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Reluctant Companion: Futuristic Dark Romance 25
Chapter 25He tilted his head. “You’re sharp, aren’t you, highness?”“Sharper than my idiot brother.”Leon gave her a wide smile, but it had a predatory edge. “Perhaps he’s just idealistic or naïve.”She snorted, but didn’t offer a counterargument. “Let’s cut the crap. We both know I’m not going to kill Tiernan, especially based on your flimsy proof. Cam might have believed that was why you kidnapped me, but I don’t for a second, any more than I believe you didn’t set that bomb.”Leon shrugged as he took a seat across from her, receiving a cup of coffee from the surly woman, who didn’t offer one to Madison. “Believe what you want, but my group didn’t do the bomb. We’re more direct.”Through narrowed eyes, she watched the controlled movements of his hand as he lifted the mug, barely resisting the urge to slam her hand against the metal cup as it neared his visage. It would provide temporary satisfaction, but would no doubt lead to violence she didn’t want to face. Not that she might ha
Reluctant Companion: Futuristic Dark Romance 26
Chapter 26They reentered the Seattle-Archer area after nightfall. The wagon and troops took a route she wasn’t familiar with, and she idly wondered where they were going as she caught sight of the capitol building a couple of blocks over. Their destination was clear just a few minutes later, as the wagon drew up in front of an ugly cinderblock building painted white, with imposing bars on the visible windows and across the two front doors. Two men in military uniforms stood guard on either side of the door.Exhaustion had her stumbling as she stood to disembark the wagon. Only the steadying hand of the soldier waiting to help her down kept her from falling. She gave him a small smile of gratitude in the faint illumination provided by the dim light strategically stationed near the entrance. The soldier grimaced and looked away.With a sigh, Madison straightened her spine and fell into line with the other prisoners. The guards herded them into the building, where several more groups wa
Reluctant Companion: Futuristic Dark Romance 27
Chapter 27Madison flinched, and then shook her head. “I don’t think there’s any point in trying to defend myself. If you’ve found me guilty of treason because I was with the rebels, what can I do to prove I’m innocent?”Tiernan let out a scathing laugh. “Aidan found your book.”She frowned. “What book?”“The one filled with meticulous information about my daily schedule, personal habits, and weaknesses.” He had to clench his hands to keep from reaching out to shake her as he relived the moment Aidan had handed him the leather-bound, handwritten journal with a look of deep regret. It had been the moment when any illusions about what he’d really had with Madison had crumbled to ash. “I think the most disturbing thing was the sketches and instructions for how to make dynamite.” He shook his head. “I can’t believe you could do something so horrible.”“I didn’t. I could never do that.” She slammed her hand on the table, crying out when she accidentally embedded a piece of glass in her pal
Reluctant Companion: Futuristic Dark Romance 28
Chapter 28Tiernan took the news of his impending fatherhood badly. As soon as the doctor left his office, he threw the crystal glass against the wall and cursed loudly. Seven weeks ago, he’d been practically raping her after chasing Madison through the wilderness to get her back. No wonder she hated him enough to betray him to the rebels and plot to kill him.It made a terrible sort of sense that she had gotten pregnant then. As messed up as their relationship was, with him holding her against her will in the beginning, and her planning to kill him, it was horribly right that their child had been conceived that fateful night.There was no question about her facing the tribunal now. He would make the journal disappear, along with the allegations against her. If anyone dared mention a word of her suspected treasonous activities, he’d make sure they weren’t in the Federation long enough to share more gossip. Tiernan would ensure Aidan circulated among the troops that any acknowledgement
Reluctant Companion: Futuristic Dark Romance 29
