Awakening Defiance: (The Saoirse Saga Book 2)

by Teagan Kearney

  When he slid his arm under hers and around her waist and pulled her to him, curling his body around hers, she tried not to react but couldn’t help herself. She kicked his shin hard with her heel.

  “Ow!” He let go of her, pushed, and she found herself on her hands and knees on the floor, shoved out of her bed. “What did you do that for?” She glowered at him, her fists knotted in the sheet and her gaze skittering around the room. “What are you doing here?” Her voice rose.

  “Shh. There’s no need to shout. I couldn’t sleep. I’m worried about you.”

  “Well, don’t be. I was sleeping peacefully before you arrived, and you didn’t have to get into bed with me to discover that.” A worrying thought flashed through her brain. “You trust the Chenjerai, don’t you?”

  “Implicitly. With my life. Are you always ungrateful and obnoxious to those who care for you?” He stretched across the bed, grabbed the sheet, and yanked it from under her.

  “Stop it!” The abruptness of his action loosened her hold, and she scrabbled to catch hold of the sheet as it slid from under her.

  Rial gave a final swift jerk. “My sheet, my bed.”

  “This is my bed and my quarters. Yours are through there.” She gestured in the general direction of the door. “You said—no, you vowed—I could decide the pace of this relationship, and you’ve broken your promise, again, which shows how dishonorable you are. I’ll fight you every inch of the way.”

  “I own everything in the palace, therefore this bed is mine, too.”

  She stamped her way out of the bedroom, disappearing into the living room.

  “Don’t forget the guards in case you’re thinking of a midnight stroll.”

  She threw a long string of curse words at him, ignored his mocking laughter, and flung herself down on the couch. Sleeping here was fine with her.

  Chapter Seven: The Kaudagan

  Kia groaned as a loud knocking woke her. She heard Rial’s footsteps as he came out of the bedroom, and his subdued murmurs to whoever was at the door. Ignoring the crick in her neck, she massaged her cramped legs, feeling very crabby after sleeping crunched up on the couch.

  “This is for you.” He tossed her a green holdall.

  She snatched it out of the air just before it smacked her in the head.

  “Did you sleep well?” He stretched and smirked when he caught her looking at him. “Like what you see?”

  “No comment.” Even the threat of an imminent attack by his pack of dragoi hounds wouldn’t make her admit she did like the way he looked. What woman wouldn't be attracted by his charm and good looks? What man didn’t bow to his aura of power? Wasn't he genetically engineered to appeal? What a shame that the empire and its trappings, of which he was an essential part, filled her with loathing.

  “You’ve got fifteen minutes to pack your uniforms, grab something to eat, and be out at the landing field ready to leave,” he threw over his shoulder at her as he disappeared into the passageway to his own quarters. “Hurry up or you’ll be late.”

  The shuttle trip couldn’t have been more different than when she left Emankora. Seated in padded comfort, earbuds muting the engine as they took off, she pinched herself in excitement at the thought that, even if nothing was the same, she was returning to her home planet.

  Rial’s flagship, the Kadaugan, was another eye-opener for Kia. She expected nothing less than the best, yet the sleek design, combined with the latest lethal weaponry on a ship that was the epitome of functional luxury, reinforced the fact that she moved in circles she’d barely been aware existed. She breathed in deeply, relieved the air possessed less of the metallic tang than Jahanamu’s mix of recycled and oxygen-generated atmosphere and left no residue on her tongue.

  Shaba gave her a quick tour, and not a single cubic inch of the spotless silver and white interior was wasted. Well protected on the lower level in the center of the ship, the command center controlled communications, weapons, contained the ship’s flight deck, and was a model of economy and purpose. A fully equipped medical unit, with a stasis chamber in case of life-threatening injury, was to the right, and Rial’s spacious cabin was on the left.

