Kingdom Come

by Devi Mara

  “In a hurry, human?” Caern asked, derision in his tone and expression.

  She narrowed her eyes. “Thought you may be eager to get started.”

  He obviously did not believe her, but he followed her to the same black sedan and sat beside her quietly as the driver took them to an unknown location. She had simply told him to take them somewhere touristy. Five minutes later, the car stopped outside a building. She could see the river just past it.

  “The ferry,” the driver said.

  He expected her to go on a boat with Caern. She would not put it past the man to shove her overboard. Setting her face in a polite mask, she nodded to the driver when he opened the door.

  “Thank you.”

  She looked around while Caern exited the car. She could see the signs for three embassies from where she stood. It seemed like a bad idea to allow the man too close to a foreign government. He seemed like the type to cause trouble. She gave him a tight smile and led the way toward the river.

  The wide pedestrian walkway led through a shopping mall and she could not help slowing down when they passed a seafood restaurant. The oatmeal was not going to stay with her long. She steadfastly focused straight ahead and walked over to the booth for riverboat tours, only to mentally groan. The next ferry did not leave for an hour.

  “It seems we will need to occupy ourselves.”

  She jumped at the sound of Caern’s voice next to her ear. It was on the tip of her tongue to scream at him to get away from her. She took a deep breath to calm herself and pasted on a polite smile.

  “Would you care for an early lunch?”

  He glanced around and his eyes landed on the same restaurant she had been eyeing earlier. She did not like the look in his eyes when he turned back to her.

  “My appetite lies elsewhere.”

  She was sure she had never disliked someone so much in her life.

  “I think I’ll go grab something. Will you be here?” She walked away without waiting for him to answer.

  She told herself her rude behavior was excused in this situation. She stepped in the large, brightly lit restaurant and was immediately led to a table near the window. She had just picked up her menu when Caern sat across from her. She ground her teeth.

  “I changed my mind,” he said, picking up the other menu.

  She could feel his eyes on her. “How nice.”

  They did not speak until the waiter came by to collect their orders. Once the man left, Caern focused his full attention on her. She did not look away from the window until it became uncomfortable to ignore him any longer. She gave him a bland look.

  “Yes?”

  “You do not like me,” Caern said pointblank.

  She took a sip of her water and remained silent.

  “You smell strongly of Ghadrikan,” he said a few minutes later.

  She choked on her water. Coughing, she narrowed her eyes at him. “Excuse me?” She noticed his human face took nothing away from his predatory stare.

  “I said-”

  “I heard you,” she cut him off.

  She started to say something more and thought better of it. She could not afford to lose her temper or her job. The return of the waiter saved her from apologizing. She started on her food before Caern could draw her into conversation. When she finished, she lay her fork across her plate and glanced over at him.

  He was eating crab legs. Her eyes went wide when she realized what he had been quietly crunching. He was eating the shell. She quickly glanced around to see if anyone else had noticed. Aside from a disgruntled looking elderly couple, no one seemed to be paying them any attention.

  “You’re supposed to remove the shell,” she said under her breath.

  His eyes rose from his plate to meet hers, as he brought the crab leg to his mouth. He slowly opened his mouth, flashing his razor sharp teeth, and crunched into the shell.

  …

  He sat in the family dining room of the palace, sipping strong Ghadrikan asatta from a ceremonial goblet. His mother sat across from him, humor in her gaze. She had not said a word when he returned from Earth and immediately raided the liquor stores. She simply watched him pour their priceless three hundred year old asatta in a goblet older than the palace and went back to polishing her favorite dagger.

  “How went the hunting trip, Your Majesty?” Limek asked as he strode into the room behind his mate.

  Konani’s gaze settled on him heavily and she raised an eyebrow when her eyes caught on the blood under his fingernails.

  “Well, it would seem,” she murmured.

  Edric took a long drink. “She killed an urbat.”

  His mother paused in her polishing to look up at him. Her lips twitched.

