The Playful Prince

by Michelle M. Pillow

  “The source?” Kirill asked. “I didn’t know there was a source to it.”

  “Neither did I. But, if you remember, some of the elders used to talk about hunting in the marshes. Now, the air is barely breathable. I think there might be something important in their research.” Quinn shrugged. “Whatever it is, I doubt it’s an immediate threat.” He didn’t want to think about that right now, though he knew it was his duty to do just that. His mind kept wandering to Tori and Doctor Vitto. What exactly was their relationship? Friends? Lovers? One moment Quinn thought one thing, another he’d suspect something else.

  “Interesting.” Kirill frowned. “I always just assumed they’d hunted the area out in the old days and the black moss overgrowth was like the green moss—overrun because there were no animals left to feed on it. Things were a lot less structured before our father’s rule. That’s Lord Myrddin’s land, and he’s known for his fondness of hunting.”

  Quinn grimaced. “I know. He’s not exactly the best person to try and talk with at the moment about the moss or what happened to Doctor Martens. If he knows anything about it, I doubt he’ll tell us.”

  “He is one of the few left who won’t give his full support to my rule,” Kirill added. “He resents that I’m making peace with the Draig. You don’t think he had anything to do with the New Earth scientist’s death, do you?”

  “I’d like to think not,” Quinn answered. “We gave our word to HIA to protect the human doctors.”

  “I know.” Kirill frowned, sighing heavily. “I’ve already spoken with Franklin, at my wife’s insistence and have assured him we are helping in every way possible. It saddens me to know we failed them. I don’t want the scientists going out of the palace alone.”

  “Agreed,” Quinn answered, thinking of Tori. He’d been so scared when he couldn’t find her. He never wanted to feel that way again.

  “I’ve sent a dispatch requesting Lord Myrddin’s presence at the palace, but he has yet to answer.” Kirill ran his hand through his long black hair in frustration. “On one hand, he could be defying me. On the other, he could simply be away hunting.”

  “The biological weapons were found in his cave. Our father barely took two steps without asking for his opinion, so it’s very likely he knew they existed. He could have much to hide.” Quinn’s look matched his brother’s.

  “I’ve thought the same thing.”

  “We should send Falke to invite him.” Quinn’s eyes again turned thoughtfully to the rug. “He can be very persuasive.”

  “Agreed. Let’s just make sure he doesn’t bring him back bound and gagged. If our suspicions are wrong...”

  “I know. Lord Myrddin is a very powerful man. We can’t discount him. Those who were loyal to our father are loyal still to Myrddin.” Quinn felt a headache start behind one of his eyes. It was a complicated mess they faced. Reluctantly, he admitted, “I don’t believe the scientists are going to be very cooperative in telling us what they’ve found out there in the marshes.”

  “After what happened to their colleague, can you blame them?” Kirill slowly stood. Looking down at Quinn, he said, “You’re the ambassador. I expect you to stay close to Doctor Elliott. I want you to discover what they know.”

  “I’m not sure...” Quinn pushed to his feet. His weary gaze turned to Kirill, and he shook his head. “I’m not sure I can. Tori...Doctor Elliot won’t see me.”

  “Oh?”

  “I, ah, made her…”

  “Yes?”

  “Rrrr, I made her my half mate, all right.” Quinn scowled. “Only, I don’t think it worked.”

  “How could it not work?” Kirill’s lip twitched, as he tried to hide his amusement.

  “I don’t know. It just didn’t take.” Quinn shrugged and then threw his hand up in aggravation. “I probably didn’t do it right. I’d never tried it before. I think our father was right about women. They drive a man to distraction if you let them.”

  “Ah, but it’s a beautiful madness.” Kirill chuckled.

  “Speak for yourself. Ulyssa returns your love,” Quinn grumped.

  “Love?” Kirill probed, his eyes rounding in surprise.

  “Ah, you know what I mean. Tor...Doctor Elliot and I are, were lovers only. It was a slip of the tongue.” Quinn moved toward the door.

  “Quinn, did Doctor Elliot know you were making her a half mate?”

