The nerve of that hussy! Lija started forward but Alsia caught her arm before she could pull her knife.
“Leave off with that,” Alsia said.
For the first time the other women noticed their presence. Immediately they jumped to their feet and bowed. “Lady Alsia!”
She nodded at them. “You are relieved. We’ll take care of the prisoners now.”
The pair looked at each other, but dipped their heads. “We did our best, Lady, but they just weren’t interested,” the woman who’d been working on Gehon said.
“Mine was…” the hussy who’d been with Jackon started to say, but was silenced into confusion at Lija’s murderous look.
“You did your best, I’m sure.” Alsia reassured them. “Sometimes a man just isn’t ready for sex.” She leaned forward and whispered, “The guards out in the hall are in the mood. Perhaps you could entertain them instead?”
Their eyes widened with appreciation and, all grins, they departed the room. Apparently entertaining the guards was a welcome diversion.
Once they were gone, Lija pulled her knife and began cutting the ropes on Gehon and Jackon’s wrists and ankles. As soon as the men were free, they wrapped their long arms around her, hugging her from either side.
“Thank the stars you’re all right,” Gehon told her.
“I was so worried,” Jackon said.
Lija laughed, wiping tears of relief from her eyes. “I was worried, too. Brentan told me he was having you tortured.”
“Oh, he was…” both men said at once.
Alsia’s lips twitched. “I’ll be sure to pass that on to my ladies. They’ll be amused at how you regarded their efforts to give you pleasure.”
Gehon stood up and fastened his pants, leaving Jackon to pull Lija behind him as if to protect her. Both men took an aggressive posture, prepared to fight, even if the only one to battle was a slender unarmed woman.
“And you would be?” Gehon said in his deepest growl.
The lady met his glare with one of amusement. “Lady Alsia. Head of Brentan’s household.”
Lija struggled out from behind Jackon. “She’s helping us get away, Gehon. No need to take her head off.”
He eased some of his belligerence. “You’ll help us? Why?”
“Let’s just say I have an interest in your lady not being my prince’s wife.” She looked over their clothing, which did not resemble the gray uniforms of Brentan’s forces. “We’ll need to go to where the microshuttle is. Hold here for a moment.”
When she returned she carried two uniforms and a pair of stun guns. At Lija’s questioning gaze she shrugged. “Their owners aren’t using them at the moment.”
Once the men were dressed, Alsia led the way to the ship’s shuttle bay. Their route took them past the now empty guard station, and Lija heard moaning and giggling coming from the adjacent open cells. So that’s where Alsia got the uniforms. The guards really didn’t need their clothes at the moment.
Lija resisted her urge to laugh as they crossed into the main hall.
She kept her hand on her knife, while Jackon and Gehon kept a close hold on their stunners. Each step took them closer to the shuttle bay her ship was in, but also into more occupied territory.
Dressed as they were, the men were given barely any notice, their long hair tucked up under the uniform caps. Lija and Alsia received the most attention, men eyeing their bodies in the revealing costumes, although the fact that one of the women was the Prince’s head of household kept anything more than eyes wandering their bodies.
A good thing, Lija realized, as both Jackon and Gehon looked ready to stun any man who’d dare lay a finger on her…then beat the frozen body into a pulp for good measure. Being knocked out, dragged from their ship, and sexually assaulted hadn’t done much for their tempers.
Each of the pair was spoiling for a fight and she hoped they could get to her ship without having one. So far their luck was holding.
It ran out when they turned the final corner into the shuttle bay. Prince Brentan stood inside with six armed men, their weapons drawn. He smiled an unpleasant greeting.
“I see you managed to find your way here.” Alsia cowered as he raked her with a contemptuous gaze. “What did they promise to get your help?”
“Nothing…” she stammered.
“Really? Not even that they would take you away from here?”
“She only asked that we would go away without hurting anyone,” Lija interjected. “She was worried that we might go back to your rooms and slice your throat.”
