The Rogue Prince

by Michelle M. Pillow

  At the word, his brothers shared a knowing look. Reid knew damned well who. But if Jasmine didn’t like him in such a way, he wasn’t about to announce his interest in her to the world. Wouldn’t his brothers get a kick out of that? The great lover turned down by the one woman he desired the most in all his years. Even Reid could grudgingly admit it was poetic justice.

  “Oh, I’m sorry, I meant Jasmine,” Kirill said. “I forget you have so many women. Though, if you’re not taken with her, Navid did mention that he ran into her in the hall earlier. He has asked permission to court her if she’s not already spoken for. I told him I’d ask you first since she is your ward.”

  Navid? Reid stiffened, his face tightening. Navid had seen Jasmine in the hall? Was that smell for Navid, then?

  “Reid,” Quinn asked, a small laugh in his voice, “is anything wrong?”

  Reid bit the inside of his mouth, drawing blood. Stiffly, he said, “No. Everything’s fine.”

  “Then shall I tell Navid to go ahead?” Kirill asked.

  “No,” Reid growled a little too quickly. The brothers looked at him, each trying not to smirk and failing miserably. Reid glanced at Jarek, willing his twin not to join in the conversation, as he said, “She’s married.”

  His brothers already knew as much. For some reason, Reid hadn’t wanted them thinking the worst of her, so he’d explained about her bruises and how he wasn’t sure if the marriage was still binding. Quinn was little to no help on the issue of human marriage rites. Reid sighed. Some ambassador Quinn was.

  To Reid’s aggravation, Jarek did speak. “We all know that human and federation law isn’t recognized here. She’s not mated to anyone. I don’t see why Navid can’t pursue her unless you don’t want him to. In fact, maybe we can hold a contest and have the men fight for the honor to pursue her.”

  “Ah, now that is an idea,” Falke said, nodding thoughtfully. “It’s been a long while since we’ve held a tournament. Now that we’re at peace the men would be up for the sport.”

  Sacred cats!

  Reid growled, instantly standing. He stormed from the room. His brothers’ laughter followed him out into the hall.

  24

  Jasmine agreed to a tour of the Var palace. Ulyssa didn’t walk with them, claiming to feel a little fatigued. She was in the last trimester of her pregnancy and tired easily. Sam and Tori showed Jasmine around. The palace was beautiful.

  “I have a theory that the Var somehow had contact with ancient Old Earth,” Tori explained as she pointed out some of the Moroccan like features of the tiled artwork. “As soon as I finish up some of the ecological tests I’m running on the shadowed marshes, I’m going to look into it. Quinn claims he’s never read anything about it one way or another in their old scrolls.”

  “Ugh, not again,” Sam grumbled. “Jasmine, tell her you don’t care.”

  “Well, I…” Jasmine stuttered, not wanting to be rude.

  “She doesn’t care,” Sam said, grinning at Tori. Jasmine said nothing.

  Tori rolled her eyes heavenward and led the way outside. The air was nice and cool. Before them was a long wide walkway made of smooth stone, adjoining the palace. Jasmine automatically looked up. The castle stood tall against the blue-green sky. Square turrets reached high into the heavens.

  “It’s outstanding,” Jasmine whispered.

  “Yeah, these barbarians have a few talents, don’t they?” Sam grinned. She motioned for Jasmine to follow. “If you think the palace is neat, come check out the city.”

  They moved to stand along the stone rail. The large Var city surrounded the palace. It rolled down the countryside from the front gate. The homes were constructed of gray bricks, contrasting with the red earth. They were of beautiful workmanship, though simplistic in their rectangular design. People walked along the top of their houses, as well as on the bustling maze of earthen streets.

  There were the three suns peeking from the clouded sky, two yellow, and one blue. Apparently, the planet only experienced darkness one night a year because of the suns. For that reason, many places within the palace didn’t have lighting beyond the ceiling domes and fireplaces.

