Depths Of Desire XW5 by Ruth D. Kerce Page A

direct skin contact to work. She and Torque
used to kill dung-rats with them on Xylon, so at least she knew how to get the
best out of it. “Thanks.”
    She told Pitch everything she’d learned
while down here, which wasn’t much, and then she watched him and Josella go on
their way. She moved closer to Alexa. “I guess it’s been the babies that I was
hearing before we found each other.”
    Alexa’s eyes widened. “You heard them? I’ve
been trying to keep them quiet.”
    “I couldn’t really identify the sound. It
must have traveled through those vents.” She pointed upward.
    “Do you think the Def’mal heard them?”
    “Probably. We need to stay alert. It’s a
danger staying in one place like this. But moving around with the babies is
problematic too. I don’t understand why Laszlo would send you here instead of
the repair station unless he didn’t care about your safety.”
    “Laszlo wouldn’t put us in danger. Not
purposely.”
    “Given what’s happened, I’m not so sure
about that.”
    “Um, there’s something that you need to know…”
Alexa shifted and seemed to be searching for her words.
    Tara wondered what was up now. And she did
wonder about Laszlo’s motives, no matter what Alexa believed. The man was much
too secretive for her liking and always had been. “What?”
    “We found out something major after the
attack on Xylon. It seems that Laszlo, well, he’s both my father and Kam’s.”
    Tara sat dumbfounded. Her translator must
be acting up. “Father?” She shook her head. “No. Kam’s father is a Xylon
Warrior, whereabouts unknown. And you’re—”
    A shuffling sound caught their attention.
Tara saw Alexa stiffen. She put a finger to her own lips, telling Alexa to stay
quiet. Tara stood up and gripped the electro-zapper securely. It could just be
Pitch or Josella coming back, but if so, certainly they would have called out
or signaled her in some way. No other sounds reached her ears. But she knew she
hadn’t imagined it, for Alexa had heard it too. She moved forward slowly,
extinguishing the lights to help conceal their presence. When she heard
movement behind her, she glanced back as the last of the light faded. Alexa was
heading deeper into the cave where the babies were. Good.
    Another slight shuffling sound. Tara froze.
Boots against pebbles on the ground? She pressed herself along the cave wall,
then ducked and peered through the entrance. Nothing. She slipped through as
quietly as possible, staying close to the wall of the cave. Whoever it was, she
would lure them away, then double back. When a shadow passed by before she
expected, her heart jumped. Shit. She froze, not daring to move and she
barely breathed.
    He hadn’t seen her and a sense of relief
washed through her. Until he stopped. She saw him visibly tense. Or maybe she felt
his tension. It was too dark without a light stick to see much of anything. He knew
she was there. She’d bet on it. Possibly her scent. The Def’mal had keen
senses. But then he continued forward and she breathed normally again.
    Cautiously, she turned toward the other
pathway. She’d make a noise and get him headed down the next entry. He was too
close for comfort and she intended to make certain he kept going. She wouldn’t
terminate him unless forced into it. She’d have to hit him directly in the eye
for a lethal shot to penetrate the brain.
    A hand suddenly clamped over her mouth from
behind and an arm circled her waist. What? No way could he have gotten behind
her. The realization hit her hard. There’s two of them! She tried to cry
out or make any kind of a sound of distress so Alexa would know to stay hidden
but the Def’mal held her too tightly. She had to fight and hope that Alexa was
smart enough not to try to help.
    When his grip loosened just slightly, she
jerked her head backward, catching him on the chin. He grunted and his hold on
her slipped. She turned enough to get him off balance and flipped him over her