by Sadie Carter
Her stomach grumbled again and she sighed.
“My own? You are awake?”
She stilled. Dex. She opened her eyes, blinking to clear her blurry vision. Dex filled her vision, his forehead crinkled in a frown, the lines around his eyes more pronounced. His hair was a mess, his clothing rumpled.
“Dex. You look so tired. Haven’t you been sleeping?”
He huffed out a laugh, then ran his hand through his hair, messing it up even further. “I look that bad, do I? No wonder my warriors have been running the other way lately. Of course, I cannot remember when I last bathed so that may have something to do with it.”
She frowned. Not bathed? That was unlike Dex. What was going on? She looked around the room again, noted the shelving, the little machine that beeped next to her, the sensors attached to her chest and wrist.
“I’m in a medical room?” She didn’t feel sick. So what…oh shit, that’s right. She attempted to sit.
“Easy, my own. You were very dehydrated. Racar said you may feel light-headed when you awaken.”
Racar was right. Her head spun nauseatingly. But surprisingly, there was no screaming pain in her body.
“I’ve been in a regen chamber?”
Dex nodded grimly. He rose and for a moment, panic filled her. Where was he going? But he merely pulled some more pillows out of a storage compartment. When he turned back, he paused, obviously seeing the ridiculous panic on her face.
“My own?”
She cleared her throat, rubbing at her chest to try and ease the panic attack looming. Heat flushed through her followed by a wave of cold.
“S-sorry, just experiencing some technical difficulties,” she attempted to joke.
“Panic attack?” he asked, placing the pillows behind her back and she rested back against them.
She focused on her breathing, trying to calm herself. “Just a little one.”
She had experienced panic attacks after that bastard Targos tried to rape her back on Edreinia, so it wasn’t surprising she was having one now. “I feel like I have bad karma. Why do creepy little men find me so attractive?”
“I find you attractive.”
She patted his hand then grabbed hold. “I knew you would come for me.”
Leaning forward, he pulled her hand to his lips, kissing the top of them. She raised her eyebrows in surprise. That wasn’t something he’d ever done before.
“I saw a male do this in one of those old movies you like,” he explained somewhat sheepishly.
“Ah, right.”
“Zoey, I apologize deeply for my behavior of late. Had I confided in you as I should have, none of this would have happened.”
The very real regret in his voice surprised her.
“It wasn’t your fault I was kidnapped. It was that jerk Tazan. Um, where is everyone else?” Jecan wasn’t here. Did Dex know about them yet? “What happened while I was sleeping?”
“I caught up to the ship that Boris and my cousins stole from Alyya.”
“Oh, so you have met your cousins then?”
“Yes. I, ah, I should have told you about them.”
“What do you mean?”
“They are the reason I changed our plans and wished to go to Maalika. They contacted Rohan to set up a meeting with me.”
Her eyebrows rose. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Rafal’s father was my father’s older brother. We thought he and his sons dead.”
“So…wait…would that mean that…”
“Rafal is the rightful emperor? Yes. I thought that is why he wished to meet me.”
“And you didn’t tell me, because…”
He flushed red. “I did not want to worry you. I also did not want anyone to know. This needed to be kept a secret. Could you imagine my mother’s reaction?”
He actually looked uncomfortable.
“She’d shit herself.”
Dex looked appalled and she waved her hand. “Not literally. I can’t imagine Rafal wanting to be emperor. He’s not really a people person.”
“He does not. They wish to find mates.”
“Oh. That will be interesting.”
“The meeting was set for the same time as you and Nassir were taken. Apparently, Rohan arranged that with Tazan in return for credits.”
“Ah, yeah. He’s the one who told me to take Nassir out for dinner and his guards dropped us off at that bar where we were taken.”
Dex’s face darkened. “He will pay for that.”
Alarm filled her. “Dex, I don’t think you can kill a King.”
“No? More is the pity.” He looked so disappointed.
“Poor Dex. Could you do something else? Maybe ruin him financially?”
He smiled at her. A wicked smile.
“You’ve already got a plan in place to do just that, haven’t you?”
“Oh yes. He will pay.”
“And your cousins? Are you going to let them come to Zerconia?”
He scowled. “I do not trust them. They played a part in kidnapping you.”
“They also rescued me. And they didn’t expect Tazan to take me.”
Dex just grunted. “I will think on it. When I first saw you, looking so battered and bruised...” His eyes grew red. She squeezed his hand.
“I’m all right. I knew you would come.”
“I could not reach you for so long.”
She nodded. “But when you did, I knew you weren’t far away.”
He drew her onto his lap, burying his face in her neck. “You cannot do this again. You cannot get kidnapped and hurt. I could not bear it.”
“Believe it or not, I’m not too fond of it either,” she said dryly.
He pulled back, his gaze intent. “I mean it, Zoey. This has to stop. He shook his head. “The person I am most angry at is myself. I should have confided in you.”
“Yes, you should have.” She smiled at him. “But you’re not the only one to blame in all this.”
He sighed. “I have decided that I am letting my work consume too much of me. I have decided to delegate more.”
