Chapter 28
Nojan knew he was in for it before he set foot in the throne room. Not only was dear old dad about to chastise him for making a mess of the mission, but he was certain to chew Nojan a new asshole for bringing a stranger back to Vartik. But the only thing that mattered to him was his folks’ reaction to Mayra.
His father had warned him to guard his heart because the sweet oracle would steal it, and she most definitely had. Would his father accept that Nojan’s heart belonged to Mayra now and that he didn’t want it back? Or would he insist that his son set aside the Territhian and find a mate of his own species?
In the end, it didn’t matter what his father said. He only wanted Mayra and would accept no other. If that meant disobeying his father and eons of tradition, then so be it. He would step aside, abdicate his chance at the throne, and even move off-world if that was what was required. But he would never give up his angel. Never.
Nojan watched as his father opened his mouth to speak, but before a word came out, another voice filled the gap. “Greetings, visitors.” It was the melodic tone of his mother, who smiled at the group standing below her. “It isn’t often that we have guests from other worlds. It is my pleasure to welcome you to Vartik.”
He held back the smile that wanted to creep across his face at the look of baffled consternation on the king’s face. He’d likely been gearing up to give Nojan a stern talking to, but in a couple of words, the queen had diffused the tension.
“Thank you, Mom,” he mouthed to the queen. The queen nodded back, a grin playing at the corners of her mouth.
“Well,” the king said, coughing to clear his throat. “As my wife says, we welcome you to Vartik. I’m sure you will both be comfortable here. Although I must admit, we were only expecting one off-worlder.”
Sanri made a deep curtsey. “Begging your pardon, your royal Highnesses. I’m afraid I came into the situation only by accident. Your brave son saved me from a deadly situation, and before he could put me down, we were swept up into further drama. Please don’t blame him for my being here. I know you Vartiks guard your privacy well, and I can see why, but I mean you no harm, and I thank you for your hospitality.”
Well, that was a mouthful, Nojan thought. It was the most gracious speech he’d ever heard Sanri give, and it rankled him. Anything Mayra said would sound hollow now that the hitchhiker had spoken first.
The king nodded. “I understand you’re here through no fault of your own. Still, you must understand the delicate predicament you put us in. I can’t risk your leaving because you know our planet’s location, and although you seem like a charming female, I don’t know you well enough to trust my entire planet’s safety to your slight hands.”
Sanri gave a sigh. “I was afraid you might say that. As a hitchhiker, I prefer to wander from world to world, seeing the sights, so it will be hard to stay put. However, I do have an opportunity that few others have, to explore a planet long thought destroyed and a people believed to be extinct. If you’ll let me stay until I’ve earned your trust, I vow that you won’t regret your decision.”
The king looked to the queen, who gave a gentle nod. “Well,” he began, but Nojan interrupted.
“Before you give her an answer, Father, I’d like to request that you wait a while before you say yes. She’s as likely to land in prison as she is to try and steal a ship to escape off-world.”
Sanri’s face took on an innocent cast, her hands rising in protest. The queen let out a gasp, clucking her tongue. “Son, it is not like you to be rude to guests.”
“I’m just telling the truth, Mother. Sanri’s trouble. I should know, since I’m the one who picked her up.”
“I’m sure we just got off on the wrong foot,” the raven-haired woman replied. “I think the world of your son. Perhaps it was the stress of almost being blown up, or of being hunted by bounty hunters, or maybe it was even when Mayra drove a knife into my belly that—”
The queen slapped a hand to her mouth. “The oracle stabbed you?”
Nojan rolled his eyes. This meeting was certainly getting away from him. As Sanri began to tell the story, Nojan spoke over her. “Look, a lot of things happened in a short period of time and we were all affected by the stress. The situation is much more complicated than we previously thought. For now, I suggest we assign the ladies some guest quarters and put them under guard. Then, if we might speak privately about what’s happened, I think together we can figure out what our next steps will be.”
His father’s eyes narrowed on him and Nojan swallowed. At least if he could convince his parents to talk to him alone, Mayra wouldn’t hear the tongue lashing he was in for. At last, the king nodded. “Zelup, I want you to find quarters for the hitchhiker and the oracle. Station guards at both their doors. Your mother and I will deal with your little brother.”
Zelup gave his parents a bow and motioned to the women to follow him. Nojan watched as his brother led the women out, thinking that the golden light of the throne room reflecting off Mayra’s flame-colored hair was lovelier than a thousand sunrises.
“It is true?” his father asked as soon as the doors closed behind them. “Did the oracle stab that woman?”
Nojan nodded, taking a deep breath. This was going to be a complicated conversation.
A couple hours later, he was headed to his quarters with a more positive outlook on things. His parents had listened to him recount the story of his journey and had agreed that there was more to things than met the eye. They had decided to keep both Mayra and Sanri under observation and to not allow the women to be alone together. Then his father had asked the most difficult question of all.
Do you love her, son?
He had admitted the depth of his feeling, and his parents had understood. Nojan couldn’t say that they approved, but they had agreed to give him time to see how things developed. There were two brothers in line for the throne before him, and by the time Marek and Zelup got tired of ruling, he’d have made up his mind about abdication. Until then, Nojan was free to explore a relationship with the beautiful oracle.
In his quarters, he tapped on the console to signal the guards set to watch over Mayra. He ordered them to bring her to his chambers immediately. He’d only been without her for a few short hours but it felt like an eternity. He wanted Mayra by his side every minute of every day, and being without her was agony.
Powering down the communication console, he then made for the bathroom and a much-needed hot shower. He’d just finished washing his hair when he heard the bathroom door open.Could Mayra have made it here already?
“Hello?” he said, washing the remaining soap from his face.
The shower was an open affair, a tile wall blocking it off from the rest of the bathroom. Around the corner of this wall came Sanri, totally devoid of clothing. “Hello, lover,” she said, slinking toward him with a sultry smile on his face.
