by Ashley Nemer
Leigh appeared in her training room office after her short time with Nikole and Alec. The look on Nikole’s face as she watched her torture Alec had been priceless. She could live another century on the joy that brought her. Too bad he would most likely die; otherwise, he would’ve been fun to visit again in the future.
“Let my abb know I want to speak with him. We have updates that need to be shared with the rest of the warriors,” she informed one of the men as she walked past them. “And make sure to tell him that, this time, we will succeed.” Leigh knew the time to kill her abb was approaching. As much as she loved him, she couldn’t tolerate what he was doing to her growth. Every time she started to supersede him, he interfered. Well, not anymore.
Leigh stopped at the mirror and looked at her reflection. She would make a beautiful queen. She’d heard rumors of her siti and how things were with Hashim and Afaf ruling. Queen Afaf, everyone loved her. Leigh had no love for her them, not after they’d treated Haydar like they did. Passing up the eldest and rightful heir for her Amma Ikram had been appalling. She gave a scoff at thinking of her amma, her unknown family. She’d shown weakness every time she had the chance, caring for those less fortunate, helping people become equal. Her gedi had been foolish to think a woman like her could rule. How pathetic! What the Algula needed was someone who was willing to be cut-throat and deadly. They ruled the planet, not the humans. The fact her ancestors had forgotten that only went to show how worthless the lot of them were. The Algula had strayed so far from the Gods instructions, it wasn’t even recognizable anymore.
“Ma’am, might I have a word with you?”
Leigh was pulled from her train of thought to look at one of her warriors standing near her. She could tell something was wrong, but she had no clue how this news was going to hurt her.
“Well, speak. What is it that you need to tell me?”
He took her hostility to heart. Everyone knew you didn’t deliver bad news to Leigh when she was in this type of mood.
“I wanted to inform you of the events that transpired while you were gone.” He knew she was going to be mad at him. Everyone knew how much she’d favored Jonothon. He couldn’t help hesitating because the last person who gave her bad news, she’d killed on the spot.
“Spit it out. I don’t have all day. There are things that I need to do. Tell me or go away.” Leigh began removing her armor and chose to ignore the male’s presence. There wasn’t anything she despised more than a man who couldn’t speak to her intelligently.
“While you were out, your abb…” He stopped and cleared his throat, remembering that she didn’t like it when people referred to him as her abb but rather as Haydar, out of a sign of respect. “Haydar and the colonel Jonothon were involved in an incident. Haydar ordered me to place Jonothon in your room to await your arrival. I wanted to give you my regrets. I was just doing as I was told.” He brought his legs together, letting his heals clink together, and lowered his head in a sign of respect.
Leigh’s body went cold as she suddenly couldn’t take her eyes off of her warrior. “Why is Jonothon in my chambers and not in the pits? Shouldn’t he be feeding?”
“No, ma’am. Haydar wanted him in your room for your return. I believe he wanted you to see him right away.”
“Was he injured by something? You are holding back, tell me what you are withholding.”
The warrior kept his head lowered and his mouth silent. No one wanted to fight her during practice, let alone when she had a reason to fight. He hoped the more he stood in a submissive and respectful stance, the quicker she would realize this wasn’t his doing.
“Tell me!” Leigh was next to him within moments, her hands around his neck as she held nothing back in her grip. His windpipe was crushed, and his eyes started to go blood shot. “Tell me now!” she barked out at him.
He remained silent, unwilling to give her the news of what he had done.
Her right hand unsheathed her sword, and she tossed him onto the ground. Towering over him, she placed her boot on his chest and held the sword at his throat.
“As your leader, I command you to tell me. What happened with my abb and Jonathon?”
He looked up at her. Everyone spoke about how beautiful her red hair was, how solidly and perfectly her body was sculpted. All the men joined her cause in hopes she would take them as a lover. They were all jealous of Jonothon. Sticking the spear in him and leaving him to die was not the chore he thought it would have been. Sure, in the heat of the moment it was a challenge, but now he looked back at all the times he’d been picked over the rest of them… Well, he had made his bed, and now he was dying in it.
