The Spider Queen (The Space Merchants Book 5)

by Wendie Nordgren

  Yukihyo scowled as he tossed his towel and got in. “Your mother forbids wearing clothing in her pool,” Yukihyo complained. “She considers it to be unnerving.”

  Both Yukihyo and Drex wore several waterproof gel bandages and nanite patches.

  “Oh, Yukihyo! Your poor nose!” Yukihyo swam to me and took me from Zared, giving him a pool float and a grin in trade. Yukihyo’s nose was swollen, red, and turning purple. “My poor baby,” I said. He pulled me to his back, and I held onto his shoulders as he swam with me to the deep end.

  “Drex broke my nose.” Yukihyo took my arm and pulled me around to face him. He gripped the side of the pool with his left hand and me with his right. “I’m sorry, lady wife. It was not my intention to upset you or the other ladies present.”

  I kissed each of his eyelids. “I’m sorry, as well. I never meant to upset you. I don’t know what I was thinking other than that I was tired of being hurt and just….”

  “Hush. I understand what it is to grieve. If you need to relieve stress with Drex, so be it.”

  Capturing Yukihyo’s lips with mine, I shared with him the feelings of love, trust, and acceptance that he inspired within me.

  “So, was that insensitive asshole as good as he thinks? He’s prouder of the scratches you put on his back than of the medal of honor that your father pinned to his uniform.”

  Thoughts of Drex’s lovemaking made the satisfaction Zared had just given me fade into a memory. Surprise covered Yukihyo’s face.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  That night, I snuck out of my wing, past the night guards, and into the guest wing. Nervously, I knocked quietly on Drex’s door. My cheeks burned as I glanced up and down the hall. Finally, the door opened.

  “Princess, what are you doing here?” Drex asked. He wore pajama bottoms and bruises.

  “Aren’t you going to invite me in?” I whispered.

  Drex opened the door wider. I hurried inside and closed the door quietly behind me. “Is something wrong?” he asked.

  Confused by his reaction, I stared at him. “Um, I was just thinking about what happened between us earlier.”

  Worry crept over his features. “You wish to be free of me.”

  “Um, no. I was wondering if you wanted to….”

  In an instant, Drex changed from dejected to devouring me. He stripped me of my gown, picked me up, and placed me in the warm spot on the bed he had just vacated. With his mouth and hands, systematically he concerned himself with making me frantic. Gently, he rubbed his stubbly jawline along the back of my knee and down my calf before capturing my most sensitive place with his tongue and lips.

  “Drex, please!”

  He didn’t listen. His lips tasted of my breasts and then trailed kisses down my inner arms. Then, he moved his scratchy jaw up the back of my other knee. Unable to bear anymore, I clutched at his hair. Finally, he filled me with his hard length and moved with the same deliberate slowness as before. After my third release, I lost track.

  I woke to peaceful quiet. Warmth seeped into my back. A strong arm was across me. Stretching, I smiled and turned. Dim light began to fill the room. Sliding my arm around Drex’s chest, I snuggled closer and kissed his neck. “Good morning,” I whispered.

  With a fast swivel of his hips, Drex had me on my back and pushed my legs apart with his knee. A hungry passion had changed his features. I grabbed him by the ears and pulled him down to kiss me. Drex lost his dispassionate control. It was as if I had spent an hour torturing him with sensual kisses leaving him desperate with need. The headboard banged embarrassingly against the wall with his thrusts as he took me. His loss of control made me lose mine, and my back arched from the bed as I came. Drex slammed himself into me and seemed to shiver from his toes up with the power of his release.

  He stared down at me. “I love you, Teagan. I love you.” His lips took mine, not wanting or needing a response to his declaration.

  Someone started knocking on the door. “Drex, are you alright?” Merick called out.

  “I’m fine.”

  “Prove it, or I’m coming in.”

  “Damn,” Drex said as he pulled himself from me and covered me with his sheets. He went to the door opening it half an inch. “I’m fine. Go away.”

  Not believing him, Merick shoved at the door. He was prepared to defend his friend from what he believed to be an assault. After what had happened with Pax and the fight he had just had with Yukihyo, I could understand his thoughts. The stupid banging headboard had sounded like a fight.

