Secrets

Secrets

Aubrey Ross Enslaved Hearts, Book Three

Princess Naloni attends the Festival of Venus expecting to expose the orgies, the decadence and the brutality within New Pompeii, but instead becomes fascinated by the uninhibited sexual displays. She sees two magnificent gladiators wrestling—their naked bodies sliding, straining. She can’t help but imagine herself between their steel hardness. An instant later, she finds herself not only sandwiched between their gleaming, hard bodies, but in the middle of a gladiator uprising. Max knew his friend was going to attempt an escape. However, he had no idea a hostage would be taken. Naloni does not go quietly. She struggles, attempting to sabotage them at every turn. Max is intrigued by her resistance and aroused by her supple body. His pulse pounds as he imagines how he will take her. How he will stoke her fire until she burns out of control. Their passion is forbidden, but their hearts don’t seem to care. They abandon themselves to a romance that will change the course of their world—or destroy it.

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Secrets ISBN 9781419931253 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Secrets Copyright © 2010 Aubrey Ross Edited by Mary Moran Cover art by Dar Albert Electronic book publication December 2010 The terms Romantica® and Quickies® are registered trademarks of Ellora’s Cave Publishing. With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the publisher, Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.® 1056 Home Avenue, Akron OH 44310-3502. Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded or distributed via the Internet or any other means, electronic or print, without the publisher’s permission. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. (http://www.fbi.gov/ipr/). Please purchase only authorized electronic or print editions and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted material. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated. This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the authors’ imagination and used fictitiously.

SECRETS Aubrey Ross

Secrets

Chapter One Max watched Sextus swing his practice sword in another wild arc. Trepidation twisted his entrails and he tightly clenched his fists. Sextus stood opposite a trembling armor bearer. The boy had been ordered to spar with Sextus until a worthy opponent could be transferred from a lesser ludus. Sextus brought the wooden sword down in a vicious chop and the boy raised his sword arm rather than his shield. The boy’s shrill scream cloaked the sickening crack of breaking bone and still Sextus advanced. Ignoring one of his own rules, Max threw himself between the burly gladiator and the screaming boy. Max grabbed the boy’s shield and intercepted the next blind swing. His body shuddered with the impact, but he planted his feet in the sand and kept his stance firmly squared. “Are you trying to kill him?” he shouted, shoving Sextus back with the shield. The gladiator stumbled, cursed, then lowered his wooden sword. If the blade had been real, he would have severed the boy’s arm rather than breaking it. “Apologies!” He flung the sword over his shoulder, too infuriated—and too humiliated—to face the chaos he had wrought. “Continue!” Max called to the other gladiators as the moaning boy was carried into the barracks. He moved in front of Sextus, not allowing his self-pity. “He was my friend too,” he said quietly. “For two years I stood in this yard, face-to-face with Theos. Can anyone gaze into another’s eyes for that long and not know their true nature?” Sextus finally raised his gaze, his expression twisted with frustration. “He was a good and loyal gladiator. He respected the games. He was not a traitor!”

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His voice grew louder with each claim. Max looked up to the villa’s balcony, but it was empty. Their master must be too busy planning his disgusting festival to bother with his gladiators today. It was just as well. The news of Theos’ execution had disrupted the rhythm of the ludus. Sextus was not the only one upset by their master’s report. “Things are not always what they seem. If your heart tells you Theos was true, then ignore the gossip and concentrate on your skills. But concentrate!” He shoved Sextus back toward the practice yard. “I have no more armor bearers to spare.” Sextus joined the double-row formation. The rotating exercise allowed for an odd number of participants. Max stood at the edge of the yard, arms loose at his side, eyes carefully assessing each man’s form and technique. He was lanista, a trainer of gladiators, respected by those who knew him, feared by those who did not. His strategies were proven, his techniques both brutal and effective. Being a gladiator was a hard life, but he taught these men how to stay alive in the arena and bring honor to the brotherhood. “Lanista, come here.” Taking a deep breath to hide his loathing, he turned and approached Mikko, head of House Xyell and owner of this ludus. “How can I serve you, dominus?” “Dominus?” Mikko chuckled. “I can’t remember the last time you called me master. I should execute spies more often. It makes everyone so respectful.” Resplendent in his gold-trimmed tunic, Mikko’s ordinary features did not reveal the evil residing inside the man. It was only when one looked into his bright green eyes that his depravity became evident. Max knew Theos had not been executed as Mikko claimed. He knew because he had been instrumental in Theos’ escape from New Pompeii. He also knew Theos was not a spy because the spy Mikko had attempted to trap that night was Max.

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“Did you need something, sir?” “Sir” was less offensive to Max than master. Max had earned his freedom long before coming to Fedoros, a planet far removed from his native Earth. “The men are restless. I need to oversee their practice.” “So I gathered. Who broke the boy’s arm?” “Sextus.” “Of course. He was frequently paired with Theos. He must be taking this hard.” Mikko’s smug tone made Max want to demonstrate some of his more violent techniques. If his options were not so limited, he would have snapped Mikko’s neck long ago. “It has been confusing for everyone.” “And no one more so than me.” Mikko raised his chin and huffed. “I trusted that brute with my own sister and look how he repaid me.” A glaring inconsistency in Mikko’s cover story, Max realized. “How is Mistress Xyell? I have not seen her since Theos disappeared.” And he would not see her again until Theos returned. The two were lovers and they were together, waiting out the dangerous upheaval. “She is in seclusion, utterly devastated as you can imagine.” He could imagine many things, but none of them coincided with Mikko’s ridiculous tale. “Why did you require my attention?” Each moment he spent in Mikko’s presence tested his self-control. “The Festival of Venus is tomorrow night, perhaps you have heard about it?” He tensed. Anything he could learn about the festival was vital to the resistance. The main detail still missing was the proposed location. “I have heard rumors.” “Every form of entertainment imaginable will be available to our guests.” Max clenched his fists, struggling to keep his expression bland. Every form of entertainment the bastard concocted required the abuse of innocent Pompeians! “We had not planned to have a wrestling pit, but one of Prince Tarhee’s best customers asked about it. We

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can’t disappoint our best customers, so we’ve decided to assemble a small roster of participants.” His tension turned to dread. Though most participated willingly, such had not been the case for Max. His initiation into the sport had been abrupt and violent. He’d been thrown into the pit with six other men, having no idea what was expected of him. “I am not interested.” He turned, meaning to return to his men, but Mikko grabbed his upper arm. Any other man would have found himself on his back with Max’s foot on his throat, but this was Mikko Xyell, a founder, one of the most powerful men in New Pompeii. “Hear me out.” Mikko’s tone took on a steely edge, his hand squeezing before he let go. “I know how you feel about full-contact wrestling.” If that were true, Xyell wouldn’t have bothered asking him to participate. “After his defeat in the arena, Dario is looking for a way to regain a bit of his reputation. He knows that you are undefeated, and House Olla has officially challenged House Xyell to a wrestling match. It would be just you and Dario.” House Olla and House Xyell were the two ruling powers in New Pompeii. Prince Tarhee Olla was Mikko Xyell’s business partner—and some said lover—but they had created a friendly rivalry to increase interest in the gladiator games. “Dario wants to wrestle with me?” This was beyond strange. Dario was rebellious and bitter. He despised Prince Tarhee and was far more open about his disdain than Max. Why would he volunteer to represent his hated master? “This is outside your contracted duties, so I cannot demand your cooperation. However,” he paused for emphasis, “if you accept the challenge, I would offer you a boon.” “What sort of boon?” “You tell me. What can I offer that would make it worth your while to accept this challenge?”

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He thought about his physical circumstances. His room was a stone cubicle. He was not even allowed a privacy curtain. A narrow cot, stool and a trunk in which he stored what little clothing he possessed. Any form of comfort would send the wrong message to his men. The barracks were even more austere than his cubicle. An image appeared in his mind, achingly beautiful, young and full of life. Naloni’s hair was so black it gleamed with silver highlights and her eyes combined brown, gold and green into a fascinating, changeable hazel. Soft, full lips and a delicate nose. He had never seen a woman more beautiful than the princess, and he doubted he ever would. He sighed and looked away. “What I want you cannot give me.” “Tell me what it is. You’d be surprised what I can provide.” Max shook his head. His memories were far too precious to share with this monster. Rather than argue with Mikko for another hour, he stated terms he knew Mikko wouldn’t consider. “Winner takes the loser.” Mikko snorted then smiled. “Isn’t that how these matches end, with the winner vigorously ‘taking’ the loser?” “That is not what I meant. If I win, Dario becomes part of this ludus, under my command. If he wins, you transfer my contract to House Olla.” He’d proposed the terms because he thought they were too outrageous to consider, but Mikko scratched his chin and squinted into the distance. “A fascinating proposition. I’ll have to run it by Prince Tarhee, of course, but such high stakes would dramatically increase interest in a simple wrestling match.” Without further discussion, Mikko turned around and walked away. Max returned to his men, unable to shake the feeling that something significant was behind Dario’s challenge.

*****

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Princess Naloni Olla lay on her stomach on a padded massage table, arms folded beneath her cheek, anything but relaxed. Bertrom, her physical therapist-slashconfidant, was working her left calf with patient skill and focused determination. “Are you worried about tomorrow, or is all this tension the result of your friend’s unexpected ‘vacation’?” She pushed to her elbow and looked back at him. “How did you find out about Elaina?” Naloni had been so careful when she arranged the escape. It was imperative that Mikko not be able to locate Elaina and Theos. Had she left a trail Xyell or her brother could detect? “Relax.” Bertrom ran his hand from her ankle to her knee, the firm pressure making her moan. “You left no indication of your actions. Sometimes I just know things. Only someone you care about deeply could affect you this profoundly.” If her father had any concept of how often and accurately Bertrom “knew” things, he would have the therapist banished from the palace. Determined to clear her mind and allow Bertrom’s hands to work their magic, she lay back down and tried not to think. It was useless. Thoughts and speculation rolled through her mind like the continual surge of a storm-swollen tide. She had supported Elaina’s decision to spend time with Theos. Elaina had been so closed off emotionally, Naloni was sure a weekend fling with a hunky gladiator was exactly what her friend needed to restart her heart. But Elaina had returned from her fantasy weekend with reports of abuse, gross negligence and murder. New Pompeii had always pushed the limits of propriety as far as Naloni was concerned, but it was hard to believe things were as bad as Elaina described. Until Naloni did some digging on her own. New Pompeii was the brainchild of her brothers and Mikko Xyell. Everyone referred to them as the founders. When they realized a volcano was about to wipe out the city, they had enacted a bold and convoluted plan. They told the population that 10

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Vulcan was furious with Venus because she loved their city more than she loved him. Vulcan was the god of fire, so he caused the mountain to burst into flames and spew ash and rock all over the valley. The founders hadn’t caused the volcano’s eruption. They had simply taken advantage of the opportunity and evacuated the unsuspecting people to a new home on a new planet where they would be safe from Vulcan’s wrath. Wasn’t it better to allow the primitive people to continue in their simplistic reality? The few who had been exposed to Fedoran technology had been completely overwhelmed by the contrast. “Your mind is whirling again.” Bertrom moved to the other side of the table and gently lifted her right foot. “Would it help if you discuss these issues rather than fixate on them?” She raised her head, resting her chin on her folded arms. A large mirror in front of her allowed her to see Bertrom. He was such an odd-looking man yet so dear. His height was accentuated by the fact he was painfully thin, and his skin had a faint blue cast that made his lavender eyes glow. Most people presumed he was from another star system. In truth he was simply “enhanced”. So many of the colonists had been enhanced—with or without their permission. “You have an objective perspective on the conflict,” she decided. “What are your feelings about New Pompeii?” A distant smile curved his thin lips, but his gaze remained focused on his task. “In what regard?” She tugged her foot out of his grasp and sat up, tucking the sheet beneath her arms. “I want your honest opinion. I need your candor more than your approval.” He wiped the lotion from his hands then tossed the cloth onto his shoulder, making her think of a bartender. “Fedorans have always been too quick to tinker with the lives of others. They have an expectant attitude that many find offensive.” This was nothing she hadn’t thought herself from time to time. “Go on.”

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One boney shoulder rolled in a subtle shrug and his words came pouring out. “They flit and flutter about the galaxies indiscriminately enhancing populations with no better reason than morbid curiosity.” “Now that’s not true.” Gathering the sheet about her, she swung her legs over the side of the table. “The seeding programs have always been implemented for the protection of our species. To our knowledge, we are the most highly advanced humanoid civilization in existence. It’s our duty to monitor and at times guide those civilizations less evolved than ours.” His silvery brows arched and he asked, “Who deemed you man’s guardian? If these civilizations asked for your assistance, it would be completely different.” “At the root of all our ‘meddling’ is a determination to survive,” she defended. “Fedoros has been overcrowded for generations. If we hadn’t branched out and colonized other worlds, who knows what would have happened.” “But Fedorans obliterated the indigenous populations of many of the worlds they targeted for colonization.” “That’s not true either. We assimilate the population into our colonies.” “And if the population resists assimilation, you genetically alter them until they fit your needs.” It was hard to argue that point when the result of the practice was staring her in the face. She tucked her hair behind her ears and reminded, “We were talking about New Pompeii.” Bertrom chuckled, his eyes warming until they appeared purple. “Shall I temper my candor? You seem agitated.” “No. I suspect a great many share your views. How do you perceive New Pompeii?” It took him a moment to answer, and when he did his words were precise, obviously chosen with utmost care. “The only way most Fedorans can access the

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‘wonders’ of New Pompeii is through entertainment simulations. The actual resort is an extravagant luxury far beyond the means of ordinary people. An entertainment sim can be generated without enslaving living, breathing human beings, so most of the people I know find it distasteful and unnecessary.” “But we didn’t enslave them. We rescued them from certain death and provided them with a home very similar to the one destroyed by the volcano.” He smiled and patted the table. “Lie back down. You don’t believe your brother’s rhetoric, so you’ll never convince me. The people in New Pompeii might not realize they exist for the entertainment of the idle élite, but we both know better.” With a frustrated sigh she returned to her earlier position, her mind more conflicted than before. Bertrom’s hands were strong and sure, his rhythmic motions usually enough to melt her anxiety. “I know you don’t believe in my gift,” he said after a long, silent pause, “but your soul strands are especially tangled.” Soul strands, auras, chakras and tao all meant little to Naloni. She believed in things she could see, hear, smell and touch. “So untangle them,” she murmured. His hands stilled and the air around her grew noticeably warmer. The hairs on her arms and the nape of her neck rose so quickly she turned her head. “I was kidding. What are you doing?” His expression turned thoughtful as he looked at her—or rather looked around her. As he’d described it in the past, soul strands radiated out from inside a person like a multicolored nimbus. “Sometimes tangles can be manipulated by an outside force. Your snarls are too old, too compounded.” She shook her head and rested her chin on her hand. “Figures.” “However, I can guide you through an exercise that will allow you to untangle the strands yourself. It will give you greater concentration and focus for the tasks ahead.” A reluctant smile curved her lips. “How do you know what task lies ahead for me?”

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He hadn’t resumed his massage and his voice took on a different rhythm, more confident, more filled with import. “I see danger and a period of great darkness, but beyond the trials is the potential for far-reaching change.” He’d perfectly described her agenda for the following night. Infiltrating the festival was definitely dangerous, and she suspected she would be horrified by many of the things she witnessed there. Still, if she were able to gather enough evidence, she would be able to motivate her father to make meaningful changes in New Pompeii. “I think you listen at keyholes.” She tried to lighten the mood and ease the tension gathering between her shoulder blades. “There is nothing mystical about your abilities.” “Who is the fierce-looking man with pale blue eyes? He is woven through each of your tangles.” She scrambled for a nonchalant reply. He couldn’t know about Max. She’d mentioned the affair to Elaina, but she hadn’t described him. And Bertrom had never been to New Pompeii. “What do you mean he’s woven through my tangles?” He helped her down from the table and held out her satin robe. She slipped it on and secured the belt before he answered her question. “Viewing soul strands offers me information about a person’s past and present. Occasionally I receive impressions of what is likely to come. When I access the strands, allow them to flow through me, the information is much more specific. I not only see images, I experience emotions. This man has had a profound impact on your life.” “That’s nonsense.” She crossed her arms. Denial had kept the ghost more or less at bay for the past six years. Why should she change her strategy now? “He was a youthful indiscretion that ended badly. I haven’t seen or spoken with him in years.” “How often is he in your thoughts?” Max seldom left her thoughts. She swallowed hard and moved to the small, round table on the far side of the private spa. The facility was reserved for residents of the

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palace and their guests, so she frequently had the place to herself. Massages, mud baths and pedicures didn’t hold much appeal to the male members of the royal family. “You mentioned an exercise that would untie some of these knots.” She poured herself a tall glass of whatever fruit concoction Bertrom had dreamed up that morning then slipped into one of the chairs. “To untangle the strands you must return to the events that caused them. Emotions may surface that you’re not ready to face.” He joined her at the table, his strange lavender gaze intent on her face. “Then why should I bother? I can’t change the past, so why dredge it all up again?” “I know you are about to undertake something both important and dangerous. Your mind needs to be clear and your emotions balanced for you to accomplish what you’re setting out to do.” She raised her glance and stalled by taking several slow sips. The bright orange color was less than appealing, but the taste was refreshing and slightly sweet. “Your concern infers that my mind is not clear nor my emotions balanced. I think you’re underestimating me.” “He will be there tomorrow night. This man from your past is about to reenter your life.” His casual statement impacted her like a kick to the chest. She felt shocked and angry and bruised. “How can you possibly know these things?” “You know the answer to that. Fedoran scientists have always been fascinated with the true potential of the human mind. Morality standards prevented them from experimenting on their own people, so they took advantage of the seeding programs.” “You are certain Max will be at the festival?” “I am.” She set down the glass and sighed. “Then guide me through this exercise. I’m far from ready to see him again.”

