Hers to Command (34 page)

While we maintain an excellent relationship with the Oshtesh, I was stonewalled
. Ultimately, I acquired copies of the orders directing how the subject was to be handled. I would prefer not to go into how I did so. It is best you maintain plausible deniability.

Attached to this communication are copies of the orders
. Due to the highly sensitive nature of the authorizing signature, I destroyed my copies and all record of my investigation’s findings. Other than the originals, you hold the only copy. On my oath, my Queen, I will go to my grave before divulging this individual’s name.

If possible for Your Majesty, I most respectfully request an answer to the
one question haunting me. What did she do?

As always, I am in your service,

Capt. Eric DeStroia

Doral put the papers aside in silence and hid his thoughts carefully, emotionally overwhelmed by the actions his lovers had taken.
No one has ever cared enough to avenge me.

He watched Fleur pick
the report up and drop the papers into the metal trash canister. Pointing a lightweight pulse gun at the container, she set its intensity on maximum and pulled the trigger. In mere seconds, the canister contained nothing but a dusting of ash.

“
I don’t know what to say. The woman was Allegra Contradina?”

“
Yes.”

“
Captain DeStroia. He is head of the Royal Chamber guard, is he not?” Now that Doral thought about it, Eric had not been at his post outside the royal apartments for months. He should have caught that.

“
Yes. Eric and I grew up together. He is very loyal to me.”

“
And are you going to answer the captain’s question?”

“
No.” She carefully laid the pulse gun on the table then crossed her arms. “He loves you very much, Doral.”

Doral
remembered lying next to Ari in the ritual chamber many months past—he remembered the terse words Ari had spoken. “He said he would not forget.” Doral’s eyes returned to Fleur. “He never intended for me to know, did he?”

“
I can’t answer as to Ari’s intentions. I was equally unaware of his actions. But I will tell you what mine are.” He saw her expression harden, her lovely blue eyes cold, angry.

“
I want her utterly, completely, thoroughly destroyed. I want any evidence of House Contradina wiped from the face of this planet. I have already disbursed the estates and outside holdings.”

She looked away
for a moment. “His solution was much more creative than I thought to be, though I can’t imagine Ari anticipated a Trill ore trader would buy her. I just want her dead.”

Fleur returned her gaze to Doral
. “Will you think less of me if I tell you I feel a certain satisfaction at her fate?”

“
Ah, kitten… I… I… why?” Doral scrubbed his face with his hands. The thought of Fleur being anywhere near the warped filth of Allegra Contradina upset him. “Why? You should not contaminate yourself with that—female.”

She
looked at him for long moments, a myriad of emotions fleeting across her face. Her voice came out raw, harsh. “Why? You ask me why?”

Her
tone gentled. “Doral, you are a rare soul. Allegra and her brother savagely violated you for years. You were the victim of incredible evil and yet it is not in you to victimize others.

“
By Her Light, you protect me from
yourself
. I find that remarkable. My dearest love, you have an honor about you as beautiful as your face and form. Doral, you are a
good
man.”

How could he respond to that?
What he knew about himself made a lie of her words. He watched as her mouth thinned in frustration.

“
My love for you and Ari cannot be measured in words. It can only be measured by what I will do for you. Absolutely anything. By what I want for you. Absolutely everything. I would move Verdantia from her orbit to defend you from all that would hurt you.” She rose and crossed to him, sliding into his lap and snuggling into his broad chest. She hugged him fiercely.

“
You are
mine
, Doral, every bit as much as Ari. Those who hurt you do so at their peril.”

So fierce, my love.
Her warm, fragrant hair caught on his mouth as he kissed the top of her head. “My little hell-cat. And Ari…” A small huff of breath escaped.
I am going to need time to wrap my mind around this.
Silence descended in the chamber for long minutes.

“
I love you, Fleur. I don’t deserve the two of you.” He put two fingers on her lips to halt her protest. “Shh, I am not going to question my good fortune any longer.”

He pushed her away
. “It is very late, sweetheart. You need to be in bed.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck as he
slipped an arm under her knees and stood. “You deserve to be loved, Doral,” she whispered into his neck. Pulling her into a tight hug, he crossed the chamber to the bed and laid her down, sitting beside her. Doral couldn’t help the soft smile on his face he undid her robe, caressing her bared skin with a gentle palm, brushing his fingertips across her breasts, watching as her nipples pebbled and stood out from the pink flesh surrounding them. “Sore?”

“
No,” she breathed. “Don’t stop. It feels good.”

She
awkwardly reached toward his tunic fastenings.
Her pregnancy has made her ungainly.
His hand came up to stop her. He couldn’t prevent his quiet laugh. “I’ll remove my clothes. You watch.”

She
grinned. “As you wish. It is not a hardship.”

With a huff of amusement, he
stripped methodically, folding his clothes as he took them off. When he turned back to her, he was nude. Semi-aroused, his cock hung thickly against his thighs. Fleur purred with appreciation.

“
My golden warrior. Come, love.” She patted the bed near her. “Bring the brush.”

It had become their routine while
Ari was away. She brushed and braided his waist-length hair before they retired for the night. He found her nurturing care infinitely soothing. He performed the same service for her on many evenings though it would have been more efficient to summon Sari or Camilla, for as hard as he tried, he was appallingly inept at braiding fine blond hair.

