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  Deep continued to frown. “That’s exactly what I’m afraid of. The stories I’ve heard—”

  “Don’t apply to me,” Saber finished for him. “Look, I know you’re not thrilled to have me aboard—none of the other Kindred males are. But I’m here on a mission and I have no interest in molesting any of your females, either physically or mentally.”

  “You should give him some credit, Deep,” Lock, the light twin told his brother reasonably. “He has behaved honorably so far. And besides, you’re the last one I’d think would be predisposed to think the worse of our new brother. You and Xairn get along fine and he’s Scourge.”

  “That’s different,” Deep growled. “Xairn doesn’t have the ability to go around Touching every innocent female he sees with his mind.”

  Saber felt a surge of irritation. “Let me ask you something, Brother,” he said, frowning at the dark twin. “Would you say you’re physically stronger than any female on the Mother Ship?”

  Deep nodded shortly. “Of course. We love our Earth brides and they have great strength of character but physically, they’re no match for us.”

  “So you could, if you wanted, go around raping every female you saw,” Saber pointed out. “I mean, you have the physical strength to do it, don’t you?”

  “You sick bastard,” Deep snarled. “I would never—”

  “I wouldn’t either,” Saber said quietly.

  “I think what he’s trying to say is that just because you have the ability to do something, doesn’t mean you’ll do it,” Lock said.

  “I know what he’s saying.” Deep shot him a mistrustful look. “I just don’t like the way he’s saying it. And I don’t like him being alone with Kat.”

  “I’m not.” Saber held out his hands again, still silently asking for peace. He could understand the dark twin’s anger—after all, he wouldn’t want Lissa to be alone with a strange male, especially not one dressed as he was right now. “Lissa my…my kinswoman is here as well.”

  “Kinswoman?” Lock frowned.

  “Sister. My little sister.” The words seemed to stick in Saber’s throat but he forced himself to say them anyway. After all, by the laws of his people they were true, even if his heart told him otherwise. “She is to be part of the mission to recover the stolen scrolls which were sold to a collector on Yonnie Six.”

  “Yonnie Six, huh?” Deep looked him up and down again. “Well, that explains the way you’re dressed, at least. You know what they do to males on that planet?”

  “I’m aware, yes,” Saber said stonily. “I could hardly put on a collar and leash and not have some idea of what I’m getting into.”

  “You’re very brave,” Lock said quietly. “The Yonnites have the correct physical characteristics to make a genetic trade with us but we’ve never even approached them because of the barbaric ways they treat their males. Yet you’re going among them voluntarily.”

  “That does take courage,” Deep said grudgingly. “I don’t know if I could do it. Don’t know if I could submit so completely.”

  Saber took a deep breath. “I don’t expect it to be easy. But I have to keep Lissa safe. For her I would do anything—dare anything. Submit to anything.”

  Deep cocked an eyebrow at him. “You may have to keep that pledge before long. I hope you mean it.”

  “I do.” Saber thought of Lissa, of her wide jade green eyes still so innocent, of her tender pink lips which had never been kissed. They were going to an ugly place—it was opulent and extravagantly wealthy to be sure. But from what he had learned, Yonnie Six was seething with depravity and corruption. He was determined to protect not only Lissa’s life, but her virtue and innocence as well. No matter what it takes, he told himself.

  “She’s more than just a sister to you, isn’t she?” Lock said quietly.

  “Of course not.” Saber shifted uneasily. “We would never…I mean, by the rules of my people…”

  “Uh-huh,” Deep rumbled sarcastically. “She’s just your sister but you’re willing to die for her even though you don’t love her at all. Keep telling yourself that. It’s so obviously true.”

  Saber frowned. “There is no blood relation between myself and Lissa. But we are connected by more than blood—by the ties of clan and adoption I am her older brother. Nothing can ever happen between us. Nor do I want it to.”

  “Are you sure?” Lock looked at him earnestly. “No one will judge you here, brother. No offense but we find your people’s laws both archaic and much too stringent.”

  “Our ways of thinking may seem outmoded to you but they are the ways I have to return to once this mission is completed,” Saber said stiffly.

  Lock raised both hands in a gesture of reconciliation. “Just trying to help.”

  Saber merely nodded, not trusting himself to speak. As if he needed help to feel more for Lissa than he should!

  “We’d better go find Kat,” Deep said, frowning slightly. He nodded shortly at Saber. “Good luck with your trip to Yonnie Six. I wish you success in your…submission.”

  “Deep…” Lock threw his twin a reproachful glance. “I’m sorry, Saber. Please forgive my brother’s rudeness and accept our best wishes for your mission.”

  “Thank you,” Saber said stiffly. “Excuse me, I need to change.” He turned to go but Deep’s voice followed him down the hallway.

  “You might as well just leave the leash and collar on. You’re going to have to get used to it on Yonnie Six.”

  Saber felt tension creep into his shoulders but he refused to rise to the bait. Clearly the dark twin was spoiling for a fight but Saber was not the one to give it to him. A lifetime of controlling his emotions and restraining his abilities helped him keep his cool. Still, Deep’s sarcastic remark burned. Exactly how far would he have to go with this ruse in order to protect Lissa?

  All the way, he told himself as he turned into the bathroom and looked at the black leash and collar encircling his throat. I’ll go all the way if I have to.

  Chapter Two

  “It’s okay, hon. Everything is going to be okay.” Kat’s soothing voice and the cool cloth she put over Lissa’s eyes finally helped end the tears.

  “I’m sorry.” Lissa sat up and pressed the cloth to her hot face, glad for its calming chill. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I guess…I guess I just didn’t realize exactly what I was getting myself into when I took this mission. But when I tried on this dress…” She gestured to the stiff purple fabric still encasing her.

  “When you tried it on, it made everything real, didn’t it?” Kat said gently. “Look, I can understand. Sometimes we’re put into situations we don’t think we can handle. But you’re strong, Lissa—a lot stronger than you think. You’re going to do fine when you get to Yonnie Six—I’m just trying to give you the tools to work with once you get there.”

  “I know that.” Lissa sniffed. “And I thank you for it, Kat. You’ve spent a great deal of time on this—as much or more than I have—researching the culture and the dress patterns.” She sighed and ran her hand over the stiff, shimmering train. “It really is beautiful. I’m just not used to showing so much of myself. And I can’t believe we’re leaving tomorrow.”

  “Well, if it’s any consolation, you’ve definitely got the figure to carry it off.” Kat smiled at her. “There was a time when I would have killed to be as thin as you.”

  “And now?” Lissa raised an eyebrow.

  “Not so much.” Kat smiled. “I wound up with Twin Kindred—they’re into big beautiful women on Twin Moons. So it all worked out.”

  “Are you going to be joined with them soon?” She felt bad for taking up so much of Kat’s time. She’d been living aboard the Kindred Mother Ship for the past few months and in that time her new friend had hosted several baby showers and a joining ceremony for her friends. And she had also taken it upon herself to get Lissa all ready for her undercover mission. Lissa had been so worried about what she and Saber were about to attempt that it hadn’t even occu