by Kit Tunstall
“Yes,” said Embeth quietly as slumber started to slip over her.
“It’s a future none of us want, which is why we’re all so hopeful about Earth and the Dazon Empire finding a solution. I’d very much like to have a life outside of breeding.”
Embeth thought she murmured an agreement, but she couldn’t seem to summon the energy to speak. Instead, she dozed and drifted somewhere between conscious and unconscious as Taleeza talked to her, and the time passed.
At some point, she was certain her fever had spiked, and she began to moan and thrash. Pain filled her, and her legs refused to move. She thought she heard Taleeza on the communication system calling for medical assistance.
It could have been moments or hours later when she heard the door open, and she managed to pry her eyes open slightly. She expected it to be Ysaak or Lieutenant Powell, so it was an unpleasant shock to see Jorvak Ha looming over her, flanked by three of his assistants. “No,” she rasped through her swollen throat.
“What are you doing here?” asked Taleeza, trying to insert herself between the doctor and Embeth, to Embeth’s gratitude. “I called for her medical person.”
“I’m far more qualified than he is. Step aside, young princess.”
Taleeza’s shoulders firmed, though it was difficult to make out any other details when Embeth’s vision blurred. “I won’t. You shouldn’t be here. You know the ambassador doesn’t want you here.”
Jorvak looked over Taleeza, who was at least six-feet tall, but still far shorter than the scientists. “Is that correct, Ambassador Williams? Would you prefer I leave?”
“Yes,” she said softly, unable to manage to project any volume.
“That’s unfortunate, because the only one leaving is the princess.” He angled his head toward the door, and two of his assistants began to drag Taleeza toward the exit. She tried to raise her voice to call out to Damon, but he wasn’t in sight when the hydraulic doors opened. Her heart thundered with fear, and she was certain the men in front of her were the reason Damon wasn’t at his post.
“What have you done to my guard?” she rasped.
“He’ll recover,” said Jorvak with a lack of concern. A moment later, he produced a cylinder, and she tried to scramble from the bed as he drew nearer. “Relax, ambassador. You’ll feel so much better after I administer the nanotechnology.”
She shook her head. “I don’t want that. Get it away from me.”
The doctor ignored her, and soon enough there was a sharp pressure against her arm as prongs at the end of the cylinder pressed something through her skin. She knew very well it had to be the nanotechnology and began to panic. She tried to hit out at the doctor, using what precious little energy she had, until she had worn herself out and collapsed against the bed. Her last memory was of Jorvak speaking over his shoulder to his assistant, who was reading data on some kind of tablet-like device. “Well?”
“The retrovirus appears effective.”
Before she could ask what that meant, she slipped into unconsciousness, all reserves of strength depleted; grateful to embrace the darkness and escape the sneering image of Jorvak Ha above her.
Chapter Six
Ysaak looked at his father uncertainly. “Are you certain about this, Father? There’s no need for you to step down, and I truly don’t want to be emperor yet.”
Talek smiled at his son, looking indulgent. “The best emperors do not wish to be so, my son. You should always view it as a burden and not a privilege. Once you become immune to the burden and embrace the privileges that come with being Emperor, you’re far more likely to hurt those beneath you to keep those perks. I have every faith you have the compassion and necessary wisdom to lead our people while negotiating a truce with Earth.”
Ysaak felt overwhelmed, and he balled his hands into fists. “I’m not sure this is what I want, Father.” What he had envisioned was accompanying his mate back to Earth, certain she would insist on returning there, and having no objection to doing so. He had not been groomed to lead the Empire, and he certainly wasn’t ready to have this responsibility thrust upon him.
Nor could he walk away from it, especially when his father phrased it all so logically, making it seem like he was the only choice. It was obvious Aryk was no choice at all, so he supposed he was, unless his father decided to groom Taleeza to take the role instead.
