Flynn nodded again.
“Good.” Lian grabbed Flynn's neck and shoved him in the direction of Emperor Ju-long's airship, which was twice as large as hers. In fact, the emperor's flagship was twice as massive as any airship in West Columbigo. When Flynn's eyes were drawn to the two dozen portholes and two dozen cannons jutting out, a shiver danced down his spine. If Emperor Ju-long had a fleet of similar airships, his conquest of the nation would be over in a week.
After boarding her father's airship, Hu Lian led them past a checkpoint of guards. While the emperor's daughter breezed through the checkpoint, the guards glared at her guests. In their eyes, Vee and Flynn were the foreigners.
“There's my brother,” Lian whispered, pointing at a tall, well-dressed gentleman. On his shoulders, he carried a little girl, who ecstatically brandished a rag doll as Feng raced across the deck with her. “I'd like to say hello, but I probably shouldn't interrupt this tender moment with his daught...err... sister.”
“Daughter-sister?” Vee repeated with a chuckle. “That sounds intriguing.”
“You could say that.” Lian glanced at Flynn, who pretended not to care about their conversation. His feigned disinterest must have convinced his captor, who continued her scandalous story in a hushed voice. “Three of the emperor's daughters are actually Prince Feng's children. He bedded my father's fourth, fifth and sixth wives. There have always been rumors, but I'm one of the few people who knows the truth for certain. Right now, Feng's with his youngest daughter, Mei.”
Vee didn't want to offend her girlfriend, but her expression bordered on disgust. “Wow. That's, uh... that's not weird at all. Nope.”
When Prince Feng spotted his sister, he lowered his daughter to the deck, patted her head, and promptly left her. “Lian!” Though he extended his arms as he approached, they didn't embrace. “Lian, I didn't expect you to come! I'm glad you could make it.”
“As am I. I'm eager to see this bride of yours. I hear she's quite a beauty.”
“She is. In fact, I've never seen anyone more beautiful, which is why I'm so desperate to marry her. Shuchun Jun is so lovely, her beauty will be legend one day. I swear it will. Her face should inspire songs.” Prince Feng briefly made eye contact with Flynn, and both of them sneered at each other. “Now... sister... who did you bring with you, and why is he bold enough to meet my gaze? Did you not coach him on proper manners?”
“This is F... itch,” Lian said, spontaneously inventing a new name for him. The name Flynn Cole was too notorious to toss around. “He's one of my bounty hunters. I'm sorry, but I forgot to tell him to avoid eye contact with the royal family.”
“It's alright. He's clearly a Westerner, so I can forgive him for failing to understand our customs.” Feng turned his attention to Vee, who also didn't shy away from meeting his gaze. She wasn't going to let Hu Lian's brother intimidate her. “And who's this?”
“This is Violet.”
When her girlfriend used the floral moniker she detested so much, Vee secretly pinched Lian's bottom.
“And who is Violet, might I ask? Another bounty hunter?”
“Yes... and no. She's my partner.” Lian proudly raised her chin and added, “My lover.”
“So you still prefer the company of women?” Feng disapprovingly shook his head. “You know how I feel about that. You have our father's genes, Lian. You shouldn't waste them on a woman. Someday, you should have children, a husband, a--”
“I don't want children,” Lian interrupted her brother. “And I don't need a penis in my life. Don't even try to lecture me, Feng.”
“Very well. I won't.” Feng's hand instinctively moved to the hilt of his sword when he turned to Flynn, as if he knew he had a reason to fear him. “Why, dare I ask, did you bring Fitch and Violet to my wedding?
“You said I could bring a guest.”
“Yes. A respectable guest. Not... these people.”
Despite his unwillingness to welcome them, they followed Prince Feng below deck. He led them to a spacious room, where a plethora of red paper lanterns and colorful charms decorated the ceiling. Melancholic sounds of an erhu filled the space, and even though the music was somewhat sorrowful, Flynn thought it was beautiful.
The prince motioned toward the room's many chairs, partially filled by his arriving guests. “Lian... you may sit anywhere you'd like,” he said. “Your friends, however, may not.”
A sudden scowl appeared on his sister's face. “What do you mean?”
