Chapter 24

Sloan’s footsteps echoed in the cavernous palace hallways. The footsteps of her guard were much lighter behind her. Hearing their steps echoing hers was still something she needed to get used to. Xan insisted that she have at least two guards with her at all times. She’d often been able to ditch them, not liking the feeling of constantly being followed. And with the way the palace was guarded, the odds of someone being able to get inside to do any harm seemed slim to none.

Sloan was used to going where she wanted when she wanted. She was the captain of her own ship. Being followed, needing permission to move around, was driving her insane. They hadn’t been on D’Arian for more than a few weeks, and Sloan was questioning her ability to deal with palace life. Being with Xan was the only thing that made it worthwhile. But he was certainly not helping things.

How could he make that suggestion that he pay for the crew? Just pay off the crew for her? Like she couldn’t provide for them. Yes, the crew hadn’t had a stretch of time off for a while, but lucrative jobs that didn’t involve illegal or distasteful cargo were hard to come by. Sloan prided herself on trying to make an honest living, and she wasn’t going to take handouts from Xan.

How was this going to work? Her crew would be arriving any day now, and what then? Where did that leave her and Xan? Making her way to the comm room, Sloan couldn’t believe it had already been three weeks. The time flew by so quickly, and as things were always changing, she was finding it hard to get her bearings.

Sloan entered the comm room as Ragon came rushing out. He managed to avoid slamming right into her with his guard following behind.

“Careful,” he bit out. “Ah, Sloan, so lovely to see you,” he said in that creepy way of his that made her skin crawl.

“Ragon, very nice to see you, too.” She tried to skirt around him, but he blocked her path. The one person she wanted her guard to keep away from her was alas another royal, so it was strictly hands-off.

“And what are you doing out in the palace this lovely day?”

“I’m heading in to see if I can contact my ship.”

“Leaving so soon?”

“Perhaps.” She wanted to end this conversation as quickly as possible.

“That would probably be for the best.” He stalked off, and she stared after him, a pit of uneasiness building in her stomach.

This meeting was another in a line of strange encounters Sloan had had with Ragon since he’d flown in only a couple of days after they arrived on D’Arian. He’d burst into Xan’s office, off the throne room, completely wild and seemingly bewildered. When he saw Xan, it was like he’d seen a ghost, which wasn’t that strange, considering, but his shock seemed more from thinking that Xan was dead instead of hoping he had been alive all this time. Sloan shook off the uneasy feeling and proceeded to the comm room.

Sloan spoke with the comm specialist and had them input the comm number for the Arrow to send a signal to see if the ship was in range. Sure that they hadn’t wanted to use too much of their reserves for the FTL, Sloan knew they might still be a couple of days out. She missed her crew. Sloan missed knowing her place in her world. Being here in the palace, Sloan felt more lost than she had since escaping enslavement with Neven. Everywhere she stepped there were land mines of protocol and diplomacy. It was a world she had never been prepared for, and Sloan wondered how long until Xan saw that.

Venu stepped into the comm room, and it immediately went silent. All chatter stopped as the comm specialists noticed the queen’s arrival. Sloan imagined she didn’t often show up here.

“Please clear the room,” she commanded. The specialists jumped into action, immediately scrambling up from their chairs, disconnecting their comm pads, and beating a hasty retreat. Sloan moved to leave as well when Venu held up her hand.

“Not you,” she said. Sloan’s stomach dropped as the confrontation she had been dreading finally appeared to be upon her.

“What can I do for you, Venu?” Sloan thought she might have seen a tick under Venu’s eye at Sloan’s use of her first name.

“I wanted to know how long you are going to use my son’s gratitude for his rescue to hold him hostage and away from his duties as ruler.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ve already told Xan that he doesn’t owe me anything for what I did to get him out of that place. And I haven’t done anything to keep him from his duties. I’ve tried to support him as best I can and help any way I can.”

“You have no idea what he needs as a ruler, and your presence is more than enough to have him neglect his duties. At least twice now, he has ended diplomatic meetings to attend to something you require. It’s unacceptable.” She rounded on Sloan.

“I am doing everything I can to help Xan,” Sloan said, unsure of how to handle this bombardment from Venu.

“He doesn’t need some cargo ship captain with a ragtag crew who goes bumbling about space. He needs a practiced companion who can give him all the things he needs as the king.” Venu eyed Sloan from head to toe. Sloan’s stomach churned as her hair and clothes came under Venu’s scrutiny once again.

“My crew may be ragtag, but they are anything but bumbling. They are seasoned and exemplary at what they do. Don’t ever insult my crew again . . . Venu.” Sloan saw the eye tick for sure this time.

“So, when will you be departing with your crew, Sloan?”

“I am unsure of that right now. I’m here to see if my crew are within contact range.”

“Then, in that case, I don’t think we will have any more problems with each other. If you intend to leave once your crew arrives, I think that would be best for everyone.”

“I didn’t say that. Once my crew is here, we will come up with a plan, but I am here for Xan for as long as he needs me.”

“Trust me, he won’t need you for long,” Venu said ominously. She glided out of the comm room as if they’d had nothing more than a pleasant conversation about the weather.