Queen of Swords (21 page)

He turned and left the room without another word. Ophelia stared at the Evarven until he squirmed. “If someone he cares about dies because of you…” She stroked the hilt of her knife. “If they die, I’ll make what Sanctify did to Boone look like child’s play.”

Gee shuddered, which was enough for her. Ophelia turned and left the room. She caught sight of the door of the captain’s cabin sliding shut. Boone.

He was sitting on the bed messing with his wrist unit when she walked in. Boone cursed, slipped the unit off, and threw it on the floor. “Godsdamnit.” He sprang off the bed and stalked to the intercom. “Jenny, my damn wrist unit won’t connect.”

The silence stretched on too long. “We are in the opposite end of the universe, Boone. Sometimes your unit acts shitty. Chill.” Jenny cleared her throat. “We warp in six hours, reach Valneci in thirty-six.”

Boone’s shoulders slumped, and Ophelia’s heart broke. It was obvious he considered his people family. She didn’t know what she’d do if her family was in that kind of danger. Her fingers itched with the desire to dial home and check on them, but Boone needed her. Ophelia crossed the room and slipped her arms around his waist, rubbing her face against his back. There was nothing they could do but continue to try to contact his people, nothing but wait.

He stiffened, but then turned in her arms, hugging her back. “I was supposed to keep them safe and I’ve failed. I don’t know what I’ll do if they’re gone.”

Ophelia took a step back. “You’ll survive. You’ll make their killers suffer. But we don’t know anything yet.” The lie tasted of ash on her tongue. Another
Tyche
ability, no doubt, and one she could do without. “Come on. You need to rest.” She hadn’t missed the fact he was running on empty.

Ophelia went up on her tiptoes and cupped his face in her hands. “Things will work out. We will kill Kristian and save Hansarda.”

He laughed, but not like anything was funny. “Did your cards tell you so?”

Yes, but she didn’t think now was the time for that little revelation. “Maybe I’m trying to romance you.”

That got a small smile. “Only you would think a declaration of killing my half brother would be romantic.” Stung, Ophelia leaned back, letting go of his face. His hands captured hers, replacing them. “I’m sorry. I’m not good company right now.”

“You’re never good company.”

Boone backed toward the bed, pulling her with him. “And yet you stick around.”

“Hey, you kidnapped me, remember?” Her attempt to be lighthearted was working; she could feel him slowly relaxing against her. “I didn’t get a choice in that.”

Boone’s eyebrows rose. “I distinctly remember sticking you on a ship and sending you home. You’re the one who came back. For me.” His gaze sharpened on her face. “Why? You were safe, almost home. Why come for me?”

Ophelia stared at his chest. “I told you. I’m pregnant. I didn’t want my baby’s father killed.”

“Bullshit.”

“No, it’s not.” She slid sideways, and he mirrored her move. Ophelia backed up until she hit the wall, him stalking her the entire way. Boone slammed hands on either side of her, bracketing her in. There was nothing to do but meet his darkening gaze. “It’s really not.”

“Ophelia.”

Oh Lady, the way the man said her name was beautiful. She couldn’t stop her shiver at the way it rolled off his tongue so nicely. “Yes, Boone?”

He stared at her for a long time, a muscle in his jaw jumping. “I…care about you.”

She felt like she was walking her knife’s edge—one wrong step and she’d be sliced in half. “I, ah, care about you too.” Oh, this was pathetic. Ophelia leaned in and kissed him, preferring to show Boone how she felt rather than spitting out halfhearted declarations of…caring.

He met her kiss and returned it with interest, his tongue playing along hers, leaving the taste of spice and mint. Ophelia laced her fingers through his hair, tugging a little. Boone broke the kiss long enough to say, “I need to forget for a little while, to wrap myself up in you.”

Ophelia was nodding before he’d finished the sentence. She could give him this, could supply the comfort he craved. And, hells, he was the best she’d ever had. It wasn’t like she’d ever be able to say no to Boone, even if she wanted to. Which she didn’t. Especially not now, not when there were so many ugly truths waiting on the horizon.

But they would triumph, the cards had said so. Ophelia clung to that truth as she shimmied out of her clothes and went to work on Boone’s, kissing her way down his stomach. He stopped her, digging his hands into her hair and pulling her up his body. It hurt a little bit, which only served to make the rubbing of skin on skin more erotic. “Not now.”

“Not—” Another kiss effectively silenced her. Before she could fall into it, though, he pulled back again. She started to reach for him, but he tightened his grip on her hair, holding her in place.

Ophelia went still, torn between the desire to fight his hold and the desire to give him what he needed—even if it was her submission. She lifted her chin, meeting his challenging stare with a one of her own. Tension built between them, ratcheted up with every breath as her nipples brushed against his chest. He leaned in farther until his lips ghosted over her earlobe. “You’re mine now, hellcat.”

