Chapter Twenty-Four
Rooting out her uncle’s supporters had been Jor’Dan’s major concern. She had wanted to conduct each and every interrogation herself, to look everyone in the eye who had helped her uncle imprison her. Taio and Jor’Dan had both advised against it. Jor’Dan had put her on a luxury transport to Sonis. His argument had been that once she returned, all her uncle’s supporters would’ve been removed from her palace.
Sitting on the edge of Eva’s bed, Sa’Mya held Josanis and smiled at him. The baby boy was a perfect mixture of both his father and mother.
He had Taio’s gold coloring. A tuft of jet-black hair sat on top of his head. And to her amazement, he had one lavender-colored eye and one dark. Sa’Mya was sure his size was what his father was most proud of. She strained to hold his hefty weight in her arms.
“Eva, I can’t believe you gave birth to such a beautiful baby.”
Eva chuckled. “Is that supposed to mean you can’t believe someone who’s as hideous as me can have a cute baby?”
Sa’Mya caught Eva’s gaze and relaxed when she saw the smile on her face. Not that long ago she had called Eva much worse.
“You know that’s not what I meant. I can’t believe two people could make such a perfect child. Oh! He likes me,” she said in amazement. “Look, he’s grabbing my finger and won’t let it go.”
Sa’Mya waved her finger as Josanis held it tight in his chubby hand.
“He does like you. How could he not?” Eva smiled warmly at both of them.
“If I ever have children, I hope they are as perfect as this one.” Maybe one day.
“I would love to talk about my baby all day, but I’m not. Quit stalling, talk to me. How’s everything going at home?”
“Fine.” She kept her eyes on Josanis and wiggled her finger a few more times. “I have a Truth-Seeker as my advisor now.” She flicked her gaze toward a confused-looking Eva. “Truth-Seekers are prized throughout this galaxy. They cannot tell a lie and their ability to sense when others are dishonest makes them invaluable advisors.”
“Good for you.” Eva nodded approvingly. “All of your uncle’s supporters will be found in no time. I’m happy for you.”
“That was by pure luck. Tashar was made aware of my situation and offered his services. He and Jor’Dan are conducting all the interrogations while I’m gone.” A nervous giggle escaped her. “I don’t know if I’ll have any staff when I return. I might have to borrow some of yours.”
Eva gave her a reassuring smile. “It’ll be okay. Jor’Dan will make your palace safe for you. That’s what really matters.”
“I know. But I wish Nebin would’ve been here to witness this.” Her eyes misted at the thought of him.
Eva gave Sa’Mya’s hand a gentle squeeze. “I’m sorry about Moira and Nebin.”
“Thank you. I miss them. I never imagined I wouldn’t have Nebin by my side. And Moira.” Sa’Mya smiled softly. “I can’t believe I actually really miss her. She proved to be a far better friend than I ever gave her credit for.”
Eva cradled Sa’Mya’s chin. “Sa’Mya, honey, look at me. When’s the last time you ate? Or slept?”
Sa’Mya pulled away from her. “I’m fine, really. I’ve been so busy.”
“Don’t lie to me. You’re all skin and bones. Your clothes are hanging off you. Look at your beautiful skin.” Eva ran a hand across Sa’Mya’s cheek. “It’s dull, lifeless.”
“Eva…” Sa’Mya shook her head. She knew she looked bad but she didn’t want or need anyone to point out her faults. “I’m fine,” she said, not raising her gaze from Josanis. “I’ll get through.”
Eva snorted. “Well, that’s not very reassuring. I’ve been trying to get information out of you for weeks. You said you would fill me in when you got here. Don’t make me wait any longer.”
“I’m sorry. It’s going good, really. But enough about me. There’s nothing more exciting than a new baby.”
“Stop playing games with me, Sa’Mya. Tell me what’s going on.”
“I sent a message to my cousin Nokalis. I told him what happened. I hope he’ll decide to return to Laconia now that Umar is dead.”
Eva scrunched her brows. “I thought you were the only heir to the crown?”
“I’m the heir. Nokalis is second in line. He is the son of my father’s younger brother. He would’ve become king if anything happened to me and if I didn’t have any children.”
“Then why did your uncle let him go?”
“I guess as long as my uncle kept me happy and oblivious, he didn’t have a need for Nokalis. Nokalis left as soon as he was old enough to be on his own. Plus, my uncle probably guessed that it would be much easier to control me with my cousin gone.”
“Is he returning?”
Sa’Mya shrugged. “I don’t know. He has many painful memories. I begged him to.”
“Well, until he does you’ll have Jor’Dan, the Truth-Seeker and Yazmine to help you put your palace in order.”
“All of the disruption was more than Yazmine could handle. She’s asked to return to Sonis. I brought her with me. I think she will be happier now. The short time she spent with my uncle has…taken a toll on her.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure she’s taken care of.”
“Thank you.”
“Have you heard from Kane?”
Sa’Mya’s heart dropped. She stopped wiggling her finger in the baby’s grasp. “No. And I don’t expect to.”
“Have you tried to contact him?”
“Why would I do that? He made it quite clear how he felt about me.”
“No. He made it clear how he felt about the situation. Did he tell you his feelings?”
Sa’Mya let out a long breath. “He hates me, Eva. He didn’t say it and he doesn’t need to.”
“I know humans better than you. Men are prideful creatures. Very emotional. He’s been through a lot. I doubt he hates you. He thinks you betrayed him.”
