Chapter 17

Xan’s heart was racing at the revelation that his sister was alive. According to her, they were all alive, including his brother, Ragon. Xan thought he was long dead, his bloody clothing the only item left when Xan had awoken from his fall off the cliffs of Bija. His heart soared knowing they were alive before a souring thought pitted in his stomach. Why didn’t they come for me?

Yaris was getting them settled and fussing over Xan as though he was a young child. She had the servants bring food and drinks. They were sat on plush furniture that reminded Xan of his childhood and life before. Sloan fidgeted, decidedly uncomfortable in their new surroundings. It was much less sparse and refined than things were on the Arrow.

Sloan wandered around the expansive quarters assessing everything in the room. She moved from painting to painting, artifact to artifact, giving him his space. He also wanted to know how Cain had known about him. What comm had been sent about him? Xan didn’t like it. He wanted Sloan next to him; he wanted to feel her warmth to keep him centered with everything that was happening.

As a servant placed a tray of teas on the table in front of him, Xan peered at his sister as she took hold of his hand.

“What happened to you, Xan? Where were you?” she questioned, worry drawn on her face.

Xan hesitated, unsure how much he should tell his younger sister. What he had been through was something he wouldn’t wish on his worst enemy. Xan didn’t want to hurt her with more information than she needed about the five years it had been since he was taken. Five years of his life stolen away. Xan had had lost count of the days after a short time in captivity. That he had been gone so long caused a great sadness in him. He had left the fate of their imperial kingdom to his mother and brother, a heavy burden to bear for someone who hadn’t been prepared from birth to assume that role.

“I was captured, Yaris. While we were on Bija, something happened. I don’t remember what. Ragon and I were climbing the cliffs, and something happened to the rope. When I awoke, I only saw Ragon’s bloody clothing and was captured by the Kirill. They were there when I awoke, and they immediately placed me in chains.” His sister gasped and clutched her chest.

“They enslaved you? But why? Didn’t they see your imperial brand?” She reached for his arm, and Xan snatched it away from her, not wanting her to see. She gave him a pointed stare and grabbed for his arm again. Xan allowed her to take it this time. Pushing back his sleeve, she gasped, and tears sprang to her eyes again.

The moment they’d removed the imperial brand from his arm was seared into Xan’s memory as if it had happened yesterday. The slice of the knife against his skin as they flayed the area from his forearm was a pain unlike anything he had experienced before or since, not only because of the physical pain but also because he knew that without it, he was no longer safe. Anyone who would do harm to someone with an imperial brand was not one to value a being’s worth other than what he could give them. And whatever they got from removing his seal meant that they were unable to find value in him as an heir apparent and future king. This is what led Xan to believe that the rest of his family must have been killed, for they would have paid any amount of money to retrieve him, and the Kirill captain knew that.

Out of the corner of his eye, Xan saw that Sloan was watching them both intently but giving them space. He appreciated it, but he wanted her near him as he spoke about his difficult time in captivity. As if sensing his need, Sloan made her way over to the lounge where Xan and his sister were sitting, and she settled on his other side. She placed her hand on his knee, and he put his hand over hers and squeezed it.

Yaris’s eyes darted to their hands. Xan wasn’t sure if she’d even noticed them holding hands when they met in the corridor. He was sure their surprise reunion had overshadowed everything else in that moment. Sloan gave his hand a squeeze of comfort back, and he retold his story—an abbreviated version.

“I was held by the Kirill for . . . I’m unsure how long. It was an extended period of time. I told them that a ransom would be paid for me, but they assured me that there was no one left to pay the ransom. Believing that you were all dead by some nefarious plot, I almost gave up on life. I don’t know why, but it seemed sheer will kept me alive. They appeared to enjoy having someone of imperial blood as a servant. I wasn’t allowed any sunlight, which kept me weak and unable to defend myself.”

Xan heard Yaris suck in a tight breath. “They also covered my hands once they realized my ability to pass my feelings onto them through that contact.