“You were that afraid for me?” His voice changed for a moment and Lija thought he might actually feel something for this woman who obviously cared so much for him. He shook his head. “Never mind. I’ll deal with you later.”
“As for you.” He turned back to Lija, who’d used the distraction to move toward him. She was just a meter or so away. If she could just get close enough and pull her knife…
“Down, Lija,” Jackon called, and she dove to the floor. Before the Natarns could react the Zelions pulled their stunners and fired, quickly putting four of the others on the floor. The other two fired, but Jackon and Gehon ducked their shots and with bloodcurdling screams rushed forward, engaging the remaining pair in hand-to-hand combat.
Brentan stared as they battled, his hand reaching for his own weapon. Jumping to her feet, Lija pulled her knife from its concealment and kicked him in the groin, forcing him to his knees. As he moaned, one hand over his injured privates, she held the point of her knife under his chin. “Call off your men, Brentan.”
“Too late for that,” Jackon said cheerfully. “They’re already down.”
Glancing to the side, Lija saw that her Zelion warriors had already disabled their opponents, leaving them to lie on the deck. The battle had been good for them, they were now relaxed and much more their old happy selves.
Lija relaxed as well. This hadn’t been such a bad thing after all. It was going to be hard enough with the three of them crowding the tiny shuttle. Better that they work some of that excess energy out now.
Jackon and Gehon came over and each grabbed one of Brentan’s shoulders. “What do you want us to do with him, Lija?” Gehon asked.
“We could break something,” Jackon said in a hopeful tone.
“No breaking,” she told them firmly. “I promised Alsia he wouldn’t be harmed.”
Brentan groaned louder, still clutching his abused balls. The Zelions looked at her quizzically.
“He’ll survive,” she told them.
Gehon shrugged. “Still, better to make him more comfortable.” He aimed the stunner and fired. Brentan went limp on the floor. The sudden silence as his moans stopped was unnerving.
Alsia rushed forward to cradle him in her arms. There were tears in her eyes as she looked up at them. “Your ship is over there,” she indicated the direction with a nod of her head. “You better go now.”
As they headed away, Lija looked back to see the Natarn woman kiss Brentan’s forehead, and she wondered if he’d ever realize what a good thing he had in her.
Her microshuttle was where she’d been told it would be, the sleek craft a welcome sight. Both Zelions stared at it with undisguised admiration.
“Very nice, Lija,” Jackon said. “This is one of the latest models. Very expensive, last I looked.” He grinned at her. “Our true has riches?”
Gehon gave her a curious glance, but didn’t say anything.
With a roll of her eyes, she gestured to the hatch. “Inside, both of you.”
It was a close fit inside. Lija took the control seat, leaving the men to share the narrow passenger bench behind her. Before any of the shuttle bay workers could interfere, her fingers flew through the launch procedures.
Firing up the engines took but a moment, and then they took off toward the bay’s opening into space. There was crackle as the shuttle’s shields briefly merged with the screen across the bay’s flyway and then they were out in open space. Lija mov
ed into a series of sharp curves, designed to confuse any trackers they might have. It was hard enough to track a microshuttle given its size, but she was taking no chances. She didn’t want any company before heading toward the Zelion ship.
Behind her Jackon laughed, but the sound was forced. “You’re quite a pilot, Lija. You always go this fast?”
“Only when I’m escaping Natarn ships.” She twisted the controls and directed the ship into another loop.
Jackon gulped. “I’m glad. I’d hate to think you always flew this way.”
Gehon punched his friend in the arm. “There is nothing wrong with her flying.” He grinned at her, obviously enjoying the ride. “Let’s see just how fast you can make it go!”
Who would have expected that staid, quiet Gehon would be the daredevil of the pair? She grinned to herself. One thing about it, life with these two would never be boring.
Lija pushed the shuttles speed to maximum, ignoring the groans and appreciative yells from behind her.
Eventually she circled back to the Zelion ship, coming up on the side away from the Natarn ship. The microshuttle was small enough to not be visible against the bulk of the freighter, but she didn’t want to take any chances.
