Harbinger: Triton Core, #2

By Theresa Beachman

Trusting the lethal mercenary is complicated.
Falling for him is easy.

Marine biologist, Dr. Kathrine Sorland barely survived her first marriage. Now, her dog is the only male she has time for. When protester activity threatens her research, monitoring a quarantine zone in the Norwegian Sea, Kathrine's scientific crew comes under the protection of a covert black-ops team--the Ocean Wolves.

Working with their commander is a challenge, not least because he reignites feelings in her heart she believed long dead. Formerly in the Russian Navy, Nik Borostovlo is in command of the Wolves for the first time. Married to his job, responsibility weighs heavy on his shoulders. There's no room in his life for a woman, but no matter how hard he tries, he can't deny his attraction to the strong-willed scientist. With every passing hour, trapped in close proximity on the dive ship, her presence makes him remember what it is to feel.

As events escalate deep under the polar ice, it becomes clear the quarantine may have been breached and a deadly bacteria unleashed into the world's oceans. Nik may be the only person Kathrine can trust, and time is running out to keep it from the wrong hands.

Thwarted by a traitor in their midst and impossible choices, Nik will face his toughest challenge yet as he fights to protect the woman who's captured his heart.

Harbinger is the second book in the series, 77K long. Each book is a standalone romance, which follows an overarching story. They can be read in isolation but for maximum enjoyment are best read in sequence.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Theresa Beachman
• Release date: Jan 10, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215166536

Book preview

1

October 1st, 2035

Location: Norwegian Sea,

650 miles from the North Pole

Depth: 30 feet

Expedition Time Remaining: Two days

Dr. Kathrine Sorland slid into the midnight blue water, tilting her head up as the world of air and light faded from view.

Inky darkness cloaked her as she slipped lower, only air bubbles revealing her presence.

Her pulse slowed.

She had control in the water.

Here, she was safe.

Hidden.

She checked depth on her dive watch, glancing up as she rotated in the water, searching for her diving companions. Ruby?

Ruby’s answer was immediate. Five o’clock.

Kathrine squinted into the gloom. Herring shifted in iridescent curtains on the edges of her vision. The chances of seeing the H-orca pod were excellent. A bubble of happiness blipped low in her belly.

I see you, Ruby. Following.

Dr. Ruby Adler’s fins flickered green, then silver in the water ahead. A marine ecologist, Ruby trailed a loose white sack for collecting specimens.

I have a good feeling about today. Kathrine checked the scanner on her wrist. She counted the green blobs. Nine. A new arrival?

Oh yeah? Ruby’s voice was tinny on the comms.

I think one of the pod might have calved. I’m counting nine orcas on the scanner.

"You hear that Declan? Babies."

A grunt echoed in Kathrine’s ears.

Dr. Declan Stratton, their marine hydrologist, was out of sight. He’d wanted the scientific lead on this rotation and been bypassed. He wasn’t taking it well. "I’m more interested in getting samples from S1. Seen one baby orca, you’ve seen them all. But a new iceberg? That’s something you don’t see every day."

The pod is closing in, Declan. We need to take biopsies and if there’s a new calf we’ll need to tag it.

A non-committal grunt in her earpiece. Kathrine checked her scanner again. H-pod is getting close. Ruby, can you swim out from me and catch them from the other side?

Ruby turned so she faced Kathrine and shot her a thumbs up. Swimming to the eastern side now. Her legs flexed and with a push from her large fins, she powered out of sight and into the dim light of the ocean.

Stay in contact. Kathrine sucked in air as she swam west, closing in on the green blobs. Declan, take the south boundary.

The orcas headed toward her, probably tracking herring. Glorious clicks and whistles filled her ears, muted by the rush of bubbles. Closing by the second, the volume of the clicks increased in intensity, rattling against her eardrums.

H-pod? Ruby asked.

Yes. After years studying them, Kathrine recognized the distinctive family chatter of the H-pod. It’s them.

Excitement fizzed through her veins. Her fingers and toes tingled. She’d been out in the water every goddamn day for the past two weeks, freezing her butt off, reduced to sample collection with Declan and Ruby because the orcas refused to play ball, but now they were here. Finally, her hard work was paying off.

Kathrine, do you have a visual on the pod? Celeste’s voice cut through the happy haze. Still on board the Dive Support Vessel, Limitless, their bacteriologist Dr. Celeste Clark had completed her sample collection for the trip yesterday and was playing comms host from the ship’s dive room today.

