“That wasn’t me,” Darius insisted.
“Perhaps, but I don’t give a shit about your local disputes.”
“Let me come aboard and we can discuss it.”
Alex tensed beside him. The shuttle bay, her vision, the fighting. He knew she worried about what might happen here. Tory shot a quick glance at Jezar.
Sweat poured off Darius’ face. Whatever happened here could change many things. “All right. One shuttle. I’ll meet you alone.”
“No,” Alex burst out. “He wants to kill you, Tory.”
Darius gritted his teeth. “Alex—”
“You don’t talk to her,” he snapped and Darius glared at him, but shut up. Tory clasped Alex’s hand. “Darius knows that if I die, this ship’s crew will do whatever they have to do to avenge me.”
The message was for Darius. By the way his throat moved, the man got his drift.
“How do I know you won’t hold me for ransom or kill me?” Darius asked.
“You have my word as a former Teran One Commander,” he told him. “Unless you do something stupid, you’ll have safe passage.”
“Agreed. I want Alex there.”
“No.” Tory leaned forward. “You never get to see your cousin again. We clear?”
The man’s eyes narrowed, but he nodded. “Ten minutes.”
Tory nodded and killed the transmission. Alex gripped his arms, towering over him in the chair. “Are you insane? You know what I saw. You know what he’ll do. Why are you doing this?”
So many things flew through his mind. The fact that Darius might have been a victim just as Alex had been. The possibility that Darius carried the same plague-resistant gene. All these thoughts combined and Tory was well aware that the deposed king might be in big trouble.
“Because I think things might get ugly and we’ll need Darius.” Tory leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. He loved her so much. The thought he might not see her again was too painful.
He tore his lips away from hers and stared at her face for another moment. He drank in her golden-brown eyes, the smattering of freckles, the way her hair tried to escape the braid she ruthlessly shoved it into, the strong line of her jaw—all the little things he’d fallen in love with. Of course, there was the strong grip of her hands, the way her heart shone from her gaze, the way she responded to his kiss. His fingers traced the area on her shoulder where he knew he’d marked her shoulder with his teeth. He whispered, “I’m not going anywhere, my Saria. We have too much to explore, too much to share.”
She slowly released her grip on his arms and glanced at Jezar. “Tory, please,” she whispered.
He loved it when she begged. “I will, but later.”
Her lips twitched and her eyes twinkled. She flung her arms around his neck and kissed him. “You’d better come back, Commander.”
“I promise, dear heart.”
He headed for the elevator and Jezar fell in step. What the hell was he doing? “I told Darius I’d be alone.”
“I won’t go in the shuttle bay unless I have to.” Jezar stared straight ahead. Had the man seen something? Tory shrugged. Not a damn thing he could do about it anyway except order Jezar not to come. And then Jezar would disobey and—if Tory lived—that would be a big mess. Ah fuck it.
Still not going to happen, Teran. Jezar’s humor had perfect timing and Tory snorted.
They reached the shuttle bay doors and Tory ordered all his men out of the docking area. He pressed the com button. “Dink? Let me know when he docks. I won’t go in until we scan his shuttle.”
“Got it. And Commander?”
“Yes, Dink?”
“Don’t get yourself killed.” Dink signed off.
“What does he think I’m going to do?” It was exasperating. Didn’t anyone think he could negotiate?
Jezar answered, “He believes, as does the rest of the crew, that you’ll sacrifice anything for your mate. They can see what neither you nor Alex will see in each other. That you would give your life for her.”
“I would,” he stated. It had always been that way. For Alex, he’d risk anything and everything.
“They’re also concerned she may risk everything for you.”
Tory sighed. “I’m just going to talk with the man. On my ship. With my crew ready to eliminate him.”
“I know.”
Everything in him wanted to ask what to do, what was going to happen. But Tory knew the dangers of future visions. Like the one Alex had been shown.
Dink’s voice came over the com. “Darius’ shuttle has docked. Scanning now.”