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Chapter Two Bertrom’s hands were warm and firm as they closed around Naloni’s. She stared into his lavender eyes, unable to hide her anxiety. It had taken years to drive thoughts of Max from her mind and banish his image from her dreams. Not that she’d actually ever succeeded. “Close your eyes,” Bertrom instructed. “Don’t resist the past’s pull. Allow your mind to flow where it will.” His hands squeezed hers with gentle reassurance as she obeyed. The spa was quiet. Jasmine and setrine flowers lightly scented the air. With predictable accuracy her mind returned to the center of the conflict, to the place where it all began. “Tell me what you’re seeing. You’ve not yet allowed me deep enough to share your memories.” She started to pull back, to abandon the strange exercise, but Bertrom pressed her hands between his palms and pushed tingling warmth up her arms. “Don’t retreat. I can sense your emotions. They are raw and convoluted. You are so angry and yet so hurt. How were these feelings unleashed?” Relaxing into the metaphysical flow, she drifted through events, connected to yet separate from them. She sighed and relaxed for a moment, letting her mind sink deeper into yesteryear. “Life at court was so filled with conflict and intrigue that I kept to myself as much as possible. The year Mother died, Father was inconsolable. Vito and Tarhee set off on their yearly tour of the colonies, and I convinced Vito to let me go with them.” “All three of you left your father alone to deal with his grief?” The disapproval in Bertrom’s voice annoyed her, made her feel defensive and unkind. “He refused to see anyone except his chancellor. Trust me. We tried everything

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to bring him out of his…darkness. We hoped that he would have recovered enough to let us share his pain by the time we returned.” Though Bertrom was clearly distressed by their choice, he made no further comment on the subject. “Close your eyes again. Try to show me the events as opposed to telling me about them.” She lowered her lids and shut out her surroundings, focusing on the memories. Her ears hummed then buzzed, and then the sound of a massive crowd erupted, drawing her deeper, immersing her completely in the vision. She sat between her brothers, torn between excitement and disgust. All around her people cheered, their expressions twisted with bloodlust and cruelty. Below, on the arena floor, a group of gladiators fought for their lives. Not pitted against other men, but facing off with massive golden cats. Tarhee had called them lions. She had thought the animals beautiful yet tragic, desperate for survival. Just like the gladiators. One of the lions leapt in a graceful arch, its target clearly a gladiator whose back was turned. Seeing the animal’s destination, one of the other gladiators lunged, going to one knee as he drove his blade upward into the unsuspecting beast. The lion roared, its belly split by its own momentum, dousing the gladiator in crimson gore. Horrified by the brutality, Naloni spun into Vito’s waiting arms. He pressed her face against his throat and gently patted her back. “Too much, little one?” “I want to leave. Can we please leave?” her voice was muffled against his chest. “I want to see the primus,” Tarhee insisted. “Take her back to the ship if you must, but Mikko and I are staying.” The primus? The main event—highlight of the day’s events. How could anything be more wretchedly sensational than what she’d just seen? “Just keep your eyes closed,” Vito suggested, pulling her closer against his side. “Can you do that for me?”

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The images rolled, undulating as her mind shifted to the next significant happening. The crowd’s repeated bursts of enthusiasm piqued her curiosity. She peeked through her fingers then slowly raised her head. This match was different, the combatants more evenly matched. The one with the feathered helmet seemed to be more aggressive, but the one with a sword and a knife was more skilled. One drove his opponent backward nearly the width of the arena before the other rallied and launched his own advance. Their muscles bunched and flexed as their swords swung and clashed. And in that moment, she understood their secret. These men did not fear death. What sort of bleak existence would make death the preferable option? Her dismal thought was interrupted by her brother’s hushed words. “Can you imagine how our people would respond to this?” Tarhee muttered, obviously absorbed in the savage exhibition. “Father would never allow it,” Vito was quick to point out. “What if we presented it like a sim?” Mikko suggested, his eyes gleaming with greed. “If people only had access to vids of the bouts, it would be no different than any other entertainment stream.” “Are you suggesting we broadcast real fights, or create simulations of what we’re witnessing now?” Vito wanted to know. Naloni’s gaze gravitated back to the battle. She was horrified and repulsed, and still she couldn’t look away. It was barbaric and cruel yet…graceful. Like a savage dance. The vision sped again, sweeping her closer to the emotional tangles, the events she loved and hated, and the man she couldn’t forget. She stood behind a wooden screen with the wife of the gladiators’ master. Her brothers and Mikko were negotiating with her husband, but she promised Naloni something far more interesting than business. “Are they not glorious?” the matron whispered.

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Glorious? Naloni pressed her hand over her heart, afraid her hostess would hear the frantic beating. Beyond the screen was a room tiled in bright colors and geometric patterns. In the center of the room was a bathing pool currently in use by eight gladiators. After scrubbing dirt and blood from their magnificent bodies, they waded into the steaming water. They spoke in low tones, uninhibited by their nudity. “Shall I send one to your bed chamber tonight? Several are especially skilled.” Naloni tried not to react to the offer. How did she know they were skilled? Had she watched them perform with her guests, or had she sampled them personally? “My brothers would never allow it.” The matron laughed, and the gladiators looked toward the screen, several shifting into positions that better displayed their physiques. “Your brothers need never know. Do you think my husband allows me to dally with his gladiators?” “I appreciate the offer, but…” Her words trailed away as a straggler entered the chamber. His build was leaner than the others, with tight corded muscles. Short dark hair and a swarthy completion provided dramatic contrast for his ice blue eyes. Her gaze reversed course, enjoying his broad chest and tapered torso before focusing on his cock. Even flaccid it was thick and impressive, triggering an ache deep in Naloni’s core. “Ah, you’ve spotted Max. He won the primus today. Did you see him in action?” The images blurred and Naloni felt the vision’s pull again. She struggled against it. The next time she saw Max was their first night together. She needed no mystic to reveal the details of those bittersweet hours. Every touch, every sensation was still clear within her memory. “You’re fighting me again.” Bertrom sighed. “This will never work if you resist my guidance.” “I don’t want to relive that night.” “Why are you afraid? Was it unpleasant?”

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“No.” She rested her forearms on the tabletop and bowed her head. “Just the opposite.” “Show me.” His tone took on a commanding edge that increased the mystic pull. Naloni released her hold on the present and surrendered to the past. They were back on Fedoros. After weeks of continual pressure from his sons, the emperor had agreed to a four-week trial of Gladiator Games. Max had signed on to the project as lanista, a trainer. Unlike the other gladiators, Max had earned his freedom in Rome, so his circumstances were unique. Though her father had abandoned his self-imposed seclusion, he was still irritable and argumentative. One evening, he summoned her and announced that he had decided who she would marry. She had expected the announcement since her eighteenth birthday a year and a half before. Still, nothing prepared her for her father’s choice in grooms. The man she was to marry was older than her father and already had four sons. Her tearful pleading fell on deaf ears and her hurt quickly turned to anger. She had always been an obedient daughter, bowing to her father’s wishes regardless of her own feelings. So she decided to foil his plan in the most outrageous way possible. She would give herself to a man completely unacceptable to the superior aristocracy. Using her own royal seal, she composed a note and signed Tarhee’s name. The note explained that Max was being rewarded for his exemplary service. He was to be left alone with his female visitor and all surveillance was to be turned off until the woman departed. She ended the note by stressing that Vito was opposed to the reward, so Tarhee was counting on their discretion. She changed into a thin satin slip that barely reached her knees then cocooned herself in a utilitarian cloak with a deep hood. She’d claimed a headache during the evening meal and retired for the night, so her guards were engrossed in a highly competitive game of cards. 20

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Sneaking out of her bedchamber had been easy. Her guards were always relaxed when they were inside the palace defenses. Leaving the palace itself had been more complicated, but Naloni knew of a weakness in the security grid. Once she reached the gladiator compound, the perimeter guard had taken her to his commander. The commander read the note twice then inspected the seal. Her seal was slightly smaller than her brother’s, but without having the two side by side, it was almost impossible to tell the difference. Finally, the commander decided “discretion” prevented him from further verification, so he unlocked Max’s cell. Naloni hadn’t trusted the guards to follow her instructions, so she had a signal jammer in the pocket of her cloak. She activated the small device before she spoke or lowered the hood. Max sat on his cot, one of the few pieces of furniture in the dreary room. He watched her with obvious curiosity but didn’t question her presence. She took off the cloak and hung it on a peg by the door. Max stood beside the cot by the time she turned around. “I am for you,” she said simply. She’d undergone a Latin infusion before accompanying her brothers to Italy, but she had spoken very little during their journey and that had been seven months ago. Max approached her slowly, his pale blue gaze piercing yet cautious. “Who are you?” He was isolated from the rest of Fedoros, but there was a slim possibility he would recognize her name. “Vanda.” She used one of her middle names. “Who sent you to me? Do you know why you were sent?” “Prince Tarhee is pleased with you, and he thought you would enjoy… Do you not want me?” “By the gods, you are stunning, but I will not bed you unless you are willing. Are you here of your own free will?” She nodded as tension gathered in her stomach. Could she really give herself to a stranger just to spite her father? The image of her would-be husband appeared in the back of her mind, driving away her uncertainty. If she would be forced to spend her life 21

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with a man of her father’s choosing, her first sexual experience would be with a man she chose! “I want this,” she lowered her gaze as she added, “but my experience is limited.” His warm hand touched her upper arm, his thumb gently rubbing. “How long will you be allowed to stay?” “As long as I like.” “Then we will take our time—linger at each step until you are ready for the next.” His words thrilled her and soothed her. She hadn’t expected gentleness from such a brutal man. Taking her by the hand, he led her toward his cot. There wasn’t far to go, the room was tiny. They faced each other, awareness pulsing between them. He traced her collarbone with his fingertips while his gaze caressed her face. “Are you from this place, or were you brought here in a skyship?” He sounded distracted and seemed more interested in the texture of her skin than her answer. “I am from here.” Naloni felt the vision begin to shift and fought the transition. Now that the event was before her, she longed for the feeling of Max’s mouth on hers and the fullness of his cock deep inside her. “Please,” she whispered to Bertrom, “just a little longer.” “Trust me.” She relaxed her mind and the scene refocused as opposed to progressing to the next event. She saw Max from her current perspective, without the emotions that had monopolized her attention on that night. His features reflected a greater conflict than she remembered. He had seemed so controlled, so sure of himself and what they were doing. “Tell me what you see,” Bertrom prompted. “He was as terrified as I was. Why is he afraid?”

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“These are your memories. I can’t sense his emotions. We can only speculate. Why do you think he would have been afraid?” “He’d left his world and everyone he’d ever known and come to this strange planet. He was at the mercy of the founders. Perhaps he was afraid I was a trap or some sort of test.” “Better, but dig deeper. What else can you perceive?” “Loneliness. There is such sadness in his eyes.” “Perhaps he feared a few hours of pleasure would make the empty days that much harder to bear.” The scene resumed from the new perspective. Naloni watched as he bent and pressed his lips to hers. The first kiss was slow and tentative, a simple brushing of lips against lips. She felt the slight pressure and the cascade of heat, yet she was an observer too. It was all very confusing and undeniably stimulating. He pulled back and gazed into her eyes. “Are you sure you want this? I cannot fathom why—” She placed her fingertips against his lips, silencing his argument. At the time, she’d thought he was being gallant, but now she saw the uncertainty buried beneath the smoldering desire. He hadn’t been sure he wanted to go any further. Was Bertrom right? Had her nights with Max only made his existence more miserable? Wrapping her arms around his neck, she pressed her breasts against his chest. “I want this. As long as you want this too, there is nothing more to talk about.” His fingers curved around the back of her neck as his mouth returned to hers. She caressed his back and shoulders while she rubbed against his lower body. His tongue swept across her lower lip then pushed into her mouth and she shivered. “Do your people not kiss like this?” he whispered against her damp lips. It wasn’t that she’d disliked the sensation. It had just caught her by surprise. She couldn’t admit that she had no idea how her people kissed without admitting to her

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complete lack of experience. She was never allowed to be alone with a man, never given the opportunity to misbehave. Rather than explain her reaction, she pushed to the balls of her feet and kissed him, using his technique as a pattern. She passed her tongue across his lip then delved into his mouth. His lips closed on her tongue and gently sucked. With a startled gasp, she jerked away. He chuckled. “You really are as innocent as you appear. Aren’t you?” She licked her lips and pulled his mouth down to hers, determined to divert his attention away from her lack of skill. His taste was new and dark and intriguing. Everything about him was new and intriguing. One of his hands held the back of her head while the other grasped her ass and pulled her closer. He adjusted the angle of her hips but couldn’t seem to create the alignment he craved. With a muffled curse, he picked her up and placed her on his cot, moving her arms over her head as he came down on top of her. For just a moment his big body trapped her against the bed, making her feel helpless and threatened, then he eased his knees between her legs and lifted his weight off her. His hips settled into the cradle of her thighs and his cock pressed against her crease. She pushed up against him, needing pressure on her clit. He rocked, rotating his hips just enough to slide his shaft against her swollen nub. She closed her eyes and gloried in the simple freedom of touching and being touched. Her life was so restrictive, so bound by protocol and expectation. His gaze darkened, burning with ravenous hunger, then his mouth returned to hers. The kiss was deep and drugged and endless. He held her hair with one hand and stroked her body with the other. She reached for him and he pushed her hands back against the bed. “Do not touch me,” he growled. “It has been too long.” He bunched her slip under her arms, unwilling to move long enough to undress her properly. She squirmed beneath his bold stare, but it was much too late for regrets. His 24

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hand cupped one breast as he kissed his way down to the other. Her skin tingled and her nipples tightened long before his lips closed around the tender peaks. He suckled her with strong pulls, lashing the tip with his tongue. She felt restless and achy, unable to lie still. Rocking back onto his feet, he pushed her legs farther apart and paused to look at her sex. Doubtlessly she was flushed and swollen. Could he tell how wet she’d become? He traced her crease with his fingertips and closed his eyes. “So hot. So very soft.” His fingers delved deeper, gently searching for the entrance to her body. “You are not…” He parted her folds with one hand and shook his head. “What are you doing here? You are untouched!” She reared up and grabbed his arm before he moved off her. “My father is…” she scrambled for a feasible lie. If she told him the truth, he would never finish this. “He’s going to sell me to a breeder. Just once I want to give my body to a man I have chosen.” “And what will happen when the breeder discovers you are no longer a virgin?” “It will be too late for him to do anything.” “No. He will beat you or worse.” He needed a stronger motivation, something more sinister. “It is said that he likes to sample each woman before she goes into the breeding pens. I will not give my virginity to that vile bastard! I want you. I chose to give this gift to you.” “Oh Vanda, if they find out I did this, they will kill me.” “No one will know,” she insisted. “I promise. No one will ever find out.” “I must be mad.” He positioned himself between her legs then moved his hands to her hips. “Grasp my shoulders, love, and don’t pull away. It will be better for you if this is done quickly.” His mouth settled over hers, distracting her and soothing her. Then he drove his cock inward as he pulled her hips up. The combined force sharpened the sting but

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decreased the duration. She gasped into his mouth then slowly exhaled. Her inner muscles stretched tight around him, making her feel incredibly full. Carefully keeping his weight on his knees, he caressed her breasts and arms and hips. When she finally relaxed, he eased his hand lower and found her clit with his thumb. Each careful circle made her insides quiver. She knew what he was trying to do, had rubbed herself to climax before, but this was different. The unavoidable thickness of his cock was a serious distraction. “I don’t think I can come like this.” “Come? What…where do you wish to—come?” “No, I mean have an orgasm, find release. What do your people call it?” He shifted his weight and the pressure inside her increased, making her moan. “There are many descriptions for the pinnacle of pleasure, and that is what I need from you. Until your body releases more fluid, I will not be able to move without hurting you.” “Then don’t look at me.” A slow, sexy smile parted his lips and his thumb altered its pattern. “I like looking at you. Your face captivates me and your body is beyond pleasing.” The unexpected praise eased her anxiety. She’d started this. It wasn’t fair to turn all blushing schoolgirl on him now. His gaze locked with hers and she pictured herself through his eyes, breasts heaving, legs spread, pussy tightly clasping his cock. Heat gathered low in her belly, directed by the steady stroking of his thumb. She absorbed the fullness and savored the connection. He was inside her, part of her, waiting only for her liquid welcome. His patience pleased her, allowed her to trust. She moved her hips, adjusting the pressure against her clit, working together until they found the combination that pleased her best. His gaze bore into hers as her inner muscles began to ripple. “That’s right,” he coaxed. “Let the pleasure come.”

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Her pussy contracted around him and her back arched. Pleasure burst within her and she tightly closed her eyes. Her core melted all around him, easing the friction and allowing him to slowly pull back. He arched over her, driving deep as he caught one of her nipples between his teeth. His sharp nip sent another blast of pleasure echoing through her body. She raised her legs against his sides and opened her eyes as he filled her again and again. His firm, steady rhythm soon had her panting and straining into each firm stroke. This was her moment, her night, and she had chosen to share it with him, only him. His eyes glistened, so unique and beautiful. It was not just the color but the tenderness so obvious in their shimmering depths. He kissed her and pressed her against him then rocked back onto his knees so he could thrust more forcefully. Another orgasm gripped her body and she dragged his mouth back to hers. She wanted his tongue in her mouth, completing the circle while she surrendered to the pulsating spasms. He grasped her hips and shuddered, riding the surge right alongside her. “Was this the only time you made love?” Bertrom’s gentle voice was still intrusive. “No,” she admitted as the images faded back into memory. “After that night, I couldn’t stay away. Our passion was like an addiction.” “Who found out about the affair, or did you intentionally tell your father?” “It was more complicated than either of those.” She shook her head. “I don’t see how this helps me prepare for tomorrow. All it’s doing is dragging my regrets to the surface.” “If you acknowledge your feelings and learn from your mistakes, these events can make you stronger.” “Max was not a mistake. Loving him was…” The words echoed in her ears, shocking and profound. Never before had she spoken the phrase out loud. She’d never allowed herself to consider the possibility. 27

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“Of course you loved him. Why does this surprise you?” “It doesn’t, not really. It’s just hard to hear after all this time.” “Why?” “Because of the way it ended.” She sighed, reluctantly drawing her emotional defenses back up around her heart. “And how much I miss him,” she whispered. Bertrum paused, his pastel gaze searching her eyes. “He was unable to come to you. He is still locked in the gladiator barracks. Why have you never gone to see him?” “There’s no point in it!” She stood so suddenly her chair toppled. “There is no point in any of it.” His smile made it clear he didn’t believe her. “Your paths intersect again tomorrow. You might want to spend tonight making sure that statement is true.”

