Lord Regret's Price: A Jane Austen Space Opera, Book 3 (31 page)

“We’ll try,” Prince Gong said dryly.

“You have to strap in,” Masters said to Charlotte, probably remembering the way both men had ended up on the floor the first time they’d passed through the wormhole.

Instead, she plopped herself down in Gil’s lap. “Then you’ll just have to hold me. I’m not going to miss this.”

As the wormhole engulfed them, golden light flared like they were sailing into a living sun. Built light and sleek for speed, the catamaran rattled hard as they made the jump through to Xuanyuan, creaking desperately to the point Sig feared the hull might give. He let out a sigh of relief when the massive station hung before them and glanced over at Gil. He’d broken a sweat and squeezed Charlotte so tightly her breath wheezed like her corset was cutting her in half, but she made no complaints.

Pushing the throttle as far as it would go, Sig put as much space between them and the wormhole as possible. Despite knowing the Zijin security was on their side, it still made his palms sweat to fly past those massive heavy-artillery cannon. However, the big guns remained focused on the wormhole exit instead of following their path.

He flipped the viewscreen to the rear of the ship so they could watch the show. One by one, the Britannian ships began popping through the wormhole. The lead ship saw the massive guns and tried to warn the others, nearly getting hit from behind in the process. The fourth ship paused in midexit, hovering like it was stuck in a web.

Prince Gong’s voice came over the line. “Not a good choice for that captain. He’ll be sorry he put the engines in reverse.”

Indeed, within minutes the ship incinerated and broke in half, the bow of the ship drifting into Xuanyuan space while the rest of the rubble disappeared inside the wormhole.

“I don’t guess we’re going back that way anytime soon,” Masters grumbled. “Not that I was looking forward to yet another trip through the wormhole. What are we going to do now?”

Charlotte smiled down at Prince Gong’s face displayed on the monitor. “Oh, I believe we’ll find another way to our destination, won’t we, Your Majesty?”

He didn’t even blink. “Why do you say that, my lady?”

The catamaran shivered in sympathy as the big guns opened fire on the three remaining ships. In a matter of seconds, there was nothing but debris clogging the exit.

“I’d be a poor scientist if I hadn’t scanned the area for another wormhole signature as soon as this one had been revealed to me, especially knowing how you’ve developed the technology to control them.”

Prince Gong inclined his head with a wry smile. “You’ve earned the infamous Lady Doctor Wyre title yet again, I see.”

“I’m the infamous one,” Sig interrupted. “She’s legendary.”

As well as passionate, courageous, forgiving, headstrong, and so damned precious to me. I can’t believe I almost lost her once and for all. I almost lost everything I hold dear, just to be free of my past. The past I thought would drive her away forever.

Only she wiped it all away without even blinking an eye.

Gil rested his chin on the top of her head and said softly, “The incomparable, brilliant Lady Wyre.”

Chapter Twenty

Charlotte didn’t have to open her eyes to know where she was. Beneath her fingers, she felt the ruffled silk she’d patched together over the years on Americus, hiding who she was while treasuring the last bit of the life of privilege she’d once had. She’d mourned her title, her lands, her family and friends, even her prestigious position as Queen’s Physician. No one had known Majel more intimately than her, except for her lovers. Charlotte had even known of several of them, despite the Queen’s efforts to keep her private life a secret from everyone.

By the sweet hum of the technology living inside her, she also knew she wasn’t alone. Now that Gil also carried her nanobots, she wasn’t sure which man it was, though she guessed it was Sig. Maybe it was the utter silence that told her the assassin sat quietly at her bedside, waiting for her to awaken. For all his admirable and honorable qualities, Gil breathed entirely too loudly to sneak up on someone.

A low, masculine chuckle came from the corner, slowly moving closer. She felt the mattress dip as he sat beside her. Now she smelled the Parisiian cologne Sig always wore, a sandalwood musk that smelled as expensive and exquisite as her taste in tea and silks.

“Can you read my mind now?” she asked aloud, reaching out to trace the firm muscle of his thigh. She regretted the layer of clothing—even fine, tight buckskin—keeping her from the warmth of his flesh.

