Despite her own rising need, she pulled back and glanced over his shoulder at Crausin who gave her a look laced with venom. “Pleased to see you too,” she quipped. “Com, want to explain what he’s doing here?”
It took him a moment to let up from her. “Well … it’s complicated. Can we go somewhere and talk?”
“Yes, my quarters. Oh, and regarding the ally, there’s nothing to worry about.”
“You know who it is?”
“Yes, it’s one of Emperor Sorren’s former Generals Elite,” she said, beaming with the anticipation of sharing the meatier part. “It’s my grandfather, Richmonde Erlacher.”
She saw the surprise on his face followed by the concern. “Him and what army? He’ll require a hell of a lot more than this old battleship to fight his way to Novoxos.”
“He held the rank of Generals Elite,” she replied with a touch of pride in her voice. “Which means he’s a brilliant military strategist and a real leader’s leader. He knows the way they think. Where they’ve grown sloppy over the years, he’s remained sharp and alert. And, more than that, he’s hungry to avenge the death of his daughter. He wants this more than we do.”
“Excellent,” Comron replied with a nod. “Do you think that you can arrange for me to have an audience with him?”
She hesitated a moment, knowing Erlacher’s ill opinion of him and their relationship. “I’ll see what I can do, but you must understand that he has his hands full preparing for the battle ahead.”
“Captain Yaeger!” someone hollered boisterously from behind. They turned to find Lepkin grinning wholeheartedly as he approached Yaeger and slapped his shoulder.
“Lepkin,” Yaeger said and hitched his head at Vaush, “Good to know you can follow orders.”
“At least one of us can,” Lepkin laughed and thumped DeOrchis on the back. “Good work, kid.”
“All in a day’s work,” DeOrchis replied.
“Yeah, well, Erlacher wants to see you two and he ain’t too happy my friend.” Lepkin looked at Comron and shook his head, “Damn, we could have sworn you were dead!”
Comron cut him a look of disdain. “Now that would make you quite the idiot, wouldn’t it?”
“Comron!” Vaush placed her hand on his arm. “We’re their guests. Play nice.”
Yaeger’s smile faded. “Where is Erlacher?”
“On the bridge.”
He slung his bag onto his back. “Then I’d better get this over with.”
Vaush felt a pang of guilt as Yaeger walked by on his way to a major dressing down. How many people would suffer because she couldn’t see her way without Comron at her side? But what other choice did she have?
She squeezed Comron’s hand and whispered, “I was so afraid I’d been too late in giving you the essence. And then Yaeger and DeOrchis declared you dead. I was sick with grief. I thought I’d lost you forever.” She stared up into his mesmerizing eyes. “I can’t lose you again, Comron; it nearly killed me.” From the corner of her eyes, she saw Crausin draw near.
Comron glanced at him. “I don’t believe you’ve been formally introduced. Your Grace, Vaush Hrollaugr, I present to you, my father, the Duke of Nethic.”
Vaush had never experienced such an intense feeling of hatred directed toward her, though Crausin plastered on a smile and reached for her hand. She gave it reluctantly. He raised her hand to his lips and kissed it, as was the custom.
“Pleased to make your acquaintance,” he said in a voice every bit Comron’s.
“Likewise,” she cordially replied, never taking her eyes off him. Their uncanny resemblance was eerie, even for a father and son, though Crausin hardly appeared old enough to be his father. The two of them standing side by side looked more like identical twins, though age had given Crausin a more distinct, seasoned look. Prior to the essence, one might have said that the elder was the more handsome of the two. One thing was clear; he hadn’t switched sides. His hatred for her burned brighter than ever before.
At that moment, Chaiyse and Bhedrus approached and a knot formed in Vaush’s stomach as she sensed the exchange would not go well.
“Chaiyse and Bhedrus of Wiskelle, it is my great honor to present to you Lord Comron Van Laven of Nethic and his father, the Duke of Nethic.”
