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“HOW DID HE SECURE AN invitation for tonight if no one knew him?” Themba asked Enne.
Enne didn’t squirm or adjust his footing. He stood erect in the doorway of Melis’s office with his head held high. “He’s a minor merchant from one of the communities on the outskirts of the kingdom. He submitted an application to be considered for tonight’s meeting through the proper channels. I talked to the technicians and none flagged his file for inclusion.”
“Then how did he secure an invitation?” Themba asked again, sitting on the edge of his seat.
Melis knew Themba wasn’t upset with Enne; the fault didn’t lie with him. Themba, like everyone at the table, was concerned about how the merchant had gotten into the palace and posed a security risk.
Although Melis sat quietly, listening to the conversation, his thoughts raced and it took all his strength not to get up and pace the room. His anxiety would affect the others and right now they needed calm in order to work through the problem. They hadn’t been in any real danger. The skirmish had been on the other side of the room and away from the off-world guests. The palace guards had moved in quickly to get them to safety and contain the threat. But still. The scene had made Melis appear as though his kingdom had security concerns and wasn’t safe. No doubt the seeds of incompetence had been planted.
“The technicians cannot tell me. I’ve ordered them to do a triple check of all guests. They’re currently checking the guest list for the annual unity festival and final ball as we speak. They’ll work through the night to get the list cleaned up.”
“Who accosted him? When he was questioned, he didn’t seem to know. He said someone snuck up on him from behind and stabbed him. Do we have any leads on that?” Mxolisi asked.
Mxolisi stood by the far wall, all color drained from his face. He’d already doubled up on his training lessons. Melis wished it hadn’t come to that, but they all needed to be more diligent about protecting their family. He’d even had Enne put self-defense lessons on Chikondi and Payton’s schedules.
“If he didn’t know who stabbed him, then how did he know it was a she?” Melis spoke for the first time, and they all turned toward him.
“What do you mean?” Themba asked.
“He said she twice. ‘She was going to kill me. She stabbed me.’ If he didn’t see his attacker, then how did he identify his attacker as a she?”
Enne grumbled under his breath. “I missed that, Kgosi. Forgive me. With everything else going on, and trying to get you to safety, I wasn’t paying attention to what he said. I’ll have the guards question him further.”
“Repair his injuries but don’t let him leave the palace yet. I want to know who invited him, and, most importantly, who gave him a blaster, since all guests were scanned for weapons before entering the palace. I also want to know who stabbed him and where she got off to.”
Enne gave a nod and turned on his heels.
Themba fell back into his favorite chair and let out a heavy grunt. “What’s the damage?”
“Some. But since none of the off-world guests were targeted, we should be able to recover,” Melis said.
Mxolisi finally lowered himself into the extra chair. “This made us appear barbaric and our security system lacking. Weapons were forbidden, yet one was waved about for all the guests to see.”
“As I’m sure was the intent,” Themba added.
Melis had assumed as much. “He was able to get a blaster past the guards.”
“Or someone else did. Either way, it got in,” Mxolisi stated.
“Someone snuck in, found this unknown merchant, and stabbed him, then what? He took their blaster from them?”
“Why would they need both knife and blaster?” Melis asked.
“Overkill?” Themba suggested.
“And yet, the merchant lives.” Melis leaned back and steepled his fingers together. He would figure this out. He had to, before anyone else got hurt.
* * *
LANTA TAPPED HER TEETH with her nails. It wasn’t her business that the merchant who she’d seen behaving strangely had been involved in an attack. But it was her business, because the blaster he’d waved around could’ve fired and hit her client.
Weapons weren’t allowed. She and Elkah had to give up theirs upon landing. She didn’t know much, but what she might’ve seen could help the security staff in their investigation.
There wasn’t an immediate threat. Elkah wouldn’t have allowed Una to visit with one of their off-world neighbors if she’d thought Una was in danger. Elkah and Aiko had gone with Una, just in case. But still, not informing the palace guards what she’d seen didn’t sit right with her.
Lanta used the main communication console by the suite door to contact their assigned Ngonyama assistant. As soon as she answered, Lanta asked to be connected to the palace security.
“How can I help you?” a deep masculine voice asked.
“This is Atlanta Georgia Moore, Personal Guard Rank Four. I am on assignment with Princess Una of Pheilit.”