  “How interesting.”

  Konani drifted closer, her serious face alight with interest. “How?”

  He started to answer when Nitya strolled into the room engaged in a quiet conversation with Desta. The dark-skinned woman was heavily armed, as she preferred to be when on their home planet. Her dark gaze moved from the blonde at her side to fasten on him. A teasing glint entered her eyes.

  “My mate tells me you came back to the palace bloody,” she said smoothly.

  She nodded to Nitya and the two woman moved toward the table. The four women watched him closely.

  “An urbat interrupted our hunt. Abby killed it.”

  Konani dropped into a chair, the other two woman quickly following suit. He glanced from their eager faces to his mother’s amused interest.

  “What weapon did she use? The dagger?” Desta flashed a fierce smile at the thought.

  He could not help imaging Abby among the group of women. The serious Konani, the fierce Desta, the cunning Nitya, and his mother, their warrior queen. His Abby would be the crowning jewel of the group. The picture was so clear it was painful to remember she was out of his reach on Earth. He drained his goblet.

  “The bow you designed.”

  Desta preened. “She was pleased with it?”

  He nodded. “Only two arrows to take down a fully grown male urbat.” He caught his mother’s raised eyebrows from the corner of his eye. “She was magnificent.”

  “A fine arammu,” Queen Loreet said. She stood and slid her dagger into its sheath on her hip. “So, how do you intend to win her?”

  It was the same question he had pondered since the moment he first saw her image and felt the pull of the bond. He had yet to come up with anything worthy of her. The dagger was the best he had found.

  “A living place?” Nitya asked.

  Konani shook her head. “She would have to abandon it when she became His Highness’ arammu. Perhaps, a vehicle.”

  Edric considered it. She seemed to be at the mercy of others for her transportation. He wondered if she would consider a car to be a useful gift. He frowned.

  “Weaponry,” Desta said with a decisive nod.

  He looked at each woman in turn. None of the ideas were quite right. He turned to his mother to see her smiling a secret smile.

  “What does she favor?”

  His mind immediately went to their conversations. One moment in particular. His lips slowly curved into a smile.

  “You are a fountain of wisdom, my queen.”

  She gave him a small nod. “Indeed.”

  He bowed deeply, before turning to the women of his guard. “Gibil Konani, Gibil Nitya, Gibil Desta, Limek,” he said, nodding to guard in turn.

  They bowed. “Your Majesty.”

  He took his leave, heading straight to the groundkeeper’s quarters. The man would be awake, even at such a late hour. As he crossed the center courtyard, Edric glanced up at the second of three moons. From their position, he knew it would be the early hours of morning on Earth.

  T’han answered after the third knock, looking rumpled but wide awake. He smiled brightly, even as he fruitlessly tried to flatten his silver hair.

  “Your Majesty.” He bowed. “To what do I owe this pleasure?”

  “I have a
request for you. It is of utmost importance.”

  He nodded. “I’ll just get Adnan to watch the new blooms. One moment, please.”

  Edric waited in the open doorway, while the older man scurried down the hallway and ducked out of sight. Moments later, he returned with five other members of the horticultural team. They looked less than pleased to be awake until they caught sight of him.

  “Your Majesty!”

  He nodded to each of them, three men and two women, before he pinned T’han with a serious gaze.

  “I need your proficiency with Earth flora.” At the man’s interested look, he elaborated. “We are planting a garden for my future arammu.”

  He paused and basked in the warmth he felt when referring to Abby as his mate. Before her visit, he had been unsure whether she would accept him. But in a matter of hours, she had acknowledged him as worthy of her, accepted his first courting gift, and showed both strength and interest.

  “What type, Your Majesty?” T’han’s question pulled him from his thoughts.

  He smiled slightly. “My lady favors lilies.” He saw the others smile from the corner of his eye.

  “We have some star lilies in the nursery,” Aditi said thoughtfully.

