Bad Nerd Rising (9 page)

“Savannah is as beautiful as you, Tia,” Emma
said, and to her surprise, Rich nodded in agreement beside her.

“Definitely,” he said.

Tia stared at them. “She’s far more
beautiful than I ever was.”

“No, I think she’s a miniature Tia in the
making.”

She snorted. “Just what this world needs,
another Tia.”

When she glanced at Aleksi, she saw his eyes
had half-masted and he was staring at her like he didn’t believe
more than one Tia was a bad thing at all.

Oh no.

Was he a contender for the knight in shining
armor role in her life?

Chapter
7

How on earth did a man oust
a woman’s
grandfather
from the role of knight in shining armor? It wasn’t like he
could challenge him to a duel or something. The man was family, her
ancestor, and therefore played an incredibly important part of her
life. It was also evident that Tia loved him very much.

There was also the factor that Aleksi wasn’t
sure he could handle the whole knight in shining armor thing,
anyway. That pesky little part of being the hereditary prince
generally meant he wasn’t allowed to engage in dangerous exploits,
which had seriously hampered his growing up years.

And likely contributed to his decision to
continue his education in America; then do most of his father’s
traveling since. He had hoped Americans wouldn’t care that he had
royal blood flowing through his veins. He’d hoped in vain. Seemed
there were hangers-on in every country. Not all of his peers had
cared about his title and wealth. In fact, Tia used to stare
through him. Aleksi was surprised she even remembered his name when
they re-met at that conference.

Her eyes had actually bulged a little when
he asked for her phone number. Like she couldn’t believe he
remembered her.

As if he would ever forget her.

Too bad he hadn’t managed to talk to her
while they were in school. But he felt like the timing then was
bad. She had been utterly focused, even as a freshman. He had
appreciated and respected that kind of devotion.

Slanting a glance at her, he wondered, now
that she had succeeded in her chosen profession, if she could be
convinced to hold the same devotion to her spouse and any children
they might produce.

The thought enticed and terrified him.

“Your wells are making your people sick?”
Rich O’Riley asked him after they settled a little away from the
women in one of the main living areas.

Aleksi nodded. “We’re pretty certain it’s
the wells. After the boiling decree went out, not nearly as many
people have grown sick.”

“But you’re still seeing some?”

“Yes,” he said and sighed. “The medical
staff suspect that those who are growing ill now haven’t been
boiling their water, or haven’t done so properly.”

The admiral nodded.

Aleksi cocked his head as he peered at the
older man. He narrowed his eyes. “Do you have another theory?” The
man was a high ranking military official. He should have thought to
utilize the admiral’s knowledge before now.

“We’re always on the alert, after 9-11, for
terrorist dealings,” O’Riley said and sipped from the mug in his
hand.

Something unfriendly
skittered down Aleksi’s back. “We aren’t or perhaps I should say,
we
haven’t
been on
the terrorists lists.”

O’Riley’s eye brow lifted. “You’re a wealthy
principality. That’s going to catch their attention.”

“Of course it will. We produce some of the
world’s finest jewels in the world.”

“Terrorists need money.”

“They do. Like I said, in the past we’ve not
had a problem, and from what I can gather, we haven’t been
approached by any factions.”

“Diamonds aren’t only used as jewelry,” Rich
quietly reminded him.

“I’ve been hiding under the assumption that
our problem is bacterial and an act of nature,” Aleksi said and
stared at the contents of his mug. He couldn’t hide behind
conjecture because his people would be the first to suffer.

“We also hid under the assumption that we
were okay.” Rich’s voice was somber, quiet.

“That one day in September shattered your
innocence.”

Rich nodded. “We lost so much that day, but
we also gained. We finally understood freedom isn’t free.”

“Rurikstan’s military is... adequate, but
that’s one thing I’m determined to strengthen. After your lesson, I
realized we couldn’t be complacent.”

