Microsoft Word - FortunesFool.rtf (9 page)

She was afraid she'd revealed too much, but the light in David's eyes

reassured her. He squeezed her waist, his lips covering hers for a tender salute.

"You're a wonder to me, Adele. I never thought I'd ever meet a

woman like you and now suddenly, here you are."

"It's fate, David. Seeing things the way I do…" she hesitated, having never really talked about her abilities outside her own small family.

"Well, it gives me an appreciation for the hand that fate plays in our lives. Of course, not everything is pre-destined. Human will plays a large part. But I know the path that led me to The Rabbit Hole—and to you—

was my own good fortune." She stroked his spiky hair.

"So you're saying you're okay with the fact that I'm a little

different?" He seemed to want to make sure of something, his eyes

intensely studying her response.

"David, you don't mind about my gift. Do you?"

58

FORTUNE'S FOOL

"How could I? It just saved our asses." He chuckled, then grew more serious. "It's part of who you are, Adele. I can see that. And I like you just the way you are."

She smiled broadly. "Then you have your answer." Leaning in, she kissed him with all the pent up desire in her heart, rubbing against his hard body in a way that made her breath catch in her throat. David's

broad palms skimmed over her, shooting her temperature higher.

Then the comm chimed.

Time to go to work. They had a station to secure and a few thousand

civilians depending on them to do it.

"We'll pick this up later," David promised as he helped her stand.

Her knees were a little wobbly, but the promise in David's shining eyes

steadied her…and made her impatient to get the work done. So she could

play some more with her beloved soldier.

59

D'ARC, GALE, KENT, MARCH

Dave got the four jit prisoners linked up with force cuffs. Only their

feet were left mobile so he could walk them off the ship and to the

waiting station police. They cooperated since they knew there was no

way to escape. There were two younger men who wore high quality gear

and carried themselves a bit differently than your average jit pirate. The other two were older and had the look of personal guards. One of the

younger men looked to be in his early twenties, and the other might've

been in his late twenties or early thirties. The younger of the two stopped in front of David, curiosity on his angular face.

"Are all human women like yours?" His dark eyes glanced to Adele and back, curiosity written plainly in his expression as the other jits stood behind him, almost protectively.

"Many human women are courageous, intelligent and sexy as hell,

but I will admit, my Adele is a cut above the rest."

"That is your heart talking," the oldest of the prisoners said with a hearty smile. "Though I admit I have seen few human females with this one's qualities. She is something else again."

"That she is." Dave knew he was smiling like a besotted fool when Adele finished her comm and came to stand next to him, but he couldn't

help himself. Her eyes clouded for a moment and she swayed. Dave

recognized the signs of a vision this time. He put out a hand to steady

her. She regained her balance and not a moment later, she walked right

up to the youngest jit prisoner and frowned at him.

"You should not be here, your majesty."

Gasps sounded from all the men as Dave's eyes narrowed.

"I go where I wish."

"You tempt fate, and she is not happy with you." Adele's beautiful face was stern, but a moment later she smiled. "Still, perhaps you've learned something from this adventure, but I recommend against such

60

FORTUNE'S FOOL

exploits from this point on. You'll one day have an entire galaxy

depending on you."

"How do you know this?" One of the older men demanded.

"She has the ability to see the future." Dave stood behind her, his expression daring these men to try anything against his woman.

The jit prisoners surprised Dave by taking his words very seriously

indeed. They looked at Adele with even greater respect and the older

men bowed their heads, though their eyes never left her face—a mark of

respect among jit'suku warriors.

"What do you see, Lady?" the young man asked in almost hushed

tones.

Adele smiled. "You'd be surprised." She touched his shoulder,

almost protectively. "I'll tell you this though. If you stay safe and continue on your present course, with no more adventures in our galaxy,

you'll be the one to end the war. You'll be known as the Peacemaker, in

the fullness of time. And your wife…" Her eyes seemed faraway as if she were looking at something only she could see. "Your empress will be a very special woman." Her gaze refocused on the young man. "She'll be human…but not. Pay attention to the man from the Pyramid when he

crosses your path. He and his brothers will be the key."

"Lady, you speak in riddles."

Adele smiled. "When these things come to pass, you'll understand

and hopefully note their significance. That's my purpose. To make you

aware. But you must live your life and gain from your experiences. Just

please don't take quite so many chances in future. The perils are great, and if you come back to this galaxy uninvited again, you'll pay the

consequences."

"Then you won't turn me in this time?"

"Speaking for myself, I won't reveal your identity. In fact, because you didn't invade the station itself, but rather remained behind on the

ship, chances are, there will be no charges levied against you four.

They'll probably escort you to your side of the border and let you go."

"Is this true?" one of the older men demanded of Dave.

"Adele is a highly ranked CSS officer. She knows their procedures

better than I do."

"And what about you, sir? Will you divulge my identity? Knowing

it would probably spell my death?"

61

D'ARC, GALE, KENT, MARCH

The young man's steadfast gaze impressed Dave. Here stood a man

with deep honor and courage. And if Adele was to be believed, he would

one day be the jit'suku emperor.

"You're just a kid," Dave said off-handedly. "I don't know who you are beyond that." Dave leaned down to look the younger man in the eye.

"I trust Adele. If she says you're the one to bring peace between our people, then I'll give you every chance to do it."

"Yet you are a soldier."

Dave nodded. "I've been fighting on the rim for twenty years. I've

had my fill of war. And we're too well matched. This'll go on forever if we don't come to some kind of truce at some point. I'm hoping you'll be

the man to do it. If so, God speed, Emperor."

