Before she could respond, Tana pushed through a double door and gleefully exclaimed, “Yay! I found it without getting lost. There’s hope. Oh, Luna! I’m so glad you’re here. You need to meet Keely. She’s Makar and Baruch’s Occasio.”
Keely gaped at the exotically beautiful woman with long jet-black hair and big blue eyes sitting at a table with her hands wrapped around a sandwich. She set it aside and stood up, her white teeth flashing as she rounded the edge.
“Hi! Cato told me you’d arrived. Welcome.” She glanced over to Tana. “I thought I’d kill some time in here filling my belly. You know he’s going to be nose deep in that accident investigation. He can’t help himself.”
“Lucien would’ve called him in anyway. You’re mate’s brilliant. He’ll figure this out in no time. I brought Keely to get something to eat before she drops from her ordeal. I’m glad you left the sandwich stuff out.”
When Tana started toward the counter, Luna stopped her. “No, let me. I just sat down. It’ll be nice to have someone join me. You want one, too?”
“Nah. I ate with Lucien earlier. Plus, I have to go back to my fitting. The hem drags, and I don’t want to trip all over myself. Can you round up something for Keely to wear when you’re done?”
Keely looked down to her clothing and grimaced. There were dirt stains on her knees and sweat rings at her pits. Good grief.
“Sure. I’d love to. I’ll see you later, sweetie.”
Tana gave her a hug and flew out of the door.
Keely grabbed a tray of what looked like ham and slices of bread before Luna could get to the counter.
“No, please. I can make my own.” Keely washed her hands and prayed she didn’t smell as bad as she looked. Soon, she was perched at the table and enjoying the best slice of meat she’d ever eaten in her life. Even the water was pristine and cool. Keely glanced up and studied Luna. She seemed like a very sweet woman. Perhaps she wouldn’t mind answering a few questions. She set her sandwich aside.
“Uh, Luna. If it’s not too personal, can you tell me how you and Cato met? It’s not as if these guys can just advertise in the paper. It seems more like a crapshoot than anything else.”
Luna cocked her head and looked like she was working something through her mind before she finally spoke. “You know? It’s not much different from what a normal guy has to contend with when you think about it. They’re stumbling around and hoping they’ll meet someone that’s compatible. However, the Insedi have a slight advantage. Their instincts are spot-on when it comes to finding someone that can complete their lives. They just have to be in the right place at the right time, just like any other man. The only problem is that they have to reveal something completely extraordinary and hope that the woman doesn’t freak the hell out and destroy everything they’ve been trying to accomplish.” Luna glanced over and gave her a sad smile.
“Your innocent curiosity could’ve spelled disaster. Can you imagine the military flooding the vortex to destroy something as wondrous as this place? Our government wouldn’t think twice at blowing the mountain to hell and back if they thought for even one moment that we were something threatening.”
Keely nodded and leaned forward. “Yeah, I thought about that the second I saw the vortex. That’s enough to scare the crap out of anyone. Before that, I’d already decided I wasn’t going any further with my investigation. Just a few moments with them and I knew they were honorable men.”
Luna chuckled. “You should’ve seen what I did when I first met Cato. I held a screwdriver to his throat and later threatened to stab his nuts if he made any weird movements. Just like you, it didn’t take long for me to get a clue how wonderful he was.”
Keely laughed. “I had a pipe and threatened to clonk them on the head. It seems ridiculous now. They could’ve snapped me in two. So, did Cato appear out of nothing and scare the crap out of you, too?”
“Nope. My absolutely wonderful mate saved my life. He’d been listening to me call a hotline complaining about my horrible life with Bryan. It’s a long story, but in a nutshell, I got the crap beat out of me at the phone booth. Cato followed me to the hospital and made sure they took care of me. When he thought I was about to die, he got Kallon involved, and they brought me here.”
“Ah, the spleen.”
“Yep. That and a tear in my brain. I woke up and had no clue how I ended up in his house. Despite everything that I’d gone through with Bryan and almost dying, I’d do it again and again if it always led me back to Cato. I hadn’t really lived until he came into my life.”
