Her eyes were wide as orbs and she brought a hand to her gaping mouth at the sight of the Duke of Ti-Laros, her adoptive father, sitting in a dusty old cell. Though Comron had found Skylar’s remains on Ti-Laros, they would still have had a hell of a time proving the direct connection between Larrs and the murder. At best, Vaush thought they’d be able to charge him with gross securities violations and collusion, which would get him a mere slap on the wrist. She’d been infuriated that justice would not prevail and that Larrs would walk free while her mother lay in a grave.
“What the hell is he doing here?” Vaush exclaimed.
“Vaush, thank the gods! What in the blazes is going on here?” Larrs blustered with clenched fists. “I demand to be released at once.”
“I sent the team in after him,” Comron answered Vaush. “They brought him in an hour ago.”
“Isn’t this illegal?” Vaush asked, glaring at Larrs but still concerned about the legalities.
“So is murder, but that didn’t stop Larrs from killing your mother,” Comron reminded her. “He’s eluded justice for far too long. That ends today.”
“Vaush, this is preposterous,” Larrs said, approaching her at the bars. “You just can’t abduct people off the street and throw them into jail cells. I’ll have your head for this Van Laven.”
“Shut it!” Vaush snapped and jabbed a finger at him, “When you abducted my mother and then took her life, you forfeited all rights to jurisprudence.”
Larrs’ feigned outrage and incredulity made Comron want to puke.
“Hell’s gates! Is that why you brought me here? Your mother died in childbirth, I told you that.”
In a blur of motion, Vaush grabbed Larrs by his tunic and forced him up against the cell bars. “You listen to me you miserable little crag mite,” Vaush said through gritted teeth. “I know the whole truth from the moment you abducted her to the moment the assassin blew her brains out as she sang a lullaby over my crib.”
Those dark piercing eyes of Larrs widened with wonder and then fear. His mouth clamped shut as he looked from her to Comron. Comron couldn’t resist a celebratory smirk as he saw the realization set in on Larrs’ face. He’d been bested by House Van Laven on every count. They’d stolen his daughter’s heart and now they would take his life.
“Open the cell door,” Vaush said in a deathly still voice.
The guard hesitated.
“Open the door, I said!”
“Yes, Your Grace,” the guard said, tapping in a code. The door slid to the side and Larrs backed away as Vaush stepped in with Comron close at her side.
“On your knees,” she barked, staring Larrs down. This was not his daughter speaking to him; it was his Empress. Still, Larrs hesitated, his nostrils flared and his chest puffed.
“How dare you speak to your father in such an insolent—”
With a mere hand gesture from Vaush, the guards rounded on Larrs, grabbing him by the shoulders and forcing him down to the floor. She extended her hand to one of the guards who promptly handed her his sidearm.
“You never counted on me finding out the truth about my mother, Skylar,” Vaush said as she checked the piece switching off the safety as Larrs knelt before her with wild eyes. “You sure as hell never thought we’d find her body. Even now you ask yourself how we could possibly know all these things since you were so fastidious in covering your tracks—all the guards, my nurse—all gone.”
Larrs kept his eyes fixed upon her, the fear had left them and, once again, the penetrating, all-knowing gaze held sway. “I saved your life,” Larrs said in a heavy-handed tone. “You wouldn’t have lived to see your first birthday on Novoxos and, if Thalonius had ever suspected that you were alive, he would have persuaded his father to alter his will making him heir-preeminent once more.”
Vaush’s eyes narrowed to slits. “You could’ve hid us both away, you lousy son of a bitch. But with my mother around to shield me, you wouldn’t have had the opportunity to manipulate me and make me so beholden to you. Isn’t that right, Father? No, you thought of no one but yourself and your towering ambition.”
“Trying to conceal you both would have been impossible,” he bit off the words, endeavoring to exert his power even while on his knees.
“Then you should have let us go into the Hinter Worlds and take our chances. At least then you wouldn’t be here” she lifted the blast gun to his forehead, “on your knees staring down the barrel of my justice.”
