Chapter 6

As Unity entered the study, the warm glow of lanterns and the soft crackle of the fireplace enveloped her. Cronan sat at a massive wooden desk, his golden eyes fixed on a stack of documents in front of him. An indefinable air of fatigue hung over him, his broad shoulders slumped slightly. But even exhaustion couldn"t dim the sharp angles of his face or the intensity that radiated from him.

She gave him a tentative smile as she approached, her bare feet barely making a sound on the plush rug. The basket of clothes Robar had left for her had only included one pair of shoes and they were uncomfortably tight. The dresses, on the other hand, fit quite well which was a little disturbing. She didn"t like the fact that the steward had observed her closely enough to be able to gauge her size so accurately. Then again, she didn"t like him either. Although he"d been scrupulously polite, she trust that appearance of deference. There was something sly lurking in his eyes that made her nervous.

Perhaps it had been that lingering unease which had made her seek out Cronan. The solitude of her quarters had started to unnerve her. The silence had given her too much time to think, to wonder what lay ahead, and to worry about the strange, unsettling feelings Cronan stirred within her.

He watched as she walked towards him, his eyes sweeping down over her dress. The gown was a simple fall of deep blue silk that matched her eyes. Long full sleeves fluttered around her hands and it was caught beneath the bodice with a pale blue ribbon. A matching ribbon ran along the neckline - the very low neckline. The bodice was tight enough that it revealed the upper curve of her breasts. In fact all of the dresses weretight across the chest which made her wonder if Farlain females were built differently.

If so, Cronan didn"t seem to mind her more serous curves. The golden glow in his eyes intensified as he watched her approach, just as it had intensified after kissing her neck. She"d been so caught up in the moment, in the gentle stroke of the comb through her hair and then the delicious thrill of his mouth against her neck, that it hadn"t even occurred to her until after he rose that she probably shouldn"t encourage him.

She"d decided it would be better to keep her distance, but even now the memory send a shiver of pleasure down her spine and her nipples peaked beneath the thin silk of her gown. His gaze immediately dropped to them, just for a second, but long enough to leave a flush of warmth behind. She put a hand on back of the chair in front of the desk as her legs trembled, her fingers curling around the intricately carved wood.

"You look like you need a break," she said, her voice low and husky, the words slipping out before she could think better of them.

His gaze narrowed, his eyes dropping to her hand on the chair before returning to hers. A muscle in his jaw ticked, and for a moment, a glimmer of something beyond his usual stoic control flickered across his face.

"I have work to do. I need to make sure the transition goes as smoothly as possible, to ensure the stability of our world."

His voice was weary but determined. He"s going to be a good king, she decided, remembering Ulmat"s petulant face. She couldn"t imagine the former king working late - or even working for that matter.

"Is there something specific you"re concerned about?" she asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.

His eyes returned to the documents, his golden gaze scanning the pages thoughtfully.

"Among other things, I"m trying to uncover the extent of Ulmat"s involvement in the slave trade," he said. "And specifically with human slaves."

The memory of her own abduction, still raw and painful, made her shudder.

"What have you found?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

He looked up at her for a moment before returning to the documents. "

"Not much, yet," he admitted. "But I have a feeling there"s more to it than just Ulmat"s personal indulgences."

"What makes you think that?" Unity asked, her voice a little stronger now, her analytical mind taking over.

"Only hints, rumors, nothing concrete. I need to know if it"s true, and if so, how to stop it."

His frustration was palpable, and her heart went out to him. Before she could think better of it, she reached out and put her hand briefly over his.

"Follow the money," she suggested. "If he was involved, it had to be about profit. If we can track the transactions, we might be able to uncover the extent of Ulmat"s involvement."

"I wouldn"t even know where to start," he admitted.

"Then let me help. I have experience with numbers, with tracking finances. Maybe I can help you follow the trail."

"You really think you could assist me?" he asked, his voice skeptical.

"I"m sure of it. Follow the money, that"s always the key. At least let me take a look."

Without waiting for a response, she circled the desk and stood next to him, picking up the first document. The translator she"d received didn"t extend to the visual and both letters and numbers were unintelligible. She suspected learning the language would take some time, but numbers followed a pattern that was much easier for her to follow.

