Chapter 20

I held her tight all the way back to my suite, unable to believe my good fortune and unwilling to risk her vanishing into a puff of smoke, as unrealistic as that sounded.

“Are you alright?” I asked when it was just the two of us in the strato glider.

“I will be.” She nodded into my chest. “Thank you for finding me.”

“I will always find you,” I promised, ignoring all the hours of fear and doubt I had been through. “From now on you will always be safe with me.”

I kissed her forehead and she snuggled closer.

“Did they… hurt you?” I voiced my deepest fears.

She shook her head. “Not really. They shocked me a few times and forced me to clean, but that was it.”

I sent a silent prayer of thanks to Staphor.

“Do you have any idea who took you?” I asked her next. I knew she was exhausted, but the sooner we could find out who was behind this, the sooner she would be safe. The possibility of whoever had ordered her to be taken doing so again was very real and very much on my mind.

“I’ve been wondering about this myself.” She leaned back so she could look into my eyes. “I think… I think Lady Natoi ordered this.”

“Vra, but she is definitely working with somebody else.”

“Oh.” Heather looked distraught over having her suspicions confirmed. “But why?”

“That’s what we’re trying to figure out,” I told her.

We reached the palace and the glider docked at the private bay by my suite. “Come. I think a hot bath will be just what you need,” I coaxed.

“That sounds heavenly,” she agreed.

I carried her straight into the bathroom and ran a bath for her myself. Carefully, I selected a scent that I thought she would like. “Do you want some privacy?”

“Please don’t leave me alone,” she pleaded with wide eyes, looking so insecure I pulled her back into my arms.

“Never again,” I assured her.

She blushed when she pulled what looked like a nightgown over her head, and I averted my eyes to give her privacy before she stepped into the tub and sank underneath the bubbles, hiding her naked form.

Despite my best efforts, my cock throbbed inside my pants at knowing she was naked, right beside me. I pushed those lascivious thoughts from me, doubting sex was on her mind right now.

A low, blissful sigh from her reminded me of the adorable noises she made during our lovemaking, and I shifted my body to release some of the pressure on my shaft.

“Would you like something to drink, eat?” I asked.

“I’m fine right now, thank you,” she said with a wan smile. “How did you find me?”

“It’s a long story, but essentially it was that little girl who told us where you were.”

“I promised her a reward if she helped me,” Heather said.

“I’ll see to it,” I swore. “She seems like a wily creature. I’m sure we’ll find adequate housing for her, someone who will care for her.”

“Thank you.”

She reached her hand out to me and I took it. Sitting on the narrow edge of the tub wasn’t in any way comfortable, but I wouldn’t have traded spots for the best chair in the universe. Just being able to look into her eyes, holding her hand seemed like a gift from the gods. One that I wouldn’t take lightly or for granted.

“I was out of my mind with worry,” I confessed. “I should have never let you walk home alone.”

“You couldn’t have known,” she said. “Besides, they took me from my bed. Even if you had walked me home, there wouldn’t have been anything you could have done.”

Herassuring me was the last thing I wanted right now, but her words were still like a balm to an open wound.

“I might have noticed something out of place though,” I insisted.

“I’m no worse for the wear, and you found me.” She smiled bravely for my comfort.

“You are amazing.” I lifted her hand and kissed it. “Even now you’re thinking of my feelings instead of dwelling on what you went through because of me.”

She freed her hand and caressed my cheek. “If this was because of you, I would gladly go through this again just for you to find and rescue me.”

Her eyes were so wide and sincere, I nearly drowned in them. Her words stabbed and comforted me at the same time. “Don’t even say that. I would never want you to go through this again.”

“Where will I go now?” she asked after a short moment of silence.

“You will stay here, with me,” I told her incredulously. Didn’t she know? “I will order to have your things brought here.”

“But… how long… I mean…”

“I will never let you out of my sight again,” I promised again, figuring she must still be in shock over what had happened to her that she hadn’t processed my words yet.

“I don’t understand.”

“I—”

“Your Imperial Highness,” a servant called from the other room, “Commander Noctus and Lady Madeema need to speak to you. They say it’s urgent.”

I sighed. “Will you be alright by yourself?”

She nodded bravely and I kissed the top of her nose gently before getting up with a small groan. Vra, the edge of the bathtub really wasn’t a comfortable spot to rest.

“I’ll be right back, I promise.”

“I’m fine,” she assured me.

With a final look at her, I made my way through my bedroom to the living room. “This better be good,” I ground out when I saw my two advisors standing in the middle of the room.