Once he killed Aksel, she would lose him forever. Her soul screamed in pain. She didn't want to live without him, she wasn't even sure if she could.
All her hopes vanquished, Kiara sat in his lap wishing for a solution she knew would never come.
*
Jullien sat in the security room of the embassy, his temper boiling. He had known his mother and aunt were up to something by the furtive glances they had cast about the hallway before they secreted themselves in the study. He had learned a long time ago to beware his aunt's treachery. She seemed to delight in getting him into trouble. Now as he listened to them talking about his brother, he realized just how dangerous a position he was in.
His grandmother had told him the whole story about his brother several years ago. Like her, he had assumed Nykyrian was dead. God knows, his grandmother had paid enough money to the work home to see his brother starved and abused.
No one should have survived the treatment Nykyrian was supposed to have received! He knew better than to trust a hireling. If you wanted something done right, you had to do it yourself!
He clenched his fists in anger. If his mother and aunt had their way, they would reinstate Nykyrian back into the empire. He would have to split all his inheritance!
Jullien tapped his fingers against the wooden desk, his mind whirling with thoughts.
They had to be stopped. He was the heir to the Trioson and Andarion empires. By God, he would tolerate no encroacher.
But what could he do?
His knees shook with nervous energy as he plotted. He would secure his position as sole heir no matter the cost.
*
Kiara adjusted the black lace of her negligee then fluffed a few wisps of her hair around her face. Nykyrian was downstairs clicking away on his terminal. They still had four hours before they were to meet his mother for dinner and she had decided she was tired of yearning for him. She smoothed the silk of her gown, grateful for once she didn't show any sign of her pregnancy.
Any day, Nykyrian might have Aksel, and send her away. When that happened, all she would have were her memories. She knew she would spend the rest of her life aching for him. Well, she was with him now and she had no intention of beginning her hell any earlier than necessary. With her resolve firm, she opened the door and headed for the stairs.
Nykyrian's neck tingled like someone was watching him. He looked up from his terminal to see Kiara standing on the stairs, her long hair swirling about her lithe body.
His breath caught in his throat. She wore the skimpiest negligee he had ever seen and his body erupted with burning desire. NO! he told himself, but his body was already up and moving toward her.
Hesitantly, he reached his hand out to touch the creamy flesh above the décolleté. He knew what he did was wrong, but he couldn't stop himself. He was drawn to her against all his reasons that told him this was suicide.
Kiara sensed his defenses, but she had breached them enough times to know what she had to do to keep him from pulling away. She ran her hand over the stubble of his cheeks and buried it in the silken, white hair. Her hand tingled. He closed his eyes and kissed the inside of her elbow. Giddiness welled up inside Kiara. She had won this battle, if only she could win the campaign.
His leaving her alone the past weeks didn't matter. Even the pain over him not coming for her was gone. Kiara doubted if Nykyrian could ever do anything she wouldn't forgive. She needed him, loved him, and she would take what he was capable of giving, and pray for a time when he would be free to give her m ore.
His arms closed around her in a bone-crushing embrace. Kiara clutched him, wishing they could stay this way forever, her heart breaking because they couldn't.
Nykyrian picked her up and carried her back upstairs. Kiara leaned her head against his shoulder. "I love you," she whispered, knowing he wouldn't respond. Instead, he kissed her deeply, with more passion than she had ever experienced.
Nykyrian tossed her on the bed. Kiara welcomed the feel of his strong, exploring hands as they played a brilliant, sharp melody across her tingling flesh. His lips trailed along her arm s, the top of her breasts, delighting her with building erotic waves that washed over her pulsing body.
She wanted him. Running her hands down his body, she peeled his clothes off, kissing each piece of his strong, bronze flesh that she bared. His soft, firm skin m oved under her lips as she nipped the salty flesh, wanting to lose herself to him forever.