After outlying her plan, she looked expectantly at Marna and Tawn. The bodyguard was staring at her in open horror while the Queen smoked her pipe thoughtfully.
“You intend to act as bait to lure our enemy out. Most cunning, my dear.”
“I will not allow it,” Tawn thundered.
Jenna was taken aback by his ferocity at once fearful but also feeling a strange thrill of attraction towards him. “It’s not your decision to make,” she said pugnaciously. “This is too good an opportunity to miss.”
“Opportunity,” Tawn hissed.
“You only just survived the last two attacks. What will be sent against us a third time? How am I supposed to keep you safe if you will not see sense?”
He turned to shoot an appealing look at the Queen. “My sovereign, surely you do not condone this madness?”
“Usually, I would agree with Tawn,” Marna said carefully, “but these are difficult times. Before I convened this council, I received a report that there has rioting in the several of the towns in the grain district. I barely have enough men to send to quell the unrest. If there is an uprising in the city, I fear the consequences for the rest of Kastra. It could spark a second round of the Kingdom Wars. If we can get hold of a cure quicker then I am willing to take the risk, if Jenna is truly sure about this?”
“I am,” Jenna said in a firm voice. “I made a promise to myself to help your people any way I can, and I always keep my promises.”
Tawn slammed his fist on the table, making both females jump and splitting the polished surface of the table. “This is madness!”
“Tawn! You forget yourself!” Marna snapped, scolding him like he was a naughty child.
“Leave us now. Go and cool down.”
Tawn blinked at her. “My Queen?”
“Go, I say. You can make yourself useful and head down to the Alchemist Market and obtain that herb Jenna wanted. What was it? Arunda? While you’re about it, put those intimidation skills of yours to good use and ask some questions. Somebody must know something. A mutated mer wolf couldn’t be lurking about without anybody noticing. Get going then, you big lummox, or I’ll have you cleaning out the buffalo stables!”
Tawn rose glacially to his feet, towering over the Queen and Jenna like a colossus. He was so big and menacing it took Jenna’s breath away.
He bowed stiffly and without giving Jenna another look, stalked out of the chamber. The absence of his physical presence left an echoing void in the room.
“The oaf ruined my table,” Marna grumbled after a while, breaking the tense silence.
Jenna looked down miserably at her lap. “He hates me,” she said in a bitter voice.
The Queen smiled sadly and puffed on her pipe. “Judging by that posturing performance, I’d say exactly the opposite.”
Jenna shook her head. “No. He’s had a problem with me the moment I set foot on Kastra. I’m just a big hassle for him. He’s always so irritated with me and I don’t know why. Yesterday, when we were attacked by the wolf I was so scared he was going to be killed. He fought so hard to protect me I couldn’t bear to have his death on my conscience. Then afterward, when he’d killed the monster he was so gentle and protective of me, I thought he genuinely cared for me.” Jenna sighed heavily and rubbed at her tired eyes.
“Now, he’s back to his old disgruntled self again and I’ve only succeeded in making him madder at me than he was before.”
“That only proves my point,” Marna said. “He likes you a lot and is concerned about you. He wouldn’t act in such a blustering way if he didn’t.”
Jenna thought about this. “You’ve known him a long time, and you care about him too don’t you? He hasn’t said it, but I get the feeling he cares about you a lot as well.”
The Queen nodded and eased back in her chair. “He and I grew up during a time of great strife on Kastra. I believe you know something of our history?”
Jenna nodded. “I have an overview. There’s been civil war on Kastra for many years, hasn’t there?”
“After the collapse of Kastra’s greatest empire, centuries of peace came to a brutal end,” Marna said.
“Rival lords vied for power and the period known as the Kingdom Wars began. The fighting had been going on for a good one hundred and fifty years before I was born into it and I was brought up to be a warrior.
