Abducted (11 page)

Jacey forced herself not to jump at the sudden noise, to act as if she’d been the center of fanfare all her life. Taking a deep breath, she allowed the woman to lead her to a posh, cushioned chair, then let the servants fuss over her train until she could sit. She eased herself into the chair, allowing for more pampering; then the women disappeared to sit behind her, leaving her all alone on the platform.

She pasted a smile on her face. Her stomach flip-flopped, and although the awning kept the sun directly off her, she felt the stuffy warmth. She hoped she didn’t puke in front of the crowd.

“You look lovely, my love,” a familiar masculine voice said in her ear. “Don’t turn your head. I am merely to be your adornment, not eclipse your attention.” Aidan brushed his lips across the nape of her neck, then rose to his feet and circled behind her chair. He seated himself next to her, again whispering to her not to look at him.

Jacey ached with not being able to see her lover. Out of the corner of her eye, she tried to glimpse his outfit, but the sun glinted off shiny silver. Armor? Another shiver, this one of desire, wound its way down her spine. To see Aidan in full armor, just like a knight, made her pussy weep. Back on Earth she’d had a weakness for medieval films, and seeing Aidan dressed in armor would only fulfill once-held fantasies.

An announcer stepped onto the field. Accompanying him, a trumpeter brought a long instrument to his lips and blew three short notes. A hush settled over the crowd. “We come here for the time-honored tradition of the Dajarka,” the announcer said. “Today, our Lord Aidan Starsek will fight Jodarin Holaisett for the honor of Lady Jacey.”

It sounded like something out of a fairy tale.
Fight for her honor, harrumph!
It did sound horribly romantic, no matter how much she tried to dismiss it. Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to remain in the chair and not stand up and announce that no one had to fight at all. She’d already chosen.
If I stand up, I’ll probably trip myself in this dress
. That, and the fact that she really didn’t think she’d succeed in doing much except embarrassing herself, kept her seated.

Aidan rose to his feet. Amid cheers from the spectators, he made his way down the dais to the fields. Jacey forced a smile to remain on her face, but she watched as Linu handed Aidan a large sword. He wore his traditional blue and white, with armor on his chest, arms, and thighs. He activated the sword, and a blue aura surrounded the metal.
Oh my God. He’s really going to do this
. He held the sword high. The crowd roared.

Aidan turned and tilted the sword in her direction. Linu retreated to the side of the field.

“You fight,” the announcer said in a loud voice, “for the honor of Lady Jacey. Is her honor worth any price? Even your life?”

Say no
. Jacey willed him to deny the question. Surely her honor couldn’t be worth any price.

“Yes!”

Aidan’s triumphant shout filled the stadium. Her heart fell. He bowed once more to her, then turned to face the field. On the other end of the field, a man entered. A leather thong contained his blue-black hair away from his face, and he wore a navy and black tunic and breeches. Silver armor glinted from the vambraces on his arms and his chest plate. He nodded once to Aidan.

The announcer moved to the center of the field. He raised a white flag embroidered with the crest of Aidan’s holdings, then let it fall. He picked it up and stepped out of the way.

The two men regarded each other with wary stares. Jodarin stepped forward. His sword flashed blue in the light, and Jacey held her breath. He attacked Aidan with a great sweep of his sword. Aidan blocked it. The sound of metal against metal rang in the fields. The battle began in earnest. Jacey watched as the swords glowed. The blue aura grew brighter each time the swords clanged together, almost as if they gained strength from the conflict.

Aidan danced on nimble feet around Jodarin. He swung, the blade of his sword scraping across his opponent’s chest plate. Jodarin looked down and growled. He lunged for Aidan, anger making him foolish. Swinging wildly, he went mad. His sword blurred as he repeatedly tried to strike at Aidan’s arms and neck.

Jacey couldn’t keep up with the action. She gasped, her knuckles pressed to her lips to keep a scream from emerging. Aidan fought bravely. Beneath his tunic and armor, Jacey imagined the ripple of muscles. Her body grew pliant as she watched him battle for her honor.

The sword flashed toward Aidan’s arm. He tried to duck, and Jacey watched in horror as he pulled his arm away. A crackle like lightning filled the air. Blue flames shot from the sword, slicing into Aidan’s forearm. He yanked away but too late. The smell of burning filled the air. Against the white tunic, a vivid dark line burned, disappearing beneath the vambraces.

Aidan cradled his injured arm against his chest.

