by Raye Morgan
They rushed right through the barriers and finally they were in the examining room where the doctor was looking at X-rays in a computer screen. Mykal was still unconscious, covered in a sheet and lying on a table on the other side of the room. Janis looked from him to the doctor to the X-rays and back to Mykal again, hardly knowing what to think, but terrified of what they might hear.
“Take a look at this,” the surgeon was saying, pointing to where tiny lines that looked like needles were scattered so very close to a section of Mykal’s spinal column. “This is not good. I’ve conferred with a number of my colleagues and we have mixed opinions. But most of us think it’s too dangerous to attempt any removal of the closest ones at this time. I’ll be sending copies of their reports along with my own and you can read them for yourself. But I wanted you to see this.” He turned and looked at them both. “He can still live a full and active life. But I’m afraid he will need to be confined to a wheelchair most of the time.”
Janis drew her breath in with a gasp and Pellea frowned.
“I thought you told me initially that you felt the shards were too close to leave them,” she said. “That they might move in and compromise his mobility on their own if left alone.”
“Yes, that was what I thought before I got a look on my own. But examining this more closely makes me think we just can’t risk it.”
Pellea looked at Janis. “What do you think?” she asked her. “How will he take this news?”
Janis was startled to be asked for an opinion. But she had one. “If it were up to me,” she said, head high and voice clear, “I would keep him as safe as possible. I wouldn’t operate. I would wait and see.” She looked at them both and shook her head. “But I know what he wants. And he couldn’t stand a cossetted life. He’ll choose surgery. You can count on it.”
Pellea frowned, looked at the doctor and shrugged. “We’ll talk again once he’s awake and lucid,” she said. Looking at Janis, she gestured for her to follow. “Come with me,” she said.
Janis tried to do just that, but she couldn’t. She had to turn and look at Mykal again, then go close and touch him, just for a quick second. This might be the last time she would see him. The second stretched out, and she leaned down to kiss his forehead. “I love you,” she whispered, then straightened and turned to find Pellea watching her.
“I’m sorry,” she said awkwardly. “I just couldn’t leave.”
Pellea didn’t say a word, but turned and started down the hall, with Janis hurrying after her.
“I’d like you to come to my room for a moment,” she told her as they boarded the elevator again. “We need to finish our talk.”
Janis nodded and quickly found herself in a beautiful courtyard, with a greenhouse roof, open to the sky, that served as a sitting room. Exotic plants had turned the space into a barely controlled jungle. Brightly colored birds flew from plant to plant, and frogs croaked in a little stream that wound through the area.
“Sit,” Pellea told her. “And tell me the rest of the story.”
She sat. “What is it that you want to know?”
“I want to know who Mykal is. What sort of man. I understand I am going to have to learn these things on my own, but you can start the process by telling me how you met and why you were together.”
Janis frowned, curious. “I’m sure you’ve researched him.”
“Of course. We have a complete record of his activity up until a little over two years ago. Then the trail goes cold. And that is exactly the time he can’t remember. So you see, it does become a bit of a problem.”
“Oh. And you want me to fill you in.”
“If you will, please.”
But should she? Was the queen just going to use her for all the information she could gather, then throw her out into the street? Probably. But she realized she didn’t have a lot of choice—unless she wanted to be a jerk. And she really didn’t want that at all. So she nodded. “You know he was in the military.”
“Yes. We’ve found the paperwork on his recruitment in the royal army two and a half years ago. But after that…nothing. We can’t find anyone by that name in the service at all. And no one seems to be able to tell us anything.”
Janis nodded. “That’s because we were… I mean, he was recommended for intelligence work from the beginning. On the black side.”
“The black side.”
“That means he had volunteered to take training to do extreme espionage work. Only the most dangerous missions. And so they probably blotted out his identity right away. That way, if he was caught, no one would be able to trace him back to the command group.”
Pellea nodded. “I see.” She sighed. “And did he see much action?”
“During the war, yes. Once the truce was declared, the hot war turned cold and our assignments got a bit more ordinary.” She smiled, remembering. “For a while I was actually going up and down streets, pretending to be a meter maid, but really checking who lived there. We did a lot of that sort of thing.”
A tiny smile appeared in the queen’s eyes. “Someone’s got to do it.”
“Unfortunately, that someone was me.”
Pellea frowned. “But wait a minute. You were in the Granvilli military. Is that right?”
Here came the sticky part. “Yes. My family was based in Granvilli territory. It just seemed natural.”
She waved the explanation away. “Of course. But what about Mykal?”
“When we met, he was in Granvilli intelligence, just as I was. And I assumed…”
“But he was actually working for us?”
She nodded. “Yes.”
Pellea’s smile was full this time. “That’s a relief.”
“But I didn’t know that until later.”
“So he was a double agent?”
She nodded, then shook her head, troubled. “You know, I don’t feel right telling you things about Mykal. He should tell you himself.”
