by Grace, Viola
She’s toxic, he’s fascinated. Putting herself in his path is the easy part. Not taking advantage of their mutual attraction is going to be tough.
Shan has arrived on Athon with one purpose, to take part in her friend’s wedding. When things get complicated, she ends up splitting her attention between the bride and the newly landed General Zaber.
Zaber is the end of his line. His father was an idiot, and all of his half-siblings have followed their father to the grave. Raised by his mother on Kadura, Zaber had a good upbringing that ended abruptly when he was conscripted to take his father’s place in the Athon military. A decade and a half later, he has his father’s rank and no intention of continuing the family line. He is done with bloodlines, but the government of Athon wants to keep his line alive, and they are willing to kidnap members of the populace to ensure it.
Shan has already met Zaber, and when the guards interrupt her friend’s engagement party, she is more than irritated but goes with them anyway. When she learns that it was not his idea to kidnap a few dozen women, she steps up and volunteers to take him on as a lover. After all, she is a bridal attendant, isn’t she supposed to be a little reckless with her virtue?
The characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.
An Unfortunate Heir
Copyright © 2020 by Viola Grace
ISBN: 978-1-987969-95-5
©Cover art by Angela Waters
All rights reserved. With the exception of review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the express permission of the publisher.
Published by Viola Grace
Look for me online at violagrace.com and your favourite eBook sellers.
An Unfortunate Heir
By
Viola Grace
Chapter One
Shan was waiting in her seat and trying to ignore the unrest that was flowing through the other passengers. They were in their seventh hour on the tarmac, and each row was being given a chance to stretch their legs within the shuttle. She was on Athon and that is what mattered.
Now that she was planet-side, she was able to communicate with her friend Tya. They were checking in with each other, and Shan was one of the only people on the shuttle privy to the reason for their delay. The Athon warship—Turus—had just docked, and their crew was taking their belongings through customs. When Shan looked up the public records, the Turus was completing a two-year exploration and border-defense mission. Each of the twenty thousand men returning to the planet had to run through a customs exam, and that meant that the travelers on the tarmacs had to wait.
They were sitting on the tarmac of the only spaceport of the entire planet. The confinement was wearing on some of the other passengers. She sat and slowly removed her right glove.
Shan felt the moment that the atmosphere changed, and one of the upset merchants went hostile. He stood up for his turn at exercise and ran toward the exit. Shan moved quickly and caught him before he had gone more than a handful of steps.
“What the hell? Let go of me?”
She wrapped her arms around him and pressed her hand to his throat. Contact with her skin acted as it always did. He sighed and slowly collapsed.
Shan pulled her glove back on, grabbed him by the collar, and looked to the crew. “Where would you like him?”
The woman blinked with her eyes wide. “Back in his seat? Is he all right?”
Shan chuckled and hauled the man along until she got back to his row. She pulled him up and dropped him into place, tucking his legs into a close-to-natural position. “He will sleep for the next hour. Nothing will wake him. He might relieve himself, though. It is unpredictable.”
The crewmember said, “What did you do to him?”
Her companion grabbed her arm and shook her head. “The lady is well known on Kadura. Thank her and leave it at that.”
The crewmember inclined her head. “Thank you, miss.”
Shan left the two women to discuss her and heard the wave of conversation from the witnesses to her actions. Sighing, she took her seat and resumed her assessment of the current social climate of Athon. A dump of lonely men into the spaceport meant that a lot of them were going to be in search of brides. Tya was already tucked into her home and avoiding the groups of males who were looking for available females.
It took another ninety minutes before the shuttle was cleared for the passengers to disembark. Shan waited her turn. While she was in first class on the cruiser above them, the shuttle didn’t have such niceties. Everyone landed together.
Shan let Tya know that they were finally moving. She would be at her friend’s house within the hour.
Once off the shuttle, her baggage passed her, heading for the first-class customs bay.
She pulled up her hood and attached the flowing fabric to her forehead jewel. She looked every inch the Kaduran lady and that helped her move along, through the scanners, and out to meet a customs officer.
The man stood, and he gave her a look. “Ma’am, can you remove your hood?”
She smiled and pulled her hood back.
He blinked at the contrast that her blood-dark hair was against her chalky skin, but she knew it was her vibrant blue eyes with the stars for pupils that made him stare.
Bits of his thoughts started to encroach on her mind, and she blinked slowly, letting him out of the entrapment of her gaze.
He shook his head and smiled. “Ah, right, Miss Akura Shan Dekkar. How long are you visiting?”
“Thirty days.”
He made a note in his terminal. “Reason for visit?”
“A friend’s wedding is in a week, and she would like me to remain nearby for the easement. So, I have traveled for a week, and here I am.” She quirked her lips.
“Your friend’s name?”
“Tya Widofil. She is marrying Prolan Alloway.”
