Vaaden Warriors 1: Rheul (7 page)

My trip had taken longer than I'd thought, and I was anxious to see Darcy. Since I'd been gone a week, I was sure she was worried. There had been no way for me to get word to her, or anyone, that I would be gone longer than expected.

Long distance communications had gone down the day I'd arrived, and they still weren't back up when I'd left. I was sure she had been thinking of worst-case scenarios. I just hoped I could make it up to her.

When I reached the slave quarters, my gut clenched. The door stood partially open, and there was damage done to it.

What had happened? I stepped inside, hoping Darcy was okay. "Darcy?"

Frantically I searched the apartment, but I couldn't find her. There were signs of a struggle, and I was terrified that something bad had happened to her during my absence. If someone had taken her, I'd never forgive myself. I needed help, and Bastian was the only person I could think of who might be of some assistance.

I rushed to his house, hoping he was home.

When I knocked on his door, he opened it almost immediately. "Rheul, where the hell have you been?"

"I had business on the other side of Vaaden. I went to see Darcy, but she wasn't there. It looked like someone had broken into the apartment."

"Someone did."

I swallowed hard. "What do you mean? What happened?"

79

"You're lucky I went to check on her for you. When I got there, someone had forced their way into the apartment. I thought you had better security than that, but apparently it failed altogether. The guy had her pinned to the wall when I walked in. Rheul, he'd thrown her across the room."

I felt sick and horrified. "Where is she? Is she all right?"

"I took her to the doctor. They reset her broken bones and said she's fine." Bastian looked away.

"What? Tell me!"

"It isn't my place to tell you."

"Damn it, Bastian! Tell me what's going on!"

"She's pregnant, Rheul."

I felt as if all the air in the room had suddenly left.

Pregnant? Darcy was going to have my baby? I hadn't thought of having kids anytime soon, much less with my slave. "Are you sure?"

Bastian nodded. "The doctor is the one who told us. He discovered it while he was doing his exam. He ran a bio scan while she was there."

"Where is she?"

Bastian nodded toward the stairs. "She's upstairs in the guest room. The Prime Minister allowed me to bring her here.

I explained what was going on. He also gave you permission to either move her to a more secure location or take her to your home."

"What?" I knew I had to look stunned because I was.

Bastian had asked for permission for me to take Darcy to my home? What made him think I wanted to take my slave to my house?

80

"Bastian, just because you brought Enid to your house doesn't mean I want to do the same thing."

He shrugged. "All things considered, I thought you might want to think about it. She obviously isn't safe in the slave quarters."

"What if I moved her to one of the upper level apartments?"

"It would be more secure, but it would cost you a lot more too. I still think it would be better to take her to your house."

I sighed, knowing that I wasn't going to win this battle.

"Take me to her."

Bastian snorted. "You know the way. Take yourself."

I narrowed my eyes at him, but brushed past him and walked up the stairs. When I reached the guest room, I pushed the door open. Darcy lay curled up on her side with her eyes closed. She had a bruise on her cheek, and her arm was still red from the laser treatment she'd received to reset her broken bones. I wondered what else had been broken.

Quietly, I stepped into the room and closed the door behind me. I wasn't sure what kind of reception I would receive. After all, it was my fault that she'd been hurt. If I hadn't gone out of town, then no one would have gotten to her. She would still be safe in her apartment. I knew the only reason someone had dared to break in was because they'd noticed my absence.

I sat on the edge of the bed and brushed her hair back, letting my fingers get tangled in the long curly locks. Her hair was my favorite thing about her. It was beautiful and wild.

Just like her.

81

Her eyes fluttered open, and she slowly reached out a hand to touch me. "Are you really here?" she asked softly.

"Yes, I'm here."

A tear slid down her cheek. "I was so scared, Rheul."

I lifted her into my arms and cradled her against my chest.

