by S. E. Smith
"No, he's not."
"And if he's your Liana's mate that means you and I won't be parted, doesn't it?"
Pym paused before he replied. He didn't understand human maneuverings, but he knew enough about how unnecessarily complicated they could be. Liana and Jacen were clearly mates to Pym. Loving and bonded. But other humans might not see it that way. Might try to separate them.
He swallowed, suddenly uncertain about Rose Gold's bond with Jacen. If Jacen and Liana were forced apart, would his beautiful Rose Gold follow Pym home? Or follow her bonded human into exile? Pym's heart sped. Was he about to lose his own mate forever?
Liana fanned her fingers through Jacen's hair. His eyes were wide open and clear, his skin a warm honey gold, no longer terrifyingly pale. And Rose Gold, the new caliba, was tucked as happily against his side as a mama hen on her nest. "Jacen, is she yours?"
He laughed a bit breathlessly, his fingers absently stroking the caliba's feathers back and forth. "I think she must be. And I'm hers. She saved me, Liana. Healed me. That can only mean one thing, can't it?"
"Yes." Liana grinned so hard her face hurt. "Oh, Jacen, congratulations. I think you're the first person outside the royal family and the temple acolytes to bond with a caliba in centuries." Even as the words left her mouth a sprout of hope bloomed in her heart, the seed of an idea.
Jacen waved that away. "Royals and the temple attendants are the only ones who see caliba anymore. They're usually so closely protected." His eyes went soft as he looked at Rose Gold, and he stroked two fingers down her back, smiling. Rose Gold cooed happily and butted his hand with her large head, demanding more skritches. Jacen looked at Liana, and it almost seemed he meant to reach for her too, but he let his hand fall instead. "Well, at least I won't be going alone into exile."
Liana's heart squeezed, hurting at the words. "Is that what you want?"
His jaw tensed. "I'm only a humble guard. The son of a dock worker and a palace servant. You're the princess, heir to the empire. I've always known I can't have what I want." He swallowed, his dark eyes narrowed with pain. "Not to keep anyway."
Liana caught her breath. "Well, I was thinking—"
The ship rocked as it suddenly leapt out of lightspeed and the autopilot braked hard absent other instructions.
Liana shot to her feet. "Blast. I need to—"
Red lights and sirens began to sound all over the ship, and they all jumped.
"Proximity alert." Jacen pushed himself up, his injured arm clearly not bothering him at all anymore. He was still shirtless, though, and covered in the bandages she'd spent so much time assembling to save his life.
Liana waved him off when he tried to get out of bed. "Take your bandages off, put some clean clothes on and your shoes. I can get to the cockpit faster." Suiting words to actions, she jogged out of medbay and up to the bridge. One of the ship alarms was blaring, signaling that they had an incoming message. Another klaxon and flashing light drew her attention to the proximity warning. She flicked that screen on to discover their little ship was surrounded by a half dozen other huge spaceships. After the first jolt of scared adrenaline, Liana eased back and examined where they were in space: just off the jump point near home.
Home. The thought kindled an ache in her heart, making her eyes sting. She tapped her lips with one finger, her initial fear fading as she keyed open the com. Only the com, though. She left the view screen blank—just for the moment.
"About damn time!" A familiar voice, older and male, barked over the com line. "Jacen Tadashi, you miserable, ship stealing sneak-thief. I'll nail your hide to the temple doors and let the caliba peck your eyes and liver out for the hatchlings. I'll—"
Liana hurried forward before he could say more and flicked the view screen to life.
The man that stared back at her stopped mid-word, his lips pinching together in a tight grimace, his eyes going wide. "Liana!"
She wet her lips then drew her shoulders back. "Hello, daddy. I think you and I need to talk."
Jacen dressed as fast as he could, although he couldn't help pausing to gawk at the bloodied bandages as he pulled them away and examined his now-unblemished shoulder. So much blood. He should be dead. He shook his head in renewed wonder and gave Rose Gold another caress on the head. She leaned into him and crooned happily. He couldn't help smiling back, even if his happiness was bittersweet. He'd gained a caliba but, unless he was wrong about what they'd sailed into, he was about to lose Liana. For good.
