Page 9

Chapter

Eight

“ A re you finally ready to listen to me?” she asked softly as she took a seat on the edge of the bed.

Zahn took several steps backward, putting as much distance between them as possible. He couldn’t trust himself being so close to her. Not after what they’d done together…or what he’d done to her.

He hung his head. “Say what you need to say. I’ll listen.”

“As I’ve been trying to tell you. I’m not London. Twenty years ago, my mom took my sister to see the doctor and left me with a babysitter. They never returned. They’d disappeared without a trace. I was raised in the foster system until I aged out.”

He furred his brows in confusion. “Foster system? What is that?”

“It’s basically a state run system where children are raised in by appointed guardians. Those guardians usually receive a stipend from the state to care for the foster child. Some of the homes I lived in were okay, some bad, but I survived. I definitely wasn’t raised a princess. I can understand why you would mistake me for London because we’re identical twins.”

“Twins? As in you share the same face?”

“Yes, aren’t there twins on your planet?”

“I have heard of the concept on other planets but Thibian women are only capable of birthing one child at a time but it seems Earth women can produce more.”

“Yes, the record is ten I believe but that’s with artificial drugs, but there are records of women giving natural birth to identical quintuplets. Anyway, that’s beside, the point. You mistook me for my twin. And you say she ran off despite being engaged to you?”

“Yes.”

“Well, considering how you tend to act first and ask questions later, I can see why. I don’t have a lot of memories of my sister, because we were separated when we were really young. But I always took her lead. She was very spirited. I can’t imagine her wanting to be with someone as strong-willed as you.”

He flinched at her assessment. Zahn could admit how arrogant he’d been when it came to Paris, and to some extent London.

She’d been telling the truth all along. It explained so much— the beauty mark, the shorter hair, and the fire within her that hadn’t been there before. And it also explained the way she excited him like his betrothed never had.

London—no, Paris sat on the bed, her hands folded in her lap.

Shame coursed through his entire being. He’d arrogantly allowed his pride to block him from listening to her when she’d protested. And because of that, he’d defiled this innocent woman. “I… I don’t know what to say… Paris.”

“Is there anything to say? What’s happened is done and there’s nothing we can do about it.”

Zahn paced the room. The only thing to do was return her to where he’d gotten her, but part of him rebelled against the idea. She was now a part of him. When they’d made love, she touched something within him he didn’t think possible. Having experienced what they’d shared, there was no way he could settle for a lukewarm marriage with London. He just couldn’t see that happening.

He clenched his fists at his sides and took a deep breath. He didn’t want to, but he had to ask. It would be the honorable thing to do.

“Paris, do you wish to return to Earth? The story you told me is uh… quite extraordinary. I never knew the princess was a twin. Everyone knew she was adopted but — it’s amazing how like her in looks you are.”

Paris shrugged one elegant shoulder. “Well, we are identical twins. It happens.”

“Yes, of course. As I said before, twins are not a Thibian phenomenon so it didn’t occur to me that there were two of you. What I’m trying to say is, if you don’t want to go back to Earth, maybe you’d like to see your mother. The queen is a good woman. It is widely known how she loves her children. I’m sure she would want to see you.”

Paris seemed to perk up at the idea. “See my mother?”

“Yes, I can take you to her if you’d like.”

Paris scrunched her nose as she was mulling it over for a moment before nodding. “Yes. I’d like that. You say I have brothers?”

“Yes. Six of them.”

“That’s incredible.”

Zahn’s body tightened. She was still naked and he wanted her again.

No.

She was off limits to him. He had no right taking her the way he had. From now on he would have to keep his hands to himself.

“So, uh, what will you do about London? Will you go back and search for her?”

He frowned. Was she eager to get him and London together again? He grabbed the blanket from off the bed and tossed it at her. “Cover yourself. I’ll find you something more suitable to wear.”

She crinkled her nose. “You didn’t answer my question.”

“About your sister? Funny you should mention it. When I was on Earth, my DNA tracker picked up two readings, virtually in the same vicinity. You see, I came to Earth in search of London. She left Thibius, I assume to look for you. I had the option of picking from one of the blips on my screen. It seems I picked the wrong twin.”

“So if we go back to New York, she might still be there.”

“We could go back, but we’re already halfway to the Malazian galaxy. The ship needs to be recharged in order to make a trip back to Earth. I’ll need to find the closest charging station once I deliver you to your mother before heading back to Earth to get London.”

Her lids lowered, hiding her expression. “Is that what you want to do?”

