gaze to the vid tablet in her other hand, she looked at the images of each of the men. Hard faces, handsome faces, scarred faces, cold faces. Warriors who gave their all, some when they didn’t even have to. Her nipples tightened. They called to something deep within her body. This was what she’d come here for, a survivor aching for revenge. The bug attack she’d survived had taken her co-workers and her dreams of a normal life. But looking

In Service

9

at the reality of an actual assignment, she didn’t ache to be a good little server, a cog in the war. She ached to be with these men. “You could wait, graduate in a few months. I’m sure I could find you an exploratory team.” That had been the goal she’d listed at the beginning of this, her final study year. She’d imagined herself discovering new areas of safety away from the Veylon bugs. She’d imagined a life relatively distant from ever seeing the disgusting, violent things again. Lifting her gaze to the kind regard of the headmistress, Malla pressed her thumb into the black “DEPLOY” box. The tablet chirped. Headmistress reached out her hand for the medallion and Malla passed it to her. She pressed it against the heavy, ancient key that hung on a thick gold chain around her neck. The medallion lit up with a soft amber glow, then faded to opaque metal again. She passed it back to Malla. “Congratulations, graduate, on your first placement. You are now on a month trial as a permanent team member to Epsilon 983. Your shuttle is powering up and leaving in ten minutes.” Malla blinked. She took in a deep breath, and let it out shakily. Then a blinding, huge smile spread across her face. “They won’t know what hit them.” “That’s my girl. Rip up their sheets, Malla. Remember your training and have fun.”

10

Mima

Chapter Two Six hours later, Malla was fuming. She had been sitting on the cold, waffle-grid bench for almost an hour. Her ass felt numb and lumpy. She glared at the teafé, fragrant and steamy in her ice cold hand. She barely refrained from dumping the drink on the hangar floor. But no, that would give her position away. She would be serene. She would be competent. She would escape. Her third transport had landed and, once again, signed her off to the station security crew as if she were a package. Malla sat with her one tiny mag case hovering beside her. Her first inkling something was wrong was when no one approached her with information on her next leg. After fifteen minutes, she’d gone to the deck manager, and been politely rebuffed with an excuse of ignorance. After another fifteen minutes, they hadn’t offered her a private room, a breach of protocol. When she stood and crossed to the hangar’s station door, someone had hurried over with papers for her to sign. She knew a stalling tactic when she saw one. Still, she’d sat and finished the four pages of papers. Now, they’d brought her the teafé. Malla’s brain went from frustrated and confused to outright alarmed. Servers were never offered refreshment. Ever. It was simply too dangerous for them. She’d accepted the cup and, under the cover of her lashes, waited until the deck manager finally wandered to the far side of the hangar. She had to get out of here. Standing, she walked swiftly to the door that led into the main station. “Can’t take uninspected cargo onto the base, ma’am.” A worker clearly functioning as a guard stepped up to her and gestured at her mag case. “I have some paperwork that will bring an inspector to get it through. Shouldn’t take long.” She drew her shoulders back and glared at him. “This isn’t cargo. I’m entitled to one personal piece.”

In Service

11

“It isn’t on your person, Ma’am.” Malla glared at him. She thrust the teafé out at him, and he was startled into taking it. She snatched up the case and pulled out the shoulder straps, then heaved it up onto her shoulders under her cloak. “Have a nice day.” She smiled at him and moved up to the door. “Ma’am, you can’t --” “Don’t.” Malla froze with her hand hovering over the button that would open the door between the hangar and the station proper. “You forget yourself.” She put every inch of her ferocious fury at this ambush into her clenched words. If her eyes had been lasers, he’d be a smoking pile of ash. He was a deck worker, a mechanic at best, probably a maintenance worker. She was a Luo server. No. An Elite server. He shouldn’t have even looked at her, let alone dared to stop her. He pulled his hand back from where it reached for her arm. Malla stepped out into a large, busy walkway. She merged with the stream of people, her heart beating hard, face red with emotion. She couldn’t believe this. Her suspicions were true. They were trying to delay her. Her men were waiting. At this minute, Vel was dying, Grady was terrified, Shon was wounded and dangerous with it, and Kor was starving. Not a dozen steps down the hall, she came to a large business center, where several halls merged. The voices were cacophonous in the large metal space. There. A row of bars. Malla moved toward them, thinking like the wind. That one, with the blinking ship. Once inside, she turned her cloak on. Without the hindrance of a crowd around her, it was now a powerful defense. She negotiated carefully through the tables to the bar. “Excuse me. I saw the ad in your window. I need a private runner. Immediately.” She set her medallion on the bar, in case he hadn’t noticed her cloak. The man at the bar tipped his head. “Not often that a server doesn’t have a ride of her own.” “Where can I hire a runner?” She put her medallion back in her cloak. “Well, it’s your lucky day, sweet cheeks, and mine, too. I can run and outrun anything you want, for a price.” The man next to her at the counter turned her way and smiled. He was relatively clean and had a face old enough to have earned such a statement. His eyes shone with greed. Over the next ten minutes, Malla checked out Captain Krevnoy’s credentials, his ship, and his three-man crew. He checked into High Post’s bank account via her medallion -- she would not feel guilty, and they turned to leave. She was three steps from the door when two men entered and stood blocking it. One was a burly station guard, the other an Allied clerk, by his uniform. Both looked shifty.

12

Mima

Malla stared at the pair of closed faces, noticing how their beady little eyes anxiously swept the suddenly interested room of star-hoppers and travelers. “Server Malla, please come with us. You are hereby called into protective custody,” said the large guard trying to speak quietly, but the closest patrons listened. Malla glanced at his nametag. “That’s ridiculous, Mr. Dotry. Whatever for?” She couldn’t help but notice how her newly hired captain hung back, letting her take the initiative. The clerk, with no name tag, spoke with an outright sneer. “Your Base was never authorized to place a server with incomplete training with an Elite team. You are hereby recalled to your base. We’re here for your safety.” Over the last few hours, Malla had read over the profiles of Team Epsilon 983. Her team. She was already half in love with all of them. They were heroic and intelligent and survivors. Malla thought of her team, waiting for three days for relief. She thought of how they’d survived a bug attack on their R & R and how the lifemates’ lives were hanging in the balance. She thought of how two server training schools hadn’t had a headmistress courageous enough to go to the team’s rescue, when they had rescued so many. She thought of the outrageous, and suspicious, delay. She felt her pulse in her throat. Her knees were loose, but she stiffened them, glad for the floor length cloak. Malla lowered her voice to a sensual, playful purr that surprised her. “Mr. Dotry. Do you know what I am?” Silence expanded around them. Every eye in the bar was now on them. “Yes, of course, ma’am. We were sent for you.” He was patronizing, as if calming a rowdy drunk. “No, Mr. Dotry. I don’t think you quite understand. I am the energy source for a Luo team that is waiting for me. I have no idea why your officers don’t want me to get to them, but I can tell you this will be investigated.” Malla let her voice carry farther, rising with emotion. “And sir, you are not taking me anywhere!” She took a breath and channeled Headmistress. “Step aside.” Mr. Dotry, the brunt of her focus, did so, and she swept forward. But the clerk had less respect. “I’m afraid you’ll need to stay for --” Whatever platitude he’d been about to offer cut off. The members of the waystation staff finally passed beyond rude into illegal. He reached out and sank his grip into the soft flesh of her upper arm. Her scratchy traveling cloak of reflective laser mesh came alive. And he was promptly electrocuted, falling to the floor in convulsions. The two men by the door were the only people who moved in the frozen tableau of the bar. The clerk was choking and flopping. Mr. Dotry took an enormous step farther away from any hint of contact with her cloak.

In Service

13

Malla sent him a beaming smile. She cooed, “Oh, and did they neglect to tell you I am not just any server? I am an Elite. And you are in deep, deep poo. Captain Krevnoy? Shall we continue?” Her heart pounding, her arm throbbing, skin sizzling from the residual charge in her cloak, she swept out, head high.

***** Shon stared at the com in shock. His good leg trembled and he braced his hands on the console. He and Kor had been taking six hour shifts for almost three days. Neither had fed since Anya had crashed. Grady had drunk her dry upon returning from sick bay. She’d been packed off to High Post with the boxes of bug parts. They’d all given her generous parting gifts and sent a prayer for her recovery. Thank Spirit she hadn’t had hysterics but had been stoic about the collapse of her energy well. Grady was eking a healing from Bea, but she wasn’t going to last. Shon was existing on a pattern. Check his men, report for duty, check his hunt, and sleep. Kor had joined the military when the war was well underway and staffing was a welloiled machine. He had never known hunger and wasn’t dealing with it very well. Shon had left Kor in charge of the com as he took care of setting the hunt in motion for that traitorous scum, Duke Lester Harris. A few minutes prior, Kor linked to him, admitting he’d spaced on checking the com over the past day. So, here Shon stood at 10:48, staring at three old messages that left a trail of ice in his veins. He read the words again. And again.

22:04! Elite server assigned and en route. File attached. Arriving approx. 8:40 tomorrow. 4:36! Malla reported missing at waystation Zepron 34. Scrambling trackers to her coordinates. 9:22! Malla’s server key destroyed. Last known coordinates reveal private runnership debris. Four unidentified human remains recovered. Shon bit into his inner cheek when his knee gave out. He sat hard in the chair. Stared at the list of messages. An Elite. Spirit, no. They’d lost her before they even met her. Malla. She would have been worth the wait, he knew, even though it was still inexcusable High Post hadn’t gotten the team someone sooner. And now they’d have to wait all over again. For the Duke to delay and kill whoever he could until Vel and Grady died. He had no doubt that the Duke was behind it all. An Elite had been on a private runnership. No doubt, she was either kidnapped or driven to it by a suspicious escort. The Fury bubbled up. His heart thumped in his chest until his ribs shook from it. Not now. No enemies now. Only his team. Not his team. Not ever his men. He clenched his fists, but the words from the message flashed across his closed eyes. Four unidentified human

14

Mima

remains recovered. Fuck. They’d killed her, because of them. He shook, the pressure building in his head. Balling his fist, he brought it crashing down onto his wounded thigh. He bit his tongue and coughed through the pain. His Fury boiled, but it was confused now. Vel, laying helpless. Grady, so weak. Kor, with no backup if he lost it. His team. His. Get it together, you useless fuck. Shon pushed his thick fingers into his eyes until the pain kicked his brain out of shock. There was some wetness he scrubbed into his lashes. For the pain. For fear of his team. For loss of a daring woman. For the gnawing, screaming hunger pains shrieking up and down his spine. How ironic that if she’d arrived on schedule, he’d have been late meeting her at the docking hangar. Breathing deep, slowing his heart rate, he stared again at the black com screen. He looked at the green attachment symbol. Just delete it. Don’t torment yourself. She’s only a name. The heat of deep anger kicked in his belly. She’d died in the line of duty because she’d been assigned to them. He opened the file. Malla. 31. Elite graduate effective twelve hours prior. Spirit, she was right out of training. She probably hadn’t even had a chance to get stuck up yet, like the other Elites he’d tasted. His eyes skimmed her personal details without much focus. Orphan. Attack survivor. Highest rating in tactics. Prior career medical research. He let it all fall away and stared at the face he’d never see on his pillow. She had big brown eyes like Anya’s and long, thick, wavy hair like Bea’s, only dark. Her eyes held Trina’s intelligence. But she was utterly unlike any of his most recent servers. Unlike any other server picture he’d seen, she wasn’t posed in a happy smile, head cocked seductively, eyes beckoning. She sat looking rather surprised, and very serious, her mouth small, with a tiny furrow between her brows. She was plain, but cute, and could possibly be pretty if she smiled and decorated herself. But clearly, she wasn’t interested. Ah, crap on a bug on a stick on a rock. Malla. They’d killed her to hurt them. And despite the fact that he’d never met her, it had worked. He jumped when the com blinked. Beginning to feel the icy distance he got after an adrenaline surge, he opened the real-time, local com speaker. “Luo Team?” It was tagged station control. “This is Shon.” “Yeah, hi there. This is Bardsley. So, there’s something requesting clearance, and it’s really weird. You expecting someone you didn’t tell us about?” Shon straightened ramrod stiff. “Yeah, I just got notice that we did have an incoming, but it was interrupted.” “Well, I don’t know about that. There’s an incoming fighter pod broadcasting your clearance, but refusing identification. We scanned them and the person is solo. That’s just crazy.”

In Service

15

It was a serious breach of safety protocol to travel alone. “Which clearance code are they using?” “Doggy style 69.” He could hear snickering in the com room. With a sigh, he slumped against the chair back. For a moment, he’d had a wild hope. But that was one of Kor’s call codes. It wasn’t one High Post would have given a server to use. And a server wouldn’t have gotten hold of a fighter pod even if she did have the brass balls and skills to fly one in alone. What the hell was going on? “Bardsley, put them in Hangar 3. Clear all personnel from D wing and send the armed unit to the gate there. I’m coming in with one of my team, and if I fail to reenter, or if I fail to give that same code back, you are to call High Post while giving whoever enters after us lip service.” The background chatter of the com room was noticeably absent as the humans absorbed the drastic measures guarding against a hostile occupation. “I’ll need to log this with John, sir.” Bardsley sounded a little rattled. John was the small station’s commander. All the humans were still on edge from the reopening of the gate a few days ago. “You do that, Bardsley. Let them dock. I’ll be there by the time they disembark.” Shon managed to stand, gritting his teeth as his wounded thigh screamed, triggering a hunger strike to his lower back. He limped into Vel’s room. It no longer looked like the room of an organized ascetic. It was covered in medical equipment. Grady, of course, was at his side. He was awake and cursing Vel in a steady whisper. He stopped when Shon leaned in the doorway. “Grady…” He didn’t know where to start. He shook his head. Tapping his comlink, he queued Kor. “Yes, Grandpappy?” Kor’s smart retort lacked its usual crispness. Spirit, let there be no other incursion. If there was, he didn’t know if Kor would last until he got to him for backup. Kor was one of the finest fighters he knew. A week ago he would have scoffed at Kor’s inability to hold his position. Not now, in this situation. “Link us, Kor.” Silence, and then Kor flipped some mental switch and he was in the real-time brains of Grady and Kor, with Vel a low, throbbing pain alternating with static. Kor began cursing Grady. “Why didn’t you tell us?” Shon asked, his throat rasping in horror. Grady just stared at him, red-eyed and vicious. Shon moved his gaze to Vel. He wasn’t quite in a coma. He was in some holding state in between death and pain and unconsciousness. Spirit. Vel, ah --

16

Mima

“Cut with your pity and guilt. I’ve got him, and you’re starving to let me keep trying. We’re all in this together, and don’t think I don’t love you for it.” Grady’s voice was cold and steady. Kor’s curses fell silent, simmering in unhappiness, fear for Vel, and a wild, spiking hunger. Which reminded Shon of his purpose. In one practiced brain dump, he gave the other men the knowledge of Malla, and the mysterious incoming fighter. “Get the humans down here on the gate and take me,” Kor demanded. “No, I’ve got them on backup in case it’s an assassin from the Duke. They’ll have a chance of stopping a station wipe if he tries to go that far.” “He wouldn’t! Would he?” Kor looked stunned. Shon sighed. “The Duke is a disgraced tyrant backed into a corner. For the chance to kill the son of his nemesis, he would kill many, and already has.” Serious brown eyes flashed in his mind again. Grady stood. “I’ll go. Let me get suited up.” “You’ll have to keep on the gate until I can settle this,” Shon told Kor. “I’ll keep the link live.” “You know you can’t, boy. It’s draining you even now.” “Shut the fuck up, Grady. I’m up to it.” “Save your energy for when we need it, K,” Shon cautioned. “And fuck you, too.” Kor abruptly severed the mental connection. “He really has a problem admitting his feelings, that one,” Grady commented. Shon chuckled, but it was true. They went together to suit up in the armory. When he was buckling his knee boots in place, Kor popped the team link back open. “Give us her face, Shon.” Kor’s mental voice was tight, the words swirling with regret. Shon supplied Malla’s unique image. Kor closed the link. Grady sighed. “Ah crap, Shon, now I gotta have nightmares. That one would have been special.” “Yeah. I got that, too.” They informed a groggy, weak Bea what the status was and she armed herself and went to sit with Vel. Both men moved swiftly through the corridors. They spoke briefly with the team arriving at the hangar gate, checked to make sure the wing was clear. Then they sealed the blast door and went grimly to the hangar. The fighter was just docking. The midnightaqua lights were flashing their warning to keep away from the hangar door, and Shon felt more than heard Grady’s hiss at the memory of the last time they’d seen those lights.

In Service

17

He reached out and took Grady’s hand. Despite their thick, cold armor, Grady gripped it tightly in return. When the light killed, they both drew their weapons and approached the door.

***** Malla docked at the hangar. She was so relieved to turn the ship off that she burst into tears. Tears for Captain Krevnoy, who’d been cocky and confident despite her concerned warnings when he'd agreed to take her medallion as a decoy. Tears for his crew. Tears for her lost medallion. Tears for her suicidal solo trip of the last four hours. Tears of exhaustion. She’d hacked the Team’s file. She’d spent four million credits of Allied money buying Bren-Bren’s fighter pod. She’d done her own navigation. Well, with the ship’s help. She’d only had to correct course seven times. She’d plotted with Krevnoy, and with Bren-Bren, and worked things out in her own head. She found it hard to comprehend that it hadn’t even been twenty-four hours since she’d woken in her cozy room at her Base, a server-in-training. She’d made it. She’d outwitted her Team’s enemies, and now that she was here, her real work would begin. They’d need her immediately, even though they wouldn’t be expecting her. Shaking, gasping on ragged breaths, she brought herself under control. The ship had no lav, and she had to pee something fierce. It wasn’t meant for interstellar distance travel. She went to her case, and took out a refresher kit. After washing her face with a damp freshening pad, she brushed her hair and fastened it back at her neck. Her breath definitely needed a squirt, and the mint stung. She straightened her rumpled traveling dress, and put her stiff, protective server cloak on. It had already saved her life once, and had paved the way with Bren-Bren. She debated leaving her case on board, but decided not to. It had been a tumultuous trip, and she’d needed it several times. Leashing it on her wrist, she stood in the small cockpit and tried to center herself. Service. Servers served. Never fear their hunger. Embrace it. Serve and be served. Malla went to the sealed door and opened her end. There was a pop, and a twinge of vertigo as the pressure adjusted. She was surprised to see the station door was still closed as well. She pressed the release bar, and stepped back. The door cycled open with a hiss. Standing in the doorway were two fully armored Luo soldiers. A large, unusually empty hangar stretched out beyond them. The right-hand helmet tipped to the side, almost quizzically. The other even bigger soldier said, “Fuck me.” His voice was distorted by the filter on the full cranium helmet. Both of the men holstered their weapons at the same time. Malla sized them up. Her image reflected back at her in the shiny surface of their black visors, looking tiny. Be brave. Be bold. “Greetings, Grady, Shon. Sorry I’m late.” She cringed at the inadequate words, and added, rather lamely, “It’s nice to meet you.”

18

Mima

One of the men pressed a sequence into his comlink at his wrist and his visor cleared. She’d been right. It was Shon on the right. His black eyes seemed to pierce right through her. He was visibly shocked. “Malla?” “Reporting for one month’s trial, sir. I understand you’ve had a bit of a tough run.” The other, larger soldier let out an enormous “You’re alive!” He rushed her with his arms outstretched. Horrified, Malla whipped her mag case at him with a snap of her wrist, cowering back, crying, “Stop !” He froze not a meter away, clutching her mag case in his arms like a ball. Standing stiffly, his voice rumbled from his helmet. “I beg your pardon.” Shaking from the near miss, Malla lifted her hand to her neck and undid the cloak’s seal. “No, it’s not that. I’ve just had a bit of trouble on the trip here, and I lost my medallion, and my cloak is on full array. Even your armor might not have been enough.” She let it fall to the floor around her, and shook off the wrist leash. “But now that you’re here, I won’t need it anymore.” She stepped out of the folds, and went right up to the large man. Laying her hand on his arm, she said, “What are you doing here? You’re injured, both of you. You should be resting.” He dropped her poor mag case to the side, causing it to bounce once with a clang before settling on its axis. Then he grabbed her up and crushed her in a giant hug. Malla got a distorted view of her astonished face in his visor before she was wrapped in a clutch of stiff body armor that smelled of antiseptic. When his grip slackened, she turned her head and saw Shon had stepped up to them. His helmet hung from his fingers, thick black hair mussed, those black eyes still piercing her. His eyes moved across her face with desperate disbelief. “You, woman, are a Spirit-sent miracle. I can’t believe you made it.” She gave a shaky smile, laying her head on Grady’s chest. “You better believe it. Because I came here for you.” She meant her words to be a bit of banter, and was surprised by his reaction. His head jerked back as if he’d been hit, and his eyes went wide. Then a mask came down over his face, his eyes flat and distant. Her smile faded. She pulled a hand out from Grady’s surrounding arms and reached out to him. “Shon, I’m here, and I’m glad. Let’s get all of you taken care of, and then we can talk.” He stared at her for another beat, then stared at her outstretched hand. His shot out inhumanly fast and gripped hers hard, the armor cold and thick. His eyes met hers again, and there was something there. A hint of his prior disbelief, and a hint of aching hunger. Then she squeaked as Grady dipped and abruptly she was tossed into his arms, cradled, with her legs awkward and stiff in the air, her outer arm flailing as it pulled out of Shon’s grip. She reached and grabbed at Grady’s neck.

In Service

19

“Let’s go, Shon. Now.” Grady’s voice rumbled out of his echo-y helmet, quivering with eagerness. It became clear to her that they hadn’t known it was her and hadn’t trusted the incoming ship when they had to go through an odd security protocol at the station entrance. But then they were past the ogling humans, with Grady nearing a run after a few moments. Joggled and jiggled, Malla gasped a laugh. It was rather exhilarating being carried by such a massive strength. His momentum was a little alarming. Finally, he let her slide to the ground in front of a door surrounded with security measures. Shon opened the outer door and they all stepped into a vestibule. They went through more security, and they entered a living area. He turned back to the door and retriggered more security, then tossed the leash to her mag case down. Both men let out an enormous sigh of relief. Shon looked at her. “You’re safe now.” Malla looked at his intense face and felt a weight lift off her shoulders. Everything that had come before was set aside. Everything about to come she welcomed. She was here, with her men. Despite seeing their stats in their files, they were bigger than she’d imagined. Her fingers itched with the desire to trace the line of Shon’s jaw. His lips were full and red, eyecatching in his black and tan face. Her nipples tightened. Those lips were hers. The far door opened across the lounge. A lovely, tiny blonde came out in a pink lingerie set. “Oh!” The blonde was at first surprised, then crumpled to the floor in tears. Grady ripped off his helmet and gloves, while Shon hurried to her, kneeling and gathering her up. He murmured to her, but her hiccupping sobs were clear. “Finally, a new server! Oh Shon, I’m so sorry. I’m just so tired, so very, very tired. And I knew I wasn’t enough, and it was awful, and I’ve been so worried…” She trailed off into an earnest cry then. Malla noticed she was pretty even in her meltdown. Grady had gotten his upper armor off and opened his lower armor, but left it to hurry to her. Both men huddled around the exhausted server, praising her and calming her. Shon stood with her clinging to his neck. “I’ll take her to her room.” He hesitated, looking from Malla to Grady. “Does she need anything?” Malla asked. Shon glanced at her and shook his head. “Then Grady and I will be in his room.” Grady looked at her, and his blue eyes were so much more eerie and pure than in his photo. “You’ll do that? No formalities?” “What formality could possibly be worth Vel’s life?”

20

Mima

Grady tugged frantically at his lower armor, peeling it down his hips. He threw himself into one of the soft blue chairs in the room and tugged at his boots. “Ummm, there is one thing, Grady.” He froze, staring at her with those desperate eyes. “I really need to pee first.” “Down the hall, third on the right.” Malla skirted him warily as he tugged at his shirt while trying to kick his boots off with his feet. She scurried down the hall, wondering where Shon had disappeared to. She ducked into the lav and peed. Sighing with relief, she shrugged out of her crumpled dress. It stank of fear. She found a sanitizer and washed up. She was just leaning over to drink out of the sink, when the door chirped a lock override and opened. Grady filled the door entirely. He was nude and erect, his creamy skin a backdrop for a swollen erection. His blond hair glimmered around his balls and stiff dick. He was the largest of the team, and his dick matched his size. He was huge, looking even more enormous out of his armor. The fresh red scar on his ribs matched his erection, but the bruising around it was obscene. He’d carried her with that injury? “Malla, are you sure?” “I’m eager, Grady. To serve you and heal you.” “Go back.” Malla watched him, cautious of his clenching fists and pumping chest. “The sink. Go back over the sink.” His voice was so low the words were a slurred rumble. Her heart seized, and her cunt gushed, clutching in preparation. This was it. This was real. A flush swept up her chest and neck. She slowly bent, closing the sink basin, and resting her forearms on the counter. It was low enough that her back leveled out with her hips. She arched her back, pushing away from her elbows to let her breasts hang freely beyond the edge. She widened her stance, swung her hips. “Like this, Grady?” He entered the lav, and the door shushed closed behind him. He kicked at the toilet, sending it up into the wall. He stood behind her and stared at her open legs. She watched him in the mirrored wall in front of her. A tremor ran through him. “Grady, touch my lips. Take my cream and put it on you.” He froze. After a long moment, he took a ragged breath and reached out a giant hand. His fingers were hot as they gently glided around her hole. Feathering touches glanced along her folds. “That cream is for you, Grady. Use it.”

In Service

21

He stopped, licked his lips. Then he slowly, oh so softly, sent one thick finger into her. Her vagina spasmed around it, clenching and rippling. More cream gushed down to christen it, to ease along her thighs. The first touch. Her Grady. He pumped very delicately, once. He withdrew his hand and while he held himself with his other hand, painted his tip with glistening cream. “That’s good, Grady. It’s enough. Now come to me.” It was like encouraging a skittish, half-starved animal. He dragged his eyes away from her bottom and met her eyes in the mirror. “You don’t deserve this.” “Vel needs you, Grady. Let me feed you.” He angled himself down and set his cock to her hole. The touch of him against her wet folds was searingly hot. Her knees shook with excitement. Oh, the look on his face as she watched him standing behind her. He stared down at her ass with awe and need and wonder. Grady, her Grady. This was no training exercise. She needed to heal him. Her urgency was so strong she trembled. “Grady. Look at me.” She kept her voice quiet. He looked up and met her gaze in the mirror again. The intensity of his eyes softened. “Grady, my name is Malla, and I am here for you. Use me. I will not fail you or Vel.” Neither breathed as her promise passed between them, settled into them. He held her eyes as both of his huge hands engulfed her hips. His hips pressed forward while he held her still. She braced herself on her arms and struggled to hold her eyes to his. He pressed in steadily, his crown tightly digging through her clenching channel, and he seemed to never stop. Pushing until the broad flare of his cockhead slipped past her burning pussy lips, he pushed until his length registered on her tummy, pushed until his flesh could be nothing but an intrusion deep, deep, deep. He hit the end of her, stopped, breathed. She took the time to breathe as well. He adjusted his stance between her legs, steadied his bent knees, shifted his fingers anchored in her cushioning hips. Then he turned his head and looked down at her ass. His eyes narrowed as his lips parted. Her cheeks flattened against his hips. They were so tightly together, his strong thighs melded to hers. Then he picked her up slightly, so that she was up on her toes, and rammed her body back while he jabbed his hips in. Her breasts bounced, and she gasped, clamping on him as hard as she could inside. Her body absorbed the shock, the wonder, of Grady’s flesh in her body. “Again, please,” she whispered. He obliged. A pull, a tuck, and a jab. Her nipples throbbed, her hands curled into fists. She tightened her inner muscles as hard as she could, pleasure ripping through her body. “Spirit, fuck, yes.” “Grady, again.”

22

Mima

He straightened his knees, lifting her off her feet. Her hips pinched from his grip, and his dick drove in at a steeper angle, and her weight hung from her vagina. Her legs kicked once, then she went wild, clambering up onto the counter, getting her knees up and her thighs spread wide, her shoulders rammed into the wall, her neck bent as her head was crushed to the side. The discomfort of her folded body on the too small counter barely registered against the spiraling, tightening bomb winding inside her. He was digging in short bursts, thick and long, with plenty for her to grip. He pressed on flesh high inside her, and her clit throbbed. He ground her back against him and she shoved on the wall with all her might, sealing them together. He was grunting, long and low, and she knew he was close. She reached up onto the wall in front of her, her hand splayed out, her breath fogging the mirror over her lower face. She tightened, and shoved, and he shoved, and circled. With a lunge, his hand slipped from her hip, up under her cheek, and burrowed past his balls. His eyes met hers in the mirror as his fingers gripped her clit in a slippery pinch. Both of them froze, immobile, eyes locked brown to blue. They came in absolute silence. After the first lightning strike detonated through her body, the need to breathe overrode the moment and both of them gasped, moaning, shaking. His hand left her clit to slap onto the mirror next to hers as his body lunged uncontrollably against her ass. Her core was a tight, roiling ball of pleasure, and heat exploded in waves through her crushed arms and legs. The feel of his thickness still sliding through the spasming pleasure became an unbearable joy and torment. He was taut, a glorious pale wall of strength welded to her. His hips were hidden behind the line of her back, but she could feel them flat against her ass, and his length buried deep, becoming part of her spine. He closed his eyes, and she loosened the lid on her inner well, sending cascading waves of intangible human energy through her body. He cried out, a hoarse, rough sound of pained pleasure, and then he pulled on her energy, drinking. She went off again, staring at the size difference between their side-by-side hands. Her body was folded tight and the arch of her foot cramped, but it didn’t matter. Pleasure rode her spine so that her head fell forward to rest against the mirror. He pulled and pulled at her, his breath groaning roughly, and she reveled again in the realization that this was real. She was feeding her man. He was wounded. He was beautiful and she wanted him whole. She knocked the lid back on her well, the inner core where she imagined her energy pooling. All people gave off energy when they came. Servers tapped into a deeper pool, allowing Luo to access more abilities than most humans. Elite servers contained even more. One human feeding a Luo risked a heart attack. Three non-servers could safely feed one Luo for a day. One server could feed one healthy Luo for three days, but needed a day of rest afterward. Malla had once fed six Luo and hadn’t even been strained. The cover sitting half

In Service

23

over the circular well of her energy created a crescent of Spirit light in her inner eye, pulsing from the triggering waves of her orgasm. Grady folded down over her back, his breath warm as it fell on her neck. “Malla!” Hearing him call her name for the first time, after the simple, powerfully pure joining, set her off again. She sighed, and rippled, pressing back against him, his sweaty chest setting to her back like a brand. It was so sweet, so easy. She let her energy flow, and he drank. Leaning down to surround her, he gathered her up, awkwardly, her arms and legs every which way, then collapsed against the back wall. His dick fell from her, its swollen head leaving her reluctant lips with a wash of their cream. They sighed in unison. His legs trembled, and he slid down the wall, still holding her tight to his front. He gathered her in his massive arms, his biceps as big as her face, and cradled her between his thighs. She kept the energy flowing as the orgasm faded from her skin. He drank and drank and drank. They sat there, cooling, sticky, sated, her clinging to one of his knees and one wrist, him caging her gently, relentlessly, the same way he’d taken her. She laid her head back on his collarbone. His lips feathered over her temple. He drank and drank. Eventually, their breathing steadied in sync, and he rocked her slightly to the beat of their hearts. Here, now, and forever going forward, Grady would only be comfortable, safe, soothing. He drank, and she got sleepy. This had never happened to her before. None of the people she’d trained with, not even the Luo, had ever come close to bringing her to this point. But she wasn’t worried. She wasn’t even close to crashing. She’d just been a little frazzled, and it had been at least a week since she’d had sex, and it was so good to keep the energy flowing. Her head lolled gently now, as he rocked them. “Grady?” “Yeah.” His voice was scratchy. She felt him swallow. “I’m gonna sleep now, okay?” He stilled. “You are?” “It’s okay, Grady. I’m fine. Not even close. Take as much as you need. It’s such a relief to finally let it out.” He adjusted his grip, one hand curling around her breast, covering it entirely. “We’re your first team.” “Yeah. I’m lucky like that.” She wasn’t quite gone to the darkness when she heard him say, “I think we’re the lucky ones.”

24

Mima

Chapter Three “Lady.” “Hmmphf.” “Lady Malla.” “Hunnh?” “Malla.” She was utterly warm, and perfectly lax. The bed under her was that perfect cross between support and softness, and something warm and silky covered her. She was nude, and it was dark. Only one muted, golden light glowed on a console across the room. She didn’t know where she was, but she knew she was with her Team. She was safe. “Lady Malla.” She stretched, pointing her toes, curling her arms up around her head. “Hmmm?” Now that she was awake, the pestering voice fell silent. She blinked at the silhouette of huge shoulders, the shaggy head. “Kor?” He remained still. “Did something happen?” He let out a shuddering breath. “No.” Malla lay in the dark, strange bed, and considered the person perched near her thigh. Mentally checking her energy status, she licked her lips to hide her grin. Poor baby. This one was the youngest on the team. This one was a bad boy. He liked it raw, and he liked it often. Three days without drinking wouldn’t be something he was used to. She shifted one leg, bending the knee in such a way her cover slithered off one breast. She pushed herself up onto her elbows, the position arching her back. The covers fell to her ribs. “You woke me up.”

In Service

25

Another shaky breath. “Yeah.” Curling one hand up from the bed, she feathered her fingers along the edge of one bulging breast. “You wanted to meet me?” He choked, biting out, “Yes.” “Ah.” She moved her legs restlessly again, sweeping up and out so the covers were pulled down low on her belly. “Well, I think you must know by now, Kor, that I’m your new server. An Elite.” He stayed silent, but she heard him breathing. She pulled her heels up to her ass, splayed her knees wide. The sheet pulled tight for a moment between her legs, then billowed gently down. “Kor, you can fuck me as hard as you want, and I’d be able to get up from this bed and go straight into a full ritual for Vel. Nothing you could take from me would stop me from healing the whole team.” She waited, but he remained motionless, silent. She kept stroking the sensitive side of her breast, both nipples beading. She didn’t feel entirely sloppy between her legs and guessed Grady had washed her. But she was definitely wet, and she could smell sex. “Kor. Are you nude?” She could make out that he was topless, but wasn’t sure about his lower half. “Yeah.” “Then pull down this sheet and take me. Drink straight from my cunt if you want to. As much as you want. I took care of Grady already and I’m totally fine.” He stood abruptly. “Shon’s on duty. I’m not even wounded. Vel will need so much --” Voice hardening, heart pounding, she said, “Kor. I want you in my body. However you want, but I want you in me now.” He ripped the cover away and was between her thighs, shoving his face hard against her. Her skin rippled in shock from the heat of him, the strength pinning her legs, the pressure and sudden, spiking pleasure. Damn. He could really deliver. His teeth caught her clit, his hands wrapped hard up around her thighs from beneath. His mouth closed on her vagina, and he moaned, burrowing his face in harder as he began to suck. Between pulls, he spoke. “Keep talking. I’m going to fuck you, and I need to know it’s okay. Tell me.” His tongue traced where his teeth met her folds, and then began to flick at her hole. “Ah, Kor. I love it. Suck hard.” She let herself fall back off her elbows, reaching to grab her knees and pull them up and out, putting her feet on his incredible shoulders.

26

Mima

“Give me that hot tongue, Kor. I want it deep. As soon as you send me over, I’ll gush cum and feed you good.” He grunted, and his tongue tunneled into the folds of her vagina. Malla rocked her hips up into his face, moaning hard. “I love your teeth, Kor. I love the sharp and the soft at the same time.” He moved his hands under her ass, kneading her cheeks, lifting her hips higher. “Oh, yeah. You know Shon’s going to want it there. Get me ready. Give me something in my ass, Kor.” She loved talking during sex. It was so freeing. And it was empowering when her partner actually listened. Kor twisted his head and licked three fingers, and then with absolutely no fanfare, drove one straight up into her. “Ahhh! Yeah, that’s what I wanted. Now give me another and more tongue!” He obliged. This time, he had to work and wiggle a bit to get two in her ass. His tongue stretched deep and worked inside her vagina. She tried to hold onto it, clamping from within, but it was too slippery, too soft. She moaned, shifting her hips, tossing her head. Oh, the fullness in her ass and the wiggling in her cunt and the press of teeth against her clit. Oh, it was building up so fast. Oh, oh, oh -He stopped. “Malla?” His hot breath panted over her sensitized folds. “Kor, I’m gonna go. I’m gonna come all over your face. I just need” -- she gasped as he pumped his hand in her ass in a brutally fast thrust -- “just need a bit more. Something more. Give me just a little bit -- Ahhhhh!” His lips kissed her clit, firm and steady. He pulled out his fingers until just the tips were tucked in her tiny hole. Then he twisted them, pumped them deep into her ass, scissored them wide, and used his full strength, his arm knocking her hips up against his mouth with every stroke as he continued to pound them into her. The pressure of his lips spiked her with light every time the heat of his hand went stingingly deep. “Ahhh! Ahhh!” His teeth were gone, and his tongue was everywhere in brutal, flat, hard licks. His face was slurping and grinding between her legs, his other hand holding her up under her tailbone. Her feet danced around on his shoulders as she tightened to a quivering ball. He drove his hand into her ass hard, and sealed thick, soft lips around her clit. He sucked, wiggling and twisting his long fingers until her ass burned. He sucked again, and his thumb smoothed the rim of her vagina. “Ohhhhhhhhhhhh…” Her vagina clamped, releasing cum in a hot wash that went down and coated his knuckles against her ass. His lips sucked, batting her back up, and her orgasm washed from the tip of her head down her body in a wave. She noticed, finally, that her lid was still ajar

In Service

27

on her inner well, and she knocked it open farther, sending a cascade of power into the body that was attached to hers. Kor ripped his face from between her legs, his bared teeth a slash of white in the dim light. “Shit! Malla? Fuck, fuck, can I drink?” She screamed it. “Yes!” He pulled his hand from her ass, jackknifed up her body and stuffed his dick in her upturned hips with one brutal lunge. Malla came again, bucking and writhing under the strong body, grabbing his hips with her ankles, wrapping her hands around his shoulders. “Kor!” He pounded onto her body, a pistoning, slapping, passionate frenzy that took her breath away. She covered him in her power, and finally, he took it. He yanked it, and stuffed it inside himself, chugging her light with sloppy pulls. It was without finesse but with infinite gusto. He was silent above her, aside from grunting breaths. She opened her lid a bit farther, and her power overwhelmed him. He fell on her, clutching her head, her shoulders, as he drove his hips into her cradle and sealed himself there. “Yes!” Her writhing body went rigid. The last of the brutal, sudden orgasms faded in a shimmer of heat. She wrapped her arms around his head, cradling his face where it pressed into her neck. She became aware he was crying. He wasn’t pulling on her power anymore, and she slowly withdrew it. Compared to what Grady had taken, he’d barely sipped her. “Shhhh…shhhh.” His hair was damp against her fingers as she soothed him. His hips finished trembling against hers and his thighs finally relaxed. She held him tight, glorying in his hard, heavy weight. His fingers left a bruise on her shoulder, and his hand pulled her hair. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry,” he whispered hoarsely against her neck. She simply held him tighter. Eventually, he lifted his face from her skin, and she softened her grip. He lifted himself onto his arms, lightening his considerable weight from her lungs. He pulled up on his hips, and slipped from her. He stood, and gathered his clothes. “Where are you going?” He stopped, dropping the boots and clothes. “I --” He ran a hand through his mop of hair. “I don’t know.” Malla stood, stretched, hummed to feel their cum drip down her thigh. She went to the controls and put the lights on half. Looking over her new lover, she decided he wasn’t just playing at being a bad boy because he was young. This one would likely be a bad boy all his life. But he had a secret, soft inside. No one wanted to be bad all the time. “Why are you sorry?” His face was handsome in a way that would win him a contract with high-fashion houses. It was unique and sculpted and sexy and brooding, but not traditional. He had light

28

Mima

brown hair and changeable hazel eyes. They’d been green in his file picture but looked gold now. “I invited you in. It was sudden and rough and really hot. I’m fine. My power isn’t even dented.” Grady had actually dented it, for the first time ever, but she’d recovered with her sleep. Now, despite feeding Kor’s weakened state, she was empowered, ready to roll. “I was weak. The others need you more. I hadn’t even met you, and you were sleeping. All I could think about was the hunger. Spirit, I don’t know how Shon does it, always holding back. It’s this haunting pressure, like you’re going to lose yourself at any moment. I was selfish, and I promise you, I’ll make it up to you. I’m not like that all the time.” Malla walked up to him. She traced the smoothness of his clenched jaw. He’d shaved for her.” Kor, I’m not here on temporary assignment. I’ve signed on for a month’s trial, and I intend to stay. I’m going to serve all the members of this team. I’ll serve you in bed, and I’ll befriend you out of it.” He looked young, and guilty, and miserable. “As your friend, I’ll tell you that I don’t believe the man who sacrificed himself for his team in Shi Li Chu is selfish. I don’t think you’d have come near me if you hadn’t known I was Elite. You weren’t sure just what an Elite could do, and you wanted reassurance, and I gave it to you. Eventually, you trusted me to be truthful and believed me and we had a fine, fine time.” She grinned, and cupped her breasts gently. Shivered, to show him she still felt good. “As for making it up to me, I think once you forgive yourself for being afraid of your hunger, you’ll realize I was actually the one in the pilot’s chair tonight. I wanted it wild and I enjoyed it.” Her gaze wandered all over his fascinating hollows and swells of muscle as she reassured him. Now she met his golden-green eyes and let him see how honest she was being. “I’m not pretty, or young. I’m not gifted. I’ve only been a server for a few years and you’re my first team. But I’ll tell you this about me, the woman Malla. I like sex. A lot. I’ll like it if you walk in from duty and push me to the floor. I’ll like it if you put me on the table in the middle of dinner. I’ll like it if you want me to go down on you every morning, and I’ll like it if I wake up with you in my ass.” With one hand on her hip, she poked a firm finger into the impressive mound of one of his shoulders, jabbing him with each sentence. “The only way I won’t like it is if you second guess me. If you pretend to be passionate because you think I expect it, or if you try to be gentle because you’re feeling guilty. If you lie to yourself about how and when you want me and you try to put me in a box of how and when I could want you, we’re going to have words.” Folding her arms beneath her breasts, knowing how that displayed them, she quieted her tone. “When the sex is honest, I’ll enjoy it. If there is something going on to keep me from enjoying it, I’ll tell you, and you’ll stop. Do you hear me?”

