Taliff's Cure Page 4

  Within minutes, the center of the room stood bare as the others in the room pitched in to clear a space for the challenge. Excited chatter filled the room. It wasn’t very often a newcomer succeeded in taking control of a pride. Eve heard the gossip fly around the room as speculation spread. That was fine by her so long as no one interfered.

  While she waited for Myra to come forward to the makeshift Challenge Ring, Eve started to undress. It seemed she didn’t need to come to the room with clothes on after all. At least this way no one had the opportunity to see Taliff without his. Just the thought of the size of his cock as it bobbed in front of her was enough to make her wet.

  By the time Myra entered the ring, Eve stood in proper battle-ready stance—unclothed, with her legs spread shoulder width apart, her hands down by her sides, palms outward. This wasn’t her first battle and it sure wouldn’t be her last. Myra underestimated her abilities when she called her a little girl, and she was about to prove it.

  Once the pair stood ready before the crowd, Amy stepped into the center of the ring. “The rules are as follows. No one will shift until told to. The person who draws first blood will assume the leadership mantle until we reach Chantrea. There are no appeals.”

  Amy turned to both of the women. “Do you comply?”

  Eve nodded. “Yes.”

  “Yes, I agree,” Myra sneered, her gaze locked on Eve. “Be prepared to lose a paw, bitch.”

  The threat meant nothing to her, so Eve ignored it. In the end, there would be only one winner, and it wouldn’t be the cocky beauty queen with entitlement issues.

  Amy stepped from the center of the ring. Above the din of the crowd, Eve waited until she heard her say, “You may shift.” She didn’t stop to think, just called to her other self. Heat rushed through her body. Her heart stuttered then increased its pace. Her form shimmered. Brilliant white light shone through her pores. In a sudden flash of brightness, Eve disappeared. A lioness now stood in her place.

  With the signal given, Eve expected Myra to attack fast and dirty. She didn’t disappoint. Before she could shake off the effects of the change, Myra came in low, her claws extended. Eve leapt over the attacking cat and landed ten feet away.

  Myra, off balance, tried to swing around to lash at Eve again. By the time she faced Eve, it was too late. Eve launched herself at Myra, raking her left side with her claws. Blood dripped from the deep furrows and pooled onto the oatmeal colored carpet.

  The crowd grew quiet. Eve shook her head and roared. As she padded out of the Challenge Ring, Amy’s voice echoed around the room. “Look out!”

  Before she could turn and face the defeated feline, Myra lunged for her throat. She tried to dodge Myra’s gaping jaws but the warning came too late. Eve shook her head from side to side but the lioness held on. Blood dripped down her throat and coated her fur. Weakness spread through her limbs. Her thoughts grew sluggish as more blood rushed from her wounds.

  Eve knew that to defeat the attacking cat, she needed leverage. In a sudden move, Eve dropped to the floor and rolled onto her back. Though it left her belly exposed it also gave her the leverage to use her hind legs to thrust Myra away.

  She knew that she could not show Myra mercy. It would undermine her authority with the other women if she didn’t retaliate. Myra scrambled to her feet and leapt through the air. Eve was not about to let the treacherous bitch pin her down. She met Myra’s leap with one of her own. Rather than swipe at the lioness, Eve clamped her fangs on her throat and dragged her down to the blood-soaked floor.

  Myra tried to fight her off, twisting savagely in an effort to toss Eve away. All she succeeded in doing was seal her own fate that much quicker. With no choice left, Eve pinned Myra to the ground, using her own body weight to prevent the cat from bucking her off. When the cat tried to swipe at Eve with her paw, she bit down on it, severing it from her leg.

  Disgusted that it had come to such drastic action, Eve spit the paw to the floor and padded out of the ring. She didn’t even bother to look at the defeated lioness. The others could clean up the mess. As far as she was concerned, Myra had brought this upon herself.

