by Allison West
"Sir," a rebel soldier said, "are you okay?"
Aaron dropped his hold, his hands slack at his side.
"Stand down, soldier," Rhys said. "Get back to your post. We need the palace presentable in two days time."
"Why's that?" Lorelei asked. She always had a calm demeanor around Rhys.
Rhys glanced from Lorelei to Aaron. "The former king of Brayleigh will be put on trial, along with his son, August. I want the palace presentable and the guillotine ready should the verdict be guilty."
Aaron swallowed the lump in his throat. "Don't you find that a tad bit harsh?" He no longer could sit quietly and listen to such talk of his father and brother being executed. Being at his former home, it made the pain all too real.
"Harsh?" Rhys said and laughed. "I find your father's advances toward the women of Brayleigh harsh. Taking their virginity, selling them to the highest bidder. Do you not see how better a world we'll have without him in it?"
"You have his crown and the power that goes with it," Aaron said, reminding Rhys that he'd won. He had the country in the palm of his hand. Why did he need to go on and execute its former leader? Could he not be exiled instead? There was plenty of land abandoned after the Gem Apocalypse.
Rhys nodded. "I do, but it's not enough. I need the people to know that I want what's in their best interest. I'm not angling for taking over or even suggesting a leader for our nation. I'd much rather see a free world without boundaries and walls keeping us apart. Where we're all equal and no one is hunted and murdered for having different color eyes than a sapphire."
"Wake up. The Gem Apocalypse is over, Rhys. It has been for some time." The effects of the war were still felt, but the bombs had ceased and the fear of living in imminent danger was gone. King Gideon had not only rose to power but had done all he could to better their society, making it a more prosperous nation. He'd had men cultivate the land, ensuring there were no starving citizens. As long as everyone paid their taxes and abided by his laws, all was well, at least for awhile.
"Murdering my father isn't going to change our country," Aaron said. "There are still slave traders that need to be stopped. Those men commit far worse crimes and should be the ones on trial!"
The rebel soldier led them to the study, letting Aaron and Lorelei enter first before he joined them, closing the door behind him. "Your father is the reason the slave trade exists, Aaron. Do you not know of his responsibility and involvement in it? He practically encouraged such behavior from deviant men."
"Why?" Aaron didn't believe him. "For what purpose?" He wasn't an idiot. He knew his father was a flawed man with few morals, but what reason was there to be part of an operation that ran a slavery ring? What could he have hoped to gain when he had access to every woman in all of Brayleigh?
"It served the royal harem. Sending the girls off to be sold offered him additional money and access to unpaid labor. The servants receive no payment for their services aside from room and board. Have you spoken with any of them?"
Aaron hated to admit his contact with the lower caste had been only when necessary. He'd had servants dress him and bathe him growing up. Now they kept his closet stocked with fresh clothes and made his bed while he was away. He knew they existed but not in the same way Rhys spoke of them. "I know a few young women that brought in food and prepared our meals." He'd always been courteous to thank them as they brought his piping hot meal to the table.
"Then surely you know they were taken from their families, unable to see them ever again," Rhys said.
Aaron hadn't known they'd been stolen from their families. He'd made a mistake in funding the rebels, one that would haunt him for the rest of his life. He prayed that would be for many more years. One wrong move and he could find himself on trial for merely speaking out of turn. Was he wrong to think Rhys would execute him for disobedience? Surely if he made a mockery of the rebel leader during the execution, it would not go over well. Aaron was on borrowed time, but he'd have to think quickly and plan an escape. He wouldn't witness his father's murder. Perhaps James or Henry could help.
"Where are my other brothers?" Aaron asked. "You have August in custody, but what about the other princes?"
Rhys's expression remained grim. "James is staying in the back wing with one of his girls. They seem quite content keeping to themselves. Henry fled with four of his women. Two of our guards tracked him down, assuring that the ladies wanted to join him."
Aaron's mouth grew dry, worried his brother had left in haste and had found his own execution forthcoming.
