Xander had a mission to save his planet and people. One he was created to do.
He couldn’t afford to feel.
He started working on amplifying his filters. He couldn’t afford the distracting emotions Malin Phoenix generated in him.
“She was reacting to the stress of our escape from Centax.” All eyes swung to him. “As you said, I feel little. I certainly don’t feel anything for Malin.”
The room went quiet.
Malin stared at him, her eyes blinking rapidly.
“Curiosity.” He couldn’t deny he’d been curious to see what she felt like, tasted like. “That’s all.”
She looked away. “See—” a crack in her voice “—nothing to worry about.”
Xander detected some sort of stress in her tone, but she turned away from him, and he couldn’t see her face. “I would like to focus on what’s important, the Antikythera.”
Eos bustled past, grabbing Malin by the arm. “I think we should do this in mission control. Mal and I will head up.” Eos dragged Malin with her and speared her husband with a look. “Dathan, why don’t you show Xander up? We’ll meet you there.”
Xander watched the women leave, staring at the back of Malin’s head. He didn’t like the fact that she wasn’t looking at him, or the fact that she was leaving him. Even for a few minutes.
Dathan was frowning. “Let’s go, CenSec. It’s time you tell us exactly what you want.”
Xander followed the treasure hunter out into the hangar, aware of Niklas following behind them. “What is mission control?”
“Where we plan all our hunts.”
They made their way through the darkened hangar. He switched to night vision, noted the salvaged parts, all sorted in a neat and orderly fashion. Malin was clearly efficient and competent at her work.
They climbed some stairs and then passed through a heavily secure doorway. Inside, the room was centered on a large holo-table. Shelves lined the walls and valuable artifacts lined the shelves.
Eos was tapping at the holo-table screen. Malin was seated and she didn’t look up as they came in.
Nik moved to lean against the wall while Dathan moved over beside his wife, pressing a hip to the table.
“Time to talk,” the treasure hunter said.
Xander wasted no words. “A Centaxian named Rexon Dax has taken control of Centax.” For the first time in a long time, he struggled to keep his anger out of his face.
“And that’s bad?” Eos asked.
“He’s a fanatical misogynist zealot who’s planning to tear my planet and my people apart.” Xander’s hands squeezed into tight fists. He’d always felt anger, but never this strong, this hot. Damn his failing filters. “The information I was able to gather before I escaped says he’s planning on closing schools and academies. He wants to enslave the women. All women in high-ranking positions—in the government, business, and the academies—will have been removed by now. He’s already closed Centax Security and deemed all CenSecs enemies of the state. He’s also going to decree that girls will no longer attend school or be eligible for enhancements.”
Malin looked up now, but her gaze seemed to look through him. “That’s barbaric.”
Niklas uttered a curse.
“I find it very hard to believe that the ruthless CenSec forces were overwhelmed,” Dathan said. “Maybe what I heard about you guys is just hype?”
Xander felt that tick in his jaw again. “Dax hired mercenaries.”
“The giants,” Malin murmured.
“Yes.” The lack of light in her eyes disturbed him. Since he’d met her, he’d never seen anything but animation in those violet eyes. He wanted to touch her. “I’ve never seen anyone like them before. Clearly fighters. They were armed with some sort of tech that disrupts CenSec technology and implants.”
“Couldn’t use all your superpowers, huh?” Dathan again.
“Dathan, enough.” Eos elbowed him in the side.