It wouldn’t be unheard of in their empire, but female rulers had always acted as regents for their sons until majority the few times emperors had passed before their male descendants could reach legal age to rule. It was completely unheard of in the last three generations, since the Veluvians’ biological weapon had crippled their females’ fertility and driven them to the edge of extinction.
He was certain Taleeza would much rather embrace the role of Empress than breeder, but she was even less equipped to lead than he was. She’d been groomed for the life of a breeder, not a leader.
“If you think it’s best, Father, I’m willing to be your heir and lead the Empire, but please rethink retiring. There are too many changes occurring too quickly, and the people will accept it better if you remain at the head for a while longer, to ensure stability.”
Talek shook his head. “No, I believe change is exactly what we need. We’re entering a new phase in our society, and we need a younger emperor and his lovely human mate to lead us through it.”
Ysaak jerked in surprise. “What?”
Talek chuckled. “I’m old, but not blind, my son. It’s quite obvious to me that you have claimed the ambassador as your mate.”
Heat swept up his neck and into his face, and he felt awkward with his father for the first time in years. “I haven’t bonded with her yet, Father, but I hope to when our arrangement is finished.”
Would Embeth even entertain the idea of staying permanently with him on Dazonia Major? As Second Prince, he had been virtually free to do as he wished, including relocate to Earth. As Emperor, he would be tied to the planet. With a heavy heart, he signed his signature beside his father’s a few moments later, yielding to his father’s persuasive arguments while hoping it didn’t cost him his mate.
They had barely finished the paperwork when the door burst open, and Taleeza came rushing through, pushing away the guard trying to stop her. “Let me through,” she demanded.
“That’s enough.” Ysaak waved off the guard as he stood up from the table where he and his father sat to walk to his sister. “What’s wrong, Taleeza? Is the ambassador sicker than she was?”
“Yes, but it’s worse than that, Ysaak. I sent for her medical person. I believe she called him a lieutenant something… It wasn’t her lieutenant that came though. Jorvak Ha and some of his assistants are in her room, and they threw me out.”
Ysaak let out a howl of pure rage as he tore from the sitting room and his father’s private suite to ran down the corridors of the palace, covering the distance to Embeth’s room in record time. He was dismayed to see her guard slumped against the floor, and he paused briefly to feel the other man’s neck, finding a steady pulse that suggested he was simply unconscious from whatever means, but not on the verge of death, and not in imminent danger.
His thoughts were focused squarely on his mate as he opened the door and rushed through, prepared to fight Jorvak and his assistants to the death if required. Instead, he found the suite deserted, other than Embeth sleeping on the bed, snoring softly. Everything was deceptively quiet and peaceful, but he was certain Taleeza hadn’t lied to him about Ha being there, and he would have believed his sister even if Lieutenant Connors hadn’t been passed out in the hallway.
Cautiously, looking around the room as he went, he approached Embeth and sat on the edge of the bed, feeling her throat for a pulse. He let out a harsh sigh of relief when he found it steady and strong beneath his fingers. Her eyes opened a moment later, and that fevered, glassy look he remembered from earlier was gone. She simply looked confused, and her color was much better than it had been. “What’s going on?” Sudd
enly, her dark eyes widened, and her fear was obvious. “Ha was here. I think he hurt Damon and maybe your sister.”
He shook his head. “No, Taleeza is fine. She’s the one who alerted me to the danger, and your guard is passed out, but appears stable. Do you know what he did to you?”
She shook her head. “I don’t remember much. Something about a retro…” She trailed off, closing her eyes before they opened a moment later to reveal her annoyance. “I’m sorry. I can’t remember what they said. I remember he gave me an injection of nanotechnology, and I feel much better now. Whatever he did, I think he dealt with my illness, but I’m concerned about what samples he might have taken, or what else he might have done to me.” She put her hand on her stomach suddenly. “What if he impregnated me?”
He put his hand over hers. “I’m sure he didn’t. Remember, you don’t have the necessary mutation to make you compatible with Dazon genetics.”
She let out a harsh breath, clearly relieved. “Yes, that’s right. I’m sorry. I’m still a little fuzzyheaded.”