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Chapter Three Naloni carefully eased her finger beneath her blonde wig and scratched her scalp. Her disguise was more of a precaution than a necessity. Her brother wouldn’t be surprised by her attendance even if someone recognized her. She just preferred to move about without drawing the sort of attention that invariably followed a member of the royal family. The rented villa was crowded, people spilling out onto the patio and filling the center courtyard. Once the upper level was opened, the attendees would be more evenly dispersed, but the festival had not yet officially begun. Lamplight cast a wavering glow over crisp tunics and elaborately draped togas. Knowing the night would be hot and humid, Naloni had chosen a simple tunic of lightweight linen. Already the material was clinging to the small of her back and the baby curls at her temples had begun to droop. Lavish buffet tables lined the wall between the archways leading out to the garden and armored guards stood sentinel at every exit. “If this is nothing more than an orgy, I’ll take it out on your lovely hide.” Stevon Poliantus leaned down and whispered the semi-playful threat into her ear. For years Stevon had hinted that there were all sorts of things he’d like to do to her hide, but Naloni refused to respond to his advances. She liked him, considered him a friend, but she felt no romantic attraction to him. “Has there ever been this sort of security for one of Tarhee’s orgies?” Their invitations had been authenticated by a computer and they had been subjected to full body scans before being allowed to enter the villa. With a noncommittal shrug, Stevon sipped his wine and looked out over the sea of faces. Stevon had seen the prophet potential in Gladiator Games and became one of the 29

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first investors in the fledgling endeavor. His financial support over the years motivated the founders to offer his media conglomerate exclusive broadcast rights to every event in New Pompeii. He’d jumped at the opportunity and everyone had been pleased with the result. Still, his loyalty to the founders did not extend to becoming an accessory to their crimes. “Speaking of security,” Naloni drew his attention back to her. “How were your people able to smuggle their equipment past security?” He smiled, the expression rolling ten years off his appearance. He had been classically handsome in his prime, but the passage of time had left him with character and debonair appeal. “Do you think this is the first event we’ve stealthily recorded? My people are pros. They do this sort of thing all the time.” Anticipation rose within her. This was really happening. Tonight they would pull back the curtains on New Pompeii and expose all their carefully guarded secrets. “Where are they? How many teams did you bring?” “It’s better if you don’t know.” The silver threaded through his dark hair glistened as he turned his head and met her gaze. “I don’t want you inadvertently drawing attention to them. You asked that the entire villa be fully covered and that’s what I’ve done.” She touched his upper arm and smiled. “Thank you. I know this undertaking is not without risk.” He took her hand and pulled her closer, dark eyes warm and caressing. “I don’t want your appreciation, Naloni. I want you to give me a chance. Accept one of my invitations and let’s see if we can create some sparks.” “Sparks should just happen. They shouldn’t have to be created.” She lowered her gaze, uncomfortable with the open longing in his eyes. “It doesn’t always work that way. Sometimes people have to—” A sudden escalation in the surrounding conversations drowned out the rest of his plea. Naloni slipped her hand from his and turned to see what had caused the 30

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disruption. Tarhee and Mikko Xyell had just entered the room. A small procession of mostly naked people followed in their wake. The crowd parted, allowing them to pass and offering the visitors a better view of the entertainers. Mikko climbed onto a small dais while Tarhee remained on the floor. Mikko enjoyed the attention of public spectacles while her brother preferred small, intimate gatherings. Naloni fiddled with the end of her braided golden belt as she strained to hear Mikko’s words. Part of her hoped she had wasted Stevon’s time. If this was all exaggerated gossip, then people were not being hurt and her brother was not a monster. Unfortunately, a larger, more realistic part understood that outcome was highly unlikely. “Welcome!” Mikko called, signaling the visitors to quiet. “Welcome to the first annual Festival of Venus.” The crowd responded with a polite round of applause, still a bit unsure of what to expect. “As each of you know, this event is invitation only to ensure only the best and most discreet customers are included in the festivities.” The second round of applause was louder, more enthusiastic. “In the true spirit of the original city, we are going to offer Venus worship without reserve. Our pleasure and passion will be so uninhibited and sincere she will descend from Mount Olympus and walk among us!” “That should be interesting,” Stevon said into her ear. Mikko was obviously not finished, so Naloni didn’t reply. “The activities on the main floor are meant to be enjoyed by everyone. There are no rules here. Nothing is shameful, nothing forbidden!” A burst of raucous calls and whistles followed this statement. “Each room upstairs will feature a different fantasy. If you want to share your indulgence with others, simply leave the door unlocked. If you prefer a private session, lock the door. But please remember, there are likely others with the same fantasy. We can make other arrangements if you want to take your time and savor the experience. If you have any questions or if your fantasy is not offered in the

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rooms above, Prince Tarhee and I are here to negotiate custom fantasies. Enjoy the festival!” When Stevon turned to her again, all playfulness had vanished from his face. “I’ll dispatch a team to each of the rooms above. I want you to leave now. If anyone realizes what we’re doing, things could get ugly quick.” “Not a chance.” She squared her shoulders and met his gaze. “I brought this to you. I need to see it through to the end.” He looked around the crowded room. She had no idea what he was hoping to find. Then he made a disgruntled sound and said, “At least stay on the main floor.” “Agreed. I suspect I don’t want to know what’s going on up there. Are you sure it’s safe for your people?” “They are working in teams and most are ex-military.” “Rather than pampered princesses?” “I didn’t say that.” But his smile made it obvious he agreed with the sentiment. “I’ll mill about and try to be inconspicuous.” “I’m directing the others, so I’m going to try to find somewhere relatively quiet.” She nodded. “If I need you or decide to leave, I’ll find you first.” He nodded and moved off through the crowd. A live tableau had been set up in one corner of the room. Three naked couples assumed sexual positions then froze, making sure everyone had plenty of time to admire each detail before they shifted into a new position. Their expressions were convincing, their positions creative, but as they moved from one pose to the next, it was obvious they were not really fucking. Discontented murmurs spread through the onlookers. The men switched from one woman to another, but the “action” remained vanilla. “This is boring,” someone muttered. “I’m glad I didn’t pay for this.” Hearing the criticism, the combinations became more daring. Two of the women pleasured one man while two men pleasured one woman. 32

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“His cock’s not even hard,” another onlooker complained. “Put him in your mouth, sweetheart. You can’t fake that.” “Better yet, give us real penetration,” another demanded. “Enough of this pretend shit!” Tarhee moved up beside the performers and explained his displeasure with one scathing look. Cocks were immediately buried inside pussies and one of the women frantically sucked until the last man was hard. “If you would like to see specific positions,” Tarhee told the crowd, “they will respond to your suggestions.” The performers exchanged mutinous glances, but none broke character. “I want that one to lick her pussy while that one sucks his cock.” The man directed to suck cock looked decidedly uncomfortable. The third man attempted to take his place, but the onlooker insisted he wanted the first man. Naloni had seen enough. She had no idea what the founders had promised these people, or what they were holding against them, but it was obvious they were being required to do far more than they had expected. Was one of Stevon’s teams recording this display? She moved around slowly, trying to spot anyone with a suspiciouslooking piece of jewelry or… Or what? She had no idea how such things were done. “This is a special treat, ladies and gentlemen,” Mikko’s sharp voice drew her attention to a stage in the far corner of the room. Hurrying away from the living tableau, she wove her way toward the small stage. “Wrestling pits are dark and dangerous, and onlookers miss so much when they can only see the action from above. This match is guaranteed to be different. House Olla has issued a challenge to House Zyell and we have accepted. The two men you are about to see are both proven champions.” He raised his arm in a dramatic signal for the wrestlers to enter. Dario, the newly defeated champion of New Pompeii, looked as deadly as ever with his spiky black hair and obsidian eyes. Was it insulting for a gladiator to wrestle? Wrestling tested strength and agility and the determination to overcome. All similar

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qualities to what was required for success in the arena. Of course the only weapon he would be allowed was his body, and he’d thrust with a different kind of sword. The thought drew her eyes downward from his menacing features. His body hair had been removed and his skin oiled until every ripple and bulge stood out in striking prominence. His cock had begun to rise, a formidable weapon indeed. He rolled his shoulders and flexed his arms as he waited for his opponent. “The representative of House Xyell has not fought publicly for quite some time, so this is a rare treat. After retiring undefeated from both the arena and the pits, he became my lanista. He has produced more champions than the other trainers combined, and he has served me with loyalty and honor.” Naloni tensed, her heart hammering in her breast. Why would Max… It couldn’t be. But Bertrom had warned her that Max would be here, that their lives were about to reconnect. “House Xyell is proud to present Patricius Maximus, our undefeated champion!” The crowd roared, some shouting encouragements to Dario, others in support of Max. Max entered from the other side of the room, his stride purposeful, head held high. He was lean, sleek, each muscle sharply defined. Whatever they’d used to slick back his hair made it look more black than brown. The severe style accentuated his fierce features and the unexpected beauty of his light blue eyes. “Wow,” the woman next to her muttered. “I wonder if they’ll be available upstairs after the fight.” Naloni’s hands clenched and she turned to berate the woman but realized the woman had been talking to her male companion. “I’ll find out, darling,” the man assured. “I would love to watch you ‘wrestle’ with one or the other, or were you thinking both?” Needing to be away from their disquieting speculation, Naloni eased between two tittering women and maneuvered her way closer to the stage. She didn’t want to think

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about Max with other women. She didn’t want to think about Max. But here he was in all his savage glory, even more captivating than he’d been in her dreams. “This is a full-contact bout. No mercy will be given. One or the other must be pinned before the winner will be declared,” Mikko explained. Naloni’s gaze gravitated toward Max’s groin. He wasn’t even hard yet. How did he expect to pin Dario if he couldn’t get an erection? She caught her bottom lip between her teeth and crossed her arms over her chest. Her gaze slowly worked its way back up his body and found his crystal blue eyes staring back at her. She took an automatic step back, but the person behind her pushed her forward again. There were two rows of people between her and the stage. Was Max really looking at her? Did he recognize her in this ridiculous wig? Did he even remember her after all these years?

Max fought back the urge to jump off the stage and rip the wig off Naloni’s head. The elaborate style distracted from the purity of her features, but nothing could deter from her clear hazel eyes. So bright and open for someone so conniving. She obviously hadn’t changed much. She still loved disguises and pretending she was someone other than the emperor’s daughter. Memories bombarded his mind, unwanted and dangerously distracting. He could not think about her right now. He would not! His chin shot up and he raised his gaze, looking out over the heads of the onlookers. Mikko was still babbling. Would the man never cease and let them begin? Finally Mikko grabbed their arms and forced them to face each other. “You both know the rules. Any part of your body touches the floor and you’re disqualified. I’m sure neither of you wants to win that way, so keep it on the stage. There are no time limits and no breaks. You wrestle until one of you is pinned.” He looked down at Max’s cock and shook his head. “Do you need a nice warm mouth to harden that up? I’m sure any one of these ladies would be happy to oblige.” 35

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“My cock has never failed to rise, sir. There is no reason for concern.” Dario smirked and thrust his hips forward, causing his erection to bob. “Begin!” Mikko leapt off the stage as the combatants charged. The oil made it harder than hell to grasp Dario. Max’s hands slid down his arms and across his back without ever finding purchase. Luckily, Dario was having the same problem. Their shoulders smacked against each other and Dario wrapped his arms around Max’s back. “I make my move tonight. Are you with me?” Dario’s harsh, urgent whisper sounded in Max’s ear. They repositioned, arms sliding as they slowly circled. “What move?” Dario lodged his shoulder into Max’s armpit and tightly clasped his arm. With surprising ease, he bent his knees and flipped Max up and over his body, slamming him down on the stage with a resounding bang. The breath whooshed out of Max and spots of light burst behind his eyes. After one moment of shocked immobility, he grappled for some sort of hold, twisting and thrashing to prevent Dario from controlling him. He forced his legs beneath him and lifted Dario while angling sharply to the side. Dario slid off and landed on his side, Max lunged for him, forcing Dario over as he landed sideways across his body. “They will listen. They will have no choice,” Dario went on in a hoarse whisper. “You’ll get yourself killed,” Max hissed in return. “No. Trust me. This is foolproof.” Only a fool ever believed anything was foolproof. “Is this why you challenged me?” “Yes.” Though softly spoken, the word rang with impatience and significance. They continued to wrestle, each skillful enough to evade the other’s moves. “Are you with me or not?”

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“What are you planning?” Max had Dario beneath him now, legs bent, in the perfect position to pin him. “No time! Make it look like you’re going to pin me then shove me forward hard.” Understanding the maneuver, and cursing himself for a fool, Max made his decision. “All right.” He pulled Dario’s hips up and reached between them as if to position his cock. Then he shoved Dario toward the corner of the stage and the armed guard stationed there. Max leaped to his feet and whirled on the other guard, grabbing his sword and slamming the flat of the blade against the side of the guard’s head. The guard moaned and swayed. Max raised the weapon to strike again, but the guard collapsed into a messy heap as the onlookers watched in wonder. “Seize them!” Mikko’s command sent a wave of fear through the stunned audience. Apparently they couldn’t decide if this was part of the show. Those closest to the exits didn’t wait to find out, but the crush of bodies had many people trapped. Dario shoved his way to Naloni and grasped her from behind, pressing the guard’s sword against her throat. “Back off or she dies!” Dario shouted. She was no random hostage. Dario had run directly to her. “Kill her!” Mikko yelled. “Kill them both.” “Ask Tarhee first!” The confidence in his voice slowed the response of the advancing guards. Infuriated yet trapped by his decision, Max positioned himself at Dario’s back. Guards rushed toward them from all over the villa, some brandishing pulse pistols. “Now what?” Max whispered. “Call out to your brother,” Dario told Naloni. “Fuck you,” she whispered in return. “This is Princess Naloni!” Dario took a cautious step forward and Max matched his movement. “Harming her sentences you to death.”

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“Which means you’re a dead man already!” Max couldn’t see Prince Tarhee, but his voice rang out over the thinning crowd. “Naloni, is that really you?” Silence. “Max, take off her fucking wig. She’s our ticket out of here.” Rather than voice all of his concerns with Dario’s plan, Max moved in front of them and quickly found the pins anchoring the wig to her head. She glared at him in mutinous silence, so he focused on the task and avoided her gaze. Movement blurred his peripheral vision. Max spun and brought his sword arm up, smacking the guard’s forearm with the flat of the blade. His pulse pistol discharged into the ceiling and screams echoed through the room. He swept the guard’s legs out from under him and stomped on his wrist. The guard cried out, but his hand released and Max snatched up the fallen man’s weapon. When he returned his attention to Dario, he found the wig on the floor at Naloni’s feet. He wasn’t sure if she had finally given in and removed it or if Dario had managed to finish the task. With the pistol in one hand and a sword in the other, Max returned to his position at Dario’s back. “Hold your fire!” Tarhee called. “They have nowhere to run.” A fact that was utmost in Max’s mind. How did Dario expect to force the emperor to do his bidding when he had no way to contact him? The only people who had access to technology were the Fedorans. Mikko and Tarhee would assure their guests that there was nothing to worry about, perhaps even hint that anyone who needlessly worried the emperor with this unfortunate incident would no longer be welcome in New Pompeii. Didn’t Dario realize the power the founders had over their customers? If a customer acted against the wishes of the founders, they risked exposure or being ostracized. And these people were addicted to these pleasures as surely as any drug addict craved their next fix.

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Dario ducked into an alley, dragging Naloni along behind him. Max listened carefully for sounds of pursuit as he followed in their wake. “Tarhee is right. My father will kill you for this.” Her voice cut through the darkness and she tugged and twisted against Dario’s hold. “Be quiet or I will gag you.” Max scoffed. “Better gag her now. She’ll fight you every step of the way.” “You’re both naked! Do you honestly think no one will question two naked men dragging around a bound and gagged woman?” Dario didn’t respond to either of their criticisms. Keeping to the alleyways, he wended his way toward the less-exclusive part of the city. They reached a nondescript corner and Dario shoved Naloni toward Max. “Stay here and keep her quiet. I’ll be right back.” Without further explanation he darted around the corner and disappeared into the night. Needing one of his hands to control her and having no way of keeping either of the weapons on his person, he tossed the sword into the darkness and used the pistol to back her against the wall. She stood there, head tilted, eyes narrowed to gleaming greenish-brown slits. Did she remember him or had he been one of many Princess Naloni rewarded with her supple body? Even if he’d not been her last, he’d been her first! No one could take that away from him. “This is ridiculous.” Her tone was composed and cold, so very…royal. “You must let me go before your partner returns or you’ll both pay for this stupidity with your lives.” “Is that so?” He moved closer, unable to resist the tangible pull of her innate sensuality. He didn’t think it was possible for any woman to be more beautiful than his memories of Naloni, but time had sculpted her features with maturity and grace. Where she had once been pretty and sweetly innocent, she now possessed an exotic beauty

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both rare and stunning. “If we’re both destined to die, why not enjoy our captive to the fullest? You’ve presumed this is about escape. Perhaps we just want a taste of royal pussy.” She gasped and shrank back against the wall. “That’s a horrible thing to say.” Her gaze softened and her lips trembled. He wasn’t sure if her distress was real or cleverly acted, but it was effective. “Why are you being so crass? Have you changed that much since I saw you last? You were dominating and unpolished, but you were never a bully.” So she did remember him. His body stirred at the memory of all they had shared, and he thanked the Benevolent Maker for the darkness. “Everyone changes, Vanda. You miraculously morphed from a breeding slave into a royal princess. I’m pretty sure my crassness can’t hold a candle to that!” Dario returned, postponing her reply. He was dressed in a short tunic and leather sandals, and he tossed Max a bundle containing similar garb. Perhaps more planning had gone into this strategy than Max originally thought. While Max wiped the oil from his skin and dressed, Dario bound Naloni’s hands behind her back and draped a wide palla around her shoulders and over her head, creating a hood that cast her face into shadow. Then he lowered the hood and held up a length of cloth, obviously intending to gag her. “That’s not necessary,” she said calmly. “Max has a pistol. Do you really think I’ll risk my life by drawing attention to us?” “Absolutely,” Max countered. “She will die before she willingly cooperates. You have no idea how stubborn she can be.” “And you do?” Dario challenged as he tied the gag behind her head. “You keep offering advice as if you know her.” “Our paths crossed before,” Max admitted. “A very long time ago.” Dario looked intrigued. “Now there is a story I’m anxious to hear, but we’ve a long way to go before it’s safe enough for conversation.” 40

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“There is nowhere in the city where we’ll be safe,” Max finally pointed out. “Which is why I’m taking you beyond the barrier.” Dario offered no more information. He pulled Naloni’s hood back into place and wrapped his arm around her waist. “Let’s go.” Having burned his bridges behind him, Max followed Dario into the unknown.

