Chapter Twenty-Two
I’ll kill that ungrateful daughter of a whore.
Umar burst through the door of Moira’s personal quarters. She let out a gasp. She’d been stuffing clothes into a bag.
“What have you done to me?”
Moira closed her bag and clutched it to her chest. “Something I should’ve done long ago.”
He jutted his blaster at her. “You stupid beast. You ruined all my plans.”
“I’m no longer a pawn in your sick game. If I have to die, I’ll do so with honor and pride.”
Moira had just enough time to straighten her back and square her chin as he aimed his blaster at her. The invisible ray hit her in the face and killed her instantly.
As Moira crumpled to a heap on the ground, Umar pressed the com-link on his belt.
“Son, we need to leave the palace immediately! Meet me in the transport room.”
“But Father—”
“Grab your guards and get to the transport room now!”
That stupid peasant didn’t know what she’d done. Cycles and cycles of planning and hard work were now ruined. With that barbarian King Taio breaching the planet’s security system, he wouldn’t have time to go to his private rooms to pack his belongings or get the prized royal jewels he had stashed there.
King Taio might be able to take Laconia from him, but with all the credits he had accumulated, he would be able to buy his own planet. Buy more aides. Buy another kingdom with a new queen. He would prevail.
No time to waste. His legs and chest burned as he ran through the hallways. He shoved the stupid onlookers out of his way. The first thing he would do with his fortune would be to rain bombs on this pitiful planet and its pitiful people.
He rounded the corner to the common room and stopped short. His son was there cowering behind his guards. Also in attendance were Sa’Mya, King Taio, a very pregnant female and a score of Sonis royal guards recognizable by their various enlightenment tattoos that covered their faces and necks.
Too late.
Perspiration ran down the side of Umar’s head in fat drops. He pulled out a handkerchief and blotted away the wetness.
His gaze shifted between his son, Sa’Mya and King Taio.
Umar squared his shoulders and moved closer to his son and guards. “How dare you breach my security system and land on my planet uninvited?”
King Taio raised a curious brow. “Your planet?”
“Well? What are you fools waiting for? Arrest them for trespassing.” Umar said, spitting dribble from his mouth.
As the Laconian guards moved forward, everyone from the Sonis party pulled out various weapons, including the human female. Surprised, Umar jumped back.
King Taio stepped in front of the human and shielded her from view. He widened his stance and held his jango firmly in front of him. The specialized sword was infused with impenetrable metals. The weapon was so strong that it could easily deflect a blaster ray.
“The control over the palace is returning to Sa’Mya on this day. Stand down or be cut down. The choice is yours,” Taio declared.
“Preposterous! Sa’Mya has always been in control,” Umar said. “I’ve done my part as her advisor. Who else was in a position to see to her best interests when her parents died? Hmm?”
Umar inched closer to Sa’Mya and the transporter. He could grab her, jump in the transporter and escape. He could at least ransom that spoiled brat for more credits. Maybe he could turn this thing around?
His useless son would have to fend for himself. His plan of creating a bond was ruined. He no longer needed Antony. He glanced around the room, his eyes darted from one person to the next. When his gaze landed on Sa’Mya, she cringed away from him.
Ungrateful whore.
“Died? Well, that’s a stretch isn’t it? Princess Sa’Mya seems to believe you murdered her parents,” King Taio replied.
Umar’s eyes widened.
That bitch slinorim worm.
“Murdered?” Umar asked.
“She no longer has need of your services,” King Taio added.
A nervous giggle escaped as he shifted his gaze from King Taio to Sa’Mya. “Why would I murder my own sister? I loved her. The strain of the events of these past lunar cycles has been too much for my poor niece. You dumped her for the human slave then poor Sa’Mya was captured by space pirates. Why, she is overwrought, delusional.”
Umar inched closer to Sa’Mya and held out his arms. “Sa’Mya, dear, come to me. Let me find your maid to help you get into bed.”
Sa’Mya stepped closer to King Taio. “No, uncle. It’s over. He knows everything.”
King Taio pulled Sa’Mya to his side, thwarting Umar’s attempt to grab her.
Umar fumed. Now he would never get his hands on her. “Moira ruined everything!” Umar yelled, unable to contain his anger any longer. “I finally had you back in my control and she had to contact this heathen. Sa’Mya, come here right now, you fool.” Umar stomped his foot. Spit dripped from his chin.