“Not exactly. It’s more impressions and images, like a quick snapshot that flashes in my mind that’s not my own.”

“What did you see that made you laugh?”

“Masters snoring in a chair, his head back with his ugly cavalry hat tipped to shade his face.”

She laughed softly. “I was thinking it couldn’t be him because he didn’t breathe like an assassin.”

Sig’s thigh tensed beneath her hand, though he didn’t pull away. “Do you regret what I am?”

So many doubts and anxieties crowded that simple question. He didn’t ask if she wanted him to cease being an assassin. That wasn’t at all what he meant.

Did she regret the sharpness of his need? The pain that he’d come to enjoy, whether receiving or delivering?

The lash, the bonds, the drive to push deeper and harder each time they made love.

Out of control, blinding, aching, all-consuming need.

The inherent danger of loving a killer with a taste for pain.

“Scorpion,” she whispered.

He flinched but didn’t try to rise, as though he felt obliged to sit and take whatever punishment she might mete out. He said nothing, braced for her condemnation. Her refusal.

Her betrayal.

“I’ve always thought my House had selected a ridiculous sign.” She rolled over on her side to face him, still trailing her fingers lightly over his thigh. “I mean, a dove, white, soft and fragile. The symbol of peace and purity. Wyre has never been very peaceful or pure. We’ve been both ally and enemy of House Krowe, and in that fight, the dove will always get shredded by the raven’s talons.

“But the dove is also a symbol of hope, and in that regard I guess I’ve always had hope in my heart. Hope that I could change the world for the better. That I could heal anything and help people all across the galaxy. When I saw the truth of what my hope had wrought in Queen Majel…” Her voice broke and she squeezed his thigh, letting him feel all the agony and terror that had clutched her heart as desperately. “I wanted to die, Sig. I wished I’d never been born. I wished I’d never had the arrogance to believe I could heal anything, because in healing her, I’ve turned her into a monster. How can you love me after seeing what I’ve done? What I’ve done to you?”

He turned to her, stretching out beside her so they lay face-to-face, though he didn’t touch her. He might be lying beside her, but he was still separate and withdrawn, his body rigid with tension. “You saved me. Not just from the crash on Americus, but from my past. My fears. My doubts. All my life, all I wanted was to be free. I didn’t want to be used by the Queen or my House ever again. I didn’t want to be bound and trapped like my father, but now I realize my mother was just as trapped and even more tortured. Queen Majel owned her. She owned me too.

“But you’ve never tried to own me, Charlie. You’ve never made me feel used or trapped, even when you’ve bound me hand and foot to your bed. I thought I’d hate you someday, that you’d make me feel as helpless and weak as my father, but I don’t. In fact, I started to become afraid of who I was becoming, who you were allowing me to be. You were setting my darkest self free, and that scared me more than anything.”

She cupped his face in both hands, gently rubbing her thumbs over his lips. “You were afraid you’d hurt me.”

“No,” he said hoarsely, “I was afraid I’d kill you. When I’m bound, I can’t hurt you. I’m safe, then. I’d rather be Queen’s Scorpion for the rest of my rotten life than to ever hurt you.”

“I’m not a dove.” She hardened her voice and stared into his eyes, letting the full force of her will and determination shine. “I’m not going to break. My will is just as strong as yours. I’m the bloody Duchess of Wyre, legendary Queen’s Physician, hunted and reviled across the galaxy for the technology I created. I’ve survived countless assassination attempts and turned Majel’s treachery back in her hand to wound her greater than ever. So I can handle your darker urges, Sig, as long as you trust me.”

“I’m as deadly as my House’s namesake.”

She tightened her hands, digging her fingers into his jaw firmly. “So. Am. I.”

As his breath blew out, he sagged, fully relaxed, letting his forehead drop down to touch hers. “I trust you, I do. I love you. But I’m still afraid I’ll go too far. Someday, I might seriously hurt you, and I’ll never forgive myself.”

Deep inside her, she felt a subtle shift, a tug of energy toward the door. Softly, she called out, “Come in, Gil.”

