Chapter 44
44
B efore Pari could so much as blink, Zara was in front of her. “You must stay calm, child.”
Her voice was soothing, and Pari blinked a few times to keep her eyes open. The warmth that suddenly surrounded her was akin to the blissful peace she’d experienced while being held by Melvale.
Wait a minute! What did he just say? “Doctor’s men?”
“It is all right,” Zara said in that same soothing voice.
Pari felt Melvale’s entire body stiffen. He had an arm around her, pinning her to the front of his body. His smoothie was still in one hand, a huge sugar cookie in the other. She couldn’t see his face, but the low growl he emitted was hard to miss. She managed to turn around, despite his tight hold. “You mean Dr. Charles?”
His eyes started to glow.
Quick as a flash, Kwaku grabbed a pair of sunglasses off a customer as he was trying to maneuver around them to the door.
“Hey man! What gives?!” the young man groused.
“How about tree hundred dollars?” Kwaku said with a grin. He held up the cash as he handed the glasses to Zara, who quickly put them on Melvale.
The young man smiled. “Seriously? Sweet!” He grabbed the money and scooted past Melvale and Pari.
“Melvale, move,” Zara said. “You are blocking the door.”
He sidestepped once, his eyes glued to Pari’s. She could faintly see them through the dark glasses as she shook, unable to help it. “Doctor?”
He cocked his head, and she saw his face soften before he bent to her and lifted his glasses. Though his eyes glowed a bright blue, she saw the tenderness in them. “You are safe, precious one. You have nothing to fear.” His eyes darted to the street and took on a hard look. “You will never fear these men again.”
She shook some more. Good grief, did she have PTSD from their time in the doctor’s clutches? A small whimper escaped her unbidden, and why could she not stop shaking?
He looked at her again. “It is all right, Kitten. You are safe. No one is going to hurt you, do you understand?”
Pari stared at him. It was Melvale’s voice, not Bondrah’s. Yet his eyes…
She nodded even as her breathing picked up.
He kissed her hair, held her close, then passed her off to Kwaku and Zara. “Take care of her.”
Then he was gone, moving so fast, Pari didn’t even see him go out the door. “What is he doing? Where is he going?”
Zara put an arm around her. “All will be well, child. Drink your coffee, eat your treat. We will wait for his return.” She started to steer Pari toward a table.
“But… what is he going to do?” she asked, voice shaking.
Kwaku gave her a gentle smile. “You need not worry, little treasure. Do not trouble yourself.”
“But…”
“Hush now, child,” Zara said and pulled a chair out for her. “Sit, eat.”
Pari sat, clutching her latte to her chest with one hand, her Rice Krispie treat with the other. She would have to trust them. What choice did she have? “Will he be safe? They won’t hurt him, will they? What if they capture him?” Tears stung the backs of her eyes. Oh good grief, she wasn’t going to cry, was she?
A tear cut a path down her cheek. Doggone it, she was! Her trauma was worse than she thought. “I don’t want him to get hurt.”
Kwaku smiled. “He will not be.” He exchanged a look with Zara. “Melvale will be fine.”
Pari caught the look. It said someone wasn’t going to be fine. “Can you promise me?”
Kwaku’s eyebrows shot up. “Yes, little treasure. We promise he will return to you unscathed.”
She relaxed a little and let her goodie drop onto the table. Pari forced herself to take a sip of her latte and let it warm her. She was chilled, not only from the air conditioning, but from fear. She didn’t mean to freak out but couldn’t help it.
Zara and Kwaku kept exchanging little looks but said nothing. Instead, they sipped their drinks and picked at the cookies they bought. No one paid them any mind, and she hoped Melvale was okay.
She closed her eyes and realized she had feelings for him. How stupid! If she wasn’t careful, they’d grow, and then when the inevitable happened, she’d be left with a broken heart.
Zara reached over, put a hand on her shoulder and gave it a gentle pat. “Relax, child. He will return soon.”
Pari looked at her and nodded when her cell phone buzzed in her back pocket. She pulled it out. “Uncle Al?”
“Um, Pari? Where are you?”
“Starbucks on Franklin.”
“Ah, okay. Well, um… there are some men here…”
She gasped. “Uncle Al, are you alright?”
“Y-yes, but there’s more than a few and they’re poking through all my things. One of them thinks he’s a king!”
Kwaku smiled, reached across the table, and took the phone from her. “Uncle of Pari, let me speak to de king.”
“Oh, it’s you!” she heard Uncle Al say. “Fine.”
Pari’s jaw dropped. “There really is a king?”
Zara smiled. “Do not worry, he is no doubt here to make sure you are okay.”
Pari gaped at her. There was an alien king in Uncle Al’s apartment?!
Kwaku spoke in what sounded like Bondrah’s language, nodded a few times, then handed the phone back to her. “Tell your uncle to unlock de basement door to de building’s backyard.”
She nodded. “Um, Uncle Al?”
“This is not Uncle Al,” came a man’s voice. He had an odd accent, somewhat like Zara’s and Melvale’s.
“Oh, um, who is this?” she hedged.
“King Jaireth Shamaelon. Who is this?”
She could hear the smile in his voice. “P-Pari.”
“Ahhhh, good. You will come to me, child. I wish to meet you. Here is your uncle.”
She stared at the phone. “That was… weird.”
“Pari?”
“Uncle Al?”
“Yeah, when are you coming home? This is getting uncomfortable. They’re into everything!”
