Destined for Two (12 page)

“Don’t push your luck,” Keenas snarled.

“So are we calm now? We can discuss Rhianna’s future without getting into a fistfight?” Damon asked as he glared at the two of them.

Keenas picked at an imaginary piece of lint on the table, and then nodded. “Her tests are being done later this morning. Morganic has requested to be present, as well. He claims to have a vested interest.”

Jorel snorted. “The only vested interest he has is his daughter. He wants her to be queen.”

“Could he be a problem, Jorel?” Damon asked, his brow creasing in a frown.

Jorel shrugged and reached for a pastry from one of the many platters on the table. “In my opinion, the man has been a problem since day one. Why would this situation be any different?”

“Have you set up adequate protection for Rhia?” Devlin asked.

One of Keenas’s eyebrows rose as he stared at Devlin.

“I take that as a yes,” Devlin drawled.

* * * * *

Rhia opened one eye and glanced anxiously around the room. She didn’t feel anyone in bed with her, so maybe they were gone already. She just couldn’t face them yet this morning. Not after yesterday. God, she was so easy where they were concerned.

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Lifting the covers over her head, she closed her eyes again, desperately wishing she could resist them at least once. Just remembering the way their hands had skimmed over her body made her flesh tingle with renewed desire. She had to stop this. She refused to let them do that to her again.

With a growl of aggravation, she shoved the covers off her head and sat up, determined to face the twins and give them a piece of her mind. “Keenas!” she yelled. “Jorel!”

“They’re not here, my lady,” someone said from the corner.

Rhia spun around, lifting the sheet to cover her naked breasts, and stared at the young woman in surprise. It was one of the women they’d introduced her to yesterday as her maid.

“I’m sorry, my lady,” she said with a curtsy. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”

“It’s okay,” Rhia said softly, then brushed her hair from her face and let out a tired puff of air. “Which one are you?”

“Leena,” the woman said with a smile.

“Yes…Leena.” Rhia frowned. “The other girl is Nicky, right?”

“Yes,” Leena said with another smile. “Your husbands asked me to wait here for you to wake up.”

Rhia opened her mouth to tell her they weren’t her husbands, but changed her mind.

Why start trouble now? She was too tired to argue with anyone at the moment.

“Where are they…my husbands?” she asked, then raised her hand to cover a yawn.

“They went to meet with the Marcones.”

Rhia jerked immediately awake, her heart hammering with excitement. “The Marcones are here?” If so, that meant Devlin was here, too.

“Yes, my lady.”

Rhia threw back the covers and stood. Looking around on the floor, she tried to find her clothes from last night. Unfortunately, she found nothing but soft carpet.

“Looking for this?” Leena asked with amusement and held up a pair of deep blue velvet pants.

“Yes,” she sighed, and reached out to take the pants from Leena’s hands.

She was also handed underclothes and a top to match the pants. The top was long, hanging almost to her knees and had slits in the side up to her waist. The slits gave the shirt more movement, which Rhia was grateful for.

With shaking hands, she buttoned the last button and then stood before the mirror to run her fingers quickly through the mass of curls surrounding her head. After a few unsuccessful tries, she gave up. It was useless. The curls were too much of a mess. She would just have to meet with them like she was.

“I can fix it, if you wish,” Leena offered, and Rhia shook her head at her in the reflection of the glass.

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“Thanks, but no. I don’t want to take that much time.” With one final flick of her bangs, she quickly ran out the door, ignoring Leena’s call for her to stop. Instantly, she realized her problem and came to a quick halt, staring at the long expanse of hallway in front of her, and the solarium below. Damn. With a sigh, she turned and walked back to her room. Sticking her head around the corner, she came face-to-face with Leena’s raised eyebrow.

“I don’t know where to go,” Rhia whispered.

Leena laughed. “Come on, I’ll show you.”

Rhia followed Leena down the main staircase and to the left. The trek down the long hallway seemed to take forever. Her stomach knotted with anxiety to see her brother -- to finally have someone to talk to about all this. They stopped before a set of massive wooden double doors and Leena turned to her to speak softly.

“We’ve always been told if the doors are closed, we’re not to enter. We should probably wait for them out here.”

“You can wait,” Rhia said. “I’m going in.”

Squaring her shoulders, she turned the golden knob, and shoved the doors wide. Six sets of eyes turned to stare at her, all registering surprise but one. Devlin’s. He’d felt her approach.

