R yder’s body became a dead weight atop her and his eyes drifted shut. Terror clotted in Talia’s throat as her gaze shifted to Franklin.
“Did you miss me, baby?” He stepped forward and grabbed Ryder by the hair, jerking him off of her and throwing him to the floor.
What was happening? Had the Council instigated the attack early? Or were they here because they’d realized where she was, and had come to return her? Never .
Her heart beat faster and she glanced around for anything that might work as a weapon. You are not the same person as you once were. You do not have to go back to that life.
Talia grabbed the lamp off the bedside table, but Franklin swung around and knocked it aside with a roar.
She jerked back against the pillows, her eyes wide, her pulse pounding.
“I am sure each day we have been apart has been agony for you, Natalia.” He sneered and lurched forward, grabbing her arm and dragging her forcefully from the bed. His gaze raked over her naked body. “You little bitch. You will regret the day that you whored yourself to him. And he will not live long enough to regret the poor choices he made.”
He planned on killing Ryder? Oh gods. What had been on the dart Franklin had shot Ryder with? Her gut clenched and bile rose in her throat. She gripped his jacket, tears burning her eyes.
“Franklin, what—”
The sound of weapons fire came from the hall, drowning out her desperate plea.
Franklin cursed and glanced down at Ryder before tightening his grip around her arm.
“Attire yourself. Now.” He released her and strode to the door, going to speak to someone in the hallway.
Without a thought, Talia rushed to Ryder and knelt down. She pressed her fingers against the pulse in his throat and the air hissed out from her clenched teeth. Tears of relief spilled down her cheeks. He was still alive. But for how long?
She grabbed her dress off the ground and tugged it on. If Franklin came back and she had not obeyed his orders, she would not live long enough to get Ryder the help he needed.
“Come. We are leaving.” Franklin reentered the room with a strip of fabric in his hand.
He grabbed her wrists and jerked them behind her back, binding them with the fabric.
“Will he die?” she asked, her words shaking.
Franklin stepped in front of her, and the cold malice she saw in his gaze sent a chill through her blood. “It is almost certain.”
His words barely had time to sink in before he dragged her out of the room. Her chest constricted with agony and tears blinded her vision.
Ryder could not die. She would find someone to help him.
The world outside was unrecognizable. Smoke and fire burned in every direction. Women and children screamed as they tried to find safety and avoid the combating soldiers from both worlds.
It was truly a field of war. Her feet stumbled, the blood left her head, and she grew lightheaded.
“Keep moving,” Franklin ordered and nudged her in the back.
A familiar face surged through the chaos and Talia lurched away from Franklin and crossed the grounds.
“Ines!” she cried. “You must help Ryder. He is in his bedding chamber—”
Franklin’s hand bit into her shoulder with enough force that her knees buckled and she fell to the ground with a cry of pain.
She glanced up with a whimper, hopeful that Ines would be running toward the building. Talia’s brows drew together and she took in a deep breath. Ines had not moved, but instead looked at Franklin with blatant irritation.
“What treachery is this?” Ines demanded. “You promised that she would be disposed of.”
Talia blinked, unable to draw in a breath. Whatever response Franklin made, she did not hear it. There was a roaring in her ears and everything spun.
Ines had betrayed them . Ines was the reason Ryder was near death, why the people of Belton were running for their lives.
“Get up.” Franklin pulled her to her feet again.
Talia’s gaze landed on Ines’s again. The now-familiar hatred was once again in the other woman’s eyes.
“Just follow orders, Ines.” Franklin dragged Talia away from the other woman and farther across the grounds.
This was it. There was no more hope. For her or for Ryder. Oh gods. Ryder . Tears burned against her eyes again. Why did it have to end this way? If Ines had not betrayed them, then Belton would have gone ahead with the preemptive attack as planned and all would have been well.
“What are you giving her to betray her home planet?” Talia demanded.
“She came to us, if you must know. And as to what we are giving her…it is of no concern to you.” He glanced down at her. “I do not care for this belligerent side you have acquired. You were much preferable when you only opened your mouth to accept a cock inside it.”
Bastard . Hot anger swept through her. “Where are you taking me?”
“A place where we won’t be disturbed.”
Every part of her went numb; the blood left her face. Yet she grew strangely calm. He would kill her. She was almost certain. But only after he’d raped her until she wished for death.
Her bare feet grew sore from walking across the terrain; her arms ached from being tied behind her back.
Death. For years she had wished for it on Zortou, saw it as her only escape from her hellish life as a Rosabelle. And then came the irony of finding safety and love as a prisoner on Belton.
