Page 20 of Radakk's Mate
“No, the captain and his cronies left me alone,” I reply. “I was kept locked in luxurious quarters and fresh food was delivered to me each day, just as you ordered.”
“I am pleased to hear it.” His eyes narrow slightly. “I noticed your heart rate increased a little while ago, but it wasn’t a huge increase, and given the timing, I assumed you were perhaps feeling anxious about today.”
“You’re correct,” I’m quick to reply. “I was just feeling anxious.” No way will I tell him about my conversation with Captain Warren.
“Good. I would have painted the walls of theJansonnawith Captain Warren’s blood if he’d caused you any harm. I regret that I didn’t take you the very day we met. How I have worried for you, little spy, and how I have hungered for you.” He steers me to the right and down an empty corridor. “Come, my mate, my quarters are this way.”
Chapter11
RADAKK
A thrill rushes through me.Finally, I have Thalia in my possession. I’m pleased she looks well. During the last twenty-one days, I kept a close watch on her bio monitor readings. I also appointed a team of officers to observe the readings when I was sleeping or occupied by my duties as emperor.
I’m satisfied that she appears to have gained some weight. Only a small amount, but enough to show she’s been eating. When we first encountered one another, she was little more than skin and bones, and I rage inside when I recall how loudly her stomach had growled that day.
I vow she’ll never want for anything again. Not food or clothes or jewels, never mind that she once claimed to have no interest in the latter.
“Where were you?” she asks. “Looks like you were in a hurry to get here. I mean, you practically ran off that transport vessel.” She peers up at me with a flushed face, her eyes dancing with curiosity.
“My uncle lives on another ship in our fleet, theRorrsa. He is… unwell. There was an incident and I had to help diffuse it.” I swallow hard, deciding she doesn’t need all the details. I have no wish to frighten her. She doesn’t need to know my uncle escaped the medical facility aboard theRorrsa, stole a weapon from a guard, and was holding several people hostage.
“I’m so sorry about your uncle.” Her eyes brim with compassion. “Is there a cure for what ails him?”
I shake my head. “Not yet, but it’s a disease that only affects males, and our top scientists are working on it.” I don’t tell her the condition is genetic. I don’t tell her that my father, the former emperor of the Darrvason Empire, perished several years ago from the very same condition. I pray that a cure will be discovered before I reach the age my father did when his symptoms first emerged. Paranoia. Agitation. Visual and auditory hallucinations.
I don’t have much time left—eight years. Only eight years until I’m the same age Emperor Ghannas was when he first showed signs of the dreadful illness.
While it’s not a certainty that I’ll come down with the disease, the sooner I sire an heir, the better.
Fortunately, our scientists now believe they can cure the condition in vitro. Even if they can’t yet cure an adult male, at least my sons, however many I am blessed with before my demise, will not have to worry about the disease.
“Well,” Thalia says after a moment, “I hope your scientists are successful. I take it theRorrsahas facilities that are better suited for taking care of your uncle?”
I nod. “Yes, there’s an entire floor on theRorrsathat is devoted to caring for males who are afflicted with this disease.”
“What’s the disease called?”
“Forlonggsa.” I refrain from admittingforlonggsameansgreat madnessin Darrvason.
I guide her down another corridor and we finally reach my royal quarters. I watch her expression carefully as I usher her into the opulent living space, hoping it rivals anything she’s seen before. To my relief, her eyes widen and she gapes at her surroundings.
My servant android, Closta, rushes forward, inclines his head deeply and greets us in Darrvason. After he straightens, he takes the suitcase I’m holding, then turns and hurries to the bedroom I’ve reserved for my mate.
Thalia peers at me with a strange expression. “Um, was that a real Darrvason?”
I shake my head. “No, that is my servant android, Closta.”
She lifts her eyebrows. “Oh. I see.”
I bring her to the sitting room that contains a large viewscreen and urge her to sit on a plush sofa. I’m eager to get her to my bedroom, but I find I wish to speak with her first. To become better acquainted with the beauty who’s left me captivated.
The possessiveness I feel for her is so intense, sometimes it’s difficult to breathe. And we haven’t even consummated our union yet.
The past twenty-one days have been an exercise in self-restraint as I continually contemplated storming theJansonnaand stealing away with her. Some days, I feared I would go mad with need for her.
She fidgets with the neckline of her gown, rubbing over the bio monitors. “Now that I’m no longer on the human worldship, are you going to remove these?”
“No. You will keep them on. Permanently.”