“In fact, I was only a little older than you when I killed my first man. It would be the first of many. Each and every one of them haunts my dreams at night. I lost three husbands and all eight of my sons before the other lords finally pledged themselves to me and my House. It was only five years ago when we enjoyed any real peace and I’d never have done it without Tawn. Both of us had been shaped by sacrifice.”
“Tawn lost much in the Kingdom Wars?” Jenna asked, curious now about his past.
“More than you can imagine,” Marna replied, giving her a searching look.
“He lost both his parents when he was barely out of his swaddling clothes. Tawn’s father was a loyal general of mine and died valiantly in battle. His mother had always suffered poor health and was very delicate, losing her husband brought on a fever that claimed her life. I raised Tawn as my ward.”
“That’s so sad,” Jenna said with feeling. “Not that he became your ward, I mean. Both of you have lost so much.”
“The Wars made him the man you see before you. It is a blessing and curse. There was a time when both of us craved the glory of death in battle, but we both learnt the hard way there is little glory in battle,” Marna said grimly.
“Now peace has come, Tawn wants a quiet life,” she paused and looked at Jenna with a glint in her eye, “with someone he can settle down with. Don’t let all the ice and steel fool you. Under that emotional armour is a hot-blooded male in need of a good mate.”
Jenna started to feel uncomfortable. “I hope he finds one.”
Marna smiled. “I’d say he already has, and I suspect his feelings are reciprocated.”
Jenna shook her head, refusing to acknowledge her desires. “No way,” she said.
“I’m not his type and I can’t get entangled in something like that. I put aside romantic relationships for my scientific career. I can’t do both and I’m not letting anyone shake me from my goals.”
Tendrils of pipe smoke weaved up through the air around Marna, and she gave Jenna an inscrutable look. “You know best, earthling,” was all she said.
* * *
Jenna certainly hoped that she did know best, but in the coming days she began to seriously doubt herself. Her feelings for Tawn were too confusing and overwhelming, and she retreated from them focusing all her energies on developing a cure.
She found it calmed the emotional storm raging inside her, but she made little progress. Though Tawn was able to obtain the Arunda herb, it did little to help the sufferers and offered no clues on developing a successful vaccine.
Tawn also drew a blank finding any leads on their mysterious enemy and when no further attempts on Jenna’s life came, that danger also receded to the back of her mind. Her failure to make any significant breakthrough against the Screaming Plague became a source of frustration and anger.
When she had come to Kastra, she had been so confident in resolving the crisis and saving lives. She had imagined the outpourings of gratitude she would receive and the accolades from the scientific community, not to mention the debt the Earth government would owe her for securing the precious mineral rights they craved so badly.
She could request as much funding as she wanted for all of the projects she sought to pursue. It would be the crowning achievement of her career.
Now her arrogance and complacency was being repaid with cruel mockery. Her research led her nowhere and the plague raged unchecked, claiming more victims with each passing day.
Painfully aware of her failure, she retreated further into herself, barely leaving the laboratory and only eating a few bites of the food Tawn brought her.
Time began to los
e meaning and she became lost in a twilight world of microbes and computer simulations. Nothing mattered except finding a cure, not even looking after her own health. She pushed herself to the edge of exhaustion and beyond, and before long her exertions got the better of her.
“Jenna,” a deep voice mumbled somewhere in the darkness, “wake up.”
She felt a strong, warm hand squeeze her shoulder and her body responded to its touch. She murmured softly and began swimming up from the depths of oblivion to the stark daylight of consciousness. She opened her eyes and lifted her head.
“There, finally,” Tawn said in a kindly voice. He looked down at her with concern on his face.
“I was beginning to think I’d need to drive a herd of sea buffalos through here to wake you up.”
“I fell asleep,” Jenna groaned. She was slumped over her desk in the lab and as she sat up her aching muscles growled in protest.
“I fell asleep!” she repeated in a louder voice, angry at herself. “How could I do that?”
“You’ve been pushing yourself too hard,” Tawn said, his tone mildly chiding.
