Love's Beguiling Healer Page 9

  Oh no! Don't read it now!

  Hurriedly clicking out of the screen, she crossed to the containers and hunted for the keyboard that attached to the small data collector.

  When Wylin entered seconds later, it was to find her on her hands and knees, sorting through the container.

  "You've obviously been down there awhile,” he commented. “Your cheeks are red."

  "I misplaced my discs.” Grateful for the excuse, she rose to her feet and waved the small keyboard in her hand. “I have to sort the data into workable files."

  He glanced around the cabin, then ambled over to the bathroom. “Illam left, you say?"

  "Uh-huh.” Keeping her eyes downcast, she attached the keyboard to the data collector.

  "Did you find out anything useful?” He turned around slowly, his gaze flicking around the cabin.

  Oh boy, did I ever! “He was able to fill in the blanks that Lysie wasn't able to. What are you looking for?” She managed to smile as she glanced up at him.

  "Just doing my job."

  "So now I'm just a job to you?” She congratulated herself on being able to laugh without it croaking.

  "You've always been a hard job,” Wylin joked back. His keen gaze searched her face then ran over her with expert attention. When he saw her nipples still pressing against her bodice, his gaze snapped back up to her face, his expression intent.

  "What can I say?” Tera shrugged. “I think we should include their mating rituals into our sex manuals."

  "You don't say?"

  "I'll let you listen to the data sometime.” After I wipe off Illam's and my little teaching session. If Wylin heard what had transpired, he'd be after Illam's hide. Literally.

  "Mmm.” Picking up one of the books by her bedside, Wylin flicked through it then put it down.

  Seeking to divert his suspicions, Tera queried, “Did you get a good look around the ship?"

  "I certainly did.” Wylin strolled across the cabin. “How about I take you on a little tour?"

  His way of saying he had no intentions of leaving her alone right now. Tera couldn't help but grin inwardly. “Even with my condition?"

  Wylin didn't even have to look at her breasts to know what she meant. Instead, he crossed back to the bed and picked up the book. “I think we'll stay here for a while first."

  Dropping onto the sofa, he arranged himself comfortably and opened the book.

  Knowing he wouldn't leave her for a long time now, Tera turned back to the data collector. There was no way she could read through what the data collector had recorded—and it would have recorded everything said—so she immersed herself into setting up appropriate files and tables for her research.

  A companionable silence fell in the cabin, and she was able to forget the troublesome thoughts and, for a time, the handsome Felys who had awakened long-quenched fires.

  * * * *

  Space

  The hold was under constant attack. He stood briefly in the shadows, contemplating his next move. The hold? The laser pits? One of the gunners was dead—he would be needed up there.

  The sound of screeching metal, a sharp lurch and flickering lights made him look up with dread.

  "Captain! The hold!” The voice over the intercom was urgent. “They're trying to breach the hold!"

  He knew his captain would come down the stairwell like a bat out of hell. But he'd be descending into hell. Closing his eyes, he felt for the small pouch on his belt. Undoing the flap, he reached in and carefully retrieved the photo image inside.

  In the flickering cast by the lights overhead, he gazed with longing and sadness at the beautiful wench laughing up at him. Her eyes sparkled with life. With love. Sparkled at him as he'd taken the image. They'd spent the day out near the river, where they'd fished, and made love, and talked of the future.

  A future he didn't know if they'd have now.

  The ship rocked and shuddered. The stairwell door slammed open, and he looked up as his captain stormed through into the corridor.

  Catching sight of him, his captain opened his mouth. Then his gaze dropped to the image his crewman held, and his expression was empathic.

  The men looked at each other. Laser fire boomed, the lights flickered, and the emergency signal in the far corner was flashing red. Seconds ticked past, and then the captain nodded abruptly and swung on his heel, hurrying away.

  Giving the laughing photo image a brief kiss, he placed it back in the pouch and secured the flap. He didn't know if he'd see her again. God, he prayed so. They were both so young...