  Quinn stopped and frowned. He remembered her sleepy face that last time they were together. She hadn’t exactly been one hundred percent aware of what he was doing. His mouth opened to speak, but Kirill’s laughter shouted out from behind.

  “She didn’t? Sacred cats, little brother.” Kirill’s laughter continued. “You’re more hopeless than I thought.”

  24

  “Quinn?” Tori breathed in surprise, as she nearly stumbled into his chest. She looked up. The king’s rich laughter poured over them. She glanced behind his back to where Kirill stood. Slowly, she drew her gaze up. “I was just coming to speak to the king.”

  Quinn’s face hardened, as if he would like to debate her. She narrowed her eyes in confusion. His lips tightened, his eyes hardened as if he willed her to do something. Only, she didn’t know what that something was.

  When he didn’t speak, merely stared, she asked lightly, “May I pass?”

  Quinn suddenly stepped out of her way to let her by. She frowned in confusion, watching him storm down the long hall. What was his problem now? She shook her head, in no mood to deal with a temperamental prince. Turning her attention to Kirill, she watched him wave her inside.

  “Your Majesty,” Tori bowed her head politely, refusing to look around at the stately room. A smile twitched on his mouth at her words, as if they amused him. “I came to speak with you about our fallen...about Doctor Martens’ death.”

  Kirill’s smile faded, and he became serious. “You have my sincerest condolences and my word that we will do whatever we can to bring the killer to justice.”

  “Thank you,” Tori said, doing her best to stay professional and calm. “There is one thing I’d like to request. We ran some comprehensive scans that will determine the DNA of what or whoever attacked Doctor Martens. I would appreciate being allowed temporary security access to Siren’s DNA database.”

  “You think someone from the palace did this?” Kirill asked though he didn’t seem too surprised.

  “I don’t know what to think. It’s the most logical place to start. Your mainframe should also have records of any and all wildlife on this planet. It will help us rule that out as well. If anything, HIA and ESC will both expect me to check the palace inhabitants. This way your honor will not be questioned. Really, it’s best for all involved.”

  “Done,” Kirill stated. “Siren?”

  “My king?” a sultry feminine voice answered, almost as if it was pouting. Tori had heard the mainframe computer speak a few times and found it amusing. Only a planet of men would make the computer sound like a seductive woman’s voice.

  “Doctor Elliot is to be allowed security clearance three into your DNA databases,” Kirill said.

  “New security clearance recorded, my lord,” the computer purred.

  Tori couldn’t help but chuckle.

  Kirill shrugged. “My brother, Jarek, thought it was funny to reprogram her...it before he left. He placed a password on Siren’s voice actuator, and we haven’t been able to change it back. We’ve all become used to her unique temperament.”

  Tori nodded.

  “Just don’t call her ugly. Reid did that once, and it locked him in the weapons chamber for an hour until he said he was sorry.” Kirill chuckled softly. Tori couldn’t help but let her laugher join his.

  “I’ll keep that in mind,” Tori answered. She bowed her head and made a move to go.

  “Oh, Doctor?”

  “Yes?” She turned back around.

  Kirill’s hand lifted to his head, and he pulled out a strand of his long black hair. He offered it to her. “Here. Take this and test
it. Know that you can rule me out of your suspicions.”

  “I did not mean to imply—”

  Kirill held up a hand to stop her from explaining. “You have access to everyone but the royal family and a few of the elders. It takes more than just my word to give you clearance to that information. But, if you have a need, let me know, and I will do what I can to put your mind at ease about the others. All I ask is that if you do discover something about one of my people, you talk to either my brothers or myself first.”

  “Yes. Thank you.” Tori took the hair strand and walked out of the office. The door automatically shut behind her.

  “Did you get everything you needed?”

  Tori glanced over at Quinn. He looked as if he’d been waiting for her. His long frame leaned against the tile wall. Lowering his jaw, his bright blue eyes bore forward to study her.

  “Quinn, I don’t know what you expect me to say,” Tori said.

  “Your face is healed,” he observed. Her hand automatically lifted to touch her cheek, as she tried not to blush. “I wish to know what it is about our black moss you think to be suspicious.”

