Chapter Eighteen

Cam jumped and barely refrained from squeaking when Kievan stopped abruptly and covered her mouth with his hand. She had been following him absently, barely paying attention to their surroundings as she tried to sort out her tangled feelings. The emotions she had tried to suppress for the past week were raging inside her, the empty numbness gone. She felt alive again and she couldn’t deny how much of that was due to having Kievan nearby. In spite of everything, she still felt safe with his large warm body so close beside hers.

While part of her rejoiced that he had come for her, the rest was still wary and bleeding. The pain she felt at his betrayal had brought back memories of the horrible time after her mother died. In both cases she had refused to listen to the truth and in the end, the two people that she loved had abandoned her—only this time it felt like she had been the one to die. She wanted to hate him and, yet, she believed his explanation. She knew how hard he worked, she knew what Sigrast meant to him. And now he was willing to give it up. For her. A cautious hope began to burn in her damaged heart, but she pushed it aside and forced herself to concentrate on her surroundings.

Her gaze went to the two men standing by the fountain and her body jerked. One of the men looked exactly like the image of the devil from her third grade Sunday school class, complete with pointed horns and a flowing black robe. But then her attention focused on the other man, pale and skeletal in the moonlight. Tugging on Kievan’s arm until he looked at her and his head dipped, she whispered in his ear as quietly as possible, “That’s the man from the Market; the one who grabbed me.”

His eyes flared but he only nodded and returned his attention to the two men. Cam strained to hear the conversation.

“And that damned Sardoran?” Prince Ustrod asked.

“I’m sorry, your highness but he is completely ensconced on Sardor Two. He has a new mate and seems to be firmly back in the fold. He hasn’t left the planet.”

Kievan’s muscles tightened beneath her arm.

“Then take care of him there.”

“Unfortunately, the Sardorans are even more vigilant with their new planet. There is no chance of breaching the orbital defenses untraced.”

“Dammit, Blauthen. He is the last link between me and Trillium. Not only that, he may have logs from that Serigali ship that disappeared. I want him eliminated.”

“I assure you that I am monitoring him. If he leaves the planet, I will strike.”

“Your past two attempts have not been successful. I suggest that you don’t fail me a third time.” The prince’s voice was deadly but Blauthen seemed unaffected.

Instead, he nodded calmly and changed the subject. “Is the new planetary destructor ready?”

Kievan tensed again, and for a horrifying second, Cam thought he would leap forward, but he remained at her side.

“No.” The prince scowled at the ground and scuffed his boot across the turf. “As profitable as the Bliss stones are, it’s a costly project and I can only push it to a certain extent.”

“Is it really necessary, your highness? Sardor will be gone soon. The Sardorans are busy moving to their new planet.”

“I don’t want them moved, I want them destroyed. They are the only race in this part of the Galaxy that is strong enough and honorable enough—” his voice dripped with disdain, “—to take up the Trillite’s cause. The new Emperor just might be weak enough to listen to them.”

“But they don’t know the Trillites have a cause.”

“Not unless that damned Chief figured it out. If the fucking Serigali had just killed him when they found him instead of deciding to torture him, this wouldn’t even be an issue.”

“They are an unreliable tool,” Blauthen agreed. “Why did you decide to use them?”

“They are immune to the effects of the Bliss stones. That means I don’t have to worry about them stealing the stones for themselves.” He laughed. “Yet they were the ones who discovered that the Trillites’ blood had such valuable properties. Ironic, isn’t it?”

Blauthen made a noise that could have indicated agreement, but Prince Ustrod had already returned to his pet peeve. “But you can imagine the outrage at slaughtering cute little animals for their blood. If the Sardoran knows, or if he told someone enough for them to realize it…” He shook his head. “I’m not about to take that chance. And considering how much money your Brotherhood is making out of this, you shouldn’t be, either.”