  Throwing back his shoulders, he strode after his captain, palming his laser as he went.

  * * * *

  Refusing to give Illam the satisfaction of knowing that he'd rattled her composure well and truly, Tera straightened her shoulders and strode along beside Wylin to the evening meal. Without looking at the table, she went to the food warmers and chose her food.

  A Felys male coming to stand beside her sniffed the air, then glanced at her curiously.

  "The food smells delicious, doesn't it?” She smiled.

  "Yes, it does. But that's not...” The black threads in his green eyes writhed suddenly, his pupils enlarging. He leaned in closer to her and sniffed again.

  "Excuse me,” Tera said stiffly. “What are you doing?” What was with the Felys and this sniffing business?

  "You carry another's scent,” he replied bluntly.

  Wylin, who was pouring himself a mug of hot una, looked up. “Another's scent?"

  The Felys nodded.

  "Scent?” Tera queried. “What scent?"

  "Whose scent?” Wylin asked at the same time, his gaze drifting back towards the table.

  The Felys looked directly at Tera, his gaze sliding down her cheek to her jaw line.

  Uh-oh. Tera had a sudden enlightenment. Who had wiped the side of his mouth across her cheek and jaw? Illam! He'd marked her! Like a ruddy lycat! Somehow, in his feline-like way, he'd marked her with his scent! This Felys can smell him on me!

  Not wanting a bloodbath between Wylin and Illam, she shrugged nonchalantly. “It's just my perfume, Wylin."

  "He said another's scent.” Wylin frowned.

  "The scent is made by someone else,” she replied. “It is another's scent. It covers my natural scent.” She almost glared at the hapless Felys. “Right?"

  The Felys grinned at her and resumed filling his plate.

  Wylin moved up close beside her. “Is there something I should know?"

  "Not unless you want to test my perfume yourself,” she answered.

  His expression was unfathomable, but his gaze flicked from her to Illam, and back to her again. Picking up his mug of una, he took a thoughtful sip, then retrieved his plate and waited for her to finish her selection.

  By the time they'd returned to the table, she'd managed to get her face into a pleasant expression. When Illam glanced up at her as she sat opposite him, she smiled faintly. In fact, what she wanted to do was kick him fair in the arse for putting her in such an awkward position. If he had a tail I'd pull it.

  There was no shame or apology in his eyes. In fact, it was a little hard to say what he thought, for his handsome features, so eerily feline in some ways, gave nothing away. But the glow of arousal in his eyes was gone, thank the suns.

  Coolly she raised her brow at him, hopefully giving him the impression that what had transpired between them earlier meant absolutely nothing.

  "Did you get the information you needed, Tera?” Denyon asked from beside her.

  Gratefully, she turned her attention to him. “Thank you, yes."

  "So you've managed to make a start on the research, then?"

  "I've spent the time working out files and things.” She forked up some roast potato.

  It literally dripped with the delicious juices of the meats. The Felys obviously liked their food cooked in the juices. She cast a glance around the table and saw that some of the Felys were eating their meat partially raw. Yuck. Then again, many pe
ople like their meat rare.

  Wondering if it was normal for their diet to include half raw meat, she turned to address Denyon, only to find him leaning forward and inhaling—hells bells, not her scent again!

  Before he could say anything, she said from between clenched teeth, “It's my perfume."

  "Oh?” he murmured, and sat back in his chair. He looked at Illam from beneath lowered lids. “Really?"

  "Yes, really."

  "How interesting."

  "It's not, I assure you.” She cast Illam a glance as she said it.

  Illam gave her a bland stare, his golden orbs as blank as a slate.

  "In fact, I find the scent not to my liking, and if I'd realized that it was still lingering, I'd have showered before I came in."

  Denyon looked at her thoughtfully, one brow raised.

  Illam, damn him, was still giving no sign of his feelings.

  Picking up her glass, Tera took a sip of iced water and tried to focus her attention elsewhere. And by the suns, when I get back to my cabin I'm going to have a hot shower!

