Heart's Prisoner (Dark World Mates Book 1) Read online

  "We aren't totally sure as of yet," said Cole, "but engineers will be scanning the bot here shortly trying to work it out."

  Lana's gaze flicked up to the monitor above, watching Xerus intently. "I want to talk to him," she said and looked back down at Cole. "Let me talk to him."

  Cole leaned against the table. "I don't know if that's a good idea, Dr. Hart."

  Lana went over to the computer connected to the intercom and opened the controls to each room.

  "Lana..."

  She selected unit three's and tried to access the speakers but an alert popped up saying she wasn't authorized. She hit her fist against the desk in frustration.

  "You can't do that, Ms. Hart." A voice yelled out to her, echoing around the lab. Lana looked up and saw Torrence emerge from the entrance to the facility. Accompanied by two other guards, he approached the central lab, looking squarely at her, his gun drawn. "Why don't you back away from the computer now. You don't have permission to access the controls."

  Stunned, Lana straightened, turning her body toward him. "I have every right to speak to my patia–"

  "Not in this situation you don't." Torrence kept moving toward her till he was standing inches away from her. Lana backed up a step. Her eyes shot over to Dr. Yanlin and Dahlia who said nothing, then to Cole who merely watched.

  Lana's eyes turned back to Torrence, her jaw clenching. "I have to assess that he is okay."

  "He will be just fine." Torrence brought up his gun and, using the handle, touched the side of her arm, gently pushing her away from the computer. "Why don't you go back to your room, eh? It'll be safer that way."

  Lana stepped aside and looked to Cole, but Torrence blocked her view.

  "Are you ordering me out, Officer Torrence?" Lana asked through clenched teeth.

  "That I am." Torrence nodded to one of his men who came forward. "Donny here will escort you back."

  Shaking her head in disbelief, she didn't move until the guard put a hand on her shoulder. She jumped back. "Don't..." She snapped. She put up her hands and began to walk. "Cole, please I just need to see him."

  "I think it's best if you take a few days off, Dr. Hart. For your health," Cole said.

  The guard touched Lana's back to keep her moving forward. Lana turned and took one last look up at unit three's feed. Xerus still hadn't moved.

  "He could be really hurt," Lana pleaded.

  "He will be taken care of," was Cole's only reply.

  Lana cursed silently. Seething, she turned away, tugging her arm away from the guard.

  Chapter Nine

  Lana wasn't allowed back into the lab for nearly a week. In that time she made at least a half a dozen requests to be let back in, all which were ignored. Feeling defeated, Lana sulked in her room but didn't stop her work. Frustrated by their disregard for Xerus and by their need to not let her get too close, Lana accessed the QS data as well as all information that they had on Asset X so far and began studying diligently. She watched every video, again and again, watching Xerus movements, his body language, learning how he expressed himself in ways that didn't always show clearly on his face.

  When there was finally hope that she would be able to return, she was told she must first go through several psychoanalysis and evaluations before she was deemed proper to continue her work on level twelve. Lana accepted and was even happy to walk up to level six to complete them, knowing it was her chance to vent to the one person who might hear her out.

  "It's a total disregard for my work," Lana said to Nicole as they sat in Nicole's study. "I had every right to be there just as anyone. The situation involved my patient so I should have been able to tend to him. Officer Torrence had no right to keep me from him. And another thing..."

  Nicole sat quietly and just listened. Patient and bright as always.

  "I'm truly sorry that happened," she said when Lana had finished. "Did you ever find out what happened to Asset X?"

  "Dr. Dahlia Gray was kind enough to give me an update. He did wake up eventually and seems...stable. But whether there was any lasting damage from the shocks, she couldn't say."

  Nicole nodded her head, thinking for a moment. "Well, I don't blame your frustrations at all, Lana. I will speak to my uncle and let him know you should be allowed back. But as a warning, I would be careful going against any more orders. Not just saying this as your therapist but as a friend. Be careful. I know my uncle. He puts on a face for professionalism, but..." Nicole looked away and frowned. "He finds ways to get what he wants."

