by Honor James
The fear was in her eyes as she shook her head. “No, I’ve only eaten what you yourself have fed me.” She moved her hand to cover his and asked, “You’re hurting. Let go.” She was sure he didn’t know his own strength and in his anger he was squeezing her chin tightly, bruising the delicate skin there. “Andries, what happened?”
Staring down into her eyes, Andries felt a huge, swift flood of relief that later he’d question and wonder about but for the moment he put down to not wanting an innocent to suffer. Releasing her chin, he fought not to give into another urge, to pull her into his arms and cradle her close, but such softness had been mostly beaten out of him, at least for acting it out. “The meat was poisoned. It would have done me no harm, but had you eaten any…” Some things really didn’t need to be said.
She understood. Moon and stars, she understood. “I don’t understand why.” She watched him as he once more began to pace in the small confines of the empty room. “Why would someone want to try to kill me now?” Because that was what it was, a clear and present attempt on her life. “We are already married. What good would it do to anyone? My father wanted the alliance with the Vampire Nation and your father wanted the alliance with the Syndicate, so why now?”
“Neither wanted the alliance,” Andries said, turning to look at her. “The Alliance members wanted an in to the Syndicate so that they had a way to keep them from their continued foolish forays into our territory. The Syndicate wanted a spy on the inside that would give them information and a way to take us down so that they could take our worlds and the space they inhabit as their own. Besides that, the claim that they took down the Castitans would look extremely good on their resumes when dealing with other species of the universe. We’re greatly feared after all.” If she didn’t know that, then he wasn’t really going to explain the whys of it. “That is why we pointedly hustled your assistant that your father sent along back to the man.”
She sat down hard, eyes wide as she looked at him. “I knew that Diego had always been attached to me to watch over me, to beat me into submission when the need arose, and to keep me from finding things and places I shouldn’t, but a spy?” It made sense though. Diego was not an assistant. He was hard and brutal, just like her father. “Why was I chosen then? Because believe me when I tell you that my father could care less if I lived or I died.” However, if she died in the hands of her husband, that would give him the opportunity to cry foul and play a grieving father. “It’s because of my mother’s position in the Syndicate, isn’t it? It’s not me, or my father. I wasn’t chosen or pushed forward by him, but by my mother’s mother.” The so-called Matriarch of the Syndicate.
Stopping his pacing at her words of beatings, Andries refocused on the last of her statement. “Likely, my lady,” he said quietly as he moved to look down at her. She looked so forlorn. Crouching down, he caught her eye. “Nothing is going to happen to you, Xandra, my word of honor,” he said, wondering just what he might be taking on. “No one will get near you to do any harm, and we’ll figure out just what your father is playing at with this move.” To take out a child just to exact revenge seemed harsh even to him. He’d never use anyone he considered under his protection for such despicable deeds, especially a child.
She nodded and after closing her eyes found her center. When she reopened her eyes, she looked at him and nodded. “Thank you, Andries.” She stood once more so he didn’t have to kneel at her feet. “I believe that we need to make a plan, Andries, a way to find out just who is doing what.” There was a pause before she asked, “When you leave for your mission, am I to go with you or do I remain at your home?”
That had been on his mind as well. “I believe it would be best if you came with me,” he told her as he straightened up, although he had a feeling that might bite them both before it was over. “To worry over your safety while I’m unavailable would be highly disruptive to the mission. It’s also not overly dangerous.” But going into space always did hold a certain amount of danger. “We should go and meet your new assistant so that you will know her when she comes in the morning. Then we will go to our suite,” he said and wondered if he could keep his hands to himself from that point on. He hadn’t wanted a wife, but now that he had Xandra it was messing with his vows to himself. Holding out his arm, he waited for her. “Shall we, my lady?”
Bowing her head, she slipped her hand over his arm and moved to his side. He was tall, but she was not a small woman either. Her head reached just high enough that, were she to lay her head on his chest, it would be right over his heart. “I would like to meet the poor woman that you have saddled with preparing me for your culture, for our new home.” She felt as unschooled as a newborn babe in her new world.
“She was once a teacher before she wed and chose to raise her own children,” Andries told her as he walked with her through the halls, ignoring the imploring looks on the chancellors’ faces, his own closed and cold. He would discover who had attempted his bride’s death and, when he found them, there would be no mercy. “Since they are now at an age that they no longer require her attention, she came back to a new career. Previously she was an assistant to an ambassador of one of the worlds under our protection while he resided here on our planet. She is well versed in all aspects of our culture and very mild compared to many of my people. She will be a good fit, I believe,” he told her as he guided her toward one of the cars that rode upon hidden rails for fast transit throughout the cities.
“I appreciate you taking the time to ensure that I am comfortable and happy, Andries. Not many men would do that, especially not ones being forced into marriage.” As they walked, she watched the people, and when they paused before the rail cars, she looked up at him and smiled. “I wish that you could see my homeland sometime, Andries. I would love to take you riding through the countryside on horseback.”
