Bargain With the Enemy Read Online Free Page B

the youngling’s yelling managed to reduce his body’s craving to a more bearable ache.
    Ivo marched closer to his compu and checked the time. A bare ten sectons had passed since the last moment he’d looked.
    It was going to be a long wait until his shuttle was readied for departure. He shuddered at the horrifying prospect of the long journey to Darkos and having to listen to this terrible sound for rones without end. What if they were unable to get her to drink? How will the little one survive?
    Mouth compressed, he stalked to the other end of the room, resisting the craven urge to thrust the crying baby into the Darkon female’s arms and head in an uncharacteristic move towards a tankard of strong liquor. Mia was his responsibility now. Never would he turn his back on her like he had his sibling.
    He about-turned and paced the length of the room again, but the memory of his last conversation with Neo snapped at his heels.
    For he still recalled almost word perfect Neo’s pleas for his understanding…for his support. But he had remained obdurate against his brother’s questioning of their family’s continued involvement in the Traditionalist movement.
    Their last argument had been bitter and contained many words Ivo wished unspoken. If he had listened, been more willing to understand Neo’s concerns then perhaps his brother would still be alive.
    And he certainly would never then have crossed the path of that female from some far-flung, previously unknown planet.
    Mia’s shrieks reached a level of sound he had never heard before and Ivo ceased his restless pacing while he stared anxiously at the plexi-glass porthole. Thank the stars! It remains intact.
    Sweat trickled behind his neck as he realised his grip had tightened. He swiftly loosened his clasp and placed an awkward kiss to the top of the youngling’s silky hair.
    Then he froze.
    Why on Cercis had he done such a thing?
    Shaken, he swung away and patted her back with awkward strokes. Her heartrending sobs sliced into his hardened heart. Those two tear-drenched blue eyes gazed into his face with reproach. Shock punched him squarely in the gut as he recognised in their depths the bereft loneliness of an abandoned child.
    A feeling he had experienced for himself when his parent had enrolled him into military school when he was a bare five cycles. A feeling he’d hoped to never encounter again. Yet here this tiny scrap of humanity was suffering just as he had suffered.
    And he was the cause.
    â€˜You win, little one,’ he murmured, conscious of a profound relief lightening his essence as he made the decision.
    And the instant rigid attention of his sex.
    It appeared he would have to re-think his tactics.
    Further interaction with his brother’s mate would be certain to curtail these foolish imaginings.
    ***
    With shaking fingers, Stephanie tightened the bulky backpack’s straps across her stomach and cast another glance over her shoulder.
    The long corridor on Level 1 was empty.
    Her gaze switched back onto the hatch confronting her. Heart thudding, she examined the control panel. No different from any other out-moded security system she’d seen on the space station so it shouldn’t be too difficult to by-pass.
    Something’s not right. Where’s this bloke’s personal guards?
    Fingers poised above the keys, she hesitated but the knowledge that time wasn’t on her side drove her onwards. Any second now, a guard could come marching down the corridor or fling open the door.
    Three times she keyed in code, fourth time lucky. A narrow, blue light appeared about the hatch, signifying the lock was disengaged. Holding her breath, she pulled from her pants’ pocket, a stun tube. One quick press and it was activated. She inched open the hatch and tossed the tube into the room, quickly ducking back out again to lean against the door.
    Heart pounding, she mentally counted down the