Seeing Stars

  Amaranth didn’t understand the phrase ‘partner in crime’ so she asked.

  To her surprise, Nate answered in near-fluent merah. “Graeme is a fugitive. My brother used to be an admiral in the Fleet until he was falsely prosecuted and sent to prison. If we hadn’t broken him out of his cell, he probably would have been executed. That’s why we’re all partners in crime. We’re wanted by the Imperial.”

  Graeme was a fugitive? And falsely prosecuted, too? Amaranth hadn’t expected that. It surely explained the ship’s small crew and the way they carried themselves. Their demeanour radiated secrecy.

  “Why would someone accuse you of a crime you didn’t commit? It’s injustice,” she said.

  “Our queen lusted over my brother and he rejected her. She sent him to prison as punishment. Simple as that.” Nate leered at her devilishly. “So, my virgin Goddess, is it true whoever claimed your maidenhead would be granted immortality?”

  “Nate!” Graeme barked. “Don’t listen to him.” He pulled a chair for her and motioned her to sit.

  Amaranth obeyed him in silence. After six thousand years, why did people still remember Mamnon’s lies? Caught in the splendour of the new world, she hadn’t asked Graeme about what happened to the Great Khan. Everyone she knew had perished a long time ago and she thought the past was better left at that.

  She swallowed hard and replied meekly, “No. It’s a lie and I’m a sham.”

  Graeme was carrying a plate of food when she answered. He paused. “A sham?”

  She nodded. “I’m not a reincarnation of the Sun God. High Priest Mamnon fabricated the prophecy and the lies to curry favour from Shanrakhan. I don’t have divine power, nor will taking my virginity render a man immortal. Forgive me.”

  Nate looked stunned for a moment. When Keiran and Brannan asked what happened, he quickly translated it for them. The two men stared at her with their mouths wide open.

  “What about your white hair and your skin? And the birthmark you were born with? Wasn’t that a mark of a hetai?” Graeme asked. He put the plate down and sat next to her.

  Amaranth felt the red mark etched on the base of her throat. “Mamnon branded this as soon as I was born. To fool the Khan.”

  “You’re just an ordinary woman?” Nate seemed like he didn’t want to believe it. “Our mother used to pray at your shrine when she was a little girl. She believed you granted maidens respectable future husbands.”

  “I have a shrine?”

  “Hundreds of them. You’re quite a popular deity after the Sun God himself.”

  She shook her head. “But I’m a fraud…”

  “This is why I don’t like history, unlike my brother here. History’s overrated.” Nate grinned while he demolished the rest of his food.

  Graeme gave her a spoon. “If I may ask, what happened the night of the claiming?”

  Amaranth was startled. “Orion Thane wanted to spoil the prophecy. He didn’t know it was a sham anyway. That night, I was waiting for the Khan when he came to kill me—I thought he was trying to kill me. I didn’t know what he did would make me sleep for thousands of years.”

  “Orion Thane?” Graeme furrowed his lush eyebrows. “I thought it was the High Priest’s son, Mameth, who kidnapped you.”

  “Orion Thane was the Chief of Acolytes. He was rumoured to be Mamnon’s illegitimate son. I know no one by the name Mameth.”

  Graeme snorted. “History is interesting when you get the chance to ask the story straight from the horse’s mouth.”

  “Horse’s mouth?”

  “It’s just a silly expression.” Graeme waved uncaringly. “Eat your food before it gets cold.”

  Amaranth lifted her spoon and paused. “What happened to Shanrakhan after I was gone?”

  Nate snorted. “He died.”

  “He was assassinated?”

  “Nah. He drank too much—he choked on his own vomit.”

  She cringed.

  “Nate!” Graeme warned him, then barked in the other language. He nodded at her. “Eat. You need it for your strength.”

  Amaranth ate in silence while digesting what she had learnt so far. However, one thing still nagged at the back of her mind. “I…” she began

  The men stopped eating.

  “How did my tomb end up in your possession?”

  The brothers traded gazes. Graeme answered. “Nate stole this ship that belongs to the Imperial. We didn’t expect to find a container with you in it in the cargo bay.”

