Gemini Rising 2: London Falling
Eve Vaughn
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Copyright ©2006 Eve Vaughn
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ISBN (10) 1-59596-430-4
ISBN (13) 978-1-59596-430-4
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Editor: Crystal Esau
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Chapter One
London sat rigidly as she watched her father, King Blaze, stand to make the formal announcement she’d been dreading all night. How could he do this to her? Why was her mother allowing it to happen? She shot a resentful look toward the object of her despair.
General Zahn.
With back erect and head held high, he wore an unreadable expression. His dark green eyes, which could almost be mistaken for black at times, were hard as though he were contemplating a strategy of war instead of attending his own betrothal dinner. Admittedly, London did find Zahn extremely attractive, with his long black hair inherited from his Zenobian ancestors, square jaw and strong features. But like so many men on Thibius, Zahn was just too overpowering.
London didn’t want the fate of her mother. Granted, her parents loved each other very much, often sneaking off to be alone and always touching, but there was no doubt in her mind that her father was in charge in all matters. That was the way of things in their world, and General Zahn would try to rule her with an iron fist as well. Besides, he didn’t make her pulse race or heart beat faster. The one chaste kiss they’d shared hadn’t stirred any fire in her loins like her mother had promised it would.
No. She couldn’t let this sham betrothal take place.
King Blaze gestured for her to join him, then did the same to Zahn. London stubbornly remained where she was. This couldn’t be happening.
Leaning over, Queen Calliope whispered in her ear, “Stand. Don’t embarrass your father in front of our guests.”
“You knew I didn’t want this,” London hissed back.
“We’ll discuss it later. For now, you will do as you’re told,” her mother shot back.
Very rarely was her mother harsh with her, but the tone let London know there’d be no arguing. With a sigh, she reluctantly stood up and walked over to her father. Zahn flanked the king’s other side. London wished the ground would swallow her up so she wouldn’t have to go through this.
Her father stepped up to the podium, a huge smile on his face. “I’m pleased to announce the betrothal of my beloved daughter, Princess London, to Thibius’s greatest champion, General Zahn.”
The room erupted in applause much to London’s dismay. Tears stung the backs of her eyes. Now that the announcement had been made, how could she graciously back out? She couldn’t.
The king turned to her then. “Would you like to say a few words, sweetling?”
“Papa, I can’t,” she whispered.
The king frowned. “Go ahead, it’s expected.”
“Let Zahn speak first. I -- I can’t think of anything to say right now.”
“Very well, London.” Turning to Zahn, the king nodded his blond head. “Zahn, would you like to say a few words on this joyous occasion?”
Zahn nodded and stepped forward. “Fellow Thibians, it is my great honor to accept the hand of the beautiful Princess London. I pledge my allegiance to her, and vow to protect and cherish her, on my honor.”
London felt like gagging. Though Zahn’s words were flowery enough, something was missing. Not that she wanted it from him, but the reverence wasn’t there. He spoke as though he were rehearsing a speech. When Zahn had glanced in her direction, it wasn’t a look that her father gave to her mother.
It would be a loveless union.
Nodding his head, the king gestured for her to speak.
Stepping forward on tentative feet, London first looked at her big, strong papa, who smiled down at her encouragingly. His green eyes twinkled with love she returned tenfold. Then she glanced at her mother and brothers. They all looked at her with anticipation in their eyes. The crowd of dignitaries watched her expectantly, and for the life of her, the words just wouldn’t come out.
“Speak, daughter,” her father whispered in her ear.
“Ladies and gen-gentlemen, I am pl-pleased --” Taking a deep breath, London tried to continue. “I -- I’m pleased t-to --” Again she stopped. Why was it so difficult to say a few stupid words? Her eyes cut to Zahn whose mouth was now a tight line. Could she give in and spend the rest of her life with him? “I’m sorry, but I can’t do this.” Racing past Zahn and her father, and ignoring the surprised gasps of the audience, she fled from the hall, not stopping until she reached her room.