"Henry is of little concern to us. We have no desire to imprison or destroy your lives for the acts your father bestowed upon our great nation. I like to think of us as quite a bit kinder."
Lorelei gripped Aaron's arm, her fingers sliding gradually down to his hand.
"Aaron, you and Lorelei are welcome to stay at the palace for as long as you'd like. We've opened it cautiously to families trying to reunite with their loved ones."
"What do you mean, cautiously?" Aaron asked.
"Not everyone agrees with our agenda and the slave traders that are still in business are concerned how this will reflect on their market. We've had a few broken windows and fights over the last twelve hours."
Even without his father as ruler, the palace was still his home, for now. His fingers found the warmth of the familiar wood banister, clutching it as he turned around, two steps up. "What are your plans, Rhys?" Aaron needed to know what he would be up against. As of right now, they were a leaderless nation, but his father had taught him that chaos would grow rapidly.
Rhys shrugged and threw his hands up in the air. "I thought we could redecorate for starters." A smile met his lips.
Aaron didn't return the sentiment. Did Rhys think it was funny that people had lost their lives? "I meant about the nation. Without a king, who will the people of Brayleigh follow and look up to?" They needed a role model, someone with the authority to assure the people that everything would be all right.
"We shall elect a new leader, after Gideon has been sentenced and the punishment handed down. Until then, the people will be fine. Word has already spread of the news. Families with young girls can feel safer knowing they won't be subjected to the choosing of a courtesan."
A soft patter of footsteps echoed against wood. Aaron had paid no attention until the quiet feminine voice at the top of the stairs answered. "Not everyone wants to go home. Some of us have no other place. The place, this life, is more than just a choice but a necessity to survive."
Luna's pleasant smile greeted Aaron.
Lorelei's hand dropped from the prince's hold.
He tried not to over analyze if it meant anything at all. "Luna, what do you mean? Why are you still here?" he asked. He'd given her no time of his own. After she'd been chosen, he'd left and well over a week later, the palace had been raided by rebels. What reason did Luna have for staying behind? They meant nothing to each other, it baffled Aaron.
"My family," she said and shuffled her feet, glancing down at her bare toes.
"Speak louder," Aaron commanded her, forgetting that he wasn't in a position of power any longer.
"I can't go home. I've disgraced my family."
"How?" Lorelei asked, walking past Aaron up the stairwell. "What could be so terrible that you can't return home?"
"I'm—" She shut her mouth, unwilling or unable to answer.
"She's gay," Rhys said from behind Aaron. "Her family insisted she become a courtesan. It was her only option. That or live on the streets and end up sold into slavery. She's chosen right, staying at the palace and aiding us as we determine the future of Brayleigh."
Aaron didn't quite know what Luna had done to help the rebels, but surely she'd been allowed to stay. Her fate here much kinder than at home it seemed. The courtesans as part of the prince's allotment wasn't all bad. In Luna's case, it had saved her from a much worse fate, even if she didn't enjoy the company of men.
"Is that true?" Aaron asked at
Luna.
She stuttered as she tried to spit the single word out of her mouth. "Yes."
Aaron felt like an idiot for choosing Luna, and although he'd have done it just to save her, he still felt stupid for not knowing. She'd hid it well and their lack of interaction together had also bought her privacy. Besides, Lorelei wanted to be his alone, this news would keep her happy as well, right?
Rhys took a step back on the floor, his heels clanking on the tile. "I will give you time to catch up."
Aaron stalked up the staircase. His heart both torn and elated to see Luna. At least she was safe at the palace, for now. Who knew what became of the other girls that had abandoned their roles as courtesans. Did they not truly love him to stay? He had been gone for some time though.
"Where are you staying?" he asked Luna as he grazed the top stair.
Lorelei walked directly behind him, staying close to Aaron.
Luna shuffled her feet, avoiding eye contact with him. "In the royal harem. Some of the rooms were destroyed in August and Henry's quarters. A few guards and even some men that didn't belong showed up. Rhys hauled all the women up in your old harem, so we'd be safe."
