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“All ships must be returned to ready. All Rommaderian ships as well as the ships of all the visitors. Every ship capable of Space Travel is to be readied. No crew is needed. We will be aware if any ship has a passenger. If you leave a single person on the ship we plan to take after the supplies have been replaced, we will blow up that ship. And since they are close enough to each other, a chain reaction will occur, blowing up all ships. We are sure you understand the danger in this since the radioactive cores to the exotic matter containers will leak, polluting your entire planet.”

  They were ruthless and, it appeared, thorough as well.

  “Once each ship has been restocked, contact us again for your next instruction.” The signal went dead.

  What happens if they blow up all our ships after they take off in theirs? Jamina asked. Or take Delilah with them?

  Ryad shook his head. Then we are dead in the water, and can’t give chase. We have to stop them before it gets to that point.

  When Ryad left to give the instructions to have each ship readied for departure, the others left as well, leaving Marcus and me alone once more. I walked over to the large window and stared out across the whole city. Was she out there close? There had been nothing else in the image to indicate her location.

  I’m glad Delilah is alive. And that much closer to being found. Though I didn’t speak it aloud, it was hard to keep my inner voice steady.

  Marcus came up behind me and placed his hands on my shoulders. He slowly turned me around and pulled me into a hug. I held myself stiffly at first, surprised he would do that, but the moment my body connected to the warmth of his, I melted against him and allowed myself to just feel. He was offering nothing more than comfort for the stress he knew I was feeling for Delilah’s safe return and I would accept that. I would take what I could get.

  A message on Marcus’s communicator beeped and he lifted his arm to look at it. Ryad has requested my assistance. He says it would be safer for you to be in your rooms. Besides, there you’ll have a chance to rest.

  I shook my head. I won’t be able to rest. But I would like to clean up. I can’t imagine how horrible I look right now.

  Marcus lifted my face up to look into my eyes. You look lovely.

  I snorted and chuckled. My eyes feel puffy from my emotional outburst last night. I know the makeup is gone. My hair has fallen from its styling and I really need a toothbrush.

  Marcus’s fingers trailed over my face. Your eyes are full of emotion, sure, but they show unwavering strength. He wiped an errant tear from the corner of my eye. You don’t need makeup, being lovely with or without it.

  He brushed my dark hair away from my face, letting a few strands cascade through his fingers. Your hair looks deliciously rumpled.

  My breath caught in my chest as he leaned closer. His gaze focused on my lips and he stared at them for what seemed like ages. He pulled his attention away from my lips and met my eyes. Marcus blinked slowly and took a steadying breath. A slow, tempting smile graced his lips. The only thing I would agree on is the part about the toothbrush.

  I covered my mouth with one hand and stepped back, completely horrified. His hand on my arm squeezed gently and he laughed, putting me at ease. I punched his chest halfheartedly in mock outrage. Shut up.

  He turned serious. Let me escort you back to your rooms, then I’ll go meet Ryad. I don’t feel comfortable letting you go with just your guards.

  I shook my head. Go help Ryad. I want Delilah back safe as soon as possible. I’ll be fine with my guards escorting me.

  Marcus hesitated for a moment, then pulled me into a quick hug and turned around and rushed out of the room. I stared at the door he had exited, unsure what that had meant. He had purposely pulled me back for one more hug. Did I dare hope it meant something more than comfort?

  Chapter Thirty Four

  Heart’s Desire

  I rushed through a shower and change of clothes then put on the jewelry Delilah had made me from Earth. It brought me comfort and made me feel closer to her. I slipped on the emerald ring and frowned at the simple gold band on my left hand. Marcus’s wedding ring to me. I wished there had been meaning to it when he gave it to me soon after the assassination attempt. Instead it just felt like a formality to solidify the marriage in the eyes of the public. When this whole mess was over, I would do my best to make my marriage mean something.

  A green light flashed on the corner of my communicator bracelet. I pressed the button. Amira, have Marcus contact me. He’s not answering his communicator.

