Slowly, Dalatteya got to her feet. And then her face crumpled and she was running toward the hooded man. He caught her and hugged her tightly, her small body disappearing in the folds of his dark cloak.
“What in the world…” Samir whispered, staring at the scene in puzzlement. “Who is that?”
Warrehn shared his confusion.
But then he stiffened, eyeing the man’s back as a suspicion formed in his mind. It seemed too outlandish, but…
“Is there another camera view?” he said hoarsely. “Show me the man’s face.”
“One moment, Your Majesty,” Officer Marrat said, entering some commands into the terminal.
The video flickered, showing a view of Dalatteya’s back.
“Shh, you’re all right, my heart,” the man said, stroking her back gently. He lifted his head from her hair, his blue eyes flashing with cold determination. “I will not let anyone touch you.”
Samir sucked in a breath. Warrehn stared at the man’s face.
“That’s…” Officer Marrat said faintly.
Warrehn sighed, considering the implications of it. “It seems you were right,” he said, squeezing Samir’s fingers. “Your mother did love him, after all.”
Samir nodded, watching his mother cling to the man she had claimed to hate—the man who was supposed to be dead.
“Have you managed to find their whereabouts?” Warrehn said, looking at Officer Marrat.
The man winced and said, “No. It’s inexplicable. They should have been caught on the cameras after leaving the building, but it’s like they disappeared into thin air. But not to worry, Your Majesty, I have all t-chambers, TNIT modules, and spaceports on high alert. Should they attempt to use any form of transport, they’ll be arrested at once.”
Warrehn shook his head.
Samir looked at him. “You don’t believe they’ll be caught?”
Smiling humorlessly, Warrehn pulled him out of the room. “We’re dealing with a clone of Emyr’ngh’zaver,” he said wryly. “One who has all his memories and abilities.”
“And?” Samir said, looking confused.
“My father and I have never been close,” Warrehn said, walking toward the nearest t-chamber. “He never had time for me when I was a child. But I remember the sole occasion he sat me down and taught me politics. And you know what his lesson was? That I should always think ahead and have contingency plans accounting for every possibility, no matter how unlikely.” He snorted softly, wondering if Emyr had accounted for his precious Dalatteya killing him and then backtracking and giving him a cloned body when she had realized that she couldn’t live without their toxic relationship. “I have little doubt that he will be able to get them off the planet. Knowing him, I would be surprised if he hadn’t accounted for the possibility of Dalatteya being arrested and his existence being discovered.”
“You’re very calm about this,” Samir said, looking at him with confusion and curiosity in his gaze as they entered the t-chamber.
“Fifth Royal Palace, west wing,” Warrehn told the computer after verifying his identity. “I’m not calm,” he said as they arrived. He stroked Samir’s wrist with his thumb. “I guess I’m relieved.”
“Relieved?” Samir said, following him out of the t-chamber into their palace.
Warrehn pulled him close. “Yes,” he said, nuzzling Samir’s cheek. Fuck, he smelled so good. “I still think your mother must answer for her crimes—it’s only right—but I don’t want you to be unhappy because of her, either. This way, it’s out of my hands. Whatever happens, happens. Maybe Emyr’s clone and Dalatteya will be arrested tomorrow. Or maybe they’ll settle on some paradise planet and live their fucked-up version of happily ever after. Either way, it’s out of our hands. It’s oddly freeing.” He pulled back to look Samir in the eyes. “We can be just us, without our parents’ baggage and messy past.”
Samir’s expression became softer. “Just us?” he said in a tone of wonder, his long eyelashes fluttering as he blinked.
Fuck, he was so endearing. So damn lovely. Warrehn could look at him all day long. Now he understood Emyr’s single-minded obsession with Dalatteya. He felt like his feelings for Samir could quickly twist into a toxic obsession that destroyed everything else if he couldn’t have him—or had to share him with another man. The mere thought was sickening. No, he wouldn’t let it happen.
“Just us,” Warrehn said and kissed him.
Samir was smiling against his lips. “I love you,” he whispered, looping his arms around Warrehn’s neck.
Warrehn had known that already. He had felt it in their merge. But hearing it made his heart feel too big for his chest. It was such a strange, foreign feeling: happiness. He’d forgotten what it felt like.
“Marry me,” he said.
Samir blinked, his lips parting in surprise. Then, he laughed, his eyes sparkling. “You’re moving a little too fast, Your Majesty, don’t you think?”
Not fast enough.
Warrehn pulled him closer. “I see no point in waiting. I will not let anyone else have you. We might as well make it official.”