by Lora Leigh
She was the most worthy person he knew besides their daughter.
“She’s our daughter,” he said softly. “With your compassion and pureness of heart, and I’m sure a bit of my pure bullheaded stubbornness. And she needs a mother, Helena. Every girl, no matter her age, needs her mother.”
“And her father.” The voice had them jumping to their feet and turning to the door, the pure sweetness of it, so reminiscent of her mother’s, shocking them both.
“Catarina,” Helena whispered, awed, so filled with hope and love.
“What of a father?” Catarina asked again as he held to the hand of the Breed that had arranged the meeting. “Don’t they need their fathers as well?”
His throat was tight was joy, with tears, fury against the forces that took her and amazement that she stood before them now.
He cleared his throat, fighting to make it work.
“I don’t know,” he said, his tone hoarse, sounding almost broken. “But fathers need their little girls, no matter their age. No matter the years that separate them. We need our daughter,” he affirmed then. “They took the light when they stole you. We need it back, baby.” His voice broke, choked, and a single tear slipped past his control. “We need you back.”
• • •
They needed her. Not wanted her. Not just accepted her.
They needed her.
She took the first step toward them and they rushed to her. The scent and feel of their love surrounded her, behind her the awareness of her mate and their bond strengthened her.
She had always belonged, she just hadn’t realized it. And now she belonged as she’d never imagined possible.
Catarina Graymore, Breed, mate, daughter.
Loved . . .
And complete.
• • •
Beyond the meeting room Cullen Maverick stood behind the open door, propped against the wall, arms crossed, his gaze on the abstract pattern of the composite cement floor.
He was a Bengal Breed, but he couldn’t smell the emotions and bonds, connections and fears that he knew would be drifting from the room. He couldn’t touch the earth and connect to it, feel its warnings and sense it moods as other Breeds. He was in the dark where the gifts and talents of his race were concerned. He hadn’t even been able to mate the woman he’d loved to save her from the illness that decimated her body.
As a Breed, he was a failure. Recessed where the Breeds inner gifts were concerned.
He was as strong as any Breed, as intelligent, though in different areas, as Gideon, or Graeme, he reminded himself. Dr. Foster hadn’t expected twins from the embryo he’d mutated with animal genetics and select human DNA. He’d definitely not expected a defective Breed. He was probably lucky they hadn’t killed him at birth as they did others.
He was still alive though, and still defective despite Graeme’s mocking references to his stubbornness in keeping the Tiger restrained. His genetics weren’t restrained. They were simply too weak to do him much good. Definitely too weak to have done his wife much good.
“You’re pensive again,” Graeme murmured as he stepped from the room, no doubt to give his mate a few moments alone with her parents. “Blaming yourself again, Cullen?”
The somber question had his head lifting. For one, Graeme wasn’t being mocking where his brother’s recessed abilities were concerned.
Cullen simply stared back at him, refusing to answer.
“You won’t believe me.” Graeme sighed then. “But she wasn’t your mate. When you find your mate the stranglehold you have on your abilities won’t be able to hold them in check any longer.”
Cullen stared back at his brother as he let a mocking smile tilt his lips. “Want to know how I know you’re wrong?” he asked Graeme.
“How?” his brother asked softly.
“Because when she died, I would have died with her if I could. If I hadn’t sworn to watch after Cat and Honor, if you had done your fucking part and stepped up instead of spilling blood across a dozen nations, I would have joined her. That, brother,” he sneered, “is how I know you’re wrong. She was my mate, and I couldn’t save her. There’s no stubbornness on the face of this earth that would have kept me from doing that if it were possible.”
Rather than arguing with his far too superior, arrogant brother, he straightened and stalked through the rows of desks and Breeds manning them to the elevator that led to the main floor and the exit he sought. He had work to do, cases to finish. Just because he had no life outside his work didn’t mean others didn’t.
Watching him leave, Graeme let a satisfied smile curl his lips.
“Why do you think I didn’t let you know I was near, brother?” he murmured beneath his breath, regret and knowledge filling the heavy sigh he let free. “Stubborn fucking Breed. Looks like big brother’s going to have to fix it for you.”
That was okay though, he thought in satisfaction. Big brother was going to like interfering in the little brother’s life. He all but rubbed his hands together in glee. This was going to be fun. Then an odd thought crossed his mind, bringing a frown instead as he turned and shot his mate a curious look. He couldn’t hide his machinations from her, she’d really kick his ass if he did. But he wasn’t one hundred percent certain she would go along with it.
He grinned and turned from her quickly. He’d convince her. She was convincible. He just had to explain it the right way, use the right words, so to speak.
Oh yeah, this was going to be fun.
• BREED TERMS •
Breeds: Creatures of genetic engineering both before and after conception, with the genetics of the predators of the Earth such as the lion, tiger, wolf, coyote and even the eagle added to the human sperm and ova. They were created to become a super army and the new lab rats for scientific experimentation.
The Genetics Council: A group of twelve shadowy figures who funded the labs and research into bioengineering and genetic mutation to create a living being of both human and animal DNA, though references to the Genetics Council also refer to affiliated political, military and Breed individuals and groups.
Rogue Breeds: Breeds who have declared no known loyalties and exist as mercenaries following the highest bidder.
Council Breeds: Breeds whose loyalties are still with the scientists and soldiers who created and trained them. Unwilling or unable for whatever reason to break the conditioning instilled in them from birth. Mostly Coyote Breeds whose human genetics are far more dominant than in most Breeds.
