by Lisa Lace
“Emmy, it would take more than a cave-in to kill me.”
He reached into his pocket, pulling out a small remote control. David’s false face melted away. It must have been a creation of holographic technology. When the disguise disappeared, I saw Morley standing and beaming at me.
Morley was a tall man. He had never revealed his exact age, but I knew he was probably in his sixties. His silver-gray hair was still quite thick, and the bright blue eyes that I had missed so much were dancing. I couldn’t believe he was here. I had wished many times for a moment like this and the opportunity to see him again.
“Morley!” I yelled, throwing myself into his arms. “You’re alive!”
He hugged me tightly and stepped back to look at me. “The last time I saw you, I wasn’t sure if I would ever see you again.”
“They said you were dead.”
“Missing and presumed dead,” he clarified. “They presumed wrong. I had to get away from Abel’s men somehow. When the roof of the cave came crashing down, and I knew I had a back way out, the solution seemed obvious. I couldn’t ask for a better opportunity to fake my death.”
I looked at him in disbelief. “You put me through hell. You know that, right?”
“I’m sorry, dear. It was all for Zelia’s ladle. You know that.” He put his hand on my shoulder. The hint of an apology shone in his eyes.
Ven cleared his throat and spoke in Standard. “Are you going to tell me who this person is, Emmy?” He was trying to keep himself under control.
“Of course. Ven, this is Morley. He’s been hiding from Abel’s men so they couldn’t get any information about Zelia's ladle from him.” I hesitated until Ven started glowering at me. “Morley, this is my husband, Ven.”
Morley’s eyes nearly bugged out of his head. “You told me you weren’t going to get married. You said your work was everything.”
I heard a hint of disappointment in his voice. I wasn’t surprised. I was disappointed in myself.
“It wasn’t on purpose. I was helping out a friend.” I glanced at Ven quickly. I wondered if I would be in trouble when we were alone again, but I didn’t care. Morley was alive! He would fix everything.
“How is this possible?” He gave me a stern look. “I’m sure this story is fascinating.”
“It’s about as interesting as a dead man returning to life. I was running away from Abel’s men. They tracked me to Earth. I went to the spaceport hoping to get a ticket off-planet, but everything was sold out.” I glanced at Ven, but his expression was unreadable. “I met a woman there. A beautiful, tall, thin blonde woman.”
The excessive description was for Ven’s benefit.
“I begged her to let me exchange her ticket.”
“Why would she agree to something like that?”
“Well, I had to sweeten the deal. I offered her the entire 500,000 credits you gave me to pay for the trip back here.”
Ven’s eyebrows drew together. I realized this was the first time I mentioned a payment. Did he think his chosen bride was a saint who would help someone because she was a good person? If that was true, he had been a poor judge of character.
Morley nodded then. “That makes more sense.”
Ven still looked upset. “She wouldn’t help you out of the goodness of her heart without payment?”
I shrugged. “Money makes the world go around. We’re not all independently wealthy. I didn’t think much of it at the time. I could have been trying to swindle her out of her ticket, you know.”
“She didn’t have to take that much. You gave her more than the cost of the ticket.”
I looked at him with compassion. That naive alien must have thought Montana was something special.
“She was Ven’s perfectly chosen woman, but he ended up with me instead.”
“So you just whoever walked off the spaceship instead of the other woman?” I knew Morley was trying not to be judgmental, but he was failing.
“It’s not as bad as it sounds.” I surprised myself by defending Ven. “He needed to get married so he could keep an inheritance from his uncle.”
That was possibly the worst thing I could have said. Morley quietly stared at me. As always, his silence said more than his words.
“I meant what I said when I married Emmy.” Ven said took a step and stood beside me. “I promised I would protect her and take care of her. I’m doing that now, to the best of my ability. I wouldn’t let her come here alone.” He positioned himself so his arm touched mine. He didn’t have the courage to put his arm around me, though I imagined he wanted to. “She wanted to face everything alone.”
Morley nodded. “Emmy can take care of herself.”
“With all due respect, sir, everyone needs some help sometimes.”
There was a pause while we waited for Morley’s evaluation of Ven. We waited in vain. Morley tended to delay his judgment until he had all the information.
“Well, we shall see what will come of it.” His words sounded mild, but I knew there was a challenge behind them.
I looked back and forth between the two men, wondering if they had finished their testosterone show. I had more important things to do.
“You two had better get showered and dressed. You’ve got a ball to attend,” Morley said, patting me on the back.
“I do?”
“It’s time to play Cinderella, Emmy.” Morley had a grin on his face. I didn’t know what he had in mind, but I had a feeling I wasn’t going to like it.
We were walking quickly through the streets. I tried not to stumble in the lovely but impractical shoes Morley insisted I wear. Ven was parking the hovercraft as close as he could in case we needed to leave in a hurry.
“When I got to the cave and saw the mirror and the riddle, they looked familiar. I noticed they were almost identical to the ones at City Hall. A clue to Zelia’s ladle has to be with the mirror. The mirror and the riddle are connected somehow. We just have to figure it out.”
