by Kit Tunstall
With a small sigh, he recognized he couldn’t just yet. She had a job to do, and it was dangerous, but she was brave enough to try. A surge of pride went through him, mingling in a strange way with the fear lingering, making his side insides feel almost effervescent. “I want to be part of the strike teams.”
Orix inclined his head. “I assumed as much. We’ll go over the plans later today.”
He nodded at his friend, still worried about Jordan, but happy to have his own mission to focus on, hoping it would ease some of his worry for his mate. It was a futile hope, and he knew he’d dwell on her fate until she was back in his arms again, and he was determined to make sure that happened. Whether or not she succeeded in assassinating Aryk, he was going to ensure she made it safely out of the palace. He’d have a job to do on his strike team, but his main mission was to protect Jordan.
The day of the mating ceremony arrived, and Jordan wasn’t certain if she should be relieved or nauseated. She split the difference by throwing up several times over the course of the morning, while focusing on steadying her nerves.
She hadn’t seen much of Aryk in the last few days, which was a relief not only to avoid his hands, but also because it had given him little opportunity to ask her about Damon’s whereabouts. She still hadn’t come up with a good explanation for why her guard wasn’t with her, so she hoped he had forgotten all about the incident. It seemed likely that he had, since he was so totally focused on himself.
Early afternoon, she was surprised when her door chimed, and she grimaced as she made her way over to it, half-expecting to find Aryk or Ha there. Instead, her eyes widened with surprise when she saw her mother step inside as soon as she opened the hydraulic door. “Mom?” She was stunned as her mother hugged her, and even more stunned when she glanced over her mother’s shoulder and saw Damon standing out in the hallway, clearly taking up the position of guard. The door closed before she had a chance to greet him, and she was still too stunned to make words stick together in a cohesive fashion anyway.
Her mother led her from the doorway and deeper into the bedroom. “This is quite the room.”
She nodded, feeling surreal in the moment. “What are you doing here? It’s far too dangerous.”
Evelyn smiled at her. “Darling, I wouldn’t miss your wedding for anything.” Her eyes relayed her real message, making it obvious she was here to offer emotional support for the task at hand.
“You shouldn’t be here though. You could get injured or worse. You’re the President of the United States, and you’re not exactly disposable.”
Evelyn waved a hand. “The Vice President is fully prepared to step into my shoes, should the need arise. I’ve already signed the paperwork that would allow Kramer to do so, if I don’t return. You’re far more important to me than anything else, including my role as president.”
Tears streaked from her eyes, and she swiped them away impatiently. Her mother wasn’t the most demonstrative person, and she rarely put Jordan above her career. It was shocking that her mother hugged her, but not as shocking as the fact that Evelyn was willing to risk her position of power to be by Jordan’s side at the critical hour. “I’m glad you’re here. I don’t think you should be, but I’m so glad to see you.”
Her mother hugged her tighter. “I wouldn’t miss this. It’s your wedding, after all.” There was a false note of gaiety in her voice, but Jordan didn’t think anyone who didn’t know her mother well would pick up on it.
She wanted to talk to her about all the things that had happened, and go through her plan for the evening, but she still wasn’t certain her room was secure. It seemed like it must be, because Aryk had never confronted her about Sash’s presence in her room, or her folding away with him before returning.
If he’d known about that, he probably would have lost his mind, and she wouldn’t be marrying him. She’d either be dead or being tortured right now. Even so, she couldn’t take the risk, so she forced herself to keep the conversation to lighter topics as she prepared for the wedding. If she had a different groom, it would have been the perfect day, having her mother there beside her, focusing all of her attention on Jordan instead of the country for a change.
Unfortunately, the identity of the groom robbed any real joy from the day, and coupled with her anxiety over the task before her that evening, she couldn’t find pleasure in spending this time with her mother. It was another reason to feel angry with Aryk and Ha, having driven them all to this point. She should be getting ready for her real wedding, and it should be Sash she was taking as her partner, not Aryk. She was actually going to have to marry him, at least for a little while, and she felt cheated at having to do so.