He put his arms around her, pulling her close to his chest, because he needed the reassurance of holding her in his embrace. “Perhaps he just treated you and did nothing improper, but we’ll arrange a medical exam from someone trustworthy as soon as possible.”
At that moment, her communication system buzzed, and he pressed the button. “Yes?”
“It’s awful here, Ysaak. I had to run. I couldn’t stop them.” Taleeza’s voice came through the speakers, thick with tears.
“What do you mean?” As he asked, the hydraulic door hissed open, and Damon staggered in, holding his head. “Taleeza, what’s going on?”
“Aryk and several men, including Jorvak, stormed into Father’s sitting room a few minutes ago, and they killed him. He’s dead, Ysaak. I ran, and he didn’t try to stop me, but I’m afraid.”
“Where are you?” After getting his sister’s exact location, he looked down at Embeth, knowing he couldn’t leave her. Instead, he pinned his hopes on the human male, lifting his gaze to meet Damon’s. “Will you find my sister?”
Damon, though looking worse for wear, seemed alert and capable. It was clear his loyalty was with Embeth, and he flashed her a look of consternation. “I have my orders, Prince Ysaak.”
“I know that, but I’m asking you to do something for me—something very important. I’m sure you’ve realized Embeth is my mate, and I can’t leave her, especially not in this vulnerable state. I can’t be two places at once, and I need someone to ensure my sister makes it safely to the folding ship. We have to get off this planet as soon as possible.”
“It’s okay, Damon,” said Embeth, her voice sounding scratchy, but audible. “I’m safe with Ysaak, and Taleeza might need your help. You know I have my transmitter if we get separated or lost. Also, please contact the rest of the team and tell them to head for the docking bay.”
“Yes, Ambassador.” Damon looked reluctant, but he slipped away a moment later.
“Can you dress yourself, Embeth?”
She looked down at her rumpled dress, giving him a lopsided grin. “I never really got undressed, my love.”
He enjoyed hearing the words from her, but had to focus on getting her to safety at the moment. “Very well. Allow me to contact a pilot I trust, so we can be assured we’ll have a folding ship when we reach the docking bay.”
He watched as she got out of bed, moving somewhat slowly, with a visible tremble, but clearly doing better than she had been that morning. He wanted to hope Jorvak Ha had done nothing more than give her a healing dose of nanotechnology, but he couldn’t help being fearful.
The Chief Scientist being called into treat the ambassador was strange, especially knowing how disdainful Ha was of humans in general, especially those who were of no use to the Empire. That made it seem unlikely he would have simply been there to do his duty or for altruistic motives. He would feel more reassured once she was back at the Moon consulate and could be examined by a trustworthy Dazon doctor.
Using an encrypted channel, he placed a brief call to a friend he was certain would remain loyal to him. It was obvious Aryk was staging a coup, and especially now that his signature was beside his dead father’s on the paperwork that would have announced the change of precedent, making it obvious he had aligned against his brother, he was certain to be at the top of Aryk’s extermination list. He only hoped that didn’t include Embeth as well.
“I’m ready.”
He was pleased to see she hadn’t bothered with nonsense like packing. All she had was a small bag that held her computing device, and he was certain it must have notes of importance, or she wouldn’t bother with it. “Stay close to me, and please do as I say if we get in trouble.”
She smiled at him, though there was a trace of fear in her eyes. “You’ll soon find I’m not one to obey just because a man told me to do something, but in this circumstance, I’ll gladly defer to your experience to fight our way out.”
He walked over to her, taking a moment they didn’t really have to give her a deep kiss before putting his arm around her waist. “Let’s hope it doesn’t come to fighting our way out, belisa.”
“I know you’ll get us through, Ysaak.”
Sweat dotted his brow as pressure felt like it squeezed his entire body. “I’ll die to protect you.” He meant every word of it, but it wasn’t his first choice of options. He’d much rather live to a respectable age and grow old with the woman who had so unexpectedly come into his life. He wasn’t certain what the future held for them, but he would be beside her until he was no longer capable of doing so.