  ***

  Lana stepped out of the elevator and walked straight for the door, nodding her head at David who let her through. The usual guards huddling by the door gave her cold glares as she passed. As she entered, she looked up and saw on the monitor that Xerus was awake. He sat facing the wall, his eyes closed as if meditating.

  "Welcome back, Lana. Feeling better?"

  Lana skimmed her eyes down and smiled at Cole with a fake grin. "I am."

  "Good. That's good to hear."

  Lana clutched her ISpad in both hands. "And if it's not too much trouble I'd like to get started right away if you–"

  "So this is the lady who works with the thing, huh?"

  Lana turned toward one of the unit doors and saw a group of guards standing near the edge of the lab. They were unfamiliar to her save for Torrence. The one who spoke smiled at her; a large, beefy man with a mustache and shadow of a beard. The smile was somehow off-putting. He waved her to come over.

  "Come here, sweetheart, let's take a look at you."

  Lana looked at Cole. "Who are they?" she asked.

  "After the incident, it was Officer Torrence's request to bring in a new security team. I was inclined to agree with the decision."

  Lana looked back over and the smiling guard shrugged as Torrence whispered something to him. Then the man laughed. The group moved into the lab and as they approached, Lana caught the red stars with a golden eagle above them on their uniforms. She'd seen those badges before.

  "This is S division SEAL team 6," Cole said. "Officer James Galger is their leader."

  Lana stiffened. Jesus, how did Torrence acquire the most advanced tactical team within the system's registry. The military's top soldiers.

  Officer Galger's eyes drifted down her body. "You guys let a cutie like this near that lovecraftian horror?" He shook his head. "Awful I tell ya." He put out his hand and gave her another ear to ear grin.

  Lana took his hand hesitantly. "I'm Dr. Lana Hart. I work exclusively with Xer–with Asset X."

  "Lucky bastard." Galger gripped her hand firmly when she tried to pull away. "Well, you take care, Lana." His steel-gray eyes seemed odd somehow like they saw beyond her or through her. They didn't shine. With his buzzed head and his tattooed neck (twin knives in the shape of a cross), he looked almost criminal.

  Lana tugged her hand away. "Nice to meet you," she murmured, turning away. The others in the group watched her carefully but she paid them no attention. "Officer Torrence if you don't mind, I'd like to get into the unit now."

  Torrence glanced at Galger, who shrugged. Slowly the team of soldiers drifted off to take positions near the unit's door as Torrence went to the controls.

  Lana didn't hesitate. As soon as the door slid open enough, she slipped through and made her way down the hall. When she made it to the sliding door, she was forced to wait until the main door closed shut. Once it did, she hurried into the room.

  As the screen was lifted Lana saw Xerus had his back to the window, head bowed. Placing her ISpad on the chair and stepping over to the glass, he lifted his head.

  "So...you didn't run."

  A chill went down Lana's spine as if she were remembering something. "No. I didn't," she said softly.

  Xerus twisted around and his hellfire gaze caught hers. "When you didn't come back after...I could only assume."

  "I wasn't allowed back. They forced me to leave."

  Xerus grunted and looked away. "I theorized that as well."
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  "Are you hurt?"

  Xerus' tail flicked beside him. He looked back at her and for a moment all he did was stare. "Nothing they do could hurt me."

  Lana frowned. She placed her hand gently on the glass. "Xerus, why did you do it?"

  Xerus turned away. "You know why," he said in a low rumble.

  Lana shook her head. Then she thought about it and looked down at the ground. "You want to be free."

  "No."

  Lana looked up at him in shock. He stood up slowly and turned around to face her.

  "Yes, I want to be free, but that wasn't the reason."

  "I don't under..." Lana's brows furrowed. Then she gazed at him and somehow knew. "Your mission. You're still trying to find a way to..." Lana's throat tightened and she thought she might be on the verge of tears. "Damn you." She hit her fist against the glass. "Damn you!"

  Xerus straightened, his nostrils flaring, pupil's narrowing. Lana took it as a sign of surprise.