Chapter 29Madison appeared to have gotten her wish. She spent endless days in the cupola without seeing Tiernan, or much of anyone else, for that matter. A rotating cabal of maids brought her meals and restocked toiletries and towels as needed. Dr. Oritz came to see her once per week, and she quickly grew to hate the sight of him. He wasn’t a mean man, but he was just another reminder of Tiernan’s cruelty and lack of trust.Other than when she saw the doctor, which always stirred her ire, she tried to dwell in an emotionless state. Madison focused on nothing, finding it easier to lie in bed and let a void of no thoughts fill her mind as the days progressed. She ate mechanically, but only for the baby, and often couldn’t finish the trays brought to her.What did it matter? What did anything matter? For a time, she was hopeless and depressed, but as the days passed, she became numb. Even losing Tiernan didn’t hurt that much now. Nothing hurt, and she preferred it that way. It was bette
Reluctant Companion: Futuristic Dark Romance 30
Chapter 30Madison had taken an herbal drink Susan gave her, which knocked her out for several hours. When she woke, dismay spread through her to find herself back in Tiernan’s suite, in his bed. Well, dismay and a tiny surge of pleasure that emanated from a traitorous part of her that still hadn’t accepted he was the enemy, not someone she should love and miss.Cautiously, she sat up as her pelvis twinged, and nausea surged up her throat. A deep breath helped her keep from vomiting, but the bile crept higher when she saw Tiernan sitting at the dining table with enough food to feed an army spread before him. Last night was a bit of a haze, but she remembered the pain and Susan’s visit. Gingerly, she touched her stomach, amazed she was still pregnant after the pain she’d had yesterday.“Susan will be by later to see you,” said Tiernan, his expression neutral and his tone polite.Madison nodded, sliding from the bed carefully. Her head spun, and she had to remain still for a moment as s
Reluctant Companion: Futuristic Dark Romance 31
Chapter 31Susan brought someone with her when she came to check on Madison. “This is Joan.” She patted the older woman on the shoulder. “She’s the best midwife I know, and used to be one of my professors when I was in medical school.”Madison shook her leathery hand, impressed by the strength remaining in the deceptively fragile fingers. “How do you do, Joan?”Joan tipped her head. “More importantly, how are you, miss?”“I managed to eat some breakfast.”“And you’ve had a change of accommodations,” noted Susan, clearly pleased. “I’m glad for that.”“I’m not,” said Madison with a rueful twist of her lips. “I’ve just traded one prison for another.” And the man who had put her in that tower to start with inhabited this cell.Susan squeezed her shoulders in a one-armed hug. “He’ll come around.”Madison shook her head. “I don’t want him to, Susan. I just want to get through this, have the baby, and be allowed some freedom. The last thing I want is to reunite with Tiernan.”Joan cleared he
Reluctant Companion: Futuristic Dark Romance 32
Chapter 32Madison was unsurprised to see Tiernan at dinnertime, though she’d half-hoped he would stay away. What little appetite she had seemed to disappear when he sat down beside her. Blood on the cuff of his white shirt caught her attention, and she almost reached out to touch him as she asked, “Are you hurt?” Only knowing how ruthlessly he would rebuff her held the impulse in check.He glanced at the shirt, grimaced, and began unbuttoning it to toss it over his shoulder. “It’s not mine,” he said with a haunted expression.If things had been different between them, she might have probed gently for an explanation. In their new reality, she was no confidante, and she shouldn’t care about him appearing to be upset. It wasn’t her place to get him to talk. Let whoever was warming his bed now deal with his tender emotions. With that in mind, she didn’t try to make conversation, and dinner passed in silence.Sheer stubbornness helped her overcome nausea, and she managed to choke down a d
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Reluctant Companion: Futuristic Dark Romance 42 & Epilogue