I nodded again. We had been over this three times already. I tried to change the subject, knowing he was getting anxious because he couldn’t help himself.
“The festival of the Stone Goddess lasts for a week. We’re lucky we arrived in time for the final day of celebrations,” I said.
Morley nodded. “It’s fortunate, but there's no such thing as fate. Everything happens for a reason.”
“Fate has definitely taken a hand in all this,” I said, thinking about Ven.
“Do you love him?” Morley sounded more curious than anything.
“No,” I said. “Of course not.”
My mind drifted back to our kiss. But that was lust, not love.
“Methinks the lady doth protest too much.”
“Not Shakespeare. It was bad enough you made me read it when I was learning English. I shouldn’t be subjected to it now. Just because everyone says he’s good doesn't make him good.”
“The Bard is one of Earth’s greatest artists, and you should have more respect for his work. Emmy, do you have feelings for this man? He's an alien, for heaven’s sake. Why would you marry him?”
“I told you the truth, Morley. I needed to get away from Abel’s men at the time, so I said I would go with him. When I learned his entire tale of woe, I felt bad because I had stolen his bride away from him. I was trying to fix a mistake.”
I looked away from Morley’s gaze quickly, worried that he might see something concealed in my heart. I didn’t love Ven, so I didn’t think he would discover a hidden secret. But Morley was always able to penetrate my thoughts, and I wanted some privacy right now.
“I’m worried about you, Emmy. Marriage isn’t something to be taken lightly.”
“I’m giving the marriage the full consideration it deserves.”
Morley paused for a moment, then blurted out a thought. “Perhaps Ven should not be part of our search. How much do we know about him? Can he be trusted with these secrets?”
I bristled at the thought. “Ven saved my life at gre
at personal risk. He left a comfortable home and came with me. We can trust him.” I was feeling indignant.
“That speaks of a strong commitment,” Morley observed. “In fact, it’s a surprising amount of effort from one stranger to another.”
“We’re not strangers.”
“Are you sure?”
“We’re husband and wife.”
“In all ways?” he whispered. He wanted to know if I had slept with Ven.
“I don’t think that’s any of your business. I trust him, Morley. You will too.”
“Very well. I will defer to your judgment, but I will form my opinion of the young man and whether he is good enough for you.”
I smiled at him and he kissed me on the cheek.
“Now it’s time for Cinderella to go to the ball.”
“Do I have to, Morley? Isn’t there another way to get in?”
“Not during the festival of the Stone Goddess. You know how these people are. When everyone is drunk and exhausted from their reveling, you will have an opportunity to slip away. The mirror is the key to the ladle. Tonight we’re counting on you and your brain.”
“Okay.” I suddenly felt nervous. “Be ready in case I need any help.”
“Of course I’ll be prepared, but I don’t think you’ll need to contact me.”
I huffed out my breath, feeling more anxious than ever.
“You can do this, Emmy. I have great faith in you.”
“Are you sure you can’t come with me?”
“The scanners would see right through my holographic face. Morley must remain dead. You see that, don’t you? Once the truth came out, Abel would know about it immediately.”
“I guess you’re right, but I wish things were different. We could be partners again.”
“Perhaps it’s time for you to get a new partner,” he said under his breath. Ven walked up after parking the hovercraft. I stared at the sight of him impeccably dressed in formal attire. He looked unbelievably handsome. My heart started to pound in my chest. Ven walked toward me like a magnet was pulling him. With a visible effort, he turned his head and greeted Morley, then returned his gaze to my face.
“You look beautiful.” His eyes locked onto mine.
“So do you.” I felt tongue-tied and wished I could think of something more interesting to say.
“I’ll let you two get to work,” Morley said. He had a smile on his face that went completely over my head. I was flabbergasted by Ven’s appearance. “Contact me if you have any emergencies.”
Ven held out his arm to me. I took it, and my pulse raced. I had never felt this way before. It was like I might float away at any moment.
“Are you ready?” He flashed a smile that made my body perk up and take notice.
“I am if you are.” I was ready for anything.
He led me to the front of the building where destiny waited for us.
Chapter Sixteen
VEN
I glided into the large ballroom after we passed through security, feeling like my feet were barely touching the floor. The way Emmy had looked before we entered the room dramatically affected me. My heart was still pounding from the heat in her eyes.
She came off like a dream, wearing a long dress that swept the floor. The bodice was tight around her chest, putting her large breasts on display. The rest of the dress curved over her sensual hips on its way to the ground. She was turning me on so much that I had to focus my attention elsewhere so I wouldn’t embarrass myself.
I had never been attracted to a curvy woman before. The tall, slender women from my dating history were usually thin. No hips, no butts, and small breasts. I had slept with plenty and enjoyed every moment.
But now that I had Emmy on my arm, I was beginning to wonder what I had ever seen in those types of women in the first place. The dress hugged her luscious curves in a way I didn’t know I desired until I saw it. I wasn’t the only one who noticed. She was turning male heads all over the place as we walked through the packed room.
The atmosphere was romantic. Music filled the dimly-lit ballroom. People held drink glasses as big as bowls and drained them as quickly as possible. Lavish furnishings and luxurious decor packed every corner.
