Page 19 of Into The Rift

“I’ve also a little freaked out over the idea of the dulas, too. It seems so barbaric.”

“Just because a custom isn’t a familiar one doesn’t make it necessarily barbaric. Just different from what you’ve known. I’ll keep you close to me, and we won’t be there long. My grandmother, Lady Itaka, was only ten years old when she first came to live there, and she thrived for many years.”

“Gods, was your grandmother really so young when this happened to her?”

“Oh yes. She came as a captive and a hostage. But she soon became a favorite of the old emperor, and he gifted her with jewels and riches and eventually her own wing of the palace.”

“A favorite, huh? I guess the fact that she was a child, and a pedophile was abusing her every night didn’t have much to do with it.”

“I make no excuses for the old villain. But when no one stepped forward to save her or to become her hero, she became her own and saved herself. You’ll have to do the same, though I’ll be there to help you. Lady Itaka was bold and took charge of her own destiny, and we’ll have to do the same.”

We gazed at each other for a long moment, the air growing thick with something unidentifiable between us, and just as he took a step closer, and I thought he was going to kiss me again, an alarm sounded, and a voice came across his communicator.

“Lord Dominiko, the Tygerians are demanding to speak to you again.”

“I’m on my way,” he said into his device, and turned back to me. “Wake up your uncle, little prince. It seems Colonel Tariq is ready to negotiate.”

Chapter Six

He turned on his heel and left, hurrying down the corridor with one of his guards, leaving the other one with us. I went back inside to shake Rakkur awake.

“What is it?” he asked, blinking and trying to sit up.

“Your husband is getting impatient to see you. Lord Dominiko was just here, and he got a call from the bridge. Tariq is hailing the ship, and they want us up there right away.”

He began trembling, so it was a few minutes before I could help him get his boots back on. I noticed that his feet were even more swollen. But it was only a few minutes later that we were finally on our way to the upper deck. I could already hear the shouting coming across the audio feed. It was Tariq, of course, demanding to see Rakkur.

“Why are you stalling? I demand you produce my mate now. Let me see him or else I’ll…”

“You’ll do what?” Dominiko interrupted, also shouting now, which surprised me a little. He usually seemed so calm. It seemed tempers had flared since the last time I spoke to him. “Give him a moment to get here. He’s not moving quickly, as you should know—I believe you may know something about the reason for that.”

Tariq was incensed at his words, though of course, they were true, but no doubt he was furious at the whole situation. So furious that he smashed his fist against the screen with a terrifying snarl. I knew he was only seconds from a full shift into his tyger, having been pushed way beyond his limits, and that wouldn’t do anybody any good.

Rakkur pushed past me, trying to get to the screen. I grabbed his hand. “Don’t worry, Rakkur. You got this,” I told him, and he gave me a brave smile.

He went closer to the screen. “It’s me, Tariq, I’m here.”

He kept repeating those words, and finally, Tariq began to respond. Tariq placed a trembling hand on the screen and Rakkur did the same from our side. It was such a tender moment between them that I turned away, and when I did, I found myself staring directly at Dominiko. He had an odd look in his eyes and though I may have been mistaken, I thought I saw a small hint of what might be regret—even pity. It was gone the next moment, and I might have imagined the whole thing. But it was a nice thought that he could feel such emotions.

After a few more seconds, Dominiko stepped forward to stand behind and slightly to the side of Rakkur. “Decision time, Colonel. Do I take both the princes and make a run for it, or will you come for your mate and give us safe passage so we can be on our way out of here?”

“With Prince Jago as your hostage?”

“Yes, of course. We’ve been over this many times and nothing has changed—tell me your decision. My patience is wearing thin.”

“I’ll come for Prince Rakkur, damn you and give you safe passage. Bring my mate to your docking station.” His amber gaze flickered over to me. “Prince Jago, we’ll be coming for you a little later. I promise you. Only please give us some time to work this out.”

“I know, Colonel Tariq. Please tell my parents…tell them I love them, and I’ll be thinking of them often.”

Rakkur, who was so easily brought to tears these days, covered his face with his hands as one of the guards took his arm and led him away, presumably taking him to the docking port. He reached a hand back to me, but I didn’t have the heart to take it. I turned to face the viewing screens instead.

It had switched to an interior view to follow Rakkur down to the docking station, a slow journey with so many ladders to the lowest decks that it took a few minutes. When he arrived, I watched him standing around nervously inside the waiting area as he watched for the shuttle port doors to open. Then the shuttle carrying Colonel Tariq came in to dock with the much larger ship we were on. His craft was sleek and dark and dangerous looking. Kind of a metaphor for the whole Tygerian army, I thought.

As it came onboard, I saw the hatch fly open, and a set of steps descended as the engines began to idle, the sound changing from a high-pitched whine to a low rumble. I knew that Tariq had been instructed to come alone, so when the doors opened, he came charging down the steps alone, wearing his full, black battle gear, looking huge and downright lethal as he strode off the ramp. Rakkur broke away from his guards and ran to meet him, and Tariq swept him into his arms and off his feet to carry him back up to the shuttle without a word being spoken. My throat closed up with emotion. The hatch came down quickly behind them, and in another few seconds, the outside doors opened again, and the shuttle was lifting off and heading back to the larger Tygerian vessel.

Another few seconds passed, and I suddenly realized that Lord Dominiko had been speaking to me for some time, trying to get my attention.

“Jago, are you all right?” he asked, but his voice was surprisingly gentle. I nodded, trying not to show how devastated I felt. It had been harder than I’d imagined, being left behind. He took my arm, leaning over me solicitously, “Prince Jago...”

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