“Don’t chicken out on me now,” he said, his face lighting up with a smile. “You’re brave, and that’s what you need to be around my family.”
“I wasn’t chickening out,” she argued.I was totally chickening out.“I just mean, I’m sure it’s going to be an emotional thing, and you might even end up disappointed at their reaction to you.”
“All the more reason for you to be by my side.” He picked up her hand, which he was still holding, and raised it to his lips, kissing the back of it. “I know you’ll stick up for me if anyone tries to pick on me.”
She laughed, helpless not to. “I guess you do need someone to protect you.”
“Right,” he said, completely straight-faced even though he’d just gotten done mopping the floor with his former friend.
The palace grew larger and larger as they sped toward it, and soon, they were driving through the massive gates. Lyk steered the vehicle right up to the large front doors and jumped out, coming around to open her door for her.
Ally stepped out and looked up… and up… and up, to the top of the massive towers that cast their shadows over the large manicured lawns in front of them. “This place is amazing.”
“Just wait until you get inside,” he said, then led her toward the doors which were flanked by two men in official garb. They pulled the doors open for them, and Ally took a deep breath and followed Lyk inside.
CHAPTER 27
LYK
Lyk was seeing the palace around him with new eyes, and not only because he hadn’t been there in ages. Few things had changed in his absence, which was expected because his line was long and history dwelt in every wall and carpet.
No, it was because he was touring it with the woman by his side that everything felt fresh and new. Ally peered around, trying to take in everything with her large golden eyes. “You’re telling me that your family actually lives here? This is nicer than the nicest museum I’ve ever been to, but that’s what it feels like, a museum.”
“We all have our own chambers, as well as some communal areas where we tend to congregate. Most of the family doesn’t visit the sitting rooms and ball rooms and galleries on a regular basis.”
“What a waste.” Ally whistled as they passed one of three libraries. The doors were open and they could see inside to the massive shelves lined with books and part of the metal spiral staircase that led up to the next level, which was also crowded with books. “All this space and you never use it.”
Lyk nodded. It did seem like a lot of space. He spent almost all of his time on his cruiser and was used to his quarters. Buteven they would have probably seemed like a palace to her. Although he’d never seen where she lived on Gamma-17, he knew she had little money. That probably meant she and Evie had made due with some tiny hovel packed with dust and grime.
She deserved a palace. Jewels. Pretty dresses and expensive frippery. All the finer things. Yet she looked perfectly at home in the coveralls covered with dirt and dried centipede blood. That was why he loved her. She could have the regal bearing of a queen, but she also did what had to be done, and she wasn’t afraid to get her hands dirty.
Or stained with blood.
Lyk led her down a corridor that ended in the oversized doors of the throne room. Behind this door, he expected to find his family gathered, including his mother and father. Although Lyk had been worried about the reactions of his brothers, he knew the real test was how his parents felt about him being home.
His father was furious when he left, disgusted to have a pirate for a son. His mother had just looked at him, disappointment written large on her features. Would they feel the same way now, knowing that he’d spent the decades away continuing to raid and steal?
The attendants stationed outside the throne room opened the doors, and Lyk knew it was time to find out the answer to his question. He strode forward, taking Ally with him. He heard her sharp intake of breath as they entered the most finely decorated room in the whole palace.
The throne room dripped riches. Its lavish furnishings were priceless, its use of gilding excessive. On the dais sat two thrones, but both were currently unoccupied. Instead, Marek sat on the wide steps leading up to the dais, bouncing an infant on his knee. The golden-haired child was giggling, which made his sister giggle, who was being held by a radiant female standing by Marek’s side.
The twin daughter of light. Born of the Goddess of Light herself.
Holy shit.
He’d been expecting his entire family to be assembled here, but it was only Marek and Jazmine and their two children. He’d heard about Jazmine from Kara, heard about how the beauty had Marek wrapped around her finger. Not that Lyk could blame his brother for his predicament. Ally had done much the same to him and in very little time.
“Welcome home, brother,” his oldest brother and current King of Vartik said warmly, standing up and shifting his son to be able to pat Lyk on the shoulder.
“Thank you,” Lyk said, unsure of what else to say. Although he didn’t often consider returning home, when he did, he’d pictured a reunion fraught with tension and accusations. To be welcomed home warmly without any acrimony or recriminations was wholly unexpected.
The goddess’s daughter came forward, fixing Ally with a smile. “Nice to finally meet you in person,” she said. “I want you to know we’ll do everything we can to help your sister.”
“Thank you,” Ally stammered, seemingly overwhelmed.
Lyk put his arm around her waist, pulling her tight against him. The last few days had been a non-stop onslaught of changes, and Ally had held up admirably under the stress, but Lyk was finally starting to see the cracks. Exhaustion dogged her steps, and he knew she needed rest soon or she would risk collapse.
“Where is Father?” Lyk asked, not wanting to delay any longer. He wanted the final confrontation out of the way now so he could find a place for him and Ally to bed down for a while.