Rose Gold beamed reassurance back to him and affection. She even gave a little nip at his fingers as if chiding him to snap out of his gloomy mood.
"You're right." He laughed as he skinned into dark pants and a fresh gray shirt. Just as he was about to jog up to the cockpit, though, the ship's com crackled to life.
"Jacen," Liana said over the speaker, "Please secure the caliba and your own person. It's all right. These are my father's ships. I'm going to land in the belly of the flagship now so we can catch a ride home."
Jacen crossed to the nearest com panel. "Affirmative." His voice was calm, but his heart was thundering in his chest. Was Liana's father somewhere on their escort ship? Was Jacen about to be thrown out an airlock? Or commended for saving the princess?
Commended then thrown out an airlock maybe?
Would Jacen even get to say goodbye to Liana before they sent him away?
Jacen gently urged Pym into one of the small compartments they had scattered about for the caliba on the ship. A small box set against the wall with padded sides and a vent along the front so he could breathe. It was big enough for two so Pym and Rose Gold settled into it, happily rubbing their wings together and cooing like the lovebirds they so clearly were. Jacen secured them then went to a jump seat himself and belted in. He keyed the com again. "We're ready."
"Acknowledged. Over and out." Liana closed the com and almost immediately the ship jerked around them, heading for some quick dock with one of the other ships. Liana knew how to fly because she had insisted on flight lessons in case her driver or escort were injured. In case she was ever kidnapped—ha. It was simply better that Liana be as self-reliant as possible in case she was ever separated from her security detail.
She'd handled herself amazingly well during this whole ordeal. He didn't need to worry about his princess. She would be fine without her loyal bodyguard. Fine without him. He scrubbed at his eyes.
Once the ship had settled and powered down, he unbelted, freed the caliba from their traveling cabinet, and rushed off to find Liana before anyone else could board the ship. He didn't think he'd get to say anything like a proper goodbye if her father was onboard.
"Jacen," Liana's voice crackled over the com. "Don't come up."
He froze, one foot poised on the access ladder that would take him to the cockpit. He rushed to the nearest com panel at the foot of the ladder. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing. But I need you to go quick and get spiffed up. Put your uniform on."
He jerked in surprise. "A uniform?"
"A dress uniform."
"Liana, wha—"
"Oh, please, Jacen," her voice was tight with tension and pleading. "Please just trust me. I'll meet you at the ramp. And hurry. He only gave us fifteen minutes."
"For what?"
But the com was dead. Shaking his head, exasperated, and more than a little worried, Jacen double-timed it up to the cockpit. But Liana wasn't there. The only other com that could open a ship wide channel was in the royal sleeping quarters. So she must be getting "spiffed up" as well. "But why?" he asked the empty air, throwing his hands up.
A strange swirling lightness churned in his gut, hope grappling with dread, and he finally forced himself down to the crew quarters to shake up a dress uniform in his size. He washed his face and slicked his hair back too, ran an autoshaver over his face until it was baby soft. It felt strange, peeling away the disreputable gambler and the disgraced outcast all at once. Once he'd joined Liana's guard, he'd lived his whole life all "s
piffed up", neat and tidy, freshly shaved, spit and polish. Perhaps he should have felt dread or distaste for having to clean himself up but instead he only felt relief. Like he was truly returning home. He turned from the mirror with a disgusted groan. Liana probably just wanted him to look like he'd showered in the last week when he passed her back to her father's care.
Jacen smoothed a hand down the front of his sleek dark coat. Well, he could understand that. Shiny boots clicking, he made his way out of the crew quarters and up to the entry ramp where he expected Liana to be waiting.
She was waiting, but when he caught sight of her he almost fled to the crew quarters. Her sleek hair was down and loose about her shoulders in a silky dark fall. Her face was clean washed with just a hint of kohl on her eyes and a kiss of color on her pretty pink mouth. And her clothes. She must have raided the petite section of the guard closet for another outfit, because she wore a burgundy tunic, tailored to skim her curves in an attractive manner without being lewd, and cut into a modest boat neck across her collarbone. Under the tunic she wore tailored trousers of the same rich burgundy color and matching flats. Over that was a silky white vestcloak with beautiful silvery embroidery of two caliba in flight.
