Chayden leaned back slightly in his chair. "I don't know about the rest of you, but I always run at an extreme deficit."
Hauk came through the door and joined them on the bridge. "So what's the plan now?"
Desideria answered before he could even part his lips. "We need to get to my sisters."
Caillen widened his eyes at her insanity. Heading into her palace was as crazy as breaking into his, the only difference, he knew the security where he'd lived. He was going to bet she had no idea about hers. "Okay, why?"
"My aunts will be after them. Even though they're minors under our laws, they can still petition for the crown, especially since Narcissa is acting as empress. My sisters will be the next obstacle and target. I'm sure it's why Kara hasn't seized the throne. She's waiting for the assassin to take them out, then come after us with all justification. And trust me. A Qillaq tribunal is not something you want to go through."
Chayden backed her stupidity. "She's right about all of that, especially our sisters. If it is a combined plot between Karissa and Kara, they're unprotected victims waiting to happen--just like your uncle. We have to get to them as soon as possible." He laid in the course for Qilla. "Once they're safe, we can sort this out."
"I don't know," Hauk said. "We're extremely high profile right now. The best course might be to get some of the Sentella in there to secure them and for us to lie low and let some of this die down before we're spotted again."
Desideria gave him a withering glare. "The Sentella didn't keep my mother or Caillen's father or uncle safe, so you'll have to excuse me if I'm lacking a bit of faith in them. Besides that doesn't matter. My sisters wouldn't go with them anyway. They trust no offworlders and would fight to the death if one tried to take them from their dormitory."
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Hauk raked a sneer over her. "What makes you think they'll go with you? Especially since they think you killed your mother?"
Desideria backed down as he brought up something she hadn't considered. There was no reason for either of her sisters to trust her right now.
None whatsoever.
But that didn't matter to her.
Keeping them safe did.
"I'm hoping they'll listen to reason." She did her best to make Hauk understand. "Either way, I have to try. I'm the best shot at getting them out of this alive. Without me, they're dead."
Fain scoffed. "Oh I don't know. I think I could knock them unconscious and carry them out pretty quick."
She was horrified by his suggestion. "I don't want my sisters beaten." She passed a probing stare to Hauk. "Would you be able to lie low if your family was in the line of fire?"
Hauk glanced over to his brother. "Depends on the day of the week and the mood I'm in."
She knew better.
And he confirmed it a few seconds later after he let out an aggravated breath. "All right, the name of stupidity right now is us. Let's go fly into certain death to help people who will most likely try to kill us and claw out our eyes."
Fain laughed. "Sounds like a typical assignment to me."
"Yeah, well, there is that."
Caillen sat back as he ran through all the new information they now had and tried to come up with a reasonable plan of action.
Save the sisters. Clear their names.
Don't die.
Simple list. Impossible odds. What the hell was he thinking? They were screwed. Every government was out to capture or kill them...
C'mon, don't give up. You've lived through worse odds than this.
Yeah, right.
His gaze drifted to Desideria, who sat lost in her own thoughts. There was a smudge of dirt across her left cheek. Her clothes were crumpled and she looked completely exhausted. Still, she carried on with a warrior's persistence and her presence gave him strength. Most of all, it gave him a reason to fight to the bitter end. He wouldn't let her die. Not over something she was innocent in.
Even though there was no chance now of his clearing his own name, he would see her through this no matter what and make sure that when this was done, she was queen.
The one thing she wanted most. He would do everything in his power to give her that dream.
"We're going to make it," he promised her.
She smiled at him. "I can almost believe that when you say it."
"Oh well, paint my ass pink," Fain groused. " 'Cause I don't believe it. I think we're going to prison or graves. But hey? What do I know?"
Hauk shoved playfully at his brother. "Stop being an asshole."
"Impossible task. Besides, I enjoy it." Fain turned back around so that he could continue scanning the news reports for anything else they needed to know.
