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  Heart Of The Betrayed

  Sitting on the nearest stool, he swiveled it around to face her. "Aye. What’s going on, lass?"

  "Nothing."

  "No more avoiding this. He upset you so much you got drunk and reckless, neither of which is normal for you. You knew him before last night, didn’t you?"

  Wearily she rubbed aching temples. "What makes you think that?"

  "You mentioned a joyous reunion, though it was obviously anything but."

  Dana noticed the other traders listening closely. Cam sat at the opposite end of the table, Simon and Jase in two of the four armchairs on the other side of the cabin, and Red leaned against the food counter.

  "Talk to me," Garret ordered softly.

  "You won’t let this go, will you?"

  "Nay."

  "Very well. Have you heard of Southland and Northland?’

  "On a planet called Orkra? Aye." He grimaced. "Strange system they have there, men living apart from wenches."

  "That man was Diago, leader of Northland. His son was captured by Southlanders. He wants me to go in and rescue him."

  "Are you?"

  Abruptly she stood up, one fist slamming down onto the table. "Damn it all to hell! I have no bloody choice!"

  "Easy, lass. Of course you do. Just tell Diago nay."

  "That is not an option I have, although I wish to God it was!"

  "You’re not making sense." Garret frowned. "You’ve refused people before, what makes this so different?"

  What They Are Saying About

  Heart Of The Betrayed

  "...a delightful futuristic adventure... will quench your hunger for action and romance."

  --Belinda Palmer

  Exiled Treasure

  "...a soulful journey where the issues of betrayal and trust are addressed in a captivatingly lively manner, spiced with humor and sensuality."

  --Joanna Challis

  Silverthorn

  "WOW!!! This is a must have book and a keeper for years to come... I couldn’t put it down."

  --Tami Ainsworth

  "This book is about true love and loyalty... believable fantasy worlds..."

  --Tricia McGill

  Autum Fire

  "A winner and a keeper... will win your heart and keep you in your seat until the very last word."

  --*lizzie starr

  Keltic Flight

  Wings

  Heart Of The Betrayed

  by

  Angela Verdenius

  A Wings ePress, Inc.

  Futuristic Romance Novel

  Wings ePress, Inc.

  Edited by: Leslie Hodges

  Copy Edited by: Elizabeth Struble

  Senior Editor: Elizabeth Struble

  Managing Editor: Leslie Hodges

  Executive Editor: Lorraine Stephens

  Cover Artist: Richard Stroud

  All rights reserved

  Names, characters and incidents depicted in this book are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author or the publisher.

  No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  Wings ePress Books

  http://www.wings-press.com

  Copyright © 2003 by Angela Verdenius

  ISBN 1-59088-195-8

  Published In the United States Of America

  August 2003

  Wings ePress Inc.

  403 Wallace Court

  Richmond, KY 40475

  Dedication

  To Marie and Ron Gibson.

  You both hold a special place in my heart.

  To Richard Stroud--

  For your vision and artwork

  To Leslie Hodges--

  We went through it all again and came out smiling!

  To my Mother, Doreen Verdenius.

  Love you always.

  One

  "What do you mean ‘he’s gone’?" The man stared at the hapless messenger.

  "He can’t be found anywhere."

  "Have you searched everywhere?" Diago’s eyes narrowed. "The slave quarters?"

  The messenger swallowed audibly. "Cina is gone, too."

  "The bloody fool!"

  Vearc watched his leader pace the room angrily, the normally neat, grey-tinged black hair in disarray. "He’s set her free?"

  "Of course he has! Rominac is a fool!"

  "He fancies himself in love with her."

  "He’s an even bigger fool. Love, bah!" Diago pinned his second-in-command with a blazing gaze. "Send an armed troop to bring him back!"

  "He could be near the border by now."

  "Pray he isn’t. Now go."

  Vearc left, followed by the messenger.

  Cursing, Diago threw himself into the big chair that dominated the room. Blast the boy! Had he not learned anything, this son of his? Normally he was not so headstrong, so stubborn, but since he’d met the new slave, the girl called Cina... Curse the day she’d been captured near the border that separated Northland and Southland, and curse the day he’d brought her here for his son! She was supposed to bring out the man in him, the dominating side, not turn him into a lovesick hound pup, weaker than he already was.

  But weak as Rominac was, he loved him. He was his son, after all.

  Through the floor to ceiling windows, he gazed down into the courtyard and watched the horses being lined up and the soldiers given their orders before finally riding out into the early dawn.

  ~ * ~

  The arrival of the Rashmars at the Intercountry meeting on the planet Rashmar was watched with interest on visual communicators by the Intergalactic Peace Ship and citizens of other planets, for trouble had abounded in their ranks lately. Someone had attempted to assassinate the elderly leader, the only one who managed to keep peace amongst his far-reaching brood of royal kinsmen and women, an argumentative group of leaders who ruled their own countries on Rashmar. The meeting this day was amongst the kinsmen threatening war on each other due to an as yet unknown reason. It was a meeting that the elderly Imperial Ravnor had to act as mediator in yet again.