Keely looked down to her clenched fingers, a feeling of sadness washing through her chest. Well, doesn’t this feel familiar. Am I just a member of the walking dead? Waking, working, sleeping, and then starting all over again while I march closer and closer to an inevitable end? She startled when Luna softly called her name. She was relieved to see stark understanding, not pity.
“Look at me, Keely. I’m not going to ask you what happened in your past. I know how difficult it is to keep running horrible things through your brain when all you want is for them to just fade away to the background and leave you the hell alone. I can dole out advice until I’m blue in the face, but whatever you’ve got bottled up inside, it’s yours and yours alone. Either you’ll let it keep its claws in you, or you’ll finally kick that shit to the side and grab on to something wonderful. Life is too short, sweetie.”
Keely felt tears sting the back of her eyes when a confident hand covered hers. She fought to keep her composure as Luna gifted her with a sweet smile.
“Don’t be intimidated by your guys. They can appear a little barbaric at times, but that’s only because they’re so full of love they drive themselves nuts when they think we’re unhappy or might get hurt. Come on, sweetie. Let’s go find you some clothes. I’ve got so many that I’m running out of space. Cato can’t stop buying me things. Help a girl out, okay?”
Keely nodded and hauled in a deep breath. She took Luna’s outstretched hand and knew in that instant that they’d be friends for life.
Chapter 23
Keely plopped the heavy bag on the mattress, flipped the top open, and huffed out a breath. Luna hadn’t let her leave her room until she’d picked out an armload of shirts and several pair of jeans. Shaking her head, she didn’t think she’d be here long enough to change her shoes three times, but there they were, a pair of blue, black, and gray Nikes staring back at her from the suitcase. Luna’s shoes hadn’t fit, but Cassie, the little spitfire, had dragged her down the hallway, stuffed these inside, and refused to take them back. Avelina, Cassie’s best friend and an Insedivertus princess had giggle-snorted and said it was a waste of time trying to convince her otherwise. Despite her high station, Avelina was a total sweetheart and insisted she call her Lina.
Despite her initial nervousness at meeting the others, Keely had been smitten within seconds. Each one had distinctive personalities and looks, but they all had one thing in common. They’d welcomed her as if she was the long-lost sister they’d been searching for this whole time.
Keely had been especially intrigued by Zonia. According to the others, she was the only female Insedi that had survived the massacre. She was the cutest thing. The girls were teaching her English, and she kept cracking them up. She was just as bad at pronunciations as the guys were. Rhia was new to the pack, and she looked just as wide-eyed and shell-shocked on the quick tour of the palace. It was breathtaking. Much laughter and shared stories seemed to settle everyone into a comfortable rhythm. Keely found herself looking forward to joining all of them at the festival tomorrow.
Grinning, she slipped on the blue ones sporting a bright yellow logo. They were a nice complement to the faded jeans Luna had insisted she try on. Wiggling her toes, she sighed in relief. Perfect. A quick glance in the mirror and she was pleased with the light gray shirt choice.
Glancing around the room, Keely couldn’t find a trash receptacle to place the dirty T-shirt, jeans, and the ridiculous size nines
taken from the lodge. After ten minutes of searching, she found that the Insedi had a clever way of hiding things. One swipe of her thumb against a dark panel with self-explanatory icons, and the bin she’d stuffed the dirty clothes seamlessly retracted back into the wall. After a few minutes of playing with the lights and the fireplace in the living area, she figured she had command of her surroundings.
Making her way back to the bedroom, Keely glanced to the area where the cabinet had stood. Narrowing her eyes, she tried to figure out what was wrong with the floor next to the wall. With the lights on full blast, she was surprised to find an imprint of a boot heel.
If the heel had been facing away from the wall, she would’ve attributed it to the guys moving the cabinet. But, this one was pointing the other direction. Makar or Baruch would have had to punch their foot through the wall to have caused this. The mark had to have been under the cabinet the whole time.
