“And when she died the argument festered?”
“Something like that. I came here a couple of times after she died, but that stopped, my father always seemed to have something else I should be doing.”
“Well, if they won’t go to Kalisov, maybe Misha’Ha is the next option. If not, I don’t have a plan C, unless they come to Virdia.”
“You would do that for them?” Tiana asked.
“I would do it for you.”
Tiana blushed, not knowing what to say. He chuckled, and she hid her face, trying to compose herself.
“Stellia. Open cargo bay door, we’ll take the rover. While we’re gone, prepare for launch.”
“Cargo door opening.”
Mak opened the rover door, and boosted her up into her seat, while he climbed into the driver’s seat. “What was wrong with your mom?”
“She just became sad. I remember her being so happy, always singing, and laughing. Then it stopped.”
“Depression?” Mak asked. “She married a king. Why was she depressed?”
“What, you think because you are married to a king everything has to be happy ever after?” Tiana asked.
“No, but … oh … was she forced into it?”
“No. She loved my father. And he loved her.”
“Then what am I missing? She had the perfect fairy-tale ending to her story. Fell in love, married a prince, had a child. Your planet is rich; she wouldn’t have wanted for anything.”
“Except the freedom of a house on a planet where the air is clear and the water is pure, and you can get up in the morning and walk out of your house without someone catering to your every need.”
“Culture shock.”
“Something like that.” She stared pensively out of the window. “She was torn between two lives. One filled with love, a husband and a family, and another that was wild and free. I think as I grew up, she saw what I was missing, running with the wind in my hair, no concern as to what was right or proper.”
He looked at her sharply. “Wait, you blame yourself?”
“She was happy until she had me. My brothers tell me how she used to sit and tell them bedtime stories; after their mom died, she was the one who looked after them. It was how she met my father. They fell in love, everyone was happy and then I came along.”
“Wait, it is not your fault.”
“It doesn’t matter.” She shook her head. “Let’s just concentrate on helping what’s left of my family.”
“OK. But then we are having a serious talk about this.”
She smiled, shaking her hair back off her shoulders and turning to him. “What does a bounty hunter care about the mixed-up feelings of a princess? Once we have my aunt and Larka safe, you will get your reward, and be on your way. I am not a damsel in distress who needs rescuing by you.”
“Really? Because I already rescued you once.”
“Back at you,” she said, tilting her head to one side. “You do remember being flat out on the floor at the mercy of the Maraki?”
“Etched firmly in my brain.” The rover made its way out of the trees, and he had to ask her, “Which way now?”
“Head north, then follow the trail.”
“Stellia. How long until the Maraki reach the surface?”
“The ship is not of the Maraki.”
“What?” Mak yelled, slowing the vehicle down. “Then who the hell is it?”
“The ship belongs to the King of Kalisov.”
“You are sure?” he asked, glancing across to Tiana. She knew the blood had drained from her face. But she had no idea what she was supposed to say, or what she should do.
“There, that is their cabin.” She pointed to the little house where her aunt had always lived, and where she had some of her happiest moments with her mom. Only here did she remember her mom smiling. She hated the idea of Larka growing up somewhere else, but it was for the best.
“What are we going to do?” Mak asked.
“Go inside, get them to gather whatever belongings they want to take.” She turned to Mak. “Then you take them to safety, while I talk to my father.”
“I’m not leaving you,” he said.
“It’s for the best, I don’t want him to accuse you of kidnapping me or anything stupid.”
“Tiana. I think it’s better if we all face him. That he sees why you did this.”
She shook her head. “No. What if something happens to Kilma and Larka?”
“Do you really believe your father would hurt them?” Mak asked.
She shook her head. “No, but he wouldn’t help them either.”
“Give him a chance to explain.” Mak placed his hand on her arm. “Please. Clear the air with your family. All your family. Then we can make the best decision about Larka and Kilma.”