Her lips spread into a sigh of relief as she sprang forward, throwing herself into her brother’s outstretched arms. She wrapped her arms tightly around his shoulders and buried her face in his neck, inhaling his familiar scent. He was her lifeline, and had been since she was four. The three days she’d been without his presence and help had been miserable.

“It’s okay, poppet?” he whispered.

She nodded, unable to speak past the flood of tears streaming down her cheeks. She swallowed and pulled away slightly to stare at him. “There so much I need to talk with you about.”

“I know.” He nodded solemnly, his gaze full of worry.

“How are you, sweetheart?” Damon asked and placed a warm hand against her upper back.

She let go of Devlin to turn and hug the older man who had been so much like a father to her over the years. He was an older version of Stefan -- tall, confident, and even in his seventies, sexy as hell.

“I’m better now,” she said, then let go of Damon to hug Stefan and Taron as well.

Over Stefan’s shoulder, she noticed the twins watching her. Jorel smiled, but Keenas looked almost jealous -- hurt. Why would he be hurt? They were her family; what did he expect? That she would greet him first? He’d kidnapped her, for crying out loud.

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Stefan must have felt her stiffen, for he pulled away and stared at her with a raised eyebrow before looking over his shoulder at Keenas. Stefan’s lips spread into a tiny smile that he quickly covered up, but Rhia saw it. She would have asked him about it, but Devlin spoke first.

“I would like some time alone with Rhia.”

Jorel nodded and stood, ushering the Marcones from the room. Keenas remained by the wall, his gaze studying them intently.

“Alone means just me and her, Davole,” Devlin growled.

“Keenas, please,” Rhia whispered.

At her quiet plea, he gave a small nod, then turned to leave the room, shutting the massive doors behind him. The second she heard them click, she turned and wrapped her arms around his waist, burying her face in his chest. She inhaled his familiar scent, feeling safe and protected as his arms lifted to wrap around her back.

“I’m so glad you’re here,” she whispered.

“So am I.” He kissed the top of her head. She knew he didn’t need to ask her how she was. He already knew. He always knew. “Everything is going to be fine.”

“Why was he looking at you like that, Devlin? Are the two of you arguing already? He looked as though he wanted to strangle you.”

His chest jerked with a snort of amused laughter. “That’s probably because he does.”

“What is his problem?” She sighed and moved away from him to drop into one of the chairs.

“You ran into my arms and ignored him.”

“He’s jealous?” Rhia snorted and took the cup of tea Devlin handed her. It warmed her hands, but she didn’t sip at it, just watched the red liquid swirl in the cup. “Why would he be jealous?”

“Why is any man jealous?”

“The man is a damn Neanderthal. He wouldn’t know how to love a woman enough to be jealous. He’s too arrogant to be jealous,” she added with a grumble.

“There were times I was jealous with Skylar.” He grinned devilishly. “And you tell me all the time how arrogant I am.”

She set her teacup down and turned to stare at her brother in surprise. “You? You were jealous?”

“Yes,” he said, his grin widening. “It was before I admitted, even to myself, that I loved her. I’d never felt jealousy before. Wasn’t quite sure what to make of it, which I’m sure is the case with Keenas now. As much as I hate to admit it, I have a feeling Keenas and I are a lot alike.”

Rhia pursed her lips and nodded her consent. “Jorel…he’s different.” 78

“Jorel is the younger of the two. He doesn’t have the responsibility that Keenas has and is more laid-back.”

“He’s easier to talk to.” She was silent for a moment, her mind returning to her questionable identity. “Do you think I’m her? The princess?”

“Honestly?” he said, pursing his lips in thought. “Yes.” Rhia shook her head, her gaze still locked on the delicate cup. “Devlin, I can’t be a princess. I’m not royalty. My God, I was raised in a bar.”

“That wasn’t your fault, Rhia and it doesn’t matter to them. You were born a royal and that alone makes you such. And since when do you care what people think? I raised you better than that.”

She turned to stare at him, startled. “I’m just not sure about any of this. Two husbands?

One that can be adorably charming and another that makes my blood boil. Can you believe the gall of that man? He even…” The heat of a blush moved up her cheeks at Devlin’s knowing stare and she turned away, embarrassed.

“He even what?” Devlin asked, gently coaxing her to continue.

She licked her lips nervously before continuing. “We were having an argument and it ended in sex.”

“Did he force you?” her brother asked softly and the tenseness of his body could be felt clear across the room.

“Unfortunately…no.” Reaching up, she wiped away a tear with a shaking hand. “I was so mad at myself after.”