  Lana whipped around and picked up her ISpad from the seat. She brought up the record controls and hit the button to speak to Cole. "I need five minutes, " she said quickly. Before he could answer she shut off the recorder. Turning back to Xerus, she couldn't stop shaking.

  "You have no idea what you did cost you. They will never let you go, do you understand, Xerus? Does...does anything I've done mean anything to you? I'm the only one who wants you free, the only one!"

  Xerus remained quietly still and Lana laughed.

  "They brought in a SEAL team. That's the best soldiers we have. They intend to stay for as long as you remain here, I guarantee it." Lana shook her head. "Everything was working out, we had a chance..."

  "We?"

  Lana closed her eyes. "You...You had a chance. But now I don't..." Lana opened her eyes. She remembered what Jacob had told her. "You may only have one last chance. I know your mission is important, whatever it is and I know you won't say. But be honest with me, just tell me one thing just this once, that you don't intend to harm anyone here."

  Xerus came closer to the window, to stand near her. He placed his arm on the glass and leaned against it. His head lowered so that she was made to lock eyes with his.

  "I must destroy my enemy. That is a fact. And that enemy is all–"

  "All around, yes, I know," Lana said, exasperated.

  Xerus gazed at her, his eyes darkening. "In time you will know and you will understand."

  Lana made a noise and put her hands up in defeat. She turned from the window and went back to her ISpad. "Forget it." She went to turn back on the recorder.

  "Some of your theories were correct..."

  Lana paused and glanced back at him.

  "...And some of them weren't." Xerus said.

  Lana carefully set her ISpad back on the table. She crept back to the window, listening.

  "We do like dark, warm places. The hotter the better. We have a high tolerance for heat. We use shooters only if we can't get close. Otherwise, we use scyths, weapons made from the spikes and tails of our dead. Given freely..."

  Lana knew she should be writing this down but she was too transfixed to move.

  "We use our claws and tails as well. The so-called pores along my neck are to absorb oxygen when there is very little, allowing us to move through airless environments or within the water." Xerus straightened and took a step back. "And we do not come from planet 421."

  Speechless, Lana opened her mouth but before she could make a sound, her ISpad beeped and Cole's voice filled the room.

  "That's five minutes, Lana."

  Lana didn't move right away. She looked to Xerus for a long moment and he stared back at her. Eventually, she tore her gaze away and sat down in the chair. She picked up her ISpad and turned the recorder back on. She sat for a moment in silence and Xerus waited.

  He just gave her several weeks worth of information. And with all the answers came a hundred different questions. But what really brought her around was that he was trusting her.

  Lana clutched her tablet tightly and dared to let her eyes wander over him, taking in the alien before her. She never thought much to really look at him, her gaze only ever falling on his form for brief moments unless they locked eyes. Maybe because she had always been afraid of his menacing physique. But now she really looked at him, saw him.

  "I'm turning on the lights," Lana finally said.

  Xerus' nostrils flared and he tilted his head slightly. Before she would think to stop herself, Lana brought up the controls for the lights and changed them from the dull orange they had been to the bright white.

  Xerus winced and his outer and inner lids blinked several times. He shook his head and kept his eyes narrowed. When the light washed over him completely, Lana had to stifle a gasp.

  My god, he was...beautiful. No, enthralling. That was the first thought that popped into her head. The dark red and orange light had shown the demonic shades of him, but the brilliant white light showed his true colors. He was still a deep red, but with shades of purple and violet shimmering along his scales. He was still terrifying, there was no doubt about that, and in the light, she could really see the sharp edges of him. But the way the light caught his scales, how the colors melded, and the way his eyes glowed, was like looking at a creature made from a fiery nebula.

  Lana was speechless once again. She nearly dropped her tablet on the ground.

  "Still just as horrifying no doubt." Xerus' mouth twitched. He raised a hand over his eyes to block out some of the light.

