Garnets or Bust

Chapter Four

Daaron took deep breaths, forcing down the anger thundering through him. The situation was his own damn fault. Losing control of your weapon was a fool’s mistake, and if one of his men had done it, he’d find himself cleaning latrines for a month. He’d forgotten just how intoxicating Tessa’s presence could be, and seriously underestimated the woman herself. Being near her all but wiped out his ability to think, and now they would both pay.

Tessa stepped away from him, holding the blaster steady, and awkwardly pulled up her pants with one hand.

“Get up,” she said. “We’re going to walk outside and you’re going to stand in front of me as a shield. I want you to tell your friends to leave us alone until we get to my cruiser. We’ll be taking the first available transport off-planet, and then I’ll make arrangements to sell my garnets and disappear. If you do everything I tell you, you’ll survive. Do you understand me?”

He nodded his head, not looking forward to the next ten minutes. His team didn’t respond well to threats.

“Pick up your clothes,” Tessa added.

“Should I put them on?”

She gave him a speculative look before offering him a rather dark smile.

“No,” she replied sweetly. “It will be harder for you to run if you’re naked. Now we’re going to leave. I’m going to stand right behind you as we go out. You’ll pause in the doorway and tell your people to let us by. Then we’ll grab the garnets and go.”

He nodded his head, knowing it wouldn’t get that far. Together they moved toward the opening and Daaron stepped out slowly. Tessa nudged him with the blaster, and he opened his mouth to speak. Before anything could come out, a hail of drugged flechettes rained through the air.

Daaron went down first, tranquilizers blazing through his system in a mere heartbeat. His last sensation as he fell was the punishing hit of a blaster bolt. She’d done it, he marveled. Soft, sweet Tessa had just shot him in the back. He heard her shriek and the world turned black.

*** Tessa awakened slowly, her mouth tasting metallic and bitter. She took a deep breath. The air smelled odd, recycled, like the air on a space station—or in the deepest reaches of the Warrens. Not the fresh, clean breezes of her camp, certainly. She opened her eyes and looked at the ceiling, finding bare metal punctuated only by endless rows of rivets. The bed upon which she lay was soft but far from luxurious, although the fabric of the covers had the smooth, perfectly inviting feel that only natural fibers could create. Expensive, like everything else Daaron had ever owned.

Daaron.

Memory flooded back. Dear Goddess, she’d killed Daaron. Shot him point-blank with his own blaster. Tessa felt sick, completely disgusted with herself. She’d killed a man over a handful of stupid garnets.

Daaron had given his life for a pile of fucking rocks.

How could she live with herself? Of course, her continuing survival probably wouldn’t be a problem, not after his people got through with her. She’d enjoyed threatening Daaron, liked the idea of him feeling uncertain and scared, the way he’d always made her feel. But dead? No, never that. For long moments Tessa lay back on the bed, trying to think.

Finally she sat up listlessly, wondering when her executioners would arrive. Her cell was sparse. Bed, metal basin with water spouts and a fresher. Some drawers with a mirrored surface on the wall above them. A small table beside the bed. Everything one piece, everything bolted to the floor. She stood, trying to detect any signs of artificial gravity. If they were in space, it was on something big and powerful enough to have the best gravitrons money could buy.

Of course, money had never been an issue for Daaron.

The door pinged, and she watched it slide open without interest. Then Daaron walked in and she froze.

“You’re alive,” she said, stunned.

“Obviously,” he replied, his voice tight. “Good thing you didn’t check the blaster to see if the charge was lethal.”

It hadn’t even occurred to her.

“For the record, I’m sorry I shot you,” she said, meaning it. “I think I panicked. I didn’t want you dead… Just out of the way.”

“I find that tremendously comforting,” he replied, tone dark with sarcasm. “Getting shot with a blaster, even on the lowest setting, hurts like hell. And my men are pissed.

You’re lucky they didn’t kill you.”

“Why didn’t they?” she asked, trying to figure out her next move. She supposed that as long as they kept talking, she’d stay alive. Anything to buy time.

“Because I gave them strict orders not to,” he replied. “And they always obey. I’m not so sure I believe in the whole Warrens subservient wife thing though. Clearly it didn’t sink into your psyche growing up.”

She fell silent, unsure of her response. According to the traditions of the Warrens, they were married and she should obey him. She just didn’t want to though. And why should she? He sure as shit wasn’t from the Warrens, she couldn’t expect him to love and honor her in return for her obedience. No, he’d just use it against her.

“You said you had to marry me, to keep me from testifying,” she said after a long pause. “What did you mean by that? Honestly, I don’t know anything about you or your people. I just want to take my garnets and leave. Surely you can understand?”