Still, what other alternative was there? None, which was why she was there to start with.
Jordan had no idea exactly how many people had turned out for the emperor’s mating ceremony, but it seemed to be at least half the planet. The grounds were full of people staring up at the balcony where she stood waiting for Aryk to join her. She wasn’t certain if that was typical for a Dazon ceremony, or if he’d simply been delayed. Or perhaps he was making the point that he was still far more important than she was, and he had weighty matters requiring his attention, all of which were more vital than his future bride.
If so, she was apathetic to the message. Instead, she plastered on a smile and waved to the crowd as they cheered for her, wondering how many of them truly supported Aryk’s agenda, and how many might just be trapped by a lack of options, or as apathetic about what the Dazons were doing to humans as she was about the forthcoming ceremony.
She hoped Orix was correct in his assessment that most of the people would follow Ysaak. She knew Ysaak was within easy folding distance of the planet by now. She was certain Ysaak, Orix, and Inquisitor Breese had gone through their plans multiple times and everything should go seamlessly, provided she was able to assassinate Aryk that night.
She certainly had the proper motivation to ensure it happened, because if it didn’t, he’d expect to have sex with her. She wasn’t going to let that happen. The idea of letting that loathsome letch touch her was enough to make her already churning stomach produce a wave of bile that slid up her esophagus. She swallowed it down through sheer force of will, knowing it would look strange if the future empress suddenly barfed over the balcony and onto the crowd below.
She almost giggled at the idea, but aborted the sound before it could emerge, because she recognized the sharp edge of hysteria underlying her amusement. If she started laughing, she might not quit.
Finally, Aryk strode into view, and she had to admit he looked handsome and impressive in his full regalia. He wore a long cape and something that looked a bit like a sari, but lavishly decorated with orange stones similar to the one in the dead center of the hair decoration she wore. If he hadn’t been a murdering psycho, and she hadn’t been in love with Sash… No, she still wouldn’t have wanted to marry him.
He took his place beside her, his hand wrapping possessively around her wrist. She barely controlled the impulse to shrug him off as another Dazon joined them. This male was considerably older, and he wore a similar garment to Aryk’s sari, though far plainer in decoration.
She didn’t speak Dazon. Of course Aryk had made no effort to provide a translator, and she didn’t have the device the Dazons had at their disposal to translate, so she had no idea the words spoken, or to what she was agreeing when she nodded as they looked pointedly at her after a long silence.
Apparently, she must have done all she needed to though, because less than ten minutes after it had begun, the celebrant slid the kursti over her wrist and tied it to Aryk’s, binding them as mates. She wanted to grimace, but instead forced a shaky smile that was all for show. It certainly extended no farther than her lips, and if she showed her true feelings, she was certain Aryk would immediately know why she was really there.
As they moved away from the balcony, he bent his head, brushing his lips against her ear in an intimate fashion t
hat made her skin crawl. “We have to do our duty at a formal reception, and then I’ll have you all to myself.”
She nodded sickly, unable to verbally respond as her nausea peaked again. She bit it down, forcing her expression to remain outwardly composed, even as she was suddenly a whimpering mess on the inside. The reality of her plan was crashing in on her, and though she knew it was the right option, and in fact the only option, she briefly wondered if she could actually take a life, even this life.
Deciding it was best not to dwell on moral quandaries, she tried to push aside all thoughts of what had to happen later that night and focus her attention on the common people greeting them on their way to the reception. Most of them seemed polite and not very different from the people she knew in her life on Earth or the consulate.
They were all warm and welcoming, but she noted most of the people reacted with fear if Aryk spoke to them or looked in their direction. It was surprisingly reassuring to see that, reinforcing what Ysaak and Orix had insisted—most Dazons didn’t want to follow Aryk, and they would be happy to embrace Ysaak instead. She hoped they were right, because their plan to oust Aryk hinged on the citizens’ support—and her ability to assassinate him.