Comron touched his fist to his chest and with a head bow. In turn, Chaiyse touched her forehead with both hands and extended open palms downward. Roughly the same height, Comron looked her straight in the eyes.
“Chaiyse of Wiskelle, we are much in your debt,” he said. Vaush saw the look Crausin gave him.
“As we are in yours for saving her Excellency’s life.”
It sounded so strange to be referred to by that title. Modestly, Vaush replied, “I am not the empress yet.”
Chaiyse turned to her. “You will be very soon.”
“You say this with such certainty,” Comron observed. “Yet, we still have a major hurdle ahead of us.”
“I have seen her enthroned.” Chaiyse’s large dark eyes narrowed a bit. “What I have not seen is you, not beyond Anchorii.”
Discomforted, Vaush squeezed Comron’s arm. He placed his hand reassuringly on hers but answered. “You see me now, don’t you?”
“You are an unnatural thing, Lord Comron, an anomaly that is difficult for the Murkudahl Kait to see.”
Lepkin broke in. “I knew it. You were dead!”
Comron cut him a scathing look and Lepkin stepped back into silence.
Chaiyse moved closer to Comron, her mouth close to his ear. “The essence should never have been given to a person in your state. Reanimating beings from the dead is strongly discouraged.”
“You are mistaken. I remember tasting the essence, so I wasn’t dead yet,” he insisted in a low tone.
“You did not receive it in time to heal you. You died and were reanimated by the essence remaining in your system.”
“How can you know this?” he growled.
She stepped back and raised her voice for Vaush to hear. “Though I can see Her Grace, I can no longer see you with my inner sight.”
Chaiyse turned to Vaush and slipped something into her pocket. “You must know, Lord Comron Van Laven is a different entity now. He is no longer the man you once loved.”
“So it was Murkudahl technology that changed you,” Crausin said to Comron as the three of them followed Lepkin to their quarters. Two guards brought up the rear. “Only they weren’t too pleased that you gained access to this technology.” He looked at Vaush. “Might I assume that you were the intended recipient of the device, but you used it on Comron instead?”
Vaush hesitated, but nodded.
“What was it?” Crausin looked between the two of them, but they both held their silence. “He’s my son. I have a right to know.”
Vaush gave him a scathing look of incredulity. “Did that also give you the right to scourge him with a whip soaked in brauren acid? Sorry, but you don’t get to play the compassionate father only when it suits your purpose.”
“Comron’s offense warranted the death penalty on Nethic, but instead he received a father’s mercy. But that doesn’t—”
“Can we not have this discussion right now?” Comron interrupted. “A little peace and quiet is all I ask for.”
They came to a stop before a row of guest quarters. “Here we are.” He pointed to the first door, “My lady. And you two are the next one down.”
Vaush exchanged glances with Comron. “Thank you, Lepkin. That will be all.”
“You’re certain?” Lepkin said, then gestured at the guards. “They’ll be posted outside your door should you need anything else.”
Even after he left, Vaush felt the tension between the three of them. Based upon Comron’s passionate kiss earlier, she knew he was just as eager to be alone with her as she was with him. She still had so much to tell them, particularly about the Murkudahl essence not to mention the impending attack.
Vaush took his hand. “After everything that has transpired, Comro
n and I have a great deal of catching up to do. You understand, don’t you?”
Crausin wouldn’t even look at her but kept his eyes locked on Comron who remained silent. In that moment, she wanted to nudge Comron and compel him to speak up on their behalf. Obviously, Crausin was waiting to hear it from him.
“Look, Vaush and I just need some time alone,” Comron said in an apologetic tone. “But afterward, we’ll take a meal together.”
“And so it begins,” Crausin replied in a clipped tone.
“Don’t start—”
“Do what you must, Comron, and so will I,” he said in a threatening tone that made Vaush uneasy. Before either could say another word, Crausin turned away and entered his quarters.