  The upper floor contained twenty-three cabins—one for each of the nineteen Chenjerai, and three slightly larger ones for Nagavi, Cheydii, and Annen. One room remained empty. They would choose Jalux’s replacement after they returned. No one mentioned the missing guard, considered a traitor to Rial, and it was as if he’d never existed. Also included on the upper floor was a workout space big enough for sparring, and a fair-sized room that doubled as a mess and communal area, with a large vidscreen on one wall, and a small kitchen off to the side.

  Kia doubted the space rations could replace the meals she’d been enjoying recently, but they would certainly be an improvement on the gruel she’d eaten in the mines.

  Once out of the Xarunta star system, they had a five-day flight to the wormhole that would bring them nearest to Emankora. Once they exited the wormhole, twelve more days and they’d arrive at the planet itself.

  Nagavi assigned specific duties to everyone according to the different skills they possessed, issued duty rotas, scheduled fitness sessions, and made sure they had study and free time.

  Kia was satisfied to hear her allocated duty was on weapons maintenance.

  Rial piloted, as he did every aircraft he flew in, and supervised the command center and flight deck.

  Kia liked the cozy womblike cabin she’d been assigned, and unpacked her things in a few minutes. She wasn’t that foolish to think she would escape Rial’s attention, but hopefully, he wouldn’t be popping in at all hours of the night. Becoming used to life on the flagship wasn't a problem—she’d experienced many changes over the last year, this was simply another. She had no memory of leaving Jahanamu, consequently, her one experience was the transport ship from Emankora to the asteroid, and that bore no resemblance to this trip.

  She didn’t see much of Rial for a day or two. Since she’d witnessed him shoot Jalux, she focused on two things: keeping her fear of him in check, as her imagination offered too many unnerving scenarios featuring her demise at his hands whenever her mind strayed back to that scene; and responding as little as possible to any comments or conversations he initiated.

  As they followed the course that would take them to the wormhole, Rial spent his days in the command center, while Kia worked alongside Shaba checking weapons. She spent her practice sessions learning knife attack and defense techniques, or in the communal room studying the Nadil-Kuradi Empire’s history. She would never admit it, certainly not to Rial, but she found the account fascinating and suppressed the constant impulse to ask him questions or explain the details of some of the more complicated episodes to her.

  On the third evening—they kept to Xaruntian rotation—Rial requested her company after dinner.

  She’d suspected he wouldn’t leave her to her own devices for long. A pity as she was getting the hang of the nightly game of karidochi, a complicated card game, but not enough to gamble like her peers, and enjoyed the company.

  Rial directed her to his suite. “In here is more private.” His voice was flat, giving nothing away.

  She gave a mental sigh. Goddess, help me, please. She looked around the room which was four times the size of her tiny bunkroom, with a large double bed—naturally—a small gray couch, a desk, and chair.

  “Please, sit down.” Did he sound nervous?

  “Is that an order?”

  “You’re determined to make this as difficult as possible, aren’t you? And no, it’s a request. Would you care for a drink?”

  “I thought alcohol wasn’t allowed on space—”

  “It isn’t, but…”. He slid open a section of the wall closet, removed a couple of small blue plascups and a bottle of burgundy liquor. “Sit.”

  “You drink a lot, don’t you?”

  “To start with, the nanobots limit the effects making it a pleasant experience, and every culture has its intoxicants
. What do they use on Emankora?”

  “We have everything. There’s alcohol, various hallucinogenic plants, powders, both natural and chemical, which offer an increase or decrease in metabolism along with various mood-altering drugs. We are prudish in some areas, but not when it comes to intoxicants. Srilao practitioners make a vow not to indulge, and I never touched alcohol before you introduced me to it.”

  “Ah, the degenerate conquerors, eh?”

  “I didn’t mean…” She accepted the cup and shifted along the couch as he made himself comfortable beside her.

  “Here’s to us.” He touched his cup to hers and sipped his drink.

  Kia was grateful the reddish-purple liquor was sweet and strong; she needed it. He was being too polite and proper, and the atmosphere between them was chafing her nerves. Better get it over and done with. “What did you wish to discuss?”