Pellea looked frustrated. “But he can’t. It’s possible that he will never be able to remember what happened during the war. In the meantime, we have to be prepared for everything. And the only way that can happen, is if you tell us.”
Janis thought for a moment, then looked up. “I have to ask him first. I’m sorry, but I just don’t feel free to explain his life for him without his permission.”
Pellea looked as though she were about to say something, then stopped herself. “Of course,” she said instead. Then her gaze sharpened. “Tell me this. Who recruited you into intelligence service?”
She hesitated. Just how much of herself did she owe them?
“My brother,” she admitted at last. “He wasn’t in the service but he did contract work for them. And he thought I was a perfect match.”
“Was he right?”
She bit her lip, considering. “Sort of. I enjoyed the work. But I wasn’t particularly proud of it. Do you know what I mean?”
“You were good at it, but you weren’t sure it was honorable.”
She nodded. Pellea had hit the nail on the head. It was such a joy to talk to someone who understood so quickly. “Exactly.”
“And Mykal?”
She couldn’t help but smile. “He enjoyed it thoroughly. He loved putting things over on the bad guys, so to speak. He loved being smarter and more aware than other people.”
“So playing a double game was right up his alley.”
“Yes. So it seemed.”
Pellea stared at her for a moment, then said, “I can see that you love him. But tell me this. Do you like him?”
Janis laughed. “I adore him,” she said with passion. “I love and admire everything about him. I would do anything for him.”
Pellea thought for a moment, then said, “Janis, ca
n you think of any reason why it would be dangerous for me or my family if you stayed here with us for a few days?”
Janis took the question seriously. She thought for a moment, then shook her head. “No.”
“I don’t have any documents you might want to copy,” she said, half-teasing. “At least, not that I know of.” She smiled. “In fact, I don’t have any secrets at the moment. My life is an open book.”
“Oh, Your Highness, that was such an anomaly. I would never…”
“Yes, yes, I’m sure of it. And I can tell you care deeply for Mykal. How he feels about you is a mystery, even to him.” She smiled, touching Janis’s cheek. “So I think you should stick around. He needs all the friends he can get right now.”
Janis was overwhelmed. She hadn’t expected this. “Your Royal Highness,” she said, her voice cracking, “you’re too kind.”
“I’ll have someone show you to a room you can use for the short term. And I’ll make sure they let you know as soon as he is awake enough to see people.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
MYKAL looked gaunt, like a Halloween version of himself. Janis leaned over the bed and put a hand on his chest to make sure he was breathing. He was. When he didn’t react, she glanced around to make sure no one was lurking in the hallway, then leaned down and kissed his lips.
His eyes shot open and he smiled at her.
“Wow,” he said faintly. “That wasn’t a dream?”
She kissed him again, just to prove it, and he kissed her back.
“Did you find my wife?” he asked as she drew back.
She hesitated, looking down at him. He didn’t remember. Or maybe he’d never heard a word she said. Should she say it again? She frowned. No. Not now. Once things were settled and secure, that would be the time.
“I’ve got a good strong lead on it,” she said instead. “I’ll tell you about it later.”
He nodded, not taking his eyes off her. “Okay. I’ll trust you.”
That took away her smile and made her anxious again. He couldn’t trust her. That was just the problem they had between them. What she wanted more than anything was to make things so that he could trust her again.
The surgeon came in and turned on the computer monitor to show Mykal the X-rays and Janis melted into the background, leaving them alone. She knew what they were discussing and she also knew she would have no say in the outcome. Pellea came by, gave her a hug and went on into the room. Janis watched through the window as she talked animatedly to the other two.
Suddenly a man appeared in the doorway, the sort of man who had a presence about him, the sort of man who made you step back a bit and stare in awe.
“Your Majesty,” the nurse said, jumping up and dipping her head.
“Good evening,” he replied in a friendly but distracted manner. He gave a faint smile to Janis as well as he walked on into the recovery room. She stared after him, sure this must be King Monte, Mykal’s oldest brother. Now that she’d seen the king, she knew why Pellea had been so sure Mykal was a prince. They looked very much alike.
The king joined in the discussion. Mykal sat propped up with pillows and looking very determined.
Finally, she caught a sentence or two.
“We can operate first thing in the morning, if you’re sure,” the surgeon said.
Monte said something to Mykal, and then reached down take his brother’s hand. It was an emotional moment. Janis had tears in her eyes as the king swept through again, avoiding her gaze as he left the area. She looked at Mykal and saw that he was blinking himself.
Pellea came out and smiled at her. “Go in and talk to him,” she said. “They will try to remove the shrapnel first thing in the morning. That’s his decision. I only pray that they are successful.”
Janis went in and looked at him.
“So I guess it’s true. You are royal.”
“Ya think?”
They grinned at each other, and then his eyes sharpened as he looked her over.
“Hey. You look really pretty.”
