Free Jaci's Experiment by Bianca D'Arc Page A

energies towards helping them achieve some bit of freedom.
    But first she had to deal with the looks Grady Prime kept shooting her. She had to tell him that there was no chance of a repeat between them, but she had to do it in such a way as to not insult him. He was still, after all, a powerful Prime, one of the elite.
    So just after they landed back in the northern city, she sought a private word with him as they walked from the shuttle port to the main part of the city.
    “Grady Prime, I have something to say that I think you will not like, but I must say it to clear the air between us.”
    “Say what you wish, Jaci 192. I’m not an unreasonable man even if I am a soldier.”
     
     
    She smiled softly, trying not to show too much emotion.
    “I have no disgust of soldiers, Grady Prime. I’m only a Jaci, after all.”
    “Even a Jaci holds higher station than a soldier.”
    She was surprised by the bitterness in his voice. While she’d always been taught that soldier strains had more aggression left than any other, she’d never realized they could experience other kinds of emotion too. Suddenly she felt sorry for him.
    56
    “I’ve always thought such rankings were stupid, really. I admire your achievements, Grady Prime, and under other circumstances, I would welcome the opportunity to be your bed partner. In fact, I’m flattered that you asked in the first place.”
    “Yet I sense you’re about to turn me down.” He was taking it well, all things considered.
    She smiled to soften the blow.
    “As I said, I would welcome your invitation under other circumstances, but I have a prior commitment that is incompatible with starting a relationship with you.”
    “There’s someone else?”
    “I’m sorry, Grady Prime. I truly enjoyed our time together, even if it was duty.”
    “I know. I could tell.” His smile was devilish and made her shiver in memory of that great orgasm he’d given her.
    “You’re gifted at giving a woman pleasure. You surely don’t lack for women eager to bed you.”
    Grady looked wistful. “I enjoy my share of female companionship, but I do like you, Jaci 192. I like the look of you and the feel of you. I’m sorry we can’t share more outside of duty, but perhaps it is for the best. I’ve volunteered for a medical test that I have been warned may change me for all time.”
    She caught her breath. “You’re going to be part of Mara 12’s new experiment, aren’t you?”
    He looked at her sharply. “How do you know about it?”
    “I prepared the dosages last week. I’m one of the higher ranking lab techs on Mara 12’s personal staff.”
    She thought he looked mildly relieved. “Then you know what it could do to me?”
    By the First Shard, did she know! But she couldn’t tell him what she’d learned firsthand about the agent they would administer to him.
    “I have some idea, yes. You’re taking a great chance, Grady Prime, but for what it’s worth, I think what you’re doing is a noble thing. I’m only a tech, but even I can see that our people are stagnating the way we are. These humans…” Her voice trailed off as she
     
     
    57
    thought about the people she’d met over the past week and the amazing things she’d learned. “These humans are much more than most of our kind gives them credit for.”
    Grady watched her with interested eyes. Perhaps she didn’t realize she’d called the Breeds by the term they used for themselves, but it hadn’t slipped past him. He was trained to be observant after all. This lab tech was more than she seemed but he would reserve judgment until he had more evidence. Still, he would watch her. Carefully.
    “I agree that the Chief Engineer’s living situation was surprising to me when I first learned of it, but then, he is a throwback, so he’s bound to be eccentric. You spent time with his mate, didn’t you?”
    She nodded. “Yes, Callie is a fascinating woman.”
    “I’ve known her and her family for years now. She was a