Chapter 42They didn’t have much more of a chance to talk until several hours later, back in their suite. She was curled against him on the spacious bed, providing what comfort she could. While she had stood by his side during the ordeal of removing Aidan’s body and explaining to his troops what had happened—and the need to ferret out all those loyal to his dead brother—she could only imagine how soul-wrenching it had been for Tiernan.It had been draining for her too, and she knew killing Aidan would haunt her nightmares for years to come, but now was not the time to have a cathartic release of emotion by discussing her role in his execution. That time would come after Tiernan had healed a bit first.At least she was sure he harbored no resentment toward her for killing Aidan. Tiernan had held her hand or kept her within touching distance throughout the time they had dealt with the aftermath. She’d had to bite her tongue not to counter him when he’d claimed responsibility for Aidan’s
Reluctant Companion: Futuristic Dark Romance 41
Chapter 41They stared at each other for a moment, hurt and confusion—along with a strong undercurrent of anger—in Tiernan’s eyes. “How could you do all this, Aidan?”Aidan shrugged. “I’ve already explained all that to Madison. Perhaps she can enlighten you, if you both survive.”Madison bit her fist as the men surged together, trading punches and kicks. They grunted in their exertion, and she honestly couldn’t tell who was winning for several minutes. It wasn’t until Tiernan managed to shove Aidan’s head up, his arm against his throat, that she saw a chance to help. Without hesitation, she grasped the pitcher on the dresser and slammed the pottery down on Aidan’s head. He slumped atop Tiernan a second later.Tiernan pushed him off, wincing as he got to his feet. He cradled his middle. “I think he broke a rib.”“Are you okay?”He nodded, though grimaced. “I’m glad you didn’t call out.”She frowned. “I didn’t? I just stood there frozen?” Shaking her head, Madison let some of her self-d
Reluctant Companion: Futuristic Dark Romance 40
Chapter 40“It used to be a bathroom,” said Aidan conversationally. “Joseph Archer was a bit eccentric and had a lot of unused rooms bricked off. He claimed it would reduce heating costs. There’s a shared bathroom down the hall.”Swallowing thickly, she turned slowly, not sure how to reply or even begin to justify her reasons for being here. “Uh…”He smiled, and it was full of gentleness. “It’s okay. I know why you’re here.”Madison couldn’t look away from the crossbow at his side. “Uh…”Aidan glanced down at it before setting it on the nightstand. “I’m not going to shoot you, Madison.”Relief surged through her. She had been wrong. Not about him being the missing twin, she was sure, but he clearly wasn’t the one who had killed Joan.Shaking his head, he said, “No, then they’d know it was me. It has to look like rebels.”Ice water coursed through her veins at his words, and she took a step back without thinking, running right into the brick wall. Her mind searched for a way out, but a
Reluctant Companion: Futuristic Dark Romance 39
Chapter 39She had reached no conclusion by the time Tiernan came back a little while later. Getting to her feet, she went to him to lean against her lover. “Do you have any idea who did this?”Tiernan hugged her tightly against him. “No, but I’ve asked Aidan to investigate. The shocking randomness of the crime makes no sense.”“Maybe it wasn’t so random,” said Madison, convinced of at least one thing. Joan’s secret had been the reason for her death. Drawing Tiernan over to a loveseat away from Catherine’s cold gaze, she put her arm around his shoulder and told him what she had learned as gently as possible.He sat in stunned silence for several minutes, before shaking his head. “No, that can’t be.”Madison understood his reluctance to accept it. “I’m sure she was telling the truth, Tiernan. Somewhere, you have a twin brother.” And someone willing to kill to protect his location. She didn’t voice that thought, not wanting to upset him further.His lips compressed. “How could she do it
Reluctant Companion: Futuristic Dark Romance 38
Chapter 38Her heart skipped a beat. “So he did die.”She shook her head. “No. Commander Archer was a good leader, but cold.”Madison nodded her agreement, having reached that conclusion just by what Tiernan had revealed about his childhood. “I can imagine.”“She didn’t want the Federation torn apart by two heirs, and she said there was no room for co-leaders. A commander had to make the final decision with no one having the authority to question him.”Madison grimaced. “She was thinking all this as she held her babies?”Joan scowled. “No, dear. She found out in her second trimester she was having twins, so she had time to think and plan. When the babies were born, she never held the younger one. Instead, she had me take him to his father, and troops escorted them from Seattle-Archer, along with instructions never to return.” Looking disgusted, she shook her head. “The woman just sent away her infant without looking back, as though he was no concern to her at all.”Madison’s heart stu
