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LANTA AND ELKAH FOLLOWED behind Una as she mingled with the guests, dignitaries and royals from other kingdoms, on and off-world, who’d been invited to Melis’s grand ball.
While there was dancing, Una didn’t participate. Lanta was thankful for that. The dance floor was packed and she and Elkah would only be in the way as people tried to dance around them. Una had told them that she wanted them to blend better, and that was something they couldn’t do while standing still on the dance floor.
Lanta scanned the crowd as Una talked about the latest fashion with one of the off-world Queens from a neighboring planet. Una’s eyes were lit up and her hands expressive as she talked, excited about the topic of the conversation.
Everyone at the ball was dressed in the finest clothes Lanta had seen thus far. Una’s dress rivaled everyone else’s. It sparkled and flowed. The fabric was one Lanta didn’t recognize, and Una confirmed was severely out of Lanta’s price range. Una had also reminded her that in the morning, when Lanta’s replacement arrived, Lanta would be officially out of a job and wouldn’t be able to afford much of anything until she found a new one.
A new job.
Lanta didn’t know what that would entail. She’d grown up trying to be the best at everything so Aunt Varlah would hire her. Now what was she supposed to do?
She could apply for a position at another security firm. But once the reason she got fired was out, no one would hire her. She would be lucky to find a position at the seediest company and, even then, wouldn’t get paid much.
Maybe she could become a full-time mechanic? That was always a possibility. She had a few neighbors who only trusted her to work on their vessels. If she were around more—and being jobless guaranteed that—she would surely get more business. That idea was a good possibility.
But what about the other option? Working for Melis? He’d offered her a position before...everything. Was his offer still open?
She hadn’t spoken to Melis since leaving his suite. There’d been no reason to let him know she’d been fired. It wasn’t his fault. She’d been well aware of the consequences and ignored her common sense anyway. And he’d told her who his new mate would be. Everything between them was over.
No. There wasn’t a job here for her, and tomorrow she would bid Ipakethe goodbye.
Lanta let out a defeating sigh. It wasn’t like she would’ve fit in here anyway. She looked over the guests. Everyone seemed to belong. They were all dressed so elegantly; finely tailored outfits made from the most expensive fabrics, and precious jewels that dripped from their ears, necks, fingers and wrists.
Lanta caught sight of Payton and Esme. Their arms were locked together. It was apparent they didn’t plan to let go of each other anytime soon. They were human and stood out, but their dress and jewelry screamed elite.
Her gaze slid to Melis for the umpteenth time since he’d entered the room. She’d tried to stop looking at him, but her eyes had a will of their own. Tonight might very well be the last time she saw him and she wanted to burn his image in her brain.
He stood on the far side of the room, surrounded by burly guards. Judging by the look on his face, he wasn’t enjoying his ball. Even with the distance between them she could see his eyebrows pinched together.
This was the first time she’d seen him encased in security. Usually he walked around freely. After all, this was his home. That didn’t mean he wasn’t protected. The guards always lingered about, but now there was a visible show of force.
Melis stopped talking to one of the guards as if he felt the weight of her stare. His gaze searched the milling crowd. When their gazes collided, her stomach twisted and her heart fluttered. She would never get used to how one look could make her feel so undone.
After a few moments Bienke approached him and Melis released the hold he had on Lanta and turned to Bienke, all smiles. That small act broke her heart into pieces.
The time was almost near. He would announce his choice. Lanta steeled herself, readying for what would come next. She swallowed her feelings, firmed her back and squared her shoulders. No matter what, she couldn’t show anyone that inside she was slowly dying.
BOOM!
The world seemed to blow apart from the center of the room. Shock and subsequent vibrations rocked the walls, sending everyone fleeing at once. Debris flew everywhere, hitting her in her face and body.
A second later screams pierced the air. Elkah flung herself over Una. Lanta crouched next to them with her hand on Elkah’s back. She scanned the destroyed room. Dust clouded the air. People were covered in it. Some people ran while others stood, seemingly rooted in place.