* * * * *

“
This braid’s a proper rodent’s nest, pet,” Sari scolded the next morning as she picked the snarls out of Fleur’s hair. “I wish you would call for me. Our visconte does many things well, but this is not one of them.”

Fleur winced. “Ouch! Not so hard, please.
I would not deprive Visconte DeLorion of this service if he tied it in knots and died it a royal purple.”

“
Sorry, pet. You are too softhearted, m’lady. But I understand.”

“
If you could see the pleasure it gives him, Sari and he is far gentler than you!”

“
Yes, pet…” Sari smiled softly and continued to pick out the tangles with greater care. “I never knew your tiny little finger was so strong.”

Fleur made a questioning sound.

“You have two very intense males thoroughly wrapped around it. They are yours to command, m’lady.”

“
Hmm. I don’t know about command, Sari. I think they just ‘suffer me gladly’.”

“
I had thought our visconte would be more resistant. The gossip about him is nothing short of terrifying. I feared for you in the beginning. But, he has fallen as hard as our conte,” Sari teased quietly.

“
You feared for me? Really? What is the gossip about him, Sari?”

“
Oh m’lady, I shouldn’t have said. Nothing good comes from repeating gossip.”

“
Sari, tell me. I want to know what you heard.”

There was a long silence, ending with Sari’s sigh
.

“
The word about the palace is he’s a stone cold killer, m’lady, incapable of any feeling and with very violent tastes in the bedroom. Lady Deidre L’ente says she served with the visconte and has seen with her own eyes.”

Sari humphed.
“Of course, I said he was no such thing. I have never seen as much as a bruise on your body and I am in a position to know.”

“
There, all set to rights, now, m’lady.” Sari finished coiling Fleur’s long braid into an intricate style wrapping the back of her head.

“
And incapable of feeling? The stupid hussy, anyone with eyes can see he is gone on you. As gentle as a lamb with you, that one. Our visconte would give his life for you and our High Lord.”

“
Thank you for your defense, Sari.” Doral stood just inside the chamber door, leaning relaxed against the framing, his arms crossed on his chest. Somehow, even totally at ease he gave off a tangible aura of incipient threat. His blue eyes quietly took in the two women, his strikingly handsome face devoid of expression.

Sari and Fleur started in surprise.

“My Lord! Ah, you are most welcome. See, my Lady. What did I tell you! No good ever comes from repeating gossip.” Sari pursed her lips, curtseyed to the visconte and marched out of the chamber.

Fleur turned in her chair with a bright smile of welcome
. “Sari never gets tired of saying, ‘I told you so.’”

She
grimaced. “I wish you had not heard that.”

He shrugged dispassionately
. “Lady Deidre spoke nothing less than the truth.”

Doral
crossed to Fleur and knelt putting himself at eye level with her. “You look well rested this morning.” The corner of his mouth quirked upward and his expression softened. “I am glad to see I didn’t tire you too much with my “violent tastes” last night.”

A
pained look fled across her face. Fleur let all the love she felt for him show in her eyes. “The truth as
Deidre
knew it. You never complain but I know the talk hurts you. I can banish her from Sylvan Mintoth. Should I?” She raised her hands and caressed his dear face.

“
No.” His lips twisted in a weary, bitter smile, his eyes bleak. “You would need to banish the entire 32
nd
Intel Unit.” He grasped her hands and returned them to her lap.              

“
Allegra liked an audience,” he said levelly.

“
Oh, Doral.” Fleur freed her hands and hugged his neck tightly. “I love you, my gentle lord.”

“
Even if I tie your hair in knots,” he murmured.

“
Even so,” she replied, smiling against his neck, her head resting on his shoulder. “Just how much did you hear?”

“
Hmm, I wouldn’t dye it purple. I think, rather blue to match your eyes. There is nothing about you I suffer and I am very much yours to command.”

Fleur straightened with a soft laugh, smiling up at him
. “You were there the whole time. How awful of you to eavesdrop on our chatter.”

Amusement softened his world-weary sadness and
Doral smiled with genuine humor. As always, his rare smile left her devastated. “You forget what it is I do, sweetheart. I am a spy.”

“
And a superb one, at that. Will you do something else you are superb at?”

Doral raised his eyebrows.

“Take me back to bed.”

“
Ah, kitten, you needn’t ask twice.”

* * * * *

Ari pressed the mic to his throat. “Orbital Station 7475, this is private vessel 34Echo Charlie Tango requesting clearance for approach on orbital-vector 5579, over.”

“
Private vessel 34Echo Charlie Tango, this is Verdantian Orbital Station 7475. You are cleared for dock eight-alpha on vector 5579. Welcome home, Conte DeTano, over.”

“
Thank you, tower, glad to be back, over.”

“
We were not expecting you for another seventy-two hours, sir. The queen and the
Segundo
will be pleasantly surprised, over.”

“
Confirm last transmission, Her Majesty and Visconte DeLorion are present on orbital station, over.”

“
That’s a roger.”

“
Acknowledged. I carry two high-priority passengers. Please have Captain Tevon Rigo meet me at dock eight-alpha, over.”

“
Roger that. Captain Tevon Rigo will meet you at dock eight-alpha, over.”

“
Tower, please do not inform anyone else of our arrival, over.”

“
Affirmative, sir. Does this include the queen and Visconte DeLorion, over.”

“
Particularly the queen and Visconte DeLorion, over and out.”