Page 44 of Bound

“All you can do is ask,” Laidon said lightly, but determination burned in his green eyes.

“What will you do if he refuses to take the meeting?” Merrik wanted to know.

Laidon sighed, but the intensity of his gaze did not decrease. “I will find another way. I have no choice. This has already taken much longer than I expected.”

Tov shook his head. “You pull something like this with Zevon and you will not live long enough to regret it. Zevon Raydo can be merciless when crossed.”

“Then talk him into meeting with me.” All playfulness fell away. “Every minute my friend is with Jevara, she is risking her life, not to mention her sanity. Jevara has been known to make his toys disappear as soon as he is finished playing with them.”

Tov stilled, his expression growing even grimmer. “You said your spy was in Jevara’s household. She is one of his pleasure givers?”

Laidon nodded and his features tensed. “She is smart and proficient with weapons as well as hand-to-hand defense, but the danger is accelerating. No pleasure giver has managed to hold his interest for long and she has been with him for weeks. Needless to say, I am worried about her.”

“With damn good reason.” Tov shook his head, then released a ragged sigh. “I will talk to Zevon. But even if he refuses, we need to get your friend out of there.”

“We?” Challenge rippled through Laidon’s tone, but he also sounded hopeful.

Tov smirked. “The Citadel prefers frontal assaults. I’ve always found stealthy operations more effective.”

Merrik was glad Tov hadn’t mentioned Cara. Merrik sensed no deception in Laidon, but Merrik wasn’t taking any chances where their mate was concerned.

“I gladly accept your offer, but my information is good,” Laidon persisted. “Convince Zevon to meet with me. He will not be disappointed.”

After another thoughtful pause, Tov nodded. “I will contact you through Ayjetor as soon as I hear back from Zevon. Now put this shuttle back where you found it! If you want to form an alliance with the Citadel, I have work to do.”

* * *

Cara stood back from the ‘firing lane’ in one of the Citadel’s many training rooms. Raina was positioned behind a small barricade attempting to manifest a fireball or energy pulse strong enough to destroy the target at the other end of the lane. It was an exercise Cara had mastered without much effort. Watching her cousin struggle, even after two weeks of intensive training, was making Cara feel horribly guilty.

Flora, Cara, and Raina had only spent two days together when Flora and her mates were given their next mission. Not trusting Iris to supervise Cara and Raina, they were taken to the Citadel so they could begin their training. Cara’s opinion of the Citadel had not changed since the first time she had been here. The facility was old and run down. This was the headquarters for the most powerful mystics in the star system. She had expected something more impressive.

At least their mentor made a better impression than their surroundings. Provost Nadis Korla was personable and skilled. She didn’t stand on formality and never bragged about her many accomplishments. Cara liked her immediately. Nadis also seemed familiar, but it took Cara a couple of days to realize that Nadis was the trainer Merrik had contacted during her assessment. Cara had never seen the trainer, just heard her voice, but Cara was certain they were one and the same. Nadis didn’t mention the incident, so Cara followed her lead.

“Focus on the target rather than your hand,” Nadis suggested.

Raina nodded and tried again.

Uncomfortable watching Raina struggle, Cara shifted her attention to Cylex. The buff Altorian male had been waiting on the shuttle when Cara and Raina left for the Citadel. And he’d been with them ever since. Cara wasn’t sure why they needed a bodyguard. The Citadel was secluded and had its own security force. Even so, it was obvious that Cylex wasn’t going anywhere. He had dark hair and blue eyes that were even lighter than Tov’s. He never smiled and seldom spoke, but those pale blue eyes continually scanned their surroundings. More than once Raina had said that Cylex made her feel safe. Cara had the opposite reaction. Knowing that she was in enough danger to be assigned a bodyguard had Cara jumping at shadows.

“Goddamn it,” Raina cried as the sparks on her fingertips sputtered out again. “Why can Cara do this so easily when I am utterly useless?”

“You are not useless,” Nadis insisted. “Comparing yourself to anyone else is pointless. Each conduit’s abilities are unique.”

“I meditate endlessly and construct detailed visualization. But as soon as I try to manifest what I’m seeing it just fizzles out.” Emotion thickened Raina’s voice and tears gathered behind her lashes. “We are from the same bloodline. Why is Cara so much better at this than me?”

Nadis turned to Cara, challenge burning in her eyes. “Are you going to allow her to believe this is her fault when you know that is not true?”

Cara sucked in a breath. How long had Nadis known? It was a stupid question. Nadis was the most popular mentor by far and for very good reason. She had likely known as soon as Cara walked into the room for the first time.

Raina stared back, clearly confused by their mentor’s question. Nadis was right. This wasn’t fair to Raina.

“It’s not your fault,” Cara admitted. “My power has been unleashed while yours is still bound. That’s why everything seems easier for me.”

Raina moved closer, her expression conflicted and uncertain. “But how? I thought our mates were the only ones who could unleash our power.”

“A couple of weeks ago, my energy became so unstable that my parents had to allow my potential mates to finish releasing it.” A heated shiver passed through Cara as she remembered all the erotic acts that process had required. “They did not claim me, but we were courting when Noratu’s message arrived.”

“Does Flora know about this?”

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