She nodded, looking up to where the bright light of a star ship could be seen making the descent through the atmosphere. “I hope you are right.”
“I’m always right.” He leaned forward and kissed her. “Trust me, I’m a bounty hunter.”
She laughed and then looked up, her eyes locked on his. “I don’t know where you came from, but thank you for walking into my life.”
“You need to thank Misha’Ha, she’s the one who sent me.”
“What?”
He shrugged. “I wasn’t looking for you. I was on the trail of a large bounty. I asked her for information, but she sent me to you.”
“Victor Ulha?”
“That’s the one.”
“Then maybe we should go and see this Misha’Ha and thank her.”
“For what? I can’t see your father approving of us, can you? She must have decided I needed to be taught a lesson. Dangling something untouchable in front of my face.”
“You’ve already done plenty of touching,” she said, shocked at her own words.
“Is your father the sort of man who will take my head off with a laser lance in revenge?”
“He married my mom, who was the daughter of a fisherman. He’s not that much of a snob.”
“I suppose he was going to marry you off to a Maraki trader,” Mak said thoughtfully.
She dared herself to say her next words. “Would a Virdian bounty hunter be so much different?”
“Better, from where I’m sitting,” he said, his voice low and sexy as hell.
She blushed and ducked her head, wanting to squirm in her seat. “I don’t want to force you into anything.”
He laughed. “You couldn’t even if you tried. But I’ve been looking for ways to expand my people’s trade routes. This might be a good marriage.”
“So now you want to marry me for my connections?”
“Oh no. For something much more than that.” He slid his hand between her thighs, and pressed his thumb on her clit, making her squirm. “But I’m always looking for the best deal.”
“You are the worst,” she said, kissing him. Then she pulled away. “I have to warn Kilma.”
Chapter Seventeen – Mak
Jumping to the ground, she ran to the cabin, and he followed, not wanting to let her out of his sight. Tiana burst through the door, her breathing rapid. Mak placed a hand on her shoulder, trying to get her to calm down. He had been in enough negotiations to know they all had to keep level heads.
“Tiana!” Kilma exclaimed. “What’s wrong?”
“A ship is coming into land,” she puffed.
“The Maraki are here already?” Kilma asked, turning to look for Larka. “Larka, come quickly.”
“No.” Tiana steadied her voice. “It’s my father’s ship. His own personal ship.”
“Your father is here? On Rilan.” Kilma looked pale. “What does he want?”
“I don’t know. But I want to ask him if you can come and live with us.”
“No.” Kilma said, shaking her head. “Not there. I know you mean well, but it’s not for us.”
“I understand. So if you don’t want to, that’s up to you.” Tiana looked at him, and then said, “M
ak has another idea. A planet called Trealian. There is a woman there, and Mak thinks she might take you in.”
“Would we be safe?” Kilma asked Mak.
“I believe so,” Mak said. “It’s on the outer edges of the sector. We could smuggle you there, you might have to change your names. But we think it would suit you best.”
“We could do that. Change our names.” Kilma said, nodding. “But to leave everything behind…”
“I can take you. Make sure you are safe.” Mak moved back to the door and looked out to where the ship landed, about one click away. “They will be here soon.”
“Then we should go,” Kilma said, gathering up her things.
Mak watched as a rover approached. There were two guards on the outside of it, with lasers that made his weapons look ancient. What he wouldn’t give for something like that…
Maybe her father would give him some new weapons as a wedding gift. But as the rover pulled up, and a man got out, dressed in expensive armor that had never seen a battle, he was struck by just how big a hurdle asking for Tiana’s hand in marriage really was.
Mak moved from the doorway, going out to meet his future father-in-law, wanting to give Tiana some more time alone with Kilma before they met. He also wanted to gauge the king’s mood; going by his expression, it was foul. “You must be the King of Kalisov.” Mak offered the king his hand. “I’m T’Makizomo, of Virdia.”
