“It’s just…” Cassie swallowed hard. “Stone, he…he’s built like a Greek god. And I’m no goddess.” She let out a jagged little laugh.
“You’re an Elite,” Kat told her calmly. “I don’t care what you learned down on Earth—up here on the Mother Ship, you’re perfect. So don’t let your partner intimidate you with his Kindred looks—you’re every bit as beautiful as he is handsome.”
And with that, she flung open the door to her office and ushered Stone inside.
Twenty-One
“Hi, I’m Kat. Come on in and let’s get you ready to go,” the human woman with red hair said to him.
But Stone didn’t answer—he couldn’t answer. All he could do was stare at Cassandra—was that really her?—in awe.
She was dressed in a most revealing outfit which showed the curves of her waist and hips. Her full breasts were spilling out of a metal breastplate and long panels of crimson fabric swished enticingly between her legs, emphasizing the luscious, full curves of her hips and thighs, which Stone had always liked. A black cape and black boots completed the look, which was stunning with his partner’s olive skin and long, black hair.
“Gods,” he said hoarsely, finding his voice at last. “Cassandra, you look…”
“Amazing,” Kat said crisply, shooting Stone what looked like a warning look.
“I was going to say breathtaking,” Stone admitted hoarsely. “I…don’t believe I’ve ever seen so much of your skin revealed at the same time, Cassandra.”
“And you never will again,” she snapped.
Her cheeks were pink with embarrassment, Stone noted. She had always dressed so modestly before—even when they went to the beach she wore a t-shirt and shorts over her bathing suit. Revealing her body this way couldn’t be easy for her, he realized.
“Cassie, I believe your partner was giving you a compliment,” Kat said gently. “Remember what I told you—own your curves!”
“Oh, uh…thanks, Stone.” Cassandra took a deep breath and lifted her chin. She had been trying to pull the sides of her cape around to cover herself, but now she stopped and let the cape swing free, revealing herself completely.
“Goddess…” Stone growled hoarsely.
He was usually able to control himself around his partner but now he felt his shaft becoming painfully hard in the tight confines of his leather trousers. He had to force himself to look away and speak to Kat instead of staring at Cassandra.
“Is my costume ready?” he asked her, trying to keep his eyes from wandering back to his newly revealed partner.
“It’s pretty basic—just a lab coat. As far as I can tell, Xempi Gozeriam doesn’t make his scientists or lab techs wear any particular uniform under their coat,” Kat explained, handing him a white lab coat.
Stone tried it on—it fit perfectly and fell to his mid thighs.
“Excellent,” he said, nodding at Kat. “I feel like I’m ready to go back to the Xeno-microbiology lab.”
“Yes, I heard you worked there before going to Earth to become a police detective.” She gave him an appraising look. “That’s a pretty big career change.”
“I…wanted to try something different.” Stone shrugged uncomfortably. He couldn’t exactly tell this stranger that he had chosen to make the change because of the dreams he’d had of Cassandra—especially not right in front of her. He just hoped Kat wouldn’t say anything leading that might make his partner suspicious.
“Well, here’s your chance to use both your skill-sets,” Kat remarked blandly. “Have both of you got your back-stories down pat?”
“Yes.” Cassandra nodded. “I’m from Psylon Five—a member of the Elyons—their elite, female warrior class. I’ve been traveling the galaxy as a gun for hire and I’m the best there is at body-guarding.”
“Perfect!” Kat looked at Stone. “And you?”
“I am a disaffected Kindred botanist. I left Tranq Prime because I was unhappy that the powers that be there wouldn’t allow me to pursue my research on the genetic manipulation of potentially deadly plant species,” Stone recited rapidly.
“Excellent.” Kat nodded at him. “Well—it seems to me that the two of you are about ready to go. Are you excited?”
“We are. And nervous,” Cassandra admitted in a low voice. “The stakes are pretty high on this one. We’re looking for a snuff film, an illegal drug, and a murderer all at the same time.”
“And we have to find and eliminate them without Xempi Gozeriam finding out who we really are,” Stone reminded her.
“Right.” Cassandra nodded but Stone noticed that Kat was frowning.
“About that, doll,” she said to his partner. “Um, can I just recommend to you that no matter what happens, you hang on to your disguises? Don’t let your cover slip even for a second.”
“Of course we won’t,” Cassandra said, looking anxious. “But why are you so worried?”
“Well, when I was doing research on this guy, I ran across and article about what happened when some undercover reporters tried to infiltrate his organization. They were apparently writing about how he didn’t treat his, uh, ‘actors’ very well. Anyway, Xempi Gozeriam somehow figured out that they weren’t who they said they were. And, well…”
“What happened? Did he kill them?” Stone asked harshly. “He killed them?”
Kat winced.
“Worse, in a way. He maimed them. Cut off their hands and feet and left them to drift in their ship. If they hadn’t had an emergency beacon, they both would have died. But as it was…” She shook her head. “Let’s just say it’s really, really important Xempi Gozeriam doesn’t find out who you are.”
Cassandra’s face went pale, Stone noted, but she lifted her chin and a determined glint came into her brown eyes.
“We’ll be careful, Kat, but we have to go in there. We have to find the Imposter who killed our victim and raped several others while pretending to be Kindred. He’s a complete bastard—he can’t be allowed to go free.”
“How are you going to get him, though?” Kat objected. “I mean, if you see him in the palace, what can you do to him? It’s not like you can arrest him. I’m pretty sure Xempi Gozeriam isn’t going to allow extradition between Bachanalius and Earth or the Mother Ship.”
“I’ve thought of that,” Cassandra said. “As soon as I get hold of the snuff film and Stone destroys the Pain Fruit plants, I’ll lure The Beast out of the palace.”
“Lure him out?” Stone growled, frowning at her. “And how do you propose to do that, exactly?”
“How do you think?” Cassandra struck a pose, putting a hand on her hip and raising an eyebrow at him. “This outfit’s gotta be good for something, right?”
“I don’t want you being alone with him!” Stone said harshly. “The Beast is a killer!”
“So am I.” Cassandra frowned at him. “I won’t be unarmed, Stone, and I know how to handle myself.”