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“Is North Carolina close?”

“Actually, it’s on the other side of the country several thousand miles away.”

“If I hadn’t crashed the heliocraft, we could get there in no time. I’m doomed aren’t I?”

“I wouldn’t say that.”

“You don’t think so? Because from where I’m sitting it looks like I am. I disobeyed my parents, stole one of my father’s ships, and now I have no idea where I am.”

“But finding your sister really meant a lot to you didn’t it?” Matt sounded like he really understood how she felt and that meant so much to her when despair was threatening to take over.

“Yes. It really did. I know this sounds crazy, but even after twenty years, I feel her in my heart. Ever since I heard my parents talking about her, my thoughts have been consumed with finding her whereabouts. Paris is the part of me that I’ve felt has been missing all my life. If I have to walk or swim to my destination I will. I can’t let anything stop me. I’ve come too far to give up.”

Matt stood up abruptly and began to pace the floor. She watched him anxiously wondering what was running through his mind. London liked the way his slim loose limbed body moved. She wondered what it would feel like to have those long arms wrapped tightly around her.

She’d never been in a passionate embrace before. Once, a guard had stolen a kiss from her when she was eighteen. Unfortunately one of her brothers had witnessed the occurrence and informed her father. The guard had been relieved of his duties and that was only because she’d begged for leniency. TheEmperor had threatened to have him sent to the Adieaens. She didn’t even count the little peck from Zahn.

It wasn’t easy growing up with an overprotective father and six brothers who guarded her virtue as though their lives had depended on it. London wanted to feel and know love as her mother had explained it to her. She’d actually stumbled across a guard and one of the maids in the act, and instead of making her presence known, she’d watched. Later she’d gone to her private chambers and fingered her clit.

Masturbation was becoming increasingly frustrating. She didn’t know why, but from looking at Matt, London instinctively knew that this man could give her the loving her body had screamed for since she’d matured into womanhood.

She’d been so deep in thought that it caught her by surprise when he stopped pacing and turned to give her an intense stare. “You don’t have to do this alone, London.”

“No?” She stood up wiping her damp palms against her thighs. “Does… does that mean you’ll help me find my sister?”

“If you’d like my help.” He said it with a hint of uncertainty that her heart flipped again. Unlike the arrogant men on Thibius, he didn’t demand. He was actually asking her. How refreshing.

“Yes, I’d love your help.” And a whole lot more.

Chapter

Four

THIBIUS

“Someone will pay for this!” Emperor Blaze roared. “Who allowed the Princess to pilot one of the heliocrafts without my permission?” He looked at all of the guards and pilots of this sector, glaring at each in turn. When no one answered his ire grew. “Someone answer me, or I’ll have every single one of you shipped to the Teriulium mines!” This was no empty threat either. Where his precious daughter was concerned, he’d do whatever it took to ensure her safe return.

Aliak, a lieutenant in this area, stepped forward. “Sire, I gave her the clearance. She claimed that she had your permission.”

Blaze was on him in a flash. Grabbing the inept man by the collar, he slammed his fist into the guard’s face. Bones crunched. “You fool. Every single ship that leaves this dock needs to be cleared by me especially if it’s carrying one of my family members! A lone girl on her own? If harm comes to my daughter, I’ll make sure that you won’t see another day!” The lieutenant screamed in agony. When Blaze pulled his fist back to strike another mighty blow, it was caught.

Dropping the offender, he turned to see who dared to stop him. His best friend and advisor, Radien, looked at him with surprise in his eyes. “No, my friend. This isn’t you.”

“Don’t tell me what this is or isn’t. Because this buffoon couldn’t follow simple instructions my daughter is missing,” Blaze yelled.

“And will beating him to a bloody pulp change things? It won’t. Come away with me and then you can ask your questions when you’re calmer. You’ll do the Princess no good in the state you’re in. You must remain strong for the Queen.”

“Listen to him, Father. It would serve no purpose harming this man who probably wasn’t deliberating disobeying you,” Jayru, his oldest son and heir spoke.

Blaze wanted to pound that guard some more but realized his friend and son were right. It wouldn’t do the situation any good if he went on as he was. He nodded. “Jayru, see that this guard is taken to the medics for care, then put him in a holding cell for questioning.”

His son looked as though he wanted to say something, but decided against it. Nodding his dark head, Jayru barked out orders to two other guards to help the writhing man off the ground. Blaze allowed Radien to lead him out of the sector and into the castle.

Blaze wanted to rage and cry, but tears were not a luxury he could afford. He had to find his daughter. She had no experience in flying a heliocraft so far. What if she crashed? Even though it was designed so that any occupant would survive such a catastrophe, the self-destruct mechanism certainly made him worry.

“You were very hard on that guard out there,” Radien said gently.

“He’s endangered my daughter! He’s lucky to be alive. What am I going to tell my wife, who has been crying her eyes out sincewe’ve learned that London was missing? She’s inconsolable, and I’m damned near at that point myself. If anything were to happen to her… Radien, I would gladly give my life for hers.”