  Tori blinked in surprise. Work. He wanted to talk about work. All right, she could do that. “It’s too early to tell, but I believe that it might be an ecological threat that is beginning to spread at a rapid pace. Already, we’ve discovered a mutated strand that can survive in ai—rah!”

  Quinn rushed forward. His hand reached to cup her face, and he drew her instantly to his mouth, ending her words. Passionately, he ground his lips to hers, making her body tremble with the force of his kiss. She gasped for breath, allowing his tongue to slide inside her mouth. He massaged past her teeth, deepening the onslaught until she felt him all the way to her toes.

  Just as abruptly as it started, the kiss ended. Quinn pulled back, looking deeply into her eyes. Tori was stunned and she gasped for breath. Her body was on fire for him, so much so that she’d been about to push his back to the wall and have her wicked way with him.

  A slow smile curved on Quinn’s devilishly handsome lips. “I expect a full report on the black moss situation, Doctor Elliot.”

  “Ah…yeah,” she breathed, knowing she sounded like a simpering fool. But his kiss had been so passionate, so claiming. He’d kissed her before, but never like that, never like he was marking his territory, conquering her completely. Her lips still tingled, and she could feel his tongue in her mouth as if he was still there. “Okay.”

  “Good,” he stated with a firm nod. Tori moved to leave, clutching the king’s hair strand in her fingers. “Oh, Doctor Elliot, there was one more thing.”

  “Yes?”

  Quinn came close to her back. His breath ticked her skin, as he whispered, “You like sleeping with me. I like sleeping with you. I see no reason why we don’t continue.”

  “But, professionalism—” she tried to interject. His hand cupped her butt firmly, stopping her from finishing the thought. His fingers curled slightly, moving indecently close to her inner thigh. Moisture pooled within her, and her head became light with pleasure. What was it about this man’s nearness that sent her senses over the edge?

  “If you insist, Doctor Elliot,” Quinn whispered hotly, leaning forward to nip her earlobe. “What I do to this body of yours will be strictly professional.”

  “Ahh,” she panted, as his fingers moved to cup her sensitive flesh from behind. He rubbed a finger indecently over the length of her clothed opening. Her legs almost gave out from underneath her.

  “I’ll come by your suite tonight for my complete physical, doctor.” With that, Quinn again nipped at her ear. Tori listened as he walked away. In a daze, she continued forward in the opposite direction, refusing to turn around and look at him.

  When she reached Grant’s suite, where they’d set up their new temporary laboratory, she was still stunned by Quinn’s boldness. Vitto and Grant were already hard at work when she entered. Lifting her hand, she said to Grant, “Here’s the king’s DNA for testing. He’s given me access to their database for everyone but the house nobles and royalty.”

  “Great,” Grant said, taking the hair. He didn’t bother to ask how she’d acquired it.

  “What about Prince Quinn?” Vitto inquired.

  “Yeah,” Tori managed, before blushing. “I managed to get that too.”

  Vitto held out his hand for the hair strand. Tori’s face turned an even deeper shade of red. “Ah, actually, you’re going to need a swab for this one.”

  Vitto’s eyes narrowed. Grant turned to her in surprise. Slowly, Tori opened her mouth.

  “That’s just gross, Tori. You went and gave him a blowjob? Really, that’s beyond the call of duty,” Grant teased.

  “Ugh, Grant.” Vitto flinched. “I’m pretending I didn’t hear that.”

  “Saliva sample, moron,” Tori returned. She looked at Vitto, who grabbed a swab and merely shook his head.

  “What lengths you’ll go to in the name of science,” Grant chuckled, moving to begin sequencing on the king’s hair.

  25

  Tori spent all day working in the laboratory, but for once, she didn’t forget about the time. She was anticipating finishing up for the night. Just the thought of Quinn made her shake with anticipation to be near him. Usually she was all about the work, even though trying to figure out who killed Doctor Martens was a grim task.

  Rubbing her neck, she leaned back in her chair, turning away from the computer screen floating before her. She’d been staring at if for hours, waiting for it to complete its analysis. The computer was sequencing the DNA, and all she could do was pray that it turned out to be a wild animal.