The outfit was bold, different from her usual, but it struck a nice balance between the looser, silky robes she usually wore and the more…adult outfit she'd worn at the casino. It felt like he was looking at a new Liana. A mature, take charge woman ready to face the world on her terms. And one who would take no prisoners in the meantime.
She was so beautiful, and it made his heart hurt. Because she had entirely turned back into Princess Liana—a woman he could only admire from a distance. A woman he could serve and love from afar but never have.
She smiled, shyly almost. "I spoke to my father. He and I arranged everything between ourselves, and I was so proud of myself, so happy, but I, well…" She broke off and swallowed, her tongue nervously tracing over her lips. She seemed to be having trouble looking at him.
She feels awkward about our making love. Liana was trying to figure out a way to tell him she regretted their night together.
The hurt of that was worse than almost having his arm nearly shot off by a blaster, but he held the emotions inside and settled his features into a stoic mask. He'd lived half his life hiding how much he loved her. He could still do it. He had to. "It's all right, princess. You don't need to say anything else."
She blinked, maybe startled by his tone. "Jacen, what—"
The ramp cycled open, making them both jump. Jacen even took an instinctive step in front of Liana—old habits—but then he saw the emperor stomping up the deck of the ship. Jacen clenched his jaw and fell into parade rest.
Emperor Geor was a short man, but wiry with muscles and an intense, roiling energy that often swept everyone along in his wake—whether they wanted to be caught in the whirlwind or not. It was often said he had the personality and presence of a much larger man, as if he wasn't so much smaller, simply concentrated. Distilled down until he was nothing but pure will and force.
"Liana." The emperor enveloped his daughter in a tight hug, burying his face against her hair.
"I'm all right, daddy," she murmured, although she gave a small sniff as they stepped apart.
Emperor Geor cupped his daughter's face, searching intently as he stood eye to eye with her, probably reassuring himself that she was indeed all right. He stood on tiptoe and brushed a kiss across her forehead. "Thank the ancestors and kind Lady Fate for your safe return."
Liana shook her head. "Thank Jacen."
Emperor Geor gave a small harrumph at that pronouncement.
Jacen forced himself to look at the man, bracing to be chastised, perhaps even beaten as he had been after the ball. But when he met the emperor's level gaze he was surprised to see not anger or disgust or any of the other emotions he expected. Instead the emperor gazed at him with one eyebrow raised in speculation.
"So, you single handedly saved my daughter from kidnappers, saved her poor Pym, and somehow managed to rescue and bond with a caliba of your own. It's certainly a tall tale to come running home with."
"It's a true tale, daddy." Liana gave a shrill whistle, and Pym swept into the wide holding bay, circling above all their heads, giving a squawking cry of greeting.
Rose Gold joined him in the air a moment later, trilling out a sweeter song of her own. Beautiful and proud, she wheeled above Jacen's head then swept gracefully down for a perfect landing on his outraised arm. He sensed she was showing off, wanting him to be proud of her, wanting to appear worthy in front of the emperor. Jacen beamed approval and love back at her. Sweet, perfect girl, you're doing just fine. Rose Gold nuzzled his cheek then took off again to circle the ceiling with Pym, the two of them doing a complicated dance in the sky together.
The emperor's eyes widened, and he gasped watching the birds. "She's beautiful. We haven't had a caliba that color in decades. Not since the last one was stolen from the temple. By that wretched Tatinas, I wager." The emperor frowned as his gaze roved over Jacen head to toe. "I suppose you're right, Liana. About everything."
Jacen had the uncomfortable feeling that the emperor was really, finally, looking at him. For the first time ever, perhaps.
"It seems your Jacen is worthy," the emperor continued, "Blessed and bonded by a sacred caliba, that cannot be disputed. And he saved your life when all my other operatives couldn't even find you fast enough to stage a rescue. Yes, I owe you much, Jacen Tadashi." Emperor Geor clasped his hands together, thumbs touching his forehead and gave a small bow of his head. "I will bless the marriage as you wish, daughter."
