“Okay. What’s going on?” she asked.
If Sa’Mya was in some kind of trouble, Taio was the perfect person to help. His royal guards were famous, fierce warriors. Taio also had another advantage. His best friend Ship was a powerful entity that was old as time.
Taio sat up and straightened. His muscles rippled under his suit. His sinful body caused her mind to conjure up a million naughty little thoughts. Three of which she could do before he left for Laconia.
“Twenty cycles ago, a royal vessel carrying Sa’Mya’s parents, her uncle, aunt and twenty-five royal aides and advisors blew up. Everyone onboard died. Her Uncle Umar has admitted his part in that.”
Eva inhaled sharply.
“All those people had to lose their lives so he could rule Laconia through the only royalty left,” Taio continued.
“Princess Sa’Mya,” Eva whispered.
“She’s been living under his thumb all this time. And from what Moira has told me, he’s been systematically killing anyone he deemed as a threat to his power. His last victim was her personal guard Nebin.”
Eva remembered the guard. The giant had towered over even Taio and his men. The imposing male had been a constant figure at Sa’Mya’s side. “Is he planning to kill her?” she asked.
“I don’t know. I wouldn’t put it past him. Right now he needs her alive. He forged her name on a bonding contract to his son. If he gets an heir, she’s as good as dead.”
“I’m going too.” Eva scooted off the other side of the bed and waddled to her closet. It was bigger than the meager apartment she had in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Taio jumped to his feet. “You will not! You and my unborn child are staying here where it’s safe.”
She ran a hand over her old training suit, wishing she could fit into it once again. It would be the first item she put on after she gave birth. Reluctantly, she reached for one of the billowy gowns the other Sonis females wore.
Mazel, Taio’s personal assistant, kept the closet stocked with rows of the gowns. There were only three training suits hanging in their midst. She used to have more but she was convinced Mazel had been systematically sneaking them away and discarding them.
“I’ll be fine,” Eva yelled out from the spacious closet. “If what you say is true she’ll need a shoulder to cry on.” She exited the room and peered at her mate. “It won’t matter if she released you from your contract. I’ll kill her if she thinks to cry on yours.”
Taio crossed his arms across his chiseled chest. “Somehow I don’t see you lending her your shoulder.”
Eva shrugged. “I owe her. Plus I want to go.”
After disrobing, she slipped into the blue gown that matched her eyes. Now she had to find matching shoes that would fit her swollen feet. She went back to the closet.
Taio followed close on her heels. “No, and that’s final. Her uncle has no problem killing royalty, even his own sister. I won’t risk you being in harm’s way.”
Eva held up two different pairs of shoes and inspected them. “If it will make you feel better, I’ll take my jango.” She took the body-length, metallic sword everywhere she went, strapping it to her back.
“No! You are my mate and you are pregnant. The fact that you have to carry a weapon will not make me feel better.”
Eva wasn’t moved by his outburst. If she’d learned anything about her mate, it was that he had two speaking tones, loud and louder. “Taio, nothing would ever happen to me. I have you to protect me.”
“What if something happened to me?” He leaned over and wrapped his powerful arms around her.
“Rasha will protect me,” she said, matter-of-factly, referring to the head of his royal guard.
“And what if something happens to Rasha?” Taio held her tight and slowly rocked her.
“Jor’Dan will protect me.” The guard under Rasha wouldn’t let anyone touch her.
“And what if something happens to Jor’Dan?” He planted kisses on the top of her head.
Eva looked up at him. “Who are you kidding? Ship would electrocute anyone who threatened the welfare of this child. That’s more than enough.”
When she had decided to leave Sonis, Ship had chosen to go with her. He not only served as her protector but as her friend and companion.
In fact, he was the closest thing to a father figure she’d ever had. So much so, she had asked him to give her away at their bonding ceremony. The entity had left the safe confines of the electrical currents and had been by her side, appearing to her as a purple mist. It had been the best moment of her life.
“What am I going to do with you, little one?”