  Eve limped over to her pile of clothes. She needed to think and she couldn’t do that in here. There was nothing to celebrate, nothing to roar her satisfaction over. Taliff would probably be pissed when he found out she had to take the other woman’s paw, but what other choice did she have? Perhaps she could have showed more mercy and given her death instead. If she had to do it over again though, she would still make the same decision. Her mate would just have to deal with it.

  Although weak, Eve still managed to gather enough energy inside her to initiate the change. Heat raced through her, her image grew translucent, and in a flash Eve the woman crouched over her pile of clothes.

  She reached into the pile and grabbed the first thing her hand touched. Eve stood to her full height and looked over the room. Other than the two women who had gone to Myra’s aid, all eyes were on her. It wasn’t a comfortable feeling.

  She slid her legs into her jeans. She could barely get her fingers to obey her command as they fumbled with the zipper. She was almost too weak to bend over for her shirt. Amy was there with it in her hand before she even made the attempt. “Here, let me help you.”

  She nodded to Amy, grateful for the help. Once dressed, she walked over to the beaten woman sprawled on the bloody carpet and looked down on her. “You ever try to challenge me again and I will do more than take a paw. It will cost you your life. Is that understood?”

  Eve didn’t wait for an answer. She turned her back on Myra and walked over to the group of people gathered around the conference table, in effect showing everyone gathered in the room she felt no fear of her defeated opponent. With all the poise and determination she could muster, Eve sat down at the head of the table in the chair Myra had claimed as hers.

  God, she hurt. She needed to get this over with and have her and Myra’s wounds tended before they bled to death.

  She looked over the women, her eyes steady and sure. She could show no signs of her ever increasing weakness. “Do any others wish to challenge me?”

  When no one responded, Eve looked to Amy, then met each woman’s gaze with her own. “Amy will be my Beta, my second in command. There will be no discussion about my choice. You will all return to your quarters until told otherwise.”

  When no one moved, Eve straightened her shoulders. “Did no one hear me? Move. Now.”

  The women scrambled to their feet and headed for the door, all but the ones still crouched over Myra. “You two have trouble understanding or do you need help in that regard like your friend there?” she said, her gaze quickly flicking toward Myra then back.

  The women looked across the room to where Eve still sat. She could feel the hate they felt for her like a slap. It seared her with its intensity, but she wouldn’t let that faze her. It appeared she had more than one enemy aboard ship to watch her back for.

  She knew she’d get no verbal response from the women so she addressed her question to the computer. “Shoshoni?”

  “Yes, Eve Roberts?”

  “Just call me Eve, Shoshoni.”

  “What is it you require, Eve?”

  “Where is the infirmary? Myra and I are injured and in need of medical care.”

  After a few seconds, the ship’s computer responded. “I have taken control of the lighting along the floor of the corridors. Follow the red lights. They will lead you to the infirmary.”

  “Thank you, Shoshoni. Oh, and Shoshoni?”

  “Yes, Eve?”

  “I would prefer that Taliff not find out about this yet, if it’s all the same to you.”

  “It will be as you request. For now.”

  Eve looked over at Amy. The computer’s implied threat was not lost on either woman. She just hoped Taliff was too busy with his own concerns to worry over her until after her wounds were treated.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  By the time Taliff made it to the deck tha
t housed the Command Center, nearly ten minutes passed. In that time, he felt the ship shimmy nearly half a dozen times as the defensive shields reflected the Laser-Cannon fire. He should have ensured Eve would be fine without him, but he had to worry about the safety of all the women, not just his mate.

  The ship shimmied again. The shields wouldn’t hold out against the attack much longer. He ran down the last two corridors, rushed through the security station and entered the Command Center just as another blast rocked the ship.

  “Shoshoni?”

  “Yes, Commander Shi’Lan?”

  “Open the front view port. I want to take a look at the bastards firing on us.”

  “Yes, Commander.”

  Taliff watched as the seemingly solid wall, turned opaque, then clear. He should have showed Eve this. She had no idea just how advanced the Chantrean civilization had become. This ship had the very latest in hologram technology. In fact, he couldn’t wait to show her the Pleasure Chamber so she could experience that technology for herself.