“Yes, I’m aware of who you are. You are also the human posing as an Oncun.”
Lanta blinked rapidly, caught off-guard. “I was raised on Luur.”
“But human, although your information states otherwise.”
Lanta’s heart seized. She’d updated her personal files from human to Oncun years ago, as soon as she’d passed the warrior rites and was recognized as an adult—an Oncun adult. She’d been so proud to be one of only a handful of non-Oncuns who’d been given such an honor. She’d finally been accepted.
Belonged.
She’d joined Aunt Varlah’s security agency and had been on countless jobs since then, and no one had questioned that designation.
“I understand. But it is the species who adopted me, and the species I claim as my own.”
The male on the other end made an annoyed noise. “You contacted the palace security for a reason besides to have us update your personal files?”
Lanta wanted to remind him that he’d been the one to bring that fact up, not her, but decided against it. If all he would do was be grumpy about how she’d chosen to identify, then so be it. He could have had her go through the clearance process all over again. She was grateful that he hadn’t taken that route.
“I contacted you because I witnessed concerning behavior involving the merchant who’d brandished the blaster.”
“Tell me.”
“He was acting nervous, apprehensive, beforehand. He kept watching the Kgosi.”
“Anything else? Did you see who harmed him?”
“No. I did not. Although I did see him have words with one of the waitstaff. I couldn’t hear what was said, but she seemed upset during the encounter.”
“Is this all the information you have?”
“This is all. No.” She shook her head, although he couldn’t see her do it. “The waitress he engaged with didn’t appear to be from this kingdom. She was smaller, slighter, and had a gait that didn’t match the others.”
“Most off-worlders think all Ngonyama look alike. But this one appeared different to you?”
“Yes.”
“Hm. We don’t have anyone from another kingdom working as waitstaff. Perhaps you’re mistaken.”
“Possibly.”
“Thank you for your help with this matter. If you remember anything else, please contact us directly.” The male disconnected the call.
Her conscience was a little lighter. She made her way to the kitchen and the food processor but, before she could select one of the dishes, a ring sounded from the communication console.
Maybe the palace security had additional questions?
Lanta selected a dish. Meat paste. The food processor purred to life. As a mouthwatering aroma began to fill the air, she made her way back to the console.
“Hello?” she said with her hand on the talk button.
“Lanta?” came a soft rumble from the other end.
She knew that voice. She’d fantasized about the speaker too many times to count. “Yes. Who’s speaking please?” Her mind wouldn’t let her accept the reality that the Kgosi was on the other end.
“Melis.”
Her breath lodged in her throat. Her chest felt too tight. She could no longer effectively push air in and out of her lungs.
Calm down. There’s only one reason why he would call. “Princess Una isn’t present. I can contact her and tell her to connect with you.”
“I don’t wish to speak with her. I’m calling for you.”
Blood thundered past her ears, almost drowning out her response. “Wh-why me?”
“You’ve contacted Enne, my head of security, with information about the threat we had earlier.”
Oh, yes. That would be another reason for him to contact her. “Yes, Kgosi. I gave your guard all of the information I have. I’m sorry I can’t be of further help. I’ve vowed to contact him if I remember any additional information.”
“I’m sure you will.”
The silence stretched for minutes. The food processor chimed, indicating her dish was ready.
“Did you have any other need of me?” she asked.
“Am I interrupting your meal?”
“I-I’m about to begin.”
“Then what are your plans, Lanta?”
He sounded rough and husky, every bit the predator he was. Her stomach tightened. Pleasurable sensations erupted through her body. “I-I’m going to visit the communal bath later.”
Was he attempting small talk with her? Oncuns didn’t like idle conversation, but that hadn’t stopped her mom from saying “hello” to everyone she’d passed and asking them how they were doing.
When she’d asked her mom about it one day, she’d said humans liked to engage in small talk. It was something she didn’t know how to stop and hadn’t wanted to. She said she liked knowing how people’s days were and what they thought about the weather. She also liked to know what they had planned for the day and the next.
Lanta worked her mouth open and closed, trying to figure out how to engage in small talk. What was she supposed to ask? Say? “Um. What are you doing later?”
He was quiet at first, then answered. “Probably something I shouldn’t do.”
