Everlasting (9 page)

Kira felt an aching tightness in her throat. “We didn't win all the battles, Marna, but those we did win were won because you were there with me.”

“Talk to me,” Marna said softly. “Remember with me.”

Kira hesitated, trying to grasp just what it was Marna needed. Then, with absolute certainty, she knew. It was the time for gathering memories and dreams of childhood so they could be stored lovingly away to make room for new dreams, new visions. Marna wanted to be named guardian of those memories because she was afraid she'd have no place in the new dream.

It wasn't true, but Kira knew that words would never convince Marna. She would have to be shown. In the meantime, she would give Marna what she asked. She settled herself more comfortably on the couch, her fingers tightening on the hand of her old friend. “I think one of my very best memories is of the first time you took me to meet your people, I couldn't have been more than three or four, and I was so excited. It was spring and the entire Gypsy camp was bathed in sunlight. The horses' coats were gleaming and the
paint on the caravans was so bright it hurt my eyes to look at them. Everyone was laughing and glad to see you. I felt a little shy among all those strangers, but you were holding my hand and I was so proud to be with you. I knew there was nothing to be frightened of as long as…”

For many hours they wove tapestries of memories and love and togetherness. The light in the room mellowed and then faded to an intimate dusk as they spoke and remembered and prepared the way for the new harvest to come.

S
TEFAN TOWERED HEAD
and shoulders above the small coterie surrounding him. His broad-shouldered form looked very impressive in the medal-bedecked blue uniform and his silver-threaded auburn hair shone as he stood under the magnificent crystal chandelier in the center of the ballroom. He was laughing, his face handsome.

“Brother Stefan appears to be in a good mood tonight,” Zack murmured in Kira's ear as they
walked across the room in the direction of the elite cluster.

“Well, I'm not,” Kira whispered as she smiled brilliantly and nodded to the right and left at acquaintances in the crowd. “I'm so nervous I can scarcely breathe.”

“You don't look nervous,” Zack said quietly. His gaze ran over her small figure in the delicate pink silk gown. “You look very lovely, the perfect princess.”

“Training.” She made a face. “I feel like a little girl who wants to go hide under the covers. I'm so scared Marna will be hurt.”

“She won't be hurt.” Zack's lips thinned to grimness. “I've made it quite clear to my men what will happen if she develops so much as a hangnail from this escape. I guarantee they won't run any risks getting her out of the palace. Just hold on and it will all be over soon. In another hour she should be leaving the palace grounds.”

“You're sure the guards won't panic and decide the bribe isn't worth risking Karpathan's anger? It seems impossible that you were able to set up the bribe so quickly.”

“They won't panic.” His hand reached out to clasp her arm bracingly. “And my men won't panic either. You're the only one who's in a tizzy.”

“Well, I'm not accustomed to— Where's Karpathan? I don't see him.”

“I do. There he is.” Zack nodded toward a corner of the room. “Take it easy. I guarantee he's not at Marna's suite lying in wait with a drawn pistol.”

“I wouldn't put it past him. How long do we have to stay?”

“Another two hours should do it.”

Stefan glanced up and saw them approaching. He immediately stepped forward and out of the crowd. “Mr. Damon. We have been waiting for you,” he said with a jovial smile. “There are any number of people who want to meet you.” He glanced reproachfully at Kira. “You shouldn't be so selfish, darling. We haven't seen anything of our guest since you arrived.”

Kira forced a smile through clenched teeth. “I'm sorry, Stefan. I didn't realize Zack's arrival would cause such a storm. I've been showing him some of my favorite haunts.” She paused before
adding deliberately, “And introducing him to my favorite people.”

The genial smile faded a little. “Yes, I heard about that.” The smile regained its brilliance. “We all admire your loyalty, even if it is a trifle misplaced. I'm sure Mr. Damon realizes that sometimes we're forced to undertake unpleasant tasks for the general good.”

Kira kept the smile fixed firmly on her face as she counted to ten under her breath. She should know by now that it did no good to blow up at Stefan. He actually believed every word he uttered. If
he
thought something was for Stefan's good and the good of Tamrovia, then it must be so. He was the king, wasn't he? “I'll try to remember that the next time I visit Marna and watch her pace the floor. She's a
Gypsy
, Stefan. Don't you realize what that means? Freedom is as necessary to her as air to breathe.”

