Chapter 10
Armathea
Somewhere in the Galaxy
Kendra awoke with a slight pounding in her temple, too much rum the most obvious cause of her headache. She groaned as she recalled how she ended up lying on the couch, using Quinn’s thigh as a pillow while she confessed everything that had transpired between her, Reyne and Odin.
In typical Quinn fashion, he found the entire situation amusing. The cad even insinuated that she was infatuated. As if. Despite how handsome and charming Reyne was, he was worse than just her enemy, he was Ramachii.
And Ramachii were the reason her hair unique color was considered cursed.
The reason she had been exiled from her home.
Not that it mattered now, she realized. Armathea had stopped moving, which could only mean one thing—they had reached Elorex. Reyne would be departing soon so she would never have to see him or think about him again.
That should have filled her with joy, but for some unfathomable reason that thought of being rid of him did just the opposite.
It was when she stumbled out of bed and dressed in an off-the-shoulder, cream shirt with half sleeves that ended at her elbow, covered by a brown leather waist cincher adorned with silver buckles, tan leggings, and tall leather boots, that she noticed something was missing.
Her moonstone necklace.
She frantically scoured her bed, the sheets, the room, the floor.
Nothing.
Then she remembered Reyne’s hands roaming her body yesterday. Before his unexpected anger forced her from his room.
Had Reyne taken it? And if he did, why? She recalled the way he had admired it as it glowed beneath his touch. What if he was a common thief like Quinn? Had he planned to steal her amulet the entire time hoping she wouldn’t notice until after he had departed?
The thought that he had been playing games with her just to steal from her sparked her ire.
Well, she was getting it back. Right now.
Kendra moved to the comm. and pinged the guest quarters. A moment later the thief appeared on screen with a casual expression and a slight twist to his lips. She hissed at his smug image. “You took something of mine, and I want it back.”
“Oh this?” He held up the moonstone pendant, letting it swing like a pendulum from his fingers. “I found it in my bed. Did you leave it here on purpose?”
“What?” She gaped at him in shock and narrowed her eyes. “Why would I do that?”
“So you had a reason to return to my room, of course. I did wait for you all night.” His grin turned wicked.
“I did not leave it there,” she snapped. “You somehow managed to remove it when you had your…your…” she paused when she felt a deep blush creep up her neck, “hands on me.”
“Did I?” He smirked and stroked the orb several times causing it to flair to life. “Perhaps the clasp came loose then?”
“It didn’t.” She gritted through clenched teeth. “That necklace hasn’t left my neck in five years.”
“Well, there you go. The clasp was just old and brittle. If you come to my quarters, I promise to return it to your lovely neck, where it belongs.” The moonstone continued to glow.
Lovely neck? Annoyed, because not only was she aware he removed it on purpose, but the damn thing was glowing for him again. “I’ll be right there.”
Because Kendra departed in such a hasty huff, she missed Tia’s urgent ping. “Kendra, are you there? This is urgent… Kendra, where are you? It’s about Valeria.”
Dressed in a simple white shirt, black trousers, and tall black leather boots, Reyne leaned against the threshold of his chambers with casual ease. Ignoring the flutter in her stomach, she approached him with her palm held open.
He eyed her, but instead of putting the necklace in her palm, he snagged her wrist and tugged her into his room, letting the door close when they were both inside. “I said I would put it back where it belongs. If you turn, I will secure it for you.”
When she stood rooted, he circled behind her.
“Lift your braid.” His warm breath caressed her ear.
“This isn’t necessary,” Kendra said over her shoulder. “Just hand me my property and I can secure it myself.”
He tsked. “That wasn’t a request, Kendra.”
Without understanding herself, she lifted the heavy braid above her head. A second later, she felt the orb fall heavy on her chest as he secured it behind her nape.
“There. As promised.” Fingers grazed her bare shoulders as he completed his task, sending a tingle to her toes.
She clutched her moonstone, thankful to have it returned. Turning around, she muttered an awkward ‘thank you’. So, this was it, then. Their last encounter and Kendra still couldn’t deny her mixed emotions.
His steel gaze captured hers. “I have something I would like to show you before I depart, but it’s on my ship. Will you allow me to show it to you?”
“What is it?” asked Kendra, curious, yet skeptical of possible dubious intentions. She didn’t trust him. Not after he had purposely hidden his identity and attempted to steal her most precious possession. And he stole it. Nothing would convince her otherwise, but for what purpose she didn’t know.
