Free Howl of the Wolf (Heirs to the Throne Book 1) by Diane Rapp Page B

relished inflicting fear and pain until he left her for dead.  In fact her survival nearly spoiled his plans to infiltrate the Zebulon. 
    When he discovered the rescue, he quickly forced short-term amnesia on the woman, and planned to finish the job through her dreams.  Now the damned woman wakes if I touch her mind, and people are always hovering over her.   If she breaks free of the memory block, she’ll reveal my identity and threaten my assignment.  How can I kill Donovan and Dr. Alexander with Krystal working in the lab?
    Jarrack clenched his fists.  I can’t risk killing her, since that blasted Donovan is already suspicious.  He demanded fresh scans of the crew but I forced Dr. Alexander to forget that order. If Donovan pressed the issue, Jarrack’s brain pattern wouldn’t match records of the man he spaced just before takeoff.  Grinding his teeth, Jarrack slipped out of the lab without being seen.
     
    *****
     
    Chella and Maggie chatted as they entered the lab together, Maggie with a steaming cup of coffee.  “Take time for refreshments, Krystal.  Trenton says we’re only three days out.  How’s it going?”
    Krystal leaned back in the plastifoam chair.  “Great.  We only have two Transfers left, including Donovan.” 
    Maggie looked down at her own small body.  “You do great work.  I haven’t been this trim in spans.  Trenton can hardly keep his hands off.  He’s talking about marriage when we get downworld.”
    “Marriage?  Is that a custom on Drako?”
    Maggie’s eyes sparkled.  “Oh yes!  It’s an archaic notion, forbidden by the Institute,” she blushed, “but it sounds so romantic.  I think we’ll do it.”
    Chella nodded. “You two make a wonderful pair, but I’m too fond of my independence to let a man tie me down.”
    Krystal laughed.  “I remember when marriage was all you could talk about.  What happened to those great plans to become the queen of your tribe?”
    Chella’s dark eyes flashed with merriment.  “I met my betrothed, big, fat, old, and ugly.  Suddenly a medical career looked mighty attractive.  When I first trained in zero gravity, my braids writhed like snakes and the jewels hit my face, my royal robes billowed out like a balloon.”
    Maggie giggled.  “I remember!  The minute Chella left the antigravity chamber, she grabbed a pair of scissors.  We didn’t have a woman’s uniform large enough to fit her.”
    “That was fine.  I hate form-fitting tunics and tights, so I opted for a man’s uniform tucked in at the right places.  I’d feel half-naked with the goods always on display.”  Chella’s eyes widened as Maggie frowned.  “Oh, you two look great in tight clothes, but I look like a bandy-legged ostrich without feathers.”
    Maggie shook her head.  “Chella, give it up.  You already made us feel conspicuous.  I enjoy the attention Trenton gives me in these outfits.”
    “There you go again!”  Chella groaned.
    “Chella’s going to become a nun,” Maggie said.  “That way she can avoid men.”
    “If I join the Sisterhood, it’s because I believe in their good work,” Chella said, her tone somber.
    “I didn’t mean to insult you.”  Maggie blushed deeply.  “I was joking, so please don’t be mad.”
    Chella’s expression softened.  “I had to hide my faith for so long…it’s hard to realize I can speak freely.”  She turned to Krystal.  “The Institute automatically reprogrammed believers.”
    Krystal touched Chella’s hand.  “How did you change so dramatically?  It’s more than hair and clothes.”
    Chella’s eyes filled with tears.  “I stayed with my father when he died,” she said, her voice faltering.  Krystal squeezed Chella’s hand.  “The Institute ordered our tribes to be gene-altered—to make our skin white.  When my father refused, he was denied Transfer.”
    “That’s dreadful!”
    “The Institute cut off medical assistance to all the elders who opposed the genetic