Queens' Warriors

by Mari Byrne

  “It doesn’t matter at the moment. You asked; I gave you an answer. Come. You must hurry.”

  Putting action to words, Dorian propelled her forward. As they approached the suite, Dorian made as if to hang behind, but Shari grabbed his hand unobtrusively and forced him to come with her.

  “After hearing that, there’s no way I’d leave you out here. What if those two came down here to check what was taking so long? I’d never forgive myself if they caught on.” Shari mumbled the last.

  “They would not dare to invade Shan Lin and Vincent’s private rooms. They may not be the sons of the Queen, but they are still privileged members of the royal family.”

  “Well, come on in. I don’t want to take the chance today is the day they change their minds.”

  Dorian nodded and followed Shari.

  When they finally reached her room, Shari immediately saw the clothing Winters had laid out for her on the dressing chair. It was the outfit she had seen hanging in her closet, the one she’d exclaimed was fit for a Queen. The very one her husbands had insisted she wear for the arrival of the True Queen.

  Shrugging aside thoughts of her men, Shari hurriedly began to strip off what she already wore not caring Dorian was with her. If she could greet a woman perfectly naked, she shouldn’t blanche at a man watching her simply dress. There wasn’t anytime to dither.

  “My Lady Princess! I must…” Dorian began to protest the moment she started to undress, but Shari overrode his protests.

  “We don’t have time! Just listen to me. No matter what the Queen is up to, and you know she’s up to something, make sure you get my husbands out of here. That woman knows what they’ve done. I know she does. If they get back alive, tell them I’ve left for Earth, and not to… Damn it! Help me here!”

  While she spoke, Shari slid into the luxurious clothing. She had no clue what the outfit was made of, but she did know the only other thing to come close to the feeling of this material was silky smooth skin. Problem was, the outfit did not seem to be cooperating at all. She could not get the back to meet where she needed it to close.

  Dorian made his way to her and managed to seal the opening in back.

  “My La…Shari. You know there’s no way either of your husbands are going to believe me. They’ll know the moment you let them inside your head. If the Queen is going to use you as leverage of some kind, she is going to torture you in the hopes of learning everything about what Shan Lin and Vincent have done through your link with them.”

  Shari nodded her head in agreement knowing Dorian had been in a position to know this first hand. His beating was supposed to have killed him. It was only through Queen Sara’s greed and love of finely honed men that saved the man from certain death.

  Adjusting her clothing as best she could, she patted Dorian’s scarred hand absently then sat to slip into the shoes she was to wear with the outfit.

  “I’ve already thought of that. It doesn’t matter what she does to me. There is no link. Apparently I’ve shut it off and have to find a way to turn it back on. I can’t give her what I haven’t got.”

  Shari heard the words she spoke and a feeling of loneliness engulfed her being. Even now her mind prayed something had just gone wrong in her head. The feeling of wholeness she had experienced with the twins was now gone. There had been a link between the three of them there just wasn’t one any longer. Shari prayed it was only her mind with the problem.

  Dismissing her thoughts as unproductive, not to mention depressing the hell out of her, Shari moved to face the vanity mirror.

  “Just do what I’ve asked. They need to be safe. I’m not important now. They’re the ones who must survive. They’re the ones who are vital to bringing this bitch down.”

  “Shari. You are vital to the survival of the twins. Didn’t they tell you? Didn’t they explain? If you die, so do they. The same goes for them dying. You can’t live without your life-mates. Oh, you might survive for a while, but it will be nothing. You’ll want to die every day you still live. There are so very few who have ever survived without their life-mates, and the ones who have usually end up insane, or killing themselves.”

  Shari, in the midst of tucking and smoothing her hair, paused at his words and sank back into the chair.

  They had not told her. There had not been time for the little details when she had arrived in Naralin. First, they had the job of getting her to cooperate with them and their plans. Then Theresa had shown up with her crew, the Queen’s calling them, and so many things in between…

  Why hadn’t those two made the time?

