Jaci's Experiment Read online

  Grady Prime observed the human male entering a small, unremarkable cave and staked out the area. There were undoubtedly sensors in the area. They’d found such at all the previous installations they’d reconnoitered. The secret here would be to lay low and wait until they were lulled into a sense of security. Grady Prime would bide his time under cover of the woods, watching and waiting for his opportunity.

  He waited for deepest night to make his move. He followed where the male had gone, examining the ground carefully, but moving as quickly as possible. If any of the hardware in the facility were still working, they could have been alerted to his presence already. He was counting on the lateness of the hour, and the fact that there couldn’t be that many of them, to aid him in his mission. He would find them now, but the tracks would tell their own story, letting him know what he was up against.

  Sure, he could call for backup, but this was one small woman whom he had once considered a friend and one, perhaps two, humans. He knew he could handle this situation alone and truth be told, he wanted to give Jaci 192 a chance to speak to him away from the rest of his men. He wanted a moment to talk with her and see for himself the changes that had come over her. He had to know if she was irrational or insane. He had to see his possible future for himself.

  What he found was not what he had expected. Instead of a madwoman on the run, he found her frolicking in a steamy, mossy cave that had water running swiftly through it from a waterfall above that dropped away into a shallow, bubbling pool below. It was a hot spring of some kind, lit with crystals embedded in the very walls, glowing brighter each time she touched one of the two men who flanked her. Grady Prime crept inside, disabling the small proximity alarm which had also been taken, or perhaps supplied, by her unknown allies, and two other backup sensors that they had put near the entrance to warn them of anyone approaching.

  He recognized the two males with Jaci 192. He had pitted his skills against this pair before. They had led him in circles, but his tracking skills had prevailed. He had almost hated to see them captured, but he was only doing his job. He respected the men, though they never knew it. They had challenged him and stumped him a few times, but in the end, he won as usual, and they had lost their freedom.

  Grady Prime crept slowly into the cave, rounding a corner that arched sharply away from the nearly hidden entrance to a main tunnel. It was well lit and all but unseen from the outside. He watched from the shadows, knowing his quarry was trapped. He would take a moment to observe them, to see how Jaci 192 interacted with the Breeds now that he knew she had taken the experimental agent. This was purely for his own edification and he would never admit to delaying the performance of his duty to his superiors, but he had to know. It was his life on the line, his future. He had to know if the agent made her unstable or insane, or if it even worked at all. So he ducked silently behind a rock formation to observe.

  The males stood at the edge of the pool and Jaci 192 was already in the water. The men joined her with sighs of pleasure as the warm water lapped at their muscles. Immediately, one of the males took her naked form in his arms and kissed her soundly.

  Grady heard the Hum first, then saw the flicker of orange light in the tiny crystals that lived in the walls of this cave. They glowed for Jaci and the Breed, stealing Grady’s breath as their kiss deepened and they truly Embraced. The crystals glowed with bright yellow sunlight. They were indeed, resonance mates.

  Grady would not have believed it had he not seen it with his own eyes. But even as he thought this, the first male let her go and the other male took her in his arms, repeating the Kiss and Embrace. The Hum intensified again and the raw crystal in the walls of the cave shone brightly for them. Both of these men resonated with Jaci 192 and were her true mates.

  By rights of ancient Alvian law, these three could not be separated, even by ruling of the High Council. Grady knew what his orders were, but he also knew what was right. Decision made, he stepped out from behind the rock formation.

  “Holy shit!” Dave’s tone had Mike lifting Jaci and putting her behind them. Something was very wrong. “Where did he come from?”

  Jaci pushed her way out from behind her men.

  “Grady Prime?” Dismay filled her tone.

  “Yes, Jaci 192. I’ve been sent to take you back.”

  His voice was like winter, cold and unfeeling. It didn’t give them much hope.

  Jaci surprised them all by stepping from the pool and calmly wrapping her towel around herself. She faced Grady with anger in her eyes.

  “You’ll just have to kill me now, Grady Prime. I will not go with you any other way. I would rather die.”

  Grady lifted the large weapon strapped around his shoulders and the two men started forward, but he only lifted the gun clear and tossed it back toward the tunnel entrance. Three pairs of confused eyes regarded him.

  “I didn’t come here to kill anyone.”

  “Then why did you come?” Dave had a towel around his waist as he faced the alien warrior, but Grady had eyes only for their woman.

  “I came for answers,” the warrior said softly, just an echo of humanity in his deep, melodic, alien voice, “and I’ve found only more questions.”

  Jaci breathed what sounded like a sigh of relief but the cousins weren’t letting their guard down just yet. They had a history with this soldier and they didn’t trust him.

  “I tried to tell you what I could when I gave you the skinpatch. Grady Prime, I consider you a friend and if what I believe about your character is true, then you should, by all means, go forward with the treatment. It will change your life forever.”

  “As it has yours? I saw the crystals glow. You have found not one, but two resonance mates. How is this possible?”