“No, uncle.” Sa’Mya stood her ground, shaking her head. “Stand down. You will be charged for your crimes against the crown and its people.”
Antony gasped and reached out to him. Umar pushed his son’s hands away dismissively. “You are just as stupid as your mother,” he said to Sa’Mya. Sa’Mya’s face flushed with anger. “She deserved to die and so do you.” Umar lunged at her.
Sa’Mya inwardly cringed, waiting for her uncle to strike.
Eva stepped around Taio, her eyes intent on Umar. Her jango swooshed through the air. A collective gasp rang in the hall. Umar’s scream echoed off the walls. His upper half toppled to the ground. His bottom half stood erect, still supported by his legs. A geyser of blood erupted from him.
Sa’Mya caught her breath as everyone else did.
“Eva,” Taio said. “I gave you strict instructions not to interfere. You could’ve been harmed.”
Sa’Mya startled, tore her gaze from her uncle’s lifeless frame to stare at Taio and Eva.
“Oh please, that clumsy fool didn’t stand a chance,” Eva replied with a huff.
Taio sighed and looked at his wife lovingly. “It’s not the point. I should’ve left you at home where it was safe. I didn’t want you to exert yourself.”
“Then I wouldn’t have gotten the chance to use the new jango Ship made for me,” Eva said. She held her jango up. Her lips curled into a frown as she watched crimson blood drip from it. “Gross.” Eva curled a long lock of jet-black hair behind her ear and wiped the blade on Umar’s pants legs. Once her blade was clean, she kicked on his legs so they too could fall in a heap on the floor.
“You killed my father,” Antony whispered in disbelief. He took two tentative steps forward to look at his father’s dead body. His hands visibly shook as he used a handkerchief to wipe tears from his eyes. “Father?”
Eva caught Sa’Mya’s gaze. “I did something Princess…I mean Queen Sa’Mya should’ve done a long time ago. I’m sorry that I took your vengeance from you.”
Yes, Sa’Mya had wanted to kill Umar herself, for her parents, her aunt and uncle, for Nebin, but all that mattered now was that he was dead and the nightmare that had been her life for all these cycles was now over.
She didn’t fight the overwhelming urge to hug Eva. “Thank you so much. I will always be indebted to you.”
Despite their previous differences, Eva returned her embrace. “Blame it on the hormones. I was tired of hearing that bastard talk. Plus, he called me a slave.”
Sa’Mya pulled away and laughed. “Please just tell me to shut up when you tire of my voice. I would hate to meet the same fate as my uncle.”
No one would call Eva less than deadly. She had killed one of King Taio’s famous royal guards with her bare hands. Now Eva had added Sa’Mya’s uncle to her kill count.
Sa’Mya released Eva and went to hug Taio. “Thank you for coming.”
“I would say it was a pleasure to put that animal to rest, but I believe my mate had all the fun.” Taio cut his eyes to Eva.
“Why didn’t you tell Taio about this before, Sa’Mya?” Eva asked. “Taio would never have let you return to your uncle had he known what was going on.” Eva took Sa’Mya’s hands into her own.
Sa’Mya grasped Eva tightly. Eva’s small hands were strong and reassuring. They stopped her own from shaking and for that she was grateful.
“After I left Sonis, I thought I could hide until I became Queen. I didn’t know he would get this desperate.”
“And you also didn’t anticipate getting abducted by space pirates either,” Eva said. “Tell me all about them. Ship said they were humans who escaped a work planet.”
“How did Ship find out about them?” Sa’Mya asked.
Eva chuckled. “Ship knows everything. I had him do some recon work while we were on our way here.”
“What is re-con?” Sa’Mya asked.
Taio shook his head. “Don’t even ask. Since I stopped trying to figure out her human slang, I found my head no longer hurts.”
Sa’Mya cast her eyes down. “To be honest, I could’ve left if I really tried. I stayed because I felt safer with him.”
Eva threw up a hand and rocked her head on her shoulders. “Whoa, you said ‘him’ instead of ‘them’. Who exactly is the him we’re talking about?”
“I meant them.” Sa’Mya shook her head. “Speaking of them, I have to get them out of the dungeon.”
“Wait. You plan to free them?” Taio asked.
“Yes. They meant us no harm. They treated us fairly well.”
“Why wouldn’t she free them?” Eva glared up at Taio, crossed her arms and tapped her foot impatiently.