  “Have you identified the ship, Shoshoni?”

  “Yes, Commander Shi’Lan. It’s the Warrior.”

  “The Warrior? You’re sure?” Stunned that one of their own ships would attack, and without provocation, Taliff closed his eyes. It saddened him that treason entered the hearts of his people.

  “Have they tried to establish communication?”

  “No, sir.”

  “Open a communication channel. Tell Commander Dav’Ren to desist his attack or I will retaliate. He has two minutes to stand down or I will carry out my threat.”

  “Yes, Commander.” There was a minute pause while the computer did as requested. “Message relayed.”

  When a full minute passed, Taliff asked, “Is there a response from Commander Dav’Ren?”

  “No, sir. What are your orders?”

  “Do you have sample DNA from all of the officers on board the Warrior, Shoshoni?”

  “Yes, Commander.”

  “Good. Locate Commander Dav’Ren’s DNA signature and transport him to the confinement cells on deck ten. If the ship continues to attack, transport the rest of the officers to the vacant cells. Allow no contact between the prisoners.”

  “Yes, sir. Commander Dav’Ren is in holding cell Omega. It is shielded to prevent the Warrior from attempting retrieval.”

  “Very good, Shoshoni. I’m heading down to deck ten. If the ship continues to fire on us once her officers transport to our holding cells, open fire. Blast it from the sky if you must.”

  “Understood, Commander Shi’Lan.”

  As he started to walk from the room, Taliff stopped and turned back to the view port. “Send the following message, Shoshoni. ‘Your Commander is my prisoner. The charge is High Treason. Cease fire before your ship is destroyed. This is your last warning.’”

  Taliff shook his head and left the Command Deck. What could possibly prompt his best friend into committing such a foolish act? Why attack one of their own ships? It made no sense.

  He’d left Chantrea many moons ago. Anything could have happened since then and they wouldn’t be within communication range with Chantrea for another two moon cycles. Taliff worried over his brother’s political situation the entire trip down to deck ten to the holding cells.

  Maybe Shivo Dav’Ren could explain why he’d attacked The Wanderer. Though, Taliff doubted the reason would stay his friend’s execution. He’d signed his own death warrant by attacking a member of the ruling house of Chantrea. At this point, Taliff could do nothing to save him.

  Fifteen minutes later, he stood outside Commander Dav’Ren’s cell. His long time friend gripped the bars. His eyes blazed his defiance. What happened to the man he’d looked up to for most of his life? Five years his senior, Taliff considered Shivo an older brother. In fact, Shivo talked Hunter into letting him tag along on their adventures. When Hunter hears of Shivo’s betrayal it would crush him. Taliff sighed, and then faced his friend.

  Taliff held Shivo’s gaze until the traitor lowered his head. What could he say to the man? He couldn’t consider their shared personal history. He needed answers. “Why, Shivo? You’re my family.”

  “Ha! I was never your family. I’m nothing but an insignificant man you allowed into your lives to show others you didn’t think better of yourselves. But we know different, don’t we, Taliff? You always have, and always will, think you’re better than those beneath you.”

  Frustrated, Taliff ran his fingers through his hair. “How could you possibly believe that any of the royal family feels such a thing? You have been a part of our lives since we were but boys.”

  “Why else would Hunter send you, the head of his personal security, on a mission such as this? Your family and the Council want the women for themselves and to hell with the rest of us who are without mates.”

  “Even if that were so, you can not justify the actions you took. I have no choice but to return you to Chantrea where you will be executed, Shivo.”

  “That’s what you think. You’ve underestimated me for the last time, Taliff.”

  He quirked an eyebrow at Shivo’s boast. “What do you think you can possibly do while locked behind unbreakable, platinum-alloy bars and a high-energy containment field?”

  “Only this.” Shivo smirked then quickly pressed a button on what Taliff had initially assumed was just a timepiece.

  Before Taliff could react, Shivo disappeared and in his place sat a neutron bomb, something that his people banned centuries ago when their world had turned toward peaceful coexistence rather than forceful negotiations. “Shoshoni?”