“What was that all about?” Vaush inquired as she followed Comron into the living room of their own space. It was a utilitarian place of beige and browns; a sofa and a chair sat around a small coffee table. Off to the side was a small eating area and down the hall was a bedroom. She endeavored to keep her mind off that for the moment. “More importantly, why is he even here? The man loathes me, so seeing us together can’t be helping matters.”
“He thinks I’m abandoning him and Nethic, for you.”
“So, you brought him here to prove that our relationship is not your top priority?” she asked. “I mean, was this the wisest course of action?”
“I couldn’t leave him alone, and risk ….” He raked his hands through his hair. “I’ll take him back home once you’re established on Novoxos.”
It disturbed Vaush to see how troubled Comron was over the matter. But she wouldn’t push, after all, how much trouble could Crausin cause for them on Erlacher’s watch? She walked forward and wrapped her arms around his waist.
“You know Yaeger had to drug me to get me to leave your side. My whole life was lying there before me. All I wanted to do was lay down and die with you.”
He draped his arms around her shoulders and tenderly kissed her brow. “I know, my love. But we’re together now and nothing is going to tear us apart this time.”
They both looked down at the rumbling of his stomach.
“Hungry, are we?” she chuckled.
“I don’t remember the last time I’ve eaten, but suddenly I’m ravenous.”
Releasing him, Vaush walked over to the door and asked that the guard bring up a meal for them. “Don’t be surprised by that. The essence is very taxing on your system. They calibrated it perfectly for my metabolism, so my appetite has stayed fairly steady.”
“Why didn’t you tell me you had more of the essence? Had you given it to me sooner, we would have been invincible against Thalonius and Recaban.”
She shrugged. “I suppose with everything going on it slipped my mind. Besides, it was engineered for me. I only used it on you because you were dying, and I was desperate.”
“It’s been incredible, Vaush,” he said excitedly. “The speed at which I move, the increased strength and control, it’s all quite phenomenal. And the mental acuity. My mind is racing, synapses are firing at mind-boggling speeds.” He spoke rapidly. “As if that weren’t enough, my powers of observation and telepathy have vastly improved.”
She smiled wryly. “And all I was trying to do was get you to breathe again.” She heard his stomach grumble again. “You poor thing.”
Comron waved it off and took her by the hand to lead her to the sofa. “So, tell me about Erlacher. He had no idea Yaeger came back for me, did he?”
She frowned. “No. I’m afraid I’ve got him into some hot water over it.”
He cocked his head to the side. “How did you persuade him to come after me? Surely he knew Erlacher wouldn’t approve.”
“How? I don’t know. I suppose, I appealed to his sense of compassion. Who knew such a die-hard soldier had a heart?”
“His heart wasn’t the part of his body making the decision,” he said sharply.
“Who cares why he did it? The point is he did and we’re together.”
“No. The point is he wants you. He knew that Erlacher wouldn’t want me here and will probably send me packing the first chance he gets.”
She frowned. “I’d never let that happen.”
“They took you from me before.”
“I told you, I was drugged. Even still, the goal wasn’t to separate us. It was to get me to Novoxos as expeditiously as possible.”
“Maybe so, but now I’m certain they all want me out of the picture—Erlacher, Chaiyse, and Yaeger.” His face twisted in disgust. “I bet Yaeger’s already fantasizing about being your personal guard and servicing you in every way imaginable.”
“Comron, enough! You’re getting yourself all worked up over nothing.”
“Am I?”
“Yes. First of all, I seriously doubt Yaeger is entertaining any such thoughts. But even if every man on that ship was fantasizing about me, why should it bother you? You’re the only man I want.”
This seemed to calm him somewhat, but when he raked his hands through his hair once more, she knew he was still distressed. How he could possibly be insecure or jealous was beyond her. If he had an inkling of how hopelessly in love she was, he’d be the cockiest son of a bitch in the empire. Deep inside, he had to know. Surely, it was something else troubling him.
“Talk to me, darling. Let me help you.”
He sank back into the sofa and sighed heavily. “Crausin thinks I’m a grand fool. He insists that they’ll never let me stay with you and the Great Houses will eviscerate me for daring to reach so high.”