He opened the door but didn’t enter, a big, broad shadow against the doorframe. “I didn’t mean to intrude. I just wanted to let you know that Prince Gong seemed highly interested in joining our efforts of uniting colonies against Majel.”

“Good, our rebel alliance is growing. If we can get the Razari to join us, we might actually have a shot at pulling off a full-scale rebellion.” Then she sharpened her voice slightly so Gil would know her displeasure at his hesitation, as though he might not be as important to her as Sig. “And you’re never an intrusion, Gilead Masters. If the ship’s secure, I ask you to join us. If that’s all right with you, Sig.”

He tipped his face up to search her gaze. “Why wouldn’t it be all right with me?”

“You seemed…” She sighed, trying to find a way to explain without hurting his feelings. A man always reacted strangely when a woman tried to point out—no matter how kindly and lovingly—an intimate problem he was experiencing.

Luckily Gil had no qualms about stating her concerns bluntly. “You haven’t handled our more…extreme…intimacies very well. Especially when we share her.”

“I see.” Sig narrowed his eyes, his mouth a harsh slant. “So you’re afraid I’m going to get jealous and throw a temper tantrum if Gil’s with us?”

“No.” An image flickered into her mind of Sig stomping around the room stark naked and fuming mad, making it difficult for her not to laugh. “I’m afraid you might not speak to us for a few days if he sees how much you like it when I whip you.”

Sig wrapped his hand around her throat and pushed her flat on her back, rising up so he could glare down at her. “And what’s he going to do when he sees how rough you like me to get?”

Gil let out a low, rumbling growl and she swore she heard material rip in his haste. “He’s going to strip off his pants and join you.”

In moments, he was at her back, Sig at her front, and she was pressed between the two people she loved most in this world. It was so beautiful that she very nearly wanted to cry again. She even sniffled a little, which caused Sig to stiffen with alarm.

“You’re not going to cry again are you? Quick, make her some more tea.”

“I’m fine,” she protested, twisting her hand in Sig’s hair to keep him still. “I’m just very, very happy to still be alive.”

“You and us both, sweetheart,” Gil whispered against her cheek. “You had us very worried today. I’ve never seen you so…shaken.”

“I know.” Even now, her voice warbled at the memory of the changes twisting Majel’s body. “I have to help her.”

“You’re not considering going back to Londonium.” Sig tipped her chin up, his fingers as harsh as hers had been moments before. “Because I’ll tie you up and dump you back in Xuanyuan with no ship and no wormhole at your disposal before I’ll let you go back to that serpent’s nest.”

“Of course not,” she said tartly, reaching around to pinch his bum. Hard. “But I have the ability to help her, so I must. I can’t sit back and watch while her humanity is lost. Think of the millions who might suffer her wrath if she goes insane. The civilizations she might destroy.”

“She’s already destroyed the Razari,” Gil said, his arms tightening with worry. “I don’t want you to be next, sweetheart.”

“Hmm, we shall see about the Razari. I don’t think they’re as doomed as she—or they—believe. If I’m right, then I can certainly help Majel too. I must.”

“But how?” Sig asked. “If you contact her, she’ll trace us. If she can even pinpoint the system we’re in, she’ll have a dozen warships after us before we can hop to the next system. Before too long, everyone will bar us from their ports to save themselves the aggravation of having Britannian ships sniffing around.”

“I’m sure I’ll find a way.”

Gil nuzzled her neck. “Yes, I’m sure you will, Lady Wyre.”

“The legendary Lady Doctor Wyre.” Sig bit her ear hard enough that she squealed. “You did have time to pack those toys you picked up in Hoeng Gong, didn’t you?”

Laughing, she sat up despite their protests and went in search of her trunks. “I’ve now added a new must-have requirement to my repertoire: silks, tea and sex toys. Although there are so many incredibly interesting things I saw in the shop that I have no idea how to use.”

Gil groaned, but his voice quavered with laughter, “Uh oh, Sig. You’d better pilot us to the nearest marketplace. Lady Wyre needs to go shopping.”