Royal Defender: Her Space Guardian (Celestial Mates Book 9)

by Therron, Marla

  His diseased body shook with gurgling, insane laughter that echoed round the desolate chamber.

  Chapter 6: The Power And The Passion

  Jenna sat back from the micro-scanner, and stared in disbelief. It wasn’t possible, she told herself. She’d made a mistake that was all. It couldn’t be that easy.

  Trying hard not to get excited, she repeated her analysis and got the same result. The infected blood cells she tested again showed signs of becoming completely free of the Screaming Plague. She tried again and again now letting euphoria rise up inside her like a geyser.

  Her latest vaccine was working there was no doubt about it. It would have to go through lengthy clinical trials of course, but this was the first positive breakthrough she had had in almost a month.

  All of the other vaccines she had developed had failed completely, but this time she had finally cracked the code for defeating the plague once and for all.

  Getting up from the workbench, she hurried to the door of the lab. She had to tell Tawn the news. As usual, he would be standing guard outside her door and her body thrummed with desire as she thought about how happy he would be when he heard the news, and all the delightful things they would do to celebrate.

  A wide grin spread across her face as she flung open the door.

  “Tawn! I’ve done it!” she exclaimed, rushing into the corridor.

  Her exclamation was greeted by empty air. Tawn was nowhere to be seen. Jenna frowned and looked around. He was like a loyal guard dog and it was rare that he was not close by.

  Something must be wrong for him not to be around. She went down the passageway deciding to go and find Marna. If Tawn wasn’t around then she could at least offer the Queen some encouraging news.

  Moving to the archway that led up to the great hall, she froze mid-step when she saw the guard lying at the bottom of the staircase. Blood splattered across his face and hurrying over to him, she knelt down and checked his breathing. The man was dead.

  Jenna stood and her breath caught in her throat. What had happened here? Her thoughts leapt to Tawn. She had to find him. The sound of heavy panting came from behind and she spun round quickly.

  A lumbering, simian like creature was in the passageway. Seaweed covered its bulky body interspersed with patches of raw, blistered skin and black markings. Its red eyes glowered at her as it advanced on her.

  “Not again!” Jenna hissed.

  She turned to run up the staircase, but the monster was too quick for her. It snatched her up in its huge slimy arms and she screamed.

  The rancid stench of seaweed filled her nostrils and the ape-thing held her too tightly that it was impossible to struggle free. Terror sliced through her and helpless to resist, she was carried up by the creature to the great hall.

  More guards lay dead on the floor, and two more seaweed apes similarly diseased as the one that held her stood guard. Her heart leapt in her mouth as she saw Tawn and Marna stood in the centre of the room.

  “Tawn!” Jenna called out. “Are you okay? What’s happening?”

  “Ah, how touching,” a thin, male voice called out from somewhere to her left. “Your woman is more worried about you Tawn, than her own safety. Isn’t that sweet?”

  Jenna craned her head and tried to see the speaker. “Who are you?” she called out. “Show yourself!”

  “Put her down,” the rasping voice ordered.

  Instantly, the ape monster opened its arms and Jenna literally tumbled onto the floor. She picked herself up and made to run to Tawn and Marna. One of the other seaweed apes shambled forward, blocking her path.

  “I’m sorry my dear, there is to be no loving reunion for you,” the voice sneered.

  Jenna heard the tap of a cane connecting with the floor and turned round. A man, or what might have once passed for a man, was hobbling towards her, leaning heavily on an ivory walking stick.

  He was clad in what had once been a magnificent velvet robe of black and silver, but was now ragged and caked in dirt, and his thin, withered face was ghastly white and seeping with ugly red sores.

  Seeing the disgust on Jenna’s face as she stared at him, the man smiled widely, revealing his blackened teeth. “Am I not perfection?” he wheezed in his scratchy voice.

  Jenna held her ground, refusing to be intimidated by the grotesque old man. “Who are you?” she demanded again, glaring at him defiantly.

  “I am Duke Zelba,” the man said grandly. “Once High Chancellor of all of Kastra, and soon to be its supreme ruler.”

