“This is insane,” Deanne whispered in a low voice.

This hotel was a quiet place, if a little isolated on the edge of the city which was the main reason they’d picked it. They’d gotten some food and brought it back to the room earlier and now they lounged around a white-topped, slightly wobbly table. Each of them had a drink in front of them and a bowl of fruit slices sat in the middle. Raine propped the blue slippers encasing her feet on the nearby lumpy bed and relaxed as much as possible. That wasn’t very much in the circumstances. What they were thinking of doing made her nervous too, but they were out of options.

Raine knew it was crazy to be waiting patiently for a call from a Feiral captain, but she really couldn’t see any other way. “Do you know of any ship in port, aside from the one we targeted that would suit what we need?”

Hell, Raine didn’t want to go anywhere near a ship full of Feiral. She ran a hand threw her blond hair instead of giving in to the impulse to rub her slightly damp palms on her dark blue pants. It wasn’t as if their needs were all that easy to meet on short notice. She might be Feiral, but she never wanted to be part of a pack. She’d never been part of one and didn’t trust them. Putting all of the power in the hands of one man seemed utterly stupid. Especially in a time when they didn’t need to band together for strength or protection.

Deanne shook her head. Raine took a deep breath. Nothing they said was going to change anything. They all knew there wasn’t another option. They had looked hard, but their requirements limited the selection. They needed a relatively large ship and one that had female members of the crew. The female crew members part of that was relatively easy to find. It was the other parts of their requirements that gave them trouble. They also needed the ship to be going to Forunes and they needed to be hired on as part of the crew. This time they couldn’t go as passengers.

“I know how you feel, Deanne, but we have to get to Forunes. Krissa’s hurt and in danger. And we really need the opportunity to steal an identity for her.” Raine looked at her friend. Deanne was usually immaculate and superbly put together. The fact that her light green and blue shirt was wrinkled and the dark green skirt looked like it had been slept in said a lot about how badly this bothered her.

Now they had to wait and see if any of them managed to land a position on the crew. She knew it wasn’t one of the choicer positions because they’d only be needed for the journey there. That should lessen the number of applicant wanting the position, but there was no guarantee that any of them would be picked. The waiting was hard and she could only hope that at least two of them were hired.

It could be done with one, but two would be better. They needed to get to Forunes legitimately. It would make it harder for the people who’d targeted Krissa to track them when they left. Raine had no idea if the people were affiliated with any of the separatist hate groups off world or if they just didn’t like shifters and other nonhumans to be there, but she suspected they would follow. The fake identities would help, but every bit of separation would be needed.

This little jaunt wasn’t going to be easy even if they all managed to get hired. They’d had to rush everything because of the situation. They’d kept their first names the same for such a short jaunt and had created new identities. Raine knew they’d hold up to any scrutiny, but with such a hurry there was a chance one of them could make a mistake with what was supposed to be their life history.

“We could be discovered. You know the reputation of this man captaining the Raitan.” Deanne fidgeted in her seat and bit her lip.

Raine knew the captain’s reputation. He was notorious in shifter circles for taking any Feiral he found. She wasn’t going to let that stop her. Krissa was in desperate need and in too much danger to wait for another position on a trade vessel that could be weeks away. If this position didn’t come through, they’d have to go as passengers and just be extra careful on the way home.

“I’d walk into a den of Feiral naked if it meant saving Krissa, but thankfully that’s not necessary.” Raine drew in a deep breath.

Deanne wasn’t the only one whose mind was looping the worst possible outcomes for this little jaunt. The thought of what they were planning to do scared Raine and her gut churned with worry. She knew the precautions would work. Even if they were close and sweaty with some of the Feiral, the others would never know what they were. The injections changed their chemistry enough that none of their kind would recognize them. They’d never seem fully human, but they’d be safe with the injections and a few other precautions such as the semi-permanent body paint that masked the spots down their spines. It would eventually come off, but not while they were with the Feiral.

“I can understand what she means. I’m nervous too,” Nara admitted. Nara’s flowing purple top fell off one shoulder as she reached for a slice of fruit.

