The Savage King

by Michelle M. Pillow

  “And your Uncle Frank?”

  “My mission director,” Ulyssa said. “I have no family. I was raised in a home for children who have no family, called an orphanage.”

  Kirill’s hand lifted as if he would touch her, as if glad that she was being honest. When she didn’t move, he let it fall back to his side. “And what will you do now?”

  “My mission,” she stated simply.

  “And if we survive it?” he inquired.

  “Then I’ll go on to my next mission,” she answered. “And after that the next one. It’s what an agent like me does.”

  “What about my child?” Kirill’s expression hardened. “Do you think that I’ll just let you leave with my heir inside you? Doesn’t the baby deserve a father? A home?”

  “Like the father you had?” she questioned. It was a low blow, and she knew it, but his questions were only bringing her pain because she didn’t want to think about the answers.

  Kirill’s dark features turned red with anger. His jaw tightened and for a moment, she thought he might actually hit her. She wouldn’t blame him. Part of her wished he’d hit her so forcefully that she’d never wake up.

  “Don’t worry about the baby, Kirill. The Agency will take care of it,” she said. Tears threatened her eyes at the prospect, but she knew she wouldn’t be given a choice. The Agency was her whole life. She knew it signing up, knew she was giving a piece of herself over and hadn’t done so blindly. For the first time in her life, she regretted that decision.

  “What do you mean?” he demanded hotly, gripping her arm.

  “I mean they’ll take care of it,” she stated.

  “You would kill my son?” His face drained, leaving his dark features ashen.

  Ulyssa couldn’t bear to look at him. The raw hurt in his eyes tore into her gut, making her ache. She wouldn’t, but the Agency just might.

  “It’s...it’s not really a baby,” she whispered, nearing tears. She couldn’t think of it as real. She turned her back on him, trying to hide how she felt. “It’s just a cluster of cells right now.”

  “He’s my son, Lyssa. Our son.”

  “I can try to have it, the child, sent to you after his birth,” she whispered. “But, I can make no promises. The Agency will view it as a liability to my concentration. They will see it as impeding my work.”

  “And don’t you think the child deserves a mother?” he asked, ignoring her statement about the Agency. He clearly didn’t give a damn about the Agency. They had no authority on his planet.

  “I know the Var ways, Kirill. He would have a mother, it just wouldn’t be me.” Ulyssa stalked back toward the campsite. His low words stopped her.

  “I never went to the harem, Lyssa. I haven’t been with anyone since you. I know you don’t care, but I wanted you to know that.”

  38

  Ulyssa expected knowing looks when they walked back to the camp, but everyone had retired for the evening, except for Falke. The commander merely nodded at her in greeting. As she watched, Falke easily shifted into the form of a large white tiger. His bright blue eyes blinked at her before he lifted his clothes into his mouth and took off into the forest to sleep. Since there were only three tents, she guessed he went to rest in the trees.

  When Falke was gone, Kirill lifted the front flap. He eyed her warily as if he expected her to refuse to share his tent. She said nothing as she brushed past him to lie on the padded sleeping mat. She curled onto her side. Coming in behind her, Kirill kicked off his boots and pulled his shirt over his head. He crawled forward with his usual liquid grace, staying on all fours as he came over her legs. He looked at her for a long moment, his dark gaze penetrating hers. Slowly, she rolled onto her back, and he crawled forward over her.

  Kirill’s gaze went to her lips. Bending at the elbows, he brought his mouth to hers in a tender kiss. Ulyssa met him willingly, not denying his silent offering. They didn’t speak as Kirill made love to her slowly, worshiping her body with his hands and mouth. And, when they finally met their earth-shattering release, Ulyssa fell asleep in his arms. She spent the whole night with Kirill by her side.

  The next morning, camp broke early. Kirill didn’t speak to her as they dressed. Ulyssa couldn’t find fault in his silence. She didn’t know what to say to him either.

  A somber mood came over the group, as they rode deeper into the marshes. Kirill traveled by Ulyssa’s side. The further they journeyed, the darker the marshes became until it almost looked like night. The stagnant smell only became worse. Kirill frowned, pulling his ceffyl to a stop. He looked around the marshes, before pointing up toward a rocky incline next to their path.