  “Supreme ruler,” Tawn sneered. “You’re nothing but a craven traitor.”

  “It is you who is the traitor, Tawn,” Zelba retorted.

  “I offered you absolute power as my great champion, but you chose to side with that old trollop Marna. Now you will suffer greatly for your foolishness.”

  “Will someone tell me what is going on?” Jenna demanded brusquely.

  “You said that a genius and a madman created the Screaming Plague,” Marna spoke up in a grim voice, “well you are looking at him.”

  Zelba made a flourishing gesture with his free bony hand. “My best work.”

  “Zelba was indeed High Chancellor and one of the most trusted men in the land,” Marna went on, “he held the Tigress Shark Empire together, but became hungry for more power and prestige. He meddled in dark and forbidden sciences bringing about the onset of the Empire’s collapse and sparking the Kingdom Wars.”

  “The Tigress Shark Empire,” Jenna said wonderingly, “but that must make you over two hundred years old!”

  “The secrets I discovered prolonged my life and made me the most powerful man on Kastra,” the Duke said.

  “You’re no man,” Tawn growled.

  “You’re an abomination. You started the wars that ruined our world and then created twisted, obscene biological weapons, which you gave to those lords stupid enough to trust you so that they could wipe themselves out. If it wasn’t for all of your meddling and scheming we could have settled the many disputes and feuds and at least have had the chance to live in peace years ago, but you returned again and again to stir up trouble again. But this cannot be, you should be dead! I saw you killed when Lord Yokan run you through with his blade at the Battle of River Trake. You fell into the water and swept away.”

  “I almost died, it’s true, but one as resourceful as me is very difficult to dispose of, Tawn. I escaped death but was severely weakened. It has taken me many years to recover and I waited in the shadows, planning my revenge and return to greatness. Through the Screaming Plague, I have crippled your kingdom Marna and now I will take my rightful place as master of this world.”

  “I should have realised you were behind all this when you sent the wolf,” Tawn said, his face dark and angry.

  “It had the hallmarks of your insane science stamped all over it.”

  “And the bird as well,” said Jenna. “You sent both to kill me because I was the one person who would ruin your plans.”

  “Yes, your intellect is almost a match for mine,” Zelba said.

  “I had not anticipated that Marna would seek help from another world. It forced me to act, though on both occasions stupid luck saved you. This time though, I will personally ensure you do not survive. It is fortunate I have come now when you have just discovered the cure for my plague.”

  Jenna’s eyes widened. “How could you know that?”

  Duke Zelba cackled. “I see all, child. I have been monitoring your work throughout. It amused me to let you live so that you could enjoy the exquisite suffering of being so close to victory and then have it snatched away at the last moment. I think I will try out one of my new bio-weapons on you. That way, Tawn will have the pleasure of listening to your agonising screams as you slowly die.”

  “No!” yelled Tawn.

  He launched himself at Zelba, but one of the ape beasts lashed out to knock him down. Tawn dodged the blow and jumped onto the creature’s back, producing a dagger from his boot and slicing it across
the ape’s throat. The monster let out a gurgling cry as blood oozed from the wound.

  “Kill him!” snapped Zelba, gesturing to the other two apes.

  They made to attack Tawn, but Jenna raised her hand and an energy bolt erupted from the bracelet she wore on her wrist. It hit one of the monsters in the centre of its back and it toppled over like a felled tree.

  Its companion swung its head round in time to be taken down by a second blast from the bracelet. Duke Zelba looked dumbfounded.

  “Just a little bit of self-protection, Duke,” Jenna said, pointing the bracelet in his direction.

  “A little energy weapon I rigged it up after the attack by the wolf. It’s almost worthy of your deviousness.”

  Zelba screwed his face up into a grimace of hatred and pulled a laser pistol from under his robes. He pointed it at Jenna just as Tawn’s dagger went spinning across the chamber and hit him in the neck.

  Zelba let out a startled cry and the pistol went off in his hand. Jenna darted out of the way of the laser bolt and fired her own energy weapon. Zelba’s twisted body cavorted at its lethal power ripped through him and he crumpled to the floor.

