The Playful Prince (14 page)

“Yes, Dr. Elliot,” the computer’s sultry voice answered, its purring out of place in the solemn room.

“Match sequencing begun. Estimated time six hours and forty-three minutes.”

“I’ll take the couch,” Vitto said, automatically knowing none of them would want to leave until the palace’s mainframe had finished its comparisons. “We might as well try to get some rest while we’re waiting.”

“Elliot, why don’t you take the bed?” Grant offered. “I’ll lie on the floor.”

“No, why don’t you take the couch? Vitto and I can share the bed.” Tori sighed. The men nodded in agreement. It was going to be a long night and they had nothing to do but wait.

* * * *

Quinn paced back and forth in Tori’s suite, waiting for her to join him. He’d brought more flowers, which were getting harder to find. Taura had guards on her garden now, so he had to find the pretty weeds elsewhere. He stopped, chuckling like an ill-behaved boy who’d gotten away with mischief as he thought about it.

Taura was beside herself with irritation, though the noblewoman would hardly let it show. If she found out it was him, she’d probably try to put him in isolation as punishment, locking him in his room for three days without company--as she’d done to the princes as young boys. The very idea of a fifty-six year old man getting sent to his room was hilarious.

Throwing himself down on the couch, he stared at the ceiling. He could tell by the light that it was getting late. Quinn frowned. His leg restlessly swung over the side of the couch, kicking into the air with agitation. Where was she anyway? He’d been pacing anxiously for hours, counting down the slow minutes until he could be with her again.

After a half hour on the couch, he slowly pushed himself up. His hands pulled at his light brown hair. He hated to admit it, but it looked like she wasn’t going to come.

“Fire,” he stated, angry. The fire lit in the fireplace. Going across to his flowers, he grabbed them and threw them into the flames.

* * * *

Tori yawned, blinking heavily. She lay on Grant’s bed by her brother. The room was dark, the top dome curtains drawn overhead to cast the whole suite into blackness. She felt the bed shift next to her and assumed Vitto tossed in his sleep. She couldn’t blame him. She felt the same way--restless, edgy.

Sadness overwhelmed her for a moment as she thought of Simon. He’d been such a decent man, a respected colleague, a good friend. She still hadn’t been able to bring herself to go through his belongings. It somehow seemed wrong to invade his personal things.

The bed shifted again. Tori closed her eyes, tired, as she tried to get some more sleep. She flipped over on her side.

“Snookie, you in here?”

Tori was so exhausted, it took her a moment to realize someone had spoken. She frowned, wondering if she was dreaming. Reluctantly, she opened her eyes.

“Snookie, where are you? I’ve come to play.” It was a woman’s voice.

Suddenly, a hand was on the coverlet over her leg, inching up to her thigh. A giggle sounded, jolting her to complete awareness. Tori shot up in bed, gasping. Her leg shot out, trying to get away from the caress. She ended up kicking Vitto in the side. He grunted and there was a tumbling of arms and legs on the bed.

It was dark and she couldn’t see anything. The woman screamed. Tori was smacked in the face by a flying arm. She lifted her hands to block her face and ended up elbowing Vitto in the stomach. The irritating woman screamed again--high pitched and loud.

“What the...?” Grant’s voice drifted over them, sleepily. There was a noise as he stumbled about in the dark.

The woman shifted her weight and Tori fell over on her side, her head hitting Vitto’s leg. She could barely move, as the coverlet twisted around her. The woman’s head fell on her stomach, trapping her even more.

“Lights!”

Tori froze, gasping for breath. Quinn’s voice rang over the suite. The curtains were pulled around the dome. She blinked as a soft, diffused light flooded over them.

Her body was pinned between Vitto and Linzi. Linzi was naked, except for a robe. Tori flinched, trying to buck the woman off. Linzi screamed again, seeing that she was in the bed with the wrong people. Tori glared at Grant to shut the woman up. She couldn’t see Quinn, but she felt his presence.

Grant snickered in amusement, as he crossed over to the bed. He yanked Linzi’s arm and pulled her upright. She glared at him, then at the bed, before storming out of the room.

Tori wiggled around to see Quinn. His face was red with anger. He glared at Vitto. As she stared up at him, his eyes turned to her. His lip curled up in a snarl. Without saying a word, he turned and stormed from the suite.

