Page 18 of Touch the Stars
“Well,duh.”Distress wasn’t a big enough word.“Kristyn, my twin sister, disappeared a month ago.Myidenticaltwin sister.They might have her and think she’s me.”
His gaze darted to her neck.“Does your sister bear the same mark?”
“My birthmark?”She raised her hand, resting her fingertips on it.“No.Have you thought that maybe it wasyouwho picked up the wrong woman?”
Could’ve been Kris he was supposed to kidnap…abduct.Whatever.
“No.You are the one with the mark of the empress.”He returned his attention to his meal.“There is no problem.”
No problem?There was ahugeproblem, and it was called Kris’s health.Of course, he didn’t know shit about her sister, and barely anything about her, either.What did he care if Kris had been abducted and was dying?
It’s up to me to save her.
But she’d have to convince Baatar to follow that ship first.As the so-called heir of his stupid empire, couldn’t she just order him to follow the other ship’s trail?
“Do not think it.”His words were firm and unyielding, his blue-eyed gaze hard.“The grand emperor still rules, and he is expecting you.You may ask him about your sister after we arrive.He will decide if it is worth the risk to negotiate with the Bajiki for her release.”
Was he a fucking mind reader too?“But, she’s sick—”
“My word is final.Eat now.”
He handed her one of the chopsticks, and a second utensil shaped like a fork, except it had a coved shovel instead of tines.
“This is ashadak.”He pointed at the solitary chopstick.“It is used to pick up food by stabbing the point into it.The other is ashagatfor scooping what cannot be picked up.”
Oh, it wasn’t the food she wanted to stab right now.But since he was so damn much larger than her, and there was no way to escape…
She jabbed theshadakinto a chunk of meat then slid it into her mouth.It was like a savory flavor bomb went off in her mouth.Bacon, onion, and yes, a faint hint of pumpkin.A few other spices, too, ones that didn’t compare to anything she knew.She closed her eyes and allowed herself a groan of pleasure.
“You are welcome.”A smug undertone wove through Baatar’s words.
She gave him a mutinous glare.Fine.Let the cold-hearted son of a bitch think he was in control.For now.One way or another, she was going after Kris.
Chapter 6
Baatar.
Hewilledhisgazeto stay on the main view screen instead of the ever-present, persistent little human female.If she did not cease her incessant pacing, she would wear a rut into the entire length of the command center floor.
“It has been but five hours, Empress.”He pushed the words through his clenched teeth.“My answer remains the same.We are not chasing Syndicate pirates to find your sister.”
He had thirteen days left until he must deliver her to Ghara, and the trip to her planet…Earth…had only taken seven.If all continued to go well, he would be back on Ghara, and have completed his mission six days early.Then he could return to his family with their pardon secured.
“I’m not yourempress.”She stomped by him yet again, heading toward the view screen at the front of the room.The slight breeze of her wake ruffled the hair on his arm.“Your grand emperor can go fu…findanother heir.”
Still she denied her role, even though he had explained her importance to the empire.Things were not going well.
“How’d he get my name anyway?”She stared up at the image of the stars ahead, reflected on the main screen.
“The Ancient Ones are wise.They told him where you would be found.”
She made a huffing sound of sarcasm.“What?He couldn’t have kids of his own or something?”
“The imperial title is not hereditary, and no imperial leader may have children.They are celibate.”
“Excuse me?”She faced him, her eyes so wide open it was amazing her eyeballs did not fall out of her face.“You meanno sex?”
“A child could be used as a political pawn to seize power.”Would she really risk the life of an innocent in this way?