No pressure.
Chapter Six
The reception was slow and torturous, filled with schmoozing and sucking up. It reminded her of the political dinners and rallies she had to attend over the years for her mother’s benefit. This time, her mother was observing quietly, remaining on the outskirts of the crowd, though they occasionally exchanged glances. The confidence in her mother’s eyes always bolstered Jordan’s resolve, and she was almost eager to follow Aryk into his chambers when he deemed enough time had passed not to be rude. She was frankly surprised he cared about such niceties, but she was glad to have the entire situation over.
Not the entire situation, she reminded herself as she slipped into the room Aryk indicated, preceding him across the threshold. Her room was ridiculously lavish, and this was obscenely opulent. It was clearly the bedchamber of royalty, and no expense was spared. She almost cringed at how luxurious it was, knowing she would feel embarrassed to sleep in this place if their marriage had been real.
As soon as the door closed, his hands settled on her shoulders. She braced herself, turning to face him, and freezing in mid-step. Two of his guards flanked the inner door, and she frowned at him. “What are they doing here?”
He seemed startled by the question. “They’re my personal guards. They’re always there.”
She shook her head, pulling away from his fingers as they tried to trail up her arms. “You promised we’d be alone for our wedding night.”
He arched his brow ridge. “Did I? I don’t remember that, but if you say I did, my charming bride, I must have.”
She nodded, and then waited for him to dismiss them. And waited a little longer, and he still made no move to do so. “Well?”
“Well what, Jordan?”
She threw up her hands in exasperation. “Aren’t you going to get rid of them?”
He chuckled. “Never. The guards stay.”
She was flummoxed and had clearly been outmaneuvered by Aryk. She needed a chance to regroup and find another opening. Straightening her shoulders, she tried to move around Aryk. “Fine, if they aren’t leaving, I am. I’m not sharing my wedding night with two strangers watching us.”
His hand fastened around her arm when she tried to walk past him, his fingers biting into her skin so sharply he must be crushing the bone. She let out a small cry and tried to wrench herself away, but he held her firmly. “Let go of me.”
“You’re going nowhere.” His voice had lost any hint of indulgence, and he dragged her deeper into the room. She struggled against him, making eye contact with one of his guards. “Help me,” she called out to him. She wasn’t surprised, but was disgusted, when the guard’s gaze flicked away from hers, and his expression remained neutral. She would clearly get no help from them. Their presence stymied her efforts to assassinate Aryk, but would do nothing to deter him from consummating the marriage. She was in trouble.
Sash moved quietly behind Orix and in front of Ryland, aware of the need to remain undetected for as long as possible, though he was impatient to be done with their part of the mission so he could find Jordan to see if she had succeeded with hers. If she hadn’t, consequences for her would be dire, and it sent a chill through him.
It took everything he had to remain in formation as they moved quietly through the halls toward Jorvak’s chambers, having heard from another strike team that he had left the reception early to retire to his room. His place was with the strike team, but he really wanted to be with Jordan. He knew she had to complete her mission, and his arrival could ruin everything, but his insides were screaming at him to find Jordan.
If he hadn’t had such a shrunken latrael gland, he would have been certain his shea was trying to tell him something. Since he’d never experience that, he knew it was far more likely just his own imagination and paranoia had combined to give him a sense of urgency.
Finally, they reached Ha’s quarters, and Orix paused at the door for a moment, getting an image of the inside layout and determining where Ha was before plugging that data into the folding bands Karsh had made them. It worked with a different technology than their usual folding devices, allowing for a more precise arrival and stealth, but still required foreknowledge of the area to where they were folding, to avoid ending up molecularly fused to a piece of furniture or each other. Even worse, he couldn’t imagine how hellish it would be to end up fused to Jorvak Ha.
A moment later, Orix nodded, and Sash put his hand on the general’s shoulder as Inquisitor Breese did the same, clapping a hand over his other shoulder. As soon as they were all touching, Orix pushed the button on his folding band, and they appeared in Ha’s quarters a moment later.
