Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Karkonar

W e laid together, water pounding on us from above. Elaine clung to me, her touch testing my self-control. In her arms, I found a peace I’d never known. A muted, powerful joy that made my problems seem small against the blessings of her presence. What we’d found was more spiritual than carnal.

And I knew she felt the same. The way she clung to me showed it, the soft little breaths she took, the way she relaxed into my embrace — all combined to let me see Elaine, rather than Captain Jessop . Elaine, in turn, saw me at my most open — Karkonar, not the Crown Prince of Aris.

And she liked what she saw. The way she looked at me, the way her fingers traced along my muscles, the way her cheeks flushed, told me as much. As I watched, though, she drew on the mask of Captain Jessop, putting distance between us once more.

At the same time, the mask of Crown Prince Karkonar settled on me. I knew what we had was fragile and dangerous. Karkonar might claim Elaine as his mate, but what future did the Heir to the Black Throne have with the captain of the independent ship Dashing Rogue?

One day, my family would require me to marry. Technically, I would choose my mate, but the good of the royal house placed certain immutable expectations on my decision. Not an alien female with no connections or influence, but an Arisran noble who’d strengthen the dynasty. I’d seen the folders my parents kept, lists of names and titles. No one would expect love from such an arrangement. At best, we’d be friends as my parents were. At worst, it would be like my father’s parents — their mutual hate hidden on public occasions.

Duty bound me. Duty that would crush us both. Elaine knew it, same as me.

“This,” Elaine said with stern dignity, “was a one-off. I’m glad we did it, and I wish we could do it more. Much more. We can’t, though. If we don’t control ourselves, if we don’t get professional, then someone’s heart is getting broken. Sorry, I don’t have time to pick up the pieces and glue you back together.”

She managed a shaky grin, which I felt like a stab to the heart. She joked, but it hit close to the mark.

“You are right,” I told her, lifting her to me to kiss the cool skin of her forehead. “This is too dangerous, too tempting. I regret nothing about our mating, but it will not happen again. From now on, we follow the contract.”

For a moment, her resolve wavered. Then she pushed off from me, and stood, maintaining a surprising dignity as she walked through the freezing water jets and over to collect her clothes. I followed suit, careful to give her space. I didn’t want either of us getting distracted and breaking our new agreement before we’d even left the room we’d made it in.

And that wasn’t entirely honest. Waiting, I watched her dress, gazing at her naked body for what might be the last time. I did all I could to commit her beauty to memory as she dressed, then dressed myself. We were client and patron once more.

From somewhere nearby, a ‘cat’ hissed. I looked around, but Onyx hid too well for me to spot him. I just heard his disapproval.

You and me both, little one. You and me both.

###

The Cirial Nexuses are rare and ancient, too useful for anyone to destroy. Which meant they were also too useful to own, since people do stupid things in war. Thus, the creation of the Siblinghood of the Nexus. A neutral quasi-religious organization that held the Nexuses in trust and facilitated communication through them.

Only a very few ways to send messages faster than light exist, and the Siblings had a near-monopoly. They’d charge me a hefty fee, but since Aris had a Nexus too, my message would reach home instantly. That was worth the money.

“I’ve never seen one of these before,” Elaine admitted, staring out the viewport at the floating stone edifice. “It’s impressive.”

A smile twitched on my lips. What a talent for understatement she had, and what an effort she made to appear unmoved. “They never stop inspiring awe, Captain. There’s one on the edge of my home system, so I have seen it often. It feels this way every time.”

This Nexus looked like a gigantic fist, honeycombed with tunnels that would, through whatever Ancient technology they used, connect with other Nexuses. It hung suspended in front of a gas giant, vivid bands of color providing a glorious backdrop for the artifact and its companion moon.

The Dashing Rogue came in on an approach, not to the Nexus itself, but to the habitat trailing its orbit. No one could claim a Nexus, but anyone could build next to one, and so they did, offering services to those visitors who had business with the Siblings. Back home, that station was my sister’s duchy. Here, things were less formal, and the station looked like a haphazard collection of wrecked ships welded together around a small moon rather than something purpose built for the job.

The mysterious ‘Harry’ had built his moon up quickly, haphazardly, and doubtless fatally for many of the residents. From his point of view, it had been worth it. The trade in information would be worth a fortune. A message sent via the Nexus would arrive on Aris days before the fastest courier ship could make the trip.

“Looks like a good spot for us, relatively speaking,” Elaine said, looking at the moon’s datafeed with a slight frown and no enthusiasm. “No docking procedures to deal with beyond paying for a berth, so you don’t need to worry about ID. Though I’d cover up if I were you — your face has been all over the news for weeks.”

I grimaced but nodded. She had a point, and as Elaine brought her ship in to dock, I looked for something to wear. The Dashing Rogue’s maintenance bay had several spare pressure suits in various sizes, one of which fit me. It didn’t work, and one sleeve had slit down the seam, rendering it entirely useless for its intended function, but for hiding my identity, it worked perfectly. No one expected a prince to wear this .

To be safe, I tied back my hair as well, which was when Onyx made his reappearance. I’d just started wrapping a piece of cloth around my hair when the cat dropped from above, hissing as he came.

Startled, I moved to the side, but Onyx’s claws caught in the fabric, and he dragged it from my hands as he spread his wings and soared to the top of a tool cabinet.

“No. Bad Red.” The collar translated Onyx’s hisses into a scolding tone. “Bad. Not Cover Fur. Fur Pretty.”

My eyes narrowed. “Did you just attack me to offer fashion advice?”

The little mammal cocked his head to one side. “Not Advice. Instruction.”

That was so absurd that controlling my laughter proved impossible. My attempt ended in a spluttering guffaw that doubled me over, clutching at my sides. “You are giving me orders? Me? I am Crown Prince, I am the Duke of Dis, and I am big enough and fast enough to catch you. How do you believe you are in control?”

Onyx leaped back at the start of my tirade, fur on end and eyes wide. By the time I’d finished, though, he’d stepped forward again and started ostentatiously washing himself while waiting for me to finish.

“Could Catch Onyx,” he said when I fell silent. “Won’t. Too Clever. Captain Would Not Like.”

“Am I a slave to her whims?” I asked, scoffing, only to trail off. The furball had a point, sadly. I would never hurt Onyx. Not only was he Elaine’s pet, but I liked the little troublemaker too much.

Onyx had my number, and worse, he knew it. I crossed my arms. “Fine. I won’t tie back my hair, and when I’m recognized because of it, you can take solace from the fact that your captain wasn’t subjected to that awful sight before she died.”

We stared at each other, locked in a battle of wills. Then, with a hiss, Onyx batted the cloth down to me. “Stupid Red.”

He stepped back into the shadows and vanished, leaving me looking at the rag.