***** The door burst open to Emperor Sineth Olla’s private dining room, causing his attendants to jump. Sineth tossed the piece of succulent larinta fish in his mouth and glared at the intruder. “What the hell is wrong with you, Firdose? You know I hate interruptions when I’m eating.” “This is important, Your Majesty, or I would not have bothered you.” Not only had Firdose entered without knocking, he rushed across the room without waiting for permission. Something must be very wrong. Nothing rattled Firdose. Sineth set down his fork and swiped his mouth with his napkin. “What’s going on?” The chancellor moved to the companel and activated a global news feed. The image materialized on the standard viewscreen until Firdose switched it to holo-mode and transferred the broadcast to the tabletop reflector. “One of the chamber maids brought this to my attention,” Firdose told him in a tight, agitated tone. “As close as I can figure, this happened less than an hour ago.” In shocked horror, Sineth watched as two naked wrestlers jumped from a small stage and terrorized the onlookers. He was about to ask Firdose why he should care about a disturbance in New Pompeii, when the black-haired wrestler grabbed a young woman and placed his sword against her throat. Sineth’s heart lodged solidly in his throat and he leaned closer to the silent image. “Is that… Please tell me that’s not Naloni.” As if in response to his deepest fear, the accomplice attempted to remove her wig. His efforts were interrupted by a charging

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guard, so the brigand holding her finished the job. “Is this some perverted joke? Why has no one reported my daughter’s abduction? Where the fuck is Tarhee!” “I pinged his comstation the moment I saw the feed,” Firdose assured him. “But audiocoms are forbidden inside the barrier. All we can do is wait until he responds.” “I wait for no one, not even my son,” he shouted. “This is outrageous!” The vid began to loop, so Firdose deactivated the channel. “I’ll try again, Your Majesty. One moment please.” With shaking hands the chancellor paged the prince and then paged him again. “I’m a little busy right now,” Tarhee snapped a moment later. “Activate video, you worthless piece of shit!” Sineth stomped across the room and shouldered Firdose aside. “Where the fuck is your sister?” The vidscreen flickered and then an image of Tarhee’s pale face materialized. “Hello, Father.” “Don’t play coy with me! I’ve seen the news feed.” Tarhee’s eyes rounded and he said something to whoever was just off screen. “I was unaware there was a news feed. We are scouring the city for her even as we speak. She was taken by a couple of malcontents. They could not have gone far.” “I saw those ‘malcontents’. They were armed gladiators. Am I wrong?” “No sir,” Tarhee admitted. “I don’t believe they’ll hurt her.” “Why the fuck not?” Sineth shook his head, unable to believe any son of his could be so naive. “It was not a spontaneous act. She was intentionally targeted.” “I am well aware of the situation. I watched it happen. They will demand some sort of ransom. Of that I have no doubt, but why would you presume she’s safe until negotiations are concluded? They could pass her back and forth until—” His voice broke and he clenched his fists, infuriated by his loss of control. “She must be found as soon as possible.” 42

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“Everything that can be done is being done.” The assurance sounded hollow and Tarhee’s terrified expression hinted at his doubts. “She’s chipped, you imbecile. Have you scanned for her location?” Tarhee fidgeted, adjusting the drape of his ridiculous toga. “The noninterference clause makes such scans complicated.” “If anything happens to her, I’m holding you responsible.” He waited until the weasel looked him in the eyes and then he added, “Whatever they do to her will be done to you!” “Father, I—” “You have until morning then I storm your precious city with all the resources available to me. Your noninterference clause means nothing when my daughter’s life is on the line.” Without another word, he terminated the transmission.

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Chapter Four Hating the weakness revealed by her actions, Naloni clung to Max’s thick upper arm. Dario had untied her hands and removed the gag, which only made her more uncomfortable. If he wasn’t worried about her causing a scene, they must be isolated in deed. They’d passed through an abandoned work space, a smithy or some sort of metal shop. It was hard to tell from what remained of the ramshackle building. Max slung her over his shoulder and carried her down a ladder, much to Dario’s amusement. And then the endless tunnel. Dark and dank, the passage meandered and dipped with no apparent rhyme or reason. “Where are we?” she asked for the third time. “Don’t worry, Princess. We’ll protect you.” The sarcasm in Dario’s tone belied his assurance, so Naloni tried to ignore him. He carried a torch aloft, casting eerie shadows on the rough-hewn walls. There were no mines in New Pompeii, so this had to be a smugglers tunnel or some primitive escape route. But escape to where? Once they were beyond the barrier, how would an occupant of New Pompeii survive in Fedoros? “I had no idea this was down here,” Max muttered. “When and why was the passage dug?” Her attention perked as she waited for Dario to answer. “It was completed about a year ago and the team that dug it returned to their homeworld.” Their homeworld? Naloni tensed. Dario suddenly sounded less like a gladiator and more like a Fedoran spy. “We’re almost there,” he told Max.

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Almost where? She wanted to scream. Did they intend to keep her locked underground like some sort of animal? Would that be any worse than the conditions in which they were kept? She was fighting to change their circumstances. Of course they were unaware of her efforts. “I’m female,” she blurted, grasping for anything that would help Dario see that he needed to cease this nonsense before anyone was seriously harmed. “We noticed, Princess. Believe me, we both noticed.” “Within the Fedoran royal family that means my only real purpose is to produce a male heir.” It was a ridiculous exaggeration, but she could think of nothing else to motivate her release. “You should have taken Tarhee. He is worth far more to Father than—” “Are you suggesting we kill you and try again?” Dario spun to face her, his features almost demonic in the flickering light. “Or shall we spread those royal legs and get started on an heir?” “That’s enough,” Max cautioned. Dario’s only response was a scathing glance. Her shoulders began to shake and keeping her teeth separated was the only way to prevent their chattering. She had dressed for the crush of a party, not a cold, musty tunnel leading to who knew where. They emerged in a rounded chamber a few minutes later. Dario lit a second torch then shoved his into a sconce driven into the rock wall. The room was obviously manmade and offered little in the way of amenities. One wall was lined with trunks that looked faintly military. Dario unlocked the first with the key hidden in the crevasse above and to one side of its lid. “Are we staying here?” Dario’s dark brows arched with sardonic humor. “Not quite what you’re used to?” He pulled out a blanket and gave it a violent shake then draped it around her trembling

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shoulders. “Can’t have you dying of hypothermia. That would be counterproductive to my plan.” “Which is?” He’d said “my plan” not “our plan”. Did that mean Max was only along for the ride? Dario returned to the trunk without answering her question and drew out a snythleather case. Opening the case, he removed a small device. Was it a scanner or some sort of weapon? If he’d wanted her dead, she’d be dead. But there were other uses for weapons. What was a Pompeian gladiator doing with electronic gadgets? “Where did you get that?” “Out of the trunk.” He motioned over his shoulder with his thumb as he returned to her side. “Pull up your hair and bend forward.” “Why?” “Because if you don’t, I’m liable to pull up your skirt and bend you all the way over. Your choice.” “Are you Fedoran?” she asked in her native language. “I was born in Rome, just like Max,” he responded in the same language. “Then how do you know so much about my world?” She switched back to Latin just to remind herself she was dealing with the enemy. “I know lots of things. Now are you going to assume the position or would you like Max to help you? Something tells me it wouldn’t be the first time Max has bent you all the way over.” Ignoring his insinuation, she pulled her hair away from the nape of her neck and bent forward enough to keep it out of his way. She heard a faint hum as he maneuvered the device back and forth and up and down. Her eyes widened. “You’re searching for my GPS chip.” She started to straighten, but a strong hand pressed against the back of

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her head, keeping her in place. It had to be Max. Both of Dario’s hands were occupied with the scanner. “This is going to hurt, so take a deep breath.” She was halfway through her inhalation when pain stabbed into the back of her head, branching out like lightning across her skull. Her knees buckled and her stomach heaved, her breath releasing in a sustained moan. Max caught her around the waist before she crumbled to the stone floor. “Can’t say I didn’t warn you,” Dario muttered as he walked away. Max turned her and pulled her into his arms. Her legs shook so badly she had no choice but to wrap her arms around his back. Dario was an asshole, but Max was working with him. She couldn’t let herself forget they were partners. “What did you just do to her?” Max’s arms tightened around her with his agitation. He wasn’t hurting her, just molding her intimately against the front of his body. “She figured it out. I fried her GPS chip. You’re next, so get over the warm fuzzies. We’ve got work to do.” “Are you all right?” Max asked after an edgy pause. “I didn’t throw up all over you.” She groaned. “I guess that’s progress.” His warm chuckle was familiar and far more soothing than it should have been. “Let’s get you settled somewhere more comfortable.” She bit her lip, refusing to confess how comfortable she found his embrace. He helped her to the makeshift bed Dario had spread on the floor. Several blankets topped a thick foam pad. It was worlds away from her usual mattress, but anything was better than the cold stone floor. She scooted back toward the wall and he adjusted the blanket around her shoulders. With obvious reluctance Max returned to Dario and bowed his head. Dario repeated the procedure, only Naloni could see what he was doing this time. The device had a small screen that allowed him to pinpoint the identification-locator chip. Once he

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had the chip centered in the screen, he triggered a concentrated beam of… She had no idea what the turquoise beam contained. Max’s reaction was less dramatic than hers. His arms flexed and his body tensed. He waited for Dario to step back then he straightened and rubbed the back of his neck, his features blank and cold. He’d been blocking out pain for years. This was part of his everyday life. The realization made her discomfort seem insignificant. For a moment. Then her head started pounding again. “He wouldn’t happen to have a pain reliever stashed in that trunk, would he?” Max looked at Dario expectantly. Dario glared at her for a moment then reached into the trunk and tossed her a small packet. By the time she’d opened the packet and withdrawn the twin tablets, Max had located a canteen. With an appreciative smile, she washed down the medicine with the tepid water. “Thank you,” she told Max. “You’re welcome,” Dario replied then he turned to Max. “You want one?” Max just rolled his eyes. “What about your chip?” “Mine has been ‘malfunctioning’ for several months now. Tarhee keeps meaning to have it replaced, but procrastination is his middle name. Besides I’m such a nauseating kiss-ass, he had no reason to think he’d ever need to locate me.” He moved in front of her and pinned her with his cold black stare. “I was really disappointed when I heard you’d be attending that festival of horrors. You were the only member of the royal family I thought possessed a soul. Now I know better.” “I wasn’t there to participate,” she objected. “I came with Stevon Poliantus. He—” “I know who he is,” Dario snapped. “If it weren’t for his media network, New Pompeii wouldn’t be accessible to the masses.” “We’d heard stories of abuse and torture. We were there to investigate.” Why was she arguing with him? It was obviously a waste of time.

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His caustic laugh didn’t surprise her. He was beyond rational debate. “I saw your idea of investigation. Which did you enjoy more, the live tableau or our wrestling match? Are you disappointed that we attacked before Max shoved his cock up my ass?” “She could be telling the truth.” It wasn’t an impassioned defense, but anything was welcome. “I know she was contacted by a member of the resistance. There’s a lot going on behind the scenes that you are not aware of.” “Like what?” He turned on Max. “A tunnel leading under the barrier? If I’m not mistaken, you knew nothing about this escape route.” “We’re under the barrier?” Naloni latched on to the fact. At least it gave her some idea of her whereabouts. “Directly under at the moment. Our ride is still several hours away, so we’ll have to hang out down here.” His dark gaze swept over Naloni’s huddled form. “However can we spend the time?” Max shook his head, expression grim. “You’re not going to hurt her, Dario. Find another way to amuse yourself.” Turning his hostile gaze on Max, Dario put his fists on his lean hips. The stance was aggressive, antagonistic. “You’re going to challenge me over one of them? Why don’t we start by subjecting her to every indignity her brother forced upon Arllo? That should keep us busy for days.” “Tarhee never touched Arllo,” Max told him. “No one did. She was still a virgin when she arrived on Outpost Nine.” Lowering his hands to his sides, Dario took a moment to reply. “What are you talking about?” He sounded confused rather than defensive. “I knew she wasn’t at the festival, but I thought… I thought they’d killed her.” The raw pain in his tone tore at Naloni’s heart. This was a glimpse into his motivation, revenge, frustration and utter hopelessness. How many others just like him peppered the houses of New Pompeii? Tarhee and Mikko played their sadistic games, never thinking about or caring for the lives they destroyed in the process. 49

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“Arllo was rescued by the people I work with. She was taken to Racine Colony, Outpost Nine. According to the last report, which I have no reason to doubt, she is unharmed and doing well.” “How is that possible?” He shoved his hand through his hair, creating even more dramatic spikes. His gaze thawed, filling with relief and a conspicuous excess of moisture. “Apparently you’re not the only game in town.” Max’s mouth curved just a little, but his eyes took on the warm radiance that haunted her dreams. “Your people chose to go under the barrier while mine found a way through. Both ways lead to freedom. That’s all that matters.” Dario rubbed his eyes then strode back to the supply trunks. “We all need to change. Our costumes will draw to much attention beyond the barrier.” He tossed Max a stack of military fatigues and set aside a similar outfit for himself. He continued digging, presumably for something that would fit her. But Max took off his sandals and her attention shifted away from Dario’s search. Max pulled the multi-pocketed black pants on under his tunic then tossed the tunic aside and reached for the matching pullover shirt. As always Naloni was struck by the symmetry of his body, each ropy muscle and long limb in perfect harmony. Though his legs were covered now, the knit shirt clung to his chest and broad shoulders. His gaze met hers as he wadded up the tunic, his smile slow and compelling. He’d caught her staring and didn’t seem to mind the attention. With far less subtlety, Dario pulled off his tunic and donned his new outfit. His body was every bit as conditioned as Max’s, so why didn’t she react the same way to him? She didn’t want to consider the difference, but her inactivity left her nothing to do but think or gawk at her captors. Max was more than an amazing body. She’d sensed an inexplicable connection the first time she’d looked into his eyes. He could be ferocious and deadly. There was no denying his ruthlessness, but he was more than bloodlust 50

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and pride. His character ran deeper, with more texture and intricate elements. Even when he thought her a lowly breeding slave, he’d treated her with respect and caring. Would those noble instincts change now that he knew her true identity? “You’ve seen ours, now it’s time to show us yours.” Dario’s provocative words ended her speculation. He held a third uniform but made no move to toss it to her. Max reached for the neatly folded clothes, but Dario twisted away. “Stop harassing her.” “I’m not harassing her. I just want to see her naked. She had more than an eyeful during our match.” “She wasn’t responsible for that display.” His second grab was no more successful than his first had been. “Actually, you were.” “It doesn’t matter, Max. I’m not ashamed of my body.” She stood and dropped the blanket then unwound her palla. “But know this, Dario, you’re just torturing yourself. If you harm me in any way, there is nowhere in this galaxy you can hide. My father will kill you.” Dario laughed. “I thought he didn’t value females. Why would he bother?” “Because I look just like my mother, and he loved her more than life itself.” Tears burned her throat as she registered the truth of that statement. He loved her so much he had nearly followed her into the afterlife. Very few knew how close Fedoros had come to losing their beloved emperor. While his children had been avoiding his pain! “You don’t have to do this,” Max’s voice was tight and low, but anticipation smoldered in his gaze. Looking only at Max, she unfastened the jeweled broach at one shoulder. Her tunic sagged, catching on the curve of her breast. Without changing her serious expression, she unfastened the matching broach and the tunic slid down her body, a whisper-soft caress as it pooled around her ankles.

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“You sure as hell have nothing to be ashamed of.” Dario’s voice was suddenly strained. “Turn around.” She looked and him and shook her head. “Give me the clothes.” Before Dario could torment her further, Max snatched the garments out of his hands and crossed to Naloni. He stood in front of her while she dressed, his gallant gesture ensuring his view of her naked body. The pants were a bit baggy, but the waistband was adjustable. The shirt, on the other hand, was nearly obscene. The fabric stretched so tight across her breasts that her nipples were clearly visible. “Did he do this intentionally?” she asked Max, tugging the shirt away from her chest. “Probably.” “Is there a problem?” The amusement in Dario’s tone confirmed her suspicions. She could either give in to his harassment and humbly ask for a different shirt or throw his immaturity in his face and let his body punish him. She’d seen how he looked at her. He was no doubt fighting a hard-on. “Not at all.” She halted Max’s protest with a subtle shake of her head. “It’s not my usual style, but it’s rather cozy.” Max looked at her breasts, gaze narrowed and nostrils flared. Unfortunately, his partner’s idiocy was going to punish him as well. “Have you contacted my father?” She moved out from behind Max and watched Dario’s reaction. With predictable speed, his dark gaze gravitated to her breasts and he slowly licked his lips. “Did you outline your demands?” Dario shook his head and dragged his gaze to her face. “The barrier jams most forms of communication. It will have to wait until we’re safely off-world.” “Then how do you know when our ride will arrive?” “It’s called a rendezvous, sweetheart. They’re set up in advance.” After another lingering look at her curves, he turned back to the trunks and asked, “Is anyone else

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hungry? We weren’t allowed to partake of those lavish buffets of course. We were part of the furniture.” She’d been too anxious to eat before, but her stomach wasn’t much calmer now. Dario found squeezable packets of the nutrient-rich paste soldiers often lived on while in the field. He tossed one to her and again she wondered at his obvious connection to the military. Realizing there was nowhere else to sit, she returned to the bed. Max caught the packet Dario threw him then sat on one corner of the bed, folding his legs in front of him. “Stevon Poliantus is a not-so-silent partner in New Pompeii. Why would he help you destroy it?” “He’s a shrewd businessman, but he also has this little thing called integrity. Regardless of the money it makes him, he wants no part of the things we’ve heard about.” She washed down a lump of paste with a swallow of water. Suddenly glad their “ride” was only a few hours away. “He had several teams at the festival tonight, compiling evidence.” “What did he intend to do with the evidence once it was compiled?” Max accepted the canteen from her outstretched hand and took a healthy swig. “Gods that tastes terrible.” Dario laughed as he closed the lid and sat on one of the trunks. “Food must be better at your ludus than mine.” Sparing him only a wan smile, Naloni went on. “If the scenes were as damning as we expected them to be, we would have shown them to Father. If Father refused to act, Stevon was prepared to go public.” “You’re serious about this?” Dario abandoned his momentary isolation and sat on the opposite corner of the bed from Max. “You’re really helping the resistance?” Naloni sat against the wall, her legs extended between them. “Laetif Xyell recruited Elaina and Elaina recruited me.” “Xyell’s sister and his wife are both part of the resistance?” Dario shook his head then released a disbelieving laugh. “That must be one dysfunctional family.” He was 53

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quiet for a moment, apparently lost in thought then he asked, “Do you know if Poliantus’ teams were able to record anything useful before we threw a fly in their ointment?” “I have no idea.” Naloni didn’t want to like him. He was brash and obnoxious, but she was starting to understand his sarcastic wit and his underlying motivation. “Is your timing always this bad?” He grinned. “Would you like to find out?” “Not in this lifetime,” Max answered for her. Dario resisted surrender a moment longer. “How do I know anything you’ve told me is true? You could both be full of shit. I have no way to verify anything you’ve said.” “I might have ulterior motives, but Max has no reason to lie to you.” “He could be protecting you.” She shook her head and glanced at Max. “I lost the right to his protection a long time ago.” “All right, since we’re being all chummy here, tell me how you met.” Max passed the canteen to Dario, his gaze carefully shuttered. “Go on, Your Imperial Highness, tell him how we met.” Squirming beneath the intensity of their combined stares, Naloni debated what to say. The mystic regression Bertram had guided her through left the events clearly etched in her mind. “I don’t think rehashing all that is beneficial to anyone.” “Fine. I’ll start,” Max volunteered. “I’d been on Fedoros less than a year when this incredibly beautiful woman was pushed into my cell. She told me the founders were pleased with me and she was my reward. I was still concerned that she was being coerced in some way, but would you turn down…her?” He swept his arm toward Naloni. “Hell no.” Dario looked at her, eyes narrowed with speculation. “Had someone bullied you into sleeping with Max?”

