Dare, page 11
part #15 of Galactic Cyborg Heat Series
Nicky put the last of the data into her programme satisfied it had held up well. She sent her report to the Admiral who had asked for it. She knew Dare would send his own, but she wasn’t worried about that. The Air Drive worked. She stretched, she’d been sitting for a couple of hours determined to get it done. Standing she moved to her small kitchen and put on the coda. She still enjoyed it, even with the introduction of real coffee. Coda was all she really knew. Coffee had been an expensive treat before she’d come here and once here, it wasn’t available so coda it was.
Her door pinged, and she went over to open it. Dare stood in the doorway. Nicky was surprised and elated at seeing him. “May I come in?” he asked. Nicky moved back into the room and closed the door behind him.
“I’m making some coda, would you like some?”
“Thank you maybe in a moment but first I must be clear about something.”
Nicky frowned and shook her head at him. “If it’s about being stuck with me, you’re wrong, I don’t expect that at all. We had a great night and that is over now. You don’t owe me anything. We’re both consensual adults.” She told him quickly.
He did that staring thing at her again. Like he was trying to figure things out again. “You look different,” he told her. Nicky remembered what Kim had said and made a note to check it out. “Thank you for telling those things but I need to explain something and apparently I did a poor job of it last night.”
Nicky indicated a seat and she took the other. Dare sat down. “I, should have said this before we had sex but with the fighting, your refusal to stay in your room, the injuries and my concern for you, it didn’t happen. I apologise. That was my error.” Nicky wondered what was going on. He’d not deceived her or anything. He’d been honest with her as far as she could see. He took a moment and a large breath. “Females are new to us. I don’t mean working them, I mean being with them, truly being with one by choice that is our complete focus.” He looked up at her, Nicky nodded encouragingly.
“We are learning that what we thought our lives were, is not everything. It takes evidence to change what we know as fact, but eventually it sinks in that this one, fragile precious human, is the one that is now the most important person in our lives. They consume our thoughts, wants and wishes and interfere with our functionality and our logic goes a little crazy because none of it seems logical at all.” Nicky tried not to smile. She didn’t think logic had much to do with emotion. “But,” he went on, “it’s there and there is no mistaking it. Even with our emotions turned off, the female remains our focus. Knowing this, the Admiral insisted that all the females be given this information about our natures and allowed them to make a choice. Our bonding we think is for life. We start to crave that person and until it is fulfilled, it rides us, makes us a bit unbalanced without the female joined with us and urges us to establish that bond quickly. It did with the Admiral and Kim, it did with me and …… you.”
Nicky’s eyes widened. What was he saying? “It’s the only thing that matters to me now. More important than my job, more important than my orders. My needs are centred around you.”
He had to be joking. “But that won’t last forever. It’ll pass,” she told him.
Dare shook his head. “I gave you as much time as I could. I stepped back and, in the end, held my hand out to you to take or not. I thought I was giving you the choice by doing that but after your conversation with Kim, it’s clear that you didn’t understand the implications of what we were doing. You hadn’t consciously made a decision to be with me, as a Cyborg demands from his female. There are a number of reasons why we think this happens. The female is something of our own that was denied to us for so long and offers the chance of a future we never knew existed. It’s so precious to us once found that it takes over. We didn’t have personal things or anything to believe in but the programming.” Nicky’s heart ached for them. “Once that bond is triggered, we somehow recognise that person for who they are on a cellular level and nothing is going to change that but as with any programming, if you deny it, it will learn from that and delete eventually and that’s the choice I should have offered you. The chance to say no. Once physical connection is made, it is impossible for the Cyborg to deny it. It’s why the Admiral want’s females to have the choice early on. Once taken there is no going back, not for the Cyborg. All the data we have tells us we bond, imprint if you like, on that one person. They are our ….. mate.”
Nicky’s mouth dropped open. “You don’t think that’s me?” she asked incredibly.
Dare shook his head again. “Don’t think, I know. You are my mate Nicky. It’s you or no one.”
He sat there calmly waiting on her response. For a fleeting moment she thought he was crazy. Then wondered if she was, and thought about all the things Kim had said to her and what Dare had explained to her now. It seemed so alien to just accept it. She never just accepted anything. She worked and worked until she had enough evidence to make an informed decision. But she knew Cyborgs don’t lie. She knew them to be truthful and honourable and this was the truth as he knew it. He believed in what he was saying.
Nicky worried her lip. Did she want the male sitting opposite her. For life? Want all the complications that were bound to show up? She’d never considered this possibility or that such a fine person, both inside and out would choose her. His age…… crept in again. And she knew that was her fear of change. He’d shown her his true age.
She’d thought in many ways her life was over. Set. Fixed. Time on the ship had shown her, she’d been going through the day’s hour by hour without really living. Putting everything into her job. It was truly all she had because she had nothing else. Then he’d come along and rescued her. Helped to give her the confidence she’d been missing. Gave her new challenges. Helped register her Air Drive. Got her a contract with the Empire and to create something new that would work on their ships. Helped her move out of her comfort zone. She wasn’t the same person because of him…... her life had more meaning now.
