Read Online Codename Winter by Aubrey Ross - Free Book Online Page B

device on his desk, he said, “Scan objects and identify.” A green beam emerged from the desktop, passing over the device. He turned the pieces over and the beam swept back in the other direction.
    “One moment, please.”
    Having access to the Gathosian database was one of the few aspects of his position that he enjoyed. They hoarded information, compiling facts and statistics from all over the universe.
    While he waited for the computer’s response he sent a message to Autumn, letting her know Winter would be spending the night. At least one night, he thought with a smile. He wasn’t sure he’d ever sate his hunger for the lovely human. Even when faced with his complete transformation, she’d responded without reserve.
    “Object identified.”
    “Go on,” he prompted.
    “Brainwave modulator. Likely origin, Pryett.”
    Noirte! He should have known the general was involved in this. They butted heads at every turn. “What is the purpose of the device?”
    “To modulate brainwaves.”
    Way to state the obvious. He’d figured out that much from the name. “To what end? What can be accomplished with modulation?”
    “No other information is available. Shall I hypothesize?”
    He could hypothesize without the help of a computer. Besides, he had a bona fide operator in the other room. “Not necessary.”
    “Shall I scan other sources?”
    Accessing the off-world network would alert the Gathosians, and he was pretty sure this wasn’t going in his next report. “Negative.” He told his terminal to power down and snatched the device off his desktop, his mind whirling with speculation.
    Not yet ready to let her leave, he’d locked Winter in his bedroom. It was likely she was still in the bathtub. A slow, predatory grin parted his lips. The tub was as good a place as any for their next round.
    She looked up and smiled as he entered the humid room.
    “Feel good?” he asked.
    “It feels wonderful.” She sank deeper into the water, concealing herself beneath a massive mound of bubbles.
    He held up the larger piece of the device and met her gaze. “Brainwave modulator? Did Noirte give it to you, or is he using Autumn like a puppet?”
    Winter swallowed and picked up a handful of bubbles, suddenly fascinated by the iridescent mass. “What makes you think General Noirte had anything to do with it?”
    “The technology is Pryett, and so is he. Coincidence? I don’t think so.” He placed both halves on the counter and knelt beside the tub, crossing his forearms on the high rim. “Talk to me, Winter. I don’t want to interrogate you.”
    She bit her bottom lip and slanted him a flirtatious look. “I thought you enjoyed interrogating me.”
    “What happened in the playroom wasn’t a true interrogation. Trust me, there’s a difference.” He caught her chin and tilted her face up until she looked into his eyes. “Autumn gave you the device?”
    “Yes, but I honestly don’t know who she works for. She wouldn’t tell me.”
    “What does the gadget do?”
    She sighed, her lashes sweeping down to shadow her gaze. “Are you going to turn me in?”
    He lowered his hand and echoed her sigh. “What would be the point? If I turned you over to Protectorate enforcers, you’d end up in Noirte’s lap.”
    “Not such a bad place to land.” She grinned.
    “Yes, I know women swoon whenever he walks in a room.” He rolled his eyes and stood. “I just expected you to have better taste than most.”
    She sat up straighter, one pink nipple peeking out from beneath her bubble blanket. “Then what are you going to do with me?”
    “You want a list?” She just stared at him, eyes wide and searching, skin rosy and silky smooth. Gods, she was beautiful. “You haven’t answered my question. What does the gadget do?”
    After a moment of conflicted silence, she explained, “We call it a succubus. It allows us to create waking dreams that are indistinguishable from reality.”
    He crossed his arms over his bare chest,