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She covered her face with her hand too humiliated to look at either of them. “No. It was entirely my idea.” “So why did you do it?” Max’s question sounded more like an accusation. “Once I found out who you were, I couldn’t begin to understand your motivation.” “Are you a gladiator…groupie?” Dario asked. “Is that the right word?” “Yes, the word is correct, but no, I’m not a groupie.” If she admitted her mistakes and dealt with her feelings, could she grow stronger from the events? Hadn’t that been what Bertrom promised? She looked at Max again and chose her words carefully, needing to purge her pent-up emotions without risking further pain. For either of them. “What I told you was not that far from the truth. Father was about to sell me to a lecherous old man.” Max’s brow shot up. “In other words, he’d arranged a politically beneficial marriage without consulting you?” No one could have missed the challenge in his tone. She accepted the criticism and continued. “I was angry and hurt that he hadn’t even attempted to find me a husband who would appeal to me personally as well as benefiting his empire.” “So you arranged for Max to ruin you?” Dario easily anticipated where the story led. “Oldest trick in the book. Well, one of them anyway.” “I didn’t set out to sabotage the betrothal, at least not consciously. I just wanted the first man I—” “You were a virgin?” “She’s a princess, asswipe,” Max snapped. “Of course she was a virgin.” “I wanted my first experience with sex to be with a man of my choosing. I intended to fulfill my obligations to Fedoros after that. I just needed a few nights for myself.” “Why Max? What drew a genteel princess to a vicious gladiator?”

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She shrugged, pulling her legs up and wrapping her arms around her knees. Just thinking about those long-ago nights awakened her body, creating heat between her thighs and hardening her nipples. “I’m not as genteel as you think.” “Is that so?” Dario grabbed her ankle and tugged her leg away from her chest. Spotting her pebble-hard nipple, he grinned. “Have you always liked it rough?” “Her sexual preferences are none of your business.” Max smacked his hand away, allowing Naloni to bend her leg. Dario ignored him and shifted to his knees. “I watched you watching the tableau. You were flushed and fascinated. Which position made you hottest?” The rebel in Naloni surged to the surface, refusing to be cowed by his provocation. He expected her to blush and simper. Well, simpering wasn’t in her nature and she wasn’t ashamed of her desire. “I understood the crowd’s frustration. The players had wonderful bodies, but none of them were very good actors.” The ache between her thighs intensified. She’d been horny ever since she entered the sexually charged atmosphere of the festival, and being this close to Max, knowing he still wanted her, only stoked the fires slowly building inside her. “Once they started actually fucking, I couldn’t look away. I felt bad for them. It was obvious they were in way over their heads, but no one can watch genuine passion without being moved by it.” “Sounds like an interesting challenge.” Dario’s brow arched and his eyes gleamed. “Let Max go down on you and let’s see who comes first, you or me.”

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Chapter Five Lust rolled through Max with violent intensity. He understood why Dario was provoking Naloni. Dario’s resentment ran deep and he needed an outlet for his anger and frustration. But why was Naloni adding fuel to the fire? Didn’t she realize Dario wasn’t going to back down? The harder she pushed the more aggressive Dario would become. Their power struggle cast Max in the role of referee, and he was doing his damndest not to act on his own carnal impulses. “No one is going down on anyone,” he grumbled. It would be so easy to pull her away from the wall and kiss her soft red mouth while he worked her pants down along those endless legs. “Fine.” Dario lowered his fists to the bed, bringing himself closer without actually leaving his corner of the mattress. “I’ll lick her pussy and you can watch.” Her hazel eyes shot Max a look of unmistakable panic. Possessive hunger launched Max into action. In an instant he was behind Dario, his forearm banding his throat. Dario laughed and held up his hands. “It was only a suggestion. I’m not blind. She wants you, not me.” “What she wants is to return to her father.” Liquid heat and stark longing waited as he looked into her eyes. “Isn’t that right, Princess? You were finished playing with me a long time ago.” “It wasn’t like that, Max. You left me.” If she’d flung the words in anger, he could have responded in kind, but her features softened and sadness expanded within her gaze, eclipsing even her desire. He would not comfort her! She had lied to him about everything. Their entire relationship had been based on an illusion. “I left a charming, spirited breeding slave who was determined to live life on her own terms. I don’t know you.” 57

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“I tried to tell you.” She lowered her face, hiding behind her sleek black hair. He knew the strategy well. She used it whenever her emotions became too strong to conceal. Shoving Dario away, he knelt at her side and tucked her hair behind her ear. She wouldn’t look at him but at least he could see her features. “You never told me because there was nothing worth saying. You would never be content in my world, and I’m not welcome in yours.” Miraculously Dario remained silent. He sat back down and watched the exchange with obvious interest. “We could have moved to one of the colonies or left the star system,” she whispered. “We could have found a way.” “Now you’re being naive. We were allowed those three weeks because your father believed you were relaxing with one of your female friends. If we’d attempted to leave the planet without his permission, he would have hunted us down.” “Those three weeks?” Dario echoed. “You smuggled him beyond the barrier?” “I wanted him to see that life was more than violence and pain.” She angled her head, freeing her hair. “How did you find out who she was?” he asked Max. Her head came up. She was obviously interested in his answer. Not interested enough to ask the question herself. No, that wasn’t fair. He’d intentionally given her the wrong impression, had thought it would make their inevitable parting easier on both of them. “We were at a private resort. She made sure we had a suite with no direct communication and no access to the data stream. Unfortunately, the gift shop didn’t get the memo. I walked in to purchase a pair of sunglasses while she was at the pool and they had an imager running in the corner. The feature was on the emperor’s upcoming birthday and one of the graphics showed him with his children.” “Why didn’t you tell me?” She rested her head against the wall and stared up at the ceiling. “I thought your story was crap. You’re not afraid of anything. I couldn’t believe 58

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you felt overwhelmed by the realities of Fedoros, but you wouldn’t let up. You would accept no other option.” “You spent three weeks on the outside and chose to come back here? Are you insane?” Many lonely nights Max had asked himself the same question, but he didn’t want to be a part of the outside world without Naloni and there was no way her family would let him be with her. Rather than respond to Dario, he looked at her and said, “You never tried to see me again.” It was a feeble argument, but it was all he had left. “You told me not to. You insisted that any contact with you would only reopen your wounds and cause you more pain.” Tears escaped the corners of her eyes and she furiously batted them away. “She loved you too much to hurt you anymore,” Dario murmured. “Even I can see that.” “It doesn’t matter,” Max insisted. “On either side of the barrier the truth remains the same. She is literally a princess and I’m basically a slave.” Dario pushed to his feet with his first warm smile. “Sounds like I need to take a walk. I’ve never seen a couple more in need of makeup sex.” Max just shook his head, but Naloni blushed, the splashes of color against her pale skin making her even more beautiful. Pausing long enough to drag a flashlight out of one of the trunks, Dario departed through the smaller door on the opposite side of the chamber from where they’d entered. “What happens now?” Naloni looked up at him, no longer trying to hide the conflict raging within her. “Will Dario let me go, or am I still your prisoner?” “He’s not going to hurt you. I won’t let him.” “That’s not what I asked.”

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He sighed. She was using this ill-fated escape to push him away. He wanted to crush her to him and silence her with long, deep kisses. But what would that accomplish? After their passion was sated, nothing would have changed. Frustrated as much by his helplessness as her persistence, he pushed to his feet. As long as she remained in reach, there was no hope of conversation. He wanted her too badly. And she wanted him. It was there in her eyes and the trembling of her lips. She’d always been delightfully open, abandoned to their passion. He had to stop thinking about the past! A relationship had been impossible then and it was impossible now. “I don’t know what he has planned,” Max admitted. “He challenged me to the wrestling match to make sure I’d be there tonight, but the rest just sort of happened. He told me to follow his lead. I had no idea you were his target.” “This passage has obviously been here awhile. I’m dying to know more about it.” “As am I.” The conversation felt awkward and cumbersome because neither of them wanted to talk. “Why did you never marry?” “You sound disappointed.” And she sounded annoyed. “Not in the way you mean. I obviously didn’t want you to marry the lecherous old man, but it saddens me to think of you alone for all these years.” She stood as well, tossing back her hair as spirit lit her gaze. “Why?” “You know why.” He had no intention of falling into her trap. If he touched her or let her touch him, they would both go up in flames. “How did you get out of the betrothal?” “Vito tracked me down at the resort three days after you returned to the ludus.” “Tracked you down?” “I was devastated, Max. I couldn’t think, couldn’t eat. I didn’t check in with security and Vito was worried.”

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Guilt twisted his heart. He hadn’t meant to hurt her. No, that wasn’t true either. At the time he’d been furious and he’d wanted her to understand how deeply lies could cut. Once he calmed down and was ready to talk, he’d had no way to contact her. And she had never returned. “So you told Vito about me?” He skimmed the surface of the conflict, unwilling to dive into the murky depths. “Not exactly. It was obvious I’d been with a lover and that I’d been dumped.” “I didn’t dump you. I just returned to my world and left you in yours.” She ignored the justification. “When he couldn’t talk me out of my depression, he became more aggressive with his inquiries. He spotted us on the resort’s surveillance vids. He recognized you immediately and couldn’t decide who he wanted to kill first, you or me.” “Then Vito told your father? “Of course not.” Each of his conclusions seemed to agitate her more. She slipped her hands into her pockets, which left her breasts temptingly revealed beneath the thin material of her shirt. “Vito managed the ludus. You were his responsibility. If he’d told Father, it would have reflected badly on him. He dragged me back to the palace and told me that I was banned from Gladiator Games. I wasn’t even allowed to attend the grand opening of New Pompeii and that was the social event of the century.” “And the betrothal?” He couldn’t help but smile. That was all he’d really wanted to know. Had she endured a scandal to be rid of the lecherous old man? “Vito told Father I had an affair with one of his men. He claimed I had sworn him to secrecy and he had no intention of breaking his word. Vows are important to Father, so he never pressured Vito for a name. All Father ever asked me was if I had been pressured in any way. I told him I hadn’t and we never spoke of it again. The betrothal was quietly dissolved and Father never contracted another one.” Unable to resist the cosmic pull of the only woman he’d ever loved, Max touched her arm. Her skin was soft and warm, addictive. “I can’t pretend I’m disappointed. It 61

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tortured me to think of you as another man’s wife. I have missed you so much.” The admission escaped with his sigh and she took a step toward him. “I’ve had seven proposals since you left, but I couldn’t bear to think of myself with anyone but you.” Had she sought comfort in another man’s arms? He shouldn’t ask if he couldn’t accept her answer. “Did any of them…” He couldn’t speak the words. She smiled, understanding the unspoken question. “You were my first and you’ll be my last. That’s all that matters.” “Agreed.” He raised his hand to her neck, tracing her jaw with his thumb. “Dario fried your chip. We can go anywhere we want. Are you really willing to leave your life behind? There is no way I will ever be able to give you the sort of life to which you’re accustomed.” “I understand that.” She licked her lips and lowered her lashes, shadowing her eyes. “I understood that way back then. I would have—” He pressed his thumb against her lips, stopping her recrimination. “We cannot waste time on the past. We can’t change the choices we made. We can only learn from them and move on.” Her lips parted beneath his thumb and she lightly nipped him. “That’s almost exactly what Bertrom told me yesterday.” “Who is Bertrom?” Her tone lacked the sensual purr that accompanied thoughts of a lover. “He works at the palace and he has some unbelievable abilities.” “A colonist?” She nodded. “He told me you were about to reenter my life. He didn’t say anything about you being naked or that you’d kidnap me.” He smiled and wrapped his arm around her waist. “Technically Dario kidnapped you. I was his accomplice, and I am not the only one who has been naked recently.”

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“Well, if we’re going to blame all this on Dario,” she smiled up at him, “he did leave so we could have makeup sex.” Max returned her smile, feeling relaxed and unfettered for the first time in years. He wasn’t sure where life was leading them, but they were finally headed in the right direction. “I hadn’t realized there were different kinds of sex.” She laughed, a light, musical sound. “There is slow-and-tender sex, fast-and-furious sex, I’ve-missed-you sex, and I-will-miss-you sex. There is angry sex and makeup sex.” He brushed her lips with his and whispered, “I want to try them all.” Her lips parted beneath his and excitement spread through his body, stimulating his senses and awakening his soul. Without her, he merely went through the motions of life. He focused on surviving each endless day so he could return to her in his dreams. “Is this real?” Her lips moved against his as she spoke, the caress even sweeter than their kiss. “I’ve dreamed of you for so long, I’m afraid I’m about to wake up.” “It’s real, my love. Somehow we found our way back to each other.” She tugged his shirt out from inside his pants and pushed her hands under the material. He did her one better and pulled her shirt off over her head. Her breasts swayed, the nipples peaked and ready for his lips. Needing more of her sweet kisses, he teased her nipples with his thumbs. Her agile fingers went to work on his pants while he savored her taste and the tenderness expanding within him. Life in the ludus was vicious and unrelenting. Being with her under any circumstances would be paradise by comparison. She was back in his arms where she belonged. And he would remain at her side or die fighting his way back to her. She pushed her hand down into his loosened pants and closed her fingers around his cock. He groaned into her mouth, staggered by the simple pleasure of being touched by her. Their mouths separated as she worked his pants downward. He lifted his feet so

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she could take them off. Neither of them had put on the boots that accompanied the uniforms, so her pants joined his in a matter of seconds. Naked and breathless, they looked at each other, caressing with eyes rather than hands. “You are so beautiful.” He swallowed hard, aching to be inside her yet knowing it would be over far too soon. An appreciative smile slowly parted her lips as her gaze boldly assessed his body. “I never get tired of looking at you.” “You’re welcome to do more than look. I certainly intend to.” He raised her hand toward her breast, but she sank to her knees and captured his shaft with her long fingers. She pumped him a few times while he trembled with need then she took the tip in her mouth. “Oh sweetheart, that feels so good.” He watched his cock slide in and out of her willing mouth. Her gaze locked with his, revealing the pleasure she found in the act as well as the depths of her need. She cupped his balls with one hand while the other stroked his shaft. And all the while her eager mouth sucked and her tongue swirled. The combination was more than he could stand. With a strangled moan, he pulled out of her mouth and lifted her to her feet. “Not tonight. I want you beneath me, legs wrapped around me, while we come together.” She grinned, eyes passion-bright. “Works for me.”

Max took Naloni by the hand and led her to the makeshift bed. Her heart pounded in her chest and tension coiled deep in her belly. Having his cock in her mouth accentuated the ache building between her thighs. Would he go down on her as Dario had suggested or was his need too great for more foreplay? She lay down in the middle of the bed and raised her arms, welcoming him. She didn’t care what he did as long as he did something. She had waited so long to feel these feelings again, to build upon the foundation they had abandoned.

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He stared down at her, obviously debating how to proceed. Emboldened by his obvious desire, she bent her knees and opened her thighs. Cool air wafted across her damp folds and she moaned. Her clit twitched as if the tiny nub were trying to draw his attention. Kneeling between her thighs, he traced her slit with the head of his cock. The smooth slide focused her mind on her pussy and the emptiness waiting to be filled. He rubbed himself against her clit and she bucked helplessly. “Is this what you want?” He pushed inside just enough to let her feel his thickness. “Yes, oh yes.” She pushed up with her legs, but he pulled back with a wicked smile. “Well, I’m not ready to give it to you yet.” He lay on his stomach and arranged her legs over his shoulders. His tongue continued the teasing pattern his cock head had begun. Up and down, circling her opening while avoiding her clit. She squirmed and murmured, restless and needy. He swirled his tongue inside her core and gently sucked on her folds. Tension built gradually, incited by the patience of his mouth. He pushed into her cunt and stayed there while his upper lip dragged against her clit. She trembled, poised on the brink of orgasm yet unable to let go. His hands left her hips and moved upward, capturing her nipples between his finger and thumb. He rolled then pulled and finally squeezed until she cried out. The sharp sensation released the tension and she came in deep spasms. Her inner muscles rippled around his tongue while pleasure flowed out through her body. He raised his head and wiped her juices from his lips and chin. “Stop holding back on me or I’ll spank you. And we both know where that leads.” A violent shiver shook her and she bit her bottom lip. Each time he’d spanked her, his fingers ended up in her ass. And each time he finger-fucked her ass, his cock soon followed. “We don’t have lube.”

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“We don’t need lube for this.” He pushed his fingers into her pussy and coated them with cream then moved lower and teased her anus. “I want to hear you scream this time.” “But Dario—” “Dario knows what we’re doing.” His lips closed around her clit as his long middle finger pushed into her ass. Pleasure rolled up her spine and she arched into the torrid caress. He released her clit and switched to a slow, circular motion that better matched the slide of his finger. Her body came alive again, responding to his touch as naturally as breathing. Her cries escalated along with the pleasure. Cream seeped out of her pussy and coated his hand, allowing him to thrust faster and push the sensations higher. His circles grew smaller until his tongue rubbed directly over her clit. Another orgasm rushed toward her, tighter and more intense than the first. She raised her arms over her head and clutched the bedding. A second finger increased the pressure in her ass and she came with a startled scream. In a sudden show of strength and agility, he surged up along her body and buried his cock in her wet core. She cried out again, the echo of her pleasure nearly as strong as the orgasm itself. He released one of her legs and tucked the other under his arm as he thrust fast and deep. His gaze bore into hers, hot and demanding. She found the bed with her free leg and pushed up into each thrust. His back flexed beneath her palms, his skin moist and heated. He released her other leg and framed her face with his hands, claiming her mouth in a breath-stealing kiss. She kept her legs bent and open, taking him as deep as she could. Nothing existed except for this moment and Max moving inside her. She returned his kiss and squeezed his cock, amazed by the perfection of their embrace. How could she have let this slip away? How could she have been so foolish?

