Page 53 of Touch the Stars
Good idea.Talking about anything but the empress thing worked for her.Kris nudged her hand, then slipped her fingers between her own.Baatar’s hand on her lower back radiated warmth and strength through her.
Conan inclined his head.“My true name is unpronounceable in any of your languages.Therefore you may call me by my host’s name, Daarga of Undet.I am the Ancient One of Ghara.”
Chapter 18
Baatar.
Thecornersofhismouth pulled down in a severe frown.Daarga and the Ancient One of Ghara were one in the same?How was that possible?Around him, murmurs of surprise spread through the gathered attendants, yet none seemed bold enough to ask what needed to be asked.
He took in a resolute breath.“Does this mean you share a body with Daarga?”
“No.”The Ancient One met his gaze.“Just as your esteemed brother did, Attendant Daarga also uncovered the Ragatian plot to take over the empire and destroy the Empire’s Heart, the home of the Ancient Ones.He was discovered before he could escape and was tortured…nearly to death.”He lifted his chin and exposed a long, puckered, pink scar.“As I am the Ancient One of Ghara, it was my duty to attempt to heal his body.But, Daarga’s soul was unable to hold on.Upon his departure, his body became mine.”
“What is this, the fucking Twilight Zone?”Kaitlyn’s odd words drew a huff from her sister.“Can’t you just go back into the Heart thingy?”
Daarga turned his attention to her.“Alas, Kaitlyn of Earth, you shattered the crystal over the late emperor’s head.”
She startled and blinked a few times.Then fear filled her eyes as though recognizing there would be consequences to her action.“Shit.I…I’m so sorry.”
Daarga’s expression softened.“As I said, that event was foreseen.”
“But…” A tremor shook her.“It was still a colossal fuck-up.”
She was not wrong.Yet, the Ancient One of Ghara did not seem interested in avenging his lost comrades.Would the rest of the empire’s citizens be as forgiving?Amazing how, in that one act of self-defense, the entire structure of the empire was changed.
I will stand between her and any who dares challenge her.
Including the former Ancient One standing a few steps away.Because he did not simply live to serve, but lived to serveher.
He gave the other Undetan a narrow-eyed glare.“What will become of you, Ancient One, now that the others are gone?”
“The souls of my friends have moved to the next dimension but I will remain, the last of my kind.This body has accepted me, and it is my duty and honor to live out its mortal life to its eventual conclusion.Then I will join them.”The Ancient One touched his fingertips to the healing slash on his neck with an expression of reverence.“We mourn the loss of Daarga.This scar will remain as a visible reminder of his honorable sacrifice for the empire.Without his selfless gift, I would not have escaped Ghara to seek out the one chosen to be the next imperial leader.”
Kaitlyn nodded.“Yeah, but Baatar found me first.”
Kristyn brought their joined hands to her chest and grinned.“I’m so excited.My sister, the galactic empress.”
“Shut up, Kris.”
Daarga turned his gaze to Kristyn.“This is as we, the Ancient Ones, intended it to appear.A ruse to divert the grand emperor’s attention.In reality, Kristyn, you are the true heir.”
Wait.Had he heard that right?His Kaitlyn wasnotthe future grand empress?
“The fuck you say?”Kaitlyn’s barely whispered words broke through his shock.
She stared wide-eyed at the former Ancient One.On her other side, Kristyn’s mouth moved in her pale face, but no words came out.
“I deeply regret allowing you to believe otherwise.”Daarga’s beseeching expression validated his words.
Still, that was not enough to justify the end result for either of the sisters.How dare the Ancient Ones be complicit in such a painful deception.He let his hand slide away from Kaitlyn’s back as he took a step forward.Positioned between Daarga and the sisters, he crossed his arms over his chest and narrowed his eyes.
Daarga jutted out his chin in a quick motion.Good, then he did recognize his claim as Kristyn’s protector was now forfeit.
“If Kristyn is the true heir, then why bother sending me to retrieve Kaitlyn at all?”He cast a quick glance over his shoulder at the human females.
Kaitlyn now supported Kristyn in a tight embrace.It was good they had each other.
Daarga waved one hand in the direction of the emperor’s body.“What he did not know was that the overlordress of Ragat had her own scheme to depose him once the empire was secure.We, the Ancient Ones, discovered a female from a nearby neutral planet with no conflicting interests within the empire.No else realized she had a twin, so we were able to redirect the grand emperor’s attention toward you.Unfortunately, we did not foresee that the overlordress’s hired Bajiki pirates would accidently take the correct twin before I got to Earth.”