“There are bigger things in play here than money,” he said. “I can give you money.

Your financial worries are over.”

Tessa tensed.

“I don’t want your money any more now than I did at school, Daaron,” she replied.

“I shouldn’t need it. I used my skills and education to find my own way of making money. The garnets. They’re all the rage at court, now that the Emperor has expressed a fondness for them. They might have been worthless this time last year, but they’re more than enough to set me for life today. All you have to do is give me my rocks and let me go. You do your own thing and we’ll both live happily ever after. Or you’ll do whatever weird thing it is you want to do, and I’ll live happily ever after. We can pretend this didn’t happen.”

“Let’s sit down,” Daaron said, gesturing toward the bed. He seemed to fill the room, crowding her. Daaron had always done that to her—every place he went, he filled. He stepped toward her, crowding her, and she slid to one side of the bed in an attempt to put space between them. He gave her a knowing smile. She hadn’t fooled him. He plopped down on the bed, depressing the mattress so she had to fight to keep from falling into him.

“Tell me what’s going on here,” she said. “I need to know.”

“All you need to know is that you’re my wife and I can’t allow you to leave with those garnets,” he replied.

“You’re right,” she said. “I misspoke. I don’t care what’s going on. I just want to go.”

“And I want to fuck you,” he replied. “And unlike you, I’m in a position to take what I want.”

“Oh yes, the great Daaron Von Saur’rel,” she snapped. “It doesn’t matter if a woman actually desires you, you can do whatever you want. Of course, if you were an ordinary mortal, maybe nobody would sleep with you. Have you ever wondered if your success with the ladies has more to do with your money than your cock?”

He froze, and she knew she had him.

“Think about it, Daaron,” Tessa continued, her voice cold. “Maybe your daddy paid them to fuck you. After all, the only woman who couldn’t be bought didn’t sleep with you. What does that really say?”

She knew how hateful the words were, and she knew they weren’t true either. But she had to attack him any way she could, because otherwise she was dead in the water.

Maybe she could goad him into action and use it to her advantage.

He laughed, and her hopes sank.

“I haven’t talked to my father in five years,” he mused. “I suppose the possibility exists that he interfered at school, but since then I haven’t exactly been celibate, unlike you. Ever wonder if you missed out on the best years of your life?”

Her breath hissed out. Bastard. She didn’t have a comeback for that one.

“So you want to call a truce?” he asked. She nodded her head. Fighting wasn’t getting her anywhere. Time to gather information and think through her next move.

“Do you admit that we’re married by the customs of your people?” he asked.

She pondered it, then nodded her head.

“Although, when you consider that the customs of my people have never been held in high esteem by nobles like yourself, I’m not sure that means very much.”

He gave her an icy smile.

“Are you trying to get yourself killed?” he asked. “As my wife, you can’t testify and aren’t a threat. Otherwise you are. Which would you rather be? Remember, I said you have a choice to make.”

She fell silent again.

“As my wife, you’d sleep with me.”

She had to laugh.

“You’re right,” she replied. “Of course, as you nicely pointed out to me earlier, sleeping is different than fucking.”

“You’d fuck me too.”

Silence fell between them, thick with tension.

“So let’s get this straight,” she said finally. “My choice, as you put it, is between being married to you and death, right?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because we can’t afford to have anyone poking around on this planet,” he replied.

“As soon as those garnets hit the market, the consortiums would be after you. Sooner or later they’ll find you and you’ll tell them where you got the gems. Things would get ugly after that. There’s more at stake here than just you and me.”

“I won’t tell them.”

He laughed, the sound anything but amused.

“They aren’t nearly as nice as I am. Eventually everyone breaks under torture, Tessa. It doesn’t matter how good your intentions are. The only way to ensure your silence is to make sure nobody ever finds you. The easiest way is to kill you; instead I’m offering you marriage. As my wife, you’ll be under my control. And as I said, you can’t testify against me, just in case you learn too much.”

Tessa shivered, the reality of her situation sinking in for the first time.

Daaron reached one arm around her and pulled her close.

“Don’t be afraid,” he said. “You’ll find that being married to me isn’t that bad.

Remember, I’m rich. You’ll never want for anything again.”

She leaned against him, momentarily defeated. He rubbed her shoulder comfortingly before moving to her back. His hands stroked steadily, lulling and soothing her. Tessa took a deep breath, inhaling his scent. Desire stirred again. Dear heavens, just being around the man was dangerous.

After long moments, he kissed her, this time slow and gentle—completely different from his angry, manipulative touch earlier. His lips nibbled at hers softly, teasing her with unimagined pleasures and waking new desires. Her nipples tightened, and Tessa reached up to wrap her arms around his neck, eager for more of this new sensation.

