Star Kissed (25 page)

“You are a cyborg among Nakis.”

Not anymore.
Akkadi said nothing. He’d experienced more emotions the past three days than he ever thought existed. He could never tell her, but it was emotion that saved Vekko on the Kini planet, not Naki logic. It was emotion that made him make love to Mandy like it was the last day of his life.

He’d faced emotion – and found strength where he had thought there was only weakness. His struggle now was how to balance the two, for as long as Mandy was in his bed, he didn’t want to return to his Naki sense of self-deprivation and discipline.

 His mother’s worried gaze was on him. Akkadi reached out and took her hands the way she did him when he was younger. He squeezed.

Her eyes misted over, and she squeezed back.

“I knew Mandy would change you,” she murmured.

“Mandy didn’t change me,” he responded. “The Kini did.”
Mandy made me realize being human means feeling alive.

His mother’s disapproval was evident instantly. She rose and left them. Akkadi watched her, not completely surprised by her abrupt departure. He moved to her seat and reached out to touch Vekko, reassuring himself that his cousin was alive. Vekko’s breathing was deep and steady, his chest moving up and down with each breath.

“While you’re here, I think you should hear this, Akkadi.”

He twisted, not expecting his mother to return. She was trailed by one of the royal healers, who offered a deep bow.

“What is it, mother? Are you ill?” Akkadi asked, at once on edge. He’d nearly lost his cousin; he wasn’t ready for more bad news.

“No, my prince. This is about the, um, royal slave, Mandy,” the healer started. “She is a purebred human.”

Akkadi rose, his jaw clenched hard enough to tick. No one, not even the royal healers, knew of the existence of purebred humans. His mother’s personal healer was the only who knew the family’s secret.

If this healer knew, then it was in the central system, which meant anyone who knew to look would be able to discover the truth about Mandy. Mandy mentioned the healing ward without saying why she was here. Had she taken off the medallion while here and if so, why?

“Tell him the rest,” his mother directed.

“She is healed now,” the healer said with a glance at the reporting device around his wrist. “She suffered a fractured skull in two places, broken ribs, a ruptured spleen, fractured –”

Something within him snapped at the description of his Mandy hurt.

“What happened?” Akkadi demanded, shocked and horrified. Fury filled him, and he moved towards the healer.

His mother and the healer both jumped at his tone.

“We aren’t certain,” the healer replied. “She said she fell.”

“You accepted that answer?”

“Son,” his mother said softly, resting a hand on his forearm.

Barely able to see straight, Akkadi realized he was close to losing control for a different reason than when he was with Mandy. His body was tense enough to hurt, and the startled healer had taken a few steps back. He last felt this level of anger when he saw the Kini strike down Vekko.

“Leave us,” his mother ordered.

The healer scrambled away.

“Akkadi!” she chided. “Whatever happened, she wasn’t willing to say. You should be focused on what to do with the women in your life.”

Akkadi released a breath and willed his body to relax.

“You’ve got a betrothed and a consort. I can guess which put that sparkle in your eyes.”

“It’s not unheard of,” he growled, unable to let go of the image in his mind that the healer created with his description of the damage. There was nothing on the station that could do that to her, unless she was in an accident in one of the shuttle bays. What could she have been doing?

“You nearly took off the healer’s head.” His mother drew nearer, her voice quieting. “You need to make a decision, son, and stick to it, before someone gets hurt.”

“I made it,” he said with effort. “I will honor the agreement I have with Hichele.”

She frowned.

“Fractured skull?” he repeated. “What happened?”

“I don’t know more than you do. My concern is that it won’t take long for everyone to know there’s a purebred among us.”

The truth of her words struck him harder than hearing Mandy was hurt so badly. If Mandy’s purebred human status became widely known, there might be an outcry from those demanding she be sent to the labs for vaccine trials. Worse: she might become a target for the Ishta, who would torture then kill her eventually, and any other enemy tipped off about the humans’ ability to withstand the plague.