“We need to move!” Elkah yelled.
“Wait.” Lanta couldn’t tell which direction the threat came from.
Melis’s guards surrounded him and they quickly ushered him from the ballroom. Guards also escorted Payton, Chikondi, their husbands, and Xrez and Esme out one of the doors. The other palace guards had their weapons out. They moved through the crowd, checking on people and pushing them toward the exit.
When one of the guards came closer, she tapped him on his arm. “What’s going on? What happened?”
“We don’t know yet. Might be a bomb. Get the princess to safety.”
Lanta grabbed Elkah’s shirt, bringing her to stand. Una huddled in Elkah’s arms. Because of Elkah’s quick thinking, Una didn’t have a scratch on her.
With Lanta in front and Elkah following, they secured Una between them, protecting her as they maneuvered around the overturned tables and chairs. Others were in shock and didn’t seem to know which way to flee. Things weren’t better in the hallway where the panic continued.
As soon as they reached the suite, Elkah secured the door behind them and engaged the security locks. Una whimpered and hugged herself.
Aiko came running from the back room. “What happened?” Her hands were on Una, inspecting her for injuries.
“A bomb went off at the ball,” Elkah told her.
Aiko’s eyes opened wide. “Deaths?”
“Unsure.”
Lanta touched the communication button on her comlink. “Payton? Are you there?”
No answer.
“What...what do we do now?” Una asked. Her body shook and her lips trembled as she spoke.
“We stay here until we’re given the all clear to leave our room,” Lanta answered, trying Payton again.
“Then what?” Una asked.
“It’s not safe here,” Elkah said, her eyes caught Lanta’s, relaying a silent message. They had to leave Ipakethe.
Lanta knew that was the best course. She gave Elkah a short nod. There would be no goodbyes to Payton and Esme and no final goodbye to Melis. Her heart splintered.
“Come, Princess. We have to gather your things.” Aiko gently pulled Una toward her bedroom.
At Una’s confused look, Elkah added, “As soon as it’s safe to exit the room we’ll have to leave Ipakethe.”
“L-leave?” Una glanced from Lanta to Elkah. “Why do I have to leave? Melisizwe hasn’t chosen his mate yet. If I leave, he’ll pick another.” She lowered her arms and pulled back her shoulders. “No. I won’t do it. This is probably a test to see how we hold up under pressure. As a royal there are many assassination attempts. Even on Pheilit I faced them. Melisizwe wants to make sure his future Queen can hold up under pressure.” She smoothed her clothes and hair and headed for the door, leaving Aiko to watch her with her jaw drooping open.
Elkah was in front of Una before she reached the door. “Where do you think you’re going?”
“I’m going to find Melisizwe. I have to be by his side in his time of need.”
“Princess, I don’t know about this plan. He may find your presence intrusive. That’s if his guards allow you to get close to him,” Aiko said.
Elkah nodded toward Aiko. “Begin packing. We’ll be leaving soon.”
Una stomped her foot. “No. This is a test I tell you! I cannot leave here without a mating contract. I’ve already told my sister that I’ll rank higher than her!”
Lanta started for her and Elkah’s room. “You stay on the door,” she told Elkah. “I’ll get our things together.”
A voice came over the intercom from the communication panel.
“Dear Guests. It is with great displeasure that I announce this. The safety and well-being of every one of you is important to Kgosi Melisizwe. He cannot guarantee either while his palace is in peril. Everyone must vacate the planet immediately. Kgosi Melisizwe has chosen his Queen and he thanks you for coming to Ipakethe. He will be in touch with you all, as he feels that he has gained life-long allies. Please remain in your rooms until an armed guard arrives to escort you to your transport vessel. Please be ready to vacate in an hour. We apologize for the inconvenience and wish you safe travels.”
Lanta’s knees weakened. She grasped the doorframe to stop herself from falling. Her heart burned. Her stomach ached. Her head hurt. She had trouble breathing.
