Page 62 of Star Prince

There was a spring in his step as Gann returned to his seat. As soon as the Princess Tee’ah was safely onboard his ship, he planned to show Lara exactly what she had just wagered, one exquisite, pleasure-filled step at a time.

Chapter Sixteen

Tee’ah’s heart lurched.“That’s Prince Klark Vedla in Randall’s jeep.”

“So, it is,” Ian said, his tone ominous.

The bliss left from her moments alone with Ian vanished as quickly as the dust settling in the jeep’s wake. Her first impulse was to run in the opposite direction. But she shoved aside her self-indulgent, self-centered fear, as she had failed to do on Barésh. Klark’s interference in frontier politics could have disastrous consequences. Although living within the confines of its culture was impossible, she was proud of herVash Nadahheritage and she didn’t want to see all her people had accomplished ruined by bigotry and the Vedlas’ ambition. Her status as a fugitive didn’t allow her to expose the danger of Klark’s interference to the Great Council; but, bythe heavens, it didn’t mean she couldn’t help Ian do exactly that.

“It’s as you said.” Ian lowered his binoculars. “Vashare involved in Randall’s campaign.”

“But do you think he understands who Klark is?”

He considered her question. “Randall resents the Federation. I can’t imagine him agreeing to aVashusing him so blatantly to keep me off the throne, just so they might install one of their own.” Ian’s expression turned dark. “Ché…I’ve met him. I liked him too. I thought it was mutual.” His frown deepened, making it obvious he felt betrayed.

A muscle in his jaw pulsed as he peered through the binoculars to where the road crested the ridge and descended to the ruins, a group of ancient sprawling buildings made of crumbling stone. Tiny now, the jeep was parked next to a sleek hovercar in front of the buildings where the men had disembarked.

“Let’s go,” Ian said.

“To the fortress?” She was instantly lightheaded. “Klark’s there.”

“He won’t do anything in front of the senator.” Ian tapped his weapon. “I guarantee it.”

It wasn’t what he would do that worried her, but what he might reveal about her.Be brave. You carry the blood of the ancient warriors.She mounted the Harley and tried not to contemplate the unpleasantnesssurely to come of the reunion with her ex-fiancée’s brother.

They headed downhill toward the ruins. Klark emerged from Randall’s starship. He stopped, looked up the road. To her horror, he dashed across the clearing to the hovercar and closed the hatch.

It glided onto the road.

Tee’ah pounded her fists against Ian’s hips. “He’s coming this way,” she yelled.

Ian slowed the Harley and veered closer to the shoulder. So did the hovercar.

“Ian—watch out!”

The shriek of turbofan engines drowned out her scream. Sleek and gray, the hovercar bore down on them.

Ian threw his arms around her and shoved her off the Harley. They fell onto the grass, tumbling, arms and legs flying. Klark’s car roared past. Whipped into a maelstrom, pebbles and thorny pine needles struck the exposed skin on her neck and wrists.

“You bastard!” Ian whipped out his pistol and took aim at the vehicle as it continued up the road. Then he swore, lowering the weapon. “With my luck he’d crash into a tree and kill himself,” he told her. “Although right now I can’t say I’d mind, I imagine the Great Council might.” He pocketed his weapon and whipped out his comm.“Sun Devil,Ian here.”

Muffin answered so quickly Tee’ah was certain the big man had been waiting for that very call, histhick finger hovering over the message button. “Acknowledged.”

“Klark’s headed your way in a hovercar. Metallic gray. Find him, detain him until I get back.”

“You got it, Captain,” Muffin said and went offline.

Ian pulled Tee’ah to her feet. “You okay?” he asked, squeezing her gloved hand.

From below, a hiss escaped the docked starship. “They’re doing a preflight check,” Tee’ah said urgently. “Your senator’s getting ready to depart.”

The late modelhovercar glided along the docks. When it finally settled in front of an unmarked star-speeder, three members of theSun Devil’screw were waiting.

Muffin opened the door, reached inside and pulled Klark out. The toes of theVash’simmaculate boots scrubbed over the pavement.

The startled prince fought back. He was tall, athletic, and trained in martial arts, but no match for Muffin’s sheer bulk. The bodyguard marched him away from the car.

“What do you want with me?” he demanded.

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