Jodarin struck again. He swung for Aidan’s neck. Aidan ducked and lunged. The tip of his sword caught Jodarin just beneath the chest plate. Another crackling hiss filled the air, along with the stench of charred meat.

Jacey sat hunched on the edge of her chair. She couldn’t bear to watch, yet refused to turn away. In her mind, she willed Aidan to come out the victor. “Please,” she whispered, “please.”

Jodarin scrambled back from the wound. He looked at Aidan, then down at the black marks across the front of his plate armor, then laughed. The mocking tones sent chills down Jacey’s spine, but Aidan appeared unbothered. He picked up his sword, closing both hands around the hilt, and stared at Jodarin.

Aidan lunged. He screamed a blood-curdling war cry and engaged Jodarin. He fought with all his might, his sword flashing in the sunlight. A hush fell over the crowd. The clang of metal against metal filled the air. She heard the grunts of the men as they tested strength and wits. Far off in the stands, a baby cried, quickly hushed by its parents.

Aidan slashed his sword across Jodarin’s front. A wicked crackle filled the air. Jodarin staggered.

A long black streak covered his chest from shoulder to hip. He looked down at it, then thrust his sword toward Aidan. He stepped back, striking again at Jodarin. Their swords met, nearly hilt to hilt. Aidan twisted his wrist. He shoved Jodarin backward. The man stumbled. And fell.

Jacey rose to her feet. Adrenaline pulsed through her as she watched Aidan stand over his fallen opponent.

“I don’t wish you any harm, Jodarin. You may cede now and keep your life.”

Jodarin sneered. “No! I challenge you to the death, Aidan Starsek, and so to the death it will be.” He thrust his sword upward, catching Aidan beneath the breastplate.

Aidan staggered back.

“No!” Jacey screamed as her lover stumbled away from his opponent. A heavy black char mark covered the lower half of his chest plate. Deactivation Day. Domanins can be killed. It all coalesced in her mind as her lover stumbled away from the rising form of Jodarin.

Jodarin rushed Aidan. He raced across the ground, his strides staggered. He swung his sword madly, trying to catch anything with its deadly edge. Aidan straightened. He danced away, bringing his sword up in front of him. He parried Jodarin’s thrusts, the two men keeping each other at bay.

Then, Aidan struck again. His sword rang off Jodarin’s shoulder braces. He struck again, this time clipping the side of Jodarin’s neck. A wicked sizzle filled the air. Jodarin crumpled to the ground.

Aidan stood over him, sword held at the ready.

He killed him
. Jacey stared gape-mouthed at her lover standing over the prone body of his opponent. The battle seemed noble, two men fighting over her, until one of them died. For a moment she thought about knights back on medieval Earth. Chivalry had sounded so wonderful.

Jodarin moved his arm but made no move to stand. Jacey heaved a sigh of relief, thankful that Aidan hadn’t killed him. She leaned forward, uncaring that she stood on the dais. The crowd focused its attention on the field, not on her.

The announcer stepped forward.

Please say that it’s ended. Please call it off.

The announcer raised his hands. He reached for Aidan, and Jacey expected him to raise her lover’s arm in the air like referees did at boxing matches. Instead, he held both of his palms out flat before him. Aidan laid his sword in the Herald’s hands, then bowed his head.

Jacey leaned forward to get a better look. This didn’t look like any sort of victory celebration that she knew of. Her skirt tangled around her legs. She yanked at the material to keep it from tripping her.

The Herald raised the sword over Aidan’s neck.

“Noooo!” Jacey’s cry of outrage filled the stadium. She lurched forward, yanking on her skirt as it tripped her. Rushing headlong toward the stairs, she grabbed handfuls of her skirt. The material twisted around her ankles, hampering her progress. She pulled on it. The sound of ripping material filled her ears.

She ran down the stairs, her bejeweled slippers pounding on the wooden treads. “Aidan, no!” She blinked back tears of worry as she stumbled down the last two stairs.

The announcer stared at her, a smile on his face. Jacey wanted to wipe the smug look off with her fist. The man had about killed Aidan, and all he could do was smile. She gave him an indignant snarl and raced across the lawn toward her Lord.

Aidan raised his head. His eyes widened as he watched her race in the full skirts across the field toward him.

Jacey’s heart leaped into her throat. He looked like hell. Dark charred marks bisected his chest plate and dotted the armor on his shoulders and arms. A scratch marred one cheek. His handsome tunic hung in shreds beneath the armor, more bruises and marks showing on the skin beneath. He gingerly held out his arms toward her, and Jacey forced herself to check her pace.