“Haydar tortured him and ordered me to dispose of the body in your chambers for your review.”
His words echoed in her ears, and with a surge of pain, she raised the sword and lowered it, severing his head from his body. She watched the head roll a few inches back, the eyes fluttering for a moment. She stepped back and looked at the lifeless warrior on the floor. What had her abb done? Had he really killed her lead commander because of an occasional fuck? Of course he had. No doubt he was that cruel. He got off on being in control and proving how much more power he held than her. She’d known he would do something, but she’d thought Jonothon could handle it.
Leigh took a few steps back and attempted to regain her composure. She looked around to make sure no one was there to witness her emotion reaction. She couldn’t let others know he’d gotten to her. Haydar couldn’t know that he’d gotten to her. Picking up a rag from the ground, she cleaned the blood off of the sword and put it back in its sheath. Walking over to the phone on the wall, she pressed a few buttons and instructed someone to come clean the floor and dispose of the body.
Flashing out of the room and to the front of her chambers, she rested her hand on the door knob. She silently thought about Jonothon and how he’d made her feel. She knew her abb had done this to keep her mind focused on the cause at hand. She also knew Haydar would never have given him a simple and dignified death. He would have mutilated Jonothon, torn him apart, just to teach her a lesson.
Leigh allowed herself a moment more, closing her eyes and resting her head on the wood of the door. Redirection, games, conquests, those were what her abb was proving to her. This was all the more reason that she needed to kill her abb and take over the crown. No one would be left who could hurt her. No one. And with that, she opened the door and walked into the room.
She had envisioned what she would be walking into, but this wasn’t on the list of options. She closed the door and went to his body and dropped to one knee. She let her hands run over his skin as she assessed him.
“Jonothon, are you still with me?”
His eyes opened to see her face and he tried to talk, but his tongue was so swollen that no audible words were breaking through. Leigh looked at his face, his shoulder, his body.
“You know I can’t allow this. All my warriors must be in the best shape possible.”
Jonothon knew what she meant, and he tried to nod his head in affirmation.
“You know this goes against the oath you gave me, to keep yourself in shape and capable to serve me.”
Again, Jonothon knew what she meant, and he felt the tears falling down his cheeks.
“You leave me no choice, Jonothon. I have to dispose of you. I cannot keep you like this; even if we nurse you back to health, you are now worthless to me. I don’t do well with imperfections. You know this.”
She pulled out her sword for the third time that day and held it by her side. She had killed so many over the years, but this would be the first one she regretted.
“I’m sorry, Jonothon.” And with that she raised and lowered her sword before Jonothon could blink.
She stood up away from the body and turned toward her desk. “It’s a good thing I was already planning to kill you, Abb, or this could get very awkward.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
After finding a pair of pants to put on and a rag
, Nikole was able to run a warm cloth over Alec’s wounds. Leigh had managed to mangle him up so badly that he was hardly recognizable. She was the reason this had happened, no one else. Had she not been in his life, none of this would have happened to him, and he would have been home, healthy and safe. No one would’ve known about his cabin, and no one would have cared that he’d been dating her.
She should have fucking let him go, but no, her stubborn ass had to always have what she wanted. When would she learn that she didn’t always get what she wanted? Never. That’s when. Zayn was right; she was careless in her actions. Even after everything that had happened, she never stopped to realize they would’ve come after him.
“Baby, please be okay. Please”
She didn’t fight to keep the tears from falling. She knew every one of them was filled with love for this man, her man. How was she going to live with herself if he died? Everything she loved was falling apart, her akh, her lover. This wasn’t how it was supposed to be. It should have been different; it should have been happier.
Nikole wrapped him in her arms and held him as she cried. She felt herself shutting down, losing little bits and pieces of herself.
