The Rogue Prince

by Michelle M. Pillow

  There was no way Reid would drink nef to calm his appetites.

  The old king had been a hard man, but Reid respected his father and his ideals. King Attor had urged the Var men to prove their worth and dependability with emotionless detachment. He taught by example that proving great prowess in the bedroom showed prowess in the field of battle until strength in one meant strength in the other.

  If this was true, Reid knew he had more than enough prowess to make up for all three of his brothers who had settled down. He thought of his conquests with a sense of male pride and vanity. In fact, he should be damn near immortal.

  “Besides,” Reid said as they waited for the metal door leading to the space docks to open, “you’re one to talk about duty to the kingdom. While I have been down fighting a war, you have been up here, flying around space at your leisure.”

  It was an old argument, to which neither one of them took offense.

  “Ah, not again. I have four brothers who do not need me to help run the kingdom.” Jarek dismissed Reid easily. “It was decided that I would go out into the universe and learn its ways. That is what I have done. I didn’t hear any complaints when I sent back the new mainframe parts for the palace’s central computer.”

  “Speaking of which, Kirill still wants you to change the settings,” Reid said. “Siren lasered Tori in the ass and locked me in the weapons chamber because I called her a rusted piece of cyber trash.”

  Jarek laughed. Siren was what the computer mainframe called itself, ever since Jarek programmed the finicky female personality into the Var palace.

  “You think that’s funny?” Reid arched a brow.

  “No, what’s funny is that I don’t remember the security codes to go in and fix her.” Jarek grinned.

  “Are you guys coming or what?” Rick yelled from the ship. “If you plan on standing there talking, I’ll just go and find myself another playmate to—”

  “We’re coming!” Jarek yelled, waving his hand to urge Rick back inside. To Reid, he said, “Come on, let’s go get this over with.”

  2

  Four days later…

  Jasmine St. Claire watched her husband as he gave his speech. It was the same one he’d given in palaces, at dinner tables in rich people’s homes, to himself in the bedroom mirror. It was the speech she’d written for him, down to the last word. But she knew that, looking at her face frozen in a graciously supporting smile, no one would believe it if she were to tell them. To the world, she was a vacuum, an empty attachment that came with Doctor Chadwick St. Claire.

  Jasmine widened her smile on cue, as her husband told the joke she’d written for him. As always it got a big laugh. This was her life—marriage to the very rich, very prominent doctor. She’d been young and naïve when she’d said her vows. Chad had swept her off her feet, wining and dining her over a few short months after he’d visited her father’s home. Reality hit during the honeymoon and marriage that the good doctor wasn’t what she’d envisioned in her dreams. She had no one to blame for it but herself.

  She’d made her rich bed, and now she was smothered in its silks. No one ever told her what would happen after the fairy tale ended. There was a reason for that. Happily ever afters didn’t last.

  Jasmine took a deep breath, keeping her face blank. The jacket to her gown was hot, but she knew she couldn’t take it off. Chad paused for effect, as she’d marked in his speech to do, and then continued to speak the words that flowed eloquently out of his mouth.

  The mountainous planet of Nozando hosted a giant medical conference every couple of years. The conference was funded by the MAPH, Medical Alliance for Planetary Health. The Alliance had their hands into everything in the medical field, such as drug supplies, health insurance, scientific medical study, and advancements. Chad hated to miss a single one of these conferences, as it was his opportunity to get noticed by the big boys. Everybody who was anybody in the medical field attended or sent representatives.

  This was Chad’s first year speaking and he’d been particularly nervous about it. Jasmine had paid for that nervousness in more ways than one. But it wasn’t anything she wasn’t used to. Such were the consequences of being married to Chad.

  The conferences were in their third day with only two more left. She’d sat through the numerous speeches, but had been excused from attending the parties afterward. Jasmine wasn’t fooled. She knew strippers entertained the men at the parties, both on stage and in the bedroom. Like always, she turned a blind eye to Chad’s indiscretions. She had her reasons for doing so.

