George woke up and was aware of the passing of time first. Then his mind registered an urgent need to be aware of the passage of time. Before he could dig out his watch fob from his trouser pocket, his mind registered a warm body entwined around him. He’d have to disentangle himself first before he could get to his trouser pocket, that currently rested somewhere around his ankles or knees. Then he realized why he felt so great and relaxed. He could taste her blood in his mouth and when he finally dared open his eyes. Ana lay entwined around him, asleep, and there was no questioning what they’d done. He was still seated within her. He cursed himself for several minutes as he eased from her body and arms reluctantly. George knew it had been his duty to keep her safe from any and all harm. That included himself. Why hadn’t he left the cabin when it became too hard to keep his hands and gods his teeth off her? That’s
Ana was no saint. But she’d never crossed the line this badly before into breaking the law. George had a point. Nothing that happened between them felt wrong or out of place. She’d never felt her body respond like that. It had been electrifying in the best way. Well, it was done and there’d be no going back from it. What got her goat, though, was how he’d taken control of her. He’d used a form of mind control to lower her inhibitions. She’d learned to resist it as part of her training so no one could use her against her father. The emperor even tested her and wasn’t happy until she could resist him as well. She’d thought it was a selfish thing to force her to do at the time. But now, after feeling her emotions manipulated like that, she understood. George could have easily persuaded her to kill herself, and she’d have gladly done it. Truly, only a master manipulator with this skill could do it. She led the way to
Franco watched Eva work of fixing a jacket of his that he’d damaged some time ago. It sat in his dressing room waiting for the next time his valet did repairs on his clothing. Eva claimed she felt bored and needed to do something. She’d found the basket and made steady work through it. A knock on the heavy gilded doors to his private suite interrupted them. “Come!” A door swung open, and Edger enter the space. “What have you Edger?” “Emperor, we are in a bit of a situation. The court is champing at the bit with excitement. They want confirmation that you yet live and that Tatiana is not the new empress.” Franco sighed heavily. It had been nice while it lasted. Now his days would fill with the inane demands of courtiers and petitioners again. He’d have less time to be with Eva. “Fine. Set up an event celebrating my triumph over the murder plot. Gad, I’m not allowed to mourn my life’s partner and o
Tatiana slipped from the palace. She found this to be harder now than ever before. There were people everywhere with their eyes on her. As if they expected to catch her doing something wrong and were ready to sing about it from up on high to anyone that would listen. The gossip flew fast and furiously through the court. Tatiana could barely keep up with it. Now she needed desperately to feel her lover’s sweet lips and know what she thought of all of this. Tatiana didn’t know how she could fix things. Her father hadn’t died. He and her mother had to die to clear the way for Tatiana’s place on the throne. Now she didn’t know how to go about making a second attempt on the throne. So here she stood in the cool shadows of the early night, cloaked within a heavy cloak to obscure who she was. She slunk from one building to the next, always staying within the shadows. Tatiana knew the route and Tatiana desperately wanted
“The Crown Princess has arrived and is waiting upstairs for you.” “She followed you up those stairs?” “Yes, because told her Sabre would see her there. She’s eager to see Sabre.” “Then she’ll see Sabre just so that Sabre can punish her for being so incompetent.” With his wig and lipstick in place, he’d transformed himself into Sabre again. This was the perfect disguise. She never knew it was him and he could have his fun with her. Tatiana didn’t know he used her as much as she used him. But in the end, he’d triumph over her, and she’d fall just like her father. He’d see to it. There’d be no empire by the time he was done, and history would blame Sabre and he’d come swooping in as himself and take over. If things went wrong like this, he’d be able to walk away from it unscathed because everyone would place the blame on Sabre and search for her. While he sailed in commanding action and playing the
Tatiana shivered. This is what she secretly desired. Someone who would take over and let her calm. Allow her not to struggle with decisions. She champed at the bit when her mother or anyone else did it. Somehow Sabre felt different. The work ruling the empire didn’t bother her. What bothered her were other people forcing limits on her. Sabre didn’t limit her. They opened up new possibilities and strengths Tatiana didn’t know about. Even now, in the back of her mind, a little voice reminded her that Sabre made her question her intelligence mere moments ago. That Tatiana wouldn’t look at. “What? What are you going to do with that?” She stared at the flexible rod in Sabre’s hand. “All in due time. Drop the cloak, now Tatiana.” Sabre’s voice hardened, and she knew that meant business. Her hand went to the clasps and the heavy cloak fell to the dusty floor. “Good girl. Pick up the blindfold and put i
“George, I really hate to say this. But could there be a car following us?” Adriana looked in the mirror again to double check. “That car behind us looks familiar, and so does the driver. I swear it’s the same licence plate number.” George gave an aggravated sigh and looked in the mirror. “Great, that’s the last thing we need. I don’t know how this could have happened. Who would know to follow us and where did we pick him up?” “There’s one person in the car and I think it’s the man from the corridor of the boat. How would he have found us? I mean, he had to get that car and keep an eye on us at the same time. He’d have to have known something of your plan. Wouldn’t he?” George now appreciate Ana’s sharp mind all the more. He didn’t need to tell her what he’d been thinking, because she knew already. That made him happy, even though the car behind them didn’t. It concerned him to no end. George thought they’d escape
They were finally approaching the road into the city, and Ana continued to insist that the same car drove directly behind us. They never changed direction or allowed another car to stay between them for more than a few miles. “If they are going to do anything, Ana, it will be soon. That’s the first turn up ahead. So brace yourself I’ll slow down, but if they try anything, I’ll be forced to speed up.” George hated this part of the road, even when he rode a horse, but this would be the first time he’d taken this part of the journey driving a car. He’d been warned that it could be dicey here if one drove too fast around the curves. The guards he’d spoken to about the road during a casual conversation. All mentioned driving in this spot as a place where several accidents like the one he’d walked away from had already occurred. However, in their cases, no one walked away from these accidents.George was surprised with Ana because she’d climbed into the c