“She can’t stay your consort, Akkadi,” his mother continued. “If we mate her off to Vekko or one of your cousins, she’ll be safer than she is now. She’s exposed. If someone could hurt her under our noses, someone can snatch her before we can stop them. If Vekko takes her as a mate, we can issue a royal directive of death for anyone who speaks of her status and offer her our direct protection.”

He felt ill. A familiar sensation – cold fear – slithered through him. He’d experienced it for the first time when he thought Vekko was dead. He felt it again knowing that Mandy was in danger. Or was it the idea of giving her up that made him nauseous?

His unwillingness to give up Mandy was completely illogical. He was betrothed to another. The gateway to his emotions opened among the Kini refused to bow to logic this time, demanding he never let go of the woman capable of reaching his heart.

“Let me think about it,” he said. “I need to know what hurt her.”

“The only one who knows is Mandy. She won’t tell me.”

“She’ll tell me,” he said firmly.

“Not after she learns about Hichele.”

He glanced down at his mother. She was angry with him; he saw it in the spark of her eyes.

“What would you have me do?” he asked. “We need the energy cells Hichele brings.”

“Allegedly brings. We haven’t tested them yet.”

“We know her family’s planet contains an energy source second only to ours.”

His mother nodded unhappily. “There must be another way.”

“What way?” he asked impatiently. “It is very simple. We need energy. The Kini are irrational and have made us no agreement. Hichele’s family can guarantee energy, on the condition I take her as my mate. We are so close to finding a cure, mother.”

“Is it so easy to you, Akkadi?”

He avoided her gaze. It wasn’t simple at all, but he wasn’t able to put his personal preferences above the lives of his people.

“When will the cells be tested?” he asked.

“Two days. Your father dispatched Qiadi. He is on his way.”

Akkadi nodded in approval. Qiadi was his father’s chief energy advisor. There was no one better to test the cells.

“The whole family will be here in two days for the official announcement of your betrothal,” his mother added.

Akkadi never regretted any decision he made before the one with Hichele. He hadn’t thought twice about the official betrothal ceremony. It was a matter of duty, one he would perform like all the rest.

Except in two days, he’d no longer be able to hide the truth from Mandy. Would she agree to stay his consort when she found out?

No. Not with the connection they experienced last night. She’d claimed sex was different with him than anyone else. He knew the same was true for him. With no sense of duty, she wasn’t going to understand why he had to mate with Hichele.

How did
he
give up Mandy to his cousins after last night? How did he spend his nights with a woman like Hichele knowing Vekko was sleeping with Mandy?

“I’ll be on the battle deck, waiting for the Kini to contact me with their decision,” he said. “Akkasha is back. She will have to explain the breach and discovery of the purebred human to Father.”

“Very well.”

Akkadi glanced at Vekko once more then left, dread settling into his stomach. As he walked down the hallway, he realized he’d tumbled into bed with Mandy without first talking to her about the energy shortage.

Or about Hichele. Worst of all, she didn’t know how the plague started in the first place, that it was the Naki who caused it, the Naki who had to cure it, the Naki who stood between her and her home.

“Incoming communication from the Kini,” a voice said softly from the transmitter at the back of his neck.

Akkadi gritted his teeth. “I’m on my way to the battle deck. I’ll receive it there.”

“They’re not willing to wait. They said to relay to you that they’re on their way to the station.”

He doubted his father would tolerate the barbaric brawl the Kinis had forced him into on their planet.

“When will they arrive?” he asked, striding down the hall.

“In the morning.”

It was horrible timing. Mandy, Hichele, his father arriving for the ceremony. Akkadi’s instincts told him his life was about to become far more interesting than he cared for.

Chapter Fifteen

Upbeat, Mandy took her time getting dressed and eating the space Twinkies. After a night with Akkadi, even the foam bars tasted good.

She started towards Helen’s quarters right when the inevitable summons came.

“Helen requests you come to her quarters,” the guard issued.

Alone in the hallway, Mandy looked behind her. No guard with hands like bricks waited behind her to send her back to the infirmary.

She shuddered at the memory. She hadn’t told Cesar to watch out for the psycho Naki and made a mental note to seek him out before the end of the day.