“What the hell was that?” Grant asked.

“Help me out of this,” Tori demanded, torn as to whether or not she should chase Quinn.

“Sequencing complete,” Siren announced overhead, making her mind up for her. All three scientists froze.

Vitto sprung into action, untangling their limbs. Standing, Tori gasped for breath and asked, “Siren, was there a match?”

“No match within my database,” Siren answered.

“Thank you, Siren,” Tori said, remembering what the king had said about the computer being temperamental.

“You’re welcome, Dr. Elliot.”

“What about King Kirill? Prince Quinn?” Tori asked.

“It’s not them,” Grant said. “They have a common thread that must have come from their father. I’m guessing it’s none of the princes.”

“That leaves the elders, Lord Myrddin to be exact.” Tori frowned, letting her professional calm overtake her. They’d discussed the possibility of him before. It was his land the biological weapons were on. His cave was the source of the black moss. Plus, Quinn mentioned he didn’t support Kirill’s rule. It only made sense.

“Often the easiest, most logical choice is the right one,” Vitto said.

Tori nodded. “You’re right. I think it’s time I met this Lord Myrddin for myself.”

* * * *

“No.”

Tori stared at Quinn in disbelief. After going back to her suite to take a quick bath, she searched the castle for him. Finally getting directions to his wing of the palace from one of the guards, she went to the hall where she’d first met him--lips locked to Linzi.

Quinn’s home was simple in its taste, colored with rich blues and cream. A couch sat before a large fireplace on a slightly raised platform. The couch was low and wide. Long pillows were laid out on the floor, perfect for lounging. The wide tiled floor stretched before the front door, elegant and immaculately clean.

Aside from the front, there were no doors in the prince’s home. Tall decorative arches in the wall led to a bedroom, a kitchen, and a large office. A wall of glass, so thick you couldn’t see through it, guarded the bathroom. An inlet next to the fireplace, near the kitchen, led to a large dining room. There were enough chairs in it to seat more than a dozen guests.

“It’s beautiful,” Tori had said in awe upon entering, her eyes wide.

“What do you want, Dr. Elliot?” was Quinn’s cold reply.

Now, staring at his dispassionate face, she stiffened. Looking at him was like looking at a stranger.

There was no affection in him, no tenderness or teasing. He was all ambassador, and it stung her to the core. Any impulse she had to explain the morning fiasco was swallowed up inside.

“What do you mean no?” Tori demanded, placing her hands on her hips.

“I’ve read your file. You have several degrees, Dr. Elliot. I assume you know the meaning of the word.

The answer to your request is no.” Quinn studied her, his bright blue eyes burning hotly from his blank face. She shivered. “I won’t take you to Lord Myrddin, especially without knowing why you need to meet him.”

“Quinn,” she began, wanting to explain. His brow rose. Rubbing her temples, she shook her head. “I’ll file my preliminary findings with the king. Good day.”

Tori turned and walked out the front door. Her shoulder’s jerked, but she refused to cry. She had to be strong.

Quinn watched the door close behind her. His hand reached forward to go after her, but he pulled it back to his side. In the brief moment she said his name, her eyes had been defeated, sad, exhausted beyond measure. He wanted to comfort her, to hold her. However, the memory of her on the bed with Vitto and Linzi wouldn’t leave him. Later, after he calmed down, he realized he didn’t know what they were doing, or if they were doing anything at all. But, it had taken him a long time to calm himself to that point.

Quinn took a deep breath. His sudden jealousy over it was too potent to ignore. He’d been mindless with rage and that wasn’t a good sign. It meant he was starting to feel more than just a passing connection to her. He couldn’t afford distractions in his life, not to the extent that he couldn’t function. His father’s incessant words came back to him.
“This kingdom is what makes us, Quinn, this land. A
man cannot bow to a woman and still call himself a man. To fall for a woman is to fall for
weakness. We are men. We conquer and rule. We must be strong and, as ambassador, you must be
the strongest of mind. If you allow yourself to ever be distracted, your folly could be the death of
our race. Remember that, the next time some pretty thing turns your head. If ever your heart
begins to beat a woman’s name, think of the Var race rotting in the sun in a sea of corpses. That
is what love can do, my son. Take your pleasure, enjoy their soft company, but never get
attached. Duty must always come first.”