Tory tapped his fingers. He had to expect trouble. Darius considered Tory and his crew a band of criminals, a reputation that Tory encouraged. They weren’t, as Alex was finding out, but it served them well to let others think they were a bunch of immoral cutthroats.
“Four men, all armed. Darius has disembarked with a stunner. His men are still in the shuttle.”
“Okay, Dink. Rig the bay. Like we did on Tarias.”
“Will do.”
Jezar grinned. “A brilliant move.”
“It’s an old trick. Darius has been stuck on Teran One so long he’s forgotten how to improvise.”
“I hope it works.”
“I do, too.”
The shuttle bay doors opened and Tory strode through them. He focused on the man standing in front of the Teran One shuttle. Darius Stender had always been a political softie, too kind to survive a coup like the one Pontoon Gregor had just pulled off. The king would trust his men and get killed.
“Commander.” The man inclined his head. His dark hair seemed more mussed than it had on his vid appearance and there were dark circles under his onyx eyes. His features seemed tightened, strained.
“Your majesty,” Tory said, and this time he managed to sound less sarcastic.
“We can talk privately in here,” he said and waved toward the conference room. Darius’ lips tightened. No, he wouldn’t like the idea of going into a room alone with the Commander. But then, so much was at stake.
His sharp nod was followed by a hand signal to his men on the shuttle. Tory bowed and allowed the man to go first. The man walked like a king, straight and brave, into a room he might not ever leave. Something to admire.
In the conference room, Darius sat down, his hands clasped together on the table. “I did not send that box with Alex to be intercepted. I told her to deliver it to General Costas only. Teran Five has a better laboratory than we do. The stets were not part of any plan of mine. I sent her in secrecy, believing I was the only one who knew she carried the box. General Costas was supposed to analyze the contents.”
“You were looking for a cure.”
He glared at Tory. “I was hoping to find out it was a dud.” He shot to his feet and started pacing. “I discovered the shipment completely by accident. One of my informants told me about a warehouse. I obtained the vials, stunned by what it appeared to be.” He stopped and ran an agitated hand through his hair. “I didn’t believe it.”
Tory stared at the man. Then, it struck him. Darius was young. How old had he been when he’d taken the throne? Fourteen? That made him twenty-four or twenty-five. Shit. He was a kid, a rookie. No wonder Gregor had been able to manipulate him. Hell, Alex had been twenty-five when Tory had been accused and convicted of treason, an experienced soldier, and she’d still been pretty easy to manipulate. And Tory had been twenty-six, trained in black ops, but still naïve enough to be drugged and set up.
All that aside, Darius was young and needed to wake up. “Believe it,” Tory said harshly. “The vials were part of an ongoing plan to dominate not just Teran One, but all the Teran planets. And it would have involved the death of millions.”
Darius pounded his fist on the table. “I know that now.” A bitter twist of his lips made him seem old, worn. “Do you think I don’t know that those men in that shuttle might knife me?” He sat down suddenly. “If I don’t get that container, Gregor will. If you sell it to ano
ther Teran planet, Teran One is doomed.” He laughed, a grating sound. “I don’t know why I’m appealing to you. It’s clear you don’t give a shit about my planet. But Alex does. And I can’t imagine her mated to anyone who wouldn’t care about Teran One.”
“She was forced to mate me,” he mused.
Darius snorted. “If she truly didn’t want to be your Saria, she would not have been standing on that bridge. She loves you.”
A warm feeling spread through Tory’s chest. She did love him. “What exactly do you propose?” Tory asked.
One side of Darius’ mouth lifted. “I didn’t expect to get this far.”
“So, you don’t have a plan.” He sighed. He didn’t expect them to get through this much information either. Time to let the deposed king in on what was really going on.
He never had a chance to say a fucking thing. All hell broke loose in the shuttle bay. Two of Darius’ guards were firing on the other two still in the shuttle. One of the men took a hit from a laser pistol and bled freely all over the place. “Shit!” Tory pressed a button. “Dink, flood the bay.”