“I should have come and checked on you sooner, but I didn’t want to disturb you. I am sorry.”
“It’s not you who should be apologising,” Jenna said, offering him a weak smile. “I shouldn’t have fallen asleep. What time is it?”
“It’s a little after dawn.”
Jenna huffed in frustration. “I’ve wasted half the night. I’ve got so much catching up to do.” She stared at her computer screen and looked through her electro-notes trying to make sense of them. “I thought I had something, but now I’ve completely lost my train of thought. Tawn, could you pass me my stimulant tablets, please.”
“You’ve used them all up,” Tawn replied, now scowling in disapproval. “You shouldn’t put that rubbish into your body.”
“I have to if I’m to keep working,” Jenna said in a grumpy voice.
“Aw, man, that was my last pack as well. I’ll have to brew myself some of that unspeakable seaweed coffee you guys all drink. The last time I tried it, it almost took the lining off my throat.”
“I’ll make it if you really want it, but you are not going back to work, not for a few hours at least.”
“Don’t be ridiculous!” Jenna snapped.
She pursed her lips and instantly felt bad when she saw the stung look on Tawn’s face. “I’m sorry, Tawn. I didn’t mean to lash out like that. I’m just tired and frustrated.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Tawn replied. “You are under a lot of pressure. You have made no real progress?”
“No,” Jenna said morosely.
Her failure suddenly rose up and engulfed her and tears wetted her eyes. “Oh Tawn, I just can’t do it! I can’t develop a cure! I keep trying and I come up with nothing! I’ve let you all down!”
She tried to fight the impulse to cry in front of him but failed. Her body shook as she began to sob.
She sank her head in her hands, not wanting him to see her so vulnerable and defeated. She felt rather than heard him come to her and an electric thrill went down her spine as his large, warm hands touched her.
“You haven’t let anyone down,” Tawn said, his rich voice settling over her like a comfortable blanket. “You will find an answer. I have faith in you.”
She cried softly, surrendering to her emotions. He wrapped his powerful arms around her and she sank into his embrace, strengthened by his warmth. She started to feel better and the tears subsided.
“Thank you,” she said, wiping her eyes and pulling away from him reluctantly.
She wanted to stay holding him but she was beginning to feel self-conscious. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to fall apart like that.”
He looked down at her, his beautiful blue eyes unreadable. “You are pushing yourself far too hard, it is damaging your health,” he said bluntly. “You need to rest.”
“How can I rest when people are dying?” she retorted, her anger stirring again.
“People die all the time,” Tawn replied in a hollow voice.
“No matter how much you want to save them. I learnt that lesson during the Kingdom Wars. If you really want to help them you need to look after yourself. You need to relax and that will make your mind work better. As you silence your anxieties, the answers will come. Luckily for you, I know the perfect means to bring you back to yourself again.”
Jenna eyed him curiously. “You can? How?”
A mischievous smile flickered across his face, making him look carefree and boyish.
“No questions. It is a surprise. Now go up to your quarters and freshen up. I’ll be waiting outside your door for you. Oh, and bring along your bathing suit. You’ll be needing it.”
Jenna’s eyes widened. “Bathing suit? I don’t have one.”
“Don’t lie,” Tawn said with a grin. “Bring along that pretty little red one. Now come along, we are wasting time.”
Unable to fight against his persistence, and genuinely curious at what he had planned, Jenna did as he instructed. Returning to her quarters, she washed her face and freshened up, and changed from her dowdy lab outfit into one of the airy, summery dresses she had packed. She also took the red bathing suit Tawn was so keen on.
When she emerged from her quarters Tawn looked at her approvingly. “There, that’s better. You look almost civilised.”
She shot him a disapproving look. “If you keep being sassy, I’ll go back to the lab.”
Tawn raised his hands in a gesture of mock defeat. “I promise to behave.”
