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His unblinking stare held her spellbound, and his large palms framed her head and brought her face to his. “You’ve nothing to be sorry for.” He gave her a gentle kiss.
When he pulled back, his slow sensual smile made her smile back. “I understand what it’s like to have your world turned upside down in a split second.” He gave her another gentle kiss. When he drew back, his smile heated. “I think you know how I feel about you. It’s not like I’ve tried to hide anything. But I’m sure you’d like to hear it from me out loud.” He took a deep breath. “I love you as well, Jelena Agru. Without you, I’m just a shell of a man pretending to be alive.”
She savored the way her full name rolled off his tongue in his raspy voice. The following silence created a blinding, earth-shattering epiphany. This was where she belonged. In his arms, in his heart, as their souls merged. Nothing else mattered. Tears filled her eyes as her lips trembled. “Oh, Zamush.”
“Hey, none of that.” He swiped a tear away with his thumb. “Stop thinking so hard, Jelena. You’ll give yourself a headache. And then you’ll give me one.” He brought her close and whispered. “How about we do something else that’ll make you cry for other reasons?”
She narrowed her eyes at his smug grin and gave one of her own. The best way to wipe that look off his face was to...
A pounding on the door jerked them apart.
“Jelena! Are you there?”
She grabbed the sheet at the end of the bed before the door slid open.
Abiditan rushed in. “Have you seen Za... oh… I guess you have.”
Zamush relaxed against the headboard, settling his head on his open palms, as if being naked in front of the other man didn’t bother him. “Something wrong?”
Abiditan cleared his throat and avoided looking in Jelena’s direction. “Yeah, with Murduk declaring martial law, people are dying in droves. We’ve got to get a plan working before he ends up killing everything on the planet.” He gestured for Zamush to get off the bed. “Come on, we’ve got to meet with everyone as soon as possible. I’m afraid there isn’t much time before things get out of hand.”
Without a word, Zamush slid off the bed and pulled his black leather pants on.
“Hey, you’re not going anywhere without me.” Jelena twirled a finger in Abiditan’s direction. “Turn around so I can get my clothes on.”
Abiditan did as she asked. He spoke over his shoulder. “Jelena, I don’t think...”
“She goes with me.” Zamush’s no-nonsense tone left little room for argument. He finished dressing and slipped his arms through the long leather gothic trench coat. He slanted a piercing gaze at her, and the ends of his mouth curled upward. “Everywhere.”
Starbursts spotted her vision as she became lightheaded. With a quick nod, she tagged closed her one-piece suit. Her responding wide grin had to be as goofy as hell. But first things first. Putting two fingers in her mouth, she gave a sharp whistle to call Shther. Grabbing BoD from the hook on the wall, she slung the harness to rest down her back.
Her pet lizard scrambled up her arm to settle on her shoulder. His deep-apple-red body blended with the ruby color of her clothes.
Zamush’s left eyebrow rose. “You think they’re necessary?”
She shot him a mischievous smile. “Um, well, there are a few things I need to fill you in on.” She looped her arm through his with a slight hug. They followed Abiditan out of the room, and her adrenaline surged. “This is going to be so much fun!”
Zamush’s gravelly laughter joined hers.
Together, they headed off to save the day.
~Sub Prince Murduk~
Murduk gripped his hands behind his back. Sweat tumbled down the sides of his face, and his heart raced. He stood on his balcony and watched the melodramatic scene unfold below.
Roars, shouts, and screams of pain mixed with the wretched stench of blood, gore, and excrement that filled the air. He couldn’t believe the populace of Akurn would rather die than bow down to the martial law meant to protect them. A goodly number of them were attacking his army. The tide might’ve turned in their favor if it weren’t for his secret illegal Air League. The unmanned drones killed their targets with pinpoint accuracy, while his guards stunned most of their opponents.
He frowned. Too many of his citizens were dying. Fools! Transportation range of FarDeep Base and Earth were within their grasp. Once they were close enough to invade, it would solve all the troubles Akurn faced. Why couldn’t his people see that?
Uruk gripped his upper arm. “Sire, we must get you somewhere safe. We have a hidden room waiting for you. There you can observe and command without interference.”
Murduk shrugged his grip off. “The people need to see me.” He turned and growled at his trusted advisor. “Where is Sychar? And where in the fuck is Damkina? She should’ve reported in by now.” The damn woman had promised to give him information on who helped rescue Sychar. If that bitch double-crossed him, she’d not get any mercy from him. Death would be the least of her worries.
“We haven’t heard from her, my liege. Agents have been sent to find her. I’ll immediately inform you once she is found.”
An increased flood of other supporters joined the fighting mob on the street below.
The sheer volume of the Akurn people attacking his troops was getting out of hand.
