Destination Alara

by S. Y. Thompson

  "I'm surrounded by a bunch of hopeless romantics."

  Grace had the temerity to rest a hand over one of Cade's, something Cade appreciated. "We only wish to see our future queen happy."

  "Thank you. Now, have any of you heard any news of border skirmishes or trouble on any of our planets?"

  "No," Mali answered. "If anything, this trouble with the Gothoans seems to have pulled our people together. Skirmishes in the outlying areas have died down and even the few pirates in the sector are keeping quiet."

  "It is a little strange," Pisa said, "how nationalism can bring a people together."

  "Yes, well, I'm sure it will only be temporary. I understand the Gothoan government has denied any affiliation with Senator Mentis's actions, but I still don't trust them."

  "And you shouldn't." Advisor Seaver sounded angry and his Human ears had gone red. "I will never believe they didn't know about two separate military facilities that just happened to be stocked with weapons of every description. Nevertheless, they know they could never stand against the Coalition and have agreed to remove all ambassadors from our sector. When the Senate meets again in eight rotations, we will discuss allowing them to rejoin the Coalition Council."

  "Who made that decision?" Cade was a little miffed that no one asked her, considering that she should have been involved in any treaty after her mother's death.

  "Forgive us, young one," Pisa said. "You were not available and something had to be done quickly to ensure peace. Advisor Grace made the suggestion and your cousin, Princess Saral backed the decision. She was quite effective in your absence and I must admit she surprised me with her leadership."

  "Saral took on the Gothoan government? I'm impressed. I certainly can't fault the outcome. Ensure that the Gothoans know that if any of their ships cross our boundaries without prior negotiated access, they will be fired upon and their presence will be considered an act of war."

  "I'll see to it," Grace assured her.

  Cade stood up. "I'm sure there is much more to discuss, but for now I think you all have enough to keep your hands full. I'm on my way to Coalition Headquarters now."

  "Princess," Jonas said, "there is one more thing. Since you are acting queen, it would be unseemly for you to move about without a security contingent."

  That did catch her off guard. Of everything she had considered recently, Cade never thought of having a security detail. "Please arrange something. Until then, Captain Swann will be with me. She's waiting outside and will accompany me to Headquarters and later to the royal tomb."

  Cade didn't miss the poorly hidden smiles and tried not to roll her eyes. "Fine, fine. I'll be back...we'll be back for dinner by nineteen hundred."

  The meeting took a little longer than she had thought it would and Cade strode from the conference room before her advisors vacated their seats. She found Van waiting just outside the door and happily took a tumbler of coffee from her. Cade refused the sandwich.

  "You need to eat, Cade."

  "I will, later. I'm too keyed up for food at the moment. I'd just rather get all these meetings out of the way first."

  "All right, but I'm going to nag you until you do."

  "Fair enough. Why don't you join me for dinner tonight? It's my first day back on Alara and I've decided to enjoy the palace gardens. They're beautiful this time of year and the kitchen staff is very skilled." Cade felt a little weird setting Van up like this. She swallowed hard and avoided eye contact while she waited for an answer.

  "Sure. What time should I be there?"

  "Nineteen hundred?"

  "It's a date."

  The next meeting took far longer than the one with her advisors. Cade ordered the military to double patrols inside the solar system and informed them of the decision to restrict Gothoan ships inside Alaran space. She tendered her resignation, effective immediately and requested to have Vanessa Swann reassigned to the flagship Gauntlet. She would be promoted to Commodore and Paul would take her seat on Pandora. The only hitch came when she informed Admiral Akkadia that Van would no longer work in sector intelligence. He argued the point until Cade told him to get behind her decision or submit his own resignation. Although he outranked her as a military officer, Cade's authority as the Alaran ruler trumped his.