  “I’m so sorry, My Lady Princess. They should have been the ones to explain. Right now, the Queen’s men await your…”

  It was the gentleness in Dorian’s voice that brought her out of her thoughts. Even as her head reeled with the possibility she might eventually go crazy, or even kill herself, if there was a chance to stop the Queen from learning of her husbands’ possible treason, she knew she had to take it.

  Standing, she straightened her clothing, then her shoulders, and faced Dorian.

  “Tell them I love them. I will do what I can for them, but they are to leave Aranak and Azaya for their True Queen as soon as they can.”

  Holding her head high, Shari walked from the room.

  * * * * *

  The three-story ride from her room was too short. She made her way back to the living area where the Queen’s men waited, dread and fear in her every step and the mantras For Vincent and Shan Lin beating in every footfall.

  Arriving all too quickly into the living area, she waited for the men to notice her. Winters, was the first and gave her a surreptitious smile before he announced her arrival.

  “My Lady Princess, Her Royal Highness, Shari Lynn Rayan-White. Wife of My Lord Princes, Shan Lin and Vincent White-Rayan, Their Royal Highnesses. Marriageneice of Her Majesty, Queen Sara Annalise Anaksup. Marriagecousin of Her Majesty, Queen Stephanie Anaksup-Armand, and My Lord Princes, Their Royal Highnesses, Mitchell and Kristain Armand-Anaksup. Marriagecousin to My Lady Princess Theresa Lawsai, Captain. Marriagesister to My Lady Princess, Her Royal Highness, Lyssa Carrucci-Rayan. Marriagecousin to…”

  As the list went on to name three more cousins and a few other titles Shari neither understood nor cared about at the moment, though she understood what Winters was doing. He was giving her all the protection he could give her at this time. Emotion clogged her throat and threatened to escape before she ruthlessly fought back the urge.

  When at last he had finished, both men the Queen had sent, and Dorian were bowing at her feet, their foreheads to the floor in the positions of obedience. While normally she would have been appalled, in this one instance, she wanted to run to Winters and hug him for doing the best he could under these most difficult conditions.

  “My Lady Princess, your conveyance awaits.”

  “Thank you, Winters.” But still she waited wondering when the men would arise.

  When thirty seconds had passed and they still had not risen, she looked toward Winters for some clue.

  He mouthed to her, “You may rise now.”

  Covering her mouth to stifle the nervous laughter threatening to escape, she quickly cleared her throat before speaking.

  “You may rise now. The Queen is waiting.”

  Dorian was the first to rise, and quickly came to her side offering her his arm.

  “May I escort My Lady Princess to her awaiting transport?” The offer was given with such politeness, if Shari had not known better, she would think she had never met the man.

  “Yes. You may.”

  The two other men had risen and were striding toward the door, but soon stopped and waited for Shari as Winters cleared his throat from the doorway. With a look they apparently recognized, the two practically stood at attention as they waited for her to pass them.

  “At your convenience, My Lady Princess.”

  Shari nodded her head in what she hoped passed for a regal movement toward the pair of obvi
ously embarrassed men. Walking ahead of them now out the door, she gave Winters a wink, then went down the stairs toward the waiting vehicle.

  It was a thing to behold, and something Shari had never seen before. The vehicle could have passed for an ostentatious royal coach on Earth if not for the air tanks visible below. Outside was the color of mother of pearl and seemed to sparkle. Even with the tanks underneath it, there were still four horses pulling it in front. For a moment, Shari wondered if they flew, then dismissed the idea as unimportant. She’d find out soon enough.

  The Queen had obviously wanted anyone who cared to know she was summoning her newest family member.

  Dorian, who had remained silent with the exception of asking to escort her, led her to the opening of the carriage. Once she was inside and seated, he leaned his head in as if to adjust her dress and whispered his own assurance.