The rest of them didn't speak much over the next few hours. They were too tired and too worried. They knew what they were up against and it was debilitating.
Caillen tried to stay focused, but over and over his gaze went to Desideria. He wanted to pull her into a back room and make love to her so badly he could taste it. But she wasn't the type of woman to welcome that. One thing he'd learned about women, their sex drives were radically different.
They didn't respond well when they had dire matters pressing on them. Women liked to be wooed and romanced. Something that was a little impossible at present.
Gah, to have her lay her hand on his skin right now...
But he was used to putting other people's needs before his own. So instead, he savored the memory of her. And wished for a better ending than the one he saw coming.
As they neared Qilla, Chayden kept the ship back, out of the atmosphere. One of the advantages they'd learned while en route about Desideria's planet was that they didn't monitor anything outside their upper stratosphere. It was only when something broke their official air space that their forces were notified and they pursued the invaders.
Let's hear it for an isolationist planet...
Chayden set the autopilot and prepared the Verkehr to transport them to her palace. "I'll send you guys down and be on standby to get you back."
Caillen arched one brow. "Whatever you do, don't fall asleep on the job."
Chayden yawned. "Now that you mention it, I am a little tired."
Caillen glared at him. "You're not funny."
"Oh please. I'm a riot. You're just incapable of appreciating me."
Ignoring his joke, Caillen took Desideria's hand as he faced Hauk and Fain. "You two really have gone above and beyond."
"Trust me," Fain snorted, "we know."
"Thanks." Caillen's tone was thick with sincerity. "For everything."
That sincerity seemed to embarrass Fain, who inclined his head beforwidth="2 covered his face with his mask. "All right, Princess Pain. Lead us into suicide."
Desideria took comfort from the warmth of Caillen's hand holding hers as Chayden teleported them from the ship down to the back courtyard of the palace where the high brick walls would protect them from cameras and guards. She wasn't far from the training ring where she'd spent most of her life.
How weird to be back now. So much had happened to her since she'd left with her mother's Guard that she felt like a stranger in her own home. Unwelcomed. Unwanted.
Foreign.
She wasn't the same person who'd left here. Everything was different now. Her faith in her mother and her aunt shattered. More than that, she had a newfound strength and confidence in herself that hadn't been there before.
All because of Caillen. He'd shown her that she could survive even in an alien environment where she knew nothing about the people or customs and that she was capable of taking care of herself no matter what her aunt or mother thought. She was a woman, not a child.
For the first time in her life, she actually believed that.
But she didn't have time to focus on that right now. She had her sisters to save and the lives of the three men she'd learned to trust and care for were in her hands. She had to get them in and out of there before they were attacked.
Releasing Caillen, she led th
em into the east wing where her sisters should be. This time of day, they were normally in their room resting for the next training session that would start after dinner. With any luck, that wouldn't have changed.
Yet.
As she led them through the back palace rooms, she shivered. The hallway had always been cold, but never as frigid as it seemed today. It was like the palace knew her mother was dead and in its own way, it, too, was grieving.
Her heart pounded in her ears as she strained to listen for any sound that could denote detection for them.
Luckily it didn't take long to reach their apartments and yet it seemed like eternity had passed before she made it to Gwen's room. There was a light beneath the dark wood door and inside, she could hear someone violently throwing things around. It sounded like a war was going on in there.
They're killing her!
Her vision dimming, Desideria swung open the door, prepared for battle.
But there was no army inside.
She froze at the sight of Narcissa who'd also stopped midtantrum at her intrusion. For a moment, everything appeared like someone had pushed pause as they stared at one another in mutual shock. While she stood in the open doorway, Narcissa held one of the clay pots Gwen had collected since early childhood in her hands. One of the few that hadn't been shattered during Narcissa's apparent fit.
Terror replaced the shock on Narcissa's face as she took in the sight of Desideria and the three armed men standing behind her, ready to kill if necessary. "What are you doing here?"