“I know you are a Virdian. Your height gives you away. A bounty hunter, I presume.” The king looked at Mak’s hand, and then took it, while the guards on the rover aimed their weapons at him. Smiling widely, trying to look relaxed, but knowing the lasers would not be set to stun, he tried not to squeeze the king’s hand too hard. “I’m looking for my daughter. My scouts tell me she was last seen boarding a Virdian ship on Brigal.”
“Guilty as charged,” Mak said. “They are in there.” He tilted his head towards the cabin. “But before you break up the family reunion, I think we need to talk.”
“Do we?” the king said. Mak was unsure if he was amused or annoyed at Mak’s direct talk.
“You see; I know about families. I know about duty, and most of all I know about loyalty.”
“And you think I don’t?” the king questioned, definitely verging on annoyed.
“I think you know better than most people. But that doesn’t mean you know how to deal with it. You have more people to answer to, more to keep happy, and to protect. So I’m going to give you my advice as I see it.” Mak put his very large hand on the king’s shoulder, pressing down just enough to make it uncomfortable. For a non-Virdian, the king was tall, but still a good foot smaller than Mak, both in height and width.
“My guards will shoot you,” the king said evenly.
“I know. But I think you want this resolved, otherwise you would not have come here personally. I also want to believe you want the best for your daughter. She is one fierce lady, and you don’t know what to do with her to keep her safe, and make sure she doesn’t get into any more scrapes like this.”
“You think a lot.”
“Traveling the galaxy gives you time to think.” He smiled. “OK, here goes. Whatever it is between you and Kilma, you sort it out. Tiana lost her mom, and now she feels as if she had to make a choice between her aunt and cousin, and her dad.”
“She made that choice,” the king said bitterly. “She ignored me and ran off.”
“She did. Because you have taught her about duty and loyalty. If a princess can’t express those things for her family, how can she express them for the people on your planet?” Mak nodded. Surely anyone could see the wisdom in his words.
“But sacrifice is also part of being answerable to your people.”
“Sacrifice as a rule doesn’t work for me. You do what you can. And sacrificing a child to make a point or to test loyalty, that is not a good trait in anyone.”
“Especially a king?”
“Hey, I’m not here to judge, and I certainly am not going to accuse the King of Kalisov of anything, when he has two guards pointing their weapons at me.” Mak removed his hand, and the king stepped away from him. “One thing you should know. Larka only got taken because she is related to you by marriage. Now, in my book, that puts the responsibility on you.”
The king looked at him sharply. “Are you sure?”
“Oh yeah. The Maraki were trying to lure Tiana out. It seems they knew you wouldn’t send help, but they also knew Tiana would go. They either have a mole in your court, or they know you better than you know yourself.” With that Mak strolled back to the cabin, the king having to take big strides to keep up.
“As a Virdian, I suppose you are expecting a reward for your trouble.” The king sounded breathless.
Mak shook his head. “This one is on me.” Then he changed his mind. “Actually, there is one thing. You can go in there and make it right for your daughter.”
“You like her?” the king asked.
“A lot,” Mak said, and then stepped inside the cabin, followed by the king. He wasn’t going to discuss his feelings for Tiana with her father until he had talked to Tiana first.
Inside the cabin, Tiana was helping Kilma lift her bags, hefting them onto her shoulders. “Will you speak to my father before you leave?” Tiana asked. “Please, let’s put whatever happened behind us.”
“Tiana, last time we spoke, it was ugly. I know he’s a king, but Jolina was my sister, just as much as she was his wife. I loved her.”
“I know. I also know she wouldn’t want her love, or her death, to come between us.” Tiana hugged her aunt. “Please, for my mom, make peace with my father.”
“I’ll try. But I can’t promise.”
“Thank you,” Tiana said, kissing her cheek. “I know he can be stubborn.”
“As can my daughter,” the King of Kalisov said.
“Father!” Tiana whirled around, and stood staring at Mak and her father.