“You? Mr. Control Freak”
He nodded firmly. “Yes. I will be spending more time with you and Elodie. When I realized that part of me wished to give up being emperor to Rafal—”
“Who would make a crap leader. He’s worse at barking out orders than you. And so cold.” She shivered. “You are a great leader, Dex. You can’t give it up.”
“But I need more time for my family. Once everything is worked out, I can take you on a real anniversary trip.”
She grimaced. “Um, maybe we could have a stay-cation.”
“A stay-cation?”
“A vacation at home.”
Leaving Zerconia wasn’t something she could see herself doing in a long, long time.
His eyes narrowed, his gaze taking in far more than she would have liked.
Then he nodded. “Yes, my own. Whatever you wish.”
“Hmm…don’t make promises your wallet can’t cash.”
“I know you are feeling better when you start to speak in riddles.” He smiled at her. “I love you, my own.”
“I love you too.” She ran her hand through his hair. “You really do look terrible. Could I convince you to start slacking off now and have a nap with me?”
“Certainly.”
She yawned as he laid them both on the masic, curling up around her. “It wasn’t a totally crap experience. Nassir and Boris are all loved up, did they tell you? Oh, and Faru was the guy who orchestrated the killing of Boris’s family. So he got closure.”
Yes, in the form of separating Faru’s head from his body. She felt a little queasy at the memory. Not that the asshole didn’t deserve it.
“Boris made the killing too easy. He should have made certain he experienced huge amounts of pain first. Oh, I have someone who wishes to see you.”
He stood and opened the door. A furry creature sped through and landed on the masic.
“Giz
!”
He chattered angrily even as he brushed against her. She wrapped her arms around him. “I’m sorry. Yes, next time I am kidnapped I will bring you with me.”
Dex growled.
“Joking.”
She cuddled into Giz and Dex lay at her back.
Her eyes were closing as she patted Dex’s arm where it surrounded her waist. Giz was already snoring softly.
“Nassir’s going to help me with this whole empress stuff. Means I don’t have to deal with your mother so much.”
“And that makes you happy?”
“Of course. Spending less time with your mother always make me happy.” She stiffened as she realized what she’d said. “Ah, you know, no offense or anything.”
“None taken. I know my mother can be challenging. Although I was beginning to get the feeling you enjoyed arguing with her.”
Zoey snorted. “As much as you loved having that squishy bug in your shoe.” Although there was a little truth to his words ... not that she would ever admit that to anyone.
Dex waited until Zoey was fast asleep before slipping away. He hated to leave her, but the beeping of his communicator could not be ignored. He grabbed it, checking the message with an irritated sigh.
He brushed a soft kiss across Zoey’s cheek, hoping she didn’t awaken until he returned. Then, thinking about that, he sent a message to Boris. Having Boris and Nassir here if she did awaken would be a comfort.
He waited until he heard a buzz at the door then let them in with a nod.
“Racar is close by if she needs him,” he told Boris and Nassir. “I will be in the landing bay.”
Boris looked at him questioningly.
“My cousins wish to leave.”
“You do not wish them to go?” Nassir asked. There was a new confidence about her now. Or perhaps an old one that had returned. She walked with her head held high. She would be a good companion to Zoey. Her quiet strength was a good foil to Zoey’s somewhat impetuous nature, although she would need to learn how to steer Zoey from doing dangerous things. Like leaving the palace without an escort.
“We will need to sit down and go over the aspects of your new job,” Dex told her.
She looked surprised and glanced up at Boris who gave him a small frown.
“There will be no going wandering around strange places without Boris with you both.”
Boris’ face cleared and he nodded his agreement.
Nassir nodded.
“Excuse me, I must go deal with my cousins.” He nodded at Boris. “I will speak to them about that thing we talked of.” He smiled savagely. “Hopefully, they give me a reason to hit one of them.”
Nassir looked up at Boris with wide eyes. “Surely, he does not mean that.”
Boris shrugged and sat in the chair next to Zoey’s bed. He crooked a finger at Nassir who walked slowly toward him.
I believe he would love nothing more than to vent his anger on them. After all, they did kidnap his mate. And mine.
She sighed. “And then they saved us.”
Which is why he did not kill them. Does not mean he doesn’t wish to hurt them a bit.
“What did he mean when he said he would ask them something?”
He studied her for a moment then sighed. You know that your people burned the palace to ashes.
She blanched. “Yes.”
Rafal is going to contact Loyrul’s brother and give him the bad news that you died in the fire.
“So he won’t come after me?”
Boris nodded.
“But will he believe him?”
There is no reason he would not. Did he ever see you?
“No, some of the slaves did, though.”
I hear they all escaped after Loyrul’s death. Apparently, the slaves rioted. Perhaps one of them helped Loyrul onto the next life.
That was entirely possible.
You will be safe, Nassir. I will ensure that.
He watched as she visibly relaxed.
Now sit on my knee.
“Boris! Anyone could come in.”
He was going to have to work on her embarrassment over being touched in public. He did not care if they were alone or not, he was going to want to touch her. A lot. And he knew that she needed his touch.