He gave her a bemused look but he explained their numbering system. Fortunately it was simple and logical and she picked it up rapidly. Even with the words she could recognize patterns if not actual meaning. He slid a chair in place for her as she began examining the documents, watching her with a mixture of curiosity and gratitude as her analytical mind took over.

She"d skimmed through half the pile before something caught her attention. Her excitement grew as she checked back through the other documents.

"I think I found something," she said, giving him a triumphant smile.

"What is it?"

"Look. This account was transferred from Lord Keppa." She indicated the previous page. "But only after he received an advance payment - from Ulmat, presumably. A relatively small amount goes in but a much larger amount is transferred back. I can"t be entirely positive, but it looks like what we call money laundering on Earth - hiding the source of illegal income by distributing it through other channels."

He shook his head.

"I honestly didn"t expect him to be so stupid as to keep records."

"All of the transactions would appear legitimate at a casual glance, especially if they are looked at on an individual basis. But the pattern repeats - here and here, and probably in other places."

She gave him a triumphant smile, then impulsively leaned forward to give him a quick, victorious kiss. She"d intended to keep it brief, but as soon as their lips touched he growled, and then he yanked her towards him, kissing her hungrily. She gasped and his tongue slid between her lips, hot and rough and delicious. Her previous determination to keep her distance disappeared in a haze of pleasure and her arms went around his neck, holding him close as the kiss deepened.

But then his fingers accidentally grazed one of the bruises on her face. She winced as a jolt of pain shot through her. He immediately released her, his face back in its previous mask even though the golden glow lingered in his eyes.

"I"m sorry," he muttered, his voice gruff. "Thank you for your help. I think we"re onto something here."

He started to stand, clearly about to leave her again, and she grabbed his hand.

"Wait," she said quickly. "I know you have a lot to do, but please stay and eat with me first."

He frowned but it didn"t appear to be directed at her.

"I told Robat to provide food for you."

"I know, but..." she shrugged. "He just left the tray and everything was different and I just couldn"t."

At least the food she"d been provided in the dungeon had been recognizable if not tasty - bowls of gruel accompanied by hard crackers.

His face softened, a glimmer of something in his eyes that made her heart skip a beat.

"Then I will do my best to explain so you will eat."

Their hands were still joined as he led her out onto the balcony.

He made a quick call on a hidden control panel and an unseen servant delivered a rolling cart with a sumptuous meal. she still didn"t recognize the food, but it didn"t matter as Cronan patiently explained each dish. The food was delicious, but she suspected that just having company would have made it a satisfying meal. The air was filled with the sweet scent of the flowers surrounding them, and the sound of gentle chirping from the garden below mixed with the trickle of water created a soothing background hum.

He relaxed as they ate, his face softening as they talked about their past. She shared some of her happier moments with her mother - their annual trip to the beach where even her mother seemed more at peace. How she"d taught Unity to garden and encouraged her love of plants.

"She sounds like a good mother," he said softly.

"She was, but she was also sad much of the time."

"My mother was as well. She never got over Ulmat not only rejecting her and smearing her name. The worst part is that I think she genuinely loved the bastard."

His face hardened and she put a sympathetic hand over his. He clasped it gently, then changed the subject to happier times in his childhood. His housekeeper had both scolded him and spoiled him and seemed to have been more of a mother to him than his actual parent. His stories about all the trouble he had gotten into with his weapons master made her smile, but he clearly harbored an affection for the older warrior.

Her eyelids grew heavy as the stars shimmered overhead, her body succumbing to the exhaustion of the day. She leaned back in her chair, smiling sleepily at Cronan. For a moment, they simply looked at each other, his eyes gleaming gold in the dimness and the world around them fading away.

"Time for bed, little one," he said gruffly at last, rising to his feet.

He bent down and scooped her up, carrying her as easily as he had before. The same sense of safety washed over her and her eyes fluttered shut, her head nestling into the crook of his neck as he carried her toward the bedroom.

She was already half asleep when he gently laid her down on the silky sheets, her body sinking into the decadent softness. She murmured a sleepy thank you as her eyes closed. He brushed a strand of hair back from his face. his big warm fingers lingering on her neck. The touch sent a shiver of warmth down her spine before she drifted off to sleep.