Gera gestured to the entertainment armoire. “There are a number of sex programs designed to stimulate you.”
Of course, there was. “Not exactly what I was thinking. Anything else I can do?”
“Unfortunately, no.”
Great.
She just might die of boredom.
Gera brought over a light blanket and tucked it around her. One advantage to being virtually naked, Gera must have deduced she was cold in here. Not like she could hide that fact given her state of undress.
“Don’t fear, Mistress. You’ll have a full schedule starting tomorrow.”
Of new sex positions and other things Zarya really didn’t want to be schooled in by strangers.
“Looking forward to it.” She was proud of herself for keeping the sarcasm out of her voice.
Gera handed her a small white remote. “The button on the right is to summon me and the one on the left is for the kitchen staff should you become hungry. If you need anything at all, just call me.”
“Thank you.”
Gera curtsied, then left.
The remote in Zarya’s hand started buzzing so suddenly, that she jumped and dropped it. It took her a couple of seconds to fish it out from under the sofa and answer it.
“Hello?”
“Z? Is that really you?”
The sound of that unexpected voice brought tears to her eyes. “Sorchie?”
Sorche let out a screeching shriek. “Hey big sis! Oh I can’t believe you’re all right. I was so afraid you were dead.”
Tears welled in her eyes as she heard the one person in this universe who loved her as much as she loved them.
Don’t cry… don’t cry.
If she did, Gera might make her redo her face and that had been hard enough to endure the first time. “Me, too, baby sis. I mean that you were dead. Where are you? How did you get this number?”
“I don’t know. Some guy with this really weird, creepy voice called earlier and left it as a message. He said that he had a way to contact you, and for me to call this number as soon as I could. And you’ll never believe where I am!”
Zarya had never before heard such excitement in Sorche’s voice. Gods, she sounded so happy.
“I got a full scholarship to Guernelle Academy!”
That news stunned her almost as much as hearing Sorche’s voice. “A scholarship? How?”
Maris had told her Darling was paying for…
Oh wait.
It suddenly made complete sense. That must be how Darling was doing it. Like her, Sorche would never have taken money from a man to pay for her school, especially not from an aristo.
Her sister had no idea she had an individual backer.
“It’s a special deal set up by a company called the Dagan Investment Group. I have to major in mechanics, which is what I wanted to do anyway, and so long as I keep my grades up, they’ll keep paying for everything. I even get a monthly stipend for living expenses so that I don’t have to work and can focus all my attention on my classes. Every year I maintain my grades, it’ll go up. And if I graduate with honors, I’ll get… brace yourself… a fifty
thousand
cred bonus! Is that not stunning?”
In that moment, Zarya had never loved Darling more. What he’d done went beyond kind, and the fact that he’d done it in such
a way that it built up Sorche’s confidence and made her strive to do her best was incredible.
“How did you find out about the scholarship?”
“The school called me about it the week before I had to register for classes. They said that the board at DIG had reviewed all the applicants for their incoming class, and that I was the only one out of all the others they thought had real potential. Can you believe it? Me? Me!”
“It’s not that amazing. I always told you, you were the best.”
“Yeah, but someone who isn’t related to me thinks I don’t suck, too. Sorry, that counts more.”
Zarya laughed. Sorche had no more belief in herself than she did. Too many years of them struggling, of Sorche trying her best and then being slapped down by things like getting into a prestigious school and then not having the money to attend it had clubbed them both so many times that it was hard to have any confidence in anything, except the universe’s willingness to bitch-slap them.
“So where are you?” Sorche asked. “Why haven’t you returned any of my calls? Do you know how long it’s been? I
really
thought you were dead.”
Yeah… that was one question Zarya had no intention of answering. The last thing she’d ever do was bring down her sister’s rare excitement.
But at least, because of Zarya’s less than legal occupation, Sorche was used to her disappearing suddenly and being gone for a long period of time without communication.
However she’d never been gone
this
long before.
“I’ve, um… I’ve been really busy. After what happened with… the fall of the Resistance, I had to go into hiding. I honestly had no way of getting in touch with you. I swear.”
“You suck, Z! You shouldn’t scare me like that. But it’s what I’d hoped and figured. Still, you should have found
some
way to get word to me. It’s been over a year, sis. A year!”
“I know. I’m sorry.”
“Hey, Sorch? Are you coming to eat?” It was another girl’s voice that sounded like it came from a doorway or somewhere at a distance.
“Just a sec.”
“Who was that?” Zarya asked.
“Oh, that’s my roommate. Annalise Cruel. You wouldn’t believe how sweet she’s been to me.” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “I know how you feel about her family, but I’m telling you she’s really decent. She’s my age and a little over a year from graduating—she started on time, lucky thing… Gods love her, she’s taken time to show me how everything here works and where to go. How to pick classes and where to get the best study guides. She even bought me a school jersey for my birthday, and lets me borrow her makeup anytime I want. She has some really nice stuff, too. It’s almost like having another sister. I hope you can meet her soon.”
“I would love to.”
“Hey, Lise?” Sorche called out so loud and unexpectedly that Zarya almost dropped the remote again. “Can you say hi to my sister?”
“Hi, Sorche’s sister. I’m glad she finally found you. She’s been worried sick, and talks about you all the time. She says you’re the best sister ever. I wouldn’t know since I only have smelly brothers. Well, two of them stink. Darling always smells nice.”
Zarya couldn’t argue with that. Even when he was sweaty, he smelled divine. And the sound of Darling’s sister’s sweet voice made her smile. The way she spoke and her accent reminded her a lot of Darling’s voice before they’d destroyed it. Though his had been a lot deeper, they were still similar. “Hi, Lise. Nice to meet you.”
