Alien Hostage (32 page)

“Shocking,” Maf said, still looking nonplussed.

“Quite. Even Sitrel had trouble figuring out it was me when he came to the hospital. He actually asked, ‘Is that you, Narpok?’ He couldn’t be sure.” She snickered at her frowning cousin.

Maf looked at Sitrel. “Is that true? You didn’t know her right away?”

It took the aide a full second to admit it. “She has changed substantially. I was confused at first.”

Narpok hurried to press her case. “A little disguising will do the trick. No one will know me in the wide, wide world. As for funds, using my accounts would alert authorities as to my whereabouts. I can’t possibly spend my own money on what I need.”

Maf stared at her for several seconds. Narpok could see him turning over all the ramifications in his head, all the potential trouble. But she also knew she was right. Between the weight loss and aging – both a result of the passing years and the strain of the memories that haunted her – she bore only a passing resemblance to her former self.

That would change. She was owed a lot, and the recovery of her health and beauty were the tip of the iceberg as far as she was concerned.

With an expression that said he thought he was making a mistake, Maf said slowly, “I shall give you the funds you need. Sitrel will find a disguise for you so you can go to the shops and buy the prettiest gowns your heart desires.”

Narpok’s heart leaped. As a rare Kalquorian female, she’d never been refused anything. Even infertile, it seemed she could still enjoy some entitlements. Now that she knew that, she would take every advantage of it.

She giggled like the foolish girl she’d once been. “Won’t that be funny, to go shopping right under everyone’s nose?”

“Just make sure you’re careful,” Maf warned Sitrel. “If anyone seems to be suspicious, I want her out of sight quickly.”

Sitrel glowered. It was obvious he wasn’t looking forward to his duty as Narpok’s escort. Narpok wasn’t enthralled with the prospect of him coming along either; she and Sitrel weren’t exactly fond of each other.

Yet she’d scored a few victories this afternoon. She was now in contact with a member of the rebellion. With luck, she could join its ranks herself. With clothing that wouldn’t make her look like a poor relation and the hope of regaining some of her physical attractiveness, she might be able to impress the right people.

Maybe she would get the chance to meet the Basma himself soon.

Beaming with pleasure she said, “Thank you, Dramok Maf. You don’t know how happy this makes me. I will meet your son. I will meet him and charm him into seeing good sense.”

Maf regained his good humor at her assurances. “I am glad to hear it. Sitrel, you will see to it she gets anything she wishes before you take her to meet Falinset’s clan next week.”

Falinset. The son’s name is Falinset,
Narpok thought. Her smile was brighter than ever.

Maf had his fatherly look on again, looking as if he’d like to dote on her as a favored child. “Yes, a week should be fine. That will give you a little time to prepare and get the things you need.”

Narpok nodded, her mind flying over what had to be accomplished and hoping she had enough time.  There was so much to do.

Chapter 18

Two days after getting drunk and frisky with Tasha, Falinset sat in his office once again. Like the day before, he found it impossible to concentrate on work for more than a few seconds at a time.

His home was still under siege by Ket’s men. He still hadn’t heard anything further from Maf about his ‘incentive’ to make him give up the princess.

And Tasha...

He gave up trying to sort out the business prospectus on the vid in front of him. With a sigh, Falinset stood and left his office. He wandered down the hall, following the bright sound of Tasha and Noelle’s voices.

He ended up at the door of the common room and peered in. Tasha sat on the lounger with Noelle next to her. The child leaned against her older cousin as they read from a vid. It was a children’s story from the library collection, part of a learning-to-read program. A voice carefully enunciated each word. Noelle and Tasha were rapt as they watched their lesson. The Earther had admitted that while her spoken Kalquorian wasn’t half bad, she was still quite sketchy with reading the language.

He looked at Tasha, at the way the sunlight from the window vids fell on her. Auburn and gold highlights haloed in her hair, bringing out the warm tones of her skin. She wore one of Nur’s shirts with her own skirt. The top was too big for her, but it couldn’t quite mask the delicious swells of her body. A body he and his clan had been enjoying every chance they got.

If not for the impending trouble from Maf and Ket hanging over their heads, life would have been the most perfect Falinset had ever known. He didn’t want to drag anyone into the mess of his clan, but he couldn’t help imagining living a normal life that Tasha might have been a part of had things been different.

She was so much of everything he enjoyed. Feisty and unafraid to face what life had thrown at her. Soft and giving when one or more of the men came to her for intimate pleasures. Intelligent and able to accept her own shortcomings while working to improve them. Even the way she was with Noelle right now, trying to give the little girl some sense of normalcy in an incredible situation, spoke to Falinset. He thought she would be wonderful with children of her own, should she decide to have them. He had caught himself fantasizing about giving her children in his little dream of normalcy. It made him wonder if she wanted to be a mother. That he could never hope to be a part of such a future with her gave him a pang he dared not look too close at.

Tasha had a darkness too, one he wished he could pull her out of. It was most obvious when anyone spoke of Maf or Ket. She’d said flat out she wanted to kill them. Looking in the cold blackness that filled her eyes when she spoke such things, Falinset believed she meant them. Her rage at what was happening to the women still imprisoned in the containment on Maf’s property, her fury at how being trapped was affecting Noelle – it was clear she would do everything in her power to make her enemies pay.

That something had happened to make her almost rabid about the matter was obvious to Falinset. He wondered if it had anything to do with the issues she’d alluded to; the problems that kept her from being clanned so far. The darkness in her eyes was the same when their conversations turned personal. He’d noted she also tended to watch the men carefully when they made love to her, at least until pleasure took her mind away from her troubles. It was as if she waited for them to do something wrong, something skittish that kept her on the verge of running away.