“Tiana. You have led us quite a chase. I’m going to have to have talk to the star port officers about not giving you a ship on demand in future. Where is it, by the way?”
“In a bog somewhere.” She looked at the ground. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s done. But now we have to clear this mess up.”
“Is that what we are to you, Your Majesty? A mess to be cleared up. Swept under the rug,” Kilma said.
“Aunt Kilma, you promised to try.”
“To try, yes, but I don’t think there is a way forward,” Kilma said, turning her back on the king to begin packing her possessions up again. “Despite the fact we would be free to live our lives here on our home planet, if he hadn’t wed my sister…”
“I am sorry.” The king left it at that. But it was a start, and Mak hoped Kilma would allow herself to let her defenses down and allow peace in.
Kilma packed in silence, and Tiana filled the gap, speaking to her father. “The Maraki ship will be here in the next few hours, that is the only mess you have to clear up. Mak and I are going to take Kilma and Larka somewhere safe.”
“Are you?” Her father stepped forward. “I cannot have you running around the galaxy like this. You are a princess.”
“I understand. And once I’ve done this, I will come back and be a princess.” Her eyes flicked to Mak, full of longing, and he wondered if she was going to be brave enough to make a stand. To tell her father she wanted to be with him. He wouldn’t blame her if she chose not to. “But I want to choose my own husband.”
“Do you?” her father said, looking at her hard, and then flicking his gaze to Mak, who was smiling, with pride. “And what’s brought on this sudden decision? I thought you refused to marry anyone. If I didn’t know you better, I would think someone has been putting ideas in your head.”
“Well, you do know me better.”
“And is there a particular husband you have in mind?”
“There might be. But I have to get to know him a little better first.”
Mak raised his eyebro
w. He liked the idea of getting to know her more than a little better. He also had to admit she was right. He didn’t believe in love at first sight. There was no need to rush into things, although a trade agreement in the near future would be good for his people. It would soften the blow of him telling them he was dating an alien princess.
Chapter Eighteen – Tiana
“Nearly there,” Mak said, as they descended through the atmosphere towards the Trealian surface.
“I’m surprised my father let me come with you,” Tiana said. “I thought for sure he was going to get one of the guards to bundle me aboard his ship and run off back to Kalisov with me.”
“If he did that, I may have been forced to come and rescue you again,” Mak said. She couldn’t miss the undertones in his voice. He was not willing to let her go; their relationship was not yet a promise of marriage or even a life together, but it was a promise of a new start, a step down a path that disappeared into an unknown distance. Which they had chosen to walk together.
“He’s mellowed in his old age. Or his loneliness,” Kilma said.
“But things are settled between you and the king?” Larka asked hopefully.
“Yes, Larka. We spoke for some time. We have agreed that we both loved Jolina, neither more than the other. And that the responsibility of her death lay with a tumor that grew in her brain.”
“A tumor?” Tiana asked, tears springing to her eyes. “I never knew. He never said.”
“No. He didn’t. He didn’t want anyone to know he had his apothecaries slice into her to find the root of her death. He wanted you and the boys to picture her as she was the last time you saw her, beautiful, whole.” Kilma sobbed. “I wish I’d known. I could have helped her, I’m sure.”
“The past is the past, and this is your new future.” Tiana smiled through her tears at her aunt and cousin. “I’m sorry you have had to leave Rilan.”
“From what Mak says, this Misha’Ha can teach me a lot, and I want to pass my knowledge down to Larka.”
“I want to be a healer,” Larka said.
“All we have to do is persuade Misha’Ha it’s a good idea,” Mak said, for once not sounding confident.
“I’m sure you can sweet-talk her,” Tiana said. “And to think, I believed bounty hunters were all brawn, no brains.”
The Princess and her Bounty Hunter: Alien Romance (Fated to the Alien: The Psychic Matchmaker Book 2) Page 9