by Milly Taiden
“Is the spring far?” she asked, trying to break the monotonous ride with small talk.
“No, we should arrive shortly.” His answer was short and clipped. Maybe the man was intimidated by her soon-to-be elevated status, then again maybe he felt she was an interloper, same as Maddox. She made a note not to do anything to make things worse. In other words, put her brain-to-mouth filter into high gear.
The villages on the city outskirts were low-ceilinged, white-washed stucco, and in the heat, she understood why. They were on the edge of the sand ocean as Vander called it, with the mountains she saw from her window in the distance. Basically, a dust bowl with no wind unless a storm brewed on the high peaks.
The road was empty as they came to a crossing. On one side was what looked to be a Bedouin type tent village, and on the other, nothing but sand as far as the eye could see. In the distance, she thought she saw a shimmer across the horizon that looked like water and dots of green, but it could just as well have been a mirage.
“Are we stopping? I hope so because my butt could use a break.”
The guard blinked at her and then pointed in the direction of the shimmering sand. “The spring is across the sand in that direction. If we stop now, the sun will bake the sand to such a temperature, the camels might refuse to go. Your choice.”
“Wow, Mr. Saturday Night. How can I resist when you put it that way? To the watering hole, then and don’t spare the camels.” She met his waiting glare and inhaled. So much for humor.
Nico steered his camel onto the sand, and immediately the heat radiating from the fine-grained carpet was intense.
“Jeez! I’m sweating in places I didn’t know I could! You weren’t kidding when you said the camels would balk. I wouldn’t want to walk this.”
He kicked the camel’s flank and the awkward animal took off, its stride clumsy and violent. She barely tightened her reins when her camel raced after the lead. Her body vaulted forward and she gripped the animal’s muscular neck, holding on for dear life.
“Holy fuck!” she managed through clenched teeth, keeping her jaw tight so she didn’t bite her tongue. Nico’s camel tossed up grit and sand and she closed her eyes, praying her animal didn’t decide to go off-roading more than they already were.
“Nico! For cripe’s sake! Ease the fuck up!”
The animals finally slowed as the palm spring came into view over the next dune. Ivy’s shoulders relaxed out of her ears and she scanned the shady palm and scrub for Vander.
“Is the king here?” she asked, those warning bells going off again.
Nico didn’t answer, just pulled his camel to a stop just outside the lush greenery and took her reins. He led both camels inside the oasis and then helped her from her saddle.
Wincing, she rubbed her backside, turning to look for Vander again, but there was no sign of him.
“Where is the king? You were supposed to take me to meet him here,” she said, her voice rising in alarm.
The guard lifted a flap on his saddle and took out a skin flask, tilting the fluted top to his lips. “I’d offer you some, but that wasn’t part of the deal.”
Ivy’s mind raced. Why the hell did she agree to go alone? Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! Why? Because she believed Vander sent the note. Now, it was clear it was a trick or a trap. She bent to fix the strap on her boot and scooped a handful of sand, chucking it in Nico’s face.
The move caught him off guard and he sputtered and spit, blinded for just enough time for Ivy to grab the reins and swing onto the camel’s back. Easier said than done when the beast was seven feet tall. Nico grabbed her around the waist and threw her to the ground.
“I don’t get paid if I don’t deliver, milady.” He mocked the last word.
As she stared up at him, three other men walked from the tall palm grove. Nomads by their brown cloaks. “Is this the human?” one asked, and Nico nodded.
The guy tossed him a sack of coins and Nico emptied the bag in his hand. “Hey, this is only half of what we agreed.” He lifted his palm.
The man angled his head, surprised. He walked forward patting his pockets, but as soon as he was within range, a quick thrust of his wrist gutted the guard with a single swipe.
Ivy screamed, scrambling back against the scrub. The man turned, no expression on his face as he cleaned the blade on his thigh. He shrugged the cloak from his shoulders to reveal a completely different kind of clothing underneath.
