Too Close to the Sun (The Sun 1) (35 page)

She gave him no quarter as she rammed the palm of her hand into his nose, breaking it. In blind fury, he reached out for her, pawing the air. His arms found nothing and when he could finally open his eyes, he saw that she was gone.

He lifted his hand to his nose. It was broken. Pressing both hands against either side of it, he drew a deep breath and gave a quick movement of his hands, realigning the cartilage. The sharp pain made his eyes water and when he pulled his hands away, they were covered in blood. His blood.

He swore, reaching out to support himself against the wall until the pain in his groin subsided. A dark object caught the corner of his eye and he turned to look at it, recognizing the laser.

Still bent over, he shuffled the small distance to the weapon. He reached out, but before he could grab the weapon, another hand retrieved it.

Puzzled, he looked up. “You!”

“I told you to leave her alone or you would pay.”

The last thing Herrod saw was a bright flash of light from the laser’s barrel. By the time the pain in his forehead might have registered in his brain, it was already fried.

* * * * *

Angel was shaking when she reached her mother’s room. Inside, Yanur sat in a nearby chair while her mother slumbered peacefully in bed. At Angel’s entrance, Yanur looked up with a smile on his face. It quickly turned to a frown.

“What happened?” He rose from the chair and came to her. “Are you all right?”

She nodded, exhaling deeply. “Yeah, I’m okay.” There would be no point in worrying Yanur. “How’s Mom?”

Yanur’s expression softened as he looked at the sleeping woman. “She’s fine. I’m afraid I kept her awake too long today talking. She was pretty tired.”

“Thank you for staying with her.”

Yanur reached out and took Angel’s hand, patting it in a fatherly way. “My pleasure. Will you be okay? I could stay.”

“No. We’ll be fine. Thank you.” She watched him walk to the door.

“All right then. Goodnight.”

“‘Night, Yanur.”

Angel stood in the middle of the room and as the adrenaline left her body, she felt emotionally and physically drained. Suddenly too tired to stand, she glanced at the chair beside the bed. She collapsed into it, resting her head against the back and closing her eyes.

In her mind, she replayed Herrod’s attack and realized how close she'd come to getting raped, maybe even killed. It left her feeling vulnerable and alone.

She eyed her mother’s sleeping form and almost unaware that she was doing so, rose from her chair and moved to the bed. Picking up the extra blanket, she lay down beside her mother, who stirred slightly with the dipping of the mattress.

“It’s all right, Momma. It’s me, Angel.”

Her mother opened a sleepy eye. “Oh, my Angel. Did you have a bad dream?”

“Yes, Momma, I did.”

“It’s okay honey. You’re safe now.” She reached out a hand to brush a strand of hair from Angel’s face. “Do you want to tell me about it?”

Angel knew her mother was not really awake, and maybe that was why she felt comfortable telling her. In the morning, her mother would not remember. Speaking softly, she told how Herrod had been harassing her and how she’d run into him in the hall. How they’d fought and she’d injured him and run. Finally, she told her mother how she was afraid to go back.

Angel’s voice trailed off as she thought back to all the times in her life when she’d been afraid. Fear had made her stronger, but what she wouldn’t give right now to have a few moments of absolute security.

Her mother’s eyes remained closed, but her hand moved to pat Angel’s arm as she had when Angel was young.

“Daddy can sleep in the other room. You stay with me tonight. No more nightmares, okay?”

“Okay.”

Her mother squeezed her arm one last time before drifting back to sleep.

“I love you, Momma.” Angel closed her eyes and let the night take her.

* * * * *

Nicoli woke early the next morning. He hadn't slept much the night before for the simple reason that he missed Angel. Not wanting to spend even one more minute without her, he dressed quickly and left the room.

Navigating the labyrinth of hallways was getting easier as he learned his way around and at this early hour, there was no one else around to impede his progress. Already his thoughts were on what he'd say to Angel when he saw her and for that reason, he was nearly upon the body lying in the hallway before he recognized what it was.

For the briefest moment, he worried it might be Angel, but on closer look, he saw it was a man.

Placing his fingers to the man's throat, he felt for a pulse and found none. The man was dead.

Rolling the body onto its back, Herrod's lifeless eyes stared out of a face grown slack in death. A single laser shot to the forehead was the obvious cause for his state of being. A broken nose, bloodied and swollen, suggested Herrod had fought with his killer before being shot and a strip of charred flesh and blood across his right shoulder said the killer had missed his first shot.

Nicoli felt no remorse at the man's death, but his concern for Angel increased exponentially. Lasers were not a common weapon in the House of Scyphor with the Coronadians preferring warring blades and the only one Nicoli had seen since his arrival was Angel's. Had she run into Herrod last night on her way to her mother's room and been forced to kill him? It seemed the logical answer and Nicoli knew he needed to find her right away.

The sound of footsteps stopped him. Looking up, he saw the High Counsel approaching, surrounded by four guards.

"Colonel Romanof? Is there a problem?" The High Counsel asked, coming to a stop.

"There's been an accident," Nicoli replied, putting emphasis on the last word.

"Is that Herrod?” The older man's eyes narrowed as if he was trying to bring the dead man's face into sharper focus.

"It is," Nicoli confirmed.

At the High Counsel's gesture, one of the guards took a knee beside the body and checked it for signs of life. Nicoli could have told him it was futile.

"What happened?" the High Counsel demanded.

About to say he'd found the body like that, Nicoli's answer was cut off by one of the rear guard's shouts.

"High Counsel, I found something."

