occur within weeks. Radiation level has increased by point zero-two percent. Recommendation: evacuation of planet. Estimated deaths….”
Ricki’s voice faded at the unthinkable number of lives expected to be lost. Tears blurred her vision when she finished reading the report. It was mind boggling to think of an entire planet wiped out and the weight of despair that Ristèard Roald must be feeling.
“It must be overwhelming to be the leader of a world and know that so many depend on you,” she whispered, brushing at the tear coursing down her cheek. Touching the screen, she reduced the report. Her eyes widened when she saw the screen open behind it. “What the…!”
She was staring at a mirror image of herself, yet, it wasn’t. Her fingers trembled slightly as they touched the photograph of the stone carving. Moving the scanner down over the words, she hesitantly read them.
“Only known image of the Empress of Elipdios. Information transcribed from the ancient stone tablet found in the Lost City states she will return to Elipdios during its bleakest time to save it. The rest of the tablet was extensively damaged by erosion and no other information could be read,” Ricki whispered, staring back up at the image of herself… the Ancient Empress. “Oh God,” she moaned, shaking her head. “They think I’m their missing Empress!”
Chapter 8
Ajaska Ja Kel Coradon walked over to the small alcove in the office to pour himself a drink. He desperately needed it to curb the fire burning through him. He loved a challenge and he had definitely found one with Katarina Danshov.
He quickly downed the double shot of potent liquor he had poured. Wiping his hand across his mouth, he poured another one before turning when he heard Walter Bailey’s loud, angry voice echoing in the corridor as he came closer.
“Torak, I demand you do something!” Walter bellowed in aggravation as he hurried into the room. “I demand retribution.”
Ajaska glanced at his oldest son, he had passed his position as ruler of Kassis to Torak several years before. He and Torak had decided it was best for him to be involved on the Alliance Council since he already knew many of the council members from the different star systems.
Ajaska watched as Torak rose out of his chair, motioning for Walter and Nema to have a seat. Torak waited until the servant that followed Walter into the room brought in the refreshments for the Ringmaster and his tiny wife before he said anything.
“What appears to be the problem?” Torak asked.
“That huge blue bastard has kidnapped my daughter is the problem!” Walter snarled, setting his tea on the tall side table near the couch. “Stan has finally woken. He said that Ristèard Roald attacked him and Ricki last night. He fought off two men, but another one must have come up behind him and shot him full of a sedative. He wanted to know if Ricki was okay. She never returned home last night. You have to do something immediately! God only knows what that brutal bastard will do to her.”
Nema reached over and tightly gripped Walter’s hand. Tears glimmered in her eyes as she stared at the small group of people in the room. She looked with pleading eyes from Torak to Ajaska.
Ajaska wasn’t too concerned with Ricki’s disappearance. He had been briefed by his security team the moment Stan had been found. He glanced at Jazin who nodded to him and he stepped up to stand beside him.
“Were you able to confirm the information that Jarmen gave us?” Jazin asked under his breath, glancing over his shoulder at Torak before his eye’s darkened when they landed on his own mate.
Jarmen D’ju was a male his youngest son, Jazin, had rescued from an illegal research facility. The man was unlike anything he had ever seen, but if Jazin trusted him, then so would he. He knew very little about him, except he was a ghost who moved in the shadows. Jazin mentioned the two had been working on a number of different defense
Ricki’s voice faded at the unthinkable number of lives expected to be lost. Tears blurred her vision when she finished reading the report. It was mind boggling to think of an entire planet wiped out and the weight of despair that Ristèard Roald must be feeling.
“It must be overwhelming to be the leader of a world and know that so many depend on you,” she whispered, brushing at the tear coursing down her cheek. Touching the screen, she reduced the report. Her eyes widened when she saw the screen open behind it. “What the…!”
She was staring at a mirror image of herself, yet, it wasn’t. Her fingers trembled slightly as they touched the photograph of the stone carving. Moving the scanner down over the words, she hesitantly read them.
“Only known image of the Empress of Elipdios. Information transcribed from the ancient stone tablet found in the Lost City states she will return to Elipdios during its bleakest time to save it. The rest of the tablet was extensively damaged by erosion and no other information could be read,” Ricki whispered, staring back up at the image of herself… the Ancient Empress. “Oh God,” she moaned, shaking her head. “They think I’m their missing Empress!”
Chapter 8
Ajaska Ja Kel Coradon walked over to the small alcove in the office to pour himself a drink. He desperately needed it to curb the fire burning through him. He loved a challenge and he had definitely found one with Katarina Danshov.
He quickly downed the double shot of potent liquor he had poured. Wiping his hand across his mouth, he poured another one before turning when he heard Walter Bailey’s loud, angry voice echoing in the corridor as he came closer.
“Torak, I demand you do something!” Walter bellowed in aggravation as he hurried into the room. “I demand retribution.”
Ajaska glanced at his oldest son, he had passed his position as ruler of Kassis to Torak several years before. He and Torak had decided it was best for him to be involved on the Alliance Council since he already knew many of the council members from the different star systems.
Ajaska watched as Torak rose out of his chair, motioning for Walter and Nema to have a seat. Torak waited until the servant that followed Walter into the room brought in the refreshments for the Ringmaster and his tiny wife before he said anything.
“What appears to be the problem?” Torak asked.
“That huge blue bastard has kidnapped my daughter is the problem!” Walter snarled, setting his tea on the tall side table near the couch. “Stan has finally woken. He said that Ristèard Roald attacked him and Ricki last night. He fought off two men, but another one must have come up behind him and shot him full of a sedative. He wanted to know if Ricki was okay. She never returned home last night. You have to do something immediately! God only knows what that brutal bastard will do to her.”
Nema reached over and tightly gripped Walter’s hand. Tears glimmered in her eyes as she stared at the small group of people in the room. She looked with pleading eyes from Torak to Ajaska.
Ajaska wasn’t too concerned with Ricki’s disappearance. He had been briefed by his security team the moment Stan had been found. He glanced at Jazin who nodded to him and he stepped up to stand beside him.
“Were you able to confirm the information that Jarmen gave us?” Jazin asked under his breath, glancing over his shoulder at Torak before his eye’s darkened when they landed on his own mate.
Jarmen D’ju was a male his youngest son, Jazin, had rescued from an illegal research facility. The man was unlike anything he had ever seen, but if Jazin trusted him, then so would he. He knew very little about him, except he was a ghost who moved in the shadows. Jazin mentioned the two had been working on a number of different defense
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