Invasion Earth by Loribelle Hunt Read Free Book Online Page A

can’t use
it.”
    The transfer of the weapon had taken place
earlier in the evening. Some people thought that was meant to be
seen as a sign of cooperation. A step in the right direction,
towards peace. Laney was more of the opinion the Delroi didn’t need
it and maybe wouldn’t care if Earth started up hostilities
again.
    Her smile was brittle. “You think they don’t
have something similar themselves? They came half way across the
galaxy to start this war.”
    And for what? Earth was in near ruins. They
had no resources left worth mentioning. Was it really about women?
The idea seemed preposterous. But if there was another motive,
damned if she could see it. She shook her head.
    “I don’t see another way, Colonel, but if you
figure something out be sure to let me know.”
    She moved to stand but again he stopped
her.
    “You’re in the best position to find their
weakness.”
    She arched her eyebrows in an effort to cover
her reaction to the suggestion. She was a soldier; it was what she
should be doing. Looking for their motives. Ferreting out their
strengths and weaknesses. So why did the idea leave such a bad
taste in her mouth? She wished Britt and Kendall were with her.
Both were old Army friends, Kendall a doctor and Britt one of
Laney’s best spies. They were the only two people she trusted
implicitly. They were usually her best advisors and if ever she
needed a sounding board the time was now.
    Eldridge stood and walked towards the
doorway. Pausing he looked back over his shoulder and met her
gaze.
    “Think about it, Sergeant Major.”
    Damn the man. She would be thinking of little
else.
    When she was alone she turned to the window
she’d been avoiding staring out of before and took a deep breath.
Looked out in wonder. The view was magnificent. The inky black
background was filled with pinpricks of light and the moon hung
huge and close. She lifted her fingers to the glass, traced its
shape. They were so close she almost felt as if she could reach out
and touch it. Somewhere on board there must be a window that
overlooked the Earth. She wanted to see it and promised herself
she’d find it later.
    She concentrated on what that view would look
like, forcing thoughts of Earth conspiracies and alien invaders
from her mind. What would she give to go back two years? To go back
to a time when her biggest concern was subduing the rebellion of a
local protectorate or figuring out which of her soldiers should be
promoted? She sighed and forced herself to face the hard truth. It
had never been that simple.
    She heard soft steps behind her, saw a man’s
reflection in the glass. The first thing she noticed was that he
carried himself like Alrik and she thrust the image away. Then she
realized she knew this man. Well, not personally. But she’d seen
him on Earth before the invasion. Her smile was grim as she
studied his image in the glass. This was something she knew how to
do. Let the games begin.
     
    ***
     
    Barak ducked behind one of the big bulkheads
as the Earth Colonel left the room. He wasn’t sure what to do with
this new information, so he waited for the woman, to see what her
next move would be. When she didn’t exit, he stepped out of the
shadows and walked the few feet to the open doorway. Her back was
to him, and he studied her a few moments trying to decide if she
was a threat or not.
    “You might as well come in,” she said softly,
then turned her head to look over her shoulder.
    He caught his breath. Reminded himself she
belonged to the Commander. But she was stunning. No way around it.
Her hair was loose and hung down her back. Her carriage was regal.
As if she’d been born to be a prince’s der’lan . And it
appeared she had been. The question was could she be trusted? Mates
did not always live peacefully together. A fact he had unfortunate
first hand knowledge of. His parents had made an art of misery.
    She stood before a large view port that
looked out onto the planet’s lone moon. If