“It could take you years to bring your
military up to par,” O’Riley said.

Aleksi shook his head. “No.
My father had an old buddy who retired from the military a few
years ago. He has seen several wars. The General knows what it’s
like out there, and he has kindly consented to, what’s the
word?
Overhaul
our
military.”

“He’s doing it alone?”

“Not at all. He has pulled in several of his
colleagues. They have organized our men remarkably well in a short
amount of time.”

O’Riley offered a silent whistle. “How’d
they manage it?”

“This is a principality, and I am the
leader. We are far smaller than America, we have no... red tape, is
that the terminology?” He glanced at the admiral who rolled his
eyes and nodded. “Therefore the restructuring was simple. We all
met, talked about what needed done, why, and how to do so, then the
men parted and have implemented everything. So far, we’re all
pleased with our progress. My father would have been proud.”

“It takes a strong leader to understand what
needs done and then chose the appropriate people to carry out the
appointed tasks.”

“That was a talent my father possessed in
excess. Everything I know, I learned from him.”

“He died?” Aleksi appreciated that O’Riley’s
voice was muted, respectful.

“A year ago. He sank into senility quickly.
We were all surprised. One day he was fine, but within a few weeks,
he couldn’t remember anything, and within the year he was gone.”
Aleksi shoved the pain away, trying forcefully to forget the anger,
despair, and loss they had all experienced at his sire’s unexpected
passing.

“The doctors couldn’t give you any reason
for his death?”

“No. There were many theories, but no true
diagnosis was ever made.”

“It wasn’t murder?” O’Riley’s voice turned
sharp.

Aleksi started. “I don’t know how it could
have been. No one had a solid motive.”

The admiral’s right eyebrow lifted.

Aleksi’s lip curled to the side. “None that
I would deem a good motive. My father was very popular and while
I’m certain he had enemies, I can’t think of anyone who would want
to actually kill him. I had so much to learn from him, it was hard
for me when he died so suddenly.”

“He was sick for a few weeks, months?”

“Eight months from start to finish.” Eight
agonizing months of despair and pain.

“That’s not long.”

“No,” Aleksi answered, his mouth grim.
Although it had seemed terribly long since they had to watch his
beloved father wither away. He still hated thinking of those months
watching Aleksandr deteriorate and weaken and knowing they couldn’t
do anything to help ease his suffering.

“Did your people grow sick after he
did?”

Aleksi frowned. “We asked that same question
to his doctors. They saw a few cases of people who shared some of
his symptoms, but none like his. The true problems started this
fall.”

“You’ve had the most outbreaks
recently?”

“Yes.”

Tia rose from her chair and distracted him
as she ambled over to where he and her uncle sat. He watched with
hungry eyes as she seated herself, amazed by her cat-like
movements. Never had he seen such sinuous grace on a human being.
Normally one also associated grace and elegance with a cat, except
that Tia had tripped on her way to the chair. He smiled to himself.
This woman would never bore him.

“I couldn’t help but overhear your
conversation, so I thought I’d invite myself over,” she said and
smiled at both of them. Her smiles were impartial. That hurt. He
wanted her to smile at him like he was her world. His mother would
tell him that meant he was extra arrogant.

Probably true.

O’Riley smiled at her. “You’re welcome to
comment.”

“I was at the hospital today and spoke with
the patients.”

“And?” Aleksi wondered if she had discovered
anything the doctors hadn’t.

“I was particularly interested in learning
their various symptoms.”

“Don’t symptoms usually mimic each other?”
O’Riley asked.

Aleksi frowned. “I don’t understand?”

“Most illnesses start with
a
headache, irritability, malaise, and can
include such things as insomnia,
fever,
vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and a metallic taste in the
mouth. Some more severe symptoms are memory problems,
personality changes, ataxia, coma, respiratory
problems, and renal failure,” Tia said.