What if he’d never come along? crept into her mind. A chill went through her at the prospect.
Through all the devastation the pirates brought with them, they’d also brought him to her door. “You want to be with me?” she needed to hear it.
Dare smiled and caressed her face. She couldn’t stop herself from leaning into it. Didn’t want to. “You and only you Nicky,” he whispered. She closed her eyes and felt the brush of his lips on hers and wound her arms about his neck pulling him in closer. There were miracles after all….
The end.
Thank you for reading this novel. I hope you truly enjoyed and look for the others in the series.
As a bonus chapter, here is one from my novel, Prince of the Demon Realm. Enjoy! My best to you and yours. Jessie x
Prince of the Demon Realm.
Chapter One
Clair stood on the street, with her back pack cutting into her shoulders, holding her letter. She looked up at the plain black glass building at the address she’d been given. As she hiked up her back pack nervously, she glanced around and saw nothing other than what she’d expect to see. A busy street, in a cosmopolitan city. Nothing that would raise her suspicions. She looked back at the building, rubbing her thumbs and forefingers together subconsciously. Feeling the vibe flowing from it.
The building held no business name. Just a number and street. 302 Clydesdale Heights. It sounded so normal, but she knew that didn’t tell the whole story. She’d always been a bit intuitive. She thought of it as a guide and right now, she was getting a strange vibe off that building. She tried to filter it. Get a grip on what it was, that had stopped her going in. It wasn’t bad exactly, it just felt …wrong. Like being told to stay away. Yet, there was something else about it. Claire grasped her letter tighter, trying for a better feel of the place. Part of it seemed strangely …… familiar but different at the same time. Clair frowned looking down. Staring at it, made it worse somehow. She focused, trying to remember. She filtered the vibe looking for……….. The only other time she’d felt that particular vibe or something like it, was ………. The fire.
She opened her eyes in shock and surprise and looked up. Clair’s eyes flared, understanding the connection. She took a couple of steps back. As something hit the back of her legs she turned and saw the bench and sat down. Hard. It was just the shock, she told herself. It did feel easier sitting down. It had been so long ago, and she’d been so young, but the memories flooded her. The house burning, the screaming of her sibling and parents. Being unable to get out of the house because of something, an invisible barrier stopping them. Then her parents shouting to run to the concrete cellar and her hoping they would follow. Only they didn’t. The door slammed shut and she was all alone. Clair breathed in deep slowly.
She’d always thought she must have passed out down there. The memories were scattered, she couldn’t pin them down exactly. It was too painful, so she’d left it. Time held no meaning to her in that place and she couldn’t focus on what had happened. Until the door was being opened like it was paper and her saviour appeared. Unconcerned for the flames and smoke all around him. He stood, looking down on her, his piercing blue eyes, cool as ice, as he seemed to wipe the flames and smoke away with the sweep of his hand.
Then he’d told her her family was gone and bent down to offer his hand. She remembered feeling safe and that it was right to go to him. He’d picked her up and carried her from the burning building.
It was so very long ago…..
She rubbed her thumbs and forefingers together unable to stop. Feeling the vibe once more. It couldn’t be …… The large male that had carried her, had the same feel she was getting now. Only it was so much stronger now, more complex, heady even ………. She felt her body responding. That couldn’t be good. She frowned. It had been nearly 20 years, but the memories had come back thick and fast and just as fresh, as yesterday.
Clair looked at her letter and re-read it. It had looked like a genuine job offer. Was it? she frowned deeper. Was this some kind of ploy? A game? She’d done her research and the company was legit. It had shareholders and made one hell of a profit. The salary was dam good too. She’d come a long way to take this job, now …… she rubbed her fingers together some more, tuning into the vibe……… Her body tingled, responding to it. She wasn’t quite so sure …….. There was a darkness here and there was something wrong about that building ……
***
The intercom went off on his desk. Irritated, Damon reached over and punched it. “What.”
“My Lord, we have a situation at the front of the building. An invite has been sitting, staring at the building for several hours. It is long past their interview time, but they have not left and continue to stare at us.”
Damon frowned distractedly and impatiently blew out a breath. Invites either came in or didn’t come at all. It wasn’t his remit to deal with them. Where was Orcus when he needed him? But he knew the answer to that.
He took a moment. He’d never known one to arrive and not take the interview. That was a little strange. The internal shutters started to rise on the buildings windows. The sun was going down. The staff would be changing from day to night walkers.
He focused on the conversation. “And your telling me this why?” There was silence on the other end. Damon bit back the ‘for fuck sake’ that was riding his tongue. “Find Orcus, he deals with interviews. In the mean-time leave them. If they come in now it’s too late and will be turned away.”
“Yes sir.” Damon took his hand off the intercom and looked at it. Granted, it was unusual for an invite to be staring at the building, but he had real problems to deal with.
Agiel, walked into the room without knocking. Damon didn’t expect him to. He was his brother if not in birth, in life or death. “They’re here.” Damon nodded. He knew they would be. The invite was clear. Sundown. “You think this will work?” he asked him.
