A King's Revenge: Warlords Series Book 2 (8 page)

Chapter 14

Tarik had wanted to
leave the Alliance meeting and return to Taka as soon as possible considering
the recent events. Instead, Maliya and Kord convinced him to continue on as
usual to minimize suspicion and knowledge of his wife’s resurrection. The two
days dragged on and when he departed he’d had to trust Kord’s word that he and
Maliya would join him.

Now he stood on the
landing pad at the space port in Desani with Mati, Hensel, Baylor, as well as a
contingent of twenty royal guards while they all watched the out-dated silver
shuttle dock in the third available slot at the end of the bay.

“I’m still in awe and
shock about all of this, Sire.”

Mati’s statements
mirrored his own. Tarik maintained his casual stance though tension kept his
gaze scanning every uniformed employee walking around. The royal privacy order
he had in place allowed them only one hour to have the space port closed during
Kord and Maliya’s arrival.

The officials thought
Tarik cautious and concerned for his own well being. They had no idea that he’d
put as much protection in place as possible for the return of his wife.

“I think we’re all
going to be in for a surprise.” Tarik murmured his answer since no one outside
their circle was aware of the guest arriving on the shuttle.

Mati glanced at him.
“Do you have any doubts about her coming back?”

Tarik’s brow pulled
down. Why would he have any doubts? He had his wife again. “We’ve got years of
friendship between us. Speak clearly.”

The thrusters of the
shuttle quieted and the landing lights dimmed. Tarik centered his attention on
the wide shuttle doors waiting for it to open when Mati spoke.

“She’s been gone for
three of the five and a half years you were married. I just wonder at the
wisdom of bringing her back to Desani.”

Tarik froze. He
filtered Mati’s words over and over in his head coming up with the same answer.
Anger rose in a flash as Tarik turned and whispered fiercely, “Never wonder about
your Queen returning to her rightful place at my side.”

Mati held his stare. “I
mean no harm. I believe you’re moving very quickly and suggest time to consider
all angles.”

After Maliya’s death
there had been no more accidents or attacks. Tarik assumed this was due to
Thenl’s death and the new relationship with Kaban but the twitch in his gut
warned him nothing was as simple as it seemed. Kord’s revelations and concern
for Maliya’s safety was not to be dismissed lightly. He had a traitor in his
home.

“I won’t lose her
again, Mati.” He couldn’t.

In a rare show of
affection, Mati gripped his forearm and squeezed before letting his hand fall
to his side to resume his official demeanor.

The hiss and whine of a
vac-lock releasing dispelled any further conversation. Metal doors slid open as
the mechanical ramp lowered with a grind. Several guards winced at the sound
indicating bad gears on the equipment.

The two people that
exited didn’t glance left or right as their boots clomped down the grate. As
usual the sight of his wife lodged the air in Tarik’s chest. He wasn’t sure
he’d ever get over the miracle of finding her. Kord true to his word maintained
his vigilance by her side. When they reached the bottom, the doors closed and
the ramp reversed with the same telling noise.

Upon Tarik’s signal,
the guards spread out further and Baylor hurried over to take up position on
Maliya’s right side while Kord hovered on her left. Tarik didn’t want to take
any chances.

Maliya scanned the
area, her gaze coming to a stop when her eyes met his. Tarik held his breath for
what seemed like forever until her steps quickened in his direction. He exhaled
softly and mentally cursed his nerves.

Unable to relax, Tarik
checked around them but nothing had changed. He’d done as much as he could to
put security measures in place without drawing undo notice. Several of the
guards paled, mouths falling open when they caught sight of her. Tarik hadn’t
revealed the identity of the guests they were expecting but as she headed
towards him no one could mistake her resemblance to his Queen.

The simple blue jumper
also drew stares for the way it hugged her curves. In Desani women wore
clothing just as fitting but the garments tended toward formal not seductive. A
lady sported dresses only, never pants. Maliya’s hips swayed with every step, her
body made to entice.

Short red hair was
slicked into spikes in the front and close at the nape. Very different from the
red gold waves he’d run his fingers through in the past. The subtle differences
he’d noticed during their night together were still there. Aside from the
shorter hair, she was thinner which could have been due to her recovery from
the accident or from consuming processed meals onboard a shuttle with limited
options. Tarik had the feeling
this
Maliya
was vastly different from the one he’d married. Whether that was good or bad
remained to be seen.

He waited until they
were closer before stepping forward. He clasped Maliya’s hand and couldn’t help
the smile of relief curving his lips.