In Service

29

Kor narrowed his eyes as they darkened. He swept his gaze down to her lips, down to her chest. “Get on the bed, Malla.” She laughed. “Good boy.” “Oh. For that you’re gonna get it. No one calls me boy or kid except Grady.” She climbed onto the bed, wiggling her ass at him. “Am I gonna get it?” “Yeah.” Kor crawled onto the bed behind her. His hands smoothed softly over her ass and back before settling on her waist. To her surprise, he gently pulled, turning her over. “Malla.” She laid one hand above her head, toyed with one nipple. “Yeah?” “I’m glad to meet you.” She looked at him. Smiled and smoothed a finger over one brow. “I’m glad to meet you, too.” His gaze traveled over her face. “We’re a rough team that gets sent into rough situations. We’ve been hard on servers, even though we try to take care with them. But I think we’ve finally met our match.” She smiled. Her heart jumped at the compliment. He gave her a charming, crooked smile back. “But I’m still going to make it up to you. It’s a point of honor. I can do better.” Deadpan, Malla let her face fall, her eyes growing big. “Uh-oh.” He grinned an evil grin, wiggling his eyebrows. “Oh, yeah, sweet. You’re in Kor’s hands now.” She smiled, so happy to meet this warrior. He was alternately playful and intense, all snarl and no bite. Reaching out her hand, she traced his jaw, his throat, his collarbone. He took her hand and kissed her knuckles, then her palm. “But my hands have duty first. When I get back, I’ll give you some honest sex, and your punishment, and your compensation.” Her heart flipped. “You know where you’re going this time?” “Yeah. I’ll relieve Shon. Now that I’m riding your high, there’s no reason for him to do a full shift. Your generosity to me lets me send him back, makes us all safer.” Malla thought of the team leader, the quiet Shon. She nodded her understanding. “There’s you being selfish again. Shower with me?” He shook his head, already buckling his pants. “Naw. I wanna smell you on me, even though that means a boner on guard duty. I’ve got moves to plan.” She smiled, feeling shy for the first time. He leaned down and kissed her, cradling her head. His taste was spicy, under the taste of herself.

30

Mima

“Malla.” He kissed her firmly. “I’m so glad you got through.” “Me, too.” Scurrying through the station halls, whispering with Krevnoy about whose ships were for sale, if the price was right. “Me, too.” She shivered. Her arrival wasn’t a miracle. It had been paid for with death. “I’ll see you.” The door whooshed shut. She sat up, went to the lav and showered, even washing her hair. Back in the room that was apparently going to be hers, she went to her case in the corner and opened it, pulling out her green robe. She went down the hall, peeking in rooms. That one was Shon’s. She knew it by the really beautiful chess set. That one was Grady’s, with an enormous, oversize bed. There was Kor’s with an explosion of machine parts, and there was a workout room, with a glowing security panel for weapons. She saw an empty room that had obviously been for a woman, all in golds and reds, and then she found Vel’s room. It was bristling with medical equipment, and Grady’s bulk sat by the bed on the far side of Vel’s still body, facing the door. Malla’s lips parted to see the change in him. He looked even worse than he had before he’d come to her. He was gaunt, drawn, with lines of pain bracketing his eyes and lips. He looked up and stared at her blearily. He smiled, a sweet, welcoming smile on that huge, fierce face. “Hey, Malla. You feel all right?” “I feel great.” She did. She’d already healed two of her men, and she’d been here barely three hours. But Vel was going to be the challenge. “What’s going on with you? Grady, there’s no need to give him your own energy now that I’m here.” “There’s a lot that needs to happen before you’ll get around to healing him. I was keeping him connected to me all right these last few days, but when I came back from your service, I just…just…” Grady stared desolately at the severe looking man laying so still and pale. “I can’t take his pain anymore. Not when I can do something about it.” Malla considered both men. Grady had been maintaining a lifemate’s link, holding the tenuous consciousness of Vel. He fed Vel a trickle of energy from what he could spare while he existed on their lone server’s abilities. Understanding of his thinking filled her. Now she was here, and when he’d seen that he’d be able to feed freely, he’d decided to try to heal his lifemate by himself, a painful and damaging process that could leave Grady in a coma if he didn’t control the energy exchange with an iron will and an eagle eye for detail. “How close were you to losing him?” “Right after he got hit in the fight, I felt him go. I’ve never felt any of our team go like that, when Kor links us. It was the worst damage we’ve ever taken. I got him back by dropping out of the fight. It was bad tactics. It was instinct, but it’s what saved him. If I’d followed protocol and finished the fight, he’d be gone. Then the surgery was rough. He really thinned out away from me then. When I got back, I told Anya. I told her. And she --” He covered his face.

In Service

31

Malla moved around the bed to stand by him. “She’s a server, Grady. It’s what we do. You can’t kill us, and she’ll recover and live a normal life.” He lowered his hand, resting his fist on his knee. His other hand was on Vel’s. “I’ll never forget the look on her face when I took that last drag. I knew it was all she had, and I took it. And I looked right in her eyes as I did it. I owed it to her, to face the destruction I dealt her.” Malla swallowed. She looked at Vel, his red-blond hair a splash of color among all the white and gray. Healing Grady before had sent her to sleep. She’d been so confident coming in here. Now, she saw that she’d have to heal him even more now, and then there was Vel. And Shon, of course. She licked her lips. “Have you heard from her?” He nodded. “She’s safe, stable. No word yet on a returning spark.” Malla didn’t give him any more assurances. It was part of the risk. In its own way, being a server was just like being a warrior. There wasn’t the same risk of maiming or death, but there was a greater risk of losing your status, your abilities. But she hadn’t become a server for the status. She’d done it to save Luo lives. It was how she could contribute to killing bugs. She looked at Vel. This was only her third team member. It would be a shame to burn out before she’d even gotten to Shon. But now that she saw how Grady was, and how it would just be a draining cycle of healing Grady over and over until she initiated a full ritual, she knew she couldn’t wait. It was the right thing to do. Lifemates had to come first. Especially when one was the crown prince, and Shon’s life was not in danger. “Screw the ritual.” “What?” Grady looked at her frowning. “Screw it.” She shrugged her robe from her shoulders, began detaching wires and tubes from Vel. Grady’s massive hand closed gently, firmly, over hers. “What are you doing?” “Let’s get Vel. Right now. I’m never going to have more power. You’ll just keep sucking me up and giving it to him, which isn’t going to do it.” Malla stared at Grady steadily, letting him see her resolution. “But…” She watched him think. “The three days for the ritual is to build visualization, prayer, and focus. Grady, I look at you,” Malla cupped his face, feeling how cool his skin was. “I see you’ve already prepared three days, actually. I’m fairly certain no one prayed more than you did.” His blue eyes were so bright with intelligence and will. He looked at Vel, and she saw his jaw jump, his mouth harden. He took his hand from hers and began shutting down the monitor. They worked together in silence. When Vel was disconnected, Grady undressed,

32

Mima

then extended the medical bed to a wider width. Heart pounding, Malla hopped up onto it, swung her legs up. She lifted the covers and slid in next to Vel’s stillness. It was creepy and sad. Grady got up to sandwich her between them. He lifted her, scooched under her, and she rolled, straddling him. He was a soft, warm lump against her lower lips. His pulse jumped in his throat. Solemn, they stared at each other. “If this doesn’t work, it doesn’t mean we can’t bring him back,” she whispered. “I know,” Grady whispered back. She glanced to Grady’s far side, at the shining, curving knife that lay on the edge of the bed. Her heart tripped in a frantic rhythm. Calm down. You learned about this. You

refreshed on it on the way over. Spirit, let this work. Malla lowered herself onto Grady’s bulk, laying her head on his shoulder. His hand came up and covered the back of her head, just resting there. They lay frozen together, gathering their will, for countless breaths. He remained soft, lax. “Maybe I should get an injection,” Grady whispered, referring to a stimulant that would make him erect. “No. I’ll do it. Your thigh will be enough.” Grady smoothed her hair. “Why are we whispering?” Malla’s sudden grin made her bury her face in his chest. She breathed deep, and focused. Vel. A man who would not make others fight for what he believed in. A man with cold control, and a brilliant mind. A man who dared to mate for love, not for duty. She reached out a hand and laid it in the middle of his chest. It was smooth, muscular. The wounds had healed to scabs, the bruising worst on his shoulder. She felt him breathe, felt his faint heartbeat. Not a Prince. A man who needed her. Her man. Malla shifted her legs so that she straddled one of Grady’s massive thighs. It was like riding a pony. It was hard, and had a slight rub of hair. Adjusting herself, she made sure her labia were spread wide, and settled her weight. Grady’s hands left her, one going to hold her forearm where it rested on Vel, the other to his other side, to the knife. She put that out of her mind, and focused on her purpose: Vel. She was going to bring him back to Grady. She was going to heal both of them. Men had died to stop her from trying. Because someone believed she could do it. And she would. She stretched her legs out along Grady’s furry ones, and began to undulate. The rub and pressure against her clit was so sweet. She held onto the pleasure tightly, pressing into Vel’s chest with her outstretched hand. She writhed, gripping with her thighs, her other hand anchored over Grady’s shoulder. One breast was crushed into Grady’s abs, the other rubbed along his side. She tightened her inner body, pressed down on Grady’s leg, feeling herself dampen, sliding in her own cream. Malla reached for the energy in her middle. She visualized a stone well with a wooden lid. The spaces between the slats began to glow as her energy triggered.

In Service

33

She brushed her lips across Grady’s ribs, felt him pulse, hardening in a rush along her side. She shifted so her body brushed the velvet softness of him, flexed her fingers into his muscle, into Vel’s. Pumping her body hard, she ground down on his tightening thigh, and came in a slight, sweet, baby orgasm. It was enough. She didn’t worry about control. She knocked the lid off her inner well entirely. A blast of light erupted on her inner landscape, and she envisioned it rushing down her limbs, lighting her up like a toy. No. Like a star. She moaned lightly as the pleasure cascaded higher from her own awareness of her power. Grady twisted under her grip. There was a hard, burning rip of pain in her wrist, below where he gripped her tightly. She cried out, jerking on her arm despite herself, but thankfully he was resolute. She cried out again when the pain magnified, pressed tight to an irregular surface. It was Vel’s mouth. In a flurry of movement, she was lifted, shoved, draped over Vel’s inert body. The energy she’d let loose wavered inside her and she gritted her teeth. Vel. Her Vel. Hers to heal, hers to hold. She took her free hand and flattened it over his chest. Grady did something to Vel’s jaw, and she squeaked when Vel’s teeth pressed against her wrist, as her wound was pressed into his open mouth. “For Vel, Malla.” Grady’s voice asked her forgiveness, and she gave it. Pain stabbed down her arm as blood pumped from her. Grady was over her, crushing her into Vel, his erection burning along the crack in her ass. He was cursing steadily, pressing her bleeding wrist hard to Vel’s mouth, while his other hand went down between their bodies and he tried to feed his dick into her. He was too big, and the head simply lodged in her at first. “Son of a bitch, you’re so tight. You drink! Swallow, dammit. C’mon you royal pansy, live. For fuck’s sake, Vel, she’s like a fucking supernova. Take it in, dammit.” Malla tried to close off from Grady’s curses, the pain, the sensation of being trapped against a lifeless body. She focused on her dimming well, on the fading light that was trickling back down her arms like a stream running downhill to a pool. Grady shoved with his hips, and they both grunted when he popped his head in. She clenched around him, but her arm hurt so badly, she was distracted. He shoved again, winning a few more inches, and then withdrew. She shivered, wriggling under his weight. Her head was tucked under Vel’s chin, her other hand kneading Vel’s chest. Finally, he pushed deep inside her cunt. “Awww, fuck that’s sweet. Vel, you have to come on back now. You have to meet her. She’s right here. Malla, please, please, grab me.” She did, vising her inner muscles around the bar that was Grady. And as she did, she felt a swell under her mound. A fattening. “Grady! Oh, he’s here!”

34

Mima

Grady drew out and pushed back in. “Awww, fuck. Vel, you’re so close. You’re so close, I can feel you again. You’re right there, lover.” He drew out and pushed in again, laying his whole weight down on Malla. She moaned, feeling her breasts crushed, her legs splayed even wider. Grady’s other hand came up over her shoulder and he fed two huge fingers into her mouth. She closed her lips tight, and sucked. She milked him with both sets of lips, and Grady’s mouth closed over her upturned ear. His tongue swirled in her shell, his teeth gentle at the edge of her rim and lobe. Then he shifted his hips and stroked up into her, hard. Malla cried out around his fingers, and he began to pump, brutally steady, intent. She sucked in time with his thrusts, reaching desperately for the release they needed to create for Vel. His mouth left her ear and he breathed, “Please.” Malla cried out, her wide open well igniting again. And Vel awoke, grabbing her power tight. His pull didn’t come through her sex, though. It came from her arm, through her blood, and it stung. Grady cried out, too, bucking wildly, driving the breath from her. Then he was off of her, and jostling her, and a new, cooler length eased inside her. Lips sealed tight to her wrist, teeth digging into her flesh, a tongue probed her wound, and the mouth sucked, pulling at her blood. Pain ripped through her pleasure. Grady pressed down on her hips, grinding her clit into Vel’s pelvis, and she came again, clamping around the cool erection in her heat. It was too much, too chaotic. The pain and the pleasure and the bodies tight around her swirled her brain and her stomach. Her clit pulsed, her breasts throbbed, her arm burned and ached. She tried to rear away, and Grady carpeted himself over her back. “Malla. Baby, not yet. Please.” The body beneath hers began to move, hips thrusting as they could under the weight of two bodies, legs shifting, hands raising past her to grab Grady. Grady scooted down her body, his mouth kissing and licking at her shoulder blade. Vel’s legs spread, and Grady’s abs were against her ass. He rocked hard, and she knew Grady was in Vel, trying to lure him back. Vel swelled inside her, becoming a thicker length. “Awww, yeah, lover, fuck yes, take us.” Moaning, Malla came again, and this time, Vel didn’t just take in her power, he tried to rip it out of her body. He was a drain that opened up and she was a helpless whirlpool being sucked inside him. Somehow, Malla reached inside herself, and focused. She didn’t try to fight for herself. She didn’t try to slow the pull. Never fear the hunger. It was hard. The light had never been so bright, flowed so fast. It was more than she’d ever known, more than she’d known she could give. With a cry, she let it overtake her. She gave herself to it. Vel was a bottomless pit of pain and need. Grady was a tiny shadow of agony behind him. She was between two strong bodies, but also between two entwined souls desperate to reconnect. It wasn’t enough to feed him through their sex, or the blood he still pulled on at

In Service

35

her arm. She concentrated on imagining the transfer expanding along her entire body, through her skin, into Vel. And Vel’s pain dimmed, but his hunger increased. That’s when she began to dissolve. Crying out, her light faltered in terror. This wasn’t her doing. She didn’t understand. The man beneath her growled, worrying at her wrist, and Malla sobbed as his teeth sank into her arm, his throat working as he swallowed thickly. Grady’s moaning rapture behind her stilled her panic. He was with her. He would watch over her. She believed in him, even when the room around them disappeared. There was skin pressed to her front and back. Her vagina was full and her heart beat, but she couldn’t breathe. The weight of Grady was gone. He was just a presence surrounding her. Vel moved freely beneath her, stroking more smoothly inside her. It was like making love in zero gravity. Both men set up a rhythm. Completely entwined, Malla was no longer sure who was in whom. They were a circuit, flowing and feeding. The light flickered and spun, dark, clear white, misty gray. They rolled together, bodies pulling and pushing around her. Sensation battered Malla’s body, but she couldn’t breathe. Her energy faltered again. Where were they? What had happened? Grady slammed her body down onto Vel’s cock. The pressure, the heat, so beautiful. From inside she rippled up and down him, feeling the impact of Grady’s drive into Vel’s body beneath her. Suddenly, it came to her in a flash of understanding. Vel had

phazed, and taken them with him. They were somewhere between two physical places. The shock of it coincided with Vel lifting his mouth away from her arm, licking across the wounds. He grabbed her face and tilted her head up. He stared at her, gray eyes fierce. Grady drove her down onto Vel, and she saw Vel’s pupils dilate. Still he held her eyes. Then Grady drew away and sank into his ass, and Vel’s lips parted. There was blood in the corner of his mouth, and a rivulet of it down over his jaw and throat. She stared at this man, his red-gold hair, his silver-gray eyes, the scar on his cheek, his tense mouth. They stared at each other, and when Grady brought them together again, they came, staring into each other’s eyes as the fuzzy nothingness around them exploded in pleasure. Her core clamped and burned, her muscles tightening. Her light exploded into full force again, coursing like a river. Grady gathered them both up in his huge reach. She'd never feared the hunger before. It had never come close to touching her. But this couple's needs could destroy her. They were both so fragile, so desperate. Incredibly, there was a second tug on her energy, from behind. Grady. Grady was drinking from her, too. Could they suck her away? But Vel's eyes were holding hers. He was asking for it all, but his belief in her was clear beneath his demand. She'd thought she had the power. Either she did or she didn't. Malla dissolved her well, and gave everything to her Prince. She had no flesh. She had no breath. There was no pleasure, no will, just light. The world was energy, and she merely a conduit passing it on. Vel’s head snapped back, his spine arched back, his hands crushed her skull, and he writhed, bucking and twisting in Grady’s grip. She loved seeing him in that moment, flesh

36

Mima

enraptured, life reborn. The image of the man faded in an overexposure of light. White took the world. Abruptly, glaring electric light seared her eyes. It was cold, and the sound of humming fans registered a heartbeat before Grady grunted, impacting on his shoulder. Malla and Vel tumbled all over as they landed in a heap, almost on their heads, in the middle of a corridor. Gasping, Malla stared at the composite floor, one of her forearms leaving a streak of bright red against the gray metal. She sucked in a breath, relieved to have that ability again. Her knee throbbed, twisted and scraped under the press of a huge body. The bodies around her shifted, and she moaned as her vagina registered the hard use and sudden wrenching departure the fall had delivered. Grady struggled at her side, sitting up and grabbing Vel. He was laughing, roaring, crying. “You fucking ass! Never step in front of a hit like that again! You’re back. Ah, Vel, you’re here, and I never let you go.” Malla turned her head over her shoulder. The two men were so beautiful, hardened, honed bodies straining together as they hugged tight. Vel was on his knees, gripping Grady just as hard. “Grady! Grady!” Vel was only slightly thinner than Grady, with a chest slightly less deep, and longer, leaner arms and legs. Malla crawled away from them, pulling her one leg free from their tangle. She’d done it. She hadn’t used much ritual, but the healing had happened anyway. Spirit knew where her heart lay. Flopping onto her side, she lay on the icy floor, stunned, confused, overwhelmed, relieved. And that’s what the shocked worker saw, when he walked around the corridor staring at a vid plate. He stopped. Stared at the bloody, naked, shivering, panting woman curled in the middle of the floor. Stared at the clinging, naked men to one side. She smiled to see his look, but his questioning shout sounded far away, tinny. Vel said, “What? You never saw a Luo healing ritual before?” He could do haughty really well. His words were ridiculous, of course, because the ritual was not at all common, or commonly shared. The guard exclaimed something again, and Vel responded, “Relax. We’re all a little weak, but we’re going to be fine.” There was a pause. “Lady?” Distantly, she heard “Shit” from Grady. Malla lay on her side, listening to her heartbeat grow louder, and louder. Her long hair was trapped and pulled under one shoulder, but she didn’t have the ability to shift enough to free it. Grady’s large, square mug lowered into her vision, his light blue eyes like angry lasers. His mouth moved but she couldn’t hear him. He looked over her shoulder, speaking urgently. Hot, huge hands settled on her shoulder and gently pulled her over onto her back.

In Service

37

She heard herself cry out from the cold metal. Vel’s sharp-featured face filled her vision, his mouth a flat line as two fingers settled on her neck in a pulse check. He glared at her. What was there to be angry about? She’d done it. Vel was healed, and the lifemates were alive. And Shon could last another day, and Bea could take care of the worst of him. Her team was safe. Malla closed her eyes, and let go.

38

Mima

Chapter Four Shon paced in the living room. Bea watched him, big blue eyes huge, as she curled in one of the chairs. He’d been relieved by Kor almost an hour ago. He hadn’t been terribly surprised that Kor had gone to Malla out of turn. When he’d left, Malla and Grady were moaning like banshees in the bathroom. Kor hadn’t wasted much time. Shon hadn’t teased him about it when Kor stood stiffly by his side, reeking of shame and guilt. And sex. It was good of the man to come and free him off of duty, now that he was powered up again. He’d stopped to talk about housing Malla’s fighter with the hangar staff. He’d gone to their apartments with the intention of ordering Grady to another session with Malla, knowing Grady would fight him at first but do what was best for Vel in the long run. He’d discovered a nearly empty apartment. Bea had been sleeping. Standing and staring at Vel’s disconnected machines, he’d asked Kor to link the team up. The pleasure, pain, and desperation they’d got sent both men to their knees. Shon informed Bea they’d gone into the ritual early. Then he began to pace, and hadn’t stopped. Couldn’t stop. Had something gone wrong, that Grady didn’t wait the required three days to initiate the ritual? Vel had obviously phazed them. If he wasn’t in control, didn’t fully recover from this sloppy ritual attempt, they could all be killed if he failed to bring them out of the phaze properly. They could be trapped in a wall, with pipes through their skulls. But a few minutes ago, Shon had gotten a call from station staff. They’d been found, nude, in a corridor over in hangar B. They'd stopped at medical and were on their way. He’d undone the security on their inner door and entranceway, and when he heard them at the station door, turned to Bea. “Are you ready to serve if they need you?” “Yes, sir.”

In Service

39

“Bea…” He gritted his teeth. How could she still call him “sir” after months of sharing his bed? She just looked at him, pale, drained. They’d really pushed her. “Thank you.” He turned to face the corridor as they came in. Vel. Upright, that confidence around him like a cloak. The scars on his chest and neck were faded to pink, and his eyes were steady. Shon rushed him, wrapped him in a tight hug, laughing. He pulled back and looked into those silver eyes, shook his shoulders. “You scared the crap out of all of us, and put a dent in Kor’s bed schedule.” Vel grinned. “Did pretty boy have a little taste of hunger?” Grady was over at the couch and Shon turned to him, some quip on his tongue. It died instantly. Malla was laid out, her tousled dark hair trailing over the edge. There was a bandage on her arm, a spot of blood showing through. Like the men, she wore lightweight green med pants. She also wore a med vest that didn’t cover much. Shon just stood, staring, shocked, at the pale stillness of her. Vel put his hand on his shoulder. “She’ll be all right. We took her to medical, and her brainwaves are fine. She’s just faded, not crashed.” Shon shot a look of ire at Grady, who straightened from laying her down. “What the fuck were you thinking?” “It was her idea. She explained her reasons, and they were sound. I agreed, and it worked.” Anger bubbled and writhed, dancing with his hunger. “Does that look like it worked?” He gestured sharply at Malla’s limp body. Vel stepped up to Grady’s side. Their hands flowed together and folded tight. “Shon, calm down. You know you can’t afford to get angry. Sit, and we’ll eat together. I’m so hungry my stomach is eating itself.” He knew that placating tone of voice. He usually listened to the regal tone of command in it. “Don’t tell me to calm down,” he snarled at Vel. Turning narrowed eyes to Grady he bit out, “You risked her life, and yours. That was crappy tactics, soldier. I’m pissed off.” “Well, piss all over if you want. Vel is back, and we’re both at full strength. She didn’t crash, Shon. She just passed out, not even from anything as serious as blood loss. Actually, I think she hyperventilated because she was scared when we were in phaze. It’s freaky when you don’t know you don’t need to breathe. Your brain has to get used to it, and I don’t think she knew about it. She’ll be totally fine. Hold on for another shift, and she’ll give you your turn.” “My turn! Is that why you think I’m angry? Do you honestly think I’m that selfcentered?” Vel turned to Bea. “Hey, little one. How are you feeling?” “It’s so good to see you back, Vel. I’ve been better.”

40

Mima

“Grady, you did not have the right to risk half our team when we’d just managed to score an Elite server and were on the verge of recovery. That was not your solo call to make.” Shon could feel himself start to vibrate. The hunger leaped and crawled from his thighs to his lungs. “How do you feel about a little mouth action, Bea? Shon’s running on empty.” “I’m not crashing our last server! For fuck’s sake, Vel, you just got back. Stop trying to outmaneuver me.” Shon turned on Grady again, who’d come within reach. “I let things slide after the fight, but you’ve made three crappy decisions to the detriment of our team in the past three days and I’m calling you on it. Just because they’ve worked out for you doesn’t make them right. You fell out of formation in a fight we needed you in, you fell out of judgment again when you crashed Anya…and don’t tell me you couldn’t help it…and you fell out of rank when you took Malla up on the ritual. We could have --” Suddenly, Vel grappled with him from behind. Shocked, Shon turned on him, slipping from the hold by dint of leaving some skin in Vel’s hands, along with a tatter of his shirt. He fought to keep the man from gripping his arm, their forearms blurring with Luo speed. Then Grady joined in on the other side, and the fight broke out in earnest. This was no training exercise. Shon was pissed, and hurt, and confused. He focused on staying on his feet, as it became clear the men were trying to bear him to the ground. But they were at full strength. They’d been sparring with each other for years and knew all each other’s moves. In only a few moments, when his Fury woke, he got scared and gave up. He could have won, but it wasn’t worth the cost. They threw him down none too gently. He couldn’t stop himself from a final struggle, twisting, as each man got his shoulders down, and pinned his legs with theirs. He lay, breath shuddering, shivers wracking his body as he fought to keep it together. No. Not against his team. Not against his team. No matter how fucked up they were. The men knew exactly why they’d won, and precisely what it cost him in energy to fight his gift. They waited, breathing raggedly, while he kept his eyes closed and focused on the fact that it was Grady’s hands on his left. Vel’s hands on his right. His team. Not against his team. When he’d stopped shaking, Vel spoke quietly. “I love you, too, Shon. Good job. We got you.” Shon shivered all over. Vel’s bleeding face in front of him as he came out of Fury. No.

Never again. Grady’s deep voice rumbled in his other ear. “You’re absolutely right. About all of it. I fucked up, and I was selfish, and I was stupid with fear. You held it all together, and despite my decisions, we’re through the worst. We are, Shon. We’re through the worst, and it’s your turn now.” “No. Grady, no. I won’t crash her.” “Bea, come on over, little one. Don’t worry, we’ve got your back,” Vel called.

In Service

41

Bea came up between his legs, kneeling, undoing his pants. Shon bucked and hissed and clawed at them, but they kept him down. She was scared, he could tell. Fuck, his Fury was still close enough he could smell it. He wanted her. He wanted her bent over the chair with his dick deep. He throbbed, getting hard. “You fucking, bossy, shitty princeling, I’m going to rip your face off.” “You really know how to accept help gracefully, you know that?” Vel’s calm pissed him off, but before he could retort, Bea’s little hand took his balls, and her skilled mouth took his cock. “Ahhhhh.” He hardened in a rush that took the last of his strength. He sagged back into the floor. She sucked and licked and sucked and his hips bucked up at her without his thought. He opened his eyes as she dragged her lips up his length, and watched Vel and Grady kiss above him. They were so disgustingly in love. He could see the relief and lingering fear in Grady’s face, the need on Vel’s. They kissed right over him, the whole time Bea sucked him off. He came, fairly soon, on a moan. Bea swallowed. It was one of her favorite things, and she’d been working herself with her fingers watching the Grady and Vel show. She came. The energy she sang into his dick burned like ice. It made his stomach clench, and coiled up his spine. He struggled again, desperate to get away, but they broke their kiss and focused on holding him. He tried, he really did. He tried not to drink, just to accept, passively, what she could give. He tried to be a simple sponge, but he was so goddamn hungry. The Fury had nearly taken him. It had been so long since he’d fed. The attack had been bad, and then the worry afterward, and the tiring days of double shifts, with the burning anger at the Duke, the frustrating delay in a server, and the awful shock of losing and finding Malla. Now this argument. With a long moan, his back arched, and he drank. Bea cried out around his cock, her forehead dropping to his stomach. He pulled at the energy, feeling it warm him. He swallowed her energy, and felt his heart beat strong, once. Desperate to have his strength back, Bea faded from his consciousness, and the hunger took him. He drank, and drank, and it was like trying to get the last of a cool fruit drink through a too-thin straw. There just wasn’t anything there, and it was frustrating. Then even that tiny trickle of sustenance disappeared. “Ah, Shon, I’m sorry, man. I’m sorry. Shhhh. I got you.” Grady was rocking him. The big oaf was warm, his massive arms holding his torso, as Shon clawed up Grady’s back. Shon abruptly curled his hands into fists when he realized. After long minutes, Grady pulled back and looked at him. “You back?” He nodded once, harsh. Grady let go, stood, and pulled him to his feet. The room dipped, settled. Shon locked his knees, feeling his thighs tremble.

42

Mima

Vel came back from the door that led into their rooms. “Bea’s asleep. She’s drained right to the bottom, and won’t be recovering quick.” He held up his hand as Shon opened his mouth. “We took her off you when it got close, but you drank faster than I thought. Or rather, she was way weaker than I remembered. But she didn’t crash, Shon.” He sagged with relief. He lowered himself into a chair, and then twitched in shock at the big brown eyes staring at him from the opposite chair. “Malla? How are you?” “Better than you, I think. I feel weak, a little shaky. I’d like to eat, and sleep, and then I think I’ll be fine.” “Yeah, me too.” He hadn’t had more than a few hours sleep snatched here and there over the last few days. “It’s great to see you up.” She smiled at him, eyes serious. “Bullshit,” Grady snapped. “You need to drink more, Shon.” Shon snarled at him. “Oh! I know! Why don’t you force Malla to go down on me, too. So I can drain her. And then everything will be fine and I’ll thank you for your ‘help.’” Vel walked up next to Grady, put his arm around his waist. “You’re welcome.” Shon growled low in his throat and tucked himself back into his pants. Vel laughed, tugging Grady toward the bedrooms. “Let’s get this team fed, lover. And I find myself craving a shower.” Shon looked away from Grady’s retreating back to watch Malla’s fascinated gaze on it. Only when they disappeared into the mess did she look back at him. He let himself drink her with his eyes. He usually hated getting a new server. He had to be so polite, learn what kind of a person they were, how private, how inhibited. There was the whole flirting thing, and the gentle thing, and inevitably, the fear thing as they learned how tenuous his control of the Fury was. Malla was average height. She had a round face, with a nose that flared at the end. She had a curvy mouth, and those eyes, so big and deep. Her body was mostly fit, tending toward soft in the belly, hip, and thigh area. Just the way he liked it. Her breasts were lovely, full. One peeked out of the opening in the vest. It was pink tipped. She’d demurely tucked her legs together off to the side. Her arms held her middle, framing her breasts. Grady’s voice boomed down the hall, “Malla! Chicken or beef!” “Chicken, thanks, Grady!” Shon waited, and then shouted, “I’ll have beef, thanks for asking!” Laughter erupted from the mess. He sighed. “You’re like a band of brothers, aren’t you?” “Naw. We’re closer than that.” She tipped her head. Her hair cascaded over one shoulder, covering her breast. It was glossy and silky. He wanted to touch it, to rub it over the nipple it hid.

In Service

43

“Are you lovers?” she asked. “No.” He swallowed when she licked her lips. Hunger twisted in his belly. It was more bitter from having almost been banished, even though it was a lesser pull than it had been. “Malla, did you read our file?” “Yes. I read it all, and I hacked into it a bit deeper later on, when I needed some codes.” He blinked at her. “They teach hacking in server training now?” “No. That’s a life skill from med school.” He remembered that about her. He was ashamed he hadn’t read her file in return. He barely knew anything about her. “As well as piloting fighters and solo navigation?” “That was taught at server training.” “Huh.” He recalled his purpose. “Did you see much of what just happened here? With Bea?” “I woke up when you were fighting. I watched them bring you down, and I watched you fight Bea’s service. I saw them keep her from crashing, and I saw you fight the hunger.” Well, that about covered everything. His gut clenched in shame. “Yeah, I guess you saw it. Do you understand my gift?” “You’re a berzerker.” “Yeah. Do you know the triggers? What to do if I’ve gone under?” “Stay still. Be submissive. Be calm.” He sighed. “Yes. Good. It sounds easier than it is. Anya never really got the hang of it, and she’s not the only one.” “I’m not afraid of you. And I won’t be.” He looked at her serious gaze, the little furrow between her brows. “I know you’ll try. But I don’t expect you not to fear me. I just want you to be prepared. To be safe.” They watched each other, and she nodded slowly. “You don’t trust yourself, but you should. I just watched you master yourself twice, for love of those around you.” “Yeah. And when you were watching Grady’s ass walk away, did you also notice the bloody welts I’d carved into his back?” “I did. You didn’t cut into him. He’ll be fine before I even have to feed him again.” The hunger leaped and twisted in his gut. Oh, he wanted her. He wanted this woman bad, and it had nothing to do with her ability to feed him energy. He wanted that open spirit who looked at him so calmly and offered all of herself. He recalled her words at the hangar, as she emerged from the fighter. I came here for you. They’d gone right to his gut, echoing like prophecy. He should tell her. She needed to be afraid. She needed to understand how he was a walking bomb. But his throat sealed, imprisoning the warning. Her brown eyes were warm, boldly holding his. She was as rare as Stardust. He clasped his hands together against the need to reach out and take her.

44

Mima

Grady came in bearing trays. Vel brought steaming bowls. Malla stood to help and they all shushed her down. Shon went and brought back the drinks. Vel fell on his food like a hyena. Grady always ate like he’d fallen in love with his bowl, steady and focused. Malla asked about setting some aside for Kor and they all laughed. Kor didn’t believe in anyone’s cooking but his own. He would sneer at the simply heated food they ate. The food settled him a little more, and he found he couldn’t decide what made him happier, Malla or the lifemates. Malla watched Grady with fondness, Vel with amazement. She shot Shon looks under her lashes, and he knew she was thinking of fucking him. She sat partially dressed in med scrubs in total comfort, smiling as Vel and Grady traded touches constantly. Vel was awake, alert, whole. Grady went the whole meal without cursing once. Eventually, they finished the food, and they all helped take it to the mess. “Leave the dishes,” Grady ordered Malla. “I’ll do them later.” He looked over at Shon. “Kor is due in four hours. I’ve got next watch.” Shon considered, nodded. “I’m going to go check on Bea.” Vel took Grady’s hand and put it on his dick, which clearly stood up straight under his loose pants. “I’m going to go check on Grady, in the shower.” Vel spun the large man hard against the wall, both of them struggling for control of the kiss. “You came for me. I knew you’d come for me.” Vel nipped at Grady’s neck. “You held on. It hurt so bad, and you never stopped fighting. I’m so proud of you.” Grady tipped his head back. Shon sighed, walked out. Malla came out behind him, but he saw how she lingered in the doorway. “Malla.” She blinked at him, looking dazed as she wrenched her gaze from the kitchen. “Yes?” “I need to tell you that I’m disappointed you initiated the ritual without preparation or backup. You have a larger responsibility than just to one person. You are now our sole source. Without you, we all shut down. Do you understand?” “I understand it was my duty to bring Vel back. What did it matter if I brought him back today or three days from now? Why wait to string out the stress on all three of you?” He ground his teeth. She was as bad as Grady. She looked back into the mess as he heard the clatter of a chair. “You know, they’re really beautiful together.” “Yeah.” She looked at him. “I’m going to get some sleep. And when I wake up, I’ll be ready for you.”

In Service

45

His dick stirred, thickened. “We’ll see.” He swallowed, then let himself hunger. “I hope so. I’m looking forward to it.” Oh. Her lungs were suddenly too small. “Me, too,” she whispered. Spirit, her eyes couldn’t get much bigger. He nodded to her and left before he borrowed Vel’s move and spun her into the wall. He went down to Bea’s room. He sat on her bed and sighed. The servers that came into his team’s care always seemed so fragile. There were a few who were tough, but the team’s raids got to them. The team's needs got to them. There were a few who were powerful, but they weren’t always good matches out of bed. Bea stirred after awhile, and jumped when she saw him. “Shhhh. You’re safe.” She looked at him, her hair glinting gold. “Shon…” “How do you feel?” “Awful. Empty. So tired. Too tired.” “Yeah. I know the feeling.” He still felt that way, but it would be cruel to say so when she'd just bottomed out to help him. “Thank you for helping me. I’m thinking clearer now. You can rest.” He tucked the covers around her. “Shon…” “Yeah?” “I want to go. To be released. I want to go back.” His gut clenched. Usually, the four men had three women to focus on, to share. Now, they’d only have Malla. She was damn powerful. She’d seen them through this crisis, but he didn’t know her long-term abilities, to sustain a whole team of gifted warriors on active duty. But with this mess with the Duke unresolved, he couldn’t bring himself to call for another server. She’d become an instant target. “Sure, Bea. If that’s what you want. I understand.” And he did. Frankly, he’d be gearing up to ask her to leave if they were simply finishing out their R & R. She wasn’t right for them, even though she was a damn fine server. Her eyes filled up with tears that made her eyes glow. “I’m sorry.” He sighed. Awww, shit. “Bea, we both knew this was coming, without this mess. Don’t be sorry. You kept Grady going when we needed you to. You did real good.” She nodded, beautiful bow-lips quivering. She swallowed, trying not to cry. “I’ll call it in.” He thought about that. About the Duke getting this piece of information. He worked it into his hunt for the Duke’s head. “Thanks.” He patted her shoulder, stood to go. “Shon?” “Yeah?”

46

Mima

“How soon do you think I could go?” Her voice was very small, ashamed. “As soon as a guarded transport can be arranged, Bea. If you want to line that up with High Post when you call in your contract’s release, go for it.” “Really? What if the new server… Malla?” He nodded. “What if she’s still out by next shift?” “She’s up. She’s going to be all right.” “Oh! Yeah, that’s good, then.” The utter relief was hard to hear. He felt like an ogre for accepting her service. She’d always been too damned timid for him. “Bea, thank you. For all you’ve done for us. I’m really, really glad I didn’t crash you tonight. You were very brave to come to me.” She held out her arms, her eyes filling again. He went and hugged her, carefully. When he left her room, he sighed with relief. He could hear the shower running in Grady’s room, and some serious loving going on. He went past Malla’s room and paused. Feeling his hunger twist, he continued on, and lay down on his bed. His thigh was a distant throb, and he realized he was still not fully healed. Spirit, thank

you for Vel’s return. Thank you for delivering Malla. Thank you for getting us through these last days. But he knew it wasn’t over. His contacts were working at getting information, but Duke Lester Harris was still free, still oozing his muck everywhere. They weren’t safe yet. Spirit, help me nail the Duke’s head to the fucking wall. He slept.