  “I desire to enjoy your company, Kia. Is that strange? You’re my consort and we’ve seen little of each other since we left Xarunta.” His voice was honey smooth.

  He was making an effort to be nice. It had been easy to hate him when she thought he’d ordered her family’s murder, but the situation had changed. This was a new and different game, and when he was kind, her determination to follow her own path became fuzzy around the edges. “I suppose not.”

  He swirled his cup. “You suppose? That’s a start, but there is, however, a matter we must discuss.”

  Of course, there was. Rial always had a motive for everything he did. She shot him a sideways glance, but he was swirling his cup, watching the burgundy liquid spin around. She closed her eyes. Goddess, Goddess, please take him away. But the Goddess was busy, and Rial stayed right where he was.

  “Nagavi informs me the Chenjerai are placing bets.”

  Bets? “Yes, I know.”

  “You do?”

  “They do it each evening when they play cards.”

  “Ah.” A pause. “No, this is a different bet.”

  For galaxy’s sake, could he get this over and done with? His lips thinned as his gaze met hers. Her stomach dropped.

  “They are betting on whose bed you will favor next.”

  She stared at him, aware her mouth was hanging open. She sputtered, but no actual words came out.

  “As you are not sleeping here, they are assuming you are no longer my consort. They think you are one of them. But you are not, Kia. You remain my consort, and you must behave accordingly. Your behavior creates a situation where, by disrespecting you, they disrespect me, and that will have unpleasant consequences for them. Do you understand the problem?” He sounded like a school teacher admonishing a wayward pupil who wasn’t paying attention to the lesson.

  She finished her drink, the sweet taste on her tongue turning rapidly sour. “Could I have another?”

  An expression of amusement appeared and disappeared in an eyeblink. “I have a rule, one drink, but as the circumstances are unusual, I’ll make an exception.”

  She watched him refill her cup. Was he jealous? Upset by what was typical soldiers' behavior when there wasn’t a lot to amuse them on board? She had noticed several of the men eyeing her, but everybody—men and women—was friendly and she’d assumed it was because she was new to the team, and they were gaining a sense of how she would fit in.

  “How often do your consorts come and go?” She sipped her drink.

  A flicker of irritation and a slight turning down at the corners of his mouth told her the question had peeved him.

  “We’ll discuss my past later.” He got up and poured himself a second cup. “Let’s start over. Kia, can we at least be friends?” He reached out and his fingers stroked the line of her jaw, sliding down over her pulse.

  She stiffened, brushing his hand away. “Stop that.”

  “I understand this isn’t easy for you, Kia, but we do have things in common.”

  She raised her eyebrows at him. “We do? Like what?”

  “We both hate my father, wish to destroy the empire, and no one else in the universe, that I’m aware of, possesses nanobots in their bloodstreams.”

  Kia grunted. If that was a joke, she didn’t see the humor.

  “Compromise. Bend a bit.”

  “What if I don’t want to? Or can’t.”

  “If that’s the case, you are making life far more difficult for yourself than it needs to be. As far as our current circumstances go, if the situation was different, you could have a relationship with anyone you wanted, but I cannot have my personal guards discussing you in this way. Your willfulness has placed them in an awkward and embarrassing situation. From tonight on, you will sleep here.”

  She downed her drink, ignoring the burning in her throat and stomach.

  “I’ve already had your uniforms and other items transferred.” He gestured at the wall closet.

  Kia sat motionlessly and said nothing. She couldn’t. If she moved or spoke, she’d lose control over the fury boiling up inside. Shades of her former rage flickered at the edge of her vision. No, she wouldn’t give in to her emotions, she’d sworn she would curb her temper, and with an effort, she pushed her feelings back into their box. He would not get the better of her.

  “Take the couch or use the floor if it makes you feel better, but you’ll be more comfortable on the bed. Kia, I’m not your enemy.”

