Minder by Viola Grace Page A

to tell me who she was, what she looked like or anything. Every time I try to imagine her, pain grips me.” He grunted again as a wave of pain hit him.
    The physician looked curiously at him. “You are sure?” He looked at the stains on the gauzy fabric and a speculative gleam came to his eyes. “This could have been left by a previous lover, sir.”
    “Not on your life. I clean sir’s bedchamber every day. There is never a trace of his encounters left after I am finished.” Von came through the door with every inch bristling with indignation. His ivory fur was standing on end and his nose was twitching with irritation. “Whoever that woman was, she had never been in his rooms before.”
    “I see. Well, I will test this fabric and consult with my colleagues. We should have an answer for you shortly.”
    “What about the pain?”
    “Well, sir. From what you have told me, you are the victim of a Minder.” The physician straightened his coat. “I have never heard of pain being associated with their treatments, but usually their clients don’t want to keep their memories. You obviously fought to keep them and that is what is causing your pain.” The doctor left, taking the fabric with him.
    A Minder, that would explain it. “Von, make a list of all Minders on the planet last night. There couldn’t be more than a dozen. Find the females and compile a file for me.” A stabbing pain to his temples stole his breath for a moment. “And if the doctor hasn’t summoned one, get our Mind Healer down here. I want this reversed, whatever it is.”
    “Ksar will be on his way in a few minutes. I took the liberty of summoning him when we were walking here.” Von was always efficient with his data pad.
    They waited a few excruciating minutes while Baileez tried not to think of how someone could have taken his memories and for what purpose. What was the female hiding? What didn’t she want him to remember?
     
    “Sir, your memories are damaged, but not removed. She tried, but your senses were too tied to your memories.” Ksar had his delicate and slender fingers pressed against Baileez’s skull. “She is Citadel trained, definitely a Minder. She didn’t want to hurt you, but she wanted to remove her presence.”
    “Why?” He felt better already. The weight of the pain had eased as Ksar moved through his mind, setting things to rights. “Why would any woman want to be removed from a man’s mind?”
    The door opened and the physician entered. “I can answer that last question for you, sir. It seems the Minder in question was trying to get pregnant. She was at the peak of her cycle and you were obliging.”
    Ksar tightened his grip, “Stay still, sir. I almost have it.”
    “You are sure? Sure that our joining would have had results?”
    “Yes, sir. Both you and she were in peak physical condition and your fertility was never in question.” The physician was nervous. He had never seen Baileez this agitated.
    “Do you know who she was?” Ksar was tightening his grip on his mind and he could barely get the words out.
    “Of course.” The physician was indignant. “With her genetic profile, it was simple to find her identity.”
    His roar shook all of the men in the room. Von closed his eyes and Ksar worked as fast as he was able. “Who was she, idiot?”
    “Aleyn Zargas, Minder of the Alliance Protectorate of Terra, Retired. She is off on Propagation Leave to complete her contract.” His voice was both prim and offended. “She left this morning on the passenger transport.”
    “Aleyn!” The block broke and his mind flooded with images of her body writhing beneath his, her smile, the delight in her eyes as she tied him to the headboard using that scarf of hers, and her flushed skin as she rode him to completion. “Von, prep my ship. I am getting my own back.”
    “Your own, sir?”
    He stood, shook the hand of Ksar and turned to look at his manservant with an evil grin spreading across his face. “My