Curious, she began studying the baseboard. It wasn’t until her shoulder pressed against the wall that she received an unexpected result. A portion of the wall extended out two inches. Stepping back in surprise, she realized that she’d discovered a hidden doorway. Shoving the panel closed, she figured the material utilized the same technology as the hangar when it seamlessly blended back into place.
Unable to stop herself, Keely shoved a little harder and jumped back when the panel extended out and then smoothly glided a few inches to the side, leaving enough gap for her to see a larger opening behind it. It was too dark for her to see what lay inside.
Eyes wide, Keely decided that was enough of her exploration. Someone needed to know about this. Obviously, the place was supposed to be off-limits or they wouldn’t have blocked the area. Hurrying out into the hallway, Keely was surprised to find Senator Vibius standing next to the large cabinet with a curious expression on his face. He looked over and smiled.
“This is odd. The furniture was not here when we came through earlier.” He glanced back to the monstrosity and scrunched his features. “It does not really go with the rest of the décor. You agree?”
Keely chuckled and walked over. “Definitely. It was in my room earlier. Tana had the guys bring the thing out here since it was in the way. Have you seen anyone else around? I need to tell Tana or the emperor about this strange thing I found in my room.”
Vibius looked intrigued and leaned in. “Strange thing? Like what?”
“Um, well. I just found a hidden door where the cabinet used to be. There’s a large gap on the other side and it’s definitely not a closet. I think the royal family should know.”
“Oh, my. How fascinating.”
To her surprise, he scurried past her and walked right into the room. Keely found him standing at the wall and peering inside the cavity.
He swung around, hazel eyes bright with excitement. “My dear. This is amazing. My father told our family that the palace had underground tunnels. I believe you have found one. Supposedly, these were built in case members of the empire felt threatened. They could either hide within or travel the corridors until they reached the grounds. He had looked for one every time he visited, but was told it was just a myth. To know that they actually exist is exhilarating. Come, we must explore.” He pushed the panel aside, and they both gasped when the area lit up and revealed five deep steps to a lower level.
Without comment, the senator stepped inside and descended the stairwell. Turning, he looked up, grinned, and motioned for her to join him. “There are beautiful tapestries lining the walls. You have to see this.”
When he disappeared from sight, Keely called out to him. “Uh, senator? I think that we should wait until we find someone. We have no idea what might be running through these things.”
Vibius returned to the entrance and waved his hand dismissively in the air. “Do not fret. If we hear anything, we will just hurry back out. I will not tarry long. It is just too fascinating to ignore. Come. I see a chamber farther down.”
Deciding that if she at least peeked she could convince him to leave, Keely stepped inside, took a deep breath, and made her way down. He was right. The tapestries were beautiful. There were three of them hanging from ceiling to floor. Each depicted a scene of Insedivertus. She now knew what it would look like when night came. The moons would hover over the dark mountains like silent guards. The third caused her to make a mental note not to venture into the forests. She never wanted to meet a creature that was as big as a cow and had tusks the size of her forearm extending from its mouth. This had to be the kruthka that the guys had described. An Insedi warrior stood nearby, his sword raised high as the beast charged from its hiding place.
Soon, she stepped into a chamber the same size as the guest quarter’s living area. Immediately, her mouth dropped open. She looked to Vibius and found he too was astounded by the find. From one corner to the next, her gaze flew over a collection of artifacts that belonged in a museum, not hidden away from others. They were fascinating. Black urns, gold lion statues, earrings, necklaces, decorative pottery, and elaborate vases studded with jewels had her head reeling.
Vibius walked the perimeter of the room, his mouth parted in awe. “I have never seen such beautiful creations in person. The Insedi are extremely talented. They had great influence over the Protonecian culture. They found our planet filled with nothing but barbarians living as nomadic tribes. Over several centuries, they intervened and helped us to reach maturity, yet we have no relics such as these to claim as our own. I am saddened that the empire has chosen to hide them away.”
