His Highness the Duke (15 page)

listening to the wavelength and to ignore all further information coming from that

sector.‖

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―What did you hear?‖

―I hope I‘m doing the right thing.‖

―What did you hear, Aeron?‖ he repeated, more insistent.

―The Federation insisted I do not get involved, but please understand I couldn‘t

just say nothing and let something happen. I had to warn you.‖

―Aeron, tell me.‖

―A race of aliens called the Tyoe plan to attack your planet and set up a mining

colony.‖

―I have not heard of these Tyoe. Why would they wish to attack us?‖

―They‘re technologically advanced,‖ she said. ―They have mining bases all over

the galaxy. It is my belief that the Federation thinks they‘re coming here might have

great benefit as their technology could mine the ore faster than,‖ she paused, not

wanting to insult him, ―than your older techniques.‖

―How do you know what our techniques are? We do not share them with

outsiders.‖

―Well, I don‘t, I‘m just saying with the way you live, it would be natural to

assume you don‘t have the same kind of technology a race like the Tyoe would have.‖

He considered her words for a long moment. Then, carefully, he reasoned, ―You

could have forwarded a transmission to tell us this. Your being here can only mean the

gods compelled you to come to me. There is a reason you were the one to hear the

transmission. There is a reason you came to this planet. We were meant to find each

other.‖

Was this man completely daft? Or did he just have marriage on the brain? ―The

Federation monitors my communications and it was doubtful, should I even find a

secure line to tell you, that you would listen to a complete stranger on the wavelengths.

I had to come.‖

―Did you try to contact us over the wavelengths?‖

―Well, no, but—‖

―You were compelled to come here. The gods willed it.‖

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―No, you‘re not listening. I was compelled, yes, but not to be a wife. You don‘t

understand. I have my reasons for having to warn you and they have nothing to do

with marriage.‖

―Then tell me. What other reasons have you?‖

―It‘s…‖ Aeron thought of her dead family, of her destroyed home world. She

didn‘t like talking about it. Her reasons had no bearing on the outcome of her

information. ―It‘s personal.‖

―Why are you fighting this?‖ Frustration seeped out of him.

―Why are you refusing to listen? What I‘m telling you is a real danger to your

people and your planet, but all you want to talk about is marriage and…‖ Aeron

frowned. ―Perhaps I was mistaken. You are not the person I need to discuss this with. I

need to speak to the king, or whoever is in charge of the mines. Who is in charge of the

mines?‖

―My brother, Mirek.‖

―Take me to Mirek,‖ she said. ―If you don‘t, I will find him myself.‖

―I assure you I heard everything you said and will do what must be done to

ensure the safety of my people. That duty does not negate the fact that we need to get

this marriage settled. In fact, settling this marriage is the first step in my doing anything

about this attack. I am under direct orders from the king to make this marriage right

before I leave this cabin. The sooner we do that, the sooner I can look into this Tyoe

matter.‖

―That is blackmail.‖

―This is reality.‖

―So either I agree to stay married to you and you let me leave this cabin to warn

your people of possible annihilation, or I deny the marriage and watch a planet die?‖

―Possibly die,‖ he corrected.

―Possibly die,‖ she repeated. ―Blackmail.‖

―Reality.‖

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―It is blackmail.‖ She shook her head. ―Do you really want a marriage based on

blackmail? You don‘t know me. You don‘t know anything about me, or my people.‖

You don’t know that I’m dying because of what we did. You don’t know how hard it was

for me to come here. You don’t know what you’re asking of me.

―I know enough. The gods decreed it. You are my wife and I your husband. We

are meant to be.‖

Aeron closed her eyes, unable to keep looking at him. He seemed so earnest, so

sure, but he said nothing of feelings, of his desire for her, or of love growing in time—

not that she had that much time left. This was about duty, about some perceived

supernatural force that commanded they be together. Yes, she felt a connection to him.

She felt the physical pull to be next to him, to touch him and kiss him. She felt him like

she had never felt any man. But was that fate? Or was it lust for the one man she had

sex with?

―Know that I only say yes because you give me no choice.‖ She remembered

every second of her planet being destroyed, every piece of spinning rock, every flaming

arc, every silent moment. She imagined there were screams on the surface, but in the

spaceship, looking on from the window, feeling the pleasure of homecoming drain into

disbelief and despair, it had been quiet. With her own death suddenly very near, she

knew this might be her last chance to do something meaningful with it. She had

nowhere else to go. The Federation would be furious with her. Perhaps this was her

fate. It didn‘t stop her from resenting the way her marriage came about, or his high-

handed blackmail disguised as decrees. ―I request we leave as soon as possible.‖

* * * * *

Bron couldn‘t move. Aeron refused to look at him, but he couldn‘t stop staring at

her. A tear slid from her eye, down her cheek. The lonely trail hurt him worse than

anything she could have said at that moment. Her voice stayed steady, but that one tear

gave so much away.

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She did not want to be with him. He should let her go. How could he demand

she stay with him as a wife? How could he keep her when she was miserable at the very

idea? How could he let her go? She was his one chance at happiness. Surely she would

come to love him, at least care for him. He would be a good husband. He would do

everything required of him and more.

He couldn‘t let her go. No matter if it would be the right thing to do, he just

couldn‘t bring himself to release her from her vows. He‘d bonded to her. For him, there

would never be another woman. It was the way of his kind.

