by Karen Kelley
Darcy listened while her mother planned her party, only occasionally agreeing with her. Her mother was in her element when she had friends over. Darcy had to smile. Her mother was the queen bee of her social circle.
“Oh, you know Jennifer is starting her own party planning business. You should talk to her about it. I bet she’ll have some great ideas.”
“Jennifer? Our Jennifer?”
“Yes, our Jennifer.”
“Well, it should at least keep her out of trouble. I have to say I worry about that child the way she likes to go out all the time. It’s good she’s found something to keep her occupied.”
Darcy opened her mouth, but then closed it without saying anything. Now was not the time to get into an argument about why it was okay for Jennifer to have a job but not Darcy. She would tuck the information away, though. It might add a little leverage to her argument about having a real job.
Eventually, they said good-bye and Darcy replaced the phone in its holder.
“You love your mother very much, don’t you?” Surlock asked.
Darcy stood. “Yes, very much. I know she didn’t carry me for nine months, but I feel very close to her. As close to her as any daughter is to her mother.”
“I wonder about my family. Who they are, and if they’re worried about me.”
She walked to him and wrapped her arms around his waist. “We’ll find them. I have a gut feeling all our questions will be answered soon.” She smiled up at him. “My gut is always right.”
Her stomach chose that moment to growl and they laughed.
“And right now my stomach is telling me it’s time for dinner. I’m starved.”
As they walked hand in hand back to the main house, Darcy couldn’t help wondering if her instinct was correct. Would she find out who Surlock was and where he came from? For some odd reason she felt a little queasy. That probably wasn’t a good sign.
CHAPTER 14
Excoria paced the back room in the dusty, dingy warehouse they had chosen for their base of operations. If her suspicions were correct, then she would have good news to tell Nivla as soon as he arrived.
If he arrived.
He’d better arrive.
She was having second thoughts. Nivla frightened her. He was much older than her thirty years, at least sixty and his eyes were big and buggy. He also sweated a lot, and grunted when he moved. But he was still the second in command, now that Zerod was confined on New Symtaria, and she had to respect him, even if she didn’t like it.
She sucked in a deep breath when she heard someone approaching. Her hand automatically rested on the weapon holstered at her hip. She didn’t relax until the door opened, and Nivla walked inside. She immediately bowed her head, touching the back of her hand to her forehead in respect. “Oh, Great Leader.”
“Excoria, this had better be good.”
She looked up, then regretted meeting his gaze. His cold gray eyes bored into her. She quickly downed her head as fear trembled through her. What if she was wrong? If that were the case, Nivla would make her pay for her mistake.
“Well, are you going to tell me or make me guess?” He walked behind the desk and pulled out the chair, dusting it lightly before sitting.
“I have found Prince Surlock.”
“And the impure. Have you destroyed her?”
“No, Great Leader.”
He clamped his lips together, slapping his gloves on the desk, stirring a small cloud of dust. “Then your mission isn’t complete. Please, tell me exactly why you called me here, and it had better be good.”
“Prince Surlock doesn’t know who he is,” she blurted out.
Silence.
She shifted her weight from one foot to the other.
“Explain,” he said, then mopped the sweat that dampened his face.
“He’s staying with the impure. Today I followed him as he walked down a path to the woods. He made his way through the brush until he came to a clearing. I watched as he seemed to search for something. When he didn’t find what he was looking for, he raised his face toward the sky and called out in a strained voice, ‘Who am I?’ I don’t believe he has his memory.”
“No memory?”
She shook her head. “No, Great Leader.”
Nivla began to tap his fingers on the surface of the desk. Excoria dared to look up. Nivla didn’t look angry. Maybe the news was worthy of his attention.
Nivla laughed. A deep rumbling sound that sent tingles of excitement down her arms. She knew then that she had gained his favor.
“This is exactly the break I’ve been hoping for,” he said.
“We could ransom him for his father’s great wealth,” she eagerly suggested, then wished she’d kept her mouth shut when he turned his stony glare on her.
“It’s more than wealth, you idiot. When we capture Surlock, we can trade him for Zerod’s release. The true leader will rejoin our ranks.”
Great. Excoria would rather have had jewels to drape over her beautiful body. It didn’t look as though that would be happening anytime soon. While she had watched the impure, her envy had grown for the finer things that life had to offer.
That was one of the reasons she had joined the ranks of the rogues. The rogues wanted to wipe out all the impures—Symtarians who had mated with other species and created abominations of mixed blood. Not that she really cared one way or the other, but the rogues had promised her great wealth. Except she hadn’t seen any of it yet. She was beginning to think joining their ranks had been a big mistake.
“You will watch them and report back to me. See if you can get closer and discover more.”
“There will be a party in a few days’ time. A masquerade ball.”
He frowned. “What is the purpose of this masquerade ball?”
“People dress up in costumes. They can be anything they want.”
He nodded. “You will go to this party.”
“I’ll need money for clothes to wear so I can blend in.” If Nivla had a database he could easily produce a magnificent wardrobe, but only those of royal blood owned them. It was not fair everyone else had so much while she had so little. It would be a great pleasure taking down one so mighty as Surlock.