  Jaci shook her head. “Davin has theories. You should find time to speak with him privately if you seek that answer. I only know that these men are my true mates and I will not part with them for any reason ever again. I love them.”

  “You can feel? You feel love?” Grady asked his gaze intent.

  Jaci nodded, a smile curving her lips. “Love, anger, pity, sorrow, hope, excitement, joy and so much more. Grady Prime, our people don’t know what they’re missing!”

  “Perhaps you could show them. If you come back to the city and tell them what’s happened…show them the proof of your mating with these men. They might listen.”

  But Jaci shook her head. “That’s not my place, Grady Prime. Not yet. Perhaps not ever. I would not have been chosen to participate in the experiment. I don’t hold high enough rank. But you might have that chance. You’re among the best of the best, and they’ll listen to you. They won’t want to lose your skills and they’ll listen and hear what you have to say.”

  Grady stepped right up to her and placed one large, calloused palm on her cheek. The cousins flanked her, letting him know that he was getting too close to their woman, but he would not be cowed.

  “You are much more than you think, Jaci 192. As a soldier, I’ve come to believe in fate. I think it was fate that stuck that skinpatch on your arm and fate that brought you to your true mates. I don’t think fate is done with you yet, either, but I’ll respect your wishes for now. According to the ancient laws, you would have one month of freedom to be with your true mate after Joining before having to resume your duties and no one—not even the High Councilhas authority to separate true resonance mates.” He stepped back from her, smiling faintly. “As a warrior, I can do no other than obey the law.”

  “But what about your orders? Didn’t they send you to take us back?” Mike asked with a hint of challenge.

  Grady turned laser-like blue eyes on him. “The ancient law supersedes orders given by a mere scientist. True mates may not be separated for any reason. Only my direct chain of command can issue capture orders in conflict with other laws and even then, they could be appealed to the High Council on grounds that they are superseded by superior law. Since I’m Prime, I am the highest authority before the High Council. I’
ve decided that Mara 12’s orders are illegal now that I’ve seen the proof of resonance. I can leave you here with no harm to my honor.”

  “Very tidy,” Dave commented from the side.

  Grady bared his teeth in what passed for a smile. “Yes, indeed.” For a short moment the three men shared a bit of camaraderie, but it didn’t last.

  “Will you tell them?” Jaci’s voice bit through the quiet. She was clearly worried.

  Grady shook his head. “Your trail is nearly invisible. I tracked you alone. No one knows I found you and they don’t need to know as far as I’m concerned. Jaci 192,” his voice dropped, “you’ve found what many of us seek. You’ve found your true mates and you have my congratulations and envy.”

  “I thought your kind couldn’t feel such things?” Dave’s voice challenged him, but Grady didn’t appear to take offense.

  “Because I’m a soldier, I feel more than most. I feel…echoes. And I want to feel more. It’s always just beyond my reach and it has taunted me most of my life. That’s why I volunteered for the experiment.”

  Jaci lowered her eyes, sighing heavily. “You won’t regret it, Grady Prime. But it’s overwhelming at first. Do not despair. Seek help from those with emotions who can understand what you’re going through. My friends among the humans and my mates helped me through the initial disorientation. You’ll need someone to help you too.”

  “But I’ll be watched closely as part of the experiment.”

  “But you are also Prime. Very few of the Maras will argue with you should you want to talk to someone other than one of them.”

  Mike touched her arm and the Hum sounded to both pairs of Alvian ears. Grady’s eyes shot to hers as she smiled.

  “Maybe he could talk to Harry,” Mike suggested.

  “And Caleb,” Dave added from her other side.

  “The Haras?” Grady nodded, thinking. “I have known them for many years. It would not seem too odd if I were to seek them out.”

  Jaci touched his arm. “Then do it. You could have a worse reaction than I did because of your warrior DNA. For me, the emotions started to intensify on the second day, then became progressively worse for the next few days. I was feeling overwhelmed and didn’t know where to turn, but David and Michael helped me. Perhaps Hara and Caleb can do something similar for you.”

  Grady saw the wisdom in that, already thinking and strategizing ahead. “What you suggest has merit. I will consider it closely and thank you for your candor.”

  “So that’s it? You’re letting us go?” Mike asked, just to be sure.

  “That’s it, as you say. I stayed on in the woods alone after I sent all my troops back to the city. I wanted to find Jaci 192 for my own reasons. I wanted to see what the skinpatch had done to her before I embark on the journey myself. I’ve satisfied my curiosity now. She is neither insane nor unstable that I can see. It gives me…hope…if that’s the right word for the echo of feeling.”

  “You’ll find out soon enough,” Dave said. “And just so you can be certain, Jaci is becoming better adjusted to her emotions every day. In the old world, I counseled those with mental and emotional problems. What we called psychiatry was my field of expertise.” Mike knew from his cousin’s tone that the doctor was definitely in. For whatever reason, Dave had decided to help the man who’d once captured and imprisoned them, and who’d had sex with their mate. Remembering that didn’t sit to well with Mike, but he didn’t say anything. He just stood back and watched. If Grady made the slightest move, Mike would give him something to think about.