Why not just give in for just a little while?

Together they fell back on the bed, hands restlessly exploring beneath each other’s clothing. Daaron pulled his mouth away from hers, running kisses down along her chin and nuzzling at her ears. She lay passive beneath him at first, but after a while she didn’t want him in charge. She could acknowledge that she wanted to have sex with him. Now she needed to take back what mastery she could. Tessa jumped up, straddling him and leaning down low. This time she took control of the kiss.

Daaron didn’t mind at all. He let himself relax, savoring every moment as she kissed him for the first time. He enjoyed the smooth, steady rocking of her hips across his even more. Tessa might have been a virgin until recently, but her instincts were good. Very good. He felt her heat through his pants, could imagine the sucking warmth of her warm slit pulling him deep inside. Just the thought of that crevice, so tight and slick, made his head want to explode. He reached down and cupped her ass, pulling her close.

He couldn’t wait much longer. She seemed to feel the same way, because when he reached for the clasp of her pants she pulled her mouth from his and helped him with the clothing. Within seconds they were both naked, and Tessa climbed back atop him.

She caught his gaze with hers, expression inscrutable. Daaron looked deep into her eyes, fiercely satisfied to have her safely trapped in marriage. Inch by inch, Tessa lowered herself down over his heated cock, until they were half joined. Then she paused with a gasp.

“You feel a lot bigger this way.”

“Every man likes to hear how big he is,” Daaron replied. He ringed her waist with his hands, steadying her and holding her in place. “Take as much time as you need to feel comfortable. I’m pretty happy right here as we are.”

She gave a choked giggle. His heart swelled unexpectedly; he’d heard laughter so few times from her. Her life had been governed by hardship. He’d make her happy, he vowed. Short of betraying his cause, he’d do whatever it took to make up for her suffering.

Daaron’s noble thoughts evaporated as she abruptly dropped down over him, impaling herself on his length. He gasped, awash in sensation. Tessa closed her eyes, head falling back, apparently lost in sensation.

Long seconds passed.

Then Tessa began to move. Slowly at first, she rocked back and forth on him, riding him, clutching him with her inner muscles and driving him crazy. He reached down between them, pressing his thumb against her clit. She shuddered and moved faster.

Despite his own mounting need, Daaron couldn’t take his eyes off her face. Her newly shorn hair curled around features abandoned to pure desire. Her breath came in short, hard gasps. A drop of sweat rolled down her temple and across her cheek before falling against him with a splat.

He pushed down hard with his thumb and she came with a loud cry as every muscle in her body clenched and froze, including those cradling his cock. He thrust up at her once more, just enough to push through the vise of her pussy and knock him over the edge. Then Daaron’s own orgasm hit and he shouted his release. Tessa collapsed across him, panting, and he wrapped his arms tightly around him.

A knock sounded at the door.

“Everyone all right in there?” a man’s voice asked, tone harsh. “Daaron?”

Daaron grunted, trying to catch his breath.

“Yes,” he managed to gasp out. “We’re both doing fine.”

“I guess we got their attention,” Tessa whispered. “Nice to know someone was able to take a break from counting my garnets long enough check up on random screaming in the compound. This is some sort of compound, right?”

Daaron heaved a sigh as he sat up to look at the incredible, sexy, belligerent woman who was now his wife.

“I wondered how long it would take us to get back to that,” he said, running the situation through his head, trying to figure how to explain things. “Sex is only going to distract you for so long, I take it?”

“I’ll admit it, you were right,” she answered. “Sex between us was good, just like you always told me it would be. And I really enjoyed it, so you can just stop gloating over that right now. But I want to know how you found out about my garnets. And why the hell you married me. You say you can’t tell me, but I’m not some puppet wifey.

Either prepare yourself to watch me every moment for the rest of your life or tell me what’s going on.”

“I suppose you won’t believe this, but I really didn’t want to take them from you,” he replied, choosing his words with great care. “We simply can’t afford to have Imperials crawling around this planet.”

“Um, ‘Imperials’?” she asked, giving him a look of disbelief. “Daaron, you are the

‘Imperial’, don’t you realize that? What kind of game are you playing here?”

“No game,” he replied. “You may find this hard to believe, but I’m actually a federalist. I don’t believe in Empire.”

She burst out laughing, falling back on the bed. To his delight, he could actually see the exact moment she realized she was naked. Her face flushed bright red, and then she scrambled to dress. He watched in silence as she pulled on her pants, amused when she couldn’t find her breast band. She pulled on her shirt, clearly annoyed. Finally she faced him again.