Devlin sighed and placed a hand over hers. “Don’t be mad at yourself, poppet. You’re attracted to him. Both of them,” he added with another sigh. “I sensed it at the bar and I can still sense it now. We’ll know more after the test, but I have no doubt, Rhia, that you would make an excellent queen. You’ve seen more of the world, the real world, and I think your people will find you very approachable. And you know Damon’s wife Kaylar would be willing to help you, as well.”

Rhia smiled as she thought of the motherly woman who was still just as gorgeous as ever. “She’s an amazing countess. If I could be half the royal she is, I would be happy. Do you think she is as good as she is because she came from a poor family -- that she was never raised as a royal?”

“Possibly. But I think it’s more because of her caring nature. Look at their children.

The Marcone brothers were raised as royal, but you would never know it. They’re just as comfortable talking with a homeless man as they are a king, and just as well liked by both.”

“That was Kaylar’s doing,” Rhia said with a grin.

“Damon’s too, I think,” Devlin added, returning her grin. “Look at how they’ve welcomed us into the family. A less than reputable hard-ass and his hellion little sister.” Rhia chuckled, slapping her brother on the arm. “I’m not a hellion.”

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“Well, that’s certainly debatable and I’m afraid your husbands agree with me on that issue.”

Her face sobered. “They think I’m a hellion?”

Devlin snorted, and then shook his head with a slight smile. “Keenas does, but even though he won’t admit it, he likes it. Jorel, on the other hand, admits freely that he loves your unpredictable nature.”

“Oh, God,” she sighed and dropped her forehead into her hands. “What the hell am I going to do, Devlin?”

“What do you want to do, poppet?” he asked as he softly brushed his hand down the back of her head.

“I want to run for my life,” she mumbled.

Devlin chuckled softly. “But the question is, do you want to run away from them or toward them?”

At the moment, she had no idea.

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“We’re all here,” Morganic said with a sneer. “Let’s get on with this test.” Rhia stepped closer to Devlin, her nerves making her stomach butterflies flutter wildly.

This was it. One simple blood test would tell her everything. It would finally tell her who she was. Or who she wasn’t.

“Rhianna,” Keenas said as he held his hand out to her.

She glanced up at Devlin and he nodded, encouraging her to go forward. Morganic was there with the royal doctor, as well as the twins. Their cousin Baron Karn, Damon, Stefan, and Taron had said they would remain in the grand salon and wait for the results there.

Licking her lips nervously, she stepped forward and allowed Keenas to lift her to the exam table. Twenty seconds and it would all be over. Everything she’d ever wanted to know would be right at her fingertips. Of course, that was provided she was the princess.

Her gaze flicked to Keenas and Jorel. Neither looked nervous. If they were, they hid it well. They were dressed in the same leather pants they always wore, but today with white tunics, which made the tan flesh of their arms stand out more. Their black hair was down and hung around their shoulders straight as a stick.

How would she feel if she wasn’t the princess and had to leave? How would she feel if she was, for that matter? Could she just stay with them, jump into her wifely duties as though they’d been together all their lives? No, she decided. She wanted more than that. She wanted them to love her, not just need her to keep the peace.

She sighed and glanced toward the ceiling in disgust. There wasn’t any point in thinking about that right now. First they had to find out if she was the Rhianna they had been looking for.

“Nervous?” Jorel asked as he came to stand on her other side.

“Yes,” she admitted.

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“I’m not,” he drawled, then leaned down to whisper, “I know you’re my wife.”

“Then you know more than me,” she whispered back.

Jorel’s lips lifted into an understanding smile as he brushed her cheek with the backs of his fingers. His touch was soft and more of a distraction than she would have liked. Blinking, she turned her gaze from his and concentrated on the device the doctor had brought over.

It was metal and long, with a hole in the side. On top was a screen, at the moment blank. The doctor looked into her face and then smiled, his black eyes crinkling at the corners.

“All this technology seems a little out of place in this castle, doesn’t it?” Rhia nodded her agreement. The older man was obviously trying to make her a little more at ease, but right now she didn’t think there was much of anything that could accomplish that feat.

“Are you ready?” he asked. When she nodded again, he continued. “All we’ll do is swab the inside of your mouth. I’ll place the swab here,” he said, pointing to the hole in the side of the device. “And fifteen seconds later we’ll know if you’re a match. You see, when you were wed to the kings, your DNA was stored in our computer system.”

“I see,” she whispered, then swallowed nervously. “And what if I’m not her?” Morganic snorted. “Then you’ll be sent back with your brother to whatever planet you came from.”

