by Judy Mays
So intent was Brianna on her misery and Ban in his appeal, neither realized Char stood in the doorway, shock and outrage on his face. Kahn’s heavy hand fell on his shoulder before he could step into the room, and he was jerked back into the hallway.
“Take your hand from me now, Aradab,” Char said in a very low, very dangerous voice.
“No.”
“She is my wife.”
“She is a Hardan princess. She does not wish to see you now.”
“I won’t let her fall into bed with Bandalardrac.”
“Who is at fault, Dragon of the Alalakans?”
Cursing under his breath, Char turned and strode away. A stairway led to the balcony outside their sitting room. He’d be damned if Ban ended up making love to his wife. Brianna was his!
Brianna pulled her mouth from Ban’s. His kisses were passionate, and he was attractive and sexy, but—he wasn’t Char. “Ban, let me go. Please.”
She pushed against his chest.
He released her immediately, and she slid awkwardly from his lap.
A few deep breaths and he was in control of himself. “Do you want to talk about it?”
Fresh tears rolled down her cheeks, but she refused to give in to her anguish a second time. “I found Char with two of the maids. They were naked.”
Astonishment leaped onto Ban’s face. Char wasn’t that callous. He wouldn’t shame Brianna in her own house. “All of them?”
“Just the maids.”
Ban stared at Brianna. “You didn’t jump to the wrong conclusion, did you?”
Appalled, Brianna stared at the handsome man who had just comforted her, who’d offered to love her until her dying day. “Jump to the wrong conclusion! Whose side are you on?”
“Yours, love. But Char wouldn’t make love to another woman here in your home.”
“And how do you know that?” she snapped.
“Because he’s too honorable.”
“Too honorable! Ha! You didn’t see what I did.”
“Brianna…”
“No!” she cried, holding her hands over her ears, pacing awkwardly back and forth, “I don’t want to hear about how things are different here on Drakan. I don’t care if they’re different. I love him, Ban. I can’t help it. I don’t want to, but I do. And he’s breaking my heart.”
Ban pulled the unresisting Brianna back into his arms when she passed him. “He doesn’t mean to hurt you, Brianna. It’s just…”
Finally at a loss for words, Ban simply held her close, giving her what comfort he could, her confession of love for Char destroying any hope that he could lure her away from him.
Stupid bastard. When would he realize how lucky he was?
On the balcony, Char stepped back away from the open door, pondering everything he’d heard. Love? She loves me? But why hasn’t she told me?
You are a fool, Char, his conscience said. What have you done to deserve her love?
I’ve showered her with expensive gifts. I spend every night in her bed, making love until she cries with the joy of it.
In other words, you’ve treated her like almost every other woman you’ve taken to your bed.
I married her.
To thwart Bakom.
I could have done that without marrying her.
Then why?
I wanted her.
Is that all?
“Damn it,” Char growled as he made his way back down the stairway and into the gardens.
He paused next to a small bush covered with fragrant white flowers. A gardener hurried to his side.
“How many blooms could you cut without damaging the plant?”
“Chardadon, this is a linota bush. It’s taken ten years to bloom. Cutting the blossoms could harm it.”
“I’ll get you ten more if I have to go to Gattan and dig them up myself,” Char snarled.
The gardener took a hasty step back and turned his attention to the bush. Approximately two dozen fragrant white flowers bloomed on its short branches. “Six, I think. I could cut six and not harm the plant.”
“Then cut them and see that my wife gets them. And make sure you tell her they’re from me.”
The gardener’s lips quirked. News spread fast on the estate, and almost everyone knew about that morning’s encounter. And everyone waited anxiously to see what would happen next. “I’ll do as you say, Chardadon.”
Char grunted and walked back the way he had come. The fact that his private life was becoming the main topic of conversation with everyone on the estate was beginning to annoy him. Damn it! My plans don’t need any complications now. There’s time enough for love after Bakom is destroyed.