Gehon clapped her on the shoulder. “That was great, Lija,” he said, eyes bright with excitement.
“Yeah, great.” Jackon looked a little green. “Can’t remember a better ride.”
She moved to connect the shuttle’s doorway with the ship’s dock then turned to face them. Taking a deep breath, she prepared herself for the fight she knew was coming.
“Gehon, Jackon this is where we split up. You get on your ship and hide in the hydroponics where your life signs will be hidden.”
Both men’s jaws dropped, blue and brown eyes wide with shock. “Lija, you’re our true,” Jackon said.
“I know that but more important to us now is that I’m your decoy.” She checked the crono on the ship’s console. “Right about now Brentan is waking up and shouting orders to go after us. I can lead them away with the microshuttle and they’ll have to push it to keep up with me.”
“Fine,” Gehon said. “We’ll go with you.”
She shook her head. “Can’t. I’m heading for Axona and this ship won’t take three people for that long a trip. Not enough life support. Your ship can’t make the trip at the speed I’m planning, not with it needing repairs. Besides knowing Brentan, he’s likely left some people on it to salvage it. He’s not above piracy when it suits his purposes. It will take both of you to take care of them.”
Both men’s eyes glowed at the thought of another battle. Lija suppressed a sigh. Yes, life with these two would definitely not be boring.
“So, the plan is, you get on your ship, hide until the Natarns are gone, take care of any who remain.” She paused for a breath. The air was getting stale already. “Try not to kill them, though. If I’m going to break my engagement to Brentan, I’ll need all the goodwill I can get with his people and casualties won’t help that.”
Gehon took her hand. “So you are breaking off with him?”
“I told him I wouldn’t marry a man who deceived me. Besides, he has someone who loves him.”
Jackon grabbed her other hand. “What about us, Lija? Will you choose one of us?”
She hesitated for a moment her eyes downcast. Then she gazed proudly into both their faces. Two handsome men, either of which would make her an ideal husband. How was she to choose?
“Come to Axona as soon as you get your ship repaired and your delivery on Brasia completed. It will take me that long to settle with the Natarns anyway. I’ll give you my answer there.”
Chapter Eleven
Jackon paced the floor next to the bench where Gehon seemingly relaxed, leaning against the wall, his legs outstretched, hands folded on his knees. Only the constant twitching of the redhead’s thumbs told Jackon that his friend was at least a little bit nervous.
He, on the other hand, was nearly jumping out of his skin.
Lija had promised an answer for them when they reached Axona, but when they’d landed yesterday she hadn’t been there to greet them at the port, in spite of their calling ahead to announce their arrival. Instead there’d been a curt message telling them to come to the planet’s government palace in the morning.
Stopping for a moment, he tugged on the neckpiece of the formal jacket he’d been provided with and asked to wear upon arriving at the palace that morning. “Why do they always make these things so tight?” he said.
Gehon stopped twitching and glanced up at his friend. “To make us look good, of course,” he said a hint of a grin on his face. “It’s hard to slouch when you’re wearing a tight collar.”
Jackon settled onto the bench, doing his best to slouch anyway. “I don’t understand why you aren’t more nervous. It’s been two weeks. Maybe she changed her mind about wanting either of us.”
Gehon smoothed the fabric of his jacket with his hands. “I don’t think she changed her mind.”
He glanced at the hall around them, the smooth marble and tall columns that supported the high roof. “Why do you suppose she wanted us to meet us here?”
“Because if she does choose one of us, she needs to present him to her father, his wrists bound with her braid.” Gehon looked around the hall with amusement. “I think he lives here.”
“No,” Jackon scoffed. “Can’t be. This is where the royal family lives…” his voice trailed off as he realized what his friend was saying. “You think she’s a-a-a princess?”
“Something like that.”
“Oh.” He mulled that one over for a while. “That would explain her being engaged to a prince.” Something else occurred to him. “You don’t suppose she’s planning on having us arrested for abducting her, do you?”