Closing his eyes, he could still see his father’s serious face as he said the words to a young prince who would help lead a nation. Afterwards, King Attor had smiled at him, a rare expression on the old king.

“Besides, women are like fruit on the vine, each piece sweeter than the first. Why sample one,
when you can sample them all?”

Quinn turned and forced himself to go back to the tall stack of papers in his office awaiting his attention.

He was smart enough to understand that his father didn’t know everything. Hell, Attor had been wrong when he had the biological weapons brought to the planet. The man was no saint. But, for all his faults, King Attor had been wise. His logic in many things could not be discounted.

Kirill had found happiness with his wife, but could Quinn hope to ever have the same? Shaking his head, he highly doubted it. Ulyssa clearly returned her husband’s love. Dr. Elliot, however, barely appeared to give him a second thought unless he was standing in front of her, blatantly demanding attention with sexual overtures. No, falling for the scientist wasn’t a safe bet and a man in his royal position couldn’t afford to gamble.

* * * *

Tori gripped her report in her hand, crumpling and twisting it, as she nervously waited for the door to the king’s office to open. She’d spent the entire morning writing the thing and still wasn’t satisfied with it. Her mind was too distracted to focus on anything but Quinn. The only reason she wrote the thing to begin with was because she’d told Quinn that she would. He’d just frustrated her so much when she went to his home. Well, if he wanted to act professional, she could act professional.

“King Kirill,” Tori nodded her head, stepping into his office.

“Ah, Doctor,” the king said, standing up from his desk. He smiled kindly at her.

Tori nodded, stiffly trying to return the friendly gesture.

“Dr. Elliot, I don’t believe we’ve really had a chance to properly meet.”

At the statement, Tori turned to Queen Ulyssa. The queen was a beautiful woman, one who looked incredibly happy. Even when she wasn’t smiling, the love shone from her eyes.

“Majesty,” Tori said.

Ulyssa laughed. “Oh, not you, too! Please, call me Ulyssa. I still haven’t been able to get used to this

‘Your Royal Highness’ business. But, at least you didn’t curtsey. That’s something at least.”

Chuckling, Tori couldn’t seem to help herself. Ulyssa’s expression was too open and friendly.

“So, how do you like working for HIA?” Ulyssa asked, laughing at her own private joke.

“It’s....”

“I know,” Ulyssa put forth when Tori hesitated. “They don’t give you much choice, do they?”

Tori glanced at the king and then back to Ulyssa. “No, not really.”

“I was sorry to hear about Dr. Simon. He was a nice man.” The queen crossed over and laid a gentle hand on her arm. Tori nodded, her expression fading into a blank mask. Her attention was again drawn to the report clutched in her hand. Leaning forward, Ulyssa whispered in her ear, under the pretense of giving her a hug, “These Var men are a handful, but I promise their brains do eventually catch up to their hearts. I know it’s frustrating, but try to have patience. And, if that doesn’t work, be blunt or hit Quinn over the head until he sees reason or blacks out.” The queen pulled back and winked. “Either way, I guarantee it will make you feel better. Quinn’s a good man and he’ll be honest with you, if ever you have a need to demand the truth from him.”

Tori wasn’t sure what to say to that. Did everyone assume that since she and Quinn were lovers there was more to their relationship? She did care for him, and his dismissal earlier had hurt a great deal.

Smiling politely, she nodded as the queen pulled completely away.

“I’m here if you need to talk,” Ulyssa said. She crossed over to her husband and, without embarrassment, wrapped her arms around his neck. He leaned down, returning her light embrace as he gave her a gentle kiss. Pulling away, she said, “I’ll see you in an hour. Don’t make me come back here and force you to eat. It won’t be pretty if you forget again.”

“Yes, dear,” he laughed, not looking at all threatened.

Tori averted her eyes at the loving interplay. Ulyssa touched her shoulder as she walked past, leaving her alone with King Kirill.

“I prepared a report on our findings,” Tori announced. She stepped to the desk and held out the papers.

Kirill glanced at it and slowly took it, before setting it on his desk unopened.

“It wasn’t necessary for you to go to all this trouble,” Kirill said. “Oral reports are fine.”