  “Please. Do not worry. They will come for you.” Before she could respond, he backed out of the doorway and shut her inside.

  She watched out the window in front of her as the two men, Lith and Walkins climbed onto a high front seat and each took up reins for a pair of horses. Climbing up to sit with the pair the Queen had sent, was another man Shari had never seen.

  Not wanting to think too hard about it, Shari turned back to the window at her side and watched as Dorian walked back to the porch to stand with Winters. A small smile crept onto her face as she noticed they made a beautiful pair of sentinels. She hung onto the thought until she could no longer see either of the men.

  Sitting back, she tried one last time to reach out to her husbands. Bringing up a wavering image of the light switch from earlier in its off position, Shari concentrated on flipping it upward. She hoped her nerve-wracked mind could hold the image long enough.

  Please God, let this link business work!

  * * * * *

  Shan Lin made his way toward the entrance of the tavern intending to gather their crew and leave.

  Shan Lin?

  The voice startled Shan Lin momentarily before his heart accelerated excitedly. Shari had found her on switch!

  Shari! Thank Riad. This is great. Now we can listen…

  I’m sorry. This is not Shari. It’s Stephanie.

  Shan Lin’s excitement died but his heart continued to pound, just for a different reason.

  Your Majesty. He nearly dropped to his knees before remembering she was only pathing into his mind.

  Please. Stephanie, remember?

  Shan Lin did his best not to blush at the reminder of Queen Stephanie asking him to call her by her given name.

  Yes, Stephanie. How may I serve you?

  There was a moment’s pause before Shan Lin felt a weighted hand settle on his shoulders.

  I’m learning still. Forgive me. A commanding voice echoed through his head.

  I am sorry to intrude but I couldn’t help…hearing, about the Vid/Sync having been found. Is it true?

  Shan Lin’s attention wavered between astonishment and awe. Queen Stephanie was actually “touching” him through her mental link. This woman, so very new to the ways of Aranakian monarch powers had been able to rifle through Tears in the universes and mentally gather information.

  Shan Lin? Are you still there? The volume of the question intensified as Stephanie must have assumed she had lost their link.

  “My Queen.” He spoke out loud as this time he did go to his knees, his head to the floor in obedience. He actually felt waves of embarrassment pathed through their link.

  Please, get up.

  Shan Lin did as he was bid and rose ignoring the questioning looks from those around him.

  Do you have the Vid/Sync?

  Shan Lin nodded. “Yes, My Queen.”

  Good. Stash it in a safe place. I think it’s time I visited my soon-to-be home. Excellent job. Satisfaction radiated in the words as praise rang inside his head.

  Please inform your brother I will arrange a meeting place with the two of you soon. Mitch and Kristain…yes dears… Well, they’re ready to see Aranak again. They think I’m ready to assume my throne.

  Happiness threaded her words when she spoke of her husbands and Shan Lin knew his cousins had chosen wisely.

  “Yes, Your Majesty. Please know you are always welcome in any of our homes.”

  Thank you, Shan Lin.

  Shan Lin spent a few moments informing Stephanie of what had occurred in Hurok since his arrival before his attention focused once again on the room he occupied now. The tavern was crowded though when he glanced around, there was no sign of Vincent.

  Wanting to inform his brother of the contact from Queen Stephanie, Shan Lin started out the door. Suddenly, directly in front of him was one of their crew, Turing. Even though they both saw each other, it was already too late to stop the collision both knew was inevitable.

  Accidentally bumping into Shan Lin, Turing did his best to make the contact brief, apologizing to Shan Lin for the encounter. Those watching on from the nearby tables watched on in puzzlement as the newcomer seemed to have gone inside of himself to look at things, which only he could see.

  Shan Lin heard his brother curse directly behind him and knew Vincent would reach out to head off the inevitable contact, even knowing it was futile. Vincent would be left to watch helplessly and wait as Shan Lin had his vision.