Gehon’s lips twitched. “Would you waste good clothes on a man you’re going to throw into prison?”
“I suppose not.” Curious, he looked closer at his too-calm friend. “Aren’t you at all nervous?”
“A little, but I think I know what she’s going to do.”
“What’s that?” Jackon asked, jumping with curiosity.
At the end of the hall a single figure appeared, silhouetted against a window. Gehon stood and smoothed his jacket top, his gaze locking on the woman who came toward them, her gait slow and purposeful. “I think she’s going to do the right thing,” he murmured.
Jackon stood as well, resisting the urge to run forward and capture her with his arms. When she got close enough, he was glad he hadn’t. This beauty hardly looked like the young woman who’d sexually cavorted with his partner and himself. Lija’s slender frame wore a simple yet elegant gown of silver synthsilk, and her glossy black hair was done up in an elaborate set of swirls. Only her long braid had been left alone, to fall past her breasts and almost to her waist.
Even her face had changed, subtle colors enhancing the edges of her cheeks and those beautiful violet eyes of hers. Her lips were glossier than he remembered them being when she’d taken him into her mouth while Gehon had entered her from behind. Then she’d been a wild woman, insatiable for their touch.
Now she looked cool and aloof, and completely untouchable.
For a moment Jackon wondered if she’d kept the Natarn women’s garb that she’d escaped in. He hoped so. She’d looked so sexy in that outfit, even if it had made him want to tear the eyes out of every man who’d looked at her. It would be nice to see her wear it again just for him. Or for Gehon, he reminded himself, his competition for her love. He clenched his hand, for the moment wishing he could strike down the other man and remove that threat to his happiness.
Then he relaxed his hand, forced his mind away from such thoughts. Even if Gehon hadn’t been his best friend, he’d promised it would be Lija’s choice. Gehon said she’d do the right thing. Now all that remained would be to find out what that was.
Lija smiled as soon as she came close enough, and now Jackon could see the woman who was his true and h
ad brought him such pleasure. She wore some perfume, jasmine he thought, which mixed with her own scent and made him hard as a rock. Thank the stars that his pants were loose and the jacket front long enough to cover his crotch.
They’d played ti-to-te earlier, so Gehon spoke for them. “Lady Lija, it is good to see you again. Or should I say Princess Lija?”
Her smile broadened. “Just Lija will do, Gehon.” She turned to Jackon. “Same for you, Jackon. I’m glad to see you both so well.”
Some of his tension eased. “Well, the Natarns only left a dozen men on The Traveler. Hardly put up much of a struggle. We were careful not to kill any of them, as you asked, and we left them on Brasia in the hands of the authorities.”
“So I heard. Well done. I’ve done my part as well, and my engagement to Prince Brentan is officially nullified.”
“So you’re free to consider other offers?” Gehon spoke softly, and Jackon was pleased to hear some trembling in his friend’s voice.
“I am.”
Jackon exchanged anxious glances with Gehon. “How do we ask, Lija?”
She drew her head up proudly. “Do you both wish to become my consort?”
“Yes.”
“Yes.” Jackon’s answer came slightly behind Gehon’s. He hoped she hadn’t noticed and wouldn’t hold it against him.
“Then both of you hold out your arms.”
Standing to the left of Gehon, Jackon did as she asked. From a sleeve hidden inside her elegant gown, Lija produced a long thin dagger. Jackon recognized it as similar to the ones he’d taken from her on their ship.
Lija held her braid up away from her face and with a single slice, cut it free. She stepped forward, the long black rope of hair lying across her palm.
“This is my choice, as we all agreed?” Both Gehon and Jackon nodded.
“Very well, I choose both of you!” Lija seized Jackon’s right arm and Gehon’s left and bound their wrists together. She held the loose end in her hand. “Thank goodness it’s long enough.”
“Both of us? We’ll both be your husbands?” Jackon stared at her while Gehon’s face cracked into a smile. “Is that possible?”
Two Men and a Lady Page 9