Larrs’ expression fell a degree before the hardness returned to the glassy dark eyes. “I gave Skylar the chance to leave; she broke our agreement. As far as what happened after that—”
“The agreement that forced a mother to abandon her child?” Vaush shouted and struck him across the face. “She was a brave and loving mother who risked her life to come back for me!” There was something dark and foreign in Vaush’s hazel eyes and a hateful inflection in her voice. “Before you die, you should know a few things. Not only did House Van Laven dash all your plans by winning my heart,” she waved a hand at Comron, “they found Skylar Erlacher’s body which is the very thing that seals your fate and absolves me of any guilt. You were always so clever, always ten steps ahead of your enemies.” She leaned in close to his face and whispered, “So, why didn’t you anticipate that baby in the crib growing up and demanding your life?”
“You won’t take my life.” His expression didn’t falter, but there was a slight quiver in his voice. “If I’m being accused of a crime, I deserve a proper trial in a court of law.”
Vaush shook her head and her lips twisted in a sardonic smile. “I’m the empress, which makes me judge, jury, and executioner.” She raised the blast gun and pointed it between his eyes. “All you had to do was let Skylar go.”
“Listen, you can’t do this,” his voice was an octave higher as the words spilled from his mouth. “You don’t want this kind of guilt on your conscious, Vaush. I’m still your father!”
“Silence!” Vaush screamed as her hand trembled with emotion and her eyes glistened. No one moved as Vaush struggled with the weight of the decision. Comron could feel her waiver in her resolve, the moment would be lost if he didn’t intervene.
“You’re right, Larrs,” Comron said as he took the blast gun from Vaush’s hand. “The empress couldn’t live with herself if she did it,” he pressed the muzzle to Larrs brow, “but I could.”
Larrs’ dark eyes grew wide and frantic as he petitioned Vaush, “You’re still Bastionli at heart. If I am to die, let it not be at the hands of these foul devils.”
“Oh, that’s right; you don’t know,” Comron said, never taking his eyes off Larrs. He hitched his head at the guards and they quickly obeyed slipping out of the cell. He turned his attention back to Larrs eager to make his defeat complete before he died. “She is neither Bastionli by blood or at heart. As far as her name—Empress Vaush is legally Van Laven now, the future Queen of Nethic.”
Larrs’ face twisted in confusion and disgust. “No.”
Comron lowered his voice to just above a whisper. “The marriage to Spira was a mere deception. Vaush and I have been married all along,” he nodded as he saw the final pieces clicking into place in Larrs’ eyes. “That’s right—the Van Laven bloodline will rule the imperial throne. You are utterly and completely defeated at our hand.” He pressed the muzzle harder against his brow. “Burn in hell, you putrid piece of shite.”
Vaush turned away, burying her head in Comron’s chest as the blast went off. Larrs jerked backwards and slumped to the floor.
“Comron,” Vaush cried, clutching his tunic. He wrapped his arms around her and stroked her hair soothingly as she wept.
After a moment he said, “See.” He urged her to turn and look at Larrs’ lifeless form, the blood pooling beneath his head. “Skylar is avenged. Her great sacrifice wasn’t in vain. She gave you her strength and courage so you could reign. Now, she can rest in peace. Let the matter trouble you no more.”
Chapter 38
 
; As they sat around the breakfast table reviewing the day’s agenda, Vaush glanced at the two Van Laven men sitting across from her. Comron’s elation over the death of Larrs hadn’t left him. His triumph over House Bastionli still reverberated throughout all he did. And it annoyed her that he should rejoice in an event that left her so conflicted. How could he be so out of tune with her feelings?
She couldn’t help wondering how much he had divulged to Crausin. Would it be too much to resist sharing it with him so that they both might gloat over Larrs’ demise? She refused to allow the melancholy to set in. Larrs had ordered her mother’s death. A life for a life, justice had been served.
Her gaze fell upon the Grand Duke of Nethic as the two men carried on a rather animated conversation about pitfalls of economic sanctions. Could madness be detected in Crausin’s comely visage? Despite how highly he functioned, the insanity must manifest itself somehow. The realization hit her that she’d fallen madly in love with the mirror image of him. Not only was she emotionally bound to Comron, her physical addiction to him could no longer be denied either. She craved him.