Chapter Twenty Five

Only Ophelia could chase away his demons.

Boone didn’t give her a chance to do more than make a startled sound—he bit that special spot on her neck and her entire body shuddered. Arching against him, Ophelia grabbed his shoulders and pulled him closer, her fingers digging into his skin. More. He wanted so much more.

He needed to be inside her. Now.

Moving back just enough to spin her around, he gave her a little push that forced Ophelia to catch herself on the wall. She started to say something, but Boone closed the distance and used his foot to nudge her legs farther apart. When she didn’t fight him, he slid his hand between her legs, finding her wet and ready. Ophelia gave a little whimper when he withdrew, but Boone had no patience for foreplay right now. Worries crowded just beyond conscious thought, attempting to pull him from this moment. Only she was able to silence them.

He slammed into her, forcing a cry from both of them. For a moment Boone was sure he’d hurt her, and worry nearly made him sick. But Ophelia arched back, keeping one hand on the wall, and wrapped her free hand around the back of his neck. “Do. Not. Stop.”

It was all the permission Boone needed. He kissed her, and then drove into her again, hard enough that she had to let go of him in order to keep them from smashing into the wall. At this rate, he wouldn’t last long, but she was right there with him, meeting him stroke for stroke, her cries letting him know she was just as close. They moved together, borne away on a tide of desire Boone was no longer sure would fade. If anything, it was getting stronger.

Between one breath and the next, she came, her body clenching his so tightly, it drove him over the edge. Boone’s knees gave out, and they slid to the floor in a tangled mess. He drew Ophelia closer, needing the contact as an anchor, to keep him from pursuing the thoughts that were circling, waiting for his guard to drop. She made a purring sound as he stroked down her spine. “You keep this up, and I might not let you walk away.”

She stiffened, probably just realizing what she’d said.

Boone pulled her closer before she could stick in some qualifying sentence, turning her in his arms until her back was pressed against his chest. He cupped a hand over her stomach, marveling that it wasn’t rounded in the least. Everything else had changed. It seemed wrong she wasn’t showing. “Who said I was walking away?”

They were both dancing around something important, something vital. Boone didn’t want her to leave, hadn’t wanted it even before he knew she carried his child. He opened his mouth to tell her just that, but the intercom pinged. “Boone? You are needed in the hub. We’re having some difficulties.”

Of course they were. Boone almost told Cole to bugger off, but his interlude with Ophelia couldn’t last forever. Kristian was still out there. And his people…pain slashed through his chest, harsher than Sanctify’s knives. They were in trouble. “I’m on my way.”

Ophelia was already sliding off the bed by the time he sat up. She tossed over his pants, disappeared into the bathroom, and came back with a shirt. “Go. I have to contact my parents again anyway.”

Boone winced. Call him a coward, but all he felt was relief at not being present for
that
conversation. Gerard was going to kill him. But not yet. First he had to deal with Kristian and whatever was going on in the hub.

…

The call kept beeping and beeping.

Goose bumps rose, tracing a path up her spine and over her arms. Something was wrong. Ophelia combed her fingers through her hair, trying to convince herself she was being ridiculous. There was nothing wrong. Her family was safe. Papa was probably just still pissed.

The call connected, the screen opening to reveal a man Ophelia’d never seen before. He was pretty, so pretty as to be effeminate, all gold and tawny. But it was his gray eyes that stopped her heart and froze the air in her lungs. She
knew
those eyes. Not the expression in them, so cold and missing any emotion at all, but the eyes themselves. “Kristian.”

A mocking smile tilted the edges of his lips. “I see my reputation has preceded me. Fantastic.”

Kristian. In her parents’ home. A shudder racked Ophelia’s body, but she did her best to school her expression. “If you’ve hurt them, I’ll skin you alive.”

He hasn’t…yet
, the Lady’s voice whispered.

Okay, so there was a small chance of them getting out unscathed, but she’d take what comfort she could that they hadn’t been touched yet.

“Yes, well, you’ll try.” His voice was that of a politician, slick and charismatic. He must have people following him around like lost puppies.

“What do you want?” Because he wanted something—he wouldn’t have tracked down her parents otherwise. Did he know about the baby?
Oh Lady
. She kept from passing out through sheer stubbornness.

“You, of course.”

“Bullshit.” He’d been using her to distract Boone, even the albino said so.

A single gold eyebrow rose, the expression a sick parody of Boone’s. “Whatever my initial intentions, I did offer for your hand. And you accepted.”

“I changed my mind.” Even as she spoke, an idea blossomed its way into existence. A terrible, damn near suicidal, thought. She searched internally for some sign of the Lady’s approval, but received only silence in response. “Besides, you don’t really want me.”