“I mean... I cannot allow them to attend my wedding.” Feng opened a door and motioned for Lian's companions to step inside. “They will, however, be permitted at the reception. I have no problem feeding them, but I cannot let them witness such a sacred event.”
“Sacred.” Lian snorted at the word. Turning to her girlfriend, she asked, “Are you alright with this, Vee?”
“I can live with it. I don't care for weddings, anyway,” Vee answered with a shrug. “The boy might not be happy, though.”
They both turned to “Fitch,” who simply shrugged. It didn't matter what room he was in. As long as he was on the airship, as long as Jun was close, he had a chance to save her.
“Bring her an opium pipe,” Lian commanded one of her brother's guards, who promptly bowed and fled. “Vee... if you're going to be locked away, you might as well be happy.”
Vee accepted her fate with a satisfied smirk. “Sounds good to me. Come on, Fitch. Let's go.” Clapping a hand on Flynn's back, Vee led him into the tiny waiting room. When the door was closed behind them, they could still hear the erhu's sad music, albeit slightly muffled.
As they sat together on the sofa, Vee dreamed of food. “What kind of stuff do you think they'll have at the reception? Huh?” she mused. “Egg rolls? Rice? Octopus? Don't get me wrong, I love my girl, but her country's food can be a little bit... odd.”
“I'd try octopus,” Flynn added quietly.
“Really? Huh. If you're willing to shove a tentacle into your mouth, you're braver than I thought.”
A few minutes later, one of Feng's soldiers joined them in the room, not only to deliver the opium, but to stand guard at the door. As soon as he handed the pipe to Vee, it was lit and in her mouth. After a couple of puffs, she tried to pass the pipe to Flynn, who declined with a shake of his head. If he was going to save Jun, he needed to be as clear-headed as possible.
When the melodic sounds of bamboo flutes joined the erhu, Vee turned to Flynn and asked, “Do you think the ceremony's starting?”
Flynn, a fan of one-word answers, softly replied, “Maybe.”
“I guess that means you'll be losing your girl soon.” Vee gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder. “I feel for you. Really. I do.”
Flynn smiled when Vee brought the pipe to her lips yet again. While he never smoked the stuff himself, he watched Patrick Amberley indulge in opium on many occasions, and it always made him sleepy. Eventually, it had the same effect on Vee, whose head rested on her captive's shoulder as she puffed on the pipe.
“This stuff tastes wonderful,” Vee said as she cuddled the pipe. “Everything feels so... warm and fuzzy. Like a hug.”
Eventually, her breaths got heavier, so he assumed she fell asleep. Flynn rose from the sofa as noiselessly as possible and transferred her head to the armrest. When he was on his feet, he turned his attention to the guard at the door. He was the same age as Flynn, possibly younger, with a slight frame and short stature. Flynn was bigger than he was. He knew he could take him, he just needed to do it carefully.
He crept forward, closer to the guard, who raised his rifle when he saw Flynn stalking toward him.
“Wh-what are you doing?” the guard gasped. “Get back to the sofa! Sit! I-I-I... I won't ask again!”
When he heard the guard's crackling voice, Flynn knew he was scared, and he wanted to keep it that way. His blue eyes, hollow and menacing, could intimidate even the sternest of adversaries. Intimidation was Flynn's favorite weapon to wield.
“P-Please s
it down!” the guard stammered. The closer Flynn got, the more nervous he looked. “I... I really don't want to shoot anyone! Not during the prince's wedding... so...”
As soon as he was within range, Flynn adroitly sidestepped the rifle, grabbed the muzzle, and bashed the guard's face with the butt. After two strikes to the head, the guard was unconscious and covered in blood. By some miracle, Vee was still asleep, even after their scuffle. Flynn assumed he would have to take her down as well, but he was glad he didn't. For a bounty hunter, Vee seemed like a decent person.
Flynn removed the man's clothes. Then he stripped off his own, trading them for the guard's uniform. The clothes were a little snug on him, especially around his shoulders, but at least they fit. The hat was actually a little too large, which was good, because he needed to conceal his face. Sighing wearily, Flynn dragged the fallen guard away from the door, claimed his rifle, pilfered Vee's lighter, took a deep breath, and finally left the room.
