Too Close to the Sun (The Sun 1)

by Popp, Robin T.

  As soon as the High Counsel sat, the rest of the guests took their seats. Angel noticed that she was one of only four women in the room and each of the others was the official Consort of the man she accompanied. Angel would have liked to chat with them, but they sat too far away. With Nicoli deep in conversation with the High Counsel and the man to her right obviously not interested in talking to her, a mere woman, Angel had to be content studying the gathered crowd. Further down the table, Rianol caught her eye and gave her a warm smile which she returned, no longer feeling quite so alone.

  Victor sat opposite Rianol and seemed to be engaged in an intense discussion with Pualson, one of the other advisors. From time to time, he would turn away from Pualson and speak to the consort sitting on his other side.

  Angel noticed that when Sorrah walked into the room with a tray of food, her gaze traveled first to Victor. Angel thought she detected a flash of hurt, or irritation. Could it be that Sorrah was in love with Victor? If so, why had she made a pass at Nicoli? Had it been nothing more than an attempt to make Victor jealous? A case of unrequited love?

  Angel might have been tempted to feel sorry for the woman had she not at that moment been standing beside Nicoli in a low-cut blouse gaping open to allow a full view of her charms as she leaned over him to serve him food. Angel felt an uncomfortable stab of jealousy, made worse when Nicoli didn’t seem to mind taking in the view.

  Then it was Angel’s turn to be served and when she looked up into the serving girl’s face, Sorrah gave her a cold, knowing smile filled with unspoken challenge. Then she moved on and Angel looked around to see if anyone else had noticed the exchange.

  Her gaze fell on Herrod, standing guard by the door.

  His grin sent chills racing down her spine. Even when she turned away, she could feel his gaze boring into her.

  “What’s the matter?”

  Nicoli’s quiet voice in her ear made her jump.

  “Nothing,” she muttered, afraid he might start trouble if he knew.

  “Aren’t you hungry? You’re picking at your food.”

  “I’ve lost my appetite.” Unable to stop herself, she glanced again at Herrod. This time, Nicoli followed the direction of her gaze.

  “Is he bothering you?”

  “He’s just trying to get a reaction.”

  “If he keeps it up, he’s going to get a reaction he’s not expecting.”

  Angel laid her hand on Nicoli’s arm. “Please don’t make a scene. We can’t let him distract us from our purpose here.”

  Nicoli nodded, but didn’t look happy. The rest of the meal passed slowly for Angel and even after it was over, Nicoli made no attempt to leave.

  “Thank you, Gil’rhen.” Nicoli finally said to her grandfather after most of the other guests had gone and the three were walking from the room. “The meal was outstanding.”

  They had reached the High Counsel and as the two men shook hands, Angel felt Herrod’s gaze like prickles across her skin. She tried to resist glancing at him, but the temptation proved too much.

  Her glance met with a knowing smirk, as if he’d known she would look. Then he pursed his lips and sent her a kiss that promised horrible things if he ever caught her alone. Angel shuddered with disgust. The threat wasn’t as effective on her as it might have been on a female who hadn't fought off Free Rebels, but she still gave it a healthy dose of respect.

  She didn’t realize she’d inadvertently tightened her grip on Nicoli’s hand until she heard the low growl beside her. Nicoli released her and before Herrod could react, Nicoli relieved the man of his weapon and with his arm pressed against the guard’s throat, pinned him to the wall.

  The other guards rushed forward to defend their captain, but the High Counsel waved them back.

  “Don’t ever let me catch you looking at my wife again.” Nicoli bit out between clenched teeth, his face close to Herrod’s. “Don’t look at her, don’t be in the same room with her. Hell, don’t even think about her. Understand?”

  For a moment, Angel thought Herrod would defy Nicoli, but something must have shown in Nicoli’s eyes because the guard nodded. Nicoli, almost reluctantly it seemed to Angel, lowered his arm and took a step back.