“Sandor says she's adjusted very well,” Stefan said soothingly. “Don't be so melodramatic, Kira. Mr. Damon will think all Tamrovians are as uncivilized and untamed as you and your friend Marna.”

“Marna isn't uncivilized,” Kira began hotly. “Her people have a different philosophy, but that doesn't mean—”

Zack's words swiftly cut across hers as his hand tightened warningly on her elbow. “I happen to admire Kira's untamed qualities, Your Majesty. If she derived them from her former nursemaid, then I owe her a vote of thanks.” He smiled blandly. “You may have heard rumors that my own background isn't precisely civilized.”

For an instant Stefan looked a little uncomfortable. “Well, I'm sure you're—” He broke off, his expression brightening with relief as he spotted his adviser. “Sandor, I was wondering where you were. We must introduce Mr. Damon to our guests.”

Karpathan smiled lazily as he inclined his head in acknowledgment. “That was my intention, Stefan. I came as soon as I realized our guest of honor had arrived.” He turned to Kira with a graceful bow that still managed to contain a hint of mockery. “You look enchanting this evening, Your Highness.”

“Thank you,” Kira said. Enchanting. The word sent an unpleasantly reminiscent cord through
her as she remembered Marna's remark about Karpathan working his magic on Stefan. Tonight he looked more than capable of doing that. The white tie and tails accented both his height and elegant slenderness and the only note of color in his outfit was the brilliant blue-and-white sash he wore diagonally across his breast. The very simplicity of his clothes only served to emphasize the aura of strength that surrounded him. “I find you enchanting, too, Sandor.”

Karpathan's brows lifted in surprise and his lips curved in a slightly whimsical smile. “Thank you… I think.” He turned to Zack. “I was just speaking to a man I believe you will be fascinated to meet. He's something of a tycoon himself. We do have them in Tamrovia, you know. Perhaps we could leave Kira for Stefan to entertain for a few minutes. I'm sure you wouldn't hear a word the poor man said with her at your side distracting you.”

Zack frowned. “I don't know…”

“Go on,” Kira said quickly. She hadn't been exactly an asset to their enterprise this evening. Zack was probably afraid to leave her alone. It was time
she started conducting herself with a little more control. “I'll be fine. I won't even miss you.”

He smiled at her with an intimacy that was entirely unfeigned. “You'd better miss me. Or I'll show you just how wild and untamed I can be when I come back.” His hand fell from her arm and he turned away. “I won't be long.”

She smiled as she watched him cross the room with Karpathan. He moved with a power and confidence that reassured and soothed her even when he wasn't beside her. Nothing could go wrong as long as Zack was here.

“He's a very interesting man,” Stefan said thoughtfully. “He appears quite taken with you.”

“It's mutual.” Kira met his gaze directly. “I assumed you were aware of that. You did assign him an adjoining room.”

“Sandor suggested it would be tactful, since you evidently shared similar quarters at his house in Tucson,” Stefan said easily. “We wanted the arrangement to be as discreet and pleasant as possible for you.”

“Thank you, Stefan.” There was a thread of irony in her tone. “I realize that one of your prime
missions in life is to save me from the consequences of my own foolishness.”

“He's a very important man. If handled correctly, Damon could be a valuable asset to us. I'm very glad you brought him with you.” He glanced at her with sudden sharpness. “You realize, of course, that marriage is out of the question. Damon's family background is totally unacceptable.”

Kira felt a quick surge of rage. She took a deep, steadying breath. “I expected you to feel that way. In other words, Zack is good enough for me to have an affair with in order to add rubles to the royal coffers, but not good enough to be the father of any Rubinoff progeny.”

Stefan's expression was pained. “You don't have to be unpleasantly crude, Kira. You know your position requires certain duties of you.”

“I don't know anything—” She broke off in midsentence. She wouldn't let him anger her. It was too dangerous tonight. “I'm thirsty. I think I'll go see if I can find a glass of champagne.” She turned away. “I'll see you later, Stefan.”

“Kira.”

She turned back to see a distinctly uneasy
expression on Stefan's face. “You spent last night in Marna's suite.”