  Kirill turned to Falke and nodded once. Ulyssa heard him whisper, “We are on Lord Myrddin’s land.”

  “Are you surprised to discover the old noble had something to do with hiding the biological weaponry?” Falke asked. The question apparently didn’t need an answer because Kirill merely frowned and swung down from his mount.

  Instantly, the others followed suit and did the same. Pulling the paper from his pocket, Kirill looked it over. A slight frown marred his brow as he again pointed up. No one spoke as Kirill shifted to panther form. His clothes fell on the ground, next to the paper. Leaping with his mighty paws, he moved from ledge to ledge, up the steep incline until he reached a small cave. After a short time, he poked his human head over the side and unrolled a rope ladder down over the edge.

  Ulyssa grabbed Kirill’s clothes and bundled them beneath her shirt to free her arms for the climb. Without waiting to be told, she started up the ladder first. As she reached the top, Kirill helped her over the ledge. She stood, and her gazed searched for him in the dim cave, instantly moving over his naked body when she found him. At her attention, his loins twitched and filled.

  She blushed in embarrassment that she could be thinking of such things at this moment. Her gaze flitted up to his. He stared at her protruding stomach where she’d hidden his clothes. His hand lifted as if he would touch her and a look of longing passed over his features.

  Ulyssa peered down, realizing it looked as if she were farther along in her pregnancy. Swallowing nervously, she pulled the clothes out and handed them to him, meeting his searching hand. For a moment, he stood, arm extended. But, as the ladder wiggled, signaling that the next person was coming to join them, he quickly slid into his clothing and didn’t say a word.

  “Kirill, listen,” Ulyssa said to his turned back. “I have to tell you something.”

  He pulled the laces on his shirt and moved to look at her.

  She glanced over her shoulder. A hand poked up from the side. “I never thought you had something to do with this...not really. It’s not the exact reason why I left. I just wanted you to know that in case we don’t make it—”

  A grunt interrupted her as Zoran heaved his body into the cave. He looked around, stopping briefly to study the couple before turning and motioning to the others that it was safe. Ulyssa merely nodded at Kirill, unable to finish as the rest of the traveling party joined them.

  “It should be down here,” Kirill stated to the group when everyone was up. He turned, leading the way into a narrow tunnel.

  Ulyssa made a move to follow him. Falke put a hand on her arm and shook his head. He went in next, turning to the side to fit through.

  “Stay here. Guard the entrance,” Zoran said to Pia, handing her a knife. He moved behind Falke. It was a tight fit for the two large commanders, and they made slow progress.

  “I’ll be right behind you,” Olek said to his wife. Before Nadja could go in, Ulyssa slipped into the tunnel behind Zoran.

  The tunnel led to a large cavern. Crystal formations protruded from the ceiling. They reflected the outside light, causing spots to dance on the walls like little rainbows. Little inlets and tunnels spiraled off from the side walls. Kirill turned and marked their entrance by scraping on a rock.

  “Wow, it’s beautiful,” Nadja whispered, looking around.

  “What exactly are
we looking for?” Ulyssa asked her.

  Nadja swallowed, almost embarrassed, as she unbuttoned her pants and turned around. Easing them down, she showed them a black swirling tattoo design on her back hip. “It will have this symbol stamped on it. It’s the mark of the Medical Alliance. I’d assume a crate or a metal container.”

  “Spread out. Don’t go too deeply into the tunnels. We don’t want to lose anyone,” Kirill ordered. Ulyssa began to move, but his arm snaked forward to grab her. With a stiff nod, he ordered her to follow him. Not wanting to cause a scene, and slightly discomfited by his nearness, she obeyed.

  Spreading out in all directions, they searched the cave. Kirill hopped up on a ledge, before reaching down to pull her up behind him. Ulyssa’s hand rested on Kirill’s arm, as she found her footing. When she didn’t let go, Kirill gave her a reassuring smile and leaned forward to nudge her face with his own in a silent show of affection. Reaching for her hand, he led her forward. Ulyssa was amazed, looking around to see if he realized they were in view of the others. He didn’t seem to care.

