Davin's Quest Read online

  Further discussion halted when the door opened and Justin walked in. Mick turned away to study his computers, his expression closed while Jane just looked nervous. But she was definitely willing to dare, extending her hand to the other man and beckoning him forward.

  “Justin, we’ve just been discussing Davin’s people and their traditions.”

  “Anything interesting?” he asked idly, taking his woman’s hand and Davin immediately heard the Hum. Mick noted it too on the computer and turned to show the others. He explained shortly about the Hum Davin heard, not going into full detail as Jane took the experiment to the next step. Mick replaced the crystal on the desk as she placed her palms over Justin’s, beckoning him down for a kiss. He complied with a bemused expression, but didn’t ask too many questions.

  Davin was surprised to see the crystal glow red orange and the Hum increase. Jane didn’t waste time deepening the Kiss into a full Embrace, not giving Justin a moment to think. Davin watched as the tall man aligned her supple body with his, plundering her mouth and delving deep within. It made him hot to watch this raw emotion and he only prayed he found a woman as compatible with him as this one was with her chosen mates. The crystal was glowing like the sun now and the Hum had increased in pitch.

  Jane looked relieved when Justin set her down and she smiled at them all.

  “Now what was that all about?” Justin demanded, a small quirk of his mouth showing that he knew something was going on, but was willing to indulge his woman.

  “Just testing a theory,” Jane said with a saucy smile. “Apparently only a true mate can make the crystal glow, according to Davin’s cultural traditions. I’m happy to report that both you and Mick are my true mates.”

  Justin tugged her close for a quick hug and peck on the cheek. “Hell, I could’ve told you that even without his fancy parlor tricks. You were born for us, Janie. You are our salvation.”

  “You have to go back soon, don’t you?” Jane asked as she bit delicately into a sandwich as she shared lunch with Davin a few days later.

  Davin nodded. “Tomorrow night, actually. But, if you permit…” he felt greatly daring as he approached the woman who could undoubtedly feel how important his next words were to him, “…I would like to come back.”

  Jane nodded and smiled. “I think I’d like that. But I may have to convince Justin and Mick a bit. Mick says you’ve been working hard on the exercises he’s given you.”

  It was Davin’s turn to nod. “Yes, and I will continue to do so. This way, when I return, perhaps I’ll be able to shield my emotions more completely from your daughter. I still want very much to know her.”

  Jane sighed. “She’s only fifteen, Davin.”

  “I understand your objections. But I really need to know.”

  “Why is this so important to you? Even if you do Hum and make the crystals glow, she’s too young. She’s still a child, Davin. Still a little girl in so many ways.”

  Davin cursed silently. “Knowing that I have a mate, even if she is too young to claim right now could be the difference between sanity and death for me, Jane. They monitor me all the time, and though I’m too important to dispose of right now, at the first sign of madness I will be put down, discarded and forgotten like so much rubbish.”

  “That’s awful!”

  “That’s the truth.”

  Jane stood to go, pausing by the door as if coming to some decision while Davin held his breath. So much rested with this one compassionate woman.

  “I’ll send Callie to you with dinner. You won’t be alone, but perhaps you can manage to test your theories about whether or not you Hum if you touch her.” She turned wide, scared eyes on him, driving home how hard this was for her. “But please don’t let her know what you’re about. She won’t be able to hear the Hum. Please don’t tell her. Give her time to grow into the woman who could possibly be your mate. If she’s meant for you, she’ll come to you on her own terms, not because of some resonance tests your people have. She’s human, Davin. Not Alvian.”

  Davin bowed his head. “She is at least part Alvian, my lady. As are you.” He didn’t want to correct her, but he knew this point was important.

  Jane nodded. “Okay. I accept that. But she’s more human. She doesn’t understand your traditions. She’s been raised to expect to love the man she ultimately commits her life to, and always thought it would be a human man, or perhaps more than one human man, not one of your kind. There are so few of our women left. She knows this. She’s seen the reality of what I had to do to keep my family together. All I ask is that you let her get used to the idea of you in our lives as a friend.” She looked out the doorway into the distance. “The only Alvians we’ve had contact with are Mara 12 and the soldiers she brings with her. All we’ve known of your people up until now has been fear. Give Callie time to get used to the idea that you’re different.”

  “What you say has merit, my lady. You are truly wise.” Davin sighed. “I’ll do as you wish and you have my word I won’t rush her. Besides,” he smiled at his reluctant hostess, “all this may be for naught. We may not even Hum.” But in his heart of hearts he knew this brave woman’s first-born daughter would be his. They would Hum. He just knew it.

  Callie followed Mick into the office later that evening, bearing a tray. Mick was similarly laden, but he motioned to Callie when Davin came forward to help him with his burden. Holding the door wide for the young woman, Davin took the tray from her hands, making sure to brush her skin with his own.

  And his heart nearly stopped.

  The brief touch of her hand to his brought about a rush of sensation the likes of which he had never known. The air vibrated with the Hum of their energies meeting and meshing, then parting as she moved back from him. It was all he could do to stop himself from reaching out to pull her fully into his embrace, touching her skin and reveling in the Hum that he hadn’t dared hope he would ever hearthe woman he hadn’t dared hope he would ever find.