  Van stayed with her throughout the afternoon and offered her a shoulder when Cade went to see her mother. Magnificent blooms of every variety, including some that were very rare, surrounded the family crypt. Dorma's likeness, sculpted of the finest Celestan marble rested on a stand beside the vault door. The gardeners had outdone themselves, grooming the area until it surpassed the lushness of the surrounding park, showing the Alaran people's appreciation and sorrow for the latest queen. Finally, Cade signaled her readiness to return to the castle. There was one more task she needed to accomplish this day and the thought of asking Van to marry her scared Cade more than she wanted to admit.

  Cade separated from Van a few hours before the scheduled dinner date. Not only was she exhausted, but also seeing her mother's name etched on the crypt door brought home to her the finality of the situation. She longed for the oblivion of a few hours of sleep but succeeded only in tossing and turning until she gave up and climbed into the shower. She was dressed and waiting for Van in the garden twenty minutes before their scheduled dinner. When Van arrived ten minutes later, she was out of uniform for the first time since Cade had known her and the sight took her breath away.

  Van had chosen a simple midnight blue blouse and black slacks. Auburn hair curled over her collar, coming to the middle of her shoulder blades. Van offered Cade a slightly shy smile that melted her heart. Suddenly, Cade was deeply aware of the setting and how it might look from Van's perspective. To drive the darkness away, the grounds crew had illuminated tall lanterns around the area. The posts were black titanium that disappeared in the darkness so all that was visible was the soft yellow light itself. In the center of the clearing kitchen staff erected a small, round table with a single candle.

  She could hear humming bees flitting between night blooming flowers. Perfume from the blooms was so heady Cade thought she should be able to see the scents. Near the table, someone had set up a hovering cart that held an ice bucket with champagne. Two crystal glasses waited beside it. Cade suffered a moment of sheer terror and almost bolted from the garden. Taking a deep breath, she stood her ground despite the nerves. She was the future queen of Alara. She could handle proposing marriage.

  "Hi. Did I miss something?" Assessing Van's expression, Cade saw curiosity warring with nervousness.

  "Uh, I guess the kitchen staff really went all out, huh?"

  "You think they missed you or something?"

  Van's levity was just the right thing to help Cade relax. "Whatever their reasons, I'm happy you're here to share it with me. Would you like some wine? I assure you, it's very fine, from my family's vineyard on the Mauti Coast."

  "Wonderful, I'd love some."

  Cade held out Van's chair and as she sat, Cade suddenly decided her white gloves were a little over the top. She slipped them off and set them next to her plate before opening the effervescent wine.

  "When's the coronation?" Van asked casually, placing a napkin on her lap.

  Cade froze in the process of pouring their drinks and then smiled as she finished. "I guess I shouldn't be surprised that you figured that out without me saying anything."

  "There isn't really another option, is there?"

  "No, unfortunately."

  Cade sipped the wine, pleased when Van complimented her on the beverage. Rather than focus on what she had lost, Cade tried to find promise in the future, starting with the woman sitting across from her. Wait staff served the first course and Cade decided to ease into what she wanted to ask slowly.

  "I found out that the Coalition is sending a team of astrobiologists with Scorpion assault crews to Tokar. The Scorpions will ensure Mentis's base there comes under our control while the astrobiologists study your Phantoms. Fleet Admiral Alimi
assured me they will take every precaution."

  Van set aside her fork and picked up the champagne flute. Her eyes were on the golden bubbles that floated inside. "They wore control collars. That's why they took you, you know. Mentis had someone controlling their actions. I don't have any proof or anything, but I saw the collars when we went after you. Trust me, when I was on Tokar before, those collars were not a part of their wardrobe."

  She sounded sad. Perplexed, Cade asked, "You're not upset that the Coalition only wants to study the Phantoms and not destroy them? You've lost a lot at their hands."

  "They're living creatures," Van responded. "I don't know if they're sentient, I highly doubt it, but they don't deserve to be exterminated. They should be left in peace and a warning buoy set in orbit around the planet."

  "I'll see to it."

  Van cocked her head and smiled. "Just like that? No argument about how dangerous they are?"

  "None. I happen to agree with you and I'm not in the habit of wiping out a life form just because it's one I don't understand."