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He thrust harder, the impact jostling her breasts and making their kiss hard to maintain. His features tensed and his eyes closed as he neared his own release. Wrapping her legs around his waist, she held him close. Never again would she allow anything to separate them. She would fight her father or any force foolish enough to try! This was right, perfect, so obviously meant to be. His back bowed, driving his cock to the mouth of her womb as he came in shuddering spasms. Her core echoed each spurt, welcoming his seed with greedy squeezes. Their kiss slowed, became less frantic. Their lips slid and their tongues curled as they slowly drifted back to reality. “There are towels in the middle trunk, but the water is in here,” Dario called out from the other room. Naloni marveled at the utter abandon that had allowed her to momentarily forget they had company. Max chuckled and rocked back onto his knees, separating their bodies. “Stay here. I’ll be right back.” He retrieved one of the towels and snatched his pants off the floor, walking into the other room without bothering to dress. Their voices were too muffled for her to make out their words, and then Max returned, wearing the pants and carrying the now damp towel. She cleaned up and dressed quickly, not knowing how much longer Dario would behave. When he strolled into the chamber a few minutes later, she was pulling on her boots. “I certainly hope you two feel better.” He snickered. “It certainly sounded like you worked out your differences.” Max ignored his comments and said, “Tell us about this tunnel and where our ‘ride’ is taking us.”

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Chapter Six Max looked at Naloni as he waited for Dario to explain the next move. She looked adorably tousled and flushed. He had no illusions that one extremely pleasurable fuck was going to alleviate all of their obstacles. Still, he was cautiously optimistic. If they were willing to work together—and she was honestly willing to sacrifice… Sacrifice being a princess? What woman in her right mind would give up the life she’d been born to so she could be with him? He sighed. Apparently his insecurities ran deeper than he’d realized. “There was a young man named Benignus. He and his two sisters were visiting relatives in Pompeii during the catastrophe, so they were separated from their parents by the evacuation. When they arrived, the magistrate explained their options, which were not many because none of them possessed a viable skill. Benignus was large for his age, so he signed on with Ludus Olla. Out of the kindness of his heart, Prince Tarhee also indentured the sisters as house servants.” “Did Benignus become a gladiator?” Naloni asked. “He developed our skills, but he lacked the ferocity essential for survival in the arena.” “What does this have to do with the tunnel?” Max had no patience for evasions. He’d asked a direct question and he expected a direct answer. “I’m trying to tell you. It’s not a simple tale.” Dario looked at Naloni uncomfortably as he explained. “All three were unusually attractive. Tarhee started with the older sister. When he tired of her, he summoned the younger, and then…” “He set his sights on Benignus?” she guessed. “I know Tarhee has both male and female lovers. Were these siblings willing?”

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“More or less. Consent is far more objective when your master requires your obedience.” She crossed her arms in front of her, obviously upset by the tale but certainly not shocked. “When did they decide to run?” “When he began summoning all three together and insisting they…interact with each other.” Now she looked shocked and disgusted. She bit her bottom lip and shuddered. “You said off-worlders dug the tunnel,” Max reminded. “I’m still waiting for the tie-in.” “After an especially perverted session, they ran. The girls were captured, but the high priestess helped Benignus escape.” Max smiled. “Felicia is an amazing woman. She has risked her life and safety so many times it’s staggering.” “She’s on your team, I take it.” Speculation made Dario’s dark gaze gleam. “It’s more like I’m on hers. She was part of the resistance long before I joined.” “So, Benignus was smuggled through the barrier,” Naloni prompted. “What happened then?” “He was supposed to take a shuttle to a colony outpost, but he refused to go. I don’t know all the details, but at some point he made contact with the Fedoran military, or they made contact with him. He offered to train field operatives in hand-to-hand combat if they would help him tunnel under the barrier.” “They used off-worlders so our security grid wouldn’t pick up their movements,” Naloni mused, and Dario nodded, confirming her supposition. “A cluster of id signals progressing steadily from one side of the barrier to the other would immediately raise eyebrows. What about his sisters? Did he arrange their rescue?” “They were the first to ‘disappear’ through the tunnel.”

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“Why didn’t Benignus tell Felicia about the tunnel?” Max said. “This option would have been invaluable to the resistance.” Dario fidgeted, looking decidedly uncomfortable. “The military paid for the tunnel, so they control its use.” Dread washed over Max, cooling his damp skin and clenching his stomach. “Then who’s waiting for us at the end of this tunnel?” Looking from Max to Naloni and back, Dario made a helpless gesture. “How was I to know you were lovers?” “What did you promise them in exchange for their assistance?” Dario paled. Max lived by instinct and his instincts were screaming Beware! He attacked without further warning, grabbing Dario by the throat and sweeping his legs out from under him. Dario recovered before he hit the ground, slamming his forearm against Max’s hard enough to dislodge his hand. They rolled across the floor, grappling with far more menace than they had during their wrestling match. Max punched him squarely in the face and blood poured from Dario’s nose, coating Max’s knuckles before he pulled his hand back. Fueled by fury and betrayal, Max forced Dario over onto his back. He straddled the other man’s chest, pinning his arms beneath his knees. He pulled back his arm, meaning to hit him again, when Naloni stepped into his field of vision. She stood above them, pulse pistol pointed at Dario’s head. “What did you promise them, you worthless son of a bitch?” “Max! All right? They get Max and I get you.” “You get her for what?” A fresh wave of fury crashed over Max. “To force the emperor to drop the barrier! This isn’t a game. Our people need to be set free.”

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“We agree with you.” Naloni’s tone softened though she didn’t lower the gun. “But betraying your friends and terrorizing others is not the way to accomplish our goal.” “How much time do we have?” Max shoved off Dario and stood. Naloni’s stance didn’t change, so Dario stayed on the floor. “They’ll be here in less than an hour,” Dario admitted. “Can you knock him out with that thing, or does it only kill?” She triggered a short burst of shimmering light into Dario’s head and he slumped against the floor, unmoving. Max watched Dario’s chest rise and fall before he turned his attention toward Naloni. “Let’s get out of here.” “We can’t just leave him here.” “He chose his allies, now he must deal with them.” “You might have made the same choice if you believed someone you loved was in danger.” Max shook his head, unwilling to temper his anger. “His alliance with the military had to have been in place long before his sister was taken. He is a self-serving traitor. He threatened you and was willing to sacrifice me. And now he will face the consequences of his decisions.” “All right.” She didn’t seem pleased by the outcome, but she relented. “Where are we going?” “This is your world, Princess. You tell me.” “Do you know how to contact Caleb Thrax?” The question surprised him. “How do you know about Caleb?” “He brought Elaina and Theos to the spaceport on his way to the colonies. He’s your main smuggler, isn’t he?” “Yes, but the fewer people who know about it the better.” Her brow arched, her expression both amused and disappointed. “Don’t you trust me?” 71

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“Of course I trust you. Where do you need Caleb to take us?” “Nowhere. I just need an untraceable comlink and a smuggler is bound to have one.” “All right.” Tension gathered in the pit of his stomach. With one call she could return to her life and leave him adrift in a world he struggled to understand. Eventually he’d adapt to the culture, but he’d faced this possibility once before. He didn’t want to become part of Fedoros unless Naloni was by his side. It took them twenty minutes, but they finally found a portable comunit. They grabbed one of the torches off the wall and headed out through the far side of the tunnel. Near the entrance, the green light on the front of the comunit blinked, indicating it had reestablished connectivity. They jogged across an open field and huddled behind a small rock formation, the only thing resembling cover in their general vicinity. She entered the designation Max had given her and tried to contact Caleb. “Thrax here, go,” Caleb responded to the encrypted page. She handed the comunit to Max, watching him closely. “Hey, Caleb. It’s Max. We have an emergency. Is there any way you can come to…” He looked at Naloni and asked, “Where are we?” She took the comunit back from him and scanned the area for geographical indicators. “We’re southwest of the barrier. I can see Prichette Towers in the distance.” “Copy. If you need cover, head for the woods farther east. It’s a bit of a hike, but it will take me about twenty minutes to reach you.” Which meant he’d arrive ten minutes ahead of the army, Max figured. “We’ll head for the trees, but the sooner the better, my friend. Things could get interesting fast if you’re delayed.” “Copy that. I’m on my way.” They dashed across the open field, feeling exposed and vulnerable.

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“Who are you going to contact once Caleb arrives?” Max asked once they’d reached the trees. “Stevon.” She braced her hands on her knees, panting softly. “We need to know if his teams captured any useful images.” “That makes sense.” He leaned against a tree trunk, dreading the answer to his next question. “Are you going to contact your father?” “He needs to know I’m all right.” He agreed with a stiff nod and then she smiled. “He doesn’t need to know where I am, at least not yet. Dario fried our chips. We’re untraceable.” They lapsed into silence after that. Naloni seemed to be planning their next move while Max just dreaded the future. Would she stay with him for another few days, perhaps another few weeks? Then what? The fundamental obstacle complicating their relationship still loomed between them, crushing what little happiness they’d stolen in the tunnel. She obviously felt more for him than a fleeting infatuation, but what did that mean in the harsh light of reality? A shuttle approached from the north, flashed its running lights once then landed as close to the trees as possible. The hatch opened and Caleb came bounding out of the small craft a pulse pistol in each hand. “Step away from the princess! Toss all weapons down!” Max looked at Naloni, who was as mystified as he by the captain’s odd behavior. A warning shot grazed his shoulder and Max tossed his weapons in the grassy dirt, stepping to the side and putting more distance between him and Naloni. “Over here, Your Highness. You’re safe now.” Caleb motioned with his head, both his weapons firmly fixed on Max. “Where is the other one?” “The other what?” she asked as she cautiously moved toward Caleb. “Your other kidnapper?”

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She returned Max’s startled look. “How do you know about my kidnapping?” “Are you unharmed? Shall I blast him for you?” Her delighted smile infuriated Max. Was Caleb having fun with them? “Your chivalry is admirable, Captain Thrax, but you have been misinformed. Max rescued me from the true villain. He was not involved in my abduction.” “That’s not how it looked on the vid.” “There’s a recording?” Max lowered his hands with a muttered curse. “I knew Dario was going to make a break for it, but I had no idea he would take a hostage.” “At the first possible moment, Max overpowered Dario and brought me to you,” she said with a placating smile. It took Caleb a moment to accept her explanation. He relaxed his arms and shoved the pistols into the holsters on each hip. “Glad to hear it. I hate killing friends.” “We must move,” Max reminded. “Dario’s buddies are not far away.” Caleb ushered them onto the shuttle and took off as soon as they’d fastened their safety restraints. “If I might inquire, Captain Thrax,” Naloni’s tone was polite yet a bit silky. “When and how did you view this recording of my abduction?” “It’s all over the data stream. Everyone on Fedoros knows.” “Fuck.” Max rubbed his eyes, dread pelting his weary mind. “Your father is going to have the same reaction. His men will shoot first and ask questions later.” “I’ll take care of my father.” She reached over and squeezed his arm. “You did nothing wrong. This could be a very good sign. It increases the chances that recordings were made of all the other activities.” He was less optimistic than she was, but pessimism was a benefit to no one. “You’re right. We’ll work it out.” Impossible odds had never intimidated him before. He was not about to start backing down now. “Where am I taking you?” Caleb asked once the barrier was far behind. 74

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“How long are you planning to be in port?” Caleb glanced at her and smiled. “I have a supply run planned, but it can wait. I’m entirely at your disposal.” If Max hadn’t known Caleb flirted with every female he encountered, he might have taken offense. As it was, the captain’s tone was playful and he hardly spared Naloni a look as he maneuvered the shuttle toward the spaceport on the edge of Akielesh, the capital city. “Then please take us to your ship. I’ll try not to complicate your life for too long.” “I thrive on complications,” Caleb assured. “Take your time.”

***** Caleb’s ship was perfect for smuggling, Naloni decided as they left the shuttle bay. The sleek yet sturdy design allowed for both speed and agility. It was quite a bit larger than she’d expected. It was far from new yet extremely well-maintained. “Will you need one cabin or two?” Caleb asked as they neared an airlift. “One is fine.” She smiled at Max, who had been suspiciously quiet during the shuttle ride. “We will need basic provisions, if that can be arranged. Obviously, this outing was not what I had planned.” He showed them to a small but elegant cabin and lingered in the doorway as she looked around. “Breakfast was already served, but I can have a tray sent up if you’re hungry.” “I don’t care for anything.” She looked at Max and he shook his head. “I have some people I need to contact, but it’s vital the link be secure.” “Every transmission emanating from this ship is encrypted and untraceable. That’s standard op in my line of work.” She offered him a polite smile. “I thought it might be.” “The companel is in the desktop, but the signal can be projected anywhere in the room.” 75

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“I’ll compensate you for the inconvenience of course.” He grinned. “I would love to turn you down, but it’s been miserably slow the past couple of weeks.” “Thank you for your assistance.” He inclined his head and departed. “What a charming man.” She watched for jealousy in Max’s gaze and he didn’t disappoint. The spark was subtle, but the comment had definitely annoyed him. “Laetif certainly thinks so,” he grumbled. “Caleb is Laetif’s lover?” She tilted her head and searched her memory. “Elaina told me Laetif sleeps with her hunky bodyguard.” “I’m not sure if they all participate or if the bodyguard only watches. All I know is Laetif disappears for a few days whenever Caleb is in port.” “Lucky Laetif.” Max grabbed her bottom with both hands and yanked her against him, rubbing her mound against his burgeoning erection. The move was so primal and so possessive it sent a shiver of excitement down her spine. If any other man had dared to touch her so carelessly, she would have slapped his face. But this was Max, her Max. And she always felt a bit savage when he took her in his arms. “Are you misbehaving so I’ll spank you?” Another shiver echoed the first. “Did our interlude in the tunnel leave you hungry for more?” It had, but she wasn’t ready to admit it. There was still too much to do before they delved deeper into their rediscovery. “I need to contact Stevon.” With a frustrated sigh, he let her go. She ignored her rubbery knees and the heat gathering between her thighs as she crossed the cabin. She pulled out the chair in front of the desk and swiped her hand across the desktop, activating the companel. Using Stevon’s private access code, she held her breath until her friend responded. 76

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“Damn, woman, am I relieved to see you.” He looked exhausted, purple smudges darkening his eyes. “Have you been up all night?” “How’d you guess?” He paused for an anemic smile. “The far more important question is, how are you? Were you mistreated by those goons? We recorded the whole thing and began circulating it moments after they took off with you.” “So we learned when one of Max’s friends threatened to blast his head off.” His gray brows drew together, creasing his forehead. “All right, I’m confused. Why are you still with Max? I thought you’d been rescued.” She swallowed hard. Anything she said now became part of Max’s defense. It could also be twisted by their enemies to incriminate him. “Max knew Dario intended to make a break for it, but he had no idea Dario was going to use a hostage to accomplish it. At the first opportunity, Max overpowered Dario and we were able to escape.” “Wow. Can I quote you on that?” Stevon doubtlessly recorded all of his conversations. If she didn’t give him permission, the information would be “leaked” when it was most advantageous to his multimedia empire. “Please don’t. I’ve already granted you exclusive rights to the story. Timing is imperative in this entire situation.” “I understand.” Which in no way guaranteed his cooperation. She had to tread carefully. Stevon would make a formidable enemy if he ever chose to compromise the ideals he claimed to uphold. Attempting to convey casual interest, she asked, “Was anything else recorded or was the night a total bust?” Stevon shook his head, his expression so conflicted she was unable to sort out the individual components. “Your kidnapping barely slowed things down. No one upstairs was even aware of what happened, and many of the ones who took off during the scuffle returned as soon as things calmed down.”

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Her abduction and possible death hadn’t upset people enough to end their party? She rubbed her neck, unable to suppress her anger and disappointment. “Then you have vids of the upstairs sessions.” That’s why she had been at the festival. The rest was incidental. “What do you think I’ve been doing all night? Your darling brother was so distraught about your peril that he gave everyone discounts and encouraged them to schedule private sessions so there was no risk of interruption.” Anger spiked through her other emotions, incinerating everything in its path. She was one of many, just another victim of his depravity. “So what’s our next step?” Stevon appeared to be as disgusted by the findings as she was and he had the massive legal team. Until his actions proved her trust was misplaced, she’d continue to cautiously follow his lead. “It will take days to identify the people on the vids, but I hope to have a basic presentation ready sometime tomorrow.” He crossed his arms over his chest, his expression uncharacteristically dour. “I’ll run it all past legal then take it to your father. He will have exactly twenty-four hours to take action before the presentation goes live on the data stream.” “I’m relieved that it wasn’t all for nothing.” “I am too, but these vids are chilling. My people couldn’t stop anything that happened or they would have blown their cover. That didn’t stop two of my strongest from halting the abuse. It got that bad.” Not knowing how to respond to the grim revelation, she nodded. “Thank you for everything.” “You don’t have to thank me. I was inadvertently supporting this shit. I should thank you for ferreting out the truth before I was destroyed by what my business partners were doing.” She terminated the link and sat back in her chair, mulling over all they’d said.

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“Do you believe him?” Max came up behind her and rested his hands on her shoulders. “He became rich because of Gladiator Games.” “He was rich before his involvement with my brothers, but your point is valid.” Max began to rub the tension from her neck and shoulders. She groaned then sighed and rested her head against his abdomen. “There is no reason for Stevon to indulge me unless he had concerns of his own.” “Is he attracted to you?” His hands momentarily stilled. “He might be trying to endear himself to me, but I’ve made it clear that I’m not interested.” He lightly cupped her breast, her thin shirt no barrier at all between the heat of his palm and her sensitive nipple. “You would never be satisfied with a man like him. You are too rebellious.” “And you can temper my rebellion?” “I would never try to dampen your fire. I savor the heat and bask in the light.” She smiled and leaned her head back, looking up at him. “Under all that ferocity, you’re a romantic.” His brow creased and his eyes narrowed then he pushed away from her chair. “I know nothing of romance. My life is violence and death.” He was clearly irritated by her comment, so she didn’t push the issue. “I’m going to contact Elaina. Would you like to speak with Theos?” Max nodded but stayed to one side, out of camera range. She smiled at his technoanxiety. Eventually all these gadgets would become natural to him, but that day was a long way off. She entered the access code for Rebecca Tyndale, the name Elaina was using until the crisis was resolved. It took a moment for Elaina to respond and then she only activated audio. “It’s Naloni and this link is secure, but I’m really craving valaspaberry wine.”

