Whimsy (16 page)

 
She
didn’t miss the significance of his words and they sparked her anger at him. He
assumed that she had been ravished or maybe even treated poorly. Whatever the
case, it wouldn’t have happened if he’d made any attempt at saving her sooner.
She wondered why he had bothered coming at all.

 
She
buried her anger and confusion for the moment. She needed to concentrate on her
family. It wasn’t until she was ensconced in the small chamber, hearing the
quiet hum of the cruiser’s engines that she realized that she had not left any
message for
Gaedrian
. He would have no idea what had
become of her. She worried her bottom lip before she realized that she could
simply contact him once she had reached C7.

 
Gaedrian
returned to his chambers early. He had been at a
meeting with his elders. The entire meeting he had had nothing on his mind but
his Dessert. He couldn’t wait to hold her in his arms again, to steal her
kisses and to explore her brown sugar curves. His disinterest soon became
obvious when he could not seem to follow the conversation. They took pity on
him and adjourned the meeting. He was very disappointed to enter their chambers
and find the room empty.

 
He had
other duties to occupy his time, but he had hoped to spend some time with Whimsy
before dinner. Sighing, he went out to the training grounds to oversee the new
palace guard recruits. He saw a much potential in the men. Commander Sharpe
noticed him and came over. They spoke for some moments about which men would be
given positions within the palace and the few that he deemed unsuitable.

 
By the
time he left the training grounds, he had only enough time to bath and change
for dinner. Once again their chambers were empty. This was odd since it usually
took Whimsy some time to prepare for dinner. She complained that the servants
slowed her down with their pampering but he suspected that she enjoyed their
attentions to some degree. After all, she could simply order them not to come.

 
In the
dining hall, his mother was already seated.
Chaldor
had returned home as his father was ill. Dark was in attendance. His mother was
one of the few people who were not afraid of the boy. She said his lack of
emotional outbursts was refreshing in one so young.

 
He
frowned. Whimsy was absent. “Where is
Gaedriana
?”

 
“She was
not with you?”
Editha
asked.

 
He looked
to Dark. “Where did she go today?”

 
“She
found the library and then she went out to the gardens. She requested that I
leave her alone.”

 
“It is
dark out now. She cannot still be in the gardens,” he said, feeling his heart
pound with growing dread. “Use your gift. Where is she?”

 
Dark’s
pale eyes left his for a several seconds. When they met his again, he said,
“She is on a cruiser headed for Colony 7. She is being rescued.”

 
Editha
expelled an outraged gasp. “How could she? It seems
my initial impressions of her were correct. She is an irresponsible little––“

 
He
gripped the back of his chair until the wood creaked. “Shut up, Mother!” He had
no patience for her petty behavior when Whimsy was missing. “She has every
reason to hate you yet she has never spoken an ill word to me about you. I can
only assume it is out of respect to me. Can you not return the courtesy?”

 
She
pressed her lips together but nodded. She was not happy and at the moment, he
did not care. He turned to Dark. “We have a trip to plan. We leave in the
morning.”

 
Gaedrian
stormed out of the room without waiting for his
reply. Had they taken her by force? Whimsy would not have left him voluntarily.
She loved him. He knew it. She had yet to admit her love for him the manner he
had declared his for her, but he could feel it in the way she touched him and
in the manner she gave herself to him so freely.
 

Chapter Seventeen

 
Serri
hesitated at the door to Whimsy’s chamber. He had to
play this just so. If there was any misstep, he was done for. Approaching her
in secret was something he never would have considered prior to her
disappearance. It was inappropriate, but then she was no longer pure. She had
no call to object.

 
He
knocked. She seemed surprised to see him. “Is everything…?”

 
“Everything’s
fine,” he assured her hurriedly with a quick glance around to be sure the
corridor remained empty. “Um, do you think I might speak with you privately for
a moment?”

 
She
frowned but stepped backwards to allow him entry. He closed the door behind
him. Because the cruiser was built for speed and not comfort, there was very
little space in the chamber. There was only a simple bed and a chair. She
perched on the edge of the bed, clearly uncomfortable. Much as she should be,
he thought. Considering her indiscretions, he couldn’t fathom how she was able
to even look him in the eye.

 
“I wish
to beg your forgiveness,” he said humbly. Her eyes widened. To hide his smile,
he turned away to pace the small room, exaggerating his agitation. “These past
few weeks have been torture for me. I have barely been able to live with
myself. Leaving you there like that was the height of cowardice.” He threw
himself at her feet, gripping her legs. “Please, can you find it in your heart
to forgive me for not saving you right away?”

 
She
pushed him away and stood. Gazing up at her, he realized for the first time how
beautiful she was. He’d always accepted their eventual marriage but he’d never
thought much of her. She was a certainty and therefore boring. He liked his
women petite. It made him feel strong to be with a smaller woman. But Whimsy
was the same height as he, with full, dangerous curves.

 
“I don’t
know,
Serri
. I really can’t think about this right
now. I’m still trying to wrap my mind around the fact that
True
is g-gone.” She bit her lip.

