A King's Revenge: Warlords Series Book 2

by Michelle Howard

  Tarik studied Lea as she tried without success to get around her friend.

  “What is going on with the two of you?”

  He deserved to know the truth. Tarik braced himself for her shock and disbelief. “I have reason to believe you may be my presumed deceased wife.”

  Her mouth dropped open. “What?!”

  Tarik wasn’t going to walk away without knowing absolutely for certain. “I have a favor to ask. Remove your glasses.” She started to protest. “Please. I need to see your eyes.” Tarik hoped, no he prayed that she would allow him the courtesy.

  “Listen, Tarik. What we shared was great. But I’m not whoever you think I am and seeing my eyes won’t change that.”

  He knew she’d refused but she was wrong. “Seeing your eyes will change everything. I refuse to lie and say there isn’t a part of me that wants you to be her but if you aren’t, I can accept it. I would still be interested in having you visit Desani.”

  She shook her head again and turned to leave.

  Tarik gripped her arm, ignoring the sharp curse from the man at her side. “Please.”

  Lea studied him then sighed. “Fine.” Her hand whipped the dark visor off and she stared at him full on.

  Tarik stumbled back pulling her with him. He thought he’d prepared for the disappointment.

  Perhaps he had.

  What he hadn’t prepared for was the tremendous relief, joy and happiness.

  Eyes blazing white pupil and iris met his gaze defiantly.

  “Maliya,” he murmured, stepping close. His free hand cupped her cheek.

  When she flinched, Tarik dropped his hand to his side but he didn’t lose his hold on her arm.

  Her friend cursed. Mati and Hensel gasped and drew closer.

  “I’m not her.” Lea tugged on her arm. Her lips quivered

  She had a sexy mouth. One he’d kissed over and over the night before and planned to kiss many more times.

  “You are,” he confirmed. “There are holo records of our union, paintings of you…no other woman has those eyes. Surely you know that.”

  Now she fought in earnest against his hold. “Kord tell him. He’s mistaken. I’m a former officer from the military. I had an accident.”

  Tarik swallowed hearing her familiar history. “You left the military barely a cadet. Right after graduation. You took a small leave before your first mission to visit Pakar. I was there on a good will visit with King Jovan. We fell in love.”

  Her face drained of color. She stumbled back. “No. No you’re wrong. Kord!”

  “We were married shortly after and had two and a half years together. Three years ago your guards were attacked while you shopped. I thought I’d lost you.” Tarik forced the words out hating the way she paled. Hating the tears welling in eyes he found more beautiful every moment he stared into them.

  “Kord,” she insisted. “Tell him I’m not his wife. I had an accident. An explosion on a ship.”

  The man at her side stepped closer and wrapped a soothing arm about her shoulder. “I’m sorry.” His head lowered to brush his lips over her hair.

  Tarik wanted to snatch his wife away.

  “Very sorry, he found you, Maliya.”

  Tarik stiffened and his wife shoved back from all of them, her head jerking side to side. “W-what. I don’t understand.”

  They were drawing a crowd. Whispers started. Tarik hadn’t envisioned this unfolding in front of so many. Her safety was his priority.

  His Maliya. He wanted to swing her into his arms. Hold tight and inhale her fragrance until his chest burst from locking her scent within. This woman was his wife and yet wasn’t. Nothing in her demeanor implied she knew who he was besides the man she’d met in a space station bar and slept with.

  “We need privacy. Let’s go to my room.”

  “No,” Maliya snapped stepping away from all of them. “I’m not going anywhere with you. We had sex. That’s all.”

  Mati gasped and Tarik felt his gaze on him but refused to look away from his wife.

  “We can leave now, Lea. Our shuttle is queued next.”

  Tarik glared at the grim bastard by her side. He noted with some relief that she backed away from him as well. Choosing his words carefully, Tarik said, “My wife isn’t leaving this station with you. Mati, contact the head of the space station. Inform Director Trex to shut all launches down until further notice. This is a matter of utmost urgency.”

