Chapter 27
LYK
Lyk was seeing the palace around him with new eyes, and not only because he hadn’t been there in ages. Few things had changed in his absence, which was expected because his line was long and history dwelt in every wall and carpet.
No, it was because he was touring it with the woman by his side that everything felt fresh and new.
Ally peered around, trying to take in everything with her large golden eyes.
“You’re telling me that your family actually lives here?
This is nicer than the nicest museum I’ve ever been to, but that’s what it feels like, a museum. ”
“We all have our own chambers, as well as some communal areas where we tend to congregate. Most of the family doesn’t visit the sitting rooms and ball rooms and galleries on a regular basis.”
“What a waste.” Ally whistled as they passed one of three libraries. The doors were open and they could see inside to the massive shelves lined with books and part of the metal spiral staircase that led up to the next level, which was also crowded with books. “All this space and you never use it.”
Lyk nodded. It did seem like a lot of space.
He spent almost all of his time on his cruiser and was used to his quarters.
But even they would have probably seemed like a palace to her.
Although he’d never seen where she lived on Gamma-17, he knew she had little money.
That probably meant she and Evie had made due with some tiny hovel packed with dust and grime.
She deserved a palace. Jewels. Pretty dresses and expensive frippery.
All the finer things. Yet she looked perfectly at home in the coveralls covered with dirt and dried centipede blood.
That was why he loved her. She could have the regal bearing of a queen, but she also did what had to be done, and she wasn’t afraid to get her hands dirty.
Or stained with blood.
Lyk led her down a corridor that ended in the oversized doors of the throne room.
Behind this door, he expected to find his family gathered, including his mother and father.
Although Lyk had been worried about the reactions of his brothers, he knew the real test was how his parents felt about him being home.
His father was furious when he left, disgusted to have a pirate for a son. His mother had just looked at him, disappointment written large on her features. Would they feel the same way now, knowing that he’d spent the decades away continuing to raid and steal?
The attendants stationed outside the throne room opened the doors, and Lyk knew it was time to find out the answer to his question. He strode forward, taking Ally with him. He heard her sharp intake of breath as they entered the most finely decorated room in the whole palace.
The throne room dripped riches. Its lavish furnishings were priceless, its use of gilding excessive.
On the dais sat two thrones, but both were currently unoccupied.
Instead, Marek sat on the wide steps leading up to the dais, bouncing an infant on his knee.
The golden-haired child was giggling, which made his sister giggle, who was being held by a radiant female standing by Marek’s side.
The twin daughter of light. Born of the Goddess of Light herself.
Holy shit.
He’d been expecting his entire family to be assembled here, but it was only Marek and Jazmine and their two children.
He’d heard about Jazmine from Kara, heard about how the beauty had Marek wrapped around her finger.
Not that Lyk could blame his brother for his predicament.
Ally had done much the same to him and in very little time.
“Welcome home, brother,” his oldest brother and current King of Vartik said warmly, standing up and shifting his son to be able to pat Lyk on the shoulder.
“Thank you,” Lyk said, unsure of what else to say. Although he didn’t often consider returning home, when he did, he’d pictured a reunion fraught with tension and accusations. To be welcomed home warmly without any acrimony or recriminations was wholly unexpected.
The goddess’s daughter came forward, fixing Ally with a smile. “Nice to finally meet you in person,” she said. “I want you to know we’ll do everything we can to help your sister.”
“Thank you,” Ally stammered, seemingly overwhelmed.
Lyk put his arm around her waist, pulling her tight against him.
The last few days had been a non-stop onslaught of changes, and Ally had held up admirably under the stress, but Lyk was finally starting to see the cracks.
Exhaustion dogged her steps, and he knew she needed rest soon or she would risk collapse.
“Where is Father?” Lyk asked, not wanting to delay any longer. He wanted the final confrontation out of the way now so he could find a place for him and Ally to bed down for a while.
“He and Mother are in their quarters. I figured I would give you a chance to adjust before I brought you together.” Marek adjusted his son in his arms when the child began to fuss.
“Although I and the rest of your brothers are more open-minded about your choices, Father is still set in his ways, and Mother still thinks whatever he tells her to think. They’re a tough sell, even in the apocalypse. ”
Lyk nodded. He’d expected nothing less. “I appreciate you trying to give me a soft landing, but circumstances being what they are, I’d prefer to get my scolding out of the way sooner rather than later.”
Jazmine laughed, causing the little girl in her arms to giggle along with her. “I like this brother,” she said to Marek. “Your parents intimidate even me, but he’s fearless.”
“Not quite,” Lyk said. “There is one person I fear. This little lady at my side.” Ally blinked up at him in confusion, her cheeks turning red. He gave her a reassuring smile. “If I don’t feed her soon, I fear for the whole planet.”
Marek chucked. “Mom’s been harvesting her royal grapes again. I’m sure she’ll have plenty of her special fruits and vegetables on offer.”
“Thanks,” Lyk said, pouring all of his appreciation into the simple word.
Marek nodded. “I’m glad you’re back. We’re going to need everything we can muster against the Crown Prince. And judging from the way you easily handled that cyborg, your strength will be sorely needed in the coming war.”
Lyk gave him a mock salute, the one he used to give as a child to annoy his older brother. Marek laughed, then picked up his son’s arm and bent it, placing his tiny hand to his forehead and mimicking the salute. “Dismissed.”