“You say you can be anything you want?”
“Yes, Great Leader.”
His laugh held no mirth. “Then go as an alien.” His gaze swept over her. “It’s the perfect costume.”
Anger swept through her. She’d brought him vital information and this was how he treated her—as if she was worthless.
“I see you’re upset with me,” he said in a silky voice.
She quickly hid her expression, becoming meek once again. “No, Great Leader, my reward is your pleasure.”
“I’m glad you feel that way because I’ve journeyed far to be here.” He grunted loudly as he came to his feet and unfastened his coat, tossing it on the desk. “I will mate with you. That will be your reward.”
She cringed. No, she didn’t want to mate with him. He sickened her.
“Well, hurry and remove your tunic. I have other pressing matters to attend.”
Excoria was going to seriously rethink her role with the rogues. This was not what she’d been led to expect.
Nivla jerked her into his arms and planted his big wet lips on top of hers. Her stomach rumbled as he slid his humongous tongue inside her mouth.
She’d eaten what they called a burrito that she had bought at a small dingy store. It was all she’d had money to buy, and it hadn’t smelled good. Now her stomach rumbled. She tried to push away from Nivla as fear raged through her. She couldn’t shame herself.
“You taste good,” he said as he pulled slightly away. “Being on Earth suits you.” He grunted as he reached for the fastener on his pants.
She belched and the area around her filled with the sour smell of the burrito she’d eaten—that, and Nivla’s strong body odor.
Her mouth opened and she belched again.
He grimaced. “You wo
uld make this noise when I offer my skills as a lover? Do you mock me?”
“Oh, Great Leader, I’m sorry. I haven’t felt well all day,” she lied. Her stomach rumbled and she belched again.
He waved his hand in front of his face, glaring at her. “As soon as your mission is over, I will see you punished for this!”
“Yes, Great Leader.” She bowed her head, but smiled when he stomped out of the room, slamming the door behind him. There was nothing like loud belching to cool a man’s amorous advances. It served him right.
As she straightened, she belched again. Her stomach churned and she had to run to the bathroom, where she got rid of the offending food.
She would definitely rethink staying with the rogues when she finished this mission. It wasn’t quite the romantic experience she had imagined. Nor were there riches and jewels to be had. But if she returned to New Symtaria, they would surely lock her away. Her life was ruined.
And now that her stomach was empty, she was starving. As she trudged toward the makeshift bed in the other room, she thought about her mother’s cooking and how it had warmed her belly on a cold day. She missed her family. She missed New Symtaria.
She listened as Nivla’s craft took off, then lay down on the lumpy cot. She wrinkled her nose. It smelled funny. She’d had to share her bed at home with her older sister. At the time she’d hated it, but at least it had been comfortable.
She closed her eyes as self-pity washed over her. Fasta, are you there? She spoke her thoughts to her animal guide.
Yes, I’m here but I’m still angry that you have put us in this position. No good will come of it.
I’ll make things right. I swear this to you.
And Excoria would do exactly as she promised, because she hated this life. She only had to come up with a plan.
CHAPTER 15
Jennifer breezed into Darcy’s room, plopping down on her bed. “I think Peter might be falling in love with Annette.”
Darcy stepped from the bathroom. “That’s what I’ve thought, but I wasn’t sure.” She sat in an overstuffed maroon chair, curling her feet under her.
“He tried to be subtle, but he mentioned her name more than once. When I asked him if he liked her, he clammed up.”
“He’s afraid.”
“Of Annette?”
Darcy shook her head. “His father.”
Jennifer nodded thoughtfully. “You’re right. If Peter falls in love with the wrong woman, his father will cut him off quicker than he can say ‘trust fund baby.’”
“I feel so sorry for him. He’s always been under his father’s thumb. I heard his father telling Peter once that he had no head for business, and that he would have to resign himself to living off his inheritance.”
“He’s an ass.” Jennifer curled her lip.
“And Peter is really smart. He’s just never been given a chance to be anything more than a playboy.”
“Maybe Annette can change all that.”
“I hope so.”
“Peter’s going to the party dressed as a dragon. Annette has to be a princess. Every fairy tale I’ve read with a dragon in it always had a princess who needed saving. Except Peter is the one who needs saving.”
“Then Annette has to be like no princess Peter has ever seen,” Darcy said. “She has to be dark and mysterious.”
“Did you know the guest list is already over two hundred and that isn’t counting people who tag along?”
Great. Surely someone would know Surlock.
Jennifer hugged a pillow. “Anything interesting happen while I was gone?”
“I spoke to my mother.”
Her eyebrows rose. “And?”
“And my parents will be here next week.”
“And you still think Surlock has amnesia?” Jennifer asked.
Darcy squared her shoulders. “I know he does.”
“Then you’d better find out exactly who he is before your mother and father arrive.”
Darcy had been thinking the same thing.
Jennifer yawned. “Okay, I’m outta here. If we’re going to make this party outstanding, then I need my sleep.” She frowned. “I told Peter if he wants me to help him in the future, I need at least two months notice or he’s on his own. No more of these last minute, thrown-together affairs.” She sauntered from the room.