Not yet but they’re closing fast.

We have visuals up here of three other vessels.

Icy dread tangled with Kathrine’s excitement. Protesters?

Can’t tell yet. Captain Regan is hailing them now…

I don’t want to get out of the water, Celeste. We’ve been waiting two weeks for the pod. We need to download information from the trackers. Take biopsies. And there’s a baby.

I know but—

Kathrine was no good at distilling her annoyance from her voice. Celeste, this is why we’re here.

Declan’s deep voice cut across the conversation. I’m approaching the underside of S1.

What? Declan. I gave instructions for you to take the south boundary. We need that data from the orcas’ trackers. Kathrine waited for a response as her comms fizzed and hissed. Iceberg interference?

Finally Declan’s voice surged in and out of range. …whatever… this berg is fucking awesome… tunnel entrance…

Crackle. Spit.

Declan? Dammit. Probably still sulking. She touched the side of her helmet instinctively. It made no difference. He was gone.

Before she could berate him any further, an enormous shadow sliced up from below. The orca rolled, presenting her creamy white belly before cruising past, followed by the smooth curve of back and distinctive notched tail fin. Mama H, the pod’s matriarch. Around seventy years old and past calf bearing, Mama H took point at the front of the pod guiding them with her decades of experience to the best feeding grounds. One of her grandsons, Harry, followed close on his Grand-Mama’s tail.

Kathrine. Baby alert. Ruby squealed through the earpiece. But I can’t tell whose baby.

Kathrine tipped upside-down and kicked deeper, swallowing to make her ears pop. Harriet, one of the younger females, swam into view, a calf bumping against her underside. It’s Harriet’s.

Harriet and her calf powered after Mama H, the backwash from their powerful caudal fins forcing Kathrine to swim harder to stay stationary. There had been concerns that the sonar barriers erected around the quarantine zone would affect migration. This was proof to the contrary.

We were wrong, Ruby. Look at them. Gorgeous. She snapped a quick series of pictures.

I see her. Ruby waved, her figure shadowy and gray across the watery distance.

Kathrine. Celeste’s tone was curt even separated by thousands of tons of seawater. "The protesters are circling the Limitless. This is starting to look nasty. Captain Regan wants you out of the water right now."

Kathrine cursed under her breath. She glanced at the unused biopsy gun still holstered at her hip. Everything on this trip continued to work against her. The orcas called to each other, oblivious to her frustration as she checked her tracker. The mammals were veering off course, most likely away from the roar of the approaching craft.

There had been two attacks just this week. The first time, the DSV had been rammed and paint-bombed. The second, protesters had hung around until the dive team surfaced and then made it almost impossible to get back on board. Kathrine had been compelled with the rest of the team to risk exhaustion, diving again and waiting them out till it was safe to return to the Limitless. This is getting beyond the joke. Don’t these idiots realize we’re monitoring the ocean for their benefit?

Ruby swam up beside her, her rainbow bangs visible through her helmet. They don’t care about that. They seem to think if we just leave the Ceto habitat alone, the whole problem will disappear.

Kathrine suppressed a sigh. Their assignment, maintenance and surveillance of the quarantine boundary, was becoming a more difficult task by the day. Idiots. This is about everyone’s safety. Declan, are you hearing this? I’m calling the dive short. It’s too risky after what happened last time.

Silence taunted her through the comms.

He’s been off comms for the last five minutes, Kathrine. Celeste sounded pissed. I can’t hail him.

Shit.

Kathrine screwed her eye tight to clear her vision. Where is he, Celeste?

On the edge of S1… I can’t get a fix. The reading keeps jumping around.

Kathrine clamped her jaw tight, the pressure of her teeth grounding her. Bring him up on my scanner.

Activating now. Another blip appeared next to the disappearing orcas.

There he is.

Ruby, get back on board. I’ll get Declan. Kathrine kicked hard, arrowing her body into a narrow dart as she aimed for S1. She swore in her head, not wanting her team to hear.

Freaking hydrologists.

S1 hung, blue-white, two thirds submerged under the icy water, plunging deeper than Kathrine could see. Water surged against her palms, energy supplied by the iceberg’s movement in the ocean’s swell. Warm, fresh meltwater streamed down its flanks and rushed into the freezing ocean around its circumference, creating a dangerous swirl of water densities. The resulting downward drag could suck her on a nonstop ride to the bottom of the ocean. She hung back, searching her scanner for a more precise indication of Declan’s location.