She stopped before an ancient stone wheel on display in the main party room.
“Do you know the history of this object too?”
Emmy barely heard me. She looked entranced and put her hand on the glass case as if she wanted to touch the smooth stone. “It’s a depiction of the Stone Goddess. She’s always shown as a wheel that has no beginning and no end.”
I wasn't impressed.
She read a placard describing the artifact. “The Stone Goddess leaves no survivors. I’m not sure what it means, but I bet we get a chance to find out.” She gave me a dazzling smile. “The Stone Goddess is tomorrow’s problem. We should dance now.” She reached out her hand and pulled me onto the dance floor.
“We’ll be able to see more this way,” she whispered. “Move me around the room.”
I was happy to hold her in my arms. I took her hand, lowering my arm around her waist. When I pulled her body next to me, I knew I didn’t want a wealthy but boring life any longer. It had been fun for a while, and nice having anything I wanted. But that life was ultimately meaningless. I wanted something and someone more. The person I wanted was in my arms right now. I glanced down at Emmy, who was dazzled either by the opulence or my proximity.
“Emmy.” I wasn’t sure how to express the words in my heart.
“Yes?” Her voice sounded strangled. I wondered again if she was affected by my presence as I was by hers. She had enjoyed our stolen kiss on the spaceship, but I told her we were going to remain friends.
“Do you remember what I said after we kissed?” Her breathing quickened.
“Of course. Our relationship will be strictly platonic. If I wanted you...” She hesitated, her skin turning a delicate pink as her voice dropped lower. “...in my bed, I would have to make the first move. Why? Do you want me to change my mind?”
“I’m just making sure you remembered.”
She looked troubled by my words, but I had a feeling that she was getting to the point where her desire for me would outweigh her objections. She was holding onto her ideals because she was scared.
To be honest, she wasn’t the only one. The possibility of falling in love with Emmy was disturbing. I wasn’t ready for the level of truth required in such a relationship.
But whenever I stared into Emmy’s soft brown eyes, I knew I couldn’t simply let her go, either.
Wasn’t I a brave man? A soldier? If I could risk my life in battle, why couldn’t I risk my heart with an Earth woman? Part of me knew an authentic relationship with Emmy would be more difficult than putting my life on the line. If I made a mistake in battle, at least I was dead and my problems were over.
Her body moved to the music, shifting against mine. I wondered what it would feel like if she moved underneath me as I buried myself into her body.
“What are you thinking?” she whispered. We were dancing close enough for me to feel her nipples against my chest.
I whispered into her ear, making her shiver. “If I told you, it wouldn’t be considered polite conversation.”
“Where would it be considered polite conversation?” I knew she was out of her depth.
“You’ll have to come to my bed if you want to find out.”
Maybe she wasn’t out of her depth. She ground her body closer to me, making me draw in a quick breath.
“Don’t make suggestions if you’re not prepared to follow up on them.” She put her cheek on my shoulder, but not before I saw her blush.
“I mean it. See me tonight and find out how much.”
I heard her swallow, and she shuddered. I smiled in satisfaction. Maybe I would have a midnight visitor, or maybe I wouldn’t, but I knew she was interested. It was only a matter of time before she succumbed to the pull between us.
Would she realize we were
good together? We hadn’t had much time, but there was something about us that instantly clicked. I wondered if fate brought us one another.
“I thought your type was tall, blonde, and skinny.” She lifted her head to look me in the eyes. Would I never live that down?
“That was long ago when I was young and dumb. I’ve changed my type since then.”
“Oh?” I heard a spark in her voice. “And what’s your type now?”
“Short, curvy, and feisty.” I lowered my voice so only she could hear me. “With breasts I could get lost in.”
“Stop.” She cut me off, and I wondered if I had offended her. When I looked down at her face, I realized she had seen something.
“Look over there.” She gestured with her finger. I looked where she was pointing, but didn’t see anything important enough to interrupt our sexy banter. Emmy’s eyes looked focused, though, and the time for joking had passed.
“That mirror is critical. Let’s go check it out.”
I strained my neck, but I could barely see it from the ballroom. “Lead on, my lady.” I gestured with my hand.
“Don’t call me that.” Emmy led me across the crowded room. “I’m not a lady.”
“Maybe not, but you’re going to be mine.”
She didn’t answer me. I wondered if she had heard me amidst all the noise. I liked the thought of possessing her, but I knew that would come with other problems. If that happened, she would own part of me as well. There was no way for me to gain her heart without losing mine.
“I don’t belong to anyone.”
She did hear me. I couldn’t argue with her, but I wanted to.
It was easy for us to drift off down the hall, ending up in front of the mirror. A volatile mass of dancing and drinking bodies filled the main room. It seemed like the festival of the Stone Goddess celebrated the blessing of Heralla with spirits. The main event consisted of consuming as much alcohol as possible using glasses the size of soup bowls.
People were already stumbling and falling over each other. By morning, the floor would be littered with hungover bodies and smell like sex.
“I think this mirror is over a thousand years old.”