Chapter Twenty-Two
I’ll kill that ungrateful bitch. Umar burst through the door of Moira’s personal quarters. She let out a gasp. She’d been stuffing clothes into a bag.
“What have you done to me?”
Moira closed her bag and clutched it to her chest. “Something I should have done long ago.”
He jutted his blaster at her. “You stupid whore. You ruined all my plans.”
“I’m no longer a pawn in your sick game. If I have to die, I’ll do so with honor and pride.”
Moira had just enough time to straighten her back and square her chin as he aimed his blaster at her. The invisible ray hit her in the face and killed her instantly.
As Moira crumpled to a heap on the ground, Umar pressed the com-link on his belt.
“Son, we need to leave the palace immediately! Meet me in the transport room.”
“But Father—”
“Grab your guards and get to the transport room now!”
That stupid peasant didn’t know what she had done. Cycles and cycles of planning and hard work were now ruined. With that barbarian King Taio breaching the planet’s security system, he wouldn’t have time to go to his private rooms to pack his belongings or get the prized royal jewels he had stashed there.
King Taio might be able to take Laconia from him, but with all the credits he had accumulated, he would be able to buy his own planet. Buy more aides. Buy another kingdom with a new queen. He would prevail.
No time to waste. His legs and chest burned as he ran through the hallways. He shoved the stupid onlookers out of his way. The first thing he would do with his fortune would be to rain bombs on this pitiful planet and its pitiful people.
He rounded the corner to the common room and stopped short. His son was there cowering behind his guards. Also in attendance were Princess Sa’Mya, King Taio, a very pregnant female and a score of Sonis royal guards recognizable by their various enlightenment tattoos that covered their faces and necks.
Perspiration ran down the side of Umar’s head in fat drops. He pulled out a handkerchief and blotted away the wetness.
His gaze shifted between his son, Princess Sa’Mya and King Taio.
Umar squared his shoulders and moved closer to his son and guards. “How dare you breach my security system and land on my planet uninvited?”
King Taio raised a curious brow. “Your planet?”
“Well! What are you fools waiting for? Arrest them for trespassing.” Umar said, spitting dribble from his mouth.
As the Laconian guards moved forward, everyone from the Sonis party pulled out various weapons, including the human female. Surprised, Umar jumped back.
King Taio stepped in front of the human and shielded her from view. King Taio widened his stance and held his jango firmly in front of him. The specialized sword was infused with impenetrable metals. Taio could use his weapon to easily deflect a blaster ray.
“The control over the palace is returning to Princess Sa’Mya on this day. Stand down or be cut down. The choice is yours,” Taio declared.
“Preposterous! Princess Sa’Mya has always been in control,” Umar said. “I’ve done my part as her advisor. Who else was in a position to see to her best interests when her parents died? Hmm?”
Umar inched closer to Sa’Mya and the transporter. He could grab her, jump in the transporter an
d escape. He could at least ransom that spoiled brat for more credits. Maybe he could turn this thing around?
His useless son would have to fend for himself. His plan of creating a bond was ruined. He no longer needed Antony. His gaze darted around the room from one person to the next. When his gaze landed on Sa’Mya, she cringed away from him.
Ungrateful whore.
“Died? Well, that’s a stretch isn’t it? Princess Sa’Mya seems to believe you murdered her parents,” King Taio replied.
Umar’s eyes widened.
That bitch.
“Murdered?” Umar asked.
“She no longer has need of your services,” King Taio added.
A nervous giggle escaped as he shifted his gaze from King Taio to Sa’Mya. “Why would I murder my own sister? I loved her. The strain of the events of these past lunar cycles has been too much for my poor niece. You dumped her for the human slave and then poor Sa’Mya was captured by space pirates. Why, she is overwrought, delusional.”
Umar inched closer to Sa’Mya and held out his arms. “Sa’Mya, dear, come to me. Let me find your maid to help you get into bed.”
Sa’Mya stepped closer to King Taio. “No, uncle. It’s over. He knows everything.”
King Taio pulled Sa’Mya to his side, thwarting Umar’s attempt to grab her.