  Callie looked up at him, her wide, dark eyes bemused as he stood frozen in the doorway. Davin was struck momentarily speechless as he got his first up-close look at the woman who he believed now more than ever had been born for him. Luckily Mick was there to fill in the silence, or Davin’s promise to Jane might have been broken. He wanted so much to tell Callie about his discovery. He wanted to take her with him right this minute, regardless of her youth. She was his!

  Or she would be. In a couple of years.

  That was the bargain he’d struck. He saw the sense of it in his mind, but his heart was screaming out for him to stake his claim on this woman here and now.

  “Come all the way in, girl,” Mick said briskly to his niece.

  Callie blushed prettily and ducked under Davin’s outstretched arm, moving fully into the room. She went about setting the platters and plates out, working efficiently and stealing looks at Davin from beneath her lashes when she thought no one was looking.

  But Davin had eyes only for her. She was so beautiful, she took his breath away.

  “Davin, you haven’t met Callie yet. She’s our oldest daughter.” Mick hauled her close and tickled her ’til she giggled.

  Davin let the door close and put the second tray on the table near her. He braced himself, but their skin didn’t touch a second time and he found himself regretting that even so slight a touch was denied him. He pulled a special purple crystal out of his pocket. It was a perfect amethyst, already tuned to his energies. He’d tuned it specially as a gift for this girl, the one he hoped would be his resonance mate.

  He lifted it in his hand now, holding it to the light to allow the natural facets to pick up and refract the light in a show of splendor. He was happy to see Callie’s eyes follow the glow of the crystal. He saw the expression of awe and wonder on her face. It was touching to see her reaction. Her easy display of emotion was a miracle to him after all the years he’d spent among his own people.

  Davin stepped forward. “I think this a fitting gift for so beautiful a young lady.” He took her hand in his, prepared but still surprised by the loudness of the Hum between them. He placed the amethyst in the center of her palm and closed her fingers over it, holding her hand a bit longer than strictly necessary, but he was reveling in the Hum that reverberated through his senses as her eyes locked with his. “Please accept this as a token of my friendship.”

  Davin was gladdened by her reaction. She stared back at him as if entranced. Even if she couldn’t hear the Hum on a physical level, it was good to know she felt something inside when they touched. He could see the fascination in her beautiful hazel eyes.

  “Thank you,” she breathed, her voice a mere whisper. But still it enchanted him. “It’s beautiful.”

  “No more lovely than you.” Davin smiled at her as Mick cleared his throat from across the room. Looking up, Davin noticed Mick was at his computer, recording the evidence of the Hum, and he was glad. Now the family would have proof of his claim since they couldn’t hear it with their human ears. But he’d made a promise to Jane and he made himself release Callie’s hand. She was still too young to subject to the rest of the tests.

  Callie blushed at his compliment, clutching the amethyst to her chest when he released her hand.

  “That’s a very special crystal, Callie.” Davin watched her with hungry eyes. “It’s pure. There are no flaws in the structure, even on a molecular level. That’s a rare thing in itself, but I’ve also tuned the crystal to my energy. I think it will be soothing to your senses.”

  “You mean like a worry stone?” Callie seemed intrigued and he was pleased by the quick intellect he could sense in her.

  “In a way, but this crystal has been prepared to both store and release energy. Should you need it, this crystal will supply you with soothing e
nergy. In times of plenty, it will recharge itself from the world around it. And should you have desperate need, it may help amplify your natural abilities.” Davin looked over at Mick, who’d rejoined them near the table. “I’ve never had the opportunity to test our tuned crystals with Breed abilities, but I wouldn’t be surprised if you could use this crystal to strengthen your telepathy or whatever other gifts you may have.”

  Mick looked intrigued, as Davin had hoped. “Can we experiment with this?”

  Davin smiled and pulled a similar small quartz crystal from his pocket and tossed it to the other man. “I was hoping you’d be interested. I tuned four crystals as parting gifts for you and your family. I’ve made one for Justin and one for Jane, as well as these for you and Callie. Clear quartz for you and your brother, amethyst for Callie and citrine for Jane. Keep them with you at all times so that they attune to your individual energies. And yes, you should experiment with them, but don’t let Mara or any of the other Alvians see them. It would be my death if they knew I’d given them to you.”

  Callie reached out and touched his hand, startling him. “I don’t want to put you in danger.”

  “What my people did to you and your world was wrong, Callie. You have amazing gifts that have meant the difference between life and death for you and your family. If these crystals can help you strengthen those gifts, I’m willing to take the chance.”

  He covered her hand with his, pressing lightly to emphasize his point. “I want you to keep that amethyst with you. If ever you need me, touch it and focus your thoughts on me. It should open a secure channel of communication between us.”

  “You’re not like the other aliens I’ve seen.”

  “No. I’m not like them at all. I have feelings. I’m a genetic throwback. I’m more like my ancestors than my contemporaries.”

