CHAPTER TWO

“Is the future empress taking calls?” Ginny heard her mother’s teasing voice coming from the com panel located in the main room of her cabin. She’d just finished her duty shift and dreaded what came next. Apparently, the first in the long line of humiliating events to come was a call from her mother.

Janet Kerlew-Starbridge was normally the best of mothers, but when it came to her daughter’s personal life—or lack thereof—she was like a dog with a bone. It didn’t help that Ginny was embarrassed beyond belief to discuss certain things with her mom. Ginny took after her father. He was more sedate and reticent while her mother was outgoing and emotional. She saw the universe differently and had a vastly opposing opinion of how Ginny should run her personal life.

For one thing, after Ginny’s brief engagement ended, her mother had counseled her to get on with her life, but she just couldn’t move on so quickly. The argument had been a sore point between mother and daughter until the plague made them forget their petty quarrel. For another, Ginny’s mother didn’t understand her daughter’s desire to join the military. A trained nurse, Janet Starbridge couldn’t comprehend Ginny’s need for revenge or her desire to defend and protect the rest of humanity against the continued jit threat. Yet, they loved each other deeply and spoke often, even though Janet Starbridge lived on-planet, and when Ginny wasn’t onboard her ship, she had a compartment in the Bachelor Officers Quarters, BOQ for short, on-station.

Ginny sighed and threw her uniform jacket toward the couch, hitting the button on the small private com unit that would answer her mother’s planetside call. She had to get this over with sooner or later.

“I’m here, Mom. And I’m not the future empress. Not yet, anyway,” she grumbled.

“Could have fooled me. That man laid a kiss on you the likes of which I have never seen.” Janet Starbridge made a fanning motion in front of her still-young face on the viewer with long, elegant fingers. She looked a lot like her daughter but wore pale pastel colors and floaty fabrics while Ginny actually preferred the starch and starkness of her dark uniform. “Does he kiss as good as he looks?”

Ginny huffed as she tugged off her shoes and propped her aching feet on the table that fronted the couch. “I won’t dignify that with an answer.”

“That good, huh?” Janet chuckled. “So, what are you going to do? Are you tempted to say yes and become the empress of all you survey?”

Ginny squeezed her eyes tightly shut. “I just don’t know.”

“Oh, sweetheart.” Her mother’s voice dipped to comforting tones. “You could be an instrument of peace. But can you forgive them—forgive him—for what those people have done to us? I don’t envy you this choice.”

“I’m supposed to be having dinner with him tonight. With the commandant and all his staff too, but I can just bet they’re going to seat me right next to the emperor.”

Her mother shrugged her elegant shoulders. “What can it hurt to get to know the man? It’s not every day one dines with an emperor, after all.”

 

Ginny kept her mother’s words in mind when, as predicted, she was seated directly next to Emperor Tigh at Michael Amber’s formal dining table. The rest of his command staff was present, including his wife, Colonel Leah Blackfoot-Amber, though Ginny sorely missed her own bridge crew. The command staff was a friendly bunch, but because Ginny was often out in the field with her ship, she didn’t know many of them very well. And she definitely didn’t have the close relationship with any of them that she had with her loyal crew. The core of her ship’s crew was waiting, with her, for their new assignment. They were on-station as well, but not high-ranking enough to be included in this exclusive company. Darn the luck.

Tigh had no such problem. He’d brought quite a few of his men with him to the dinner, including the kindly-looking older gentleman who’d been at his side in the Council chambers earlier. Councilor Torm was his name, she remembered as she smiled slightly in greeting, taking the seat the emperor held out for her, right next to his own.

“You look lovely, Captain,” Tigh murmured near her ear as he assisted her.

She looked up, and his handsome face was entirely too near. Quickly, she looked away, trying to hide the blush that wanted so desperately to rise in her pale cheeks. “Thank you, Your Highness, but dress uniforms are very much alike, I’m afraid.”

Tigh sat close at her side. “Perhaps, but the way you fill yours out is entirely unique...and gorgeous.”

Again, that flush of embarrassment wanted to rise, but she tamped it down. She made no response, guessing he would probably argue his point, just for the sake of small talk, and she had no patience for that. She wanted nothing more than to get this dinner over with and escape back to her compartment. She wasn’t cut out for state dinners and all the trappings and politics they entailed.