Holstering her blaster, Desideria stepped into the room. She held her hands up so that her sister wouldn't panic any worse and to let Narcissa know that she meant her no harm. "I've come to save you and Gwen. Kara's trying to kill you."
Narcissa scowled. "What?"
"It's true," Caillen said. "She's framed all of us. We're here to help and protect you."
Stunned disbelief hung heavy in Narcissa's dark brown eyes. It was obvious she was struggling with what to believe. "Are you sure about Kara?"
Desideria nodded. "Think about it, Cissy. She's always pushed us to fight, even to the death. She pushed us all beyond our abilities and then never wept when one of us died. She never thought Mom should have been in power. You know that. I overheard her talking to one of her conspirators. She and Karissa have teamed up so that they can rule the two empires jointly... after all of us are dead."
Narcissa swallowed. "You think she's killed Gwen?"
That question sent a chill over her. "Why do you say that?"
"I came in here to talk to her and she's gone." She gestured to the shards of pottery on the floor. "I was so angry at her for being stupid that I let my control slip."
That was what happened when anger was the only emotion their people sanctioned. Violence erupted over the smallest of offenses.
Now Desideria remembered why Caillen and company were such a welcome relief to her. It was so nice to be around people who had a variety of emotions, most of them pleasant and amusing. People who could tease each other and not go to war over it. People who didn't answer every insult with a punch.
Caillen moved forward. "Have you any idea where she is?"
Narcissa shook her head. She locked gazes with Desideria. "If what you've said is true, we have to find her. Fast. There's no telling what could happen to her."
She was right, but Desideria had a bad suspicion about her sister's whereabouts. "Where's Kara?"
"I haven't seen her since the press conference. She vanished while I was talking to the reporters... you don't think she's harmed Gwen, do you?"
It would make sense, but she didn't want to panic her sister. "We'll find her." With a calmness she really didn't feel, Desideria ran through her mind where her sister might be. It was dizzying really. The palace was huge with more rooms than their small group could search through before being caught.
But if Gwen had felt threatened...
There was only one place she'd go for safety.
"The crypt."
Narcissa screwed her face up. "What?"
Since Gwen was eight, she'd been drawn to the crypts, claiming the old tombs made her feel safe. For some reason Gwen had refused to share, she'd always believed that the spirits of their ancestors would watch over and protect her any time she was there. While Desideria had thought the dark, dismal tunnels were creepy and damp, Gwen had considered them her solitary haven. Probably because it was the one place Kara would never go. She thought the crypts were haunted and they weirded her out even more than they did Desideria.
"I know it sounds peculiar, but it's where Gwen always goes when she's upset." Not that Narcissa had ever cared whenever Gwen had sought refuge.
"That's idiotic."
Desideria had to force herself to remain patient with her sister's ire.
Caillen ignored Narcissa. "Lead the way, Princess."
Inclining her head to him, Desideria went to the bookcase to her left. Like most rooms in the palace, there was a secret passage behind it that allowed the royal family to escape in the highly unlikely event that they should ever be overrun by enemies. All of them had been forced to learn the access points as children--a task Narcissa had balked at, but it was something Desideria and Gwen had enjoyed learning. More to the point, they'd enjoyed exploring down there too.
The one in Gwen's room was the quickest way to the crypt which lay on the outermost corner of the palace lands. That was the main reason Gwen had chosen this room to be hers. At night, she'd often left the passage door open, wanting the spirits to come visit her.
Yeah, and they all thought I was the strange one...
Not wanting to think about that either, she used one of Caillen's light sticks to lead them into the winding darkness. While dank and depressing, at least there were no animals in the tunnels. The exterior access portals were airtight and undetectable to even the smallest creatures.
Closing her eyes, she forced herself to remember where Gwen preferred to hide. The northern crypt that was their great-grandmother's tomb. Since Gwen had favored her most out of their family, she'd chosen that as her special place.
