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//-->Codename SpringAubrey RossUndercover Embassy, Book ThreeAfter the Gathosian takeover of Earth, Spring is one of the few remaining doctorstending to the survivors. But she has a secret role—spy for the Resistance, disguised asa pleasure ambassador. She’s heard the legends of Evard Keenan, the alien chemist whosupposedly discovered a way to break the aliens’ control. When Evard sends for anambassador, Spring knows it’s her only opportunity to recruit him.She anticipates the mission’s danger, yet she’s unprepared for the passion thatignites with their first kiss. Never before has she so ached for another. She’ll completeher assignment at any cost. But how will she find the strength to walk away?Evard is every bit a captive as the people of Earth to the ruthless Gathosians. Heknows the Resistance is his only hope of escaping, and he’s just as sure Spring is part ofthe group. But to communicate his needs he must create a telepathic bond with Spring,formed both from lust and intimacy. Beyond desire, he needs her trust.CODENAMESPRINGAubrey RossAubrey RossChapter OneWith his heartbeat thundering in his ears, Evard Keenan triple-checked the resultsof his most recent simulation. If this data was accurate—and he had no reason to believeotherwise—he had finally found a stable antidote for the Gathosian compound.Hope and dread bombarded him from opposite sides, shredding his composure. Hewanted to shout for joy and scream in frustration but he couldn’t afford to drawattention to himself with any sort of emotional outburst. Concealing his conflict behindprofessional detachment, he quickly saved the simulation and encrypted the file. Hepushed back from his workstation and stood, glancing around the modest lab.Everything was neat and orderly and he was alone.What had he expected? He was always alone, unless he counted Inwatta’sunwanted visits or the infrequent appearance of one of the guards.Inwatta, his enemy and tormentor. She often appeared when he allowed histhoughts to dwell on her, so he tried to shove the subject from his mind. The Gathosianshad arrived on Earth four years ago but he’d been their prisoner much longer. Hispeople, the Bartonese, had the unhappy distinction of being compatible with Gathosianenergy. The Bartonese also had regenerative capabilities seldom found in humanoidspecies. As a result, they were often used as physical hosts and corporeal anchors forthe interdimensional conquerors.Evard gave himself a firm mental shake. Thinking about Inwatta’s people was notdrawing his thoughts far enough away from his hated captor, and it was imperativethat he solidify a strategy before he encountered her again.It had taken him the better part of six years to refine the formula and he still wasn’tcertain it would work in real-life conditions. How could he move beyond theory when4Codename Springhe was isolated from the rest of the world? He needed access to a fully mechanized laband numerous test subjects.Earth-based technology was a bit primitive but it was easily salvaged from theabandoned cities. Finding people willing to participate in a clinical trial would be noproblem either. The Gathosians used addiction as their primary control mechanism.Every person on Earth, from the lowliest worker to the heads of the Protectorate, cravedregular doses of the compound.Which meant freeing the population from this addiction was counterproductive tothe Gathosians. They would kill Evard without hesitation if they realized he’dsucceeded in mapping the elemental makeup of their compound and systematicallyconstructing a combination of chemicals that would nullify its effects.Did you miss me?He caught a shimmer out of the corner of his eye as the thought spread through hismind.I’m sorry I’ve been so neglectful lately. It hasn’t been by choice.After weeks of spiteful attempts to motivate him to submit to her twisted desires,Inwatta had been suspiciously absent for the past few days. Evard suspected hersuperiors had taken her to task for her erratic behavior and neglecting her duties, but hecouldn’t be sure. All he knew was her absence had allowed him the time he needed tofinalize his formula.“I’ve had plenty of work to keep me busy.” Pouring energy into his mental shields,he blocked her intrusion as much as possible. An energy tether anchored her to hismind, so it was never possible to shut her out completely. However, forcing her willupon him risked brain damage and a brain-damaged anchor was no use to her. So shepreferred indirect motivations when settling their differences.He walked to the wall nearest the sparkling cloud that indicated her presence andactivated the display. He’d prepared this file months ago, hoping the day would comewhen he would need it. “You asked me to refine the compound, to strengthen each dose5 [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ] |
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