As one, the group turned to watch the guard pick something up off the floor.

The sight of Angel's small laser had fingers of dread closing around his heart, confirming his worst fear. He watched with little hope as the guard smelled the end of the barrel. The involuntary wrinkling of his nose told Nicoli he'd caught the noxious odor of charred tyrillium. The smell dissipated over time, so the fact that it was still present meant the weapon had been fired within the last eight to ten hours.

What time had Angel left him last night? It had been well within that window of time, he realized.

Crowds of people where gathering, curious to know what was going on. Among the throng of blond heads, a single brunette stood out. Catching sight of Angel walking toward them, Nicoli ran his gaze over her, searching for signs of injury. Other than looking tired, she seemed fine and the fingers around his heart eased their painful grip slightly.

As she drew closer, he saw she was accompanied by her mother and Yanur. Her expression brightened briefly when their gazes met. Then she noticed the body on the floor and all the color drained from her face.

"Colonel Romanof," the High Counsel was saying, his voice rising above the noise of the crowd. "Is this your weapon?"

Did you kill Herrod? That's what the High Counsel was really asking him. Did you kill Herrod and then toss your weapon aside in an effort to hide your actions? The accusation that he would commit cold-blooded murder (for there were no marks on him to suggest it was self-defense - nor were there marks on Angel, from what Nicoli could see) and then follow the heinous deed with the cowardly act of throwing away his weapon in hopes of escaping blame was offensive. Any other time, he would defend his honor. Now, honor demanded he defend someone else.

"Yes, it's mine."

Chapter 23

Amid the murmurs of the crowd, Nicoli heard Angel’s gasp. “No.”

“Colonel Romanof,” the High Counsel began. “Was this a case of self-defense?”

Immediately Advisor Pualson stepped from the crowd. “Colonel Romanof seems remarkably unharmed.” He looked pointedly at Herrod’s battered and beaten body. “I submit that it could not have been self-defense.” He leveled a hostile glare at Nicoli. “I submit that we are dealing with murder.”

Others in the crowd quickly took up the argument. The High Counsel studied Nicoli’s face, perhaps waiting to see if Nicoli would refute the accusation. He remained quiet.

“He must be punished,” someone from the crowd yelled.

“He is no longer worthy to be Counsel-elect,” cried another.

Victor spoke then, a smug expression on his face. “His marriage to the Consort-elect, granddaughter to the High Counsel, must be annulled.”

Nicoli watched the High Counsel weighing Victor’s words. Then a new voice spoke from the crowd. A woman’s voice.

“Herrod attacked my daughter.” Katrina, supported by Yanur, stepped forward. “Earlier tonight, he sprang on her, intent on raping her. She fought to defend herself and escaped, with Herrod alive. She came to me and has been with me since. Our laws dictate that should a protected woman be attacked, the attack is also against the man who protects her. My daughter is under the protection of two men. When Herrod attacked my daughter, he also attacked her husband, the Counsel-elect. And he attacked the High Counsel himself. The penalty for such an attack is death.”

A low murmur settled over the crowd.

"Is this true, An'jel?" the High Counsel asked.

"Yes," Angel said, moving to stand beside Nicoli. "Herrod attacked me and I fought back, but he was alive when I left him."

"Then justice has been served and it doesn't matter who dealt it," the High Counsel announced. Nicoli, who'd been studying Angel, turned to the High Counsel in surprise and almost missed the smile he quickly hid. “This matter is thus resolved. Dispose of the body before it stinks up my palace.”

He waved a hand and two guards swiftly moved to comply.

After they carried away the body, the High Counsel turned to address the remaining members of the crowd. “Colonel Romanof and his friend Mr. Snellen will be accorded the full hospitality of my people. We owe them a debt of gratitude for returning my granddaughter to her home and for restoring my daughter’s health. I would be gravely upset should any further “unfortunate incidences” occur with regard to either of them.”

With that, the High Counsel moved to his daughter’s side and took her hand in his. “I am much relieved to see you feeling better,” he said with a small smile.

“Thank you, Father.”

He gave her hand a final squeeze, released her and then walked from the scene. The rest of the crowd exchanged brief glances, and then dispersed.

Alone with Angel, Yanur and Katrina, Nicoli moved to take Katrina’s hand.

“Lady Katrina ToRrenc, I am Colonel Nicoli Alexandres Romanof of the United System of Planet’s Security Forces, husband to your daughter. It is an honor to make your acquaintance. I am most grateful for your timely recovery.”

“Colonel Romanof, Nicoli. It is I who thanks you. I thought my daughter was dead. I am overjoyed that she is not."

“As long as I am alive, I will protect your daughter.”

Katrina gave him a peculiar look, then smiled. “I believe you mean that.”

“Let me walk you back to your room, Katrina.” Yanur suggested. “You are recovering very quickly, but I don’t want to risk tiring you too soon.”

Katrina nodded.

“I’ll come visit after you’ve rested,” Angel promised, giving her mother a quick hug and kiss before she left.

Nicoli offered his arm to Angel when she turned toward him. He led them in the direction of their quarters. He wanted to make certain she was all right, and they needed to talk privately. He didn’t care if she didn’t like what he was going to tell her, it was for her own good. Until he could get her away from this planet, he planned to keep her with him at all times. It was the only way he knew to ensure her safety.

* * * * *

Brother Joh’nan paced the confines of his bedroom waiting for the knock he expected. When it came, he silently opened the door and stood back, allowing Brother Damon to enter. He closed the door as his visitor moved behind the bar at the far side of the room and began fixing a drink.