London flung herself onto the bed and burst into tears. She knew she’d shamed her parents, but how could she stand in front of those people and lie about how happy she was to be betrothed to Zahn? He’d make her miserable. She didn’t love him and she knew the feeling was mutual. He was only marrying her out of a sense of duty.
Since she’d reached her twentieth birthday, lords from all over the planet had offered for her hand in marriage, but her parents had given her the freedom to choose her own mate. Several proposals later, she knew her parents had started to worry. After she refused an offer from one of the richest men on Thibius, her father had put his foot down and declared that she would marry a man of his choosing.
At first, she didn’t think it was such a bad idea, considering the fact that she hadn’t been able to find someone she wanted on her own. What was the point when none of the men had inspired anything within her beyond mild interest? Maybe she was silly for wanting what her parents had, but barring that, London at least hoped for a man who wouldn’t try to dominate her.
All the men on Thibius, however, walked two steps ahead of their women. Men had the final say in the relationship. Even her mother gave in whenever her father wanted his way. London didn’t want that. She longed for a partnership. She desired to be treated as if her thoughts and wishes were important, not as some haughty lord’s arm decoration.
London knew she was in big trouble the moment she left the dining hall, so it was no surprise when her bedroom door burst open and the king stormed through, eyes blazing green fire. Her mother scurried behind him, trying to hold him back only to be shrugged away.
London stood up, her stomach clenching with nervousness. “Papa --”
“You will tell me what that was all about now! How could you embarrass your mother and I like that in front of our guests?”
“Papa, please let me explain.”
With nostrils flaring, he crossed his arms. “Fine, daughter. I’d certainly like to hear what explanation you have to give.”
“I don’t want to marry General Zahn. I don’t love him and he doesn’t love me. Besides that, he’s barely said more than two words to me in that sham of a courtship. You promised I could choose my own mate, but then you foist him off on me and I’m supposed to be happy about it? I don’t think so. You went back on your word to me.”
The king lifted one blond brow, and a muscle twitched in his jaw. “I went back on my promise?” he asked in a voice of dead calm.
London knew she was in for it now. But if her father could be stubborn, then so could she. “Yes, you have. Like I said, you told me that I could choose.”
“Within reason. I gave you the privilege in choosing your own husband when it was my right to do so, but you’ve abused that privilege. You are a princess, and every eligible man in the kingdom who has asked for your hand was turned down. You cannot marry some commoner.”
“What if I want to marry a commoner?”
The king shook his head. “You speak nonsense, child. You have to marry someone of noble lineage.”
“Then I won’t get married!” London countered.
“Watch your tone with me, London. It is your duty to make a good alliance, and I won’t have you shame us the way you did out there. You will go back out to the hall and apologize to our guests, and then to Zahn. I think he’s been very patient with you considering your latest antics.”
“And that’s all you care about, isn’t it?”
Green eyes narrowed. “What do you mean?”
“All you care about is how things will look, not about my feelings.”
“London!” the queen gasped in apparent outrage as she took a step forward.
Holding her mother back with one muscled arm, the king shook his head. “That’s not worthy of a response. Now come before I really lose my temper.”
London had to crane her neck to meet her father’s eyes. There were times when she wished she weren’t so petite. Placing her hands on her hips, she shook her head. “I will not go.”
“You will go, even if I have to drag you out there myself. We’ll talk about your disobedience later. Will you come, or must I carry you?”
London backed away, knowing her father didn’t make empty threats. She’d never seen him this angry before, or at least not at her. Her younger brothers, who were known pranksters, had sometimes been on the end of their father’s tongue lashings but not her. She’d never defied her parents in anything, but in this she had to stay firm. This was the rest of her life they spoke of. “Papa, please see reason.”
“I’ve seen reason for two years. Now you’ll do as I say.”
“Just like my mother does? Do you plan on bullying me into submission as you do her?”
The words were barely out of her mouth when she felt the sharp sting of his palm. London’s hand flew to her injured cheek and her jaw dropped, not so much from pain but more from surprise. Her father had never laid a hand on her before and she supposed she deserved it, but it was still unexpected.
