"There are clean clothes and water for a quick wash. Sorry, but I don't have any shaving equipment."

"A sharp knife works." He mumbled while he fumbled around trying to locate the clothes. Since he didn't see her put them down he didn't know where they were.

"Two feet to the right and half a foot straight ahead."

Her directions were perfect. He located the pile of clothes and the bucket of water which he carried back to his corner. With his back to her, he quickly scooped water into his mouth before splashing more over his face. The fact that the water was warm surprised him. After giving his armpits and groin a quick rinse, he slipped into the sun-warmed pants and shirt. He honestly couldn't remember the last time he'd bothered with laundry. What was the point-he just got dirty again.

"After we eat, we need to talk."

You got that right, Blue. You're gonna tell me why the h.e.l.l you kidnapped me and hauled my a.s.s out here to who knows where. Then we're gonna talk about how you're takin' me right back where you found me before you disappear from my life-forever.

The smell of roasting meat and frying fish filled the small room and just about made him crazy. He didn't know how much longer he could keep up the silent treatment. f.u.c.k it! Silence wouldn't fill his empty gut.

"Smells good." He muttered, half-way hoping she didn't hear him.

"It's nothin' fancy but there's plenty of it and it fills a hole."

This time he paid attention to where she placed the plate and was able to retrieve it without stumbling around. The succulent flesh of the fried fish practically melted off the bone. He groaned at the first bite. He couldn't remember when food tasted so good and picked every bit of flesh from the bones before starting on the kava.

"There's a skin of water and a cup of tea about six inches to the left of the cot." Shadow's voice was so close to him she actually startled him. s.h.i.t! How does she do that? I didn't feel the slightest shift in the air when she moved. "How about something stronger?"

"No way in h.e.l.l are you getting close to a drink. Stupid somb.i.t.c.h, you d.a.m.ned near died drying out. You're out of your f.u.c.kin' mind if you think I'm going through that s.h.i.t again."

"What the h.e.l.l made you think I wanted to dry out?" Talon yelled, tossing the plate of bones to the floor. "I didn't ask you to drag me out here so whatever s.h.i.t you went through was self-inflicted! Just where do you get off interfering in my life?"

"Instead of yelling like a demented fool, you should be thanking me! I nursed you through the puke and the p.i.s.sin' all over yourself and the shakes. You would have died without me!"

"If you had left me the h.e.l.l alone I wouldn't have been sick!" Talon reached for the infuriating woman but was pulled up short by the chain around his ankle.

"Yeah, women have heard that excuse since the first pot of honey fermented. Men-drunken a.s.shole men-need to change the excuse! This one is worn out!"

"How the h.e.l.l would you know what women hear? You have to be a woman to know that and I don't see anything feminine about you! You have a mouth nastier than any miner I've ever met; you stomp around like a one-legged sailor and you stink like a ditch digger after a long day in the sun."

Some miniscule part of Talon's brain registered a brief flash of dark green before it disappeared behind the constant blue aura but he was too focused on his argument to give it any thought.

"I want to know why you did this! Right now! So spit it out, Blue!"

"Fine! You want answers? You want to know why? There's only one f.u.c.kin' reason I'd come within smelling distance of you!" Her temper was as hot as his. "You talk about how I smell when you hadn't bathed or changed clothes in weeks-or months! I G.o.dsd.a.m.ned didn't do it because I cared what happened to your sorry a.s.s! I was PAID, Talon, and paid well!"

Her announcement stopped his ranting cold. "Who would do that? An a.s.sa.s.sin doesn't make friends. It's bad for business. No one I know would toss half a coin in the gutter to watch me grovel for it. You're a lying b.i.t.c.h."

"And your mother sucks green donkey d.i.c.ks!"

"Leave my mother out of this and what the h.e.l.l is a donkey?" He was surprised. His temper ran flaming hot; yet one stupid comment and he actually wanted to grin.