“And he would be right to think that. I should’ve trusted him with my secret.”
Eva’s light touch brushed her arm. “Hey, don’t beat yourself up. They were pirates, not the most trustworthy type of people.”
“When I first met him, I would’ve agreed with you.” She pulled her lower lip between her teeth as she remembered what they’d shared. “But afterward… I could’ve trusted him, but I didn’t. I really messed things up.”
“That’s called love, honey. People in love mess up all the time. The hard part is admitting that you fucked up and move forward.”
I want him so bad that it hurts. Tears streamed down her cheeks. “He left. That’s all that matters. Life goes on.”
“If life goes on, then why are you wasting away?”
“Eva, I’ve got a lot on my hands. I have to undo all of my uncle’s treachery. It takes up all of my time.”
“Would you want him to contact you?” Eva prodded.
Her heart screamed yes. Sa’Mya hesitated before answering. “What good does wanting do?” She shrugged. “I hardly think of him anymore.”
Eva settled back in the pillows. “Uh-huh. And you expect me to believe that?”
Josanis scrunched his face in a tight frown. It turned a nice shade of red. After the baby let out a long grunt, the room filled with the most noxious smell she’d ever smelled in her life.
“So…do you want to learn how to change his diaper?”
“Not. At. All.”
Eva laughed. “Hey, don’t turn your nose up. You may need to do this one day, especially when he comes to visit you.”
“If you want his diaper changed, then you better send him with his own assistant. Otherwise you’ll not be happy when he returns to you.”
She hooked her hands under the infant’s shoulders and gave him back to his mother. Eva laughed harder as Sa’Mya cringed and shuddered at the thought of wiping a baby’s bottom.
“I knew your old bitchy self was still in there somewhere.”
“Ship! Ship!” Eva yelled right after Sa’Mya left her personal quarters. Even if Sa’Mya didn’t know she needed help, Eva planned to help her anyway. Since this whole ordeal, she’d seen Sa’Mya for exactly what she was, alone and frightened. Someone in need of a friend.
“Ship!” she yelled again.
Lo’Ren entered the room, rolled her eyes at Eva and headed straight to Josanis. “Ship wanted me to tell you to stop yelling. He says you’ll give Josanis a nervous condition.”
Lo’Ren, with her pink skin coloring and spiky hot-pink hair, had been a godsend as a nanny. Taio had originally hired the off-worlder to serve as her friend even though they would’ve eventually become friends on their own. Lo’Ren had been just as out of place on Sonis as she had been.
“If he answers me, I won’t have to keep yelling,” she mumbled.
Lo’Ren scooped Josanis out of his bassinet. “Come on, sweet little baby, mommy is acting all crazy. Yes, she is. Auntie will save you.” Lo’Ren didn’t look back as she left.
“Eva, you will give the baby nightmares if you continue to yell as you do,” Ship finally said. The entity’s voice came from no particular place in the room.
“If you would’ve answered me the first time, I wouldn’t have had to yell out for you.”
“You seem to have trouble understanding that I am not obligated to respond when you call.”
“I know and that’s why I’m so grateful when you do.”
“You leave me no choice. If I don’t respond you will continue to yell.”
“I’m glad we have an understanding.” She smiled.
She had been stuck in bed since giving birth to Josanis, bored as hell.
Before giving birth, she mentioned that women on Earth were generally on medical leave from work or other duties for six weeks after the birth of a baby. After she told him that, Taio had become so obsessed that something would happen to her within that time frame that he forbade her to move.
Of course, she didn’t need the traditional six-week respite. After giving birth, she had spent an hour in the healing tank and sprung out feeling fresh and new. That’s where Taio had waited to scoop her up to deposit her into bed.
She relied on Ship and Lo’Ren to inform her of the goings-on around the palace. She was actually getting tired of calling their names but she wouldn’t let them know. One of her favorite pastimes to cure the boredom was getting on Ship’s nerves. She had to take her kicks where she could find them.
“Do you have any news on Ally?”
Ship let out an audible sigh that caused the chandelier hanging in the middle of her room to clink together. “Eva, must I remind you that I promised Taio I would not discuss the progress of finding Ally until after you have completely healed?”
Damn. Ship had been helping her find her friend from Earth. Their last lead had been a bust. The only information Eva had on Ally was that she had been sold to one brothel after another. Ship wasn’t going to go back on a promise he made Taio. But Eva hadn’t seen any harm in asking.
“Whatever.” Then remembering what she had called him for, she said, “I need a favor.” Before he could object, she quickly added, “Please. Do this one thing for me and I’ll leave you alone.”
She only had two more weeks of her convalescence left. She could go without torturing him until then.
“As enticing as that sounds, first tell me what is this ‘favor’ of yours?”
“Find Kane Epps for me. Sa’Mya needs him.”
“And what does this have to do with me?”
“That’s why it’s called a favor, Ship. As a friend, you would do something benefiting me, not you. Please.”
“What am I supposed to do when I find him?”
He had said when, not if, Eva noticed, which was good news. “I need you to tell him the facts.”
“The facts? About what exactly?”
“About what transpired. He thinks Sa’Mya betrayed him. Once he finds out the truth, he’ll return to her. He needs his happily ever after.”
“And what if he doesn’t?”
Eva narrowed her eyes. “Then I’ll make him.”