by Shae Mills
Chelan forced herself up this morning, left her tranquil blue room for Command Center, and collapsed in the main chair. She stared at the blank screen before her, and then, almost involuntarily, she began to type.
The primary viewing screen came to life, and she set to work. She had access to the whole Command Center now, including the scanners. With the visual output only, she started at the Palace’s Central Command Center and continued on, searching relentlessly until she finally located her elusive target. In one of the main training halls, she found Talon.
Chelan sat back and watched as he worked with his people, interacting with them as casually as one would at a dinner party. He wore only his uniform pants and boots, his upper body bare and glistening with moisture. His thick, blue-black hair feathered down his chest and back. His azure eyes glowed, and his white teeth gleamed against his dark bronze skin. He was smiling and definitely enjoying his task.
Chelan leaned forward, watching as he supervised a group of men, all in the ebony uniform. She furrowed her brow. The military under ROPE and Talon had adopted the uniform of the old Empire, the unique material and design a practical and logical choice, but how the two factions could tell one another apart in a war zone was a mystery. Other than attitude, Chelan could not tell Talon’s men from Korba’s. Someday, she would have to ask Talon about such things, but right now, her thoughts were not on the battlefield.
She looked back at the men, concentrating on Talon. The warriors were lined up on a throwing field, each honing their skills with knives against a variety of cagey targets. She watched as Talon inspected each person, helping when necessary and appearing to praise them when they were successful.
Chelan smiled, warmed by the fact that Talon interacted with his people with so much ease and so personally. As Emperor, he was not required to oversee such duties, but it was obviously something he took pride in—another similarity to Korba, she noted.
Chelan panned the scanner as he moved to another section, engaged in swordplay. One of the men seemed to try to involve Talon in the mock battle, but he declined. The Emperor continued on his way down a path between the fields until something or someone seemed to attract his attention. He diverted his course toward an unknown destination.
Chelan brought the scanner back, increasing its field of view. A tall woman appeared, walking confidently toward him. She wore an Imperial uniform and was heavily armed. Her ebony hair hung down to the middle of her back, but Chelan could not see her face. Talon stepped up to her and began speaking and laughing with her. Chelan watched as the woman’s gloved hand brushed over the Emperor’s arm, her touches obviously familiar and tolerated by him. Finally, one hand came to rest on his powerful chest as she stretched up and whispered something in his ear. Talon smiled and returned her touch, his hand briefly resting on her shoulder.
Chelan squinted at the woman. This was the first Iceanean woman of the new Empire she had ever seen, and her curiosity was piqued. She zoomed the scanner in as the woman turned away from him. Chelan could not help but notice the woman’s virile beauty melded with indisputable strength. Simply put, she was stunning. But what captured Chelan’s attention even more was the fact that she had touched Talon. Korba would never have allowed such an intimate interaction, neither as Warlord nor as Emperor.
She pondered the situation. Despite Talon’s apparent ferocity, was he even more intimate with his warriors than Korba, even more interactive? Or was the protocol among his military completely different? Alternately, was the hardened brute she had been introduced to so long ago every bit as fair and compassionate as her mate?
She glanced down, and suddenly, the dawn of a morbid realization arose within her. Lethiason was right, yet again. Talon, in the beginning, had merely displayed the same aggressiveness in the field toward his enemy as, undoubtedly, all three of her men had. They were all brutal killers—that she knew intellectually, but she had always found it easy to keep the fact buried while she was immersed in their attentive and unfailing love.
She sighed and looked back to the screen, watching as Talon donned his jacket. She continued to study him with rapt curiosity. He moved to a group of men at the side of the hall and engaged himself in their conversation. Then her attention was caught by a flash of light off to the right, and commotion ensued. For a moment, there seemed to be pandemonium, warriors scrambling everywhere. But soon things settled, and Chelan took a deep breath.