Declan, I’m next to S1. Answer me.

No reply.

Kathrine tracked east along the iceberg’s flank. She swam closer, her fingertips trailing along the edges of the ancient rime, grazing secrets buried for thousands of years.

"Kathrine."

Declan? Thank God. Where the hell are you?

I found an entrance on the eastern side. Kathrine, you wouldn’t believe what it looks like in here, I can’t even…

You’re inside? Declan. We’re not prepped for caves. I need you out here now—

She halted. A hole gaped in the ice and hammered into the bumpy surface was a small marker flag. Declan, I’ve found your entrance. You need to come out now.

Just a few more min—

Declan? Kathrine clenched her fist. Gone again. Goddamn.

She hovered in front of the cave entrance. This was closer to the surface. Weak daylight edged the glassy entrance. The space was tight, only two feet high, and narrow. It would be a squeeze with her tanks.

The joints in her fingers stiffened and her heart rate spiked, her body shifting into fight or flight mode, strapping metal bands around her rib cage and making a full breath impossible. Moisture fogged her faceplate as her breathing escalated.

Slow down. Breathe.

She leaned forward, her legs boneless, grasping the edge of the tunnel entrance and bringing her face closer to the constricted gap. Familiar electricity danced across her eyebrow and cheek.

Dear God.

Sparks lit up her brain as circuits cross-fired, her primitive mind unable to differentiate between memory and reality.

This isn’t real. This can’t hurt me. The nightmare is over. He can’t hurt me anymore.

Kathrine, what the hell is going on? Your sats are plummeting. Celeste’s voice sliced through the bloody haze.

Celeste. I… Kathrine worked her resistant tongue against the roof of her mouth. Focus. The worst happened a long time ago. Declan’s gone inside S1. I can’t—

Comms crackled.

Something red plummeted past her, missing her faceplate by inches.

What the—

Was that a brick?

Celeste? Kathrine cupped water and spun. The missile was gone. Consumed by the abyss. Bubbles. Another. Plunging earthwards. A gray boulder this time. It hurtled downward, churning ice boulders as it fell.

"Kathrine. Get the hell out of there. Protesters are chucking bricks over the side. Kathrine, do you hear me? They’re bombarding the water."

Tightness on her arm.

Kathrine bucked, reaching for the knife sheathed on her thigh.

A faceplate loomed dark and ominous in her vision.

Declan.

Another boulder tumbled past.

His voice was a deep rumble. What the hell?

It was all she could do to talk. She’d chew him out for being a dick later. "Protesters. Need to get back to the Limitless." She gestured in the direction of the DSV, compressing her lips to slow her breathing.

Celeste was loud on the comms. Declan, you there? Ruby’s just come up. Get Kathrine back on board now.

Gotcha. A muscled arm encircled her waist and Declan kicked off from S1, pushing against the ice to propel himself deeper and wider, skirting the rain of missiles from above. Ecological fuckers, he grunted, guiding Kathrine close to his side.

We agreed no tunnel exploration. Her words were breathy, lacking power.

He turned to face her. The beat of his muscles thumped in powerful waves through her body. His eyes were dark, his eyebrows knotted. You going to tell me why you panicked?

Kathrine pried his hands from her waist. Her limbs were working again. Blood flowed to her numb fingers, warming her sluggish legs, and she swam free, ignoring his question. Celeste is waiting for us on board.

Ahead, the Limitless loomed, the moon pool a bright glimmer in the darkness.

A panic attack would be a mark on her record. A reason for them to keep her on dry land. And what use was a marine biologist on land?

No, it wasn’t happening.

Kathrine ignored Declan as she swam up to the light. Her jaw tightened with determination. Today, her secrets would remain in the water.

2

Kathrine swam up onto the hydraulic platform that lifted into the moon pool of the Limitless. Bright lights glared down from above, making her squint.

Scoot up. Declan hauled himself up onto the platform next to her before turning to secure the gate and hitting the red lift button.

With a shudder, the platform returned to the world of air and technology where it ground to a halt. Kathrine sagged, the weight of her diving gear dragging her down now that she was once again subject to the forces of gravity. Ruby was already there, her eyes wide behind her mask as Celeste worked to remove her tanks. Kathrine felt behind for the clips, unwilling to wait for help. Her numb fingers fumbled, sliding against the metal clamps.