She stopped two feet from him and pointed to the Herald. “You will not harm him.” Thinking of how close the glowing blue blade had come to the back of his neck sent shivers down her spine. “Ever,” she added for good measure.

The announcer bowed. “My lady, had they fought in the new style, then yes, the victor would be allowed to live. But this is a traditional Dajarka, and once the domanin warriors fight, they have proven themselves to be violent and must be destroyed as per the edicts of Deactivation Day. I am very sorry.”

”Like hell,” Jacey growled. “Surely you can spare Aidan. He has done nothing but answer a challenge given to him and fight bravely. Lord Jodarin may be bruised, but he’s still alive.” As if to prove Jacey’s words, the domanin on the ground moaned.

“With the traditional Dajarka, there is only one way to save the domanin’s life.”

The Herald’s words penetrated the shock of seeing Aidan nearly die. “Traditional Dajarka?” She faced Aidan. “You wanted this? You wanted to die.” Her voice caught in her throat, and she swallowed hard, turning her attention back to the Herald. “Tell me how to keep Aidan from dying.”

Aidan held up his hand. “Do not tell her. I do not want her to be compelled into something she doesn’t wish to do. I will accept my fate. I knew what would happen when Jodarin challenged me to fight.” He turned and looked at Jacey. Gently, he closed the space between them and clasped her shoulders. “My lady, you have done an honorable thing, but I will do what I must. I won’t force things from you that you’re not ready to give.”

Jacey pressed her finger against his lips. “Hush. Let the man tell me. I couldn’t stand it if I could prevent something from happening to you. When I saw Jodarin—” Emotion choked her voice. Clearing her throat, she turned back to the Herald. “Tell me. I order you.”

The man looked from Aidan to her, then back again. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Aidan nod to him. The Herald breathed deeply. “My lady, there is only one way a domanin can live after fighting the Dajarka. He must be loved by a true-born.”

“A true-born?” Jacey asked. She looked at Aidan again. She cared for him deeply, even feared that she loved him. If she said she loved him, then she would forfeit all rights she had to demand that Aidan return her to Earth. By confessing her love, she would bind herself to his side for all time. If she returned to Earth, Aidan would die. She swallowed hard.

“Yes, a true-born. One who is born of a man and a woman.”

“I’m a true-born,” she said slowly, “though I am not of this planet.”

The announcer nodded. “If you cannot make the declaration, then the sentence must be carried out. I’m sorry, my lady. Step aside.” He stepped forward.

Sunlight glinted on the blade he held in his hands. The blue glow pulsed ominously around the metal, and Jacey tried not to imagine what it would do to Aidan’s flesh, his circuits.

She shook her head. “No, you step aside. I am a true-born woman of Earth, and I love Aidan Starsek.” She turned to face him, and the hope shining from Aidan’s eyes nearly blinded her. “I love you.”

Aidan stepped forward. With a groan he pulled her against him, his lips seeking and finding hers. His tongue plunged into her mouth. Jacey wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing against him. She cupped her hands at his nape, feeling his soft flesh, whole beneath her hands. At the thought of how close she’d really come to losing him, tears fell from her eyes.

A roar erupted from the crowd, a clatter of cheering and clapping that nearly deafened her.

Slowly, Aidan drew his lips from hers. He nuzzled her neck, then pulled away. “I love you too, but you know you must always remain by my side.”

His words twisted a knife of pain deep inside her. She knew, but to hear him say it aloud brought fresh tears to her eyes. “I know,” she breathed. She pulled away from his embrace, and Aidan let her go. “I don’t suppose I could talk you into running away with me.” She knew the answer, but Aidan’s sad smile confirmed it. She clasped his hand and knew that not only was this the happiest day of her life but also the saddest.
But what I’ve gained has more than made up for what I have lost.

Chapter Nine

Once inside Aidan’s palace, she’d begged for time alone. Only when Aidan had given her that time, it was not in her rooms, but his. Curling up on the bed they had shared, she blinked back the tears. He said he loved her. Now wasn’t the time to be crying, but damn it, his love had stolen Earth away from her. She couldn’t go back. Not even to maintain a part-time presence. Someone would notice the spacecraft entering and leaving the atmosphere, and she didn’t want to put herself or Aidan through the kind of media circus that would ensue.