She glanced back to the left, startled to find that Talon was missing. She sat up straight and began searching throughout the training hall, but he was gone. “Damn,” she mumbled. Hitting switches, she panned through the connecting corridors, wondering if he had simply left or if he had been whisked away because of the incident. Then she found him.
He was once again fully dressed and shrouded, followed by several of his guards. Upon reaching his destination, she watched as he stepped from the main corridor and into someone’s private quarters, his entourage remaining outside. Chelan knew her Warlords rarely intruded upon the personal domains of their crew, but her inquisitiveness had the better of her, and she switched to the internal link.
There before her was the warrior she had seen in the training hall, the beautiful Iceanean woman. She was now dressed in a full-length, form-fitting red gown, her thick, black hair cascading down her powerful back. She was gorgeous.
She handed Talon a drink. Chelan settled back into her chair and watched as Talon took the drink from her. They touched glasses and then took a sip. Chelan could not see Talon’s face, but she could see the desire in the woman’s eyes. Chelan was mesmerized. She looked at the control panels and hesitated. Then she hit the audio output.
“You have been far too busy, my Lord,” came the woman’s deep, sensuous voice.
Talon stepped past her and took a seat in a chair, nestling contentedly into it. “Far too busy, maybe, but all of it necessary.”
The woman sat upon the bed and curled her long legs under her. “Well, now that everything is in place, I trust that we can finally have some time together.”
Talon’s face was warm, his eyes intent upon her. He rubbed at his jaw with one hand, the other holding his drink casually in his lap. “Maybe,” he answered.
The woman sat up straight and swung her legs off the bed. Her dress rode up high on her hard thighs, but she made no attempt to adjust it. She faced him directly. “Maybe tonight?”
Talon smiled. “We will see.”
The woman grinned coyly. “Come now, Sire. You cannot work day and night forever.”
“What do you propose?” he asked as he sat his drink down.
“Why don’t I show you?” she purred.
Chelan watched as the woman eased off the bed and knelt between Talon’s legs. There she began slinking out of her gown. But he stopped her, drawing the gown’s straps back up over her shoulders.
Chelan flushed with embarrassment, but she was spellbound. How did he treat other women? Was he like her warriors? Could he separate the field from his personal life, as her men had done so well? She bit into her fist, ready to turn the link off in an instant if their interaction became more intimate.
Talon rose to his feet, drawing her up with him. “Not now,” he whispered.
The woman hesitated, her disappointment clear. “Why not? It has been an eternity.”
Talon took a step back. “I still have things to attend to.”
“I hear rumors that you still harbor the alien.”
Chelan froze.
Talon’s smile faded. “You hear correctly, Roeena.”
Roeena folded her arms about herself defensively. “What will you do with her?”
“That decision has yet to come.” He turned from her and headed to the door, but Roeena grabbed his arm.
“I have heard more rumors. I know she bewitched your brother and all who touched her.” Roeena threw her arms around his neck. Then she looked deep into his eyes. “According to military protocol, she should have been dead long ago. But I kn
ow better. I know what weighs so heavily on your mind and why she still lives.”
Talon reached up and removed her embrace. “You surmise.”
“No. I do not know the particulars, but I want you to remember one thing before you make any decisions. You remember our love first, our years and our ties. You remember the purity of our blood should you consider contaminating yourself with her alien body.”
Talon went rigid. “You watch your tongue, Roeena. And you remember this: my decision will be mine and mine alone. You dare not question it and hope to survive. I will not forget our times and our passion, nor do I forget our Iceanean blood.” He raised his hand and held a finger to her chest, his voice low and restrained. “And no matter what, you remember to whom you are talking.”
Roeena lowered her head. “I am sorry, my Lord.” She took a moment and then looked up at him, contrition in her eyes. “I fear I already know what the outcome of this will be. I know because I have not felt your touch since she has been in your care.” She caressed his face tenderly. “Please, I do not ask for an entire night or even an evening. All I ask is that we make love one last time. We have shared everything for so many years. Please grant me this one wish.”