She scrunched her face, not knowing what to make of that or how to respond. It sounded so nefarious.
“I’ll leave you to your evening then. Goodnight, Lanta.”
“Goodnight.”
Lanta disconnected the call and she turned and fell against the wall. Did she do it? Was that small talk?
Her entire body trembled. Who knew small talk would make her feel so good?
* * *
“YOU DON’T SEEM TOO concerned about this epic failure of a night,” Themba said. He raised an ankle and rested it on his knee.
“Why do you say that? Because I’m not in my quarters with a bottle of good wine drinking away my problems?”
Melis turned his attention from the security footage projected over his desk to look at his brother. Themba’s face was pinched in concern. The top two buttons of his tunic were undone and the hair plaited in the front of his head weren’t neat anymore.
“Funny you should say that. Payton was worried that you would spend all night reviewing and re-reviewing tonight’s security footage. She asked me to stop by with a bottle of wine and keep you company.” He nodded toward the hologram. “I see you’re reviewing security footage, but not the file I thought.”
“I was, for the past few hours. I couldn’t glean anymore information from it. Whoever stabbed the merchant knew where the security cameras were and also knew where the dead spots are. His assault isn’t on file. I’ll have to wait for Enne to finish questioning him.”
Themba ran his hand over his head. “I don’t like that there was a fight so close to Payton. She could’ve gotten hurt.”
“Thankfully her guards got her to safety quickly.”
Themba’s hands balled into fists. “A stranger walked into our house and put us all at risk. This is the second attempt, Melis.”
Melis cocked his head to the side. “The person who attacked me in my personal suite was an assassin. This merchant wasn’t. There’s a story there and I mean to find it out, but killer he is not. Enne is still questioning him. We’ll have our answers soon enough”
Themba’s nose flared. “Let me question him.”
Melis shook his head. “Let Enne do his job. We need this intruder alive so we can get answers.”
Themba unclenched his hands with a curse. “You’re right.”
Melis went back to watching the security footage. It was from a few nights before. In it, Lanta walked down an empty hallway to the meditation chamber.
The chamber had been installed during the construction of the palace, long before his time. His father had it upgraded to be more sanitary for those who wished to use it. The water was continuously filtered and recycled. In this part of the planet that didn’t see much rainfall, it was a technological boon.
“What’s this you can’t stop watching?”
Melis fast forwarded through the hour she’d stayed, then slowed the footage to watch her leave. “Like you said, security footage.”
After their conversation he’d asked for all footage regarding Lanta. It was mostly of her escorting Princess Una through the halls, but this was the only one of her alone, where he could get a glimpse of her as herself. Not stone faced and on duty.
It was wrong to spy on her. He admitted it. But he wanted to see her. To know her. He couldn’t be with her. He had a duty to his kingdom and planet, but that didn’t stop his longing.
Themba straightened. “Do you think she’s of concern now?”
Melis shook his head. Curiosity had been his driving force in requesting the file. “No. I’m just curious.”
“And why are you curious about a guard when you have nine off-worlders who you’re trying to get to know?”
“She’s human. I only want to make sure she’s comfortable in our home.”
That sounded as good excuse as any. He couldn’t very well tell his brother he’d found his true lifemate. If he did, Themba wouldn’t let the matter go.
Themba was the Nkosana, Prince, and while he had many duties, none compared to what Melis faced. Themba had the luxury of bonding with someone of his choosing, but Melis had to have more control of his future. In another life or another time, he could’ve chosen Lanta.
Themba would understand why Melis couldn’t choose her, but he wouldn’t leave it alone. His brother loved him. Melis had no doubt of that. And Themba would do anything to ensure his happiness. Even trying to convince Melis to take an unsuitable mate.
“Is that why you wouldn’t let her hand go earlier?”
It wasn’t that he wouldn’t let her hand go. He couldn’t.
Holding her felt like home. Right. Peaceful. He hadn’t wanted to give up that feeling. But this was something he would keep to himself for the rest of his days.
Melis snorted. “It was a handshake. Payton taught it to me.”
Themba chuckled. “Payton has taught me a lot of things.”
“I don’t know what’s worse. That your sex life is better than mine, or that you keep reminding me about the fact.”
Themba’s boisterous laughter filled Melis’s office.
