Dark Prince (25 page)

"But not the scent of one," Zoran said. "Do you think he has found a way to mask his smell?"

"He wears the tunic of the kitchen staff," Yusef said. "We will find him and question him. If he is Draig, it will be easy for him to prove it. If he is Var, he will come up with an excuse not to shift."

Ualan nodded. Yusef and Zoran left with their women by their sides.

Once the couples were alone, Pia asked Olena, "Did you know Rigan was writing a story about us?"

Olena shook her head. "She said she ‘was’ not ‘is’."

Zoran and Yusef exchanged looks. They didn’t much care for their private lives to be made known to the entire galaxy. The Qurilixen, by tradition, were a race that kept to themselves. However, they also knew Ualan would feel the same way and would undoubtedly talk his wife out of such a thing.

* * * *

Pia’s blond servant was apprehended almost immediately upon the Princes Yusef and Zoran entering the palace kitchens. They found him hiding behind one of the large brick ovens, ducking from his work. Zoran’s nose picked up the Var smell beneath an all too potent scent of Draig.

The soldier must have known that he was found out, because he tried to run. It was no use. Yusef was standing in the doorway and with a swing of his good arm he punched the man square in the jaw, laying him out on the floor.

The Draig servants blinked in surprise at the sudden attack, but as they witnessed the lazy man sprawled on the ground, they cheered even without knowing his deception. As a fellow worker, the slothful Var spy was not well liked in the kitchen.

Chapter Seventeen

Olena left Yusef to tend to the matter of the spy with his brother. After seeing Morrigan laid up in the hospital, knowing that Nadja had saved her life, she couldn’t force herself to turn the woman over to Doc Aleksander. No matter the cost, for once in her life Captain Olena was going to make the right decision. She was going to do the right thing.

Thinking of Yusef, she knew she was making the right decision. He had shown her the true meaning of honor. It wasn’t a simple, silly little code that you followed. It wasn’t a set of rules and self-punishments, self-denials. He’d shown her that there could be a purpose in life higher than gold and fortunes, more rewarding than sailing the high skies. He’d shown her that belonging to one man, and a family, was so much sweeter than having all the freedom in the world.

Her decision made, Olena pulled back her hair into a serviceable bun. Then, stealing into Yusef’s closet, she grabbed the valuable gold bracelet and slid it over her thigh, hiding it beneath her black pants. It pulled tight against her skin as she walked. Once she had to stop to press it higher so it wouldn’t fall and give her away.

Then, strolling out the Palace’s front gate, she was happy to discover that the guard did not stop her. Affecting an air of nonchalance, she strode into the evening light settling on the forest and didn’t look back.

* * * *

Yusef came home to find his wife gone. He frowned, wondering where she could have gotten off to. He took the sling from his arm, stretching and bending the muscles. The limb felt much recovered, so he threw the sling aside and left it unbound.

A big relief overcame the royal family as news was spread of the spy’s capture. Olek had escorted the man down to the lower dungeons and even now the Var was being questioned by Agro. Yusef had no doubt that the beefy giant would discover much from the man. When Agro chose to shift, he could be most persuasive.

Taking a bath, he waited for Olena to come home. It was beginning to get late. He wondered if she was still with Pia. She had been with the woman the last he saw her. Perhaps she was checking on Morrigan or visiting with Nadja. Nadja had been upset and no doubt needed to have some kind of girl talk. Yusef grinned. Olena didn’t seem the kind for girl talk.

With a sigh, he dressed. He’d give her a little more time before going out to search for her.

* * * *

Olena didn’t have to walk the path long before hearing a noise within the trees. Freezing, she cursed herself for a fool. How could she know Doc Aleksander would be the first to find her? There could still be Var hiding within the forest, eager to kill a Princess.

"Captain."

Olena sighed, forcing her heart to slow at the sound of the man’s voice. At least the right enemy had found her. That was something at least.

"I hope you have good news for me." This time he held no cigar as he stepped from the shadows of the forest. Olena felt the hairs on her neck curl at his hard look. He definitely wasn’t going to be happy with her.

"I can’t get you what you want," she said, direct and to the point. Direct was better. Men like Aleksander could respect direct--somewhat.