Chelan watched as Talon hesitated.
“That would not be fair to either of us,” he whispered.
Chelan saw the woman’s shoulders slump, and Chelan’s heart went out to her. Thoughts of Marri and Korba started to filter into her mind. Chelan remembered vividly the emotional turmoil that Marri endured over Korba and his decisions, the uncertainty of it all making it so unfair to everyone involved. Though she knew nothing of this woman or her relationship with Talon, it was obvious that she had been left waiting in the wings for a long time. As the implications of Talon’s words hit her, she realized it was time to make some fast decisions, for everyone’s sake, especially Roeena’s. It was time to solidify some relationships one way or another and to erase the uncertainty plaguing them all.
Chelan looked about the control panels and patched into the main Command Center. “Talis here,” came the voice.
Chelan quivered, uncertain of her power. Then, finding her courage, she spoke. “I require direct communication with his Lordship.”
There was hesitation. “For what purpose?”
Chelan cursed herself. How much did his people know of her? And what was her status, no matter how precarious? What had Talon told his officers? She closed her eyes and swallowed her anxieties. “This is the Lady Chelan. I require his presence—at his convenience, of course.”
There was another pause. “As you wish. I will locate him.”
Chelan was about to sever the video link when the Communications buzz in Roeena’s quarters stayed her hand.
Talon’s head snapped around. He stepped back and hit a switch on the wall. “What is it?”
“Your presence is requested in the Command Center, my Lord.”
Chelan mouth went dry as she watched him hesitate.
“Which Center?” he asked.
“Your personal one, my Lord.”
Talon straightened. “Thank you, Talis,” he said, and he hit the switch off.
Roeena grabbed him. “It can wait.”
Talon shook his head. “No, it can’t.”
“Please, Sire. Do not do this.”
Talon clenched his jaw. “I don’t even know what this is about.”
“You bloody well do!”
Talon’s eyes flared, and a low growl emanated from his chest.
Roeena instantly lowered her head in submission. “I am sorry, my Lord.”
“We will discuss this more later.” And he left.
Chelan shut the scanners down and took several deep breaths. Suddenly, she didn’t know what to say or do, her feelings lodging in her throat like a cold lump. Her anxiety skyrocketed: the fallout of her decisions right here and now would affect so many lives for all time.
She had barely time to regain her composure when the main doors parted. Talon stepped in, his eyes fixed on her. Chelan fought back the impulse to quail under his scrutiny.
Talon approached her almost cautiously, his face stern. Finally, he stood only centimeters from her. “You summoned me?”
Chelan rubbed her palms down her dress. “Yes,” she whispered.
His eyes penetrated her. “Why?”
Chelan felt her stomach knot. Everything she had gone over in mind endlessly for weeks suddenly swamped her, rendering her mute.
Talon’s finger touched her chin, holding her head up. “Have you made your decision?”
“Yes,” she uttered.
Talon’s eyes studied her, and then he became very still. “And?”
Chelan swallowed hard, realizing right at that very moment that she had indeed come to a decision. “I accept you as Emperor,” she stated evenly.
Talon drew a breath and waited.
Chelan felt a tremor seize her, and she closed her eyes. “And I accept you as a man.”
Suddenly, he released her and took a step back. Chelan’s eyes flew open at his unexpected response. “What is wrong?”
He took a moment. “I dine shortly with my officers in the main hall. You will accompany me there.”
Chelan clutched at the sides of her gown. “What? Oh, please no. I cannot bear to be on display again. Nor do I wish to endure their interrogations.”
Talon ground his teeth. “You will come.” And he turned and left.
Chelan gasped. That was not how she had anticipated he would react to her acceptance, and suddenly, she had second thoughts—many second thoughts. “Damn you!” she shouted at the door. “Damn you.”