  Minutes passed as everyone stared at Shan Lin. Suddenly, with a quick inhalation of breath, Vincent’s brother came back to himself.

  Turning, he reached out blindly for Vincent.

  “We have to go back.” The statement, given in so calm a manner belayed the sheer terror looking back at Vincent through Shan Lin’s eyes.

  * * * * *

  The blows continued to land and Shari still couldn’t believe this was happening. Any minute, she expected to awaken from this dream, but then the pain set in, and with her arms tied behind her and her legs equally helpless, all she could do was struggle through the pain.

  It continued unabated for what seemed like days, and she screamed through the gag that had been thrust into her mouth by the gleeful woman.

  All her concentration was focused on staying conscious and forming a plan, when the blows would eventually stop until suddenly, even that was snatched away from her.

  A searing pain started in her leg and eventually made her aware this could go on until she died.

  Suddenly, it stopped. Through the red haze obscuring her vision and hearing, she finally heard the high-pitched laughter coming from above her aching body. Opening her eyes, she looked up just in time to see Queen Sara leaning over her leg and thrust her hand into the aching leg.

  With a scream of inhuman pain, she lost consciousness.

  * * * * *

  The men bolted out the doorway leaving shouted questions in their wake. They had barely reached their mounts when the screams of their wife finally entered their minds.

  “Shari!” The name burst simultaneously from the Warriors, anguish and pain ringing in every syllable. The Warriors ignored the darkness trying to suck them in as they felt the connection once more abruptly disconnect.

  Panting with the effort already, both men mounted their beasts and tore out of the town leaving murmured whispers of death surely coming for someone.

  * * * * *

  The pain was unbearable, both the physical and mental anguish she endured at the hands of this woman people called Queen Sara. It was all Shari could do to draw air between each blow that had landed. As it was, the fear that came at the mention of the rape of her body was nothing to what was actually taking place at the moment.

  Every part of her body ached as she did the best she could to stop the bleeding in her leg. Her left eye was swollen shut and she was sure that at least one of her ribs had been broken.

  At the moment, she had other priorities. Tend to her wounds and pray help came soon.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Shari awoke to the throbbing in her body and waited as long as she dared for the pain to subside. When it didn’t
she knew she had no choice. It had been hours since she’d been floating in and out of consciousness waiting for rescue, and the Queen would soon make good on her threats of rape. Shari knew it now.

  Not knowing if her earlier attempt to contact her husbands had worked, Shari began the mental process once again, wondering how effective it would be through the pain she was now in. She hadn’t wanted to contact Shan Lin and Vincent. She had done her best to blank her mind of all thought where the two men were concerned. But the words Queen Sara had whispered in her ear during one of her more lucid moments had sent an icy spear of terror running through Shari.

  “Once you’re gone, they will die. Do you know what madness a mated trio feels when one link is severed?” Shari had shuddered at the joyful malice in Sara’s voice. “No? Oh goodie! I not only get to break this lovely body, I also get to enjoy the fear you’ll writhe in as I enlighten you.” Sara had mockingly straightened her clothing and gracefully sank into a kneeling position directly in front of Shari.

  Shari could barely manage to still the twitches her body involuntarily made from the pain the woman had inflicted. A sudden determination came over her to still any reaction to the words as the Queen began to speak.

  “At first, you grieve just as any other person would who has lost their loved one. The hours of, I should have… I could have…why didn’t I just…if only I had the chance to do something differently. To once more hold a beloved, to have them with you one last time, selfish as you think it is, you would give anything to have them with you once again. You pray to your maker, you make deals, you beg. I’ll do anything if you’ll only return them to my loving embrace. Then the anger sets in. You feel betrayed by the one entity, who has in effect, taken your life from you. While this is supposed to help you through the steps of your grief, it never does. You slide deeper and deeper into your anger. You vacillate between why have you forsaken me, Riad, and how dare you take from me! And that is only the beginning.”