“Look at this.” Melis rewound the footage again and, just as she had the ten other times he’d watched, Lanta approached the chamber door with hesitation, a towel bundled in her arms. He fast-forwarded it until the staff engineer entered then slowed it down. Lanta hurried through the door, minus towel, with clothes askew. Wetness glistened on her skin. A panicked look was in her eyes. What had happened? Had the engineer said or done something inappropriate?
Maybe he should extend the protection he’d given Payton, to Lanta? He’d thought the people in his kingdom had gotten used to having a human about. But maybe not?
“What happened? Do you think Sistra scared her?” Themba asked.
Melis knew Sistra. Her father had also served as an engineer and recently retired. She came from a good family.
“If Sistra had done anything to Lanta it was unintentional.” He pushed a button on his comlink that went directly to his head of security. “Enne?”
“Yes, Kgosi?”
“The personal guard, Atlanta Georgia Moore. She’s human. I want the staff to understand the same rules that apply for Payton, apply to her as well.”
“Done.”
“Everyone will give her a wide berth now,” Themba said.
Melis rewound the tape again. Starting at the point where Lanta walked down the hallway with her towel.
“Um, so what’s your plan here? Watch and re-watch the guard for the rest of the night?” Themba stood, then stretched.
Melis ignored Themba and watched the scene again. When she left the chamber Melis paused the footage. Her skinsuit was already tight, but now it twisted and turned in all the wrong places. Her hair was heavy and wet. It was much longer than it had appeared before. Water glistened from the strands that hung in wet clumps plastering down to the small of her back. He thought of his hands combing through her hair, grooming her and took in a sharp breath.
“She doesn’t fit into my plans.”
“I didn’t say she did, but go on,” Themba coaxed.
I should forget about her and push her from my mind.
Pursuing her would gain him nothing.
And yet...
Melis got up. “I’ll see you in the morning.” He left his office, leaving Themba behind.
“Nice talk!” Themba yelled after him.
When the guards began following Melis, he signaled for them to leave him alone. Despite their grumblings, they did. They were still on edge about the earlier skirmish, but the situation had been handled.
Melis didn’t want the attention of the guards. Not now. He wanted to move through the hallways with comfortable ease. Although the palace was big and rivaled the size of any other palace on Ipakethe, he knew every inch and every corner of it. When he was younger this had been his playground. He knew where all the perfect hiding spaces were. He’d used most of them to get out of some of the duties his mother and father had put on his schedule.
At this late hour, there wasn’t much staff around, except the night crew who kept the palace clean. He knew these people. Had known many of them since he was a child. There was no gawking. No sly smiles. No flirting. No vying for his attention. They waved and bid him goodnight as he passed. Some asked how he was doing. Some made mention of the next day’s weather. This was his home. He could act and be himself. He loved his palace at night.
When his off-world guests were around he was always...on. With them he had to always smile. Always laugh. Always talk. Always entertain. Always...just...always. It was exhausting. How would he get through weeks of this?
He let out a hard breath as he turned a corner. There was no point in complaining about it. He was the Kgosi. He wasn’t just Melis. He was an extension of his family and kingdom. And he’d known that since...
Always.
Melis stopped at the door to the meditation chamber. As he was about to go through, he paused. What was he doing?
He shouldn’t be here. But the urge to open the door and enter was strong.
His mind warred with itself. He knew the right and sensible thing to do was to return to his office and review the notes he’d made on the guests. Any one of them could help him usher in a brand-new era. One that would benefit his and every other kingdom on the planet.
The guard beyond the doors couldn’t help him at all.
Yet he was here.
This is foolish. I should leave.
Melis turned to do just that when he spotted Lanta coming down the hallway. He knew the exact moment she spotted him too. Her steps faltered and she stumbled. He also saw the moment when she wanted to turn back. He thought she would. But she continued forward.
She stopped in front of him and stuck out her hand. “Very nice to meet you.”
He should’ve told her it was unnecessary to shake hands multiple times a day with the same person. A fact Payton had pointed out to him.
He glanced down at her outstretched hand. He shouldn’t chance it. If he touched her again, he wouldn’t want to let her go. The intensity in their skin-against-skin contact was something he’d never experienced before. Releasing her hand was no simple task. It had been one of the hardest acts he’d ever had to do. What if he couldn’t let her go this time?