"It's a short, fat, funny lookin' piece of s.h.i.t animal. Looks kinda like a small horse, only stubborn."

"And their d.i.c.ks are green?" He couldn't hold back the grin this time especially when he heard the humor in her voice.

"f.u.c.k no! It's just something I heard from a couple of soldiers on Earth a few years ago. I just liked the way it sounds."

Now that his anger was no longer ruling his head-and tongue-he walked back to his cot and sat down. He'd have a civilized conversation with the irritating woman if it killed him. He wanted more answers.

"So who paid you to kidnap me?" He asked, surprised when she pulled a chair closer to his cot and sat down.

"Your friends, Dak and Kierin!"

Shock kept him momentarily speechless. "Wha...why...why would they do that?" He managed to force the words from his suddenly tight throat.

"They're worried about you. Actually, Kierin is worried. Dak knows what demons you fight and just wants to help."

If Dak wanted to help why didn't he kill me like I asked?

"I don't need or want their help so they wasted their money and you wasted your time. Consider this the end of your a.s.signment." He turned away from Shadow wishing he could turn the memories away as easily. It only took a few seconds for every nightmarish minute of his life to race through his brain. Just the mention of Dak and Kierin and every mental block he had vanished. d.a.m.n! There will be bad dreams tonight and nothing you can do will stop them. Not without a LOT of alcohol.

"If you still want to return to that f.u.c.kin' gutter-life you had in Cypriana after I deliver Dak's message, I'll take you back. Personally, I don't understand his concern. You're nothin' like the man he described to me. But I wasn't paid to understand-just to deliver."

"Then deliver your message like a good little flunky so I can go home." There was a sick, itchy dread crawling over his skin. He wasn't going to like what Dak had to say. Interfering, son-of-b.i.t.c.h wanted everyone as happy as he and Kierin. Wasn't going to happen. Not in this lifetime.

"Dak contacted me because I have some very...unique skills. I'm a mercenary and I'm d.a.m.n good at my job. Across a dozen galaxies, I've fought in more than a hundred battles and learned new ways of fighting-of killing-in each and every one."

Talon jerked to face her. "You actually sound proud of that."

"Just because there's nothing feminine about being a soldier for hire? I'm good at what I do."

Again, he caught the brief flash of dark green, this time it was darker-almost brown. Without the interference of a raging temper to blunt his awareness his curiosity kicked in.

"So Dak wants you to teach me how to be a soldier for hire? Filling out a job application might pose a slight problem. Of course, not being able to tell the difference between enemy and friend might be a little harder to overcome."

"Have you always been a sarcastic b.a.s.t.a.r.d or is this just for my f.u.c.kin' benefit? If it's for me, I have to warn you that YOU ARE SERIOUSLY p.i.s.sIN' ME THE f.u.c.k OFF!"

He heard the deep breath she took, pulling her temper back under her control, but not before he saw another tiny flash of color. This time it was bright yellow. She was about to lose control and fighting it hard. His interest just kicked up another notch.

"You're yelling again, Blue." Did he just hear a knife slide from a sheath?

"I will slice your useless d.i.c.k into small pieces if you don't stop calling me that G.o.dsd.a.m.ned, idiotic name."

Talon chuckled. If Blue kept grinding her teeth she was going to crack a tooth. "You get close enough for that and you'll be dead before you draw the first drop of blood." He barely uttered the last word when he heard the thunk of the knife embedding itself into the wooden frame of his cot-right between his legs. Her aim was deadly accurate. The sharp edge touched his crotch and his flesh pulsed in time with the vibrating blade.

d.a.m.n! The psycho b.i.t.c.h was serious!

"Impressive. Is that what Dak wants me to learn?" Not by so much as a twitch of a whisker did he allow his concern to show. If she wanted to castrate him she would.

"No, jerk-a.s.s. Dak knows I can teach you the one thing you need more than the air you breathe."