  “The Imperial?”

  “Imperial of Arcova. The Romadjta dynasty. Shanrakhan might have united the five continents, but he didn’t live long enough to enjoy his kingship. After he died, his brother Jovan took over the throne and founded Arcova.”

  “Jovan became a king?” Amaranth remembered Shanrakhan’s half-brother, having seen him in on a couple of occasions. While Shanrakhan was huge, hairy, and a crass brute, Jovan was the exact opposite. Jovan was slender, polite, cultured and intelligent. Even Mamnon liked him, though he kept it mostly to himself. Jovan didn’t have ambition to rule, therefore Mamnon didn’t bother to curry his favour.

  “Yes. Shanrakhan’s sons opposed it,” Graeme said. “Since the majority of Shanrakhan’s followers were the Sun God’s worshippers, his sons lost favour when the Sun Temple gave their blessings to Jovan. Many switched loyalty to Jovan because Shanrakhan failed to fulfil the prophecy.”

  Knowing how sly Mamnon was, she wouldn’t put it past him that he had planned this from the very beginning. Shanrakhan might have been easy to control with promises and flatteries, but one wouldn’t expect to live long enough after he concocted such elaborate lies. Beheading men was Shanrakhan’s favourite sport. If Shanrakhan had bedded her that night, he would have found out the prophecy Mamnon had fed him for twenty-one years was nothing but lies. Amaranth bet that Mamnon had something to do with Shanrakhan’s death.

  Still, something didn’t quite add up.

  “Why would Jovan’s descendants try to find me? Wouldn’t it be better if I was left forgotten? Because of my absence, Jovan became a king.”

  Nate answered this time. “There had always been feuds between the royal members. Shanrakhan’s descendants were always looking for ways to discredit our line of kings. Recently, there has been a succession. Our king was dead and the Crown Prince was in exile. We have our speculations that the king’s second queen framed the Crown Prince to gain the throne. The Queen came from Shanrakhan’s direct descendants. We have a feeling that they excavated your tomb because they still believed in the prophecy. Queen Breanna has a cousin who was been championed for the throne. If you were brought alive again, and Breanna’s cousin, Dzon, were to reach immortality by claiming your virginity, the Crown Prince would be annulled from his rights and have to surrender his claim to the Imperial throne.”

  Amaranth dropped her spoon on the table. “But I’m a fraud. I don’t wish to be a pawn anymore.”

  “We know that,” Graeme said. He covered her hand with his and squeezed gently. “Don’t worry. As long as you’re with us, you’re safe.”

  Somehow, his reassurance didn’t appease her worry. Her long sleep hadn’t distanced her from Mamnon’s web of lies.

  The past still came to haunt her and she was afraid there’d be no escape from it this time.

  Chapter Three

  “May I come in?”

  Graeme turned to the owner of the voice and saw Amaranth standing timidly by the bridge’s door. He waved her in. Graeme had taken over Nate’s shift piloting the ship. He was poring over the chart and failed to realise she had come to see him.

  “What’s the matter? You need something?” he asked.

  Amaranth shook her head. “I need a word with you if you could spare a moment.”

  “Sure.” Graeme pulled up a nearby chair and gestured her to sit. “What’s on your mind?’

  “I…” She sat timidly and folded her hands on her lap. “I haven’t offered you my heartfelt thanks for saving me.”


  “You don’t need to, but you’re welcome.”

  Her big doe eyes gazed directly at him. Graeme was mesmerised by them for long seconds. He’d never seen such beautiful eyes. They were sapphire blue, sparkled brightly, and framed by lush, raven lashes. True albinos usually had red eyes and white hair thanks to their lack of pigmentation.

  “I wish to ask what you are planning to do with me.”

  “If you’re worried that I might hand you over to the Imperial, don’t be. I have no intention to do so. You’ll be safe with us. Once we reach our destination, you’re more than welcome to stay with us until you figure out what you want to do.”

  “Oh.” She looked relieved. “How can I ever repay your kindness?”

  “You don’t have to. Watching you safe and sound is enough for me.”