  “Anything yet?” Vitto asked.

  “No,” Tori answered, yawning.

  The computer beeped, signaling that it was finished. Both of them jumped, and Grant came rushing across the room holding three cups of coffee. Absently, he set them down on the table.

  “Was it an animal?” Grant asked, almost hopeful.

  Tori paled, slowly shaking her head in denial. She stared at the screen, unable to speak. Her hand came to rest over her mouth.

  “No,” Vitto answered. He glanced at his sister, before slashing his hand through the nearly transparent screen in agitation. When he’d finished, the screen went back to normal. “He was killed by a Var.”

  All three scientists stared at the information before them. Finally, steeling herself, Tori said, “Siren, I need DNA access. Please match our computer’s sequencing with all Var DNA samples in your database.”

  “Yes, Doctor Elliot,” the computer’s sultry voice answered, its purring out of place in the solemn room. “Match sequencing begun. Estimated time six hours and forty-three minutes.”

  “I’ll take the couch,” Vitto said, automatically knowing none of them would want to leave until the palace’s mainframe had finished its comparisons. “We might as well try to get some rest while we’re waiting.”

  “Elliot, why don’t you take the bed?” Grant offered. “I’ll lie on the floor.”

  “No, why don’t you take the couch? Vitto and I can share the bed.” Tori sighed. The men nodded in agreement. It was going to be a long night, and they had nothing to do but wait.

  Quinn paced back and forth in Tori’s suite, waiting for her to join him. He’d brought more flowers, which were getting harder to find. Taura had guards on her garden now, so he had to find the pretty weeds elsewhere. He stopped, chuckling like an ill-behaved boy who’d gotten away with mischief as he thought about it.

  Taura was beside herself with irritation, though the noblewoman would hardly let it show. If she found out it was him, she’d probably try to put him in isolation as punishment, locking him in his room for three days without company, as she’d done to the princes when they were young boys. The very idea of a fifty-six-year-old man getting sent to his room was hilarious.

  Throwing himself down on the couch, he stared at the ceiling. He could tell by the light that it was getting late. Quinn frowned. His le
g restlessly swung over the side of the couch, kicking into the air with agitation. Where was she anyway? He’d been pacing anxiously for hours, counting down the slow minutes until he could be with her again.

  After a half hour on the couch, he slowly pushed himself up. His hands pulled at his light brown hair. He hated to admit it, but it looked like she wasn’t going to come.

  “Fire,” he stated, angrily. The fire lit in the fireplace. Going across to his flowers, he grabbed them and threw them into the flames.

  26

  Tori yawned, blinking heavily. She lay on Grant’s bed by her brother. The room was dark, the top dome curtains drawn overhead to cast the whole suite into blackness. She felt the bed shift next to her and assumed Vitto tossed in his sleep. She couldn’t blame him. She felt the same way, restless, edgy.

  Sadness overwhelmed her for a moment as she thought of Simon. He’d been such a decent man, a respected colleague, a good friend. She still hadn’t been able to bring herself to go through his belongings. It somehow seemed wrong to invade his personal things.

  The bed shifted again. Tori closed her eyes, tired, as she tried to get some more sleep. She flipped over on her side.

  “Snookie, you in here?”

  Tori was so exhausted, it took her a moment to realize someone had spoken. She frowned, wondering if she was dreaming. Reluctantly, she opened her eyes.

  “Snookie, where are you? I’ve come to play.” It was a woman’s voice.

  Suddenly, a hand was on the coverlet over her leg, inching up to her thigh. A giggle sounded, jolting her to complete awareness. Tori thrust up in bed, gasping. Her leg shot out, trying to get away from the caress. She ended up kicking Vitto in the side. He grunted, and there was a tumbling of arms and legs on the bed.

  It was dark, and she couldn’t see anything. The woman screamed. Tori was smacked in the face by a flying arm. She lifted her hands to block her face and ended up elbowing Vitto in the stomach. The irritating woman screamed again, high pitched and loud.