Her stomach twisted and she blinked away any remaining tears. Perhaps death would be the preferable option again if Ryder assumed she had betrayed him. That is, if he lived to assume anything.
Franklin’s grip on her shoulder tightened. “Keep moving.”
Live or die. The decision was out of her hands.
They entered another building, one she had not yet been in. He opened the door to a room and then thrust her inside.
Talia fell to the floor, her shoulder hitting the hard surface first and sending sparks of pain through her body. She could not stop the sharp cry that escaped.
Franklin smirked, obviously pleased that he’d hurt her.
He stepped into the room and then knelt down beside her, untying the strap that bound her wrists behind her back.
Talia let out a ragged breath. Tingles spread through her body, and the blood began to circulate again.
“He is dead by now,” Franklin taunted. “You realize that. Do you not, Natalia?”
The sheer agony his statement evoked sent a shudder through her body, but she clenched her teeth. She would show him no reaction. He wanted her anger and ultimately her submissiveness. He would not get it. Never again.
“Where did he first fuck you, baby?” He stroked the back of his hand across her cheek, a tight smile on his face. “Was it in your bedchamber before he stole you from us?”
Her skin crawled at his touch and she slapped his hand away. His palm came back twice as fast to glance across her cheek. Tears of shock flooded her eyes, even though the slap had not hurt much.
“How quickly you have forgotten your place,” Franklin chided with a rough laugh as he stood up. “But I will enjoy reminding you.”
All of a sudden she didn’t want to die. She wanted to kill him. Kill this man who had taken away any hope she’d had. Talia ran her tongue over her lips and glanced around the room. There was a stove and countertops full of cooking utensils. They appeared to be in some oversized kitchen.
“Why are you not out fighting with the soldiers of Zortou?” she asked, with the hope of diverting him.
“Fight?” He lifted an eyebrow and then went to pour himself a glass of water. “Me? I am a Council member, Natalia. We govern, not fight.”
And where were the other Council members? She had yet to spot Ramirez or Victor.
Her glance landed on the knives on the other side of the room, suspended above the counter near the sink. If she could somehow get over there and retrieve one, then perhaps she would have a chance. As he had said himself, Franklin was not trained to fight.
“What are you doing?”
Talia jerked her gaze away from the knives. He stared at her and then looked at the knives.
“What are you thinking, baby?” Franklin crossed the room and gripped her arm, jerking her to her feet. “That you would take one of the knives and use it on me?”
Yes . She didn’t answer, just lifted her chin and met his gaze stoically.
“You little bitch. I would have broken your wrist before you could get within an inch of me.” His grip on her arm tightened and she winced. Would he break her arm anyway?
“Gods, it is true.” A voice called from the doorway at the other side of the room. “You have recovered our precious Rosabelle.”
Without looking, her gaze still locked on Franklin’s, Talia knew Ramirez and Victor would be in the doorway.
Franklin’s gaze lit up with what looked like excitement and he released her, turning toward the door.
“Gentlemen, you made it. Where is Ines?” His tone sharpened on the last question.
“I have no idea, quite honestly.” Ramirez offered a small shrug. “She said she would return in a bit.”
“I see.” Franklin did not sound pleased, and Talia looked over to see his jaw was tight.
“Natalia, my darling. Gods, how we have missed you.” Victor crossed the room toward her.
No. No. No. Talia took a step backward, her pulse jumped and her stomach knotted. Gods, she could not handle their attentions any longer.
“Your state of dress is completely inappropriate, though as always you are beautiful.” Victor seemed to not notice her distress. He closed the distance between them and reached out to touch her hair.
“No!” The word exploded from her and she jerked away. “Do not touch me. Any of you!”
Ramirez froze and Victor’s gaze jerked to her, his eyes widened in surprise. Only Franklin gave a soft laugh of amusement.
“Natalia, you are confused.” Victor’s voice soothed as if he spoke to a child as he approached her. “All will be well shortly. All too soon we will take control of Belton and relocate our headquarters—”
His words ended in a gasp as Franklin’s arm slid around his neck. The flash of a knife was a blur, but the line of crimson that appeared at Victor’s neck was all too real.
Talia lurched back with a scream, blinking in horror, as Victor fell limp to the ground at her feet.
“Actually, Victor, there’s been a change of plans.” Franklin muttered and then spun around and leapt after Ramirez, who had run toward the door.
The older man did not stand a chance against Franklin, and his scream was cut short as Franklin slit the man’s throat.