In Service

47

Chapter Five Malla woke up smiling. Her team was almost hers. She’d done it, pulling Vel out of his coma, stabilizing him for Grady. With Grady and Vel healed and at full ability, and Kor fed, only Shon remained. Shon held one of the deadliest of Luo gifts tightly in his control. Body aggression specialist. Malla snorted. What a euphemism for “destroyer of flesh.” Shon’s gift, once unleashed, would only be stopped by a powerful ion blast, and even then, his advanced Luo armor combined with his berzerker density might carry him through. Malla stretched, rubbing her thighs together. She had never been a woman drawn to dangerous men. But since her safe, academic world had literally been shredded by a handful of over-sized bug pincers, having danger on her side had become highly attractive. Shrugging into her robe, Malla pattered into the lav, turned on the shower. She smiled at the sink counter, remembering Grady. An image came from her memory as she stepped into the warm cleansing mist. Grady on his knees in the med bay, his massive, honed

warrior’s body shaking as he knelt where Vel lay, being scanned. Vel, unwilling to take his eyes off Grady as the med techs swept him, his face aching with a hunger Malla could never feed. Malla soaped her hair, feeling the tug as the waterlogged mass pulled on her neck. She remembered watching the shocking service they'd forced on Shon. Despite their desire to be alone and reconnect, the first thing they’d done upon returning had been to help Shon, to try to quell his hunger. It had been so sexy, the two powerful men holding him down, their bare torsos rippling with muscle. Bea's tiny, golden presence at his crotch, as she writhed in pleasure from sucking him off, fingering herself, watching Vel and Grady drown in each other.

48

Mima

But her heart had ached to see Shon fight away the energy then lose the fight. And in the end, Bea didn't have enough for him, and he'd hurt. He'd hurt so bad, animal sounds escaping his throat as he ripped at himself. Grady had stepped in when Vel took Bea away and Shon had ripped into Grady instead. Grady hadn't even blinked. She remembered the bitterness in Shon’s eyes as he spoke of the slight damage he’d dealt Grady, damage fainter than what Luo exchanged when they trained. Shon resented his moment of weakness. She’d go into this first time with him quick. Would he be as raw as Kor, diving on her and glorying in her body? Malla shivered, running her hands softly over her breasts. As ferocious and passionate as Kor was, Shon was harder, colder. Vel had been cold, when he demanded her energy. He’d demanded everything from her. There was no coddling there, no concerned hesitation as with Grady. Would Shon command her? Malla sent her hands between her legs, cleaning her bare folds gently. Yes, she’d take him hard and fast. He was already worried about her, but she wouldn’t give him time. She couldn’t wait to see him explode in his orgasm. Her breath hitched as her fingers brushed her throbbing clit. Would he go wild? Would she taste the powerful, dominant protector bottled up inside him? Shon, so dark, so troubled. She’d be his refuge. She’d serve him. She’d make him hers. A wave of pleasure rode her from her nape to her thighs in glorious expectation. Spirit, just thinking about this man could almost make her come. Malla turned off the water with trembling hands, then dried herself quickly. Pulling on her robe, she stepped into the hall. Vel was there, hair rumpled. “Malla.” His eyes seemed to swirl with intent as they swept down her body, clearly visible in the untied robe. She froze, taking in his nude length that reeked of sex. This man was a prince. “You’re going to Shon now.” It wasn’t a question, but she nodded, heart beating as he stared at her belly. He reached out a hand and casually flicked the robe so that it fell away from one breast, exposing a rapidly expanding nipple. “You’re magnificent.” “Thank you…Vel.” She wasn’t sure what to call him, but decided she’d earned the right to use his intimate name. “Inside and out.” His gray eyes suddenly pinned hers, pinning her lungs as well. When his gaze drifted down her neck to her breast again, she breathed, “Thank you.” “Shon is not like us. If you need us, just call. We’ll be listening.” Malla frowned. “What do you mean?” “If he loses control, you’ll need us. We’ll be there. You’ll never really be alone with him.”

In Service

49

It sounded like a reassurance he’d issued before, a soothing platitude for skittish servers. She stiffened. “We’ll be fine. Shon would never hurt me.” Vel nodded. “Shon would die if he hurt you.” Malla’s bared breast throbbed as she squared her shoulders even more, thrusting it out farther. She didn’t miss how he’d side-stepped her comment. Vel moved toward her, drifting around her with a measured drag of his chest across hers. He hummed. Her frown cleared as her body erupted with fire. Her lids drifted down at the heat of his smooth chest flattening her nipple. “Ohhh.” “Go on, Malla. He needs service badly. I’m here, and you’ll do fine.” He spoke as if she was to serve a rabid animal. Malla’s eyes snapped open, but the lav door was already closing behind him. Huffing, Malla hurried to Shon’s room. She walked into his room already wet with excitement. Finally, Shon. She was shaking with anticipation. The door closed behind her silently. He stood from the comlink, then walked up to her. “I thought you were dead, you know.” “Before I came in on the fighter?” Malla shrugged out of her robe. It whispered to her feet. “Yeah.” His eyes went to her breasts. “I sent my medallion with Krevnoy as a decoy. I had no idea they would destroy his ship. I was worried they might actually arrest him.” “More death on the Duke’s hands. I mourned you. We all did. We didn't know you yet, and you still touched us.” With another gliding step forward, he lowered his face to hers. Shon's lips drifted over her skin, breathing her, nibbling her. He trembled. His hands settled lightly around her upper arms. “Shon, you still hunger. Let me serve you. Don't wait.” “I…want to. I want to savor this.” His voice was so low. Grady’s was a rumbling bass, but Shon’s throbbed with intensity. “I'm not going anywhere. You can savor me next time.” Malla stretched up on tiptoe and kissed him, her lips and tongue working with skill and interest. Her arms locked around his strong neck. She poured her desire through her lips, her curiosity, her yearning for him. He kissed her back. He had skills, too, and interest. It was good and sweet and soon they were wrapped up tight. He sat on the bed, and fell back, pulling her down onto him. Her hands tried to drift down his body to his erection but never got any farther than the fascination of his beautiful neck, with its strips of muscle and beating pulse. “When I saw you in the hangar doorway, I thought you were a trick. When you took off your cape and stepped into Grady's arms, trusting us to protect you, I thought you were a

50

Mima

dream. When you looked at me, wrapped up in him, and you told me you were here for us, I…felt it. I felt it, like it was a realization of a promise, a memory I'd forgotten.” She straddled him, working to open his shirt. “Shon. Shut up. Let me heal you.” He rolled, taking her power position away, and kissed her. If their prior kisses before had been good and sweet, this one was a tornado that sucked away her breath and drowned her in lust. Here. Finally, she began to touch Shon’s passion. Cream trickled between her legs. He lifted his body up, and lowered one hand to fumble at his pants. His eyes were so dark as they stared down at her. Then he pushed her legs open with his and shoved inside her. His flesh in hers was thick and shockingly hot. Every time she took a new man into her body for the first time, she tried to make sure she grabbed the moment. But this moment had hold of her, not the other way around. He was really large, and it was several strokes before he was fully in. Every hard rock of his hips lit her veins up like laserworks. Every tight breath that glanced off her shoulder tightened her muscles. Every glimpse of his shifting, delineated muscles made the strength she was taking into her body that much harder against her softness. Her thighs spread wider in anticipation of explosive, violent passion. She could taste it, calling to hers…but it never came. He stared down at her, all business, and fucked her, steady, steady, hard. Fully clothed, he held her forearms above her head so she couldn't hold him, and he took her body with systematic control. What was it about the power in this man? Vel had power, was more powerful actually, in society’s terms. But Shon’s power -- she couldn’t wait to taste the depths of him. He was too rhythmic. It set a torch blazing between her legs. The perfection of his hips striking her clit infuriated her. His body was in hers, working, steady, heavy. “Malla, I hunger…” She closed her eyes as she came, her legs stiff with familiar pleasure, lashes fluttering, and gave him her inner light. He accepted it, politely, passively, hips still shoving into her expertly, steadily. She cried out, writhed, and poured more into him, but he just kept pumping, accepting her energy. His power remained hidden, trapped. Hurt, furious, she curled up to get in his face and hissed, “Drink, you proud bastard.” And he did, finally. He kissed her, and drank, shaking, moaning into her mouth. The moans didn't sound entirely pleasure-filled. It sounded as if he was being tortured. Still, his rhythm never faltered. He came in her, and she swung her legs around his cloth covered hips, and held him with her thighs, since he wouldn't let her hold him with her arms. She gave him energy through her lips, and through her wrists where he held her and through his dick. He finally drank himself full and her energy faded away. She covered up her well. He lifted off her, tucked himself back into his pants, and stood, staring down at her sprawled open on his bed.

In Service

51

Malla lay before him, panting. Frustration and confusion swirled. That was it? What was that? That wasn’t what she’d wanted. It wasn’t even close. Sullen, seething, sarcastic taunts pulled at her lips, but she kept them back. He watched her, brooding. A hungering Luo would be afraid of losing control and Shon more than most. He’d just had that close call with Bea. He’ll trust me next time, Malla thought. Next time, I’ll really meet this man. Shon’s black eyes stared at her, their cum still warm and fragrant on her body. He reached out one large, scarred hand, dusted with dark hair, and touched a gleaming patch of wetness on her thigh. He rubbed it between his finger and thumb, staring at it distantly. “You’re all right. I didn’t hurt you.” He didn’t even sound out of breath! “I’m fine,” she lied. He nodded. “Malla, next time I’m going to savor you.” His eyes were so black. The black of danger, of wild depths. Her heart stuttered, faltered, steadied. She softened, sighed. “Yes. That sounds good, Shon.” He wanted her as badly as she wanted him. She knew it wasn’t her imagination. She’d fed him in his perilous hunger, and now he’d feel safer. Next time, Malla would meet the real Shon.

***** Shon and Vel stood silently in the hangar, watching the docking procedure go out in reverse. Bea was gone. He sent a prayer for her safe journey, that the Duke would think her departure enough of a blow to the team, and ignore her. Vel stood in that eerily still way he had. “We have to guard Malla closer than deltonium.” Shon grunted. “Closer than stardust.” “Closer than the Spirit made flesh.” Shon felt the hairs on the back of his neck stir. The description was perfect for Malla. He glanced at Vel. Those gray eyes glinted at him. They nodded to each other. Malla was part of all their hearts, after only a second round of service. She seemed to read each of them dead-on. Although Shon noticed she was most careful, reserved, around him. Especially since the last time he’d taken her. Since he’d explained that she’d never really taste his passion. Then his dick stirred. Spirit. He was like some teenage perv just thinking about her. Don’t think about her. Don’t remember. Just take her as she comes. He would take her cum. Take her as a server. She was probably feeding Kor right now. He remembered walking into the mess to see Kor banging against her round bottom. It had glowed red, the imprint of a spatula clear on one cheek. She was draped face down on a table, with dishes and food scattered over the floor around them. Her robe was up around

52

Mima

her waist, and Kor worked her hard, watching where he shuttled in and out of her. The wet, slapping, sucking noise of them had made his own dick stand at attention. All he wanted to do was walk around to the front of the table. Undo his pants. Feed her his cock. He knew she’d do it. He wasn’t sure how Kor would act, but he knew, to his toes, Malla would love it. When he’d savored her the second time, she’d been wild under him, demanding, so -- Stop it. Don’t remember. You’ll get crazy. “What’s next? I need to hear more details about the hunt.” Vel led the way as they left the hangar. They all referred to the plan to get the Duke as the hunt. “The humans take the gate in an hour. We need to meet, together, face to face, when Grady joins us.” “Sounds good.” When he and Vel entered the lounge, he stopped dead. Kor was sitting on the couch, and Malla was riding him. Ah. Yeah, they were beautiful. He palmed his aching dick through his pants. Kor was definitely inviting him in this time. Servers who were taken in the lounge were fair game. It was their team rule. It had been a long time since any of them had indulged in a shared session. When was the last time? When they’d first arrived, hadn’t Vel and Grady done Trina? Yeah. He and Kor had just watched. Vel finished securing the door from the inside. He frowned at the couple. “Kor. Does she know?” Vel had gotten very protective of Malla. Shon thought it was more than the expediency of her being their sole source. It was highly irregular of the man, who was usually excruciatingly formal and polite with their servers. Malla turned her head. Her loose hair was everywhere. Gorgeous. It stuck to her flushed face. She licked her lips, her body bouncing as Kor drove up into her. Her hands were braced on the couch back behind him. “Yeah, I know, Vel. Watch or join. We don’t mind.” Her voice was breathy, her tits bouncing through the curtain of her hair. “Oh, Grady is going to be pissed.” Vel pulled off his shirt, while Shon just opened his pants and stepped up to her. He was going to finish his earlier vision. Gripping her hair at the nape of her neck, he directed her to his dick. For the first time, that tiny mouth opened and swallowed his tip. He almost came right down her throat. A rough growl tore from his throat. Her tongue flicked at him, then Kor slammed her, and her lips pulled at him, her teeth glancing off his length. She looked up at him through her lashes, those brown eyes deep and soft. Yeah, this was going to be over quick. He tightened his grip in her hair. “Shon! She’s trying to break me in half down here. She really likes whatever you just did. Do it again.”

In Service

53

Vel knelt between Kor’s knees. With them on the couch and him on the floor, her ass was at his chest level. He smoothed those long fingered hands up her spine, around to cup her breasts. “Ah, Malla. You have really nice tits. I love how heavy they are.” Vel’s voice was smooth, cultured. Like he was complimenting her dress at a cocktail party. Shon watched him lift her breasts, saw him roll her nipples in a crushing pinch, then work her in long, stretching pulls. Vel smoothed her hair away from them, and did it again. It was beautiful to watch the gates on Vel’s face fall away and see his real friend bare his passion. “Fuck, she likes that, too.” Kor definitely sounded out of breath. Or half strangled. Kor was taking her hard, but Malla took Shon deeper into her mouth. Her teeth bit at Shon’s dick, even though he knew she was trying to keep them away. He was just too wide, and her mouth too small, to avoid them with Kor’s harsh movements. Vel rubbed her breasts together, palmed her nipples. Then he pulled her back against him, angling her away from Kor, so she was arched, leaning against his shoulder. Shon almost came from the beautiful image of her as a living bridge between Vel and Kor. Her hair was a dark cascade that stuck to Vel’s back, and Kor’s tanned hands were stark on her hips. Shon had to adjust his stance, angle his dick so he could keep feeding it to her. Her face was lower now, and tipped up at him. After their adjustment settled, all three men’s eyes went straight to her spread cunt, where Kor’s shining erection slid and probed. Vel sighed happily, rotating her breasts. “Spirit, that’s lovely.” Malla sealed Shon against the roof of her mouth and swallowed, making the top of Shon’s scalp feel as if it were about to peel off. Then she pulled her head away. Malla reached one hand behind her head and grabbed Vel’s hair. With the other she took Shon’s wet length in a tight grip. She used him as a brace as Kor pinned her hips down and ground around in her. “Ahhhhh!” she cried in a low, needy wail. “Fuck, fuck, fuck!” “Yes, lovely, yes.” “Malla!” Shon’s voice called to her over the others. Those brown eyes opened and met his. Her head lay on Vel’s shoulder, her body claimed between Vel and Kor, but Shon had her eyes. Pleasure washed through him, taking his breath. They came together, his cum landing across her chest in white stripes. Out of nowhere, his Fury stirred at the sight. He ripped from her hold and staggered back to collapse on the couch, her energy buzzing through his balls, weakening his knees. Vel eventually tipped her forward, laying her on Kor, who held her. Vel wiped his hands on his thighs. “By Spirit, it’s like I’ve just had my full turn. I’m absolutely sizzling.”

54

Mima

Kor moaned, gathering her closer, his spread thighs shifting restlessly. Shon imagined she was still coming around his softening dick, her inner muscles taunting him. Her lower back was splashed with Vel’s cream. The thought that Vel hadn’t taken her ass pleased him. Then Vel’s words penetrated his brain. He checked his internal gauge. He was at full. True, he’d only just fed from her two shifts ago. He hadn’t done anything much beyond a simple workout and some focused correspondence regarding the hunt. But he was absolutely revved. Topped off and raring to go. And he hadn’t even stayed through her whole orgasm. He looked at Vel, stunned. He looked at Kor, who met Shon’s eyes while kissing her neck. “I thought so,” Kor said hoarsely. The men sat in silence for a moment. “Malla?” Kor asked. “Yeah?” Her voice was as hoarse as his. “How are you feeling, baby? Are you sleepy?” She stirred. Her smooth curves surrounded by Kor’s chiseled arms looked right. “Not really. I’m relaxed. I need a shower. But I’m good, energy-wise.” Malla looked over her shoulder at Shon, that little furrow between her brows. Her lips were bright red, puffy. Because he’d stuffed his dick between them. “Why?” Vel eased over into her line of sight. “Did they teach you about harmony in your training?” “It came up in a few lectures. There have been tales.” “It’s not a myth. It’s the greatest prize Luo dream of,” Shon said. “Are you saying that instead of portioning out my energy among you, you were all able to drink? Fully? I served you all at once? That’s not possible.” “Well, it’s looking pretty fucktastically real, lady,” Kor answered. Malla laughed up at Kor. “Fucktastic? That’s a great word!” “When your dick is as great as mine, you can use words like that.” Vel supplied the snort that statement needed. Malla laughed, an open sound that made everyone smile. “But how did this happen? It hasn’t happened before, during any of my training.” “I’m not sure,” Shon said. His heart was still beating hard. Maybe it’s because you really do belong to us. “But you did just endure a powerful healing ritual where your power was stretched.” “This is wonderful! Instead of feeding just one man through an orgasm, anyone who’s touching me can drink. Can I make you stronger?”

In Service

55

Vel explained. “It’s not really how strong you can make us. That’s based on our abilities. Harmony relates to how often you can feed us, and how completely. It would change how we pace our missions.” Malla looked at Shon. “I can help? On missions?” Shon frowned. “You wouldn’t go on missions with us. But instead of having to wait a day for everyone to feed back up to full power, with you feeding each of us in turn once every six hours, now we can all be fed in one shift. Our missions have stages, and these are usually controlled by how much energy we can expend before we have to return to our servers. You’ve just really changed up our potential timeline. It would be a huge advantage.” Kor smoothed her hair around one ear, kissed her gently. “You’re a feast, Malla. A gourmet, four-course feast. With dessert thrown in as a bonus.” “Can dessert go get a shower?” Vel helped her off Kor, steadied her as she tested her knees. He brought his hand up to hold her face and kissed her deeply, until she moaned. Then he set her back and she left the room. Her body gleamed with their cum. Vel looked at Shon. “We guard her.” He nodded, just as determined. “We’re keeping her.”

56

Mima

Chapter Six Ten hours later, Malla had tasted all her men again. This time without life or death consequences or the agitation of Luo hunger. It was some of the best sex of her life. Kor had taken her permission to heart. He was open and simple in his pleasure. Not that it was easy being loved by him. He was the most passionate lover she'd ever had. They'd christened the kitchen, and he’d told her of their habit of sharing in the living area. With shy excitement, he’d asked if she wanted to join him there soon, knowing that whoever else walked in would be invited to join. She’d said yes, and that had led to another passionate encounter. They hadn’t quite made it to the bed. Her only experience solo with Vel had been one of exquisite, drawn-out pleasure, as he studied her, learned her, played her. He hadn't wanted any talk, just sensation, as he took her over with a leisure that bordered on torture. It had been worth it when he let her see the man underneath his control, even underneath the cool Prince. Bossy and protective and so very in need of tenderness and trust. She gave him both. During her second time solo with Grady, he had put her on top of him and let her control the sex. He seemed to be most relaxed when she directed him. Vel had watched. She and Grady had known their sex was as much for Vel as for them. Feeling his appreciation was amazing. However, she still hadn't really had him. Shon was utterly closed off. He was afraid of himself, and he didn't trust her. Oh, he trusted her to a degree. He'd gorged deep enough their first time. Then, she’d gone to him with a hopeful heart, so naive…and been played like a trancetar. She made excuses. She thought she’d wait until he wasn’t so on edge. She thought she had the answers, Malla, the Elite wonder-server who knew all. Her first time had left her feeling uneasy.

In Service

57

Her second time had left her reeling between frustration and despair. His room had been darkened. Already nude, he’d been a study in muscle and grace. Gentle, intent, his hands on her body were a relentless joy. He controlled her but held himself back. She snarled and begged and taunted, but all she got was proof of just how skilled a lover he was. Then, finally, he fucked her hard, deep and strong, so unbelievably thick he burned the sensitive skin where he stretched her vagina. He drank, but his passion never really erupted. Afterwards, she hadn't held back her words. It was insulting. It felt degrading, like she was some commodity to be used. “I don't know what your prior servers did when you gave them half of yourself like that, but I'm not going to stand for it.” She pushed viciously at his shoulder, squirming away from under him as soon as his pull on her energy slackened. “Malla, don't.” They were both panting from exertion, from the pure spiking beauty of the last orgasm. He tried to pull her into his body, gorgeously golden and honed into a living weapon. She batted at him, furious. “You ass! Am I supposed to be thankful you took your clothes off this time?” “Malla, I know you came deep. We were good together. Why are you so angry?” His brows drew together. That really pissed her off. “Because I deserve more! That wasn't the real you! That was some tame, controlled, careful you. I’m not glass, Shon! Nor am I a convenient whore. I'm a woman, and I want you, and you're holding out. It's rude.” He scowled, propping his head in his hand as she scrambled out from under him finally. Or rather, he finally let her go. “I wasn't gentle. I worked us hard. And don’t ever insinuate I think you’re a whore again.” “Pfft. I work myself harder when I masturbate. That wasn't honest sex with a man. That was an Elite Luo team leader giving a respectful go at his server.” She struggled into her robe as an excuse to stay in the room and keep arguing. “I’ve never known a server to object that I wasn’t passionate enough. Some asked me to be more controlled, actually. I honor the professional relationship between server and Luo.” The honest confusion in his voice tempered her indignant anger. Crossing her arms, she lifted her chin. “Well, I’m not them. I can’t even imagine being so cold as to close out the truth of a lover I’m bound to provide for. This isn’t a business arrangement for me. I’m presenting all of myself to you, and you’re holding yourself away. It’s insulting poo, is what it is.” He sat up on the bed. “Malla, look at me.” The defeat in his voice stilled her fight with her sash. She looked at him. His shoulders sagged. “I'm never going to be able to give you that. Because of my gift.” “What do you mean?”

58

Mima

“I'm a berzeker, remember?” “So?” She folded her arms, glaring at him. “Malla, it's not like any other gift. There's a force inside me… I call it the Fury. If I get too worked up, too worried, too angry, it rises, and I…leave.” “You do not. You're just in an altered state.” “Exactly. I'm not myself. I'm incredibly violent, and I retain no memories from when I'm in that state. Believe me, High Post has tried every drug and psychic they have, because sometimes I've been places in my berzerker state where it would be really convenient for me to remember key details. But they get nothing from me, because my brain is simply…off.” She gasped, her hand jumping to her throat. His own people, torturing him. Him, letting them. It was so unfair. “I will never risk you that way. Never. You don't know what you're asking for, and you're wrong to ask for it. Wrong to ask me to risk that. What if I ripped you up, and went out the door and onto the team? The only way they'd get me down is if they used their gifts on me in return. That's not a scenario I'll ever risk. Not even to satisfy your desire.” “I don't believe that. I'll never believe it. You go into your berzerker state all the time on missions, and you've never attacked them. You need to trust yourself.” “Why do you think I've never attacked them?” Now his voice was cold, closed. “It's in your file. How in training after training, you take out the hostiles, and you stop fighting, with your team around you. And there's not a single report of you turning on them.” “Have you seen the scar on Vel's face?” Uncertain, she swallowed. “Yes.” “Have you seen the scars on Kor's lower back?” In a smaller voice, filling with dread, she said, “Yes.” “Have you seen the mass of scars on Grady's right forearm?” She nodded, mouth dry as dust. “Me. I don't remember it, of course. But all of those are from me. And those were just the worst that didn't heal fully on the first service back from a mission, so they scarred. We don't put it in the reports because I'd get yanked.” He sat in the rumpled sheets of the dimly lit bedroom, and her heart cracked. “I should be yanked, and I'll yank myself as soon as the war is over. But I'll probably die before then. I'll die taking down hostiles, freeing innocents, and I'll go down proud. Which is more than an animal like me deserves.” Like a small child, she whispered, “No.” Shon did not really count himself as part of the team. Not deep down. It was so clear to her. It was him and his team together, failing to see that even a violent soul had a place with them. Either they believed he was worthy with his

In Service

59

gift, danger and all, or they believed he was flawed and to be kept apart from them. The will to change this, for more than just her own emotional satisfaction, bloomed with bitter anguish in her belly. Like a grim, brutal warrior, he nodded. “Yes. They know I'm a walking bomb, and they fight by my side anyway because it's true that most times I don't go for them. And they've learned, through painful mistakes, what triggers attacks on them when I'm in the Fury. We're managing, but it's a gamble every time. Every time. I fight to keep it in, but my gift has saved our asses more than I can count. It's a balance. I risk them to save them, and it sucks.” She would change this. She would. “But I'm certainly not going to risk you, just because your intuition has picked up that I'm holding back. You're right. I am. And no matter how wild and pure the sex gets, I'm never going to let you near that part of me.” It was exactly the part she wanted. At the least, she needed him to know he was utterly free with her. She didn’t want him boxed up and controlled. She wanted the real Shon, even if she had to take damage to enjoy him. But she believed with all of herself that she’d be able to read him well enough to avoid an attack. “Eventually, I’ll see that part of you. It will happen during a mission at some point. You’ll see then, that I can handle it.” She refused to become some sort of paper doll for him that he cosseted and pretended with. Part of it was pride. She swore when she signed to be a server that no team of hers would ever be just a job. But the larger part of it was Shon, with his black, serious eyes, and his quiet walk. He was mystery, intelligence, and strength. She wanted him. His voice was gritty with exhaustion. “They’re never going to let you near me like that. It’s not a matter of shame for me. It’s a matter of sanity. I’d die if I knew I left even one scratch on you.” Malla stood at the side of his bed, staring at his taut face, his grim eyes. “I'm so sorry. I want more for you.” I want all of you. Her hands were so cold, heavy. “Stardust, I'm doing all right. When I'm with you, I'm better than all right.” Malla crawled back up onto the bed. He lay down, pulled her against his shoulder, covering them both. And she held him tightly.

***** The Team sat around the kitchen table. Malla sat with them. For the first time, they were together in one place, and they were an impressive collection of testosterone. Also for the first time since her arrival, she was dressed. Between sleeping and sex, she hadn't really had the need. Her robe had been enough for Bea's good-bye meal.

60

Mima

They were intently passing around various vid plates. Shon gave her a plate with some of the pertinent facts about their enemy. She read it with ice in her veins. He was a very, very powerful man. An awful, evil man. “How can this be? Vel, is this true? There’s proof that the Duke can coordinate with the bugs?” Malla was nauseated by the concept a human would be in league with them. Vel sat close to Grady, touching shoulders. His red-gold hair glowed like a natural crown, tending to wave in thick swirls. His leanness made him look smaller than Grady, but they were similar in height. “My father spent three years gathering irrefutable evidence, suffering the bastard Duke’s underhanded Council dealings as he played the war to build his own little empire. Even though the Duke’s indictment for treason, high corruption, and aiding the enemy is proceeding, he used blackmail to get the Council to allow him to keep his seat right up until the verdict.” “It’s unbelievable,” Kor grumbled. “I know the rat bastard is planning some last minute escape. They just let him waltz around free with nothing but a measly blood tracer. While good men are dying to fight the bugs, he’s working with them to bring our whole society down.” Kor was a bit shorter than the rest of the team, with truly impressive shoulders set off by narrow hips. His light brown hair was shaggy, down around his neck. His eyes were dark today, mostly brown, with a hint of green. His skin was paler than Shon's, who was the darkest of the group. Grady’s rumble picked up. “Ever since the trial started, all appearance of assistance with the Alliance vanished from several major corporations and one significantly large and talented human mercenary group. They are openly working against the High Post, and wielding a media war on the Council, calling for dissolution of the Alliance.” Malla laughed in disbelief. “Who believes that we’d last a month without the Alliance’s coordinated efforts?” “People who don’t live near one of the hundreds of bug portals and haven’t met anyone who has.” Kor’s voice was bitter. “We give them safety bought with death, and they get greedy.” Shon’s voice was cold. “We’ve known the Duke has been looking for every opportunity to undermine the Alliance, and the Council in particular, for the last five years. But now he’s discovered Vel’s exact location. The media has known that Vel covers his political duties as the Crown Prince of Shaubia while on active duty with a Luo team. But his position was classified. The Duke has broken our security. He knows where Vel is now, and he’s not going to stop.” Shon had nearly black hair and black eyes that were usually squinting. He seemed to always be thinking, assessing. Malla loved the way he looked at her, so intent. He had several faint scars on his face, and despite not having Kor's shoulders or Grady's bulk, he carried a presence that made him seem huge. Vel had it too, a kind of natural leadership. But Shon's

In Service

61

wasn't as calm, contained, practiced. Shon's seethed. She hadn't figured out yet if that was because of the situation they were in, or if he was always like that. “We bring the fight to him,” Grady said harshly. His large, square jaw made his face look ruthless. His pale blond hair was cut soldier short, and there were lines at his eyes. “We need something big, to make him back off. Shon’s compiled all these files. Somewhere in here is the answer to scraping that fucker’s shadow off our team.” Sighing, her stomach tight with dread, Malla watched her men assess and discuss. The technical lines of holdings and factions blurred before her eyes. She struggled to focus on the conversation, a driving need to contribute keeping her heavy eyes open. “It's such bullshit!” Kor threw a vid plate at the kitchen wall, shattering it into clattering pieces. “It all keeps coming back around to him and he's walking around free.” Malla sat still next to Kor, who was beet red with rage. Turning on Shon he slammed his hands on the table. “Well, you showed us all the evidence. We can figure it all out, so just say it already.” The silence stretched in the tiny, stark kitchen. Vel said calmly, “He's going to call us out. It will either be a suicide mission we can't refuse or an ambush with overwhelming odds.” “Fuck! Fucking son-of-a-bitch bug whore!” Kor exploded out of his chair, sending it crashing back against the wall. He stomped around the room, fists clenching. Grady never took his eyes off of Vel. “It's time for you to retire. This is it, Vel. You can't go forward in these conditions. From the minute we set foot off this station, we're a target he'll gun for with assassins and traps. Time for you to head to Shaubia.” Vel looked back at Grady, silver eyes narrowing. “I'll be in just as much danger there as here, with crappier security and fewer people I can trust. If I remain, we're at full strength, and my best defense is to take the Duke out. Like you said, take the fight to him.” Kor kicked his fallen chair at the wall. It rebounded and skittered toward Malla, making her cringe. He blurred, grabbed it before it hit her, and threw it on the floor in a temper. “Kor!” Shon barked. “You almost hit Malla. Sit down.” He didn’t. “I have enough to hire an assassin, Shon. Please, please, just let me at the public comlink in the station bar, and I'll call in a favor.” Vel laughed. “Don't you think I haven't already tried?” Kor looked at Vel, jaw slack. “No, actually it never occurred to me that ole' Prince ‘take-em-alive-if-we-can’ Vel would try to whack the crazy-ass traitor.” Vel lifted his lip in a sneer. “Pup, I've been killing people longer than you. Just because I'm civilized enough to make sure they deserve it before I go for it doesn't mean I'm weak.”

62

Mima

Grady leaned in, pushing the air with his enormous spread hands. “Calm down. He never called you weak, Vel.” “Shut the fuck up, Grady,” Kor snarled. “I just discovered Vel has balls beyond what's on his crown, and I'm impressed.” Vel lunged for Kor, who laughed and punched him in the cheek. Grady roared, toppling over his chair as he stood. There was a blur of motion, and Kor was on the floor in the corner. Another blur and Vel was right back down in his chair. Shon held Grady against the wall as he cursed Kor across the room. Malla unfolded herself from her chair. Using all the breath in her lungs, she said, “Enough.” The room fell silent. Malla turned to Kor, who was wiping blood off his lip. “Are you all right?” “Of course I am,” he said indignantly. She turned to Vel, who had a red welt on one cheek and was staring at Kor with murder in his eyes. “And you?” “Fine.” Malla turned to Shon. “Let Grady go. All of you get in your chairs, and sit down.” She turned back to Kor, who groaned as he stood. “Without a word, if you please.” When they'd all picked up their chairs and the vid plates, she sat, too. “That was very immature, Kor. Your worry and fear made you pick a fight with your own team.” He folded his arms, eyes on the table, sulking. She noticed he didn't deny he was afraid. “Shon, is there any chance we can take the fight to him?” His eyes were so black they seemed bottomless. “What do you mean?” “Why wait for the summons? Why let him put the obstacle in place? You're not in rotation, and you have me. So rough justice has failed and legal justice is about to win. All you have to do is stay one step ahead him. Keep him hopping. Bring it to him.” “If we got caught going after a councilman, it would make all his lies about a conspiracy against him look true,” Vel said. “No, not after him, per se, but after his assets. Surely you must have an idea of some weak area. Is there any part of his foundation that we can turn to our side, or capture?” The men were quiet. Grady picked up a plate, thumbed through it. “The drug operation on Habenvor is about to go down. We could totally take it out without breaking a sweat,” Kor offered. “But that's already about to go down. He's probably already written it off. We need him to sit up and take notice.” Shon picked up two vid plates, scanning them simultaneously.

In Service

63

“I like the idea of turning a part of his power over to us. Beyond just destroying something, what could we gain ?” Vel sat back, stroking his chin thoughtfully. “We'd only need to hold it for the short term. It doesn't have to be a watertight partnership, but it has to be big.” Grady echoed, “We want a big, short-term gain.” “Radha.” Shon's word brought the other men's faces whipping around to him. Malla asked, “Who's Radha?” “One hot piece of ass, that's who,” Kor answered faintly. Grady snorted. “She's the daughter of Saxon, the leader of the Ion Blades.” Malla blinked. “The Ion Blades? They're real? Is that the mercenary group you mentioned in your report?” They were the bogeymen of deep space. Before, she’d heard no pirate was safe from them. Now, no merchant or scientific caravan was safe. “Yeah, they're real, although a lot of the stories about them aren't.” Vel still pulled at his lower lip. His eyes narrowed. “They used to work for President Khipo, one of the good guys.” Kor added, “Now, they work for the Duke. There were rumors swirling that he had her. There was a huge reward for information about her. I mean, huge. Then two of Saxon's captains were taken out, and the reward disappeared, even though Radha never reappeared.” Shon laid his plates down. “We thought then that the Duke had her. He had her, and when Saxon tried to get her back, he taught him a public lesson. And I'm very much afraid, a private one probably accompanied the hits. Otherwise, I don't see Saxon backing off from his baby girl, not even over the loss of his best men.” Anticipation buzzed beneath her skin. Shon turned to her. “You are brilliant. I won't underestimate having a second highranking tactics talent with us again.” Grady growled. “I never liked Radha, but no one deserves to be kept by the Duke. He's had her, what, six months?” “Eight,” Kor answered. “They took her not a month after I tasted her. Her team lost a member in it.” All the men were silent, looking at the table. Grady made the sign of the Spirit. Malla remembered they'd lost a man, before Kor. Kor cleared his throat. “And if you hadn't interrupted us, I could have convinced her to sign on with our team. You would have learned to like her. Trust me.” Malla was confused. “What happened?” “Pretty boy, as usual, couldn't keep his dick in his pants. He seduced her at one of the few social functions I couldn't get out of. She was already assigned to another team, and it's

64

Mima

in really, really crappy taste to seduce someone else's server. Grady stopped him.” Vel's voice could have been cold, but was more fondly amused. “Radha's a server?” “Yeah. An Elite, and between that and her father, she's real stuck up. Most Elites are,” Grady grumbled. “Am I stuck up?” Malla asked, nonplussed. The men all turned to stare at her for a beat of silence. “What?” she asked, shriveling inside. “Am I too pushy?” They all burst out laughing. Vel leaned his head against Grady's arm, while Grady pounded on the table. Heat crawled up her face, even as her mouth curved up at their infectious laughter. “So, I'm not?” Kor shook his head. “You drove yourself here in a fighter pod, Malla. Shit, you'd reclaimed Vel and Grady before the shift changed. Last time we had an Elite, we didn't get to see her for her formal welcoming dinner until she'd spent twelve hours primping in her room.” Grady leaned over to cover both her clasped hands with one of his. “You're so sweet. You're wild and sweet, just the way 983 needs you to be. Don't ever change, Malla. You're good.” Vel wiped at his eyes, sighing. “So. We have some recon to do and some research. We have a mission, my friends.” “Team, this is Mission Turnabout.” Shon looked each man in the eyes. Malla sat up straight when he included her. “We're going to find Radha and give her back to her father. I guarantee that once they’re free to do so, the Ion Blades will rampage against the Duke’s holdings. The Duke will be so very pissed off, but too busy to be focused on us. With the damage to his credibility rippling out from Dunru, the Ion’s no longer under his thumb and looking for blood, and Vel’s father holding the political pressure in his trial for treason, the Duke won’t be able to touch us.” “You know, this is probably going to be only slightly easier than escaping an ambush,” Kor mused. “He's going to have her wrapped up tight, expecting her father to try to get her back. And the Ion Blades, for all their false rep, actually have some decent skills.” “No,” Shon shook his head. “That's not who he's going to be expecting. He already cowed her father, who'll keep the Blades from her. It's her Luo team that he'd be wary of. That's who we have to contact first. Kor, do you remember who it was?” “Yeah, ummm. Sig twelve.” “That's right. They lost Dixon when Radha was taken,” Vel murmured.

In Service

65

“How do you always remember everyone's name?” Grady sighed. “You're like a walking vid plate.” “I'm just that good, lover. I've got better genes than you peasants.” Grady grinned, leaning over and kissing him. “Hey,” Shon spoke sharply. “Sex after the assignments. I want to be off-station within ten hours, preferably less. Thanks to Malla, we have a ready-made means of travel, and a three-day grace period to execute within, although we’ve wasted half of it.” Shon looked at his vid plate. “Bea agreed to help us hide Vel’s recovery from High Post to throw off the Duke’s spies, although they’ll know Malla made it through to us. I can bully and bribe the station manager to keep the humans on gate and to hold silence on our departure for twelve hours. If we move fast, we can be at Dunru before he gets wind that we’re fighting strong again.”

66

Mima

Chapter Seven Everyone scattered to their individual assignments. Malla was given one, too. She was to contact her headmistress, which would trigger no flags. She was to find out the current status of Team Sig twelve, especially the quality of their current servers. Since that would take all of five minutes, she reminded Shon she had hacking skills. She'd been able to breach into their team's security codes when she hadn't wanted to use the ones she'd been given. But Shon couldn't confirm that she'd truly done it without being noticed, and asked her to sit tight. Malla called up her base. It was so good to see Headmistress. Her familiar office, with the grand wooden desk and the window displaying servers at target practice tightened her throat with oncoming tears. She'd mailed her after Vel's healing to tell her that the destroyed medallion hadn't destroyed her, and to warn her of the potential fallout to the Base when it was revealed Malla had actually made it to her team after all. The headmistress had sent a relieved mail back, telling her round one of the fallout had already happened, and she would be up to round two. Now they had gone through the protocol for a secure link, plus a few more steps Grady had insisted on as extras. “Headmistress, I can't believe I've only been away two days.” “I can't believe it either, Malla. You are missed. You look well.” “Thank you. I am very well.” “You're not calling to check in. You are readying for your man's ritual? Do you have questions?” “Headmistress, it is done. Vel is fine. I need you to tell people that the reason I com'd you was for details on the ritual, and how sick he is. I’m really calling because I need to ask you for some information on another team.” Headmistress sat back in her chair. “This has to do with the drama of your transfer?”