  Herrod made a show of straightening his clothes. Then his gaze fell to his weapon, still clutched in Nicoli’s hand. “What about my blade?”

  Nicoli didn't say a word. With his free hand, he ushered Angel through the door, still watching Herrod. Just before he stepped out of the room, he handed the blade to one of the lesser guards standing nearby. As the door shut behind them, the High Counsel’s voice could be heard, requesting, in a most forceful manner, that Herrod remain behind.

  “Do you think he’ll come after us?” Angel asked as they walked back toward their room.

  “I don’t think he’s that stupid.”

  “Well, if he is, I’ll be ready.” She flicked her wrist to release her hidden laser so it slide into her hand. “Never leave home without it.”

  “Let’s hope you don’t have to use it. I hear the laws here are very strict, especially for women.”

  “That’s true,” she said, sullenly. “Women must obey men in all things. It’s the first rule in the Coronadian Code of Social Conduct.”

  “Which in the twisted logic of this culture means that there’s no such thing as self-defense for a woman.”

  “You could order me to defend myself by any means necessary," she suggested.

  He smiled. "Consider yourself so ordered.”

  They reached their room and went inside. Angel had promised to stay with her mother that night, but now wanted only to stay with Nicoli. She wanted to lay beside him in their bed and let him make love to her. She wanted to know what it was like to fall asleep in his arms and then later to wake in them. The memories she created now would have to last her a lifetime.

  She knew the more time she spent with him, the harder it would be to walk away in the end - and walking away from Nicoli was seeming less and less appealing all the time. Her emotions, her feelings, her plans, her very life had become one jumbled, confusing mess.

  “I should go,” she said.

  Nicoli looked at her from where he stood across the room. “Okay. I’ll walk you to your mother's room.”

  “No,” she said, a little too quickly. “It’s okay.” She needed to be alone, to think.

  Nicoli studied her. “I don’t think you should walk these corridors alone.”

  “I don’t think Herrod - or anyone else - will be stupid enough to hurt me now. Not after what just happened."

  He came to stand in front of her, placing his hands on either side of her face. He dropped his lips to hers in a chaste, sweet, too brief kiss. When it ended, he didn’t pull away completely, but remained close enough that his breath fanned her face when he spoke. “I like knowing you’re safe. Let me walk with you.”

  Angel smiled. “With you around, I won’t be able to think.” She gave his chin a quick kiss and stepped away from him, out of his influence. “Besides - as I keep reminding you - I can take care of myself.”

  She left the room before she could change her mind and hurried along the hallways. She needed to be alone, just for a little while. There was so much she wanted to sort out.

  Chapter 22

  Brother Joh’nan was in his room, watching Brother Damon pace back and forth.

  “We cannot let this man come in and ruin everything we’ve worked for,” Brother Damon said.

  Brother Joh’nan gave a small smile. “Calm yourself. I have no intention of letting that happen.”

  “But what are you going to do? What are we going to do?”

  “We will eliminate him.”

  “How?”

  Brother Joh’nan considered various choices, each having distinct advantages and disadvantages. “I haven’t decided. In the meantime, I’ve heard that Katrina is getting better. I thought you had taken care of that?”

  “I did.”

  Brother Joh’nan looked at hi
m questioningly until the man stopped his pacing and swung around to face him. He held his hand out in supplication, emitting a low sound of frustration. “I will. I’ll take care of it.”

  “Okay.” Brother Joh’nan let his gaze travel over the other man’s body in appreciation. “Will you stay the night?”

  Brother Damon scowled before he shook his head “Not tonight. If you want Katrina taken care of, then I have to go make other arrangements.”

  * * * * *

  Herrod turned the corner and started down another hallway, checking doors and windows as he went to make sure the palace was secure. He was a Master Guard, Head of Security. He shouldn't have to make these rounds personally, but the High Counsel had insisted on it because that bitch had broken into the castle without anyone noticing. She'd made a fool out of him.

  Just as the off-worlder had. It wouldn’t happen again, though. He turned the corner of the next corridor and hurriedly took a step back.