  “I can assure you…” Dave put one arm around Jaci’s shoulders, “…she’s as well grounded as anyone in her position could possibly be and she integrates more of the emotion with each passing day. I like to think that Mike and I have some influence on her progress.” Dave gestured toward his cousin. “But I also believe a balance can be reached—given time—on one’s own. Talking to the O’Haras would be beneficial to you, but try to keep your spirits up and don’t despair when the emotions start to feel overwhelming. There is hope for you. And hope for you, Grady Prime, means hope for your entire race. Keep that in mind.”

  “You seem to have given this some thought,” Grady said, watching Dave with measuring eyes.

  “It’s been on my mind since I found out about the experiment. I think overall, it’s a positive step forward for both our races.” Dave smiled at the warrior, but Mike wasn’t so forgiving.

  “Now that you know where we are, we’ll be taking greater precautions,” Mike stepped forward to face the soldier. “You won’t catch us by surprise again.”

  There seemed to be a trace of respect in Grady’s eyes as he returned Mike’s gaze. “If it’s any consolation, you two were a great challenge to me. I almost regretted taking you in, but it was my duty. I know you’ll be more vigilant with your mate from now on. But rest assured, you have my word as Prime that this location will never be divulged by me to any Alvian.” Grady put his hand over his heart and bowed slightly. Jaci put one hand on Mike’s forearm, squeezing lightly and he took that to mean that Grady’s actions had some significance to her.

  He hoped Grady could be trusted, but he didn’t see they had much choice. If he disappeared, the entire Alvian army would be out searching for him.

  “Thank you, Grady Prime.” It was Jaci who acknowledged the warrior’s words with a slight bow of her head. “I and my mates thank you for your discretion and we wish you well.”

  “As I do you, Jaci 192.” Grady looked at all three of them for a final moment before turning on his heel and leaving the chamber.

  Long minutes later, after the trio had cleaned up and dressed, Sam signaled them from the cave opening.

  “He’s gone. Bill and I followed him all the way out to be certain, then Bill went after him and sent me back here to let you know what was going on. BURTIN alerted us when he got in but we were too far away to warn you in time. Then, when we got here and saw him throw down his weapon, Bill held us back, out of sight.”

  “Good move,” Mike agreed. “Better that Grady Prime thinks it’s just us down here. He doesn’t need to know about you and Bill.”

  Bill moved into their line of sight from the outer tunnel. “Thank you for that.” He nodded at Mike in acknowledgment. “I followed him to his ship. He stowed his gear and took off toward the city. He did not see me.”

  “I’m glad,” Jaci said, stepping between the cousins. “I think he will keep his word. He won’t tell anyone about this place. He swore it.”

  “I saw that, “Bill agreed. “You must have made quite an impression on him, Jaci. Grady Prime does not give his word lightly.”

  David growled and Mike held back, just barely. “We have interacted several times. I know he had a sort of…fondness for me.”

  “It’s more than that, Jaci,” Bill said. “He respects you. That is rare between a soldier and a science sector tech.”

  “Then that gesture he made…?” Mike asked the leading question.

  Bill turned his focus to the cousins. “That gesture is a symbolic promise among soldiers. It is not lightly given. Grady Prime will not divulge the location of this complex to any Alvian. He will take the secret of it to his grave, if necessary.”

  Mike whistled between his teeth. Dave just looked grim. Jaci took them both by the hand and led the way inside, leaving Bill and Sam to secure the blast doors behind them.

  “I know we owe him for not even trying to capture us this time, but I’m jealous as hell that Grady Prime has a soft spot for my girl,” Michael admitted as he cuddled her in his arms on the soft bed in their quarters.

  “Don’t be jealous, Michael.” Jaci smoothed the hair back from his brow as she looked up at him. “He may have wanted me, but I never wanted him. I’ve only ever wanted two men in my whole life and they are both with me now.”

  She reached out with her other hand to touch David, reveling in the instant Hum the blessed resonance created. They couldn’t hear its perfection, but it was e
nough that she could. The Hum was the very real evidence of their compatibility…it was evidence of their love.

  Epilogue

  He’d seen them together and both heard and seen the evidence of resonance for himself. Grady Prime knew theirs was a union of true mates that would last for all time. He wanted that—or at least the chance of finding that—for himself. It might not happen. He might go mad from the emotion, but it was a chance he had to take.

  Somewhere out there, there might just be a woman meant for him. A woman he could resonate with and pledge his heart and life to. A woman who would temper his aggression with her love.

  With that oddly comforting thought in mind, Grady Prime placed the skinpatch on his thigh.

  About the Author

  To learn more about Bianca D’Arc, please visit www.biancadarc.com. Send an email to Bianca at [email protected] or join her Yahoo! group to join in the fun with other readers as well as Bianca! http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BiancaDArc

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