The ceremony was underway, and Jun was already halfway down the aisle, heading toward her groom. For a few seconds, Flynn abandoned his mission and watched her. Her cheeks were slick, as if tears had recently stained them. Even though she struggled to walk in her platform shoes, Flynn thought she looked graceful. Her red silk dress was so form-fitting, he could see every curve of her slender body. She had flowers in her hair, brilliant vermillion lips, and her face looked paler than usual. Until she reached the aisle's end, Flynn was transfixed. Shuchun Jun was so beautiful, she made his chest tighten. She made it difficult to breathe.
Jun's sullen expression betrayed her broken heart. To her, marrying Prince Feng was the world's worst fate. She was beyond devastated.
“Look at me, Jun...” Flynn whispered. “Look at me. Glance my way. Please.”
If she spotted his face in the crowd, Flynn thought she might feel a little less alone in the world.
But she never saw him.
Six
Because time was scarce, Flynn bounded up the stairs, two at a time. When he reached the deck, he headed for the airship's main sails. While there were several guards patrolling the airship, there was only one lone soldier near the sails. Confident in his skills, Flynn didn't hesitate. He approached the guard from behind, threw an arm around his neck, and clamped a silencing hand over his mouth. After several seconds in a sleeper hold, the guard went limp in his arms. A nervous sweat tickled its way down Flynn's back as he dragged the guard away from the sails. In the back of his head, he could hear his brother's voice, telling him to keep casualties to a minimum.
“Shut up, Josiah,” Flynn whispered to himself as he wiped a sheet of sweat from his forehead. If Jun's safety was at stake, he was prepared to do anything and everything to save her.
Flynn traded rifles with the fallen guard, because he preferred the bayonet that was fixed to the muzzle. He also claimed a revolver, as well as a handful of bullets. Satisfied with his new weaponry, Flynn removed Vee's lighter and approached the airship's sails. With a grin on his lips, he brought the flame to the sailcloth and waited for the fire to spread.
“Fire,” Flynn mused as the flames swallowed the sails. “Pat's favorite thing.”
Then he returned to the lower deck to launch the next phase of his plan.
* * *
“Fire! My lord... the deck's ablaze!”
When the screaming maid interrupted his wedding ceremony, Prince Feng briefly considered skewering her on the end of his sword. But when the faint smell of smoke entered his nose, he knew she wasn't lying.
“How?” Feng roared at the woman. “How is there a fire now, of all times? Is someone trying to sabotage this ceremony?”
“Your servant has no idea, sir!” the woman shrilled her answer. “But this commoner would advise everyone to evacuate immediately!”
Even as his guests panicked and fled, Feng thought about continuing the ceremony. However, when he saw a line of worry creasing Jun's pretty brow, he changed his mind. “We'll evacuate,” Feng whispered to his would-be bride, “but I'm not going to wait for you anymore. I can't wait. As soon as we're alone... I'm taking you.”
“What do you mean?” Jun shrieked the question as Feng dragged her from the pulpit.
“Are you really that naive, Jun? God, if you weren't so pitiful, your innocence would be adorable.” As he roughly dragged her forward, Feng was completely unaware of the young guard who followed them, stalking their every move. “If I really must spell it out to you... your body will be mine. Tonight. Now. You were almost my wife, so that's good enough for me. I refuse to wait another minute.”
Had she not already resigned herself to an inevitable wedding night with Prince Feng, Jun might have balked at his words. In a few minutes, the most vile man in the world would remove her clothes and slide on top of her. He would put his hands wherever he pleased, and there was nothing she could do or say to stop him. Whether the ceremony was postponed or not, it didn't matter. The worst moment of her life was nearly upon her.
“I'm already imagining it, Jun. You. Naked. In my arms...” They left the flaming airship and boarded a less turbulent one. “I can't believe it's finally going to happen. Ever since I saw you in the courtyard of my father's palace, I've dreamt of this. I've been dying to make you mine. Even better... I don't have to share you with my father now. I will be the first man inside you. I will be the one who takes your innocence.” As the prince's eyes raked across the slender figure of Shuchun Jun, a lusty, guttural groan escaped his throat. “How on earth am I supposed to bed another woman after I've had the very best? You're going to spoil me, Jun.”
