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“If they submit they are ruled with a benevolent hand.” He still stared straight ahead as he spoke. “They are given the opportunity to get emotion dampers and if they accept them, they are not purged.”

  “What?” Mei-Li could barely believe what she was hearing. “So you go in and take over their world and tell them that their only choices are losing all their feelings or death? That’s horrible!”

  Six frowned. “It is simply the way of the Collective and it is ultimately to the benefit of the world we are inhabiting. We have brought lasting peace to many planets in this way.”

  “Peace or oppression?” Mei-Li demanded. She just wished she knew what planet the awful robot overlords of Z4 were planning to take over so she could warn them. Then she remembered the way One’s eyes had flickered over her and she got a sudden feeling of dread. “Six, he wasn’t talking about my planet, was he? The Dark Kindred aren’t going to try and take over Earth, are they?”

  He shook his head. “Highly unlikely. I have not been told the name of the conquest planet yet but I believe it to be closer to our solar system than yours.”

  “But you’re One’s right hand man,” Mei-Li objected. “How come he hasn’t told you?”

  He shrugged again, his broad shoulders rolling under his protective exoskeleton.

  “Such information is usually kept secret until very close to the time of invasion. One and the Collective are probably the only beings that know the name of the target as yet. One will tell me what it is when it is necessary for me to know.”

  “But you’re sure it’s not Earth?” she persisted.

  “I would guess not, although I would not be surprised to see the Dark Kindred initiate a takeover of the Mother Ship that orbits Earth’s moon sometime in the future,” Six said. “The head of their Council, High Chancellor Terex appears to be unstable. It is conceivable that the Collective might calculate the odds of such a takeover easy and prudent.”

  “I see.” Mei-Li made a mental note to warn the Kindred of the Mother Ship if she could. Chancellor Terex had been an absolute bastard when she went with her father to meet them but some of the other warriors on the Council had been nice—especially Commander Sylvan who had gone out of his way to reassure her personally. They didn’t deserve to have their emotions stripped away and their ship melted down for scrap metal or whatever horrible thing the Collective had planned for them. She wondered if there was any way to call them from the medical barge…

  “We are here,” Six said, interrupting her musings. “Prepare for docking,”

  “I’m prepared.” Mei-Li watched as the little space craft came in for a landing in the vast docking area with its black walls and shiny black oil-slick floor. The only good thing about coming back to the medical barge was that she would get to see Yipper again—at least she hoped. She had grown quite fond of the little Tolleg and considered him a friend. It would be good to see a friendly face, especially now when Six was being so cold and formal again.

  But when Six placed a call to ask Yipper to meet them, they were informed by a robotic voice that he wasn’t available.

  “What do you mean, not available?” Six barked at the viewscreen, sounding agitated. “I do not care that it is late—rouse him from his sleeping chamber. My enhancements require immediate attention.”

  “Apologies, Six,” the robotic voice issuing from the viewscreen intoned. “But Yipper is not resting. He is performing emergency surgery which is likely to take him most of the night. He regrets not being available for you and offers a consult from one of his colleagues, the Tolleg called Bowzer.”

  “No, I want no one but Yipper,” Six growled.

  “Very well, he will see you first thing in the morning,” the voice said.

  “I suppose that will have to do.” Six still looked unhappy. “Ready two guest rooms for us to sleep in.”

  “Apologies but we are filled to capacity at the moment. One room only is available,” the voice said. “Shall I ready it for you?”

  Six sighed. “Yes, do so.”

  “Very good. You may go to the Kindred guest quarters where a room will be waiting. Have a pleasant night’s rest.”

  The voice clicked off, leaving the interior of the shuttle quiet.

  “You didn’t have to try and get us two rooms,” Mei-Li said at last. “I don’t bite, you know. If you want I’ll sleep on the floor.”

  “That will be unnecessary. I will be the one sleeping on the floor.” Six looked away. “Come. Let us try to get some rest. It seems that your trip back to Earth will be delayed, at least for one more night.”

  Chapter Twenty-six

  Six tossed and turned on the floor beside the olive green sousa, trying to get comfortable but sleep would not come. He told himself it was because the floor was too hard and the fibers covering it were too scratchy, but he knew neither of these issues was truly the problem.

  The problem was the female lying just a few feet away. Though the room was dark and silent, he could still hear her light breathing and the soft rustling as she turned on her side. He could still smell her too—the sweet, feminine scent that drove him nearly insane with need and lust seemed to hang around her like a perfume he couldn’t escape.

  This was the real reason he had wanted two rooms—her scent was too enticing. Just being near her and knowing that he couldn’t touch her was the purest kind of torture. Gods, if only he could hold her in his arms, just one more time…but Six knew that was impossible. If he allowed himself to hold her, then he would want to kiss her. And if he let himself taste her lips, he would soon want to taste other things.

  Unbidden, the memory of kneeling between her legs to worship her pussy with his tongue came back to him so strongly he could barely stifle a groan. Gods, she’d been so wet and hot and her soft, moaning cries had driven him nearly mad with desire. Her pussy had been so sweet and wet, trembling beneath his tongue as he licked and sucked and lapped her tender flesh until she quivered and called his name. Just thinking about it made his shaft so hard he swore he could fuck through a brick wall. If he could just…No!

  Six sighed in frustration and turned over again. Gods damn it to the Seven Hells, he had to stop thinking about Mei-Li. Had to stop desiring her. If only Yipper had been available to replace his emotion-damper at once! If only there had been another room to spare! Spending an entire night within such a short distance of the female he so desired was beyond frustrating.

  “You okay?” Mei-Li’s voice said softly from the darkness. “You sound kind of restless down there.”

  “I am well,” Six growled, telling an outright falsehood. “I am simply attempting to get comfortable.”

  “You don’t have to sleep on the hard, cold floor, you know,” she said. “This bed is plenty big enough to share.”

  “Thank you for your offer but I cannot be…” He cleared his throat. “I do not trust myself to be so close to you. Not with my emotion damper malfunctioning.”

  “I promise not to touch you,” she persisted. “If…I mean, clearly you don’t want me to.”

  If only she knew how desperately he did want her touch! The memory of the night she had taken him in hand and stroked him until he had come in her soft, cool fingers was suddenly strong in his mind. It was almost enough to tempt him into going to her and taking her in his arms.

  No, whispered a voice at the back of his head. The memories, Six. Mere and Pere and Kaylee. You must resist!

  “Thank you anyway,” he said roughly. “But it not you touching me that I worry about. I am…better off here. On the floor.” Away from you.

  “All right.” She sounded disappointed and also sad. It occurred to Six that he could tell her emotions simply from the sound of her voice. How far he had come from the time when he had first claimed her and he wasn’t certain of any of her feelings! It’s because I’ve become attuned to her. Because I’ve allowed myself to care about her. To have feelings for her.

  It was the worst, most damning confession he could have made to himself