Mastered By Love

by Tori Minard

  Margelia, with its Bellerenic embassy, was to the east of Concordia. But if she went that way immediately, they’d have some idea where she was going. Instead, she pointed the car to the south, toward Saturnios, and zoomed away from her mother’s palace.

  There were no sounds of pursuit. It would probably take them a few minutes at least to find someone who could fly the other float car. In that time, she planned to be as far away as possible.

  Five minutes later, she was well out of visual range of the palace. She changed direction, heading east to Margelia. Then she set up a course in the car’s auto-navigation system and switched over to autopilot, cuing the system to alert her of pursuit.

  Tariza jumped out of her chair to kneel by Dario. He was unconscious, and even paler than before. Goddess, what if he died? What if he left her?

  Don’t think of that.

  She picked up his cold, limp hand and squeezed. “Don’t you dare die on me. Do you hear, Dario? As your mistress, I command you to live. You have to stay with me.”

  He gave no sign of awareness.

  “I love you. I don’t want to live without you.”

  He was barely breathing, the rise and fall of his chest terrifyingly shallow.

  “I’m getting you help. You just have to stay with me a little longer and we’ll have a Galactic doctor to fix you. Do you hear me, Dario? I’m getting you to a Galactic medical center.”

  She hoped.

  The car’s computer pinged. Shit. They were already on her tail? How had that happened?

  Your locator chip.

  Oh, Goddess. She’d forgotten the locator chip.

  She had to get the thing out of her body and out of the car. Tariza pulled the knife from her belt sheath and yanked her collar open. The chip was embedded in the skin on the back of her neck. She felt for it with her fingertips.

  There it was – a tiny lump under the skin. She stuck the point of her knife at the edge of the lump and pushed it. The stabbing pain made her grind her teeth together. Her hand began to shake again.

  She felt for the chip. Blood made her skin slippery, made the implant too slick to grab. Tariza stuck the knife in again, yelling at the pain. She flicked the point upward, trying to dislodge the blasted chip. With her free hand, she reached for the chip.

  A sharp point projected from the bloody mess she’d made of her neck. That must be it. She dug a little deeper with the knife. In her peripheral vision she saw something dark and wet fly from her skin and disappear on the float car floor.

  Tariza bent down to examine the minute bloody blob. She picked it up between thumb and forefinger, rubbed it to get off the blood. It looked like a tiny silver disc. Had to be the chip.

  The alarm in the cockpit began to beep with greater frequency. Their pursuers must be catching up to them. Goddess. She had to get the chip out of the car.

  Chapter 28

  In the float car’s pilot seat, Tariza activated the window. The thing wouldn’t open. She banged on it in frustration until she remembered the windows were locked when the car was in flight. How had she forgotten that important detail?

  Swearing, she guided the car down toward the ground. It was so dark she couldn’t see where she was going. She turned on the headlights, illuminating a stretch of winter woods and a glimmering streak of water.

  She headed for the water. The alarm beeped continuously. They must be within a hundred yards of her or less.

  The river had some long sandbars jutting out into the water. Tariza set the float car on one of them. She opened the window and tossed the little silver chip as far from the car as she could make it go.

  The sound of engines came from above and just behind her. She closed the window and put the car in the air again. The float car behind her turned on its lights, flooding her car with bluish light and blinding her.

  She turned the car hard to the right, still gaining altitude. Turned off her lights. Glanced over her shoulder to see Dario had rolled up against the seat supports, but was still unconscious. All this turbulent flying couldn’t be good for his wounds.

  “Hang on a little longer,” she said to his unresponsive form.

  The other car followed her. Tariza banked again, coming around the back end of the pursuers. She now headed north, back toward Concordia.

  There were hills all around them, and farther out, high mountain peaks. This was not a good time or place to be playing games in the air. Someone could get hurt.