His partners in crime did the same, speaking to each other in a language Ivy didn’t recognize. Mountain rogues. She had heard people talking about their ruthlessness, and their rugged clothing told her she guessed right.
The man took Nico’s flask and held it to his lips and then wiped his hand across his mouth before holding it out to her. “Drink. We have a long way to go.”
“The king is coming. He’ll be here any minute, so I would leave while you have the chance,” she tried, only to hear his laugh as a reply.
“Vander is nowhere near here, love. You are now my property and you will go to the highest bidder. If Vander wants you, he can pay, but I know a few jungle lords who would love a honey-haired beauty,” he eyed her. “Yes, I think you’ll fetch a better price than any of the goat herders we’ve taken.”
“Bors, we were paid to take her to the jungle. The worm, remember? They want to test the worm on a human.”
The man whirled, and in seconds, the other was on the ground beside Nico. Just as dead.
Bors cleaned his knife again and frowned, shaking his head. “Killing is such a waste of my time and energy.” He looked at Ivy. “No danger will come to you if you cooperate. If you try what you did with that stupid guard, you’ll end up on the ground with your guts spilled just like him. Understood?”
Ivy nodded. “Can I send word to Vander? I’m sure he’ll pay whatever ransom you ask.”
He shook his head. “I will negotiate with whom I see fit. Vander’s men are on the brink of mutiny, thanks to treachery in his own ranks. Personally, I don’t care one way or the other. Money is money and that’s the only thing that holds my loyalty.”
Ivy’s lips pressed in a harsh line. “That worm your friend spoke of. Does it squirm and ooze in a brown liquid?”
He nodded, the corner of his mouth tipping up, impressed. “Yes.”
She gritted her teeth. “Fucking Maddox. I knew it!” Her eyes flew to Bors. “Please, tell me what you know. The king will make it worth your while. There’s more at stake here than just me.” In her haste, she got to her feet, forgetting who she was dealing with.
His eyes traveled her full length and he licked his lips. “You want answers? YOU will be the one to make it worth my while.”
She took a step back. “People are dying. Women. For no reason. How is Maddox using the worm? How did he learn how?”
Bors shrugged, unmoved. “Show me your tits and I’ll tell you.”
Ivy balked, sorry she had worn the skimpy pant concoction that barely crisscrossed her full rack. “That’s not going to happen.”
He turned to put the hipflask back in the saddle.
“You’ve got me and two camels you didn’t expect. Can’t you give me the answers to those quick questions for good measure?”
Turning, he smirked. “No wonder Vander wants you.” He nodded, pointing her way. “You’re quick and you’re daring. No Galaxan woman would think to blind her abductor with sand.” He considered her. “Okay. The worm is an ancient parasite. It thrives in that brown slime you mentioned.”
She nodded. “Okay. That much I got already. I also know it only lives three days.”
He grinned and she saw his teeth were blackened and missing. “Yes,” he said. “Maddox learned about the worm when Vander sent him with Prince Jag to try and negotiate a truce with the jungle lords. He wanted them to stop paying me and my kind for raiding the Palladian.” He snorted. “Negotiate. Ha! Those men would eat their children first. He would have been better off paying us not to raid.”
His eyes t
raveled her body again. “Maybe I won’t sell you to them. You’re clever and it would be wasted on those savages.” He turned to finish prepping the saddle. “Maddox watched the lords use the worm to torture their people. They drop the worms live into beating hearts and watch as their people died savagely. Maddox wanted a more concealed way to poison the capitol, so he set the worms loose in the women’s bath houses and spas. As you said, outside their slime, they only live three days unless they find a host to feed upon. If you ask me, he’s a coward. If you’re going to kill, then just fucking kill—don’t skulk in the shadows.”
Ivy looked at the brute of a man. He was intelligent and he was honest. A savage and a mercenary, but truthful, and that gave her wiggle room and hope. “Where are you taking me, then?”
He blinked, looking at her. “I haven’t decided yet.”
She dusted off the back of her pants and walked toward the camel and took the hipflask, draining it. “We should resupply, then. Don’t you think?” Holding her breath, she walked toward the spring with the skin thermos, Bors’ laughter following behind her.
