CALLEY (RIBUS 7 Book 3) (6 page)

Korba smiled and brushed away her unruly locks. “I have to do a security check. It should only take a couple of hours. Then we can tour the Palace.”

Chelan shook her head feebly and forced her eyes open. “No check,” she uttered. “We need to talk.”

Korba stopped stroking her hair. “About what?”

Chelan pushed up from him and grimaced. “Oh god, every muscle in my body aches.”

Korba chuckled. “You are not alone.”

Chelan sat up by his side and tried to ease her stiffness. Then, clearing her vision, she looked down into his smiling face. “We have to talk about us,” she began.

“What about us?”

“I want to add to us,” she stated firmly.

Korba sighed. “We have had this conversation before.”

“I know. But now the Palace is built, everything is secure, the Breeders are in their place, and in a short week you leave me.”

Korba sat up on the edge of the bed, his back to her. “Not now, Chelan.”

“Why not now?”

“Because I am leaving.”

Chelan got to her feet, removing a sheet from the bed and wrapping herself with it. “I want a part of you in me.”

“That will not combat your loneliness.”

“It will help. I survived the caverns because of Shan’s baby.”

Korba stood and slid into his pants and boots. “That was different. Shan was not coming back.”

“And you may not either.”

Korba turned to her. “You know I will.”

“No, I don’t. And neither do you. You just about didn’t make it back from the Rigilean mission.”

Korba shook his head. “It is still different, Chelan.” He took her by the shoulders, and held her tightly. “I want to be with you.”

Chelan remained defiant. “Then take me with you.”

“No. I can’t chance—”

“Chance what—that I may die by your side?”

“No, I can’t chance your interference with my command.”

Chelan was completely taken aback. “I would never do that,” she whispered.

“Oh, no, Chelan. Not deliberately. But you distract me. And your presence on such a volatile mission could sway my decisions.”

Chelan tried to catch her breath. “You just admitted to the mission’s volatility. Please, Korba—I want your child.”

Korba shook his head again. “You must wait.” And he began to don his jacket.

Chelan sagged down onto the bed. “How long?”

Korba smiled. “Soon enough.”

Chelan worked her jaw. “This mission is an Iceanean year in length. That is not soon enough.”

Korba did not respond.

Chelan thought about her words carefully. She watched his back for signs of trouble. “Fremma has offered,” she stated quietly.

Korba turned to her, his face unreadable. “I knew he would.”

Chelan was exasperated. “He offers, yet you do not.”

Korba knelt down in front of her, holding her shapely thighs. “Oh, pretty woman. You do not understand. Our child will be the heir; therefore, it will be a target, not only possibly for the Guild, but for anyone who chooses to try to become my successor. Fremma’s child would hold no such position.”

“But we are safe here. All the measures you have put in place—”

“No. We are safe here now because there is no seed. Your pregnancy would change that.” Korba stared into her dark eyes, knowing that she was not convinced. He hung his head. “And besides,” he whispered, “I meant it when I said long ago that I wanted to be with you throughout the pregnancy. Fremma and all the other Warlords have sired many children, and when time has permitted, they have witnessed their births. I have not afforded myself such a privilege.”

Korba drew in a deep breath. “Chelan, I have spent decades raining down death and destruction upon billions. I have killed thousands with my bare hands, men and women alike, no matter what their state, including women with child. It has always been so easy—it has been my job, and it has been my life. But I have never witnessed birth. And I want to witness the birth of our child. Our bond is special. Please do not deny me the pleasure of watching you grow and deliver our baby.”

Chelan finally looked deep into his eyes, his words ultimately shaking her to her core. But suddenly, Korba stood and ran his hands through his thick mane. Chelan was startled by his abrupt motion. She rose cautiously and touched his ebony-clad back. “Korba,” she called softly.

He turned to her, his face betraying his agony. “Oh, my Lady, I am sorry.” He reached for her and pressed her to him. “I will give you what you wish.”

