Korian grimaced and answered, “She has been trained as a spy, and now she knows that Jessica carries my babe.”
He set off at a run with the Phargannan woman huffing along behind him. Zandar caught up to them at the door to the living quarters, and Korian only paused long enough to demand, “Seize Rox’Ana Ful’Tera and take her under armed guard.”
Zandar did not wait for any further instruction and immediately set off across the dining hall to apprehend the noblewoman while Korian and Deedoe rushed down the hallway. They met up with Mikael and Andreus plus two more warriors in the corridor, and the captain announced, “The bathing chambers are all empty, Korian. There is no sign of the women.”
“Men!” Deedoe snarled impatiently. “Nan-Yo is a trained spy. She would have cornered them in a room with limited access. Where is Jessica MacGregor’s bedchamber?”
Korian sprinted down the hallway, his heart in his throat. This couldn’t be happening. The threat had been to him, not his precious thalia. He would sooner give his own life than to have even one hair on her head harmed. He would execute the noblewoman if he didn’t reach Jessica in time to save her and their babe.
**************************
“If it is of any comfort, I find no pleasure in killing you, Jessica MacGregor,” the cold beauty told her as she advanced with the sword aimed for her chest. “Rox’Ana Ful’Tera only sought to rid herself of the king, but when she heard the news this eve that you carried his heir, she offered me double the price to get rid of you, too. With those kind of credits, I can disappear and begin my life anew in another galaxy.”
Jessica’s heart was in her throat and fear for her unborn baby made her teeth chatter. “You will never get out of this compound alive, Nan-Yo. The place is crawling with T’Kalan warriors.”
The woman’s laugh was a mockery. “Foolish human, I was trained for years on how to cover my tracks. During the chaos after your body is found, it will be simple enough to slip up to the king and inject him with a dose of Mamaxon poison. No one will think to look for a shy Sinepaxan female. Instead, my frexing lifemate and his people will be to blame.” The tip of the sword came to rest over Jessica’s heart. “Enough of this talk. I have a mission to complete.”
Before she could press the tip of the sharp sword home, a snarling yowl echoed through the chamber and Jessica’s bimbop leapt from the confines of its bag to sink its sharp fangs into the female’s sword hand. The assassin screamed and floundered back as she tried fruitlessly to free the growling animal from her flesh. Jessica tried to dodge around her to get to the door, but it was no use. The woman slammed her arm into the wall, and Jessica cried out when her beloved pet fell to the ground unconscious and covered in blood.
“Bitch!” the unhinged female screamed, holding her injured hand to her chest. “Your death will be more painful for this trickery.”
Jessica felt frozen to the spot as she watched the woman draw her fist back and swing toward her face. As if on auto-pilot, Jessica blocked her swing with her forearm, circled her arm, and pulled upward to lock the assassin’s elbow in place while she kicked her hard in her stomach. Nan-Yo grunted with pain as the spiked heel of Jessica’s shoe punched a hole in her midriff, and Jessica released her grip on the female when she fell to the floor doubled over in pain. With desperation rolling off of her waves, Jessica scouted around for the dropped sword, but she was too late. Nan-Yo’s bloody fist closed around the hilt and she staggered to her feet while holding her other hand over her stomach to stem the flow of scarlet seeping through her ruined dress. Jessica scrambled backward, and hastily ripped the dagger hairpin from hair to hide in her fist.
“You are all out of tricks, Jessica MacGregor. You and your babe will die by my hand this night,” she hissed, rushing toward her mark.
Before she could ram the blade home, however, the door panel slid open and the room filled with Korian, Mikael, Andreus, Deedoe, and several more warriors. Seeing that her plan had been foiled, the Sinepaxan assassin grabbed Jessica and pulled her in front of her with the sword’s tip resting over her throat. Jessica’s frightened eyes locked on her lover’s and her heart broke at the sheer terror in his pale lavender eyes.
“Drop your weapon, Nan-Yo of Mamaxon. You are surrounded,” Korian ordered, his voice cold and full of fury.