Chapter 16
Chelan paced the Command Center like a caged animal. She did not want dinner with Talon’s elite. In fact, the way she felt right now, she did not want dinner at all. After everything that she had wrestled with for weeks—her allegiances, her conscience, her anxieties—she had made her decision, one that was for her own good, and now she was second-guessing everything, again. Suddenly, the main doors opened, and Chelan whirled around. “Lethiason,” she gasped.
He stopped abruptly. “What is wrong, my Lady?”
Chelan brushed wisps of hair from her face and remained silent as the Commander slowly approached her. “Talon requires that I dine with him and the officers tonight for whatever reason. I really do not wish to. I find such interactions far too daunting.”
Lethiason nodded. “I understand. But it would be unwise to shun him.”
“Shun him? Far from it! Moments ago, I accepted his offer to be everything to him.”
Lethiason threw her a giant smile. Then he scooped her in his arms and hugged her warmly. “Congratulations, Chelan! Your life will be just that much more full. You will see. This is the best decision you could have ever made.”
They parted, and Chelan looked up at him warily. “So you would think, but his response was tepid at best. So, maybe you can enlighten me as to why. I finally accept after all this time, and he simply walks out, telling me that I must dine with the officers tonight. What am I missing here?”
“Did Korba not present you when you became his mate?”
Chelan groaned and sat down quickly. “Present me? That is why he wants me to dine with him and his officers? But there hasn’t even been any kind of a ceremony.”
“I suspect that is what he intends to do. And as far as ceremonies, even at the top, there is nothing fancy.”
“Oh, Lethiason. Not so soon. I mean, god, I haven’t even adjusted to my decision—I am not ready to deal with a simple meal with all his vultures let alone a formal presentation.”
Lethiason pouted. “I am one of his vultures.”
Chelan gave him a big smile. “No, you are not. You are different.”
Lethiason smiled back. “Look, I understand. Engaging in formal protocol as the initial immersion into your new role is harsh. I will explain what I can to his Lordship. I will try to get you out of tonight or at least smooth things over. But eve
ntually, as Empress, you must work with his officers on occasion. You should do everything you can to get to know them.”
Chelan rubbed her brow wearily. “I know. You are absolutely right. And I want to get to know them, eventually. Just not right now. I can only handle so much at one time. Besides, I didn’t expect… Well, I didn’t know what to expect from Talon, but him just turning on his heel and leaving was a bit of a shock. It completely threw me off-balance.”
Lethiason sat down. “I can imagine. But perhaps he was in shock himself.”
Chelan pondered his response.
“What else is bothering you?” he asked.
Chelan looked off into the distance. “Just Talon’s reaction. No ‘thank you,’ No ‘I am glad’ or whatever. No nothing. I had better not have made a mistake.”
“Like I said, you probably took him by surprise.”
“Why do you say that?”
“I honestly don’t think he expected you to accept his offer, especially all of it. You have gone from hating him as your mortal enemy and attempting to kill him to agreeing to share yourself with him in every way.”
Chelan smirked. “This change did not occur overnight, Lethiason. Besides, I did not commit to love in any manner, and I never will. As far as I am concerned, this is a civil arrangement and no more.”
Lethiason drew in a deep breath. “I know that. But in the end, he probably expected to be slapped in the face more than anything else. After all, he has the wound to prove to him, daily, what you once thought of him.”
Chelan mulled over his words. Then she looked up at him. “Who is Roeena?”
Lethiason raised his brows. “How do you know of her?”
Chelan sighed. “Never mind. What is she to Talon?”
“She is a warrior and a very good one. The two of them worked together a lot under ROPE.”
“What else is she to Talon?”
Lethiason studied her. “You already know what else she is to Talon, or you would not be asking the question. If you marry him, then she is nothing to him anymore.”
“Oh, Lethiason, I really don’t care about their liaison, past or present, but I do not want any trouble from her, or anyone else from his past, if I am going to do this. I don’t want to be the target of jilted lovers.”