Chelan’s heart stopped. She pushed back, her eyes searching his wildly. “I don’t understand…”

“I just realized that as much as I wish to be with you when you give birth, you wish to be with child now. It is selfish to wait. Stose is here, and I can order Zane to remain with RIBUS 5 for your added protection.”

Chelan was speechless.

Korba continued softly. “It is not as if you do not know what a child can do for you. You bore Shan’s, and it was to be your life.” He clutched her to him and nuzzled her ear. “I know that you are in estrous, my Lady. Tonight I will give you all of myself.”

Chelan still could not speak. She was stunned.

Korba drew back and smiled. “I must go now. If I do not check the perimeter security with my main officers immediately, there may not be a Palace in the morning.”

Chelan remained mute, her head spinning. Korba kissed her cheek gently and then grabbed his shroud and weapons, leaving promptly. She collapsed onto the bed, wringing the white sheet in her hands. Suddenly, the onus was on her, and she was flabbergasted.

Not even bothering to shower, she dressed quickly and ran out into the twilight of the Command Center. She needed to talk to Fremma, but she didn’t know where to find him. She stepped to the console to use the scanners but paused. If this suite of rooms mimicked RIBUS 7 to the last detail, and if Korba had done it all for her, then her dear Fremma would be right across the hall.

She sprinted to the doors and out into the corridor, the guards bristling. She had started toward the other room when a deep voice hauled her up short.

“It is good to see you, my Lady.”

Chelan turned as one of the warriors drew back his hood and smiled at her. “Lazen,” she breathed.

“And me,” acknowledged Yanis.

Chelan bubbled. “Just like home,” she whispered as she looked at them with adoration.

“And happy to be in your service, once again, my Lady,” Yanis added.

“Oh, the two of you are a sight for sore eyes. And I am just as happy to have you back in my service.”

The men smiled and nodded to her. Then she backed up and stepped through the doors. Whirling around, she beheld the diplomatic suite as she expected, identical to the one on the RIBUS 7. Fremma’s voice washed over her.

“You took your time, my Lady.”

Chelan grinned and approached the en suite. “You were expecting me, my Lord?” she teased.

Fremma smiled. “Actually, I expected Korba to detain you indefinitely.”

Chelan stepped up to him and planted a firm kiss on his cheek. “He would have, but he had to do a perimeter check.”

“So what brings you here?”

Chelan hesitated. “I talked to him, Fremma.”

Fremma looked at her expectantly, but she shied away from him. “Chelan?” he called.

She glanced up at him. “He said yes.”

Fremma smiled weakly. “Congratulations, my Lady. So why the long face?”

Chelan sighed. “Before he agreed, he gave me a long list of why we should wait. His final point hit home.”

“Which was?”

“That he had never been with a woman through a pregnancy, or witnessed a birth. He wants that opportunity with me.”

Fremma looked down and smiled to himself. “All else failing, the one thing that causes you to falter is your infallible desire to please.” He shook his head. “Though he had explained to you that a pregnancy by his seed could cause the Empire to crumble, you remained stalwart, defiant in your bid to bear his child. But when he expressed his lament over what he will miss by fulfilling your desire, you concede.”

Chelan stared at him. “Why do you assume I will turn him down?”

“Because I know you, my Lady.”

Chelan looked away. “I have not made my decision.” She rubbed at her tender abdomen. “I still have about twenty-four Earth hours in which to decide. I had hoped you could help.”

Fremma glanced at her as he sat against the edge of a table and began to hone his blades. “Not with this one, Chelan. Your happiness depends on your decisions alone.”

Chelan sat down in an agitated heap.

Fremma kept a wary eye on her. Finally he stopped his work. “Did you tell him of my offer?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Well?”

Chelan rubbed her brow and looked up at him. “He did not forbid it.”

Fremma continued with his blades. “Well, the offer still stands. It is a perfect solution. He will return in a year, and then you may continue with him.”