  Tariza gained more altitude. She’d pushed the car as high as it could go without endangering the passengers due to lack of oxygen. Below her, she could see the lights of the pursuing float car. They were slightly ahead of her and Dario, so perhaps she’d lost them.

  She turned west, just to confound them. At this altitude, she was still in danger of running into a mountainside. Yet she hesitated to turn on her lights in case the others should see them.

  Autopilot. The sensors should be able to detect any land mass ahead.

  It would have to do. She returned the car to its previous course and to autopilot.

  Half an hour later, when the car’s system alerted her they’d arrived at Margelia’s outskirts, she called up the internal map system. Margelia was a large city-state, the largest on the planet, and she’d never been there except for the negotiations where she’d met Dario. The map showed the Bellerenic embassy near the center of the city, close by the royal palace. But how was she to see it from the air?

  She guided the car in a long sweep over the sleeping city. It would do her no good to put down at random and demand a doctor. She needed a Galactic, not some random Argelian primitive.

  Out of the darkness, something fluttered. Several somethings. Tariza lowered the car and slowed down almost to a hover, peering through the darkness at the objects.

  Flags. There was a whole row of flags waving in the night air – the blue and gold of Concordia, red and black for Saturnios, maroon and green for Margelia, and many others for the rest of the Argelian city-states. But no Belleren.

  Wait. There it was, a block over. A white moon on a deep blue, almost black background that nearly disappeared against the night sky. That must be the Bellerenic embassy.

  Tariza slowly descended, setting the car down on the pavement in front of the embassy. Men in black and white uniforms, horns on their heads, tails sweeping back and forth, stormed from the front of the building to surround the car. All of them carried formidable-looking Galactic weapons.

  She lowered the window. One of the Demon Kin approached the car, his expression stern.

  “Identify yourself,” he said.

  “I’m Princess Tariza of Concordia. I have Prince Dario of Saturnios with me, and he’s gravely injured. We need medical help immediately.”

  The soldier narrowed his eyes skeptically. “You expect me to believe that wild tale?”

  “Yes.”

  “Concordia and Saturnios are at war. Why would the heirs of both cities be together at all? And why would you come here?”

  “Hadn’t you heard? I’m Prince Dario’s slave. He’s friends with your Prince Shadow. Please help him before he dies.”

  The guard stepped back, gesturing with his weapon. “Get out of the car, Miss.”

  “Didn’t you hear me? He’s dying. We don’t have time to argue.”

  He waved at the car door. “I said get out.”

  “Oh, for pity’s sake,” she muttered, opening the door.

  “Keep your hands where I can see them.”

  Tariza climbed out, hands held in front of her. “Aren’t your people psychic or something? Can’t you read my mind and see I’m telling you the truth?”

  “Mind-reading is forbidden unless given explicit permission, Miss,” the guard said tonelessly. His tail had stopped flicking and was strangely still.

  “I’m giving you permission. Read my mind.”

  “I can’t do that, Miss.”

  She walked toward him, ignoring the threatening postures of the other guards. “Re
ad my mind or I’ll pitch such a fit you’ll never be able to explain it away,” she said, her voice rising to a near-shout. “I’ll embarrass the Bellerenic ambassador so badly he’ll never be allowed back here. I’ll –”

  “Fine.” The guard held up a hand. “I’ll do it just to shut you up.”

  She lifted her chin. “Good. About time.”

  Dario could die out here just because this idiot was being officious.

  The guard’s stare took on a far-away quality, as if his mind had gone somewhere else. An instant later, he barked orders to the rest of the men, using a language she’d never heard before. Bellerenic? She didn’t care what language it was as long as it got the help she needed.

  The soldiers swarmed around the car, opening the back door, carrying Dario out and hustling him toward the building.

  “Wait. Where are you taking him?” She started after them.

  “If you’ll come with me, Miss,” the guard said, taking her elbow.

  “I want to be with Dario.”

  “I’ll take you to a place where you can wait for him.”

  “No.” She tried to shake him off. He was too strong. “He needs me. I want to be with him.”

