Tempting Flame (The Jendari Book 1) Read online

  Tallis closed his eyes and shook himself, like a cat shaking off water. Then he took a deep breath and let it out in a long sigh. Jaz could almost see him willing himself back under control.

  When he raised his long-lashed eyelids, his gaze was calm and steady. Not neutral exactly, but not hostile either. "Right. Let's get some details sorted."

  Opening a lower cabinet he revealed a mini-fridge and, after withdrawing two bottles of water, he resumed his seat at the table. He opened both bottles before sliding one across to Jaz.

  "Thank you." Reaching for the water she took a couple of much needed gulps. "What details are you talking about?"

  "If we can arrange a meet between your sick children and a Jendari, what would you need?"

  For a moment Jaz forgot to breathe. Her crazy, jail-risking, put it all on the line plan just might have worked. A part of her didn't dare to believe it, but the optimist in her sparked with possibilities. Then her practical side asserted itself and she got her head back in the game. She had no idea what caused Tallis to change his mind and she didn't care. If this took her a step closer to granting some wishes, she would run with whatever he was offering.

  "What I would like," she said, "is a Jendari to come to the hospital and spend an hour or so talking with my kids." And any other sick children she could convince the alien representative to meet.

  "A meeting off-site poses difficulties. Is there any way they can come here?" His voice was deep, and it had a lovely resonance now he was talking instead of barking orders. It was husky in a bedroom kind of way, a sensual stroke without physical touch. And disconcerting enough that she tried to refocus by looking up into his gaze.

  Which turned out to be a big mistake.

  Those midnight eyes pulled her in, making her feel as though he was looking into her soul, sinking her so deep and fast she didn't have the presence of mind to care. Jaz found herself leaning closer and nodding when she should have been shaking her head. She totally lost her train of thought, mesmerized by the twin assault of hypnotic gaze and morning-sex voice. God knows how long she mooned over him before he pushed her water bottle into her hand and broke the spell.

  "Are you all right? Perhaps you should have a drink."

  Like H2O was going to save her. Hoping he'd think her flushed cheeks were due to the hot weather, she sipped her water and wrenched her thoughts back under control. Searching her scrambled mind, she tried to remember what they'd been discussing. Oh yeah, location.

  "Taking the kids out of the hospital is problematic," she said. "We're not talking about a case of the sniffles here." Scooting her chair back a little she tried to create some distance between her and Tallis's oblivious seduction. "These kids are really sick and most of them are hooked up to machines that monitor their vital signs. They have to have regular medication and some of them have to be in sterile environments. To be honest, the excitement of meeting an alien is going to tire them out. I don't want to add lengthy travel on top of everything else they have to deal with."

  "All right." Again Tallis stilled, his whole body motionless while his mind no doubt went a mile a minute. He leaned his elbows on the table and took a breath. "If we're coming to you, we need a secure route from the parking lot to the floor where your kids will be. The meeting area would have to be cleared of everyone but essential medical staff. No phone or security cameras in the room during the session, no press or social media of any kind. And that includes commenting on your performance in the foyer just now."

  Jaz raised her eyebrows. "That's quite a list." And some of it sounded suspiciously like a gag order. Or leverage.

  Tallis's striking face was impossible to read, and with his economy of movement she had no body language to give her a hint about his state of mind. She had no idea if he was on her side or not.

  "That list is not exhaustive," Tallis warned. "Those requirements are the absolute minimum to get anything done."

  Leaning back in her chair she crossed her arms and gave the Jendari what she hoped he'd interpret as a long, considering look. She didn't want to appear to be caving into his demands, although they probably both knew she would. If there was any chance—at all—that she could get her kids in front of an alien, she'd jump through whatever hoops he threw up.

  "I can't make any guarantees yet, there are a lot of people to organize," she said. "And we'll have to circumvent hospital protocols, which is going to throw up a whole range of challenges." Unfolding her arms she leaned forward and offered a tentative smile. "But I'll give it my best shot."