He lifted his hand, intent on going after her as she moved toward the back

sleeping chamber, but he saw the dirt on his fingers. How could he have forgotten his

ordeal? Hunger suddenly bit at his stomach and he eyed the untouched trencher of

food. He had the Var to worry about, and apparently the Tyoe. Despite her misgivings,

he was glad Aeron had seen reason and agreed to their marriage. He would inform

Alek and then he would leave in the morning to see the king. Tonight he would eat,

bathe, and… Bron looked to where his wife had disappeared down the hall. And gods

willing he would find a way to comfort his wife.

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Chapter Nine

Bron hesitated outside the sleeping chamber door, listening to the sounds

coming from within. He wasn‘t afraid to face his wife, just his wife‘s tears. What did he

know about comforting women, especially when he was the cause of her pain? He‘d

rather face a thousand swords than a woman‘s tears.

He didn‘t hear the sound of crying and decided it was safe to enter. She lay on

the bed, her back to him. A wave of sadness washed over him. Already they were

connecting, at least they were on his end. Soon he would be able to feel her emotions as

if they were his. It was all part of the process. In fact, she might even start hearing his

call inside her mind, if she opened herself up to what they could be to each other.

Bron stood, helplessly not knowing what to say to comfort her. He‘d always

thought if he stayed honest and did his duty then everything would work out. Well, he

was doing his duty, the best he could, and she was still upset.

―I did not wish to upset you, my lady,‖ he said quietly. Apologizing wasn‘t

exactly a Draig trait. He had no practice at it.

―You have not upset me.‖ The sound was muffled by the bedding. She didn‘t

move to look at him.

―I think we both know that is not necessarily accurate.‖

―It was not you that upset me,‖ she said. ―You have your beliefs. I am on your

planet. I must respect that your culture is different than mine and that I am in your

territory and the mercy of your generosity.‖

―I do not wish for you to fear me.‖ He didn‘t move. He wanted to go to her, to

touch her. Actually, he wanted to stop talking altogether and just make love to her.

Physical, he could handle. He was a man, a warrior. He was more comfortable with

action over speaking of feelings. ―You should not feel as if you are at my mercy.‖

She turned to look at him, her eyes dry and her expression steady. He let loose a

small breath of relief. He‘d felt her sadness and thought she might be overcome with

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tears, her face wet from sobbing. He moved slowly, not wanting to ruin the delicate

moment.

―I do not fear you,‖ she said. The sound was soft, almost a whisper. ―I fear what

will happen to your planet if you do not prepare for the Tyoe. I fear that my coming

here will be a failure. I cannot watch another,‖ she paused, correcting herself, ―I cannot

watch your people be annihilated. And, on this subject, I fear there is something else I‘m

bound to mention. When I spoke to Kendall earlier, she seemed unsure of her staying

married. There was something secretive in her tone. I cannot place it. I‘m not one to

begrudge a woman her secrets, I have enough of my own, but I am not convinced you

should tell your brother of the Tyoe until you are sure of her reasons for being here. The

odds that more than a couple women on the ship came here on the Galaxy Brides‘ ship

for reasons other than marriage seems highly unlikely. If I am wrong about her, then I

am sorry for it, but I would rather err on the side of caution.‖

―Our fate is in the hands of our gods. They sent Kendall to my brother just as

they sent you here to warn us. When I speak of this to my brother, I will mention your

concern, but I assure you we will not be overtaken so easily.‖ He lifted his chin,

prideful. The rest of the galaxy might not see their technology, but it did not mean they

were a backward people who could not defend themselves against an enemy. They

merely chose to live simply, hiding their technology away. In fact, hidden near the

palace, disguised as a mountain peak, the Draig kept a highly advanced

communications and watch tower. They monitored the stars at all times.

―Right. Gods.‖ She shook her head and turned her face away from him once

more, settling into her original position on the bed. ―Of course you would believe in

their protection. You let them dictate everything else.‖

―You do not believe there is something greater than ourselves?‖

―No. I do not believe,‖ she whispered. He wondered if he was meant to actually

hear the words since they were so soft. Louder, she added, ―If you are so sure about this

fate of yours, I would prefer you not mention my concern to your brother. There is no

reason to insult the woman without proof.‖

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Bron wasn‘t sure how to answer such an admission. Her lack of belief worried

him. Instead, he changed the course of the conversation. ―We leave in the morning for

the palace. I will report what you have told me to my uncle. The king will ensure

necessary precautions are made at the palace. Then we will speak to my brother, Mirek,

about the mines.‖

―How can you do that?‖ Suddenly she sat up and looked at him. He frowned,

confused by her meaning. ―You were just kidnapped, buried alive, restrained by the

looks of those marks on your wrist, and now you‘re here bathing and talking and

planning trips like nothing happened. I had to face an empty mountain path on an alien

planet with the ugliest creature alive and I‘m still shaking from it.‖ As if to prove her

point, she lifted her hands toward him. They did tremble a little. ―I don‘t think my heart

has stopped racing. Your ordeal is presumably much worse than my part of it, and yet

you act as if you are buried beneath the ground several times a year. What exactly goes

on here? Should I expect to be abducted next?‖

With each sentence her tone became more frantic. He rushed to the bed, crawling

onto the mattress to take her hands and press them to his chest. ―I will not allow

anything to happen to you.‖

―But what about what happened to you? How can you act as if it was nothing?

And don‘t lecture me on worrying again. I‘ll worry about whatever I wish and it has

nothing to do with honor or duty but a chemical reaction inside a person‘s body. And I

don‘t understand why you won‘t just tell me what happened to you. I woke up and you

were gone. I was terrified. I know nothing about alien terrain and survival. I don‘t even

frequent the virtual reality deck.‖

―I was not buried alive. I was held prisoner underground.‖

―You say that as if it is better.‖ She tried to pull her hands away from him, but he