Spartan Resistance Read Free

had heard that Kieran was somewhat sensitive about his recently acquired psi abilities.
    Kieran’s grey-green gaze studied her frankly. “It’s part of my job, now.”
    “Your…talents?”
    “Nayara hired me because of my skills and my talents, too. If I can use them to help, then I will.”
    “I’ll keep that in mind,” Mariana told him. “Except that I don’t really know what you can do.” Nor did most of the agency. She suspected even Kieran was still figuring that out.
    “Next time, if you think I can help in some way—any way at all—why don’t you ask?” He turned his head to look at Brenden, who had reached the end of the gallery now and was heading for the big doors out onto the courtyard. “You won’t be able to score points off me. My hide is too thick.”
    Mariana could feel her cheeks heating and hated it. But then, Kieran could probably read every thought in her head. He had acquired all Pritti’s training, abilities and expertise when she died and she had at the very least been able to broach human minds.
    Mariana looked at him, trying hard to meet his gaze without flinching. “Brenden isn’t usually like that.”
    “I know.”
    “He’s just frustrated.”
    “I know that, too. But you do seem to be able to rile him up quicker than anyone else in the agency.”
    “Brenden’s very old,” she explained. “He has an inbred intolerance for humans. Vampires his age used to think of humans as pets or slaves or just food. But he works hard to overcome his prejudices.”
    “Especially in bed, huh?” Kieran asked dryly.
    She winced. “That was a very inappropriate comment,” she admitted. “I should apologize.”
    “Don’t,” Kieran said shortly. “It’ll do him good to know that there’s at least one human who doesn’t think he’s wonderful.” There was a tilt to the corner of his mouth and a sparkle in his eyes that told her he was teasing. Just a bit.
    Mariana relaxed. “I’m glad you left the Wardens,” she said impulsively. “You’ve become a nice person.”
    Kieran’s brows rose. “Don’t let the secret out, hmm? And now, I must go scan the incoming or Brenden will be after me, next.”
    Mariana smiled to herself as he walked away, moving fast down the gallery, following Brenden. It was one of the few nice moments in her morning and it lasted only another few seconds, until the scream broke out behind her.

Chapter Two
    Chronometric Conservation Agency Headquarters, Villa Fontani, Rome, 2265 A.D.
    Gawaine had always had a thing for systems, especially electronic and neural ones. While others, even experts, had to patiently trace out the tides and paths and the neo-limbic systems, he could see the overall pattern in a moment or two of study. Neural nets were a bipolar system of electronics and neural relays and he understood the interactions of the two instinctively.
    That’s why he knew what the woman was doing with her feeds was all wrong. Dangerously so.
    He walked over to the first relay dashboard and studied the configuration, taking in what she thought she was doing, while assessing how she should be doing it. There wasn’t any impatience driving him. It was a nice, late summer day, Marley would be busy for hours yet and he was free to wander around the Chronometric Conservation Agency, to poke and pry as he was so moved.
    The inner workings of the agency never failed to fascinate him and once the vampires that worked for the agency understood that he was Marley’s friend and that she didn’t go anywhere without him, then they were happy to answer his questions—as long as the questions weren’t personal. Dealing with Rhydder had quickly taught him not to ask anything about a vampire’s past, but that was fine. Personal histories weren’t nearly as interesting as what was happening right now, although the vampires seemed to set a high value on a long history.
    So Gawaine stood in the bright sunlight and mentally traced the paths, feeling a contended