  “Contacting the director now, Sire.”

  “Y-you can’t do that.”

  Tarik ignored the pain radiating from his distraught wife

  Lights overhead flashed moments after Mati used his portable communicator. An announcement scrolled across the many screens strategically placed overhead followed by the loud speakers imbedded in the walls.

  “All launches have been delayed due to an emergency. No ship will land or take off until further notice.”

  Groans sounded around them followed by curses.

  “If he tries to take you off station it will be considered a royal kidnapping and I will approve deadly force if necessary by the UA military.” Tarik wished it didn’t have to go this way but her friend had shifted his stance and though he only wore a stunner in his weapons belt, Tarik was sure he was capable of so much more.

  Maliya, he couldn’t think of her as Lea now that he knew for certain her identity, fisted her hands at her side. “You’re wrong. About all of this.”

  Tarik tipped his head to the side toward her friend. “He apologized. He knows who you are.”

  If anything his words had direct impact on both of them. Maliya staggered back, one hand flying to her chest even as she shook her head in denial.

  The tall bastard’s fingers twitched and shot a heated look at Tarik before turning toward her. “We should go to his room to discuss this further, Maliya.”

  She shoved both hands through her short hair. “Don’t call me that! I’m not your Maliya. I’m not her!”

  Her voice rose in volume drawing more stares.

  Hensel leaned in his direction. “Maybe we should just take her, your Highness.”

  The deadly look in her friend’s eyes warned against such action.

  Maliya’s cries sent dagger sharp pains into Tarik’s chest. He never wanted it to come to this. He’d only wanted to see if through some miracle his wife still lived.

  “Lea,” the man soothed, taking gentle hold of her arms above the elbows. “Calm. Calm. Calm.”

  His murmurs seemed to get through to her as her denials turned to whimpers. Jealousy roared its ugly head at the clear connection between the two. Tarik parted his lips to remind them that they needed to get out of the exposed bay when his wife collapsed.

  Her body simply dropped. He jumped forward but she was lifted into large arms that caught her instantly.

  Tarik’s hearts drummed so hard dizziness assailed him. He reached for Maliya only to pull up short. Her chest rose and fell. She wasn’t lost to him. “What did you do?”

  “She panicked. Her heart raced in an effort to keep up. It wasn’t good for her so I merely placed her into a healing sleep.”

  Healing sleep?

  “Who are you?” Tarik demanded. More importantly what was he?

  “We will speak further in your room.”

  Then he turned his back on Tarik and headed for the lifts.

  ***

  Lea woke to arguing voices.

  “You need to explain yourself. Why have you kept Maliya’s existence a secret?”

  “You couldn’t protect her so you didn’t deserve to keep her.”

  Silence. She imagined the rage that would grace Tarik’s features.

  At last he spoke. “It wasn’t your decision to make. I don’t plan to argue the point. She belonged with her husband. Now tell me how she survived and more important who is the woman buried in the royal vault with my wife’s name and my crest on the door.”

  Lea flinched because Tarik made no effort to hide the ragged pain i
n his voice. Her mind whirled with questions. Now that emotions weren’t blinding her she could accept that she was his wife. It would be easy enough to prove. What she had trouble comprehending was how she ended in her current situation. Alone. You didn’t exactly misplace a wife.

  “The woman who died in her place was a servant. One who switched places with Maliya when they realized their group was about to be ambushed. She favored your wife in coloring.”

  Kord’s explanation solved a few of Lea’s own questions.

  “Shara,” Tarik murmured. “The guards thought her involved because we never found her body. My wife thought it funny that people mistook the maid for her.”

  Lea blinked away the tears filling her eyes. Another woman had died for her. She couldn’t take any more. Lea moved to sit up and swung her feet to the side. The first thing she noticed was the richly appointed decor.

  This was not her room.

  The suite was easily three times the size of hers. Both men walked toward her on the lounger when she moved. Kord stoic though his touch to her shoulder conveyed relief. Tarik made no attempt to disguise his pleasure but hesitated when he stood before her.