He’d gone mad! Nausea swept through Talia. She groaned and ran toward the knives, determined to defend herself before she took her last breath.
She reached the knives, lifted out her hand to grab one, and was pushed harshly to the floor. Franklin straddled her and pinned her wrists above her head.
She flinched and then let out a long whimper, making a poor attempt to prepare herself for death.
“You have nothing to fear, Natalia.” His breath was hot on her neck. “I had to kill them. There was no reason to keep them any longer.”
Had to kill them . He had just killed two men without provocation!
“Don’t you see, baby?” His gaze softened and he drew the flat side of the knife across her cheek. “It will be just you and me now.”
You and me? A shudder ripped through her body. Oh gods. His obsession with her had taken a sick turn. All his violent tendencies toward her and obsessive behavior made sense now.
“Once this war is over—and it will not be long before the troops are successful—then you will sit beside me as my empress.”
He believed himself to be the future emperor of Belton? Gods, he was beyond mad.
“Franklin, you must cease now,” she pleaded. “Please, you will not succeed. Ryder has—”
“Do not mention that man’s name again. Ever , Natalia.” His jaw clenched and he rolled the knife on her cheek, the movement light enough that she only felt pressure, but not the sting of a cut. “You will soon forget him. I know that you love me, baby. I know—”
“How foolish do you take me to be?” A calm female voice said above them.
Talia jerked her gaze up and saw the moment Ines brought the clublike weapon down onto Franklin’s back. His head reared back as he gasped in pain.
Talia whimpered and thrust him off her, rolling to the side.
Franklin’s body began to spasm and he fell onto his back. His head rolled to the side and his gaze locked on hers. Disbelief and pain was clear in his eyes, and then they went flat and his body stilled.
“You killed him,” Talia muttered, disbelief freezing her limbs.
Talia closed her eyes and let out a ragged breath. The Council members were dead—all three of them.
“Thank you,” she whispered and pressed her hand to her chest.
“Now why would you be so silly as to thank me before I take your life, Natalia?”
Talia opened her eyes to find Ines staring down at her, gripping the club in front of her in both hands.
Ice invaded her veins and Talia realized the stupidity of her assumption. Ines had not rescued her; she was obviously a woman intent on her own vengeance.
Would pleading for her own life gain her any ground? Not likely. Talia licked her lips as her brain raced to form a plan.
Ines took a step toward her and Talia acted on instinct. She kicked out her leg, knocking the club from Ines’s hands. The club dropped to the ground with a loud bang and then rolled jaggedly across the floor.
Ines gave a shriek of fury and dove after it. Unwilling to let the other woman gain the upper hand, Talia jumped on her back and grabbed a handful of hair.
They rolled on the cold marble floor of the kitchen. Talia drew blood as her nails dragged down Ines’s cheek.
“Cease at once!”
The shouts rang out as men charged into the room. Talia raised her head and saw the soldiers of Belton rushing into the kitchen.
She went limp and rolled off of Ines. Thank gods they had arrived just in time.
Ines leapt to her feet, blood dripping down her cheek while chunks of hair lay on the ground. She glanced at Talia and then at the soldiers.
“This woman is an escaped prisoner,” Ines yelled, pointing a trembling finger at her. “She has been on a rampage killing three men, and just now tried to kill me. Lock her up at once.”
“No!” Talia gasped, her eyes widening, her heart pounding. “She is a traitor, she—”
“This prisoner was one of the people behind the plot to assassinate the emperor,” Ines cut her off. Grabbing her arm, she thrust her to a soldier who immediately restrained her.
“No! She is lying.” Talia shook her head. Gods, this looked terrible. Ines wore the uniform of her planet, and yet only Talia—a prisoner!—knew that she had turned traitor. Of course they would not believe her.
Ines seemed to realize she had won. The tension in her body visibly eased and her lips almost curled into a smile as she stepped forward. “Arrange for her immediate execution.”
Talia froze, the breath in her throat locking.
The soldier holding her hesitated. “Are you quite sure, ma’am? That seems—”
“Her immediate execution,” Ines interrupted. “By the orders of Colonel Jacobs just before he died by her hand.”
The room went quiet, save for Talia’s choked sob. Her heart nearly ripped from her chest and tears sprang to her eyes. Ryder was dead. Oh gods. She had known it was a possibility, yet in her heart she had held out hope.
There was a roar in her ears and the room began to spin. Dead. The man she loved, the man who had given her reason to live was now dead himself.
Every muscle in her body seemed to go lax at once and then the nausea took over, closing her into a sea of blackness.