  Lana laughed softly."Yes, a little." She shook her head, letting her eyes drink him in. "But...no. Xerus, you are bea–"

  The ISpad beeped. "Lana, the lights are supposed to be off as per protocol. Please turn them back." Cole's demeaning voice snapped.

  Heat rose in her neck and face and Lana pursed her lips. She didn't want to turn them back, she wanted to spend the whole time just watching Xerus, watch his lithe body move, watch the light catching in his skin.

  The heat rose higher and Lana forced herself to look away from him. She cleared her throat and reluctantly turned the lights back to their dull orange.

  Xerus observed her and Lana found she couldn't meet his eyes yet again. She smiled at him and brushed a lock of brown hair from her face.

  "I want to thank you for...what you've given me today," Lana said.

  Xerus seemed to understand. He bowed his head. "So you no longer want to strike my hide?"

  Lana arched a brow. "What?"

  "A saying from my kind." His mouth widened, showing the tips of his fangs. "You aren't upset?"

  Lana let out a short laugh. "No. You are forgiven."

  Chapter Ten

  It was the first time Lana lied in her report and she was happy to feel no sense of guilt. She valued Xerus' trust now more than she did giving away his secrets to those who would see him imprisoned forever or dead.

  She was still weary about his need to fulfill his mission and the chances of him hurting others. But Lana was adamant that they were not his enemy. Something or someone was, but not the human race as a whole. At least that's what she forced herself to believe. She'd come to accept that his chances of integrating into human society were slim, but she still believed he could be persuaded to leave peacefully upon release. It was all she could hope for now and, though it wasn't her original goal, she wanted to help Xerus be free either way.

  After the incident with the Scibot, Lana knew she was going to have to do some serious damage control. She called Jacob on video chat as soon as she was able and begged him to allow her to still have a chance to show Xerus could be trusted.

  "I'll give him this one shot, Lana. But it's going to take some serious convincing," Jacob had said. "Because you are my friend and I trust your judgment. But this is his last chance."

  Lana felt confident enough that in a month's time she could get Xerus to cooperate. As she walked back into the facility, she walked in with a new, hardened determination. Not even Cole's critical gaze or Officer Galger's
wolfish smile and off-putting stare could phase her.

  "I'm ready to enter the unit," Lana said to Officer Torrence without even looking at him.

  When Torrence said nothing, Lana side-eyed him and shivered. His mouth was tilted up in a smug sort of smile.

  "What is it?" she asked, not too friendly.

  "Got the announcement from General Hartin. He told us about your little ploy to convince him and the other generals of letting that thing out."

  Lana tensed. "Yes. That's correct. That is after all why I've been here this whole time, Officer Torrence, not that I expect you to still comprehend that."

  Officer Torrence's smile widened but his eyes read murder. "It just seems a little hopeless to even attempt. Not that I don't expect you won't try anyway. But there's something you might want to see first." Torrence shifted in his seat. Turning toward his computer, he pulled up what looked to be video feed of the edge of a dark forest. Lana moved closer as he pressed play and saw that it was footage from a soldier's helmet-cam.

  The sound was low enough so only they could hear. there was a rustling as the soldier moved through the grass. Around him was a military set-up, a base camp with movable units, and standardized armored vehicles. When the soldier turned his head, she could see lab testing equipment in the distance along with a few warehouse bots lumbering about, carrying metal crates. The soldier seemed to be a lookout, guarding the camp for the night. There was a giant, orange moon in the sky with a small yellow one beside it. It was too dark to make out the trees but, in the grass, Lana noticed little blue and green mushrooms glowing softly. The soldier was talking with one of his teammates, sitting by a post, when a low rumble was heard in the distance.

  "What was that?" the soldier said, twisting his head around.

  The rumble came again and the soldier clicked on the flashlight atop his gun and directed it toward the forest. He skimmed the area then swerved his light to the left in response to the snapping of branches.

  "What the hell?" he whispered.

  There was silence for a moment. Then a huge shadow flashed between the trees. The soldier jumped up and yelled and his teammate drew up his gun and began shooting. They shot toward the forest, into the darkness. The soldier turned on his communicator.