“It’s a surprise.”
“Does it have to do with your collections?”
The hint of a smile touched his lips. “Actually, it does.” Reyne held out his hand, gesturing for her to take it. Her pulse leapt to life.
Did she dare accept his odd invitation?
Would she regret it if she didn’t?
Even though still suspicious, Kendra was just about to place her hand in his when his comm. center rattled.
“Kendra, are you there?” Tia asked, sounding desperate. “It’s urgent.”
She darted to the comm. “I’m here. Tia, what is it?”
“Oh good,” Tia breathed heavy with relief.
“We just came across some information you need to know. It’s about Valeria.
I’m not sure how to tell you this. Damn it.
Kendra. The Valerian king has been murdered, along with the entire royal line.
It was a massacre. During a royal wedding. It sounds awful.”
Kendra tried to digest what she just heard, her mind a mix of mental shock and utter confusion. “When did this happen?”
“A week ago.”
She covered her mouth to stifle a sob.
This must be the cause of the moonstone’s first call to the keepers, so they could record the horrendous event. A royal wedding. The only way that could be possible was if Valeria considered her dead.
But Kendra wasn’t dead.
Which could only mean one thing. As of a week ago, she was the only living Kunnetsov and sole heiress to the Valerian throne. Mordrick. She knew that tyrant was behind the murder. Because who else would orchestrate such a massacre? “Who?”
She felt Reyne’s looming presence directly behind her.
“It was…” The screen blackened before her eyes.
She blinked in confusion and glanced down. Lean fingers rested on the keys. Why had Reyne ended the communication? Tia had been about to cast blame on Mordrick and his wickedness.
Why would he want to hide that…unless?
Blood drained from her face, leaving her pale. The moonstone’s second call to the keepers came to mind. There was just something about the timing of Reyne’s arrival, his keen interest in her that slammed her gut with an invisible force that threatened to bring her to her knees.
With a combination of rising fear and sudden anger, Kendra spun and probed Reyne’s stormy gaze for evidence she was wrong.
Please be wrong. Please be wrong.
Reyne towered over her, watching. Waiting. His chiseled expression was cold, but the slight hint of regret in his icy stare confirmed her suspicion. She recalled asking him if he had any news from Talear.
I have not heard of anything of importance.
A lie. There could be no doubt. Instinct propelled her backwards until the comm. center bit into her spine. He moved towards her, matching her retreat. They continued to eye each other in silence. The tangible tension between them felt charged with invisible energy.
It’s a very rare treasure. One designed for a queen.
She clutched the edge of the comm. center at her back. It had all been an elaborate ruse. For what purpose? To gain her trust? She recalled the conversation between him and Odin with clarity.
I was the closest. To what? To you.
She knew. It all made complete sense. The Ramachii hunter standing over her had come here, to Armathea, for her. “You knew,” she accused him, feeling the harsh sting of his lies.
His stormy gaze darkened to a degree that sent a shiver down her spine.
“You knew they were all dead. You know exactly who I am?”
When he didn’t immediately answer, she recalled something her tutor had told her about the Order of the Ramachii. “Ai ?tiut cine sunt tot timpul? Nu-i a?a? She demanded in ancient Calysptian. You knew who I was all along? Didn’t you?
Reyne’s nostrils flared as he stared at her in shock.
“We both know you can’t lie,” she hissed, waiting for him to admit his guilt.
“Dag.” Yes.
She pulled back her arm and slapped him with such energy, her palm stung from the force of her angered swing. He didn’t flinch, just continued to hold her steady gaze while his face reddened where her palm struck his cheek.
“That’s enough, Kendra,” he warned in a dangerous growl. The ruthless gleam and set determination in his clenched jaw, made her itch to slap him again, but before she could make a second heated strike, strong, talon-like fingers encircled her wrist. “We are leaving.”
“We?” She narrowed her eyes and hissed in disbelief. “I’m not going anywhere with you, not now, not ever!”
“That is where you are wrong.”
Overwhelmed with sudden panic, Kendra bashed her knee into his groin with as much force as she could muster. He grunted in agony and released his iron hold to cover himself.
When he doubled over in pain, Kendra shoved him out of the way and bolted into the darkened corridor, adrenaline fueling her. Her brief satisfaction upon escaping died when the sound of footfalls entering the corridor confirmed his recovery must have been swift because he was giving chase.
“Come back.”