Delia zeroed in on a black sphere on the ground. Ignoring the warning alarm in her head telling her to run, she went for the bomb. It was hot in her palm. Her thumb pressed into a groove on the side, and immediately it started to vibrate. The grinning maniac was nearing overhead. “Eat this, pirate!” she screamed, throwing the bomb straight at him.
The explosion was timed perfectly. The blue-haired pirate cursed and swerved so severely his glider nearly crashed into the thatch along the edge of the clearing. There was a yelp; then he disappeared into the sky, leaving behind a black plume of smoke.
The bodyguard stared at her with his mouth open. “Do you always choose certain death over the easier escape?”
“You’re welcome … again,” she said. “For a bodyguard you seem to require a lot of protection.”
The father and son whimpered from the ground.
A quick-moving shadow made all four look up. Delia’s heart sank as two Queen’s Guard gliders circled, then swept into the clearing, kicking up dust. She shielded her face with her arm.
The guards swiftly dismounted and made their way toward her. She recognized the first man as the senior guard who had been serving her family for at least a decade. Honor kept her feet rooted to the ground.
“Colonel Yashin,” she said, hoping her voice carried a fraction of her mother’s commanding grace.
“Princess Delia,” he replied, his tone soft, regretful almost. “I’m on orders to return you to the palace.” Then he turned, momentarily distracted by the two desperate figures, still hugging each other. He motioned for them to come forward.
“Are you all right?” The second guard bowed to her. When he raised his chin, she found herself staring into a pair of handsome eyes. Upon closer inspection she noticed his uniform was different.
“Um, yes,” she stammered, trying to place the man. “Forgive me,” she said. “Are you part of the Queen’s Guard?”
“Not for Astor,” he said. “I’m from Trellium.” His words were like a perfect march, never missing a beat.
With visions of the small but heavily militarized planet near the edge of the Four Quadrants, Delia figured out who he was. Since her mother had announced the arranged marriage she had been researching the potential candidates. Although, unlike her sister, she was more interested in the goods and services they were offering—not their romantic intentions. The image of the muscular prince on her infoscreen didn’t quite capture the stern expression of the man in front of her. “Prince Felix,” she said.
“Lieutenant Prince Felix,” he corrected.
She blinked. “I’m sorry we couldn’t meet under more appropriate circumstances.”
“When the colonel received orders, I volunteered to come along.” He nodded smartly, then clicked his boot heels. From the corner of her eye Delia saw the bodyguard step back as the father and son timidly made their way closer.
Colonel Yashin took notice as they approached, then made a face and put a gloved finger under his nose.
“Colonel,” Delia said. “This boy and his father are in need of transportation to the preparation facility for Delta Kur. I will return with you to face the queen, but only after we’ve secured passage for both of them.” Then she added, “After they’ve been given hot meals and comfortable clothing for the journey … and a bath.”
She sensed his hesitation as he remained still.
“I am to be your future queen,” she said. “Such a favor will be remembered—just as easily as the denial if you choose not to assist me.”
The muscle tightened in his jaw, but he stayed quiet, and she knew she’d won. Delia continued, “You can pilot the Patrol ship with me and the two … uh, volunteers on board.”
Colonel Yashin let out a long breath, then gave her a curt nod.
“Thank you,” the father said to her. His dark eyes were wide and certain. “I will never forget your generosity.”
“Yes,” she said, dropping her gaze. Her stolen pilot’s uniform felt bulky and ridiculous, as if she had been caught playing dress-up. “Make your way to the ship.”
Looking mystified and in shock, the father and son followed the commander to her stolen ship.
“I’m certain the pair are in good hands with Colonel Yashin,” Prince Felix said. “Perhaps you’ll allow me to escort you back on the gliders, instead?” The prince’s offer was graced with the curve of a smile.
Delia looked forlornly up at the horizon. Instead of escaping, she’d be returning to an irate monarch. The sense of victory from her confrontation with the colonel dissipated into heavy obligation.
However, even though she’d warned the bodyguard he’d have to face repercussions, she was unsure how her mother would react to his presence on the ship. He said it was classified. Perhaps she knew about it all along. More than once she’d told Delia that being queen meant holding many secrets.
Prince Felix stood by, waiting for her answer.
“I suppose,” she replied. “But please keep in mind that my happenstance escort is not very good with machines and should ride with the colonel instead of taking the other glider on his own.” She tried to hide the smile, unable to resist taking a jab at the bodyguard’s flight capabilities, or rather lack thereof.
“Who, princess?”
Delia looked around and her mouth dropped open. The bodyguard was nowhere to be seen.
CHAPTER FIVE
Aidan watched them from the shadows of the thick trees.
Earlier, he’d maneuvered his way to the edge of the clearing, and then while the princess was busy making swoony eyes with the young guard, Aidan had slunk to the closest glider. His own sky dodger was constantly breaking down, and since he had to rely on parts he scrounged from the picking stations to fix it himself, he was familiar with the basic circuitry of most fliers.
All it took was waiting until everyone’s attention was on the father and son; then Aidan simply rearranged the thin cables of the plasma injector from the thruster and slipped back farther into the trees. It cost him a few thorns through the thin fabric of his clothes, but he had no choice. He wasn’t supposed to be there and going through the forest on foot was impossible.
The glider was his only means of getting out of this mess. And even though he was at a good distance from them, he could see the older guard was strikingly similar to the one who’d almost caught him in the alcove, hiding behind the statue.
With a sudden panic, Aidan realized he still had the silver dagger—if the guard searched him it would be the end. Period.
For the second time that day, Aidan used his natural skills of stealth and blending in to avoid the palace dungeons. There was only one thing he excelled at more than pickpocketing, and that was standing still. He practically became one with the trees while Princess Delia and the young guard discovered that only one glider was working.
Although it was part of his plan, Aidan found it impossible not to roll his eyes when she slipped onto the glider behind the young guard, her hands resting on his waist as they waited to take off until the Patrol ship took flight.
When the clearing was empty at last, Aidan congratulated himself on such a fine plan. Still, a feeling of loss curiously shadowed his spirit as he reconnected the injectors to their appropriate circuits.