“Welcome back to
Desani.”

She returned the smile
and raised her brow in a questioning look at the number of guards. “Worry
much?”

Tarik’s chuckle burst
forth. Her humor eased some of his remaining tension. “I have a reason.” He
stared a moment longer unable to wipe the grin stretching his lips, “We’re
traveling by hapfe and should reach the castle in no time.”

Maliya’s eyes widened
in delight. “I love hapfe but haven’t had the time to ride in years.”

They both froze then
Tarik cleared his throat. They both knew why she hadn’t ridden in years. Tarik
turned to Kord and gripped his forearm in greeting. He ignored the extra
squeeze from the man’s hand. They may not agree on Maliya’s presence here but
they were both committed to her safety.

Tarik signaled his men
with a raised hand. “Let’s go. Maliya will be in the center of the guards. Kord
and I will ride on each side around her.”

He sent Mati to give
his thanks to the space port director for the inconvenience. Hensel approached
and offered Maliya a slight bow. “Your Highness, it’s a pleasure to have you
home once more.”

Maliya extended her
hand. “I remember you from the meeting with Tarik. I’m sorry I didn’t catch
your name.”

His guard wore a
stupid grin Tarik wanted to knock off his face.

“It’s Hensel, my lady.”

Hensel shook her hand
briefly before stepping back with another bow. When his gaze met Tarik he
flushed. Tarik gathered his thoughts and reminded himself that others would
remember their love for Maliya and if she greeted all of them as warmly as
Hensel, he would need to curb his jealousy.

***

Maliya thought she’d
prepared herself for the trip to Desani. She’d gone over several potential outcomes
with this return to a home she didn’t remember. A quick check, showed Kord’s
frowning face. His eyes constantly moved as if he expected an attacker to leap
for her throat as soon as they were outside the space port.

At first the sheer number
of guards greeting them had stunned her. It seemed excessive. Then again considering
all Tarik had gone through perhaps her arrival warranted the extra caution. Aware
of the stares aimed in her direction, Maliya focused her attention on the man
waiting for her. Tarik was beyond handsome. She hadn’t imagined his appeal on
the Space Station.

His breath taking
beauty had her questioning why another woman hadn’t snatched up the grieving
King.
 
The artificial air inside the
space port blew strands of his multi-colored hair across his jaw. His gaze
darkened at her comment about hapfe. Lea stifled her sigh. She had the feeling
many of the things she said would bring back uncomfortable memories.

What she hadn’t shared
with Kord was the vivid dream before they’d left. A brief flash of an incident
that could have been a memory. An old but maintained castle with elaborate
stonework. Large cut round jewels in every shade over the windows. In the dream
her heart had lifted at the sight of the stones but she couldn’t place the
reason why.

Tarik stayed close to
her side as twenty men surrounded their small group. Each man wore black tunics
and leggings with gold trim. Deadly swords swung from their hips and Maliya
guessed by their powerful physiques that they were quite capable of using them.

Outside, the sun
shifted, its mid-day rays beamed down forcing her to lift a hand to shade her
eyes. Fingers bumped into her visor reminding Maliya. “Did she… I mean did I
wear anything over my eyes?” Her eyes were unique enough to draw attention on
their own.

Tarik waited as
another set of guards led out more hapfe than Maliya had ever seen in one
place. Hensel brought over three of the prancing mounts.

“You wore your visor
when you left the castle.” His brows dipped in a frown. “Never at home. You
once told me you didn’t like the strange stares.”

And he hated that.
Maliya could tell that not being able to make everything in the world perfect
for his wife had bothered Tarik. Knowledge of that added a piece of the puzzle
she was building of him and the man he’d been with his Queen.

Maliya allowed the
full escort to keep her in their midst while everyone hopped on the backs of
the bi-pedal animals. Hensel waited for Kord to mount a tan hapfe before
leading over the other two. Tarik grabbed the leads trailing from their neck
and extended them toward her to choose.

“Are you sure you’re
comfortable riding alone?” Concern shifted his lavender eyes to a deep purple
that stirred renewed desire in her loins. In light of the recent changes, she’d
expected the attraction to dim but it hadn’t.

“I’ll be fine.” To
prove it, Maliya accepted the leads and selected the one for the dark brown
hapfe with a small white streak across the triangular shaped head.

Tarik placed his hands
at her hips, the touch sending a shaft of warmth to the skin beneath her
jumper. The position placed them chest to chest. His head dipped toward hers
and Lea could no more resist the kiss than she could resist eating sweets.