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Elaina appeared on screen as soon as Naloni produced the rearranged password. “I can’t stand the stuff personally, but I’m sure glad to hear you say that.” Her smile was beaming and she appeared relaxed and happy. “I don’t have to ask how you’re doing,” Naloni grumbled. “Exile agrees with you.” “No, life with Theos agrees with me. I still miss my son.” “Of course you do and hopefully you won’t be separated for too much longer.” “The festival was last night. Were the journalists able to provide you with enough evidence to turn your father’s head?” “Stevon is still compiling the various images into some sort of presentation, but—” “Stevon Poliantus is helping you?” Elaina sounded doubtful and her gaze reflected her concern. “He was the only one I could find with an invitation to the festival. I know it was a gamble, but I didn’t have any other choice.” Elaina looked as uncomfortable as everyone else who had learned of her choice in partners. Was she the only one who believed Stevon capable of doing the right thing? “Every indication points toward his sincerity.” “I hope you’re right.” “So do I. Is Theos there? Max would like to say hi.” It took nearly as much coaxing from Elaina to get Theos in front of the camera as it did for Naloni to lure Max into the desk chair. As soon as they saw each other, however, all their reservations fell away. They extolled the wonders they’d seen and expressed concerns about all the friends still trapped within the energy barrier. “We better go.” Naloni finally halted the lively conversation. “The longer we maintain the link the greater chance there is that someone will take notice.” “I thought the link was secure,” Max said after she terminated the connection. “No one can tap in and hear what you’re saying, but no signal is truly untraceable. I’m sure Captain Thrax has made it extremely difficult to uncover the origin of the 80

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signal, but there is always someone out there persistent enough and skilled enough to unravel the misdirection.” He stood and gave her back her seat. “One more call then I’m yours for the rest of the evening.” “And if I want you for longer than one evening?” His gaze warmed and brightened, smoldering with blue intensity. “Can I make a counteroffer?” She kept the chair between them, not trusting herself to complete her last task if they touched. “I’m always open for negotiations.” He sighed and his gaze focused on her mouth. “I have so little to offer you. There is no way I can give you the things you’re used to having.” The hopelessness in his tone angered her. She leaned closer, drawing his gaze back to her eyes. “Do you think so little of me? The things I long for are not possessions and luxuries. I’ve had everything money can buy my entire life, and the only time I was truly happy was when I was pretending to be a slave.” “I want to believe that. I’m trying to believe, but when returning to your ‘real’ life is no longer an option, I know you’ll resent me.”

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Chapter Seven Emperor Sineth Olla strode along the line of people kneeling in front of him. His boot heels snapped out his agitation against the marble floor of Tarhee’s elaborate villa. Sunlight streamed in through open archways and still Sineth could barely focus through fury’s red haze. “Where is my daughter!” “We believe she slipped beyond the barrier, Sire.” Mikko Xyell’s voice was barely more than a whisper and his head bowed respectfully. He was far more composed than Tarhee, which made Sineth hate the ambassador even more. His son was a disappointment on every level, and this man had enabled Tarhee’s abominable behavior every step of the way. “If she passed beyond the barrier, her GPS chip would have become visible to my scanners again.” He felt as if he were speaking with simple-minded children, explaining concepts that should have been self-evident. “The city is surrounded by my troops, and we have not stopped scanning the perimeter since I learned she was in danger. Her abductors must have her hidden somewhere inside this abomination.” “We thought so as well,” Xyell went on. “That’s why we minimized the intensity of the barrier until only a visible facsimile remained. Then we scanned the entire city, section by section.” “Then where is she?” He rolled his eyes and started back down the row. Imbeciles! He was surrounded by useless, spineless shadows of Fedorans! The magistrate— handpicked by Tarhee. Captain of the city guards. And… His gaze connected with the only woman in the room. Laetif Xyell, the ambassador’s wife. Her eyes shone with cunning and fear. Not the hopeless sort of a person trapped by circumstance, but the fatalistic gleam of someone with something to hide. “You!”

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She immediately lowered her head, but he strode to her and grasped her chin, raising her face until she looked at him again. “Where is Naloni?” “I don’t know, Sire.” Her tone was steady enough to convince him, to a point. She might not know Naloni’s location, but she knew a whole hell of a lot more than she had said thus far. “I’m not even sure why you summoned me. I have little to do with my husband’s affairs.” Sineth snorted. “So my investigators tell me. You’re too busy fucking your bodyguard to keep tabs on your husband.” To her credit, Laetif maintained eye contact and kept her mouth shut. “My investigators also told me you are likely a pivotal member of the resistance.” Her husband glared, but it was obvious he was not surprised by the news. “You have this one chance only to earn my mercy. Answer me truthfully and I will not lump you in with the rest of these fools.” “Of course, Sire. I will help in any way I can.” Her expression calmed and her head raised, her chin lifting away from his fingers. “Do you know the men who took Naloni?” “I know one of them.” “Max is my lanista, Sire. He has—” “Silence!” Sineth glared at Xyell, and he obediently bowed his head. He turned back to Laetif and said, “Tell me about Max.” “May I speak with you in private? The information I possess is potentially damning to everyone involved. I do not want to endanger—” “It was not a request, young lady. Tell me everything you know and tell me now.” “Yes, Sire.” She licked her lips and hesitated. Was she afraid for herself or was this protectiveness somehow noble? Could she genuinely believe in this “resistance”? “Guards.” Sineth motioned toward the others. “Take them all to Detention Center Three. They are all to be held for interrogation.”

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“Father!” Tarhee twisted away from one guard only to be trapped between three more. “You cannot mean to throw me in a cage like a common criminal!” Sineth ignored his son’s outraged shrieks and frantic flailing as he was dragged from the villa. The others left with more dignity, leaving him alone with Lady Xyell. The room seemed cold and artificial without its costumed occupants. Even Laetif looked silly in her period garb. “Rise.” He helped her to her feet and led her out onto the balcony overlooking New Pompeii. The city really was amazing, an architectural wonder, if nothing else. “Do you think they’ll hurt her? Are they wise enough to realize I will not rest until they are dead if they harm her in any way?” “Do you want the truth, or would you rather I put your mind at ease?” A reluctant smile parted his lips. Laetif had spirit. He had to give her that. “The truth would serve me better, I believe.” “I know Max quite well. He would never harm a woman for any reason. The other man, Dario, I am not well acquainted with him, but he has reason to lash out at your family.” “What happened?” “His sister was one of the women captured in preparation for the festival last night. We were able to free her and several others, but I don’t think Dario was aware she’d been rescued.” The pounding of boot heels drew Sineth’s attention into the interior of the villa. Firdose ran toward him, his expression almost—elated? “She’s on the com, Your Majesty,” Firdose announced. “Come quickly. We have Naloni!” Sineth’s heart lurched, the combination of hope and joy nearly as painful as the fierce rush of fear that had accompanied his first viewing of her abduction. He followed

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his chancellor through Tarhee’s bedroom and into the small, concealed room that contained the villa’s only technology. “Father,” Naloni greeted with a cautious smile. “Where the fuck are you!” He hadn’t meant to sound so gruff, but his emotions were raw and turbulent. “Are you all right? Were you harmed? Where are those bloody bastards? They will both—” “Father, Max rescued me from Dario. Dario was entirely to blame.” “Max was an accomplice, not a victim. I saw how it began.” He’d seen this before. Halfway through a crime, a criminal found it more beneficial to turn on his mates, hoping to escape prosecution. He would not allow any involvement in this incident to go unpunished. “It’s complicated and we have many things we need to discuss. I just wanted you to know I’m fine and you need to check with your military commanders. I believe one of them is currently in possession of Dario.” “When did my military become involved?” “When they tunneled under the barrier surrounding New Pompeii.” Naloni sighed and pushed back from the screen. “As I said, we have a lot to talk about. But I’m exhausted and cranky. I want a good night’s sleep before we even attempt to sort through all the elements of this mess. I love you and I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” “Don’t you dare—” The link blinked off and he spun on Firdose with all his pentup frustration. “Where is she? Please tell me you traced the link!” “We tried to, Sire. It was encrypted and scrambled. It’s virtually impossible to tell where it originated.” “I don’t believe this!” Left without an outlet for his ire, he threw his hands in the air. “She’s unharmed, Sire,” Laetif pointed out. She stood on the other side of the open doorway and she’d obviously heard every word. “Isn’t that what’s important?”

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“You know Max!” He stalked toward her. “You have both ‘rescued’ people before. Where do you take them? Where the hell is she! Don’t bother pretending you don’t know.” “Give her some time to recover from the upheaval. I’ll tell you tomorrow morning.” He gasped, mouth gaping at her audacity. “I am your emperor! You will tell me now!” A secretive smile parted her lips and the cheeky wench blew him a kiss. “She’s safe and needs a little space. It’s a reasonable request. I’ll tell you in the morning, Your Majesty.”

***** “Are you sure that was wise?” Max had remained back from the desk while Naloni spoke with her father, carefully remaining out of sight. Much to his delight, she’d defended him every step of the way. “We need him calm and reasonable tomorrow, not defensive and stubborn.” Pushing back her chair, Naloni laughed. “Stubbornness defines my father. Unfortunately for him, of his three children, I’m the most like him.” She stood and walked toward Max, ridiculously appealing in her borrowed uniform. “We both gave up too easily before. I knew we were meant to be together, I just didn’t see a way to make it happen. So I allowed your retreat.” “You ‘allowed my retreat’?” His pride took exception to the description, but in essence she was right. “If I’d known you really wanted me, there would have been no stopping me.” He placed his hands on her shoulders, keeping her from burying her face against his chest. He needed to see her eyes, gauge her reactions to this long-delayed conversation. “I would have battled any foe to protect you, risked any danger to keep you by my side. But the one thing I wouldn’t do was to force you away from the life you deserve.”

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“I have no idea what I deserve.” Her gaze was open, her emotions accessible. “But I know what I want, what I always wanted.” “Then why did you lie to me, pretend to be an entirely different person?” “How would you have reacted if ‘Princess Naloni’ had summoned you to her chamber and ordered you to take her virginity?” He searched his memory, tried to honestly examine the question. He’d been so bitter in those early days. The founders hadn’t misrepresented the situation when they’d recruited him, but he hadn’t been prepared for the utter isolation of existing on an alien world. He was powerless and trapped, and he channeled all his anger into resentment for all things Fedoran. “I would have hated you.” “I didn’t set out to make you fall in love with me, but I needed a connection, an emotional balm for my wounded spirit. It was selfish, I know. But I thought we could help each other, heal each other. Maybe find a few weeks of happiness.” “And then what?” He surrounded himself with the warmth of her gaze, refusing to let the past hurt him. “How was it supposed to end?” “I wasn’t sure, but I knew I couldn’t give you up. The connection was stronger than I ever imagined, and I fell for you way too hard. I took you to the resort so you could understand the world I came from then I’d meant to reveal my true identity.” He wrapped his arm around her waist and brushed his lips over hers before expressing the final frustration. “When I saw the vid and realized you had been lying all along, I was convinced I was a game to you, that you’d used me like all the other Fedorans.” “So you hurt me before I could hurt you.” “I wasn’t merely hurt, I was…decimated. You were the last straw, the final insult. I was honestly afraid I would lose control. Convincing you that Fedoros overwhelmed me wasn’t hard after that. I was so angry and so sad. You showed me freedom, a life

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without masters, together with a woman who loved me, and then the door was slammed in my face.” “I’m so sorry.” Tears swam behind her long lashes and she pressed her lips together in an attempt to mask their trembling. “I didn’t know how to react when you rejected my world and me along with it. I didn’t know… I couldn’t…” He pulled her close and stroked her hair. “My rejection was just as dishonest as your introduction. We’re both to blame and we can’t change what we did.” “But we can learn from it and move on?” Her warm breath teased his throat, awakening his senses. “Absolutely.” He eased her back again and looked deep into her eyes. “I love you, Your Highness. I always have and I always will.” “And I love you, Max. Nothing will ever separate us again. Not while breath remains in my body.” Their mouths locked in a long, explorative kiss. Despite the desire rushing to the surface, he reined in his need and took his time. Her mouth was soft, her tongue responsive, and he savored the moment to its fullest. “So, what’s our strategy for tomorrow?” he whispered against her lips. “We remain calm and respectful, no matter how outraged Father becomes. And we do not back down. Never again will we compromise our happiness.” He loved her feistiness, but she was ignoring the obvious flaw in the approach. “What if he comes as emperor rather than father? He is the ultimate authority on Fedoros.” “He won’t.” Her smile was confident and her expression calm. “It might be a bumpy road getting there, but in the end Father wants my happiness. He’ll do the right thing. I know he will.” Not sharing her blind faith in the emperor, Max decided he would work out an alternate ending with Caleb. If negotiations broke down, and it became apparent that

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the emperor would not relent, they needed an exit strategy. And quick escapes were Caleb’s specialty. Naloni tugged Max’s shirt out from inside his pants and pushed her hands up under the loosened material. “Can we find something better to do with our mouths? I’m tired of talking.” Tearing the shirt off over his head, he cupped the back of her head with one hand and pulled her against him with his other arm. His mouth sealed over hers, his lips urging hers apart. This time he controlled the kiss, delving deep to tame her tongue. He felt restless and aggressive. If he’d trusted his instincts, loosed his inner warrior, perhaps they could have avoided all the wasted years. They could not rewrite the past, but he could make damn sure nothing came between them ever again. He would fill her so full of himself that there would be no room, no possibility of anyone or anything interfering in their happiness. Her hands ran up and down his back, nails digging in as she ground her pelvis against his. He wanted to feel her sweet mouth sliding up and down his cock, yet he ached to thrust deep into her snug pussy. His cock hardened, his balls tightening so fast it made him groan. If he didn’t slow down, this would end before it began. But the reality of what they were facing thrilled him, excited him as nothing before. He could hold her, touch her, fuck her whenever desire ignited between them. Waking in the morning with her by his side and falling asleep with her snuggled against him. The possibilities intoxicated him and aroused him. He tore his mouth from hers and stripped off her shirt. Her breasts were jostled by the sudden movement and his hands acted of their own accord, cupping the soft mounds as if he would never let go. She smiled and went to work on his pants while he squeezed and stroked her soft breasts. She knelt and tugged off his boots then helped him remove his pants. Her gaze took in his naked body with obvious appreciation. She ran her hands up his legs, then reached behind him and squeezed his ass. The motion brought her face close enough to 89

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his cock to make him tense. Could he hold off his release if she sucked him into her mouth? Maybe it would be better for her if he didn’t even try. If she took the edge off his raging hunger, he’d be able to concentrate on her, ensuring her satisfaction. He brushed her cheek with the back of his fingers then traced her lips with his thumb. “I need your mouth, love.” She required no other prompting. Her fingers closed around his shaft and she smiled up at him. “I won’t stop, even if you beg me. I want you to lose control.” That had been his intention all along, but he didn’t correct her perspective. He widened his stance and she sucked the tip of his cock into the soft heat of her mouth. His fingers tangled in her hair, holding without pulling. Her hand stroked up and down while her lips and tongue adored him. Gods she was good at this, had always been good. She gave selflessly, demonstrating her caring with each pull of her mouth and each slide of her fingers. As he feared, his desire barreled toward release. If he’d tried to hold back, he would have failed. Her tongue swirled over the ultrasensitive cap and sent tingles up his shaft to burst within his belly. His balls contracted and his cock twitched against her tongue. He quickly adjusted the angle of her head and thrust to the back of her mouth. Sucking and swallowing with unbelievable fervor, she milked every drop from his straining cock. Her nails anchored his hips while she commanded his release. Her gaze gleamed with possessive pleasure as he shuddered and moaned. She licked her way to his cock head and released him with a lingering kiss. “Feel better?” The subtle smugness in her tone pleased and challenged him. He dragged her to her feet and kissed her deeply. Finding his taste on her tongue only made him more anxious to combine the sharp flavor with her evocative cream. “It’s your turn, Princess. I’m going to eat you until you beg me to stop and then I’m going to eat you some more.”

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Naloni laughed as heat cascaded through her body and gathered between her thighs. “When will you learn that’s not much of a threat? I love having your mouth on my pussy.” “We’ll see.” He walked to the bed and lay down, propping his head on his hand as he studied her. “Finish undressing then come here.” His commanding tone thrilled her, stirred a dark, primal part of her spirit she seldom acknowledged. He seemed different now, freer perhaps. Knowing she loved him without reservation was allowing him to express himself more honestly. She bent and unlaced her boots, tossing each aside as she tugged them off. His crystal blue gaze followed her, caressing her with tangible intensity. Feeling mischievous and daring, she loosened her pants then turned around as she pulled them down. His audible groan rewarded her efforts and made her smile. Pausing with her back to him, she stretched and ran her hands slowly down her sides. “I love being naked,” she whispered. “If it were up to me, I’d never wear clothes.” “Whenever we’re alone, I encourage you to indulge your preference. I will never tire of looking at you.” She looked over her shoulder, her smile soft and sensual. His cock was already starting to harden. Damn, the man had stamina. “Are you sure all you want to do is look?” “If all you want is to be naked, then I am content.” He had just enjoyed a powerful orgasm. Doubtlessly, her need was greater than his right now. She turned and sauntered toward the bed, watching his eyes drift from her face to her body. It was exhilarating and liberating to inspire this sort of longing in such a powerful man. “Are you wet?” His gruff question halted her steps. “Why don’t you find out?”

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“Why don’t you show me?” he countered, eyes narrowed and challenging. She licked her lips and skimmed her hands down along her body. He thought she wouldn’t do it, hadn’t realized how uninhibited he made her feel. She parted her outer lips and showed him the cream gleaming on her inner folds. Then she pushed her finger into her passage and brought him the shiny proof of her excitement. He grasped her wrist and drew her hand to his mouth, licking then sucking her essence from her finger. “Come here, love. Straddle my face and put that creamy cunt right above my mouth.” Trembling with excitement, she climbed onto the bed and positioned herself as he’d described. She flattened her hands against the wall, steadying herself as his mouth latched on to her sex. Her head dropped back onto her shoulders and a strangled cry escaped her throat. He wasn’t gentle. His lips sucked and his tongue stabbed, demanding she respond. He found her clit with his tongue and lashed the sensitive nub, flicking and circling until she rocked her hips against his mouth. He reached up and rolled her nipples, squeezing and pulling as his mouth continued its tender assault. Pleasure gathered within her, strong and tight like the caresses inciting it. She bit her lip, holding back a scream as she came in powerful spasms. His tongue thrust up into her passage, prolonging the pleasure and urging her higher. She ground herself against his mouth, riding his tongue like a miniature cock. She felt wild and demanding, wanting more of the untamed feelings, needing to be as free as Max. Urging her up just a bit, his fingers replaced his tongue as his mouth focused on her clit. She cried out sharply as his fingers curved, dragging the front wall of her vagina. Over and over, he caressed her, inside and out. Her legs trembled and her abdomen quivered. Then he pulled his fingers out. “No!” she whimpered. “I was so close.”