She wanted to comfort him but she recalled Erlacher’s admonition about putting the needs of the empire above her own. Nonetheless, when she looked at Comron, the words tumbled out. “They can all go straight to hell. No one is going to keep me from my husband. No one.” She leaned over and kissed him deeply, letting her longing for him flow unabated. As he kissed her back, she sensed his own desire surging. He would take her fiercely, and she would love every moment of his untamed passion.
She ignored the knock at the door, preferring to lose herself in his hungry caress.
Comron breathed in deeply and his stomach growled. “The food has arrived,” he said enthusiastically. He rose abruptly, spilling Vaush back onto the sofa as he went for the door.
“Oh no, don’t worry about me,” she quipped. “I’m not the least bit offended that I’m playing second fiddle to mashed potatoes.” She joined him in the dining area as the attendant set their table.
Comron gave her a knee-buckling grin and whispered, “I’ll need my strength if I’m going to do all the things I plan to do to you.”
She blushed and giggled like a lovesick schoolgirl. Her mind ran through the various lovemaking scenarios that might require a particular degree of strength and endurance. And now that the essence had been introduced into his system … her toes curled at the possibilities.
“Then eat to your heart’s delight, darling,” she purred and took the seat across from him.
He removed the plate cover to reveal tender roasted beef, buttery mashed potatoes, and a medley of steamed vegetables. A basket of warm bread, a blueberry tart, and a bottle of red wine rounded out the meal.
He was already devouring his food with abandon. She knew he was hungry, but good heavens. Table etiquette flew right out the window as he spooned mountains of mashed potatoes into his mouth and cut large chunks of beef and shoveled those down as well. Within minutes, he had consumed his meal and emptied half the bread basket. He finally looked up at her, observing that she hadn’t yet touched her plate.
“You’re not eating?” He bit into one of the last honey-buttered rolls.
She eyed him dubiously and slid her plate across the table. “I think you need this more than I do.”
“Are you certain?” he asked, his fork poised over the plate.
“Absolutely,” she replied as she poured herself a glass of wine.
Comron made quick work of her plate as well and then poured himself a tall glass of water, gulpe
d it down and poured another glass. At any moment, she thought he’d pick up the pitcher and drink straight from it. Hopefully, the essence-induced appetite and boorish table manners could be managed over time.
A provocative thought occurred to her. If he brought this much unbridled energy to the dinner table, what was an already passionate Comron going to bring to their bedroom?
CHAPTER 68
“Damn it, Yaeger,” Erlacher said, casting the comp-pad down onto the table. “As if I don’t have enough shite to deal with.”
Yaeger took his dressing down silently, standing at attention before the other men in the general’s conference room.
“We had the opportunity to correct for my granddaughter’s poor judgment by ridding ourselves of Van Laven,” Erlacher said heatedly. “But you went back to fetch him and his father and brought them aboard my ship.”
“Yes, sir. We had no direct orders regarding Van Laven.”
“You knew my opinion of the man,” Erlacher said. “I thought I could depend on you to use sound judgment in these types of situations, as you’ve done so well in the past. Why in the hell did you go back for them?”
Yaeger’s gray eyes were cast downward as he kept his hands clasped firmly behind his back. “Sir, if you could’ve seen how torn up she was … in the absence of a direct order to the contrary, I did what I thought was most … humane.”
“I don’t need a humanitarian; I need a soldier who can follow a fucking order! I didn’t see your heart bleeding over what we did at Mugandi or Seranpal, so don’t feed me that bullshite!”
“Yes, sir.”
“The matter will be further investigated but, for now, I need you focused on the fact that Thalonius’ ranks continue to swell and he’s packing heavy artillery. The counterstrike plan is in place but, in order to ensure it, we must improve the odds in our favor.”
“How favorable do we need them, sir?” Yaeger inquired.
“We’re at about five to one. I need it down to three to one to guarantee success.”