Chapter Eighteen
A hiss drowned out the shouting and gas flooded the bay. Tory airlocked the conference room and turned to Darius. “The move has been made. Your war ships are probably under Gregor’s control. You were going to do something different, but changed your mind. Why? Be quick.”
Darius stared at the man bleeding out in the bay through the huge picture window. “I was going to kill you. And if Alex showed any sign of being on your side, I was going to kill her.” His gaze met Tory’s. “But then, I saw her on the bridge. Alex would never betray Teran One. Ever. Yet she stood with you.”
“Maybe I’m really good in bed.”
“Maybe, but you’re not that good,” Darius said with a faint smile. “Alex has an inner core of rightness that can’t be denied. Even if you were the bad boy everyone thinks you are, you wouldn’t be able to either.”
Tory grunted. “You’re right. Okay, that explains why you didn’t shoot me immediately. But your men are being gassed and you’re not surprised.”
“I’ve gotten daily reports on you for five years, Commander Ingle. I’m well aware of what happened on Tarias.”
Tory stared at him. “And you came here anyway.”
Darius nodded. “You gassed those Teran Four soldiers when they opened fire, not before. I figured you’d only release the gas if we made an aggressive move. I knew the risk.”
“I underestimated you.”
“Most do. It’s the age thing. That and because I won’t be a dictator.” Darius shook his head. “My father ruled with a heavy hand. My brothers were more circumspect, but none of them believed compassion had a place on the throne. Judging by the results, they were right.”
“Bullshit,” Tory said. “This plan has been going on for two generations, Darius. It began in your grandfather’s time and he was no pushover.”
“No, not at all.” Darius sighed. “How long until we can get to my injured man?”
Tory pressed the com button. “Dink? Clear the bay. And send medics.”
“Okay, Commander.”
Another hiss and the bay cleared. Tory opened the door for Darius. “You’d better prepare for a firefight with your own men.”
“Well, at least I’ll know who my friends are.” The sarcastic tinge to Darius’ words made Tory wince.
“You’re welcome to stay aboard.”
Darius shook his head. “No.” He gave Tory a steady look. “What are you going to do with the container?”
“The container?” He gave Darius a wicked grin. “I’m going to sell it to the highest bidder to see who knows what was in it.”
The other man’s eyebrows rose. “Was?”
“Was.”
Slowly, Darius nodded. “I see. And you’ll tell me nothing else.”
“Nope. That’s it. It’s a lot, actually.” Tory crossed his arms and observed the rush of medics. His men contained the other Teran One soldiers. “So, you’re going to go back to the warships?”
“Yes. There are more men loyal to me than you think.”
“I hope you’re right.” Tory strode to the shuttle at the men unconscious on the ramp. “What about these two? They’re definitely not loyal to you.”
“Keep them restrained. I’ll take them back with me.” He climbed onto the shuttle.
Brave. Stupid, but brave. If the fighting broke against him on his warships, two fewer men might make the difference. Darius caught the expression Tory wore and smiled. “I know you think it’s crazy, but I save them from you and then they owe me. It might save my skin in the future.”
Tory shrugged. “It’s your skin.”
Darius thrust out his hand. “It was a pleasure to meet you, Commander.”
Tory took the man’s hand. “Likewise, sir,” he said with no sarcasm at all. The king was young. He was embattled. But he was a leader. “I wouldn’t go back to Teran One for a bit. We discovered another shipment of the same contents has been delivered.”
There was no surprise on Darius’ face. “I understand.”
The man boarded the shuttle, three of his men unconscious and two trussed up, to go back to what was likely a mutiny. He saluted from the cockpit and Tory cleared his men from the bay.
The shuttle swerved into space and flew toward the nearest warship. Tory hit the com. “Dink, what’s the last bid we had?”
“Two hundred and seventy-five million leders.”
“From whom?”
“Teran Four.”