Damon shrugged. “Either way, the outcome is what we need. I’m sick of their shit. We don’t want a war and with todays technology, we couldn’t hide it anyway. No one wants to go back to the old days. Taking out strategic players and waging a war underground. We need to move forward and meet this world head on. Not pretend we can ignore it and carry on like its 400 years ago.”
Agiel paced in front of his desk. “And if they don’t go for it?” he turned and asked.
Damon smiled. “We do what we do best. Bring hell to their door.”
Agiel grinned back. Damon gave him a shake of his head as he stood and adjusted his jacket. He didn’t need to look good to hold his position of power. He had it by birth and actions. His power level was one of the strongest in his world. Another reason his father had been happy to give him this job. But even he, could be defeated if enough of his enemies clubbed together. Tonight, was about preventing that. He preferred a certain appearance. One that reflected who they were. Rich. Powerful. Deadly. They all did to some extent. For him and his Kin, it was sharp clothing, suits, designer and all in black. Not all the fractions agreed with him and that was their preference. Others preferred older styles, more outlandish, more ….. closer to their original status. Damon found that to be outdated and tiresome and it labelled them all.
He passed off the parchment to Agiel and exited his office. Entering his private lift he hit the button for the lower basement. It moved swiftly passed the lower floors from his penthouse office to the reception areas of the building, then the underground levels. It stopped at the conference room floor.
Damon exited striding out, Agiel following him. He picked up two more of his Kin outside the lift and they walked to the conference room. Voices up ahead told him they were already arguing. Damon pushed through the doors, spotting the other players. The other Demon Lords. Masters of their Kin. Ghoul, Knoni, Borutu, Ebis, Zegan, Veper, Seir, Lilith, Mara and eleven others. He acknowledged each leader, who sat or stood, around the table with their two honour guard hovering within sight. Not wasting any time, Damon took his seat and the others followed. The meeting room was a place of sanctuary. Each would honour it or die.
Damon gazed at each one in turn. There were no favourites here. He knew them all. Each in their own way, had given him at least one reason to pause in the last millennium and it irritated the hell out of him. Pun intended. He signalled for the food to be brought forward. As tradition required, they would feast before talking and the taking of any blood.
***
Clair couldn’t make herself get up and leave. She knew her interview was long gone, and the night was drawing in. She’d seen people leave for the day, go home to family or friends but she didn’t want to go. Being this close to answers after so many years….. the anticipation was difficult to contain. The thought of feeling whole, finally having some answers pulled on her. If she could talk to someone about that day ……. Someone who’d been there ……. Clair shook her head. The person who’d saved her would be in his 60s now. An older man and no longer working, probably retired, she reminded herself. She looked up at the building again. Maybe his son or daughter worked here…..
***
The meal worked its way through the seven courses. Coffee, port and brandy were brought in. Small talk became more ruckus around the table. People impatient to make their point and get things started. More than one couple engaged in heated discussions over titles, ownership and contracts. Tempers flared, accusations flew, and feigned indignation and demanded satisfaction followed. Demon could see where this was leading and cut it off before it started.
He slammed his hand down on the table. He was so sick of this shit. The sooner it was dealt with the better. The room fell quiet as they turned towards him. “Gentleman and ladies. We are here for a reason. Let’s not kill each other until we have true reason to.” He let that linger while he again, looked around the room.
Several now looked more interested. “For centuries, we have acted in accordance with my father’s wishes. We have stemmed the tide and in doing so, our Kin have grown. But our people are at a crossroads. We live in this world, make money and take resources from this world. We stomp on those that need it and help those we can. But, they are not our people. They are human, and the human race is advancing. They are not the creatures we found on arriving. They do not believe in us or fear us. The time for hiding and staying out of the public eye is not over. Not that I am suggesting anyone here, would be stupid enough to court that attention, but we live in a media age. Where every individual in the known world has a phone, or some electronic recording device. It has becoming impossible to hide anything. Including us. The time of suggestion is over. We can no longer place figments in the imaginations of people and expect to get away with it and that, only got us so far……” Damon made a point of looking at everyone. Particularly those that seemed to enjoy the public eye.
He leaned back and threw out a hand in distaste. “You know why you’re all here. I am bringing my people into the 21st Century. The petty shit you have been perpetrating and I have allowed, stops now. I will no longer, be judge and jury over your actions. It is beneath me and you.” He slapped his hand down on the table. “I have decided my father can deal with it.” There were a number of shocked faces around the table. “If you choose remain here, we are going completely electronic and embracing this new age. All of us. No exceptions. No excuses. I want tabs on everyone. I want to see what’s going on, when its going on. We already have system communications in place and both light and dark web access. Currently, we are using it to blind the humans to our existence and cover up our messes.” He looked at several people. “Soon, we will have a number of programs running, that will seek and destroy any Demon activity. Effectively removing it from the internet altogether. Sadly, that doesn’t cover the one person who witness’ our actions or films us or records us and tells the world before, we can shut them down but I’m working on that too. The world is not ready to know about us yet. Might never be. But I expect that time is coming.” He paused to gage his audience. Most of them gave nothing away.
