Page 31 of Her Alien Mercenaries
“We caught these two sneaking around. They uh, resisted,” Kade said.
“Resisted what? They’re not strangers forfraxxsake. You know who they are.”
Jenna stifled a giggle. So this was Shadow’s mate.
Kade shrugged. “We got a little carried away.”
Shadow threw up her hands. “Next time, I’m asking Denz to provide security. I told you it was just a precaution, and there was next to no chance of any trouble.”
“When have you known any of us to walk away from a chance to spar?” the cyborg asked.
“Since never, which is why I was happy not to be mated to a cyborg. But now I see you’re corrupting him.”
Kade snorted. “I was corrupt before we even met. It’s one of the things you love about me.”
Jenna finally had enough and did something unusual. She raised her voice. “Excuse me. Hello? My turn to talk.” She turned to look at her mates. “What are you doing here?”
Zanyr and Torren looked at each other and then at her. “You checked for messages on a secret comm unit and then lied about what you’d be doing this afternoon. We wanted to know why.”
She groaned and buried her face in her hands. This had all gone wrong. “Fair enough,” she spoke without removing her hands. “But then we need to have a conversation about who you are, and why Skye thinks you’re two of the most dangerous males in the colony.”
13
Torren quietedhis mind and tried to focus as Jenna explained. From time to time, Shadow or Skye chimed in to clarify something or to give more context.
“You’re a spy?” Torren asked at the end. He’d heard it, but he still couldn’t believe it.
“Technically, she’s a double agent,” Edge pointed out. “And I’m not happy to find out we’re running these kinds of ops without the leadership council being read in to the situation.”
“The council didn’t need to know. Now, all of you are going to be sworn to secrecy. Yardan is going to shed his scales when he finds out about this breach. You all know mymahoyen, and none of you want to get on his bad side.” Skye arched one brow. “Right?”
Everyone nodded.
“Edge is right. I am a double agent. I’m also not very good at it. The first time I needed to do something stealthy and spy-like, this happened.” Jenna threw out her hands to encompass the knot of people gathered. “I think I should retire.”
“Yes,” Zanyr and Torren said in one breath.
“Maybe,” Skye said.
“What?” Torren’s half-rose from his chair. “She can’t continue.” He realized he was almost shouting and lowered his voice. “Sorry, Jenna. I’m not trying to make this decision for you, but I’m glad you see things clearly. This is too dangerous.” He glowered at Skye. “And I cannot believe anyone asked you to do it in the first place!”
“She came to us,” Skye shot back. “The enemy recruited her first. Jenna had the courage to risk everything, including her chance to come here, to tell us. That took a measure of bravery I’m not sure many of us could match.”
Kade looked at Jenna with admiration. Torren fought back the urge to growl at the other male.
Skye ignored everyone and continued talking. “As for her effectiveness? Jenna is the reason we found the other spy in her class so quickly.” The cyborg turned to Jenna, her expression fierce. “Do not sell yourself short. The work you’ve done has been invaluable. Youaregood at this. Whatever you decide, you need to remember that. You helped protect Haven in a way no one else could have.”
“Thank you, Skye, but it isn’t that big a deal. I was only doing what I thought was right.”
“And bravery.” Zanyr reached out and took Jenna’s hand. She sat between them with the others grouped around in a rough circle. “I know how hard it can be to do the right thing.”
Torren took her other hand. “And how tempting it is to make the easy choice.”
Jenna nodded and then stiffened a little. “Was that why you didn’t tell me the truth about who you are? Because it was the easy way out?”
Torren wanted to tell her this wasn’t the time or place to talk about it. He didn’t want to share his past with everyone in this room. Right now, the only one with that information was Skye, and judging by the guilty looks she kept sending their way, she hadn’t meant to betray any secrets. That didn’t do much to fix the situation, but at least she hadn’t done it out of malice.
As much as he didn’t want to have this discussion here or now, he also knew they had to. Their actions today had forced Jenna to reveal her secret, and that had put her at risk. The more beings who knew, the higher the chance someone would slip up and put her in danger.