“She’s my intended. I feel it’s my duty to go back for her.”

“I see,” she said softly.

Why didn’t she say something else? Would she condemn him to a life without passion? “What do you think about me going to find your sister?” He had to test her to see if she actually cared.

“I’d like to see my sister again, and I’m sure my mother will be happy to have her back.”

He couldn’t leave it at that. He had to know what else was running through her mind. “And what do you think of my marrying the princess?”

Paris wouldn’t look at him directly. “I guess… if that’s what the two of you have to do then… I mean it will be a little awkward considering what happened between the two of us.”

Her answer gave him some hope. Perhaps she wasn’t so indifferent to him after all. Zahn still couldn’t let go. He had to push her further. “As her sister, you’d be expected to participate in the ceremony.”

“I’m not sure if I’ll be there long enough to be a part of your wedding. My mother and sister may have lived on Thibius most of their lives, but my home is on Earth.”

Zahn couldn’t keep the frown off his face. “You’d cut your visit short? I would imagine it would break your mother’s heart to see you leave her so soon considering how you’ve been separated all this time.”

She sighed. “Yes, well, I’m sure arrangements could be made for us to visit each other from time to time. You have a ship, so it stands to reason that the Emperor has ships as well. I’ll visit for special events.”

“What could be more special than your sister’s wedding?”

“Well… I was never much of a wedding goer.”

He didn’t like where this conversation was heading. The more they talked the more he realized he was closer to losing her. The possibility of that disturbed him more than he cared to admit. Had he fallen for her and wasn’t aware of it?

Paris stood up and walked across the room, the blanket still wrapped tightly around her tempting frame. “Tell me what you know of my mother. How did she and the Emperor come together?”

Zahn wondered if she was changing the subject because she was just as uncomfortable with where this whole thing was headed. If she wanted to ignore the sexual tension between them, he’d play along, for now. He didn’t like the idea of her not staying on Thibius.

“I was young when your mother came to Thibius, just getting my first whiskers. Around the time there was a law where slaves were allowed to be bought and sold. From my understanding, your mother was a slave.”

Paris gasped. “You mean she used to do hard labor and get whipped for imagined crimes?”

He shook his head. “No, nothing like that. On other planets slaves were and still are mistreated, but not on Thibius. When owning slaves was legal they were mainly used for pleasure, particularly the females. Your mother was purchased for the emperor’s harem. They say he only had eyes for her after that. It wasn’t long before he got rid of his harem and took your mother as his queen and adopted your sister, who he dotes on. Your mother is very regal and gracious. I see a lot of her in you.”

Paris smiled.

His heart fluttered. At that moment he would have killed for another one of those smiles.

“I’m excited to finally see her again after all this time. It’s really easy to picture London because all I have to do is look into the mirror and see her. My mom on the other hand, I barely remember what she looks like.”

“She’s tall, and dark with one of the most beautiful skin hues I’ve seen besides yours. Queen Calliope has a smile that lights up the entire room. People are drawn to her.”

“She sounds lovely.”

“She is a most worthy queen.”

“Zahn?”

“Yes, Paris?” He liked the way her name rolled off his tongue.

“Do you think I can have some time alone? I need to think.”

Just as suddenly as his happiness had come when he saw her smile, it left. He’d obviously imagined her despair about him marrying London. He wasn’t going to be the one to tell her it wasn’t likely to happen now.

“Of course. I’ll give you as much privacy as you’d like.” He turned on his heel, leaving her as she requested. Where had these inconvenient feelings come from all of a sudden?

Paris felt like her world was crumbling. When she and Zahn had come together, it had meant something to her. He was her first lover, but there was more to it.

She found herself wanting his company for more than just the sex and the incredible things he did to her body. How could he make love to her like that and then turn around and tell her he was marrying her sister?

Not to mention, the callous brute had the nerve to say she’d have to participate in the ceremony. To hell with that. There was no way she could stand casually and watch Zahn and her sister get married. Was this love she felt for him?

Paris wasn’t sure, but one thing she did know, she wouldn’t stick around to see the happy celebration. It would be like a kick in the teeth. A thought suddenly occurred to her. Maybe London didn’t want to marry Zahn. There was always that possibility.

Even if the pretext of London leaving Thibius was to search for her, she could have had another motive.

Paris snorted, thinking that if she’d been betrothed to Zahn she wouldn’t have run away. Why did life have to be so damn unfair? The first man she’d fallen for in a long time and he was marrying her long lost sister.