“They abducted Sa’Mya and have crimes spanning across three galaxies. The only way they can leave here is if they go before the Galactic Council to be charged for what they have done.”
“They were forced into this life,” Sa’Mya seethed. “No one should place blame on them for trying to survive. The Galactic Council should’ve intervened against the Loconuist attack on Earth.”
“She’s right, Taio,” Eva joined in, her voice rising. “The Galactic Council should’ve stepped in to help us. We’re all trying to find our way. It’s unfair to be thrust in this new life and be penalized for trying to survive.”
Taio pulled Eva close to him and kissed her on the top of the head. “I’ll speak with the Galactic Council and see what can be done. Until then, it would be safer for the space pirates to stay in Sa’Mya’s dungeon.”
“Can I at least let them out? I’ll make sure to keep them confined in the palace.”
“We would have more problems if they escaped before the Galactic Council cleared them. The safest place for them is where they are.”
Sa’Mya couldn’t possibly keep them in the dungeon. Kane would never forgive her for leaving him and his crew there. He would also never forgive her for handing them over to the Galactic Council.
“I’ll get a resolution as soon as possible,” Taio promised.
Eva broke free from Taio and grabbed Sa’Mya by the hand. “That’s settled. Tell me all about him.”
Sa’Mya peered at Taio, suddenly uncomfortable talking about this in front of him.
Taio looked from her to Eva. His face registered that the females wanted him to leave. “Oh, right. I’ve got security issues to attend to anyway. Jor’Dan!” As he walked away, a well-muscled male, standing two heads shorter than Taio, approached him.
Only after Taio left did Sa’Mya recount everything she’d been through. Once she starting talking, she couldn’t stop. It felt so good to finally release everything she had kept bottled up inside.
The rocky start she and Eva had gotten off to on Sonis seemed to dissipate. Eva proved more than willing to bury old gripes and open her heart to start a new friendship. On more than one occasion, Eva would say “typical man” or “he’s such an ass” or “as soon as I have this baby I’m kicking his butt” and the occasional “awww”.
Then, while telling Eva about Jess and her attack, Eva doubled over and grabbed her stomach.
Sa’Mya was instantly by her side. “Eva! What’s wrong?”
“Contraction,” Eva replied. Her breaths came out in painful pants. “Get Taio.”
Sa’Mya spotted Taio talking to a group of his royal guards. “Taio!” She waved her arm wildly in the air. “We need you.”
Without turning their way, he replied, “I’ll be there shortly.”
Eva held one hand to her stomach. The other gripped painfully on Sa’Mya’s arm. “For the love of God, this hurts!” she yelled. “Taio!”
“One moment, little one,” Taio said.
“Taio! I don’t think I can wait any longer,” Eva yelled.
Taio turned. Confused alarm crossed his features as he ran over and scooped Eva into his arms.
“What’s wrong? What’s happening? Are you in pain? Is the baby in trouble?” he asked, each sentence coming out faster than the last.
Both hands cradled her stomach. “I’m in labor,” Eva said between heavy breathing. “The baby has decided to join all of the excitement.”
“My son will be born on Sonis soil!” Taio declared as he stalked toward the docking station. “Jor’Dan! See to all the necessary arrangements in my absence.”
As she was being whisked away, Eva peered over Taio’s shoulder. “It’ll work out,” she said.
Where Kane was concerned Sa’Mya doubted it, but she didn’t have time to point that out. “Congratulations,” she yelled instead. Sa’Mya stood alone, waving goodbye to her new friend. Only friend, she thought sadly.
Sonis royal guards filled the common room but she felt more alone now than ever before. She wrapped her arms tightly around herself.
It was sad to see them leave but she understood Taio’s rush to return home. This day would be momentous for Sonis. This child would be the first Human-Sonis species. Sa’Mya prayed silently that father, mother and child made it home swiftly and safely.
Sa’Mya took a deep breath. The Sonis royal guards seemed to have everything in order. Her uncle’s guards and his son were corralled into a corner. Her uncle’s body had been disposed of. She was safe now.
She was officially Queen of Laconia. She did what her father would have wanted her to do. She dropped her hands to her sides and straightened her back. She went to Jor’Dan’s side. He was her new chief guard for the time being.
An official coronation would have to wait. The first order of business would be to remove her uncle’s belongs from her parents’ royal suite and put his son to death.