“You smell exactly as
I remember,” he murmured before taking her mouth in a kiss of rough possession.

Lea used one hand on
his shoulder for balance and stroked his teasing tongue. He licked her bottom
lip and pulled lightly before releasing her. She touched the stinging plump
flesh and gazed back into his eyes.

“You’re mine, Maliya.
No one will ever take you away from me again.”

With that passionate
declaration he boosted her up and Lea had to rush to throw her leg over the saddle.
She glanced back at the man who still had a hand on her thigh, softly stroking.
“You’re a dangerous man, King of Desani.”

He smiled and stepped
back. “No argument here.”

The animal held
perfectly still the entire time, a rarity considering the breed was known to be
anxious and easily excited. Lea decided to shift the mood or she’d drag the man
into the nearest empty space in the station and lay claim to him. “She’s a
beauty.”

He didn’t look away
from her. “No argument here,” he repeated but his eyes reflected a pain so
stark Lea’s hand lifted without volition toward him.

“Tarik?”

He stumbled back from
her and shook his head. “We should head out. It’s not a good idea to be this exposed
after our efforts to bring you back with minimum fuss.”

The strange mood
connecting them broke. Maliya wanted to pursue the emotion that flashed across
his features. Her heart thumped a maddening pace in empathy but Kord caught her
eye and signaled with a shake of his head for her to let the matter drop.

Chapter 15

Lea stood in front of
the floor length mirror staring at her reflection. There was no question the ankle
length gold gown and its small train was gorgeous. Sleek with minimum detail to
detract from the clean lines, the custom made dress added an elegant edge to
her otherwise average appearance.

Lea tried to remember
the last time she’d worn anything this luxurious and came up blank but that
wasn’t unusual when she probed her missing memories. Her hand smoothed down the
soft fabric covering her hip feeling the reassuring hilt of her favorite knife
sheathed at her thigh. The material covered any bump and had to have cost a
large sum. Add in the fact someone tailored it to her size and Lea bumped the
amount up exponentially.

A short tug fixed the
black satin straps holding up the low cut bodice. It was the only touch of
color in the otherwise unrelenting gold.

“It’s beautiful, my
Queen.”

Lea flinched at the
young house maid’s words. Tarik’s man, Mati, introduced her to Chelle as soon
as she’d been escorted to a guest room. Apparently royalty didn’t dress
themselves.

Chelle discomfited Lea.
While not overly fawning, her manner and deference reminded Lea firmly of her
role as royalty thus above the young girl’s station. A role she’d yet to adapt
to but needed to learn. Quickly.

At her silence, Chelle
probed, “Are you well, my lady?”

Blue eyes studied Lea
in the mirror, dark head tilted to the side.

“Yes, and thank you,
Chelle.” Lea pulled her shoulders back and forced herself to take inventory of
her changed look. Red curls were smooth back from her forehead and held back by
the simple gold crown that formed a V between her brows. A crown that had come
in a silver jewel encrusted case she estimated at more than the cost of the
ship she and Kord owned.

Initially, she’d protested
wearing something so important and obviously expensive but a confused glance
from Chelle ended the argument before it started. Lea turned to the side
admiring the neat folds of fabric gathered into diagonal pleats on her right
hip. The dress whispered against her bare legs with a delicate swish revealing
the tip of a gold heeled sandal. A small train flowed behind her.

After dropping her off
with a light kiss to her forehead, Tarik had whispered that he planned a small formal
dinner to share the news of her return with his people and to set up phase one
of their efforts to find the traitor.

According to Chelle
who’d been remarkably open, the guest list numbered in the low hundreds. Small
indeed.

“Are you nervous?”
Chelle’s innocent question opened up a host of emotions not the least of which
was fear.

Lea turned away from
the mirror and forced her mouth into the semblance of a smile. “Yes.”

She studied the
competent girl who’d stayed by her side throughout the day to help bath, dress
and style her hair. “Did you know me before?”

Chelle’s grin flashed
wide, perfect teeth shining. “No, my lady. My mother’s very pleased though for
me to be selected to serve you. I promise I’m very good at styling hair and
making up your face. Six younger sisters gave me plenty of practice.”

There was a measure of
relief knowing Chelle didn’t know her before the accident. Several of the
guards during the trip to the castle smiled and nodded each time she made eye
contact with them.

It was awkward to say
the least for others to have knowledge about her that she had no recollection
of. People who would expect her to recognize them and speak of the past
acquaintance or memories. Even Hensel in his happiness forgot and began to
point out places she ‘liked’ while he talked of the things she enjoyed.