  They’d only been looking for about half an hour before Falke called, “I think I’ve got something.”

  A dusty brown crate was settled in a dark corner with the imprint of the Medical Alliance burned on the top. For a long moment, they all stared. Ulyssa knelt to touch it. Kirill grabbed her arm and jerked her back. He looked at Nadja.

  “Open it,” Nadja whispered. Falke reached forward to open the lid, prying it with his strong hands. Kirill hugged Ulyssa to his chest. She blinked, looking up to his face. His body was tense but felt so good pressed against her. If she were to die, there was nowhere else she’d rather be.

  The crate was packed with grass and leaves. Falke frowned and didn’t reach in. He looked back at Nadja.

  “There should be a container inside,” Nadja said, nodding for him to go ahead.

  Falke reached his hand in. No one breathed. Ulyssa gripped tightly to Kirill’s waist. Falke pulled out a glass jar. Frowning as he studied the contents, he turned the jar around.

  “What is this?” Falke asked, just as an eyeball floated by the side.

  Nadja turned pale when she saw it. She closed her eyes briefly. “It is human remains.”

  “I don’t get it,” Ulyssa said, lifting her head from Kirill’s chest.

  “It is how they get it past the bio scanners. Your computers write it off as biological waste or research materials. Besides, when they do ship checks, who in their right mind would open that thing up? The real weapon’s inside.” Nadja frowned. “It doesn’t look as if it’s been compromised, but we should get it out of here just in case.”

  “The Agency will have a safe lab where it can be analyzed.” Ulyssa felt queasy just looking at the jar. “We should keep looking. There could be more.”

  “No, there won’t be,” Nadja said. Almost ashamed, she whispered, “There’ll be enough in that jar to kill five planets.”

  Olek tucked his arm around her.

  “All right, let’s get it out of here.” Kirill nodded at Falke, who placed the jar back in the crate.

  Zoran stepped around to the other side, and they managed to slowly carry it to the front entrance. Pia was waiting for them at her post. Seeing the crate, she nodded solemnly. It took some doing, but the men managed to rig a pulley to get the crate down the cliff. And, as they left the marshes, no one spoke.

  39

  Ulyssa sighed, looking around Kirill’s living room. Since his palace was the closest to the cave, and since the Agency would be coming for Ulyssa at that location, they carted the crate there. The Draig sent word to their palace that everything was fine. Not surprisingly, the rest of the Draig royal family arrived that same evening. Kirill had guest chambers prepared for them, and everyone agreed to meet in the morning.

  Ulyssa’s hair was still wet from the shower she’d taken. To her disappointment, Kirill didn’t join her, allowing her to go first. Turning to the bathroom door, she watched him step out. A towel was wrapped around his waist, and his body glistened with remnants of water.

  He looked her over. “Did you contact your people?”

  Ulyssa held up the communicator. “They’re entering the Y quadrant. They should be here tomorrow. I’m supposed to request that you allow our doctors to check everyone who came in contact with that box.”

  “Fine. We welcome the second opinion.” Kirill nodded and turned to walk to the bedroom.

  “Kirill?” Ulyssa stood from the couch and hesitated. Loudly, she stated, “Fire.”

  Kirill was confused as the fireplace lit. Ulyssa pulled a tattered piece of paper off the couch. She held it up. It was the trade agreement. Crossing over to the fire, she tossed the paper into the flames.

  “I’m going to do my best to keep you and your people out of this. Without any evidence, they won’t be able to press intergalactic charges. I know your planet is out of the treaty zone, but you don’t want that sort of attention. You’ll have every space reporter, pirate, and curiosity seeking nutcase knocking on your front door.” Ulyssa sighed. “My record’s impeccable, which will help. I’ll have to tell them about King Attor’s involvement, but I will try to keep it vague. I’ll also tell them of your honor in helping me.”

  Kirill nodded. “Thank you for protecting my people.”

  Ulyssa walked around the couch to meet up with him. “I’m not doing it just for them. I’m doing it because I owe you. I’m sorry I almost started a war between you and the Draig. That wasn’t my intent.”