  There were two other men in the room standing by a closed door that must lead to another room. She recognized them from earlier accompanying Tarik in the hanger. Servants of some sort she surmised. Because he was King. And she was…Queen.

  Lea bent over with a gasp pushing her head between her legs.

  “Maliya!” Warm weight brushed her thighs as Tarik squeezed onto the narrow lounger beside her.

  His arm came around her shoulder but she flinched and leaned back as far as possible. Tarik’s full lips turned down but he allowed her the space.

  His wife. Staring at the disheveled brown and gold hair, the blazing purple eyes, she tried to remember him. Anything.

  But her mind remained blank. Lea pressed her fingers to her temple. What kind of woman didn’t remember her own husband? How could she have forgotten such an integral part of her life? Sharp pangs stabbed her eyes.

  Her fingers drifted from her head to her brow. “My visor?”

  Kord handed them to her and Lea put them on immediately. Her pulse settled. She took a deep breath and exhaled. Her head continued to throb.

  “Stop.” Tarik’s whisper stirred the hair covering her ear.

  She must look a mess. Lea lifted her gaze to his from the security of the tinted glasses.

  “You’re trying to remember.”

  Her brow creased. That was the whole point of this.

  He raised his hand and tucked a wayward curl behind her ear. “I wish you remembered me. Remembered our life.” He broke off whatever he’d been about to say and pressed his lips together.

  “I don’t remember any of it,” she admitted.

  Tarik sighed. His hands dropped to his thighs. “I know. Your friend explained your memory loss.” A short laugh escaped. “And yet I remember everything. The way you smell. The way you look when you’re happy. The way you look when you’re upset. Like now.”

  He rose to his feet and took several steps away from her.

  Lea’s chest expanded. The hidden pressure loosened with the distance between them.

  Tarik’s mouth wilted at the corners, his eyes meeting hers. He hadn’t missed her reaction. No one could disguise the devastation in his gaze. “I miss that my being close to you no longer brings you joy.”

  It wasn’t all bad. She might not remember their former life but she remembered their night. His body appealed to her physically as evident by her nipples tightening the longer he watched her with such open tenderness.

  Lea directed her attention to Kord. He’d stayed quiet throughout but if anyone in this room knew what was going on, her friend would be the one. “I need to know everything, Kord.”

  He thought about refusing. She saw it in his blue eyes. Then he closed his lids and his shoulders dipped. When he opened them, Lea knew she’d won.

  “Your father and I were friends and he tasked me with watching over you when he and your mother passed.

  “When the Warlord Thenl took over Kaban, there were several attempts on your life.” Kord glared at Tarik. “He made no effort to protect you properly though you were recovering from losing one babe after another.”

  Lea’s hand flew to her flat abdomen. Shock froze her. “Baby. I have-”

  “No,” Tarik cut in reading her mind. “There is no child. You didn’t leave a child behind.”

  Tension flittered away as relief left her short of breath. No babies waited for her thinking they’d been abandoned by their mother.

  But she’d lost a child. More than one. He didn’t have to say it but the truth lay behind the words he didn’t say. Her heart ached for the children she didn’t recall conceiving. How much worse it must be for the King. No, Tarik, she corrected. In her mind, he was Tarik. He’d lost not only his wife but their children.

  Kord recited the facts in a straight forward manner. “Thenl planned an attack in a public market place while you were out. They outnumbered your guards. Shara convinced you to switch clothing with her. She took the visor you often wore in public then forced you to run. Thenl’s warriors mistook her for you and killed her.”

  Heart pounding, Lea leaped to her feet.

  ‘Screams and shouts.’

  Sweat formed on her upper lip. The two men in black and gold stared at her. Heat suffused her cheeks. “I-I” She stumbled. Had to get air.

  ‘Run, Your Highness!’

  Spots danced in front of her eyes as Lea shoved at Kord who attempted to catch her arm.

  Lea thought only of escape. Heading across the room to the only other door in the room besides the exit, she came up short. The guards refused to budge.