A scowl on his face, Char stopped abruptly when he saw Ban descending the steps from the suite’s balcony. His anger escalated. Bastard. He’ll never kiss my wife again. Stepping back behind a bush, Char waited until Ban passed. Then, he sprang.
Faster than seemed humanly possible, Ban turned, avoided Char’s attack, and had his cousin immobilized in an Aradab body hold. He relaxed slightly when he realized just who had attacked him. “You stupid fool, I could have…”
“Release me, now, Bandalardrac,” Char commanded in a harsh voice.
After a moment, Ban complied.
Char whirled to face his cousin. “Never kiss my wife again.” Spinning on his heel, Char strode away.
An amused smile etched itself across Ban’s lips. Jealous, Char? It’s about time.
“So, Grandmother’s right.”
Ban whirled to face Rodane.
Rodane smiled. “You’re an assassin.”
Ban stiffened. Only two other people knew the truth about him.
Rodane’s smile became a grin. “Don’t worry, Ban. I won’t tell anyone.”
“How?”
“You were conveniently absent too many times after an assassin had struck after being in the vicinity less than a week before. Grandmother’s never stopped worrying about you, Ban. Her lost grandson, she always called you.”
“Will you tell her?”
“That’s your decision. Personally, I’m glad you’re back. You’ve been missed.” Rodane turned and strode away.
Ban watched him go. Damn. Rodane knew he was an assassin.
Chapter Fourteen
Brianna stared at the vase of flowers sitting on the table. Their delightful fragrance filled the room. Against her will, her spirits lifted. What was Char up to now? If he thought he could keep buying his forgiveness with exotic gifts, he was wrong.
“Do you like them?” Char asked from behind her.
She inhaled. “They’re lovely. Nothing on Earth can compare.”
“Brianna…”
She didn’t give him a chance to finish. “I can’t live like this Char. Maybe Drakian women don’t care if their husbands fool around, but I do.”
“Fool around?”
She whirled to face him. “Don’t play stupid, Char. You know exactly what I mean. I won’t share you with other women. If you can’t accept that, I’ll leave.”
“You carry my child. I’ll never let you go,” he answered sternly as he stepped nearer.
“And that’s all I am to you, a brood mare?”
“No.”
“Oh, I forgot. I’m the bait in your trap for Bakom.”
“Damn it, Brianna! I came here to apologize.” Char pulled her into his arms and lifted her mouth to his.
As always, his kiss was devastating, demanding a response while promising everything.
Brianna melted against him. How could she ever live without this?
When Brianna relaxed in his arms, Char lifted his mouth and looked deep into to her distressed eyes. “Come with me. Mother has gathered the entire staff. Say to them what you will and I’ll support you, no questions asked.”
Tensing, she stared back at him. Did he really mean it?
“Mother and Grandmother are waiting with them. You carry the Alalakan heir. You can command anything.”
Brianna’s chin lifted
and her eyes narrowed. “You better mean what you say, Char, or I’ll make your life a living hell.”
As they entered the library, every set of female eyes shifted to Brianna then speculatively back to Char. One of the maids from that morning went so far as to send him an inviting smile.
That smile fanned Brianna’s already smoldering temper. Bitch. You don’t know who you’re dealing with. Stepping towards the assembled group, she narrowed her eyes and said very slowly and very emphatically, “Alalakan don al’ Chardadon is my husband and I will not share him with anyone.” Fixing her eyes on the two maids she’d found with Char that morning, she continued, “If you have an itch to scratch take it somewhere else.”
“An ‘itch to scratch’?” Jenneta whispered to Char.
He shrugged. That was the first time he’d heard that particular phrase.
Several of the maids shifted nervously. Brianna had made her point with them.
The tall maid in front, however, still wore her smug smile.
Brianna attacked. “What’s your name?”
“Kitena,” the maid purred her eyes sliding back to Char.
“You’re dismissed.”
That got her attention. “What?”
Brianna rested her hands on her abdomen. “You heard me the first time.”
“You can’t do that!”