 
“Of
course,” he said agreeably. He stood and took her hands in his. “I’m here for
you if you need me. I truly did not realize the depth of danger you were in. If
it would help, you could tell me about it….” She said nothing and he continued,
“You mean so much to me. I know now how much I love and adore you.” In the
past, she would have probably echoed the empty sentiment. It was what was
expected. Now she remained silent. What the hell had happened to her on C21?

 
“Might I
ask a favor of you?”

 
“Yes.”

 
“Please,
I couldn’t bear it if anyone else knew about my cowardly behavior. May we keep
that a secret between the two of us?” He squeezed her hands.

 
“Why did
it take so long for you to come for me?”

 
This was
the tricky part. Either she would believe him or she wouldn’t. “We were unable
to establish your location. C21 is a large planet.”

 
“Why were
you there in the first place?”

 
She was
asking too many questions. She never had been meek enough for him. He would
rectify that once he was her husband. “I was there for trade, darling,” he lied
smoothly. Travel to C21 was too far to make trade there profitable. He’d gone
there in search of sex and he’d found it.

 
“I wasn’t
aware that we did any trade that far out.”

 
“Only
occasionally,” he answered truthfully. But usually, like this last time, he
went for the fucking. “It’s fortunate for you that I was there.” He could have
bit his tongue. He’d just reminded her that he’d left her to her own resources.
Scrambling to recover, he said, “I didn’t want to tell anyone what I had seen
until I knew I could find you. Word came from a friend of mine reached me only
a short time ago.”

 
“You mean
I’ve been assumed dead all this time?” At his nod, she covered her mouth with
her hand.
“Oh, no.
Have you contacted my parents with
the news that you found me?”

 
“Yes. The
moment we learned you were on the way, I contacted your father. Your parents
will be awaiting your arrival.”

 
“Thank
you.”

 
He took a
deep breath. It was integral to his plan that she not speak of his being on
that accursed planet. “You’re welcome.” He wet his full lips, a move that had
never failed to attract the opposite sex.
“And about that
other matter?”
He smiled gently. “Can we call it a secret between the
two of us?”

 
She
nodded.
“Certainly.
It doesn’t matter now.”

 
“Thank
you.” He enveloped her in a quick hug and kissed her cheek. He longed to kiss
her mouth, to lay claim to her. He wondered anew what had happened to her. Did
she enjoy it? Was she tortured? He couldn’t tell from her demeanor. She didn’t
appear abused but they could have been careful not to mar her beauty.

 
He left
her feeling only slightly anxious at her withdrawn manner. He reminded himself
that she had recently learned of the death of her brother. Still, he wished he
could be certain of her.

 
“We are
not travelling nearly fast enough,”
Gaedrian
berated
his ship’s captain. “Must I remind you that speed is essential to our mission?”

 
“No, your majesty.
We are travelling as fast as possible. If
we push her too much, we risk damaging-”

 
“Do not
give me excuses! Just do as I ask,” he barked.

 
The man
nodded sharply and exited his quarters. He gritted his teeth, immediately
regretting losing his temper. He closed his door, making a mental note to
apologize later.

 
“You are
being a barrel of laughs,” Dark commented dryly, appearing at his side. He
lounged by the doorway.

 
“Much
like you,”
Gaedrian
growled.

 
“Yes, but
people expect it of me.”

 
He merely
grunted in acknowledgement. He did not care for space travel and avoided it
when at all possible. It helped that the behemoth vessel they rode in was swift
and steady. It easily held the hundred warriors he had summoned and a number of
smaller cruisers. Once they arrived at C7, he and Dark would leave in one of
the smaller ships to locate Whimsy and negotiate her return. It had taken a day
to gather his resources. A whole day wasted. He had resented every hour of it.

 
Negotiate.
Demand is more like it. They would give her back or they would die trying to
keep her from him. She belonged with him. If negotiations broke down, then his
warriors would sweep over the land like a scourge until she was returned.

 
“Have you
slept?”

 
Gaedrian
ran a hand through his untidy curls. “No.” He had
been unable to sleep without Whimsy in his arms. His body was keyed up with the
need of hers. He suspected because he had been under the effects of
fate
for such a long period that he
might still have it in his system.

 
However,
what he felt for her surpassed simple carnal needs. They had much left to share
and learn about each other, but he knew the important aspects of her
personality. She was brave, loyal, and honest. She made him laugh. Being in her
presence was enough to make him happy. He could not lose her. He would not.

 
“I
promise you,
Gaedrian
, we will bring her back.”
Midnight blue eyes met silver ones. No more words needed to be exchanged. The
promise was made.

Chapter Eighteen

 
Their
little cruiser reached C7. They announced their arrival to security before they
were allowed to enter the colony’s artificial atmosphere.

 
And then
they were landing. What remained of her family was there to meet her. Reporters
and spectators were held back by barriers. She hung back nervously, unsure of
her reception. Her father opened his arms to her. She smiled, tears gathering
in her eyes. For now, publically, she would be accepted. Later she might be
banished in privacy. Guards helped
her those
final
steps down the landing gear and then she was in the embrace of her family.

 
“We’re so
glad to have you back,” Veracity sobbed.