"What happened to the other girls from my harem?" Aaron asked. Where had his courtesans gone?
"They left, Aaron," Luna said. Her voice remained soft and even.
With his jaw tight, he stepped closer to Luna. "Why would they leave?" He hadn't given them permission to return home. Besides, the palace was their rightful home. Why would anyone abandon it for the unknown?
"You haven't been here very much lately. When the rebels attacked, they thought you might have already been dead or captured. After rebel soldiers invaded the harem, many of the courtesans up and left. I didn't have anywhere else to go. Once the fighting ceased, I'd been given permission to roam the halls and visit the other harems. I felt curious to determine if any other courtesans stayed behind."
"You've been in the other harems?" Aaron asked. It was against the rules at least it had been when Gideon had been in charge.
Luna nodded slowly. "Yes. I went to retrieve the women that stayed. They've taken up residence in your old harem."
Aaron didn't agree that it was old, but he didn't argue with Luna. He headed into the royal harem, it was closer than his bedroom. He wanted to see what had become of his home and verify that Luna was the last courtesan that had stayed with him.
Stalking through one empty bedroom, he headed to the living quarters. Three girls were dressed in gowns, the same clothes they'd had while at the palace. Six additional girls were dressed in jeans or khakis and t-shirts in black or white. It was clear which girls thought themselves a soldier for the rebels. His eyes glanced Luna over in her red and golden dress, grateful she hadn't changed her appearance at least.
"Why are you back?" Luna asked. "You've been gone for over a week. We all thought you were dead or a hostage. Why return now?"
He was surprised she hadn't asked why he'd left and where he'd been. "Brayleigh needs my help," he said. It was the truth, the country was in the midst of chaos thanks to the rebels denouncing Gideon of his throne. It wasn't as though they crowned a second king. Instead they wished to usurp the entire system, which was more than just a gamble, it was stupid. The people weren't ready for change, not again so soon. The Gem Apocalypse was still fresh in everyone's mind. The revolt needed to end now.
Luna stepped closer, keeping her voice down. "What do you plan on doing?"
Aaron felt the ladies eyes all fall on him. He couldn't risk letting any of them go to Rhys with the information. He wasn't a trader to his country, he was a loyalist. Rhys was the enemy, did no one see that simple fact?
"Would you mind showing me your room?" Lorelei asked. "I haven't seen it, and I'd love an exclusive tour."
Aaron squeezed her hand, glad she had the forethought for defusing a potentially dangerous situation. "I'd love to," he said, glancing back at Luna. "Perhaps we can discuss more of this later." He had no other reason to visit with her. Lorelei was exclusively his and Luna wasn't into men anyhow.
He escorted Lorelei from the royal harem and down the hall. His hand clung to hers, leading her down a back stairwell, hidden from view. Together they climbed the wooden steps as he showed her to his quarters.
Her eyes raked over the room.
Aaron felt relieved his home, the confines of his bedroom at least, were untouched by the rebels. The princes' bedrooms were all far from the entry of the palace and the first floor where most of the damage had accumulated.
Lorelei stepped into his bedroom, her fingers glided over the blue and gray silk bedcover. "Am I the first girl you've brought in here?" she asked.
He shut the bedroom door, providing them a hint of privacy. "You are," Aaron said. The courtesans were never allowed to leave the royal harem. It would have been forbidden and impossible with guards watching his every move while prince. With time, everything had changed. What would become of them? How long could they live at the palace, befriending the enemy before Rhys and his men caught on?
"What about spy cameras and listening devices?" Lorelei asked. "Are we safe in here?"
He knew what she really meant was could they talk freely without being discovered? Aaron couldn't know if his father had implemented a system that he had no knowledge to.
"Not that I know of, but it's best to be careful," Aaron said. He couldn't easily trust anyone, except for Lorelei. She had proven herself to him, and he would never forget her loyalty. He gestured for her to follow him into the bathroom. He turned on the shower and ran the faucet for the sink. The constant stream of noise from the water would have made any listening device impractical.