  Callie nodded, seeming years older than she really was. “Harry told me about that. He thinks he’s kind of like that too, being half-Alvian, yet having such strong emotions.” Her wide eyes softened as her gentle voice lowered. “I feel sorry for you.”

  “Don’t. I’m the luckiest man among my people. Most of them will never know the true beauty of a sunset or the magical wonder of dawn. They’ll never feel love or hate or any other emotion. Pity them, not me.”

  “You have a wonderful way of looking at things.” She pulled back and he released her. “I’ll keep your amethyst with me always.”

  Davin nodded, happy she would take his gift to heart. He’d struggled with what to give these fine people as a parting gift and had settled on the crystals for two reasons. First, he really did want to know if the crystals could enhance Breed abilities. His people weren’t researching this yet and he knew it would be far down the list of things to study about Breeds. But the information could be vital in helping the Breeds hold their own against the Alvian scientists who continued to capture and subject them to all sorts of brutal tests, in their ignorance. The scientific community was trying to understand Breed emotional response with no frame of reference. It was an exercise in futility, as well as cruelty that made Davin angry to even think about.

  Second, he wanted to give Callie a way to contact him. He hoped she would initiate contact. He needed to talk with her and know she was safe and happy. The crystal he’d given her was special. It would allow him to monitor her well-being without really spying on her. He considered it insurance. If she got into trouble, he’d know and might be able to help. It was the best he could do for now, until he could claim her and keep her with him always.

  Mick examined the clear crystal, his sharp eyes thoughtful. “Thank you, Davin. I’ll do some experimenting and see what we can do with these.”

  Davin nodded and Mick sent Callie back to the house. She left with a last long look in Davin’s direction and he couldn’t help the pang of regret at her departure. When they were alone he turned to Mick.

  “You saw the proof, didn’t you? She and I Hum.”

  “I saw it. I can’t say I like it, but I saw it. And when the time comes to take this further, I won’t stand in your way.”

  “Thank you for that, Mick. I won’t hurt her, but when she’s older, I’ll want to perform the next test. For now, it’s enough to know there’s hope.”

  Mick clapped him on the shoulder companionably as they sat down to dinner. “There’s always hope, my friend. Always.”

  “Do you have some kind of data storage device that can interface with my computer system?” Mick surprised Davin with the question as he was packing his few meager belongings in preparation for leaving the ranch.

  “I think I could rig one of my smaller crystals to do the job. What did you have in mind?”

  Mick seemed to be considering his response, looking him over in a way he didn’t quite understand before making his decision.

  “A parting gift. I have some digital images of Callie as she grew up. I think you should have a few of them.”

  Davin was dumbfounded. He thought all the adult O’Haras were against him pursuing a relationship with their daughter. But perhaps he’d been wrong.

  “Why would you do that for me?”

  Mick met his eyes with determination. “I was in love with Callie’s mother from almost the moment I met her. She was only about five years old and I was only a little older. I wouldn’t have traded the time we had together growing up for anything. And then I had to put aside my feelings for her forever, I thought, when she married my brother. It wasn’t easy. Neither was resurrecting those feelings when your peoples’ actions left us no alternative. But I’ve come to peace with it for the most part. Still, I think I have a little bit of an understanding of how you may be feeling right now. Callie is too young, but you have hope. In a few years, who knows? In the meantime…” He calmly pushed a few buttons on his keyboard and images of Callie at various ages appeared, entrancing him. “These may help you get through the wait.”

  Davin felt a wave of longing as he saw the images of the woman he thought might be his resonance mate. She was beautiful to him, and so full of life and emotion as she laughed into the camera, so unlike his people. He realized Mick was right. These images would be something to hold against the bleakness of his existence, a ray of hope to cling to as he waited and fought against the madness.

  Davin grasped Mick’s hand the way he’d learned humans did, and pulled the other man in for a quick, thankful embrace.

  “This is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me, Mick.”

  Mick tried to shrug off the moment, turning to the computer and preparing the files he wanted Davin to have. “If she is your resonance mate and you two do get together at some point in the future, I just want your promise that you’ll always treat her with love and respect, and protect her with your life.”

  Davin nodded solemnly. “You have my vow, Mick O’Hara.”

  Chapter Three

  Rick St. John had learned survival skills at his father’s knee. There was no better man to learn from than Zachariah St. John, former Army Ranger and medical doctor. He knew how to survive in the worst conditions, how to hide and how to fight. But the day the Alvians finally caught up with him, Rick was not at his best. Sick with a high fever, he wasn’t able to use his gift of healing or his extensive knowledge of either medicine or self-defense. His reaction time was way off and when the soldiers captured him, they took him not to prison, but to a hospital ward where he stayed for the first three weeks of his captivity.

  He didn’t make a lot of friends during that time, but he’d used the opportunity to learn more about his new situation. He didn’t let on about the true extent of his psychic talents. As far as they knew, he was a minor telepath. He wasn’t about to become the subject of study when they realized just what he could do. Healing talent as strong as his was rare. He’d be damned if he’d give the Alvians another lab rat.