Talon was tempted, despite every instinct warning him to run. Those brief, almost-not-there flashes of color had him intrigued. Her control over her responses was unbelievable. He wanted-no, he needed to know how she did it. He'd listen while she laid out her plans before shooting them all down. He didn't need or want Dak's interference.

"Well don't keep me hanging, Blue. Just what is this unique skill that's going to miraculously turn my f.u.c.kin' useless life around?"

"I can show you how to kill Draagon."

Chapter Five.

"Explain," he managed to whisper past a throat locked with what he feared was hope. He wanted to believe but the reality of his condition-his life-made it difficult to hold out for something as elusive as hope. Far too often that fragile filament would shatter under the weight of despair.

"They approached me in a village near their home. I've been in too many s.h.i.tty towns and villages to remember the name. Dak wouldn't say how he knew about me. I didn't really give a f.u.c.k as long as his coin was good. When he told me what he wanted, I turned him down. Told him if some stupid b.a.s.t.a.r.d didn't have b.a.l.l.s enough to take control of his own life, it wasn't my f.u.c.kin' problem."

Talon could imagine how Dak reacted to Shadow's att.i.tude. The man radiated control and dominance. "I take it he didn't care for your answer."

"That is one scary mother-f.u.c.ker when he starts yellin'. I was halfway out the door when that little wife of his stopped me. She might look like a puff of air would blow her away but she stood up to that giant mountain of att.i.tude like he was a young pup. With just a few softly spoken words she convinced him to back off and me to stay."

"Yeah, she's a handful. Put me in my place more than once." Talon remembered their arrival in Cypriana. Kierin was as determined to get rid of him as he was to stay near her. This time he didn't fight the grin twitching his lips. "So what did she say to convince you to go along with Dak's plan?"

"None of your f.u.c.kin' business! You wanna hear this or not?"

Talon held his hands up in mock surrender. "You have a captive audience of one."

"a.s.shole," she muttered under her breath but he heard her. "I can show you several ways you can get close enough to Draagon to take your revenge. It won't be easy and it won't happen overnight. If you're willing to work hard and listen to me and do what I say," she spoke each word slowly and distinctly to be sure he heard and understood. "You just might learn something."

"If I agree to all of this, just what will I have to do?" He wasn't sure if he believed her but if she could...did he dare reach for that elusive wisp of hope?

"Sorry, but it doesn't work that way. The training is progressive and I'll tell you what and how when the time comes. You either agree-totally-or the whole deal goes down the c.r.a.pper."

"What about you?" Talon wished he could see her expression because there was just the tiniest flash of color spiking around her body.

"What the h.e.l.l do you mean...me?"

"I mean, if I have to give up total control of my mind, body, and soul...not to mention a river of good ale, what are you giving up?" Another flash of color made him grin. d.a.m.n. This is fun. What would it take to light her up like a fireworks explosion?

"This isn't a negotiation, dumba.s.s. My contract is with Dak."

"My point exactly." Talon explained. "It appears that I'm the only one who will be inconvenienced by this contract of yours. So I ask again, what are you giving up?"

"You're out of your f.u.c.kin' mind if you think I'm playing this game. Now answer my d.a.m.n question."

Talon thought for several minutes. He had already decided to take Shadow's offer but he let the suspense build just to see if he could trigger another genuine reaction. The tapping of her foot grew louder and faster and he knew she was ready to explode.

"I'll agree to your terms and follow your instructions to the letter...IF...you give up cussing for the same period of time."

"Why you miserable, drunken...how dare...low-down, worthless...I honestly can't think of anything s.h.i.tty enough to describe what I think of you and your negotiation!"

Talon didn't move or speak, letting her work through her temper. The longer she stomped around, mumbling obscenities and giving him directions for s.e.xual positions he didn't think were physically possible to execute, the more those little flashes of color broke through her control. He wanted to know just what it would take for her to completely lose control. When her tirade appeared to be winding down, he posed another question.