He nodded and smiled brightly. “I know Prolan. He is looking forward to the wedding. Your friend’s father is an excellent bargainer.”
She gave him a sober gaze. “I think we both know that it was Tya who did the bargaining. Prolan could either agree or see the last of her. She would go looking for a man who understood her worth.”
He nodded. “Welcome to Athon.”
His smile was bright. “You are clear to enter.”
She nodded. “Thank you.”
The pathway to the area that housed hire cars was clogged with the winged Athon warriors. She turned and headed for the private cars that cost an arm and a leg but would get her where she was going securely.
The drive in the city was congested, so her driver got clearance from her for the fee, and he went airborne.
The trip to Tya’s home was a lot quicker after that.
Her friend was waiting in the shadows when the car landed. “Shan! I can’t believe you have made it.”
Shan paid the driver and went to collect her bags. “I have made it. Blessings of the day to you.”
Tya rushed out and thudded into her happily. “I am so glad that you came!”
“I am happy I have made the trip.” She grabbed her bags and carried her smaller friend into the shadows of the house.
The driver was blinking at her for a moment; then, he checked his account, grinned, and took flight.
Her personal com chirped, and she chuckled at the Athon script stating that he was at her disposal any time, day or night.
Tya was on her own feet now and walking her toward the guest room. “What was that?”
“I have secured
us emergency transport.” Shan chuckled.
Tya smirked. “Are you ready to help me with the last of the shopping?”
“Of course. That is where I excel.” Shan chuckled and entered the guestroom. Second floor, wide balcony, and large enough to play several sports in, and a bed that made her sleepy just to look at.
Tya paused in the doorway. “Are you tired?”
Shan snorted. “Not likely. I had plenty of time to doze on the tarmac. I am hungry and thirsty, though, so if you can get Malio to make some snacks, it would be appreciated.”
“He’s on it. He started when you notified me that you were on the move. I am so sorry that I couldn’t pick you up at the port, but the city is insane right now. The crewmen have been flooding every bar, restaurant, and open square while transport to the provinces they live in is being arranged.”
“Do you want to shop as an Athon or as a Kaduran?” Shan opened her luggage and pulled out a much smaller set of robes.
Tya squealed and rushed to her, taking the bright blue robes of a woman of noble house. “You brought them?”
“Of course. I even have a gem for you, but we need to take that off before the wedding, so we can fake the effect the night before the wedding with a headpiece.” She reached into the bag and pulled out a jewel box.
Tya put the robes and draped them over one arm and squealed as she took the box and opened it. “Oh, this is lovely.”
“I am glad you like it. It was my mother’s. She sent it along as your bridal gift.” Shan smiled as Tya now looked at the jewel with a healthy respect.
“Lady Miran sent me this? Does it do anything?”
Shan chuckled. “It can be rigged for audio recording. She used to wear it during negotiations. The crystal reader is in the box.”
Tya grinned. “I will send her a thank you.”
“Good. She loves getting messages.” Shan pulled her hood back and peeled her gloves off, tucking them into the belt that she wore on her dress under her robes.
She reached out and touched Tya’s arm. Her friend was one of the few people she had ever met who had taken the antidote to her soporific touch.
Tya smiled. “You are so warm.”
“These robes don’t have air conditioning.”
Tya chuckled. “I will go and get changed, and Malio will be here soon with your meal. I will be back as soon as I can.”
Shan smiled and watched her small friend disappear out the door. She sighed and went to hang her clothing up in the wardrobe, putting each set of clothing next to the matching robes. “Damn, I wear a lot of black.”
She quirked her lips and went to get the dress she was wearing to the wedding as the witness for the bride. It was a rich, dark blue, had smoky silk gauze over the skin that was exposed by the standard cut of the gown, and would make her feel less obvious than she would if she was wearing the robes of her social station. Master Sandman was the joke title, and Sleep Master was the actual title, but both meant that she was known for knocking folks out with a touch.
Her father had the touch of control, her mother had the death touch. Her father had a lot of guts, and her mom was able to embrace trust. They had a good relationship and came from excellent families that had expected them to have a bunch of sons and rule the world and those around them. Shan had been the sole result of their union.
A knock at the door brought her attention to the scents that her brain had been processing. “Malio. How nice to see you again. Please, come in.”
The cook and housekeeper were a standard Athon male. He was about eighteen inches taller than Tya, and only four inches taller than Shan. Gender dimorphism was alive and well on Athon.
“It is an honour to still be here to greet you, Lady Shan. You are looking... tall.” He smiled.
She cackled. There was no other word for it. “I did warn you that I would not stay at Tya’s height forever. I was not made to be portable.”
“I see you wear a master’s robes now.”
“I do. It was an online course and took half an hour. You should try it.” She grinned and looked at the tray he was fussing with. He was obsessed with presentation.