  “I am aware of the unauthorized transports. Am attempting to remove the weapon from the ship, however, the Warrior has sent a computer virus through the communication relay and it is making it difficult to get a lock on the weapon.”

  “I don’t care how you get a lock on it, or where you send it, but do it, and do it now.”

  “Working, Commander.”

  He watched as the timer on the bomb started to tick down. “Cancel previous order, Shoshoni. I have a plan. Drop the containment field and open the cell.”

  “Yes, Commander.”

  The shimmering energy field disappeared just as the cell door slid open. He ran to the cylindrical bomb, lifted it into his arms and exited the cell. “Lock on to my transmitter, Shoshoni. Transport me to the nearest airlock.”

  “Understood. Standby for transfer.”

  Taliff closed his eyes while he waited in the middle of the penal deck for Shoshoni to transport him to his destination. A sudden wave of heat seared his skin. When he next opened his eyes, he stood in the center of the airlock with the bomb clutched in his hands.

  He glanced at the timer, swallowed the fear that bubbled in his throat. He placed the bomb in the center of the room and quickly backed out. After he secured the airlock doors that led to the interior of the ship, he entered the code to release the outer doors and watched as the bomb drifted into space.

  No sooner had the doors closed than the ship rocked from the force of the explosion. Taliff had to grab the wall to keep his feet from sliding out beneath him. He needed to get back to the Command Deck and he didn’t have time to race down the corridors to get there. “Shoshoni, transport me directly to the Command Center. Shivo won’t miss this opportunity to attack now that his primary plan failed. Also, as soon as time permits, find out how Shivo managed to get a locator beacon signal through the containment field. I’ll need an answer right away if we are to counteract such a scenario again.”

  “Understood, Commander. Prepare for transfer.”

  Once again, heat seared his skin as the computer transported him directly inside the Command Center of the ship. “Shoshoni, blast the Warrior out of space. I want nothing but space junk left when you’re through.”

  “Yes, Commander Shi’Lan.”

  He watched dispassionately as the green laser-cannon fire targeted the enemy ship. For several minutes, the ships exchanged fire, each trying their be
st to destroy the other. How Commander Dav’Ren hoped to keep the women to himself if he destroyed the Wanderer, Taliff had no idea. Perhaps Shivo’s goal was to disable the Wanderer long enough to remove the women before he destroyed it and Taliff. Well, it wouldn’t happen.

  “Shoshoni?”

  “Yes, Commander?”

  “I need you to target the Command Deck of the Warrior, specifically the main view port. It’s the weakest part of the ship’s infrastructure.”

  “Targeting the view port now.”

  More laser fire hit the enemy ship. Taliff hoped his plan worked because the energy in his own shields were drained to a dangerously low level and continued to drop with each successful blast from the Warrior. Until Dav’Ren and his ship were destroyed, Taliff could not divert energy from the weapons to re-power the shields.

  Commander Dav’Ren’s ship managed to get off another shot. It hit the Wanderer with enough force that Taliff lost his footing. “Shoshoni?”

  “Yes, Commander?”

  “What is our shield strength down to?”

  “Our shields have dropped to below ten percent of their maximum strength.”

  “Shoshoni, pull the rest of the energy from the shields and increase weapon strength. I want that ship destroyed before it takes us with it.”

  “Complying. Energy transfer complete.”

  “Focus all weapons, both Laser-Cannon fire and our entire supply of neutron torpedoes on the Command Deck of that ship.”

  “Weapons ready.”

  “Fire all weapons, Shoshoni.”

  “Weapons locked on enemy vessel. Weapons away.”

  Taliff looked on as the weapons converged on the Warrior’s Command Deck. Blast after blast rocked the ship. Its defense shields wavered then fell. Several torpedoes forged a hole through the ship’s thin metal skin. The vacuum of space continued the damage the torpedoes started as it ripped the ship to shreds. An explosion from deep inside the enemy ship sent a shock wave that rocked the Wanderer.

  “Shoshoni?”

  “Yes, Commander?”