  "So you learnt more than you thought you would, hmm?” Denyon murmured.

  Calmly, she set the glass down again. “Some things are better in small doses. I think Illam has told me all that he can. I'll need to interview others, of course."

  "Ah.” One elbow leaning on the table, Denyon rubbed the side of his hand behind his ear thoughtfully. His green eyes gleamed.

  The pupils in Illam's eyes slitted as he continued to gaze at Tera. “You think I have told you all I know?"

  "I'm sure you've gone through anything that's worthwhile.” She pierced a piece of carrot and brought it to her lips.

  "You don't think I know any more?” The challenge was a low vibration in his tone.

  "I think you've run your course.” She jabbed the next bit of carrot with a little more force.

  "I assure you, healer, the course has only just begun.” His smile showed the tips of his sharp canines.

  "And I assure you, Illam, that the course has staggered to an end.” This time she stabbed the carrot with her fork.

  "There is no staggering on my course.” Illam's voice had lowered to a soft rumble.

  Had the man no shame? She met his daring look directly. Nope.

  "I feel like I'm missing something here,” Wylin stated bluntly.

  "Trust me, there was nothing worth missing.” Tera gave him a falsely bright smile.

  A half stifled laugh came from halfway down the table, and she looked down the length to see three Felys nudging each other. Hmmm, a silver tabby, a ginger and white and gold, and a black, white and seal. Tera cocked her head to one side. I wonder what their genes contain. I must have a look at a sample of their genes; see where they inherit their colors from. If it's the same as normal lycats and—

  "Am I missing a private joke here?” Wylin queried.

  Startled out of her musings, Tera blinked at him. “Pardon?"

  Leaning towards her, he spoke for her ears alone. “Those Felys you're looking at, have been laughing and looking at Illam. He's staring at you. Denyon keeps glancing between you and Illam. What is it, Tera?"

  She had to waylay his suspicions. To cause tension was not something she was going to be responsible for, and besides, the problem was between Illam and her, not the Felys and Argons. Tera shrugged and answered just as quietly, “Illam and I don't exactly get on. We rub each other up the wrong way, and I think his friends find it funny. Don't fret, Wylin. Please."

  His eyes locked with hers. “You'd tell me if something is wrong?"

  "I promise.” She smiled up at him. “I'll let you come to my rescue if you need to."

  Under cover of the table, Wylin gave her knee a friendly pat, and then returned his attention to his food.

  Tera picked up her own fork, but thinking she heard a faint growl, she looked up to meet a narrow-eyed, golden gaze. She could have sworn she saw the corner of Illam's lip lift, but then he forked a mouthful of meat up and closed his lips around it.

  He also turned his attention to Denyon, and started conversing with him.

  Mentally shaking her head, Tera resumed eating. Felys!

  * * * *

  The food tasted like sawdust, but Illam chewed manfully onward. When he'd noticed Wylin touch Tera's leg under the table, he'd been ready to growl a warning, and one growl had actually managed to slip from him before he could stop it. It was obvious that Tera heard it, for she had looked up, quite startled.

  It was also obvious that Denyon was going to talk to him later about her. Damn.

  He managed to escape the dining cabin before Denyon finished eating, but it wasn't long before his captain and friend managed to track him down in the control cabin.

  Sitting before the console, his booted feet resting on the edge of it, Illam crossed his ankles, leaned back in the chair and rested his linked hands upon his muscle-ribbed stomach. He could see his friend's reflection in the space shield as he entered the control cabin.

  The communications officer and pilot were both gone, the ship on auto pilot, so apart from himself and Denyon, the large, roomy cabin was empty. It was better this way. He didn't want anyone overhearing anything and gossiping about it later. Or using it to stir him up into a hissy fit.

  Giving Illam some room, Denyon stood facing him, and leaned his hips back against the console. Folding his arms, he studied Illam intently.

  "Go ahead,” Illam drawled. “Say it."

  "You marked her."

  "I got carried away."