Emperor Tigh, surprisingly enough, seemed to share her attitude, though he hid it better. Small movements of his hands indicated his discomfort, though you’d have to be sitting practically in his lap to notice. He was a very controlled man, but his eyes gave him away. He didn’t have the ruthlessness she’d encountered in many of the jit ship captains she’d faced in battle, though she knew he was a trained warrior. Still, he didn’t seem as aggressive as the other jits she’d fought. Then again, a state dinner was quite a different setting than a battlefield. Still, she watched him, curious about the man who seemed so different from others of his race.

“Emperor Tigh.” Michael spoke once everyone was seated. “You already know Captain Starbridge. Allow me to introduce my wife, Leah.” Michael went around the table, introducing the rest of his command staff. They were all women and all very high-ranking military commanders. When he was finished with the formal introductions, Tigh sat forward and did the same, adding a bit of personal information about each of his men.

“Councilor Torm was advisor to my father,” Tigh said of the old man who sat at his right hand while Ginny was on his left. “He retired to his family when my brother took the throne but recalled me from the Zenai when Elius died.” The old man nodded, looking serene as only an accomplished statesman could under such close scrutiny. Tigh turned to the next man, sitting down the long table among the human women.

“Captain Halith Zen of the flagship Jendai Zoluu. He was recently promoted to captain and is a longtime friend. His mother was a trusted councilor to my parents on social matters, and we practically grew up together. When I left for the Zenai, he joined the fleet, serving in home sector, protecting Solaris Prime.

“Executive Officer Jimnai Burk is also an old friend. We studied together in the Zenai monastery on Solaris Prime for several years before I left for exile on the mountain. He is a third-level novitiate but has also been a member of the home fleet for many years.

“Hansa is Armsmaster on this mission, though he has served as Captain of the Imperial Guard and Armsmaster for the Fleet. He objected to Elius’ actions and was imprisoned for over a decade on Volhul for his views.”

The women regarded the giant man with varying degrees of alarm and pity. Even in the Milky Way, the infamous prison of Volhul was well known. It was spoken of in fearsome tones, used as a threat to keep wayward soldiers in line. Few who went there were ever seen again.

“Xeer is one of the guard corps on this mission and is the new master of the Palace Guard. We also trained together for a time in the Zenai monastery on Solaris Prime, but Xeer’s true skills lie with weapons and technology. He is a galaxy-class sharpshooter.”

Michael nodded approvingly. “As is Captain Holmes.” He nodded to the older woman seated about halfway down the long table. “She shoots competitively several times a year. It’s always a pleasure to see her bring home the trophy. Perhaps we can arrange a match between her and Mr. Xeer while you’re here.”

Xeer nodded, holding one hand over his heart in respect. “It would be an honor.” The smile he sent the female captain was both daring and friendly. This Xeer seemed like a bit of a tease, and he was handsome enough to sweep most women off their feet. The ladies would have to watch that one. He was a rascal, if Ginny was any judge.

Tigh introduced a few more of his men, and then, dinner was served. It consisted of a few courses but was thankfully shorter than Ginny had feared. Tigh was pleasant company, if a bit overly solicitous. He talked with everyone, but somehow, his attention never seemed to stray far from her. His pale blue gaze followed her at all times, not in a creepy way, but it was definitely disconcerting.

Ginny felt like she was under a microscope. Not only was the emperor watching her every move, but so was everyone else. Her small hope that her fellow officers wouldn’t make a big deal out of Tigh’s impulsive proposal quickly dissolved. Before the first course had even been removed, she’d been asked the question she’d been dreading.

“What are you going to do, Captain Starbridge?” Leah Blackwell-Amber asked from just a few seats away. “Are you considering accepting the emperor’s proposal?” A hush fell over the table, even though Leah had spoken in moderate tones. It seemed everyone wanted to know the answer.

Including Ginny.

She had no clue what she should do. The question had preyed on her mind for hours now, and she was no closer to a resolution. Tigh, himself, was a temptation. Just on a purely physical level, he was a handsome man with the startling combination of thick black hair and palest blue eyes. He could have been a vid star in the old days, if he hadn’t already inherited an empire.