“You haven’t even tested everything together.” Deanne leaned forward and looked at all of them as if she didn’t understand them.

“Geez, Deanne, give it a rest. We’re not happy about the risks, but it has to be done. And you know it will work. Obsessing isn’t going to help.” Gianna put a hand on the table and scowled at Deanne. “You know you can back out at any time.”

“I’m not backing out. I just don’t like the fact that we had to rush through the prep here. There’s too much risk.” Deanna glared at Gianna and her teeth bared in a snarl.

“There wasn’t any way to predict that Krissa would get found by fanatics.” Raine took Deanne’s hand and squeezed. “We’re going to have to take what chances we have.”

It took longer than Raine expected to get responses to their applications, especially since the ship was due to leave in less than a day. Three of them were hired for the positions. Only Deanne didn’t receive a confirmation. Raine could tell that it was a little bit of a relief to her, but it also made her nervous. Now, Deanne would have to return home and wait. Raine knew that would probably be harder than anything they’d face getting to Krissa.

“Be careful going home. Don’t leave any kind of trace to the false identity.” Raine stood. She brushed at a wrinkle on her light blue shirt and walked over to put on her normal shoes. They’d have to leave for the space port almost immediately.

“I’ll switch out when I get to another planet. You three watch your back. I’ll be waiting when you return with Krissa.” Deanne hugged the others.

Nara hefted her bag with one hand and braced the other palm on her hip. “I think it’s going to feel longer to you than it will to us. We’ll have things to keep us busy. You’ll be waiting and wondering.”

“I hate having to be left behind, but it was a possibility for all of us.” Deanne licked her lips. “Get home safely. I don’t want to have to try to free you from that Feiral captain.”

“You won’t have to. The plan to deal with him will work.” Raine picked up her bag. “We’ll see you in few weeks at most.”

The plan was solid. She was certain of it. He would be curious. She knew it. They’d worked up a thorough background for themselves. It would hold up to any scrutiny the captain and his crew could put it under. It would also lead the other Feiral to believe that while they weren’t human, they also weren’t shifter. She didn’t care what they thought as long as they didn’t get close to the truth.

Nara, Gianna and Raine headed toward the port. After a fast ride in a hover taxi, they arrived at the trade port. They were ready. The histories were memorized and the precautions in place. They wouldn’t be able to scent their mate if the man happened to be on that ship. The last thing they needed was to find a mate, especially one in a pack. They entered the port through the large gray metal and tinted glass customs building and were practically waved through the checkpoints to the huge fenced area behind it. Shuttles lined the black landing pad and they all looked so similar from the front. With rows and rows of shuttles, finding one among them seemed almost impossible. They had to ask where to find the shuttle from the Raitan. When they finally did find the right shuttle, a man waited near it and he didn’t look like he was the most patient of men.

“I’m Rennick Marsac, Second in Command of the Raitan. I need your names so I can verify that you’re the women who were hired. Please show me your ID.” The dark-haired man stood stiffly next to the black and white shuttle. His light gold eyes were narrowed and his lips turned down into a scowl. The crisp white shirt he wore did nothing to hide those broad shoulders and pants as tight as those dark blue pants should restrict movement, but she doubted they did.

Raine bit back a grin at the demands. She didn’t doubt that he expected and was accustomed to full cooperation. Raine fished her ID out of her bag. She held it out and waited to see if he’d take the step forward to get it. He looked at her and raised a brow.

“You’ll have to step closer.” He held out his hand and remained unmoving.

She moved forward and handed over her identification chip. “I’m Raine Iallat.”

The Raine part was true. Since this was going to be such a short stint under a different name, keeping part of it close to reality was important. They didn’t have time to get accustomed to responding to a fake name. Iallat wasn’t even close to her real last name, but it was a play on her second name Talia. Raine was certain she could answer to it on the short haul to Forunes.

He looked at the info on the small screen of the handheld comp. “Where are you from?”

“Jovalla. It’s a planet in the Dr—” She blinked when he shook his head firmly and cut her off.