  The observers heard the quietness broken by the sound of raised voices approaching, then the door opened and the country leaders spilled into the room. Papers and books along with minute computers were slapped down on the huge circular table, and chairs scraped along the marble floor as they took their seats.

  The minor members of the royal family watched avidly from the gallery above as the far door opened and an elderly man swept in regally, long gown sweeping the floor, his hands clasped together inside the wide sleeves. Grimly, he surveyed his kinsmen before sitting down at the head of the table, his two advisors taking the chairs on either side of him.

  A murmur arose as a fourth person strode into the room and went immediately to stand behind Ravnor, towering above him at an awesome six foot six inches.

  The bodyguard. The one hired to protect the Imperial Ravnor, paid to protect at the cost of her own life. The one who would fight to the death. The Reeka Warrior Woman.

  Every male eye lingered wistfully on the rounded breasts encased in the leather, sleeveless vest that was laced tightly up the front by a criss-crossing of rawhide strip. There was unbelievable strength in the generously curved body and feminine muscles lean and strong.

  Heavily fringed hazel eyes swept over the leaders disdainfully, making them glance away hastily before turning up to study the faces i
n the gallery.

  Ravnor called the meeting to order and the leaders’ attentions were drawn back to him. Dana viewed them all with no attempt at hiding her anger. Damn Ravnor, why did he make himself such an easy target? When she’d realized that he actually meant to be present in the same room as his kinsmen, she’d practically roared at him.

  "Are you out of your mind?"

  His advisors winced. No one spoke to the Imperial Ravnor in such a way. Except this warrior.

  "I need to be there."

  "Right in the middle? You’ll be a prime target!"

  One of the advisors raised a hand. "He must be at the meeting."

  "He could die because of this damned meeting!"

  "It is your job to see to his safety--" His words were choked off by one strong hand twining in the front of his tunic and jerking him forward.

  Glaring down into his startled face, Dana dragged him up easily onto tiptoe with one arm. "You’re not making it any easier, Quin."

  He squawked and gasped, hands fluttering up to grab the warrior’s wrists, as he tried to tug her hands away without success.

  "Dana, release him," Ravnor sighed.

  It wasn’t the first time the Reeka warrior had clashed with his two advisors, Quin and Vincc. When it came to his safety, he’d found her to be quite ferocious in regards to what she considered a threat to him.

  Dragging in great gulps of air, Quin slumped to the floor.

  Dana looked at Ravnor. "You could chair this meeting by transmitting yourself into the room via the visual communicator."

  "No. I must be there in person." He started gathering his papers. "It is the tradition."

  "It’ll be a tradition that dies with you."

  Vincc frowned. "He’ll be amongst kinsmen."

  "He was amongst them last week when that shot was fired. And who put that viper in his bed?"

  Face darkening, Vincc folded his arms. "I know he’d have been bitten if you hadn’t insisted on checking everything, every night, in his room before he retires, but--"

  "And I was right! The sharpshooter got away because there were so many people panicking--he literally melted into the crowd. I told you then, too, that Ravnor was in danger by appearing in public."

  Vincc looked at his leader.

  Ravnor stepped forward. "Being a leader has its risks."

  "Which would be lessened if you’d do as I say!" Dana snapped.

  "There are some things that simply cannot be delayed." He walked toward the door. "Since I hired you two months ago, you’ve saved my life numerous times, even caught two of the assassins."

  "Who just happened to die in the dungeons before they could be interrogated."

  "My dear." He bestowed a gentle smile upon her. "I know you worry about me, but as Vincc said, I am among kinsmen. I will be safe."

  Dana lost her scowl. "Don’t do this, I ask of you."

  One hand stroked the long, white beard. "I must." The same hand gestured to the two advisors. "Come, let us see to this latest quarrel."

  They scurried after him, Vincc casting Dana a triumphant glance as he did so.

  Yes, she was angry. She studied the thirty royal country leaders, sitting and arguing heatedly amongst themselves. One of them could very well be the one trying to kill Ravnor. Being kinsmen was no reason to trust them. Her gaze swept the gallery above, from where the minor royals watched avidly, whispering amongst themselves. Vultures. Bloody worthless carrion-eaters, here for the latest excitement.

  The time dragged and Dana shifted slightly behind the Imperial leader’s chair, tucking a thick lock of shoulder-length blonde hair behind her ear. She hated these long-winded, drawn-out meetings. If she had relatives like the two squabbling middle-aged men who ruled Rashnor 10 and Rashnor 11, she’d knock their heads together.

  Vincc whispered to Ravnor, who nodded, and Vincc left the table.

  Now that was curious, Dana mused. Why would the advisor leave right in the middle of this family discussion? Her lips pursed as she watched him leave the room.

  "Now, Ivar, what has you so upset?" Ravnor looked sternly at the small, dark-haired man seated halfway down the table to his right.

  "I have heard that Zenk," Ivar cast the freckle-faced man opposite an accusing look, "Is aiming to overthrow my rule and seize my empire for himself!"