A delicate red eyebrow rose. “Oh? Char, can I dismiss her?”
He clasped his hands behind his back. “You can do anything you like, Brianna. You carry the Alalakan heir.”
The entire group shifted uneasily. Both Xdana and Jenneta stood with their arms crossed; their support for Brianna evident in their stances.
“Mistress,” the maid said turning to Xdana.
“The disrespect you just displayed towards my daughter-in-law was totally unacceptable, Kitena. If she wishes to dismiss you, she may.”
Wringing her hands, Kitena finally turned her pleading gaze back to Brianna. “Please. I’m sorry. I meant no disrespect. It will never happen again.”
“Bullshit. I know exactly what you meant; you wanted Char in your bed.” Brianna paused and stared at the distressed maid. She couldn’t just throw her out. She was a member of the clan, and had parents and other relatives who could make things harder for Char. “Xdana, are there any other Alalakan estates?”
“There are several. I’ll have her transferred immediately.”
Brianna waved her hand dismissively. “Go pack your things. You’ll be leaving before the day is over.”
She watched unemotionally as the maid ran sobbing from the room. Then she asked, “Does anyone else have any problems with the thought of living without my husband’s sexual favors?”
A chorus of no’s answered her question. Not a single maid looked in Char’s direction.
Looking towards her mother-in-law, Brianna stated, “I’ve finished now, Xdana.”
“I’ll say,” Ban stated from the doorway. “Don’t worry, Coz. I’ll protect Char’s chastity with my own body. No maid shall assault his fidelity.”
“Shut up, Ban.”
He made no attempt to hide the suggestive leers he tossed at various maids, some of whom were returning them cautiously, after furtive glances in Brianna’s direction.
Brianna ignored them. She’d made her point.
Jenneta linked her arm through Brianna’s and guided her from the room. “That was well done. Transferring her will quell complaints. Banishing her might have eventually caused problems.”
Sighing, Brianna nodded. “I thought of that. The last thing I want to do is start a feud within the clan. I’m enough of a shock as it is.”
Jenneta’s merry laughter trailed behind them. “But you’re such a delightful shock, my dear.”
* * * * *
Muttering, Brianna counted again. Again she was one letter short. How am I going to get these alphabets parallel when Drakian has more vowels?
Her musings were interrupted when Char walked in.
“Working hard?”
She glanced at him from the corner of her eye. The last few days, he’d gone out of his way to pay more attention to her. And since her speech to the staff, the maids avoided him like the plague. However, houseguests were arriving to celebrate Solstice and Sheala’s eighteenth birthday. She had watched more than one woman flirt with Char. In every case, he had firmly and publicly declined all invitations. Why had he changed all of a sudden?
Char bent, nuzzled her collar aside, and kissed her neck. He placed his hand on her swelled abdomen. “Under different circumstances, love, I’d have you here on the floor right now.”
Steadying her breathing, she replied, “No, Char, I’d have you on the floor right now.”
He scooped her into his arms. “Then perhaps it is best that we do find a bed.”
Before he was able to take a single step towards the door, the intercom began to buzz. Muttering an expletive, he set a giggling Brianna to her feet. Reaching over, he pushed the receive button. “Chardadon.”
Ban’s voice, sharper than Brianna had ever heard it, exploded into the room. “Get out here to the shuttle pad, Char. There’s a Gattan warbird requesting permission to land.”
Brianna placed her hand on his arm. “What’s wrong?”
“Gattan never land at private shuttle pads,” he said. Pushing the button, he asked, “Did they identify themselves in any way? The warbird could have mechanical problems.”
“‘Wendjas has come’,” Ban answered. “I hope you know what that means.”
“Find Rodane and tell him to meet me out there,” Char ordered without answering Ban’s question, “and inform my father and mother that we may have an unknown number of guests staying for a while.”
He glanced at Brianna with a thoughtful look. “You asked once how I got the scar on my chest, and I never got around to telling you. Would you like to meet the man who put it there?”