Andries waited for a car to arrive and stepped in with her, a look ensuring they were alone. Programming it to where they needed to go, he encouraged her to sit in one of the contoured seats. “I am not a man to be forced into anything, my lady.” But cornered was another matter. “If we are able, we will see about arranging a trip back to your world, if that is your desire,” he assured her. Though the cost would be vast, he believed this might be something she would appreciate because of the rarity of the event. Or, if he arranged a mission just right, they could take his vessel to her world, perhaps a diplomatic envoy mission of some sort, something he’d need to investigate and look into.
She shook her head and smiled. “I wish that you could see my home world, my birth-world, and that I could take you riding. However”—and this was going to make her sound very cowardly—“I never want to see that place again. I never want to chance running into my father or his men. I would prefer to simply find new adventures with my husband in his home world, my new home world.” She shifted slightly in the seat as it conformed to her body and then sighed as she waited for the pronouncement of her cowardice.
Glancing to her, Andries nodded. “If that is what you wish, then I shall think no more of it,” he told her and wondered if she’d feel that way were her father not around. Looking up as the computronics signaled that they were approaching their destination, he stood. When their transportation slowed, he offered her a hand up and then guided her toward the massive five-tower building with walkways every ten floors between the towers. “Each tower is over a mile and a half in radius,” he told her as they moved toward the entranceway. “Our suites are in tower two on the ninetieth floor and ninety-first. It spans two floors. The greeting, meeting, and formal rooms are on the lower level and the family rooms on the top floor.”
“Is this where you always stay when you are here instead of your home world? When not on your ship, that is?” Looking at the gleaming silver and glass buildings, she felt something akin to awe. “This is beautiful.” She wanted to reach out and touch it. “I know you likely think I am a country bumpkin, and I wouldn’t be able to argue that.” She had been school
ed in much before her father killed her mother. After, however, she had been all but locked behind closed doors. “When Father would go to the Trades Meetings, he wouldn’t take me. I wasn’t allowed to leave our home world, ever.” This was her first time off of Terrain soil.
“This is my home world, Xandra, but this is where I stay when I need to be available or before I leave on missions, as we launch before dawn here,” he told her, guiding her into the building and the richly lush foyer. Moving to the lift, he encouraged her in and pulled out a key-card. “There is a duplicate in our rooms for you. Whenever you are here you will need it since everything above the fortieth floors is for high-ranking officers and therefore secure,” he said, swiping the card and pressing in the floor number. Silently and swiftly, the car began to rise, no discernible pressure from the speed being applied to their bodies thanks to the dampeners that were the same as on their spacecrafts.
“Oh.” She had forgotten this was his world. She was thinking about his country home more than the city dwelling he had before her. Likely because she was more of a country girl than a city girl.
Chapter Seven
When the gilded doors opened, he guided her through the hall to a door with his rank and last name on a plaque to the left of the dual doors. Her name and title had been added to the new plaque and, while he was amazed at how quickly it had been done, he was also impressed. Unlocking the door with the same key-card, he let her enter so he could turn on the low level light of the space. It was very cold looking and spartan in appearance on the lower levels, appropriate to the position he held and atmosphere he preferred for guests. He rarely, if at all possible, ever used the spaces. “I don’t particularly like these spaces, but they do put certain individuals in their place when I must meet with them here,” he told her. “Upstairs I am sure you will like more,” he said before he paused at a polite knock at the door. Turning, he opened them and bowed to the older female standing there with a guard. “Thank you,” he directed to the escort.
Xandra wrapped her arms around herself and frowned at the chill in the air and the sparseness of the space. She didn’t like this space at all. She wondered briefly if he would allow her to redo it, redecorate it.
“Xandra, this is Aleina Chathers. Madam Aleina, this is the Lady Xandra,” he said in introduction after the woman had said her greetings to him. “Please, come in, Aleina,” he said with a wave of his arm even as he moved toward Xandra to encourage her further into the sitting room.
Xandra moved more into the sitting room and smiled at the woman. “Hello.” She offered her hand to the woman and then frowned. “I’m sorry.” She looked to Andries and asked, “Can we move upstairs. I really, really don’t like these rooms, Andries. They are freezing cold, far too formal, and I am simply uncomfortable.” She looked to Aleina and smiled. “If you don’t mind, that is?”
“Of course we can,” Andries said, taking her arm and leading the way to the stairs knowing that Aleina would follow. As they reached the second level, he looked to her and the warmer tones that were on the second level. “More to your liking, my lady?” he asked softly for her ears alone as he walked her toward an armless plush chair.
The very air around them seemed to be warmer and the decoration was more of a home than a stark military bunker. “Thank you, my lord, yes, it is much better.” She took the seat that he led her to and reached out, clasping her hand in his, not thinking about the action, simply needing to touch him and remind herself that he was there and she wasn’t dreaming.
“Thank you, Aleina,” she began as the woman took a seat opposite her. “Thank you for accepting the position to teach me the ways of my new home. I will confess that while my younger years were filled with protocol training and manners training, the latter years were not.” She wouldn’t say why. That was no one’s business. “And I would like to know as much as possible so I don’t embarrass my husband. I want to be a good wife to him.”