Men were few and far between these days, and the idea of having one to herself was definitely intriguing, though it wasn’t something she’d ever expected would come her way. Especially not such a handsome and obviously fit specimen. She was attracted to him, despite her better judgment, but she couldn’t be ruled by hormones. She had to think through this decision and do what was best for all concerned, not just for her raging hormones.

“I’m not certain what I’ll do, yet,” she hedged. “I mean, I’m considering it, but I haven’t made up my mind.”

“But you could end this war, once and for all.” One of the older human officers sounded almost scornful of her hesitancy.

Ginny had to tread carefully. “I realize that, of course. And I, too, want peace. But there are other factors to be considered.”

“Like what?” the abrasive officer wanted to know.

Tigh held up one hand, signaling for silence. “Please, let us not talk of this at table. Ginny will make up her mind in good time. I’d prefer she not be pressured.” He smiled to soften his words, and the older officer seemed to relent, sitting back in her chair while one of Tigh’s hands covered Ginny’s on the table. It was an obvious show of support that was oddly comforting, though Ginny felt a little foolish holding hands like a schoolgirl at what was essentially a state dinner.

“Thank you, Your Highness.” Ginny pulled her hand out from under Tigh’s, tucking it firmly into her lap.

The rest of the dinner went well after that, though Ginny remained uncomfortably aware that she and the jit emperor were the center of much speculation and curiosity. She hated the limelight but had learned to live with it while in port. On her ship, she could be as anonymous as the next captain, but every time she docked lately, there was a contingent of newsbots ready to follow her every move.

It was a hazard of the job. After some initial embarrassment at being caught in a few odd-looking situations while on-station, she’d learned to curb her movements so she would never again be embarrassed in the media. Being a ship’s captain had garnered her a certain amount of publicity, and her war record was openly discussed in the media. She saw no sense in giving the galactic news corps anything salacious to speculate about her personal life.

But then, Tigh had happened. He’d turned her life into intergalactic news fodder, and no matter what her answer to his proposal, she knew she would have to live with the fallout for years to come. If she said yes, the newsbots would never be gone from her life. If she said no, speculation would run rife, as would condemnation from many people. If she refused his offer of marriage, would she prolong the war? She didn’t know, but even she could foresee that she’d take a lot of blame in certain quarters were she to refuse.

She couldn’t let that influence her decision, of course, but it was something she’d have to deal with if and when the time came. For now, she had a lot to think about, and Tigh wasn’t making it any easier.

He was the soul of courtesy at dinner. He also entertained her with witty and insightful conversation. His wasn’t a practiced charm. He was more earthy. More real than she had expected. His appeal was on a more basic level. An instinct more than a considered thought.

Oh, the man was dangerous, indeed.

 

As the meal ended and the small party broke up, it was strongly suggested by the commandant himself that Ginny allow the emperor to escort her back to her compartment. Since she was already in officer country, as they called it, the walk to her cabin was a relatively short one. She had been in the middle of denying Tigh’s request to walk her there when Michael Amber had intervened, convincing her to accept.

Of course, Tigh couldn’t be allowed to wander around the station on his own, so a trail of guards—both human and jit’suku—followed along behind them as they walked slowly toward Ginny’s berth. Tigh seemed to want to linger while Ginny wished he’d move a little faster. She wanted out of her dress uniform. She wanted the comfort of her own quarters. And, most importantly, she wanted away from the disturbing emperor who seemed convinced, somehow, that she was the right woman for him. The right woman to be empress, for Pete’s sake! Ginny still couldn’t wrap her head around that dizzying idea.

“What is your schedule like tomorrow?” Tigh asked conversationally. She wasn’t fooled. He was looking for more opportunities to harass her. She mentally chastised herself. To be fair, he was an interesting companion, and if not for the marriage offer that lay between them like the proverbial eight-hundred-pound jungle beast, she would have welcomed his attention.

“I’m on first shift,” she replied. “Then, I have training scheduled with my bridge crew. Even though we don’t have a ship of our own at present, we try to keep our skills sharp.”

“Then, you’re expecting a new command soon?”

She couldn’t find anything to object to in his tone. He’d stuck to less volatile topics all during dinner and seemed to be following the same path now that they were alone—except for the guards, of course. She breathed a sigh of relief.

“Any day now, they say. I flatter myself to think they want us back patrolling the rim as soon as possible.”