  "Good." Tallis got to his feet and pushed his chair back under the table, once again using motion rather than words to indicate their interview was done. She wondered if it was a Jendari custom or whether Tallis was simply not much of a talker. This time she scrambled to her feet and rummaged around in her tote. Pulling a manila envelope free she handed it over with as much confidence as she could muster.

  "Here's my proposal, in writing. My business card is also in there, so you'll have my contact details if you have any further questions." She stood, waiting politely for him to give her his contact information. Frustratingly, he put his hand on her lower back and nudged her towards the door. "Aren't you going to give me your number?"

  "You won't need it."

  By now he was guiding her—quite forcefully—down the corridor that emptied out into the foyer. If she hadn't been wearing stupid heels and a too-tight skirt, she might have had a better chance at resisting him. But she was hard pressed not to fall flat on her ass as it was, and really, Tallis was built like a quarterback. Despite her generous proportions he would have no problem hauling her off her feet and tossing her out the door.

  That implacable hand stayed on her back as they traversed the corridors, and it didn't waver as he propelled her across the marble foyer. People were staring and once again the cell phones came out. She flicked a glance at Tallis. "I won't engage with the media, but that doesn't mean I'll be digitally invisible. Half the images taken today will already be online."

  "Ignore them. Don't make my job any harder than it has to be."

  Job? What job? Before she could ask he ushered her through the revolving door. By the time her eyes adjusted to the bright sunshine and she turned back to query him, he was already gone.

  ****

  As soon as he'd disposed of the pretty human nuisance, Tallis stepped into the secure elevator and pressed the button for the twenty-second floor. He had words to say to Borini, and it was best those words be uttered in a secure and sound-proof environment.

  Borini's office was guarded by a human woman who wasn't the least bit intimated by a rhe'hashan. Rather than arguing with her, Tallis stalked by her desk and barged right into Borini's office. Tallis considered the man family, and in their off-duty hours their relationship was more like father and son. But when on duty, they were soldier and superior. Or soldier and borderline tyrant when Borini was in the mood.

  "Tallis, come in and sit down." Borini spoke in Jendari, an indulgence that was only permitted when the conversation couldn't be overheard or recorded. If there were human ears anywhere in the vicinity of any conversation, the Jendari always used English.

  "How's your first week of tower duty?" Borini's smile had an edge of mean in it.

  "Not as good as my last week will be." Tallis settled in the guest chair and yanked his tie free. Undoing the top two buttons of his shirt he glared at the highest ranking rhe'hashan in this part of the world. "And don't change the subject."

  Borini grinned and raised an eyebrow. "I wasn't aware we had a subject."

  "Jasmine Teale."

  "Ah. She seems quite delightful."

  "She's trouble and you know it."

  Borini shrugged. "I saw the footage of her in the foyer, and of course I observed your interview with her in the break room."

  Which the old man had subsequently hijacked by calling and instructing Tallis to negotiate terms. "I don't know what you have planned, but I'm not willing to be involved
. At all."

  "You are involved, my son, whether you will it or not."

  Tallis hated that tone of voice. It made him feel as if he'd disappointed his honorary father before any action was even taken. Tallis suspected Borini practiced it in front of a mirror. "No."

  "Yes." Borini heaved a put-upon sigh and levered himself from his chair. Coming around to the other side of the desk he moved the second guest chair to face Tallis. Edging it closer, he sat down so they were both knee to knee.

  "Events are coming to a head. The Humans for Earth Coalition are gathering momentum and popularity. Glen Tucker, the head of HEC, is ex-military which garners respect beyond the boundaries of the coalition. He’s been getting a positive response from a wide section of human society. And in the last few months, Senator Prescott has been championing their agenda in ways both subtle and direct, and he brings a lot of political weight to their cause. Between the two of them, HEC is in the news every other day and they're gaining traction. By keeping ourselves secluded from humans we're doing nothing to halt the advance."