“Queen Pellea rustled up some clothes for me.” She twirled in front of him, showing off the cute short skirt and the gauzy top. He smiled approvingly, but then a strange expression came over him. His gaze seemed to cloud over, as though he were remembering something. She waited, holding her breath, but he smiled again. Still, she could have sworn there was a hint of recognition, even for just a moment.
And then Kylos came barging into the room. “What the hell is this about operating on your back?” he demanded. “I don’t think you should do it. Not yet.”
“What are you doing here?” Mykal asked him.
“Talking to you. Trying to talk sense into you.”
“No, I mean here at the castle.”
“Oh. I asked to come. I thought you could use the moral support.”
“No kidding?” Mykal met Janis’s gaze and grinned.
She grinned back. Kylos went on talking, trying to convince Mykal to hold off on the operation but never making any real sense. And Janis and Mykal ignored him.
“What do you think?” he asked her. “Have you changed your mind?”
“I guess we’ll follow your instincts and hope for the best,” she told him. “I just want what will leave you safe. That’s the most important thing to me.”
His eyes darkened. “Why do you care so much?” he asked her. “You hardly know me.”
She tried to smile. “I know you better than you think.”
He nodded slowly. “We knew each other during my lost period, right?”
She nodded, trembling slightly and waiting for the hard questions. He studied her for a long moment, then smiled, and the hard questions didn’t come.
“Have you got a date?” he asked her instead.
“A date?” She laughed. “Not yet.”
“I mean, do you have something to do tonight?”
She shook her head, looking as him questioningly.
“Then how about staying with me for a while?” he asked simply. “I’m really feeling dopy and I’m probably going to fall asleep soon. But if you could stay with me until that happens…”
“It would be my pleasure.” She sat down in the chair, feeling a rosy glow of happiness like she hadn’t felt in a long time. “Anything you want.”
He stretched back and began to talk, telling her about his childhood, about the parents who’d raised him with so much love and kindness, about his vacations at the beach. She listened and enjoyed finding out things about him she’d never known. She only wished she could have told him about their life together. Short as it was, it had been a joy. And it had resulted in a baby. She cupped her hands around her child and wondered if he would ever know about him or her. Too many unknowns littered their future. It was hard to tell which way the wind would blow from this vantage point. But whatever happened, she knew she would always love Mykal. If only she could count on him feeling the same.
The day seemed hectic. There was so much going on in the castle, it seemed like a small city, set up vertically instead of on the horizontal. Everyone she passed in the halls seemed to be bustling with a sense of urgency, on their way to do important tasks in interesting places. There was a certain electric excitement in the air. She liked it. She wandered about and gazed at everything as though she were at Disneyland.
But it was hard to immerse herself into any one thing. She couldn’t erase the worry and push what was happening in that operating room out of her mind.
She’d been there when Mykal had woken in the morning. She’d kissed him again before she left, knowing it must be a bit confusing to him to have the woman he thought he’d tasked with finding his wife seeming so affectionate. But she couldn’t help it. As soon as she could, she would tell him
the truth, and this time she would make sure he was awake when she did it.
Still, that wasn’t going to make the difference where the future of their relationship was concerned. Their marriage was doomed. She hoped and prayed that his operation would be successful, that he wouldn’t be damaged, that he would be free to take his position in the royal family and enjoy it to the fullest. Everything should be perfect for him. He so deserved it.
She’d forgiven him in her heart for not coming to rescue her from the prison camp. It was her fault, after all. That day when he’d told her he could never trust her again had been the worst of her life. When the secret police had shown up to take her away, she’d almost felt she deserved whatever they might do to her.
But later, she began to wonder how it had come to that. After all, Mykal wasn’t a die-hard Granvilli supporter. He was actually a secret royalist. So why would he have turned her in to the Granvilli authorities? It didn’t make any sense.
But that hardly mattered anymore. Mykal was a part of the royal family and that was something she could never be. It wasn’t as though the family she came from was just some run-of-the-mill crime family. The Gorgonios defined organized crime in Ambria and had for over a hundred years. They were part of a dynasty, a sort of royalty of its own milieu. Her grandfather, her father and her uncle had been the rulers of the organization, each in turn. And each had been the most hated and wanted criminal in his time. There was no getting around it. She came from people who were scum.
She had tried to distance herself from her family in every way she could and she’d tried to get Rolo to join her. When he was younger, it had seemed to be working. Lately, she was afraid she was losing that struggle. She constantly tried to pull him away, and he just as stubbornly pulled back. He didn’t seem to be able to make the commitment to leave organized crime forever.
She went into the library and picked out a couple of magazines, but she couldn’t concentrate on the stories. And then she had a thought. Libraries kept old newspapers. Maybe some paper they’d collected might have the news of Mykal’s accident when the IED exploded. It was worth a try. So she spent a good hour looking through everything she would find that covered the first month after their separation. Nothing. She couldn’t find a single item, and she was so disappointed, she had to get up and walk around the entire floor of the building to get her equilibrium back.
