The Savage King (28 page)

Ulyssa's protest turned into a moan. She weakened as her arms wound around his neck. When he pulled back, her lids had fallen lazily over her eyes.

"Everyone can see," she whispered.

"Let them see." Kirill mouth came to hers once more, kissing her soundly. When he pulled back, he declared, "I love you. Stay with me. Life is a living hell without you. Don't let me be burned alive for the rest of my days."

Ulyssa blinked in surprise. She pushed back. His face fell at her rejection.

"No, I ... I can't." Ulyssa's eyes moisten. "I have my job and you have ... Linzi."

"Linzi?" Kirill questioned.

"It's the reason I left here. I saw you with her in the banquet hall. I can't be one of a hundred, Kirill, I just can't."

"Lyssa," he murmured, trying to draw her back. "You're right. You can never be one of a hundred, because you're one of a kind. I only want one. I only want you."

Ulyssa cried. Tears streamed down her face, but she still shook her head in denial. "I ... can't! Why did you have to make this harder on me? They won't let me go."

"We may not let you go, but I can reassign you."

Ulyssa blinked, turning back to Franklin. He stepped up to her. Lightly, he grazed her jaw with his knuckles. Then, glancing to the stunned royalty that had followed Kirill outside, he said, "I think there is much to be done on Qurilixen."

Kirill frowned.

Franklin merely smiled at him. "If Princess Nadja is willing, the Agency would like more information on the Medical Alliance--how they work, how they transport, suppliers, anything. Her identity will be kept a secret, of course."

Nadja swallowed nervously but, after glancing at her husband, she nodded in agreement. "Whatever I can do to help others."

Ulyssa looked at Kirill, meeting his dark eyes. He saw her tremble.

"And," Franklin continued, his words light and unassuming, "if you agree to let Dr. Elliot and her team stay. I'll need someone to report their findings to me."

Kirill nodded in agreement.

Franklin nodded back and continued, "And, after discovering that a whole planet might have been wiped out by the Medical Alliance, I've determined that it's best if we place someone here permanently--just to keep an eye on the savage Var King. In case he gets it in his head to try and buy black market chemicals like his father."

Ulyssa squealed, throwing her arms around Franklin. The man stiffened in surprise and didn't return the hug. She let him go.

"You mean...?"

"You're deep cover now, agent," he answered. "Only I know how to contact you and you report only to me."

"Frank, I ... thank you."

"Don't thank me. I expect a report in about...." Franklin looked at her stomach. "....seven and a half, eight months. However long these things take."

Ulyssa nodded, again mouthing, "Thank you."

"You take care of yourself, kid, and those nine lives of yours."

"I will." Ulyssa felt her eyes tearing up.

"Come on, let's get out of here!" Franklin yelled at the remaining crew. He waved his arm, as he jogged back to the spaceship.

"I ... ah ... I guess I'm staying," Ulyssa said, turning back to Kirill. Her heart thumped wildly in her chest. "Did you mean what you said?"

Kirill swept down on one knee before her. Loud, so everyone gathered could here him, he announced, "I bow to you, Lyssa, my love. I belong to you. All I ask is that you stay with me always ... as my Queen."

"No harem?" she whispered, shaking.

"No one but you--ever."

Ulyssa nodded, going to her knees to join him on the ground. Wrapping her arms about his neck, she kissed him soundly. She felt the tentative connection that had been trying to build between them since they first met spark to life. Suddenly, she felt him in her body, her head. She heard his thoughts, felt his desire for her and he felt hers for him.

Gasping, she pulled back. "What just happened?"

"We're married. You're my Queen, my property."

"Property?" Ulyssa repeated, hurt.

"What? Is that not the right word?"

"Ah, mmm, Kirill?" Kirill turned to Quinn. Quinn shook his head and whispered, "That was Attor's word and it's not exactly a compliment. I think you mean she's your briallen, your woman."

"Is that not what I said?" Kirill turned to Ulyssa. He looked so innocently confused, she laughed. He grinned, not caring, so long as she was happy.

"All this time when you called me property, you meant woman?" Ulyssa shook her head in amazement. "It doesn't matter what you call me, Kirill--property, woman, briallen. I belong to you, my King, my husband. I belong only to you."

"And I you, my most beautiful queen."

THE END

A sneak peak at

LORDS OF THE VAR: THE PLAYFUL PRINCE

By Michelle M. Pillow

COMING 2005 FROM NCP!

His sudden movement caught her attention and she realized he stepped toward her. He lifted his hand, as if to touch her. Tori flinched and took a step back.