“Agreed.” Crausin gestured at Vaush, “The empress should do nothing to lift the trade sanctions against Vlodostok so that their retaliation will be complete.”
“Their retaliation?” Vaush said, emerging from her reverie.
“They’ll ban the import of copranium from Hegemony-dominated regions,” Comron explained.
Vaush frowned. “The copranium mine owners will be outraged over losing such a huge client. It could put them out of business.”
“Ah,” Crausin said, raising a finger at the observation, “Shinzhao is banking on that very thing as they are in great need of copranium.”
“And with the copranium business drying up virtually overnight, imagine how cheap the prices will be if one were interested in acquiring the mines?” Comron said to Vaush.
She nodded as it all became clear. “Shinzhao has loads of richya and government-backed securities on hand, what better investment than to buy the ailing copranium mines which will provide them with a constant cheap supply without the infrastructure startup cost. Not to mention they’ll produce enough to supply their primary ally, Vlodostok, at a reduced price.” She raised her cup to them. “Well played, gentlemen.”
“Meanwhile, publicly supporting the sanctions shows your unswerving support for Hegemony,” Comron added. “They’re trying to burn everyone who’s even thinking about abandoning the richya and looking to lop off heads as an example to the others. More than ever, this is the time to vocally pledge your allegiance to the richya.”
“Well, ever since Ahmed opened the floodgates, the Hegemony is having the damndest time trying to stave the flow,” Crausin said. “As I’ve said a hundred times, convincing him to defect was the true masterstroke.” He leveled his gaze at Comron. “You ever going to tell me how the hell you managed that?”
Comron and Vaush exchanged conspiratorial glances. “Suffice to say, we earned it the hard way,” Comron said.
Crausin looked between the two of them. “How do you expect me to do my best work when you’re withholding critical data from me?”
Comron smirked. “You know what we need you to know.”
“Come now, gentlemen, I’ve only twenty minutes before the Privy Council meeting,” Vaush said. “What other business do you have for me?”
Before they could answer, Laney strode out onto the verandah.
“Laney Blanc!” Vaush smiled. “What brings you out this fine morning?”
“Fine morning? Ach! That’ll be debatable when you discover who’s requesting an immediate audience with you.”
Vaush’s expression fell. “Who is it?”
Laney lifted her chin and spoke with exaggerated formality. “His Grace, Prince Skarus Bastionli of Ti-Laros.”
Apprehension gripped Vaush, this was the very reason she’d hesitated at the last moment over Larrs—the inevitable reprisals and vendetta! Where would it end?
“What does that foul dog want?” Comron said gruffly. “We should have him beaten off the premises.”
Vaush turned sharply at him. “Comron, Skarus had nothing to do with my mother’s death so spare me your vitriolic Van Laven venom over all things Bastionli.”
Stung, Comron’s mouth snapped shut but his eyes remained fixed upon her.
“Send him to the Blue Ravine Parlor. I will be there momentarily.”
“As you wish,” Laney said and was gone.
“Surely, you don’t mean to grant that man an audience?” Crausin said, the repugnance written all over his face. “The way they’ve publicly vilified and spurned you, what could you possibly have to say to them? Perhaps now that Larrs is gone the weasel plans to squirm his way back into your favor.”
So Comron hadn’t told Crausin the whole truth, otherwise he’d suspect that Skarus had likely come seeking answers concerning Larrs’ abrupt disappearance and alleged death.
She felt Comron’s heavy gaze as he awaited her answer.
“This is the first time that House Bastionli has reached out to me since they discovered I’d befriended House Van Laven. If ever I hope to repair the damage with my adoptive house, I’d better start now.”
Comron’s nose crinkled as if he smelled something rancid. “Why ever would you wish to do that?”