  An'jel was there, walking his way. She was alone - and she hadn't seen him.

  A smile crept to his lips.

  He waited where he was, the sound of her footsteps growing louder as she drew closer. He waited until she'd almost reached the corner, before stepping out.

  When she saw him, she froze. Her eyes grew large and round, like trapped prey watching the predator as it closed in for the attack. He gave a low laugh, enjoying her helplessness. She took a tentative step back and he countered it by stepping forward. He waited until she stepped back again, as he knew she would, and again he countered, continuing their dance.

  He would have her. With that thought in mind, Herrod let his eyes stray momentarily from her face to her breasts, and he licked his lips. Yes, he would have her. She would fight him, but it would only add to his excitement. Feeling his arousal pressed against his pants, he knew he could not wait.

  Just before he lunged, he saw the light in her eye change and felt searing hot pain across his shoulder.

  "What?" He looked down and saw she held a small laser.

  He would not be Master Guard if a mere woman bested him so easily. Moving with a speed few could match, Herrod closed the distance between them and kicked the laser from her hand.

  Then he lunged for her. She fought well, he thought distantly. Better than most women could. The bitch dragged her nails across his wounded shoulder and for a moment he was distracted by the shards of pain shooting down his arm. Too late, he saw her raised knee. When it connected to his crotch, the white-hot pain sent him to his knees.

  She gave him no quarter as she rammed the palm of her hand into his nose, breaking it. In blind fury, he reached out for her, pawing the air. His arms found nothing and when he could finally open his eyes, he saw that she was gone.

  He lifted his hand to his nose. It was broken. Pressing both hands against either side of it, he drew a deep breath and gave a quick movement of his hands, realigning the cartilage. The sharp pain made his eyes water and when he pulled his hands away, they were covered in blood. His blood.

  He swore, reaching out to support himself against the wall until the pain in his groin subsided. A dark object caught the corner of his eye and he turned to look at it, recognizing the laser.

  Still bent over, he shuffled the small distance to the weapon. He reached out, but before he could grab the weapon, another hand retrieved it.

  Puzzled, he looked up. “You!”

  “I told you to leave her alone or you would pay.”

  The last thing Herrod saw was a bright flash of light from the laser’s barrel. By the time the pain in his forehead might have registered in his brain, it was already fried.

  * * * * *

  Angel was shaking when she reached her mother’s room. Inside, Yanur sat in a nearby chair while her mother slumbered peacefully in bed. At Angel’s entrance, Yanur looked up with a smile on his face. It quickly turned to a frown.

  “What happened?” He rose from the chair and came to her. “Are you all right?”

  She nodded, exhaling deeply. “Yeah, I’m okay.” There would be no point in worrying Yanur. “How’s Mom?”

  Yanur’s expression softened as he looked at the sleeping woman. “She’s fine. I’m afraid I kept her awake too long today talking. She was pretty tired.”

  “Thank you for staying with her.”

  Yanur reached out and took Angel’s hand, patting it in a fatherly way. “My pleasure. Will you be okay? I could stay.”

  “No. We’ll be fine. Thank you.” She watched him walk to the door.

  “All right then. Goodnight.”

  “‘Night, Yanur.”

  Angel stood in the middle of the room and as the adrenaline left her body, she felt emotionally and physically drained. Suddenly too tired to stand, she glanced at the chair beside the bed. She collapsed into it, resting her head against the back and closing her eyes.

  In her mind, she replayed Herrod’s attack and realized how close she'd come to getting raped, maybe even killed. It left her feeling vulnerable and alone.

  She eyed her mother’s sleeping form and almost unaware that she was doing so, rose from her chair and moved to the bed. Picking up the extra blanket, she lay down beside her mother, who stirred slightly with the dipping of the mattress.

  “It’s all right, Momma. It’s me, Angel.”

  Her mother opened a sleepy eye. “Oh, my Angel. Did you have a bad dream?”