“From the little I’ve seen, it is not flattery to think that you are valued highly by your people. Your commandant seems inordinately interested in your welfare.” Tigh made a face that was hard to interpret. It seemed part jealousy, part respect, with a touch of concern.

“Commandant Amber is an accomplished leader and a good strategist. I credit his deployments with our success in this war. He knows where to put each of us to play to our strengths. Of course, his wife plays a large role in that work, as well. Leah was his XO for several years before they got together. Now that they’re married, it seems like the partnership of commandant and executive officer has blended into a wonderful marriage of equals.” She heard the wistful note in her own voice and quickly turned away, glad they were nearing her hatch.

Tigh’s hand on her arm stilled her. As she turned to face him, still several yards from her door, she noted the entourage of guards draw to a stop, just out of earshot. Then, all she saw was Tigh’s beautiful blue eyes, watching her with concern.

“That is what I want too, Ginny. A partnership. A life mate who will support me as I support her. Don’t you think we could have that together?”

His earnestness touched her heart and tempted her to candor. “Why me, Tigh?” Her words were the barest whisper.

He took her hands in his and raised them to his chest, resting them over his heart as he stepped closer, into her personal space. She was mesmerized by the look in his eyes, the seriousness with which he took her question.

“Warriors often know their true mate on sight and always from their first kiss. Among my people, we call it the nij-ta. The mate test. When I first saw you in the Council chamber, I was stunned. I have never, never felt the way I felt when I first saw your beautiful face or breathed in your delicate scent. No other woman has ever made me want her from first glance, and after kissing you, I know no other ever will. You were made for me, Ginny. As I was made for you.”

“You know all that from a single kiss?” She wasn’t really buying it, though it was awfully romantic. It sounded crazy, but she’d felt the magic of their first kiss. She’d felt a tingle she couldn’t ever remember experiencing before.

“For jit’suku warriors, the nij-ta is all it takes. For my own part, I believe the Mother Goddess put you in my path, at this time, as a sign. Many warriors search their whole lives and never find their true mates. When I went into exile with the Zenai, I thought I would dedicate my life to the Goddess and never marry. With Elius on the throne, I could not have children. They would have thrown doubt over Elius and his heirs by their mere existence. I was fine with all of that. For all his faults, I loved Elius.”

“You gave up your throne for him,” Ginny observed. “You must have loved him a great deal.”

“We were twins. He was the other half of me for many years. Some might say now, he was the bad half, but I don’t like to believe that. He wanted the throne while I did not. I thought to give it to him, to give my brother the one thing in the universe denied him by an accident of birth.”

“Did you ever stop to think that your Goddess allowed you to be born first for a reason? Perhaps Elius was never meant to rule.”

Tigh’s expression actually hurt her. It held all the pain, the torment and doubt that he held at bay when in public. For the first time, she saw him as a man who had lost as much, if not more, than they all had. He had suffered the loss of his twin and the disillusionment of learning his brother had been a monster. His sister-in-law and nieces were gone, as were many others she didn’t know. His life’s work on the Zenai mountain was in ruins. He couldn’t go back and do what he wanted. He had to pick up where his brother left off and try to salvage the situation the best way he could.

This proud warrior had surrendered.

That, in itself, should have told her the character of the man who now faced her with such grief in his eyes. He had suffered too. Both their galaxies were shattered, and it was up to them to pick up the pieces.

“Oh, Tigh.” Ginny moved the final distance between them, pulling one of her hands from beneath his to cup his cheek. “I’m so sorry.” Her whisper hung between them as they gazed into each other’s eyes, sharing their pain for a long moment. Finally, Ginny turned her head and laid it over his heart, hugging him, offering comfort.

Tigh’s arms went around her and drew her close. He bent his head, and she felt his lips nuzzle into her neck, but not in a loverly way. Their embrace was about compassion, not desire. Not at that moment. Though, she could feel that the warmth of his arms could easily ignite a fire in her blood that would be hard to quench. It had been so long since she’d just been held by a man.

She felt him kiss her hair, his big hands stroking her back with soothing motions. She didn’t ever want to leave the safety of his arms, and the thought surprised her. She hadn’t felt this way since she was a young girl in the first throes of love. But she didn’t know Tigh well enough to love him. Did she?

