WARRIOR PRINCESS
Page 4
Footsteps in the corridor froze them. There was no time for more. Still joined, Barron yanked them away from the bed and switched on the cloak.
"Quiet," he whispered. "And hold tight. We're cloaked."
The door swung wide, banging against the wall. The mirror shattered. Artifacts on the shelves crashed to the floor. Rhiannon jerked in fright. Barron held her tight.
"Where is she?" Taroog roared. Someone scurried up behind him. Taroog whipped around. "I want her found and delivered to me. Get me the child."
Rhiannon dug her fingers into Barron's chest. Only the steel band of his arm kept her from moving.
Taroog slammed the door on his exit, destroying the few objects that remained.
Rhiannon wasted no time. "We must hurry before he gets Ingold."
Barron decloaked them. One simple sentence said all he needed to know. Abomination the child might be, but she still loved it. Somehow he'd force himself to do so as well.
He stripped the cloaking device from his belt. "Take this and go. I'll find the child."
She shoved it back. "There's too much risk. We'll stay cloaked and go together."
She tossed the gown over her head, grabbed his hand and tugged him toward the door. "Hurry. There's no time to waste."
Hidden once more, they hurried through a corridor filled with guards searching for her. They'd gone no farther than fifty measures when she stopped before an open door. Taroog stood before a crib.
Rhiannon released Barron's hand, revealing herself. "You wished to see me, my lord?"
Taroog lifted the child. This was no abomination.
Shock rippled through Barron. This was a Juronian child! This was Barron's son!
"Traitorous, little black-heart. They'll be little left of you for your people to worship by the time I'm through with you."
She tsked as she reached for the child. "Don't be ridiculous, Taroog. Did you ever think this could be a ploy to divide us? Look at our child. The miracle child. Don't you think they'd do anything to destroy him and us?"
Indecision warred in his ugly features. He allowed her to slip the boy free from his grasp. Rhiannon swung away quickly, giving Barron the best target he'd ever had. He whipped his laser pistol into position. A distraction in the hall ruined his chance.
Troops stormed the room, cornering Rhiannon and the boy. Taroog turned on her once more. "The child stays. Liar or not, I have no further use for you. Seize her!" He motioned to the guards.
Barron yanked the device free. "Rhiannon, here!"
She caught it with one hand and disappeared.
Taroog whirled around on his new target. Recognition mottled his face to puce. "I have been deceived! Take him!"
Barron felt the brush of her hand. He grabbed it and joined her in obscurity.
Taroog's roar shook the windows. Barron longed to end the tyrant's life. To fire a blast now would reveal their position.
"It's sorcery," a guard muttered.
Taroog hurled a lamp at the man's head, narrowly missing Rhiannon's. "Fool! They've acquired cloaking! We're being invaded!"
Even as the words left Taroog's lips, the first volley of laser weapons struck the city. This home would be the first to fall and Taroog knew it. If they didn't leave now, they'd never make it out alive.
Taroog jerked his arm toward the door. "To the ships! Now!"
They trotted away. He jerked around, scanning the room for his enemy. "I know you're here. Show yourselves."
Rhiannon shoved Ingold into Barron's arms as she grabbed his pistol. Before he could stop her, she stepped free.
"I'm right here, my lord," she said with a smile. Then blasted a hole through the center of his chest.
Taroog clutched at the wound, staring in disbelief that she should dare such an act. He grappled for the weapon at his side. Barron locked his pulse rifle into position and fired. Taroog toppled back.
"You...traitor."
"No," Barron said. "She is a hero. A true warrior. Something cowards like you will never know."
He drew Rhiannon to him, hiding them from view once more. "Come, love. Our ship awaits."
Skirting the turmoil about them, Barron and Rhiannon escaped into the night.
* * * *
"The ship is just beyond that rise." He pointed to a small knoll. A shot of light overhead urged them to hurry. The explosion that followed ripped through the night. Frightened, Ingold let out a wail.
"So much for being cloaked. Run, love."
Cradling his son to his chest, Barron sprinted for safety. The vessel's door opened as he approached. He tumbled to the floor behind Rhiannon, protecting the child from the fall. The hatch snapped shut.
"Hold tight, little one, while I get us out of here." He shoved the boy into his mother's arms and jumped into the pilot's seat.
Fire erupted behind them. The ground shuddered in protest. He danced his fingers over the control panel, shooting them into space.
"I thought by now you would've learned to pilot this thing." Rhiannon peeled herself from the back wall.
He laughed. "I can do things with this little ship you could never imagine."
"Don't bet on that. I have a very vivid imagination."
"Rest, love. The trip home won't be that long."
She dusted her fingers over the nape of his neck. "To sleep means to be away from you. I can't bear that any longer."
He glanced up with a smile. Ingold lay nestled against her chest, sound asleep. "Obviously, he doesn't feel the same way."
She gave a light laugh. "He was awakened from his bed. Ingold likes his sleep. He's a very active boy."
Barron blinked away the sudden sheen of tears. "Our child. You bore me a child. A son. If I had known..."
"Shh..." She pressed her finger to his lips. "We agreed we'd do what we must. Never fear. You shall be present for all the rest."
As they left Primadylian atmosphere, she tucked the sleeping child in the berth toward the back of the ship.
"As I recall, I designed an automatic pilot for this ship." Brushing her breast against his arm, she leaned forward. "Ah, yes. Here it is."
One touch of her finger took the controls from his hands. She straddled his lap.
"I can think of much better ways to pass a trip than resting. Can't you?"
Rhiannon dropped her gown and offered her nipple. He took it, suckling deep like the starving man he was. He fumbled to free himself. Her hands steadied him.
"Hang on, love," she said with a smile. "I'm going to give you the ride of your life."
She seated herself on him with a swift lunge that took his breath away.
Caitlyn Willows
Caitlyn Willows is the pseudonym for award-winning author Catherine Snodgrass, who wanted to flex her writing muscles in the romantica genre. Readers will find the same quality from "Caitlyn" that they have come to expect from "Catherine," but the stories will be more over-the-top and more steamy. Sometimes the novels are written singularly, and sometimes they are a collaborative effort with award-winning author Paris Dixon. Always they will be action-filled...in more ways than one.
Caitlyn Willows' email address is caitlynwillows@hotmail.com
* * * *
Don't miss White Lies, by Caitlyn Willows, available now, from Amber Quill Press, LLC.
Unloved Sarah Mason flees her domineering parents and manipulative fiancé, embarking to Jamaica on a quest for clues to her sister's unnerving disappearance. Her quest, however, takes an unexpected and exhilarating turn when she meets the sexy Dominick LaCroix, her sister's ex-landlord and supposed ex-lover, who not only aids in Sarah's search for answers, but also helps her explore her heart and sexuality.
But can Sarah and Dominick survive not only a killer hurricane, but a dangerous undercover mission to learn the truth about what happened to her sister?--or will they become the next people to mysteriously vanish?
* * * *
Also available now is The Heir, another offering from Caitlyn Willows.
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bsp; A dying millionaire needs a heir to protect his fortune. Can he pull the strings one more time to see his life's work fulfilled? His proteges, Galen Walters and Tracie Walters, are oblivious to anything but each other once Sherman sets the wheels in motion. But can they really put aside their burgeoning feelings and give him what he wants--an heir, with Tracie as his wife?
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