Chelan paused. “I should be ecstatic, and instead I am wallowing.”

Fremma stood and sank the blades down into his boots. “Sleep with him tonight and listen to your heart. Don’t think about it any longer. When he swells within you, you will know your true answer.”

Chelan let her head fall back and stared at the ceiling. “I guess I am just overwhelmed, my dreams realized on the heels of everyone else’s departure. I am beyond functioning.”

Fremma threw her a strained smile. “I have to return to the RIBUS for the evening. If you take me up on my offer, page me and I will send a fighter for you in the morning. If you and Korba go ahead…” Fremma took a deep breath. “… I guess, then, I will see you later in the day, when I return.”

Chelan watched him leave then stared at the closed doors, her mind numb. Finally, she roused herself from her stupor and struggled to her feet. She trudged toward the doors and straightened herself. Exiting Fremma’s quarters and entering the Command Center, she was startled by the flurry of activity. Korba whirled around at the same time as Tarn. “What is going on?” she stammered.

“Negotiations with the Cretians broke down,” Tarn said. “RIBUS 10’s departure has been moved up.”

Chelan felt a lump form in her throat. “To when?”

Korba stepped up to her and held her shoulders firmly. “Tomorrow morning.”

Chelan gasped. She looked at the giant monitor portraying the majestic battleship in her dry dock, but her mind balked at the offending information. “So soon?” she whispered.

Korba turned to Tarn. “Would you excuse us, please?”

Tarn felt the melancholy that permeated the evening air, but it was not his place to question. He left immediately.

Chelan twisted out of Korba’s grip and walked up to the giant display. “She is beautiful,” she whispered.

Korba watched her carefully. “Yes, she is, and she is virtually brand-new.”

But Chelan did not respond. Korba took her by the arm and turned her to face him. “I was doing the check when the news came down. If my officers had their way, we would be gone by now.” Korba tipped her chin up and looked deep into her sorrowful eyes. “But I told them that I had a promise to fulfill, and that we would leave in the morning.”

“I ahh… I thought we would have a week together.”

Korba grabbed her, nearly crushing her. “So did I, my Lady.”

Chelan pushed away from him, her heart in tatters. Finally, she looked up into his heavy eyes. “But aren’t you needed on board?”

“No, my officers have her readied, and Tarn will handle things from this end. He volunteered.”

Chelan nodded absently. Then she headed over to the hidden doors and into her new chambers. Korba followed but knew not what to say. Finally, Chelan turned to him. “The baby can wait. Tonight I just want you.”

Korba remained still. “I want you to be at ease with your decision, Chelan. I am more than happy to—”

“No,” she said. “Not like this. It would be a child conceived out of grief and anxiety. I wanted tonight to be a special bonding, a connection that would last forever. But it cannot be, not on the heels of your departure. So the baby can wait.”

Korba stared up at the ceiling and quelled the tremors that threatened his muscles. “I am going to miss you so much, Chelan.” He looked down at his hand, the hand that had struck her so many years ago. He still carried the mild deformity about his knuckles, the injury reminding him constantly of the pain he had endured upon her loss in the Dead Zone. He had abandoned her then, and they had both suffered the consequences. Now the whole horrid scenario seeped painfully back into his troubled mind.

Chelan watched him, her heart going out to him. She took his hand between hers and held it to her cheek. “No more broken bones,” she soothed. “No more blows, no more sad thoughts or words. Let tonight be as beautiful as it can be, all our hopes for the future our only goal.”

Korba drew her to him. Though he knew he was not abandoning her, a deep pit was forming in his stomach. But his path was clear, and he had to leave. All the other RIBUSes were engaged, all the other Commanders too green for such a potentially explosive mission. For the safety of the crew and the success of the operation, he had to go. All he could do was love her through the night and hope that, with the morning light, both could survive the inevitable devastation brought about through the heartbreaking loss of each other.