Vaush’s smile failed to reach her eyes. “Because, darling, I still have strong emotional ties to Ti-Laros, so it pains me to be at odds with her people. Falling in love with you did nothing to break those ties. It merely extinguished my hatred for House Van Laven. Why didn’t your love for me compel you to do the same?” she asked archly.
One would have thought she had just she’d dumped an ice cold bucket of water on him the way he lurched back in his seat, looking alarmed and astonished at the thought.
“Really, Comron? You’re being absurd. Shall I love you and still despise all things Van Laven?” Suddenly, she resented the extent of gloating Comron had engaged in prior to executing Larrs. Yes, the villain deserved it, but it reminded her that Comron did it as much for his personal gratification as he did to avenge her mother.
She tossed her linen napkin on the table and popped out of her chair. “Please excuse me, gentlemen.”
The two men rose in unison. Comron hurried around the table to catch her. “Shouldn’t we at least come to an agreement as to what will be said to Skarus?” he said with a tepid smile, still stinging from her sharp rebuke.
She hesitated, casting him a weary look, and then pulled him aside out of listening range from Crausin. “Yaeger covered his tracks by making it appear to be a rebel attack explosion, which was apropos considering how he initially made my mother disappear. So, unless Yaeger miscalculated, there should be no evidence indicating the crown’s involvement.”
“And yet he’s at our door, sniffing around for answers, no doubt,” Comron said.
“Is that really so strange? Second to the rebels,” she jabbed a finger at his chest, “House Van Laven is the most likely suspect, and I suppose it’s easier for him to come here than to go to Nethic. But don’t worry, I’ll feign complete ignorance as to your activities. After all,” she shrugged, “you’re Spira’s husband, what do I know about your comings and goings?”
Comron’s eyes narrowed at the affront. “I’ll station myself in the adjacent room to listen in.”
“Very well. Let’s go,” Vaush said. “My brother awaits.”
Chapter 39
When Vaush entered the elegant room, Prince Skarus Bastionli, her adoptive brother, stood tall and slender next to the large pane-glass window. It had been months since she’d seen him as all Ti-Laros declared her anathema for publicly befriending House Van Laven. In that small space of time, he seemed to have aged. Was it from the sudden loss of his father or the shock of discovering that his younger—what he thought to be—half sister turned out to be Emperor Sorren’s legal heir?
When he turned to look at her, she saw the familiar, fiercely penetratin
g eyes of Larrs and was slightly unnerved recalling the last time she’d looked upon the man. Skarus’ flawless, dark honey complexion was a shade darker than hers. His soft, curly hair was impeccably groomed as was his stately attire. The high regal forehead, imperious nose, and full lips had made him a favorite among the ladies of the court. How many invitations to various social engagements had Vaush received from eager young women hoping she would invite her brother to accompany her?
The icy stare he leveled at her stopped her in her tracks. “Skarus, I’m so glad you’ve come. No one will tell me a thing regarding the funeral arrangements for Father.”
His gaze took on an incredulous air. “How dare you refer to him as Father. On my orders, no one is to share information regarding his funeral arrangements with you. You are not welcome on Ti-Laros.”
The blunt words still hadn’t loss their sting. She felt the pain anew. For the hundredth time, she attempted to explain herself. “When I was stranded on Patheis, I would have died had it not been for the kindness and protection of a Van Laven.”
The blistering look he gave her suggested he would have preferred that she’d died rather than dishonoring herself with Van Laven scum. “Who do you think you’re fooling? We know you saved his life before he did any good to you! But for some reason, Father was willing to overlook that, so pleased was he to find you alive.”
Her jaw clenched. “I confess, the blind hatred didn’t run as deeply through my veins,” she said, “but then again, I’m not Bastionli by birth. Does that make my crime less profane?”
He took an abrupt step toward her, his rich brown eyes cutting right through her. “You were one of us in every way that mattered!”
The pain and anger broiling in his eyes made her heart pound fiercely in her chest. There was so much mindless rage and vindictiveness on both sides of the vendetta! “And one mistake damns me to hell? Is that how well you love me, brother?” Her voice faltered, “Or perhaps you never did and this has given you the perfect opportunity to cast me off completely.”