The young man shifted uncomfortably. "I'm not emperor yet."

Adele smiled softly. "But you will be. I hope you'll remember us

then. I hope you'll know there are many humans who would welcome

peace with your people."

The boy looked skeptical, but held his tongue. After a moment, he

bowed. "I thank you for your counsel. What are your names?"

Adele laughed, apparently caught by surprise. "I'm Adele Senna and

this is Colonel David Hellerby."

The man nodded. "You have my thanks." They moved down the

corridor to the ramp before he spoke again. "Are you not mates?"

David chuckled as they walked. "We only met yesterday, but I have

every intention of keeping Adele with me for the rest of our lives. If

she'll have me." She gasped and looked at him with an expression of joyous surprise that boded well for his chances.

The other men shook their heads and grinned. "It's easy to see you

are destined mates," the oldest one said with a twinkle in his eye.

"Congratulations."

* * * *

David reported to the command area to find the CSS officers had been

revived and were quickly regaining control over all station systems.

Adele signed off on the logs, turning command of the station back to its rightful leaders. They had things well in hand when Dave suggested he

and Adele seek out The Rabbit Hole to check in with Alex and the men.

Aside from a short comm assuring Adele that her Aunt Della was

fine, the spec ops warriors from the bar had faded away once order was

restored. Only the young soldier, Timothy, stayed with the station cops, 62

FORTUNE'S FOOL

being lauded for his role in freeing the men who now processed the

jit'suku prisoners for trial and most for eventual deportation.

Only the ringleaders, those who had killed or committed other

crimes during the attack, and those with previous warrants would be

detained, since there was little loss of life on the station. The rest of the crew would probably be sent back to their own galaxy after an initial

holding period while the evidence was sorted.

Timothy was the hero of the action and both Dave and Adele were

happy to see the pride on the young man's face as he was thanked and

congratulated by the station commander. Officially, Adele, Dave and

Timothy were going to be credited with assisting the station police in

repulsing the jit invaders. Dave had cautioned Tim and Adele not to

mention Alex or the other men and they seemed to understand Alex and

his team were something that needed to remain secret.

When Dave and Adele walked into the bar, they were greeted with

raised glasses and cheerful words. Adele's aunt rushed over and hugged

them both.

"Thank you, David, for protecting my niece."

"My pleasure, ma'am. And she did more than her share. Without her

command codes, the job would have been much more difficult." He

couldn't help the pride that crept into his voice.

"Congratulations to you both," Della said with a tear in her eye.

"You are going to be so happy on Earth, sweetie." She hugged her niece while Dave was caught a bit short.

"You saw us on Earth?"

Della nodded vigorously. "On a lovely parcel of land in the Middle

of North America. With a beautiful family of your own."

"Family?" Dave croaked.

"Yes, my dear nephew." Della took his hand in both of hers and stroked the back comfortingly. Her voice dropped even lower as her next

words floored him. "They were wrong when they said you could never

be a father. You will be, David. Several times over. With my Adi." Tears filled the older woman's eyes when she looked up at him. Her smile was

almost angelic.

"Earth?" Adele asked.

Dave focused on her, unable to deal with the revelation that he

would be a father just yet.

"I was born on Earth. I've always wanted to go back and homestead

near my siblings. I was working my way back slowly. Eventually, I want

63

D'ARC, GALE, KENT, MARCH

to live on the homeworld and…" he looked at Della who was beaming

and nodding, "…raise a family. With you. If you'll have me."

"Oh, David!" Adele's reaction touched his heart. Her eyes reflected her joy—the same joy in his own heart. "I'll never let you go, you silly man. I love you!"

She hugged him, wrapping him tight in her arms as the men at the

bar watched with envious smiles. Dave could see his comrades over the

top of Adele's head. He was glad his brothers in arms were there to

witness his happiness, but he knew he was home now. Truly. Adele was

his home. Now and forever.

64

FORTUNE'S FOOL

Adele and Dave were married quietly a few weeks later on Jupiter

Prime Station, where she'd been born. A number of David's family came

and they had an impromptu family reunion. Plans were made for David

to apply for a homesteading license and by the following year they'd

been granted permission to live on Earth.

A gift awaited them in their new home when they finally moved in.

The message was oblique but they knew it had come from the young

jit'suku man they'd let go. The future emperor.

He gave them a costly piece of crystal statuary from the jit galaxy

that was worth a king's ransom on Earth. It also held a princely secret—a cache of gemstones and a seal of the Imperial House that identified

Adele and David, and all their progeny, as those to whom the jit'suku

emperor owed a personal debt. The multi-colored gemstones were a nest

egg, the message said, to help get them started on their life together.

Adele knew they would come in handy one day, as would the

Imperial seal…but not in any way the future emperor could have

imagined. Fate, it seemed, was not done with them yet.

65

D'ARC, GALE, KENT, MARCH

Hand of Fate

Eva Gale

66

FORTUNE'S FOOL

Also by Eva Gale

101 Degrees Fahrenheit

67

D'ARC, GALE, KENT, MARCH

To Selah, Ferfe, Ann and the Cage Critters. For four thousand dollar

hand jobs and bending a few rules. Salute!

68

FORTUNE'S FOOL

Boston, 1880

It was as if the carnival had come to town, and Abigail Drummond

and her family were the penny freak show.

She scanned the handful of men gathered at the stone hearth, their

drinks in hand. Every once in a while one of them would steal a covert

glance her way, mutter something, and the group would break into

muffled laughter. Too bad they were such nuisances because the

instigator, well, he looked like the devil himself.