Read Mystic Flame (Beyond Ontariese 4) for Free Online

you’ve never enjoyed the stability of a
long-term social alliance, much less attracted a life mate.”
    Grat tensed, but said nothing. Knowing
Malos, there had been no guessing about it. He would have
thoroughly investigated Grat in preparation for this meeting. Which
meant Malos knew Grat cared about two things, his younger brother
and physical pleasure. The sort of pleasure he could only find in
sexual simulators as things were now.
    When there was no reply, Malos went on,
“Each Ontarian woman has a hundred men to choose from. Why would
one ally herself with you?”
    “I didn’t realize Mystics dealt in female
flesh.” Why was Malos provoking him if he hoped to strike a deal?
Grat’s pride demanded he punch the smug Mystic in the face and
storm out of the bar, yet curiosity kept him rooted in place.
    “My kind,” Malos leaned forward, speaking in
a barely discernable whisper, “are able to do many things,
which are forbidden by the Mystic Covenant.”
    As if he didn’t already know Malos lacked
the integrity of most Mystics. Their past deals had more than
proven Malos to be an amoral bastard, an extremely generous amoral
bastard. “Go on.”
    “By implanting a suggestion—a compulsion if
you will—I could ensure the female of your choice was more
receptive to your advances.”
    “How receptive?” Forbidden images flickered
to life within his mind, possibilities he seldom allowed himself to
entertain.
    “As receptive as you like.” A knowing smile
parted his lips. “Take your partner for instance. I suspect that
working so closely with such a vivacious female has left you with
certain desires. Perhaps she’s fueled your fantasies.”
    Grat licked his lips and looked beyond
Malos, staring at the holodancer. “Would she be aware of what you
were doing?”
    “I could introduce a subtle longing and
gradually increase it to the sort of passion that forges lifelong
commitments. She would be so besotted, so needful of your attention
that she would never look at another man.”
    Shifting on the chair, Grat adjusted the
crotch of his pants before dragging his gaze back to Malos. “All
right.” Shame momentarily surged through his desire, but cycles of
unrequited lust proved stronger. “I’ll tell you where she went but
you have to assure me she won’t be harmed. If you can’t promise me
that, I want nothing—”
    “Oh no.” Malos waved away his response. “I
require much more from you than information. I’m offering you the
fulfillment of your wildest fantasy. Do you honestly think the
price will be so low?”
    A long pause followed. Grat looked at the
holodancer again and again, his hands rubbing up and down his
thighs. He’d tried everything to draw Dro Tar’s attention. She
respected him and valued his abilities, but never once had she
looked at him with sexual awareness in her eyes. Why would she?
Malos was right. Women weren’t drawn to intelligence and
technological acumen. They wanted broad shoulders and bad
attitudes.
    He stomped down the last of his decency and
asked, “What do you want me to do?”
    A slow, cruel smile parted the Mystic’s
lips. “Her current companion can sense if one of our kind comes
near him, which creates certain complications for me.”
    “You want me to go after them?”
    “I know how you met your partner.” Malos
paused, apparently waiting for the implication to hit Grat.
    He and Dro Tar had been assigned to several
of the same missions while she was still in the military. He’d been
a civilian consultant able to combine technology with a heightened
sensitivity that allowed him to locate any target. She’d been the
most unconventional military officer he’d ever encountered. Her wit
and rebellion meshed well with his subtle resistance to authority
and he’d felt a connection with her that he’d never felt with any
other female. Unfortunately, his feelings hadn’t been
reciprocated.
    “You will find them, retrieve the missing
device and neutralize