  “I…” Amaranth hesitated. “I would like to offer my service for everything you have done for me. As a hetai, I was thoroughly trained in pillow art. I haven’t yet had to employ it, but I know the basics. Mamnon’s instructor made sure I memorised all my lessons so I’m sure I wouldn’t disappoint.”

  For a moment, Graeme thought he’d misheard her. Did she just offer sex as payment? Good lord. “I’m flattered, but it won’t be necessary. I’m helping you because it’s the right thing to do.”

  She pondered over his words. “Do I repulse you? Are you not pleased with the way I look?”

  “No, no, that’s not what I mean. You’re a very beautiful woman. Just ask anybody and they’d agree with me.”

  “Then is it because I’m inexperienced?” She rose from her seat and knelt in front of him. “If you allow me, let me demonstrate my skills. I’m sure you wouldn’t be disappointed.”

  “Amaranth.” Graeme caught her hands. He laughed nervously as her touch made him hard instantly. Hot damn. “I don’t need to be pleasured. But thank you. I’m deeply honoured, but this isn’t necessary. I didn’t help you because I’m expecting this.”

  “No?”

  “Hell no.”

  “I feel an unbearable joy whenever I’m in your presence, and I’ve never had this kind of feeling towards any man before. Would you not, at least, allow me to show you a token of gratitude?”

  Graeme’s jaw slackened. He’d been approached by many women before, but never one so candid and damnably innocent. Not that he minded her affections, though. He just hated to admit that he lusted over her since he had promised to protect her. As her protector, he should be focusing his energy on her wellbeing, not getting in her pants. He felt like a dick each time he entertained his dirty thoughts. “That would be wrong.”

  Her eyes rounded. “How so?”

  “Because you’re pure and a maiden doesn’t do those things.”

  “I’m not pure. I’m just a sham.”

  “Listen, Amaranth, why don’t you go to your cabin and have some rest? We’ll talk about this tomorrow, okay?” Graeme urged her to stand. She obeyed without a peep. “You can find the way to your cabin, right? I’m piloting this ship. I can’t leave my post.” Graeme made an excuse. He didn’t want her to see he had a raging erection. He was secretly relieved that his jacket covered most of his crotch.

  She nodded. “I…”

  “Is there something else?”

  Amaranth smiled prettily and it brightened everything like sunshine on the dullest day. His cock throbbed under his pants, cursing his decision about being a prude. She slipped a hand inside his jacket and grabbed his collar. Slowly, Amaranth pulled him closer.

  She kissed him gently. A mere brush, at first. When he didn’t object, she gave him a light kiss. It was the sweetest kiss he’d ever experienced. A brimstone of lust engulfed him in one smooth sweep.

  Graeme was lost.

  The next thing he knew, he’d slipped his hand on her nape, anchoring her to stay still while he returned the kiss with fervour. He knew he should stop, but he couldn’t.

  The blare of an alarm prompted him to stop.

  What the hell…

  The navigation’s screens flickered alive and informed him they were being approached by several unknown ships.

  The Imperial Armada had found them.

  Nate was in his shorts when he ran onto the bridge. Graeme had disengaged the autopilot and was steering the ship in full hyper-drive mode, flying in FTL speed towards the Forbidden Zone. He ordered Amaranth to sit in one of the chairs and be still. Keiran and Brannan hurried onto the bridge seconds after Nate and resumed their positions. Brannan manned the communication console and Keiran was in navigation. Graeme traded seats with Nate. His brother was a genius when it came to piloting a ship.

  Nate threw a cursory glance at Amaranth and snickered. “What’s she doing here?”

  “None of your business,” Graeme barked. “Focus on your job.”

  Nate flicked a few switches on the console and took the wheel. “Ah.” He snapped his fingers and drawled in an annoying sing-song voice, “I know what you two were doing.”

  Graeme’s jaw twitched.

  “You two were going to do it, but you got interrupted. How unfortunate.”

  “Shut your mouth.”

  “I mean, when was the last time you got laid? No wonder you’re so stiff and tense. No pun intended.”

  Graeme placed his hand on Nate’s head and growled. “Make one more joke and I swear to tell Mother that she has one less son.”