  “You have a beautiful home,” Jasmine said quietly. She really did like the two princesses and the queen. Taking a deep breath, she smelled the fresh air. What was she doing here? Where would she go next? Suddenly, she didn’t want to leave. Qurilixen was tucked away in the Y quadrant. The Federation Military hadn’t shown up again to look for her on Jarek’s ship. The thoughts gave her hope. It was possible Chad would never think to look for her here. If she were lucky, he’d think she was in the Nozando wilderness. It would be easy to conclude she had starved to death or was attacked by wild animals with no part of her left behind to discover.

  “What are you thinking?” Tori asked, searching her face.

  Jasmine glanced at the women with their pregnant bellies. Those were a lot of what-ifs. Even if the possibility of Chad showing up here were remote, she couldn’t risk it. She couldn’t risk any of these people getting hurt because they’d been kind to her. Plus, with the Medical Mafia interested in hiring Chad, he might have more connections than she’d first thought. It hit Jasmine that she didn’t know the man at all.

  “I was just thinking of leaving,” Jasmine said. “Do you have a transport station anywhere on the planet? I have some jewels I can barter with.”

  “Leaving?” Tori asked, she leaned over and glanced at Sam.

  “Ah,” Sam said, quickly. She hesitated. “Um, don’t you like it here?”

  “Well, yes, it’s lovely, but—” Jasmine said.

  “But, what?” Tori interrupted. “You don’t like lovely places?”

  “No, no, I do, it’s just—” Jasmine was again cut off.

  “You’re afraid you don’t belong here?” Sam interrupted.

  Jasmine looked helplessly at the two women. “Well, I don’t belong—”

  “Small matter,” Tori said, hooking her arm.

  “Yeah, easily fixed,” Sam said.

  “What do you mean?” Jasmine looked at both women. Maybe her first assumption had been correct. Maybe they were all crazy.

  “I think Reid should explain that one,” Sam said. “You just let him do that kissing thing we talked about.”

  “No, you don’t understand,” Jasmine tried to shake her head as she pulled her arms away. Both women watched her back away from them.

  “Care to explain it to us then?” Sam asked, putting her hands on her hips.

  Tori crossed her arms and tilted her head to the side. “Are you trying to say you don’t like Reid?”

  “No, he’s been very kind,” Jasmine’s whole body shook. Were women friends usually this nosy? She’d just met them. Maybe she should’ve been more careful about what she told them. Her heart skipped a little strangely. “I think I need my medicine. I’m going in.”

  Sam stepped in her way. “What are you hiding?”

  “N-nothing,” Jasmine stuttered. She again tried to skirt past them.

  “It’s Chad, isn’t it?” Tori said. “You think he’ll come here for you. Reid won’t let him take you.”

  “He won’t?” Jasmine asked in surprise. “I mean…”

  She couldn’t even think of a good cover. There was no need. Tori and Sam were nodding their heads.

  “No, he’s claimed you. You’re under his protection,” Tori said.

  “Reid never claims women. He cares for you,” Sam added.

  “He does?” Jasmine wondered why she cared and all the while knowing she really did. “I’m sure it’s just an honor thing.”

  “I think it’s a sex thing.” Sam giggled.

  Tori lightly hit the woman’s arm and shook her head. “Ignore her. Her pregnancy hormones are acting up again.”

  Jasmine was about to protest further when she caught a movement out of the corner of her eyes. Reid stood by the entryway, his arms crossed. She snapped her mouth shut and made a weak noise. The two women instantly turned to wh
ere she stared. Jasmine didn’t pay attention to them. Her heartbeat picked up again, and the funny feeling in her stomach was back. Somehow, knowing she wasn’t dying made her less nauseous, but the fear was still there. Being sick, she could deal with. Being attracted to an experienced man like Reid, was something she couldn’t handle.

  Jasmine swallowed nervously, taking in his lean form. He moved lazily toward them, walking like a man who knew he attracted women. He was confident, strong, and usually easygoing, though to see his stoic face now, one wouldn’t know it. This was a man who would naturally expect a lover that could perform, at least on a basic level.

  Jasmine grew worried. If she allowed him to kiss her, where did she put her hands? Did she make the first move? Did she let him? Did she have to tell him she wanted him to do more than kiss? And if she had to speak during all this, what exactly did she have to say?