Jessica felt the sword tip dig into her skin and she tightened her grip on the hair pin hidden in her palm. The assassin backed away, forcing Jessica with her, and snarled, “I am not of Mamaxon, and I would sooner die here than to be sent to the prison camps on Calfaxis. If you take one more step forward, King, your precious lifemate will join me.”
Deedoe placed her hand on Korian’s arm in caution. “She speaks the truth, Korian. Do not push her, or they will both perish.”
Jessica felt like ice was running through her veins at her words. She knew Korian would not do anything to further endanger her, and yet, she also knew without a doubt that the desperate female would never concede defeat. She had one chance to escape, and her only hope was the element of surprise.
“Korian, no matter what happens next, just know that I love you,” she called out.
Before he could reply, she brought her hand up and stabbed Nan-Yo in her sword arm with her hair pin and yanked downward. The female assassin screamed in her ear, and she felt a flash of pain on her chest, but she lost no time in freeing herself from the woman’s grip and sprinted toward her lover’s waiting arms. She collapsed against his chest, sobbing with fear, as he ran his hands all over her to ensure she was unhurt while he showered her with desperate kisses.
“That was most foolish of you to take such a chance, thalia, but I thank the stars that you are unharmed,” he breathed into her hair.
Jessica began to feel dizzy from her ordeal and she slumped in Korian’s arms. “She named Rox’Ana Ful’Tera as her employer, Korian. She drugged Mahoney and hurt my bimbop. We have to get them to the medical wing right away.”
“Shh, do not fret, Jessica. Commander Andreus has the assassin contained. Mikael has already called for the medics and they will be here shortly. All will be well,” he soothed her.
Her vision began to grow black at the edges and spots danced before her eyes. “Great. That’s great. Korian, I don’t feel so good.”
He pulled her away from his chest and cursed as he saw the front of both of their chests covered in blood. The last thing she heard before the darkness took her was Korian’s panicked shout of “She has been injured! We need a medic over here!”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Korian held Jessica’s limp hand in his and pressed it to his lips reverently. It had been the longest minutes of his life as he had run after the hovering medi-bed on its way to the medical ward. His only thought had been getting his thalia there as quickly as possible. She was deathly pale and covered in her life’s blood from the wound on her throat and down her chest. Ax’Sandre R’Varsel, who had attended the conference, was summoned from the dining hall and she met him in the ward as the medi-beds were delivered with both Jessica and Mahoney. Knowing that his love would be most distressed about the fate of her beloved companion, he had insisted they bring the animal, as well, and placed an emergency call for the veterinarian to come to the compound to treat the little heroine.
Mahoney was the first to recover. After scanning the contents of the syringe, it took only moments for the Medical Officer to program the corrective treatment device to reverse its effects, and the female warrior awoke within only moments more. After her confusion wore off, she was seized with both panic at seeing her friend lying injured, and fury at herself for failing to protect the sister of her heart. It took her lifemate pulling her into his arms to calm her, and the female warrior shed rare tears of remorse as her mother-in-law worked feverishly over Jessica in order to contain the bleeding. After the scan was completed, Ax’Sandre reported to Korian that the assassin’s blade had nicked her carotid artery; hence the amount of blood that was spilled, but otherwise, the cut was
shallow and easily repaired. She assured the worried king that both Jessica and the baby were just fine and she would recover within a day after the corrective treatment restored her blood count.
Korian ran his knuckle over her pale cheek, and bent to place a kiss on her forehead. Now that he was convinced that his thalia was in good hands, he left Mahoney and two trusted warriors in the medical ward to watch over his sleeping lover, and motioned for Mikael to follow him. The immediate danger to her life had passed, and he was seized with a white-hot fury that would not be denied. As he strode down the corridor, he met Deedoe halfway.
“Delegate Deedoe, gather the Council members and convene in the meeting chamber immediately. Say nothing of what has transpired until I arrive. I will join you there within the hour,” he snapped as she trotted with him to keep up with his long strides.
“Korian! What of Jessica MacGregor and the warrior Mahoney? How do they fare?” she begged him for information.