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He chuckled, a deep, sexy sound. His tongue circled her entrance then passed across her clit. “I know you were.” He pushed her up, not off, just making more room between her pussy and his face. “You told me you never get tired of being licked. It’s my obligation to prove you wrong.” His middle finger pushed into her pussy, lightly fucking her as his tongue worked her clit. “Does that feel good?” He stopped licking but keep his finger moving, a teasing hint of penetration. “Yes.” She tightened her inner muscles, determined to bring herself off, with or without his cooperation. “How about this?” Sopping wet from her pussy, he moved farther back and gently entered her ass. Her core tightened and her clit twitched. That drove her crazy, and he knew it! “Please let me come.” “I want you to come around my cock. I want you to squeeze me so hard I see stars.” His finger pulled back then pushed inward, ever so slowly. “But you only want my mouth.” He gently licked her clit, keeping her simmering. “All right! I want your cock. Please fuck me properly.” With one strong surge, he lifted her off his face and sat up as he brought her down across his lap. Her legs opened wider to accommodate his hips and his cock drove into her waiting pussy. Naloni whimpered, closing her eyes against the ecstasy. Pleasure rolled through her, tingling and hot, a release of emotions as well as sexual tension. This joining, the physical union of his body inside hers completed a circuit and freed a rush of tenderness so powerful tears filled her eyes. She took his face between her hands and kissed him, mixing their tastes as he had melded their bodies. “I love you, Max. Don’t ever doubt how much you mean to me.” He grasped her hips and moved her up and down as he arched into each rotation. “I love you too. Never doubt I’ll fight to keep you. Nothing will ever separate us again.”

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“Nothing,” she agreed, and then returned to the kiss, expressing her determination and devotion with her body rather than words. The shallow slide of her body over and against his soon frustrated them both. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her close as he swung his legs off the side of the bed. Still clasping her to his chest, he stood then bent and lowered her to the mattress and draped her legs over his arms. She couldn’t move as well in the position, but he could move so much better. His cock slid nearly out before thrusting deep again. Each endless stroke sent excitement spiraling up her spine and tightened her inner muscles in a rhythmic caress. Their cries mingled as his hips pounded between her thighs. She stared into his eyes, humbled by the love he offered with his sparkling gaze. The pleasure intensified, but she fought to keep her eyes open, wanting to fall together, to share the wonder with him. He pulled her hips off the bed and drove his entire length into her pussy. His gaze drove into her as fiercely as his cock and she eagerly accepted both. They shuddered and moaned, lost in each other’s eyes, unaware of anything but the love passing between them. The moment stretched on and on, her body perfectly attuned to his, their spirits one. With a shaky smile, he scooped her up and she quickly wrapped her legs around his waist. He turned and sat on the edge of the bed, still buried deep inside her. They touched and kissed, unwilling for words to intrude on the perfection of the moment. “We could tell Caleb to drop us off on one of the colony outposts or catch a transport to—” He placed his fingers against her lips, halting the sudden rush of words. “There is more at stake than you and me. We can’t abandon the others and we both know it.” She nodded. “This is just so perfect. I don’t want to risk…”

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“Nothing worth having comes without risk and sacrifice.” He brushed her hair back from her face and kissed her forehead. “But we’re fighting this battle together. Your father won’t know what hit him.”

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Chapter Eight Naloni was awakened the next morning by an annoying buzzer. She had spent the night in Max’s arms and slept better than she had in years. It took a moment to clear the peaceful lethargy. “Open comlink,” she told the computer, lifting the emergency-only block she’d put on the cabin. “What’s wrong?” she asked her unseen visitor. “It’s Caleb, Your Highness. You need to get dressed quickly. Your father is here.” “How did he find me?” She sat up, clutching the sheet to her breasts. Max stirred beside her, still looking sleepy and content. “I don’t know. But I can’t hold him off much longer. He’s liable to blast his way onboard.” “We’ll be right there.” She threw back the covers and crawled out of bed. “Damn it. This weakens our position considerably. I can’t threaten to disappear if he knows where I’m at.” “Sure you can. Your chip is dead. He has no way to track your movements without making you a prisoner.” She dressed quickly in one of the uniforms Caleb had delivered to the cabin the night before. Max dressed as well, looking especially dangerous in the primarily black outfit. “Captain Thrax, we’re ready. Where shall we go?” “Take the lift down one level. I’ll meet you there.” Caleb met them as promised, but his expression was noticeably tense. “I put him in the officer’s lounge. I tried to refuse his guards, but two ignored my instructions and shoved past my men. I figured a firefight wasn’t the best way to begin negotiations, so I held my guards back.”

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“That was wise.” Naloni smoothed down her hair, feeling ridiculously nervous. She was about to have a conversation with her father, not face an executioner. “It’s probably best if you let us handle this. I don’t want him to turn on you if he becomes frustrated with me.” Caleb grinned. “You don’t need to protect me. I have no regrets.” “Even so, the fewer distractions we have, the better.” “My comlink is open. If you need me, call.” There were several tables and a comfortable-looking sofa inside the lounge, but her father had chosen to stand. She stepped through the doorway ahead of Max, partially blocking her father’s view of her mate. “Arrest that man,” Sineth said with a suspicious lack of conviction in his voice. “I can’t let you do that, Father.” She didn’t budge as her father’s guards rushed forward. She would not back down. Not this time, not ever again. “Where Max goes, I go.” “Even if he assisted in your rescue, he actively participated in your abduction. There must be consequences for his actions.” Refusing to hide behind her, Max stepped to her side. “I was attempting to escape an intolerable situation. I had no idea Dario intended to use a hostage to secure our escape. Had I known, I would not have—” “I am speaking with my daughter. You will remain silent or I will have you removed.” Sineth motioned for his guards to return to their posts, but his gaze remained hostile. “I spent the past two hours with Stevon Poliantus. So I understand his reason for attempting escape. I’m not sure it justifies endangering you, even temporarily.” Naloni nodded toward one of the tables. “Can we please sit down? This feels adversarial and I don’t want to fight with you.”

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“Your actions indicate otherwise.” He took a seat facing her and Naloni motioned Max toward the sofa. With obvious reluctance, he complied. She folded her hands on the tabletop and took a moment to study her father. He looked frazzled, dark circles shadowed his eyes and his face had an unusual pallor. “Did you arrest Tarhee and Mikko Xyell?” “Yes. Their crimes are irrefutable and they will be punished. I intend to bring charges against the founders as well as many of their customers. Stevon has agreed to cooperate fully with the investigation.” Sineth cleared his throat, his effort to remain calm obvious. “Have you located Dario?” “One of my generals noticed an unauthorized flight and intercepted the team upon their return. He found the tunnel you mentioned and he is looking into Dario’s claims. Dario is blaming his actions on the soldiers of course. He swears he was only following orders.” “What rubbish.” “I agree. Now we are here to talk about you. Stop distracting me. How did you become involved in all this?” “There has been a network of people working to temper the abuse from the beginning. They are called the resistance. But the abuse became so widespread and twisted they realized their efforts were not enough. That’s when Laetif Xyell recruited Elaina.” “Elaina is mixed up in this mess?” He shook his head and scrubbed a hand over his lower face. “Why did no one think to notify me? Am I so unapproachable?” “If it had been anyone but Tarhee, they wouldn’t have hesitated. But who wants to tell an emperor that his heir is… If you’ve seen the vids, then you must understand why they dreaded bringing this to your attention.”

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“I’ve always known Tarhee had unusual appetites, but I had no idea he had become so depraved. Of course I love my son, but I am responsible for everything that happens within my empire, not just my family.” “We wanted more than rumors and speculation before we brought our claims to you.” He nodded. His gaze shadowed and sad. “So Max is part of this resistance?” “He is.” “And in the course of one day you’ve fallen hopelessly in love with him?” Sarcasm tinged his question and his gaze locked with hers. “Max and I have known each other much longer than one day.” “I suspected as much. Vito told me you had fallen for one of his men, but he refused to give a name. I always suspected it was one of the gladiators. You have a wildness in you that couldn’t help but be drawn to their…savagery.” His gaze drifted toward Max and then narrowed. “Has the affair been going on all this time?” “No. Max and I had a falling-out right before Vito tracked me down. I tried to forget him, to live up to your expectations of me, but my heart refused to consider anyone else.” Sineth sighed. Disappointment was clear in his expression, but she wasn’t sure if he was disappointed with her or himself. “A good ruler must balance the urges of the heart with the logical dictates of the mind. Though I failed with my boys, I thought you understood this.” Before she could respond to the charge, he added, “My parents were furious when I chose your mother as my wife. Her father was a colonist and they felt her blood was tainted. My heart didn’t give a damn. I loved her and nothing and no one was going to keep us apart.” “I was unaware,” she murmured, not knowing what else to say. Was he encouraging her to fight for Max? “All I knew about Mother’s parents was that they died before I was born.”

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Sineth rested back in his chair and abruptly changed the subject. “So here we are, with one hell of a mess to clean up and I’ve little idea where to begin. When Vito originally proposed Gladiator Games to me I was highly skeptical. But Vito tended to succeed at whatever he set out to accomplish, and quite frankly we needed the revenue.” “Vito kept Tarhee in check. It was only after Vito died that things spiraled out of control.” He nodded. “But it doesn’t change the fact New Pompeii was founded by this family. I allowed those people to be brought here and they are my responsibility.” He was getting at something, but Naloni wasn’t sure what it was. The entire conversation was far different than she had expected. He already knew most of the things she’d thought to tell him. “The barrier has to come down. There is no way around it. We cannot hold them prisoner any longer.” “I agree, but how do we introduce them to freedom without destroying their faith and overwhelming their sensibilities?” She hesitated. The perfect person to ask was fidgeting on the sofa, obviously struggling to maintain his silence. “We need input from the people directly affected by these changes.” “Again, I agree. And that’s why I’m appointing you Governor of New Pompeii.” Here was her opportunity. The old Naloni would accept the position and grumble about his shortsightedness. But today was the official debut of the new Naloni. “May I make a suggestion?” He seemed surprised by the question, but he said, “Of course.” “The people of New Pompeii will respond better to one of their own. Allow me to serve as liaison between their governing board and the Fedoran council, but I think Max would make a far better governor. He is a natural leader and he knows far more about the outside world than most of the people inside the barrier.”

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Sineth stood and made his way over to Max. Ignoring protocol, Max pushed to his feet and met the emperor eye to eye. “What are your intentions toward my daughter?” “I love her with all my heart and I would be honored to share her life in any capacity she will allow me.” “Well, the only capacity I will allow is as her lawfully joined spouse. Are you willing to make that sort of commitment?” Naloni’s heart hammered in her chest. She didn’t want Max to feel pressured into this decision. When and if they married, she wanted it to be because they both were ready for that final step. She pushed back from the table and stood, trying to catch his gaze. “She is already the mate of my heart.” He paused and looked at her, love shimmering in his eyes. “Any ceremony your culture dictates is agreeable to me.” Well, that wasn’t the most romantic proposal, but her heart swelled with joy just the same. She smiled and he turned back to her father. “If you make her happy, I will be pleased,” Sineth told Max. “If you manage to produce a son or two with her shrewdness and your strength, I would be the happiest man alive. My legacy is a bit of a mess right now.” “What about Feztis?” Naloni crossed to stand beside Max. “Vito and Elaina already provided you with a fine, strong grandson.” “Fez is my one and only heir at the moment. That puts him at greater risk than ever before. I wasn’t suggesting your children usurp the line of succession, simply expand it.” Sineth glanced off into the distance and scratched his chin. “Speaking of Elaina, where is she? Fez was asking about her this morning.” “Outpost Seven on Racine Colony,” she supplied with a guilty smile. “What in God’s name for?”

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“She’s with a man named Theos. He took the blame for something Max did. If they hadn’t diverted Mikko’s attention away from Max, Mikko would probably have killed him.” Sineth crossed his arms and shook his head, but amusement brightened his eyes. “Let me guess, Theos is a gladiator too and Elaina has fallen in love with him?” Naloni laughed. “They are rather hard to resist.” “Tell Elaina she is to return to the palace with all due haste. Mikko is no longer a concern and her son is worried about her. In fact, as often as Fez gets distracted with concerns over his mother, it might be best if she and this gladiator found suitable apartments somewhere within the royal compound.” “She will be thrilled to obey. She hates being separated from her son.” “Good. Then we’re all agreed.” His gaze shifted back to Max. “I’ll leave the specifics of New Pompeii in your capable hands. When you have a workable plan of action, submit it to me for final approval before implementation.” “Of course, Sire.” Max bowed, offering a belated show of respect. “Now I need to figure out what to do with Mikko and Tarhee. My first instinct is to throw them into the arena they seem to love so much.” “A fitting end, if you ask me,” Max agreed. “I’m not sure I can make my council support such a verdict. It was bloodlust and power that led them so far astray.” “So let them choose,” Naloni suggested. “They can submit to Fedoran justice or accept punishment according to the laws of the city they created.” “Genetic modification or death by gladiator.” Sineth shivered. “That’s not much of a choice.” “It is more of a choice than their victims were given,” Max pointed out.

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“True.” He smiled at Naloni and said, “You two make one hell of a team.” He kissed her on the cheek then took his leave. His guards followed him from the lounge and Naloni flew into Max’s waiting arms. “Is it really over?” He lifted her against his body and smiled into her eyes. “No, my love, our future together has just begun.” She wrapped her legs around his waist and kissed him with all the love bubbling in her soul. “Am I interrupting?” Caleb’s amused tone drew them apart, and Max lowered her feet to the floor. “We were celebrating our victory,” she told him. “So I saw.” He strolled to them, his stride relaxed and slightly rolling. “What is the outcome?” “The founders have all been arrested and it’s up to us to assemble a new council made up of inhabitants.” “That sounds like a damn good start. Will the barrier be deactivated?” “Eventually.” Max’s answer shocked Naloni. “Eventually? Why not as soon as we return to the city? Why would we delay?” “How are we going to explain it? The people must be transitioned gradually. It’s not fair to flip on the lights and say, ‘Surprise, your entire existence is a lie’.” “He’s right,” Caleb nodded. “The inhabitants must be given a choice on how to live out their lives, but maintaining the integrity of the original city should probably be one of the options.” “We can’t leave New Pompeii the way it is.” Caleb shook his head. “That’s not what I’m suggesting. Some people don’t adapt well to change. Why not make the noninterference clause a voluntary guideline for how 103

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life is to be lived inside the city. If anyone wants a life free from technology, a life focused on the simpler things, they are welcome to settle in New Pompeii. But if they enjoy the conveniences and the faster pace of a technologically advanced society, then they are free to leave and assimilate with the rest of Fedoros.” “A simplistic existence is not what drew people to New Pompeii,” Max argued. “They came for sexual freedom and the Gladiator Games.” “Would that need to change, if everyone participating in any event were willing?” Both men stared at her, speculation twisting their expressions. “The fact is, we can’t make these decisions alone or we are no better than the founders. We must ask the people what they want and let them decide what to do with their city.” “I bet many would be willing to entertain tourists if they were benefiting from the trade,” Max mused. “The possibilities are nearly limitless.” Caleb slapped Max on the back. “I don’t envy you two this task. I’ll stick to smuggling.” “Thank you for your assistance,” Naloni said as Caleb turned to leave. “You were a godsend.” “Anytime, Your Highness. My ship is always available to you.” He motioned to the door. “There’s a shuttle on standby. Just head to shuttle bay two as soon as you’re ready to depart.” Naloni looped her arm through Max’s as he led her from the lounge. “So what will you do first, Governor Max?” “Appoint a council. Any ideas, Your Highness?” “Laetif Xyell. You know you can trust her and she has a wonderful head for business.” He considered the possibility then looked down at her and asked, “Do you think she’ll stay in the city once all this comes to light?” “With Mikko gone, I think she’ll be happy as a lark.”

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“With her bodyguard to keep her warm?” “And occasional visits with Captain Thrax to keep things interesting.” They both laughed and moved into the airlift. “Felicia must be part of this council,” Max said as the lift began its descent. “The high priestess?” “Yes. She has been the backbone of the resistance from day one.” “Will she accept the position?” “I intend to find out.” They walked along the corridor in silence, each lost in speculation. Suddenly Max stopped and faced her, his expression inscrutable. “I don’t even know where we’re going. Where will we live? I have nowhere to take you.” She smiled and took his hand, interlacing their fingers. “You can take me anywhere you like, but it’s customary for a governor to be allocated an official residence. You should be given your choice of the guest villas.” This seemed to put him at ease. They walked into shuttle bay two and waited for the pilot to open the hatch. Max leaned down and whispered, his voice hushed with wonder, “Is this really happening? I’m afraid I’ll wake up in the ludus and this will all have been a dream.” “This is no dream, my love.” She squeezed his hand, her heart nearly bursting with joy. “As you said in the lounge, this is the first day of our future together. Welcome to reality.”

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About the Author Aubrey Ross writes an eclectic assortment of erotic fiction. From power struggles between futuristic clans to adventurous mystic guardians, her stories are filled with passion and imagination. Some of her recent awards include an EPPIE finalist, two Passionate Plume finalists and a CAPA nomination from the Romance Studio. With a pampered cat curled on the corner of her desk, Aubrey dreams up fascinating words and larger than life adventures—and wouldn’t have it any other way!

Aubrey welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email address on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.

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Also by Aubrey Ross Crimson Awakening Crimson Carousel 1: A Taste of Twilight Crimson Carousel 2: A Taste of Midnight Crimson Carousel 3: A Taste of Oblivion Crimson Carousel 4: A Taste of Dawn Crimson Prey Crimson Thrall Dream Warriors Ellora’s Cavemen: Flavors of Ecstasy IV anthology Enslaved Hearts 1: Captives Enslaved Hearts 2: Pleasures Intimate Invasion 1: Forgotten Hope Intimate Invasion 2: Forsaken Desire Intimate Invasion 3: Forced Alliance Sensual Captivity 1: Shifter Sensual Captivity 2: Seducer Sensual Captivity 3: Sorcerer Sensual Captivity 4: Specter Sensual Captivity 5: Seer Soul Kisses Velvet Deception

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