Let me. Declan brushed her hands out of the way and worked the fixtures before lifting her helmet free. Warm air rushed in, soothing the burn of anxiety across her cheek. She shook her head, leaning away from him, not wanting him to touch her.

What the hell happened down there? Celeste stood over both of them, her lips thinned into nothing, her arms folded across her ample breasts.

Declan gave a dismissive wave. Dr. Clark. We’re fine.

Celeste flung her arms wide. "Is that meant to make me feel better? What the hell were you doing inside S1? There was no berg exploration agreed for this dive. It was a collation of data only. Biopsies of the orcas. What gives you the goddamn right to go off and do what you please, putting everyone’s life at risk?" Her cheeks were fiery but her stance was uncompromising. Celeste was a stickler for rules and regulations. She was going nowhere.

Kathrine pulled herself to standing, gripping the rail as she shrugged off her tanks. They hit the metal grid with a clang.

It’s okay, Celeste. He’s out now. I had a bit of a moment. Kathrine blinked away the last vestiges of Martin’s face from her memory. Out of habit, she rubbed her cheek, her fingers tracing the rough ridge across her skin. He’s gone. She exhaled, focusing on the dents and bumps of the grid under her neoprene boots.

Celeste nodded. Your sats plummeted.

The cold. It can trigger hyperventilation. Kathrine forced a smile, her cheeks chilled and uncomfortable. I’m fine now. It’s the protesters I’m more concerned about.

They’re moving away. They dumped their shit and ran. Too chicken to hang around and take responsibility for their actions. Celeste harrumphed and tucked a recalcitrant lock of her vibrant red hair behind her ear. Story of vandals everywhere.

Kathrine stepped off the dive platform, wanting to put as much distance between her and Declan as possible.

You okay? Ruby watched her intently from the far side of the room, her rainbow hair damp and flattened against her scalp.

Yeah, I’m fine.

Celeste shook her head and chewed on her lips. Her gaze darted from Kathrine to Declan and back to Kathrine. He shouldn’t have been in S1, Kathrine. Her voice was quiet and serious.

Kathrine swallowed. I know. God. Why couldn’t he just do what he was told? Declan?

I was taking ice samples. That’s why I’m paid to be here. Challenge laced his voice. If you were hyperventilating, you might not have spotted me. I was within sight. He stared at her. He’d damn well been in S1 but it was her word against his.

Kathrine blew out a breath. We’ll review protocols before the next dive.

There won’t be a next dive. Celeste turned away from Declan as if looking at him disgusted her.

Kathrine pulled off her gloves. Her fingertips were blanched and wrinkled. What?

Captain Regan called in the attack from the protesters. We’ve been recalled. We’re heading back to Spitsbergen early.

Kathrine blinked against streaming eyes as the Limitless maneuvered into the harbor at Longyearbyen, the largest settlement on Spitsbergen. Her cheek still smarted and she covered it with her palm. Martin’s face broke the surface of her memory but she pushed it back down, out of sight.

Ruby was at her side, bouncing up and down on the balls of her feet. I can’t see Adam. Can you? She hung over the safety rail at a precarious angle.

A quick swipe across her eyes with a frosty glove didn’t clear Kathrine’s vision much. Nope. But my eyes are watering so much from the cold I can barely see you. Kathrine sniffed and blew her nose. I thought you guys were on a break?

Ruby shrugged, her toes barely touching the wooden slats. We were, but…he couldn’t stay away. Told me he missed me too much.

Ah.

Ruby stepped down from the rail. Kathrine—

Kathrine held up a hand. Ruby knew Martin was dead and enough of the circumstances. Before you say anything, Jones and I are very happy, thank you very much.

Declan loomed between them before Ruby could answer. He bent over Kathrine, engulfing her in a cloud of expensive aftershave. She leaned back and pulled her collar higher around her neck. Once they were out of their wet gear, she’d avoided him for the journey back to Longyearbyen. She had nothing to say to him, even though she had operational seniority.

Declan took risks, but her time working with him was limited. Only one more trip out and then the six-month rotation would be over and she’d never have to see him again, or put up with his petulant face at taking orders from a woman. She could live with that.

A black helicopter zoomed low over the Limitless heading for port, leaving a strident backdraft of air to slice across Kathrine’s skin. She shaded her eyes tracking the sleek machinery as it headed to the heliport.

