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She heard the servers enter the room. They carried huge silver platters.

“Wonderful. The food smells delicious. I can’t wait to dig in.” She looked over at the Empress smiling fondly at her husband. Maybe if she played her cards right, she could have the same kind of happiness that the two of them shared. So far, Aries had treated her with the utmost respect. She could build on that. She could make this work.

She had to.

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews 60

Chapter Eleven

“Well, that went well.” She smiled. Aries had taken her back to her quarters. Her stomach was filled with the most delectable food. She’d eaten a dish that slightly resembled chicken, but tasted even better.

“It did, didn’t it? Evidently, my father likes you. By the end of the evening, he’d taken quite a shine to you. I’m glad for it. At least I won’t have to quarrel with him over the choice I made in a mate.”

“Does that mean that you fought with your mother over me?”

“I ....” He looked uncertain. She put her hand up to his cheek. Since the meal, she felt wonderfully nourished and much stronger.

“I do appreciate you going to great pains to save my life. You are quite right, it was my past that resulted in my being injured. I knew that all along, and I only denied it because I wanted to make your life miserable. I resented you for taking me away on Willowbane. I resented you for wanting me. I don’t think I wanted to be wanted. Truth be told, I’ve been living as a shadow of my former self. I’ve barely laughed, or taken joy in any part of my life. I’ve existed for one sole purpose, to see my uncle free. Now, I don’t have that to live for. I’d have nothing to live for if you hadn’t come into my life. You’ve given me hope, and I can’t tell you how good that feels. I always knew I was fighting a losing battle before you came to me, and now, now, I know there’s a chance we could win this battle.”

“Not a 'chance'. We
will
win. There’s not a shred of doubt in my mind concerning victory. Gaia has never lost a war. We’re not going to start now.”

Her nose stung, and she could feel her eyes watering. “Do you think my government got to Macy? I worry about her. She has a heart condition you know.”

“How do you know that Macy is who you thought she was? Talia turned out to be rotten to the core … Macy could be the same.”

“No. That’s not possible. You wound me by even thinking it, let alone voicing it.

Macy is my lifelong friend. She’s seen me through literal hell and back. I won’t ever believe that she would willingly betray me.”

“Willingly. I see you might think she could be … persuaded.”

“If she’s being interrogated, she won’t tell them anything.”

“And what could she possibly know to tell?”

Her arms dropped to her side. Biting her lip, she let out a lengthy sigh. It was now or never. She had to confess all to him or risk losing it all. All or nothing seemed to be all too suitable in this instance.

“I belong to a resistance. I have been out of touch for the last few months because I was convinced they were taking their ideals too far. They wanted to start blockading shipping routes and use their band of space pirates to hit military vessels. I didn’t want another war, and I knew they were inviting one. Not only that, but they were inviting a war I didn’t think we could win. I was happy with just helping some of the slaves to find freedom on backwater planets. I never dreamt that we would actually have a chance to stop Earth. And, then, I met you.” She stood up on her tiptoes and gently traced her finger Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews 61

along his jaw line. “You have a strong jaw line, and with those sparkling eyes, you sweep me away to another world.”

“You accused me of keeping secrets, and yet you were hiding that part of your life from me.”

“Don’t tell me you didn’t know. You said you did your research. I’m quite certain you have some rebel contacts in your communication network.”

“You are quite right. I do. And, I did know about you. I also knew that they wanted you to be their next Mallory and you declined. So, they had to approach someone else. They needed someone that commanded as much respect among the rebels as you did in your days during the war.”

“Macy. She has a cunning mind when it comes to war.” She could breathe easier now. “They’ve taken Macy … that’s where she disappeared to.”

“Yes. See, you have no need to fear, my love.”

She shivered when he professed his love. It made her feel as if she was basking in warmth. Suddenly, the lingering pain in her head vanished.

“When should I expect to see her?”

“Soon. We’re still getting the last plans into action. She’s done right a good job of rallying the troops. We’ll have a fair share of Earth Humans fighting on our side. They want freedom. And, when we knock out the opposition, they will have their freedom.”

“Do I have your word on that?” She pulled her hand away from his face.

“Yes. Macy trusts me. She trusts what my officers have told her. She trusts that we will serve a serious blow to Earth.”

“I feel like I’m in the middle of one of those old movies ….”

“Movies?”

“Never mind. I need to sit down.” Taking a shattering breath, she walked over to the bed and sat down on the edge of it. Right after the evening meal, a doctor had come into the large music room they’d retired to, and he’d removed her bandages, giving her a bill of clean health when it came to her wound being healed. Now, all she had to do was regain her strength. She’d lost a lot of blood, and it was telling in her low energy levels.

“I need a shower. I want to wash my hair.” She gently touched the spot on her head where the injury had been. She could feel no sign of the wound, except for the fact that it was a bit sensitive to the touch.

“Good. I’ll accompany you.”

She sighed. “Not that I don’t want you with me, but ....”

He put his hand up. “Somewhere along the line you need to learn how to trust me.

You also need to learn that I’m entirely in love with you. And love doesn’t just translate to sex for me. I want to take care of you. I want to help you feel better. If having a hot shower will help to do that, then I need to be in there with you. I shudder to think of what could happen to you in there alone. I’m not allowing you to go in unaccompanied. You could have a fainting fit and then where would you be?”

“Laid up again.” She smiled. “You’re working your way into every single aspect of my life, Aries. You’re quickly stealing my heart.”

“Good. That’s the sort of thief I want to be.”

“You started out as a kidnapper, and now you’ve transformed into a thief of hearts. That, I like.”

“That’s just what I wanted to hear. I want you to like everything about us Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews 62

together. I knew you’d finally see me in the same light that I see you in. It was love at first sight for me, Freya.”