“I know where it is.” Commander Marsac slanted a glance over at her. “Most people don’t sign on for one way tours. Care to explain why you’re doing it?”

“I have a friend on Forunes who’s with one of the trade ships. She’s going to get us a position.” Raine knew this could be a tricky point, but hiding their friendship and being discovered later would draw more questions.

“You know each other?” Commander Marsac looked from Riane to Nara and Gianna.

“Yes, we grew up in the same district and became friends in academy.” Raine smiled. They’d known each other since they were cubs, but it was their standard answer when going in as acquaintances.

The commander nodded and handed her back her chip. Raine stepped back and watched as Nara stepped forward. The short woman grinned. The man’s eyes slid down her body and locked on Nara’s breasts highlighted by the very feminine shirt. Raine wasn’t surprised. There were very few men who didn’t react that way to Nara’s curvy beauty.

“Your name?” the commander asked. His voice sounded like a croak.

“Nara Lions.” Nara cocked a hand on her hip after giving him her chip.

“What district did you grow up in?” Rennick looked back at the computer screen, but his eyes returned to Nara in moments.

“Milarn. I really loved living there. It was so active. There was always something to do.” Nara’s voice faded off as if she was remembering some really happy memories.

“Now, I need your identification.” The commander looked over at Gianna who was waiting.

“Gianna Valent.” Gianna handed the documentation to the commander and stepped back. Her coral shirt and white pants really stood out against the dark landing pad and dull gray of the shuttles.

It didn’t take long to finish with his verification. Raine was almost certain that he was completely satisfied with their stories. She doubted he’d bother to do a deep search, but even if he did they should be safe. The identities would hold under any search he performed. She’d just rest easier if he left things here. After Krissa was safe and they were away from the area, the false names and histories would disappear from all records.

They were on their way up to the Raitan in a short time. Nervousness curled in Raine’s belly. They were going up to a ship filled with Feiral and a captain notorious for grabbing any Feiral that came near him. She sat in her seat near the back of the shuttle and gripped the arms of the seat. It was the definition of hostile territory. She wanted to run out just before the hatch closed, but didn’t. The thought of Krissa, alone and in danger, kept her in her seat in spite of her fear of the situation. She’d do whatever it took to get there.

The trading ship Raitan was spacious. Of course, since it was a trading ship, it had a huge cargo bay most of which was filled with large silver containers. The containers were stacked high along two walls and in precise rows across the floor. After only a glimpse around there, they were escorted to the lift and rode it to the personnel level to the quarters they’d share for the ten day journey to Forunes.

It was a utilitarian room with four slim beds anchored to the floor, a rather small closet and small dark gray cabinets with deep drawers. The creamy white color of the walls did surprise Raine. Gray was the standard on ships. It did reinforce her research about the Captain and crew. They were successful and had money. She’d bet the permanent crew had personalized their rooms even more.

Raine unpacked her clothes, taking them out of her bag and placing them in the drawer. She’d just finished when a tone sounded. Gianna went to answer it. A blond man stood outside the door. He looked at the women in the room and the open bags on the bed.

“I’m here to give Nara Lions a tour of the ship. There will be a man here to give the other two of you a tour shortly.” The big blond man stepped back although his eyes swept over Gianna’s lithe body more than once.

Nara stepped forward with a smile and a greeting. He moved away from the door. She stepped out and then the door shut behind the two people. As soon as it closed, Raine reached for her make-up case. These men were far more suspicious than she’d expect unless she was being too paranoid. But she wanted to know if they were going to search and how thorough they were if they did.

“I’ve got the gossamer string.” Gianna rushed over to Raine’s side.

It didn’t surprise Raine that Gianna knew what she was thinking. They’d worked together enough that sometimes they almost read each other’s mind. Gianna handed Raine a fine fiber. She draped it over the seal of her bag, rubbing the edges of the thread to fix it in place. They placed the tiny strings on all of the bags and drawers. Once in place, they were invisible to the naked eye. Giana concealed the gossamer threads in the tines of a hair brush. It was the one place little strands of hair-like threads would be expected and most likely overlooked. When they came back, they’d have some answers. Raine hoped she was being too suspicious. They’d know if the bags were opened and if they had it was probably going to be a long trip. Just as they took a last look around the room, the tone sounded again.

