Page 10 of Rifted Hearts
Lyall snorted. “Yes, I know we’re near an air rift, not a water one. The interzone of this one is different. This ranch is in an outer interzone. Most technology works, except during storms. The Saguaro Rift monstertown is in an internal interzone, with some Riftworld natural laws applying, but human technology functions most of the time. The military base is sometimes behind the rift and sometimes in the interzone.”
“Rifts don’t move.” Remi must be misunderstanding him. “Also, the military couldn’t have built a modern facility on Riftworld land. Not unless the base is a glorified mud brick castle that was defended by archers and swordsman.”
“When the base was constructed, the rift was stable. The expansion and contraction of Riftworld territory began afterward.” Lyall narrowed his eyes at Remi. “What information did Arimanius tell you to seduce out of Kaveh?”
“He didn’t tell me.” Remi had a queasy feeling that his father, as usual, had neglected to tell him key details about the job. “Once I have Kaveh under control, I’m supposed to contact Father and wait for instructions.”
There was an uneasy silence between them. Remi wasn’t supposed to trust Lyall. Not that he trusted anyone,especially members of his family. But his personal security was the dog’s job, and Lyall had to obey his contract. Besides, he didn’t think the hellhound was making this up. Remi, a consummate liar himself, had an excellent sense of when someone was bullshitting him.
“Well.” Lyall’s tone turned sarcastic. Or rather, more sarcastic than usual. “I have a suspicion your father is interested in more important information than Kaveh’s thoughts on horse deworming.”
“You think the drakones have developed the ability to move rifts and expand their Riftworld territory?” Saying it out loud sounded preposterous.
But Lyall knew a lot about rift technology. Some older members of his species could translocate by creating mini-hellmouths, similar to the smaller portals mothcats generated. But Remi had never heard of technology that could move a rift. That sort of power could expand or contract the Riftworld’s presence on Earth.
He tried to come up with reasons to disprove Lyall’s theory. “Why wouldn’t they have kept the larger territory if they have that sort of power?”
“Maybe they can only move the rift temporarily.” Lyall shrugged. “Or maybe there’s a price to pay to keep it in the new position. Either way, it means the Saguaro Rift drakone clan can control their rift. This has to be what Arimanius is after.”
Plenty of people would pay any price for this secret, Riftworld or human. The military would be particularly interested. That part worried Remi, but multiple bidders made for a higher price and his father was the leader of the Colony. Or, as many of Remi’s mafia-movie obsessed cousins called him, the Don. In the end, Arimanius would decide what was done with the drakones’ secret.
“Could anyone in the monstertown be bribed to get us more information?” Remi had access to many things people coveted: local currency, alien tech like Bug, and an impressive collection of Riftworld porn.
“Unlikely.” Lyall sounded definitive on the subject. “Having the drakones at their backs keeps them safe, and since the giant flying snakes leave the town alone, no one wants to endanger that arrangement. Especially because the drakones don’t often lose when it comes to fighting. The townies want to be on the side of the winners.”
Remi knew it wouldn’t be that simple. Besides, the drakones would want to hoard their secret like they did everything else. Only someone close to them could help him. “That makes it even more crucial I get information out of Kaveh.”
Which was not going to be easy.
“I get that the good doctor isn’t falling for your usual slutty charms.” Lyall crammed another piece of beef jerky in his mouth, chewing noisily as if he wanted to annoy Remi on purpose. Which he undoubtedly did. “Did that hot assistant of his have anything useful to say?”
Lyall usually had impenetrable mental shields, but Remi didn’t need his psychic powers to know the hellhound found Kat attractive. Remi knew Lyall preferred men, since determining sexual preferences came easily to him, but the dog was too damn grouchy about his involuntary servitude to drool over cute humans. In fact, Lyall claimed he would never lower himself to sleep with one.
“Kat told me Kaveh is asexual.” Remi allowed his arm to drop over his forehead in languid despair. “Well, maybe demisexual. And he wants someone…nice.”
Lyall laughed so hard he choked on the beef jerky and had to cough up a piece into his hand. He popped it backinto his mouth. “I’ve met full-blood kraken more softhearted than you.”
Remi sat up, annoyed. “I can pretend to be nice for a week. Or at least a day or two. I’ll rescue someone’s cat or feed an orphan. How hard can it be?”
Lyall huffed in amusement. “I’m looking forward to seeing this plan of yours fail utterly. So far, the only thing that worked on him is me. Maybe I can pretend to have a cactus thorn in my paw.”
“I’m not desperate enough to need your help getting a mark into bed.” Remi forced himself to get up. Time to try out that luxury shower in the bathroom and not think about how fun it would be if a naked Kaveh joined him. “Kat signed me up for a slow ride near the rift that Kaveh’s leading tomorrow morning. I can check out the area and hit on him at the same time.”
“Good luck.” Lyall strolled over and opened the door. Normally, Remi wasn’t supposed to let the dog run off and stir up who knew what kind of trouble, but he had already taken off the collar that kept Lyall in his terrier form. Breaking more of Father’s rules wasn’t going to make things any worse if he screwed up this job. “Somehow I don’t think that’s the type of ride you’re going to enjoy.”
6
Kaveh wasn’t pleased Remi Gatti had signed up for the afternoon activity to see the rift. It was the trail ride that brought guests closest to the rift, and he accompanied the wranglers every time as added security. Something about the vid streamer from the Northeast bothered Kaveh. Maybe more than one something. After all, Remi was a reporter of sorts, and Kaveh didn’t want anyone looking into his past. Remi also had a cocky air about him, as if everyone he met would fall in love with him.
Still, Remi wasn’t all hat and no cattle. Kat had been gushing about the streamer’s stunning blue eyes and charming smile, and even Garreth had commented that he was a fine-looking young man. Of course, the ranch owner’s positive opinion might have a lot to do with the good publicity Remi’s numerous online subscribers could bring to his business. The ranch was doing well, but the extra money spent on helping Riftworld animals and keeping the normal horses and livestock healthy cut into profits. Garreth and his wife’s tendency to be generous to a fault toemployees and their families also didn’t help, although those values were exactly what had drawn Kaveh to this place.
Kaveh sat on Ranger, an ordinary bay quarter horse who wasn’t able to transform into a killing machine, unlike Amanita, and kept an eye on the vid streamer. Remi was waiting outside the corral where guests mounted their horses for the group ride. He had changed into more casual clothes, but even his T-shirt and jeans looked too well pressed and new for his own good.
None of that bothered the three other guests vying for Remi’s attention. One was a teenage girl who found everything he said hilarious, and another was an older man whose frank stare at the man’s body made Kaveh feel uncomfortable on Remi’s behalf. The third, heaven help him, was Jeanette, a tall blond wrangler in her thirties who usually had a good head on her shoulders.
Remi flashed his quick smile at his admirers, appearing unfazed by all the attention. Kaveh couldn’t understand the effect the man had on everyone, but then again, he never had a knack for recognizing sex appeal. The blogger was objectively attractive, friendly, and even had a charming pet dog. There was no reason Kaveh should be suspicious simply because everyone found him fascinating.
Yet he still was.