Korian paused only long enough to answer, “Jessica has sustained a grievous injury, but the medical officer has assured me that she and the babe will recover quickly. Warrior Mahoney has awakened and stands guard over her future queen once more.”
Deedoe exhaled heavily in relief and took off at a fast clip to follow his orders. Before he could deal with the Council and the assassin, he had T’Kalan business to deal with first. Korian and his captain took the lift down to the lower levels and strode toward the holding cells where he knew he would find his prey. Korian placed his hand on the sensor and barely waited for the door panels to slide open before he drew his sword and stalked toward the T’Kalan female sitting in a chair with Zandar’s big palm clamped on her shoulder to keep her in place.
Korian’s face was like a thundercloud as he brought the sharp point of his sword to a rest against the graceful column of her throat. Her ice pink eyes widened in shock and he could hear her swallow thickly before she blustered, “King Korian! What is the meaning of this? How dare you send your slavering vlarneks to accost me in such a way?”
Korian felt a tremor of rage go through him, yet his sword hand remained steady. “How dare I, Rox’Ana Ful’Tera? Even now, with your king ready to run you through with his sword, you still sit in defiance of the law of T’Kala? It is not I that dares too much, traitorous bitch,” he spat.
Fear was visible on her face, but still she floundered for control. “I have no idea what you speak of, Korian Ak’Falin. I demand you release me this instant!”
Korian reluctantly dropped his sword and took a step back before he lost what little control was left to him and sliced her open from neck to stern. He took a deep breath and released it slowly before nodding to Captain Mikael R’Varsel. The warrior captain’s bearded face was a mask of fury as he snarled, “Rox’Ana Ful’Tera, you are accused of treason against the royal crown for conspiring to procure and hire an assassin named Nan-Yo of Mamaxon to murder the Warrior King Korian Ak’Falin. You are further accused of approaching said assassin this night and entreating her to murder in cold blood the human Jessica MacGregor who carries the royal heir to the throne in her womb. How do you answer these charges?”
The noblewoman’s face blanched and sweat began to roll down her face. “I am not guilty of these charges! This is an outrageous travesty of justice, and I will not stand for it! You have no proof of any such thing, and you seek only to pin this on me in order to silence your loudest detractor!”
Korian did not deign to reply to the hysterical woman, and only nodded at Zandar Nic’Omar. The hulking warrior stepped over to the vidscreen on the wall and began to tap a code into the system. Within seconds, the screen was filled with the deleted transmissions from Rox’Ana’s private server. One by one, he touched the pertinent communications that showed her outgoing calls to the assassin where she detailed the job she wanted done, what price she would pay, and where she would send the credits.
The noblewoman’s mouth opened and closed soundlessly as the incriminating evidence was displayed for all in the room to see. Korian finally stepped back forward and his voice was hard and cold when he said, “As Warrior King of T’Kala, I find you guilty of all charges through the gathered evidence and recorded confession of Nan-Yo of Mamaxon. I hereby sentence you to permanent exile and lifetime incarceration within the confines of the prison camps on the planet Calfaxis.” He paused to enjoy the shock and horror reflected on her face. “Should you choose to appeal your sentence with the Council of the Great Alliance, that right is yours. However, I would think very carefully before doing that, Rox’Ana Ful’Tera. While T’Kala does not employ the death sentence, the Council does, and they will not soon forget the embarrassment and shame you have brought upon the Mamaxon delegate with your actions.”
Tears began to streak down the broken woman’s face. “Wait! Please, I beg your mercy on behalf of my child. I am all that she has left of family. Do not take me away from her!”
Korian felt his temper snap and he lowered his face to within an inch of hers and snarled, “Shall I show her the same mercy you granted to my child? Should I hire a killer to murder her as she sleeps nestled in her bed? Do not speak to me of mercy when my future lifemate lies in the medical ward recovering from your assassin’s blade. It is only because she and the babe will yet live that I have not severed your conniving head from your body.”
Rox’Ana covered her face and broke down into noisy wails, but Korian was done with her. Turning to Zandar, he ordered, “Escort the prisoner to the holding cells in P’Hartha until such time as the transport from Calfaxis can arrive to retrieve her.”