It didn't seem like enough, but I needed to hold her, needed to know she was safe. The moment I'd seen the apartment, not knowing what had happened to her, I'd realized something. I'd done the unthinkable. I'd fallen in love with the impossible woman. I couldn't tell her, though. A relationship between us wasn't possible, and to tell her I loved her would only give her hope.

"You're safe now," I murmured. "I'm so sorry, Darcy. If I'd had any idea what would happen, I never would have left you."

Her hand fisted in my shirt. "Please don't leave me again."

"I won't. I'm not going anywhere."

"I thought... I thought he was going to kill me. And then, when I realized what he intended to do, I wanted to die. But Bastian arrived in time to save me. I don't know what I would have done without him."

"I'm glad he was able to get there in time."

"He took me to the doctor and my bones were reset. The man broke my arm, two ribs and my ankle." She swallowed hard. "The doctor... he also said..."

"Just tell me, sweetheart."

"He said I'm pregnant."

I hugged her tight. "How does that make you feel?"

"Scared. What happens to slaves when they're pregnant?"

82

I frowned. "It depends. Usually the children are given away."

I felt her tense in my arms, and I realized that Darcy would never want that to happen. And I didn't want that either. Even if the baby would only be part Vaaden, it would still be a part of me and a part of Darcy. How could I possibly give away part of the woman I loved?

"But our child will always have a home, Darcy. I can get you a larger apartment, and the baby can stay with you."

She shivered. "I'm scared to stay in the apartments, Rheul. What if it happens again?"

"You don't have to go back right now. The Prime Minister has given permission for you to come home with me. You'll stay at my house for the moment, at least, until we can figure something else out."

"Are you sure I won't get you in trouble?"

I grinned. "If the Prime Minister says it's all right, then everything is fine. If you want, we can go tonight. I'll need to leave you here for just a little while, though."

She clutched my shirt tighter.

"I promise I'll be back, Darcy. I just need to get a few things for you before I take you home."

"I missed you."

"I missed you too."

She looked up at me, and I saw all the worry and tension that she'd been carrying around since I left. My heart ached for her, and I wished there was something I could do to ease her fears. But I couldn't make her promises that I knew I couldn't keep. I wasn't Bastian. I couldn't move her into my 83

home permanently. I would have to take a wife eventually.

"Bastian will keep you safe until I return. I shouldn't be long."

She nodded, but seemed reluctant to let me go. I eased her hands from my shirt and laid her back down on the bed.

After brushing a kiss on her forehead, I left to run my errands. If Darcy was going to go home with me, she'd need new clothes. I could probably get a few things from her apartment, but I wasn't anxious to go back there just yet.

By the time I'd settled Darcy in my home, it was dark outside. Seeing her curled up in my bed made me want things I knew I couldn't have. The sooner I returned her to the slave quarters the better. I knew the longer she stayed with me, the harder it would be to send her back.

I knew I would miss her when she wasn't around. Even though she'd only been here a matter of minutes, just having her in my house had changed things. I now understood why Bastian had kept Enid with him, why he had refused to take a wife. Darcy tempted me to do the same.

Even though there were things I should take care of downstairs, I found myself crawling between the sheets with her and pulling her into my arms. I brushed the hair back from her face and kissed her gently. It still amazed me that this beautiful woman was going to have my child. My life was never going to be the same.

Darcy snuggled against me, and I held her tight, enjoying the feel of her in my arms. I stroked her hair and rubbed her back, needing to touch her. Her even breathing told me that she slept. My body craved hers, but I knew she needed her rest. She'd been through a lot over the past few days. And 84

after hearing about Enid, I knew that pregnant women tended to need more sleep.

It rankled that Bastian had been right, that I could fall in love. But if I were going to fall in love with someone, Darcy was the perfect choice. She might not be happy with her lot in life, but at least she understood that I had to follow certain rules, and that I would eventually have to marry. It was odd.