He gripped her hand and led her from the bedroom, his focus on protecting her and ensuring his mate made it to safety.
Embeth was strong enough to walk on her own, though it was clear she still felt ill. Ysaak kept one hand around her wrist and the other around his pulser as they moved swiftly through the corridors, heading to the docking bay. Once, they encountered a group of soldiers, and he tightened his grip on the pulser, uncertain if he would be challenged or not.
The largest of the group simply nodded at the prince, calling out, “You should get her somewhere safe, Second Prince Ysaak. Civil war is brewing here.”
Ysaak nodded his head in agreement, hopeful that not every soldier would follow Aryk’s unjust orders after seeing that group, who had made no move to apprehend him or Embeth. He wasn’t certain what the future held, but right now he was focused simply on getting them to Earth.
They ran into another person who stopped them in the corridor as they neared the docking bay. He was a fearsome warrior, and one Ysaak had looked up to since he was young. The man had been Valkor Tosh’s mentor, and Valkor was their most highly decorated war hero, having been forced to act when their old enemy had briefly resurged eight planet-cycles ago.
General Monash and his forces had quickly quelled the Veluvian attack at one of their colonies, while Valkor had singlehandedly destroyed a frigate intent on bombing Sector Two. Their victories seemed to have prevented a wider offensive from the remaining Veluvians. There was still the occasional battle to this day, but the Veluvian army was of little concern.
That didn’t mean the general was peaceful or complacent, and he might be content to follow Aryk. Ysaak was tense as he waited to see what General Monash would do.
“Where are you headed, Prince Ysaak?”
“I’m seeing the ambassador to safety, General.”
Monash regarded them with his one remaining eye, the other nothing more than scar tissue that brazenly stated he was a hero. “Have you a plan then?”
“I’m going to get her on a folding ship and hasten back to Earth.”
Monash seemed to mulled it over for a moment before nodding. “I suppose it’s difficult to have a set plan under the circumstances. Remain flexible and vigilant. Your brother means to rule the Empire, and it’s difficult to say at this point what the outcome of his coup will be.”
Though they didn’t really hav
e time to chat, he couldn’t resist asking the general, “Which side are you on, General Monash? Do you support my brother, or do you favor a peaceful resolution with Earth?”
The general’s ambiguous answer wasn’t exactly reassuring. “I’m a soldier first, and I’m trained to follow orders. Get her to safety and don’t stop for anyone else.”
He nodded, pulling Embeth closer to him and putting his arm around her waist as he hurried her the last few yards from the corridor to the docking bay. His pilot friend had come through, he noted with relief, as he led her up the loading bay doors and inside the ship.
“Damon,” she cried out with concern, breaking away from him to go to her guard. He suppressed a wave of jealousy at the sight of his mate touching another man’s skin, because the logical side of him reminded it was simply to tend to Damon’s wound. The lieutenant had gotten a deep gash in his side. He was clearly enduring the ambassador’s fussing stoically, but Ysaak could see him grit his teeth when she pressed lightly on the wound.
Deciding to rescue the man and discover his sister’s whereabouts, he moved closer to them. It was natural to slide his arm around her and pull her against his side, and though she uttered a small protest, she still nestled against him. He looked down at Damon. “My sister?”
“She’s aboard, Prince Ysaak. She’s gone to fetch a medical kit.” He rolled his eyes.
Embeth sighed lightly. “What about Lt. Powell and the rest of the team? Shouldn’t he be looking at you instead of the princess?”
Damon’s expression clouded, taking on an edge of anger along with sadness. “The quarters they were assigned have been destroyed, Ambassador Williams. I’m not certain if it was a deliberate attack or simply happened during the small skirmishes breaking out, but I couldn’t raise any of them on the radio, and when I stopped by on the way to retrieve the princess, there was no way to enter the rubble.”