  Jasmine was seated at a round dining table, decorated with a giant centerpiece of flowers, and littered with the fashionably square wine glasses of the others. She didn’t talk to any of them. She didn’t really talk to anyone unless Chad introduced her to a prominent doctor. It was easier that way. As the crowd applauded her husband, she dutifully stood and clapped in support of him. He nodded his thanks several times before climbing down the side steps of the stage.

  Chad was a handsome man, so refined and graceful. Just looking at him, he appeared to be a gentleman. In her husband’s case, looks were not necessarily deceiving, for he was every inch the gentleman. He was dressed like the other doctors, in a dark, form-fitting suit jacket that reached to his knees and buttoned all the way down the front. Underneath, the pants were a full jumpsuit, acting as both trousers and undershirt.

  Though a slender man, his very presence demanded attention. He embodied everything for which those with money and affluence strove. He was attractive, clean cut, and though not exactly chiseled with muscles, he was toned and considered very easy on the eyes. He had black hair, sprinkled only lightly with gray at the temples, and light blue eyes. He was a charismatic man, pleasant to be around. If he wanted you to like him, you most probably would. He used his charisma and grace to his fullest advantage. That charm is what had made Jasmine love him, and when his charm went away, so had her love.

  Jasmine lifted her gloved hand to his cheek as he leaned over to kiss the side of her face. It was a very chaste kiss, one she was used to. The affection was all for show. The audience clapped louder. Obviously the show had worked. The picture of the happy couple was complete.

  “Perfect,” she whispered into his ear.

  Jasmine pulled back, and Chad graciously helped her back into her seat. To say her husband didn’t love her wasn’t fair. Perhaps he loved her too much, put her too high upon a pedestal, expecting her to stay there. Who was she to judge how Chad felt? He said he loved her every single day. But, then again, she always repeated it back to him.

  Chad reached across the table and grabbed her hand, squeezing. It was odd that he would do so, and she glanced at him. His eyes bore steadily into hers, and she leaned forward.

  “Doctor Ellington is here,” Chad said. “Smile more.”

  Jasmine widened her smile though for the life of her she couldn’t remember who Doctor Ellington was. Chad let go of her hand, and they both turned their attention to the podium. An elderly doctor in dark blue took the stage.

  “At this time, we would like to pay our respects in honoring a great man and distinguished scientist, Doctor Simon Martens. Doctor Martens recently passed away while eradicating biological weaponry from a primitive planet,” the speaker said. A holographic image of an elderly gentleman appeared next to him on the stage. It was a photograph of the late Doctor Martens. He had been a round, balding figure with kind eyes. “But it is his work documenting and classifying alien insect species that has paved the way for great leaps in modern medicine…”

  Jasmine listened with half an ear, not thinking about anything. She kept her eyes forward, not caring to look around. She took a cue from the crowd, slowly nodding her head at something the speaker said. It took all her concentration just to keep the look of lifelessness off her face.

  Jasmine stared at the smile on Doctor Martens face—non-threatening, happy, kind. There was a man who’d known contentment in his life. She wished she could trade places wit
h him, give her life for his.

  3

  Reid glanced over at Jarek and shook his head. Nozando was a beautiful planet, full of lush foliage over mountainous terrain. It was one of the prettier places he’d visited while on ambassador trips, not counting the Galaxy Playmates’ mansion, of course. Not, that he’d been too many places on ambassador trips.

  Reid nearly groaned remembering the mansion. If he didn’t have a duty to his people, he’d consider living there on the floating island paradise, surrounded by half-naked women, the most beautiful humanoid women the universe had to offer. Surely the owner would give him a job. He could be a bed trainer.

  Reid and Jarek stood in the back of the conference hall, their arms crossed as they waited to speak. Already he could tell the gathered crowd was uptight. These were not his type of people. All of the men wore suit jackets, and the ladies donned formal gowns, varying in style, all with subtle coloring. He scanned the large room for someone pretty to look at. There were some nice looking women. Most of them were older, which wasn’t necessarily a turn-off, but they all had sour looks on their faces.