  "Just how carried away did you get?"

  "Let's just say that if Wylin hadn't contacted her when he did..."

  "I thought you disliked her."

  Surprise. So did I. “She annoys me."

  "But not enough to stop yourself from marking her so that every male aboard would know you'd been close to her."

  "Trust me, I was just as surprised as you are now.” Illam raised his brows and frankly admitted, “The mating talk sort of aroused me."

  "Sort of?"

  "All right, I was ready to mate with her."

  "Just how far did this go, Illam?"

  Not in the least offended by the question, Illam replied bluntly, “I had her up against the rail."

  "Please don't tell me you were kneading her stomach."

  He could just about feel that soft tummy beneath his fingertips now. Illam flexed his hands in memory.

  "By Delcat!” Denyon threw up both hands. “The healer is here to investigate our runts, Illam. She's not here for you to play with!"

  "She's a tasty little morsel to play with.” Illam grinned.

  "If Wylin finds out you've been playing with Tera, there'll be trouble.” Denyon ran one hand through his tabby hair, leaving the long strands disheveled.

  "Don't worry. The healer doesn't want it to be known that she's been with me. She won't tell him."

  "You better hope not. I don't feel like getting between lytomcats fighting over a female. It won't help our runts, or our clan."

  Illam stretched lazily. “She won't."

  "You sound so confident."

  "Tera isn't the kind to go running to a man every time something happens that she doesn't like.” That was one thing he instinctively knew about her.

  "Just keep your dick in your pants, Illam."

  "It won't be hard to do,” Illam replied unconcernedly. “I won't allow myself to get into any close situation with her like that again.

  "You think it's just that situation?” Denyon was unconvinced. “Illam, the way you marked her is the way a potential mate marks his female."

  Illam laughed outright. “What are you on about? We've all marked a few pretty Felys in our times of mating."

  "Well, I know it. But those times were faint markings, quickly evaporating.” Denyon regarded him soberly. “This time, your mark was as strong as though you'd given it to her seconds before she came into the dining cabin."

  "Don't be ridiculous!” Illam scoffed.

&
nbsp; "When Tera left the cabin, your mark remained clearly on her."

  Illam shrugged. “It'll wash off. I just got a little carried away."

  Denyon's expression was dubious.

  "Come morning, you won't even smell me on her,” Illam stated confidently.

  "How about your growling at the dinner table when Wylin touched her?"

  "I had something in my throat."

  "Liar."

  "Reflex."

  Denyon shook his head. “Just take more notice of what you do, all right?"

  "Trust me.” Illam grinned confidently. “I'm a big Felys tom now."

  Denyon sighed. “That's what I'm afraid of."

  Illam chuckled.

  * * * *

  The Cave

  The rain didn't stop the progress of the one thing that would save them. They worked diligently, carving and shaping, smoothing and toning. Whispering incantations over it.

  She wasn't certain it would work, but it must. It was their only hope, right?

  The ground shifted beneath them, and with a cry they all fled back into the cave. Fled, even though they knew that the ship passing overhead wouldn't have seen them, for the thick canopy of trees hid them from sight.

  They snarled, hissed and spat their combined fear and anger. Several flattened their ears. Another cautiously approached the entrance to the cave, crouching down and crawling forward on hands and knees.

  It seemed they waited for an eternity. Whining, the guard at the front of the cave lifted his head and sniffed, searching the air for alien smells. Nothing but the scents of nature assailed his nostrils, and he sighed with relief.

  Cautiously they exited the cave, the last one holding the precious object closely to her body. It needed the sun to thrive. To move. To save their lives.

  After setting the precious thing on the ground, they each returned to their own special ritual to ready the one thing that would save them from slavery.

  Four

  Determined to try and put aside the unsettling events with Illam the day before, Tera decided she might as well start getting some samples from the Felys aboard the ship. After all, she was supposed to collect blood and tissue samples to study. Some of the data she would be able to transfer directly to Argon via the communications system established on the data collector.