  “Yes, Momma, I did.”

  “It’s okay honey. You’re safe now.” She reached out a hand to brush a strand of hair from Angel’s face. “Do you want to tell me about it?”

  Angel knew her mother was not really awake, and maybe that was why she felt comfortable telling her. In the morning, her mother would not remember. Speaking softly, she told how Herrod had been harassing her and how she’d run into him in the hall. How they’d fought and she’d injured him and run. Finally, she told her mother how she was afraid to go back.

  Angel’s voice trailed off as she thought back to all the times in her life when she’d been afraid. Fear had made her stronger, but what she wouldn’t give right now to have a few moments of absolute security.

  Her mother’s eyes remained closed, but her hand moved to pat Angel’s arm as she had when Angel was young.

  “Daddy can sleep in the other room. You stay with me tonight. No more nightmares, okay?”

  “Okay.”

  Her mother squeezed her arm one last time before drifting back to sleep.

  “I love you, Momma.” Angel closed her eyes and let the night take her.

  * * * * *

  Nicoli woke early the next morning. He hadn't slept much the night before for the simple reason that he missed Angel. Not wanting to spend even one more minute without her, he dressed quickly and left the room.

  Navigating the labyrinth of hallways was getting easier as he learned his way around and at this early hour, there was no one else around to impede his progress. Already his thoughts were on what he'd say to Angel when he saw her and for that reason, he was nearly upon the body lying in the hallway before he recognized what it was.

  For the briefest moment, he worried it might be Angel, but on closer look, he saw it was a man.

  Placing his fingers to the man's throat, he felt for a pulse and found none. The man was dead.

  Rolling the body onto its back, Herrod's lifeless eyes stared out of a face grown slack in death. A single laser shot to the forehead was the obvious cause for his state of being. A broken nose, bloodied and swollen, suggested Herrod had fought with his killer before being shot and a strip of charred flesh and blood across his right shoulder said the killer had missed his first shot.

  Nicoli felt no remorse at the man's death, but his concern for Angel increased exponentially. Lasers were not a common weapon in the House of Scyphor with the Coronadians preferring warring blades and the only one Nicoli had seen since his arrival was Angel's. Had she run into Herrod last night on her way to her mother's room and been forced to kill him? It seemed the logica
l answer and Nicoli knew he needed to find her right away.

  The sound of footsteps stopped him. Looking up, he saw the High Counsel approaching, surrounded by four guards.

  "Colonel Romanof? Is there a problem?" The High Counsel asked, coming to a stop.

  "There's been an accident," Nicoli replied, putting emphasis on the last word.

  "Is that Herrod?” The older man's eyes narrowed as if he was trying to bring the dead man's face into sharper focus.

  "It is," Nicoli confirmed.

  At the High Counsel's gesture, one of the guards took a knee beside the body and checked it for signs of life. Nicoli could have told him it was futile.

  "What happened?" the High Counsel demanded.

  About to say he'd found the body like that, Nicoli's answer was cut off by one of the rear guard's shouts.

  "High Counsel, I found something."

  As one, the group turned to watch the guard pick something up off the floor.

  The sight of Angel's small laser had fingers of dread closing around his heart, confirming his worst fear. He watched with little hope as the guard smelled the end of the barrel. The involuntary wrinkling of his nose told Nicoli he'd caught the noxious odor of charred tyrillium. The smell dissipated over time, so the fact that it was still present meant the weapon had been fired within the last eight to ten hours.

  What time had Angel left him last night? It had been well within that window of time, he realized.

  Crowds of people where gathering, curious to know what was going on. Among the throng of blond heads, a single brunette stood out. Catching sight of Angel walking toward them, Nicoli ran his gaze over her, searching for signs of injury. Other than looking tired, she seemed fine and the fingers around his heart eased their painful grip slightly.

  As she drew closer, he saw she was accompanied by her mother and Yanur. Her expression brightened briefly when their gazes met. Then she noticed the body on the floor and all the color drained from her face.