  The nausea came back but for a whole new reason. Nerves bundled in her stomach and she suddenly felt like she couldn’t breathe. She gasped, covering her mouth. Knowing she was going to get sick, she ran toward the palace. Reid stopped as she hurried by him, her hand covering her mouth. His eyes widened in surprise, and his mouth opened, but no words came out.

  Jasmine didn’t stop. How could she? Even if she didn’t get sick, she’d just embarrassed herself. And, worst of all, if she got this nervous just by looking at Reid, how in the world would she ever make it past the kissing part?

  25

  Reid blinked in surprise as Jasmine ran away from him. He watched her, on the verge of going after her to see what was wrong, when Tori grabbed his arm.

  “Let her be,” Sam said.

  “We need to talk,” Tori added.

  “What did you say to her?” Reid demanded. He pulled his arm away, careful not to jerk his pregnant sister-by-marriage too roughly.

  “Just let her go for now,” Tori insisted. “I need to talk to you.”

  “But—”

  “She’s just having a little panic attack,” Tori said. “She’ll be fine. In fact, I think you might want to hear what I have to say.”

  Reid was still worried. Jasmine had appeared pale. He wanted to chase her, already detecting which way she’d have gone by picking up her scent. “Tori, I appreciate—”

  “Sacred cats. It’s about Jasmine.” Tori yelled, shaking her fist at him when he tried to storm away. Reid lifted a brow, giving her a strange look as she cussed like a true Var. Tori wrinkled her nose at him.

  “Fine,” he said gruffly. “What do we need to talk about?”

  “I’m going to go see what the guys are up to,” Sam said. Reid knew she meant her old crew. The last he’d seen them, they were in the banquet hall joking about visiting the harem. Reid thought about joining them. The women would gladly welcome one of their favorite princes back, and he’d already received invitations from them. Gods knew he could use the physical release, but for some reason, he found excuse after excuse as to why he couldn’t go.

  Looking at Tori’s face, he frowned. Reid loved the closeness of his family, but sometimes he wanted to wring all of their meddling necks. Growling, he said, “You’re just loving this, aren’t you?”

  She smirked, but said, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Liar,” he grumbled though he smiled slightly to lighten the words. “I gave Quinn a hard time about the two of you when you were…doing whatever it is you two did.”

  “You did?” Tori asked in surprise. “Quinn never told me that.”

  “Oh, well, I’m fine with you now,” Reid said, flashing an irresistible grin.

  “Gee, thanks,” Tori laughed. “How is it you are so smooth with the ladies?”

  Reid’s face fell. He glanced at where Jasmine had disappeared.

  “I wanted to talk to you about Jasmine’s pills,” Tori said. “They’re not what she thinks they are.”

  Reid tensed. Tori slowly walked toward the railing, urging Reid to follow her to where they could look over the city. “What are they?”

  “It’s hard to explain. You know nef, right,” Tori said, “and how it makes a Var man feel when you take it.”

  “It calms us, or rather our sexual aggression and needs,” Reid answered, nodding. “You’re saying she’s taking nef?”

  “Not exactly.” Tori took a deep breath. “This stuff is like nef times five hundred. Not only has she not been able to feel pleasure, she hasn’t felt pure joy or even happiness. It’s as if her emotions were purposefully kept in a catatonic state for the last four years.”

  “Why would…” Reid shook his head. Why would anyone give her that and then lie to her and tell her she was frigid?

  “I don’t know. But since she was asleep for so long, she hasn’t been taking them. My guess is her emotions are waking up and are going to be pretty frazzled until she gets a handle on them. Think of it as an imprisoned child seeing the outside world for the first time. Whatever illness she had when she was little, she doesn’t have now. It’s been fixed long ago. That bastard kept her doped up. My guess, he’s just plain sick in the head and liked having a wife he could control.”

  “You’re sure?”

  “I read the report from The Conqueror’s medical booth six times. I’m sure. She’s not sick, and she’s not dying,” Tori assured him. “Her reactions right now, especially every time you are near, are going to be difficult for her to process. In fact, she might think she’s sick when she’s just…”

  Tori made a face, blushing. Reid frowned. “What?”