Vander was getting back today. Sometime. Gerri, too. As soon as they found her gone, a search party would be sent out. Now, all she had to do was delay enough to figure out how to leave a trail.
21
“What do you mean she’s gone?” Vander’s anger boomed through the castle. “Where is she?” Glowing green eyes flashed with fury as he shouted for Maddox.
His breath came in short, tight draws. Claw marks scored his torso from the inside, red slashes rising on his flesh. Muscles stretched and undulated beneath his skin and the roar that broke from his throat sent his court fleeing.
Gerri pushed through the scattering crowd, the girls at her heels. “Vander, Ivy’s gone,” she declared, but stopped short at the king’s agitated appearance.
“She was going to meet you,” Henley said, her eyes flicking to Gerri, scared.
Vander spun on his heel and stalked toward the tall woman. “What?”
Gerri growled, her eyes turning a wild yellow. “Back off, Vander. We are all on the same page here. Clearly someone duped Ivy into thinking she was meeting you.”
Riley nodded. “She got a note last night. After you left in the morning, we went shopping just as you suggested. We saw Maddox in the market. He was with some desert looking guy. The man gave him something and then Maddox killed him.”
Vander’s gaze swung from one to the other, stunned.
“We overheard what he said. He was talking about something working on humans, that he wouldn’t have his work ruined. The nomad dude gave him something that squirmed in a brown slime, but when Maddox refused to pay him, the dude threatened to tell you.”
Riley wrung her hands. “That’s when he stabbed him. We saw the whole thing.”
“Your Majesty, I told you these human girls were too fickle to take seriously,” Maddox said, walking in, his eyes darting from the king to Gerri and the others. “They concoct fancies to fit their agenda.”
Vander flew from the throne’s stairs; his hand clutched around Maddox’s throat. “Where is my mate? I will crush the life out of you right now if you don’t tell me or better yet, I’ll feed you to my dogs, alive.”
The king’s eyes seethed green and his facial bones changed as scythe-like fangs pierced his gums. His hand tightened and Maddox’s eyes bulged.
“Vander!” Kari shouted, rushing forward with Jag and Damen behind her. “Stop this! Your xenos is unbound! You won’t be able to control it!”
Jag grabbed his brother’s arm and pushed the rock-like muscle, loosening so Maddox could breathe. “You want to rip his heart out later, fine. Without him, we might be too late to find Ivy.”
Jag’s words penetrated and Vander released his former chamberlain, the man slumping to the floor, gasping for air. Jag picked him up by his collar and Damen stuck a blade to his throat. “Where is the queen?”
Maddox spat, his tongue bleeding from where he bit it. “She’s not the queen. She’s not fit to be a Kasaval. She’s a human!”
Jag gave the man a shake and the tip of Damen’s dagger pierced Maddox’s skin. The old man quaked, his bravado failing. “Tell us now or you’ll beg for the mercy of Damen’s blade with what we do to you.”
“I sent Ivy the note in Vander’s name. But you’re too late. Bors has her, and if I know him, he’ll double-cross me and sell her to the highest bidder.” His gaze found Vander’s. “You can always buy your human bitch back.”
Vander backhanded the man, his neck snapping back as blood trickled from his mouth. “What did you buy from the nomad?” The king’s voice was low and deadly, but Maddox raised his chin, refusing to answer.
“I think I know,” Jag answered. “It’s that worm the old woman told us about. She wasn’t just raving. He must have found a way to use it against us and poison our women.”
“Yes!” Maddox laughed. “And I’d do more to keep you from polluting Galaxa with human whores!”
“You stupid old man! If you hadn’t killed off our women, we wouldn’t need to look to Earth for mates. Why? You make no sense.” Jag shook him again.
“I served House Kasaval for years and I should have been given title and wealth, not asked to fetch and carry. When Alyx of Nova Aurora mated that human girl and you talked of bringing that shifter bitch matchmaker here, I had to act. The warriors would have put me on the throne.”