From the look on the king’s face, it seemed like he was just as shocked. He stared at his hand as though he couldn’t believe what he’d just used it for. A fat tear escaped London’s eye, but she closed her lips tightly to hold back the cry.
Her father clenched and unclenched his fists before turning to leave. London walked over to her bed and sat down heavily. She shouldn’t have spoken to him like that. He wasn’t a tyrant, but she’d been so mad that her tongue had gotten ahead of her thoughts.
“He didn’t deserve that you know.” Her mother’s voice cut through London’s musings.
“I know. I’ll go apologize.”
“As you should, but not now. Give him a chance to cool off first. I’m very disappointed in you, London.”
“Not you too. I don’t think I can bear another lecture right now.”
“Well, that’s just too bad because you’re going to get one. What got into you out there, baby?” Taking a seat next to her, Queen Calliope wrapped a slim, dark arm around London’s shoulders. London laid her head across her mother’s chest like she had when she was a little girl and let the tears flow. No words were needed then as she allowed herself to be rocked, taking the comfort she so desperately needed.
“Oh, Mommy, I messed up, didn’t I?” Her sadness and helplessness had reduced her to using the childhood name she’d called her mother.
“Yes. You did, but a simple apology goes a long way. Your father is more upset that he struck you than anything else. But I must say that you had it coming. I was about two seconds away from doing it myself. We didn’t raise you to disrespect us like that. Your father loves you very much, and you hurt him.”
“I know and I’m ashamed of what I said. I can’t blame him for what he did, but, Mama, I can’t go through with this betrothal. Zahn frightens me.”
“You have to get married eventually, and as your father pointed out, you’ve rejected the hand of every eligible bachelor in the kingdom. Haven’t you expressed to me on several occasions how much you would love to have a family of your own? You can’t do that without a husband… well, you can actually, but that’s not an ideal situation.”
“I know, but… I don’t want to end up like the women I see walking around after their men, doing their bidding like a bunch of slaves. Slavery was outlawed on this planet when I was only a child, but it seems like when a woman enters into a marriage, she gets the raw part of the deal. I want to be able to love my husband, not be dominated by him. I want to be in love like you are with Papa.”
A faint smile touched her mother’s full lips. “Even though you think I give in to his every command?”
London’s face grew hot. “That comment wasn’t exactly fair, was it?”
“No, and it was beneath you to say it. I know you feel the situation is bleak, but you could always grow to love Zahn. You know the story of how your father and I came together.”
“Yes, you were a harem girl, and Papa instantly fell in love with you. That’s so romantic. I want love at first sight too.” London sighed dreamily.
“Honey, it wasn’t that simple. Your father and I both fought our feelings for each other for a while. We were stubborn and, to be honest, even though I found Blaze attractive, I didn’t love him right away. I used to think the same way that you did. The men in our world can be very forceful, and your father and I clashed at the beginning, but things worked out in the end.”
“I don’t mean to criticize, Mama, but why do you allow him to get away with so much? Whenever he tells you to come, you rush to him. Whenever he makes a decision, you go along with it. When do you ever get your way?”
“I get my way quite a bit. There’s a saying on the planet where we come from: you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.”
London frowned. Her mother often used old Earth sayings that confused her. “What does that mean?”
“Your father is the king. How would it look if I were to countermand his every decision in public? He’d lose the respect of his subjects. Sometimes you have to use what you have to get what you want.”
London’s eyebrows furrowed as she tried to figure out what her mother was saying. “I still don’t understand.”
“Well, for instance, when your father is in one of his moods where he won’t listen to reason, I’ll give him a back rub or dance for him. When Blaze is fully relaxed he’s more open to suggestion. How do you think I talked him into agreeing to the two-year reprieve you’ve had? Or when he thought Jayru was too young to go on that scouting mission he’d had his heart set on? I was the one who put the idea in his head.”
Comprehension dawned then. “You’re the reason he allowed me to choose my own mate?”
