Chapter 9

Constance woke slowly, blinking in the dim light filtering through a dingy window. For a moment she was disoriented, confused by the lumpy mattress and rough blanket. Then memory came flooding back - her father's cruelty, her vile intended fiancé, and Kalpar whisking her away into the night.

She started to bolt upright but then Kalpar was there. He'd been the lumpy mattress beneath her. She gave a sob of relief and his arms closed tightly around her as she began to shake.

"Shh, shh, you're safe, sweetheart. We're in my safe house. You're safe here."

She took several deep breaths as she absorbed that, and he loosened his hold so that he could run his hand up and down her back in long, soothing strokes.

"Y-you kept me safe. You got me away from my father and Lord Vexian," she said tilting her face up to his. "How can I ever thank you?"

"No need," he murmured, his breath warm on her skin and his eyes glowing white.

Yielding to impulse, she lifted high enough to press her lips against his. He froze for a moment, then groaned and responded, his tongue sweeping into her mouth and sending excitement racing through her. Her nipples tingled and she pressed her breasts against that hard chest, seeking relief from the increasing ache.

Then he was pulling back, gently detaching her arms from around him.

"You should eat something," he said gruffly, not meeting her eyes. "There's food and water."

Heat suffused her cheeks as she looked away. How could she have been so forward? She focused on her surroundings in an attempt to relieve her embarrassment. They were in a sparse room, shabby but clean, that contained nothing but the bed. Through an open doorway she could see another minimally furnished room containing a crooked table and two chairs.

She caught the tang of salt and heard the gentle lap of water and decided they must be close to the fishing port. But why here? And why did he have a safe house?

"You said this was a safe house?"

Her voice came out a little husky but firm enough.

"Yes. I was trained to always have an escape plan."

"Trained?"

"By the military. I served in the Alliance forces."

The fact that he was a warrior didn't surprise her, but she wondered why he'd never mentioned it.

"I served on Vizal," he added, his voice reluctant. "It's not a time I care to remember."

Ah. She'd been too young - and too sheltered - to know many details, but even she knew that it had been a long, painful war with many losses. He rose to his feet, his face stern, clearly through with the discussion.

"I will prepare food. There is a sanitary facility through there if you need it."

He disappeared into the other room without looking at her, and she sighed and started to stand. Her dress immediately threatened to slide down and she had to grab it. Hopefully Kalpar had something to replace the cut ribbons.

The bathroom too was worn but clean. She washed her face and hands and rinsed out her mouth before catching a glimpse of herself in the small tarnished mirror. Yikes. The tiara was still embedded in the tangled curls falling down around her pale face and she suddenly recognized the cause of the dull ache in her temples. When she tried to pull it free, it felt as if all her hair was going to come with it.

Clutching the tiara with one hand and her gown with the other, she hobbled into the other room. In addition to the table and chairs, there were a few ancient appliances along one wall and a lumpy couch. Sunlight flooded in from a row of high windows, open to let in the fresh sea breeze.

"I need help," she announced and Kalpar turned to look at her.

The severe mask he'd assumed disappeared as his lips quirked.

"Indeed."

"I don't suppose you have a brush? Or some scissors?"

"We are not going to cut your hair," he said immediately, frowning at her. "I can free the tiara."

"If you say so." She took a half step towards him and almost tripped when the dress slipped again. "I need something to hold up this dress as well."

"One problem at a time. Sit down."

She took a seat at the small table and he began working on her hair. It reminded her of the mornings when he'd brushed out her hair, but this was different. Although they'd been alone in her rooms, she'd always been conscious of the fact that they were in her father's house and she suspected Kalpar had been as well. Now they were completely alone and for the first time in her life, she had absolutely no supervision.

Under any other circumstances she would have been terrified, but although a tiny shiver skated across her skin, it was not from fear. Perhaps he felt it too. He worked as carefully as always, but he took his time and she was sure he was letting his fingers linger in her hair and drift across her neck and cheek. Each brush of his skin against hers added to her excitement and by the time he placed the tiara on the table, her nipples were stiff and tingling and excitement pulsed low in her stomach.

"There," he said, his voice rough.

He stroked her hair, letting his fingers massage her scalp, and she gave in to another foolish impulse and turned her head to press a quick kiss against his hand.

"Thank you."

He didn't immediately whip his hand away as she suspected he might. Instead he cupped her cheek and raised her face until she was looking up at him.

"I told you that you didn't need to thank me."

"I know, but I do thank you. For everything."

She nestled her cheek against his hand and he let it linger for another moment before abruptly clearing his throat and turning away. She decided to count it as progress anyway and smiled as she watched him move efficiently around the small kitchen area.

The food was simple but unexpectedly delicious, although he shrugged away her compliment. After they finished eating he sat back, regarding her thoughtfully.