Brianna nodded. Though this visit was obviously unexpected, Char didn’t think there was any danger. He’d never let her anywhere near that ship otherwise.
Fifteen minutes later, they stood with Rodane and Ban next to the shuttle pad. A door in the side of the sleek ship opened and an automatic stairway emerged.
“What a beautiful ship,” Brianna said.
Ban worshiped it with his eyes. “That warbird is top-of-the-line Gattan technology. She’s fully capable of extensive interplanetary flight. I hope these are good friends, Char. If we don’t get the Alalakans involved in that technology, their ships will soon be better than ours.”
A man appeared at the door of the ship.
“It is Wendjas,” Char breathed quietly. Jerking his head towards Ban and Rodane, he pulled his shirt over his head. They quickly followed his lead.
Brianna watched them curiously. When Char looked meaningfully at her, she gasped, “If you think I’m taking my shirt off, you’re crazy!”
“Then I hope this isn’t one of your favorite shirts.” He ripped off the short sleeve and tore open the shoulder seam so that her dragon was revealed.
“Close you mouth, Coz,” Ban hissed, “you want to make a good impression. These are Gattan.”
Snapping her mouth shut, Brianna concentrated on the man approaching them. One look told her why the Gattan ambassador to Mediria was so interested in the lion’s picture.
If a full-grown African lion could be reshaped into human form while still retaining its most striking characteristics, he would look like the man who walked towards them. Approximately six feet four, the Gattan wore a full lion’s mane. Thick, golden hair, combed behind pointed ears cascaded down his back. Though he was clean-shaven, Brianna was sure he could sport a full golden beard if he so chose. His nose was somewhat flatter and wider than she was used to but was by no means unattractive. Piercing golden eyes, which moved constantly about his surroundings, missed nothing. His thin lips were drawn back in a wide grin, displaying strong, white teeth.
He glided with the grace of a cat, smoothly and easily.
Wearing an open, sleeveless vest, his darkly tanned chest was bare, displaying more than a few white scars, one that matched Char’s almost perfectly. Muscular bare arms displayed more scars. Around his waist, he wore a thick belt of the red gold. Embedded in its elaborately carved buckle was a large red diamond. The dark pants he wore hugged his body, revealing powerful thighs. Boots of the same type of soft, brown leather as his vest reached to his knees. The boot sheath held a dagger with a red diamond on its hilt. All in all he was a very imposing figure.
The lion man stopped in front of Char. “Ho, Alalakan Dragon, I have come as I said I would.”
Char crossed him arms over his chest. “I see you, Wendjas Drefeson. What brings you to my home?”
Wendjas threw back his head and laughed. “You haven’t forgotten your stay on Gattan.”
Taking his eyes from Char, he focused his attention on Brianna. He moved close enough to trace the dragon on her shoulder.
She felt all three Alalakan men tense.
“So, you’re the woman who conquered the Alalakan dragon and carries his heir. It’s easy to see why. Chardadon has a weakness for fiery hair.”
Brianna’s eyebrows arched at his comment.
Lifting her left hand, Wendjas examined her wedding band with a grin. “You told me you would find a good use for the red diamonds, Alalakan.”
Still holding Brianna’s hand in his, Wendjas turned his attention to the two men who stood behind her.
Before he could say another word, however, a harsh voice snarled, “Bandalardrac Hardan, Medirian half-breed. What woman do you lust after here?”
Brianna had been concentrating on Wendjas so much, she hadn’t really paid attention to the man who stood close behind him, arms tensed and claws fully extended. From the resemblance to Wendjas, she deduced he was a brother, though he was an inch or so taller and more muscular.
He looked ready to attack.
“Ban is mine!” she declared boldly, wrenching her hand from Wendjas and stepping in front of the angry young man. “He is cousin by both my adopted Medirian family and clan Alalakan by marriage. Ban stands in my defense with my husband and his brother against Rodak don al’ Bakom. Do you challenge his right?”