“Whoa. I think you’re taking it a bit far, Aries. I said I was softening toward you.

But I haven’t begun to see you as my angel, yet.”

“Angels are one thing both of our planets share. There’s much you still need to learn about the Gaian people, Freya.”

“I know what I need to know … once the war is at some sort of crossroads, we can go from there.”

She reached for his hand. “Right now, I don’t want to talk because if we talk …

we could end up arguing … let’s just go and have a shower. You get the task of relaxing me.”

“I think I’m certainly up to that enjoyable task.” He smiled, leaned down toward her and kissed her softly. She returned the kiss. She could feel that familiar burning tingle rushing through her. In all of her years, any other man had never affected her like this, she could continue to deny her heart … but eventually, she would end up falling for Aries. And, once she did there would be no turning back.

* * * *

They were running out of time. Freya looked over at the old fashioned hourglass that sat on the nightstand. Aries slept soundly beside her. She leaned toward him, and gently kissed his cheek. In one day, they would be going to meet the battleships that Earth had sent their way. The latest reports told them that the fleet was even larger than they had expected. Aries wouldn’t tell her how that compared to how many ships they had on their side, and it worried her greatly. Could they win? Would they win?

She knew one thing. Aries had earned her trust, and God help her, he had earned her love. He had become her rock—she couldn’t lose him—and she would do whatever she had to do to protect him.

She knew he trusted her implicitly. She also knew she could now take her plan that she’d concocted to the next level. Her strength was slowly returning thanks to the doctors altering her medication, and Aries’s father had taken quite the interest in her diet.

He had found foods that had given her a newfound lease on life. Lysander had made her see Aries in the new light Aries had referred to. He had made her see the way that Aries could be, in a perfect universe.

The life she was living right now was the life she would be living for the rest of her days. The problem was, she didn’t know how much time she had left. Her plan was risky. It could end up taking her life instead of Aries'. But she could live with that. She had no one that needed her … and, she’d been walking the tightrope of life for the past ten years. If she fell off and didn’t find a net waiting for her, then, so be it. She was at peace with that.

The important thing was that he got out of this alive. She’d started out hating Aries with every fiber of her being, and now, she couldn’t understand why.

Slipping back under the covers, she reached for him. He’d be leaving later this morning. She didn’t know where he’d be going … but she had travel plans of her own.

And, this would be the last time they’d see each other before the first battle started. Earth would come in with all guns blazing … shaking her head, she tried to blot out her last memories of the final battle between Earth and her forces during the last war. She had to try to put those dark memories to the back of her mind where they couldn’t torture her Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews 63

anymore.

She kissed him softly. She could feel his awareness prickling. Soon, he would be awake. His mind touched hers. Even though she’d learned how to veil her thoughts from him, she still hadn’t learned how to break the bond their mating had created. And, she didn’t care. That no longer bothered her. She knew he never probed her mind, he only listened to her loud thoughts. She’d found a way to put her body and mind into an inner calm that even he couldn’t penetrate.

Lysander had taught her many skills in a short amount of time, and now she knew how he’d flourished and survived in his own marriage to an exceptionally strong Gaian.

According to Lysander, not all Gaians were endowed with the ‘talents’ Aries and his mother possessed. They were, however, all endowed with the mating fever … something that he said was a blessing and a curse for the parties involved.

She smiled when his eyes opened. “Good morning, Sunshine.” He caressed the side of her face. She leaned into his touch basking in the way that he could make her feel.

“Good morning.” She kissed him again before he could say anything else. He had that look in his eyes. He knew she was up to something, and he was going to try to talk her out of it. Problem was, she wasn’t ready to talk, and he wasn’t ready to listen to what she had to say. “Aries, let’s just linger in bed for a few minutes. I don’t think your parents will mind if we’re late to the morning meal. After all, we are trying to create the heir to your Empire.”

“Indeed.” She thrilled as his hands went downward moving to brush over her breasts. In one swift movement, she was straddling him. Lifting herself ever so slightly, she came down upon his hard erection. She savored the feeling of power he gave her whenever they were joined. He remained still inside of her waiting for her to make the next move. She was in control, and she reveled in the supreme satisfaction it gave her.

But then, they had a newfound understanding between them. He had never given her any reason to think he didn’t regard her as his equal, and in the last week, he’d proven it to her. She wasn’t falling in love with him—she’d already fallen.

The reality of her situation hit her like a rock in the stomach. She gasped, moving so that she could ride the maelstrom of emotions that boiled within her while also giving into the erotic pleasures that awaited both of them.

He looked up into her eyes. She rode him like the Nordic Goddess she’d been named for. He could feel the change vibrating off her. She had something in the works, and he wanted to know what it was. She was as close to him as she could possibly be, and yet she was slowly putting a division between them.

Brushing her lips against his, she whispered, “I love you, Aries.” And then, they both found their release.

Doorway to the Stars by Marly Mathews 64

Chapter Twelve

The winds of war were blowing.

Freya watched as Aries slipped on his black boots. He looked so powerful in his war uniform. She resisted the urge to kiss him. If she did, neither one of them would be able to stop, and then, he’d be late for his meeting. Soon, the Gaian forces would be gathering at the borders of Gaian Space to meet the Earth contingent.

“Aries.”

He looked over at her. She wore a pair of pants with a purple blouse. He thought she was dressed to go on a tour of the lake province with his father … instead she was going on another mission.

“Freya. The battle will be short. We’ll be done with Earth before they even know what’s hit them.” She closed her eyes. She couldn’t think about the lives that would be lost—she could only focus on trying her damndest to minimize the damage. One of the lives lost could be his—and that thought scared the living daylights out of her.