  Having just arrived an hour before, they’d been lucky enough to miss the long day of speeches. As he thought about it, Reid knew the decision to go to the Galaxy Playmates’ mansion had been a good one. Now all he had to do was go on stage, make his little diplomatic speech, and they could leave. Maybe if they all put their money together, they could rent the mansion again. The idea did have merit. Reid wondered how much they’d need. He’d have to talk to Rick about it.

  Rick, and the rest of the crew waited in a separate area while they negotiated the refueling of Jarek’s ship, The Conqueror. They also acquired the usual supplies.

  Reid was impressed. When the Medical Alliance threw a party, they really threw a party. They even gave out free medical supplies to all the ships and had something called a ‘door prize’. Reid wasn’t sure what the tradition was, but the winner would receive a top-of-the-line medical booth.

  Doctor Garrett, the conference coordinator, went to the podium. Reid didn’t care for the man. It wasn’t anything in particular about him. He was just too full of himself.

  Shifting uncomfortably in the jacket Jarek had given him, Reid tugged at the constrictive sleeves. Apparently, his usual attire wasn’t appropriate, though he did wear his cross laced pants and tank underneath the jacket.

  “At this time,” Doctor Garrett began, “we would like to pay our respects in honoring a great man and distinguished scientist, Doctor Simon Martens…”

  Reid felt a pang of regret, as he saw the likeness of Doctor Martens flash on the stage. The scientist had been a great man. Simon had come to Reid’s home planet of Qurilixen with Quinn’s wife, Tori. He was attacked and killed by one of the Var house nobles while trying to help rid their planet of biological weapons, the same weapons Reid’s father had brought there.

  “Doctor Martens recently passed away while eradicating biological weaponry from a primitive planet,” Doctor Garrett continued.

  Reid frowned and leaned to Jarek. Through the side of his mouth, he asked, “Who is he calling primitive? Sacred cats, let’s get out of here already. These people are strange.”

  Jarek grinned but said nothing. Reid knew his brother agreed with him.

  Doctor Garrett briefly listed the highlights of Doctor Martens’ long, impressive career, before stating, “Please join me in welcoming, Doctor Marten’s daughter, Stella Martens. Miss Martens will be accepting a gift from the Var of Qurilixen on her father’s behalf.”

  Again there was applause, as a short, overweight woman walked up to the stage. She wore a silvery-blue dress that fell in one piece to the floor. Except for the fact that she had hair, she looked just like her father.

  “And here to pay their respects to this great man are Ambassadors Reid and Jarek of the planet Qurilixen,” Doctor Garrett finished.

  “Ambassadors?” Reid asked, wondering why Doctor Garrett hadn’t used their royal title.

  “It’ll get us off the planet faster. This is a room of doctors and scientists. If they hear the word prince, they’ll try to get us to donate money for their projects. Trust me, it’s not pretty.”

  Reid grinned. “Good point, Ambassador Jarek.”

  A polite clapping ensued, and the two Var brothers stepped up to the stage, keeping in stride with each other. As the front light fell over them, the clapping faltered before lifting once more. Reid was used to the reaction of shock from women and didn’t care. Both he and Jarek together often made the ladies more than excited. But, when he saw some of the men look at them in snobbish disgust, it was all he could do not to start a fight. It would be fun to crash up the party, and he could use the exercise. However, it was out of respect for Doctor Martens that he held back.

  Climbing up to the podium, Reid smiled at the crowd, feeling suddenly mischievous. If they wanted to act as if he were a barbarian, he’d be the barbarian. Reid glanced at Jarek. Jarek saw his look and suppressed a grin.

  4

  Jasmine clapped without bothering to turn around until she heard the applause falter. Glancing over her shoulder, she froze. Two identical, very large men stepped forward into the spot light. Her mouth went dry. They didn’t look like the typical ambassadors she saw at these events. They both had long, dark hair, black as midnight. It reached all the way to their waists. The one on the right kept his pulled back neatly, showing peeks of a black tattoo marking on his neck, whereas the one on the left allowed his to fall freely about his shoulders.