Looks expensive. Declan’s breath warmed the side of her face. Too close. Kathrine jerked back, almost losing her balance.

He grabbed her elbow. Steady now.

Kathrine shook him off, ignoring his confused expression. She spread her feet wide against the rock of the docking ship under her feet.

The helicopter was a small buzzing dot on the horizon now. The tail fin and flank had been black and unmarked, devoid of registration numerals. A worm of unease stretched and yawned in her belly. The only agency she knew of that flew without identifying marks was the recently created Oceanic Security Council.

Declan tracked the line of her gaze. OSC?

Probably.

Ruby frowned. Routine check?

Kathrine rubbed her arms, but a chill had settled deep in her bones. I hope so.

In less than an hour, they docked the Limitless and Kathrine was free to disembark. Behind her, Captain Regan supervised unloading from the bridge of the Limitless. He must have sensed her scrutiny because he fired her a sloppy salute. Probably been at his not-so-secret-flask of moonshine.

Kathrine headed down the gangway, the multi-colored houses of Longyearbyen brightly visible against the snow from her elevated position. Ahead of her, Ruby exited the gangway squealing, throwing herself into Adam’s arms. Kathrine looked the other way. It didn’t look like Ruby would see much outside her cabin over the next ten days. Celeste’s family was waiting on the dock. Jones was with them. He’d stayed with Celeste’s husband and sons for the duration of the two-week research trip.

Jones bounced on his feet, desperate to see her.

Kathrine ran forward, her backpack slipping from her shoulders at an awkward tilt as she bent to grab him and engulf him in a bear hug.

She pressed her face into his warm body, inhaling his comforting doggy scent. Jones wriggled, trying to lick her face, his tail threatening to dislocate his hips with the ferocity of his wagging.

Jones. She rubbed his ears and kissed the top of his head. Has he behaved, George?

Celeste’s geographer husband grinned. The boys have been teaching him tricks. So don’t blame me if he gets up to mischief.

Kathrine kissed Jones’s bony head again. Of indeterminate origin or breed, rescued from a sanctuary when he was only four months old, Jones was the only male she had time for in her life. They were kindred spirits. Dragged through the worst of life only to emerge at the other end and find each other. She accepted his worn leather leash from George and wrapped it around her wrist. Thank you so much for looking after him.

George shook his head. Seriously, he does me a favor. He tires the kids out better than I ever can.

Celeste nudged him in the ribs. Now. Now.

George pulled her close. Going to take my wife home now, Dr. Sorland, and show her how much I’ve been missing her.

The two lanky teenage boys behind him made vomiting noises. Celeste rolled her eyes. That’s enough, you two. She grasped Kathrine’s hand. I’ll speak to you tomorrow at the lab. I’ll be in late. Declan is going to run me over to the seed vault with the spore samples we collected for storage. The OSC will be picking them up after the next rotation.

That would be good. Kathrine hugged her and turned to head for the parking lot where her jeep had been waiting for her for the past two weeks. All she wanted to do right now was go home and soak in a hot bubble bath with an ice-cold glass of bourbon in her hand. Just the thought made her mouth water.

She slowed as she crossed the gravel parking lot. A black SUV was parked beside her jeep, its occupants concealed behind tinted glass.

Her step faltered and she stopped ten feet from the vehicles and dropped her backpack to the ground. Jones halted beside her, his head tipped sideways. Kathrine rubbed the top of his head, as much for her own reassurance as his. Good boy.

A tall man exited the SUV and, adjusting the button on his suit jacket, opened the rear door.

A tall woman climbed out. Close-cropped white hair framed a heart-shaped face. Severe and beautiful. She waited while her driver shrugged a heavy wool coat onto her shoulders, which she pulled around her svelte body. Only her vertiginous heels remained visible.

The driver shut the door and fell in behind the woman, his sunglasses hiding his eyes. Kathrine eyed the saucepan-lid sky above her head. It was not sunglasses weather.

Kathrine waited and laced her fingers through the worn loop on Jones’s leash. He was straining, pulling silently as if he sensed something wrong but didn’t want to make too much of a fuss.

The woman stopped a short distance away, her black coat snapping around her in brisk efficiency. Sharp light bounced off the lenses of her sunglasses. She removed them revealing darkly intelligent eyes.

Dr. Sorland?

Cultured. English.

But why she was asking? It was clear from the expression on the woman’s face she knew exactly who she was speaking to.

Kathrine raised a hesitant hand