"We should discuss our next steps."

We? Her heart skipped a beat at the prospect but she nodded as calmly as possible.

"What do you think we should do? Where should we go?"

He pulled out one of his knives, flipping it thoughtfully.

"I have… contacts outside the city. We could travel to the countryside and lay low for a while. It won't be luxurious but you'll be safe."

"That's all I want," she said sincerely. As long as she was free of her father's control, nothing else mattered.

"It's for the best if we leave soon. I'll make the arrangements."

She nodded, eager to be away from Port Cantor. They seemed to be well hidden but she didn't want to make the mistake of underestimating her father's resources. She had no doubt he was doing everything in his power to find her. But not because he wants me back, she thought bitterly. So he can sell me to Vexian.

She just wished she knew why. He'd dangled her in front of other men before but it had been a game - this time there was an intensity in his actions she didn't understand. No, the sooner they were away from here the better.

The thought of plunging into the unknown made her a little nervous but knowing that Kalpar would be with her was immensely comforting. She tried to decide if there was some way she could help and remembered the jewelry.

"So you think you could sell the necklace and tiara?"

"I don't think it would be wise - they are too recognizable. I might be able to arrange something with the individual gems but even then it would be a risk. Don't worry, sweetheart, I have enough funds to cover the trip."

A surge of warmth filled her at the endearment, but she only nodded, doing her best not to blush.

They passed the day quietly. Kalpar left briefly to gather supplies and she paced anxiously the entire time he was gone. When he returned, she convinced him to let her cook. Neither the supplies nor the equipment resembled the ones in her lessons but the results were passable enough. She was surprised at how much pleasure it gave her to watch him eat the food she'd prepared, and she was suddenly glad her father had insisted, even if his motives had been entirely different.

Kalpar ate readily, but she sensed a distance in him that hadn't been there before. She wished she knew what caused it. Was he having second thoughts about helping her? Was it possible he regretted leaving her father's employ? He paid extremely well, and his employees enjoyed a certain degree of prestige. No, she was sure that wasn't it, but she didn't have the courage to ask what was troubling him.

"I don't think it would be a good idea to turn on any lights up here," he said as the sun began to set, washing the room in golden light. "There's no way to cover the windows and I don't want to attract attention."

"Me either," she said quickly.

"Why don't you have an early night?" he said gruffly. "I hope we can leave at first light."

"What about you?"

"I have some work to do in the warehouse. There are no windows down there so it should be safe enough."

"Is there anything I can do to help."

His face softened for a moment.

"No, sweetheart. Just get some rest."

After he disappeared downstairs, she lay in the darkness listening to him move around. Sleep was a long time coming, her mind filled with questions about their destination - and about him. Everything he'd said made it sound as if he intended to stay with her, but he hadn't explicitly said that he would. She desperately wanted him to stay, wanted to explore the connection between them and see where it went. With that wistful thought she finally drifted off.

She woke an unknown time later, her heart pounding. She'd been dreaming that her father and Vexian had been chasing her and every time she turned a corner they were waiting for her. Since the sky outside the window was dark and she could still hear Kalpar moving around downstairs, she couldn't have been asleep long.

Still shaking from the dream, she decided to seek out Kalpar's comforting presence instead of trying to go back to sleep, fumbling for her dress in the dark. He had "fixed" her dress by slicing off the bottom six inches as well as both sleeves, and turned one of the sleeves into a sash. At her request he'd also cut a small wedge out of the neckline and even after the incident with Vexian, it felt shockingly risqué to have her entire collarbone exposed.

She dressed quickly, eager to see him. When she opened the door at the top of the stairs, her sash began to slip. As she paused to retie it, his voice drifted up to her. Was someone else here? Her heart skipped a beat, but then she realized he must be on his communicator. She gave a relieved sigh, but then his words reached her.

"…yes, I have her here. She's unharmed." A pause. "No, I haven't told her anything."

She froze. He was talking about her. A cold feeling settled in the pit of her stomach.

"I'll bring her to you in the morning. Have the payment ready."

His voice was clipped and businesslike, strange to her.

The cold feeling turned to ice. Who was he taking her to? Payment for what?

Her lips felt numb as betrayal swamped her. She'd been foolish enough to trust him and now he was making some kind of deal involving her. Was he selling her to her father? To Vexian?

Fighting back tears, she started to hurry down the steps. She had to get away before he "delivered" her. She had no idea where she was going to go or who she could turn to - she only knew she had to get away.

In her haste she misjudged the bottom step. Her foot caught and a startled cry escaped her lips as she went sprawling, cracking her head against the concrete floor. The room spun around her as she lay there, too dazed to move. And then it was too late - Kalpar was bending over her.