She had mentally prepared for this. But now... Now she realized she would never see or hear from Melis again. He was forever out of her reach.
“D-did they just say that Melisizwe found his Queen?” Una’s shade went from pale pink to purple. “Who else here is better qualified to be Queen but me? My family is the wealthiest here!”
There was banging and thumping. Lanta didn’t have the energy to raise her head to see the fit Una was having.
“I travelled all this way to this pitiful planet for nothing!”
Bang!
“I could’ve given Melisizwe everything he wanted!”
Bang.
“Wait until my mother hears about this!” Una screeched.
Lanta’s chest constricted and she choked on a breath.
“Lanta,” Elkah said softly. “Our things.”
Lanta didn’t turn around. She didn’t want anyone to see the tears burning her cheeks. She walked into the bedroom and closed the door behind her. Only then did she let her knees hit the floor and buried her head in her hands and cried.
* * *
ATLANTA: MELIS, WAS anyone hurt? How are you doing?
No answer.
* * *
ATLANTA: I’M HOME NOW, but if you need to talk, I’m available.
No answer.
* * *
MELIS SEETHED. HE STOOD in the rubble of what had once been his grand ballroom. Crystals and diamonds were mixed indiscriminately with the glass from the dinnerware. Tables had been broken, and the ones that weren’t were overturned. The painted walls he’d once been proud of were now ruined and everything was covered in soot.
He eyed the spot where the bomb had detonated. It was hard to miss the hole in the floor. The person who’d set it off had placed it in the middle of the room for maximum impact. Everyone at the table had been killed. Three in all. It could’ve been worse. The other seven had been up dancing and mingling.
“I knew them,” Melis said through clenched teeth.
“We have provided their families with compensation packages. It can never make this right, but hopefully it will help,” Themba said somberly. He picked up one of the chairs and set it down on its legs.
“Mira and Ozar both worked on the night cleaning crew. They were assigned to the office suites.” Melis remembered seeing Mira the night before and waving to her. Ozar had a new grandson he’d been happy to tell Melis about. “And Alliz worked in the gardens. He used to tap on my office window to tell me hello whenever he checked the irrigation system there.”
“We will mourn their deaths,” Imgin said. Melis had asked his heirs and advisors to the ballroom so they could survey the damage together. “But at least we didn’t have any off-worlder deaths. They all left intact.”
Melis rounded on Imgin. His hands curled into firsts. He could feel his claws penetrate the skin on his palms. “And that makes it right? These were our people.”
Only a handful of palace staff were able to enjoy the ball as guests. Those who were almost at their retirement were given precedence over everyone else who’d applied to attend. The three that died were ending their service within the year.
“I apologize.” Imgin lowered his head. “That’s not what I meant. I knew all three. In fact, I was your father’s advisor when he’d hired them. They’ve been a staple in this palace since you were young. What I meant is that our pain is our own and we will mourn them. But at least you’re not visiting off-world and explaining to would-be allies why their loved ones were killed in your kingdom.”
“Imgin, I think you’re on to something,” Mxolisi said.
Melis righted an overturned chair. It didn’t do anything to make the room look any better, but he needed something to do with his hands. Otherwise he felt as though he would pick up anything he could and smash it across the wall. “What do you mean? There’s no reason to visit anyone. I’ve received word everyone has left safely.”
Including Lanta.
“I mean, go visit everyone you had planned to form an alliance with,” Mxolisi said.
“They wouldn’t want anything to do with us now,” Themba said. “To them we’re barbaric and deserving of our Class 8-ii rating. Actually, after this we probably should be ranked Class 9-ii.”
“But the guests who were here, Melis was able to show them Ipakethe. The good parts. That has to account for something. This...” Mxolisi waved a hand about. “This can’t be their last impression of Ipakethe. It can’t be.”
Melis glanced around. His ballroom, like his plans, was ruined. But he could fix both. And he would.