In Service

67

“Yes. This has to do with the man who tried to kill two of my team, and keep servers from joining them, and killed four men trying to stop me from arriving. It also has to do with trying to rescue an Elite server he's holding hostage.” Headmistress stood and moved thoughtfully to her window. Malla was surprised, but waited. She had been so sure that Headmistress would help her. Headmistress touched the key around her neck and the window’s view changed to a classroom. The servers, all ages, all colors, both sexes, were laughing with the professor. Malla recognized Sila, the too-young professor of energy theory. The one that had mentioned harmony. Headmistress turned toward Malla, and her face was forbidding. She looked older and meaner. “Radha.” Malla nodded, surprised. “Yes. My team wants to get her, to surprise their enemy by changing the balance of power.” Headmistress slapped her key in the palm of her hand, rather viciously. “Team Epsilon 983 specializes in extractions. I expect that they will succeed where the others have failed.” She made it sound like a threat. “Headmistress?” “Radha was taken eight months ago! And while that thug with a Duke’s label kept the best teams from being assigned to her, he couldn't block High Post from bowing to the will of the Bases entirely. They have sent three teams in. Three! And all have failed. Five servers burned out in all and several Luo seriously hurt. They never even got close.” “I'm sorry to hear that. We plan on doing better.” Inside, Malla trembled at the danger her men were facing. If this didn't work, the Duke would be able to put his trap in place, and the odds of their survival would go way down. She lifted her chin. “I need Team Sig Twelve's file and their servers' files.” “My dear, Malla. You may have the files. And more than that, you may have all the details of the failed missions.” The older woman sank into her chair gracefully, and within a moment, a file was blinking on Malla's com. She accepted it. Malla stared at her headmistress, her heart pounding. “Thank you. You know her, don't you? Radha?” “I know her. Or rather, I knew the woman she was before she existed eight months in that pustule's control.” Malla shuddered, bile churning in her stomach. For the first time, she understood that Radha had probably not been simply locked in a cell. Oh, sometimes she was so naive. “We'll get her back.” “I have every confidence. Good luck, and Spirit bless you.”

68

Mima

The com went dark. Malla opened the packet of attachments. There was one on Radha, one on Sig Twelve, and one on their two current servers, both unregistered. There was also a file named “Dunru.” Malla read all of them. Several hours later, she was still sitting in the dark when Grady came to the door. “Malla?” She wiped the tears from her face. Recalled where she was, who she was, what she could do. “Do you seek service, Grady?” It was his turn, since the others had fed in the living area. He knelt by her. Cursed Luo eyesight. His hand cupped the side of her face. “What happened?” Malla gestured at the com screen. “I learned more about Radha and her team. If you knew she'd been taken, why didn't you go get her, Grady? Why!” “Ah, sweet.” He took her off the chair, scooping her into his lap as he sat on the floor. “We actually talked about it. Kor wanted to go, and Shon was considering it, because we smelled the Duke’s hand. But then we were assigned to an emergency and then another. Malla, it's war. There are so many people to rescue. Elite servers are a hot item on the black market. Do you know that last I heard, about a month ago, there were five missing? We can't rescue everyone.” Malla shivered. She was safe in Grady’s arms. Knew it to her bones the minute she saw him, an immense black shape in that empty hangar. If she was to be taken, these men would come for her, just like Radha’s team had never given up on her. “Plus, we're not trackers. We didn't know where she was. We started to make inquiries, but it just fell away in the heat of our missions. Later on, we heard a couple young teams had failed, and we asked to be assigned. We were refused. We suspected the Duke again, but we're soldiers, trying to keep a low profile because of Vel. We have to follow orders.” Malla cuddled into his strength. “You're not following orders now.” He sighed. “No. Not anymore. And this could blow Vel's cover.” “Not if you let another team take credit for it.” “Yeah?” “Her team. Sig Twelve. They're in place. They've already made two failed attempts.” Grady pulled her away from his chest, looking down at her incredulously. “What?” “Let's go get the others. I have news. I was a little overwhelmed by it all, before, but I'm ready now.”

In Service

69

He stood, helped her up. A few moments later, they were all in the living area. Kor looked at the couch, looked at her, and rubbed his erection, grinning. She shook her head at him, mouth twisting to keep from smiling. “My headmistress gave me a lot of information. I got the specs on her team, like you asked, Shon. But more than that. I know where Radha is and most of the schematics of her imprisonment.” Shon didn't even bat an eye. “Tell us.” Malla shivered under his intensity. She held up her vid plate, synched it to the large viewer in their room. She put the team summary up on the board. The very first line had Kor and Grady cursing. “Rogue Team. AWOL. Resisted court marshal. REWARD.” “This was posted after their first attempt to get Radha out, three months ago. It took them that long to organize, because they had to arrange for black market servers. They were on grief leave during that time, and so weren't given a new team member to replace Dixon, who was killed when the Duke’s men took Radha.” “I hope he didn’t die knowing he failed,” Kor spat darkly. Malla swallowed at the depressing thought and continued. “Their team leader is Char, 34. He's gifted with electric skin. He can control it to a certain extent, but like your Fury, Shon, he sometimes loses time to it and anyone near him can get fried. He's never killed a friendly, but it's been close. Their second in command is Cristanna. She's 31. She's gifted with mind control. She can tamper with memory and sometimes induce hallucinations. Like Kor's skills, hers require some base psychic ability, so there are some whom she simply can't affect. Dixon was 28. Ungifted. The youngest member of the team is Ahmed. He's 27, ungifted. He took serious spinal damage in the kidnapping, and apparently still can't walk well. They're all lovers.” For every bio, she’d shared their file pictures. To her, they’d looked young and happy. She was sure they no longer resembled those images. She had no pictures to show for the next bios. “Their current servers are Lali, a prostitute, age 23. She's an addict, and likes pain. The other is Ben, 19. He's been an addict, but current intel says he's clean and was clean prior to hiring on as their server, unlike Lali.” Malla took a breath and changed the slide on the screen. They weren’t going to like this. She was right. The team's tense focus erupted into curses again. This time Shon and Vel added their variations. “They're on a moon called Dunru, artificial atmosphere, population at least five thousand. They've eluded multiple assassins and killed several of the station officials who have attempted to arrest them. They're on the move. High Post has two clearly separate groups operating around them on Dunru. The non-Luo one is trying to kill or capture them. The other is a Luo team, Kappa 49, trying to help them and hinder the captors. I suspect they may have come at the demand of the server Bases. Sig Twelve now has ties to both the

70

Mima

prostitution and drug culture, probably through Lali. Currently, those elements seem to be working for them.” Sharing the next bit was depressing. “They made another attempt on Radha two months ago. Char was wounded and is still recovering. Only he and Cristanna went in. Unlike the first time, they haven't contacted Kappa 49 to share information from this raid. They don't trust anyone and have dropped completely out of sight for weeks at a time. They're really on the move through the underworld, and they're hurting. An attempt was made on a server two weeks ago. He wasn't taken, but the kidnappers did manage to get him away from his team for a short while. He was told they needed service, and then they’d let him go. It's suspected that Sig Twelve was behind this, although on Dunru, it could really be anyone.” Malla turned to the next slide. Vel stood, moving up to the screen to study it intently. “This is what intelligence has been able to gain on the highly secure facility Radha is being housed in. It's owned by one of the subsidiaries of one of the Duke’s corporations. It used to be a drug lab, but no drugs have moved in or out for eight months.” Malla turned to Shon. “It's clear to me what the easiest strategy is. Get me to Char, and we'll combine forces with Sig Twelve and Kappa 49. If Vel’s going to remain on active duty, let one of those teams take the credit when the mission is over.” Kor came to his feet. “You are not going near Dunru, Malla. Especially if we have to focus on Radha.” Shon and Grady remained sitting side by side. Shon narrowed his gaze on her. “That was an excellent report, Malla. Thank you.” He held out his hand for the plate. Frowning, she gave it to him. Kor waved his arm wildly between the screen and Malla. “You're not considering this! Shon! Tell her! Dunru is a pit. No, it was a pit before the war, and now it's a hole. A stinking butthole full of crap. She's not --” “Kid, shut yourself up before I do it for you.” “Shut the fuck up, Grady!” “Grady, isn't it your turn to be served?” Shon's eyes burned into her. “Yup. I do believe that's true.” Kor growled. “Since you have so much energy, Kor, you can go work out.” “Yeah, and fuck you, too.” He stomped out of the room. “Grady.” Grady stood up at Shon's soft word and held out his hand. “Shall we go, sweet?”

In Service

71

Malla put her hand in his, and let him pull her up. She looked at Shon and said, “You need me, Shon. I can harmonize. This isn't a normal mission, where you're going to go in and out several times. You need to take me with you, so I can feed you on the move.” Grady tugged at her hand. “Let's go to bed, lovely.” Vel turned from the screen, looking at Grady with polite disinterest. Malla was distracted from the mission. “Vel?” She looked up at Grady, who simply watched Vel. “Did you want to come, too?” Vel didn't answer, he just stared at Grady. His face was a handsome mask. Too still, too removed. Eventually, Grady tugged her hand and she followed him to his room and its gigantic bed. He began to undress. “Are you tired from the workout we've given you? Now that we're all back to full, we would probably slow our schedule down, but now it seems we're going to stay at battle ready.” “I'm not tired, Grady. What was that about with Vel back there?” “He's a moody bastard. It comes from reading too many books. His head is full of stupid ideas. How are you feeling, though? Are you sore?” Actually, she was feeling a bit sore, but not enough to forgo the pleasure of being with her men. “I'm all right. He can't possibly be jealous, can he?” “He is possibly stupid enough to be jealous, yes.” She didn’t know why. They were the ones with the love that had transcended death. The ones who had a respect and passion honed by years. The two men were riveting every time she saw them together. They made her yearn. “Well, why didn't he come with us then? And he can see.” That she was a mere shadow compared to their love. Grady lay down next to her on the bed. On his side, he was like a wall of heat next to her. He put his hand in the middle of her body. He could almost span her ribs. “Wait for it.” His hand moved up to her breast, fondling it gently. “Wait for what?” The door whooshed open. Vel stalked in. “That.” Malla laughed, a little chuckle. Her breast bounced in Grady's grip and he hummed, lowering his face to her free one and nuzzling her nipple with his lips. Malla sighed, shivering at the swirls of pleasure Grady sent to her belly. “Vel?” “Are you laughing at me?” He spoke stiffly from the foot of the bed. “Lover, get your clothes off.” Malla laughed at Grady's words again, then moaned when he mouthed her nipple, his fingers toying with its twin. “Am I invited?”

72

Mima

“Of course! Vel, I’ll never come between you and Grady.” Grady apparently ignored her words. “Sort of. Malla's mine right now. It's my turn, and I don't want to share. My hands on her body, my dick in her cunt.” Grady lifted his head and looked at the large, powerful man standing in the shadows. “But I'm always yours, Vel. Always. Whenever you want to fuck me, wherever, I'll never tell you no.” Malla shivered as Grady's voice rumbled into her from where they pressed together. She shivered from the intensity of Vel's glinting silver eyes, his sharp, indrawn breath. She shivered from Grady's long erection thickening on her hip. And she shivered from the passion in his words, the vibrating love that flowed out of him toward Vel. Vel stalked to a side cabinet built into the wall. He took out a tube and threw it on the bed. Malla recognized it as warming lube. She sighed, rolling her hips against Grady's huge penis. Grady moaned happily as he settled his face to her chest again. He licked her, a long, warm drag. He suckled her nipples, then the whole tip of her breast. Malla moaned. Grady was the most gentle of her lovers, and it wasn't because he held himself back due to his size. It was really the way he liked it. Vel finished undressing and stalked onto the bed on all fours. His eyes were on Grady's thick dick. Malla reached down and closed her hand over him. Her fingers could barely touch. Deciding that Vel needed to lighten up if he was going to join her and Grady in bed, Malla tipped her shoulder to get her hand on Grady’s balls. The big man hummed against her nipple. Malla smiled sweetly at Vel's narrowing eyes. Grady scooted down, so he could kiss and lick the under part of her breast, along the crease. He rolled his face in her, inhaling, thrusting his hips against her hold on him. “Ah, Spirit, you smell so good.” Grady rolled on top of her, bracing on his forearms, and settled to seriously sucking at her other breast. Malla moaned, tossing fruitlessly under him. She'd never been covered by Grady like this. He was so enormous, she, an average boned person, became dainty. Moving her hand off his balls to his cock, her grip could just barely contain the tip of him. His skin was so soft in her fingers. She rolled him around in her palm. He shoved gently into the hollow of her hand, and the thought that his width would soon be inside her made her drip. “I remember the first time I saw this huge penis of yours, in that tiny bathroom lav. You painted my cream on you. It was really sexy.” Grady mouthed her breast. She looked over his bulging back at Vel, who knelt between their legs. He stared at her as he laid his hands on the back of Grady's thighs. Grady's hips jerked hard in her grip, and he moaned. Malla crossed her eyes at Vel. When she looked at

In Service

73

him again, he was frowning, confused. Mentally, she grinned. She loved throwing him offstride. “Grady, I can't quite reach you. Come up higher. Kiss my neck,” Malla ordered with what breath she could manage. Grady crawled up her body, squashing her breasts. She sighed at his generous, soft kisses along her tilted neck. “Oh yeah. Grady that's so good.” She squeezed him, dragging her fist up and down his length. He moved up to her jaw, and Malla moved her legs restlessly. She found Vel’s leg and put her foot on his thigh. It was hot and hard, with a light dusting of hair. Grady hesitated, moaning, and Malla focused on Vel. He was sweeping over Grady's back, his elegant hands finding each strand of muscle and easing it. He pressed down on Grady's spine between his shoulder blades, and both Malla and Grady moaned at the delicious pressure. “Malla, I really love your breasts. They're so soft and big enough for me to hold, but small enough for me to kiss.” “I love how you love my breasts, Grady. You make them feel really good.” Malla put her arms over Grady's shoulders, her fingers spread wide, claiming as much skin as she could. Vel paused in his massage, looked at her. She stuck her tongue out at him. Then wiggled it. Vel stared at her. This time she thought she saw his lips twitch before he thinned them. The revealing moment made her happy. She'd discovered Grady liked ears, and so she nuzzled him until he tilted his head, and she took her time. She followed every fold, every curve, with the pointed tip of her tongue. She kneaded his shoulders, sweeping along them. Grady drew his hands in, so that he could softly stroke the sides of her breasts where they pressed out between their bodies. He shivered, jerking and moaning. She knew sometimes it was her warm breath and soft tongue on his ear, and sometimes it was Vel, touching him in some secret way. Eventually, he began to pump against her thigh. He lifted his ear away from her lips and kissed her. “Malla. Tell me you're wet.” “I'm wet, Grady. I'm dripping.” “Ah, that's sweet to hear.” He looked over his shoulder. “Vel, move back will you?” Malla caught the icy glare Vel gave him. “You son-of-a-bitch. You won't do what I know you’re thinking of.” “Why ever not?” Grady kissed her neck again. “Because you know what it means to me. You promised you wouldn’t.” “I know what it means. That’s not what I promised. And tonight, I'm going to drink her up.” Malla thought for a minute Vel would leave, but he only moved aside, his chest working like a bellows.

74

Mima

Grady went down her body, stopping for long moments at her breasts. Only when she'd clutched his head, crying out, and rocked her hips up into his ribs did he finally give up and sink lower. Her ribs got the same treatment. She planted her feet and rubbed her mound up into his strong body. Then he was between her legs and pushing her thighs up to make room for his shoulders. “Ohhhhhh,” Malla moaned when he opened her. This was the first time Grady had gone down on her. He blew on her. She shivered, clutching fretfully at his shoulders. “Shhhh. Malla, I'll take care of you.” Grady put his lips to her clit in a gentle kiss. She cried out, and he kissed it again, this time with a little flick of his tongue. She shrieked, body leaping in unconscious shock, at the startling sound of a sharp slap echoing in the room. She stared wide-eyed at Vel, looking royally pissed as he stared at Grady's head at her spread core. No pain flared in her body. Just the opposite, actually, when Grady kissed her again, this time flicking her clit a little harder with the tip of his tongue. SMACK ! Grady never moved, but his breath puffed against her. Vel was rigid on his knees at the end of the bed, glaring at Grady's head. Grady kissed her clit again, and this time Malla watched Vel, or tried to. All she saw was a blur of pale, creamy skin as he hit Grady. Her hands scrabbled at Grady's head, trying to pull him up, away from her spread thighs. This was terrible. She’d meant to tease him out of his jealousy, not make it violent. “Vel! Stop it!” she cried out. Grady reached up and took her hands, pinned them down. “Malla.” “Vel! I mean it! I won't have that!” “Malla.” Grady's voice was steady and she stared at him down the plane of her body, his blond hair shining between her thighs. “Shhh. It's my choice. This is between me and Vel. I want to taste you.” His big thumbs swept up and down her wrists, sending shivers to her upper chest. She stared at those glowing blue eyes hovering over her bared folds. “I want it, do you understand? All of it.” A shiver of unease, a thrill of fascination, a wave of pleasure rippled down her body. “Oh,” she managed faintly. “I know you don't like pain. I promise, you're safe. Trust us?” She licked her lips and looked up at Vel. He looked every inch the ruthless ruler who would call a hit on an untouchable enemy. He was stone hard, his veined cock rising to touch his stomach. He never took his eyes off Grady. “A-all right. If it's what you want.” Malla wasn't sure, though. She didn't know how hardcore the punishment between these two warriors could get and didn't know if she could stomach it. Dominance, she liked, both the giving and receiving. Bondage, she could handle sometimes. But sadism didn't do it

In Service

75

for her, and she didn't understand masochism. Dominance had been in Vel's profile, and Shon's, but not S&M. “Well, this isn’t what I want.” Vel sat up and swung his legs over the edge, his back to them. “Don't run away now, Vel,” Grady drawled. Vel snarled at him, twisting to face him. “You promised. The only cream you’d ever drink was mine, Grady! I told you I'd beat your ass if you ever did it, and it wasn't supposed to be bedsport! This isn't a joke to me. That was only for us!” Malla shrank into herself. She didn't want to be here for this. Grady was using her for something. He laid one massive hand over her stomach protectively. His thumb petted her belly button. “That isn't what I promised. I promised I'd keep to your cream only, until we found a third to love.” Silence fell like a bomb. Grady looked down at her. His big, blunt features soft. “I love her.” Malla's heart turned over. Giant, tough Grady. “I loved her from the moment she dropped her cloak, trusting me to protect her, after protecting me from the shock of her cloak. I loved her more when she came into my arms, laughing as I ran with her through the corridors. I loved her more when she asked if Bea needed help and then took me in the bathroom, so welcoming, so open. I was starving, and rough with it, and she was so damn generous. She was good to the kid when he was about to break and she risked everything for you. She really did. She gave everything she had to us in that ritual, holding back not one jot for herself.” Every tiny scar and life-wrinkle on him was clear. This hardened warrior’s respect was worth a whole world to her. Her feet stirred as his breath washed across her wet, spread opening. He was going to bring her with his poetry and care. “Since then, she's shown herself intelligent and passionate and patient. I love her. I want her.” Grady reached a hand up the length of her and smoothed one thumb over the edge of Malla's lashes, taking the tear away before it could fall. He smiled at her, then looked up at Vel. His tone hardened considerably. “And I know you could love her, too. Did you think I was breaking the promise for a taste of fresh cunt? You should have known better. I took your hits, lover. And I'll take them again if I want to share that with Malla. Because she's worth it.” Malla glanced at Vel. His chest was heaving, gleaming with sweat. He looked shocked, and hurt. Malla's heart clenched. He looked…betrayed. “Grady, you could have chosen an easier way to tell him.” “He'll believe this more fully. I don't love him any less. I just love you, now, too.” Vel sat abruptly on the edge of the bed, shaking.

76

Mima

Malla held her arms out to him. “Vel, I didn't plan this. But it's all right. It will be all right.” She hardly knew what she was saying. She just knew she couldn't bear that look on his face. Vel looked at her, his eyes glazed. “Malla…” “Vel, I’m going to drink her tonight, her cream and her body. Test me if you must. I’ll prove myself. To her and you.” “It’s too soon, Grady. Too much. Your body is mine to control.” “Ah. Well, tonight you’re going to share that control.” “No.” “You’ll just have to punish me, then. Watch me, Malla.” Grady bent over her exposed clit. He opened his mouth, and breathed. The moist heat from him made her tremble. Warm arousal trickled inside her. She looked at his eyes, those beautiful light blue eyes, and held them as he slowly, slowly extended his tongue. At the exact moment he touched it to her clit, the harsh SMACK ! exploded in the room. Malla watched Grady's eyes as they dilated with pleasure, his jaw slackening just a bit. His eyes were heavy-lidded as he whispered, “Did you see?” Malla nodded. Vel cursed. “Fuck, Grady. My lover… I need more time.” He was panting. Grady kissed her again, closing his eyes. He lingered this time, a long press and lazy flick of his tongue, earning him two smacks. “Ah, you're the softest thing I've ever felt. I can't wait to fuck into all this cream.” Grady lowered his face and licked her hole delicately. Malla cried out, and so did Vel, from where he watched kneeling to the side of Grady. Grady shifted, raising himself up onto his knees, folding over. “Delicious.” He sent his tongue into her so slowly, probing her softness, then curling it back into his mouth. SMACK! SMACK! SMACK ! Malla never felt any hint of the blows, as Grady moved over her with infinite gentleness. She writhed, panting, sinking her hands hard into her thighs to hold the spread position. He licked up and around her clit, and down and around her hole. SMACK! SMACK ! He set his mouth to her and sucked. She cried out. “Grady! Spirit take you and burn you to ash!” SMACK! SMACK! SMACK ! She thought she heard Vel sob. Grady moaned, licking up her entire length in a wide, slow drag of his tongue. SMACK! SMACK! SMACK ! He settled his mouth around her clit and toyed with it, flickering his tongue too fast, too lightly. SMACK! SMACK! SMACK! SMACK! This time she was sure she heard Vel sob. Out of her mind with pleasure and confusion, Malla sobbed, too. “Enough! Grady!”

In Service

77

He moved up her body and settled into the cradle of her thighs. His eyes were shining when he put his massive dick to her and let his weight bear him in. Malla moaned, crying out as he forced her open. He laid his face against hers, kissing her ear. “Shhhh. Shhhh.” He lay on her, his dick lodged deep in her body, and she clutched him to her. Long moments passed, and she calmed, clamping on him again and again, but he wouldn't move. “Grady!” Grady turned his head to speak over his shoulder. “Well? Are you claiming us, lover?” Malla couldn't see, but the bed dipped as Vel came up behind Grady. Grady shivered and moaned, and then there was tugging when Vel held his hips. Grady began to groan, long and steady. When he stopped, panting, he opened his eyes and looked down at her. He chuckled. “Don't look so concerned, lovely. It's almost over, unfortunately.” He grunted, and then they both gasped together as Vel's weight compacted Grady down on her. Vel fucked Grady, and Grady moaned, shuddering, bracing himself over her so as not to crush her. The space he made with his upper body strength allowed for slight movement as his hips shuttled back and forth between Vel and her. Vel was cursing, still half sobbing, above Grady, but Malla never got a glimpse of him. It didn’t matter. The reality that she and Grady were being fucked together by Vel was as much of a joy as Grady’s declaration of love. Grady kissed her, lapping at her lips, sucking at her tongue, and a few more strokes had her keening, neck arched, as she struggled to hang on to the pleasure. She let her energy loose, seeking to heal Grady, and possibly, heal Vel. Grady moaned, long and low, and Vel shouted behind him. “Grady!” The masculine cry was high and fierce. Knowing Vel had come in Grady made Malla’s core tighten again. Then there was a bounce to the mattress off to one side. After a few moments of Grady pumping sloppily in Malla’s wet channel, he lifted away and settled on the side of her. He pulled her into his shoulder, covering her breast with his other hand. It was much the same position they'd started in. Grady said, “Lover. I love you so much. Come on over here. Let me hold you, too.” Vel stood up, visibly shaking. His cock hung wet and long. He wrapped his arms around himself. He turned and walked out, nude. “Hmmm. That didn't go quite the way I'd envisioned it.” “Oh, Grady.” She was completely limp from pleasure, but her heart hurt to have Vel walk away from them. He kissed her temple, nuzzled her eyelashes. “Grady, are you okay?”

78

Mima

He chuckled. “Yeah, my ass is a little tender. My Spirit, he felt good against me. It was like he'd grown two sizes bigger, and I felt every line of muscle between his abs and his thighs. Your energy was amazing.” Malla reached up and cupped his jaw. She stared up into his big face. “I love you, too, Grady.” He looked at her, then kissed her. She liked her own taste. “But Vel is your lifemate.” “Yeah.” The pure gloating possession in Grady’s voice was so masculine. “Your bond with him should come first.” She was proud of how her voice didn’t waver. “I don’t understand why you did that.” “Malla, when we go on this mission, things are going to get bad.” She blinked at the change of subject. “What?” “I didn't decide to stage this revelation now just for kicks. We're going into a fucked-up mess. I need Vel to know where I stand. He and I are lifemates, so his majesty should show more confidence in me. I love you, he does but doesn’t know it, and if you left tomorrow, you’d be part of our relationship for the rest of our lives. That’s how love works. There’s no use pretending it isn’t there for some social span of time. He’ll see that soon.” “Everything is changing so fast.” “Vel ignores change if he can. It’s a weakness. In this life, when the world gives you a door, open or closed, you have to decide what to do with it immediately. We don’t have time for delicate court maneuvers. I could let this slide for a year or so, if we weren’t about to go to fucking Dunru.” His big hand toyed with her still sensitive nipple, sending goose bumps down her ribs. “It was awful to watch him walk away hurt.” She was uneasy knowing that both she and Vel were jealous of Grady’s love. She made a promise to try to be less so. Despite Grady’s declaration, he was Vel’s lifemate, a relationship she’d never be part of. She’d arrived intending to care for all her men, knowing she would refuse to be boxed into performing a mere service. Malla wanted all of them, and only by believing she was a worthy lover was she able to breathe through the need to run after Vel and apologize. “He wasn’t that hurt. He was pissed that I took control. I like being his in bed, but I’m no slave. I have a right to my own agenda on occasion. Don’t worry. We’ll work it out soon.” “You’re both so sexy when you’re together.” “We are, aren’t we?” Satisfaction coated his voice. He licked along her collarbone, then spoke more briskly. “You were right, in there. It's just going to kill Shon to admit it. We'll have to tie Kor down to keep him together. But the tighter our bonds, the better odds we have. We can get you suited up as a Luo, pass you off as a trainee. When we make contact with Sig Twelve,

In Service

79

there's no way I'm letting them fuck you. They've lost their way, and aren't to be trusted with anything beyond freeing Radha. You'll harmonize with a couple of us, and they can take the overspill.” Malla blinked up at him, dazed. “Oh, can they?” “Yeah. I want to train you on the rifle. I specialize in detonations and sniper fire. If you're good enough, I can keep you with me, out of the thick of things. Hopefully, your target instructor at your server base was worth his salt.” “Her salt.” “Yeah, whatever, as long as you can shoot decent.” Malla pushed Grady over onto his back. One of her spread hands barely covered one pec. She stared down at him, her hair laying across his chest as she leaned into his face. “You know what, soldier?” “What?” “I like the way you think.” Grady grinned. “I like you, too, lovely one.” She wrinkled her nose. “I’m not lovely.” “Oh, woman. That is so not true. Let me show you how lovely you are.” And he did.

80

Mima

Chapter Eight Shon sat on the side of Grady’s bed. She was softer when she slept. Her hair was snarled, and she smelled delicious. Salty and rich. He was so fucking tired. He’d just finished a long talk with Vel. Kor wasn’t speaking to him. Grady wrapped around her. It was weird to see a woman in his arms. Shon was used to seeing Vel’s lean length and red-gold hair alongside Grady’s blond. His men never slept with their servers. Sighing, he reached out and stroked a brown curl. It was thicker than it looked, the hairs catching on his calluses. Malla opened her eyes. “Hey.” She smiled. His heart kicked. “Shon.” She held out her hand. Fuck. “I need you to come with me, Malla.” She frowned. “Are you all right?” “Yeah, sure. I don’t need service. I want to tech you out.” She blinked. “All right.” That serious moue to her mouth made his dick twitch. She eased out from under Grady’s massive arm, tucked the covers around him. Without any fuss, she dressed in her underwear, but when she reached for her robe, he touched her arm and shook his head. “Loose pants. Something to move in.” She went to her room and he followed her. She moved to her little case in the corner. Spirit, she hadn’t even unpacked yet. She pulled out a sweat outfit. Seeing her ass covered in shiny, reflective, skin-forming material made his dick fatten, uncomfortably bent in his pants. Then she added a tight shirt that hugged her breasts and ribs. Crap.

In Service

81

He led her out of the room. Vel was leaning against the wall in the hallway, wearing his “I’m a prince and you’re scum” look. Malla stopped. They looked at each other. He didn’t soften. She ducked her head and went into their training room. Vel followed them in. A few minutes later, Shon was laying out four guns on a counter and firing them up when Kor slammed into the doorway. “Shon.” “Yeah.” “Don’t do this.” “We’ll see, Kor.” “Just because she survived a bug attack doesn’t mean she can take on professionals. She’s fresh out of school.” “I’m older than you.” Malla’s voice was cool as she stepped up to their gun wall. “Not in firefight years, baby.” “You know what, Kor?” “I know I don’t want you anywhere near Dunru, Char’s team, or Radha’s extraction.” “Hmmm. How does that phrase go? Shut the fuck up?” Silence carried as they watched her lift Grady’s ion cannon down. She staggered a bit, then laid it on the counter. Her hands drifted over the muzzle and power pack, and damned if his dick didn’t sit back up and take notice. Kor stepped farther into the room, his face urgent. “Malla, you’re ours. You can’t expect us to split our concentration on a job this tricky. You’d be our first priority and that’s not good for the mission.” She abruptly began to move purposefully over the gun. While she took it apart, Vel came up from his post by the door to stand by her and watch. She matter-of-factly broke it down into its eleven components, then pointed at each and named them. “Trigger. Power pack, ion class thirty-one, known as ‘mean green.’ Force outlay. Optional monopod.” She rattled it all right off, then put it back together. Kor had drifted up behind him while she used her thighs to hold the power pack so she could get some torque on slotting the muzzle back on. Malla looked over her shoulder at him. “We were trained in twenty different guns, from miniature personal safety to anti-structure distance. I’m certified in short-range quick draw, midrange moving target, and distance still shot. I’m pretty good at distance moving target and midrange multiple targets, too, and I was going to get certification in those this year. Maybe I still can.”

82

Mima

With a sexy heave to her body, she drew the ion cannon up to her shoulder, turned, and fired it in one motion. Right into the middle of the target across the room. She was pushed back two meters, but held her balance. “Fuck, that is so hot,” Kor breathed. Shon’s dick jumped in his pants. He ground his knuckles into it, gritting his teeth. Malla looked at him. “You still haven’t read my file, have you?” Shon bared his teeth at her. “I’ve been a little busy.” “Priorities, Shon. You’ve got enough time to fuck me, but you can’t read a three-page summary?” Vel spoke up. “I read it.” Malla looked at him, and Shon could see the change come over her face. Her eyes softened, that mouth drew in. He ground his knuckles into his erection again. “And in your experience, is my background good enough for this mission?” “Not even close.” Vel answered without hesitation. Kor and Malla both started to talk and Vel held up his hand. They fell silent. “However,” Vel continued, “the pros of you assisting us outweigh the con of your personal danger. You’ll go in under disguise and with extreme safety precautions like a body tag, a sensored suit, joining our private mental link and staying on the outskirts with Grady.” Vel’s eyes seemed to glow like mirrors with the intensity of his stare. “And Spirit help us if we can’t be cold enough to close you out of our minds and go on regardless of damage you take.” Malla stared back at him, her brown eyes narrowed as she jerked the power off on the ion cannon. She spat at him, “You do it for Grady. You’ll surely be able to do it for me.” “Ah, but that’s where you’re wrong, lovely. I barely manage to do it for Grady, one of the strongest and most experienced warriors in all the worlds. For you, I’ll be out of my mind the first time you take fire.” Malla rolled her eyes. “As long as I’m alive, I can feed you by blood alone, if that’s the way it goes.” Vel stepped right up into her, knocking the gun hard away from between them. “I never want to taste your blood again except in passion. Spirit, Malla, you’re not just a sweet fuck for the sake of service. Understand the level of risk we’re taking with our own lives and multiply it by ten for including you. Every single of one of us would be willing to die for you.” They stood nose to nose, with Malla’s head tipped back to take him on. Then she threw her arms around him, burying her face in his throat. “Fuckin’ A, not you, too, Vel!” Kor threw his arms around dramatically. “No! Shon! Vel! No!”

In Service

83

“Tell me what we’re going to do after Vel phazes us into the third floor, Kor?” Shon picked up the fallen ion bolt and laid it on the counter with the other guns. He turned to the young soldier, who was not nearly as hot headed as he made himself out to be. Shon leaned back against the counter, his gut churning, his shoulders tight. He crossed his arms defensively. “What are we going to do with you after you sift through the brains of half the druggies in Dunru to identify Char? What are we going to do after our first firefight to get into Char’s hideout, after our second firefight to ‘convince’ them to give us their information? What about when Grady goes down from using his gift on the external watch on the Duke’s building, and what, just consider this for a moment, what the fuck are you going to do after the first alarm gets tripped, and I lose myself in Fury?” Kor started to talk, but Shon cut him off. “I’ll tell you what you’ll do. For all our superior gifts, we’re going to crash. We’ll have made it farther than any of High Post’s teams, or Char’s attempts, and we’ll have to back out, get to Malla’s safe house, and recharge. Then we’d have to go back in. Through all their reinforcements. And then we’d do that over, and over, until we wore them down or we died. The Duke has a lot of cred, and this is Dunru. I don’t see us taking on the whole moon. If the mission takes more than twelve hours, the Duke’s dogs at High Post will recall us, or we risk court marshal, and Vel can’t take that scrutiny.” Kor crossed his arms and began to pace. Shon continued relentlessly. “Instead, with Malla, I calculate the mission will take six hours, tops. We go in, get to Char’s team. We recharge. We get into the interior, and we recharge. We get to Radha, and we recharge. Then we get out. And we’ll possibly need to recharge at least once while tracing out. The odds without her aren’t good.” “The odds of keeping her alive aren’t good either!” Kor growled. “We’ve always gone in and out on extractions because that’s our physiology, and the rules say servers stay out. Dunru is outside all the rules, Kor. So we break the rules, too, and we have a chance. Malla can harmonize. We bring her in, and we’re way ahead of their expectations. We armor her up, we keep her at the back with Grady, and all of our odds go way up.” Malla watched Kor. She gently left Vel’s arms and stepped toward him. He stepped back. “Kor, can I tell you why I came here?” Shon just knew he was about let fly some crude comment. “Kor.” He shot him a hard glare but kept his mouth shut. “I came here because I knew, when I saw your public file, that I could make a difference. When I thought I was just a novice, I still was so sure, down to my bones, that I would be the best server you ever had. Because I was ready. Ready to give myself over to Luo

84

Mima

hunger and sex and the demands of missions. I never wanted an active duty team. I wanted an exploratory team.” Kor snorted. Malla ignored him. She was only an inch or two shorter than he, and her eyes were steady as she took a step closer. “Until I saw you. You, and your swaggering smile. Vel’s locked down eyes and Grady’s weary ones. Shon looked about to snap any moment, about to kill everything. His eyes were screaming for help.”

Spirit. Stop, Malla. Stop. “Smiles can’t swagger,” Kor muttered. He broke, looking away from her. “Yours does, but your eyes don’t. Your eyes are much, much more daring. Your smile says ‘Let’s have fun’ but your eyes say, ‘Don’t fuck with me.’ Your eyes warn people that you’re the real thing.” “Damn straight.” “I wasn’t finished with my training, but I had enough. I knew I was ready, and I knew I couldn’t wait. You needed me now. I wanted to help you all so badly. Then Headmistress told me I had all the power you’d need, and it was like this perfect blending of destiny. Then, I just wanted you. I wanted to match my power to yours. I’d been reining it in for so long, I should have guessed my status, but I didn’t. I left my Base so sure that I’d found the path I was meant to find. I’m woman enough for your bed, for Grady’s heart, for Vel’s arm, and” -Malla broke off and looked right at him -- “Shon’s Fury.” The crown of Shon’s head sizzled. His hands flashed cold, his heart jumped, and his knees trembled. “Stop, Malla.” “I will not.” She turned back to Kor, who looked ready to run. “You are my men. I knew it when I first saw you. I’m a little overwhelmed to be part of an Elite team, an active duty team. I’m scared, and I know I’m not up to your level yet. Healing Vel was the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life. But I let myself go, and as awful as it was, I’d do it again for him. For any of you.” Vel pivoted away from them, bringing one hand up to scrub his face. Earlier, Vel had struggled to tell Shon of his emotional confusion.

Vel sat on his bed, staring at his spread palm in distaste. “I can still feel that moment when I needed, and she’d given it all to me, and I still needed, and she just let it all go, and disintegrated. For me. I drank her down, and it was bitter. I knew her pain, and her fear. Her confusion, her need to care for us. She was thinking about you, how she hadn’t healed you yet. She was the most giving thing I’ve ever known, and it was like drinking peace. Even as I thought I killed her. That’s when I finally came all the way back to Grady, and wrenched us out of phaze. In a moment, I knew we were all fine,

In Service

85

but I’ll never forget that moment just before. She gave herself to me. She’d never even met me. And she gave it all, so pure. I’ll love her forever. How can I be jealous of her? How can I deny Grady’s feelings when I have the same ones?” Kor spoke up. “Malla, you don’t get it. We know you’d do that for us. You’ve already proven you will. And it makes us crazy. We don’t want that. We don’t want your selfsacrifice. We want your strength.” “Then let me be strong. If I let you go off to battle, you should be able to let me fight, too.” “Your battles are in a bed. I couldn’t do what you do, couldn’t be that strong. Giving pieces of myself away to hungry bastards who are never full. Let us take the body damage. You have to stay back, where we can trust you to pick up our pieces.” Shon was impressed. “Wow, Kor, that’s really…good.” “Shut the fuck up, Shon.” Malla stood, so small and shiny in her workout gear, the bright training lights bringing out gold and red in her simply tied back hair. One tear trickled down her cheek. Aw, shit. His throat was suddenly too small for his lungs. No, baby. “Aw, shit, Malla,” Kor said. He reached for her with a shaking hand, his thumb taking the tear away. “Kor, that was so beautiful,” she whispered. Her arms hung loose at her sides, her shoulders drooping. “But I have to go on this mission. I know I’m not the same kind of warrior you are. But every once in awhile, we can both do what needs to be done. You’re able to give me your emotions so I know you’re not just disrespecting me, being overprotective. But you have to put away the emotion and see the logic of my ability to change this mission. You’re my men, Kor. I belong here. Let me stand by you when you need me most, and I’ll ask you to do the same.” Kor and Malla now stood face to face. Her eyes held a mix of emotions -- fear, yearning, devotion. Her lip trembled. Kor was rigid, fists clenched, nose flaring. Then he exploded in a rush. It was fast even by Luo standards and by the time Malla gasped, he had her on her back on the training mat. His hands wrenched her pants open, then ripped them down past her hips. He had his dick out in record time, and was shoving it into her bare pussy, despite the fact that she couldn’t open her thighs. He pumped, his hard ass clenching as he tried to probe into her body. Shon tightened his fists, locked his knees to keep from going to them. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Vel turn and watch. “Malla, fuck, yes. Oh, Spirit, you’re wet, so hot. You’re gonna burn my dick, baby. Brand me. So sweet.” Kor was babbling, as he sometimes did when he fucked.

86

Mima

His eyes were glazed, and his hands worked her breasts while he ate at her neck. Malla tossed her head, crying out, panting kittenish mews, shuddering under him. Kor must have got some part of himself into her because he started humping on her, his shoulders blotting her out as he grunted and moaned. Shon’s dick throbbed, beating in time to Kor’s thrusts. He saw Vel reach into his pants and palm himself. Shon curled his fingers so hard in his fists that his nails cut into his thick-skinned palms. His balls were like stones, aching, and his tip burned where it was trapped against his waistband. Shon watched as Malla threw her arms out, up above her head, strained her neck back, and came, wailing Kor’s name. Kor made a sound somewhere between a choked scream and a laugh, his body flattening, hips jerking. He held himself stiff for a long breath, then relaxed with a gasp. Malla sighed. There was a distinctly happy tone to it. She was incredible. He couldn’t think of a single server in their history who would take such treatment with such open pleasure. Several would have secretly liked it but bitched Kor out the second he came. Some would have cried. He could think of several that would have knocked his head off his shoulders for even trying. Malla liked it. She didn’t see it as disrespect. She took the passion each of the men gave exactly as it came. Kor gave her everything he had, rude and raw, and she didn’t judge him. She loved him. “That wasn't honest sex with a man.” Her furious, hurt words during his last session came back to haunt him. He’d never be able to give her that. Never. He couldn’t risk it. Wouldn’t risk her. He wondered if he had the ability to share himself that way, if she would love him like the others. Vel sighed, long and strained, next to him. He looked over in time to see a wet spot appear at the top of Vel’s pants, his face contorted, teeth bared. Shaking his shoulders out, Vel took his hand from his pants and wiped it on his thighs. Meeting Shon’s gaze, Vel looked over at him and grinned. “Was it good for you, too?” “It was damn fine. Kor managed to deliver two moments of beauty in one conversation despite being his usual stupid self.” Vel laughed. Shon pasted a grin on, but as he watched Kor put Malla back together with gentle touches, he thought, That’s as close to honest passion as I’m ever going to get.