At one time, the thought of marriage hadn't bothered me. It had merely been something I had to do. But now it left a sour taste in my mouth. The thought of being with another woman sickened me, especially one of the ice queens from Vaaden.

Darcy was everything I could ever want in a woman. She was passionate, sweet and beautiful. In other words, the exact opposite of a Vaaden woman. Well, except for the beautiful part. Our women were beautiful, but they were cold and distant. I had yet to hear of a happy marriage on my planet. Not for the first time, I felt jealous of Bastian. I knew he was happy with Enid, and I wished I could find that same happiness. I had it with Darcy, but it wasn't the same thing.

She couldn't stay with me indefinitely.

Or could she...?

No. I had to take a wife. If Bastian wouldn't follow tradition, then it fell to me to do so. One of us needed to follow the rules. Someone in the family needed to have a Vaaden child who could inherit everything. I knew that Bastian had made sure that Enid and their children would be provided for if anything happened to him, but it wasn't the same as being able to inherit his entire fortune. I didn't want my fortune and patents going to the Vaaden government.

85

They had enough power already. And while I could make sure Darcy and our child were taken care of, I couldn't leave everything to them. Could I?

Maybe it was time for things to change. If the Prime Minister was allowing slaves to live with their owners, and allowing children to stay with their parents, then why not allow those same slave women to inherit? Or better yet, why not let them marry? There was a reason I wasn't on the council. I didn't have a head for politics, nor the stomach for it, but my brother certainly did. Perhaps Bastian, Valen and I could get together and come up with something. If we could put together a good argument, then maybe the Prime Minister would take us seriously. He seemed to be on our side so far.

Darcy curled against me tighter and mumbled in her sleep.

As I watched her sleep and thought of the baby growing inside of her, thought of the terror she had recently faced in my absence, I realized that I couldn't send her back to the slave quarters. I loved her too much to not have her by my side every day. While I'd been away from her, I'd visited the harems out of necessity, but I'd hated it. I'd found a woman close enough in looks that I'd managed, but I never wanted to go another night without Darcy in my arms. If my job required me to travel in the future, I'd make sure I was home in a day or two. Never again would I lay with another woman.

Even though it was late, I knew I wouldn't sleep until I'd talked to Bastian. I had to talk to him about my ideas and see what he thought. It was the only way I'd get any peace tonight.

86

I brushed a kiss against Darcy's temple and left a note for her in case she woke up alone. Then I hurried out into the night.

Bastian glared at me. "Do you know what time it is?"

"Yes. Late."

He snorted. "So what do you want?"

"The Prime Minister has allowed two people to live with their slaves."

"Three. Four if you count yourself."

"What?" I asked.

"Valen, Sylon, you and me," he answered. "There are four of us."

"So if the Prime Minister has bent the rules four times, he apparently has a soft spot for the slaves."

Bastian nodded. "Valen said something about it once. The Prime Minister was once in love with a slave woman. What does that have to do with anything?"

"What would it take for us to get him to agree to a marriage between a Vaaden and a slave?"

Bastian's eyes widened. "Are you wanting to marry Darcy?"

I waved my hand at him. "I wasn't talking about me. I'm just asking a hypothetical question. I know Valen would marry Sorcha, and you would marry Enid. I'm assuming Sylon would marry his slave?"

Bastian nodded.

"So what would it take for him to give permission for something like that?"

87

"I'm not really sure. All of our slaves are pregnant. And with the exception of you, we're all in love with them. That might be a start. Why are you asking about this?"

I rubbed the back of my neck. "When I came home and saw Darcy's apartment, I was terrified something had happened to her and I'd been powerless to stop it. If she'd been in my home, she would have been safe. And then you told me the doctor said she's pregnant. It was like everything I'd ever known just came tumbling down around me."

"You care for her."

"Of course I do," I snapped. "I'm not a heartless bastard, even if that
is
what you think of me."

Bastian shook his head. "That's not what I think of you.

Did you know that Darcy was actually Enid's idea?"