“Moira has ruined everything!” Umar yelled, unable to contain his anger any longer. “I finally had you back in my control and she had to ruin it by contacting this heathen. Sa’Mya, come here right now, you fool.” Umar stomped his foot. Spit dripped from his chin.
“No, uncle.” Sa’Mya stood her ground, shaking her head. “Stand down. You will be charged for your crimes against the crown and its people.”
Antony gasped and reached out to him. Umar pushed his son’s hands away.
“You are just as your stupid mother,” he said to Sa’Mya. His face flushed with anger. “She deserved to die and so do you.” Umar lunged at her.
Sa’Mya inwardly cringed, waiting for her uncle to strike.
Eva stepped around Taio, her eyes intent on Umar. Her jango swooshed through the air. A collective gasp rang in the hall. Umar’s scream echoed off the walls. His upper half toppled to the ground. His bottom half stood erect, still supported by his legs. A geyser of blood erupted from him.
Sa’Mya caught her breath as everyone else did.
“Eva,” Taio said. “I gave you strict instructions not to interfere. You could have been harmed.”
Sa’Mya startled and tore her gaze from her uncle’s lifeless frame to Taio and Eva.
“Oh please, that clumsy fool didn’t stand a chance,” Eva replied.
“It is not the point. I should have left you at home.”
“Then I wouldn’t have gotten the chance to use the new jango Ship made for me,” Eva said. She held her jango up. Her lips curled into a frown as she watched crimson blood drip from it.
“Gross.” Eva curled a long lock of jet-black hair behind her ear and wiped the blade on Umar’s pants legs. Once her blade was clean, she kicked on his legs so they too could fall in a heap on the floor.
“You killed my father,” Antony whispered in disbelief. He took two tentative steps forward to look at his father’s dead body. His hands visibly shook as he used a handkerchief to wipe tears from his eyes. “Father?”
Eva caught Sa’Mya’s gaze. “I did something Princess Sa’Mya should have done a long time ago.”
Sa’Mya didn’t fight the overwhelming urge to hug Eva. “Thank you so much, human. I will always be indebted to you.”
Despite their previous differences, Eva returned her embrace. “Blame it on the hormones. I was tired of hearing that bastard talk. Plus, he called me a slave.”
Sa’Mya pulled away and laughed. “Please just tell me to shut up when you tire of my voice. I would hate to meet the same fate as my uncle.”
No one would call the human female less than deadly. She had killed one of King Taio’s famous royal guards with her bare hands. Now Eva had added Sa’Mya’s uncle to her kill count.
Sa’Mya hugged Taio. “Thank you for coming.”
“I would say it was a pleasure to put that animal to rest, but I believe my mate had all of the fun.” Taio cut his eyes to Eva.
“Why didn’t you tell Taio about this before, Sa’Mya?” Eva asked. “Taio would never have let you return to your uncle had he known what was going on.” Eva took Sa’Mya’s hands into her own.
Sa’Mya grasped Eva tightly. Eva’s small hands were strong and reassuring. They stopped her own from shaking and for that she was grateful.
“After I left Sonis, I thought I could hide until I became Queen. I didn’t know he would get this desperate.”
“And you also didn’t anticipate getting abducted by space pirates either,” Eva said. “Tell me all about them. Ship said they were humans who escaped a work planet.”
“How did Ship find out about them?” Sa’Mya asked.
Eva laughed. “Ship knows everything. I had him do some recon work while we were on our way here.”
“What is ‘re-con’?” Sa’Mya asked.
Taio shook his head. “Don’t even ask. Since I stopped trying to figure out her human slang, I found my head no longer hurts.”
Sa’Mya cast her eyes down. “To be honest, I could have left if I really tried. I stayed because I felt safer with him.”
Eva threw up a hand. “Whoa, you said ‘him’ instead of ‘them’. Who exactly is the ‘him’ we’re talking about?”
“I meant them.” Sa’Mya shook her head. “Speaking of them, I have to get them out of the dungeon.”