  Tarik hurried toward her and ordered his men. “Hensel, Mati stand aside.”

  Her breath came in ragged gasps. As soon as they moved, she slapped her palm on the wall release and entered the room. This one contained a large neatly made bed.

  No. Just no.

  Lea immediately turned on her heels but Tarik closed the door behind them and blocked her exit.

  “It’s going to be alright, Maliya.”

  “Not…” Lea stopped. She hadn’t been called by her full name Maliya since childhood. Kord wouldn’t have let this farce continue if he didn’t believe she was the Queen.

  Lea backed away head swiveling around. Her vision glazed.

  “Maliya, calm down. No one’s here to hurt you.”

  Of course not. He wanted to take her back with him even if he hadn’t said it yet. Return her to a world she didn’t remember. A world where someone had tried numerous times to kill her. Fear danced along her nerves. “D-do you have holo images?”

  He didn’t pretend to misunderstand. “Yes.”

  She needed to see them. Desperately. “Show me.”

  Tarik hesitated and then nodded. He strode pass her and reached for a bag with his things. After a moment he retrieved what he wanted.

  Lea held her breath as Tarik returned and opened his palm. The small silver disc in his hand looked innocent enough yet her back crawled with icy shivers.

  Controlling the impulse to run, Lea folded her arms across her middle. She would see this through. “Show me.” Seeing his lips twist, she added. “Please.”

  This couldn’t be any easier on him. Tarik looked pleased to know his wife lived but he also looked miserable. Her fault because she didn’t share his enthusiasm but there was nothing she could do about that for now.

  Tarik met her gaze. “I don’t need a genetic signature to know you’re her.”

  Because he knew. Kord knew. She was his dead Queen come back to life. “I know.”

  He sighed. “Activate image 3655. Maliya, gardens.”

  Lea raised a brow at the specific request. How many images did he have stored on file and carry with him?

  The disc glowed blue before a six inch holo image of a woman in a white ankle length gown appeared kneeling in the gras
s. Her hair was beautiful, falling to the middle of her back in red gold waves. Cut flowers filled the basket at her side with large clippers attached to the handle. She smoothed a hand through the blooms collected then tipped her head up as if enjoying the early day sunlight.

  Suddenly she stiffened and turned to look over her shoulder, smooth brow creasing. She shaded her eyes with one hand to gaze at something or someone in the distance. Then a large smile bloomed on her face. Rising to her feet she dropped her hand to her side, her body fairly vibrating with excitement. Lea’s stomach clenched at the look on her face. Such pleasure and adoration couldn’t be feigned.

  “Hello, husband.” The woman’s rich tones spoke clearly. Her voice flavored with love.

  A man’s arms entered the holo but the rest of his body was cut off. The hands clasped the woman’s waist and spun her in a wild circle. Her head leaned back and rich laughter spilled from her lips.

  Laughter that echoed as the image faded and the disc winked out.

  Lea swallowed. Before the disc had shut down she’d had a clear view of the woman’s face and her eyes. Familiar eyes in a familiar face. Coldness set in her bones. She swallowed tightening her arms to hold herself together. “What happened? How did you lose me?”

  “Oh, my heart.” Tarik took a step in her direction but she choked on a sob and moved back. “Maliya, if I thought for one moment you weren’t dead, nothing in the universe would have stopped me from searching for you.”

  Lea took a deep breath and tried to relax. She believed him. He’d given her no reason to doubt.

  She thought of the woman. Her, in the garden scene. The woman in the holo clearly loved him. Lea couldn’t deal with that yet. “Kord needs to tell me everything. There’s more to this.”

  Tarik frowned grimly. “Indeed.”

  Chapter 13

  Tarik cursed under his breath when she wouldn’t let him soothe her. He battled the impulse to hold her and never let go. He had Maliya back. It didn’t feel real despite how many times the phrase danced through his head. Seeing her, talking with her was a miracle but along with his joy, anger brewed.