  I pressed the button and spoke. “He left moments after your message. He should have made it to you by now.”

  Where are you? the message asked.

  “In my rooms.”

  The communicator screen on my wall flashed a message indicating it was Ryad. I pressed the button and saw his image pop up. “Why is Marcus not with you?” he asked.

  “You sent a message to him to bring me to my rooms and then join you.”

  Ryad’s face lost color. “I never sent a message like that.”

  “Who did? Did one of your assistants? Someone involved in the case?”

  “No,” Ryad said.

  “Have you tried contacting him verbally instead of the texts?”

  “There is no response to any of my communications. I can’t even find his signal. The communicator is either turned off, or destroyed.”

  “He wouldn’t turn it off.” My stomach clenched and I started pacing back and forth in front of the screen. “Have you sent guards to look for him? Where were you? He was on his way to meet you. He could have been stopped by one of the Grand Councilors, or even one of the dignitaries.”

  Ryad pulled up a tablet and pressed buttons as if searching for something. He shook his head. “He’s not anywhere I can locate.”

  “Have you looked for him on the heat sensors?”

  “Give me a moment.” The screen stayed on, but Ryad moved out of visual range. Sounds of talking and noises from offscreen didn’t help put me at ease. Ryad’s face returned to the monitor. His eyes held worry.

  “One section of the palace was shut down. Someone must have figured out what we were doing and made us blind there.”

  “What hallways?” I asked.

  “The east wing.”

  “That leads to the servants’ areas.”

  Ryad gripped the back of his head. “I’ve sent guards there.” He looked deep into my eyes. “Whatever you do, do not leave your rooms. We must keep one royal completely safe. I’ve sent a group of backup guards with a command to all of them that you are to be tranquilized and bundled away into the safe house if you attempt to leave.”

  I planted my fists on my hips. “You cannot do that. None of those guards would dare treat me in that manner.”

  Ryad narrowed his eyes at me. “Lance and Cory would. If you try anything, you’ll regret it.”

  I shouted at the wall. “Ryad! You cancel that order. I have to help him. What if they’ve decided to take him hostage as well?”

  Ryad gritted his teeth and spoke slowly. “If they are crazy enough to kidnap the actual King of Rommader, they won’t care about doing the same to you. We must have a ruler. Do not move. That’s an order!”

  I blinked in surprise. “You can’t order me. I’m the one that holds your oath bond.”

  “And you realize if you do anything to put yourself in danger, I am honor-and oath-bound to avenge you. If you want me to protect and find Delilah and now Marcus, you must stay put. By getting involved and not staying safe, you will doom them.”

  The steel in his eyes made me clamp my mouth shut and I didn’t snap out the answer I wanted to. I knew he was reasonable in his demand. I had to stay in a place no one could get me. I couldn’t put Rommader at risk of a civil uprising if both monarchs went missing with no clear heir.

  We would have to wait for the message from those holding him hostage.

  “I will stay put,” I promised. Ryad relaxed visibly. I took a step closer to the screen so hi
s eyes were level with mine. “But please find him. Rommader needs their king.” I need my king.

  I didn’t know if he could hear my telepathy through the monitor, but from the expression in his eyes, I knew he understood the desires of my heart.

  He nodded. “I’ll find him. I’ll bring him back to you.”

  The screen clicked off and I dropped to my knees. He has to come back. They can’t take him from me. Not when I finally know my heart. Not when I’m ready to give him mine.

  I waited there on the floor for a few moments, my hands hanging limply to the side. I clasped them gently on my lap and offered a prayer for his safety.

  Chapter Thirty Five

  Under Attack

  Shouting from outside my rooms brought my bowed head up. The door banged as if someone was trying to force their way in. Or maybe someone had been thrown against it. I knew the door was built strong enough to withstand anything done by human strength, but would it be strong enough to withstand a blast from some weapon?

