by Sadie Carter
“A-attacking a female?” It felt like he was taking blow after blow. “He would never attack a female. My brother has honor.”
He was outraged that anyone would state differently. Attack a female? Never!
Macon moved closer to where he stood. “Calm, Que. No one is saying that the accusations are true.”
“However, they need to be looked into,” the Emperor told him. “It is a serious accusation. I do not need to tell you that having one of our own accused of attacking a human female would do to our tenuous relationship with the humans.”
It could destroy the treaty they had and ruin any chance of other unmated males finding their mates.
“He did not do it.” He knew this. But he sensed some doubt coming from the Emperor and Koran.
“What does Zandar say about the accusations?” he asked.
“He says nothing,” Koran stated.
“And that is a problem,” the Emperor added. “It makes him appear guilty because he is not refuting the claims.”
“Why would he not deny it?” Que was confused.
Koran folded his arms over his wide chest. “Alek said he is very different. He will not speak to Alek. Not acknowledge him. The female is adamant that he attacked her. Tried to join with her.” Koran grimaced.
Just the idea of it made Que’s stomach turned. “He would not.”
“We need to hear Zandar’s side of the story,” the Emperor told him. “One of the other human females has spoken up as his alibi. She said she was with him when this female accuses him of attacking her. We need to discover who speaks the truth, and in the meantime, the humans are insisting on keeping him in a holding cell. Alek is there with him, but he needs help dealing with the humans and Zandar. At the moment, the humans are refusing to come any closer to Zerconia until this is sorted.”
“What?” Que barked. That was ludicrous. They would be far safer coming to Zerconia.
“I know,” the Emperor said grimly. “This must be solved quickly or they may well turn around and return to Earth. With Zandar.”
That could not be allowed to happen.
“Rich is having what Annabel calls shit balls over this,” Macon stated. “Annabel is working hard to convince him to make the transporter come to Zerconia, but he is torn.”
The other three males all looked at each other.
“He did not do this,” Que told them.
“She has bruises,” the Emperor swiped the tablet, bringing up other images.
Que felt ill as he stared down at photo of the human female’s bare back. There were bruises around her side. There was another image of her arm, where it looked like she had been grabbed. Hard. And more images of her inner thighs, with bruises where someone had held her with too much pressure. His stomach rolled over. Someone had definitely attacked this female. But not his brother. He could not believe that.
“This does not prove it was Zandar.”
“No, but he is not speaking,” the Emperor said in an almost gentle voice. “And after these accusations were brought to him, he lost control. He went into a rage and smashed his hand against the wall over and over. He had to be physically restrained then injected with a sedative to put him to sleep. They put him in a regen chamber to heal his hand.”
Que clenched his hands into fists. They spoke like they had already made up their mind about him. “I know he did not do this.”
“Some of the humans are calling for his death.”
“What?” Que gaped at them all.
“It would be the punishment for a male who treated a female like this,” the Emperor said quietly.
“But he did not do this.” Panic filled him. He would not allow anyone to harm his brother.
“You cannot know this for sure,” the Emperor told him.
“Do you want the truth or someone convenient to blame?” Que asked daringly.
“You dare to speak to the Emperor like that,” Koran thundered, eyes flashing red. Macon tensed at Que’s side.
The Emperor held up his hand. He placed his hands on the desk and stood, glaring at Que. Que felt the full force of his fury, but he forced himself to stand there and take it.
“I want the truth. I am the Emperor of Zerconia. That means all the people of Zerconia are mine to take care of and protect. You will remember who I am, who you speak to.”
Que dropped his head. “I apologize, Emperor. I spoke unwisely.”
There were a few beats of silence.
“I understand you worry for your brother. I do not want this to be true. But the truth must be discovered. And Zandar is not talking, at least not to anyone on the ship. So, I am going to send the only person who he might talk to.”
Que raised his head. “Me?”
“We need you to fly immediately to the transporter,” Koran told him. “If you take a scouting ship you will get there much quicker than the transporter can move. We need you to get your brother to tell us what happened.”
“I will get ready to leave immediately.”
“There is one more thing,” Koran told him.
“Yes?” Impatience bit at him.
“You may need help with the humans,” Macon told him. “They are on edge and will probably not respond well to you. Annabel believes it would be a good idea to send someone with you to speak with the humans on our behalf.”
“Who?” His mind scrambled. “Mila?” She was the obvious choice.
The Emperor glanced up at Koran. “Mila would be ideal; however, she is carrying again and if we were to send her it would be Koran having shit balls.”
The Emperor’s voice held amusement but Que did not share that. He could not feel amused when his brother, who he’d believed long dead, was being accused of attacking a female. A most heinous crime. If Zandar’s name was not cleared he could well lose the brother he had just discovered was still alive.