The doctor had just emerged from his bathroom, and he stumbled to a stop in mid-step as they appeared before him. He opened his mouth, clearly planning to scream, but didn’t have the chance. Orix charged, jumping onto the doctor and knocking him to the floor before Ha could even get out a single syllable. His large hand clamped over the other man’s mouth, and Sash moved closer to help secure Ha. Ryland was behind him, and they quickly cuffed the scientist before dragging him to his feet.
“Jorvak Ha, you’re under arrest for war crimes against humanity.”
Sash allowed Orix to deliver the speech, wanting to tune it out. He understood the need to follow guidelines, but for his part, he would have been perfectly content with assassinating Ha just as Jordan had been tasked to do with Aryk.
Ha was as arrogant as ever as he glared at them. Even with his wrists confined behind his back, he hadn’t made any attempt to scream. Perhaps that had something to do with the pulser Orix held against his neck, but it was probably more from the other man’s own certainty he was more powerful than they were. He sneered at them. “You can take me through your kangaroo court trial, but I’m not afraid. I’ve done nothing of which I’m ashamed, and everything was to ensure the survival of our race. The humans will do nothing to me.”
Ryland stepped forward. “The humans will do a great deal to you. You’ve permanently altered their DNA, along with causing twenty percent of the population to die. I have a feeling they’ll reinstate the death penalty for you, though only a few of their countries still use it.”
Ha actually laughed. “The emperor will never allow that.”
Sash glared at him. “Your emperor has nothing to do with it. He’ll soon be in a position to help no one.”
Ha arched his brow ridge. “The Emperor is never alone or unprotected, so whatever you have planned, it’s bound to fail.” His eyes widened suddenly, and a hint of comprehension appeared in his gaze. “Is the human supposed to assassinate Aryk?”
He laughed again. “She’s no match for Aryk, especially with his personal guards. He would never trust her enough to be alone with her, so your plan is doomed to fai
l. Once Aryk disposes of her, he’ll raise the alarm, and you’ll be the ones in cuffs. I can promise you there’ll be no trial, because none is needed. You’re all guilty of sedition, and the penalty is death.”
Panic surged through Sash at the doctor’s words. He wanted to think it was simply a tool Ha was using to throw them off balance, but the words resonated with sincerity. Jordan’s plan was contingent on being alone with her new husband, and though he hadn’t been privy to the finer details, he could infer she was going to catch him when he was vulnerable and lost in arousal.
If she couldn’t get him alone, she wouldn’t be able to assassinate him. There was no way Jordan could handle three Dazon males, especially since two of them would be armed and heavily trained to guard their emperor. He traded a panicked glance with Orix, who nodded his permission. Technically, the general led a different part of their structure, but for this mission, Sash was at his command. Even if Orix hadn’t given him permission to leave to find Jordan, he would have done so anyway and risked charges of insubordination later. Those were the least of his concerns.
As he started to leave the chambers, he froze when Ha let out a small cry, turning to glance over his shoulder. His eyes widened with surprise as he saw Ryland slipping a pulser back into its holster. The doctor slumped forward, and he looked at the Inquisitor. “What happened?”
Ryland smiled. “I didn’t feel like hearing him all the way back to Earth. He isn’t dead, unfortunately. That honor belongs to the humans.”
Without another word, Sash left the chambers of the doctor, moving quietly through the halls as he made his way to the emperor’s bedchamber. He was certain Jordan would be there, and he was also sure there would be several guards between him and her. He pulled his pulser from his holster, setting it to maximum power as he vowed they wouldn’t stand in his way.
Jordan wondered if Aryk was part octopus, because he seemed to have hands everywhere after he tossed her onto the bed and pinned her down. Her dress was torn, but she didn’t care about preserving the garment as a memory of this horrible day. She just cared about preserving her modesty and hiding her body from his leering gaze.