“You’re delusional, Maddox. I’m glad my father isn’t here to see this.” Jag let him go, and before Maddox could find his feet, Vander grabbed his throat and crushed the life from his body.
The old man slumped to the ground, his lifeless form crumpled and unnatural.
“What do we do now?” Gerri asked.
Vander turned to the older woman, his face like stone. “We find my mate.”
Kari stepped in front of the king and put her hand on his cheek, risking the beast within. “The xenos has marked you, Vander. Find your mate before it shreds its way out.”
The three men stalked from the room, Vander’s guards clearing what was left of Maddox.
The women exhaled in stereo. “Will he find her?” Gerri looked at Kari, her eyes severe.
Kari nodded. “He will. Or he’ll die trying.”
Gerri’s mouth pressed into a harsh slash. “I should go with them. I can sense her.”
Kari shook her head. “Vander’s xenos has claimed her, even if she doesn’t yet wear the mark. It will sense her far more than you could. Vander will find Ivy. I know it.”
Gerri looked at the pretty silver-haired woman. “She wears the mark.” She tapped the top of her left breast. “It showed right before we had our audience at court.”
A slow smile spread on Kari’s face. “He’ll find her for sure, then. I have no doubt.” Her eyes turned to the other girls. “So, what about you two?”
“Us?” Henley exchanged glances with Riley. “What do you mean?”
Kari curled a finger over her chin and smirked. “I may not have Gerri’s keen sixth sense, but I can smell a punch to a woman’s sex as clearly as I can smell a fresh glass of Sidaii wine. You both have that scent.”
Gerri nodded with a soft chuckle. “One problem at a time, Karis. Let’s get my lost duck back into my row before we start on the others, okay?”
The regal woman inclined her head. “I’ll let you know if I hear anything from Vander or the prince.” She turned and left the courtroom.
“Which one was the prince?” Riley asked, keeping her voice low.
Gerri laughed. “The one with the same dark mane as Vander. The other one is their Chief of Security, Damen Iceri.”
Riley nodded. “He’s not as big as the others, but damn he’s hot. Did you see him take control and calm Vander before he shred that dude?”
Henley nodded. “Yeah, but I couldn’t take my eyes off the other one. He was lethal fast with that blade.”
Gerri shook her head. “One at a time, ladies. Please. One at a time.”
“Maybe they stopped for shelter somewhere. Even a camel would need to rest at some point,” Jag said, wiping his brow.
“The camels taken from the stables were pack animals. They can go for days without much rest.” Damen frowned. “When I find Nico, I’m going to slit his throat.”
Vander looked at his friend. “Nico was not your fault.”
Damen’s jaw tightened. “He was a member of your guard. I vetted him, so I take responsibility and I will be the one to take his life if your mate is harmed.”
“The horses need water. We can stop at the tent village at the crossroads. Maybe someone there saw something.” Jag nodded toward the tents in the distance.
Vander pulled his horse to a halt. His eyes moved toward the sand and the dunes beyond. “She was here.” He gestured with his chin toward the expanse. “Out there.”
Jag shook his head. “No, Vander. The camels wouldn’t survive the boiling sand.”
The king’s horse reared. “I know they took her that way. The beast is coiling inside. It’s gnawing for me to follow the trail in that direction, so either you come with me or I go alone. It’s as simple as that.”
Jag exhaled, raking a hand through his hair. “Then we need to leave the horses and find camels sturdy enough to make the journey, because even if it’s cooling since it’s heading to nightfall, it will be just as hot tomorrow when the sun hits its peak.”
Damen clicked the inside of his cheek and the three took off toward the tent village at top speed. They pulled in front of the largest tent, knowing it belonged to the local chieftain. People gathered, surrounding the king and the others.
“We need camels,” Vander said matter-of-factly. “Where is your chief?”
The tent flap opened and a woman stepped out, beautiful in her desert robes and headdress. “Our chief is dead. I am his daughter.” She inclined her head. “What can we do for you, my lord?”