“If not Mila, then who will be accompanying me?” He did not like the idea of a female with him. She would require his care and protection. It was a dangerous mission to set out in such a small ship. However, scouting ships had the advantage of being fast and were the best option.
“You will be taking Keely with you,” the Emperor told him.
“That is not happening.”
3
“What?” the Emperor snapped at him. “Why not?”
Que knew he was already on shaky ground with the way he’d snapped at the Emperor before. And he was not about to make things better for himself, but he could not allow this to happen.
“Keely cannot come. It is too dangerous.”
The Emperor frowned. Koran’s scowl, which was mostly a permanent fixture on his face, deepened.
“We would not have Keely accompany you if we believed there was danger,” the Emperor stated. He leaned forward, staring up at Que. not the least bit intimidated that Que stood while he sat. “She is not under your protection. We have spoken to Safan, who acts in that regard. He has agreed to this course of action. As has Keely.”
Anger thrummed through his body. It should not be up to Safan to decide such a thing.
She was his mate. His. And his mate would not be leaving the planet where she was safest.
“I am her mate.”
“You have mated?” the Emperor asked. “Why was I not informed?”
“Because they have not mated yet,” Macon said dryly. “She does not wish to mate him.”
“She does not yet believe that we are mates,” Que admitted. “But she will. And I will not have her put at risk by leaving the planet.”
The Emperor just shook his head. “You have not touched her? Kissed her?”
“No. But I know.”
The Emperor looked up at Koran. They seemed to share some silent communication.
“Keely is aware of the risks and is prepared to help us,” the Emperor told him carefully. “If it puts your mind at ease, we could send another scouting ship with you as extra protection. But I do not wish to send the wrong message to the humans. Alek
and Jaex are already on board the ship. They have agreed to only allow you and Keely to come on board as well. Sending more than we agreed on would be a sign that we do not keep to our word. And that we do not trust them.”
And their word was everything.
“If Keely is your mate,” Koran said quietly, “then I am certain you shall do all that you need to in order to keep her safe.”
Of course, he would. Que barely resisted the urge to glare at Koran.
“And this could be a good opportunity for you to convince her that you are mates,” Macon added.
Hmm. There was that to consider. They would be in close quarters since scouting ships were only set up for two people.
He thought that through. He would prefer she remain on Zerconia; however, they would need her. He would do whatever was necessary to keep her safe.
And he would have a better chance at convincing her that she was his.
“It is acceptable.”
4
“This is unacceptable.”
Keely paced up and down in the cockpit of the small scouting ship, which was so tiny she only got in six steps before she needed to turn and walk back the other way.
With Que in the cockpit with her, it became even smaller. Stifling.
“I can’t believe they expect us to travel for close to three days in this ship.” Together. In extremely tight quarters. This ship was basically four rooms. And none of them big. The cockpit. An engine room. And sleeping quarters with a small attached bathroom. Barely big enough for one person let alone two. She wasn’t sure how two warriors even fit in a ship this size.
Que glanced up from where he was studying something on the panel in front of him to look at her. They had taken off from Zerconia about two hours ago and were quickly headed to the transporter.
Nerves were fluttering in her stomach. Stupid idea, Keely. Really stupid.
She’d known it as soon as she’d agreed to go on this mission–that she was doomed. But what other choice did she have? Mila was an awesome boss. The Zerconians had taken her in, treated her well. This was the first thing they’d asked of her.
She couldn’t have said no.
She really should have said no. Because this ship was far, far smaller than expected. She and Que would pretty much be living in each other’s pockets.
How was she supposed to avoid him in these circumstances?
“What is unacceptable?” he asked in a low voice.
He was different. For one thing, he wasn’t spending all his time watching her, which she’d always told herself was annoying. Now that she didn’t have his undivided attention, she kind of missed it.
You are being ridiculous, Keely. The man has more important things on his mind. Like the fact his brother has been accused of attacking a woman.
His brother who he’d thought was dead. She couldn’t even imagine what he was going through right now. Last thing he needed to deal with was her freaking out over their living arrangements for the next couple of days.
He kept his dark hair short and neat; his skin was olive and smooth. His features were masculine to the extreme. Firm jaw. Carved cheekbones. Piercing dark blue eyes. He was gorgeous. Strong. Sexy. And slightly whacked in the head.
How the fuck was she going to be able to resist him?
“I have totally screwed the pooch.”
He frowned, looking at her in confusion. “I thought a pooch was a dog?”
“It is.”
His eyes widened. “Then screwed does not mean joined?”
Suddenly she realized what she’d said. “Not when it comes to that saying! I didn’t mean that I literally screwed a. . .oh God, that’s disgusting.”
Suddenly, she started laughing. She laughed so hard her sides hurt and she had to grab them to try and ease the pain. Tears dripped down her face.
And just stared at her. His face still serious, but there was a softening in his eyes.
“Something I said was funny?”