  Tallis had noticed that uncomfortable reality himself. Elder M'rath, in his role as Jendari media liaison, did his best to refute HEC's claims. Unfortunately, both the Senator and Glen Tucker excelled at asking ten-second questions that worked well as a sound bite. Of course, the difficult, complicated answers never received any airtime.

  And the segregation policy wasn't doing the Jendari any favors. When they first arrived on this world, the Elders believed that keeping the races separate would give the Earthers time to adjust. And really, the cities were so polluted and crowded, most Jendari were happy to find somewhere remote to live.

  But Borini, and others like him, believed the separation had gone on too long. Anti-alien sentiment was on the rise, and the spokespeople for those groups were very good at half-truths and convincing fabrications.

  It was easy to convince people that the Jendari were up to no good when the aliens were nothing more than a faceless group. It would have been much harder for the HEC to gain momentum if the clans were out in the community. If the Earthers were to mix with the Jendari, they'd quickly learn that the two groups had a great deal in common.

  The protocol had long been a cause of concern for Borini. "If we're going to make a home on this world, we have to find a way to live in harmony with the current inhabitants. Mutual understanding will never be achieved if we don't find ways to learn about each other. Ignorance is a dangerous state of play when two separate races exist on the same world."

  Tallis scrubbed a hand over his face. "I have no problem with easing the barriers between us and the humans. I just don't want to be the one who begins the fall."

  "I don't blame you." Borini's eyes held sympathy, but Tallis wasn't fooled. His suspicion was confirmed when Borini continued. "But this isn't about what you want, it's about what's best for our people. We need to reach out to the humans, and Ms. Teale provides us with a significant conduit."

  Tallis frowned. "By exploiting sick cubs?"

  "No, by helping them and granting their fondest wish."

  That sounded very altruistic, but Borini never did anything for one reason when four would do. "So we help the children," Tallis said. "What's the hidden objective?"

  Borini grinned, warming to his pet subject. "We use this meeting as a test run for future endeavors. We'll look at what went well and what didn't, and use it to make a better plan next time. The more small, controlled encounters we can engineer, the better positioned we'll be to ease ourselves into mainstream society."

  "And if it goes badly? If this mission gets screwed up somehow, won't that be playing into the hands of the HEC?"

  "Yes, of course there are risks involved. But I believe it's a bigger risk to do nothing."

  "And what kind of support will we have? Will you take this to council?"

  "No support, and no one else can know – especially the council. This adventure stays between you and me."

  Fabulous. Tallis was going into a situation he wanted to avoid, with a skill set that was entirely useless for the mission. And he was going to be doing it without official support or sanction.

  "If this fucks up, we're both going to be in trouble."

  Borini laughed, and as he stood he slapped Tallis on the back. "Trouble will be the least of our problems. If this blows up in our faces being stripped of our status will be the best we can hope for."

  "And what's the worst?"

  "Banishment from the clans."

  Tallis's insides cramped and he rubbed at the sudden pain in his chest. The rhe'hashan needed the clans like they needed air to breathe, but for Tallis the need to serve went deeper than that. His oath to protect the clans was everything to him—it made up the sum of who he was. Banishment was worse than death as far as he was concerned.

  Fighting the urge to punch something, Tallis looked up at his adopted father. "I can't, Borini. You know why."

  "I understand your reasons, and I respect them. But I'm asking you this favor nonetheless." Borini gave him a sympathetic smile. "This is a rare and promising opportunity. You are one of the few people I would trust with this mission, and as you've already made contact with the girl…"

  Tallis could almost feel the sword falling. "I'm not saying we shouldn't go ahead with the mission. I'm just saying it shouldn't be me."

  "I've never known you to shirk your duty, and I don't intend to let you start now." Borini walked around his desk and eased into his large office chair. "I have chosen you for this assignment, Tallis, and you will do me proud as always."