“Very well, your highness. I will—” Blauthen stopped and lifted his head. Cam remembered how he had sniffed as she approached in the Market and was suddenly conscious that the wind had shifted. Kievan cursed under his breath, his muscles clenching, but then his rigid posture relaxed, and he headed for an opening in the bushes. He pushed Cam slightly behind his body with one hand as he moved. Understanding what he wanted, she fell into slave position.

“Prince Ustrod,” he drawled as he stepped forward. “I was not advised that you had returned. And with such...distinguished company. Why it seems like Blauthen was gracing my jail cells only a few days ago.”

The prince’s cheeks darkened but Blauthen only smiled, baring double rows of pointed teeth. “I was desolated to have to refuse an extension of your hospitality.”

Kievan returned the smile with one so deadly that Cam shivered. The movement drew the prince’s attention.

“So you have finally brought me my reward.”

“Reward?” Kievan asked innocently.

“My reward for leaving your wretched little station alone. Have you forgotten?”

“Not at all. But, unfortunately, I must decline your gracious offer. If you want Sigrast, you may have it.”

“I want the slave,” he demanded.

Kievan’s body tensed. “No. She is mine.”

“You would sacrifice your station? For a slave?”

“She is not just a slave. She is my mate.”

Prince Ustrod stared at him in disbelief before giving a mocking laugh. “You damned Sardorans and your mates. Still, I suppose the fact that you think of her as belonging to you will just make it even more pleasurable when I fuck her.”

“You will never lay a finger on her.” Kievan’s voice turned lethal.

“Do you forget yourself, Lord Kievan?” The prince raised a mocking eyebrow and the resemblance to a devil became even more pronounced. “No matter what meaningless title you choose to assume, conquering one little space station does not give you any power here. I want her and I’m going to have her. It will just make it that more delicious every time she screams for you.”

“You won’t make me scream,” Cam bit out, before Kievan squeezed her hand.

“I assure you, my dear, you most definitely will. Oh, I do love a fresh canvas. I will give you one more chance, Kievan. Walk away now and I will be merciful and leave your precious station alone. If you do not, I will make everyone on board pay for your stubbornness.”

“No.” Kievan didn’t hesitate. He pushed Cam gently behind him, then placed his hands on his knife hilts.

Prince Ustrod laughed but she saw a flicker of doubt cross his face.

“Really? You would take on two armed men?”

“I would take on the whole damn planet for her,” he growled, and her heart fluttered at his words.

“I beg your pardon, your highness, but your contract with the Brotherhood does not extend to personal protection,” Blauthen interjected.

“What? Given the number of credits I’ve paid you, I expect you to assist me.”

“Unfortunately, my hands are tied. Especially since your last payment is late.” Blauthen’s mouth stretched into a shark like grin as he stepped back.

“You bastard,” the prince snarled. “I don’t need you, anyway.” He flung his cloak to the ground. Underneath he wore a tight-fitting black outfit with a long, thin, red sword slung at his hip. Cam cast an anxious glance at Kievan’s much shorter weapons but he didn’t seem concerned. He drew his knives and advanced on the prince. For a second, the other man hesitated, but then he drew his sword and rushed at Kievan. She bit back a frightened cry, determined not to distract Kievan, but he easily parried the blade slashing at his head and neck. The prince changed tactics, aiming for his legs instead, but Kievan slipped away with his usual speed, slashing the other man’s arm in the process.

Prince Ustrod drew back, giving his arm a brief, shocked look, before advancing again, this time with more caution. The clash of blade against blade was the only sound in the quiet garden as the men moved around each other. Even to her untrained eyes it became apparent that Kievan was playing with the prince, darting inside the reach of the sword to leave a rapidly increasing number of cuts on the prince’s body. After a second nasty slash to his arm, Prince Ustrod flinched and stumbled back. One of Kievan’s knives flew through the air, and the sword was gone, leaving the prince clutching his bleeding wrist. He turned and Cam realized that he intended to run, but Kievan’s other knife appeared in the soft flesh behind his knee and he crumpled to the ground instead.

