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“Claiming her would be amazing, but what can we accomplish in a single day?”
The defeatism in Tandor’s tone angered Jobek. Tandor might be willing to accept the mediocrity others had planned for him, but Jobek wanted more. “The other females found on Earth were in the process of activating when they were located. It’s possible, maybe even probable, that Ansley is in a similar state. That means she is likely to bond with whoever fucks her first. Why shouldn’t that be us?”
Tandor turned back toward the cave and his eyes narrowed. “Her emotions are so conflicted that I can’t decipher them right now.”
“Heightened emotions are part of activation. Do you sense anything else?”
Tandor shook his head. “If I could touch her, I could tell you a lot more.”
“So could I.” Jobek grinned, intentionally twisting the meaning. “I know it sounds ruthless, but claiming a second-level conduit will elevate us far beyond anything we could accomplish on our own. She will be claimed in the near future. Why shouldn’t we be the ones to bond with her?” Their bloodlines were far from pure and they were still amassing wealth. Most of the elite considered anyone still working for a living beneath them.
“Were all the other Earth-raised females claimed by elite teams?” Tandor wanted to know.
“They were, and I’d bet my entire salary that they have elite teams in mind for all of these.”
Tandor’s gaze narrowed and Jobek fought back a smile. Finally, Tandor understood.
“I think it’s time for a bit more variety,” Tandor stated firmly.
Glad that they were both on the same side, Jobek nodded. “If there’s no spark, no visceral attraction, it won’t matter how long we keep her to ourselves.”
“Yet if she happens to find us attractive,” sparks of red flickered to life inside Tandor’s dark eyes, “then we’ll explore and encourage her reactions.”
“Exactly. The shuttle is not the optimal location for seduction, but I don’t see a better option ri—”
“Something’s wrong,” Tandor cut in. “Her emotions are fading fast.”
Jobek charged into the cave, ignoring the water splashing up around his thighs with each agitated step. He summoned Altorian Fire to his fingertips as he looked around in confusion. “Where the fuck is she?” The cave was not large. There were no geological features. It was just a hollowed-out space. A sleeping bag was still spread on the floor and a large backpack rested against the wall. “Is she coming back here?”
“There,” Tandor motioned toward a small opening near the water’s edge. The triangular gap was not nearly big enough for either of them, but a small female might squeeze through.
“Apparently she knew we were out there,” Jobek grumbled. “But that opening has not been uncovered for long. She could not have gotten far.”
“Unless she swam out while it was still underwater,” Tandor argued distractedly. “We underestimated her. We can’t do so again.”
“You located her almost immediately. I didn’t consider her much of a challenge.” Jobek ducked out of the cave and looked around. The ground was hilly and cluttered with trees. Thick underbrush made hiking arduous and slow. Well, there was no help for it. Tandor could point them in the general direction, but the only way to lock on to Ansley’s position was visually. “Which way?”
Tandor paused, momentarily closing his eyes. “Over there. You were right. She hasn’t been gone long. She exited through the crevice but followed the crest of the hill and then headed northwest.”
Jobek’s brow arched in challenge as he looked at Tandor. “You could tell all of that from her emotions?”
“Just go,” Tandor responded impatiently.
He had clearly ‘read’ their surroundings, not just sensed Ansley’s emotions. Empathy was a relatively common gift, but the ability to read nature was only found in those of Houkdi descent. Jobek had asked Tandor about his heritage repeatedly and each time he’d evaded the issue. Now was as good a time as any to try again.
Carefully watching the ground for tracks, Jobek made his way through the trees. “Genetic analysis is part of the intake procedures at the Citadel. Were there any surprises in your breakdown?”
Tandor laughed. “The answer to your question is no. I was not surprised by anything revealed by my DNA analysis. Is that what you wanted to know?”
“You’re being an asshole.” Jobek accented his conclusion with a warning glare.
“Why is this so important to you?” Stopping suddenly, Tandor closed his eyes and tilted his head back. “She’s closer now.”
A faint movement in his peripheral vision snapped Jobek’s head around. Without hesitation, he sprinted after the fleeing person. If there were only three people left on the island then he had to be charging after Ansley. Was she staying one step ahead of them by lurking in the shadows? Clever girl.
She changed direction with the agility of a Pyronese feline but his legs were longer, quickly closing the distance between them. He reached the crest of a hill and suddenly found his boots sliding downward, unable to find purchase on the loose rocks. He flailed his arms wildly, barely managing to stay on his feet. Worse, he saw Ansley disappear back over the hilltop. The crafty little bitch was escaping.
“Unbelievable,” he muttered as he reached the bottom of the hill.
