Playing Their Parts

“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.”

“I know you do. I just…” He hesitated, trying not to say again how small she seemed to him—how delicate.

Neither of them had ever had to draw their weapons on the job before last night at Frank Yarrow’s house—mostly because by the time they got to a homicide, it was already over. If the Kindred warrior who had killed a human male bothering his female wasn’t yet over his Rage, they were usually able to talk him down. As long as the warrior’s female was safe, the Rage dissipated quickly.

But The Beast wasn’t going to be in Rage over a female. He was a cold-blooded, clear-eyed killer who had murdered a female on purpose—breaking her neck as he violated her shamefully, all while filming the whole thing.

The idea of letting his partner be alone with such a monster made Stone’s eyes feel hot and his vision go red. If he wasn’t careful, he realized, he was going to go into Rage himself.

“All right,” he said at last and took a deep breath to try and calm himself down. “I know you can handle yourself, Cassandra. I just…I want you to be safe.”

“I will be,” she assured him. “Don’t worry, Stone. We’re going to catch this creep and get the film and destroy the Pain Fruit plants and be home before you know it.”

“From your mouth to the Goddess’s ear,” Stone said.

“Amen.” Kat smiled at them both. “All right—looks like you’re all ready to go!”

“I suppose we are,” Stone muttered.

But inside, he wasn’t feeling nearly as certain as he had been when he’d agreed to this mission. He wouldn’t have minded going alone, but seeing his partner in her new, sexualized outfit, looking so vulnerable…so irresistible, gave him second thoughts.

He was going into a predator’s den and bringing the woman he loved—even though she didn’t know he loved her—with him. Was he making a huge mistake?

Stone didn’t know and he was afraid he wouldn’t find out until it was too late.

Twenty-Two

“There it is—Bachanalius.” Stone pointed at a round, glowing pink dot on the viewscreen.

“That’s it?” Cassie leaned forward, staring with interest as the dot grew bigger and brighter. Soon they got close enough to see some details.