* * * * *

“Their stories seem to check out and they say all the right things, but something’s nagging at me. It’s not just that their not human.” Rennick leaned back in the muted green chair at the end of the black table. His fingers drummed on the table top.

Connal looked at his second in command. He could tell the man was agitated. He trusted Rennick’s instincts. If Rennick felt that there was something more than the obvious verifiable story to these women, then there was. Connal didn’t doubt it. He had only seen the women on the monitor and they’d seemed too calm and too focused. That reaction had fostered the feeling that there was something no quite right about the women. Maybe it was a bit of the famed Feiral intuition, but he knew they were hiding something.

“We’ll watch them closely, but let’s see if we can narrow down what they’re looking for. What about their scent?” Connal stared beyond his friend at the tan wall, but he didn’t really see it. Those women were hiding something.

“Nothing. They don’t smell like anything. Not the Anjuri, Corlan or shifters from the area they claim. The scent is muddy unrecognizable.” Rennick grimaced. “I’ve never smelled anything like it. I thought maybe they were of Dain descent, but the scent’s wrong there too.”

“That’s sign number one and there will probably be more that they need watching.” Connal wondered what the women were doing on his ship. “We’ll know more after their room is searched.”

“Do you think they knew what we are before they applied for the positions?” Rennick asked.

“Who knows? They definitely do now and they came up to the ship with you. Either they’re running from something, have a secret of their own, or they just wanted to get to Forunes as they said.” Connal drummed his fingers on the table.

That question had occurred to him. If they had known before they met Rennick, they had to have been either desperate for transport off the planet or they were focused on a mission. He wanted to know which. Had the women been sent to spy or possibly even attempt to kill one of them. He hoped for some answers from the search of their belongings.

A tone sounded at the door. Rennick rose and opened it. The men who were sent to search the women’s room waited there. Rennick stepped back and allowed them to enter. Connal waited patiently as the two men walked over to stand in front of the large table.

“What did you find?” Connal eyed Dale and Hart. The blond-haired men stood sided by side with their hands hanging loosely.

“Nothing that shouldn’t be there. They don’t even have a stunner with them.” Dale looked a little surprised by that last part.

“What do they have?” Connal sat forward. Almost everyone carried some form of protection. It was almost universally accepted practice. He’d expected some kind of defensive weapon. They seemed determined to draw as little notice as possible.

“Clothes, the usual female goops, powders and scents, brushes, and a few hand-held devices. Nothing suspicious on them.” Hart’s hand lifted, palm up and he exhaled. “No bugs, nothing.”

Connal’s brow furrowed. No contraband of any kind. They were just too clean to be believed. He hadn’t met a woman who didn’t carry some kind of protection even if it was a small knife. They’d wanted to seem normal and unremarkable, but they’d failed. “You can go.”

Connal was distracted by what he’d just learned. The women definitely merited a much closer look. If they were hiding something, they’d show their hand eventually. He didn’t care what they were doing as long as they didn’t endanger his crew. Until he knew what their secret, he’d have them under close observation.

“Do you have a plan?” Rennick asked, returning to sit at the table as soon as the other two men left.

“We’ll see if any of them men find the women attractive. I’d prefer the upper level single men to try first,” Connal said.

A lot of the lower level crewmen were young and vastly inexperienced. The experienced men were delivering some goods on one of his other ships, Orclan. Some of that crew had been badly injured in an accident, leaving the ship understaffed and without solid leadership. When the men were healthy again, the men from the Raitan’s crew would return and the balance restored.

“I’ll inform the appropriate men and they’ll find a way to be near the women. I’ll make a point of it too.” Rennick nodded.

“I’m not going to shirk the duty either. Although they may wonder why, they won’t find themselves short of company on this trip.” Connal smiled. He was happy for the shortage that had required them to take on extra crew. The mystery they were providing was a welcome change from what had been a rather monotonous trip.