  "It's my day, then. I found out I don't have to work for Grier anymore. Thank you for that. I didn't enjoy working intelligence, even though I love the military."

  "I would never take that from you," Cade assured her.

  "Excuse me? What's that supposed to mean?"

  Cade realized she had allowed some of her feelings to surface in her comment. It was time to ask her question. "As queen of Alara, there are certain expectations I must fulfill. I can't serve in the military, as you know. I must stay on Alara most of the time, unless conducting official business..."

  "And?" Van finished her drink.

  Cade topped off Van's glass and attempted to maintain a casual tone when she replied. "I am expected to provide a co-ruler within thirty cycles of taking the throne. A spouse."

  Van didn't respond at first. She had gone slightly pale and it didn't look as if she was breathing. "I see."

  Frowning, Cade wondered if Van thought she was ending their affiliation so she could take a spouse with more strategic importance. "I don't think you do. I don't intend to choose some ruler from a neighboring system to solidify political ties. Although I'm sure that's what the people will expect."

  "What are you saying then?" Van asked, her voice breaking a little.

  Cade tossed her napkin onto the table and stood. She assessed the slightly terrified look in Van's eyes. The desire to wipe away the fear was almost overwhelming. Cade stepped around to Van's side and then knelt on one knee. She took Van's trembling hand between her own.

  "I'm asking you to marry me, Vanessa. Will you be my wife?"

  Chapter Twenty-three

  "IS THIS A joke?"

  Van didn't know whether to laugh or throw up. Had Cade somehow discovered her true feelings and was now using them to taunt her? Van discarded the notion almost before the thought finished forming. Cade would never be so cruel. The only possible conclusion was that she was serious. But Van wasn't marriage material, everyone knew that. She saw Cade's uncertainty and realized she'd actually verbalized the question.

  "No, Van. This isn't a joke. I'm asking you to marry me."

  "But why? Hell, Cade. You can have anyone in the system, woman or man. I'm just a grunt. The military is all I know. Surely you need someone who understands what it means to be royalty."

  "Are you saying no?"

  If she did, would Cade ask someone else? From what she'd said, Cade had no choice about the marriage requirement. The very idea of her wedding another threatened to make Van physically ill. She wasn't sure she was ready for such a big move, but Van couldn't face the alternative.

  "Just answer one question. Why do you want me?"

  Cade barely paused to consider her response. "I trust you with my life. You're intelligent, brave and honorable. The people of the Andromeda System view you as a galactic hero and will accept you as my counterpart without question."

  Van waited, looking into Cade's eyes. She hadn't expected a declaration of undying love, but Van wasn't convinced at the emotion in Cade's proposal. She thought it far more likely that this was all a political move, forced by the death of the queen. Cade needed a royal mate. Crushing hurt forced her to say, "That's it? There's no other reason? I guess after we figure out who's trying to wipe out the royal line we can just have the whole thing annulled, right?"

  "If that is your decision."

  Cade sounded funny, as if she was strangling on the words, but anger blinded Van to the possible reasons she would react in such a way. All Van could see was Cade kneeling in front of her, asking Van to save her life again. A marriage between them wouldn't just satisfy a political requirement. Such a bond would justify the two of them spending an inordinate amount of time together and allow them to set a trap for whoever was truly behind all the recent violence. Van would never betray Cade by forcing her to deal with a homicidal maniac without her support. Also, a part of her hoped Cade would develop feelings for her over time.

  "Yes."

  "Yes?"

  "I'll marry you."

  Cade closed her eyes, preventing Van from seeing her reaction, but she thought she detected relief.

  "Thank you." Looking up, Cade took her hand. "I realize this is unexpected. I've had to make a lot of decisions today that affect a great many people. I'm sorry if our union damages any relationship you might have with another."

  The word union made Van's insides flutter. She responded honestly. "There is no one else."

  When would Van have time to date anyone? And why would she want to with Cade looking at her this way?