  “Miss –”

  “Remember how I said I’d pitch a fit?”

  His jaw tightened. “You don’t belong in the medical unit.”

  “Neither does he. Let me go with him.”

  He muttered something under his breath. It sounded like “I’m going to regret this.”

  ***

  The medical unit of the Bellerenic embassy had stark white walls, floor and ceiling. The furniture was emerald green. It stood out starkly against the snowy walls. A male Demon Kin in a white uniform welcomed her in a small reception area and led her back to a room with a window overlooking yet another room where they were treating Dario.

  They’d hooked him up to various machines. Two more Demon Kin hovered over him, talking in low voices as they worked on his wounds. By now his skin was so pale it looked almost blue. She bit her lip, trying to ignore the sting in her eyes.

  “There’s not much you can do for him at the moment,” the male with her murmured. “He’s getting the best care we have available.”

  “Can he hear me?”

  “I doubt it.” The Demon Kin glanced at her, his blue eyes kind. “He might, though. His mind may be able to perceive you, even if his ears can’t.”

  Tariza squinted up at him. “What are you saying?”

  “Talk to him. It can’t hurt.”

  She nodded, suddenly unable to speak. The Demon Kin placed a hand briefly on her shoulder before going to the door, where he took up a silent watch.

  Tariza closed her eyes. “Dario, if you can hear me,” she murmured, “you should know ... I love you. I think I loved you from the first moment we met. Even though you made me so angry.”

  She stopped, biting her lip again. “You can’t go. I still need you. Please keep fighting. The doctors here are going to save you.” Her voice broke and she stopped.

  For a long time, she stood there silently begging him to live while the doctors struggled to save him. She said everything she could think of, but there seemed to be no change in the still, pale figure in the next room. He couldn’t perceive her thoughts. He needed to hear her voice.

  “I want to go in there.” She pointed to the window.

  “They specifically requested that you wait here,” the man said.

  “I don’t care. I want to be with him.”

  “Your Highness, there’s nothing you can do for him.”

  She turned a teary gaze on him. “You just said I should talk to him. Don’t you think that will be more effective if I’m in the same room?”

  His jaw clenched. “It’s against my orders.”

  “Please. At least let me say good-bye.”

  The fellow closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “All right. But don’t get in the doctor’s way.”

  “I won’t.”

  The treatment room was hot and so brightly lit she had to squint against the glare. The doctor and his assistants all turned to stare at her as she entered. Their faces looked so grim, so hopeless, that she went cold all over despite the oven-like temperature.

  Her escort spread his hands to the sides. “She wants to say good-bye.”

  The doctor nodded. “Go ahead.”

  Tariza approached the table. Dario lay so motionless, his skin so pale he almost seemed made of wax. “Is he –”

  “Still alive,” the doctor said. “He’s had a fair amount of damage to his internal organs, but we’ve stopped the bleeding. With proper care he can recover.”

  “He’ll live?” Hope leaped painfully in her chest.

  “That’s up to him now, but ...” The doctor sighed, shaking his head. “He seems to be letting go.”

  Her throat closed up. “What do you mean?” She had to force the words out.

  “His vital signs are weakening. I don’t know why. There’s no medical reason for it.”

  No. She stared down at Dario’s bare, sleeping body. He was giving up on her, on life. On their child, the child he wasn’t even aware of.

  Impulsively, Tariza reached out and clasped his limp and unresponsive hand. “May I be alone with him, please?”

  The doctor hesitated, then briefly bowed his head. “Certainly.”

  “Thank you.” Her words came out in a barely audible rasp.

  She waited, clutching Dario’s hand, while the medical personnel filed out of the room. The soft-soled shoes they wore allowed them to move so silently she had to glance over her shoulder to be sure they were all gone and the door had closed behind them. Of course, as Demon Kin they could use their psychic abilities and super-keen hearing to spy on her if they wanted to, but at least she now had the illusion of privacy.