  Leaping to his feet, the accused stabbed his finger in the air. "Want your piddling country? I happen to know your underhanded ways! You’re causing trouble and while I’m here to prove my innocence, your soldiers are probably storming my palace right now!"

  "Why, you low-down scum! I’m not a devious back-stabber like some I could name--you, for instance!"

  This was so boring. Dana idly turned the two small silver hoops in her right earlobe. These useless males fought and squabbled amongst themselves like children. Worse, in fact. Too much time on their hands. More money than brains. They needed to know what a hard days work really was, that would steer them in the right direction. Or a good kick in their well-padded backsides.

  A sudden stirring up in the gallery caught her attention, a small movement in a shadowy corner. One of the minor royals? No, they were all leaning over the gallery rail, watching the arguments.

  Her gaze sharpened. A shadowy corner in a gallery above the meeting, the minor royals otherwise occupied. No one to notice...

  "Ravnor! Get down!" Dana shoved him even as she yelled the warning, pushing him to the side so that he fell out of his chair to the floor.

  Just in time. A laser blast burned straight through the back of his chair right where his heart would have been.

  "Assassin!" Quin screeched. "Where is he?"

  The room and gallery exploded in panicking people stampeding for the exits.

  Laser blasts reduced Ravnor’s vacated chair to a smoldering ruin.

  Crouched over the elderly leader, Dana held him down with one hand and a sharply snapped "Stay!"

  Slowly she raised her head above the level of the table and glanced around cautiously. The place was in chaos. People were running mindlessly for the exits, while guards were trying to force their way in to protect their leader. Too many people and not enough doors.

  Dismissing them from her mind, Dana searched the gallery above her. Yes, there was the assassin in the shadows, hiding in the darkness, waiting for a clean shot at Ravnor. She had to get him out of the room. Thinking fast, she leaned down to him.

  "When I say ‘run’, we go straight for the exit directly on our left. It’s the nearest. Do you understand?"

  "I--yes." Shakily he gestured to the legs thundering past them. "But where is the shooter?"

  "Up in the gallery." She hooked one hand around his arm. "Run in a crouch, it’ll make you a harder target."

  "Where will you be?" A bead of sweat trickled down his cheek.

  "I’ll cover you. Waste no more time. In this confusion, it will be harder to get a beam on you. Now--run!"

  In one swift movement she pulled the laser from the holster attached to her thigh and sprang up, aiming her blasts up into the gallery, at the same time hauling Ravnor to his feet.

  He needed no second bidding, running in a crouch toward the exit.

  The assassin swore as the blasts from the bodyguard’s laser forced him to duck down suddenly.

  But he had to kill Ravnor! He couldn’t fail this time! Peering around the edge of the curtain, he spotted the blonde warrior backing swiftly toward the exit, ensuring that the old fool was safe behind her, shielding him with her own tall body.

  Well, he’d just have to kill her, too. He smiled to himself. She had too big a mouth, anyway, always arguing and making snide remarks.

  Carefully he aimed but, curse it, her eyes were too keen and she swung her laser around sharply and aimed straight at him.

  Even as she fired, Dana threw herself back to crash into Ravnor, pushing him into the midst of cursing, screaming kinsmen.

  "I’ll kill you all!" the assassin screamed. "All of you to get to Ravnor!" He sta
rted firing into the crowd.

  "Take cover!" a beefy guard roared. "Take cover!"

  A loud thud sounded and Zenk screamed, "The door’s shut! Someone shut it!"

  "Open it! Damn you, open it up!" Ivar yelled.

  More than one pair of hands punched in vain at the control panel.

  "It’s jammed! It won’t open!"

  A shriek of agony and the smell of seared flesh filled the air as someone was hit by the blasts.

  Dana caught a glimpse of Ravnor out of the corner of her eye at the same time as the assassin. They both moved as one, the assassin aiming at the Rashmor leader and pulling the laser trigger, while she turned and threw herself at Ravnor, sending them both to the floor in a fast roll.

  It was fast enough to avoid Ravnor being hit, but Dana felt the burn across the back of her shoulder and cursed. She’d taken part of the blast meant for him. But there was no time to think about it now.

  There were ten kinsmen left in the room. Six guards were firing up into the gallery, but the shadows gave the assassin cover and he returned their fire, picking three off easily. The remaining guards dived behind a table.

  Dana and Ravnor came to a stop behind the table on the far side.

  "Dear God, he’s going to get me this time!" Ravnor gasped, chest heaving.

  "No, he won’t," Dana stated grimly.

  "What are we going to do?" Zenk cried from nearby.

  "We can’t see him!" one of the guards snarled.

  Wonderful, let the enemy know the advantage he has. Dana’s soft lips twisted.

  "But I can see you!" the assassin called. "And I’ll kill you all!"

  Zenk jumped and yelled in fear as a laser blast burned through the table surface above him. "We’re going to die!"

  A pounding could be heard on the doors, shouts of dismay, the order of the Head Guard to "Get the bloody thing open!"

  Gleeful laughter drifted down toward them. "They won’t be able to do it! Only I have the controls to do that!"

  Fearful eyes met hard hazel. "He’ll kill us!"