Taunting Krell Read online

  “That name actually causes me intense pain. I’m Cyan now.” She met his stare. “I don’t want to hold on to anything from that life anymore. The one good thing she ever did has turned out to be a sad, horrible thing.”

  His mouth opened but she held up her hand to silence him.

  “Don’t. You can’t excuse what you’ve done. Don’t tell Mavo I’m here. I don’t want to cause him any more pain and I’m so angry that I’d say things that will shred him if he’s half the man he used to be. I shouldn’t have ever told any of you anything but seeing that tall, scarred cyborg made me stop protecting myself because I knew who he was. I hoped something from my past remained—a friend—but I don’t have any. Not here, not with your kind, and I just want to be alone. Lock me up and throw away the key. Just don’t think I’ll allow you to force me to make more cyborgs. It won’t happen.”

  Zorus hesitated. “No male will force you. I’ll make sure of that.”

  Cyan watched Zorus turn and leave her room. Her eyes closed and she sank back against the pillows of the bed. She fought the urge to curl up onto her side and have a good cry. The “history lesson” had left her with a migraine. At least Mavo had survived, they’d been friends, and she’d loved him. That had to be enough to make up for the horrors she’d uncovered. He might live in a screwed-up society but he had escaped from Earth.

  * * * * *

  Anger burned through Krell as he glared at Zorus, who had buzzed at his front door to request admittance. He stood in the open doorway to block the man from entering him home. “What do you want?”

  “I came from Medical.”

  “I don’t want to discuss that treacherous spy. I didn’t harm her leg. I admit I lost my temper when she mentioned Mavo’s name but she touched me first. It was unnerving and I couldn’t gauge her honesty for some reason until I realized she’s not human. I was careful not to cause real harm with my rough treatment of her. I judged her weight and height, and adjusted the force I used so I wouldn’t break any of her bones when I threw her. I made sure she’d land without severe damage. I only wanted to shake her up.”

  “I’m not here about that.”

  “What are you doing here? You’re off duty. You promised your female, Charlie, no business during your honeymoon.”

  “Charlie understood when I explained after the council informed me of the female’s unknown origins. I wanted to see and speak to her myself. I did that and now I’m here.”

  “Why? You have no reason to chew me out for the harsh treatment of the prisoner.”

  “I need a favor.”

  “No.” Krell tried to close the door.

  Zorus struck his hand out, halting it. “I believe her.”

  Shock rolled through Krell. “You’re growing soft and foolish. I am glad I’ve never experienced love if this is what it does. She’s a spy from Earth.”

  “She raged at me after Jazel informed her she needed to conform to our laws. She said enough to make me believe she is Emily Pleva, Krell. Her father was a brilliant scientist. He somehow managed to give her a new body.”

  “Impossible. Mavo talked nonstop about his precious human for years after we escaped. She was dying of an incurable disease that slowly ceased the functions of her body. I saw her from a distance a few times while on Earth. She was heavyset and I could tell she was tall despite her being dependent upon a device that moved her body while sitting. Also, she had to be hooked to machines. She had totally different coloring, the face isn’t the same, and she’d never have survived this long. She also wouldn’t appear so youthful, regardless of what Earth scientists can do to slow the aging process.”

  “Edward Pleva created us. Why couldn’t he create a body for someone he loved when it would have been the most significant project of his career? She was his only child. I am aware of facts that you weren’t. I was part of the group who planned our escape and know how much his daughter did to help us. She’s the reason we are free now. If that is her, which I believe, we owe her.”

  “I don’t.”

  Zorus cocked his head. “Did Mavo ever tell you how he knew you’d been taken from the group before we rebelled or how he arrived to carry you out of that holding cell? Did you ever consider it lucky that the fire alarms began while the human guards were torturing you to death? I’m also friends with Mavo. He was with her when the alert on her system notified her that a cyborg had been taken to detention. She sent him after you and lured the guards away.” He paused. “Not only did she save your life but she gave you freedom as well.”

  Krell took a deep breath. “Understood, but I don’t believe she’s really that human.”

  “You’re the best interrogator we’ve ever had. That’s why I’ve come here. You owe Emily Pleva your life. There’s also the fact that you’re friends with Mavo.”

  “What do you want?” Krell had a feeling he’d hate the answer.

  “I don’t want to lock her up in a detention cell. We owe her more than that. I have not grown soft, Krell. I’m being logical. It’s possible that Edward Pleva could have somehow put his daughter into a new body. He did love her and we concluded she was his only weakness. You would have been convinced as I am that it’s possible if you’d heard her rage at the council and me over our breeding laws. I actually experienced shame.” He gave a small smile. “She made good points.”

  “Earth Government must have figured exactly how we were able to escape and are using that information to plant her with us to spy. That is logical as well.” He paused, his mind working. “How would she know about our breeding laws? That’s proof of her treachery. When you were taken back to Earth they must have extracted information from you that you aren’t aware of.”

  “I didn’t break. Coval made the point that she’s female, not human, and shouldn’t be detained in a holding cell. The council was visiting her and held the discussion in her room. Jazel explained our breeding laws to her and how she needed to join a family unit with two males. She’s physically able to breed. Since she’s alone, new, they expect her to be handed into one as soon as they decide who to give her to. She compared us to Earth Government.”

  An uneasy feeling settled into the pit of Krell’s stomach. “You’re going to force her to join with males she doesn’t know and not give her a choice of which ones will be a part of her family unit? That’s harsh. She’s not human but she’s possibly some form of upgraded version of us. We wouldn’t do that to one of our own.”

  Zorus watched him silently. “Perhaps. She’s been deemed healthy for reproduction. While she’s smaller than our female cyborgs, it won’t harm her. She has threatened to castrate any male who attempts it.”

  “What do you want?” Krell released the doorjamb and crossed his arms over his chest.

  “I want to send her here. I will tell the council you’ll be perfect for her. I’m certain you will learn how to read her enough to discover if she’s telling the truth or if she’s lying. It’s what you do best. You will get to the bottom of this mystery.”

  “No.”

  “What if she is Emily Pleva? Do you want to tell Mavo you could have protected her from another male who may agree with the majority of the council that assigning her into a family unit is the only option? Do you think he’ll be thrilled if that male decides to force the issue? She’s attractive, on Garden with strangers, and vulnerable.”

  Krell clenched his teeth. “That’s low. No male would harm her.”

  “Are you certain? Some of us hold grudges against humans and she appears to be a human. They may not give her the respect due a cyborg female. Some may even logically assume she isn’t to be given the option of saying no to physical contact. What are the odds of a male not touching her when she’s been given to him? If he has a good friend or has friends who have been waiting for a female to join with them, who is to say he won’t accept them into the family unit? It will be up to the primary male to make those decisions in her case. He’ll have total control of what happens to her since she won