  “You know, aroused,” Tori said.

  “Oh?” Reid said, and then it dawned on him what Tori was telling him. Jasmine was aroused by him. A wide grin spread over his face as he said, more confidently, “Ohhh.”

  Tori laughed. “Glad to see you’re catching on.”

  “Thanks, Tori,” Reid said, kissing her cheek. He grinned, feeling hopeful for the first time in a long time. Jasmine wanted him! “You’ve been a big help.”

  “Wait, there’s more,” Tori said. Reid tensed. She was toying with her bottom lip. That was never a good sign. “Those pills are most readily found through a connection to the Medical Alliance for Planetary Health.”

  “The Mafia?”

  “Yes. The same.”

  “Like givres in the swamp, it seems as if those bastards just keep popping up.” Reid cursed, shaking his head in irritation. “I liked it better when they avoided our part of the galaxy.”

  “Jasmine seems nervous and about ready to bolt off this planet the first chance she gets. We thought it best not to concern her about our fears, but Ulyssa and I both think it is possible Doctor St. Claire could come here for her. A narcissist like that is not going to take kindly to her running out on him.”

  Reid balled his hand into fists. “He can’t have her.”

  “Take her to your home. She’ll not be found there. Let Ulyssa contact her old mission director. If the Medical Mafia comes anywhere near here, they’ll see them. Besides, I think it will be good for her to get away from all of the palace activity. If she can focus on you and how she feels, without prying eyes, she might adjust easier to being off the medicine.”

  Reid nodded. “We’ll go this evening.”

  “We figured you might,” Tori smiled. “Ulyssa is having clothes, soaps, everything a woman needs readied for her as we speak. She lied and told Jasmine she was going to take a nap, but we figured you might not know what to get for a woman’s personal needs. Everything will be left outside your house for her.”

  “Thank you,” Reid said. He made a move to go into the palace. “I owe you one, Tori.”

  “Actually,” Tori laughed. “Our motives are purely selfish.”

  Reid tensed, feeling her coming closer to him.

  “We all want to watch the mighty Reid fall,” Tori said, lightly touching his arm as she walked past him. Reid didn’t answer as he stared after the princess. Her laughter rang out as she strolled away.

  26

  Jasmine qui
rked a brow. Why was Reid looking at her like that? With that devilish smile on his face and the gleam in his dark, handsome eyes? If she didn’t know better, she’d think he was taking her out into the forest to do away with her.

  Narrow, uneven trails wound through the thicket of colossal trees. Many of their trunks were bigger around than most Earth homes. Jasmine felt really tiny walking beneath their wide branches. Strange yellow ferns grew over the red Qurilixen soil. The blue-green haze of the planet’s atmosphere shone through the gigantic leaves of the trees.

  They were walking to Reid’s home in the forest. Tori informed her that she didn’t have a choice. Her pills were lost somewhere. Jasmine never received a straight answer on it, and the only root that could mimic the effects of the drug was in the forest near Reid’s home. Luckily, they’d left the palace so fast that she’d only been presented briefly to the male members of the royal Var family. The brothers were just as handsome as Reid and their faces just as stoic. They were definitely creatures she didn’t want mad at her.

  “So are the Draig out here?” Jasmine asked, glancing around. She’d heard that the Draig were dragon-shifters though she’d never seen Lochlann shift. Thinking of it, she unconsciously moved closer to Reid. He glanced down at her. His arm brushed over her shoulders. Jasmine tensed and pulled away. She wasn’t sure which was more terrifying at the moment, the thought of shifting dragons or Reid touching her.

  “What would you do if they were?” he asked, stopping to look at her. There was nothing around them but trees. Jasmine shivered. Why was he looking at her like that?

  “I need my medicine,” she said.

  Reid turned his eyes from her. “I told you. No more medicine. It’s all gone.”

  “I don’t believe you—”

  “Are you trying to start a fight with me?” He flashed her another mischievous look.

  “Yes,” she admitted, before biting her tongue. Why did she just say that? What was happening to her brain? He grinned a sexy little grin and continued walking.