  He glanced at the petite brunette. “All varieties, both Ghadrikan and Earthian.”

  She nodded and gestured for two of the men to follow her down the hallway that lead to the gardens behind the palace. T’han smiled brightly once they were out of sight.

  “They can meet us at the location.” He paused. “I assume you intend it to be a surprise for Gibil Abigail.”

  He gave the man a curt nod. “I do.”

  “Where shall I tell Aditi to meet us?” T’han asked, referring to his young apprentice.

  “Gibil Abigail’s dwelling.”

  When they reached Earth, the sky in the east was golden with the first light of day. T’han and his team glanced around the empty parking lot in fascination. Edric was not sure if he was relieved that Abby had already left for the day or upset that he would not be able to see her. He mentally shook himself and focused on the task at hand.

  “I will speak to the owner,” he tossed over his shoulder.

  T’han was already directing his team toward the grassy area between Abby’s building and the edge of the parking lot.

  It was not difficult to find the manager of the buildings. The portly man opened the door with a towel around his neck, still wiping excess shaving cream from his face. His sour expression turned into mild interest when he saw Edric standing in the doorway, still dressed in Ghadrikan robes embossed with the royal seal.

  His watery gaze gave Edric a quick once over and he stood up straighter. “What can I do for you, sir?”

  Edric did not bother to correct the title. “I would like to buy a piece of your property.”

  The man’s eyes shifted past him to the buildings beyond. “Which part?” he asked cautiously.

  “The area in front of that building,” he said smoothly, pointing to Abby’s apartment.

  “Why?”

  Why, indeed. Edric pinned him with a hard stare. “Yes or no?”

  “How much?”

  Edric almost smiled. It was too easy. “I’ll let you set the price. I need an answer now, as I have plans for the space.”

  The man cleared his throat awkwardly, but nodded. “Fifteen hundred.”

  He would have paid fifteen thousand, but he made a show of considering the price. After a moment, he nodded. “Done.”

  He left the man standing in the doorway in his bedclothes and returned to T’han’s side. “It has been arranged.”

  T’han nodded. He gestured to Aditi, who had arrived while he was absent. “My honored apprentice has brought Star Lilies and Gisnu Lilies from the nursery, as well as several varieties grown in Gibil Abigail’s home state.”

  Edric smiled at his thoroughness. “She will be pleased.”

  It took five hours to outline and plant the flower garden. Edric ignored T’han’s surprised gasp when he rolled up his sleeves and began planting alongside his grounds team. It was warm and humid as the day went on and by the time the sun was directly overhead, his robes were sticking to his sweaty back.

  Finally, it was done. The garden was a rainbow of colors. Pink, yellow, orange, blue, lilies of every size and variety. He was particularly pleased with the tiger lilies he had planted in the right corner closest to the building. He hoped the hardy, but beautiful flower would appeal to Abby. He was lead to believe they grew wild in her home state.

  When the black vehicle pulled up in front Abby’s apartment, they had just packed up. T’han and his team were on the way back to Ghadrik and only Edric and Aditi remained. She was standing at his side looking over the garden with narrowed eyes, clearly searching for anything out of place. It was common knowledge that a courting gift had to be perfect.

  She had just raised her head to smile at him when the back door of the car opened and Abby stumbled out. He could not help the smile that curved his lips, but she was definitely not smiling. Her gaze moved from the car to his pleased expression, before fastening on Aditi. Her eyes narrowed.

  She raised her head, still staring at the woman at his side, and stalked toward them. He was not sure what to make of her thunderous expression. He thought she would be pleased with the garden, but she had yet to look at it. As she came to stop in front of them, he recognized the emotion in her beautiful eyes. Possessiveness. He took a step away from Aditi and closer to Abby. Surely, she had to know he had no interest in another.

  She gave him a barely there smile. “Your Highness. How nice to see you, again. And who is this?” Her eyes stayed on the other woman.

