Free Icarus Rising by Bernadette Gardner Page B

sighed. "Dr. Danson disagrees. He has issued doses
    of a strong tranquilizer to each member of our search parties.
    The drug will disable the symbion's cerebral cortex and
    temporarily allow Dr. Faulkner complete control. It will only
    work for a short time, but it should be long enough to get him
    back here and under sedation so the symbion can be
    removed."
    Ari's wings ruffled. "I thought we had universally agreed
    not to sacrifice a symbion. Their population is endangered as
    well. How can we destroy a viable adult male?"
    Namara put her hand on Ari's shoulder. "This decision does
    not come lightly, but it was part of our agreement that the
    link would be severed if it posed a danger to the human host.
    We can't allow Dr. Faulkner to die."
    "But I don't believe he will."
    "You must discuss this with Dr. Danson," Jidar said.
    78

    Icarus Rising
    by Bernadette Gardner
    Ari wanted to argue, but she could not openly defy her
    leader. She could only feign submission to his misguided will.
    "I will do that."
    "Be sure to rest, eat and then arm yourself with a dose of
    the tranquilizer before you continue your search. Regardless
    of what happens once he arrives, we still have to bring Dr.
    Faulkner back here safely."
    "And Dr. Abbott," Namara added. Ari hid her smile. She
    had no intention of rescuing Zara Abbott, but no one needed
    to know that.
    "Do you think he's injured her?" she asked, forcing a
    thread of concern into her voice.
    "He could never—" Namara began, but her mate spoke
    over her.
    "The symbion will attempt to mate with her, and if Dr.
    Faulkner cannot control these urges, he will very likely harm
    Dr. Abbott by forcing himself on her. We may be too late to
    save her from injury."
    Arilani's face heated at the thought. Why hadn't she been
    the one he'd taken? She'd have gladly surrendered for
    mating, and all their problems would be solved by now. "Allow
    me to go to Dr. Danson, my liege. We cannot waste any time
    if we want to spare Dr. Abbott from mating against her will."
    With a solemn expression, Jidar gestured for Arilani to
    leave. She bowed to him and to Namara and strode up the
    beach, seething. One day the Icarian leaders would bow to
    her, but for that to happen she needed to be the first female
    of her generation to give birth after the upcoming mating
    cycle. She had to find Caleb soon while his symbion still
    79

    Icarus Rising
    by Bernadette Gardner
    controlled him and its desperate desire to procreate guided its
    actions. The tranquilizer Danson had prepared would come in
    handy though for keeping Zara Abbott out of her way.
    Caleb forced himself to concentrate on Zara's voice and
    the task he'd assigned himself. Slowly roasting a fish he'd
    caught over the small fire they'd built at the entrance to the
    aerie kept part of his mind occupied and allowed him a brief
    respite from his symbion's desires as it, too, focused on the
    smell of food.
    Ever since Zara's confession that morning that she would
    not resist his next attempt to seduce her, he hadn't been able
    to think straight. Not that he'd been thinking straight before.
    "When the symbion communicates with you, does it use
    words or images?" she asked. The firelight cast her features
    in amber, giving her a glow that made it impossible for him
    not to stare. Caleb had always found Zara beautiful, but
    tonight, with the sun setting behind her and flames dancing in
    her eyes while she waited for their modest dinner to cook,
    she looked like an angel. All she needed was a pair of wings.
    "Um ... I can't really explain it. I guess it's more like
    flashes of emotion. My brain supplies the words, so it seems
    like the symbion is speaking to me when it's really just
    thinking at me through the link." Talking was good. It helped
    him focus his own thoughts and ignore the petulant
    mutterings of the creature who wanted more to eat than just
    half of one small fish. Capturing this one had been hard
    enough, and locating a few necessary supplies from