He shut the door, keeping her close. Aaron's lips brushed her ear. It would be safer if they whispered the words and undressed, hiding in the shower. Surely his father wouldn't have allowed any cameras behind the glass. There'd be nowhere to hide one.
They were both in dire need of a hot shower. What was the harm?
Aaron helped Lorelei out of her clothes before disrobing, joining her in the shower stall. He shut the glass door, listening to it click into place. Steam filled the small space, shielding them from any watchful eyes.
Hungrily his mouth lowered, finding her cherry puckered lips and taking a taste. "I can't trust anyone here but you," Aaron said between kisses.
She nodded her agreement. Her fingers snaked in his hair, tangling in fists as she clung to him.
"I need to speak with my brother, see if we can form a secret alliance against Rhys and his men."
Lorelei's grip on Aaron loosened. "Three of us combined won't be enough."
He wasn't an idiot. There were inherent risks certainly, but he also didn't wish to give up, let his country go, and watch Rhys destroy the people, even if it wasn't intentional. He may have been a good man to stop the slave trade but he'd acquired too much power.
"You're right. Do you think you could turn the girls in the harem?" Aaron asked.
"Please tell me you're not serious."
He raised an eyebrow, curious about her response.
"I'm not one of them, Aaron."
He knew she was right. She hadn't been chosen, not in the way that the laws of Brayleigh allowed a courtesan to be picked. Could he trust Luna to help? He wasn't sure whose side the young woman was on. Rhys had spent enough time to know she preferred the company of women. "We'll figure out something." His options were limited. The guards that were loyal to the crown were dead. They'd put their life down in order to save King Gideon. Little good that it did.
Aaron didn't want to fight. They were sharing a hot shower together, arguing and planning a revolt against the rebels should have been the last thing on his mind.
Her fingers soaped up her perky breasts, and his fingers tweaked a nipple, bringing her skin under water washing away the suds before his lips latched on to her breast, kissing and sucking her sweet skin.
"I thought we were going to talk," she said. Her fingers tangled again in
his hair, attempting to pull him away.
His lips trailed a path of kisses down her stomach. "Would you rather talk?" Aaron asked.
"No."
"Good," he said, standing up, claiming her mouth with his own as he backed her up against the cold glass wall of the shower.
She shivered in his grasp and her nipples hardened. Lorelei moaned as wetness seeped out of her. One hand snaked down his stomach, touching his cock, stroking its length as her thumb grazed the tip in a circle.
"Fuck me, Aaron." She breathed into his ear, tugging the lobe between her teeth.
He moaned, a ripple coursing through his body as he tried to take control. He hoisted her up off the ground, holding her to him and keeping her back pinned to the shower wall. Pushing his hardened cock into her entrance, he listened to her moans as he filled her.
Aaron wanted to bathe her in kisses, but he focused on her weight, keeping her steady as he moved his hips against hers. She wrapped her legs around his waist, trying to help him as he clung to her, his arms around her body, keeping her safe.
Their bodies banged loudly against the shower glass. He knew he needed to be careful, the last thing he wanted was a horrific accident landing them both on the floor.
"Harder," she said between clenched teeth, her fingernails dug into his rear as he felt his insides pulsating and nearing release.
Her head dipped back and she arched into him, shuddering against his body. He felt the ripple course through her body as she clenched onto his throbbing cock.
Unable to hold back any longer, a few deep thrusts and his body trembled as he reached the peak, gasping for air, heart slamming against his chest.
Lorelei breathed hard, panting as she tried to catch her breath. Her feet slowly glided down to the slippery floor, her grip around him loosening as she found her strength to stand. "That was incredible!"
Aaron merely nodded, still trying to find his breath. "Sure as hell was."
Chapter Three
Aaron stirred during the night, unable to fall back asleep. Not wanting to wake Lorelei, he untangled from her embrace and quietly slipped out of the room, clad only in pajamas.