“Perhaps. Perhaps not.” He smiled, sending icy shards straight into her stomach. “But all reports indicate my brother does.”

“So what? You want to kill him anyways, why not let him enjoy his last moments?” She propped her hands on her hips, hoping he couldn’t see the way she shook. “It doesn’t seem like too much to ask.”

“Obviously you know nothing about our family dynamic. He loves something, I take it. Simple. But I suppose Boone wouldn’t share our dirty little secrets with you, even if he is dipping.” He tilted his head to the side, eyes sliding over her in a slimy look she could almost feel. “But, I have to say, you are rather attractive, if a bit on the large side.”

“You can’t really expect me to turn myself over to you.” And she couldn’t really be considering doing just that. “What’s to guarantee that you won’t kill me on sight?”

“Nothing.” Kristian shrugged, nodding to someone she couldn’t see. “But I
can
guarantee that I will take out my annoyance on your delectable mother.” He pulled Mama to him, holding her immobile with a hand on her jaw. His free hand rested on her stomach. For her part, she managed to look calm and put together despite the monster touching her. “She’s more my type than you are, anyways.”

Oh Lady
. Ophelia bit her tongue, the pain holding back her urge to vomit. “What do you want me to do?”

Chapter Twenty Six

Ophelia heard Boone come back into the room, but she couldn’t make herself get off the floor where she’d dropped after the call with Kristian disconnected. Instead, she only cried harder. He picked her up and carried her to the bed. “Tell me.”

“No.” She shook with the effort to suppress her sobs. Kristian had her parents. She should have been there, should have stopped him, but she’d been off cavorting with Boone. It was her fault.

Just like
The Dutchman
.

“Ophelia.” A big hand stroked over her hair and down her back. “It will all work out. I know your parents’ approval means the world to you, but if they can’t see what a blessing this is, then screw them.”

He thought she was upset because Papa had flipped out again. Ophelia couldn’t make herself stop crying, and she cursed the damn hormones that made her so weak when she needed a clear head. She pushed away from him, wiping her face. “I need a shower.”

“Ophelia—”

“I can’t talk about this now.” Or ever. She grabbed her cards from the table as she walked by, hoping to the Lady he’d take a hint and not follow her. The bathroom felt too small, the walls closing in, but she bit her lip, using the pain to center herself, and turned on the shower.

Ophelia sat on the floor and stared at the deck. She had two paths available to her right now, and choosing the wrong one could result in the death of her family, her baby, Boone, or all three. It would be so easy to do a reading, to have the price laid out for her beforehand. Except she couldn’t make her hands move, couldn’t lay the cards on the floor in front of her. She might be the hand that would bring Kristian down, but she was terrified the price would be too high.

Taking a fortifying breath, she cut the deck and flipped over the top three cards. Moon, Ill Dignified. Eight of Wands. Justice. She had to follow Kristian’s orders, had to keep them a secret, if she wanted justice to be done. Ophelia gathered up her cards, feeling the weight of the universe settling on her shoulders.

“Ophelia.”

She looked up, finding Boone in the doorway, his gray eyes too serious. Ophelia shook her head. “I don’t want to talk about it.” She actually sounded like she meant it this time.

Boone looked like he wanted to argue, but instead he sighed. “Not now, maybe, but we will talk about this when we get to Valneci.”

Nodding because she knew she’d never make it there, Ophelia let him bring her to her feet. It was only when he pulled her shirt over her head that she said, “I’m not really in the mood.”

“I know.” He stripped her in short, efficient movements. Then he tested the temperature of the shower and guided her in with him.

“Boone—”

He reached around her and got a handful of soap from the dispenser. “I’ve got you. You can lean on me.” He wrapped his free arm around her waist, drawing her against him.

Ophelia tilted her head back and closed her eyes, letting the water pour over her body while Boone’s hands traced lazy patterns across her skin. He shifted, turning her in his arms, and went to work shampooing her hair. In all her years of partying and jumping between men, she’d never stuck around long enough to get this comfortable. And she wasn’t going to get to stick around much longer, no matter how much she wanted to. Which meant she needed to take advantage while she still could.

“I need you.”

The soothing motion of his hands on her head stopped. “That’s not what I intended.”

“I know.” She leaned forward, pressing a kiss to his neck. He responded instantly, his entire body tensing. She loved how easily she affected him, how the feeling went both ways.

Boone would never forgive her for what she had planned, would never forgive her for putting their unborn child in danger. He wouldn’t understand why she needed to do this, why she was so sure she’d be the one to take Kristian down.

Ophelia pushed her worries away. Things would be over between them soon enough. She needed to be here, in this moment with him, while she still could. Using her grip on the back of his neck, she hopped up and wrapped her legs around his waist. Boone caught her just like she knew he would, his hands going to the backs of her thighs before she’d completed the motion. He took her mouth, giving her a kiss that curled her toes and made her writhe against him. Without breaking contact, she reached between them, adjusted her angle, and plunged down onto him.

