Chapter 11
Raevu
“Who is Laura?” I asked T’ral as I stepped into our suite’s common space. It was stuffed with examples of our people’s art, displayed without any knowledge of the proper method to do so, like precious jewels thrown haphazardly.
“What is a Laura?” Baelon interjected.
“I had a dream last night of Eva. Someone named ‘Laura’ interrupted it and caused me to awake. Who is ‘Laura’ to Eva?” I demanded.
“Well, if you’re insisting… Though, it was a dream, sire.” T’ral consulted his data screen. “There is a Laura Evans. She is a human female and friend to Eva Knight. She has a daughter—age five and same age as Ivy Thompson’s youngest child. Otherwise, there is no connection. They did not attend the same schools. Never employed by the same companies.”
T’ral continued to study his data screen. “No, no connection other than age, gender, and the age of this child they each live with.”
Baelon scowled. “This is the problem with eunuchs. You don’t see emotional connections. There could easily be a connection between this female and Raevu’s just through the fact that Raevu’s female has taken care of the children.”
T’ral gave Baelon a flat stare. “I can see emotional connections just fine. I am merely not enslaved by them.”
I shook my head in warning at Baelon. He was obviously in a hostile mood today. “Let’s not take our tension over this situation out on each other.”
“Of course not, sire.” Baelon turned back to the monitor where he had been flipping through entertainment and news broadcasts. He stopped abruptly on one and sat up attentively. “That is us!”
T’ral and I turned to see what he was looking at. A photograph of us with President Maeda at yesterday’s press conference was up on the screen. Splashed across one corner was the title “Found!” in big, bold letters. The image switched to a close-up of a human male.
“Turn on the sound, Baelon,” I ordered.
“Exclusive! Ms. Knight has expressed her desire to stay here at the CNR Broadcast Station until the Peace Opportunity Program Ambassadors can collect her. Her tale is one of amazing courage and cleverness.”
The camera zoomed out to show the male sitting in a chair facing a woman with rich brown skin and black hair. Eva! I pivoted, stepping toward the door just as someone knocked on it. Derek Willoughby and Ken Maeda were standing outside my suite.
“Eva is on the television. I’m going to get her.” I started to push past them.
“Wait, Raevu, please,” Ken said.
I scowled at him. “There will be no waiting, Ken. She needs my help. I have to go to her now.”
“Yes, we will get her, but you are the king of your planet and indispensable. We can’t trust that this Humans for Humanity League or some other terrorist group will not to try to attack. Send warriors you trust to collect her. Derek here will take them to the broadcast station.” His voice was terribly reasonable, making me bristle slightly.
I began to growl my dissent, but T’ral answered before I could,
“Sire. That is a very good idea. Baelon and your men should go to ensure her safety. Your first meeting with your life mate should not be broadcasted to the entire planet. It should be a private moment between you two.” His smile was perfectly polite and reasonable.
I hated that he was right and did not appreciate the position T’ral had just placed me in by agreeing with Ken’s sensible strategy. T’ral forced me to think beyond my desires of the moment…to run out to claim Eva.
Baelon was already moving. “Let’s go,” he barked at Willoughby. Willoughby spun on his heel, and they left the suite.
I kept the news broadcast playing on the monitor. The reporter asked Eva why she had volunteered for the program, what her experience with it was, how she was treated when she was kidnapped. She deftly managed not to give him very many clear answers. In listening to her responses, I heard nothing new and nothing that could be said or used against her.
It seemed that she had snuck away from her captors, but I didn’t believe it was that simple. Her kidnappers would not have left her alone unless they were confident they could recapture her. I wondered if they had attached some kind of tracking unit on to her. No. Eva was smart. Even if they had, it would be reckless for them to kidnap her while she was in public and on television.
“This is live, isn’t it?” I asked when there was a commotion on the screen. Startled cries could be heard off-camera. The reporter and Eva glanced around, probably to see what was causing the disturbance, and both sprang to their feet.
I moved closer to the monitor, as if I could throw myself between Eva and any danger coming her way. The terrorists must have dared a public assault on her. Baelon and my men strode into view. They dwarfed all the men around them, and except for her luscious curves, Eva almost looked like a child next to their brawn. They moved right up to her, ignoring a brunette yelling at Baelon to back away and leave Eva alone.
When they reached Eva, my warriors knelt, bowing their head. Quite clearly, I heard Baelon say, “My queen. We’ve come to escort you home safely.”
“Queen? Laura, is this some kind of joke?” I could tell by Eva’s voice that she was puzzled. I had gone from tense to fighting a smile as I saw her stunned expression.
The brunette, I assumed, Laura, looked just as confused. “Not mine, Eva.”
Baelon and my men stood in a smooth motion. They placed themselves strategically around Eva and began scanning the room for possible threats. I nodded in satisfaction at their efficiency.
“Raevu sent me, my lady.” Baelon remained very formal and stiff. The two women exchanged glances. Willoughby then appeared on the scene, trying to calm station personnel for their abrupt arrival.
I ordered, “T’ral, contact the ship. We leave for home at first light tomorrow.” My life mate was safe and in our custody. We were going home.