Minder Read Online Free PDF Page A

known.” They continued down the hall and it was with some relief that Aleyn spied the room to their chambers. Of course, the guards did give it away.
    They snapped to attention , but looked ill at ease when she arrived, a short probe of her mind told her why. “Von. You are going to want to stay outside for this. I don’t think an audience in necessary.”
    Von scented the air and scowled at the guards. “Why did you allow her to pass?”
    The one on the left stammered, “She pointed out that the king had ordered that she always be allowed in, no matter the hour. He never rescinded it.”
    Von scrubbed one furry hand across his face. “Are you sure that you are up to this, Madam?”
    “Bring it on.” Aleyn took a deep breath and went in to her chambers to confront her husband’s mistress. “Good morning, Vaiu. How are you keeping?”
    Startled was not the way to describe the naked blond on all fours in the middle of their bed. Aleyn made a note to have Von change the sheets again, who knows what the woman had been up to. “Who are you?”
    “According to the ceremony this morning, your new queen. You may call me Aleyn, or Madam if you prefer.” She walked over to the water decanter and took a glass.
    “Married? You are joking.” She had turned over and was pawing at the covers, no doubt reaching for her dress.
    “I am not. Water?” She offered the befuddled woman a glass and smiled as she pulled her gown on and sat across from her new monarch.
    “Why are you being so nice to me? A Hickom woman would have dragged me out by my hair and thrown me naked into the hall.” She was trembling. It was no wonder. The instant that Aleyn had felt the other woman in her chamber, she had pulled her power around her like a shield.
    “It would mess up my gown. Seriously, have some water.” She waved her ruby covered hand and Vaiu took the seat, her mind a complete blank. Aleyn knew, she looked deep into the woman’s mind. It was not too bright, not too dark, just a woman who wanted to use Baileez to help her family get ahead. “You had yourself sterilized to become his leman, didn’t you?”
    It was a final stroke for a Hickom woman, if she could not bear children , she could never marry well. “I did.”
    “Can it be reversed? Nanos perhaps to repair the damage?”
    Vaiu looked shocked, she gulped the water and there was a distinct whiteness around her eyes. “I suppose. If the technology is here. We are restricted you know.”
    “I know. But I also know that the means by which you were sterilized were outside the tech restrictions.” Everything in her research had told her that this place was not what it claimed to be. It was what made it so unstable for her new addition. Now that she was stuck here, she was going to have to work on that. At least Baileez had given her the power to do something, even if it was only to influence him.
    “I suppose that is true, it is not something that has been offered to one like me before.”
    “One like you?”
    “A whore.”
    Wow. She had some issues. “You were not a whore. You were a mistress. There is a difference.” She was not sure what those were, but she was positive that there were differences. “Do queens here have ladies in waiting?”
    “Sometimes. Women from the noble families will be companions.” She was more than confused now, but she was calm. It was obvious from her face that she was shocked by the turn that the afternoon had taken.
    “Once I have my guard in place and you get your repair trip to medical, will you be my first lady in waiting? That is, if you want to get married and raise a family. Hell, people will want to be close to you just so that they have a better chance of killing me. Either way, you will be popular.” Aleyn was just finishing up her water when there was a tapping on the door.
    She quickly moved to make sure that Vaiu was respectably dressed, winked at her, then moved to the door. “Yes, Von?”
    “Madam, your lunch is