He liked watching her laugh. She stopped, unsure what she should do with that. On the one hand it felt good that he enjoyed seeing her laugh. On the other hand, it didn’t. Because he shouldn’t have those sorts of feelings for her.
You are in so much trouble.
“Sorry, I, ah, it’s a saying. It means, well, it means I’ve gotten myself into trouble.”
“What kind of trouble?” He scowled. “Tell me what it is immediately and I will solve this problem.”
She gaped at him then shook her head. And with one sentence he ruined those nice feelings she had for him. “I don’t need you to solve my problems. I’m a big girl and I’ve been looking after myself for a long time. I don’t need some man to take care of me or any problems I have.”
Even if he’s the source of the problem?
“You are not big,” he stated. “You are small and delicate.”
She ground her teeth together. “Look, maybe in comparison to you, I am. But I am a grown woman who can take care of herself.”
“But why should you take care of yourself when I am here? That is my job now.”
“It is not your job,” she forced herself to snap at him even as warmth unfurled in her belly. When was the last time someone offered to take care of her? Sure, her friends were her family. But it wasn’t quite the same as what she knew he was offering.
“It’s not your job.”
“I am your mate.”
“We are not mated, Que.” She didn’t know why, but she made her voice go low, soft. Almost as though she was trying to soften the blow, even though this was an argument they’d had often.
“We are mates, Keely. Denying it does not make it not so. I am not sure why you are so opposed to having me as a mate, but—”
“I am not opposed to having you as a mate.”
His eyebrows rose in a look of shock.
“What I mean is, it’s not you specifically I’m opposed to. I don’t want anyone as a mate,” she told him hastily.
“Why?”
Why? Mila’s words came back to her. Why was she fighting this so hard when she knew these guys were desperate for mates, that they actually needed them to survive? If she kept denying the mating then what would happen to Que? Would he fall victim to the mating fever and die?
Fear and panic tied a knot deep inside her. Her breath caught in her lungs. She fought for air. She couldn’t stand the idea of losing him.
And yet, she couldn’t take that step to tie herself to him forever.
“Keely? Keely, what is the matter? Keely?”
“I. . .I just need some time. Alone. All right?” She stumbled out of the cockpit and into the living area which also doubled as a bedroom and eating area. She made her way to the masic and laid herself down.
Shit. Shit. What was she going to do?
Que did not know what had just happened. He was torn between following Keely and checking that she was well and giving her time alone. He brought up the vid view of the other room. She was lying on the masic, on her bed, staring at the ceiling.
She had a strange look on her face, one he could not decipher. He rubbed at his head. He did not know what else he could do to convince her to mate with him. But right now, he had other more pressing worries on his mind. Like his brother and the trouble he was in.
Once he spoke to Zandar, sorted this mess out, and they were on their way back to Zerconia—just the two of them—then he could convince her that he could be all that she needed and desired.
5
She rolled over and smashed her clenched fist down on the pillow.
Idiot. Idiot.
She’d lain on the masic for a long time after that conversation with Que, trying to figure out what the hell she was doing. How could she possibly keep denying the mating when it would mean his death?
If he died from the mating fever, it would be all her fault.
But did that mean she could tie herself to him forever? From the time she was five until she’d escaped hell with Blue and Jack, she
’d found herself at the mercy of someone else. Forced to do their bidding, to live their rules with dire consequences if she did not. She rubbed at the scar on the top of her hand, remembering the slash of the knife across her skin, the burning pain.
All because she’d reached for food before asking permission.
She’d spent the next four days locked in her bedroom, with just one meal a day. So she would learn her lesson. She was lucky that cut hadn’t gotten infected.
Not that she thought Que would harm her physically. These guys were overly protective, but they also liked to be in charge.
She liked her freedom.
And how good will that freedom feel if you harm Que to keep it?
She rubbed at her arms, feeling chilled even though it was warm in here. Her stomach growled. She should get up, make herself something to eat. Get something for Que, who she hadn’t seen since she’d told him she wanted to be alone.
She hadn’t expected him to give her that time.
But he had. And she’d done nothing but fight with herself over what she should do. Stupidly, part of her wished he had followed her.
Too much time to think could be a very bad thing.
Suddenly, the door slid open and he stepped into the room. He stilled as she sat and looked at him.
“Are you hungry?” he asked.
She cleared her throat. “A little.”
He nodded and moved towards the autocooker.
“Wait. I’ll get us something,” she told him. “You’ve been busy flying this thing. Least I can do.”
“It does not take much to pilot a small ship,” he replied, pressing something on the autocooker.
She rubbed at her forehead and the headache that was forming. “I’m sorry about before, Que.”
Plates of food were expressed from the autocooker and she looked at her burger in surprise.
“I had them stock human food before we came on board,” he told her as she just stared at the plate. “This is not to your liking?”
“No, it. . .it’s great. Thanks.” Damn. That was really thoughtful of him.