Zandar clenched his fist to his heart and nodded sharply. “My pleasure, King Korian. May the stars protect and bless you and the future queen, and the young you have conceived.”
Korian returned the salute before spinning on his heel to exit the room with Mikael hot on his heels. As they made their way back up in the lift, Mikael said, “How do you know that Nan-Yo confessed as to her employer?”
Korian rubbed his face wearily and replied, “Before she lost consciousness, Jessica told me that Nan-Yo named Rox’Ana Ful’Tera as her employer. I am not proud to admit this, but I have Jessica’s room under surveillance. I confess that I used to watch her as she slept so sweetly in her bed, but I ceased monitoring it after our big fight when she left the compound for your home.”
Mikael shrugged his shoulders with indifference. “I did much the same thing when Katsuko was aboard the ship. I am of the opinion that falling in love turns warriors into pubescent younglings with no sense of what is right or wrong. Ah, well. In this case, it has turned out to be for the best. Let us present this evidence of the crime to the Council and await their judgement.”
“I concur. Contact Commander Andreus and have him bring Nan-Yo to the meeting chamber at once. I am curious as to how she will play this out,” Korian ordered.
Mikael gave the command via the communications panel in the lift, and they departed to make their way to the meeting room where the five members of the Council awaited them. When the two warriors strode into the room, the delegates stood to their feet.
“What is the meaning of this, King Korian?” Nidoba demanded, his black eyes flashing. “It is a poor host that interrupts his guests during a meal without explanation.”
Korian’s jaw clenched and he lost his grip on his control. “And it is a poor guest that allows his new wife to nearly kill his host’s intended lifemate and unborn child. I would caution you to silence, Nidoba of Mamaxon, until you have all the facts laid out before you.”
The other delegates erupted into excited babble, but Nidoba’s slate blue skin had paled to cerulean as he collapsed into his seat. The door panel opened behind the king, and Commander Andreus entered the room with Nan-Yo bound at the wrists and supported between himself and another warrior. Her injuries had been field-dressed, but not healed, and she was a ruined wreck of blood and spilled food.
Before he could speak a word, the Sinepaxan assassin cried out, “Nidoba, m
y husband! Help me! I have been attacked and almost killed by the human guest of the king. I only asked for her help when I spilled my plate on my gown, and she lured me to her rooms in order to kill me!”
Deedoe, her emerald green eyes swirling with glowing power, slammed her hand down on the sturdy wooden conference table and yelled, “She lies! I was there when they were found in Jessica MacGregor’s room. Nan-Yo held a sword to the human’s throat and threatened her life.”
Lor-Yan, the Sinepaxan delegate, was trembling with rage. “What say you to that, Nan-Yo Ic Vani? The word of a Phargannan, especially a delegate to the Council, has condemned you. Criminals have been convicted for less by their word.”
Korian held his hand up to gain the attention of everyone in the room. “It is time I tell the tale of this night to all. I ask each of you to hold your peace until such time as I have finished my explanation and provided my evidence.”
When each member of the Council agreed to his terms, Korian, with help from Mikael, explained how Rox’Ana Ful’Tera had used her connections within the Alliance to make contact with the discontent Nan-Yo and hatched a plan to assassinate the king. They used the vidscreen to display the deleted transmissions from the noblewoman’s private account to show her culpability. Deedoe interrupted to explain how she had unwittingly given the noblewoman the surprise news of Korian’s heir during the banquet, and how she had warned Korian that the woman was up to no good. From there, it was as simple as playing the surveillance footage from Jessica’s rooms. Korian’s moods swung from fear, to relief, to pride, and back to fear again as the footage played out. When the recording was done playing, the room was as silent as a tomb.
“I have already passed judgement on Rox’Ana Ful’Tera for her part in commissioning this crime. However, since the accused is the lifemate of a Council member and a native citizen of another, I defer to your judgement in this matter. I am confident that the Council will see justice done for the harm that was inflicted upon my intended lifemate and the unborn king or queen of T’Kala,” Korian announced as he met each of their eyes in turn.
Acting Out Page 18