“Wait. You plan to free them?” Taio asked.
“Yes. They meant us no harm. They treated us fairly well.”
“Why wouldn’t she free them?” Eva crossed her arms and tapped her foot impatiently.
“They abducted Sa’Mya and have crimes spanning across three galaxies. The only way they can leave here is if they go before the Galactic Council to be charged for what they have done.”
“They were forced into this life. We can’t place blame on them for trying to survive. The Galactic Council should have intervened against the Loconuist attack on Earth.”
“She’s right, Taio,” Eva joined in, her voice rising. “The Galactic Council should have stepped in to help us. We’re all trying to find our way. It’s unfair to be thrust in this new life and be penalized for trying to survive.”
Taio pulled Eva close to him. “I’ll speak with the Galactic Council and see what can be done. Until then, it would be safer for the pirates to stay in Sa’Mya’s dungeon.”
“Can I at least let them out? I’ll make sure they stay confined in the palace.”
“We would have more problems if they escaped before the Galactic Council cleared them. The safest place for them is where they are.”
Sa’Mya couldn’t possibly keep them in the dungeon. Kane would never forgive her for leaving him and his crew there. He would also never forgive her for handing them over to the Galactic Council.
“I’ll get a resolution as soon as possible,” Taio promised.
Eva broke free from Taio and grabbed Sa’Mya by the hand. “That’s settled. Tell me all about ‘him’.”
Sa’Mya peered at Taio, suddenly uncomfortable talking about this in front of him.
Taio looked from her to Eva. His face registered that the females wanted him to leave. “Oh, right. I’ve got security issues to attend to anyway. Jor’Dan!” As he walked away, a well-muscled male, standing two heads shorter than Taio, approached him.
Only after Taio left did Sa’Mya recount everything she’d been through. Once she starting talking, she couldn’t stop. It felt so good to finally release everything she had kept bottled up inside.
The rocky start she and Eva had gotten off to on Sonis seemed to dissipate. Eva proved more than willing to bury old gripes and open her heart to start a new friendship. On more than one occasion, Eva would say “typical man” or “he�
�s such an ass” or “as soon as I have this baby I’m kicking his ass” and the occasional “awww”.
Then, while telling Eva about Jess and her attack, Eva doubled over and grabbed her stomach.
Sa’Mya was instantly by her side. “Eva! What’s wrong?”
“Contraction,” Eva replied. Her breaths came out in painful pants. “Get Taio.”
Sa’Mya spotted Taio talking to a group of his royal guards. “Taio!” She waved her arm wildly in the air. “We need you.”
Without turning their way, he replied, “I’ll be there shortly.”
Eva held one hand to her stomach. The other gripped painfully on Sa’Mya’s arm. “For the love of God, this hurts!” she yelled. “Taio!”
“One moment, little one,” Taio said.
“Taio! I don’t think I can wait any longer,” Eva yelled.
Taio turned. Confused alarm crossed his features as he ran over and scooped Eva up in his arms.
“What’s wrong? What’s happening? Are you in pain? Is the baby in trouble?” he asked, each sentence coming out faster than the last.
Both hands cradled her stomach. “I’m in labor,” Eva said between pants. “The baby has decided to join all of the excitement.”
“My son will be born on Sonis soil!” Taio declared as he stalked toward the docking station. “Jor’Dan! See to all the necessary arrangements in my absence.”
As she was being whisked away, Eva peered over Taio’s shoulder. “It’ll work out,” she said.
Sa’Mya doubted it, but she didn’t have time to point that out. “Congratulations,” she yelled instead. Sa’Mya stood alone, waving goodbye to her new friend. Only friend, she thought sadly.
Sonis royal guards filled the common room but she felt more alone now than ever before. She wrapped her arms tightly around herself.
It was sad to see them leave but she understood Taio’s rush to return home. This day would be momentous for Sonis. This child would be the first Human-Sonis species. Sa’Mya prayed silently that father, mother and child made it home swiftly and safely.
Dangerously Yours: 2 (Loving Dangerously) Page 17