"What did you have planned as...punishment...when I failed to follow your orders?"

That brought her to a complete stop. Man, how he wished he could see her expression.

"Wha...punish...I don't...?" She huffed and flopped down on the floor near where he sat. "You obviously misunderstood what I'm offering. One-my orders, as you call them, will be to build your strength, agility, and endurance. Right now you're too shaky to do more than feed yourself. Two-if you do decide not to follow these instructions, you better have a d.a.m.n good reason. If that reason is bulls.h.i.t then you'll end up running additional miles or working extra training routines. Three-I don't waste my time giving frivolous instructions just for giggles and grins. Each and every step in the process has a purpose, whether you see it or not. I've been doing this for a long time and I'm d.a.m.n good at what I do."

"Fair enough," Talon agreed. Nothing she said raised any warning flags. She actually made good sense, but he'd never tell her so. "So all we need to do is come up with a suitable...incentive...for when you slip up and turn the air blue?"

"My language doesn't bother me so why should I change it?"

"Alcohol soothes me, but you made me give it up. We'll make this easy for you. Every time your mouth opens on an obscenity you have to kiss me."

"Are you out of your f.u.c.kin' mind?" She bellowed, jerking to her feet. "I'm not going to kiss you!"

"Of course, if you're not up to the challenge I'm sure we can think of something less...feminine. Yes, that's what we need to do. Since I've had considerable practice with the ladies of the evening it would probably be disappointing."

Talon fought the grin twitching his lips while watching Shadow stomp around the small room. She was in one h.e.l.lava snit and those tiny little sparks of color continued to escape her control.

"Fine. I'll kiss you if I say something offensive. Happy now?"

He kept his thoughts to himself. If he said the wrong thing she could back out of the deal. Better to let her absorb the changes at her own pace.

"This deal begins when we start your training right?"

"We can start whenever you like. Waiting will give me time to enjoy a cold bottle of ale or two." He could almost hear the trap slam shut in her brain. She just realized his game and was furious at being manipulated.

"You sneaky b.a.s.t.a.r.d. Fine, I'll clean up my language but you have to do the same." She turned on her heel and stormed out of the cabin.

s.h.i.t! s.h.i.t! s.h.i.t! How in the h.e.l.l did I lose control of that situation? It didn't take a seer to answer that question. It happened while he was drying out. The puking and shakes she expected; even the nightmares and hallucinations. She lost her professional edge when he started crying. Deep, gut-wrenching wails told of pain so shattering that a lesser man would have ended his own life. Somehow, she knew losing his sight didn't cause all that pain. For two days she lay beside him, holding him while he purged his soul. It was the only solace she could offer but now she felt out of sync and struggling with a strange sense of guilt for forcing him to confront those demons.

That's not all you feel guilty about, girl. You can't un-ring that bell. Talon may have let his skills deteriorate but his body was still impressive. Long and lean and well-muscled, his physical condition was better than she thought possible given his lifestyle. She saw traces of notable abs. The v-shaped muscles that bracketed those abs and pointed to his manhood begged a woman to trace their path with fingertips or tongue.

The memory of his body holding hers was part of her current problem. Becoming involved was a bad, bad, bad idea. He had no memories of what transpired during his detox so keeping things on a professional level was strictly up to her. She didn't want the inevitable messy emotions of an affair. Her life was just the way she wanted. She went where she pleased whenever she got the urge to roam. Yep, her freedom was much more important than a sarcastic drunk with a body to die for. And now I have to kiss him if I cuss. I should just cut my tongue out right now and save myself the humiliation of trying to compete with prost.i.tutes.

You can't stay out here all night. There are too many plans to finalize and if you keep brushing these horses they're going to be bald. Just go inside, ignore how he looks, ramp up your shields and be very grateful he can't see you checking out his man parts. And whatever you do don't give him any reason to remember he had s.e.x with you!

Chapter Six.