"Really?" His eyes narrowed, contrasting the small smile that curled on his lips. A little too mocking, he said, "I thought you could steal anything."

"She’s too well guarded. She doesn’t trust me," Olena said. "I’ve tried to get her outside the palace alone with me, but she won’t come."

"Try harder." Doc gritted teeth.

"I have." Olena looked him square in the face. "They have all the Princesses under tight guard."

"Princess?" Aleksander mused. "My daughter married a Prince that keeps her prisoner?"

Olena shivered. Oops. It would seem he didn’t know that bit of information. Or did he? Was he toying with her?

"I am truly sorry I couldn’t bring you what you asked for," Olena said as bravely as she could manage. Leaning over, she began working the bracelet from her leg. The Doc tensed, watching her closely, ready to defend himself. When she pulled the bracelet from her thigh and out her pant leg, she offered it to him. "As per the Pirate Code, what I couldn’t obtain for you, I have replaced with something valuable."

To her hesitant relief, Aleksander smiled. He snapped his fingers and motioned to her. Olena tensed as a henchmen clone came from the trees. He took the bracelet from her and handed it over to Doc. The man studied it very carefully before nodding his head.

"Nice," he murmured in approval. "A very fitting replacement of the Pirate Code, Captain."

Olena nodded. "Again, I am sorry, Doc. I wish you well in your endeavor and give you my word as Captain of the high skies that I’ll not impede your goal."

"That is very commendable." He passed the bracelet to the henchman at his side. Olena swallowed, preferring to see the man get angry. His silent calm was terrifying.

"Well, I should get back in before they start looking for me." Olena turned her back on him and walked away. Not making it more than two steps, his words stopped her.

"Oh, Captain?" Doc called, his words ringing with the oddest mix of sweetness and ease.

Olena froze. Fear overcame her in agonizing waves and she couldn’t help but shiver at the coolness of his placid tone. Forcing a muted smile, she turned to look at him.

"I only see one problem, my dear Olena, with your pirate’s offering." Doc’s growing with a damnable smile. He picked a cigar out of his pocket, clipped the end, and lit it. Taking a deep puff, he pointed the tip at her. "You see, I’m not exactly a pirate."

Olena tried to run but the path filled with the Doc’s goons. Hands clasped her. When she would have kicked her captors and gotten away, she felt a hard jab of a needle in her arm. Her vision blurred, her body swaying instantly. Right before the black pit of unconsciousness hit her, her eyes focused for the last time on Doc. He saluted her, a grin spreading over his features as he waved his goodbye.

* * * *

Yusef sighed, slipping into his clothes. Olena still hadn’t come home and he was tired of waiting around for her. Just because the spy had been caught did not mean she was safe to roam. There could be others lurking in the palace.

Slipping on his boots, he heard a pounding at the door. He frowned, standing. Yusef strode into the front hall, calling for the door to open.

"Where is your wife?" Olek demanded, storming inside. He began looking around.

"She’s gone." Yusef scowled at the rude intrusion.

"Then would you mind explaining the meaning of her letter to me?" Olek asked. He handed over a piece of paper.

Yusef glanced down, reading, Your wife’s father is coming for her. Ask her what that means. I go to put him off. You must keep her safe. He is an evil man.

"I don’t understand," Yusef stated, confused. But, seeing his brother’s tightly drawn face, he swallowed.

"It was delivered from your wife," Olek said.

"Where is she?" Yusef demanded in panic. He took off out the door to sniff her out. Olek was running behind him.

"I was hoping you could tell me," Olek said. "My wife is missing too."

* * * *

Olena blinked, fighting to regain consciousness. Her head filled with wild images--images of the past, of nightmares, of death and blood, of her crew, of random men she had seduced and stabbed with her firefly pin, of the crash, of Yusef. They jumbled in her head, confusing her, making her feel like a helpless child, making her feel like a woman, making her feel like a prisoner.

No, that would be the ties on her hands that made her feel like she was a prisoner.

Olena flinched, blinking rapidly in the dim blue light. She moaned, but a gag stopped the sound from leaving her lips. Her mouth worked, trying to be free of it. It was clamped too tightly, stiffening her jaw with its pull.