She heard a car coming up the driveway. Then the engine shut off and a door slammed. She moved Alec’s head from her lap to a pillow and flashed outside of the house onto the porch. Mehmet. She watched him step out of the car and walk over towards her.
“Your presence is requested back at the manor m’lady. Please follow me.” He reached his hand out and tried to place it on her arm, but she pulled her body away from him before he could grab her.
“You forget who you are talking to. I am your princess, and you will do as I command. Come inside and help me with Alec. Leigh tortured him, and I need to get him to the hospital. I would transport him myself, but I don’t think his body would survive it. Try and touch me again without permission, and it will be the last move you ever make.”
Mehmet knew damn well who she was. He’d been tasked to guard her for months now, watch her every move. Even before the assignment, he had always watched over her. “Forgive me, Your Highness. My king has given me the strict order to bring you home, and that was all I was attempting. I meant no disrespect. I will be glad to assist you with transporting Alec.”
Together they walked inside the house. She had nothing to say to him or her akh. All her concern was for Alec. “If you would go into his bedroom and get the sheet from the mattress, we can wrap him inside that, so we can move him without risk of injuring him further.”
Mehmet looked around the cabin. On the outside there were no signs of damage or invasion, yet inside was a catastrophe. He said nothing as he walked into the bedroom and removed the sheet, returning to the living room. Had she witnessed all of this, or did she stumble upon him when she entered his home? He kneeled down by Alec’s feet and began to lay out the sheet.
“If you want to take his head and shoulders, I will take his waist and legs, and then we can move him onto the sheet. On the count of three.”
Nikole did as he said; she would do anything for Alec, anything. They both got into position, and Mehmet began the countdown.
“One, two, three, lift!”
With an “oomph,” they both lifted his body and moved him on top of the sheet. They rolled the sheet around his body, and Nikole tucked the loose ends around his neck for support while they transported him. She grabbed a pillow from the couch, flashed out to the car, and began making the backseat ready, then moved back inside to Mehmet’s side. Together they picked up his body and walked to Mehmet’s car, maneuvering though the obstacles of stairs, doors, and brush as they put him safely in the back of the car.
“Wrap the seatbelt around his legs; we don’t want him to roll around.”
Mehmet silently did as he was asked. He helped as she tucked him into the backseat and made him as comfortable as possible. Mehmet watched as she leaned over and kissed his forehead. She stroked his cheek so lightly in a loving fashion.
“Don’t leave me, Alec. We still have things we need to do.”
Nikole and Mehmet sat in the front seat, started the car, and then drove off towards the hospital. Mehmet reached into his pocket and pulled his phone out. He dialed Nasir’s number, assuming it would be best if the hospital knew they were on their way.
“What took you so long? Do you have her?” Nikole heard Nasir on the phone through the silence of the car.
“I do. I have Alec with me as well, and he is severely injured. Nikole said Leigh had him tortured, and I am bringing him to the hospital to be examined. Can you have a room waiting on us? Hopefully, I’ll be there in just over an hour.”
“Is Nikole injured?” The tenor of Nasir’s voice was fierce; Mehmet knew he needed to choose his words wisely, so as not to trigger any unnecessary drama or worry.
“No, the princess is well. She is, of course, emotional over Alec, but she is with me and safe. She promised not to leave my sight until we get back to the manor.” Mehmet turned to Nikole and gave her a stare. She knew he was upset with her for giving him the slip. She silently nodded in understanding. She didn’t have the energy left to argue anyhow. All she was concerned for was Alec and getting him there safely.
“Good. Put her on. I need to have a few words with her.”
Mehmet handed the phone off to Nikole whose hands were shaking as she grabbed the cell. She closed her eyes, brought the receiver to her ear, and quietly said, “Yes?”