"Sir," Tori stammered. "I mean, my ... ah?"

"Quinn," he supplied with a rakish smile.

"Yes, my Quinn ... wait, no." She took another step back as he moved aggressively forward. The look on his face made her heart flutter in excitement.

"Your Quinn?" he mused in a low tone that sent chills over her spine. "You wish for me to be your Quinn?"

"Stop!" she demanded holding out her hand. He paused in his quest to get to her and grinned, waiting. Tori swallowed, nervous and distracted. "Prince Quinn. I am Dr. Elliot with ESC ... well, actually the HIA, well, not really, technically with HIA or ESC except--"

Was she babbling? Tori was pretty sure it sounded like she was babbling. Scientists didn't babble. It wasn't appropriate. Her scowl deepened. Oh, why was he continuing to look at her like that?

"Well, Dr. Elliot not technically with the HIA or ESC," Quinn said, lowering his jaw as he leaned forward. "I'm H O R N Y and you're extremely pretty."

"H O...? Oh! Really!" Tori gasped, dismayed. She shook her head in disapproval.

"What? You're really so surprised? Can you really blame me, Dr. Elliot? You were staring quite intently at--" Quinn began to motion down, acting as of their conversation was an everyday topic.

Tori held up her hand and shook her head frantically to stop him. Taking a deep breath, she centered her thoughts and made a silent promise to never drink the night before a big assignment again. Surely that is why her heart was pounding so hard and why her limbs were shaking. Swallowing, she forced her voice to rigid calmness. "Is there someone I could talk to about gaining permission to search the cave systems that the biological weapons were discovered in? The HIA has requested that I clear the cave and surrounding area of any and all contamination threats."

Someone other than you, she thought, not caring if he saw her distaste for his lewdness.

Quinn's smile faded and to her surprise, he turned serious. "You think something else is up there?"

"I'm honestly not sure. The recovered weapon appears to be intact and contains enough chemical to wipe out at least five planets. From that bit of information, I would assume there was only the one, unless the caves were being used as a storage unit of some kind, which, given the political climate of your Kingdom, doesn't seem to be the assumption. From what I understand, your father was fighting a war with..."

Tori stopped, realizing that she might be speaking too candidly. That's why she hated being in political situations. Facts were facts and she was use to stating them, regardless of their popularity. In her job facts were all that mattered. In politics, a person was supposed to say things diplomatically, twisting the words into just the right phrase. It was a skill she lacked. She looked up at the Prince. His face hadn't changed. She swallowed nervously. He motioned his hand slightly for her to continue, not looking at all offended by her words.

Weakly, Tori said, "My checking would simply be a wise safety precaution for everyone concerned, especially your people. It won't cost you a thing, if that's your concern. HIA is taking care of my and the other scientists' salary."

Quinn nodded, a motion she hoped was agreement.

"My team has nearly gotten through with the palace inhabitants and so far everyone has tested negative. I believe they're about finished." Tori looked at her clipboard and pretended to scan through the data. This man unnerved her. She couldn't concentrate on what she was saying to him. Was she repeating herself? Was he even listening? Did she tell him yet that they were about done testing the palace inhabitants? She thought it, but did she say it? Damn, he had the most brilliant blue eyes she'd ever seen in her life. Delicately clearing her throat, she said, "But, we'd still like to do a thorough scan of the caves. There is no point in us leaving anything behind."

Quinn seemed to contemplate her words. Tori lowered her voice and stepped closer. He didn't move, except for those blue eyes. They followed her, keeping fixed on her face.

Getting excited, Tori forgot her nervousness as she admitted in a secretive whisper, "There was also something else. I took the liberty of analyzing the strange dark mud on the biological weapon's crate. I believe it's from your marshes, because I found some fresh moss that leads me to believe it wasn't already on the crate when it was brought here. Anyway, there was an extremely high level of what appears to be DTH12 compound, which I'm sure isn't indigenous to this particular planet, being as your swamp soil is classified as GR13H and not TDH14. What doesn't make sense is that DTH12 is primarily found in the slime trail of northeastern yellow slugs on the planet of Fluk in the H ... what? Are you laughing at me?"

Quinn was indeed chuckling. Shaking his head, he said, "Woman, I have no idea what you just said."

Tori frowned. She should have known. Sarcastically, she drawled, "Your mud is neat and I'd like to look at it."

Okay, maybe that was a tad too condescending. Quinn grimaced but didn't appear overly offended. Lucky for her, because he might just be the man she had to impress.