Jacen's blood jolted inside him. "What?"
Liana hurried forward to put herself between her father and Jacen. "Daddy, excuse us, please?"
Emperor Geor frowned then let out an exasperated growl and moved toward the interior of the ship.
Liana and Jacen now had the hold to themselves.
Her face was pinched with worry, pale as she stared at Jacen. "I'm sorry. I tried to explain before he arrived. I arranged everything with him, argued our case, convinced him this is right and good but I…I realized too late I should have checked what you wanted. I mean, just because we did…well, that doesn't mean you want to marry me. And I would never force you, so I meant to ask, but he came onboard too soon, and I'm so sorry, I understand if you're mad—"
Jacen's brain had been running a bit behind, not quite following the charming babble spilling out of his princess's mouth. He waved his hands in the air, trying to stem the flow. "Wait. Liana, are you asking me to marry you?"
She gazed at him, her dark eyes wide and shining with hope. "To marry me, to rule with me when the time comes. To be by my side always, yes."
Heart hammering with elation now instead of fear, Jacen pulled her closer. "You'll have to find a new bodyguard."
"Oh?" Her brows pinched together in confusion.
He nodded, fighting a grin back. "Yes, I realize I'm not fit for the job anymore. I get too distracted." He cupped her face and leaned close, resting his forehead against hers. "I'm too much in love with you to be a proper bodyguard anymore, you see."
"Oh." Her breath caught. "That's all right. I'm much too much in love with you to let you be my bodyguard anymore."
He caught her mouth in a kiss. Laughing against his lips, she threw her arms around his neck and molded all her sweet curves against him. As he held his love tight in his arms, their caliba began an achingly beautiful duet of celebration. And Jacen's heart soared too, as if it had sprouted wings and were flying as high and far as the caliba.
Liana pulled back, but only a hairsbreadth away. They were both breathing hard, both shaking with emotion. She met his gaze, her eyes dancing. "So, you never did answer: if you can't be my bodyguard anymore, will you be my husband instead?" she murmured.
He brushed a kiss over her nose, warmth and happiness filling him from top to toes. "Yes, my princess, I will."
Epilogue
&nbs
p; Rose Gold was extremely nervous about her first trip to the temple of the caliba. For one thing, she was meeting Pym's mother and all his siblings. She was also half-worried that the temple acolytes would take one look at her and declare her a fake, not a real caliba. But as soon as Jacen brought her into the temple proper on his arm, the acolytes descended to greet and fawn over her. How lovely she was, how much they had mourned for her lost mother and the clutch of eggs that had been stolen.
And Pym's mother had immediately twined her neck with Rose Gold's and trilled a song of affection. "Welcome home, child. I'm so glad Pym found you."
Rose Gold's heart filled with an emotion so intense she nearly spread her wings and flew away, too overwhelmed to process what was happening. And she might have but for Jacen and all the other caliba beaming back love and acceptance and welcome. Their love stilled her racing pulse, and opened the cage that had grown around her heart while Tatinas had held her captive. He'd kept from her everything that was properly due to her as a caliba. Freedom. Family. Love. A home. But that had finally changed, and she wasn't going to let his memory ruin this moment for her.
After her wonderful, warm reception in the temple there was only one thing left for Rose Gold to worry about on this visit…the mountain. Today was the day she would finally, finally taste the mountain air under her wings. She'd been practicing about the palace the last few weeks, soaring as high and as far as she could across the grounds, over the walls, over the city. But the mountains…she couldn't even see the ground in the shadowy depths below.
Pym chirruped from his perch on Liana's arm. "It'll be all right. I'll be with you the whole way."
Rose Gold clicked her beak to acknowledge him but couldn't manage more than that.
Jacen stroked two fingers down her head. "You've got this, my brave girl."
Rose Gold nibbled his cheek affectionately then drew a deep breath in and spread her wings. Taking his cues from her, Jacen raised his arm and helped her launch into the air.