“Stop messing with me. Why are you here? Flattering as it may seem, something tells me you didn’t just marry me so we could…sleep…together,” she said, blushing again. “You must be doing something big here, and I want to understand.”

“Sex. We had sex. Fucked. Banged. Boinked. We have not slept together yet,” he said, drinking in her embarrassment. Then he grew serious. “You may not believe me, but I really am federalist. I don’t believe that the Emperor should have absolute authority, I think each planet should form its own government. I don’t even believe in the nobility.”

Silence hung between them.

“Daaron, in the entire time I’ve known you, you’ve taken your rank and status for granted. You never gave any indications at school that you felt this way. Why should I believe you?”

“I suppose you have no real reason to,” he replied. “And I doubt that just hearing the truth will make you believe. But these are the facts. The year after we finished school I attended court with my father, who is one of the Emperor’s advisors. We went on progress with him to a small planet called Danube. They hadn’t ever had a royal visit, and their protocol minister wasn’t up to the task. The first night they insulted the Emperor, my father and several other high-ranking members of the court by providing a pathetically inadequate banquet that featured an improper seating chart.”

He took a deep breath, willing himself to keep calm as he finished the story.

“The Emperor was so angry that he ordered the noble house that ruled Danube executed, right down to the last child and elderly servant. He had the planet interdicted—completely cut off from all civilization—and blockaded. It still is, and will be for the next fifty years. Danube wasn’t a highly developed place, Tessa. They didn’t have a medical or scientific infrastructure, let alone the ability to produce enough food to feed the population. The entire economy was based on arts and crafts exports. People started dying within weeks. There were ten million living there when it happened.

Imperial observers now estimate that at least half of them have died from disease and starvation. Slow genocide.”

Tessa’s face grew cold as she listened.

“We got regular reports at court,” he continued. “The Emperor felt Danube provided a very good example to the rest of his nobles. But it had the opposite effect on me. I’ve never been so angry. I’m still angry. I decided to do something about it.

“When I graduated from university, my parents gave me my inheritance. It included a small fleet and this system, which has four habitable planets. I’m a third son, so it wasn’t much compared to my brothers. We’re well beyond the normal range of Imperial travel or protection. Nobody lived here. My family considers it a token, but it’s been perfect for my needs. None of the Danubians were able to break the blockade, but thousands of them were off-planet during the disaster. I collected as many of them as I could and brought them here. They’re the colonists you saw at the spaceport.

“That’s the real reason you can’t have your garnets—if the Imperials discovered cerulean star garnets here, they’d find the Danubians and use them as an excuse to come in and take over. They’d lose their home all over again.”

Tessa felt humbled. Suddenly her problems—even her mother’s situation—seemed very small.

“What about your family? What do they think about what you’re doing?”

“They don’t have any idea what’s really going on,” he said. “They think I’m playing at starting a colony, they don’t know it’s connected to Danube. Eccentric, but harmless.

Fortunately, the Empire has a long history of eccentric nobility.”

Tessa mulled his tale over in her head, but something didn’t click. She understood why he was so determined to protect his people. But his story just didn’t feel right. She knew, with a certainty that defied reason, that he still hadn’t told her the whole truth.

“What’s the rest of it?”

Daaron shook his head.

“That’s all.”

“Bullshit, there’s more going on here,” she said. “This is a fledgling colony, yet we’re sitting in a well-built prison in what you admit is a compound. I didn’t see anything like that when I arrived at the spaceport. Your people followed me halfway across the planet—why not just kill me when I arrived? You’re hiding something bigger.”

“It’s infinitely safer for you not to know.”

“It would have been infinitely safer for me to stay in the Warrens and get married,” she snapped. “Instead my mother sold herself into slavery to buy me an education and a better life. Tell me the truth, once and for all, or I promise you I’ll make your life a living hell.”

“If I tell you this, you’ll never be able to leave.”

“More bullshit, I’d never be able to leave anyway. I already know too much.”

He nodded his head, acknowledging the point.

“We’re not just building a settlement of people who were off-planet when Danube was interdicted. We’ve formed an organization, part military, part espionage and for the past year, we’ve been blockade running. We bring out refugees a few hundred at a time and settle them here.

“Our headquarters are most unfortunately located under the garnet deposits. We discovered them while we were building but didn’t think much of it. They weren’t worth anything back then.”

Tessa took a deep, hissing breath.

No wonder they’d planned to kill her. This was big, bigger than anything she could have imagined. Suddenly she wished she’d listened to him instead of demanding the truth.

“So you’re actively engaged in treason against the Emperor.”

“Yes. That’s why it’s very convenient that you can’t testify against me.”