  We had never had such a threat, so I had no clue if it would hold against the possibility. I ran to my desk and pulled out the knives I used for target practice to relieve stress. I wasn’t a good shot, as the holes in my wall near the target proved, but they were better than nothing.

  I tucked a couple into the waistband of my dress and held two at the ready. I glanced at the screen on the wall and rushed over to it. Pressing the button on the wall to call Ryad back, I hoped he was still in a room he could see it. A message of undeliverable flashed across the screen. I pressed the call button on my bracelet communicator. “Ryad, someone’s trying to break into my rooms. I have no idea if the guards have been killed.”

  I waited for a response, knowing if Ryad had heard it, he’d reply immediately. Nothing came through, and I wondered if someone had shut down all communications.

  I looked around my room, searching for a place to escape to. My windows didn’t open, in order to keep me safe. I looked at the laundry chute and hesitated only a moment. I rushed forward just as a blast shook my room. The door was still closed, but through a hole the size of my head, I saw flashes of light. Shouts from outside my room were almost drowned out by the sounds of more blasts from some kind of laser guns.

  A deeply accented shout broke through the noise. “Careful not to hurt her.”

  Nexleen?

  Another blast made the hole larger, and part of the beam hit the glass window directly across from the door. It shattered outward and I bolted to the laundry chute again, hesitating. The fight outside was drastic and I heard men screaming in pain before being cut down. My guards were falling. I had no hope of success with just knives against those outside.

  I pulled the knives out of my waistband and wrapped them in the scarf laying across my chair, not wanting to cut myself as I slid down. I had only tried this once on a dare from Jai when we were young. I knew it was large enough I could still fit, but I hoped the bottom had a full basket of laundry.

  Though landing in an empty cart was much preferable to being hit by lasers.

  I entered feet first, and saw another blast make a larger hole in the thick door just before my face disappeared down the chute.

  I hit hard into a basket only half full. I felt a jolt of pain shoot through my ankle. I took a deep breath and climbed out of the basket, knocking it over. The wrapped bundle of knives was still clutched tight in my hands. Putting weight on my ankle hurt but wasn’t unbearable, and I knew it hadn’t broken. I offered a prayer of thanks and hobbled around, looking for the exit. I hadn’t been in the laundry rooms for ages and didn’t know where to go. It was dark enough I felt like I had some protection. I wrapped the scarf around my waist and tucked the knives in it, holding two ready.

  The smells of soaps and softeners was nearly overpowering at first, and I felt disoriented in the strange place.

  I closed my eyes and tried to visualize the layout of the palace. What had Jai and I done before? I smiled as I remembered being escorted from the room by a laundry worker, then marched up to my father for a scolding.

  Longing for that simpler time washed over me.

  I peeked around a corner and saw racks of folded towels and more racks of sheets and linens. There was a green light over the exit sign and I smiled in relief.

  It wouldn’t be long before the Nexleen realized I had disappeared through the chute, if they hadn’t seen where I’d gone during the firefight.

  I paused at the door and listened for any sounds coming from the outer room. When I was sure it was vacant, I cracked the door open and peeked out. The light was on and from another door halfway down the room I heard sounds.

  Did they have two separate laundry rooms? One for this wing and another for other places? It hadn’t been a straight fall, sloping gently, but I figured I was in about the center of the palace in a lower level.

  I grabbed a uniform from one of the lockers and held it up to me. If I removed my gown, I would be able to slip into that and sneak out undetected. I struggled for a moment with the scarf’s knot, then managed to strip the long dress off me and climb into the uniform. With a cap on to pull my hair back, I’d be able to blend in and hopefully go unnoticed.

  After changing, I tucked some knives into the large pockets in the front and grabbed a stack of linens. The bottom hand held a knife concealed under the stack and I steadied it with the other hand. It would be easy enough to drop it and reach for the blades in my pocket.