“Am-am I doing this right?” she asked softly.
He looked at her. Ancients, she was beautiful. Her eyes were a deep brown with speckles of tan. An array of lashes framed them. He wanted to kiss her eyelids and feel her lashes tickle his lips.
With the thought of lips, he looked at hers. They were dark pink and full. When she pulled her bottom lip into her mouth, he shuddered. That small act sent tendrils of pleasure throughout his body. He wanted to taste, suck and nibble her.
He couldn’t deny himself any longer. He had to touch her.
Melis took her hand in his. The same warm feeling of home rushed over him. He almost let out an audible sigh. “Do you remember my name?”
Lanta vigorously shook his hand up and down. “Kgosi Melisizwe bu Kumkani.”
“I told you, call me Melis.”
She continued to shake his hand. “You said only your friends call you that.”
“We’re friends now. You would greet me by saying, ‘Hello, Melis.’”
Her eyebrows pinched together in a beautiful show of confusion. “I can’t call you that. It wouldn’t be proper.”
Their hands continued to go up and down. “Are you defying me?”
“Um...no.”
“Hello, Lanta. How are you doing?”
She hesitated and pulled her lip between her teeth again. Then after a few seconds, she said, “Hello, Melis. I am doing well.”
He stilled his hand.
“We’re supposed to release now,” she said.
“Only if I make you uncomfortable. Am I making you uncomfortable, Lanta?”
He rubbed his thumb across hers. She was soft compared to him. He wanted to run his hands across her body. He wanted to learn every inch of her.
“Yes...No.”
“Well, which is it? Yes or no.” His voice dropped an octave.
She seemed to think about it. “Yes.”
He could hold her forever, but he didn’t want to make her uneasy. He released her hand. “I apologize.”
“It’s only because you’re paying too much attention to me,” she quickly added. “My job is to blend into the background.”
Her? Blend? She was too beautiful to blend into anything. Any room she stepped into radiated with her light. One look at her and everyone else was quickly forgotten. When she was near, he couldn’t think of anything but her. His soul, his very essence called out for her and there were times when he thought hers called to him.
“Una was right. You shouldn’t speak to me,” she added.
“Yet, here I am.”
“You’re privileged. You can speak to anyone, even though you shouldn’t.”
He was the Kgosi, and before that he was the Kgosi in training. He and his brothers had opportunities others not as fortunate as him would die for. He was privileged. His mother and father stressed that to him. But they also stressed that he could use his privilege for good, to do what was right, and to champion those less fortunate.
“I don’t deny that, but what does that have to do with anything?”
“You shouldn’t speak to or notice me. There are consequences.”
He took one step closer to her, wanting to be in her space and smell the sweet aroma she gave off. “What are my consequences, Lanta?”
“Not for you. For me. If I don’t blend, I’m no longer effective at my job. All Princess Una has to do is tell her mother that she’s unsatisfied with my work and my rating will fall. Do you know what happens to a personal guard whose rating has declined?”
This wasn’t the conversation he’d expected to have with her. He’d thought they would talk, possibly about the sensation he felt whenever she was in his presence, or why he couldn’t leave her alone.
“No.” He stepped back.
“I cease to be a personal guard.”
It was as if she’d slapped him. The cold reality was there in front of him. The feeling was one-sided. This infatuation had to end. Now. “Then I shall leave you alone.”
Melis turned and started down the hallway.
“Kgosi Melisizwe?” she called out.
Melis stopped and glanced over his shoulder. She stood in the exact spot he’d left her. “I told you how to address me.”
She shook her head.
He could press her about it, but what good would that do? He couldn’t force her to be his friend. Melis let out a sigh. “Yes?”
“I didn’t report that I’m human only because I’ve lived as an Oncun since I was eight years old. I have since corrected the records with the guards.”
“They told me. They’re very good at what they do.”
“If they were so good at their jobs, they would’ve told you the Nisroc is a thief.”
He raised an eyebrow. “A Nisroc? Here? I didn’t invite one.”
“She’s taken the form of a Halaliel. She appears to like shiny objects.” She nodded toward him. “Like your rings.”
Melis raised his hand and, sure enough, two of his gold and diamond finger bands were missing. He swore under his breath. What else could go wrong tonight?
Then she went through the door to the meditation chamber and disappeared from his sight.