  She chewed her lip and blew out a breath. She didn’t dare look at him—she didn’t want him to see how much she hated him right now. “You are. You won’t let me have any freedom at all.”

  He sighed. “Who has freedom? I don’t, and, even if they weren’t here, none of the Chenjerai have either. Nobody is free. Everyone has obligations. Stop being childish and grow up. Accept your responsibilities. I’ll be next door if you need anything.”

  She watched him pick up the bottle and leave, put her head in her hands and cried.

  Kia woke as Rial slid the door open. After he left the night before, she’d wrapped herself in a sheet, taken a pillow, and slept on the floor because the couch was too short and narrow, and she didn’t trust him not to return and climb into bed with her.

  He crossed the room to the wall closet. “I can tell you’re awake, Kia. Tonight take the bed. I’ll continue sleeping in the medunit.”

  She studied him, annoyed at how fresh and chipper he appeared. “Won’t that give rise to more gossip?” She sounded like a harpy.

  “Your mood hasn’t improved. Be civil, Kia. It’s far more likely they will attribute it to your menses.”

  She rolled over to hide the color in her cheeks and stayed that way until after he’d showered and left. Only then did she crawl onto the bed, relishing its softness after the hard floor.

  Kia missed breakfast and, as Rial didn’t appear at lunch, she was happy to make it through the day without seeing him.

  “I’m glad your lover’s tiff is over,” Shaba confided as they checked the pulse lasers’ activation responses. “Some of the guys had jumped to the wrong conclusion and were heading for trouble.”

  “I didn’t realize. I’m sorry.”

  “Oh, no apologies, please. You can’t blame them. Once a woman is no longer a consort, well… human nature and all that.”

  No longer a consort? Wasn't that what she wanted? I believe she dances, does she not? But alone, who would protect her from Teyrn? She shivered

  “Besides, now they’re betting how long before the next argument.” She laughed as Kia shook her head. “Betting is a compulsion when we’re between destinations. You wouldn’t believe how silly it can get. Once they bet on who snored the loudest, and two of the idiots ran up and down the corridor all night measuring the snore decibel levels.” She chuckled at the memory. “Don’t feel guilty, Kia. Between us, I think that bet about you touched a raw spot with Rial.”

  “Thanks, Shaba. I have a way to go before I understand the subtleties of life as a Chenjerai.” And life with Rial, she thought.

  After the evening meal, Kia turned down an offer to join the card game and
ignored the winks and nods between the players as she left.

  In his suite, she found Rial working at his desk. Without speaking, she curled up on the couch and read until he stood up, took his sleeping pants from the closet, and went to the bathroom. She hoped he’d go to the medunit as all she wanted was a decent night’s sleep in the bed.

  “Kia, please take the bed. There’s no point in punishing yourself. Good night.”

  “Good night,” she mumbled. The instant the door closed, she threw herself onto the bed with abandon. Lying on her back with her arms and legs stretched out, she closed her eyes and gave a contented sigh.

  “Make sure you eat breakfast tomorrow. We’re approaching the wormhole shortly, and you need to be prepared.” Rial stood in the doorway struggling to choke back his amusement at her antics. Then he was gone.

  The following evening he inquired if she wanted to learn how to cheat at karidochi.

  The devilish look in his eye plucked at memories of mischief she and Jared had got up to as kids, and, in spite all her resolutions not to engage with him, she grinned like a demented imp. “Oh, I’d love to.”

  They sat cross-legged on the bed with a deck of elaborately decorated cards spread out between them. Not once did they bicker, and it took a while, but when Rial packed away the cards, she’d learned several tricks the crew played on her during their karidochi games. She had also learned a few extra twists.

  After Rial left, she snuggled down to sleep, her heart easing. Can we at least be friends he’d asked? Perhaps. As long as tonight was a genuine attempt at friendship between equals and not a deliberate manipulation aimed at amusing a rebellious consort. She pretended she didn’t hear the sneaky little voice asking would the latter be that bad?