“After a long time with the Kirill acting as a servant, I was sold to another. This person was not so keen on me working as a servant and instead wanted me to work as a gladiator of sorts. I was kept in a cell with others, fed and trained, and I fought regularly. They placed bets on our fights and wagered on who would live and who would die.”

“You fought others to the death?” his sister asked, her voice quaking.

“Not all the time, but I will not lie, I did take lives during that period.” Xan dropped his head, feeling the weight of the lives he had taken. His gaze was drawn to his hand intertwined with Sloan’s. Her darker skin contrasted with his pearlescent skin, and she was centering him in the present.

“Look at me, Xan,” Yaris said, meeting his eyes. “I do not want you to be ashamed of what you did. It is those who kept you captive who are the ones carrying that shame. You did what you needed to do to survive, and for that I am happy.” Her voice quaked as she steadied herself. “I have my brother back.” She threw her arms around his neck.

“Thank you, sister.” He hugged her back with one arm while he kept his other intertwined with Sloan, gazing at her in awe.

“Always, brother,” she said, squeezing him again. “How long were you living this gladiator life?”

“I was there a long time, longer than the time I was with the Kirill. It was only when the leader of the fighting circuit was killed that the ring was broken up and fighters were sold. I was moved from place to place for a while, sometimes as a servant and other times as a laborer. It was always changing. That is, until I ended up with Ganthar. I don’t know what it was about me, but he was brutal in a way I hadn’t experienced. I wouldn’t have survived another day in his ‘care’ had Sloan not found me and rescued me.” Xan paused as Sloan let out an angry snort. Yaris stared past him to Sloan.

“Care, my ass,” Sloan said, nearly under her breath. Xan laughed at her outburst.

“Yes, perhaps I shouldn’t call it that. But if it weren’t for Sloan, I never would have made it out alive. She was a shining light that bought my freedom and allowed me to escape, finally.” Xan peered over at her, and he thought he saw tears shimmering on her eyelashes. Quickly blinking them back, Sloan spun away from him. “I’ve been working as a member of Sloan’s crew since she rescued me.”

His sister removed her hand from his arm and leaned over him to speak to Sloan.

“Thank you, Sloan. Thank you for what you did for my brother. And for contacting the palace. I—we can never repay you for returning him to us. You don’t know what it means to us to have him back.”

Sloan blushed, the lighter skin on her neck taking on a slightly reddish hue. Looking up at Yaris, Sloan replied, “Anyone would have done it.”

Shaking her head, Yaris replied, “They would not have done it, not at all. If anyone would have done it, my brother never would have been taken in the first place or would have been returned after he was first taken. There are many people in this galaxy, in this system, who wouldn’t have done what you did for him, especially without his imperial brand.” Moving from the couch and crouching in front of her, Xan’s sister got to one knee and took Sloan’s hand in her own. “The D’Arian Empire is forever in your debt, Sloan.”

“Thank you, but there is no need for thanks. I would have done it for anyone I saw in the same position as Xan.”

His sister nodded and moved back to the lounge to sit next to Xan. At that moment, Commander Cain returned to the room. He bowed to Yaris and walked to Xan.

“Your Highness Xandru, I apologize for this, but we must verify your identity.” He held out a small metal device. He stopped short, glancing at Xan’s pushed-back sleeve and the scar where the imperial brand had been. Hesitating, he punched a few buttons on the device and continued, “And since your imperial brand has been removed, we can do a simple biological test to verify your identity.”

Sloan gave him a nod, and he returned his gaze to Commander Cain.

“What must I do?”

“Simply place your finger on the scanner, and it will take a small tissue sample.”

Xan reached out and put his finger on the scanner. He felt a small pinch that was quickly healed by the scanner glass. Commander Cain analyzed at the readout screen and immediately dropped to one knee.

