Darling shook his head. "They're asteroid bait."
Nykyrian nodded. Justice was served. Tomorrow Rachol would inform their employer about Chenz's death. Granted it wouldn't bring back the councilor's son, but it would ensure Chenz never decapitated another child.
Putting the matter out of his thoughts, Nykyrian stared out the window at the blackness swirling around them. In the lightless void, an image of Kiara dancing in her last ballet floated before his eyes. He damned the feelings surging through him as he thought about her.
She had always been able to stir his senses. Every time he had seen her dance, she had touched a part of his soul— a part of him he preferred to think was long dead and damned.
If only things were different. If only he were different ...
Nykyrian sighed. He knew better. The way she recoiled from his touch and squirmed in his arms told him what he'd get if he even tried to speak with her.
"Who's the woman?" Hauk finally asked, breaking Nykyrian out of his thoughts.
"Kiara Biardi, the dancer."
Hauk gave a low, appreciative whistle. "What was she doing with those space scabs?"
Nykyrian shrugged. "We'll discuss that once we get back to the base and have our meeting."
Within an hour, they began docking at their station. Rachol came from the back, reporting that Kiara was in a sedated sleep. Nykyrian replaced his helmet before heading back to their patient.
After the landing, Nykyrian carried Kiara from the ship. He took her to the upper floor of the Command Center where he charged Mira to care for her until she woke.
Mira was thrilled to be assigned watch duty over such a famous personality. Smiling nervously at Nemesis, she ran to her room to find sleeping attire for Kiara.
Shaking his head at Mira's undue haste to flee his presence, Nykyrian took his precious bundle into one of the sleeping chambers and carefully placed her on the large bed. He covered her with an extra blanket.
As he stepped away from the bed, he heard her whispering in her sleep. Entranced by her melodic voice, he turned back to take a final look at her peacefully resting form.
He stood over her, intoxicated by the smoothness of her features, her pert nose, the high cheekbones, her finely arched brows. Her long, dark brown hair fell in soft ringlets about her. He traced the line of her cheek, tempted to remove his glove and feel the softness he knew her flawless skin would hold.
He sensed Mira's presence as she returned. Looking up, he saw Mira's questioning brown eyes.
Nykyrian ached to kiss Kiara. He almost did. Only the knowledge of Mira's curious stare kept him from removing his helm et and yielding to his burning want.
Some things were not his to feel, or experience.
With a curt nod to Mira, he left the room.
Nykyrian rejoined his friends downstairs, anxious to finish his business and return the dancer before she distracted him further from his obligations.
Quickly, he led his three soldiers to their council chambers, where Jayne was already seated and waiting for them.
The room was covered with a myriad of star charts, maps and computer terminals. Beeps and hisses filled the air as information passed through the equipment. Everything was neat, tidy and efficient, just the way he liked his life.
Nykyrian walked to the printer nearest him and pulled off several sheets of paper.
As he waited for his friends to remove their helmets and take their chairs, Nykyrian perused the listed items. While he studied the lines, an unbidden image of Kiara drifted before his eyes. Grinding his teeth, he forced his thoughts to business.
Nykyrian gave the small group a cursory glance, took his seat, and placed the stack of papers before him. He turned to Rachol. "I take it the Probekeins hired Chenz and Petiri."
Rachol nodded.
"Send a message to Tiarun Biardi stating that I'll return his daughter. I want him to know the OMG had nothing to do with her abduction." He narrowed his eyes. "I would hate to be shot down for a good deed."
Rachol nodded again, and made a quick note on his computer ledger. "I got the news from one of our spies that the Gouran Consulate fell apart yesterday when the Probekeins threatened to tear apart the Councilors' kids. Eight contracts were drawn up for the terminations. Six children have been found dead, including Councilor Serela's boy we saw last night. I'll make sure word gets around Chenz's death was because of his brutal murder of the kid."
Nykyrian mentally flashed on Serela's tormented face and the sight of the poor, mutilated boy. If Kiara hadn't been aboard Chenz's ship, he would have torn the scab into pieces. "Other than Chenz, who were the others who accepted the Probekeins'
contracts?"
"Don't know," Rachol answered.