  Tawn was instantly at Jenna’s side. “You were fantastic,” he said, admiration in his eyes. “Are you all right?”

  “I could do with a hug,” she said, feeling her legs turn to water. He laughed and scooped her up in his powerful arms.

  “You are so precious to me,” he said, kissing her on the lips. “I couldn’t bear for anything to happen to you.”

  Meanwhile, Marna stumped over to Duke Zelba and kicked him hard in the stomach. “Dead,” she pronounced gruffly, “and this time I’ll see the body burned with my own eyes.” She turned and looked up at Jenna and Tawn.

  “You did good, girl, and you Tawn, be sure my enemies are truly dead in future.”

  Jenna and Tawn stared at her and then burst out laughing. Shouts suddenly came from outside the hall and a group of soldiers burst in, their faces wide with confusion.

  “About time you dolts got here,” Marna grumbled. She gestured to Zelba’s body. “This wretch and his pets simply strolled in here and nearly killed us all.”

  “We are sorry, my Queen,” one of the soldiers stammered. “Our numbers are low because of the plague. He must have killed all of the watch. We have only just found the bodies.”

  “Never mind that now,” Marna said. “The main thing is he’s dead and Jenna is safe.” She came over to join her and Tawn. “Was the Duke right about what he said? Have you really found a cure?”

  “It’s a possibility,” Jenna said. “I’ll need to conduct more tests, but I think I might have a vaccine ready shortly. It would help if we can find Zelba’s laboratory and research notes.”

  “Tawn, this will be your job when you’ve finished canoodling. While you’re about it, you can destroy any more of these disgusting pets Zelba might have knocking about,” Marna replied.

  “It will be my pleasure, my Queen,” Tawn said with a smile.

  Marna smiled and Jenna hugged him tightly. Tawn stroked her hair and kissed her softly on the top of the head. “I am so proud of you,” he whispered.

  Jenna tingled all over and all her fear and shock melted away. While she was in Tawn’s arms, she felt completely safe and never wanted to be anywhere else in the universe.

  Chapter 7: An Ocean Of Love

  The celebrations lasted the week and all of Kastra Capital was awash with brightly coloured banners and the streets thronged with people and the air was filled with music.

  Looking out from the balcony of her quarters at the palace, Jenna soaked up the warm ambience that exuded from the city below.

  When she had first arrived here, all she had encountered was fear and despair, but now she was seeing Kastra in a different light. Hope had returned to the Kastrans, and she had been the one to bring it.

  Feeling a deep sense of satisfaction, she moved away from the balcony and headed down to the great hall. The once empty and sombre chamber was now awash with light and music and courtiers laughed and talked at the top of their voices as they enjoyed the food and drink of the banquet Marna had prepared for them.

  The Queen herself sat at the head of the long table, smoking her pipe and singing along to a bawdy folk song popular in the fishing villages.

  No longer dressed in her simple leathers, she instead wore a magnificent blue gown studded with diamonds and a sparkling tiara.

  It sat askew on her head and she swigged a flagon of wine in one mighty swallow before belching loudly, much to the amusement of the other revellers. Jenna smiled.

  Despite all the royal finery, Marna was never going to be one for airs and graces, and Jenna loved her for it.

  As she scanned the room she finally spotted who she was looking for and her heart soared. Tawn was on the other side of the room talking animatedly with a group of soldiers.

  He looked devastatingly gorgeous in his tight gold tunic and leg hugging blue breeches, and the urge of desire washed over her, consuming her in its wake.

  As if sensing her sultry gaze, Tawn turned and his crooked smile spread across his face. It sent an electric jolt down her spine.

  Excusing himself from the other soldiers, he strode over to her and the moment she had been both desiring and dreading had finally come.

  “Jenna,” he said, smiling warmly. He ran his finger along the silk fabric of her short red dress. “You look fantastic.”

  “You don’t look so bad yourself,” Jenna replied, planting a small kiss on his cheek. His hands came round her waist and she slipped into his embrace.