“Your heart is as gentle as your spirit is strong, sweet Ginny.” His words rumbled past her ear, igniting a little shiver that she was loath to let develop any further. She pulled back, putting a little space between them as she looked into his eyes.

“You really think I’m the woman for you? That isn’t just a line?”

He seemed puzzled. “Not a line, as you put it. I have found my mate in you, Ginny, as the Mother Goddess willed.”

“I wish I had your faith. It’s not so easy for humans, you know. We don’t have the kind of instant recognition you seem to believe in.”

“I have faith enough for both of us. I promise you now, if you agree to be my bride, we will have a beautiful life together. There is no unfaithfulness among true mates. We will be partners and helpmates, and if you cannot love me now, I hope, in time, you will come to love me as I already love you.”

She was shocked. “You love me? You barely know me.”

“You are my true mate, ordained from the Mother Goddess. I couldn’t do anything other than love you, but you are right. I do not know you, and the voyage of discovery is proving to be as enchanting as my first sight of you, Gineva Starbridge. I can only hope you will enjoy getting to know me, as well.”

She gave him a shy smile, sensing his need for reassurance. He’d just gone out on a huge limb. She’d give him a little something for his efforts, if only in the way of comforting words.

“I can honestly say I’ve never met a more fascinating man than you, Tigh.” She’d slipped into using his first name in her mind and nearly cringed at her familiar use of it, but he seemed encouraged.

“And I can say I will never meet a more fascinating woman, Ginny. Together, we could reshape the universe, if you will agree to be my partner.”

“Partner? Or trophy wife?”

He puzzled out her meaning then scowled. “I meant every word I said. We will be partners, Ginny. While it is true I came here with the intent of marrying any human female that would have me, once I saw you, all thoughts of that plan went by the wayside.”

“Well, you’re honest about that, at least.”

“I am honest about everything, Ginny, as you will come to learn. As a novitiate of the Zenai priesthood, I cannot lie.”

Ginny thought about that for a moment. He seemed in earnest.

“If that’s true, you’re a freak among politicians.”

“But I am not a politician. I intend to be a ruler. Playing politics is what hurt my brother the most, I believe. Though I will never know what his exact thought processes were, in reviewing the records of his decisions, I saw a pattern of knee-jerk reactions to political pressures. I will not repeat his mistakes. As a first step, I have dismissed most of his councilors and emptied the court. I intended that my wife and I will start from scratch when we return to Solaris Prime.”

“I think that’s a wise choice.”

“You see?” He beamed at her, a teasing light in his stunning eyes. “We already agree on something. I think we will find there are many other points of harmony between us, if we but look for them.”

Ginny chuckled as she moved completely out of his embrace and turned to her hatch, which was a few yards away. He followed, of course. She turned at the portal and looked up into his eyes.

“I had a good time tonight. Thank you for being the perfect escort and the perfect gentleman.” She leaned up and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

Tigh surprised her by drawing her close with his hands around her waist. She didn’t resist. The guards were down the hall if she needed help, and she knew a few moves to defend herself should he suddenly turn aggressive. She didn’t think he’d attack her. He was just too controlled, too honorable for that kind of thing.

But he would kiss her.

Tigh moved in and sealed his lips to hers, firing that strange tingling sensation throughout her limbs. No other man had ever made her feel this way, but it had been a very long time. Maybe that was why she responded to him so powerfully.

Whatever it was, she reveled in his firm touch, his tender exploration of her mouth with his tongue, his caressing hands on her back and buttocks. He lifted her into his hardness as his ardor increased, and she was with him. There was no way she could lie to herself. Her body wanted Tigh. Almost obsessively. But her mind was in control, even if her body wanted her to strip naked in the hallway and let him have her way with her in front of God and everybody.

He pulled back before she could embarrass herself, and it was Tigh who saved them both from a lot of gossip. Oh, the guards would no doubt talk about the hot kiss they’d witnessed, but a goodnight kiss was a far cry from what she really wanted, now that Tigh had excited every last nerve in her body.

He let her go by slow degrees. She was chagrinned to find her legs unsteady once more. Only Tigh had ever been able to make her weak-kneed with just a kiss. That alone made her wonder just what he might be able to do if she let him make love to her. She might not survive.

“Goodnight, sweet Gineva.”

“Goodnight, Tigh.” She was still in a daze as she entered her compartment.