Council Soldiers: Mostly human, though sometimes Breeds, soldiers who willingly give their loyalty to the Council because of their ideals or belief in the project and their belief that Breeds lack true humanity.
Bureau of Breed Affairs: Created to oversee the growing Breed population and to ensure that the mandates of Breed Law are fully upheld by law enforcement agencies, the courts and the Breed communities. The Bureau oversees all funds that are paid by the United States as well as other countries whose political leaders were involved with the Genetics Council or any labs in their countries. They also investigate species discrimination and hate crimes against Breeds and track down scientists, trainers and lab directors who have escaped Breed justice.
Director of the Bureau of Breed Affairs: The position has been held for the past ten years by Jonas Wyatt, a conniving, calculating and manipulating Lion Breed who ensures that Breed Law is upheld and all Breeds given a chance to be free to find mates who will ensure future generations of the Breed species.
Breed Ruling Cabinet: Composed of an equal number of feline, Wolf and Coyote Breeds as well as human political leaders. It governs and enforces the mandates of Breed Law and oversees Breed Law where the separate Breed communities are concerned.
Purists and Supremacists and Their Various Groups: Groups of individuals who for reasons of religion, fear or just personal feelings believe that the Breeds are not human, but no more than puppets created in man’s image. They’re determined to destroy first the Breeds’ pu
blic standing, then their lives. They dream of a world where Breed genetics have no hope, no chance and no threat of ever infecting the human population.
Their species discrimination against the Breeds includes but is not confined to the following: capturing Breeds and Breed-mated couples for further scientific study of how to weaken them or create a drug that will prevent the conception of hybrid children; guerrilla attacks against Breeds and Breed facilities; public outcries and protests against Breeds, Breed-funded and -hosted events and/or charities; bombings of Breed offices, attempts to kill key Breed political figures and general harassment whenever possible.
Nano-nit: A tiny microscopic robotic device that can be attached to a video or audio bug. Once in the proper location, it can be activated remotely, when it then detaches and finds the closest electrical source, where it will burrow inside and then follow the current to a designated electrical impulse for cameras, computers, televisions or any audio/video or computerized component, and then begins uploading specifically programmed information. Once the internal hard drive is filled, the nit then detaches and follows the electrical currents once again, to a point away from the original location, where it then finds a device, any device capable of Internet or uploading capabilities, and then transmits the information to a location that cannot be determined unless the nit is found during the upload process, after initial activation.
Named a nano-nit because of its size and similarity to the parasitic louse egg, or nit.
There is no known security to detect a nit specifically, and once activated, it’s impossible to find, detect or exterminate. To find out, the host device must first be detected, then placed in a static-free, airtight shell, where a nit reader is plugged into the host device. The nit is then activated and makes its way from the host to search for an electrical source. It moves then to the nit reader’s signature using the attached nit cord, which is an open-ended electrical cord that simulates the source the nit requires. Once there, a tiny probe locks the nit in place, allowing the reader to decode the programming and determine its original commands.
Nits have very little encryption. Because of their size and the requirements for upload space, programming is confined to what to upload and where to dump.
Because of their specific technology, a host device can be only an audio or video transmitter or bug. The nit is unable to function independently when attached to any other device.
Mating Heat: A chemical, biological, pheromonal reaction between a Breed and the male or female Breed or human that nature and emotion have selected as their one mate. Believed to be able to only mate once—though as Breed scientists have noted concerning other anomalies within the Breeds, nature is playing with the rules of the Breed species. To this point, general information on Mating Heat has been contained. Tabloids and gossip columns write about it, but no proof has been found to verify the rumor of it. Yet.
Mating Heat Symptoms: (Breed) A swelling of the small glands beneath the tongue and a taste, often different from Breed to Breed, that could be spicy, sweet or a combination of both. Heightened arousal. The need to touch and be touched by the mate often. A heightened need for sex that results in a sensitivity to each touch and release that heightens the pleasure as well.
(Mate) An almost addictive need for the taste of the mating hormone secreted from the glands beneath the Breed’s tongue. A sensitivity along the body and heightened need for sex that can become extremely painful for the female, whether human or Breed. Heightened emotions, an inability to refrain from touching or needing to be touched by the other.
Desert Dragoon: A vehicle built with independent suspension to traverse the rough, rocky and often uneven terrains of the desert. Built wide, for power rather than speed, blocky and capable of ramming through obstacles and carrying mounted weapons. Equipped with stealth technology, real-time GPS, satellite communications and laser- and bullet-resistant force fields that operate for short periods of time and act as theft deterrents.
Breed Ruling Cabinet: A cabinet of six high-ranking Breeds of each species and six humans of prominence and/or power that makes decisions for the Breed community as a whole.
Breed Law: The laws that govern every legal, contractual, criminal or enterprise endeavor involving any Breed or Breed affiliate, including but not limited to wives, children, siblings, parents, lovers, intended spouses or the same of mates involved, and how the various governments of participating countries must deal with them.
Law of Self-Warrant: Any Breed can, one time only, accept punishment or death for any criminal act that would cause their mate, child, parent or other associated relative to face a punishment the Breed believes would cause his mate or child more harm than the loss of the Breed would cause.
Hybrid/Breed Hybrid: A child concieved naturally of a mated couple or of a Breed-human couple, whether mated or through artificial insemination.