“And whose fault is that?” His voice carried without him having to raise it.
“This is pointless. I will not give up my position for you. I have the backing of the leaders of the other territories, as well as trade treaties.” Lomar pushed to his feet and addressed the people. “Are you willing to risk inciting the wrath of the other territories? For him?” He sneered as he pointed at Zaxe. “What can he offer but strife and possible war? Does he have allies? And where is his sister?” His gaze narrowed. “If she is alive, she is my ward. I could make an advantageous marriage for her. The leader of the Southern Territory has many sons. It would be a good alliance.”
Jamaeh’s stomach clenched as the people around her nodded. They were more worried about trade and their livelihoods than about what was right. She didn’t fault them for that. Politics was a game only the rich and powerful could afford to play.
Zaxe lowered his weapon, resting the head of the axe on the ground. His lips twitched. He was amused? Really? If they survived this, they were going to have a long talk about his odd sense of humor.
“My sister is already married.”
The calculation in Lomar’s eyes turned to distaste. “To a foreigner? Someone not from Zaxus? If you are indeed of royal blood, you disgrace your bloodline.”
Jamaeh flinched. It was the same argument that had made her life so difficult. Being of mixed blood or, in his sister’s case, marrying someone who wasn’t pure Zaxian was a mark against her. The gathered crowd murmured, dissent beginning to grown. Already the goodwill from his victory was fading.
“If you want to keep your tongue in your head, I suggest you choose your words more wisely.” She understood the protectiveness driving him, as she was the same way with Esau.
“Are you threatening me?”
Zaxe shook his head. “Not at all, but her husband might take exception.”
“Bah, I’m not afraid of some foreigner.”
Zaxe’s smiled deepened. “If that’s true, then you have no problem with me relaying your words to him.”
“None at all.”
He held his hand out to the captain. “My communicator, please.”
Jamaeh was almost afraid to breathe as the captain got a nod from Lomar and handed over the device. Was he really calling his brother-in-law? What good would that do?
“Put it on speaker for all to hear,” Lomar demanded. A smug, satisfied expression crossed his face. He’d thought he’d won. And why wouldn’t he? He had wealth and powerful connections. He was known to the people. While many disliked him, they knew what to expect. And his offer to make a good marriage for Zaxe’s sister went a long way with the traditionalists.
Zaxe winked at her. He was totally relaxed. Every piece of clothing she wore was damp with sweat. She didn’t know if she wanted to hug him or smack him.
“Contact Prince Ivar el Gravaso, prince of Gravas.”
The crowd gasped. Lomar paled and took a step back.
“Zaxe,” a deep male voice answered. “We got your earlier message. What’s going on? Do you need backup? We have ships in position. Your sister could not stay away.”
“Delphi is here?”
“Both she and Sass are. If we don’t land soon, I fear they’ll take out the guards and steal a ship.”
Was he serious? Jamaeh was curious, but at the same time doubt crept in. His family was here now. Zaxe no longer needed her.
“That sounds like them. Our uncle and current ruler of the Northern Territory had some choice words about her and you after learning she married an outsider.”
“Is that so?”
Lomar cleared his throat. “My apologies, your highness. I had no idea who you were. Zaxe did not say.”
“So if I wasn’t a prince, you’d be fine with insulting her?”
“No. No. Not at all.”
“I’d advise you to watch your tongue when we land. I don’t want my wife to kill you. It would be bad for relations.”
Zaxe gave a snort of laughter. “Looking forward to seeing you.” He ended the call and studied the man sweating before him. “I have two sisters. One by blood and one by choice. Both are married to princes of Gravas, but it’s not their husbands you need to be concerned about.”
Lomar tugged on the cuffs of his shirt and straightened his shoulders. “No?”
Zaxe shook his head. “No. If they want you dead, they’ll handle the job themselves.”
He’d barely dropped that bombshell when a ship suddenly appeared in the sky above them. A ripple of surprise and fear ran through the crowd. It wasn’t very big, but the one that came into view above it was huge.
“Is that a Gravasian battleship?” the captain asked.
“Yes.”
Respect gleamed in the man’s eyes. “You’re full of surprises, aren’t you?”
He certainly was. Jamaeh inched away. It was best if she waited with her brother and allowed Zaxe to be reunited with his family. And someone had to keep an eye on Lomar and Samar. She didn’t trust them.
The sand began to swirl as the craft set down just beyond them. Jamaeh turned her head and took another step. She’d gotten two steps away when strong fingers clamped around her wrist. Zaxe wasn’t looking at her but at the ramp that lowered. She stopped trying to pull away as a huge figure appeared at the top.
At least six and a half feet tall, he wore a black battlesuit and helmet, obscuring all his features. An icy chill skated over her skin. A tall woman with black hair and dressed all in black appeared alongside him. As though some unspoken command had been given, they started down the ramp together.
Another man came into view. This one was slightly shorter than the last with golden-brown hair. He gazed over the crowd, his sharp eyes missing nothing. The scar on his left cheek gave him a tough appearance.
A smile broke across Zaxe’s face when a dark-skinned woman appeared. Jamaeh swallowed hard. Would he ever smile at her like that? It was hard not to be jealous, especially when the woman was gorgeous. Much shorter than the male, she nonetheless had a commanding presence. Thin corkscrew curls fell to just below her shoulders, softening her appearance.
“Delphi,” he whispered.
This was his sister. The man with the golden-brown hair wrapped his arm around her. That had to be her husband, Ivar, the prince of Gravas.
When Zaxe started forward, she dug in her heels. His frown of impatience made her glare back. “Just leave me here.”
“Never.”
****
Never before had he been so happy to see his brothers-in-law or grateful for who they were. The four of them headed straight for him. Delphi’s eyes widened when they landed on his hand, which was holding tight to Jamaeh. If he hadn’t stopped her, she would have left him. Fine tremors went through her arm.
She loves me.
She’d said it. He wasn’t letting her take it back. He wished he knew what was going through her mind. One minute she’d been trying to protect him, the next trying to get away.
Sass and her assassin husband reached him first. “You can’t seem to stay out of trouble, can you?” she teased.
“It’s not me. I’m very laid-back and mellow.” Beside him, Jamaeh snorted.
“Your friend seems to have a different opinion. Care to introduce us?”