The queen nodded, smile lines appearing at the corner of her eyes. London still thought her mother was the most beautiful woman in the world, with her youthful figure, rich dark skin and delicately shaped features. It wasn’t hard to see why the king couldn’t keep his hands off her. People often told London that she looked just like her mother. Except for her lack of height, lighter skin, and subtle differences here and there, they did resemble each other.
“Why did he change his mind then?”
“Your father loves you very much and wants to see you settled and happy.”
“If he wants me to be happy then why is he forcing me to marry Zahn? Maybe I can take care of myself. I’m not a little girl anymore.”
Her mother lifted one perfectly arched brow. “Then stop acting like one. You’re twenty-two years old, well past the marriage age here, and while I don’t necessarily care for the arranged marriage thing either, it’s your duty. Your father has gone through a lot of trouble to find someone he feels will be worthy of you. This has been weighing heavily on his mind because he knows that once you’re married you’ll go live with your husband. It will break his heart, but it’s his responsibility to ensure you make a good alliance.”
“It would make him sad to see me go? The way he’s been lately, I would have thought he’d be happy to see me go. After all, it’s not like I’m his real daugh --” She stopped herself when she saw the look in her mother’s eyes.
Standing up, the queen shook her head. “I’m just glad your father isn’t here right now. Those words would really hurt him. Your birth father didn’t care enough to stick around, but Blaze worships the ground you walk on. I see you’re not in the mood to listen to reason at the moment, but I don’t ever want to hear those words from your mouth again. I suggest you grow up and do it fast. You can’t always get what you want, but sometimes life has a funny way of working things out.”
Shame washed through London. She couldn’t believe she’d actually uttered those words. Maybe her parents were right. Zahn wasn’t her ideal mate, but if her father thought he’d make her a good husband, then maybe she should at least give it a try. “I’m sorry, Mama.”
The queen bent over and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “London, you are a joy to us. You’re smart, beautiful, and the subjects love you. We only want your happiness. Why don’t you stay here and give what I said some thought, and I will talk to your father?”
“Thanks. I love you very much, Mama.”
“And I you.” The queen blew a kiss to her as she sauntered out the door.
London sighed when she was alone again. Her parents were right. She had responsibilities to fulfill and the last thing she wanted was to let them down. But how could she marry someone she didn’t love? And worse yet, how could she even think of taking such a momentous step in her life when she didn’t feel quite whole?
Chapter Two
Earth
Matt Taylor glanced at his watch for the fourth time. Where the hell was his date? She’d been in the bathroom for at least twenty minutes. Either the food didn’t agree with her or she wasn’t coming back. He could tell by her reaction when they’d met that there were no sparks on her end.
“This is my last damned blind date,” he muttered under his breath, inwardly cursing himself for allowing his friends to talk him into this. At thirty-two years old, it would be nice to have someone to spend his life with, but it was difficult to find a woman who appreciated a nice guy. He’d lost count of all the times he’d been cast in the best friend role, or dumped for being just too good or not exciting enough.
One woman had gone so far as to tell him that though she found him cute, he didn’t have enough sex appeal to attract women. It was enough to crush any man’s ego, yet he tried not to get bitter over it. He wasn’t looking for a beauty queen, just someone he could talk to and share his deepest thoughts with.
On the verge of him signaling to the waiter for the check, Charlene appeared, flopping down with dramatic flair. “Sorry about that, hon. I ran into an old friend when I went to the restroom.” She flipped a lock of long auburn hair over her shoulder.
Charlene was pretty, but well aware of it. Actually those twenty minutes she’d spent in the ladies’ room had been a relief because it gave Matt a break from listening to Charlene’s favorite subject. Herself. Not only was she conceited, but within the first few minutes of them meeting she’d not so subtly asked what his net worth was.
“No problem.”
“Mark, can I be honest with you?” she asked, leaning over the table and giving him a generous view inside her dress.
“Of course. I’d prefer it.” He smiled, waiting for her to drop the bomb. The least she could have done was get his name right.
“This isn’t going to work out. I mean, you seem like a really nice guy, but you’re just not my type.”
Even though he didn’t really want to further their acquaintance either, her words stung. Pasting a smile on his face, Matt nodded. If anything, he was a gent...
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