Well, why shouldn’t she hold back with them? Clan Falinset was a lost cause, related to the Empire’s greatest enemy. She was family to the Imperial Clan. However their current situation ended up being resolved, their relationship was a temporary matter.

Falinset didn’t bother to pretend it didn’t hurt that he couldn’t explore future possibilities with the entrancing Earther. He ached wanting someone he could never have, another soul he could share his pain and isolation with. The impossibility loomed over him, intractable. He’d been given a glimpse of paradise, never to reach it.

Nur’s scent spiced with the slightest touch of cologne wafted over him. Falinset turned his head to see his Imdiko standing at his shoulder, also looking at Tasha and Noelle. His face gentled with a smile.

He whispered, “I never imagined seeing such a scene in our home, my Dramok.”

“Nor I.” Falinset had to ruin his clanmate’s enjoyment with, “And it won’t last.” There was no point in pretending otherwise.

Nur’s smile faltered. “I know. We have to figure some way of getting them out of here. As well as the other women Maf has abducted.”

Falinset’s lips tightened in a line. “I’m at a loss until Wekniz gets back from Nalta City. If he finds out the bastard has the moon buttoned up as tight as he claimed, we have few options left to us.”

Nur’s fists clenched. “Maf can’t have them. Not while I draw breath.” He forced himself to relax and switched subjects. “Any idea when Maf’s gift is due to arrive?”

Falinset shrugged. “Sometime within the week. He won’t give me a definitive day. He’s determined to keep us guessing and maintain control over us.”

Tension returned to the Imdiko’s posture. “Damn him. I feel like I’ve got a blade to my throat, ready to cut at any moment.”

Falinset sighed. “My Imdiko, I am sorry—”

“Don’t. It’s not your fault.”

With nothing left to say, the men fell quiet again. They stood there, watching Tasha with Noelle, each thinking his own grim thoughts.

Falinset thought of Nur’s vow that Maf would not take the two as long as he was alive. The Dramok agreed. He would do all he could to protect the Earther and the princess no matter the consequences. He knew Wekniz would do the same.

Which meant after whatever Maf sent them was rejected, they might not have long to live.

* * * *

When Noelle went down for a nap in the afternoon, Nur let her sleep on the clan’s bed. It allowed him and Tasha to listen out for her as he gave the Earther a facial and conditioning treatment.

Tasha had to admit she was being spoiled silly by Nur. By all of the clan, if she counted the immensely satisfying sex. Okay, not just the sex. Given the tension they were under, they all went out of their way to make her feel as secure as possible. Not a day went by but someone reassured her he would do whatever it took to keep her and Noelle safe.

Wekniz was as steady a Nobek as she’d ever seen. Because he saw himself more as a protector than warrior, he didn’t worry so much about seeming unassailable. He continued to give Noelle the kindest of attention, even rocking her in his arms and singing softly to her when she hit her lowest points. The one time he came upon Tasha crying frustrated tears, he gathered her in his sheltering embrace as tenderly as he did the young princess and held her until she felt stronger.

Falinset was no longer distant. Even when he was worrying over the situation they were in, his face lit when he looked at Tasha. She caught herself seeking him out often, enjoying being near him for no particular reason other than his company made her feel better. His dedication to his clan and now her and Noelle gave him nobility Tasha had missed before.

Nur in particular doted on her and Noelle by virtue of his Imdiko need to nurture others. Never had Tasha’s skin glowed so healthily or her hair shined so beautifully. The new cut he’d given her flattered her face. He pampered her to a ridiculous but wonderful degree, but that wasn’t the only reason she enjoyed being around him. His mere presence was a balm to her wearied soul.

Tasha would feel like the luckiest woman in creation but for the threat hanging over them. She did her best to forget their troubles when Nur took care of her.

He tried to keep conversation light when he relaxed her with pampering treatments, as he did now. Nur was a master of small talk, always finding something non-threatening to discuss. Unfortunately, it seemed they always strayed to the subject of the Basma or Ket.

“How are the reading lessons going?”

Her voice lazy, Tasha said, “Not too bad. I’m no great shakes as a teacher, but it at least keeps Noelle distracted. She’s only asked half a dozen times today when we can go home.”

Nur winced. “The poor baby. Maf is the lowest to use her.”

Tasha sighed. They were back to talking serious matters yet again. It was unavoidable. “We’ve got to figure something out. Still no ideas from your clanmates?”

“I think I heard Wekniz come in a few minutes ago. They’re probably in Falinset’s office hashing over whatever he found in Nalta City.” His gaze went steely with intent. “We will do everything we can to protect you and the princess, Tasha.”

Their eyes met. Tasha felt his conviction, but she had always taken care of her own problems. Ket and his men were her most immediate concerns, and she knew she needed to deal with them. Especially since Maf had such a tight grip on Clan Falinset. She couldn’t help but challenge Nur’s assertion.

“You’ll do everything, huh? What about what Maf has on your parent clan?”

He jerked. Pain slashed across his face for an instant, and he turned away. Guilt filled Tasha. She’d had no right to lash out at him except the strain on her nerves had her stretched to the breaking point.

She touched his arm. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything since I have no idea what’s going on.”

“It’s all right.” He was silent as he gathered himself. When he turned back to peel away the mask he’d put on her face, he was back to normal.

The moment passed, and Tasha waited for him to find something new and hopefully safe to discuss. She was surprised when he said, “We’ve told you about my mother. How she’s mentally ill and the one thing that worked to alleviate her severe imbalances is illegal.”

“Yes,” Tasha answered, wondering where he was going with his story.

“My Dramok father is the person who developed that drug.”

When he was silent for several seconds, Tasha prompted him. “Really?”

“He is a research and development scientist who has access to the medication.”