Keenas immediately tensed beside her and, without thinking, she reached out to place her hand against his arm. His muscles twitched beneath her touch and she glanced up at him with a pleading expression. “Let’s just get this done as smoothly as possible. Please. Ignore him.”

Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Devlin had worked his way over to Morganic.

“Careful, Morganic. That may be your queen you’re talking to.” Rhia shivered at the menace that practically dripped from Devlin’s voice. Morganic didn’t speak, just watched Devlin with narrowed eyes full of malice. Rhia could sense the evil in Morganic and shivered with the idea that that man was actually a relative. A possible relative, she reminded herself.

“Devlin.” She spoke quietly, and then held her hand out to him, adding in a whisper,

“Please.”

Her brother gave Morganic one final piercing look before strolling to her side to take her hand in his. Lifting her fingers, he placed a soft kiss against the back of her hand and smiled. “Ready, poppet?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be.”

She had a feeling deep in her gut that her life was about to change. But would it change for the better? The doctor nodded and she opened her lips, allowing him to swipe the roof of 82

her mouth. She watched with growing anxiety as he placed the swab into the machine. The seconds passed slowly until she thought she couldn’t take it anymore.

Her fingernails tapped against the edge of the exam table until Jorel covered her fingers with his. She glanced up and almost melted at the warm, understanding smile that covered his face. Turning, she found Keenas watching her, and the longing in his gaze he didn’t bother to hide made her swallow a lump of surprise.

He was so handsome. They both were, and for a second she tried to imagine what it would be like to have both of them as her husband. A ménage marriage wasn’t unheard of and the sex she’d experienced so far was certainly satisfying, but is this what she wanted? If it wasn’t for the treaty, would she be what they wanted? Having her marriage arranged was definitely not how she wanted to do things.

The device in the doctor’s hand beeped and Rhia jumped, jerking her gaze to the doctor’s face. He gave away nothing as he studied the screen and Rhia wanted to scream. His gaze lifted and met hers, and then his lips spread into a soft smile.

“Welcome home, Rhianna,” he said softly, then turned his smile to Keenas. “She is the Phelisine princess.”

Rhia’s stomach jerked and her hands began to tremble. “Oh, my God.”

“I had no doubt, Rhianna,” Keenas whispered in her ear, then turned to glare at Morganic. “The original treaty remains intact, Morganic. I will expect you to honor it.”

“Of course,” Morganic said, his shrewd narrowed eyes moving to Rhia, making her shiver. “My lady,” he murmured. “Welcome home. My daughter will look forward to getting to know you. After all, you are cousins.”

“Thank you, Morganic,” she answered softly. “I look forward to that.” Morganic nodded. “I’ll return to Phelisine immediately and inform my planet that Rhianna has come home.”

With that, he left the room and everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief. Had her father been that cold and hard? What about her mother? What had she been like? There was so much Rhia wanted to know, both about herself and her family.

“I have so many questions,” she said. Jorel and Keenas both turned to look at her in surprise. “About my family.”

“Of course you do,” Jorel replied. “And we’ll tell you everything we know.”

“And what we don’t know, we’ll find out,” Keenas added as he tenderly stroked her cheek with the backs of his fingers.

His touch sent a swirling storm of emotions through her she wasn’t ready to face. Fear gripped her heart. Fear of falling in love with them. Fear of getting hurt. Even though they might consider her their wife, it didn’t mean they loved her. Nor did it mean they would be faithful. How would she feel if they kept a mistress? Would they ignore her once she produced them an heir?

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“I, um…” She sighed and turned to her brother, who watched her in concern. “I need some time alone.”

“We’ll take you to your room,” Jorel said, and reached out to help her from the table.

Rhia followed them through the castle in silence. Mentally, she tried to map where she’d been, but finally gave up after climbing a third set of stairs and traveling what seemed like endless miles of corridors. At her door, she turned to face the twins. Taking a deep breath, she licked her lips and stood her ground.

“I meant what I said. I need some time alone.”

“Of course. We’ll be back later after everyone has gone to bed,” Keenas said with a nod.

“No, you don’t understand. I don’t want you to come back tonight. I need this time alone, Keenas.”

He looked as though he might argue, but then changed his mind. With a slight nod, he turned to leave. Jorel nodded as well. “We’ll see you in the morning, Rhianna. If you need us, just push the com button on your nightstand.”

“Thank you, but I’m sure I’ll be fine.”

Jorel smiled. “I’m sure you will.”

With that, Rhia went inside her bedroom, shutting the world out behind her.