Lyk turned, leading Ally out of the throne room and turning left down the corridor that led to his parents’ apartments.
With each step that took him closer, he felt as if he were regressing to the troublemaking boy he’d once been.
In those days, being summoned to his parents’ quarters had often meant a punishment in the offing.
Was there any way his father could punish him now?
The blue door to his parents’ quarters finally stood in front of them.
Turning to Ally, he cupped her face, looking down at her earnestly.
“No matter what my father might say, remember, this isn’t about you.
He’s an old man with antiquated ideas. He’s got to say his piece, but he’s no longer in charge around here.
Once we pay our respects, we can put this long day behind us and focus on the future. ”
Ally nodded, and unable to help himself, he leaned in to kiss her softly. The kiss fortified him, gave him strength to face what lay ahead. Turning back to the door, he knocked briskly. Lyk took a deep breath, ready to see his parents again after decades.
It didn’t take long for the door to swing open, and then his mother was before him, looking much the same as she had long ago. She let out a cry of delight and leapt into his arms, hugging him tightly. “My baby boy! You’ve come home!”
Lyk hugged her back, surprised at her reaction.
He remembered the day he’d left, when she’d stood silently beside his father while he berated Lyk for his crimes.
That day, he’d wanted her more than anything to stick up for him, to tell his father that he was wrong.
But her silence had given consent, had indicated she agreed that her son was a terrorist who’d endangered the lives of everyone on the planet.
“It’s good to see you again, Mother,” he murmured softly.
Finally, she pulled away and acknowledged the woman at his side. “Who’s this with you?”
“Mother, this is Allandria. Ally for short.”
“Pleased to meet you, Your Majesty,” Ally said, bobbing a perfectly respectable curtsey even though she was in coveralls.
“What a polite female you’ve found,” his mother said with delight. “Please come inside and join me for a glass of summer wine and some delicious offerings from my very own garden.”
The apartments were almost exactly the same as before he’d left.
Airy, luxuriously furnished, with his mother’s bric-a-brac scattered around, accompanied by reminders of his childhood.
He noticed a picture he’d drawn as a child was framed next to others that belonged to his siblings.
A family portrait hung on the wall, prominently displayed in a large golden frame.
It had been painted when he was ten, the youngest and smallest of all the Vartik siblings save Kara who was perched on their father’s knee. Lyk took a moment to stare at it.
“I removed the sheet your father had covering it a few years after you left,” his mother said, coming up behind him. “He might have ordered everyone not to mention your name, but I wouldn’t let him pretend that you never existed.”
Lyk wasn’t sure how to respond. Luckily, Ally saved him from having to. “You have a lovely family, Majesty.”
“Thank you, my dear.” His mother beamed, then looped her arm through Ally’s. “You look hungry. Won’t you join me in the sitting room for some light refreshment?”
They sat on comfortable chairs gathered around a table full of the fruits of his mother’s garden and full cups of summer wine.
Lyk could see that Ally was struggling. She cast furtive glances at his mother, then at the fruit, then back again.
She was clearly hungry, but she didn’t want to display bad manners in front of the former queen.
Lyk had to hide his smile. He took her plate and filled it, then filled one for his mother, and then his own.
Without hesitating, he started popping grapes into his mouth.
They were juicy, and he couldn’t help a satisfied moan.
Okay, he could, but he wanted Ally to know that she could dig in and not risk offending his mother.
Taking her lead from him, Ally placed a grape in her mouth and carefully bit. He knew that sweet juice was now sliding down her throat, evidenced by the way she closed her eyes and leaned back in pure pleasure. To his embarrassment, his cock began to harden as he watched her.
His mate made him feel fulfilled in a way he’d never experienced, but she also drove him crazy with lust. Every moment they weren’t in bed, with him buried deep inside her, bringing her to the summit of sensuality over and over again, was a moment wasted.
No one spoke as they enjoyed the fruit and wine.
Lyk’s gaze drifted out the window where he could see his mother’s garden had expanded in the years he’d been gone.
It had been only a small plot, but now the entire side yard was laid out in a geometrical pattern of plots, each overflowing with nature’s bounty.
It seems like some things have changed.
“Where’s Father?” he asked after a moment.
His mother turned her gaze to him, a hint of sadness in her expression. “He’s in his quarters, doing gods know what.”
“I expected him to be here, ready to confront me for returning.” Lyk wondered why his father might miss this chance to berate him for his failings. He’d never done it before.
“‘Confront’ may be the wrong choice of word,” his mother murmured.
“Mother,” he said, sliding his chair backward to allow him to stand.
“Please don’t take this the wrong way, but I’m afraid now may not be the best time for a friendly chat.
There are urgent matters that we need to attend to, and I’d expected Father to insist that my presence not be allowed back on Vartik.
As he apparently has no protest to lodge, we’ll be going. ”
Holding out his hand to Ally, who looked a little non-plussed at leaving her plate of fruit unfinished, he lifted her from her seat. Lyk turned to head for the door but froze in place before taking a step.
His father stood in the doorway. It was clear he’d heard what Lyk just said. The once proud Vartik king’s face resembled the gloom-filled sky right before a thunderclap, and Lyk readied himself for the storm that was about to hit.