  “When you didn’t come down for the feast, I got a little worried,” he said, nuzzling her ear.

  “I’d have come and looked for you, but I was cornered by several of the Royal Guard. Now that Marna has appointed me Lord Protector, I have many more duties and responsibilities. It is going to be a very busy time for me.”

  “You deserve it though,” Jenna said. “You were wasted as just a bodyguard, you know. Now you can fulfil your full potential.”

  She fell silent and a deep sadness passed over her. Feeling the dip in mood, Tawn ran his finger down her cheek sparking little wildfires all over her skin.

  “Would you like something to eat or drink?” he asked, giving her a concerned look. “There is a place for you at the head of the table. Marna’s eager to speak with you.”

  “No,” Jenna said quickly. Tawn frowned at her. “I’m not hungry,” she clarified. “Is there somewhere quiet we could go? I need to talk to you?”

  She saw a flicker of pain in his eyes but he nodded. “Yes, of course,” he said in a subdued voice. “Come, I know the perfect place.”

  * * *

  He took her to a small, secluded cove beneath the palace. Moonlight washed over the placid sea, and Jenna took off her shoes so she could walk barefoot across the soft sands.

  They walked hand in hand along the shore in silence, before coming to a cluster of rocks. Jenna swallowed, knowing what was coming next. She stopped and looked up at Tawn’s unreadable face.

  “My work here is done,” she said. “The Screaming Plague has been cured.”

  “Not completely,” Tawn countered.

  “You said yourself you’d have to remain and ensure the vaccine completely eradicated Zelba’s evil creation. You might have to stay for at least another year.”

  Jenna shook her head sadly. “You know that’s a lie, Tawn. The vaccine works and after you discovered Zelba’s tower you found the means to destroy the Screaming Plague altogether, plus a hundred other weapons and viral agents. His bio-science will never threaten Kastra again, and I’ve taught the healers how to produce the vaccine so there’s really no need for me to be here.”

  Tawn scowled. “You still need to make sure the eunuchs do as they are told though. They can be very tricky, you know.”

  Jenna laughed despite herself. “Now Kromaj has been replaced by someone more capable and compassionate, there won’t be any prob
lems. My work here is done.”

  Tawn nodded, but remained silent. He looked out to the waves lapping against the shore and seemed lost in thought. “You are going back to Earth,” he said at length, his voice flat and cold.

  “I received a communication from Earth today. Now the crisis is over they are sending a diplomatic delegation to negotiate the mineral agreement. I’ve been instructed to return home and make my report.”

  Tawn was silent for a long time. “Then, this is the end.”

  “I guess so,” Jenna said in a defeated voice. “I have to go back.”

  “You will receive great accolades when you return,” Tawn said. “This is the big turning point in your career you had hoped for.”

  “Yes, my government is very pleased with me. I’ve been offered several positions with some of the most prestigious universities already. I’ve got my pick of research projects and positions. I guess I’ve got everything I wanted.”

  “Good,” Tawn said. “You deserve all that you have dreamed of ever having.”

  “Thanks,” said Jenna distantly. “I couldn’t be happier. The trouble is I’m not happy. I’m dying inside.”

  Tawn turned and looked at her. “What? I don’t understand.”

  “Oh Tawn, isn’t it obvious?” Jenna replied in an exasperated voice. “I don’t want any of that anymore. The career, the university jobs, the research grants, they mean nothing now.”

  Tawn raised his eyebrows. “They don’t?”

  Jenna gazed into his eyes, her heart fluttering in her chest. “They don’t, if I can’t be with you.”

  Her words hung on the night air, raw with emotion and need. She had exposed herself to him and she felt naked and vulnerable. Her stomach churned with despair and she knew in her heart Tawn did not feel the same for her.

  This had just been a distraction for him, nothing more, and now it was time to move on. She was making things worse by trying to protract it out.

  Without saying a word, he cupped her small face in his big hands and tilted her head so that she looked into his loving gaze. “I don’t ever want to be without you,” he said, his voice thick with conviction.