Pure Desire [Pure 3] (Siren Publishing Allure) (23 page)

“That is exactly what I will do. However, I have to consider the consequences of my actions. I don’t give a damn about what happens to me…Allura’s welfare is paramount in my mind. It would be imprudent of me to think selfishly and not consider how my actions will affect her. I have to think things through.” Noor shoved his hands into his pockets and stared out the window at the magnificent panoramic view wasted on him. He was too distracted to pay attention. He said, “I already hurt Allura. If I can help it, I don’t intend to do it again. I wish I hadn’t signed the damned agreement.”

The contract was a binding legal document the authority administrators used to ensure agents didn’t take matters into their own hands. It specified the exact terms of how an officer would conduct business, eliminating thoughts of free will, or “rogue tendencies,” as the government called it.

Aris stepped forward. He, with his dark brown hair, bright green eyes, and ready smile, held his signature demeanor of mild and unassuming with youthful attraction. He was the youngest Rynoir, not as bold and gregarious as his other siblings, and more the jovial type. Being young meant he rarely took things seriously. So it surprised Noor when Aris offered sound advice. “The way I see it, you are damned if you do and damned if you don’t do something, brother. If it were me, I would take action and worry about my woman’s retaliation later. Look.” Aris walked over to Noor. “I know this is a difficult decision to make, but consider what is at stake here.”

“It’s not that easy, Aris. Getting Allura back is not enough. I have to ensure she is safely out of reach of the emperor by assuring he has no grounds under Oridus law to claim her as his wife. I can only manage that by making her unacceptable in the eyes of the guardians of Oridus and the people of the planet.” Aris nodded that he understood.

The bell toll sounded—one hour to go.

The thought of what he had to do left a sour taste in his mouth. He was going to save Allura and hurt her, too. Not just emotionally but physically, and he prayed she was forgiving.

Noor turned around and faced his brothers. “Vale, can you get me close enough to the palace without being detected?”

Vale said, “My vessel has been hovering near the emperor’s compound for an hour. I cloaked and was able to get within range and avoid exposure. The ship is equipped with mach-force lasers that can lock on an object a mile away. I’m pointed straight at the palace, and if the emperor so much as sneezes too hard, I will incinerate the bastard. Before I came here, I had transport set coordinates to beam you and Allura up as soon as you give the word. The scanners have your physical identity mapped. You are in the database, and it will be able to locate you even if a force field is activated or the signal is scrambled.”

Angel added, “You aren’t going in there alone.”

“I’m going to do exactly that. I created the problem, and I will fix it alone.”

Angel gave him a firm response. “No can do. Don’t feed me that bullshit.”

Aris motioned toward Angel and said, “I’m in agreement with Angel.”

Vale said, “I second that…or third, whatever you call it. We go as a team. That is how Father and Mother raised us. Nobody in this family is a lone dove, Noor. Let Angel and Aris accompany you just in case you need backup. You don’t have any idea what you will be up against once you enter the emperor’s domain. You need somebody to watch your back.”

He knew he was fighting a losing battle. Even if he refused to accept his brother’s help, that wouldn’t deter them from following him. They may as well work together. “Okay, you can assist, but I expect you to remain behind the perimeter wall unless I sound an alarm.”

Angel cracked his knuckles. “I will be there…locked and loaded.”

“Once the emperor catches on to what is going on, nobody is safe. I don’t think he will be foolish enough to strike against Magnus, but I’m not taking any chances. I know Father can take care of himself. Aris, can you go home and bring him up to speed so that he can be ready just in case?”

“I’m already there,” Aris said, and then exited.

Noor glanced at his timepiece, noticed the hour was dangerously close, and that soon the final alert would sound, putting Allura much closer to harm’s way.

It wasn’t safe to assume the emperor would abide by Oridus rule and wait to consummate his union with Allura. Unfortunately, he knew the man had not stood on formality thus far, and he doubted he would now. Emperor Agaci was accustomed to doing as he pleased and damning the penalty.

He hoped like hell that he wasn’t too late.

Chapter Twenty-two

A shiver raced up Allura’s spine when Theopolis Agaci entered the room.

In the daylight, his lucid eyes were eerie, and now in the faded light, he appeared twice as sinister. It magnified the dangerous aura that seeped from his pores she noticed earlier.

Her uncle would have called him pale devil and would have sought the shaman for protection against the unnatural evil.

She scooted back as far as she could until her butt hit the headboard. Watchful, she eyed him as he moved forward smiling. She assumed he thought his smile placated her or gave comfort. If only he knew the lecherous grin resembled more of a sneer.

God, she wished she had her six-shooter.

He spoke and it reminded her of a snake’s hiss. “Our time is almost near. Shortly, you will legally become the empress. I will implant my seed in your womb, and you will birth my son, the next Intended to the Agaci legacy. Unfortunately, the child will not live to take his place on the throne.” He shrugged dismissively, settled a cold stare on her. “I can’t allow that to happen because it would bring about my demise. But, we will go through the motions for the sake of the guardians and their damned rules.”

“Noor was right, you are insane.”

Cool, unwavering eyes bore through Allura. “For the record, I need your womb, not your tongue.”

Allura blanched, understanding his threat.

Theopolis Agaci chuckled beneath his breath. “Ah, you Earthlings aren’t as stupid as I believed. Good, we have an understanding already.”

She watched suspiciously, shrinking farther back when he moved toward her. She held her breath, and then let it burst free when he grabbed a large tassel that hung from the side of the canopied bed. It must have been a form of silent communication because the doors to the room opened and two women clad in skimpy attire, far more promiscuous clothing that any saloon girl wore, entered.

“Prepare my wife for our wedding night,” Emperor Agaci said. He eyed Allura with a cold countenance. “I don’t feel like fighting the bitch all night. I want her placid.”