Mandy arrived at the Naki queen’s quarters. The guards motioned her to enter, and she stepped through the panel.

Helen appeared distracted, and Mandy sensed some sort of tension upon setting foot in the apartment. Hichele was there as well, her sharp gaze waiting to see what Mandy did.

Mandy made a face at her and went to her wall. Hichele’s gasp made her smile. After what Hichele did, she’d never,
ever
bow to the Naki bitch again. It was probably not what Hichele expected after the beat down.

“How are you, Mandy?” Helen asked.

Mandy offered the best bow she could to the Naki queen.

“I am well, thank you,” she replied.

“My son Vekko is in the healer’s ward.”

“Really? Why?” she asked curiously.

“He was injured during the trip he and Akkadi took.” Helen’s concern was clear in her blue eyes. “He will be well in a few days. We have the best healers in the galaxy but I still worry.”

Suddenly, Mandy understood Akkadi’s brittle mood the night before. Something bad had happened, and his cousin was hurt. Akkadi was too honorable not to feel responsible.

“I’m so sorry to hear that,” she said softly, wishing she’d known before this. She felt bad for Akkadi. She’s unknowingly offered him some kind of comfort, even if it was something as simple as physical release. She was proud of herself for not allowing his mood to drive her away. Recalling their night, her body grew warm from the inside out.

“Hichele’s betrothal ceremony is in two days. You will meet the rest of the family,” Helen said, turning to the Naki woman.

God, I hate her.
Mandy barely kept from spitting the words out loud. Pregnant with another man’s child, Hichele was still able to get a pass into Helen’s family.

What if Mandy didn’t get home and she was stuck here, with one of the Naki princes? After last night, would Akkadi consider her, if going home became impossible?

Mandy didn’t let herself think too hard on it, afraid to face the option that either she never went home or that Akkadi still might not want her. The connection she’d experienced since meeting him only grew stronger last night in his arms, where he made love to her with passion she didn’t think him capable of. Helen’s words drew Mandy’s attention.

“We are going to a briefing about the energy shortage status.”

Helen’s words drew Mandy’s attention. She roused herself and pushed away from the wall, trailing them to the door.

“There will be no shortage after I am wed,” Hichele proclaimed. “I will have saved the empire.”

“For which we will be grateful.”

Mandy had no idea how Helen was able to placate the arrogant Hichele when Mandy wanted nothing more than to beat her face in. Sensing her temper was shorter than usual, Mandy kept her distance from the two, lingering with the guard bringing up the rear of their procession. Two of Helen’s advisors joined her, along with Akkasha, trailed by a disgruntled Cesar.

Mandy met his gaze. He rolled his eyes, and she covered her mouth to keep from laughing out loud.

The group headed towards the elevators. Mandy checked the floors and saw Cesar do the same. He waited for her down the hall, falling into step beside her.

“Battle deck?” he asked.

“Yeah.” Her pulse grew faster. Akkadi was always on the battle deck. Would she see him?

“How you feeling?”

“Great,” she admitted. “Space Twinkies.”

He smiled. “I hate those things. Urik said they have all the essential vitamins and nutrients. I used to hate vegetables, but I’d trade every single space Twinkie on this station for a bowl of broccoli right about now.”

“Tell me about it,” she agreed. “They couldn’t add a little bit of flavor?”

Their conspiratorial whispers drew the disapproving gaze of Akkasha. Cesar winked at her, and Akkasha glared at him coldly.

“I see you’re getting along,” Mandy said.

“Hardly.”

“Did she tell you that you’re expected to marry her?”

Cesar stopped. Mandy faced him, giggling at the look on his face.

“You’re messing with me,” Cesar said.

The group walked onto the main deck. Mandy followed.

“No, really. You’re joking.” Cesar took her arm to stop her.

“No, really, I’m not,” she said, entertained. “It’s what they do with purebred humans up here.”

His hand dropped, his look stunned. Mandy slapped his arm and walked onto the main deck. She found herself searching for Akkadi among the Naki on the bridge.

“Why didn’t anyone tell me?” Cesar had recovered enough to follow.

Mandy shrugged, more interested in finding Akkadi.