It didn't take long to reach it.
Desideria opened the iron door to the room that had been carved from stone to provide an eternal resting place for the marble sarcophagus. Most of the women buried in the crypt were in wall tombs. Only war heroes such as her great-grandmother who had kept them independent during the Ascardian Revolt were allowed to have rooms dedicated to them. It was an honor all queens aspired to.
On the far wall set in a recess that was decorated with the royal insignia and coat of arms was an eternal flame that paid homage to Eleria's life and reign.
That light cast a dancing shadow through the room. One that highlighted a sight that made her freeze as her gaze fell to Kara who was kneeling beside an unmoving Gwen. Blood pooled around her sister whose features were so pale she was sure Gwen was dead. Horrified, she couldn't breathe.
Someone shoved her from behind, forcing her into the room. She turned to see Narcissa slamming the door in the face of the men before she locked it tight.
"What are you doing?" Desideria demanded angrily.
Narcissa tapped the communications band on her wrist. "There are intruders in the north crypt led by Desideria. I think they're trying to kill Gwen and me. Rally all guards immediately. Help!"
Desideria scowled at her sister while Kara rose to her feet. Her aunt started to attack, but Narcissa leveled her blaster at her and fired. It struck Kara and knocked her back against the wall.
Gasping at the attack, Gwen rolled over and tried to crawl under the sarcophagus.
Dodging the blast Narcissa directed toward her, Desideria moved to shield Gwen with her own body. Even though there was no denying what was happening, a part of her still couldn't believe it. Surely something else was going on here.
Please, don't be the killer...
"Narcissa?"
Her sister sneered at her. "You didn't really think Kar
a was bright enough to pull this off, did you? Stupid cow. Both of you. The throne is mine, you bitch, and I'm not going to share or fight for it. But I will kill you both to get it." She fired again.
Using a move she'd learned from Caillen, Desideria dropped to the floor allowing the shot to narrowly miss her. She pulled her own blaster out and returned the blast.
Narcissa dove under a statue of their high goddess and continued to spray fire at them.
Desideria covered Gwen. She knelt by her side to check on her injuries. Her shoulder and side were bleeding and there was a big bruise forming on her right cheek. "Are you all right?"
Her sister was tucked up tight against the stone base as if she was trying to merge with the sarcophagus. "Wounded, but Kara tended most of it."
Desideria glanced over to where her aunt lay unmoving. There was no help there. "Are you armed?"
"No. Narcissa disarmed me before she wounded me. I barely escaped her."
Desideria clenched her teeth as she realized by trying to save her sister, she'd endangered her all the more. Fine. She could handle this alone.
"It's over, Narcissa. Lay down your weapon."
As expected, Narcissa fired more shots. "My Guard will be here any moment and your friends will be dead or captured. Once I kill the two of you, I will be queen."
Desideria would ask why, but then, she knew. It was the Qillaq way. Take what you want. If someone was in your way, kill them. If they weren't strong enough to fight you off, they deserved to die.
Even family.
Nauseated, she wanted to weep over her sister's psychosis. Later, she definitely would. But right now, she had to keep Gwen safe.
A low moan sounded from Kara. It wasn't much. Just enough to make Narcissa pause and glance in her direction.
Desideria seized the moment to leap out and throw herself against Narcissa. Entangled, they rolled across the cold stone floor, punching at each other. She managed to knock the blaster from Narcissa's hand, but not before she lost her own grip on her weapon.
Krik!
She heard more blasts coming from the other side of the door, out in the hallway.
Narcissa laughed in triumph. "Told you my Guard wouldn't let me down."
Rage, dark and deadly, settled over her as a newfound strength welled up inside her at the thought of her friends being attacked. "They're not your Guard, bitch. They're mine." With a bellow of rage, she kicked Narcissa into the wall with everything she had. It was enough to stun her sister who slid to the floor.
Born of Shadows Page 30