  They were gone. She lifted Dario’s hand to her lips and kissed his chilly skin. “I talked to you from the other room, but I guess you couldn’t hear me. I hope you can hear me now.”

  He showed no sign of awareness. His chest was so still she could hardly believe he still breathed.

  “I begged you not to leave me,” she whispered. “I said I love you. I love you, Dario. I can’t help myself. Even when I thought I hated you, I loved you.”

  His eyelids flickered, so briefly she wasn’t sure she’d really seen it.

  “There’s something I didn’t tell you, though. I wanted to be sure before I said anything.” Her breath caught and she squeezed his hand. “I’m pregnant. I’m going to have our child. I don’t know if it’s a boy or a girl, but either way I want our baby to have a father.”

  His eyes flickered again, more strongly this time, the lashes fluttering.

  “Please come back to us. We need you. We love you.” She paused, watching his face for more signs of the will to live. “Besides, if you die I’ll go back to Saturnios and turn myself in. Is that what you want? Your uncle won’t be pleased with me.”

  His lips parted, moved. A rough, inarticulate whisper emerged.

  Tariza leaned close, her heart drumming in hope and relief. “What was that?”

  “Don’t ... you ... dare.”

  She laughed and swiped at her tears. “How are you going to stop me?”

  The big hand clasped in hers tightened, long fingers curling around her smaller ones. “Kidnap ... again.”

  “Are you going to stay with me, then?”

  He turned his head slowly and smiled at her, his expression dreamy with the painkillers they must have given him. “Is it true? The child?”

  She nodded tremulously. “Yes.”

  “Mine?”

  “Yes. I’m too far along for it to be from the – the others.”

  “Love you. Love ... him.” He closed his eyes, the drugs pulling him down into unconsciousness. But a little healthy color had returned to his skin and his chest rose and fell regularly.

  She kissed his hand again. “Everything’s going to be all right.”

  Behi
nd her, the door opened again. Tariza turned, her eyes blurred with tears. A tall, dark-haired Demon Kin male stood just inside the room. Prince Shadow. She wiped the tears from her eyes.

  “I hear you brought him to us,” Shadow said.

  “Yes,” she whispered.

  “You love him.” It wasn’t a question.

  “Yes.”

  “The doctors tell me he’s going to live.”

  Her breath caught, her knees buckled. “He’s going to live?”

  “He’ll be very weak for a while. There was a great deal of internal bleeding. But he’ll live.”

  “Thank the Goddess.”

  “Indeed.” Shadow smiled. “We talked once, he and I, about bringing you to live on Belleren. Did he ever mention it?”

  “Yes, he did. That’s where we were planning to go, before one of my mother’s guards shot him.”

  “The invitation is still open.”

  She smiled back at him. “Thank you. We’ll be there.”

  Epilogue

  Tariza sat in the shade of an arbor thickly covered in the trailing leaves and fragrant white flowers of an exuberant Bellerenic vine. The heat of Belleren’s summer enveloped her and she sweated under the light cotton tunic she wore. Someday perhaps she’d become accustomed to the heat here. At least the ranch Shadow had bestowed on them had plenty of shade in the gardens surrounding the simple, comfortable house.

  In the hard sunlight of the stable yard beyond, Dario led their three year old son, Marcos – named for his paternal grandfather – on the pony he’d just bought for the child. Little Marcos’s enormous brown eyes were wide with delight as he bounced in the saddle. Luckily the pony had an exceptionally placid disposition; she tolerated his antics without protest.

  “Look at me, Mama!” Marcos called.

  “I see you. You’re going to be a masterful horseman someday.”

  Dario grinned at her, the sun striking reddish highlights in his ebony hair, and her heart contracted with love and joy. She never could have imagined this life back in Concordia, never could have thought a husband and son would become the center of her existence, as she was the center of theirs. Thank the Goddess she and Dario had found each other.