“It is my honor, my lady,” Aleina said in a gentle tone, folding her hands demurely in her lap. “The Colonel has mentioned that you would require clothing more suitable to your station and your new living circumstances. The clothier he has arranged to come in is one of the best, and I am sure that you will be very impressed with his selections. As the clothier will not be arriving until later in the morning, I thought that, once you have had your morning meal, we could perhaps start on some of the laws of your new home world and from there anything else you wish to know until the clothier arrives.”
“Thank you, Aleina that would be wonderful. I would like to know first and foremost what will be expected of me in this position.” Xandra looked to Andries briefly in question, “What meal?” she asked in a low tone.
Leaning his hands on the back of the chair, Andries leaned over so his lips were near her ear. “She is referring to what you call breakfast, Xandra,” he murmured softly. “She will be coming by once you have had your morning repast so that you are not disturbed until then.” Turning his head slightly would put his lips to her ear or, if he lifted his head…Doing just that, he breathed in the scent of her ear and held back a low growl of pleasure at the light and fragrant scent.
“Oh. That would be wonderful, Aleina, thank you.” The pink of her cheeks had nothing to do with anything other than having her new husband so close to her.
“I will ensure that you are adequately prepared, my lady,” Aleina said, smoothing out her skirt before she stood. “I will bid you a good evening,” she told them both with a small curtsy before she turned to head down the stairs and was soon out the door with her escort.
She watched the retreating woman and then suddenly felt very nervous. “I’m sorry for not wanting to remain on the lower level. I’m not comfortable there at all, Andries.” Mostly because it reminded her of her father’s rooms. “Do you have to go back to the chancellors, Andries?” Or will you stay with me, get to know me, and allow me to get to know you?
Moving around the chair, Andries waited until the door shut behind Aleina before he sat on the end of the table closest to Xandra. “No, I won’t be seeing them again soon,” he told her honestly, unless of course one of them was behind the attempt on her life. “Why do you not like the lower level?” he asked her, watching as her gaze dulled slightly, making him all the more certain he wanted an answer and had a feeling…“Why were you so afraid to return to your father, Xandra?” At her look, he lifted a brow slightly “When we first met, you were prepared to go back to him and his household, but you looked ill at the mere thought.”
“Because I was. I would have gone back because you don’t deserve what has been forced on you.” She breathed in and out as she said, “I don’t like the rooms downstairs because they remind me of my father’s rooms. He is a brutal man, Andries. Never underestimate him.” She licked her lips and clenched her hands tightly. “He killed my mother in those rooms. To prove a point to me, he killed her.” She shrugged as if her words were nonchalant when they were anything but. “You ask me why I am afraid of him.” She looked at him, dead in the eye. “Because he would kill me in the blink of an eye and never be punished for it. I’ve had that point beaten into me time and time again. When you send me home, I will become the whore of the hall.” Because that was exactly what her father told her. “Whore to my own father.” She swallowed hard and fought back the pain and rage. “So please be kind. Kill me instead of sending me back.”
“I’m not sending you back, Xandra,” he said softly, watching her, something inside clenching tight at her words and the pain he heard in them. “You are my wife and, though many might have other views, for me it is for life. I won’t let you go even should you later beg it of me. You had your chance and stayed despite my offer. If your father ever wishes to get near you, he will have to get through me. You are never to be alone with that man. If I’m not available, you do not go near him. He no longer has any say on your behavior or conduct. Do you understand me?” he asked, his tone measured to ensure she heard the sincerity bu
t at the same time that he didn’t frighten her.
“Yes.” She reached out and touched the hands that were clenching in his lap and said, “He will make you think that he is the kindest and simplest man alive. He has a charisma and charm that is undeniable.” Her thumb stroked over his skin as she continued. “I don’t want to be around him. I never want to see him again, Andries, and I know that makes me a coward, but I can’t. I simply can’t ever be around him again.”
“To avoid something that may cause harm is not cowardice, Xandra. It is good sense,” he pointed out and, giving into temptation, again, he took her hand in his, ever careful of her fragility in comparison to him. “I know the evil that can be found in any man, Xandra”—better than many would presume—“so you needn’t explain his manner of lying to the world to me.” Watching her for a moment, he sat back a little and forced himself to relax. “You have questions. Ask them if you wish, and I will answer those I can.”
Chapter Eight
“Does my touching bother you, Andries?” she asked as she tucked her hands back to her sides. “I know that I am not one of your people, one of the women of your race, but I would like to learn. However, I feel as if I am doing something I shouldn’t each time I reach to touch you. Do you wish me to stop?” It would be something she would have to work at with him because she found herself needing to touch him, often.
“It…disturbs me, Xandra,” he said, deciding that there could only be honesty between them. “I have not known touch that is kind but for a few days when I was first born. Since then, I have been training for my position as a warrior of my people. It is not bad for you to touch me.” He scrambled for words to explain it. “Women of our world do not touch unless it is family or their husband. They are taught that they are not to do so in a public setting unless they are told they may by the eldest male in their lives. You may touch me whenever you like unless we are in front of the men of my command, and then I ask that you show some restraint unless it is a situation that allows it or if I ask it of you.”