Darcy was tired, too. Lying to her mother had been pretty stressful. What if she suspected her daughter was lying and showed up early? After all, she’d known who’d broken the glass. No, Darcy had covered her tracks by telling her mother that Jennifer was staying here.
It did bother her that she might not know who Surlock was by the time her parents arrived. As much as they loved her, they wouldn’t let Surlock continue to stay in the guest house without knowing more about him. She couldn’t bear it if he wasn’t nearby.
She snuggled down in the bed, but no matter how many times she changed positions, it was still uncomfortable. She tossed and turned until she was afraid she was going to have sheet burns. Finally, she threw back the cover and rolled out of bed.
She went to the French doors and opened them wide, letting the cool night breeze ruffle her hair as she stepped to the balcony. Her gaze moved to the guest house. It took her a few minutes to realize that the shadow beside it moved. Excitement spread through her when Surlock stepped into the open, completely naked. The man had a serious problem with clothes, she thought as she drank in the sight of him. She liked the idea he was a nudist at heart.
Had she sensed he couldn’t sleep, either? When he held out his hand toward her, she didn’t hesitate. She went back inside, slipping out of her room, and down the stairs, then out the back door. She ran across the stones and flung her arms around his neck.
“I couldn’t sleep,” she whispered.
“Nor I when all I could think about is mating with you, feeling your naked body pressed against mine.”
He took her hand, a wicked smile curving his lips, and pulled her along with him, past the bushes and trees that surrounded the outer edges of the pool. He stopped, facing her, then slowly and deliberately, he took the hem of her white satin gown and pulled it over her head.
Darcy glanced around, shielding herself. But it was late, and no one would be up. Tilting her chin rebelliously, she moved her hands away from her body. If he could run around naked, so could she.
He laughed lightly, then grabbed her hand as they ran through the lush green grass. She joined in, laughing as well. She had never felt so free in her life. They raised their hands to the moon. Energy flowed through her. Did he feel it, too?
She inhaled the fragrance of the night—the four o’clocks that bloomed after the sun went down. Their sweet aroma filled the night air. Crickets serenaded them as the wind gently caressed their bodies like a lover’s touch. She felt like a child discovering something for the very first time.
When they stopped, both of them were out of breath. She dropped to the grass, and he followed. She lay on her back, Surlock on his side.
“It’s beautiful out here. It’s so quiet and peaceful. As if the night washes everything clean. Do you feel it, too?”
He nodded, tracing his finger around one areola. “I feel as though the moon gives me strength.”
She sucked in a deep breath when he dragged his finger across her nipple. A throbbing ache of need weaved its way down her body, settling at the juncture of her legs. She moved to her side, seeing the desire flare in his eyes when she reached down and touched him, lightly stroking her fingernails over his erection. He sucked air when she wrapped her hand around him and slowly slid down his foreskin, then brought it back up.
He closed his eyes and groaned.
“Are you in pain?” she asked with every pretense of innocence that she could muster.
He opened his eyes and growled.
She laughed.
He suddenly grew serious. “I crave your touch, the way you make me feel,” he said. Then he was reaching for her, stroking his fingers throug
h her curls, slipping a finger inside her wet heat.
She gasped, arching toward him. The stars above her blurred and became one shining orb. When he stopped, she gasped for air, trying to fill her starved lungs.
Surlock rolled to his back, pulling her on top of him. She moved so that he slipped inside her. Exquisite pleasure rolled off her in waves. When her body had adjusted to his size, she slowly raised herself until she looked into his eyes. His eyes looked golden in the light of the moon and the star-filled sky. She doubted she would ever tire of staring at this man, or feeling him inside her, stroking her.
“You’re a temptress,” he said, his hands moving from her hips up to cup her breasts. He squeezed and fondled them until every nerve in her body felt raw with the need for more. She didn’t want any of this to stop. Darcy wanted to continue feeling like this forever.
“I need you now, Darcy,” he whispered. He slid his hands behind her, cupping her bottom, increasing the motion between them, grinding his hips against her.
Her body was on fire. Faster and faster they moved together, each reaching higher and higher. And then the stars exploded all around them. Her body jerked, tightened. He tensed, then growled. She hadn’t thought making love with Surlock could get any better, but it could, and it had. Stardust had glittered down on them, filling her world with everything beautiful. She’d never felt so much peace, so much—
“Darcy,” he suddenly cried.
“Hmm?” She glanced at him. Her heart skipped a beat when she caught his expression of pain. “Ohmygod, we don’t have your eardrops!”
“No,” he gasped. “Different this time. Can’t stop it.” He opened his eyes, holding his head.
Fear swept over her. She slid off him, jumping to her feet. “Surlock, we need to get you back to the house. Take my hand.” She held her hand out to help him up.
He shook his head. “Too late. Run! Leave me! I don’t want to harm you.”
“I’m not going anywhere. Dammit, I won’t run away and leave you to suffer alone. Now let me help you back to the house!” If she had to, she would wake the whole house to help her get him home.