“You, too. And I hate to be rude, but do you mind if I borrow Sorche? If we don’t leave for the meal hall now, they’ll close it on us, and I’m not really able to walk all the way into town yet.”
“Yeah, Lise was shot in the back by some bastards who kidnapped her brother last year. I’m sure you heard about it. And she really hates to inconvenience her bodyguards, especially in the evenings. Anyway, I have to run. You take care. Love you!”
“Love you, too.” Zarya wasn’t sure if Sorche heard that last bit or not. She’d hung up, laughing with Lise.
Her heart light, Zarya studied the remote, trying to find a way to use it to call Darling and thank him for what he’d done.
But it seemed to only receive calls, not make them.
She pressed the button for Gera who answered right away. “Yes, Mistress?”
“I’m sorry to disturb you, Gera. How do I contact Lord Darling?”
“You don’t, Mistress. It’s forbidden. He will come to you when he has time.”
Well that instantly sucked all the warm tender feelings out of her. How rude! Call her when
he
was ready? The very thought flew all over her.
Making sure to keep the ire out of her tone, she tightened her grip on the remote. “Thank you, Gera.” She cut the feed, then got up to go find him.
But as soon as she limped her way to the door, she had another rude surprise.
“You’ve got to be kidding me…”
None of the doors opened. She was locked in like a well-kept pet.
Darling’s head ached from all the shit he was supposed to go through and answer. For hours, he’d been listening to reports from
the other gerents and administrators, whining about everything imaginable. Most of it absolute crap.
How had his father stood it? No wonder the man had migraines all the time.
It was like refereeing a hundred spoiled toddlers with ADHD.
You know, Dar, there’s no problem so big that an adequate supply of explosives can’t cure it.
There was that. But people tended to protest being blown up.
Bunch of krikken weirdos.
He glanced at the half-empty bottle of whisky on his desk. It was tempting, especially given the throbbing pain in his head and back. A pain that wasn’t helped by his eyesight dancing against his will.
But he didn’t want to be numb right now.
He’d rather see a pair of amber eyes set in the face of the most beautiful woman he’d ever known. Even though he was still angry at her. Even though she’d betrayed him.
He still wanted to be with her.
I’m an effing idiot…
But before he could stop himself, he was headed out of his office and up the stairs to her room.
His body already on fire at just the thought of seeing her, he opened her door.
In the next instant, a fluffy slipper flew at his head. He dodged it, but not before another followed so close behind that it hit him in the arm. “What the hell?”
“You rotten bastard!”
Other things came flying at him so quickly that he couldn’t even identify them. They slammed against the door and walls, many shattering while others made loud thuds before crashing to the floor.
Damn, she could aim. In fact, she was deadlier with a blaster at a distance than he was.
And with his limited vision, he wasn’t as good at dodging pro
jectiles as he used to be. Darling took cover behind the end table. “Zarya, what’s gotten into you?”
Shrieking in outrage, she responded by throwing more things in his direction. Glass shattered all around him. It’d been a long time since anyone had ambushed him and all he could do was be grateful she wasn’t armed with anything more than household objects.
Thankfully, she finally ran out of ammunition.
When she limped to find more, he bolted across the room toward her. He caught her arm as she seized a heavy lead vase. Yeah, that would
really
hurt if she hit him with it.
He gently twisted it out of her grip. “What’s wrong?”
“You!” she snarled. “How dare you!”
Her anger baffled him. “How dare I what?”
“Lock me in here like I’m a criminal!”
It was probably a stupid idea, but he couldn’t resist laughing at her. “Technically, you
are
a criminal.”
Yeah, not the brightest comeback he’d ever made.
She raked him with a scathing glare. “Oh wait, Lord Sentella. My bounty is nothing compared to
yours
. You want to talk criminals? How many governments want
you
dead? I’m only wanted by one. And it happens to be
yours
.”
He had to give her that, and it reminded him that he needed to put through a pardon for her.
You hate her, remember?
Yeah, but she’d been outlawed for no reason whatsoever, and he wasn’t about to hold her accountable for her rebellion against his uncle’s reign when he’d been the one who’d helped her pull off her most damaging attacks. His personal feelings for her shouldn’t prevent him from doing what was right…
Her expression fuming she gestured toward the door behind him. “In spite of what you might think…
man
… I am
not
your pet or your toy. Why did you lock me in here, you bastard!”
He ignored her insult, which was mild compared to what others routinely called him. “I didn’t know you were locked in.”
Her gaze turned suspicious as if she didn’t believe him. “What?”
“You heard me. I didn’t do it. I knew nothing about it. Are you sure it’s locked and not jammed or something?”
Zarya hated how reasonable he was being. It was beginning to make her feel like a hysterical child. “No, I’m too stupid to tell the difference between a locked door and a stuck one. Thanks.” She pushed him toward it. “Go, try to open a door.
Any
door.”
He went to the one in the middle of the wall and opened it with an ease that made her ill. “See. It’s fine.”
Zarya limped toward him to try it herself. But she’d only taken two steps before Darling recrossed the room and picked her up, then carried her to the door. She wanted to maintain her anger at him, but it was hard when he was being so nice.
Damn him for it!
She reached for the door. Once again, it refused to open. “See,” she said triumphantly.
He scowled as he tried it again and once more, it opened easily for him. “It must have a bio sensor on it. Since they always open for me, I didn’t think to check. Sorry. All you had to do was tell me calmly, and I’d have gotten it fixed. You didn’t have to throw things at me.”