“Your Highness, the Imperial Guard is at your disposal, and we will inform the home planet at once of your return. There is much to prepare, and we will have to increase security. I would ask that you please remain in these quarters until that can be arranged. We would not want you at risk now we have found you after so many . . .” The commander’s voice trailed off as he appeared to choke up.

“Cain, I am glad to know you take my security and that of my sister so seriously. I wouldn’t have thought the young man who chased my sister around the palace, taught her how to fight, and played pranks on her would become such a responsible male as he aged.”

Cain was stunned. “You remember me, Your Highness?”

“How could I forget? It was because of you that I had to always keep an eye on my sister whenever she was at my back lest she served one of her sneak attacks on our ears.” Xan and Yaris beamed.

“My pardons, Your Highness.”

“Don’t worry about it, Cain. I appreciate you protecting my sister all these years later.”

“Of course. I would have it no other way.” Commander Cain gave Yaris a pointed look. Xan thought for a second, something passed between them before the commander directed his attention to Sloan.

“Consort Sloan, I want you to know that your ship has been given indefinite docking privileges and your crew can be provided with another night of accommodation if you like. I apologize for not asking you before making the arrangement, but I thought it was best not to have them remain on the ship if it isn’t essential. I know how difficult long journeys can be.”

“Yes, thank you. I’ll have to comm my crew and give them an update and let them know they have another night off. We still have to deliver the rods, but another solar won’t matter. I—”

“You’re still going to deliver the rods?” Xan said.

“I mean, yes, I have to. I can’t leave my buyer in the lurch. Why?”

“I thought you would be coming with me.” Uncertainty filled Xan’s mind. Did she not feel what he felt about them?

“Xan, I am not an imperial court kind of woman. It’s not exactly my thing. I’ll deliver the fuel rods; you’ll be reunited with your family. I’m sure they wouldn’t want me there as you are all catching up.”

“It’s not about what they want, it’s about what I want. And I want—no, I need you there.” Xan held on to her hand and gripped it tightly. He felt that he needed her to go with him. While he would be going back to his planet, to his family, Sloan was his heart, and being there without her would not do. Sloan hesitated and staring into his eyes. Xan hoped she could tell how much he needed her there.

“When will you leave for D’Arian?” Sloan asked, her gaze jumping between Xan and Cain.

“We would prefer to leave as soon as possible, particularly with His Highness on board. We do not have the proper security protocols for the heir, so the more time we are away from D’Arian, the greater the chance is for a threat on his life. It is preferable that we leave within the next solar.”

“Xan, I can follow behind later. I can’t use the FTL. It would burn up too many rods to make it to Seru Prime, make the drop-off, release the crew, then meet you at D’Arian. I would be weeks behind you.”

Xan addressed Yaris and Cain. “Is there somewhere private I could speak with Sloan?”

“Of course, Majesty, please follow me.” Xan and Sloan stood from the lounge and followed Cain through the double doors of the room they were in, flanked by guards, and down the wide hallway lined with vases, sculptures, and other pieces of artwork until they came to another set of double doors. Sloan seemed uneasy at their new entourage, repeatedly putting her hand on her empty blaster holster at her side. She had been relieved of it for entrance into the Imperial Suite.

As they came to the double doors, Cain opened them and showed the pair inside.

“You can have your privacy here. There is a comm on the desk if you require anything. It is programmed to contact me directly. The guards will stay stationed outside for your safety.” Cain gave him a pointed stare. It let Xan know that while it was for their safety, it was also because, while Xan’s identity had been verified, he would not be officially accepted back into the line of succession until his mother had her say.

“Thank you, Cain,” Xan said once they were inside the room, and Cain bowed, turned, and closed the door behind him, locking it as he exited. Xan moved to Sloan and took in her exquisite beauty. Watching her, Xan recognized how exceedingly uncomfortable she was in these surroundings. Xan knew that his life had changed a lot over the past couple of days, not only in rediscovering his family was alive but also in his connection to Sloan. He did not want to give her up, and he hoped she didn’t want to give him up.