  Scooting out of bed, I walked to the bathroom. “Coffee,” I said as I closed the door.

  With eyes full of dangerous possessiveness, Drex joined me in the shower. He took pleasure in washing me with his hands. A thin scar circled his wrist where Pax had severed his hand and it had been reattached.

  “What time is it?” I asked.

  “The sun has not yet risen.”

  “Good, let’s go to my patio for breakfast.”

  “Any desire you have, I shall grant.”

  I dressed in my gown and robe while Drex put on his uniform. He placed a cup of coffee into my hands.

  “Thank you,” I said as I sipped it.

  Drex held open the door for me and then gave me his arm. Even at the early hour, we had an audience for our walk to my wing. Drex shared this part of the Palace with my Military Advisory Committee. Yukihyo glared at Drex throughout breakfast. Drex smiled back at him. Depressed, I stared into my cup. Strong fingers lifted my chin, and I gazed up into solid black eyes.

  “Self-preservation is nothing to be ashamed of, Teagan. Drex provides you with comfort, but he can’t read your thoughts or emotions. Being with him gives you time to understand your thoughts and feelings on your own,” Zared said.

  Yukihyo gave a grunt reminiscent of Hiroshi.

  “I don’t want to push anyone away,” I said quietly. A cool morning breeze floated to the patio from the lake. A swan lifted up and flapped its wings before settling back to its languid swim.

  “You aren’t. You couldn’t do that with the strength of a thousand men,” Zared said.

  His assurances lifted a weight off of me. Thoughts of Luca and our baby continued to plague me. Last night, a nightmare had woken me as I had attempted to sleep. It had sent me fleeing from everything familiar and to Drex’s room. There was nothing that I could do to change things, and I was a prisoner to the pain of loss.

  “Go get dressed. You will get to fly today, perhaps even among the stars,” Zared said.

  Being in space and surrounded by stars was a balm to coat my pain. I nodded. Zared helped me with my chair. He had begun to do a little walking each day, but still had some spinal swelling and had to take it easy. In the sitting room, Niklos and Thunderdrop were playing side-by-side with their color shapes.

  “That good,” Niklos told Thunderdrop of the lines he had drawn with his claws.

  I kissed Niklos and patted Thunderdrop, but they were too consumed to notice. After I had dressed, I realized that Zared had followed me.

  “Sit,” he said.

  I sat in front of my vanity. Zared brushed and braided my hair. His kindness, understanding, and tenderness wound me closer around his heart. Standing, I wrapped my arms around him and hid my face against his chest. “I’m so grateful to have you in my life. I don’t think I could bear to ever lose you. Promise you will always love me.”

  Zared laughed softly. “I promise to always love you. Remember this, little female. I need you as much as you need me.”

  With my chin to his chest, I said, “That’s a lot.”

  Zared smiled. “That is true, my love.”

  Wistfully, I admitted, “I want to get to fly, but I don’t want to leave my children or husbands.” I released my hold on Zared and saw Yukihyo leaning against the sink smiling at us. “Your poor nose,” I said as I went to him. “Does it hurt?”

  “Yes, Drex broke it in three places. Phillip says that it will be unnoticeable in a few days. Does my
appearance frighten you?” Yukihyo asked.

  “No, I feel as though I should cradle your head in my lap and run my fingers through your hair until you’re all better.”

  Yukihyo grinned at me. “If you were to do so, I might heal faster.”

  “I will,” I nodded.

  “However, first you must humor your mother,” Yukihyo said.

  I had a mother. She was alive, vibrant, and feisty. I laughed. Carefully, I kissed Yukihyo. “Watch out for rattles,” I warned him. “I love you.”

  In my sitting room, I found Momma on the floor playing with my children. I sat beside her, hugged, and kissed her. “Good morning, my darling. Are you ready for your day? Dario was telling me about a Zepher class fighter he has for you to try out this morning.”

  My eyes bulged. Zepher class fighters were the newest and fastest fighters in the fleet. They were sleek and lethal. My palms started to sweat. Momma laughed. Dario gave me a sexy, mysterious smile, walked to us, and offered his hand to help me rise.