I’m calling in one of my payments.
Her cheeks grew redder but she slipped onto his knee.
“This isn’t exactly proper behavior.”
Oh, but sitting on my face as I bring you to a screaming release is?
“That is in the privacy of our own bedroom.”
Relax, Nassir. I am not asking you to do anything risqué. But I like touching you. It grounds me. And I wish to do so often.
She relaxed a bit with those words, curling into him even more as he rubbed his hand up and down her back. She sighed.
“I like being touched by you as well.”
I know.
She laughed in his head. “My arrogant warrior.”
Always.
Epilogue
“Zoelle! Zoelle, where are you?”
“Oh, shit balls,” Zoey muttered, from where she lay on the couch in her private seating area. She sat up slowly. After getting access to a regen chamber, all of her bruises and scratches had healed, but Nassir still noticed a darkness in her eyes sometimes. Boris had also commented to her that it was unusual for Zoey to remain in the palace as much as she was. Nassir understood her need to stay where she felt safe. Nassir felt the same need.
Safe for her was with Boris.
They spent most of their time together. Boris guarding Zoey while Nassir worked as her assistant. Zoey liked to call Nassir her right-hand man, whatever that meant. She had lived on Zerconia for nearly eight weeks now. It hadn’t taken Nassir much time to adjust. Boris already had a set of rooms in the palace for his personal use. And although they had been a bit sparse, some throws and cushions and paintings had soon brightened the place up. Zoey had been happy to help her with that.
Without telling Boris, who had refused any payment for guarding Zoey, Dex had been putting credits into a fund for him, which he had quickly given her access to. She hadn’t liked using his credits, though.
Earning her own money gave her a sense of achievement and security. She would never find herself in the situation she had before, not that she believed it would happen again. But if it did, she had the means to support herself and she was building skills that would help her gain another job should she ever need it.
Not that she could imagine working anywhere else. Life might be crazy here, but it was never boring.
“Zoelle!” Liula called from the main seating area that was used when Zoey had more people visiting.
“Honestly, there’s only like three rooms we could be in,” Zoey muttered. “How can she not find us? And she’s always berating me for not keeping my voice at a polite whisper so why does she get to go around screaming the castle down?”
“Why is she looking for you?” Nassir asked.
Zoey looked guilty, and hastily dived for Elodie, who was playing on a mat on the floor, as Liula, the dowager Empress of Zerconia and Dex’s mother, appeared in the doorway.
Zoey attempted to hide behind the infant she held on her lap.
“Zoelle, what are you doing here? I have been looking for you everywhere.”
Considering they were in Zoey’s private quarters and hadn’t moved all morning, Nassir thought that she hadn’t looked that hard.
“I’m holding your granddaughter! Don’t shoot!”
Liula paused, looking taken aback. She gaped at Zoey. “Are you using my granddaughter as a shield?”
Zoey glanced up at her mother-in-law and shrugged as Elodie smiled and babbled. She looked pretty happy to be used.
“Zoelle, this is ridiculous. Put my granddaughter down. Playing games, joking around, being lazy, and avoiding your duties is not acceptable behavior.”
Liula’s voice had risen so high that she failed to see the warrior looming behind
her.
“Is there a problem here, Mother?” Dex asked in a quiet voice.
His mother jumped, placing a hand on her heart before turning. “Yes, there is.” She pointed at Zoey. “Your mate must start behaving in a manner appropriate to her station.”
Zoey crinkled her nose, but sighed, looking resigned.
“And she has not been?”
“She was supposed to meet me at the dressmakers today. She needs some more appropriate clothing for the visitors that are coming. I do not know how many times I have brought this up and I have had enough!”
“Yes, so have I,” Dex said quietly.
Zoey shrank back into her seat and tucked Elodie into her side. Even the baby had grown more serious. She sucked on her thumb as she looked up at her father.
Liula reminded Nassir so much of her mother, that she often found herself deferring to her before she caught herself. She’d actually believed Zoey had been exaggerating about her mother-in-law.
Until she had met her.
Oh, she had several good points to her. She loved Elodie, that was very clear. But when it came to Zoey, she just had this dogged determination to make her into what she thought a proper empress should be.
And Zoey was just as stubbornly determined not to change for anyone.
“Well, good. I have been waiting for you to get firm with her.” Liula stood to the side with a nod, as though waiting for Dex to take his mate in hand.
Nassir looked over at Boris, to see what he thought. He looked relaxed, but she could see a slight tension in his jaw and mouth.
“There is nothing wrong with the way Zoey dresses, mother.”
For a moment, everyone in the room paused. Zoey stared up at her mate as Liula turned to him. “Pardon me?”
“You heard me,” Dex continued in the same soft voice. “Since father died, you have become even more obsessed with changing my mate. I have given you leniency because of father’s death, and because I also know that you do actually mean well. But Zoey is Zoey. She has all the characteristics a great leader should have. She is fair, she is honest and kind and loyal. Most of our people love her and those that don’t can go bend themselves. Did I say it right, my own?”
“Um, I think you mean they can get bent,” Zoey replied, staring up at him.