This
was the top circle of heaven, this feeling of completion. Ophelia let her head fall back, shivering when he nibbled his way down her neck. Then she began to move slowly, trying to draw this out as long as possible.

It was their last time, after all.

Boone growled something against her skin, but she was too far gone to understand the words. He wrapped an arm around her hips, stopping her motion, and then the water turned off. Ophelia opened her eyes, blinking up at him, but then he was moving, stepping out of the sans shower and heading for the bed. As if he could sense her urgency, her need.

They dropped onto the mattress, the bounce nearly sending Ophelia through the roof, and Boone kissed her as if she were the most fragile and treasured person in the universe. But he didn’t move, seeming content to keep her pinned to the bed, as close as two individuals could get. Pressure built, centering on where they connected, until she couldn’t stand it any longer.

He moved the slightest bit, rotating his hips, sending waves of pleasure cresting through her body, until Ophelia thought she might pass out. Boone hooked an arm under her right leg and changed the angle, the spiraling pressure making her grab his shoulders, digging in her fingernails.

“Boone…”

“
Yeah.” His voice was as ragged as hers, but he never stopped that motion, bringing her closer and closer to the edge.

It shouldn’t have been like this, she shouldn’t have felt so much for this man. But there was no place for “shouldn’t” in Ophelia’s life. Not anymore. And she’d never get this chance again. She let go of his shoulders, cupping his face and meeting his heavy-lidded gaze. “I think I love you.”

Boone jerked, and it was enough to push her over. But she could have sworn, as she shuddered beneath him, she heard him say, “I love you too.”

…

She loved him.

Boone pulled Ophelia close, pressing kisses against her temple as she stretched, putting some distance between them. As if he’d allow that after their mutual declaration. He pulled her close, tucking her to his chest. “Sleep. We both need it.” Because, as fantastic as this was, it was the worst possible timing.

They were going to war against Kristian, who had the might of Hansarda’s fleet behind him. A suicide mission. It wasn’t the place for distraction, especially a distraction of this caliber. Boone stroked a hand down Ophelia’s hip, snagging the sheet and pulling it over both of them.

Resting his chin on the top of her head, he closed his eyes. He’d sleep for a little bit, and then he and Cole would have to have a sit down and figure out how to send Ophelia home, where she’d be safe, while he flew out to meet Kristian. He slipped into sleep, a smile on his face, his arms around the woman he loved…

And woke up sometime later, alone. Boone sat up, rubbing his eyes, and glanced at the clock. The digital numbers read 04:45—he’d been sleeping for less than two hours. Not long. He looked around, but the room was empty. It shouldn’t have bothered him—Ophelia could be anywhere on the ship—but something made him get out of bed and go into the bathroom.

Her cards were gone.

Again, it shouldn’t have sent alarm bells pealing through his head. But it did. Boone dressed quickly and went to check the cafeteria. Caeden and Shadrach were playing cards, hands flying in argument, but Ophelia wasn’t there. On his way out, he ran into Jenny. She started to growl something at him but stopped when she saw the look on his face. “What’s going on? You look like someone took your favorite toy and lit it on fire.”

Despite his worry, Boone spared her a half smile. “You should know, since it was you who burned the damned thing.”

“Yeah, well.” Jenny shrugged. “I was eight and you pissed me off.”

“I can’t find Ophelia.”

Jenny’s gaze narrowed on his face. “What do you mean, you can’t find Ophelia? This ship is big, but not that damn big.”

“I know that. I woke up and she was gone.”

That she didn’t take the chance to rib him told Boone that Jenny was worried, too. “I was just down in the engine room. She’s not there. Or in the common room.”

They turned as one toward the stairs to the hub. Boone barely fought down panic when the room was empty. Even knowing what he’d find, he followed Jenny into the cockpit. Cole looked up from the copilot seat. “What’s wrong?”

“We can’t find Ophelia.” Boone cursed, some instinct making him turn to the panel of screens behind the pilot’s chair. Everything was normal, running at optimum levels.

“Maybe she’s walking around and you two missed her?”

“Maybe.” But it didn’t sound right. He started to turn from the screens when a flashing number at the bottom of the lowest one caught his eye. Feeling sick, he looked at the signal, not wanting to admit what it meant. “Jenny?”

Jenny shoved him aside, cursing when she leaned down to read the screen. “You might want to sit down, big brother.”

Boone dropped into the pilot’s seat. “Where is she, Jenny?”
Please
, he prayed,
please don’t say it. Please
.

His little sister looked up at him, pity in her gaze. “She took an escape pod. She’s gone.”