  Van decided to take a giant risk. She cupped Cade's face between her palms, passing a thumb over the full lower lip. Cade gasped in response. At least she wasn't indifferent to Van's touch. Dipping her head, Van stopped a heartbeat away for only a second. Cade's breath ghosted against her mouth and Van closed the distance. She kissed Cade gently, a simple press of the lips. It was the most erotic sensation Van had ever experienced. When Cade's tongue touched her lips, Van opened to her, sliding her arms around the strong shoulders and falling into the caress. For long moments, all she knew was the touch, taste and scent of Cade.

  When they eventually parted, Cade looked a little dazed. "What was that for?"

  "We have to keep up appearances, right? After all, you did just propose." Somewhere during the course of the kiss, Van had decided to make a play for Cade's heart. "Have we decided on a date?"

  "The coronation will be in five days. It'll take that long to send out notices and make the arrangements. The wedding will be the highlight of the ceremony. How does Queen Vanessa sound?"

  "Like...it sounds...whoa. I don't even know what to say."

  "Now that's a first," Cade teased. She stood and offered Van her hand. "I know I said it before, but thank you. You have no idea how you've made me feel."

  Van's heart skipped a beat. For a moment, only a moment, she thought Cade would admit to hidden feelings. Then she continued as though her statement was rhetorical. "Would you mind walking me to my room? I'm so tired that I'm worried I'll fall over before I make it to bed."

  Recalling Cade's recent ordeal, Van couldn't be upset. Coupled with the weight of responsibility thrust upon her by her mother's death, it was miraculous how well Cade was holding up. Shame caused Van to blink. She had put her own selfish desires above Cade's welfare. It wouldn't happen again. Van still wanted Cade to return her feelings, but vowed there wouldn't be any games involved, no deliberate seduction. Only honesty, understanding and above all, love.

  It was strange and unexpected, the epiphany that allowed Van to see the precise moment that half-hearted love became relentless devotion. Any future decision to terminate their union would not come from her.

  "It would be my honor."

  CARE WAS TAKEN to fill the crowning cup with anointing oil and placed upon the cathedral's altar. Outside, the day was drawing to a close. Warmth flowed into the basilica through the open doors. Van heard the litany bei
ng sung by the Alaran choir but couldn't understand the ancient language. From her vantage point at the head of the apse, alongside the Captain of Arms and Arch-chancellor, Van awaited the future queen's entrance. People stood in the nave, flowing out into the courtyard and onto the street, maintaining a respectful distance from the royal procession. Van resisted the urge to run her finger around the inside of the high, tight collar. Her Coalition dress uniform had been exchanged for the regalia of Alaran majesty.

  All voices fell silent as the entourage entered, headed by the ruling queens from Andromeda's other planets. Queens Agea Tyche of Celestas and Galene Rizo of Psmanth peeled off and walked around to the right side of the apse. Queen Sitiana Elpis from Mirach along with Temis Barab, Cade's aunt, took the left, flanking the dais. Then a single female voice chanted the anthem to receive the new queen. Van thought it sounded like Cade's cousin, Saral.

  "I present unto you, Cade Meryan, your undoubted Queen. Wherefore all you who are come this day to pay homage and swear fealty throughout the sector."

  In the meantime, Cade passed through the body of the sacellum. Her eyes glittered, dark hair shone brilliant. Her garments mirrored Van's, save for the deep purple cloak pinned to her shoulders that trailed behind her on the floor. Set off against the midnight blue waistcoat and trousers, Cade was a vision. Her eyes rested dutifully upon the Chancellor. Up the steps to the apse, Cade paused and knelt upon the stool supplied for that purpose. The queen's advisors stepped into the theater around Cade. Carrying the majestic regalia, they placed sword, matching crowns and shield upon the altar.

  Van recognized the sword as the ceremonial blade Cade wore during her medal ceremony. The Book of Andromeda joined the other items. Though rumored to contain the recorded history of all planets in the system, Van had little interest in the tome. Pride and adoration suffused her being as she gazed upon her future monarch, wife and, the universe willing, her lover.

  Arch-chancellor Marshal drew a symbol upon Cade's forehead with the anointing oil and then bid her stand.