She didn't give him the satisfaction of a reply. Inside Jun's chest, her heart was already dead and cold. Until it was over—and for many days to come—she would be a shell of her former self.
As soon as they reached the prince's bedchamber, Jun's nightmare began. He was every bit as violent as she expected him to be. He pushed her onto the bed, grabbed her hair, and crushed her face against a pillow. When she felt his hands caressing her bottom, Jun whimpered into the fabric and feathers.
“Oh, Jun. Jun Jun Jun...” Feng's hands slid away from her rear and glided along her stomach. When his hands reached her breasts, she squinted her eyes as tightly as she could and tried to pretend she was somewhere else. “Should I tear off your clothes quickly or remove them slowly? On one hand, I'm desperate to have you. On the other hand, I'd like to savor you. What do you think, Jun?”
Jun's face was smashed against a pillow. Even if she cared to, she couldn't respond. She could barely breathe, let alone, speak.
“Aww. Darling, am I smothering you?” Feng yanked her hair like a horse's reins, pulling her face from the pillow. “If you couldn't breathe, why didn't you say something?”
“Because I have nothing to say to you.”
“This one has nothing to say to you!” Feng suddenly dealt a hard smack to Jun's round rear. “Until we're married, you're not supposed to refer to yourself in the first person... remember?”
Jun said nothing, but when he heard her whimpering, he laughed.
“I'm only joking, dear. I'm not like my father. He might expect that, but I don't.” Feng shoved Jun's dress over her knees, making the material rip. His fingers reached under the garment, snaked along her bare thigh, and lightly brushed against her unmentionables. When she felt him tugging off her undergarments, Jun sobbed into the pillow. She thought she was ready, but she wasn't. “Are you crying? Don't be sad, Jun. I'm a fantastic lover... or so I've been told. If you relax, I'm sure you'll enjoy this.”
Even though her knickers were gone, Jun still had her dress. Her legs clamped together, buying her some time.
Yet another impediment slowed Feng's progress. When he heard gunfire in the hall, he sat up and groaned. “What now? Every time I'm about to have you, something stands in my way! I must be cursed.”
Feng's curse was Jun's blessing, but it didn't last long. Ignoring the gunshot, Feng sat behind her and attempted to pry her knees apart.
&n
bsp; * * *
Flynn followed Jun and Feng as long as he could, until they turned into one of the many bedrooms. Two guards patrolled the hallway in front of Feng's room, so Flynn had to plan carefully. As much as he wanted to, he couldn't stab the guards, burst through the door, and murder the prince. He had to be stealthy and smart. It was the only way he and Jun would survive the day.
Flynn peered around the corner, observing the guards' actions. One stood in front of the prince's door, letting no one pass. The second guard marched up and down the hallway, back and forth, checking every corridor he passed. When the guard spotted him, Flynn turned and marched, pretending to patrol. The guard's uniform was an infallible disguise. He was never suspected of suspicious activity.
Flynn waited for the patrolling guard to approach again. When he was within range, Flynn stabbed his throat with the bayonet and pulled him around the corner. As death claimed the unsuspecting guard, Flynn clapped a hand over his mouth and nose, silencing him. A moment later, the man was dead, so he dragged the guard's carcass into a nearby closet. Once again, Josiah invaded his mind. His brother rarely approved of casualties, but Flynn always did what needed to be done. If he didn't want to be caught or killed, he had to be swift and ruthless.
Flynn scrubbed the blood from his bayonet and headed to the prince's bedchamber. As he closed in on the guard blocking the door, Flynn tried to copy the dead man's march. It must have been convincing, because the prince's sentinel paid little attention to him. His inattention was beneficial to Flynn, who plunged his bayonet into the second guard's throat as he passed. When he was down, he dragged him to the closet and deposited him with the first corpse.
As Flynn approached the prince's door, he fired a single shot and waited. Thirty seconds later, he burst into the prince's bedchamber. What he saw sickened him. Jun's dress was bunched up around her thighs, her undergarments were on the floor, and Prince Feng hovered behind her, seconds away from stealing her virtue.
A Broken Outlaw Page 4