  Bowing to the inevitable, Tallis tried not to slump in defeat. "Yes, Borini."

  All he had to do now was not fuck up. No pressure then.

  Chapter Four

  After his meeting with Borini, Tallis found it difficult to go back to work as if nothing had happened. He had no trouble wrapping his mind around Borini's subversive views, especially as Tallis agreed with most of them. His problem stemmed from the fact that he'd been drawn into the underground rebellion against his better judgment.

  But the truth was he owed Borini in ways that could never be repaid.

  Tallis's mother had died when he was a small boy, so his father had been his entire world. Of course the clansfolk in his village cared for him. Like any Jendari child he grew up with more honorary aunts and uncles than was good for his mischievous soul. But when Tallis was fourteen his father was killed in a skirmish and the bottom fell out of his world. For months he existed in a daze, and when he came out the other side he was rebellious and angry. That terrible, painful phase lasted until the Goddess called him into service when he was sixteen.

  Before he could begin his rhe'hashan training, Tallis had to foreswear all other loyalties and commit himself to the Goddess and the clans as a whole. Many trainees found it difficult to relinquish their old life, but Tallis was glad to cut ties with his birth clan. He threw himself into the rhe'hashan with a passion and commitment that he hoped would make his father proud.

  During that training, he'd caught Borini's eye and a formal mentorship had begun. Over the years the roles of student and teacher had expanded and deepened until Tallis considered Borini a second father.

  Being called into the rhe'hashan had shaped Tallis into a warrior. But it was Borini's influence that had shaped him into a man.

  Tallis might argue or resist, but he would never truly deny Borini. And the old man knew it.

  As soon as his shift ended, Tallis made his way to the sub-basement, a level that was off limits to anyone but the Jendari. A bioscan in the elevator granted him access to B3 and when the doors dinged open he strode out into the sterile corridor. Two turns and a passageway later, he arrived at a nondescript door with another bioscan panel. Placing his hand on the smooth glass, Tallis waited for the telltale click.

  The electronic security system, like all tech in Hope Towers, was of alien design. The Jendari preferred to live close to nature, in spirit and in deed, but they had no problem ap
propriating technology when it was useful. Before the invasion, Jendar had a flourishing space port and the clans had access to all kinds of machines, gadgets and advances. And their own engineers came up with some brilliant innovations of their own.

  The bioscan Tallis used was based on an off-world design, improved and upgraded with Jendari tech. The scanner provided a visible and effective layer of protection and, on the off chance that a human found his way down here, it provided an excellent cover for the real security protocol.

  The only way to open this door was for a Jendari to use his or her power to sing it open.

  Tallis stepped forward, singing a snippet of his own unique song. As soon as the first note passed his lips, the power of the Goddess surged inside him—bright, warm, and full of divine love. It was the same every time, no matter how much or how little power he used, the connection always gave him a tangible reminder of the Goddess's power.

  The door clicked open and the last notes Tallis sang were of thanks to his Lady.

  Exiting the hallway he entered a small, white-walled, windowless room. A large black platform sat in the middle of the floor and at each corner sat four oversized tubs. Each planter hosted a thriving shrub, densely packed with glossy black leaves. Once again Tallis sang, and the stems of the zaldi shrubs moved and swayed to his melody. The central core of each plant twisted and turned, the leaves fanning open to reveal a chunk of crystal double the size of his fist. When the crystals were fully exposed they connected to each other, setting off a low hum that told Tallis the transit pad was ready for use. This pad was available to any Jendari who worked in the tower, and with it they could travel to any settlement or building that housed a transit pad of its own.

  Moving to the center of the matte-black square, Tallis cleared his mind of everything but his apartment on the lower east side. As he sang, a tingling sensation briefly infused his body. By the time the gentle buzz eased he was standing on the transit pad in his walk-in dressing room.