Kievan stalked to his fallen prey, his face ice cold. The prince fumbled at his belt.

“I suspect he is trying to call the Royal Guard.” Blauthen’s cool voice startled her and she jumped when she realized he was next to her. “He has forgotten that communication from this garden is blocked, even though he ordered it that way to protect his secrets.”

Cam took a cautious step back. “Do you care what happens to him?”

The frightening smile appeared. “No. He was behind on his payments.”

Angling her head so that she could keep an eye on him and on Prince Ustrod’s position, she saw that Kievan was leaning over the prince’s body. He pulled his knives free, ignoring the man’s moan.

“This is for Sardor.” He dragged a blade across the prince’s stomach and Cam fought back the urge to vomit as his intestines literally began to spill from the gaping wound. “And this is for threatening my mate.” He drew the other blade across the man’s neck, almost severing his head. The body jerked once and lay still. Kievan didn’t look at it again, wiping his blades on the turf, before rising to his feet with a predator’s grace and stalking in her direction. His eyes were on Blauthen.

Blauthen gave him a considering stare and for a dreadful moment, Cam thought there would be a second fight, but the grey alien stepped back.

“Under other circumstances, I might enjoy testing myself against you; however, there is no profit in it. Also, the Royal Guard will no doubt be arriving shortly. He blocked any type of auditory or visual monitoring but his body signs would be tracked.”

Kievan ignored the warning. “What of your contract with Prince Ustrod?”

“With his death, it is null and void. Pity. I don’t suppose we will ever receive that final payment.” He tilted his head to one side, considering. “Although, perhaps we can retrieve the batch of stones the Serigali are currently smuggling to collect the debt.”

“I should kill you anyway, for what you did to Sardor.”

“We did not create the device. We only moved it into position.” His head turned and he nodded to the other side of the garden. “You have visitors.”

Before Kievan could respond, Blauthen slipped into the bushes. Kievan whirled in the other direction, motioning Cam behind him. Her heart pounded. Despite seeing how easily Kievan had defeated the prince, he was still only one man. How could he take on a squad of guards? To her relief, only one figure appeared. Like the prince, he had red skin and small black horns, but instead of short black curls, he had long red hair. He approached with an air of confident mockery that reminded her of Kievan.

“Kievan Rus, we meet again. Problems?” He swept a glance over the dead body by the pool but didn’t seem particularly perturbed.

“Not any more, Rastrath.”

“I see.” He abandoned his casual air and rubbed a hand across his neck, looking suddenly tired. “I’m not sorry he’s dead but I regret you had to kill him so quickly. I have some questions that need answering.”

“Did you know that he is responsible for the destruction of Sardor?”

“Not directly. But I suspected he was up to something. I have been tracking his movements for some time now. First drug smuggling and now this. It is a sad day for the Royal House.” He shook his head. “A planet destroyer, of all things.”

“You heard?”

“Yes, I was hoping to get some additional insight into what he was doing.” He gave Kievan a charming, lopsided grin. “But I assure you I was ready to spring to your rescue if it was needed.”

Both men suddenly tensed and a moment later, Cam heard the distant noise as well. It sounded like a number of men were approaching.

“Go, Kievan,” Rastrath urged. “I’ll take care of this.”

“Why?”

“Because someone is going to have to find out how and where this planet destroyer is being created.” He held up a hand. “Don’t worry. I intend to make sure that both it and the accompanying technology are eliminated.”

Kievan gave him a considering look, then nodded. “Very well. I will leave it with you. You may call on me if you need me.”

Rastrath nodded seriously, before resuming his carefree mask. “And let’s just say, I will be able to make some new friends as a result. You have your… slave to worry about.” He surveyed her with a casual appreciation that made Kievan snarl. “Not to mention a station to which you should return. If you don’t take Sigrast back, where else will I be able to lose such vast sums of money?” He grinned again. “Now, go.”