Sharing her through them is all I can taste. “So it’s settled then. Malla is on this mission.” He waited, but Kor simply stood, staring down at Malla’s sprawled, faintly smiling form. “Kor? You on board?” Kor faced him and Shon readied himself, sure he was about to launch an attack. He didn’t look like the relaxed guy who’d just been gently tidying his woman. His eyes were grass green, his jaw jumping. “Do you honestly think that rescuing this server, bringing a rogue team back to High Post, recovering the Blades, and stopping the Duke is worth her life?”

In Service

87

Shon stared at him. His throat closed. His eyes burned. He knew exactly what Kor was saying. None of the logic mattered. But they were soldiers. They were supposed to turn their hearts off. Sprawled on the gray mats, she looked warm and alive. “I’m just a server, Kor. You’re sweet to worry, but we have to do what’s right, even when it’s hard. We promised when we signed up.” Malla’s voice was deep and soft from the sex. Kor turned just his head and looked back down at her. Then he walked out. Shon wondered where he’d go. Two days ago, he knew Kor would have gone to some friendly women and blown steam off in sex. Now, he wasn’t so sure. His erection was still laser-sharp in his pants, aching fiercely. Vel went and helped Malla up. “I still want to see you fire the other weapons, and I want to see you try hand to hand.” Looking at Shon, Vel raised an imperious brow. “Why don’t you let me work with Malla a bit, and you can go read her file.” Bastard. He knew Shon would be practically crippled if he tried to enter some grappling with Malla while sporting the monster between his legs. Vel knew he hadn’t come and was giving him an out, while rubbing in his past failure. Instead of sending Vel out, like Vel expected, though, Shon nodded. Vel’s silver eyes flashed in annoyance. He wanted to talk to Grady. Two could play the false-good-guy routine. “Sure, Vel, thanks. Make sure you check her out on knife work, too. It’s the favored weapon on Dunru. I’ll talk to you later, Malla.” “All right, Shon.” He managed to limp stiffly out the door and to his room. Taking a small towel from the lav, he hissed as he wrapped it around his dick. He leaned against the wall and thought about her in his bed. The feel of her lips on his neck. The feel of his fingers in her cunt. The curve of her ass in his palm. How badly he’d wanted to sink his fingers into her anus. He thought of the berry thickness of her nipples, and how when he blew on them, even the areola around the tip rose up, pebbled, flushed. She handled his penis well, with a firm grip and long, hard pulls. She’d been interested in his ribs, spending time there with her face, her hands… He hissed as he came in a long, burning pulse. Then his knees shook and he pulsed again. His neck failed and his head fell back to the wall, and another squeeze took the base of his balls. Glancing down, he watched his abs stand out as one last wave of pleasure dribbled white cum into the dampening towel. Dumbly, Shon stared at his softening dick, the cum shining in his dark pubic hairs. That was one of the most spectacular orgasms of his recent experience, despite the fact that he couldn’t remember the last time he’d had to resort to masturbation when he had an erection. A blinding tactical insight came to him. Malla was the woman that was either going to get his team killed for love of her, or forge them into an unstoppable, untouchable powerhouse. She was more than a powerful

88

Mima

server. More than a loving woman. More than a capable partner. She belonged to their team in a way they’d never known. Maybe from even before they’d met her. It only remained to be tested, in a trial by fire, if she was the agent of their destruction or salvation.

***** Strangely enough, it was hard to concentrate on Vel’s large, demanding presence when she knew Shon was reading her file. Vel feinted and jabbed. She tried for his wrist and he stunned her with an upper chest palm-hit with his other hand. Shon was reading about the bug attack. Vel spun and tried to get a back-handed kidney strike in but she planted her feet and used his momentum to pass him around. Shon would know more of what she was capable of. That was a good thing. Vel kicked her legs out from under her. She spun, throwing her body into his, using her weight to take out his knees. It didn’t bring him down, but it did drive him back in an awkward stagger. She rolled up, immediately in position. He rushed her. He was actually about the same height as a bug, but bug pincers drove up from the floor, not in overhead strikes. She avoided the knife this time, going for groin and solar plexus. She ended up with thigh and rib. She had to dance away as he tossed the knife and flipped his hand, trying for a reverse grip strike without having to move his body. He waited for her to rush him this time, moving his hands in complicated patterns, feinting with knee lunges and shoulder tilts. She wasn’t as good at attacks. The bugs hadn’t waited. They were an all out avalanche. She watched until he gave one of the fake feints, then fell into a lunging sweep to his opposite side. Again, she failed to make him fall, although she scored an impact. “Good enough.” Vel stood up straight, and disengaged the light cone on the fake laser knife. “Do you mind sharing what the fuck was so important you couldn’t be bothered to be in the moment?” “Do you mind telling me why you only moved with human speed?” “I wouldn’t want to risk my soul when it’s just practice.” “What?” Malla was shaken. Had Vel just declared her his soul? “Haven’t you heard, lovely? We’re parasitic humans. We’re Spirit-cursed because we have to drain off others’ rightful spiritual energy.” Malla gasped, cheeks instantly heating with rage. “Oh! That poo out of Mobinga! It wouldn’t surprise me if there was some sort of bug traitor behind it, trying to scare people away from being tested as servers!” Vel grinned, his face lighting up for the first time since she’d gone to bed with him and Grady. “Poo? Wow, is it as bad as all that?” Malla laughed, more because of his smile than anything. “Am I really good enough?”

In Service

89

“You’re good enough to survive a clumsy first rush and give Grady time to get to you.” Vel’s smile disappeared. “Now, let’s do some guns.” She was firing the third gun, a sweetly modified midrange with two heat-seekers on it, when they saw Grady fill the door. She was getting so she wasn’t as surprised when she saw his size each time. “Hey, lover. Hey, Malla.” His voice was so deep, his face cautious. His reserved masculinity was modified by the bed sheet wrinkles in his face. “Hey, Grady.” Malla set the gun down, making sure to power it off. She looked at Vel from the corner of her eye. He’d been so hurt. When she first saw him afterwards, he’d looked so cold. She’d landed like an explosion in their relationship, bonding much faster than normal through the trauma of healing them. She knew they were everything to each other. She had no intention of ever coming between that, despite caring for both deeply. Vel still hadn’t said anything, but he seemed to be thinking. He and Grady locked eyes. There was tension, and then, somehow, there was heat. Malla swallowed, relieved. “I think I’m going to go wash up, if you don’t mind, Vel.” “No. Finish the last gun. Grady, get in here and get your clothes off.” Grady moved into the room, walking with easy, graceful motion despite his size. He never took his eyes off Vel, even when Malla picked up the fourth gun, checked it, powered it, and fired. By the time she set it down, his shirt was on the ground, and his pants were coming down. He’d been barefoot. And he’d gone without underwear. Mmmm. “Thanks, Malla. Good job. Can you put them back in storage for me?” Malla swallowed. “Sure.” “Grady, you and I are going to talk.” But then Vel fell silent, and undressed himself. “Sounds good.” Grady swung his arms, stretching in a ripple of muscle. Malla had hung two guns when she heard the first strike of flesh on flesh. She couldn’t finish her task. They were too terrifying. She’d seen Luo train at Base. She’d seen vids of them in battle. She’d never seen her men move like this, doing this kind of violence to each other. Sinking to the floor, she tried to get her breath. They were both relatively pale. Grady’s bulk balanced the fiery presence of Vel’s hair. Other than those markers, there was nothing to really see. There were no details her eye could catch, because there was nothing but blurring shapes. They both seemed to move as fast, and hit as hard. Within a few moments, the first spray of blood flew across the mats. Malla put her fist to her mouth. Then, for a moment, the creamy blurring of skin paused, and they were locked in a kiss. Grady twisted his head and spoke against Vel’s lips. “Do you still taste her on me? If you’d stayed, you could have fed from her cunt.”

90

Mima

The blurring continued, arms and legs distinguished by their length and position only. Another pause, and they were frozen in a straining tableau, Grady’s huge hand wrapped around Vel’s thigh, Vel’s hands on Grady’s neck. Grady’s voice rasped around the pressure on his throat. “Can you imagine it, Vel? My cum, and hers, just waiting in her softness.” Grady tossed Vel backwards, and he flipped, landed in a crouch. Then there was only a long period of blurring punctuated by grunts and blows. Another spray of blood, and then Vel was standing with his back to Grady, Grady’s mouth buried in his neck, Vel’s arms pulling at Grady’s hair. The look on his face was not one of pain. This time it was Vel who spoke. “You made me like it. I liked punishing you. You’re the only gentleness I get, Grady. Don’t make me do that to us.” A shaky breath eased from Malla as they went into their fight again. She stood, using the wall, carefully averting her eyes. She finished putting the other two guns away, and triggered the security cap on the case. Glancing up, she saw they were on the ground, rolling and flipping. A streak of red on the gray mats was accompanied by a short shout. Malla walked along the wall, moving toward the door. A low moan reluctantly drew her eyes. Heart pounding, she glanced out into the room. Grady straddled Vel’s waist, leaning forward to avoid the reach of Vel’s kicking legs that were trying to hook his body. One of Vel’s arms was trapped painfully under him, held there due to Grady’s bulging muscles pressing down on that shoulder. A hard forearm was across Vel’s neck, shoving his head back. The other set of arms were still wrestling. Grady ignored the bloody furrows Vel occasionally landed. It wasn’t long before Vel fell still, panting, legs splayed. An enormous erection rose from his groin, pointing toward Grady. Malla couldn’t see Grady’s groin, as his thighs were up along Vel’s ribs and his body was bent forward. “Malla.” Grady gasped, massive chest working hard. “Y-yes?” “Get the lube out of my pants.” Malla blinked, considered. “Malla.” Grady didn’t raise his voice. He just reminded her. She stood and got the lube. “Now put it on him. Do it slow. Work it into every centimeter.” Malla approached the straining men. She eyed Vel’s loose legs warily. “His legs…” “Tell her.” Grady slapped down another strike from Vel’s arm. Vel struggled, then fell back. “I won’t hurt you, Malla.” Swallowing, she knelt behind the wall of Grady’s back. She was between Vel’s legs, and his erection was just wonderful. She squirted the lube into her hands, feeling her damp thighs heat. Kor had left a mess, of course, but now her folds were sensitive from the exercise with Vel. From watching Grady and Vel.

In Service

91

She wanted to tell them how beautiful Vel was, but she also knew she was an accessory to the moment, not a full participant. This was a continuation of what had happened in bed. Grady had submitted to Vel’s anger there. This time, he was forcing Vel to submit. Malla got the distinct feeling this didn’t happen very often. Malla put her hands on Vel, and nothing could keep her from sighing with pleasure. She absolutely loved hard dick. Soft penises could look silly and floppy, an extra part on a honed warrior’s body. But a hard dick belonged. It was part of the dangerous, thrilling package. She started at the base, and because she’d been mad at Vel for hurting Grady in bed, she was slow, and thorough. She danced too lightly in one place, rubbed too hard in another. She traced all the way up one vein and dragged her nail down another. She rubbed the rim of his head, and patted gently over his crown. Then she went to work on his balls. Vel shouted, finally, legs jerking, and his body bucked and twisted despite the force Grady applied. Grady leaned down and she heard them kiss, moaning, groaning, growling, wet sounds of continued battle. She worked the lube all over Vel’s balls, and along the crease of his groin, and then came to his ass. She eased her finger in. Vel stiffened, feet planting hard on either side of her, and shouted. “Yeah, lover. Oh yeah. Put him in me, Malla.” Grady’s ass was all sculpted muscle. His anus was puckered and pink, open in a small circle from being well-stretched. Malla wrapped her hand around the base of Vel and bent him enough to set the tip to Grady’s rosette. Grady shifted his thighs, and rocked back. She watched his skin stretch around Vel’s crown, and close tightly over the head, causing him to shout. Grady sighed. “Malla, lovely, that’s great. Hold his balls.” Her hands were shaking, breasts aching, and clit throbbing. She took one ball in each hand, cupping them softly. Then she watched Grady fuck Vel from above, even though he was the one being penetrated. It was aggressive. It was dominant. It was beautiful. Grady’s balls hung down every time he rose on Vel. Vel would try to lift his hips to follow Grady up and meet his down stroke, but Malla tightened her hands, forcing him to stay still. She actually felt his balls get harder, smaller, as Grady worked him longer. Grady came down with almost all his weight, and cried out, a shiver rippling over him. Vel keened, a short, male cry, and Malla saw his balls pulse. She massaged them, and Vel shouted louder, longer. “Yes! So good, lover.” After a moment, she let go, and sat back, breath short. Suddenly deciding she was not content to be an accessory any longer, she stood up, struggling out of her pants, her running shoe hindering her at the ankle as she ripped one leg free. She moved around to their heads. Grady was kissing him, softer, but still hard and passionate. Malla pushed at Grady’s head, urging him up by putting her hand under his throat and lifting.

92

Mima

His eyes were such a bright blue when he rose up, surprised. Malla fell to her knees, and moved over Vel. “My turn.” She lowered her spread thighs over Vel’s face, setting her hands on his cum-coated pecs where Grady had come all over his torso. She braced herself with locked elbows and leaned in to nip at Grady’s chin. He tucked it under and kissed her back at the same moment Vel licked up her slit. “Fuck. Grady, I taste Kor.” Vel still spoke with jagged breaths. Grady groaned, taking his arms away from pinning Vel down and settling his hands on her head, holding her still for an angled, deeper kiss. Vel began to lick her deep, and Malla didn’t understand how Grady knew to pace his tongue to the exact same rhythm. She came in moments, grinding down with her hands, crying into Grady’s mouth, letting her weight rest on Vel’s face. She let her light flash out from her well, and that sweet moment of connection where someone outside of herself tugged on it, recognized it, and drank it in. Her men fed. In a moment, she rose up, shivering. “Ah, guys, you can use me in your arguments anytime.” Malla swung off of Vel’s face. Grady sat up and did the same, chuckling at Vel’s groan. “We’ll see if you like that idea when I’m on the winning side and use her against you, lover. Then let’s see you chuckle.” Grady helped him sit up, kissed him swiftly. “Do you doubt that I will? Really?” His voice was little more than a rumble. He stared at Vel, head cocked. Then kissed him again. Vel sighed, shaking his head. “Now I really need to go get cleaned up.” Malla grimaced, feeling sticky. “How lucky for us. We’re just heading that way.” Vel stood first, and held out a hand to both of them. “I’ll let you two go --” “Malla.” Vel stopped her graceful exit. He looked at her, gray eyes soft and dark, his lips tipped. “You’re going our way. You’re with us.”

Oh. Heart trembling, lips trembling, tears trembling on the tips of her lashes, she nodded, and put her hand in his. It was rough, the elegant fingers belying thick skin. Vel pulled them both to their feet, wrapped his long arms around each of their waists, and led them to his room.

In Service

93

Chapter Nine Ten hours later, Malla sat on the floor of the tiny fighter pod. Vel and Kor had the two pilot chairs. They worked seamlessly. Vel had rigged harnesses for the rest of them, since there were no other chairs. Grady seemed to take up the entire floor. Shon sat on one side of him, still furiously working two vid plates at once, scowling down at them. Malla was at the back. She was wearing a newly modified set of Luo armor, taken in from Kor’s backup armor. She was only marginally less armed than the men. There was a close-range gun on her ankle, a midrange strapped to her left arm and at the back of one hip, a long-range next to her to be worn crosswise on her back over her backpack, and she had two heat-seeking loblollies on her belt. Vel had braided her hair into two tight, close braids that went from her temple along her skull to her neck, and then braided those together in a band at her nape. As they took their leave of the station, Grady appeared to be asleep sitting straight up next to her. She relaxed against his side, laying her head on his shoulder. The Luo armor didn’t intimidate her. Smiling, she remembered this was how she’d first met him, although he’d been helmeted then. She supposed it was reasonable to expect, after her travel experience, being greeted by two armored Luo at her destination would be terrifying. She hadn’t considered them hostile for a second. Taking one look, she’d known she was safe. Malla yawned. Kor glanced at her and smiled. His hair looked lighter than usual against the black interior of the ship, the black of his armor. Blue tinted his face from the navigation screens. He looked away, back setting their course. Vel’s hair was fiery gold, made molten by the red pilot screens. He was a natural pilot, elegant hands moving masterfully over the complex screens and slides with an almost disdainful confidence, despite the fact the ship was overloaded. And not designed for interstellar.

94

Mima

“This is a sweet ship, Malla. I can’t believe you scored it from a Fiinaach for only four million. Those big bastards are greedy. He must have liked you.” Malla smiled to remember the gruff, black-skinned pilot. “He recognized my cloak. He wanted to hold my hand, to taste my energy.” Vel glanced sharply at her. “It was probably a ploy for you to deactivate the cloak, and then he would have had you.” Malla replied calmly, “It’s a common myth among people that even touching an Elite server can make you stronger, boost you. There are tons of anecdotal stories that suggest a slight psychosomatic outcome is actually possible. I told him it wasn’t true. I told him I’d have to come to summon the energy, and since he wasn’t Luo, it might possibly even hurt. He was asking sixteen million --” Kor snorted, “Robbery.” “And I said if I masturbated, would he give it to me for four.” Vel and Kor stopped working and spun in their swiveling seats in such an identical, outraged manner, she laughed. Grady stirred and put a large arm around her. “You left this little detail out of your retelling.” Shon peered around Grady. Malla had planned to never tell them. She’d prostituted her energy and hadn’t minded in the least but knew that they would. But after the last two and a half days, she no longer worried they’d judge her for it. She shrugged. “You’re worth it.” Vel vibrated in his harness. “Malla…tell me it went well. Tell me nothing happened.” “He was exceedingly respectful the entire time. I sat at a table, he sat opposite. I put my hand in the middle of the table, he laid his over it. I kept my cloak on, and underneath it, touched myself until I came. I gave him only the tiniest trickle of light energy, and he screamed. He grabbed my hand tight, and beat his other fist on the table, and that was it. He was sure the experience made him smarter and stronger.” She looked around at her men. More softly, she added, “There were times that I felt dirty, forced even, in my training scenarios at the Base. In the name of learning control and improving my abilities, I had to do many things I didn’t want to with people I didn’t know and sometimes didn’t like. I wanted to do this thing with Bren-Bren. I was happy to do it. Because even if I had just taken the ship at his price, and let the government pay for it, that wouldn’t have bought his loyalty when the tracers came calling.” There was a beat of silence. Then Shon grunted. “Good tactics, Malla.” He went back to his plates. The others seemed to take their cue from him. Kor relaxed and spun back to his screens, scowling. After a moment, Vel did, too. Grady’s hand moved up and down her arm. She couldn’t feel his touch, his heat, and hated the armor between them. “You know, I hope, that we would never expect you to do

In Service

95

that for us. In any situation. You’ve given your body in service to us, and we hold that in the highest respect. There’s never a call for you to have to share it.” Malla tilted her head way back to look up at him. His crew-cut blond hair glimmered in the harsh white interior light of the cabin. It brought out the lines around his eyes, the grooves bracketing his mouth, all the little scars on his face. Tears welled up in her eyes. “I know, Grady. Trust me to be honest when I offer and say I don’t mind. Trust me to be just as tough a soldier as you when I do what needs to be done, regardless of what I’d prefer.” He frowned. It made him look rather ferocious. “What do you mean?” He sounded suspicious. “Let it go, Grady.” Shon spoke. “I know what she means. I hear you, Malla. We’ll all be right by your side.” Shon was the one planning out the logistics. He understood she had a tactical mind as well. Apparently, they were the only ones who realized the secondary reason Malla had to go with them on this mission. Char’s team was going to be useless without service. She was more nervous about Kor’s reaction than she was about serving the other team, especially now that she knew she could simply enjoy one of her own men and let them drink off the harmony. Malla laid her head back on Grady’s shoulder. It was more comfortable with his arm around her. He seemed to fall back asleep instantly, although he never shifted position. She was tired, too. Ever since she’d become part of their team, she hadn’t had a full shift’s worth of sleep. None of them had. They didn’t need it, as long as they were powered by her. In the last ten hours, they’d foregone their usual feeding schedule of one man every six-hour shift. For one thing, they only needed to feed every other day if they weren’t active. For another, they could now drink all at once. And then there had simply been too much to do. She’d taken catnaps, in between the training workout she’d had with each of the men and helping Shon extrapolate the schematics of the building Radha was in. Because the humans had taken over guarding the way station gate, she’d been able to see all her men interact. Kor and Grady shared tech talk while they worked out with resistance bands. Shon and Kor bantered about power pack changes on the newest model of tiny pressure grenades while Kor cooked for the team. Vel took care of a myriad of social, political, familial, and economic issues to try to cover his absence of the last few days and his upcoming silence during this mission and then played chess with Shon, seeking advice and commiseration. They were beautiful together. And they were hers. She loved how when she walked into a room, they acknowledged her, and included her, without altering their actions. They didn’t fawn over her or smother her with their admiration. They respected her. Except Kor, who only respected her after he’d cleared his head of the rampaging lust he seemed to slip into every time he saw her. She loved being pounced on by him and kissed with singleminded passion. He was able to let it go a little easier each time now, without such agony of

96

Mima

willpower to keep from ravishing her. Like he trusted her to still be there if he let her go. He was so fierce. So gruff in his manhood, like he was still trying to prove himself to the older team. Smiling, she recalled a conversation they’d shared. She’d finished being tested on her memorization of a few routes by him, and sat cuddled against him in the lounge.

“I hear Grady and Vel had a fight about you.” “I guess. I’m a new element in their bond, and it’s confusing Vel a bit. They’re okay. Nothing will break them apart, and I think he’s realizing that.” “Vel likes it when things go his way, and stay the way he planned. He gets absolutely furious when there are deviations. It’s great when a mission goes to shit. He gets this stone-cold calm on, like he’s walking through a park, smelling roses. He is one controlled son of a bitch, even when he’s boiling mad.” Malla remembered Vel’s straining voice, crying out in ecstasy over the mingled taste of her and Kor. And Grady’s cry echoing his. She wondered if it would bother Kor to know that they were both attracted to him. “They’re good men.” “The best team members a man could have. And Vel will be the best king Shaubia has ever had. If we survive this war. He can’t do this for much longer. He was only supposed to do it for five years. He’s nuts for doing it in the first place. But he knows Grady won’t quit till it’s over, not even to be with him.” “You think Vel should leave the team?” “There’s no denying he’s got other responsibilities, and losing him would be a blow politically. He just has to believe that we can keep Grady’s back as good as he could.” “You care about them, too.” “You share servers, you share food and beds and gear. You share firefights and bug fights and missions screwed by bureaucrats, and you watch guys you know, guys you like, fall on other teams. My first team, they were like my family, but I was only with them for a year. When we fell, when two of them died and only Sara and I made it, I thought I was going to kill myself. Grady took me out of medical, said he saw my file and wanted me for their team. “I didn’t want to leave Sara, but she said she was going the desk route. So I asked Grady if I’d have to have male servers, ’cause I

In Service

97

liked women. Luckily for me, Vel gets flaming jealous of other men. I don’t know what he saw in me, but I’m so glad I’m with them.” “You knew he was gay?” “Sweet, when you’re Luo, the way you swing is never a secret. If we don’t drink, we become animals, either violent or crazy or both. If we’re lucky, we’ll go into a coma before we go into a killing frenzy.” Kor wiped his hand on his thigh, shifted. “When we were stuck waiting for you, I got scared. More scared than I’ve ever been in a fight. Crap, I totally understand the chaos wars, before the planets would let us recruit for servers. No one could live rationally with that kind of buzzing in your brain.” His jaw worked, and she knew there was more in there, more guilt and fear, but he wouldn’t continue. So she distracted him. “Did you know Grady and Vel are attracted to you?” She held her breath, waiting for him to stiffen, pull away. He looked at her incredulously. Grinning that sexy smile, his eyes burst with colors. “Malla my love, when you’re as hot a specimen as I am, everybody wants a piece of you.” She burst out laughing, and he joined her. Vel wandered in and frowned at them, and they just went on laughing harder. Shaking his head, he walked out. Kor sighed between his chuckles. “Ahh, now there goes a finelooking stud. Just look at that tight ass.” Malla looked at him with huge eyes, until he winked at her. She laughed until her tummy ached. Kor and Grady were hers in a way that went straight to her gut. Vel and Shon were hers…somewhat. Vel was owned by many other people before her claim registered. He was never going to be completely hers, not even, perhaps, completely Grady’s. But Shon…he needed her. And she needed to help him. It grew more urgent for her every hour. His heartbreaking reservation during both times she’d served him privately. His self-loathing and distrust of his gift. It wasn’t fair. He took care of all of them, he guided them and herded them and gave them all a voice. He was a leader in the best sense of the word, letting them all contribute as much as was practical. Even now, he sat at the side of the ship, working on contingencies, possibilities. She stirred, loosened her harness, and leaned around Grady. “Shon?” “Yes, Malla?” He stopped what he was doing and looked up, but she could tell by his eyes his brain was still on his work.

98

Mima

“Can I help? We’re in here for two hours.” He focused on her. “Sleep, Malla. You’ll have enough time for your brief later.” “That’s not what I asked.” He considered her. “Thanks. You did good work before, but everything I’m doing now is too complex to explain deep enough to turn it over to you.” “All right. Are you sure there isn’t even a small bit of research I could do?” Kor spun in his chair and palmed his crotch. “I’ve got some research you could do. Let’s find out what makes me go faster, shallow or deep.” Malla rolled her eyes. “Kor, you know that answer has already been thoroughly investigated.” He laughed and spun back to his controls. Vel spoke through clenched teeth. “You overstep yourself because of Malla’s passion, Kor. You’d never talk to another server like that, especially an Elite. Don’t respond to him when he’s such a crude piece of useless dick, Malla.” “Shut the fuck up, Vel.” Kor’s voice was fairly heated. Vel reached over and tried to punch Kor in the shoulder, but he rebuffed the blow with a sweep of his arm. “I know you want a piece of this dick, Vel. C’mon, try and take it right now. You’ll end up with your own shoved down your throat.” “I see you say that when we’re both strapped in a tiny compartment, Kor. I wiped the mats with you.” “You’re dodging the challenge. It’s just because you’re not good at narrow confines. I do my best work when it’s tight. Don’t you want to find out now that you don’t have the whole gym to dance around in? I’ll dance with you, Princy.” Vel’s gray eyes narrowed. His jaw jutted. “Shon, shut the pup up.” “Here, Malla, try to see if there’s any listed med centers along these routes or how far off route the closest ones are.” Shon handed her a vid plate. “And get up in the sleeping compartment while you’re at it.” Kor crowed, powering down his screens, tucking them into the dash. Vel turned farther around to face the room. “You’re kidding. You’re not encouraging him.” “He’s right. You’re complacent because we’ve spent weeks in a cushy training facility. Either take him down or eat his dust. No one is going into this mission arrogant.” “How about if we go into this mission damaged? How about I rip his arms off?” Kor cackled again, laughing as he unbuckled his harness. Malla had managed to heave one leg into the chest-high cubby and roll herself into the tiny cave built into the back wall. “I’m here if it gets that bad.”

In Service

99

“No. Let them live with their bruises. Vel started it.” Shon was complacent. “He was rude to Malla!” But Vel was unbuckling his harness now, too. Kor made a childish farting noise. “Malla, was I too rude for you?” She just laughed, even though her stomach cramped at their animosity. She propped her chin on her folded arms, lying stretched out on her tummy. Grady finally heaved an enormous sigh. He unbuckled and took Kor’s chair. Kor began to jump and swing his arms. “Take a seat, Grandpappy, and watch your lover get grappled and pinned.” Grady heaved another sigh, kicked his legs onto the dash, folded his arms, and closed his eyes. Malla wondered if he was just that confident in Vel’s abilities. Vel was up, and as soon as Shon had settled in the pilot’s chair, Kor sprang at him. Immediately, Malla saw that Shon was right. This was an entirely different kind of fighting than what she’d watched several hours earlier. Different than what she’d done with each of them. Their armor also made it different, allowing them to use their full strength and making sensitive body hits less damaging. She watched, breathless, at the grunting, twisting mass of them. They were so magnificent. Her thighs tightened, her cunt dampened. In about five minutes, Vel was pinned. “Say it!” Kor panted. Vel bucked and twisted and managed to get one arm free and Kor had to corral him again. Her breasts were throbbing where they pressed into the hard mat. Kor blew into Vel’s ear. Vel groaned, and went limp. Kor didn’t fall for it. “My Prince, I’ll hold you all night until you say the words.” “Don’t tempt him,” Grady mumbled, eyes still closed. “Fine,” Vel was clearly infuriated. “Match yours.” Kor bounced to his feet as if pulled by strings. “Woooooohoo!” “It was your left leg, Vel. If you had swept it back, you could have stayed in it. And when you got your arm free, you shouldn’t have gone for his torso. He’s got more shoulder than you. You should have focused on getting your knees up.” Shon stood, swinging his arms in slow arcs. Vel went back to his chair. Shon sprang at Kor, who shook his butt at Vel. “Hey! Rear attack!” Kor’s quip made both the men laugh, but they fought on. Malla moved her hips restlessly, rubbing herself as best she could in the confines of the armor. It became clear to her that Shon wasn’t even really trying. He was testing Kor’s movements and stances, increasing the reaction time in a few repetitions, then changing the pattern. Kor got irritated, more aggressive. Shon took a hard hit to the ribs, and spun with the blow on one foot,

100

Mima

coming completely around behind Kor. He picked Kor up by armpit and butt and slammed him into the wall. The ship shuddered. “Hey, hey, hey,” Grady muttered. “Think air pressure, sir.” Kor wove on his feet, braced against the wall. He shook his head. “Enough?” Shon asked. Kor sighed. “I don’t know why I even try.” “Because one day you’ll be good enough to take me. You can’t stand once you throw the hit. You threw a good one, but you stayed planted there, allowing me to come around behind you. Always move.” “Got it. Always move.” Kor leaned against the wall, dabbing at the blood on his forehead. Shon swung his head, black eyes connecting to her brown. His head was lowered, jaw tucked in, shoulders up. Something about the way he stood… “You got something you need to share, Malla?” She shivered as her nipples puckered and her clit pulsed. His voice was dark, gravelly. Suddenly, she knew he’d entered a heightened state where the berzerker was just under the surface. And he could smell her. “I’d love to Shon.” “We’re going to share you.” She clenched deep inside, sending another sweep of moisture out her body. “Sounds good.” Her voice was a bare whisper. He paced to the far side of the ship, near the hatch door, and then turned and paced to the other wall. Three steps, turn. “Grady.” Grady stretched in his chair, his arms going nearly up to the ceiling. “Yo.” Three steps, turn. “Do you want a turn at Kor?” “I think we should practice double teaming. You and me against Malla. She hasn’t practiced that yet.” Shon was silent. Three steps, turn. “Not me. Not wise.” Kor perked up, standing. “I’ll do it!” “No. I want to watch some more. You do it. Vel and Grady against you.” Malla’s voice had lowered, too. She rubbed her mound harder into the mat, in tight little circles. Grady was a blur and Kor was in a headlock. Incredibly, he flipped his body up and around until his lifted weight on Grady’s shoulders made the huge man stagger. Grady’s hold faltered as Kor’s fists rained down on his exposed head. Vel stepped up and grabbed one of Kor’s legs from high on Grady’s torso. The wrestling began in earnest. They were all good, and two against one wasn’t something she’d thought any of them would be able to withstand. Kor lasted six minutes. Even in the end, he was down with still one leg free,

In Service

101

which he was using to try to kick Grady in the head with. Vel kept knocking it away, but the position the two partners were in kept them from getting his free leg. “I’m not done!” Kor choked, shoulders still twisting. “For crap’s sake, K, just give in so we can taste Malla.” Vel swatted his leg down again. Kor immediately fell still. “Oh. Yeah.” Breath coming in little pants from the image of their three entangled bodies, Malla raised her eyes to Shon. He was leaning against the command dash, long legs crossed at the ankle, arms folded. He’d been watching her, not the fight. His nostrils flared. “What, no teaching points now?” Kor laughed. Vel leaned over and kissed Grady. Their hands rose up to the back of each other’s necks. “The lesson is that it took the two of them entirely too long to bring you down. Your minds weren’t focused. I’d bring you all down in under a minute.” “Grump,” Kor was opening his armor, peeling it from his shoulders. Malla shivered to see Kor’s skin emerging. It was like her men were reborn to her. Grady reached to undo Vel’s armor. Malla swallowed, trying to get moisture back in her mouth. Kor had one arm free and was struggling with the wrist of the other arm. “First one undressed gets her cunt,” Kor panted. His forehead had continued to bleed through the last match and now blood smeared one side of his face. Malla licked her lips. Abruptly, Grady stood and efficiently tore off his armor in a whirlwind. Kor kept pace with him, cursing fluently. But Grady won. “Spirit, old man, you’ve had more time to perfect the technique.” “You bet your baby butt I have.” Grady stood facing Malla, and suddenly, the sleeping nook seemed to close in on her. She couldn’t breathe. He filled the cabin, a solid wall of strength and resolve. He plucked her out of the opening, taking her weight easily. “Hey.” He smiled down at her. “Hi, Grady.” She was still having trouble breathing. Kor came up on the side of her. Grady dipped her feet down and slowly stood her up. He and Kor undressed her in unison. “Do you do this often? Share a server?” Malla didn’t know why she whispered. “We’ve done it once or twice. But it isn’t practice that makes this so easy. It’s love.” “Oh…” Malla lifted her arms from her suit, and laid them on his chest. He was warm, firm. His heart beat strongly. Kor knelt behind her as Grady loosened her waistband. Then Vel was at her side. He took one of her hands and put it on his bare erection. Gasping, Malla shook all over. The air in the fighter was cold. Her already aching breasts tightened. Kor lifted one foot to free her

102

Mima

boot. She balanced with Grady’s hands on her waist, and let her hand wander up and down Vel’s skin. He was so hot, soft over hard. She squeezed, testing his core. He thickened, his veins popping. “Bring her to me.” Shon’s growling voice rumbled in the cabin. They all froze. It sounded more like “Brrrring rrr tt mmmeee.” Malla turned her head. He sat in the shadows, part of the black ship. Only the tan skin of his face seemed to stand out, glowing red from the pilot screens. He was still armored, sitting on the floor against a bulkhead, legs spread. He held out his arms. Malla let go of Vel, fingers trailing reluctantly. Kor had taken off both boots, but her pants were still tangled on one ankle. She walked to Shon, putting her hand in Shon’s rough one. He inhaled, chest lifting high. His eyelids fluttered, and his head fell back against the wall. “You’re not afraid.” Yrrrr nnn afffrrraaad. “No, Shon.” He tugged on her hand and she knelt between his spread legs. He kissed her, lips soft and warm. His hands shook as he cradled her face. Her lower lips throbbed as he swept into her mouth, commanding, savoring. He broke the kiss, his eyes grabbing at hers, burning. He blinked again, and she saw him pulling back, shutting the passion down, gentling it. “Shon…” He put his hands on her shoulders, twisting so that she turned. He drew her back against his chest, into the V of his legs. She reclined against him while he lay back against the ship. He pulled her legs up and over his extended ones, so that she was spread, ass tucked forward. Malla gasped. The cool air of the cabin attacked her exposed folds. Her head nestled under his chin. Her other three men had come up while they kissed. Kor and Vel were each on one side, and Grady was in front of her, on his knees, sitting back on his heels. His huge hand stroked up and down his red cock. His eyes were on her spread thighs. “Here’s our Malla, team. Let’s drink together.” Kor fell onto her, hand going around her waist, mouth engulfing one breast. She cried out. His mouth was so warm, so wet. His tongue was soft but he sucked hard. Vel came forward and led her hand back to his cock, then took her neck like he was starving. He ate at the sinews, nipped at her collarbone, lapped at her hollows. He fastened over her pulse and sucked. She cried out again, tightening her fingers on his cock, pulling at Kor’s hair. Cream oozed from her core, scenting the air. Vel’s hand went to her thighs and gripped the meat of one. He pulled and massaged her skin, fingertips sweeping so close to her heat. He curled his nails against the crease in her leg. She couldn’t thrust, like she wanted to, but the frustration only forced pleasure to wind tighter. Her men had her in their control. She belonged to them utterly. Kor was pinning her to Shon, who had her hips in a firm grip. She choked with pleasure when Kor slapped his hand down over her core, swirled through her juices once, and rammed two fingers deep.

In Service

103

“No finesse at all, Kor,” said Vel. He took a breath from her throbbing breast long enough to say, “Shut the fuck up.” Malla focused on Grady again. His face was transformed. Lips drawn back, nose lifted, eyes narrowed, he stared at her. Kor’s hand made sopping, slapping sounds. Vel’s finger was gently swirling in her hood. She cried out when he brushed her clit. Kor set his teeth harder into her breast and worried it. She cried out again. “Grady,” she gasped, desperate, “Grady, I want that dick. I want it deep, now.” He was like stone, ignoring her, his hand rasping over his giant cock. Vel moved his mouth down to her other breast. He didn’t settle over the tip, but closed his lips on the slope of her, licked her, and began to suck. Kor left her breast to lean out and watch his hand push up into her pelvis. “So warm, so soft. Aww, Malla, so beautiful. You’re so beautiful.” He worked a third finger into her at the same moment Vel’s pulling kiss changed into pain as he pulled a bruise up on her skin. Malla wailed as the burn of the kiss washed down her torso to mesh with the burn between her legs. Vel didn’t stop, but his thumb flattened on her clit, and Kor thrust his arm so hard she bounced against Shon. Her hole burned. “Grady, I need you! I need it deep. Please!” She used Shon’s gesture, stretching her hands out to him, beckoning him closer. “I’m here, lovely,” Grady promised. Grady came up off his knees and moved forward. Vel broke from her breast to grab him, and they kissed, almost angrily. Kor took his hand from her pussy and shoved his fingers into his mouth. He clutched at her leg above the knee as he writhed, moaning and sucking noisily. Grady broke the kiss, grabbed her waist, lifted her and shoved her hard back against Shon, then tipped forward and drove the first half of his thick girth inside her. “Ahhhhh!” The burn of him stretching her, the heat of him, was such a sweet shock. Shon’s hands moved from her hips to her ass, his fingers cupping the globes, sinking deep. Her breasts were flattened as Grady lay into her, straining to push himself deep. Grady’s face was tucked next to hers, and Vel leaned in and kissed him. Grady drew himself out and struggled to drive in again. “Ohhhhhh…” She wasn’t going to last. Her one breast was tingling from Kor’s attentions, the other ached where Vel had surely left a bruise. Grady’s body had never felt so huge. The hot, hard skin of him with Shon’s cold, stiff armor at her back made her crazy. She could feel Shon turn his hands, pull on her cheeks, opening them. He breathed harshly against her shoulder. Shon’s thumb sank into her ass. Oh, sweet Spirit, she could feel the darkness of him swirling

104

Mima

behind her. His possession of her there short-circuited any further thought. Kor was now sucking on her fingers, and Vel had wrapped his hand around hers, dragging it up and down his shaft, forcing her fingers to close hard. Grady stroked her again, then shifted his knees and powered deeper. All her men, so close, so carnal, too much. She came. She didn’t so much open the lid on her energy as watch as it was obliterated in an explosion. Surrounded by her men, drowning in their lust and hers, energy poured from her body. She detonated like an ion blast, knew nothing but pleasure. Grady’s hands burned into her waist, his cum a wash of heat inside her. Kor’s teeth set in the meat at the base of her thumb, his grunting breaths on her wrist marking a pained ecstasy her body understood. He splattered against her leg. Vel’s hands ground hers around his tip, drenching her palm with thick, hot cream. A clip on Shon’s armor bit into one shoulder blade. She writhed, tightening on Shon’s finger and Grady’s cock. “Shon!” He pressed his lips to the back of her shoulder and breathed, “Yesss.” Her breath eased from her, relieved, sated, knowing all of her men had come. All right, maybe it wheezed a bit, from lack of air due to Grady’s weight. But he soon rose up and drew himself back. He was still semi-hard, and it was wonderful, sending her shivering all over, clamping on Shon’s thumb. Then Shon withdrew his hand as they lowered her back down to the floor. Kor leaned forward and kissed her breast, softly this time, lapping at the nipple and mouthing it with his lips. “Spirit, my mark looks good on you,” Vel rasped, still panting. Malla looked down at the oval purple bruise on the slope of her breast. She raised a hand and brushed it, surprised it didn’t hurt. Grady stood and went to their supplies in the corner. He came back with a towel and cleaned between Malla’s legs. Shon’s hands on her hips tightened as she shivered and moaned, sensitive to his soft dabs. Then Grady took her hand covered in Vel’s cum and wiped that off. They all took turns with the portable sanitizer. Shon had to undo his pants and clean inside. Malla saw that none of the men teased him or questioned him. Of course not. They were trained to believe he couldn’t be trusted either. She began to get angry. Everyone expected him to have to stay out of it, because of his gift. As if he were the psychic, he looked up at her, those black eyes glinting. “Don’t start, Malla. It was beautiful. I have no regrets.” “Start what?” Kor asked. She opened her mouth, furious he hadn’t even noticed how Shon held himself back, the behavior had become so normal. Vel stepped up and kissed her. He owned his kisses. There was nothing to do when he kissed her but follow his lips, submit to his tongue. When he finished with her, she was

In Service

105

dizzy, swaying, and had to blink to remember where she was. She frowned, remembering her point. “Malla. Someday. But not now.” Vel’s low whisper carried only to her as he nibbled on her lobe. “He’s scared about this mission. Not now.” She tipped her head, and let him ravish her ear. Sighing, she took her resolve and tamped it down. When Vel was done kissing her back into her armor, he dressed himself and went to the pilot’s chair. Grady watched, a slight smile softening his face. Shon had already disappeared into his vid plate, face tight with concentration. Kor went back to check the navigation, humming happily. Malla took her plate from the sleeping nook, and sat in Grady’s lap. He fell asleep in an instant as she worked on her assignment. By the time she was done, they were leaving interstellar, a half hour from Dunru. Shon handed each of them a vid. “Here’s the final briefing.” The bulk of the plan had been ironed out in a lounge meeting before they left. They were to go in openly looking for Char’s team, Sig Twelve. That was Stage A. They were to acquire them as quickly as possible. Stage B was moving to a vantage point, possibly with Char’s unwilling team. Stage C was getting any pertinent information about Radha from them. Stage D was recharging everyone and meeting with Kappa 49. Next, they’d extract Radha, which would be a three-tier attack, if she was alive, if she was still there. That was Stage E. The most dangerous part of the mission, and that was saying something, was the return with her, Stage F. The time it took to extract her would most likely be enough for the Duke’s men to summon reinforcements, and much of Dunru could rise up to try to stop them as well. Either to take Radha as their own prize or to stop them to collect any reward the Duke would give. Stage G was eluding pursuit once they left Dunru, and Stage H was the hand-off, of both Radha to her father, leader of the Ion Blades, and Sig Twelve to High Post. Malla read her briefing. She knew each plate held personal notations. When she got to Stage D, recharging in a safe location, Shon had written, “Team will need service. Vel will take Kor. You’ll serve Grady and I’ll be right there.” Malla looked up at Shon, who was grim faced, watching Kor. She read on, but there was only one final personal note, tagged to the return to the ship, Stage F. “If I’ve gone to Fury, you do not serve me. No matter how wounded I am. Even if it means you have to leave me behind to secure Radha. Follow the chain of command: Vel, Grady, Kor. Hold the mission highest: recover Radha.” Malla swallowed, feeling her throat swell. It wasn’t fair. There was a to-do list blinking. “Link with Kor, get tagged.” Vel and Grady were talking in low urgent voices at the back of the shuttle. Shon was leaning up against the wall by Kor. She stood, surprised to feel her heart beating hard. She walked up to Kor. “So, how do I join the team’s link?”