“Uncle Al, we’ll be right there. Can you unlock the basement door to the yard? We’re coming in through the back.”
“Is that how these people keep getting into the building?” he huffed. “Can’t they use the buzzer at the front door like everyone else?”
“Just do it, okay?” she pleaded.
“Fine, Pariwink, but you’ve got some explaining to do when you get here.” He hung up, and she stared at Kwaku.
He wore a silly grin on his face and looked unperturbed. “Are you ready to meet de king, little treasure?”
She shook her head. “Not exactly.”
“He will have a host of guards with him,” Zara said. “No one would dare try to harm you in his presence. Human or otherwise.” She stood. “Come along.”
Pari took a deep breath, picked up her half-eaten Rice Krispie treat and latte, and let the couple escort her outside. They walked several blocks before turning down the street a block from hers. She led them through an alley between two buildings until they came to a gate and a chain link fence surrounding the backyard. She waved at an old man sitting in a chair holding a hose. He was watering a few tomato plants in some large pots. A garden lay beyond where his elderly wife was weeding.
“Pari,” the woman said. “What are you doing coming through the back, honey?”
“There’s something I need help with in our basement,” she said. Uncle Al popped his head out the back door of their building opposite the couples as she went through the gate between yards. “See you later Mr. and Mrs. Anderson.” She gave them a parting wave.
The old couple returned her wave then went back to tending their garden. Pari, Kwaku and Zara entered the basement and were met by a huge man with dark eyes. He was bald, except for a top knot of dark hair, and reminded Pari of a genie.
“Simon,” Kwaku said. “De king?”
“Upstairs.” He looked at Pari and smiled. “Welcome.”
She openly gawked. “Um, likewise.” She glanced at Uncle Al whose eyes were round as saucers.
He quickly closed and locked the door then faced her. “What a day this has been! First work, now this.”
“What happened at work?”
“Oh, I acquired a piece today and had to haggle my socks off to get it. I brought it home with me. I’ll show it to you. Very rare. It might be tough to price and sell. But never mind about that. Who are those people upstairs? They said they were friends of your boyfriend.”
She blushed. “I wish I could explain but…”
“All will be revealed in due time,” Kwaku drawled.
Pari jumped. She forgot he was there. Zara and the other man had already disappeared.
“Where is your boyfriend?” Uncle Al asked.
“He’s not my… oh, never mind.” She wasn’t going to get into this now. She and Melvale had a picnic date, that’s all. Okay, and she might have taken a nap in his lap.
Kwaku, who stood watching her, laughed. “You dink too much, little treasure.”
She gaped at him. “How do you do that?”
He smiled and bent to her. “I will teach you.”
“Teach her what?” Uncle Al asked with alarm.
“Come,” Kwaku said, ignoring him. “Let us go meet de king.”
Uncle Al blanched. “King?” He laughed. “You mean he really does think he’s a king?”
“Um, Uncle Al?” Pari said. “I… I think he is.”
Uncle Al glanced between them, mouth agape. “Nah.”
Kwaku shrugged and motioned them to precede him up the basement stairs.
Zara was waiting for them in the hall and escorted them into Uncle Al’s apartment. It was full of handsome men with long, tied back hair, dressed in an array of summer casual wear. Pari could tell they were Muirarans from their height and fine features.
They entered the dining room to find a handsome man with dark brown hair and crystal blue eyes seated at the head of the dining room table. A strikingly handsome dark-haired man with piercing green eyes was seated next to him, with a young woman with long auburn hair and the same green eyes sitting across from the dark-haired man.
The man at the head of the table stood when they entered the room. “Time Master Kwaku, you left without my permission.”
“But at our Alpha’s request, my king.” He gave him a regal bow then straightened. “Your Majesty. May I introduce Pari Linder?”
Pari’s eyes rounded to saucers. Though the man was wearing a white polo shirt and a pair of khaki-colored slacks, he had a regal bearing, his eyes boring into hers. She fought the urge to look away, and instead, glanced at the young woman sitting next to him. They bore similar features. Were they related?
“Pari Linder,” the so-called king said. He came around the table and studied her. “It is an immense pleasure to meet you.” He stood in front of her and bowed.
Pari’s jaw dropped. Why would he do that? Especially if he was the Muiraran King? “Hey,” she squeaked. “Nice to meet you.” She swallowed hard, trying to calm her nerves.
He straightened and smiled, then looked at Kwaku. “Melvale?”
Kwaku went behind her, putting his hands on her shoulders, giving them a gentle pat. “Hunting.”
The king’s eyes narrowed. “I see. Let us hope he brings back…” his eyes flicked to Pari. “…something of use.”
“He will not, my king,” Kwaku said. “Dere will be noting left to bring back. You already know dis.”
The king sighed and nodded. “Wishful thinking on my part.” He clasped his hands behind his back, then smiled at Pari. “Come, child. Let me introduce you to my daughter.”
Pari looked up at Kwaku, who smiled, then stepped away from her as the king returned to the young woman at the table. She stood and held out a hand. “Hi, I’m Shona.”
“ Princess , Shona,” the king corrected and retook his seat. He smiled at them. “Sit, and we will get to know one another.”
Pari glanced over her shoulder at Kwaku and Zara, who were waving at her to take a seat. She shook the girl’s hand, pulled out a chair, and with her heart in her throat, sat. All the while, she wondered where Melvale was.