Allura watched him go, and a sense of relief washed over her when the door closed behind him. With his exit, the unsettling sense of a malevolence presence dissipated.

She was on her feet in record time and headed for the door. She managed to open the heavy frames a crease to escape. She slipped through the crack and walked smack dab into something hard.

Cautiously, she reached out until she met—she had no idea what. It felt cool to the touch and obviously was transparent, although she couldn’t see if it were a window of some sort, constructed into the doorframe.

Stretching her arms out on either side, she searched with her fingertips to gauge if the object covered the entrance completely. It did. Each corner was covered and included a top and bottom seal as far as she could reach and determine. She bit into her bottom lip, unsure what to do next. She stood there dumbfounded and contemplated her options.

She jumped, hearing the woman’s voice behind her. “We must hurry. The emperor will return soon, and he will not be pleased if you are not ready for him. Come.”

Allura looked at the preadolescent features. A slender frame and pixie features, including ears that protruded to a point, she looked like an elf. With large inquisitive eyes she kept waiting to blink, she never did.

“I’m afraid Theopolis—”

“His Grace,” the girl corrected her. “We do not speak his name, as it is offensive.”

Allura put her hands on her hips. “Well, where I come from, so is kidnapping someone and forcing her to marry you. That only happens when a ‘shotgun’ wedding is necessary, and I assure you that is not the case here.”

The girl looked at her as if she were some intriguing puzzle. She glanced nervously at the door. “We must be quick,” she said.

Allura threw up her hands in frustration. Trying to get through to the girl was worse than attempting to break the most stubborn horse. And she was about to tell her this when the girl reached out and grabbed her wrist. She tried to pull away, but the girl’s grip tightened, and it was surprisingly strong given her petite, slim build.

She was on the verge of telling her to release her or else when a woozy sensation overcame her. Baffled, she looked at the girl’s fingertips that were on the pulse of her wrist. She pressed hard and increased the pressure until she feared fainting. Her head felt light and dizzy until she thought she might swoon.

“Do not fight it…just relax.” Her voice sounded distant and swam inside her head, making it hard to concentrate or keep her legs steady.

Dark spots danced before Allura’s eyes. She blinked and wobbled, struggling to remain on her feet. Her knees weakened and turned to jelly, and then she collapsed. The room swam—a swirling whirlwind of furniture shifted and consumed her in a vortex of blackness.

* * * *

Dear god, help me.
Allura cringed, seeing Agaci’s face so close to hers. She flinched and struggled to put some distance between the hideous icy stare and her wide eyes. His thin lips creased, and a smug expression crossed the hard planes of his features as he leered down at her.

Twisting his fingers in her hair, he bent low, covered her mouth, and licked his mushy rough tongue over her lips leaving a coating of spittle. It was all Allura could do not to puke. She swallowed hard, fighting against the urge to purge her stomach. His saliva tasted bitter, and sheer will kept her from gagging.

God, she wished she had her gun.
Her father taught her well until she could almost outshoot Channing. Handling this piece of vermin would be easy. One to the chest, and the beastly man would meet his maker.

“Our time is growing near, and I can say that I’m pleased.” Cold fingers traced a chilly line down her arm and over her breasts leaving goose bumps along the path where he touched her.

How dare he? Allura gave his arm a hard shove, sending his elbow smashing back into his chin. Channing would have been proud she mastered the move he had taught her. She smiled, elated, when the slime’s head snapped back under the force of the blow.

The emperor snarled. His nostrils flared, and he showed teeth. “Bitch,” he hissed.

Allura felt her head split with blinding pain when a quick hand lashed out and caught her on the cheek. He slapped her senseless, so hard her face felt numb and tingly at the same time. Bile burned in her throat. Oh, she wished she could shoot him.

As if he understood her thoughts, he caught her by the throat and squeezed, jerking her forward into his face. Hot slashes of breath burned her cheeks when he spoke. “Do that again, and I will show you what pain really is, Earthling bitch.”

She wanted him dead…dead…dead. She even prayed about it, knowing it was wrong to ask god to destroy a man. But she felt vindicated because the being before her wasn’t close to a human. He was more like an animal, worse than a ferocious, crazed, rabid dog that deserved to be put out of its misery.

She struggled, feeling his knee part her thighs. She slapped out, catching him on the cheek. She drew blood as she raked her fingernails into his flesh. He howled and curled a fist. She tried to turn to dodge the attack. Something exploded inside her jaw when he cuffed her.

Everything danced around her in a haze. She batted her eyes to keep from blacking out. Taking gulps of air, she fought to stay conscious, and refused to let the bastard win.

Allura lay as still as possible, playing possum, waiting for the precise moment to catch him off guard. Seeing the top of his blond hair when he lowered his head and concentrating on ripping the belt of his robe free, she reared up like a bucking bronco and kicked him between the thighs. Her knee careened into his stiff appendage, connecting. She twisted and ground hard until he doubled over and scrambled back from her.

Sluggish and fighting off the dazed effect of whatever they had given her, she rolled away and came up on all fours. She crawled over the bed and tried to escape. She screamed when she felt his hand clamp over her ankle. A sharp pain shot through her leg when he jerked so hard she feared her hipbone would pop out of the socket.

Kicking and plummeting her foot in his chest, she refused to go down without a fight. If he caught her this time, her next chance of getting free would surely be futile. Frantic, she socked him repeatedly in the chin with her fist. When that didn’t work, she tried to tear out his eyes. Using her fingertips, she jabbed at the targets and poked him good. He grunted, staggered, and cupped his eye.

“Infidel, you dare defy me!”

His retaliation was swift and came like a thrust of hot wind when he balled his fist and slammed it into her cheek before she could duck. Allura went down like a sack of rocks tossed into a river.