Not wanting to ruin
his pleasure at recalling the tidbits, Lea smiled when appropriate and
pretended the overwhelming sense of loss didn’t take away something from the
trip.

At least with the
house servant Lea wouldn’t have to pretend. Chelle’s exuberance for her task
was hard to miss. She had to be fresh out of her teens and still flush with the
bloom of youth. Lea felt ancient in comparison.

The knock at her door
dispelled her maudlin thoughts. Chelle hurried across the room and opened it.
Mati, whom Tarik introduced as his personal advisor, entered and closed the
door behind him.

His blue eyes narrowed
as he ran a critical eye over her from head to toe. The seconds under his scrutiny
unnerved Lea and she wondered if her appearance wasn’t sufficient when he
declared, “Your hair used to be much longer.”

Lea wasn’t sure what
she expected him to say. Something critical perhaps but not a general comment
about her hair. She reached up to pat her simple coif. Since Mati’s position to
Tarik probably conveyed total trust, Lea decided to give him full honesty and
disclosed the reason the doctor’s shortened her hair. “Because of the accident,
blood matted my hair into thick knots. The blow I took to my head bled
profusely. In order to save my life, they had to cut it. I kept it short since
it was easier to maintain. ”

Chelle gasped her
delicate hands flying to her mouth. Mati had the grace to flush.

“My apologies.” He
looked disconcerted then cleared his throat. He clasped his hands behind his back,
the simple black tunic laying flat against a body still trim despite the gray
at his temples. “It’s a bit difficult to adjust to your return. We’re all in
awe to know you survived.”

His grin was more
relieved and Lea relaxed.

“Forgive the stares
you’ll no doubt get this evening.”

Unfortunately, stares
were common place for Lea. Sensing Mati only wanted to make amends for his verbal
blunder, she spread her hands out to her side. “Do I look okay for this event?
I’m unsure how a Queen would dress for such an occasion but Chelle said it was
appropriate.” There had been five others to choose from.

Mati came forward and
strolled around her to see the dress from every angle. When he circled back to
her front, he bowed low. “You’re as beautiful as my memory serves, Your Highness.”

“That’s going to take
some getting used to,” she joked.

He straightened and offered
her a smile.

Lea searched for her
visor and snagged it from the bed.

“You won’t need those
here.” His look was gentle.

Maliya forced her fingers
to unclench and step away from her comfort zone.

“Tarik sent me to
accompany you to the ballroom. Will you allow me to escort you?”

Nerves skittered down
her back. “Shouldn’t he be here with me? To make an entrance together.” Lea
also wanted him at her side when she faced a room full of people she didn’t
know as well as one suspected of wanting her dead.

Mati extended his
elbow for her to grip. Lea placed her hand lightly on his sleeve while he
answered. “The King is hoping to distract many by appearing first. The guests
know this is a momentous occasion but are unsure why. Many believe it is a
celebration for the new treaty. It was only recently that Desani entered an
alliance with Kaban and Raasa.”

Lea had heard of the
discord between the other countries. Well, Kaban. The warlike people had
recently fallen under a mad man’s control and only the actions of a Raasa woman
had saved them. Lea sensed there was more to that story but hadn’t had time to
question Kord.

They left her room and
were joined by four royal guards waiting in the hall. Chelle offered Lea a
curtsey and headed off to the left. Lea knew the young girl would be back later
to help her undress. Kord leaned against the wall across from her. Kord
reluctantly accepted the room next door after assuring for himself that the
hall door was the only entrance to the suite. Now he took one look and his eyes
darkened. Lea knew he worried and thought returning to Desani was a big
mistake.

A bigger mistake would
have been to ignore the opportunity to discover her past.

“It’s been many years
since I’ve seen you like this.”

Kord’s statement
brought up their history.

“Did you visit the
castle often when I was Queen?”

An abrupt shake of the
head. “No. My goal was to keep an eye on you from a distance and ensure your
safety. I didn’t want to infringe on the life you made here as I’d only known
you through your parents.”

Considering Lea had
not recognized anyone when she awakened in the medical center that wasn’t much.
Kord did have holos of her parents and a treasured dagger that her father had
given him as a gift to prove to Lea that her father entrusted her into his
care. She had accepted the truth of his words and had no reason to doubt him.

The guards closed in
on them and Kord stepped to her right while she clutched Mati’s arm on her
left. Forcing a smile to her lips, Lea inclined her head as she thought someone
of royal bearing would. “Let the games begin.”