No Way Out: Dari

By Jaid Black

Trek Mi Q'an: Book 12

Dari Q'ana Tal has been promised to Gio Z'an Tar all of her life. Resentful at first, she comes to care for her betrothed as the years go by. As Dari soon discovers, not all is what it seems at Gio's home on Arak. An evil has shown itself, forcing Dari to flee from the planet... as well as from her future mate.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jaid Black
• Release date: Mar 3, 2020
• ISBN: 9780463726969

Jaid Black

Jaid Black is the founder and driving force of Ellora's Cave Publishing, the award-winning online source for erotic literature. She is also the founder and publisher of Lady Jaided, a sexy new magazine for women. Her novella "Hunter's Right" appears in the collection Tie Me Up, Tie Me Down, and her novel Deep, Dark & Dangerous is forthcoming from Pocket Books in March 2006. Vistit her on the web at www.jaidblack.com.

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Copyright © March 3, 2020 by Jaid Black.

All rights reserved.

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This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This book is part of an ongoing serial. For maximum enjoyment, it is recommended the serial be read in order:

The Empress’ New Clothes: Book 1

No Mercy: Book 2

Enslaved: Book 3

No Escape: Book 4

Naughty Nancy in Strictly Taboo: Book 5

No Fear: Book 6

Dementia: Book 7

Seized: Book 8

Devilish Dot: Book 9

Never A Slave: Book 10

No Way Out: Kari – Book 11

No Way Out: Dari – Book 12

Claimed: Book 13

No Way Out: Jana – Book 14

No Way Out: Dari

Trek Mi Q’an: Book 12

By Jaid Black

To Bekah, with much love & gratitude.

This one’s for you ;)

Prologue

Kari Gy’at Li sat down on the vesha-bench across from Dari Q’ana Tal. She sighed. This might not work. We’re a long way from the silver waters of Galis.

Why does it matter how far removed we are from the silver waters?

I won’t pretend to know the answer. I only know that it does.

Silence. Dari worried her bottom lip.

"With our holo-communicator down, I don’t think we have any choice left but to try this, Kari murmured. I’m just afraid of the potential consequences."

Consequences?

Memory loss, for starters. Kari sighed. Temporary memory loss is common for beginners such as yourself even while standing in the silver waters. What frightens me is the possibility that you could experience a total memory loss of recent events given how far away we are from Galis.

Dari’s glowing blue eyes rounded. How recent? Will I forget my beloved family? Will I forget my beloved… She flushed. …Gio?

No, nothing that bad! Kari ran a frustrated hand through her mane of wine-red curls. You might lose your memories of the things you’ve recently told me over the past few days—things I never want you to let me forget.

Such as your sister, mine Auntie.

That’s what frightens me, Kari whispered. I can’t lose my sister—not again.

Dari stood up and poured them both a chalice of matpow. I take this to mean that whilst I might lose some recent memories, you will definitely lose them.

Yeah. I’m the link. What we’re about to attempt is always hardest on the link.

Dari could understand her friend’s worry. ‘Twould be an awful fate to learn the sister she thought was dead was very much alive only to lose that memory. Worse, Dari might forget the very things Kari had told her about her origins that led to the revelation in the first. Leastways, we cannot allow for that to happen. She handed Kari a chalice before sitting back down. So we needs must be assured that it does not.

But how? Kari asked. I’ve been racking my brain for hours and I’ve come up with a grand total of zero ideas!

Dari blew out a breath. Setting down her chalice, she drew her legs up and wrapped her arms about them. There must be a way. She absently toyed with the holo-charm wrapped about one ankle whilst giving the matter much thought. Mayhap we could write ourselves a note of sorts?

Maybe. Kari warmed to the idea. That’s actually not half bad! But we have to be clever about it because we don’t have the kind of time left to type out a damn dissertation that we might not even remember to read.

Dissertation?

A dissertation is, uh… never mind.

An Earth thing?

Yeah.

Dari nodded—then stilled. Her eyes brightened. "My holo-charm!"

What about it?

"We needs but leave ourselves a reminder to look at my holo-charm! In fact, I have two others with me. Dari excitedly jumped up and ran over to the few possessions she had left. This is the one we shall use!" she said as she ran back to where Kari sat.

Turning on the holo-charm she kept as a bracelet, Dari explained why it was the superior one to Kari. Should we lose our recent memories as you fear, this particular piece not only holds the holograms of my loved ones, but their names and titles as well. Her excitement was catching. "So we leave this turned on, we do… well whatever ‘tis precisely we are to do… and when we finish you’ll know to look at the holo-charm."

Kari’s smile evaporated. How will I remember to look at it?

Dari’s enthusiasm went the way of Kari’s. I would that I could figure out that part, she muttered.

Kari leaned over and patted Dari’s knee. Don’t be too hard on yourself. It beats the hell out of my grand idea which was nothing. Besides, I think you’re onto something. I just wish I could figure out the rest.

The women went silent for a prolonged moment, both of them lost in thought. Dari’s lips eventually curled into a slow smile.

What is it? Kari asked. You have an idea?

Aye, she said. I can’t believe we didn’t think of this at the first! Dari’s eyes widened. "All we have to do is record a hologram of our own, instructing ourselves to open the holo-charm."

A recorded hologram. The idea was as simple as it was brilliant.

That will work, Kari breathed out. "The indicator light will stay lit until the holo-recording is played by one of us!"

Precisely!

Kari quickly downed her matpow, her enthusiasm reborn. Shall we begin?

Chapter One

1.5 Moon-risings Outside Khan-Gori Airspace

Zyrus Galaxy, Seventh Dimension

6049 Y.Y. (Yessat-Years)

Princess Dari Q’ana Tal’s glowing blue gaze was nigh unto transfixed on Kari Gy’at Li. She had never afore bore witness to a Galian High Mystik entering into hyatzi—thought lock—with another Galian High Mystik who wasn’t there. Leastways, until Kari had confided the whole of her story to her, Dari hadn’t even known such a thing as hyatzi existed. ‘Twas a secret well-guarded on the matriarchal planet of Galis and for good reason: any species that might think to make war on them would learn too late of their powers.

Kari Gy’at Li was mayhap not a High Mystik in name—yet—but she had spent as many Yessat-Years as Dari had been alive honing her skills in the warring arts. In name Kari had achieved the rank of Mystik, but in truth she was possessed of the ability to rule o’er a sector of her own. Leastways, the only reason Kari had not availed herself of that right under Galian law was a lack of desire to rule. She was content in being her adoptive sister’s highest ranked warrior and most proficient pack-hunter. But that was a story unto itself…

Naked, the princess came down to her knees and sat facing the Mystik, just as she’d been instructed to do before Kari had entered hyatzi with her adoptive sister, Klykka. Kari had forewarned her ‘twould be a difficult feat to accomplish so far removed from the silver waters of Galis. She could but pray this worked.

For a certainty, Kari had not overstated just how much strength ‘twould take. Judging from her tightly closed eyes, perspiration-slicked skin, and the trembling state of her naked body, ‘twas exhausting in the extreme. Leastways, the princess wished there was aught she could do to aid her, but she had been instructed to neither speak to nor touch her. When Kari held out her hands, ‘twould be Dari’s cue to grasp them. If this worked, the princess would be pulled into hyatzi with her and Klykka.

Dari nibbled at her lower lip. She prayed to the goddess this worked, even if she was mayhap a wee bit scared. Excited for a certainty, yet no less frightened of this unknown hyatzi that might steal her recent memories.

The princess continued to study Kari’s naked, trembling, body. ‘Twas nigh unto mesmerizing for it gave her a glimpse