106

Mima

Kor sat back in the nav chair. He drew in a deep breath through his nose, his eyes serious. “You need to lie down. I’ll fuck you slow, and when you come, I’ll rip into your throat. As I swallow a third time, then I’ll rip into your mind.” She only had time to blink wide eyes before Shon reached out and smacked the back of Kor’s head. “Ass.” She looked from one to the other. “You mean…?” Kor shrugged, grinning sheepishly. “Sorry, love. Couldn’t resist. It’s a moment of concentration.” She was curiously disappointed it wasn’t a big, intimate deal. “Watch my eyes, Malla.” Kor reached out and took her hand. She gripped his tightly, still slightly unnerved. In the dimmer light at the front of the ship, she couldn’t see his colors.

“Hello, Malla, Elite server to Team Epsilon 983. How’s it hangin’, babe.” Malla moaned, clutching Kor’s hand tight. She felt the softness of her skin through him, how her fingers seemed so small. Grady looked up from whispering with Vel. He was worried about her. He didn’t want her to fear him, when she saw him rip out the minds of people that stood against the mission. Vel’s gut was churning, still uncertain about the wisdom of her going. Kor’s thought latched onto that, and the two men swirled around each other, arguing if she should be left behind, where she could be kept safely midway. “If she doesn’t go, we’ll fail.” “If she doesn’t go, we’ll fail.”

Malla gasped at the odd echo created by hearing Shon’s spoken words with two senses. Her gasp rang in four men’s minds. “Keep Stardust safe. Guard her.” Shon’s determination was tinged with regret. Vel seethed. If not for his family duty, he’d be team leader, and it was times like these where that really stuck in his throat. Grady soothed him, and their love flowed with a thought. Grady loved being linked. He loved knowing Vel so deeply. Vel was interested in getting his dick down Grady’s throat. How was that for depth? “Hey, hey, hey, there’s youth here.” Kor dropped the link. He gripped her hand as she swayed. “All right?” Shon asked. “You can fight like that? How do you concentrate?” “It gets easier, actually, in a firefight. We’re not all thinking random thoughts. It’s like having four pairs of eyes and four times the reflexes. It’s amazingly efficient.” Shon stiffened. “Vel, you have the syringes?” “Yeah. I still say this is an added risk. The Duke is totally capable of tracking us by any blood left behind.”

In Service

107

“We’re being divided. It’s highly probable one or more of us will be taken. We have to plan worst case, with Kor and Grady out of commission. Hopefully, he’ll think we won’t use a tagged enzyme because he knows we have two psychics.” Vel went to the case, withdrew the air gun. He loaded up and shot himself first, then, the rest of them. A tiny pinch, and it was done. Malla looked at Grady. “You can link the team like Kor?” “No. I can read minds though. Not nearly with his sweet touch. When I do it, it’s like a spike. I know what you’re thinking at that moment, and I can get a sense of which direction you are. But I have limited distance compared to Kor, and it doesn’t go two ways, so no communication.” “A spike? It’s more like Grady held his ion cannon to your head and pulled the trigger. Talk about worst case scenario. He’s like a great hulking beast stomping through your head. Oh, wait, he’s like that in real space, too.” Grady just laughed, shaking his head. “Strap in, boy. Safety first.” Kor snorted, but reached for his harness. They all took the places they’d been in on takeoff. The cabin was quiet for several long minutes. Malla thought Grady had perhaps fallen asleep again, and Shon as well. Then, a voice spoke clear as a bell. “This is Dunru moon. You are on an approach lane. Is this your intention?” “Luo Team Epsilon 983 approaching for landing,” Vel drawled coolly. Malla’s heart thumped. She picked her rifle up off the ground, checked its components were all in place. She let out a shaky breath. Her men. Hers. She was an Elite. She served them well. She’d continue to do so. This woman would be rescued and returned to her mercenary father who would stand by the High Post and help bring Duke Lester Harris down. Then her team would help renew the battle to stop the bugs. That was the plan, and she was sticking to it.

108

Mima

Chapter Ten Her breath wheezed, searing painfully in her dry throat. She wasn’t in battle ready shape, and obviously she wasn’t a Luo, but she had to pretend to be one, a young trainee joining an experienced team. So the men hadn’t slowed down from their punishing pace through the tiny, winding pedestrian streets glowing with vivid laser signs. They’d stopped often, sometimes so that Shon could sweep the current terrain to synchronize it with the maps they had on their vid plates. Sometimes for Kor to psychically sweep for Char. The most terrifying pause was when they stopped to return fire from a few people who scattered. She was proud of the fact she’d managed to raise her gun and aim, but it was all over by the time she focused. When they made it into dirtier, darker, twistier streets, she was about ready to black out. Her lungs burned and her heart knocked into her armor. From fear, from running, from adrenaline. If not for her server training, she would have passed out from heart failure. Kor was obviously drained from sweeping a huge amount of people. He leaned against the wall of a building. Its gray metal had faded nearly to black with grime. “This is it.” Kor’s voice sounded inside her helmet. They’d turned the outside speakers off, allowing them to only talk to each other. “He’s under, at least two floors.” Grady stepped up to the door. It was locked. He took a gummy from his belt and broke it in pieces, putting a tiny bit in each corner. He stepped back quickly and there was a flash of blue-white light. He spun and kicked. The door flew into the building. The onlookers at either end of the street scattered. So many people. Malla hadn’t realized there’d be crowds of people everywhere. Grady moved into the building, firing at the sudden yellow glow of a bolt gun engaging. Shon went in next, gun raised, but the shooter had already cried out and fallen. Shon stepped up to the body and fired into its head. Malla swallowed. Grady was already

In Service

109

sweeping the tiny room, gaining the building’s floor plan through his vid plate. Vel knocked her shoulder and she went in. Shon and Grady teamed the entry through the next door in the building. This time they did not fire. As she cleared the doorway, she spared a glance back at the street door. Kor’s shoulders filled it. He no longer looked tired, but rather alert and solid. Vel stepped into her sight. “Go, Malla.” She knew Kor was guarding the street entrance, but leaving him behind was still hard. She preceded Vel, following Shon and Grady as they found the trap door with the handmade ladder. She followed them through a tunnel to a maintenance staircase that spiraled down. Grady blew the door at the end, this time stepping back against the wall and letting Shon and Vel stand shoulder to shoulder with their guns at the ready. The door blew, and lasers streamed out of the smoke caused from the explosives. Malla cringed back, her fingers aching from their grip on her gun. She bit her tongue to keep from screaming as her men each took a hit. The lasers shimmered off their Luo armor, painting the black mesh with yellow and red. Shon and Vel never flinched, returned fire. Then the firing stopped. Shon and Vel went through and made sure the attackers were dead. Five shots. “Kor. We’ve got seven tunnels. It’s a hub room.” Shon’s voice was calm as he spoke into the helmet on their shared comlink. The sounds of hurrying away sounded down one tunnel, and the sounds of hurrying toward came from another. “South is all I can give you, boss. And we’ve got company forming at both ends up here.” “I’ll find them.” Grady’s bulk stood huge, like a statue of strength against one wall. Vel and Shon fired into the tunnel and shouts sounded, echoing. Grady’s shoulders dipped, as if he’d taken a hit. Then, “That one.” He pointed at the tunnel they were firing into. “Of course it’s that one,” Vel muttered. “Well, there’s three less, now. I wanted to triangulate.” Grady had gotten Char’s location from ransacking the minds of people around the area. None of the three minds he’d found and ransacked would be still standing. Shon knelt and Grady stood over his shoulder, at the edge of the tunnel. Vel entered about five meters and knelt against the opposite wall. Grady ran to behind him. Shon went up past them and knelt. They proceeded this way down the tunnel, passing some fresh blood, but there was no return fire. The tunnel had several corners and one curve, and at the fourth corner, there was a camera. Shon walked up to it and turned his external speaker on. “We’re here for Char. We’ll take out anyone who stands between us. Come on, Char, and let us help your team.” There were two more corners, and then another door that Grady blew open. Malla knew that they blew these key doors to keep their retreat open. Inside this room, there were

110

Mima

the first signs of habitation since the street level. A couple of chairs, a table, some parts in the corner that someone had been tinkering with. They went through two more rooms like this when they came to a fortified door. “Here’s our main meal,” Vel muttered. Malla recognized some of the security plates that had been in place back on the waystation. Vel stepped up and began to work. Shon stayed cued on another door in the room, while Grady posted facing the way they’d come. Malla rested against one wall. Her suit, a cut down version of Kor’s, was supposed to regulate to her needs. But her pits and palms were sweaty. The fit was so tight her breasts ached, and her shoulders chafed where the loose fit rubbed against the ion gun’s strap. They hadn’t even achieved Stage A in an eight-step mission. A panel beeped. None of the men moved, then Vel said, “Incoming voice transmission.” “This is Char. To whom do I have the pleasure of speaking?” “It’s Vel of Team Epsilon 983.” A beat of silence. “Ah.” Another beat of silence. “They’ve finally called in the big boys then.” On their in-helmet channel, Vel asked, “Shon? For a little honesty, we may get out of a heck of fight where we could end up damaging them.” “Take my post.” Shon and Vel exchanged places. “Char, this is Shon. You need to know we’re here for Radha. We’re taking her with or without you. You in or out?” Malla was breathless at the utter command and confidence of Shon’s voice. He was so hot. Sweat gathered beneath her breasts. The silence spun out. Shon stood patiently. “We’ve got two temporary servers. I want them to come.” “No.” “Son of a fucking --” Char cut off the link. More silence. “Shon, listen. I think she might be an Elite.” Shon didn’t even hesitate. “No. The addict is a liability off mission and a no-go on this one. There’s no room for the male.” More silence. Shon continued. “Char. Why are you being so stupid? Do you want to assist with Radha or not? Come back for them later. Or pay to send them off moon if you’re worried she’ll OD in your absence.” An indignant shout came from the background of the open channel. “All right,” Char conceded. “But we run the mission from here. It’s secure, and it’s closer, and we’ve been working on…an alternative entry.” Again Shon didn’t even hesitate. “No. This is not a collaboration of teams. This is you contributing background to us and fighting underneath us according to orders.”

In Service

111

“I know you need my knowledge or you wouldn’t even bother with us. So you’re going to agree to fight from this location if you want my cooperation.” Shon stepped back to guard the doorway again. “Open it, Vel.” Vel worked while Char cursed and cajoled and explained and demanded. Once Vel had the backlash measures disengaged, Grady came up to blow the door. It opened just as he was about to lay the explosive. Malla’s finger twitched on the trigger, but she managed not to fire. Char stood with his hands up. “Don’t wreck the door. We might need a bolt hole.” He had Kor’s light brown hair, only it curled wildly. It should have made him look younger, innocent. But his face was hard, gaunt, and scarred. His blue eyes were bitter, and he was shirtless, revealing a bandage that covered the left side of his torso. “No one’s coming through those doors. You can stand down.” Vel didn’t move. Grady and Shon switched places so Shon could face Char. “How’s your team’s ability to move through the city?” Shon asked. “Not good.” Char sounded as bitter and tired as his eyes. “Another reason for you to organize from this position. Ahmed can’t walk. Cristanna is teetering on the brink of starvation. She’s refused to be served for two weeks, trying to get me healed up. She can only focus for short periods. Lali is currently strung out because when I heard a new Luo team landed, I kept her here and she’s late for a hit. Ben can move, but of course, he’s human. I can move, with human speed, but I’ll be useless in hand to hand.” Shon’s forceful command through this whole exchange calmed Malla. She was proud to be on his team. He spoke quickly, efficiently laying out the actions he wanted. “You have local allies, and we know Kappa 49 is here to help you. I’m not interested in whatever reason you had for avoiding them. Get your servers gone with the locals, suppress whatever illadvised rescue your local allies may be considering, and tell Kappa 49 to meet us at the Mud Slick Coffee Shop in one hour. You have ten minutes.” “Are you really in a position to shut out extra servers?” She couldn’t believe the arrogance of this man, how he continued to argue with a better, stronger team. Shon cleared the visor of his helmet, baring his face. He stared the slightly larger man down. Finally, with a curse, Char turned away and went back into the guarded room. “Vel. Get your medical head on.” “Yes, sir.” Vel knelt and shrugged off his backpack, opening and laying out patches, a vid plate, and pressure bandages. An eternity later, which her watch told her was only eight minutes, Char came to the door. “Well? How are you going to move us out?” Vel approached him and stuck two patches to the back of his neck. Char stiffened but didn’t question what they were.

112

Mima

Shon asked, “Where’s your armor?” “Blown to nothing. I have some human stuff.” Shon motioned him to turn, then stepped up and put his short-range gun to his head. “Go.” Char cursed, but went in, Grady right behind with his rifle up and ready and then Malla. Vel stayed back to bring the door closed. The room was a bit of a disappointment. One chair, an air mattress on the floor, three doors. Feminine screams and curses echoed from one of the rooms. Char gestured to it. “That’s Lali.” “What a touching goodbye,” Vel said sarcastically. Shon never moved his gun from Char’s head. Malla knew he didn’t trust the other team, especially on their fortified turf. “Cristanna first.” Char gestured to another door. “Second room on the left. I turned off all the guns.” “And where’s her armor?” “If she hasn’t taken it off again, it should be on her.” “Grady, check it out.” Vel was scanning Char with his medical plate. “This was bad, but is only a moderate injury now.” “Now you see why I put up with Lali. When we can get her off the streets this is what I can achieve. All Ben is good for is keeping us upright. We need her for the healing.” “Not anymore,” Shon said matter-of-factly. Char kept his hands out at his side. “If Cris sees the gun at my head, it won’t go well.” Shon reluctantly lowered the gun but put his hand on the back of Char’s neck. Grady came through the doorway holding a woman who was twisting at his grip on her arm. He carried her helmet and one boot in his other hand. Her black hair flew everywhere, coming out of a sloppy ponytail. She wasn’t fighting him so much as trying to go back the way they’d come. She was crying. “Nonononono.” Char made a move to step toward her and Shon grabbed his neck, jamming the gun into his lower back, out of sight. He halted, swallowing. “Cris. CrisCross. Look. It’s another team. They’re going to help us.” He spoke low, soothing. She obviously wasn’t having a lucid moment. She seemed to not even hear him, clawing ineffectually at Grady’s hand, scrabbling and tugging with her body to get back to her room. Malla’s heart bled to see the torture a warrior had put herself through, sacrificing herself for a teammate. “Cuff her.” Shon’s voice was tight.

In Service

113

Char went rigid. Vel slid up to the starving Luo and put a patch on her neck. Three breaths later, she listed against Grady, seeming to sag. He laid her down gently. Vel and Grady quickly put her in restraints at her elbows and wrists, with a silencer over her mouth and a band on her thighs that would only allow tiny steps. Char made a pained sound as Grady put her boot on. “Ahmed,” Shon ordered. “Third on the right, same corridor. He knows you’re coming. He has crutches he can go short distances on. One of his legs will support him a short while.” Grady unholstered his gun and went in again. A few moments later, he came out with a Luo almost as big as he in a shoulder carry. He was fully armored, right to the helmet. Grady put him on the floor. Malla swallowed when she saw how carefully he set the man down. Ahmed had his helmet on clear, so she could see the high cheekbones and bladed nose, the black eyes. White grooves around his mouth gave proof to the kind of pain he was in. When Ahmed saw Cristanna slack and bound, he started, surging toward her. Vel was there to push him back, undoing his helmet to put another med patch on his neck. “All right, Shon. We’ve got painkiller on Ahmed, sedation on Cristanna, and adrenaline and painkiller on Char.” Shon looked at each of them, his helmet once again opaque and reflecting their black forms. “Suit up in what you’ve got, Char. Team, we’re into Stage B.”

114

Mima

Chapter Eleven If Malla thought Stage A was unending, she obviously hadn’t understood what it meant that Char and the Duke had allies on Dunru. Between traveling from Char’s saferoom to the location Shon had chosen for Stage C, they were in seven firefights. Not counting the three Kor had been in while holding the door on the street. Sometimes Char could call off the fight, but sometimes he couldn’t. Malla was in awe of her men’s abilities. Grady dropped eight, ten, thirteen people with a glance of his blue eyes. Vel phazed around behind a group. And Shon stayed icy calm, but his voice grew tighter with each deadly round. Only once the enemy had better firepower than they did. If Vel hadn’t had Cristanna over his shoulder, he would have taken a bad hit. As it was, she did. Malla was proud she’d been able to contribute to the firefights. It got so that she didn’t even jump anymore. Her two loblollies were gone, and she’d only had to go hand to hand once. She’d blocked the flurry of blows and avoided the laser knife until Vel was there, cutting through the attacking woman in a wash of blood. Another time, they’d had to move with Luo speed, so they paired up: Vel and Cris, Kor and Ahmed, Grady and Char, and Shon had taken her. The streets had blurred as her stomach heaved. The team had gone to their psychic link three times, and she was getting better at adapting to the overwhelming avalanche of the men’s sensations and thoughts. They’d made it to their sewer exit, and gone through the tunnels to the building and floor Shon wanted. They caught a break when they arrived to find the apartment Shon wanted vacated. Filthy and scattered with debris, it had obviously been unoccupied for several days, if not weeks. Malla sat against the wall in a relatively clean spot, gasping from their rush up three flights of stairs. The men pulled their helmets off. She didn’t have the strength. Her gaze jumped to each of her men. They were alive. They were all alive, upright, safe…for now.

In Service

115

“All right, lovely?” Vel asked. She nodded. “Check Cris. Please.” Char lay on his good side, breathless. Ahmed wrenched off his helmet and vomited on the floor. He spat and groaned, “Crap.” Vel moved to the bound woman, analyzed her, and removed her charred armor. “I think it was the Duke’s men in the fight that did this. I don’t see Dunru rats having this edition of firepower.” “Yeah, definitely,” Grady answered, checking the window view, closing the shade. “Good view of our target, Shon, just like you thought.” Shon sat next to where Kor had sprawled on the floor. “Team status.” Kor linked them for three seconds and closed the link. Malla knew in that instant that Shon was thrilled but on edge, fighting a roiling anger in himself, and Kor, Grady, and Vel were severely depleted. She wondered what they got from her. Glancing over as Vel eased off Cris’s armor, Malla choked at the raw mess of Cris’s shattered shoulder blade, a huge patch of skin missing and a wash of blood. “Cris!” Char crawled over to her, brushing her hair out of her face with a shaking hand. “Cris!” She was unconscious, but he didn’t seem to understand that. “Cris!” Ahmed moaned across the room. “No. No, not Cris, too.” Vel reassured them. “She’s alive. She’ll need surgery for the bone, but I’ve got skin regen and extra plasma. She’ll be fine, barring complications.” He continued to work over her, steady and careful, wiping away blood, sealing up her flesh, spraying holding compound on her fracture. Char pounded his still-gloved fist into the floor. “She needs to drink!” He turned to Shon, snarling. “We need to get to your servers! Now!” He jumped to his feet, his curls sweaty and face red. “You’re not giving orders. Lower your voice. You’ll draw attention to us. And no more pounding on the floor.” Char turned in a tight circle. He went and knelt on one knee by Ahmed, laying the backs of his bare fingers on Ahmed’s white face. “Look, you can’t be serious. Your men need service, too. There’s no way you can get through to Radha and get her out on what you’ve got left. We need to backtrack to the hangar.” Shon shrugged out of his backpack. He rummaged and pulled out an insulating tarp. He unfolded it, and spread it out on the floor, kicking garbage out of the way. It was the size of a small bed, long enough for Grady, but only about three people wide. “Vel, we need Cris conscious.” “What?” Kor perked up. “Why? She’s wrecked. Keep her under.”

116

Mima

“Grady, send package one.” Package one was a pre-recorded, carefully worded message to their commanders that their Team was on a personal honor mission on Dunru. They’d taken Sig Twelve, and were in contact with Kappa 49. They also warned that if the other, hostile team trying to acquire Sig Twelve got in their way, they were going down and the bureaucrats were going to get all the blame. The hope was they’d call off the team the Duke had ordered and direct Kappa 49 to cooperate. Grady set up his com link, an extra large box he’d had to carry in addition to Char, his backpack, and his huge ion bolt. “I have to agree with your man. Keep her under,” Char sounded absolutely wiped and utterly defeated. “It’s not like she can contribute to the rescue now.” “Just rest. Trust me to know what I’m doing. Hydrate, eat if you can.” Shon got out some dried vitamin packets and tossed them to everyone. People seemed too tired to argue. Listlessly, Malla got out her water and took a sip. It was the sweetest she’d ever tasted. “Char, look at this. Add anything if you can.” Shon tossed him a vid plate. It would be a schematic of Radha’s prison. Char frowned, panning through it. Vel finished applying bandages to Cris and moved to Ahmed. He scanned him. “Yep, a little jog through the city sure did make it worse.” Ahmed laughed weakly, bitterly. Vel gave him another patch. He scanned Char, and nodded. “Doing all right.” Grady looked up from his portable com. “Package away.” Vel went back to Cris. He scanned her, and applied three patches. “We’ve got a window coming up in about three minutes, Shon.” Shon stood and helped Vel gently move her onto one side of the tarp, face down in deference to her wound. Then Shon and Grady came for Ahmed and laid him on the other side. “What are you doing?” Char asked. Vel went to stand by Kor. Grady lay down in between the two wounded Luo. “Oh, fuck no.” Kor got to his feet. Vel moved into his space and Kor shoved him, but he stayed put. “This is shit, Vel. Shon, you’re a shit.” Malla stood and went to kneel at Grady’s feet. She glanced at Ahmed, lying on his back, watching her curiously. She took off her helmet. He considered her, and then his eyes went wide. “Here, sweet. Just focus on me.” Grady’s rumble took the tight feeling in her chest and moved it down about half a meter, to her pussy. She smiled at him, meeting his serious blue eyes. He was worried about her.

In Service

117

Shon went to stand by Char. Dark and hard, he gritted out, “You don’t touch her until I say, where I say.” Malla set her helmet to the side, and took off her gloves. Kor raved behind her, a steady outpouring of curses. She turned her head over her shoulder and met his frantic eyes. “Kor. You’re pissing me off. Shut. Up.” To her surprise, he listened, clenching his jaw so hard a muscle in his cheek jumped. Malla crawled up over one of Grady’s rock hard thighs, and lowered herself. “You’ve got to be kidding me!” Char exclaimed. “She’s a server? You took a server through those firefights!” She had trained for this, to come easily, almost at will. It was harder, with the suit on. With the rustle of the metallic tarp. With the incredulous stares of Char and Ahmed. With Kor’s beating disapproval. But she managed. She ground and rubbed, circled and writhed. She reached out a hand to each of the Luo on either side of Grady. She worked her hands up until she touched the sweaty, clammy skin of Cris and the jumping pulse in Ahmed’s throat. “Grady…” Answering her plea, he laid one of his hands on her head. She tilted her hips and came. She opened her well and let her energy roll through her body. “Hnngghh!” Ahmed bowed and screamed, then choked on it. The pleasure already drained away, but Ahmed had a grip on her light, as did Grady, and more distantly, Cris. Still, the energy slipped away too soon. “Good, Malla. That was good.” She sighed, rubbed her cheek against him. “It was a start.” Over the next half hour, she came three more times. It got harder to bring the pleasure up, and her clit was getting raw. Her thighs were damp and her arms ached from their stretched position. Occasionally, Cris’ pain-filled moans would distract her. Once, Shon and Vel came over and shared her energy. The last time, Char was directed to go in and taste her, putting his hand on her head. It jarred her, badly. She’d gotten too used to the intimacy of her own men. Servers serve. You trained for this. Focusing on the fact it was Grady she rocked on, she managed to come. “Get your hands off me,” she snapped when Char was slow taking his hand away after her light died. Exhausted, she lay shaking on Grady’s chest, panting, legs twitching in reaction. Grady’s erection was a bar along her ribs. She could feel it even through the thick armor. Sighing, she slid to the inside of Grady’s spread thighs, and rolled over, cradled in the V of his legs, resting the back of her head on his erection. “Malla?” Shon knelt in front of her, offering water. She took it gratefully. When she focused on his face, she was surprised to see how drawn it was, his lips thin.

118

Mima

She tried to summon a smile to reassure him, but she was wiped. “No more, Shon. No more unless it’s an exchange. If I could get an exchange, I’d be able to recharge a bit, too. Was it enough? What’s the status?” “We’re good enough for the next stage, but not really fully charged. It just wasn’t…the same.” “So we’ve discovered I can’t really harmonize unless I have full partners.” Char and Ahmed both gasped. “It’s true?” Ahmed whispered. “What do you think you’ve been experiencing?” Vel’s voice was dry. Char was sitting against the wall. She met his blue eyes and shivered at the intensity of them. He turned away to stare at Shon, slack-jawed. “You brought an Elite, harmonizing server into Dunru. You fuckhead.” Shon lifted his lip and growled at him. Then he turned to where Vel and Kor sat on the floor. “Who’s going to do the honors?” “You’re damn straight it’s an honor. And you’re just going to do her in this filth, with this shit treasonous team watching. Worse, drinking her. They don’t deserve her.” Kor’s voice was quiet, but vibrating with rage. Vel hadn’t needed to put his hands on him, but he’d stayed between Kor and Malla just in case. “Oh, Kor.” Malla sighed. She was tired of his inability to understand this was part of the mission, like Shon having to put a bolt in the head of wounded enemies or Grady having to invade people’s heads and shatter their minds. “Right. Not Kor, then. Vel? Grady?” What? What about Shon? “I will.” Vel stood up and began undoing his armor.

A hard, hot hand spread in the middle of her back, pinning her to the shower wall. Warm water sheeting over her face as she gasped to feel his thumb in her ass. Malla reached for her waistband and fumbled it open. She took a breath, used the strength of her anger to lift her hips and pushed her armor down. “Stop, Malla. Vel will do it.” Shon’s order was gentle. She glared at him. “I want you to do it, but you’re a coward.” His head knocked back as if she’d struck him. Her heart twisted, but anger still coursed through her belly. Then Vel was kneeling at her feet, working her pants down to her knees. “Hey, lovely. How much do you feel like sharing?” He was asking how much skin she wanted to bare. She wanted him to take her from behind, with as little showing as possible. But she was pissed now. She stared Shon down. “I

In Service

119

never want anything less than everything you can give me, Vel. I’m not ashamed of what I am, or what I share with you.” She moved her eyes to Kor’s. “I’m proud of being good at what I do. I’m proud to serve my team.” She felt a flicker of satisfaction when they both looked away. Vel took off her boots, peeled off her pants. He reached for her torso armor and undid it, and then Grady sat and lifted her, held her while Vel undressed her. Grady’s hands covered each breast entirely. He gently rubbed her chafed skin. She shivered. “Oh.” Vel’s fingers moved over her thighs and hips, firm, stroking, massaging. Delicious. Their touch strengthened her while relaxing her aching muscles. These were the men who saw what she had to do and were strong enough to support her doing it. She was going to rock their world. She raised one hand up behind Grady’s head and pulled him down for a kiss. His lips were strong, his tongue gentle. The rush of him poured down her spine. She broke from him to grab Vel’s face and lift it to hers. Vel took her mouth and her mind. He pushed into her skin. He danced over her lips and her tongue danced back in return. When he pulled away, she could hardly breathe. Her breasts throbbed, full and heavy in Grady’s hold. She stared at Vel, willing to follow him anywhere. She drew her knees up, spreading her thighs until her heels met her ass. “Vel…” He dropped his gaze to her open folds, dark pink and dripping. He met Grady’s eyes behind her for a moment. Grady laid back down, his hands trailing from her chest to her shoulders, and she reclined with him. Her head rolled on the ridge of his erection, her shoulders held by his hips. She kept her heels high, and her knees splayed out, propped up by Grady’s spread thighs. Cris moaned again, a sound of agony, and she tensed, her senses going to that side. Char moved into her line of vision as he came and knelt by Cris. He laid his hand on her head and crooned to her, whispering reassurance. “Malla.” She looked back at Vel. “When I fuck a lover, their attention is on me.” She nodded. He took one of her knees and shoved it up to her chest. He stared at her for a moment, licked his lips. He glanced back at Shon, who was standing with his arm around Kor’s shoulders. Malla couldn’t tell if it was a stance of moral support or a restraint. Vel said, “If you don’t take her ass soon, I’m going to.” Shon’s chin tucked down, his eyes hardening. Then Vel was crawling up over her. He bent and nipped her breast, hard, over the purple bruise he’d left on her in the fighter pod, seemingly a decade ago.

120

Mima

Malla squeaked. “I told you, pay attention to me.” He lifted one hand and pulled and tugged a nipple. Malla shifted her leg, trying to get comfortable with one folded so high and tight against her. He put his dick to her cunt, then bent to suckle her gently. She focused on his mouth, the pull of it, the swish of his tongue, the heat and wet of it, and suddenly when she breathed again, the tip of him was in her, stretching and sending her empty pussy a-flutter. He lifted his head, and toyed with the same nipple. This time he rolled it in a squeezing pinch, but it was wet and it felt good. She tried to squeeze on him, but he wasn’t high enough. She reached up and returned the movement on his small nipple. “Vel, you’re driving me crazy. It doesn’t have to be lovemaking. Just fuck me.” She eased her lifted leg up over his back, her heel settling in the top of his ass. He stared at her a moment, then he powered into her, driving her hard into Grady’s solid supporting strength behind her. It occurred to Malla she could happily spend the rest of her life being fucked between various pairs of her men. He pushed through her tight channel, and it seemed as if she’d never taken a man so big. She was so sensitive from her masturbation she thought she’d pass out from the stimulation of Vel’s length going in, and in. “Vel! Ahhhh!” Then he drew out a few inches and slapped back into her. He put his head down next to hers, gripped her hips, and began to pummel her. Vel’s weight drove Malla’s head harder against Grady’s erection. She tossed her head against him, struggling with the pleasure, but also wanting the contact. Grady moaned. His hips trembled underneath her shoulders. Vel whispered in her ear, “You’re going to come when I tell you to.” A little twist of his hips ground on her clit. “Ah!” “Do you hear me Malla? You’re going to serve us all.” He pumped. “Yes!” “In three.” Grady was writhing. Vel’s cock was in deep, hips swishing side to side. “Ah!” “Two. You give yourself over so easily. It’s such a fucking turn-on.” He rocked his length in and out lightning fast, and just as hard. “Yes!” “One. Get ready, baby. We’ve got your back. Don’t be afraid.” He circled between her legs, grinding. “Vel!” “Come. Now.” He powered himself in even tighter, deeper.

In Service

121

Her muscles became light and her belly held the sun. Dimly, there were hands on her arms and shoulders, two on her ankles. People surrounding her, needing her. Spirit, it was so beautiful. Vel thrust in her again, tucking his hips hard against her clit. She ceased breathing as the second orgasm took her. “-- baby, yes, so good --” “-- get Cris’s skin in contact --” “Ahhhhhh!” “Fuck! Yes! Malla!” “Uhhhhhhhhhh…” Shon’s hoarse voice ordered, “Again, Vel.” Vel shoved both his hands up the back of her thighs, catching her knees and throwing them high. Then he strained forward, taking her at the new, steeper angle. Malla gasped, her head arching, grinding against Grady, as her body shuddered and shook, held together by hands, so many hands. The energy that powered out of her this time didn’t feel like it was coming from her, as it did when it was just her on Grady. No, this time, it came from all of them, for all of them, because of all of them… When she woke up, she was wrapped in a thermal blanket, being rocked slowly, slightly. Shon and Grady were at the window, talking in whispers. Vel held complicatedlooking instruments over Ahmed, who was face down, stripped to the waist. Char was sitting by Cris, eyes closed, his hands holding one of hers. That meant it was Kor holding her. She sighed, snuggled into his hold. He continued to rock her. “I’m glad you came over to drink,” she murmured to him. He didn’t reply. She sat up in his arms, stretched. Looking up at him, she saw his eyes were vivid green and that muscle was still jumping in his jaw. She laid her palm over it, smiling at him. “See, Kor? No harm done.” He held her eyes, then came in for a kiss. His mouth pushed hers open, and he stormed inside, kissing her deeply, holding her head in his hand. Pulling back, he stared at her as if he hadn’t seen her for a thousand years. “How far into Stage D are we?” His eyes narrowed on hers. “Malla, shut the fuck up.” Her face pulled into an instant smile. “I love you, too.” He kissed her again, more slowly, more deeply, his lips slanting back and forth as he pulled on her tongue, traced her teeth, tasted her again and again. When they came up for air, Shon’s legs were right next to them. Malla tipped her head back and looked up at him. He was smiling with his eyes, although his face was reserved. There was a faint bruise that hadn’t been there on one cheek.

122

Mima

Malla glared at Kor. He shrugged. Shon offered her a hand, and she took it, finding she was still nude within the blanket. “There’s a sanitizer set up in the corner. We’re moving out within the hour. Grady checked your guns. Here’s an update.” He handed her a plate. Brushing his knuckles down her throat, he tipped her chin to one side and placed a gentle kiss over her throat. His lips were so warm, burning a brand into her. “All right, Stardust?” “Yes, sir.” She saw immediately it was the wrong thing to say, naming him her commander, not her lover, not a friend. He nodded, turning, and she grabbed at his hand. “Shon, I’m sorry. I meant it to be snappy and cute, not to push you away.” He nodded, touched her chin with his fingers, and moved over to Vel. She swallowed. She did as he asked, feeling better when she was clean and dressed. Sitting with her vid, she saw that a bit more detail had been added to Radha’s building. There was also a great deal more intel on the security. She nibbled a piece of dried fruit as she reviewed. Shon and Grady had already been to the coffee shop and met with the other team, Kappa 49. They were going to go in first, as a distraction, through the sewer route Char had been working on. Char, Ahmed, and Cris, who was currently just sleeping, were going to be taken to another location where they would be set up by Grady to sabotage the communications across Dunru, particularly in Radha’s building. The chaos and false trails they’d lay in the system would further disrupt Radha’s captors from organizing an effective block to their escape, Stage F. Malla thought of how hard it had been to get to this point, although Char had come much easier than expected. How had Vel characterized Stages A through D? Playtime? And Grady had laughed and called it a warm-up. But Kor had shouted that it was all a walk in the park until Stage F, the escape. Then, he predicted, the shit would hit the fan. Entering Stage E, the rescue, first they had to let Kappa 49 lead as a distraction. Then Kor and Vel would rendezvous and phaze in, while Shon was covered by Grady as he scaled the building and entered the third floor, leaving an unexpected exit point for retreat. Malla was with Grady, stationed here, across the street from the Duke’s building. Over the next hour, as all of that fell into place, Malla took sips of water and practiced her sight lines to main target points like doors, one balcony, and several cameras. When it was almost the appointed time, Grady looked at her, powering on his gun. She turned on hers, too. “Malla.” “Yeah?” “You should know about Shon, if Kor’s holding our link open.” “What do you mean?”

In Service

123

“I mean if Kor has us linked, and Shon loses it, it will feel like you want to kill everything that moves around you. The hate that wells up can almost seem like it’s choking you. Ride it, shape it. Don’t fight it, focus it.” “Hate?” “Shon doesn’t call it his Fury for nothing. He’s furious. He’s out of control, and he’s pure violence. He seems to hold his first target in his head, so he tends to get close to finishing the mission, and he also tends to gravitate to whoever of us is closest if all hostiles are down. But you need to be aware that when he goes under, he can’t hear you. He won’t respond, and he doesn’t understand, not even the word ‘No.’ Actually, the word ‘No’ seems to piss him off. He’s not himself, that’s for sure.” Malla frowned. “He is so. He’s Shon, in the throes of his gift. You all build it up to something shameful, fearful.” Grady looked from the window to Malla. “Don’t for a second go thinking that some gentle feminine touch from you will calm him, reclaim him. The Luo have lived with bestial tendencies for our entire history, as something we’ve learned to deal with in times of hunger. Shon’s gift is not a warrior form, Malla. It’s a madness form. Kor calls it, ‘getting his crazy on.’ You need to stop nipping at him and face the fact that when Shon goes under, he’s off limits, one breath away from being a hostile at our backs.” “He wouldn’t do that!” “He told me that he told you.” Grady pointed to his armor-covered arm. “Why are you denying the proof on my skin? I held him back with both hands on his throat, and it took all my strength. Vel had one of his arms, and he got one arm free from Kor and almost took my hand off. If Kor hadn’t gotten that arm back, I would have been shredded. As it is, we had to restrain him. Sometimes he snaps out of Fury immediately, sometimes he stays gone for hours, leaving us one man down.” Grady opened the blinds, then opened the window. He frowned at her. “And that was just one of the times he attacked us. Malla, it’s not that we disrespect his gift. We understand the power it brings and the responsibility. But you can’t keep thinking he’s being overcautious. He’s managed to live this long by holding it off as much as he can. Every time he goes to Fury, he loses the ability to fight with finesse and control. When is a gun going to get the best of him? When is his rage going to lead him into a bad tactical spot?” Malla blinked rapidly. Her throat was tight, and her heart beat like crazy. She felt confused and defensive and terrified. Grady looked out the window. She did, too, but she was blind to all the details. Shon, out of control, attacking Grady. Shon, out of control, attacking her. No. She didn’t fear their hunger, didn’t fear their need. She wouldn’t fear their gifts. They were honorable men, to their very core. They were hers, every bit of them. “He’s at our forty-five degrees.”