Reluctant Companion: Futuristic Dark Romance 37
Chapter 37Madison had expected to have some morning-after regrets, to second guess her decision to put the betrayal behind her and move on. To her relief, she had nary a flicker of doubt as she woke up beside her lover. Her only moderate regret was perhaps a lack of sleep. She was exhausted from their marathon lovemaking and couldn’t stifle a yawn.He grinned. “I wore you out.”To her amusement, he also yawned. “It looks mutual, my love.” Trailing her hand up his chest, she rested her palm between his pecs. “I had planned to go to the clinic today.”He frowned, but didn’t issue a dictate. She gave him points for diplomacy when he said, “Maybe you should take a nap this morning and go in the afternoon.”Madison nodded, having already reached that conclusion. “I think you should join me.”Tiernan lifted a corner of his mouth. “We both know there won’t be any sleeping if I stay.”Sticking out her lower lip, she said, “I need you more than sleep.”He shook his head, softening the rejecti
Reluctant Companion: Futuristic Dark Romance 36
Chapter 36She turned her head slightly on the pillow, so he could hear her. “Mostly in the lower part, but it’s sore everywhere.”Oh, his mind could conjure so many images to fit “everywhere.” He stifled a groan as he fantasized about spreading the oil over her back, down her legs, and back up to the apex of her thighs. “Okay.” His voice sounded scratchy.Still trying to be as aloof as possible, Tiernan sat on the bed beside her, straining awkwardly to reach her back. The first feel of her skin was heaven, and warmth suffused him. Not just the heat of arousal, but genuine tenderness at the close physical contact that she wasn’t immediately jumping away from upon realizing he was touching her. He’d gotten so desperate that he’d started waking up at least an hour earlier than her just so he could hold her against his body, in his arms, as she slept. That was the only time she wasn’t rejecting him.Besides now. Trampling his rampant hope with the reminder that a massage didn’t mean anyt
Reluctant Companion: Futuristic Dark Romance 35
Chapter 35God, he was stubborn, and she was getting frustrated. They had been engaged in a battle-of-wills for five weeks now. She hadn’t given an inch in her determination to make him accept she no longer loved him, and he hadn’t surrendered at all in his quest to regain her trust and love. Every night, she fell asleep in his bed, oftentimes waking pressed against him in a parody of a loving embrace. Each time, she had found the strength to pull away and go on as though nothing had happened.If only she could convince her damned hormones that nothing was happening and wouldn’t ever again, at least not with Tiernan. It was getting incredibly frustrating to have him so near, but not able to reach out and touch. Oh, she knew he would readily accept any overtures she made, but that was tantamount to giving in. She couldn’t do that.Not that she was certain why at this point. Was she still so hurt and angry that she couldn’t believe he was contrite? Was it just too unbelievable to imagin
Reluctant Companion: Futuristic Dark Romance 34
Chapter 34He woke her early on punishment day, not giving her the option of refusing to attend. Madison was undecided if she wanted to be there, and perhaps he’d picked up on her indecision, leading him to choose for her. Or maybe he was just an overbearing tyrant. Perhaps both.Grumbling in protest, she washed and dressed before following Tiernan. When they turned to go upstairs instead of down to the main floor, her heart leapt into her throat. As they climbed the stairs, she couldn’t help remembering how awful it was to be confined to the cupola. Had her continued insistence that their relationship was over made him so angry that he was going to imprison her in the tower again? Did he somehow envision that would make her realize she still wanted to be with him? In fact, it would certainly be the death knell of their affair—which was already over anyway, she hastened to assure herself.As they walked up the stairs to the fourth floor, she strove to control her panic and asked in wh