  Yukihyo and Drex had begun to argue. I heard Yukihyo say, “…just a conquest to you so you can elevate your House’s standing.”

  “She is the only person who I have ever loved. You care more for making credits than you do for her,” Drex said.

  “I make the credits for her and our children. All you seem to make her do is cry for your own selfish purposes.”

  “Go, Teagan. I’ll sort them out,” Momma said.

  “Momma, Yukihyo is part of me. I need him. I don’t think you understand how much.”

  Momma squeezed my ankle. “I know. Your father and I spend most of our time talking about you.”

  “Where is Papa?”

  “Busy,” she said as she turned her attention back to the children. They were playing with their starship dollhouse. Peter was chewing on a fighter ship.

  “That’s my boy,” I told him.

  Dario drove us to the land port where his warship was docked. Soldiers were going over every inch of the fiercest fighter ship I had ever seen. She was a shiny black with three cannons on each wing.

  “Wow!”

  “Are you ready to fly her?” Dario asked.

  “Honestly, no. I think she is beyond my skill, but I’d love to ride in her.”

  Dario laughed. We had been quiet on the way to the land port. He knew that I was upset about Yukihyo and Drex. Suddenly, I realized that Admiral Dario Galerius had never offered himself to me as a husband. I smiled. Maybe, he didn’t intend to ask me. Maybe, he was just being nice to me and only wanted to be friends. Loud, telepathic laughter from several males filled my mind. Mentally, I attempted to scowl at my Omnes Videntes.

  In my thoughts, I heard Zared say, “Leave her alone,” to them. It took a while for the laughter to cease.

  Dario parked his transport and walked to my side to open the door. Then, he gave me his arm. His men had formed ranks and stood at attention. He walked me over to them and asked, “Is she ready, Captain?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Excellent. Princess Probus, please allow me to assist you,” Dario said.

  “On one condition, please just call me Teagan.”

  Dario grinned at me. “Alright, Teagan.”

  Dario helped me balance while I stepped into a black flight suit. Then, I waited while he did the same. Watchful of where I placed my feet, I took the passenger seat and fastened my harness. I had my helmet on and was ready to go by the time Dario had taken his seat.

  “Are you certain that you do not wish to fly her? I want you to have a good time. Things didn’t work out as I had hoped when you visited Daphoene.”

  “How did you want things to go? Pax completely losing it wasn’t part of the plan?” I asked.

  Dario chuckled in a deep sexy way. “No, not at all. Things never go as planned when I am with you. Teagan, I want to tell you how deeply sorry I am for Luca’s loss. He and I had become friends. We formed a bond while we each tried to win you. I can understand how you fell in love with him.”

  Removing my helmet, I wiped my eyes. “He was a loveable goof, but he was smart and strong. Luca could turn brave and serious when it was called for. It hurts so much that he’s gone.”

  “I miss him, too. I thought you should know that.”

  “Thank you, Dario.”

  He put on his helmet, so I did, too. I listened as he communicated with his ship for clearance and entered our flight plan so his ship could track us. “Ready?” he asked.

  I wiped my hands on my pants. My heart thudded in excitement. “Yes, sir!” Quickly, I blinked. I was determined not to miss a moment of our ascent. I let out an excited yell as we shot upward through a blur of pink and orange sky into orbit. “Yea!” I clapped. “Do it again!” I begged.

  “How about I teach you some new maneuvers first? Activating your screen, now.”

  In front of me on the back of Dario’s chair, a console powered on. I could see the commands that Dario entered and our trajectory. “Oh, wow. Neat.” Now, I was torn between the screen and the view. “Dario?”

  “Yes?”

  “Can you do everything twice? That way, I get to have fun and see how you did it.”

  “It will be as you desire.”

  Dario took us into a barreling spin which he accelerated. He had me laughing, screaming, and clapping. He was taking the fighter into a tenth maneuver when we were jerked with such force that my helmet hit the side of the cockpit. Dario began yelling into the communications system as he hit the distress signal. Then, he began a firing sequence, but nothing happened.