She stiffened warily. “So?”

“I'm sure Damon resented sharing your attention with anyone so early in your relationship. It's obvious the man is quite possessive of you. You were lucky he didn't take offense and leave Tamrovia in a huff.”

She gazed at him in disbelief. “Now you're telling me how to conduct my own love affair?”

“Well, we all know how unthinking and undisciplined you can be. Sandor and I discussed it early this afternoon and we decided it would be best to move Marna to the prison at Belajo tomorrow until Damon leaves Tamrovia. We'll make sure she has special treatment and every comfort. Then you'll be able to give Damon your full attention during his stay.”

“Sandor,” she repeated dully. She wouldn't have put this plan past Stefan, but he usually moved more slowly and methodically. It must have been Karpathan who had nudged him into such swift action. And she doubted if it was her presence in Damon's bed that was the real issue
with her dear cousin. She felt a ripple of chilling panic. Did he suspect something?

“Sandor is very perceptive in these matters,” Stefan said. “You'd be wise to be guided by him.”

Good heavens, was he offering Karpathan's services as her pimp, she thought hysterically? She had to get control of herself. “I'll consider that advice. You appear to find him very valuable in that capacity.” She turned away again. “Perhaps we'll discuss it later.”

She was scarcely aware of the next two hours as she drifted from group to group with a bright, meaningless smile pasted on her face. She certainly wasn't conscious of what she said to anyone. Her conversation must not have been too outrageous for no one seemed to be startled or upset with her. She caught glimpses of Zack from time to time, with Karpathan always at his elbow. She had to restrain herself from running to him and nestling close to shut away the icy fear Stefan had instilled in her. No, she had to do her part. She couldn't depend on Zack for everything. But why didn't he break away and come to her?
Surely enough time had passed now for them to leave without comment.

She put her fluted champagne glass down carefully on the chest beside the French doors. She couldn't take this any longer. She felt as if her smile were frozen on her face and her stomach full of butterflies. She'd slip out on the terrace a moment and get a breath of air. Perhaps when she came back inside, Zack would be ready to leave.

The air was clear and cold and the stars brilliant in the night sky. She closed the doors behind her and wandered out on the terrace to stand at the stone balustrade and look out over the garden. It was much better out here. There was a peacefulness that was a balm to her raw nerves. She heard the door open behind her and she tensed.

“Are you all right?”

Zack's voice. She relaxed and turned to face him. “I just had to get away for a while. Can we leave now?”

“In a minute.” He left the French door open wide as he crossed the terrace toward her. “What's wrong? You looked taut as a bow string. I was worried about you.”

“Were you?” She hadn't realized he'd been watching her. The knowledge sent a little current of warmth through her that partially dispelled the chill. She looked up at him. “I was frightened. Stefan told me that Sandor had spoken to him about moving Marna from the palace tomorrow. Do you suppose he suspects something and has set extra guards on her tonight?”

He shook his head. His hands reached out and cupped her face in his hands. “It's too late even if he has,” he said softly. “I received word thirty minutes ago that Marna is safely out of the palace and on her way to the helicopter.”

Kira was so relieved that she went limp. “Oh, thank God!” she said on a long drawn-out breath. “How did you—?”

“Another bribe. I arranged to have one of the guards get a message to me. I knew you'd be worried until you knew for sure.”

“Thank you.” She could feel the foolish tears well up in her eyes. It was such a wonderfully thoughtful thing for him to have done. “I feel better now. When can we join her?”

“Soon. First we have to provide a logical reason for withdrawing from Stefan's charming festivities.”

“What reason?”

He smiled faintly. “Lust. It's the most convincing reason I can think of—besides being the most enjoyable.” He slowly lowered his head toward her mouth. “I left the door open. I don't think anyone will be rude enough to interrupt us, but it should be fairly clear to any passerby what we're doing here, even though they can't see us too well because of the shadows.” His lips feathered hers, sipping with a teasing delicacy that caused her to arch up to him with helpless abandon. “I missed you last night. I've never had you in my bed, but still I missed you.”

“Did you?” She would never have guessed it. When she had returned to the suite after lunch his manner had been casual to the point of being brotherly.