Grey metallic cubes rippled in the air as Arrow used nanites to take a physical pixilated shape. He then spoke through the interactive construct of the vessel. “Baron Rah Blavenstoke and Megladine K’tair seek permission to dock.”
“Arm the high beams,” Kala said, moving over to the large windows of the ship, so she could keep the approaching craft in her line of sight.
Their hovercraft door slid open, and Rah and Megladine boarded. There was an air of satisfaction about them, and from the tender way Rah brushed against her, Shilah surmised they had been intimate. A profound ache filled her. Megladine had already been sterilized when her family had revealed an Alpha telekinesis genesis along with her foresight, but the law still prevented her from seeking a life partner. Despite her inability to produce children, Rah loved her with every breath in his body, and Megladine had the same love and respect for him. It was heart-breaking that they had to hide their relationship or face the full force of the bloodline law. When she’d just discovered them in bed together, quite by accident, Rah had expected her to report them. She hadn’t, and Shilah knew he’d never understood why she did not.
It had been the first time she’d compromised her honor, but it had hurt something in her at the thoughts of Rah losing the woman he loved. It would have been a judgment of death for Megladine.
“The meeting has been convened, and we leave for the Senate now. It is not being broadcast for we do not wish to stir unrest within the kingdom until the best way forward to declare you both still live.”
Kala made her way over. “I’ve seen what will happen if our people know we are alive. They will march to the Senate doors, and there will be a riot and lives will be lost. I cannot see what inflames the riot, so it is best we make an announcement after we’ve removed Prince Quan from our kingdom.”
Megladine eyes swirled with power. “I do not glimpse the future you’ve seen, Princess Kala.” Then she cast her lover a sideways glance, and a radiant smile creased her lips. “But I do see a future our kingdom will celebrate in.”
Unease slid down Shilah’s spine. “And what future is that?”
Megladine shifted her regard to her. “I see no death of our people, and that is every reason to feel relief. For months my dreams have been haunted with darkness and despair. Now it isn’t so.”
The tension seeped from Shilah. “I will be ready within a few minutes.”
She made her way to her room and opened the glass partitions that housed her suits. It would not be the full regalia of a princess, but it would be enough to meet the Senate. There she dressed in a dark blue bodysuit, which fitted her body like a second skin. She grabbed her weapons belt and banded it about her waist and took up her high beam gun and slipped it in the holster belt. Then she tugged on the overdress, that was similarly molded to her upper body and down to her hips, then the skirts flowed to her ankles. Each side of the flowing material had thigh long slits, so she could easily access the blasters on her hips. Next golden armbands were secured to her upper and lower arms. Using her telekinesis, she brushed her hair until it rippled down her back in cackling energy, and then braided it in a single plait. Shilah then slipped on her boots, ensuring another high beam gun was secured in the holster on her boot.
And the entire time, she felt Lachlan Ravenswood in her mind, daring her to connect with him as she had done days ago. But Shilah had been strong and had denied the connection, but not strong enough where she hadn’t lain awake hungering to simply feel his warmth and scent around her.
Shilah exited to see that Kala was similarly dressed. Rah glanced at the blaster on her hips. “You know the Senate will be opposed to you taking weapons into the chamber.”
“They can oppose all they wish. Prince Quan should not have been crowned, even if they had believed the Symonrah bloodline had ended. Another Prince from our Kingdom should have been called to serve. Quan flouted the law, and they allowed him to.”
He nodded, and they made their way from the vessel. Prince Novar and several supporters from the resistance waited. Prince Novar smiled at her, although there was no humor in his eyes. A pervasive tension entered the group, and they did not speak after greeting each other. Their party made twelve in total as they moved toward a large steel plated rover craft. A short, stocky man dressed in white waited by the rover. She glanced at Rah who flanked her left.
“Is that man with us?”
“Yes. He is from O’andor. I’ve hired him to teleport us to the halls of the Senate. The less time we spend in the open, journeying there, the better.”
“And he is to be trusted?” she asked, even as she delved into his mind, reading his intention which resided in the wealth promised for the job, nothing more.
Rah’s gaze was restless, moving over the street, up into the buildings and along the ground. They stopped at the teleporter, and he glanced around furtively. Tension rose in Shilah and knotted her stomach. It was evident they anticipated Prince Quan uncovering the route they might travel to the Senate and execute a pre-emptive strike.
“Please, everyone hold hands.”
They complied, and then he touched Rah. A flash of light blinded Shilah, and then with a blink, they were in the building of the Senate. Her stomach roiled, and several of their party bent over heaving. The halls were quiet, and Shilah did not linger in the corridors but made her way to the chamber. Rah went before her and opened the door. She entered, and a hush descended over the gathering council.
All two hundred and eighty-five members of the Senate were seated, clothed in white robes. Shock blared from some of their auras, and relief from others. Prince Quan was there, seated on the high seat where the ruler of the kingdom should sit. His arrogance set her teeth on edge, and anger pounded through her veins.
“We will sit below the Prince,” Rah murmured.
“No,” Shilah snapped. “I will not recognize that he has a right to my throne when he does not.”
She made her way around the circular gallery, heading toward Prince Quan. His eyebrow arched in sharp inquiry, and a mocking smile curved his lips. All the princes, High Priestesses, and Barons of the Senate watched her. She could feel their eyes on her, feel their assessment of her actions.
She paused right before Prince Quan. His eyes too were like perfect diamonds— colorless, hard and sparkly, and ringed with black. He was an imperial in his genesis and very dangerous. He was also shockingly handsome with his jet-black hair, and chiseled cheekbones.
“You are in my chair, Prince Quan. Remove yourself.”
His gaze narrowed thoughtfully on hers. He was the kind of man to demand complete loyalty from his followers, and he got it through intimidation. No doubt he believed because she had fled, she was weak. “I am the Prince of this Kingdom, Princess Shilah and—”
“I am not certain if the laws of your lands are different to ours,” she said with a deliberately mocking smile, reminding him and the Senate he did not belong to their kingdom. Her chin went up. She refused to look away, holding her gaze steady on his. “I am Princess Shilah
Symonrah, and you are on my seat. I will educate you today on the steps you can take to challenge my position, until that time you are only the ruling Prince of Arcadia and an interloper in Dxyriah. I am at a loss how the Senate did not correct your impudence when you planted your ass here.”