  I hoped I wouldn’t have to use them. I’d only ever thrown at targets, but to defend myself, or Marcus, I wouldn’t hesitate.

  Everyone I saw seemed to be going about their business as usual. Nothing indicated there was any threat on the floors above. No one paid any attention to me as I slipped out of the laundry room with my stack of linens. I wondered if I should have taken a cart, but thought it would be more difficult to get up to the wing where Marcus had last been seen.

  I didn’t know if I could find him at all. Ryad was probably tracking him at this very moment, but I wouldn’t just stand there waiting for Nexleen to come find me. I had to keep moving. Hiding in plain sight where I could see what was coming would be more tolerable than cowering in a corner. I didn’t even know if I’d be able to find my way to the safe room.

  No, the best thing for me to do would be to find Marcus.

  I had done my best to contact Ryad for help, but sometimes a girl had to take matters into her own hands. The hallways were empty and I ran through them. My wrist communicator hummed and I stopped.

  I pressed the button and whispered a message to Ryad. “In case you get this message, I’m not in my rooms. They were attacked but I got away. I’m going to look for Marcus.”

  Ryad would kill me for doing this, but I had to do something to help.

  When I reached the main floor, alarms blared, indicating someone was finally aware my rooms had been attacked. It would help me immensely to search the place since everyone would be rushing to my aid in a different wing of the palace.

  The hallways were deserted as I set out to find Marcus. I hoped no one would notice a maid with a stack of sheets.

  Chapter Thirty Six

  Invisible Foe

  Something grabbed me from behind and a large cloth held by an invisible hand covered my mouth. I felt the sting of a foreign chemical as it hit my lungs and felt myself go weak. If I continued to breathe, it would incapacitate me: I held my breath and let myself fall limp. The knife and stack of laundry tumbled out of my hands. The cloth was held there for a moment longer and I feared I’d run out of oxygen before they pulled it away. I felt someone drag me back down the hallway I had just come from.

  “Much easier than the other,” the man muttered. Was there anyone else here with him? I listened for any clue to another person near us, but could only hear my abductor’s breathing.

  I didn’t fight him, though everything in my body screamed to struggle, I knew my best chance of finding Marcus and fighting against some invisible foe was to let him t
hink I was unconscious.

  After a moment, my communicator was removed and something was clamped on my wrists, ankles, and around my neck. What was it? Would it bind me? Keep me from moving anywhere else? I tried to move my toes, testing the most inconspicuous spot and was relieved they still moved. I then tried my fingers and turned my head, allowing it to move into a flop to keep up the charade of being unconscious. Someone lifted me up and threw me over a shoulder. I almost let out a grunt of pain as my stomach hit the bone, but managed to keep it to a whoosh of air. My left arm hung limply to the side, but my right arm was trapped between my body and my abductor’s.

  I hoped they would think I was out and chanced a peek. Though my hair hung down, I couldn’t see it, nor my arm. I wiggled my fingers, but couldn’t see any part of me. The bracelets they’d attached to me had to be the activator for the invisibility. The ground about eight feet below me was all I saw. If I had been in doubt it was a Nexleen, I knew for sure now. They were the only ones remotely close to that height.

  I tried to learn from the hallway we traveled through where we were going, but it was an area of the palace I rarely spent any time in. It wasn’t the servant’s wing where they had shut off the monitors. They’d planned this well. Ryad would be sending all his searchers to the wrong area.

  I could feel the knives in my pocket as I bounced on his shoulder, but I knew if I could feel them, the man holding me probably could too. I doubted he would leave them in my pockets once he set me down.

  Where was he taking me? Would they take me to the ship they planned to leave in? Would they take me to where Marcus or Delilah was?

  Minutes passed and I wondered if the man would get winded. He had to pause on occasion to wait until a hallway cleared enough for him to move through undetected.

  I debated on screaming for help or calling out with telepathy, but knew he would probably have a weapon and I didn’t want to cause anyone to be harmed by someone they couldn’t see to fight.