Jenna gave him a bemused smile. The gloomy, stoic Tawn seemed to have completely disappeared, replaced by this playful, easygoing impostor. She thought she was going to enjoy this change of character.
“Well,” she said, “where are we going?”
“Come on,” Tawn said. “It’s not far.”
Now very curious, Jenna walked with him as they headed through the palace, moving down to the lower levels. They moved through well-appointed chambers until they came to a wide staircase, which went down through the gut rock of the cliff on which the palace had been built.
Torches set into the walls cast flickering firelight as they went deeper and deeper into the cliff. Jenna began to feel nervous and wondered where they were going.
She remembered the two attempts on her life and began to feel an edge of panic. Was this some kind of trap? Was he the mysterious assassin after all? She dismissed her paranoia. If Tawn were behind all this, she would have been dead by now.
“Don’t look so worried,” Tawn said, as if sensing her thoughts. “I think you are going to enjoy this. I hope so anyway.”
Jenna relaxed and as they moved lower, the chill air began to grow warmer and she heard the sound of running water. They came at last to a metal gate, and Tawn opened it and gestured for Jenna to go through. “After you,” he said.
Now excited, Jenna stepped through the gate and Tawn followed. A soft violet light washed over her, and her mouth dropped open as she found herself looking out a vast, picturesque grotto.
A lilac coloured pool spread out at her feet and elegant stalactites swept down from the roof, glowing with the lilac light. Several small waterfalls cascaded down the uneven walls into the pool and she saw that several brightly painted bridges connected to each of the spattering of rocky islands that jutted from the water. Beautiful crystalline coral sprouted from the floor and walls and the air was scented with an exquisite fragrance.
“Tawn, this place is amazing,” Jenna said, soaking in her surroundings.
“I thought you would like it,” Tawn replied happily.
“These are the Sacred Grottos. They honeycomb the cliff and were specially designed by Queen Marna as a retreat from the worries and troubles of the world. I thought it would be a suitable place for you to relax.”
“You were right,” Jenna said looking round eagerly. “I feel better already.”
Tawn gestured to the placid waters of the pool. “I thou
ght we could go for a swim. You enjoy swimming, don’t you?”
Jenna gave him a quizzical look. “How did you know that?”
“I glanced at your bio that came with the Earth report that was sent to the Queen,” Tawn replied.
“It’s what gave me the idea to bring you down here.” He pointed to a row of cave openings each covered by a thick leather curtain. “You can change in one of those.”
Jenna remembered she was holding her bathing costume and how pretty revealing it was. The thought of wearing in front of Tawn suddenly made her feel self-conscious. “Oh, okay. Right.”
“Off you go then,” Tawn said, frowning slightly when she made no move to head over to where he had indicated.
Without preamble, he pulled off his own doublet to reveal his smooth, sculpted chest. Jenna felt herself getting flushed as she took in his firm pectorals and chiselled abs. She quickly scurried over to one of the changing caves as he started unbuckling his breeches.
She took a deep breath as she got behind the leather curtain and slowly began to get undressed. As she slipped into the bathing costume, she was painfully aware of how much it showed off her voluptuous curves and ample bosom.
Tension knotted in the pit of her stomach as she prepared to go back outside and face Tawn. He was physically perfect in every way and it made her nervous for him to see her this way, assessing her own physical attributes.
She remembered the conversation she’d had with Marna in her private chamber and wondered if Tawn did find her attractive. He was certainly acting like she was something a bit higher up on the food chain now, and she was drawn to get to know him better.
“Jenna,” he called out, making her jump. “Are you ready?”
“Just coming,” she replied, trying to sound casual. She couldn’t put the moment off any longer. Putting on her best nonchalant expression, she emerged from the little alcove back into the main cavern.
Tawn was now stripped down to a scarily small pair of black leather trunks, and he had his back to her, giving her a magnificent view of his tight butt and broad shoulders.
Royal Defender: Her Space Guardian (Celestial Mates Book 9) Page 4