“Aren’t you Miss Sunshine,”
his mother muttered as she and Emma took seats near them. He shot
her a repressive look which he hoped would keep her in line. If
anyone had undergone a personality change of late, it’d be her.
There were days he didn’t believe he knew her, and she had birthed
him.

Fortunately, Tia ignored
her. “The problem most doctors have to deal with is those
indicators are so general. Many illnesses begin with those very
symptoms. The challenge is to narrow down
what
is causing the
problem.”

“So it could be bacterial,
but it could be something else?” He didn’t like the way this
conversation was heading. But then again, if she couldn’t narrow
down the cause, Tia would have to stay longer. That exact same
dilemma rose up in a stranglehold. More time with Tia vs more
suffering for his people.

Sometimes being the prince stank.

Tia thought about Aleksi’s
question and nodded. “That’s correct. In this case, you’ve already
narrowed the most likely source. Your wells. And by boiling the
water, you’ve managed to prevent more people from falling sick. Now
we have to figure out exactly what’s in the water that’s making
everyone sick.”

She cocked her head at
him, wishing she didn’t find him so attractive because her
attention span kept faltering. Trying to sound intelligent and
professional proved difficult when confronted with such extreme
masculinity. Especially when the girly cheerleaders inside took up
their pom poms and began a chant.
“Aleksi,
he’s our man....”

This did not bode well for
future peace of mind.

“You concur so far that the
problem is our wells?” Even his voice sent delicious shivers up her
spine.

Tia resisted the urge to
arch her back, and instead tried to concentrate on the information
he possessed that she needed. His
mother
was watching, for goodness
sakes. There was a bad bacterial infection if she ever saw one. Too
bad they couldn’t use an antibiotic on her.

Maybe it’d make her a little nicer.

“That seems to be the most
logical explanation. What I’m wondering is if all the people who
became sick used the same wells?”

Aleksi’s eyebrows shot up
and he stared at her, before turning to his mother. “None of the
palace residents have required treatment,” he said and frowned at
her.

“No one in the newer part
of town have grown ill, either, have they?” his mother asked. She
stared at him as intently as he stared at her. Like they both were
thinking carefully on this, wanting to help.

Tia was struck by how human
the woman could be one moment and then Cruella de Nasty the next.
Maybe she had a split personality.

“I think I’ll set Maria on
the task of determining exactly which wells seemed most potent.”
Tia bit her lip as she watched Aleksi’s mother’s face darken. She
looked ready to spew venom, before his foot thumped hers gently.
The woman settled down, and kept her mouth shut, but Tia wondered
if there was bad blood between Maria and the princess.

Hhhmm. Something she might
need to ask Helena, because that would mean kid gloves were
necessary when handling both women. That’s all she needed – to
bumble into the middle of their little war. People got injured that
way, and since Tia was already adept at causing her own injuries,
she didn’t feel it necessary to add extra opportunities.

“Jorge might already have that information,”
Aleksi supplied.

She nodded. “I’ll ask them
tomorrow. Probably our best course of action is to figure out the
most prominent symptoms of the patients as we’re doing now, but
also which wells seem to be the most problematic. Then we’ll test
and see what we come up with.”

“How long do you think all of this will
take?” her Aunt Emma asked.

Tia bit her lip. “I don’t
know. A week, four weeks?”

“You don’t know?” Aleksi’s mother asked
shrilly.

“No, there’s no way to know until we begin
compiling data,” Tia said, her voice firm and her expression
unwavering as she stared the demon woman in the eyes.

“You’re welcome to remain
with us for as long as you wish,” Aleksi inserted smoothly and Tia
turned to lock eyes with him.

She made herself tear her
eyes from the liquid desire in his. Since she wanted to dive
headfirst into the temptation he provided, but caution prohibited
her,
this time
.
What would happen when her normally careful self faltered? She’d
attack the man. Great, then she’d be thrown into Rurikstan’s
prison, and everyone would get sick and die and she’d rot in some
jail cell.