124

Mima

Malla sharpened her gaze and saw Shon. He was dressed in a ridiculous hat, three colorful ponchos, and a long dress. The bag he carried as if it weighed a ton had his helmet and a stretcher in it in case Radha couldn’t walk out on her own. Grady fired at the first of the cameras and it exploded in a hail of glittering shards. Malla shot out another and it rained sparks, dripping ion plasma down the building in a smoking, toxic mess. She blinked her eyes again to clear the last of the tears. Her men were coming back to her. And she’d be waiting, unafraid.

***** Shon was pleased. Everything was going to plan, but that didn’t mean it was easy. Radha had been five floors up, with only six guards. Vel had phazed Kor and him through the building after Kor had pinpointed Radha. Such a long phaze carrying both of them had seriously sucked Vel’s energy away. They’d acquired her in a vicious hand-to-hand. She wasn’t at all well, but she’d been alert. Two small firefights and a chase later, it was all Vel could do to keep the shivering, drugged woman over his shoulder and stay on his feet. But of course he was cool as ice, pistol ready. Shon was hit in three places. Kor was hit in two. Their armor had held, but it hurt like a bitch, the burns seeping through the seams. Grady had taken out an entire contingent of reinforcements with his gift. Shon disabled the transport shafts, and the guards focused on the stairwells while he led his men out his secured line on the side of the building. He was the last out, and breathed a sigh of relief to land on the reverberating composite of street level. There’d been no organized resistance as they exited the building. A glance across the street revealed Grady and Malla waiting in the shadows. A spike of pleasure burst in him to see her there, closely followed by the near-constant muttering of Fury. It had been hard, but no harder than a normal extraction. This luck couldn’t last.

Kor, let the link go. To the ship, route A. Kor dropped the link on his command. Shon shivered, losing the touch of his team. Grady took up Malla, Kor took Radha, and he paired with Vel, who was still woozy. They all double-timed it to the ship. Rounding the first corner, they took on their first firefight. Grady braced himself against a building and shouted. Half of the enemy dropped, unmoving. Grady bent, bracing himself on his knees. Malla fired at the same moment Shon did. All he could do was stand, cursing, trying to stay calm as he watched three hits sizzle over her armor. He saw the exact moment when some of the charge made it through. She staggered, dropped to one knee. Grady roared, his face inside his helmet monster-mean. Kor brought up the link, and they all managed to finish out the firefight, but by the time Shon had finished confirming the bodies as down via head hits, he knew they weren’t going to make the ship. This was going to be as shitty as they had all feared.

In Service

125

He motioned them into the nearest building. Taking an ion web from his belt he traced it hurriedly across the entrance to the street while Grady did the rear. Kor set Radha on the ground. “Five minutes. Malla, status.” “I’m all right. Just a little singed.” He stood for a heartbeat, drinking in the swirl of her chocolate hair bound in pretty court braids as she took off her helmet. His knees trembled from the adrenaline of watching her take the hits, of the ambush, so much closer than he’d planned. “Grady, we need you on deck.” Grady had been braced against one wall, Vel wrapped in his arms. He nodded in return. Vel staggered away to collapse on the floor. Grady took a chair out. At a glance, Shon realized the shop was some sort of café, hurriedly abandoned during the firefight. Sitting, Grady undid his pants and motioned to Malla, who worked her pants down over her hips. Kneeling, she surprised all of them by taking Grady’s soft dick in her mouth and thrusting her hand between her legs. “What…what is going on?” Radha’s teeth chattered, and she convulsed, her hands clutching her upper arms tightly. Her face was gaunt, her hair dark with filth, but there was intelligence to her despite her inability to focus on any one thing, her gaze distant and flitting. “Kor?” He moved up to her. “Hey, pirate princess. We’ve got you now. Can you hang in there for a rough run out?” Malla hummed and Grady moaned. His dick was hard now, and she could only fit a small portion of the fat bastard in her mouth, her lips stretched wide. “What is… Is she a server?” Radha shivered. “Yeah, that’s our Malla.” “My team…didn’t come?” “Sweet, they’ve been here since you were taken. They’ve tried to get to you twice. They’re all in a bad way, although a recent feeding from Malla patched them up a bit. They’re still not well. Desperate to get to you, though.” “Oh!” Radha licked cracked lips, shifted her feet restlessly. “She’s…going to feed you now.” “Yeah.” Kor’s eyes were between Malla’s thighs, opened as much as possible with her pants on. He watched her hand shuttle and swirl in her folds. Watching Kor watch Malla made Shon feel calmer. He wasn’t going to have to take a punch this time from the possessive man, now that it was just them. “I can, too.” Shon looked at her in shock. So did Kor and Vel.

126

Mima

“Radha, that won’t be necessary,” Shon hastened to assure her. Vel explained, “She can harmonize. We’ll be fine.” Kor hesitantly held out his hand, and when Radha didn’t flinch away, cupped her elbow. “Radha. We wouldn’t ask that.” “Well, you might as well drink, because in about thirty seconds, I’m going to go off.” Kor frowned. “You’re drugged.” She laughed, high and wild. “Yeah. A little bit.” Grady gritted out, “Time’s up over here, too, guys. Decide where you’re going to drink.” Shon moved to Radha, touching her shoulder. She was burning up under the thin blue dress. He recognized it as a prison issue. “I’ll stay with her. Kor, go.” Shon watched Vel move beside Grady, laying a hand on both Grady’s and Malla’s heads. Kor knelt behind her, putting his hands on her hips. She twisted, shook, her shout muffled by Grady’s cock. The men jerked as if they’d been struck. His team, together, entwined. He was on the outside, watching. It was the way it should be. With the stress piling up from watching Malla in danger throughout this mission, he was a seething coil of anger and fear. A moment later, Radha went off, tossing a glittering wave of energy. He took it, and drank it in. It was cold, and flat, like stale water instead of the finest scotch. Taking a deep breath, he opened his eyes and looked over at the tableau of his team, faces still etched in ecstasy. He swallowed, crouching by Radha. “Do you need a suppressant?” “No. It’s not a sex drug. The orgasm was because of them. It’s…complicated.” “You’re an empath?” “I’m something.” “But you are drugged.” “Yeah, but it’s just crystal. I’m higher than a kite. Could probably run until my heart burst. What’s wrong with my team?” “You’ll see them soon.” He stood, watching Kor finish dressing Malla. “Vel, you up to speed?” “Gather round, peasants.” He grinned, giving Grady a quick kiss on the lips. They took him at his word, and minutes after they’d entered the shop, they were exiting by phazing through four sets of walls. They caught a break in the rear of that building, going to route B via a stolen hovercraft. They made it half way to the hangar pads when they got in their second firefight, this one almost an accident of surprised thugs taken aback by the Luo armor.

In Service

127

The third firefight was a small group hurrying toward the hangars, and the fourth was a large, well-organized squad. Grady took most of them, but it was still a close fight because they all had the best, newest ion weapons the front lines needed. Just as they had dropped the last man, another group came in from the side, and in the middle of that fight, a small group came up from behind. Kor called the warning on that one, but before they’d managed to quell that wave, an airborne arrived. A fucking airborne. Designed for Luo backup at major breaches like the bug gate at Fanata. Lava washed through Shon’s veins. They couldn’t take on an airborne, and they were already all so drained. Malla’s feeding at the café seemed a day ago. He tried to push the heat of his growing Fury back, believing in his team, believing they’d come this far and he’d hold it together. The risk of the airborne was still less than Shon lost in his gift. All he had to do was keep his men together, and retreat from the airborne’s attack. Grady and Malla turned their ion bolts on the airborne gunning systems. Kor and Radha were firing from behind the thin cover of a potato bin. Vel phazed away and shimmered into view behind a trio who were pinning him. As Shon watched, two pairs of men leaped from the shadows behind Vel, taking him to the street. At the same time, the airborne’s ion cannon fired into Radha and Kor’s position, blowing them through the air like kindling. Shon looked over as Grady screamed in Vel’s direction and Malla screamed in Kor’s. And that was all he knew, as the Fury pumped through his veins, sending a rush of power to his limbs, dimming his sight.

128

Mima

Chapter Twelve Malla sat, sobbing, against an alley wall papered with flyers. She was tired. She was hot. She was thirsty. She was also bleeding, alone, and terrified. Her ion rifle had been dropped when the battery died, and she’d lost one of her midrange guns somewhere. Her short-range was in her left hand and a midrange in her right. She tried, for the fiftieth time, to mentally summon Kor or Grady. Not that she was a strong enough psychic, but she thought the Spirit might hear her prayers and queue them into her. She knew they’d be trying…if they could. She was even half-braced to feel a spiking headache from contact with Grady. So far, nothing. The firefight at that intersection was bad. There was lousy cover but they were swinging it their way until that air ship showed up. Until Vel was kidnapped. Until Kor blew up, and Shon lost it. Everything after that was a blur. She had only images, like moments from a disintegrating dream.

Grady’s black helmet reflecting her own little bubble head back at her, his voice hoarse, “Stay with Radha and Kor. This is a defensible location. Hold it as long as you can and then leave them. They’re too valuable to kill. If I’m not back, run, Malla. Try for the ship.” Shaking, trying to stop crying, because it was useless, she told herself her team would be disappointed if they knew she got taken because she’d been weak. She tried to recall alternate routes to the hangar. Her vid plate was shattered in the same volley that had left her right leg burned and bleeding. She needed to see the landmarks at the nearest intersection, but she was too scared to leave her hidey-hole between garbage bins.

Kor’s slack, white face visible through his shattered helmet. Shon leaping off the top of a building into the air ship’s open cargo door where the soldiers fired directly into him. Coming around a corner after she’d left Kor, left Kor, left Kor, and tumbling over a pile of

In Service

129

smoking, crumpled bodies, landing on one, putting her gloved hand in a pile of intestines as she pushed to her feet, running from the soldiers that were bending over Kor… Shouts and pounding feet sounded in the street, and she gasped, shrinking back, pulling her knees in tight. She held her breath, but they didn’t come down the alley, and eventually she breathed again, sniffling. The kick of adrenaline dried her tears. She raised her hand to wipe her eyes and laughed when she knocked into the helmet. Where were her men ? They needed her. Kor had needed her, and she had left him. And Radha. All that to free her, and she’d just let the woman be retaken. Malla pushed to her feet. She had to get to the ship. She had allies. She could rally, organize, and go back out -- she shuddered -- into Dunru to get her men. Taking gulping breaths, she eased around one of the bins, and back against the wall. She stayed low and crept to the edge of the street. She dodged her way up toward the intersection, and studied the stores, glancing wildly behind her all the while. Her Luo armor marked her as an outsider, a target. She needed to discard it and acquire other clothes. When Malla saw the jewelry store and the brothel, she sagged in relief. She knew this intersection from her pre-mission drills. She was perhaps four blocks from the hangar. She blinked her damp lashes rapidly. Four blocks. She swallowed against the bile rising in her throat. She scanned the street, and dashed up and into the brothel. The women were clustered around a comlink in the corner. The color scheme was red and orange. Malla dropped her weapons and threw off her gloves. She fumbled with her helmet as the girls screamed and scattered, while two drew weapons and ordered her hands up. Malla swung the helmet off and put her hands up. “I need an outfit, something with a scarf to cover my hair. I want one of my guns, but everything else on me is yours.” Please. See that this is a King’s ransom. Help me. One of the women lowered her gun and pursed her lips, her gaze taking in Malla’s rig critically. “Gun down, Shakri. Little warrior, you have a deal. Quickly, move into this back room.” “I don’t think so. The outfit, in one minute, or I leave.” The woman tilted her head, then, “Quickly Annette! Quickly!” Malla began undoing her boots, her pants, and a too-young girl came scurrying out with a red dress and a black scarf. Malla took off her chest armor and put the dress on, then picked up her midrange gun again, backing toward the door as she kicked her boots off and worked her pants down. “You’d be a fool to go out the front. My girls never use it. Annette! Get her some slippers.” Malla stared at the older woman as she finished kicking off the armor. She felt naked, exposed, fragile. Still, they could have fired on her by now.

130

Mima

“You lead, no one follows.” She nodded gracefully, amused. “Shakri, get her gear out of sight.” Annette leaned over a couch to hand her some simple black sandals with shaking hands. Malla snatched them and followed the woman, watching the other two women warily. Her heart threatened to pound out of her throat. She expected an ambush at any moment. But the woman opened a door onto a quiet alley and gestured silently with her hand. Malla inched past her, looking back over her itching shoulders. The woman leaned in the doorway. “Turn left at the street. Three blocks down, turn left again and then right. That’s the gate to the hangar. If someone asks how much, answer 4 creds. Your dress will mark you as mine, so in about fifteen minutes, I’m going to announce we’ve been attacked and you demanded an outfit. Good luck, sweet.” She closed the door, and it sizzled with an electric seal. She refused to let the woman’s casual endearment overwhelm her with memories of her men calling her that. Malla put on the sandals hastily, and tucked the scarf around her hair. She put her gun in the fold of her arms that she wrapped around herself as if she were cold. Keeping her head down, she turned out of the alley like she knew where she was going and belonged. At the third intersection, where she was to turn left, there was a contingent of guards in sets of four scanning down every street. She couldn’t keep her step from hesitating when she saw them and cursed herself. She ignored them, rounding the corner, but one of them called out. “Hey! Sunshine House! Come over to the barracks later!” Her hand jerked so hard she almost pulled the trigger. But she managed to nonchalantly free her empty hand and wave to him in a way that was noncommittal. Laughter rang in the street. Her heart pounding as she tried to increase her pace, she scurried to the next corner, and scooted out of their sightline. She came to a screeching stop. An angry crowd was shouting at a full wall of armed men at the hangar entranceway. Apparently, they had closed all the gates, preventing entries or exits. Men and women waved their fists, and a few fists had guns. Eyes filling with tears, Malla turned to go back into the moon’s streets. She needed to find a place to hole up. A hotel, or a café. But in about three minutes, by her watch, if the woman was even to be trusted, this outfit would no longer be safe. And she had no money.

Grady! Kor! Grady! Kor ! Then Malla thought of Vel, running his princely duties from afar as he risked his life to be part of the war. She thought of how little time she’d had with all her men. And she knew, to the marrow of her bones, that while any of the team was still alive, they’d never give up on each other. They’d keep coming. She’d do her best to get clear, and she’d find them, just like they’d find her. She wouldn’t believe Shon had died in that massive explosion when the air ship had gone down.

In Service

131

As if her thought had indeed psychically summoned him, Shon slammed her into the side of a building, staring at her with glittering black eyes and bared teeth. “Shon?” Malla blinked, astonished, overjoyed. His helmet and one glove were gone. He was splattered in blood and stank like ash. Her heart stopped. “Is any of that yours? Are you hit?” He growled, jerked her up and over his shoulder, and took off with blurring speed. Malla choked as his shoulder jammed repeatedly into her unarmored stomach, and then shrieked when he launched himself up onto a landing, and jumped them to a balcony. He crashed through the window, which thankfully wasn’t secure, and she yelped again as a shard of the stiff material caught on her back and ripped her skin and dress. He tossed her on the floor, spun her onto her stomach, and scrambled to get her dress up onto her back. He kicked her knees apart, and suddenly, Malla understood that Shon was about to fuck her. She looked over her shoulder. He was staring at her spread thighs, his nose drawn up, his lips peeled back. He worked at his pants, but since he still had one thick glove on, was hindered, and growing frustrated. Malla swallowed and swung her head back around. She was staring at a pile of boxes. They appeared to be in some sort of store room. She braced her elbows, lowered her torso, and shoved her ass high. She closed her eyes as she heard him snarl. I give myself in service, but more, I give myself in love. Her heart pounding, she waited, listening to the armor rip as it opened. Finally, she’d get all of her Shon. She’d show him. He’d been so afraid to let her have even a tiny taste. She was not afraid. Shon’s cock shoved into her, deep and hard and hot. She bit her lip to keep from crying out at the cascade of feeling. Stay calm, stay passive. He needs submission. His hands settled on her hips like docking clamps and he began to power in and out with huge swinging sweeps of his hips. His drives were deep and wild, pistoning along his entire length. It was so good. After several strokes she couldn’t keep the moans in, although she kept them deep, humming in ecstasy. His growls and snarls were thrilling, and her heart was in her throat. Just as she was shimmering in pleasure, winding tighter, he pulled out. With a skin-pebbling roar, he yanked her hips back and down, so she was folded over with her knees beneath her, her ass framed by her heels. He pressed down on her hips, as he set his tip to her ass, and pushed steadily, relentlessly in. He didn’t give her a chance to get over the first stinging burn of his head stretching her hole. He didn’t adjust his motion in any way for the wail that ripped from her at his heat, his size. She hadn’t taken it in the ass in weeks and Shon was a very large, very excited man. The pain of him bit at her as he filled her, nestling his tip into the base of her spine. For one second, when he was fully hilted and she gasped for breath, she thought he actually purred with satisfaction. Then, on a snarl, he pulled out, his hard fingers holding her still, and he began to fuck her as thoroughly as he had before.

132

Mima

By the third stroke, the burning faded. By the sixth, pleasure was cascading down her thighs and pooling in her stomach. She soon lost count, glorying in the increasing pace. The volume of his snarls increased, and she could hear how hard he was breathing. “Yes,” she whispered. “Yes, Shon.” Then, he jammed himself deep on a powerful lunge, and shoved in even tighter, as his hips against her shuddered and ground. She cried out, her vagina clamping uselessly, her clit aching, and came with him. Her energy swirled around him, but he barely took it. It was like he was a closed door, and only a bit seeped in at the seams. Over her echoing cry, she swore she heard him say, “Malla!” Then he ripped himself out of her, to her disappointed, shocked gasp. When she dared to move, she let herself fall to her side and looked over her shoulder. He was pacing from wall to wall in front of the shattered window. He was pulling at his glove with his teeth, and eventually got it off. His pants were open, and his semi-hard erection lay gleaming against his armor. Malla focused on the giant, broken window. It was a rather obvious hostile entry and they needed to move. She bit her lip, staring at the man she’d known as a serious, reserved leader. All right, maybe she was a little uncertain around this new Shon. Should she ask to do his pants for him? Suggest moving on? Ask if he knew the other men’s status? He growled, pacing, pacing. Hmmm. Maybe not. Her hand ached. She glanced at it, shocked to see the butt of her gun was still in her grip. She thought perhaps her fingers had frozen around it, and would have to be broken in order to release it. She sat up and pushed her skirt down around her thighs, wincing as the fabric brushed against the now throbbing burn on her leg. She glanced down. Poo. The fabric stuck in fresh blood. And in that moment, a mental knife struck between her eyes. “Hungggh!” Malla flew back onto the floor, arching, all her muscles locked. Her head bounced, hard. Shon roared, leaping on her, his face in hers. Malla moaned, relearning how to breathe. What the fuck was that? Had Shon shot her? No. Grady. That had been Grady, and he now knew her situation. She no longer wanted to leave the room. Hurry, Grady. Hurry. Shon sniffed along her face, licked her cheek. She would have smiled if she had muscle control, but her body was still stunned from Grady’s takeover. He licked over her eyes, a tender gesture that touched her. He licked her ear, his breath warm. He licked her jaw, and the firm stroke soothed her. He licked her lips and she sighed. Then he bit her throat, teeth sinking, ripping at her skin. She screamed. Shon lifted his head and roared in her face, then licked along the wound with the flat of his tongue.

In Service

133

Blinking tears from her eyes, Malla saw Kor leap onto the balcony, glance at the scene. Malla laid out, Shon on top of her, licking blood off her neck. He raised his gun -- Malla screamed -- and fired. Then Shon was laying on her, deadweight. Kor was through the door and Vel was right behind him. Grady was there, Radha over his shoulder. Kor heaved Shon off her. “Malla!” “No! Shon! No!” She hit at Kor, horrified, shocked. She was still holding her gun and it whacked him in the head. “What have you done! What did you do?” “Hey!” He pinned her arm. “Malla! It’s me! We’ve got you.” “No! No!” Grady knelt, efficiently tying Shon’s arms. “Malla, he’s alive, love. He’s just stunned. Stand down!” Malla gasped, her arms falling limp. Kor sat up and rubbed his temple. “Way to help the concussion. Let me take a look at this wound.” When he leaned over her, reaching for her throat, she hit him again with the gun, as hard as she could. He fell to one side of her, and she scrabbled back from him. “How could you! Why did you! We need him!” Moaning, Kor clutched his head. She felt no remorse. Grady frowned at her while he tucked Shon back into his pants and closed them. “Malla, he was at your throat. We heard you screaming. The fighting’s over for now. We’ve taken him down like this many times. He wants us to.” She screeched in fury, feeling she was about to go bestial and supercharged herself. “That is such BULLSHIT!” “Server! Get control of your emotions immediately or I will stun you next!” Vel’s absolute command snapped her gaze to his. “Shut the fuck up, Vel.” Kor whispered, still holding his head. “You’re not shooting our Malla.” “Yeah! So there!” She was panting, her gaze darting from one man to another. She threw herself forward into Grady’s arms and burst into tears. His gloved hand pulled at her hair as he stroked it over her head. “Come on out of this, Malla. In 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. Shhhh.” She gulped, shuddering, wiping her face on his hard chest. Glancing up at him, she swallowed, blinked into his blue eyes. “Where’s your helmet?” He grinned a dangerous grin. “I took it off to kiss my lover and never had occasion to put it back on.” Malla thought for a minute she’d start to cry again. Her men, here, all here.

134

Mima

“Lovely, are you injured?” Vel ran his vid over her, frowned. “Yes, a laser hit. It’s not bad. I can run. I made it to the gate, but they’ve blocked it.” “Hit! Where?” Kor’s hands floated frantically around the air, like he was afraid to touch her. “Lie down, let me treat it, Malla.” Vel was already going through his pack. “Damn it, we’re getting low on supplies. We can’t keep taking this kind of damage.” “Is it bad? How bad is it, Vel?” Kor babbled. He raised her bloodied skirt exposing the raw burn and Kor exploded onto his feet. “Fuck! Malla!” Vel patched her, and the pain she didn’t even know she’d had died away to a weak throbbing in her leg. “I’ll do better when we’re clear. Turn over. I’ve got a reading at your back, too.” Kor hissed when she did so. “Did he do that? Did Shon rip you open!” “No! It was just a piece of glass when we came through the window.” She grunted as Vel patched that, too. He helped her sit up, his face closed, polite. She recognized this look now. He was mad. “Let me see your neck.” He sprayed it, then put a small patch on it. “How are you guys doing? Are you hurt, too?” “Various minor injuries, and our gifts are tapped out. We’ve got to return to full strength. We need your magic, lovely.” “Head’s up. I see hostiles moving our way.” Grady’s quiet words sent Vel to his feet, groaning under Shon’s weight. He shifted his limp form for a better hold. “Move out.” Kor held out his arms to Malla. “Sorry, sweet. You’ve got to come with the big bad guy who thought he was saving your life.” Malla nodded. She hopped up onto his back, child-style, easier because he was without his backpack. They went deeper into the building, up onto the roof, and descended through a different building all the way to the basement. Grady laid Radha, still unconscious, down, and Malla unlocked her arms from Kor’s throat. Vel sat, dropping Shon to the side, gasping for breath. Malla landed in a heap on the floor opposite him. She stared around the dirty room, full of broken furniture and boxes of liquor. And for the first time, she wondered if she was strong enough to serve her team. Previously, she’d been focused, dedicated, confident. She couldn’t imagine being fucked, giving head, or masturbating any time soon. If only they’d been there five minutes before, when Shon had taken her, and it all would have been done.

In Service

135

Now, they’d never needed her more. This was it. Do or die. And dying was looking more probable than not. “Malla.” She looked blearily up at Vel, who crouched next to her. His face was a mask, but his eyes seemed to glow with extra moisture. He held out his hand, uncurling his gloved fingers to reveal a med patch with a tiny black symbol. She stared at it a minute. Then her brain kicked in. Server’s Rape. If she took it, she’d want to fuck anything that moved for about twenty minutes. She’d be desperate to. And if they were interrupted and had to move, she’d end up going out of her mind with need. She looked up at Vel again. His hair was matted, darkened with sweat. He had blood and grime all over him. His red-tipped lashes swept down, and when he looked back at her, his mask slipped, and he looked devastated. “I’m sorry. So sorry,” he whispered. “After what he did to you.” No tears came to her eyes. She raised her free hand and cupped his face, ignoring the dried blood. “No regrets. Shon didn’t hurt me. We’re alive, and we’re together. That’s a best case scenario. Things were much worse half an hour ago.” Vel shook his head, laying his face in her palm. “My question for you is, do you have one more firefight in you? If you had to, right now, without me, could you do it?” He nodded against her hand. “Yes. We’d do it because failure is not an option. But we’d all know it was going to cost us.” “Exactly. I’m the same way. Failure is not an option. I can finish this fight, but it’s going to cost me.” “Us, Malla. It’s going to cost all of us, to see this through with you.” She nodded, withdrawing her hand. “Put that away. I won’t need it.” Grady objected. “Malla, let it help you. We’ll take care of you.” “Yes, you will. Later, on the ship. I’m not going to do that, Grady. I don’t ever want you to see me like that.” “Baby…” Kor protested. “No. Don’t do this.” She was surprised he’d figured it out first. In one sweeping movement, Malla reached out to Vel, took his laser knife from his belt, and slashed her arm. Vel and Grady shouted. Vel grabbed the knife from her and she let him. “You’re wasting it. Drink.” He grabbed up her arm and closed his mouth over it, his eyes glaring at her. He sucked and she cried out, struggling not to pull away. Grady came up behind her and held her tight. Kor lined up next to Vel, and after a few swallows, Vel pulled back, efficiently passing her arm to Kor. Kor drank, moaning once in choked pleasure but finishing in silence. Then he

136

Mima

shoved her arm up toward Grady who took it by leaning over her shoulder. Grady drank as they had, ruthless to her shaking pain, lips sealed tight. Then Grady pulled back and held her arm while Vel seared it with some skin regen, which burned like a bitch. The whole thing was over in less than five minutes. Vel’s touch was gentle, but his words were like ice. “That little stunt wasn’t called for. You discuss things with us. I could have numbed your arm.” Malla blinked her damp lashes at him. “Oh.” She hadn’t thought of that. “May I have some now, pretty please?” Sighing in irritation, he gave the anesthesia to her. Instantly, the gun in that hand clattered to the floor. The imprint of the grip was set into the skin of her palm. “Wow, that stuff’s great.” Kor stretched, swinging his arms. “I could say the same about you, Malla. Hot damn, you pack a powerful punch.” Grady took a drink of water, rinsed his mouth, then spat on the floor. “I hate that taste. It only says pain and battle to me. It was your decision, Malla, but I don’t prefer it.” “Arghunnh.” All their heads swiveled to where Shon moaned on the floor. They stared at him a beat, and then he growled, a long, low rumble that promised violence. “Shit.” Grady’s face closed down in angry concentration. “Lover, let’s get this done, before he causes problems.”

***** Shon opened his eyes to utter silence. The gray bulkhead of a freighter bay loomed above his head. Throbbing engines vibrated the plating under him. He was laying on a padding of blankets, and he couldn’t move. Twisting his neck up, he saw that was due to the bindings. Malla jumped up and hurried over to him. Her mouth moved, and her eyes filled with tears. Oh, baby. Don’t. Not for me. Was she safe? Where was his team? He tilted his head and saw Vel rise from a med table. A woman lay face down. Filthy hair… Radha. That’s right. They’d gotten Radha. Then that firefight. If Vel and Radha were here, that was good news for Kor. Where were Kor and Grady? Malla was undoing his bonds, crying so hard her shoulders shook. She wore an unfamiliar red dress, torn at one shoulder, and simple sandals. Her one leg was extended as she sat by him. He recognized the bulk of a pressure bandage under her dress. She’d been hurt ? As soon as his hands were free, he lifted her dress, looked at the bandage. Vel took his wrist. He didn’t try to talk. He knew Shon couldn’t hear him yet. The men looked at each other. Vel leaned forward and hugged him. Shon wrapped his Prince in his

In Service

137

arms and hugged back just as tightly. Then Malla leaped on them both, and he saw that Vel laughed as he pulled away. There was a bandage on her neck. He touched it. Swallowing, he tried to will his voice back. Vel left them as Malla undid his last ankle. Shon sat up on his knees, and Malla clung to him again. She was warm, soft. The joy of holding her was interrupted when she jerked from his hand shifting on her back. He turned her to look where he’d touched. Another wound on her back. His stomach twisted. He gently eased away, looking over the scattering of tiny red scabs on one arm. He knew this wound. Detritus damage, probably from a building shattering near her position. Her other forearm had a long, deep slash, full of skin sealant. What had happened to her armor? Sighing, he watched her touch his side. There was a thick padding there. A wound. Didn’t hurt. Yet. She cuddled into his opposite side, crying against his neck. He held her carefully. What had he done, allowing his Stardust on this mission? He needed to let Kor beat him into pulp. Kor was all right. Vel would’ve told him, wouldn’t be here if Grady wasn’t okay. Shon would stay calm. He rocked her until the sound of the engines filtered into his brain. Then he held her a little longer until her soft sobs combined with the spreading numbness of field anesthesia. It felt like half his chest was missing, but it didn’t hurt. He reached up to his neck. Yup. There was the patch. Vel had good drugs. “Malla.” His voice was gravel. Somewhere lost in Fury, he’d been doing a lot of shouting. “Oh, Shon! We did it, and that last fight was awful, but you were magnificent. And then they were so horrible to you again. And we used a decoy, just like I did, but they caught him! They caught that poor man. He sold us his ship and I just know they killed him when we weren’t there. Everyone is hurt, simply everyone, and Vel won’t let me serve. I’m better than I was last time, but he won’t believe me.” He listened to her onslaught, piecing together that it hadn’t been quick, or easy, after he’d gone to Fury. “Vel,” he croaked. “Status.” Vel didn’t turn from where he worked on Radha. “We’re all whole, all alive. Best case scenario, Shon. We’ve got Char’s people, and Radha. Report says Kappa 49 isn’t away. Their backup is en route.” Shon let out a shuddering breath. It was a selfish question, but he had to ask it. He always had to. “And me, Vel? Any problems?” The door opened and Grady limped in. Looked like Kor was dragging his ass behind him. “Got the message you’re up.” Grady crouched down next to him, looking at Malla curiously.

138

Mima

“Time for a team meeting,” Vel said. He laid down his tools, then covered Radha’s back with a blanket. Shon fought not to clutch Malla to him. She sat back, gripping his hand tightly. He glanced at her and she had that serious draw to her brows but was trying a small smile. It made her look very worried. He looked at Kor, who never sugar-coated. “What did I do?” “You attacked Malla.”

No. All of the air left his lungs. His head knocked back as if the still-standing man had kicked him in the jaw. He couldn’t breathe. No. He couldn’t look at her. He stared at Kor. “He did not!” Malla struggled to pull his limp arm back into her lap. “Shon! Look at me!” He couldn’t. Couldn’t. The patch on her neck. The cut on her arm. No. “Tell me.” “Kor! Vel! Stop this. This isn’t the time. You said the mission wasn’t over until Radha was in her father’s arms. For Spirit’s sake, you weren’t there. You have no right to scare him like this!” It was Grady, hunkered off to his side, who delivered the blow. “We were all separated. You found her first. We heard her scream. Your mouth was on her throat, and you’d bitten her. Your dick was out, and it was wet. Kor took the shot.” His feet were moving before he knew, scrambling to push himself away from her. From them. From all of them. Their stares burned. He couldn’t breathe. “No…” “Grady! How could you?” “Malla, we’re not going to let you excuse this. He has to know.” Grady’s blue eyes razored into him again. “It’s our fault, too. We knew when we took her with us that this could happen. We gambled that we’d be there. We weren’t.” Malla struggled to her feet, the red dress swirling in his vision. Her leg. Her back. What had he done? “Stop it! All of you! You’re making him think he brutalized me and that isn’t true!” He couldn’t breathe. He heard himself panting, small, frantic sounds, but somehow the air wasn’t getting to his whirling brain. “Shon, you were fine. You were fine with me! Yes, we had sex, but you did not hurt me! At all!” “Did you offer, Malla? Did you initiate it?” Vel’s voice sounded almost polite. “It doesn’t matter if she did,” Kor muttered. “I found him chewing on her neck.” Malla shrieked, and the sound bounced all over the metal bay. “Since when am I not chewed on when I have sex with any of you!” “This was --”

“Shut up!”

In Service

139

Her pure rage sent a shudder through Shon. Look what he’d brought his team to. Her feet planted in front of him like she’d fight them all. For him. “You will stop putting your fears and perceptions on me. Listen to the words of your server. Believe your lover when she speaks to you.” Her voice was low now, so low he had a hard time hearing her over his panting, his thundering heart. “I don’t know why Shon attacked you in the past, but I am living proof that he is not a mindless, raving monster in his gift. He found me on the street. He took me to a safer place. He claimed me and it was sexy! I was never scared, not for a moment, during our joining. Do you know what he said when he came?” “He spoke?” Kor sounded shocked. So was Shon. “Yes. He said my name. He wasn’t lost in random, uncontrollable lust. He knew it was me. He was wounded, he was scared, and he was never too rough with me.” “You were bleeding, Malla. On your back and your neck.” “My back was an accident. My neck came later, after he’d finished and got a little confused. He had no enemies, and wasn’t sure where to go. He was a little excited, and yes, he startled me when he bit my neck, but it’s a tiny wound. Tiny! He didn’t do it as an attack. I know he didn’t. He bit, and backed off. He was licking me, soothing it, when you shot him!” Vel’s voice sounded mildly curious, controlled. Shon knew that tone. He was royally pissed. “And what next, Malla? If we hadn’t come. If enemies hadn’t come. If you were the only fresh blood in the room.” “We don’t know what would have happened next. But I know this. He wouldn’t have hurt me.” Her voice shook. “You’re right. We don’t know what would have happened.” Grady’s low, regretful voice clearly implied he didn’t agree. “I’m so glad we were there.” “I’m so tired of you treating him like he’s rabid. It’s fine for you to take me on a dirty floor as part of a mission, but not him? It’s acceptable for Kor to grab me and carry me away, but not Shon? It’s right for Vel to bite me in passion, but not Shon?” Silence fell. Grady rose from his crouch. His team stood surrounding him, facing him, a beast on the floor. He wanted to puke. Malla. What had he done? Vel’s voice. “Malla, your defense and loyalty to him is admirable. Understand, we love him, too. We’ve loved him through bad times with his gift before. But now it’s you. You, lovely. We can’t condone this. We can’t be part of it. And we can’t risk this again.” “Oh, yes. Yes, let’s be sure to never risk an extraction on Dunru again.” Malla sounded sarcastic. “Shon.”

140

Mima

Grady spoke to him, but he couldn’t look at him. Couldn’t look at any of them. “It’s time, Shon.” With a shaking hand, he covered his face. Spirit, take him to Nothing. “Shit, Grady. It’s not time. It’s too fucking late.” He took a deep breath. “Don’t worry. I’m gone.” The ship’s engines throbbed in his head. He closed his eyes. “I see.” Malla’s voice was the coldest he’d ever heard it. She moved away and Kor moved toward her. He could only watch their feet, but it seemed like Kor tried to reach for her. “Malla…” Malla twisted away. “I need time to prepare before I serve you.” “We wanted to make sure before we asked you to do that again. That you hadn’t been raped.” “Yes, well, it doesn’t matter what I say. You believe as you like. Clearly, you have no respect for me and do not trust my opinion. Regardless, I will serve you.” The cold pride in her voice crushed the air from him. “Malla.” Vel’s voice was commander hard. “That’s not fair.” “No, Vel. You’re not. You’re not fair, you’re not kind, and you’re flat out wrong.” Vel’s anger was usually disguised with mild politeness, but with every sentence his voice tightened. Shon’s guts tightened as well. “Fact: He ripped your back and didn’t even know it. Didn’t care, and didn’t treat it. Fact: He ignored your wounded leg. Didn’t care and didn’t treat it. Fact: He wanted you and would have taken you regardless of your choice. That you were willing is only due to your generous spirit. Fact: He broke through your skin, outside of love play, in an act of dominance and aggression. It’s unknown if he was a second from ripping your throat out or if he would have stopped.” Vel’s litany of guilt burned into Shon’s brain. Somewhere deep inside, he screamed. “All your gifts have an edge to them. Grady can’t control the damage he deals with his gift, and you don’t attack him for it.” Derision oozed from Malla. “Shon is his gift, and his gift is beautiful, even with its danger. Just like Grady’s. Just like yours when you take my breath pulling me through space. You’ve always punished him for something he can’t help, and you’ve always been wrong. You need to change your thinking on this, Vel.” “Face these facts, Malla. You can love him, but still understand this isn’t about being kind. It’s about your safety. It’s time Shon left the field.” Pain lanced through Shon’s chest. “You bastard. You talk to me about safety. You use him like a living weapon, and then criticize and fear what you condone.” Her voice was shaking again. “Malla…” he croaked. They all turned toward him. Spirit, give him strength. “We’ve all known keeping me in the field is wrong. We thought we were being brave, for the war. I

In Service

141

was wrong. Wrong to risk the lives of everyone around me, especially my team, just because I can kill more bugs than average.” He wanted to disappear. His pride had scarred the purest women he’d ever known. “I need to leave this team. I’ve known it for a long time. I have to keep myself from going to Fury as much as I can. Hopefully, I’ll never lose myself in it again. Don’t be angry at them. They’re not doing this to me. They’re doing it with me. It’s the right thing to do. Give it time, and you’ll agree.” Everyone was silent. Too silent. Spirit. Grady came and knelt by his side, a hand on his back. His throat tightened. The best. The best friends a man could have. Malla’s voice remained icy. “Like I said, I need time to prepare. You all need healing. Work out how you want to use my harmony, because I’m only offering one service before we make the Ion Blade base.” She could sound almost as haughty as Vel. She turned and moved away. Kor took one step after her, but stopped. At the door, she paused and said, “I think you should tell him about the last battle. The one where you freed him to use him and he saved all our asses. Again.” She left. Shon took a great, shuddering breath, the panic inside him settling into a writhing, bone-deep pain. “Thank Spirit you stopped me.” He whispered. “She’s forgiven me, that’s something. Are you going to press charges?” “Shut the fuck up, Shon. Ass.” Kor stomped away. “I’m going to the helm. Get me before you go to her.” Vel came and stood over him and Grady. “No charges, Shon. Like Grady said, it’s our fault, too.” “Any firefights expected between here and mission end?” “No. Com package 2 and 3 are away. Saxon is coming to meet us, and we decoyed out again in case of further pursuit. Radha should be delivered in about two hours. I hope I can have her mostly detoxed and patched up by then. She broke a few ribs in that last firefight.” Grady spoke with some satisfaction. “In about three hours, the Blades will be making the Duke feel some heat.” Relief poured through him. “Sounds good. I’ll call in my resignation at mission end.” Vel crouched opposite him. Reaching out, he took Shon’s chin and tried to lift it but Shon pulled away. “No.” “Yes. Look at us.” Vel grabbed his jaw and with Grady’s hand against his back, he let the man turn his head. “Shon. Look at me.” He would do this thing. He licked his lips. “It’s hard.” Swallowing, he managed to raise his eyes. The silver of Vel’s eyes never clashed with the glowing heat of his hair. The colors shouldn’t go together, but they did on him.

142

Mima

“You are the best warrior I know, and a damn fine leader. You’ll lead many more men, train them well. This is not the end for you.” His throat tightened again, his heart thundering so hard he knew Grady could feel it. He managed to nod in Vel’s grip but couldn’t speak. Vel’s hand fell away. His gaze shifted behind him, to Grady. “It’s time for me, too. Past time.” “You going back to the Palace, then?” Grady rumbled softly. “Yeah.” Vel vibrated with intensity. “Are you coming?” “You know the answer to that, lover. The bug gates are still open.” Vel’s mouth thinned. He nodded once. “So be it.” “That doesn’t mean…” Shon coughed. His voice was so broken. Like everything else. “That doesn’t mean you can’t still be together.” Vel nodded. “Grady is my lifemate, and he’ll be my consort. But not yet.” “Kor will stay,” Shon predicted. “He’ll watch over him.” Vel nodded again. “Malla is a huge advantage as well.” “Malla? She won’t stay,” Grady said. Shon cocked his head, confused. Vel raised an eyebrow. “She’s angry now, but she loves you and Kor both.” “She won’t stay. She sees this as a betrayal. She’ll never trust us now.” Shon didn’t understand. He’s the one that attacked her. “Can you get away with going without service for the rest of this mission? Give her a break from all of us?” “Probably. If we hope there’s no trouble at the hand-off, from the Duke’s men, Char or Saxon.” “Too many variables. You guys at least need to be at full. As long as she’s able to really take pleasure, not just pretend.” “Not you, Shon?” Grady asked. He choked on bitter laughter. “Could you, Grady? Really?” “No,” Grady said sadly. “I understand.” Shon nodded. He was no longer part of this team. He didn’t deserve to drink from their server. And he certainly couldn’t face the lover he’d misused. He would leave her in the hands of his best friends and try to forget. It was time to start trying to live with the shame threatening to drown him.