  “Ah shit!” Nate turned serious. “Brace yourself.”

  Graeme grabbed the headrest of the captain’s seat. The ship shook as they took a few hits from the Imperial Armada. He heard Amaranth’s soft whimpers and saw her clutching the armrest tightly. She looked utterly frightened.

  “Keiran! What’s your status?”

  “We have five class-A scouts on our tail, sir. It seems they have been ordered not to use lethal forces, sir. They’re toying.”

  Neutralise and board mission. Graeme had led that kind of mission several times during his career. Their stolen ship wasn’t equipped with any weaponry to fight back since she was scheduled to be decommissioned. The only thing they could do was run. And it better be a damn good one since this ship was old and those scouts on their tail had much faster ships. There was one way to make it out of this situation alive. And it needed a crazy stunt to pull it off…

  “Nate, how good are you navigating through the third rings of Sierra-Allyx?” he asked.

  “How suicidal are you? I scored eighty per cent success on the simulations.”

  “Good enough for me. I want you to stay on course and raise the engine capacity about twenty per cent. Once we pass Ghadir’s moons, we blast in full ship into the third ring.”

  “You do know we might not survive if we do this, right?” Nate asked rhetorically.

  “You have a better idea?”

  “Nope. I like the daring and dangerous plan the best.” Nate grinned from ear to ear. “It’s sad that these idiots can’t wait for another hour to catch up with us. Don’t they know my brother doesn’t get laid too often?”

  Graeme fought an unbearable urge to smack Nate. He couldn’t do it now, however. “If we make it out of this alive, please remind me to kill my brother.”

  Keiran snorted hard.

  The Forbidden Zone was beautiful to look upon from the outer rings of Sierra-Allyx. When Graeme was a boy, he had spent countless night gazing upon the stars with the powerful telescope his father had given him for his birthday. He dreamed one day he’d join the Fleet and travel into deep space. On his twenty-fourth birthday, his dream became reality when he graduated from the Academy and was commissioned into the Fleet as a first lieutenant.

  Of course, up close, the Forbidden Zone wasn’t as impressive as when he had watched it from half a star system away since it was made from a cluster of asteroids with a few terraformed planets. The asteroids reflected the rings of Sierra-Allyx, which consisted of ice and dust particles making spectacular light shows that Graeme never get bored of watching. This time, he could see them until the end of his days. A
ccording to his calculations, that would be exactly twenty days, seven hours, and thirty-nine minutes worth of the ship’s oxygen supply.

  Their daring stunt had worked.

  Their narrow escape from the Imperial Armada had come with a terrible price. When they had utilised the full resources of the ship, the main thruster of the engine had broken down. And without it, the ship was as good as dead. No electricity to be generated. No filtering oxygen. No water.

  After inspecting damages on the ship and assessing their dire situation, Graeme decided to stay in the ship and send Nate, Keiran and Brannan away in the only operational rescue pod.

  The pod itself was designed to accommodate only three adults. Its oxygen supply would last about a week. But if Graeme sent Amaranth with them and used the Star of Hecave to keep her in suspended animation, they would have a great chance of survival. Once the rescue pod entered the inner ring of Sierra-Allyx, they were bound to be picked up by the Fleet patrol.

  Graeme hadn’t broken the news to others. He planned to sleep on it until tomorrow. Nate would reject his plan out loud, but he intended to do it no matter what. Nate and his two former aides had risked their lives to save him.

  It wasn’t fair if they had to die in the end.

  The door of his cabin whispered open. Amaranth strode in uninvited.

  “Why I do have a feeling you’re going to do something incredibly foolish?” she demanded. Her eyes sparkled more than usual while a rosy blush tinged her porcelain cheeks.

  His eyebrows shot up. “What are you talking about? Oh, you’re upset.” He wanted to stroke her hair, but she snatched his hand midway. Graeme was amused. She looked prettier when she was mad.

  “I forgot to tell you, when we kissed, we bonded.”

  “Bonded?” Graeme echoed.

  “I channel your feelings. Your desires. It was part of the pillow art I was trained to do. I was supposed to bond with my overlord, so I could be ready whenever he needed me.”