  He noticed Aditi putting more space between them, obviously recognizing the warning in Abby’s tone.

  “Aditi is the apprentice to the royal groundskeeper,” he answered, taking another step toward her.

  Her eyes flicked to him. “Oh?”

  The way her body radiated dominance made it difficult for him to keep his hands at his sides. “She was part of the team who planted this garden.”

  She seemed to notice the flowers all at once. Her eyes widened in shocked pleasure.

  “Lilies,” she breathed.

  The hours of labor were worth it to see her face glow with happiness. Smiling widely, she wandered past him to look over the wide variety of blooms.

  “There’s so many,” she murmured. “How did you-” she broke off and turned to face him. “Why?”

  He took in her posture and expression and decided she was pleasantly surprised rather than suspicious. Good.

  “You like lilies.” It was not the whole truth, but he was not sure how she would react to the knowledge that he was courting her.

  Her mouth opened and closed twice before she looked away from him to scan the garden. “So, you…”

  “Do you like it?”

  She huffed a laugh. “Like it? It’s the most beautiful thing anyone has ever done for me.”

  He intended to do far more. He would fill her life with beautiful moments, until she forgot what it was like before him. She suddenly met his gaze and he froze, wondering if he said his thoughts aloud. He let out a small sigh when she simply smiled.

  “Thank you, Edric.” As always, the sound of his name on her lips made him tingle pleasantly.

  “My pleasure.”

  She cocked her head to the side. “Can I hug you?”

  He choked at the question. He was not sure he could have her so close and keep his composure. After a moment, he braced himself and nodded. She took two large steps and slid her arms around his waist. It was not a passionate embrace, but the feel of her in his arms did strange things to his insides.

  He ducked his head to press his face into her hair. Beneath the generic apple scent of her shampoo was something fresh and warm and strictly Abby. He inhaled deeply to memorize the scent and had to bite back a growl of pleasure. Her soft body fit against his perfectly, as if she were always mea
nt to be in his arms. He let his fingertips brush the strands of hair that escaped her braid.

  Too soon, she took a step back and looked up at him. “Thank you. Really.”

  She was close enough to kiss. The thought took root in his mind and would not let go. It was only the sound of an approaching car that allowed him to gain control of himself before he ravished her. He swallowed hard and watched her turn to face the parking lot. Her lips turned up into a smile when a scowling dark-skinned woman emerged from the backseat of the vehicle.

  “Hey, Candace,” she called.

  The woman looked over at her and raised her eyebrows. “I’m surprised you survived the day.”

  With that cryptic statement she turned back to the car to speak to the driver. Edric frowned. He looked down at Abby’s pinched expression and decided to save the questions for another time. She glanced at him from the corner of her eye and visibly relaxed when she realized he was not going to interrogate her.

  He looked back at the other woman to see her examining them as she walked toward the building. Her large, dark eyes moved from his proximity to Abby, to the silent Aditi, and finally the new garden. Her eyes widened, then narrowed. There was something vaguely familiar about her.

  She stopped a few feet in front of Abby and gave her a small smile, before she gave him a polite nod.

  “Your Highness.”

  He wondered at the hint of humor in her tone. “A pleasure to meet you, Ms…”

  “Johnson.” He noticed she made no offer for him to call her by her first name.

  “A pleasure, Ms. Johnson.”

  She simply nodded and glanced at Aditi. She raised one eyebrow. “Nice garden.”

  Aditi blinked in surprise beside him. “Thank you.”

  He noticed Abby watching the interaction. He was pleased to notice the edge of danger was no longer in her eyes when she looked at the smaller woman. After acknowledging the gardener, Candace turned her head to pin him with an unreadable look.

  “Lilies,” she said.

  As it was not a question, he did not answer. Again, he saw a flash of amusement in her dark eyes. She turned back to Abby and sighed.

  “I’m ordering in tonight.” With that, she walked past them to the door on the left side of the building.