When he deemed the meal suitable, he stepped back, and she was treated to the sight of a bouquet made of edibles shaped into flowers. A small tower of sandwiches was next to the fruit-based floral display.
“Enjoy. I will bring your tea up shortly.” Malio smirked and bowed. “I expect you to eat it all. You are a growing girl.”
She stared at the huge serving, back to him, and he laughed as he left.
When he was out the door, she smirked and started in on the sandwiches, eating what was a quarter portion of her normal meal serving. The food on Kadura was monstrous in proportion to the more elegant foods of Athon, and by the time Malio arrived, she was on the last rose.
She sat and nibbled delicately at the petals and smiled. “That was delightful. Thank you.”
He paused and then recovered. “I will gather the rest of the garden and bring it to you. I recommend you not eat the soil. It will be real.”
She laughed, he laughed, and Tya came in.
She was dressed in her blue robes and had the bejeweled gem on their forehead, and the blue complimented her soft amethyst eyes. “This is going to make moving around the city so much easier.”
Shan took the tea that Malio handed her. “Yes, but on the street, you need to act as my teenage daughter. Are we good with that?”
Tya grinned. “Are you paying?”
Shan sipped her tea and smiled. “Of course.”
“What are we waiting for?”
Malio was smiling as he left.
She shrugged. “I have to finish my tea.”
Chapter Two
Flowers were heady and fully in bloom at the florists, but Shan looked around and found what she wanted Tya to look at. Tya was surrounded by store crew who were enticing her into purchasing their bright and ready flowers.
“Come here, Ty.” Shan beckoned to her, and Tya left the two women and one man who were trying to get her to choose the products in their arms.
Tya moved gracefully through the displays, and Shan smiled. “If you insist on getting cut flowers, these will be blooming the day of the ceremony. They will last the entire day and for the four days after.”
Tya blushed. “Ah. Right. That.”
“Yes. That. You Athons are funny about that.” Shan smiled.
“And the Kadurans are a little free with their bodies.”
“Of course, we are. We are disease resistant, difficult to breed, and like large families. That means we have to do that a lot.” Shan chuckled.
Tya touched the flowers. “I like these. We will order them.”
“Excellent. I will place the order, and then, we can continue on to seek out dinner. Shopping is hungry work.”
Tya snorted, and they attended to the ordering of the flowers, remaining in the shop until they had been labeled and set aside for the wedding.
They chatted and walked to a nearby restaurant that Shan remembered from her first visit a decade earlier. That had been where she and Tya met.
The restaurant was packed with crewmen from the ship, but when they arrived at the door, the frazzled host smiled and said, “Miss Tya, Lady Shan, please come with me. We have put aside the private room for you.”
Shan let Tya precede her and watched the men who were staring at them with casual alertness. She flexed her hands, and one or two of the higher-ranking men caught the reference. The murmur went through the crowded space suddenly changed pitch.
They were two-thirds of the way to the private space when a wing was extended to block them. Shan didn’t say a word, she simply pushed on the wing with enough force to snap it to its owners back, and then, she dug her fingers in to make contact with the skin under the feathers, and the speed bump fell asleep on his buddy’s shoulder.
The room went silent. The host paused and then nodded with a
smile. “Thank you, Lady Shan.”
The small act had just protected her and Tya against unwanted advances. No Athon could ever manage a contact effect. That was the domain of the Kadurans. Tya was now off their radar.
They were able to settle in and enjoy their meal while giggling at the memory of the faces in the restaurant. Two hundred pairs of eyes had watched and grown wide in horror.
It was delightful.
* * * *
General Zaber tightened his fist. “I don’t care. I know that I am the last of my line, but I don’t care.”
His advisor winced. “Sir, you need to have an heir. Your fortune is vast, your time in command has come and gone, shore leave has been approved, and you need to continue your lineage.”
Zaber looked at him. “My father spent his life impregnating every woman who didn’t move fast enough, leaving me with twenty brothers, and now, they are all dead. My mother only kept me alive because she ran with me until the scanners found us.”
He reflected on his mother’s fury when his father had found them and demanded that Zaber return with him to Athon for enrollment in the military. Zaber had been enlisted for two years when his father and the six of the sons on his ship had died in a stupid meteor collision. Two hundred men with them had also died in the collision, and they were on a memorial somewhere in the capitol.
“You know. The more I think about my father, the less I want to carry on the tradition of being a horny jackass.” He set aside the reports of the valuations of the cargo that they had brought in.
General Thander winced. “I hate to mention, but it is in your contract. You have to provide an heir to take your place in the military. It is the Athon way.”
Zaber flicked his midnight wings out slightly and gave his friend a long look. “Fine. One child. One. Find someone suitable. You have my scans. You also know it will not be easy.”