“Maybe they’re not aware of them. Someone hid these for a reason.” Moving to the far wall, Keely discovered a pile of rolled tapestry and a table full of leather-bound books peeking out from behind them. She opened the top volume and ran her fingers over the ancient and indecipherable words.
“Perhaps they were at risk long ago. That’s the only reason I can imagine they’d be back here. You’d think this room would be covered in dust, but it’s extremely clean. Someone was protecting them.” Keely startled when a booming male voice sounded behind her.
“Senator Vibius, how did you get in here?”
Whirling around, Keely froze until realizing it was his Protonecian guard. The man carried a puzzled look as he approached the senator.
“I was just leaving when I heard voices.”
His gray gaze swung in her direction when she moved away from the table. He looked surprised and then calmed his features before glancing back to the senator. His voice lowered in concern. “What is going on?”
Vibius smiled and waved his hand in the air, as if shooing off a pesky gnat. “Nothing to worry over, Selnan. The way is clear now. That is all that matters.”
Despite the easygoing and friendly cadence of his response, Keely felt her stomach roll over on itself. Had the guard been roaming the tunnel and trying to get inside the palace? But why? Edging toward the door, she gave them a beaming smile and hoped it didn’t look like a grimace.
“Uh, yeah. I think we should be getting back. Someone will want to know about this exciting find. They’ll be very pleased to see what’s here.”
The smile never left the senator’s face as he gestured to the guard to back up to the doorway. “Oh, I am truly sorry…Keely, is it? You will be coming with me. Your curiosity has interrupted our plans. Do not worry yourself too much. You are not our intended target, just an innocent bystander.” He turned to Selnan.
“Please, subdue her so I may transport her to the hangar. I will have her on board and the ship ready for departure before they ever realize what has been done.”
Keely felt the blood leave her face. Target? Who’s the target? For what? Adrenaline flooded her system and kicked her into high gear. Despite dodging and weaving to avoid the guard, he easily caught her. Her slaps and punches were ineffective against his superior strength. He had a meaty paw over her mouth before she could cry out for help. A tiny sting to the side of her neck resulted in the complete loss of mobility. Vibius brushed her cheek and apo
logized before hefting her over his shoulder.
“Go now, Selnan. Complete your mission. Do not stop until you kill each one. I will come back to get you shortly.”
Vision fading to a dull gray, Keely’s mind screamed in horror. The royal family was in danger, and there was no one to warn them.
* * * *
Tana selected a set of light green sheets and backed out of the hallway closet. She smiled when Cassie reached in and snagged a box of bath bubbles.
Cassie rolled her eyes and chuckled. “Baruch made me promise to bring her some. I finally got them to agree that I could pick out the type. Both of them are complete nuts, you know. They’re in the middle of a releasing ceremony, and they’re arguing over the scent. I swear. They act worse than Severus does when it comes to bath supplies. At least I only have one crazed mate to deal with.”
Lifting the sheets, Tana shook her head. “Do you think I picked this color at random? Nope. I had them in my head, too, until I asked Lucien to get their butts focused back on the Nawiens.”
Tana glanced over when Lina appeared around the corner balancing a large mug and a bundle of purple grapes on a silver tray. She gave them all a wide smile and nodded at the food, causing her long brown ponytail to swing across her shoulder.
“Well, that must have been after they got to me. They found out from Luna that Keely picked at her sandwich. She had more questions than interest in finishing her meal. Hot cocoa and fruit. That was my mission for the day. They are so in love with her. It reminds me of how Drusus acted when he brought me our first meal.”
Tana sighed. “Oh, I know. There’s nothing like an Insedi male that thinks you hung the moon. Well…the moons.”
Cassie and Lina joined in her laughter, which only increased when watching Barney and Cedric trying to claw their way up Lina’s legs to get to the fruit. She threw two grapes down the corridor, and they all enjoyed the antics of the purple monsters trying to catch them. It was like watching an unorganized soccer game. Eventually, the two Lemarok settled against the wall, flipped to their backs, and started munching on the succulent fruit.
Fueled by Lust: Makar and Baruch (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) Page 21