  “In the cave, you said you knew that I didn’t have anything to do with the weapons. Why then did you leave?” Kirill didn’t touch her. His eyes searched her face, needing to know.

  “It doesn’t matter now.” Ulyssa yawned, tired. “It’s over. Tomorrow the Agency will come and take me away with them. It will all be over.”

  “If there wasn’t an Agency, would you want to stay here?” Kirill took a step closer. Her head was forced back to look up at him.

  “There’s no point in dwelling on such things. There is an Agency and—”

  “What if I asked you to stay?” His tone dipped sending chills over her spine. “Would you at least try?”

  Ulyssa thought of Linzi. No, she wouldn’t stay. She could never share him with other women. Even if she believed that he hadn’t taken any since her, she knew that eventually he would. It was the way of his people, and he was the king. The very idea tore at her heart and made it difficult to breathe. If he was asking for her and not just the baby, she could have considered it.

  “No,” she whispered. “It would never work. You’re ashamed of me, and I can’t live like that.”

  “Ashamed? What is this human word?” he asked.

  “Oh, that’s a difficult one.” Ulyssa shrugged. “It doesn’t matter.”

  “Tell me anyway,” he murmured.

  “You act strangely with me in public, as if you are embarrassed to be seen with me,” Ulyssa answered.

  “You think I act strangely?”

  She nodded.

  “I do not mean to. You know I cannot be...” He frowned. “In public, a king cannot—”

  “Shh,” she hushed. “It doesn’t matter. There’s no reason to think about it. I’m leaving tomorrow and no discussion will change that.”

  The light in his eyes faded somewhat at the comment, but he nodded.

  “But we still have tonight,” she continued, soft and light. Her hand lifted to his neck, ready to memorize every inch of him. She’d hold onto the memory in the life to come. Running her fingers down over the rigid muscles of his chest, she felt him shiver beneath her touch. His skin was warm and smooth. Her fingers stopped above the steady beat of his heart. Slowly, he reached up to cover her had with his.

  “I got something for you,” he said. Ulyssa smiled, her eyes traveling down to the visible protrusion coming from the towel. Kirill chuckled. “You can have that, too.”

  “Then?”

  “Wait here.” Kirill turned, di
sappearing into the kitchen. When he came back, he held a small box. “When you were on the communicator, Frank told you Happy Birthday. I’m told it is a human custom to give gifts. I thought...well, it probably isn’t your birthday, but here. I got this for you.”

  He shrugged lightly, handing her the package. Ulyssa’s fingers shook as she took the lid off. Inside was a delicate necklace of gold and pearls. She gasped. “It’s beautiful. I didn’t know you had such oceans here as we do on New Earth.”

  “We don’t. The necklace is from New Earth. My mother brought it with her when she came here. I thought maybe it should belong to another Earth woman.” Kirill paused, frowning slightly as her fingers trembled. “Is it all right? Falke thought I should give you a sword, but this seemed better suited to a woma—”

  “I love it,” Ulyssa said, throwing her arms around his neck and kissing him soundly. Inside she cried, I love you, Kirill. “It’s perfect.”

  “Then why do you look sad?”

  “I’ve never had a birthday present before. Well, except one year Frank gave me a day off.” She sniffed. “Thank you.”

  Kirill grinned, clearly pleased that she liked it. Though, his expression was still overshadowed by deep thought.

  “Now,” she murmured, running her hand down to grab his towel. Pulling it free from his hips, she said, “About this other present.”

  Kirill swept her up into his arms. She clutched the box in her hands as he carried her to the bedroom. Taking the gift from her, he set it on the mantel by his crown. Then, slowly, he undressed her, taking his time as he licked and kissed her entire length. His mouth brought her to a fevered pitch, making her squirm beneath his hold.

  Ulyssa pushed him on his back, wanting to take her time, giving him the same treatment. Pinning his arms above his head, she held him down, straddling his waist with her legs. The moisture from her body slid between them, as she rubbed along his strong stomach. Her teeth bit his earlobe, before sucking it gently between her lips. Kirill groaned, pressing against her. He tried to reach for her hips, and she stopped kissing him.