“Your akh is extremely worried about you. When you get here, please keep that in mind. They have a baby in danger, so you need to put your differences aside. I’ve watched you two grow up as my own children, and I love you both, but this must stop. He is the king. You have ruled in his absence, but he is back and claiming a queen and an heir. It is time you two put things to rest, especially for Adara and Alec’s sake. This is no way to behave, considering how close you two are since your omm and abb were murdered. I’ve said my piece. I’ll have everything ready for your arrival, Your Highness.”
And after that breath was finished, Nasir cut the connection. She handed the phone back to Mehmet and said nothing. She knew he could hear what was said. There were few secrets the Algula could keep from each other when they were all in the same room. She turned around and looked at Alec’s still body in the back seat, bouncing with the movement of the car.
Unable to contain her tears, she didn’t care that she wasn’t alone. She pushed her seat down so she could turn on her side and watch his face. She was thankful that they had cleared the road to his cabin last month providing him a chance to make it through this. She had seen humans in movies pray in times of strife and horror, but she had never believed in the power of prayer since the killings. The Algula did have traditions like the humans involving religion. When her parents were murdered, things had happened so quickly that she didn’t have time to react and think about their people’s prayers. But now, she had all the time she needed.
Closing her eyes, she folded her hands together like she had seen the humans do and sent up a silent prayer.
“Our Gods, our creators, owners of heaven and hell, please, grant him one more life. Keep him here on Earth with me, and give us the chance of happiness. He’s lost so much already. Do not let him lose his life all because of me. I vow, if you all can hear me, I’ll spend my life making it up to him. Omm, Siti, please, Abb, anyone…Help.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Nasir walked up to the nurses’ station and informed Ms. Ryan that they would have another patient that would require a royal guard and appropriate doctor’s attention. He arranged that the room Alec was to be given would be near to Adara’s room. He also let them know he didn’t know the state that Nikole would be in and to make sure someone was there for her if she needed the assistance.
Next he walked down the halls of the hospital, inspecting each nook and cranny, not wanting anyone to take Zayn and the others by surprise. Those two were going to be the death of him. He laughed to
himself at that thought. He had promised their abb, his best friend, that he would protect them until the end. He didn’t like what he had to do next; he knew Zayn would take this rough, not like Nikole. Nikole had always looked up to him and asked him to help her, but Zayn had been different. Boys and men always are.
He crossed back to the nurses’ station where he was informed that the room for Alec had been prepared across the hall from Adara’s. He thanked them and took a deep breath before walking into Adara’s room. He knocked on the door, pausing long enough to hear Zayn say, “Enter.” Nasir looked at the two of them lying in the hospital bed, Adara asleep, Zayn holding her in his arms protectively.
“May I speak with you?”
Zayn nodded to him and kissed Adara’s head before slipping out of the bed. Nasir opened the door, and they went out into the hallway. Zayn noticed the tone of Nasir’s body language.
“Nikole is with Alec and they are on their way here.”
“Why are they coming here? She needs to be at the house where it’s safe.”
Nasir tempered his frustration and continued with his thoughts. “They are on their way here because Alec was tortured by Leigh. Nikole found him and she and Mehmet are bringing them in. I have the room right here set up for their arrival which should be within the hour.”
“Was Nikole hurt? Where did Leigh find him? See, Nasir, this is why I need you to do what I say and keep my okht safe. No one is safe with them on the loose.”
Nasir gave Zayn a look that silenced him. He started choosing careful words to impart on Zayn.
“Zayn, this fight with Nikole, it ends now. This isn’t how your baba wanted things with you two.”
“Do not tell me what to do, Nasir.” Zayn turned to walk away, but Nasir grabbed his arm, holding him in place.
“I get you are the king, Zayn. But your baba left me to care for you and your okht. And as your mentor, it’s time I put my foot down. Stop this, stop the aggression. You two need to make up. A house divided will never stand. Be angry with me all you want, but you ran, you left, and she ruled in your stead. She is old enough to live how she wants. And at the same time, that woman in there has been traumatized; you focus on loving her and protecting her. I’m sick of you and Nikole’s arguments.”