  “Communications and weapons disabled! Something’s got us!” Dario said as the fighter spun sideways and was hauled with such force that I strained against my harness and couldn’t pull my head away from the cockpit’s hull. Dario yelled to me, “Some kind of tractor netting has us! We are being pulled into a ship! Don’t worry. I’ll protect you. My ship will be here in seconds. Teagan, I need for you to follow my orders and trust me.”

  “Yes, sir,” I yelled back.

  Dario wasn’t glued to the side of the cockpit the way that I was. Suddenly, a flight deck with open bay doors appeared out of nowhere. All around it was space.

  In awe, Dario said, “The ship has reflective hull camouflage. That’s why we couldn’t see it.”

  “Why didn’t our sensors pick it up?” I asked as I strained to right myself in my seat. Fear that Dario knew about and was a part of this situation coursed through me.

  “There is a blaster under your seat. When they force open our hatch, start shooting,” Dario ordered.

  “I can’t reach it,” I said as I struggled to move.

  “Wait until the bay doors close, and they stabilize our fighter. You know how to fly. If the opportunity arises, blast your way out and speed home. You’ve done it before. Understood?”

  Suddenly, I was upright again. “Yes, sir,” I said as I found the blaster.

  A round, metal machine was clamped to the door. “They have a magnetic lock override,” Dario said. “Get ready.”

  As soon as the hatch opened a crack, I started firing through it along with Dario. Once it had opened by a foot, someone threw in a pulse grenade. The blast had me seeing stars behind my eyelids. The next thing I knew, my blaster was torn from my barely functioning fingers, my harness was unfastened, and I was roughly picked up and tossed from the fighter. Someone snagged me from the air and slammed me face down to the flight deck. I felt the ship lurch forward at a terrifying speed. My hands were bound behind me with metal shackles.

  “Zared!” I screamed in my mind. I admonished myself for not calling out to him sooner.

  My helmet was wrenched off of my head, sending a sharp pain through my neck and shoulders, and I was turned over which made the restraints cut into my lower back. I screamed as a man slammed his hand into the side of my head. A sharp pain in my temple followed and made me gag. Dario had fared better. He fought four men at once. Then, they blasted him, and he dropped to his knees. A man trapped Dario
’s hands behind him with wide metal restraints and then shackled his ankles. Another man removed Dario’s helmet and then struck him in the face with the butt of his blaster. Dario glared at the man with a hatred that chilled my blood.

  I gagged on the sudden bile that rose in my throat and forced myself not to moan with the throbbing, vibrating buzz in my temple. I tried to call out to Zared, and agony ripped through my skull. Rough hands yanked me to my feet. Our captors were human. I assumed they were Earth Loyalists. Maybe, they didn’t realize that their benefactor had been executed.

  “You’re either brave or stupid to be in the middle of Parvac space,” I said.

  They didn’t respond, so I assumed they agreed. Dario and I were shoved from behind into a lift. I realized that the metal object that the soldier had stabbed into my temple was a powerful neural blocker. The powerful buzzing sensation it emitted into my skull had me throwing up in the corner of the lift. Someone seized me by the shoulders, pulled, and shoved me to my knees onto black carpeting. Dario was forced down to his knees beside me. As I watched, the color drained from his face.

  “It’s not possible. I watched your execution,” Dario said. His momentary discomposure had vanished.

  Black, expensive shoes came into my view, but it hurt too much to try to look up. “I ordered you to be careful with her,” a man seethed.

  My blood chilled in my veins as I recognized the voice and forced my head to lift. “You killed Luca.” I was ashamed of the tears that fell from my eyes.

  Felix, formerly known as Ambassador Jiri, bent down in front of me. “No, my clone killed Luca. He was a costly clone and took years to grow. I had to endure hours of brain scans during his development so that he could pass as me.”

  He had no remorse for murdering my husband. I would never look into Luca’s eyes again, hear his teasing voice, watch him run down the beach to me, or see the joy on his face when he first held our own child in his arms. Unable to do anything else, I spit in Felix’s face.

  “I understand that Braga’s death has upset you, but there is no reason for vulgarity, Teagan.” Standing, he pulled a silk square from his pocket and wiped his face. He turned his attention to Dario. “So, Tavere executed me, or rather who he believed me to be. Well, at least I know where I stand with the Empire. How was my clone sentenced to die?”