Taking quick stock of her surroundings, she saw she was in a tent. The bold curve of the Medical Alliance Missionary symbol was on the outside wall, glowing dark in the blue artificial light of a camp light. She didn’t know where she was, but she guessed she was still on Qurilixen. There had been no time for Doc to get Nadja back and leave the planet for another. Plus, she highly doubted Doc planned on taking her along as excess baggage.

No, by the feel of the gurney beneath her back and the restraints on her hands, she wasn’t going to get much farther than this.

"Father, no!"

Olena froze. That was Nadja screaming. She twisted her head around, trying to get her bearings. The tent flap was over her head. She saw it flutter in the breeze, showing a little crack of what was happening outside. Nadja was strapped down to a chair, her eyes pleading with her father for mercy. Olena struggled to get free. The bonds were too tight, of unbreakable steel.

"There, there Nadja," she heard Doc answer. "If you’re telling me the truth, you have nothing to worry about."

Olena couldn’t see what was happening. She tried to force her hand to slide through the clamp at her wrist. She felt the raw sting of blood on her hands, but she couldn’t get loose. Nadja’s whimpering surrounded her. Olena froze. If this man was willing to torment his own daughter, then he wouldn’t think twice of torturing her.

"Go make sure she wasn’t followed," Doc ordered. Olena again tried to see out, but the flap wouldn’t move. The breeze had died down. She shook, her mind yelling to Yusef to come for her.

* * * *

"Olena." Yusef stopped, his head cocking to the side. He looked around the red passageway of the palace. Panic overwhelmed him with a sense of urgency. Turning to Olek, he said, "Quickly, they’re in trouble."

* * * *

"Who have you whored for?" Doc Aleksander yelled at his daughter. "Give me his name."

Olena froze, hearing footsteps coming around to the front. Quickly, she whipped her hair over her face and held completely still. The hair would allow her to peek without being detected. A presence entered the room. She saw a large, looming shadow pass her vision, moving behind her.

"Last chance," Aleksander warned. "I’ll have a name."

Olena realized he was still outside the tent. She forced her body to stay motionless as Nadja whimpered in continued agony. She couldn’t hear everything that was said, but she didn’t need to.

"Unfortunately, I don’t have all night," Aleksander said. His henchman didn’t move from Olena’s tent. "You see, daughter, I have made some friends of my own on this accursed planet. It seems your precious Draig aren’t liked by my friends. And if I help them, they’ll help me. So tell me, which Prince is yours?"

There was no answer.

Olena stiffened. The henchman was at her feet. The gurney was slowly rolled forward towards the flap. She wanted to scream, but knew that she had to be calm. Fear only defeated and she needed a plan.

"You are such a disappointment." Aleksander sniffed in disgust at his daughter. "Well, if hurting you won’t get us anywhere, what if I hurt one of your little friends?"

Oh no, Olena was starting to panic.

To Olena’s horror, the Doc yelled, "Bring out the pirate!"

Olena closed her eyes and didn’t move. Her heart hammered wildly in her chest. Everything she had called to Yusef, begging him to save her, to come for her. Her face was pointed the wrong direction and she couldn’t see anything but the passing of trees and tents.

"She had nothing to do with this," Nadja said.

"Olena," she heard the Doc to say gently. He hovered close, as his fingers moved to tap lightly at her face. "Time to wake up."

Olena blinked, automatically stiffening against her bonds at the feel of his hand. She thrashed back and forth on her shoulders to get him off her.

"What shall I do to her, Nadja?" Doc didn’t take his eyes away from his newest victim. There was a perverse pleasure on his face as he looked at her, more perverse than his carnal attraction had been. He took a laser scalpel to Olena’s face. Olena stopped moving, her wide eyes following as it moved down. "Carve out her eyes? Her nose? Take off her lips?"

The laser skimmed the bow of her upper lip, grazing lightly. Olena didn’t dare move, braced for the worst.

"Don’t." Nadja sounded weakened.

Don’t! Olena’s head screamed in unison.

"Then tell me what I want to know! Who is the father of that bastard you carry?" he bellowed, storming away from Olena to scream at his daughter. Olena relaxed slightly as the blade was drawn away. Her nose flared as she tried to gain control of her fear. She had to get out. She pulled desperately to be free. She had to get Nadja out. If she would have just told Yusef what was going on, they wouldn’t be here now. "That bastard inside you will be dissolved."