  Their height was all the more intimidating because of their massive girth. Even clothed, she could see their strong arms were joined to broad shoulders and thick chests. Both men looked exactly the same from the build to the color of their dark brown-black eyes, but for some reason Jasmine found herself staring at the one with his hair down. There was something about him, an arrogant confidence, a wildness, a nonchalant devil-may-care attitude.

  Her breath came rapidly, and she couldn’t move. Time seemed to slow. She willed him to look at her so she could see him fully. A smile curled his lips, and his eyes stayed forward. He didn’t see her in the crowd.

  Feeling a hand on her elbow, she gasped and turned. Chad stared at her, his eyes narrowed in what she could easily interpret as anger. Jasmine’s heart skipped a beat, and she shivered, just then realizing she’d stopped clapping, her gloved hands pressed tightly together as she stared too long at the Var ambassadors.

  “I don’t feel well,” Jasmine said, leaning forward so only he could hear her. She glanced away from his face, before lying, “I think I might have forgotten to take my pill today with all the excitement about your speech.”

  Chad didn’t move. The grip on her arm tightened, but looking at his face, it was impossible to see that anything was wrong.

  “May I be excused?” she asked, already knowing the answer.

  “You may go after the presentation. I don’t imagine these two savages will speak for long,” Chad said, whispering into her ear.

  Jasmine nodded.

  “I am Ambassador Reid.”

  Jasmine turned her attention to the stage, trying to tell herself that the savage man didn’t give her chills with his low voice. Reid was the one with his hair down. Ambassador Jarek, who had the tattoo, stood silently at his side.

  It was a strange reaction in her chest, one she’d never had. Maybe she really had forgotten to take her heart pill. It would be the first time in nearly four years of marriage. Jasmine didn’t feel right at all. She was beginning to sweat, and her heart raced violently in her chest. A tremor worked up her body.

  “We would like to thank Doctor Martens for his service to our planet by presenting this knife,” Reid paused, pulling his jacket back to unsheathe a decorative knife from his waist. Jasmine was stunned to see a portion of his taut flesh along his side, inadequately hidden by cross laces.

  Several of the onlookers gasped as Reid wielded the weapon in his hand. With a light throw, he tossed the hi
lt up and caught the blade. The Var man’s back turned to her as he offered the knife to Stella Martens. Stella paled and drew back slightly at his motion. Jasmine couldn’t see what the Var man did or said to her, but Stella blushed and nodded, instantly relaxing. Reid lifted the knife up, offering it. The woman hesitated before taking it from him, her blush deepening.

  Reid turned back to the podium. Jasmine expected a speech, but instead, the man simply said, “Thank you.”

  Reid nodded at Jarek and both men walked back down the way they’d come. There was a long silence before someone slowly clapped. Soon others followed suit until the hesitant sound followed the two men from the room.

  “Short and sweet,” a doctor at their table said, laughing.

  “What do you expect of primitives?” a woman answered.

  Jasmine watched a second longer as Reid disappeared through the back door. She glanced at Chad. He was studying her carefully. She managed a weak smile for him. He didn’t return it as he again looked at the podium.

  5

  “Nice speech,” Jarek said, chuckling, as they left the conference. The sound of hesitant applause was behind them.

  “What?” Reid grinned. Both brothers made their way down the long corridor toward their ship. The accommodations coordinator had offered to give them a room, but they had declined. Reid was glad for it. He was already tired of this crowd. “It got us out of there, didn’t it? Besides, all I had to say about Doctor Martens I said to his daughter. I don’t need to impress these men. She’s the one we came to see.”

  “Agreed.” Jarek nodded. “Let’s see what the guys are up to.”

  “Yeah, I’m ready to go,” Reid answered. They passed a servant carrying a tray of drinks. The slender man hurried past them, eyeing the twins as if they would attack him. “These people are stuffy prudes.”