“Any sign of them?” The Teran Fours would try to take the item by force rather than pay. Teran Five would leave them alone as long as they stayed out of the Teran Five airspace. Teran Three would buy off someone on The Pinnacle to steal it. And Teran Two wouldn’t want to be involved at all. They’d sent a protest.
“No, Commander. Bud says there’s no chatter, either.”
Which was not reassuring. It meant if Teran Four planned a hit, his people couldn’t prepare. Better to be prepared than dead. “Head toward Teran One. We have some unfinished business there.”
Teran Four wouldn’t try for the container as long as Teran One weapons were aimed at The Pinnacle. It was the fighters he worried about. Would Gregor shoot down a huge vessel containing a deadly plague? Well, hell why not? He was planning to release it to kill off whole sections of the population.
If the plague was going to be released on Teran One, he owed a few people their lives. He had to rescue the people who had been part of the underground. At this point, he had no idea where the other vials might be. He was hoping his contacts did.
* * * * *
Relief flooded Alex’s system and she couldn’t stop trembling. Jezar shoved her in a seat on the bridge. It wasn’t going to happen. Tory wasn’t going to die. Darius didn’t start shooting. The vision wasn’t going to come true.
When she heard Tory order Dink to send for medics, her heart stopped. She didn’t relax until he ordered Dink to set a course for Teran One. Then, she started shaking.
Jezar came over after they’d made the adjustments. “You should go to your quarters. Shall I take you?”
He must have known she wasn’t sure she could walk. Somehow, she rose to her feet and made it to the elevator. Jezar said nothing as the car took them down.
She took deep breaths and by the time the doors opened, she was less freaked out. The possibility of losing Tory had hit her like a supernova and she’d buckled. After the whole thing was over, of course.
Jezar opened the door to Tory’s quarters and waited until she was inside. “Thank you,” she said.
He bowed. “I’m sure Tory will be here soon.” And he left.
What did Tory have planned? They were going to Teran One, but for what? Questions whirled through her mind. What in the hell had Darius and Tory talked about?
Darius.
When he’d taken the throne, she’d been a new commander, intent on proving herself. He’d be
en a child, really, trying to be brave, his father dead, his family decimated. All he had was the Zeerah family and an aunt who had married that piece of shit, Gregor. Alex had been determined to keep Darius on his throne. It had been her brother Samuel’s political savvy and her own military prowess that had kept Darius in power. When Alex’s family had begun to die, her power in the court lessened. Samuel had fingers in all the pies. She was a commander, a genius at warfare, but a political bull in a china shop. Diplomacy wasn’t her strong suit.
Samuel had always been the one who handled the delicate political maneuvering. He negotiated with all the families, keeping the Zeerah bloodline in power. Once Samuel was gone and Gregor held sway over the families, Alex had spent less time at court and more time training.
Now she wondered if that had been a wise choice.
Darius showed brilliance at the political nuances but once Gregor showed up, Alex stayed at the forefront of her men, fighting for Teran One, rather than put up with the new face of power. Had she blundered? Darius had been nineteen when Alex’s heart had been shattered by Tory’s exile and she’d thrown herself into the planet’s defenses rather than her cousin’s court.
While she paced the room, she ran through everything she knew about Teran One bloodlines. The Gregors were one of the old families. The Stenders were connected to the Gregors by several marriages, but the Zeerahs were closer to the throne.
The old families were vulnerable. They were the ones who didn’t marry new lines, the ones that stayed insular and isolated. The bloodlines with new blood were more likely to survive, bloodlines that had apparently emanated from Ardasia. The isolated lines were the ones who would be infected by the plague. That had to be the plan. Infect the planet, get rid of the old families. In the past, families had fought for prominence, for power. Get rid of the first families, the ones who still held most of Teran One’s political clout, and the status quo would be destroyed. One bloodline could sweep in and dominate the Teran One government. The question was what family would come up with a horrific plan like that? She felt like she ought to know.
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