In Service

143

Chapter Thirteen Six Months Later Malla stood in the shadows, watching the crystal sparkle, the lasers dance, and the crowd whirl. It was a far cry from a cold exploration ship scanning the endless reaches of unknown space. The last six months had been like six years. She smoothed a hand down her deep purple dress, feeling the soft velvet. It was a far cry from the bulky overalls she was used to. Less comfortable but a fun change. She felt beautiful tonight, especially with the delicate, shimmering green line of gemstones her team had given her lying on her collarbone. Rolling the stones between her fingers, she saw the heads of her teammates Marc and Frog together over one of the food stations. Of course. Jack, her team captain, had made his required appearance, holding Malla’s arm for comfort, and disappeared. She wouldn’t see him again unless she com’d him. Sweeping over the dancers, she saw Ragvald. She never knew he could dance like that. The blonde in his arms was gorgeous. He appeared mesmerized. With her team mostly accounted for, she let out a deep breath. One hour into the night and she hadn’t seen any of them. Her old team. Her real team. Her loves. Intel had clearly stated they’d all be here for Vel’s coronation. It was only a month since it had all come together. The Duke was dead. His ability to call bugs to a jumpgate had washed rage over the population. The technology was in their hands, and the most brilliant minds in the worlds were working on it. If it could call them, she hoped it could drive them away. Hopefully it would lead them to who had developed it in the first place. She hadn’t been part of any of it, but she’d kept watch over her men from the lonely distance across space. Grady and Kor had stayed together, for a few months, but then Kor

144

Mima

had to take a disability reassignment when he got nicked by an ion cannon. He had lost hearing in one ear. The only thing that had kept her from going to his bed was the fact that he had refused all of her notes she’d tried to send. The fact he had shouted at her as she left that day after handing Char’s team over. The fact that he hadn’t come to drink from her during that last service. He was furious and hurt and she thought her presence would just disturb his recovery. Grady and she wrote regularly. He had been sick at heart away from Vel, but his call to duty demanded that he contribute the best he could give to the war. Which was everything. After Kor’s replacement had died, the team had disbanded. Thank Spirit, her and Vel’s prayers were answered and Grady survived. He had a few new scars, but was now assigned to a team that was off the front lines. Very vocal about how much he missed her and how he wanted her off an exploration team and closer to High Post where he could see her more often, he wrote that he had a business proposition for her tonight. It was going to break her heart to say no. She needed to stay with Jack’s team. She needed to stay far, far away, or she’d be weak, and go right back to his bed. To all of their beds. Frog had explicit instructions not to let her be seduced tonight, but it seemed like the lure of fresh fruit was winning over Malla’s orders. Vel had taken his increased role in stride. He had directed the hunt for the Duke when he escaped after his conviction, and received the hero’s welcome when the bastard had been retaken, interrogated, and fried. She hadn’t written Vel, passing wishes through Grady, who passed Vel’s back. It was hard enough keeping Grady’s correspondence private. Everything in Vel’s life was scrutinized. She knew he was busy. She knew he was gone from her. And Shon. Shon would be here tonight as well. He’d become a trainer to newly formed Elite teams. He didn’t write her. She didn’t write him. Her intel reported he trained his men hard, trained himself harder, and kept himself apart. Until four months ago, when the Duke was on the run, and there had been a showdown. The Duke had lured his trackers to a jumpgate and ambushed them with the largest bug attack in history. Scores of men, Luo and others, had died. The battle had raged for six days. Shon had shipped out on the fourth day. He landed, and the report she received said the battle would’ve gone on much longer if not for him. If not for his…gift. For forty-two hours he’d fought, with no team at his side. He’d been in the med unit a week afterwards and still walked with a limp. He’d almost lost his arm and still had limited use of one hand. And then there was his eye. His beautiful black eye. In the months since, he had gone through rehab. She’d gone to him. Jack had taken her. She’d gone in with her server cape on, the hood pulled low over her face, in the dark of night when the nurses had made Vel, Kor, and Grady leave. She’d stood by his bed and held his poor, broken hand, the good one. She hadn’t cried. She whispered to him, for an hour, how much she loved him, how sorry she was that the team had broken up over her, how she missed all of them, how she always would.

In Service

145

When Jack had told her the hour he’d bribed for her was up, Malla had touched herself, remembering. Softly, she’d petted her clit, rubbing it until she grew sopping, then pinched it with a twist. She’d felt him drink her light and was only able to leave his side knowing she’d contributed to his healing. She told him to live. Maybe he’d heard her because he had lived, even when it looked like he wouldn’t. She’d see them. Somewhere in this throng of the all the worlds’ most Elite, they’d be here. Frog appeared at her elbow, offering a slice of cantaloupe. “You have to try this. I almost came when I ate the first one.” Looking at the tiny, high-strung woman, Malla laughed. “That good?” “Damn straight.” “I don’t want to get sticky. With my luck, a big blob of juice will go down my chest.” “You’re giving up this fruit because you’re worried about looking good?” Malla just looked at her partner, raising an eyebrow. “Fine.” Frog huffed testily. “I’ll eat it myself.” “Such sacrifices you make.” “Damn straight.” Malla smiled fondly. “Did you see Ragvald? He’s already been taken in by the first pretty face he saw.” “He’s such a sucker. Do we know her?” “I don’t. There. Under the blue chandelier.” “Ahhhh. That’s Princess Catty-Catriona. If he fucks her, every move will be recorded. I’m surprised they let her out of her closet tonight.” “A princess, huh?” Frog shrugged. “Same parts as us.” “Where’s Marc?” “He moved on to the meat.” Malla raised one eyebrow. “The real meat, I mean. They have steak from six planets here.” “Ah. You left me. You can’t do that.” “Gotcha.” Frog managed to stand by her side for one song. Then, “Hey, I think they just brought out some grapes over there. Want some?” Malla sighed. She didn’t even try to argue. “Keep an eye out, will you?” Frog nodded as she wandered into the crowd. It was weird to see her in the short, slinky pink silk. She looked stunning.

146

Mima

“She’s gorgeous, until she opens her mouth. Then she’s more like a little sister.” Malla jumped. Happiness burst like a laserwork inside of her. “Grady!” She leaped up onto him, and he caught her, arms around her waist. She wrapped her arms tight around his neck, kicking her feet as he swung her. “Malla. Oh, love. Malla.” He whispered in her ear. Then his big hands lowered her and he kissed her. She kissed him back, just as passionately. His taste, his size, the edge of his close-cut hair beneath her fingers, it was all so familiar, and so very, very missed. She cried as she kissed him, twining her tongue, sealing his mouth. “Shhhh. What’s this now?” He pulled back, big hands gently wiping her tears. “I’m s-so h-happy. I m-missed you s-so much.” His eyes were so very blue. He kissed her, softer, deeper. “Malla.” She buried her face in his beautiful black suit. Wrapped in his arms, she was safe. Memories from her precious days with them zinged through her. Grady’s drawn face by

Vel’s bedside. Grady and Vel fighting, rolling in a blur across the mats. Grady’s blue eyes looking at her from between her legs, her cream on his mouth. “I want this. All of it.” He was her first. Despite the lovers she’d had before she’d become a server, and all of her training, it really felt like he was her first. Rolling her face, surreptitiously wiping her tears on him, she sniffed. Mmmmm. Sniffed again. She reached up and drew his big head down to her, but only smelled his jaw, inhaling deep. “What is it?” He palmed her ass in his big hands, petting the velvet over her curves. “You’ve been with him. I know this smell. Vel.” “Oh, yes. In fact, he’s barely escaped my clutches.” Vel’s voice from behind her had her spinning, speechless. He looked bigger than she remembered. More handsome, older, even a bit tired. Had she ever seen him with his fiery hair combed? She gaped at him, her gaze darting out at the crowd mere meters from her shadowed alcove. “You shouldn’t be here! You’re to be introduced later!” “This is where my lovers are. This is where I belong.” Her hand flew to her trembling mouth. Oh. “Vel.” “Hello, Malla.” He stood so still. His face was smooth, gray eyes cautious. Too much the Prince, soon to be King. She flew forward, and he grabbed her, using her momentum to spin her deeper into the shadows, up against the wall. He grabbed her head with his hands, pressed into her body hard. Her arms wrapped under his, covering his shoulders. “Every woman I’ve had since you left only makes me wish she was you.”

In Service

147

He kissed her, and she sighed into him. The heat, the control, the complete feeling of Vel against her…her head spun. She moaned again, and he growled against her mouth. “Spirit, you’re so beautiful. No one is as warm and real as you.” His mouth owned her, and her knees gave out, but he held her against the wall, grinding his erection into her belly. She moaned, nipping at his lips. “I hear it’s the height of bad taste to seduce someone else’s Elite server.” The drawl came from right next to her ear, startling her into jerking away from Vel. The shadows were too dark to reveal the color of Kor’s eyes here. He was so shockingly beautiful to her. His face had a new scar mass across one cheek, and it only made him look more dangerous, with those brooding eyes that didn’t match the flippant grin. “Hullo, my King. Am I interrupting?” “Kor!” Malla squirmed, but Vel wouldn’t let her loose. “Kor…damn it’s good to see you.” Vel reached up his hand and cupped the back of Kor’s neck, pulled him in until their foreheads rested together. “It’s been too long, little brother.” “Always with the qualifier. Had to throw the ‘little’ in there, didn’t you.” Kor clapped Vel on the back, and they held the embrace. Pulling back, he glanced at her again. Softly, he said, “Malla.” Vel stepped away, and Malla buried her face in Kor’s neck, his arms tight around her. He smelled spicy, delicious. She kissed his neck fiercely. He groaned. “Vel…” “Bring her this way.” With a dip of his shoulders Kor tossed her into his arms. He carried her through a door in the wall, perfectly disguised in the historic paneling. Grady followed, closing it behind them. They went down one hall, out a door, through an official-looking hall and into another room. It was some sort of sitting room, with three groupings of formal chairs and delicate tables. Kor kicked a chair out of the way and laid her down on a long padded bench. Malla laughed, stretched her hands over her head as she reclined. Anticipation curled in her stomach. She shouldn’t be doing this. She had another team now, and this was rude, while not entirely forbidden. She should tell Frog where she’d gone. She’d worry. Vel knelt next to her. “I like your hair up like this, the curls. It makes your neck look amazing.” “Thanks.” The lack of air behind her breathy word was because Kor had pulled one breast free from her V-neck dress and was sucking on it vigorously. The way he drew the whole crest against his mouth was amazing. “Did they give you this?” Vel flicked the necklace at her throat.

148

Mima

“Yes.” “I’ll give you something nicer.” “I like it! Don’t ruin it.” “I won’t.” He bent, angled her head away, set his teeth to her neck, and began to suck. All thoughts of her new team vanished. She knew exactly what Vel was doing. Marking her. “Ahhhh!” Kor nipped her breast, then pulled her other breast free. The sides of the dress plumped the globes up, despite her position. Grady picked up her feet and sat at the end of the lounge. He put her feet in his lap, and began to undo the ankle straps of the delicate high heels. “I have a proposition for you, Malla.” “Grady…not now. I can’t…can’t think.” Kor growled against her breast, shaking it in his teeth. She cried out. She remembered him doing that, had remembered it a thousand times over the months. Vel moved his mouth from the burning place on her neck, and took her ear, sending his tongue through the folds, and deep inside the sensitive rim. Grady wrapped his huge hands around one foot and began to rub, soothing, firm sweeps. Malla sobbed. “Yes, I think now is best. What if I were to ask you to join us again. A new Elite Luo team is forming. Alpha Five. It serves the King of Shaubia.” His fingers pulled at each of her toes. Electricity sizzled up her legs. Kor lifted off her breast. “Fuck. Look at her nipples. Look at them, Vel. Do you see, Grady? I’d forgotten how red they were.” He licked across one tip. “Malla, say yes. Stay with us here. Vel needs help with security, and there’s spying and thieving to do. It will be fun.” He licked her in a frenzy. Vel lifted from her ear to watch Kor for a moment. Malla went to move her arms from above her head and his hand came down on her crossed wrists, pressing them firmly to the couch. “It’s important. It’s a bit dangerous, but I believe you can handle it. I need people I trust absolutely. You’re the only server who meets that bill for me, lovely. Kor, stop slobbering on her. Suck.” He went back to her neck. “Shut the fuck up, Vel.” But Kor obeyed, sucking. Malla had been panting through his lashing, but now keened, twisting beneath the men. “I can’t do that, Vel. I can’t lose myself. You didn’t listen to me. You were right about Shon, but I was, too.” Grady pushed her dress up. Straddling the wide lounge, he put one of her feet over each of his spread thighs. He slid his hands up and down her shins, then leaned forward to push his hands up her thighs. “How were we both right, Malla?” She bucked, arching. Kor bit her, then went back to sucking. Her teeth clenched at the long, hard licks Vel was tracing up and down her neck. “Shon was dangerous. He shouldn’t have been put in situations where he could turn on

In Service

149

civilians. But he should’ve had watchers that guarded him more closely, so he could trust his gift. He was just left to deal with it alone, and you were all so ready to fear him. You all had jobs to do in the fight. You all hoped you could be his watchers, but it wasn’t enough. He was so afraid, and you were so brutal. He needed a partner dedicated to just shadowing him. He needed support.” Grady’s fingers toyed in the fold where her thigh met her hips. Kor lifted off her chest, pulling on her puffy nipples with strong hands. “Spirit, I love your tits.” He bent and licked along the bottom of one breast, under the weight of it. Pinchingand rolling her breasts onto pain’s pretty edge, Kor spread heat across her torso. She moaned when a wash of cream burned her outer lips. Grady saw it. She moaned again. Kor’s pure passion could always take coherent thought away. Vel spoke against her throat. “That’s very true, Malla. We did fail our team leader, while he never failed us. Now he’s an interstellar hero, and I’m so proud of him. I want him back. Not because of that, but because I want him on our team. I miss him.” “You…you do?” Her lids fluttered. She struggled to think. Grady gently peeled her pussy lips open. Her clit throbbed at the exposure. Vel traveled along her collarbone with stinging nips. Kor sat back and ripped her dress right down the middle, then fell on her belly, kissing all around her ribs. Grady scooted up, bunching her dress around her hips. Kor growled and pushed it back down out of his way. Her thighs draped over Grady’s, spreading her wide. He touched one finger gently to her clit. “Oh!” Her hips jerked. “Malla, we all miss you so much. We miss Shon, too. We miss each other, one family, the way it was for such a beautiful, crazy time. The way it should be.” Grady’s thick finger sank into her. She clamped hard on it, swished her hips. But Kor took hold of them and pinned them down while he dipped into her belly button. “You…do?” She panted. “Grady, you’d leave the battle lines?” “I’m not leaving the war. I’m switching fronts. I’m ready to be a better partner to my lifemate.” He added another finger, working to open her softness. Vel moved on his knees down to Grady, grabbed him. They kissed. It was so beautiful to see again. Tears welled in her eyes. “Spirit, I still say you’re never going to do me, but you guys are so hot when you do that.” Kor panted against her belly, watching the two men from where he lapped at one hip. Vel pulled away from Grady and looked at Malla. His eyes were practically mirrors with the intense emotion shining out of them. “Malla. Forgive us. We’ll be better at listening to you. Come back, let’s be a team again.”

150

Mima

“I…can’t. I can’t be with men who won’t believe me when I say it wasn’t rape.” Vel started to speak but she shook her head wildly and talked over him. “Even if you say you believe it, Shon won’t. He doesn’t trust himself. How could he with all that he’s been through? He won’t believe me when I say he’s trustworthy. When I say that I love all of him. I can’t be with a man who doesn’t believe he’s worthy of love.” Grady drew his hand from her. Moaning, Kor sat back, too, although one hand continued to massage and mold one breast. Vel turned his head. “Shon, can you respond to that challenge?” Malla jackknifed up to see Shon step out of the shadows on the far side of the room. “Shon!” She braced her arms behind her, with her jaw hanging open. Then rage burned through her at the set up, at all he’d heard while they distracted her. “Oh! You…you rats !” She glared at Vel. He smirked at her, calm as can be. “As bad as that, Malla?” Shon walked up and stood behind Grady at the foot of the padded bench. “Malla.” Her heart almost stopped beating. He’d had reconstruction since she’d seen him. His face was rebuilt, the socket and the lid, with some scarring, and he had a fake eye, a cybernetic eye no doubt, but it matched. “Shon.” It was barely a whisper, but she put her whole heart into it. This man. So wounded when she first saw him, refusing her healing when she was with him. Even more wounded now. This beautiful, selfless man. Grady looked up over his shoulder at Shon. He began to undo his shirt, his cuffs. “Say it, sir.” “Fuck, yes.” Kor stood up and began to undress as well. “Say what, Shon?” Malla held her breath, staring at him hungrily. Shon’s eyes never left hers. “I heard you. When you came to me.” “What?” Grady said, stilling, looking back at him again. “What? She visited you? When?” Kor asked. “I heard everything you said. I felt your touch. I listened to you, Malla. I believed you. That you loved me. That you loved us. So I decided to live. Because I want another chance to be with you.” Vel was pulling his coat off, laying it carefully aside. “Quit fucking around, Shon. Tell her.” Shon walked around him, coming up next to her. He knelt, his gaze sizzling over her face, stopping on Vel’s hickey, her new team’s necklace, her red and swollen breasts, her ripped and piled velvet dress. “Purple is an ancient color of royalty, you know.” “Shut the fuck up, Shon. Just say it.” Kor’s emerging shoulders were amazing, but she managed to look back at Shon. “Say what?”

In Service

151

He reached out and touched one nipple. She gasped, her torso folding back at the shock of it. “Shon!” She threw her arms around him, pulling him close. The satin in his suit’s lapels were cold against her, but she grabbed him tight. He carefully put his arms around her, one hand going to cradle her neck. “Oh, Malla.” He pulled back. Brushed his thumb over her lips. “I love you.” Choking on a half-laugh, half-sob, Malla kissed him. Shon’s mouth was strong, warm. His tongue was perfect, his lips gentle.

Wait. It was almost enough, but she’d lain in her room and dreamed of this moment for too many broken, desolate weeks. She had one more test he must pass, for her to be strong enough to go forward. “Shon…Shon.” She turned her face from his, her heart pounding. His lips followed hers, seducing her. She kissed him, licked him, pulled away. “Shon, wait. I have to ask you…” He kissed her, and drank her, and finally let her go. “What is it?” “Tell me. Look me in the eyes. Tell me you believe you didn’t rape me on Dunru.” His nose flared, his mouth thinned. He glanced behind her at Kor. She set her palm to his face and jerked his gaze back to hers. “Don’t look at them. This isn’t about what they believe. We can forgive each other for many hurts but not this. Because it is a fact, an absolute fact of my life. I cannot come back to you if you have this hanging over you, haunting you, killing you.” Shon swallowed. He whispered, “Tell me. Tell me what I did.”

Oh. Oh, baby. Her heart turned over. What he must have imagined. She laid her cheek against his, her lips to his ear. She whispered, because this was between them, even though she knew the others could hear. Closing her eyes, she brought back the moment. “You found me on the street, and took me to a safe place. You put me on the floor. You were growling. I spoke to you, but you didn’t seem to hear me. You pulled on my hips and flipped me over. Lifted me up onto my knees. You were missing your helmet and one glove, and had a hard time getting yourself out of your suit. You ripped it. You shoved in hard. It felt so good, Shon. You were huge. You held my hips and you fucked me steady, until I was just about to come.” Malla paused, feeling her breath pant a bit, remembering. “Then you pulled out, like you were taunting me. You moved my hips back, so I was lower, folded over. And you took my ass.” Shon jerked against her face. She held him tighter. “It burned. You were very wet from me, but so incredibly long and thick. I remember you went in and in forever. Within a few strokes, I was rocking back to meet you. I loved it. Finally, finally, I was taking all of you, the way you really wanted me. None of the polite,

152

Mima

careful passion you’d dished out on the waystation. It was raw and so amazing. I came when you did, and I shone so bright. You called my name.” Malla reached out her tongue and flicked the lobe of his ear. He jerked again. She grinned. She’d surprised him. “It was hot. I was exhausted afterward. You left me and paced for awhile, but when Grady found me with his gift, I screamed. You jumped on me. I could tell you were worried. You sniffed me, licked me. Like little kisses, all over my face. You licked lower, and lower, and after you licked my neck, you bit me. It surprised me, and it stung, and I screamed a little. But then you licked me, suckled the blood away. You were nuzzling me. And that’s when Kor shot you.” Leaning forward, Malla pressed a kiss under his ear. “That’s what happened, Shon. That’s the awful thing I enjoyed tremendously.” She pulled back to see how he had taken it. He didn’t look too good. His eyes looked wild, his mouth was grim. “Shon?” He touched her lips again. “I…believe…” He looked up at her, eyes steady. “I believe I didn’t rape you.” “And you were hot. Don’t forget that.” Malla smiled at him, her heart bursting. “I’m…I’m so relieved to know. But now I’m angry, too. That I did that, when it was so dangerous to you. That I took your ass and can’t even remember. And, it could have been rape, so easily…if you didn’t love me so completely.” “Don’t qualify it. You wouldn’t have fucked me when you were in Fury if you didn’t love me so completely.” He frowned. She put her finger on his lips. “How many times have you fucked other women in your berzerker state? Don’t tell me that it could have happened, because I read all your mission reports. I asked Grady. You’ve never been horny before when you’ve gone into your gift. It was me, Shon. Us.” He opened his mouth and she popped her thumb in. “Uh-uh. Think before you speak. Are you going to tell me my beliefs are wrong again?” He suckled on her, and her nipples hardened again. His eyes were so black. He pulled back off her finger. “No, I’m going to tell you that I love you.” He nipped at her wrist, kissed her jaw. Whispered in her ear, “And I’m going to take your ass again, right now, with them. How does that sound?” “It…it sounds really fine.” Kor’s hands were in her hair, pulling at the pins, dragging through the carefully arranged curls. Grady’s hands surrounded her ankles with heat. Vel’s hand kneaded her thigh. “Ah, but first, you have to agree. Come back to us.” Shon held up a com link, the tiny black box shining in the low light. “Right now, Malla. Make it real.” She looked at Vel.

In Service

153

“We’ll treat you better, lovely, I swear it. You’ll be a full team partner. The fifth member.” “This is blackmail.” “This is seduction.” Kor kissed her shoulder from behind her. “Grady, are you going to take your place as consort?” He nibbled on her knee. “Not just yet. Lovely, please, just agree to come back to us. We need you. We love you.” “Malla, we’ll fuck you so good, love. Please, just do this one tiny official thing.” Kor’s hand cupped one breast. Shon kissed her, swift and hard. His eyes glittered. “Right now, Malla.” He pressed the button. She gasped. The com voice stated the preset call sign. “Team Gamma 79. Hailing Team leader, Jack.” “Malla? Is everything all right?” “Y-yes. I’m fine.” Jack’s voice sharpened. “No, you’re not. Tell me.” He’d be waiting for her to give the code word that she needed help. But she looked in Shon’s eyes, and knew what she wanted. What she craved. What she needed, even more than her need to give. “Jack…I…have a request.” Silence, then his voice, low and bitter. “Fuck. Where’s Frog?” “Umm, at the fruit, I think. Jack, I’m requesting release from my contract.” Her heart jumped in her chest. Kor nibbled down her spine, humming happily. “Malla, let me talk to you face to face. I’m --” “Answer the server’s question.” Grady’s vicious snarl shocked Malla into a little jump. She stared at him, eyes round. “Yeah, I thought so. You’re a fucking prick, Grady. You had her, and you fucked up, and by the way, you fucked her up. She doesn’t need that kind of drama and disrespect. Leave her alone.” Vel snapped, “We watched over her a damn sight better than you. We took her tonight without a peep, asshole.” Malla sighed. “I can speak for myself. Jack, I will see you face to face.” Kor growled behind her. “Later. You know how I feel, Jack. I’m sorry to leave your team, but this is where my heart is. This request is not under duress.” “Duress. Is that what they’re calling it these days?”

154

Mima

She was surprised by the pain in Jack’s voice. He’d been a good friend, but none of the new team were more than that. Still, she’d served them half a year, and that created a bond. She would miss them, especially Jack, who had reminded her most of her men. “I’ll talk to you later, okay? You’ll see me, promise.” Silence. For a minute, she thought he was going to refuse her request. Make her petition High Post. Then he sighed. “You better treat her right, Shon. You hear me? I know you’re there.” “I will love her with all of myself, Jack. My word.” Again silence, as all the men took in the fervent promise of Shon’s words. Malla’s tears welled up again. “Your request is granted. I’ll call the dissolution in, Malla. Let’s hope they can do better than a week this time.” Jack disconnected. She swallowed the thickening in her throat. “So…that was a little unnecessary. He didn’t deserve that. They were all very good to me.” “It was necessary, Malla.” Kor pulled on her shoulders, easing her back down onto the lounge. “Now we can do you without going out of our minds about the future.” Vel snorted. “He can’t say it, but what he means is we’re going to be able to love you now, Malla. Not do you. Not fuck you. Not be served by you. We’re going to make love to you now. This is our promise to you. We’re together again.” When Malla lay back, she gasped. Her men were all around her. All four, together, and all but Shon were nude. She looked at him. “Clothes. Off. Now.” Kor put his hands on her breasts, squeezing gently. “Do you know what I remembered most, Malla? That time on the fighter, on the way to Dunru. All of us, but Shon held back. It was so fucking beautiful. Powerful, like the Spirit. I want that again, baby. I want it so bad.” He looked up at Shon. “All the way this time. You’re part of it from now on.” Shon had already stripped off his coat, was opening up his shirt. “Yes. I get her ass.” “I call her mouth. I want it.” Malla laughed, covering Kor’s hand on her. “Really? What about what I want?” He froze, his eyes horrified. “Oh, baby. Anything. What do you want? I just wanted to make you feel good, show you what it’s like when we’re all stripped away. I didn’t mean to boss you, I swear.” She laughed again, shaking her head. “This is what I want, Kor. I want all my men, absolutely wild with lust, sharing their passion for me, through me. I want to see you all crazy for me. How does that sound?” Kor fell on her breast, sucking her nipple furiously.

In Service

155

Vel said hoarsely, “It sounds like Spirit come down. We’re going to give it all.” His hand curled up between her legs and his fingers fluttered into her. “Oh, yes, she’s absolutely soaked already.” “Yes!” Malla cried, as Shon came down on her other breast. “I want it! So hard!” She wound the fingers of both hands tight in her men’s silky hair, pressing their heads to her. Grady reached up and finished ripping her dress down the middle. With a few quick tugs at her shoulders, he was able to pull it from beneath her. “You won’t need this. Or this.” He reached up and despite his large hands, was able to untwist the silver clasp on her jeweled necklace. He tossed it over onto a nearby chair. Grady pushed one thigh wide to the side, her foot on the floor. She watched him watch Vel finger-fuck her. “Grady! You too!” Without taking his eyes off her core, he reached out. He and Vel twined hands, clasping their fingers, their index fingers pointing straight out, pressed together. They lowered their hands and drove their matched fingers into her. “Gorgeous,” Vel whispered. Grady grabbed Vel’s face with his free hand and kissed him. Shon’s mouth tugged on her breast as he finished undressing. Kor had her nipple between his teeth and was working the trapped nub with his tongue. Her warriors. All hers. Together, again. Her head whirled at what they did to her. Her vision dimmed just thinking about what was to come. All her dreams come true. She let herself go lax, accepting the pleasure instead of fighting it. It rolled through her, and she came, sighing, her light sprinkling up to each of them through her skin. She was much, much better at controlling it now. It wasn’t such an avalanche anymore. Flinging her arms up, she shoved her hips into the still-pumping hands. “Please! Please!” Her men moved like dancers around her body. So much skin. She reached out and touched thighs, hips, cocks, balls. Smooth, furry, scratchy, scarred, they were all so perfect. Kor lay on her, lined his dick up, and slammed in. She wailed, her eyes drowning in the golden-green of his. He kissed her, their tongues twining, and her hands remembered the swell of muscle in his shoulders. After a few pumps, he moved away. Vel came to her, nudging gently, pressing his crown slowly in, and then with a steady pushing drive, he seated himself. Panting, Malla stared at the bliss on his face. Then he lowered, and kissed her, all soft lips and sharp nips. When he pulled away, her hips tried to follow. Shon pressed them down, and took one of her knees, folding it high. He jabbed just his tip in, then pulled out after a mere inch. He jabbed in again, the sensitive mouth of her thrilled at his push, then pulled out. Over and over, he watched his cock sink into her, only to rip it out. Bit by bit, he went deeper each time. When he drove in

156

Mima

to the hilt, slapping his hips tight against her ass, she moaned. He kissed her in one deep plunge and he left. Grady again sat down at her feet, straddling the end of the bench. He pulled on her arms, Vel and Kor lifted her legs over his, and she was upright against him. He looked very serious as his biceps bulged, lifting her under her arms. Someone, Vel she thought, pulled her labia open, and set Grady against her opening. Holding her, Grady carefully lowered her. Down. Down. Wider, burning. Down. His eyes closed at one point, and she leaned in and kissed him. She let her lips drift over his. His arms shook for the first time. His Luo strength could hold her lifted like this for hours. She knew the shaking wasn’t from strain but from emotion. She gave a tiny, kitten lick at the center of his lower lip. Nipped it. He sighed. Then dropped her the remaining few inches. “Hunh!” She shook, held in the circle of Grady’s arms, speared, spread. Vel’s fingers sank into her hair, turned her head back. He kissed her. Shon’s hands slid between her and Grady, cupping her breasts. His hands were rough, scratchy. Kor’s breath washed over her ass. He kissed her tailbone. “Now that the tagteam of your sweet cunt is done, let’s move on, shall we?” He kissed a fraction lower, his lips nibbling at the place her cheeks separated. Grady lifted her, stroked once, and lowered her again. Shon squeezed and gathered her nipples with hard fingers. Vel stood back. Still holding her head tipped back, he snagged her eyes as he fed his cock’s tip between her lips. Her eyes rolled up at the kaleidoscope of sensation. Vel spoke. “Do you feel it, Malla? It’s been so long, but it’s still right there, like we never parted. Magic, lovely. It’s magic.” “Not magic,” Grady whispered. “Love. We’re bound by it.” Kor’s saliva rolled down the crack in her ass. She clamped on Grady’s girth and he moaned. Kor worked one finger around and around her hole. “I wouldn’t mind some binding later on. That thought has occurred to me.” Shon smiled against her shoulder, where he lapped at the small scar from where the window had cut her on Dunru. His fingers pinched her nipples. Kor put his finger in her ass, and Malla moaned around Vel’s cock. His fingers tightened in her hair. He leaned over her. “Focus on me, Malla. I want your tongue.” She held his eyes, feeling her body soften, swell. So many touches, from all her men. She licked Vel with curls of her tongue, ruthlessly dancing over the sensitive spot where his crown split. She watched his face tighten. Hers. Vel pulled away, and then Shon was there. He and Kor pulled her back, away from Grady, and Kor once again feasted on her breasts. Shon gave her his cock. He smelled good, earthy, salty. She couldn’t believe she had Shon in her mouth once again. Tears filled her eyes. “Shhh. Shhh, Stardust.”

In Service

157

Oh… A tear spilled over the edge. Vel’s long, masterful finger eased into her ass. “What’s this, Malla? Someone’s been taking what’s ours, Shon. She’s stretched, ready.” Shon’s face remained as calm as his current lust allowed. He thrust a bit farther into her mouth. “Doesn’t matter, Vel. She’s ours now.” She clamped hard around Grady, sucked on Shon, and another tear trailed free. Vel worked another finger in. “Grady, you’re not allowed to come.” Kor came up and kissed her tear away from the corner of her eye with delicate, tender brushes of his lips. The soft touch, so different from his nearly violent attack on her breasts, Shon, Vel… She swung her hips on Grady as she came. Sobbing, trying not to set her teeth in Shon, she shook, one hand on Shon’s thigh, the other on Kor’s shoulder. “There she goes… Spirit, damn it, yes.” Grady moaned and shook with her, but she only felt him get harder, thicker. Vel slipped from her ass. She moaned around Shon. Cupping her jaw, he eased back out of her mouth, his face a mask of ecstasy. She knew it was ecstasy, but anyone else might think it agony. She knew that kind of pleasure-pain. Panting, her gaze darted from him to Vel, side by side. “You ready for the real me, Malla?” Shon asked, his chest working hard. “Yes!” Vel stepped up, “Make me wet for Grady, lover.” She took him deep, washing him down to his root. When he pulled away, Kor was there, stroking his dark cock. “This is amazing. The way it’s supposed to be.” Shon draped her over Grady, who picked her up, and this time, didn’t just lift her a few inches for a stroke. He took her up, up, up and off his erection, clasped his arms around her, and kissed her neck. Shon put his soaking cock at her anus, kissed the other side of her neck, and pushed. Held between the two men, her chin on Grady’s shoulder, she cried out at the burn, the incredible invasion of it. When Shon was halfway, Vel stepped into her sight. He lubed Grady’s ass with a few firm pumps of his finger. Grady straddled the end of the lounge, his ass at the very edge. Vel knelt behind him. Malla doubted it was an accident that the lounge was the perfect height for a kneeling man to make love to someone. Shon pulled back out of her ass to his rim, then, as Vel pushed into Grady, Shon pushed into her. She and Grady clutched each other. He moaned against her neck. Vel leaned in and

158

Mima

kissed her, a hot, hard, wild kiss. She broke away when Shon kept pushing, keening with the burn. He sank in, his hands on her hips, cradling her ass against his hard thighs. “Here, baby, come on.” As she lay back against Shon, Kor stepped up to the side and turned her head. His fingers slid into her hair as he bumped her lips with his soft, hot tip. Shon shifted, Grady jerked as Vel stroked him, and Malla cried out. Kor put his tip to her teeth. “Baby, please.” She opened, and he filled her mouth with scalding velvet. She managed one purring suck before Grady put his cock to her cunt. Her eyes flew open. Kor’s burned bright green. “We’ve got you, Malla. Always.” He held her eyes, rock steady, as Grady broke into her body, already filled by Shon. His huge girth lodged in her entry, and he roared. His body jerked, and she knew he’d been drilled by Vel again. “Bring her closer, Shon,” Grady gasped. Shon scooted forward. Now both Shon and Malla’s legs were draped over Grady’s thighs as they faced him. Grady shifted his grip from Malla’s ribs. He reached past her, palming the back of Shon’s shoulders. Then he tightened his abs and drove up into her body, making room for himself alongside Shon with brute strength. Malla bit down on Kor at the shock of it, the invasion, the claiming, the perfection. Malla got a burst of salty sweetness from Kor. She sucked. He shouted. Shon said, “Now, Kor.” He set his teeth in the firm flesh between Malla’s neck and shoulder. Kor’s gift sizzled across her wrung-out consciousness. Instantly, they were all there. All of them, all the penetration, all the love, all the possession, all the touching. Vel, Kor, and Shon jerked hard, once, deep, in perfect concert. Malla focused on grabbing Grady from the inside, with every muscle she had, as she reached past him to seize Vel’s neck. She felt her own mouth around Kor, her own cunt around Grady, her own ass around Shon, and Grady’s around Vel. Her hair in Kor’s hands, Shon’s shoulders in Grady’s hands. And they all felt it, too. Shon sobbed against her neck, Grady roared once more, Vel hissed and Kor moaned, the first to break. He came watching the bodies of his team tangled tightly, and the explosive pleasure of his orgasm was her own. It was all of theirs. Vel came next, turned on by Kor, turned on by how Grady’s balls felt the heat of Shon’s. Grady came, from Vel’s thoughts, from Vel’s wet heat, from his own submission, and the ecstasy of feeling Shon pressed against him while he was buried in Malla. Shon came, growling, teeth worrying her muscle, with the sweet satisfaction of using his full strength to force his length deep inside the most private part of her body. His cum erupted. Possession rolled with satisfaction. Malla died. She felt her heart stop. She couldn’t breathe around Kor’s cock in her throat, the sweet cum in her mouth, the pressure of Grady compressing her against Shon.

In Service

159

She wasn’t afraid. Hers, all hers, and she was theirs. Pleasure took every ounce of her skin, every muscle, every thought. She was joy. She was light. The connection fell away. Kor was on his knees, holding her hand, panting, “Breathe, baby, another one. Breathe.” Vel had her other hand, clasping it firmly. He was wet with sweat. Grady knelt between her legs, stroking her lax thighs with soothing sweeps of his palms. Shon was still in her ass, arms clasped around her chest under her breasts. She took a huge, shuddering breath, and the last of her light drained back into her well. “Fuck. Malla, don’t ever do that to us again.” Grady sounded angry. She smiled, dusted over his fuzzy hair with tired fingertips. “Are you going to do me like that again? Because it just might happen.” Grady scowled, looking absolutely ferocious. A smile stretched her face. Shon was gently suckling the wound on her shoulder. She reached one hand back and circled his neck. “No one shot you this time.” “No.” She felt him smile. She could feel how relaxed he was, in body and spirit. He was at peace. He rocked her ever so slightly. Rolling her head against his shoulder to look at Kor, she said, “Thank you. What a beautiful gift.” Surprisingly, her surly man just nodded. “Yeah.” Turning to look at Vel, she smiled at him. “Don’t you have a kingdom to claim?” “I’m not sure I can stand up. Give me a minute.” Malla gloried in her pile of men relaxing around her. The air was fragrant. This was what love smelled like. Sweat, cum, velvet, and men. Vel tucked one damp strand of hair behind her ear. “Malla…I need you here. I managed to escape much of it by telling myself I had to fight in the war, but really, I was running. I need the whole team here. I can’t do this alone. The hate, the fighting, the lies… It’s an awful responsibility, but I’m going to claim it. You’ll stay?” She nodded, overcome at the thought of him living at court, alone, these past months. Shon nodded too, chuckling against her shoulder. “We’re staying, Vel. We’ve got you.” Grady leaned over and kissed Vel, gently, deeply. Malla sighed. Shon tightened his arms around her. “I’ll try, Malla. With you believing in me and watching out for me, it will be better. Just give me time. And let me try to keep the Fury as away as I can.” Kor put his hand on Shon’s knee. “I’ll watch out for you, too. Especially when you’re on shift, and Malla’s all mine.”

160

Mima

Shon’s hand shot out to cuff him but Kor dodged. Grady nodded. “We’re going to watch out for each other. We all have to believe we will be better.” Malla looked at Vel. “You’re the only royalty I’ve ever spoken to. I’m not exactly prepared to be at court.” Shon huffed. “None of us are. We’ll learn together.” Kor pointed at Vel. “If he could learn it, we totally can.” “My duties aren’t going to change much from what they’ve been. My father is just giving me more power to push with, that’s all. It can be a restricting life, but there are many, many benefits.” Vel looked at Malla. “Not the least of which is my choice of servers.” Malla thought her face might split from smiling so wide. She was sprawled open before her men, sweaty, dripping with cum, and she’d never been so comfortable. She belonged here. Leaning against the bench around her, they touched her and each other, breathed through the happiness of being together again. “Thank you, Vel. For trying again.” “Actually, Grady wouldn’t let it go.” “I couldn’t let you go, Malla,” Grady rasped. Malla nodded. “I couldn’t let you go either. Any of you. You have to believe me when I tell you what I feel.” Shon nibbled on her ear. “I will try,” Shon whispered. “I promise, I’ll try. Your belief in me makes it possible to believe in myself.” “I’m hungry,” Kor said abruptly. Grady pulled away and looked over at him, frowning. “Kor…” Kor stopped him with a wave of his hand. “I know, I know. Shut the fuck up, right?”

Mima Mima is a librarian. ‘nuff said. No? All right, she lives in western NY with a husband and a cat. Her hobbies are perennial gardening and Guild Wars. She’s of a certain middle-age and becoming well-traveled. Find out what she’s been up to by visiting her website at http://www.mimawithin.com.