The Royal Pursuit Read Online Free PDF Page A

are dying out. We weren’t so far
from facing Paler extinction on this planet under Omin’s
rule.”
    Paff nodded. “One thing is for sure.
We shouldn’t attack them until we find out what their motives are.
If they are trying to survive, then it would be wrong to destroy
them. However, we cannot condemn the Olympians to death. There must
be a compromise we can reach. Jaz, would you mind going on this
mission with your husband, Guard Falon? You two are best suited for
it.”
    “ It will be an honor to
work with Queen Ann again,” she replied. “We will leave as soon as
we can get the needed supplies ready.”
    “ And I will work on getting
you a proper spaceship,” Zak added.
    “ Good,” Paff said. “If at
any time, you need assistance, you can call me on this
telecommunicator.” He handed the device to her. “Let me know when
you’re ready to leave, and I’ll notify Queen Ann.”
    With a nod, she left, Zak following
behind.
     
    ***
    Location: Austere Complex
    Planet: Lone
     
    Ruler Dour ordered Tan and Xan to
bring in Sando. The other thirty-three Nicals watched in both dread
and anticipation as Tan and Xan brought Sando into the poorly lit
room.
    Optima wrung her hands. Sando was her
brother, and she desperately wanted to see him live. She winced at
his pale complexion, clammy skin, and shaky breathing. The virus
was quickly weakening his blood and would soon turn it into powder.
It was the same virus that wiped out most of their civilization
over the course of two years.
    Dour took their stone out of the sack
and glanced at Optima. “Where should I put it?”
    She cleared her throat. “Try his
chest.” At least, it seemed logical personal contact with the stone
would heal Sando from the viral infection.
    Optima watched as Dour followed her
instructions. Her tension rose when Sando remained the same as he
had been. Maybe their plan had failed. Maybe nothing was in the
stone after all. She looked away. She couldn’t bear to watch
anymore. If her brother was going to die, it was too painful to
watch.
    Several gasps brought her attention
back to Sando’s body. She put her hands to her mouth as tears
filled her eyes. A glowing blue light swept from the stone and
covered his body. His shaky breathing calmed and his body fought
off the virus.
    It was working!
    “ We did it! We’re going to
live!” Xan exclaimed. “Optima’s plan has saved us.”
    The Nicals congratulated
her.
    She barely heard them. All she knew
was that her brother was going to live. She ran over to him and
touched his hand.
    His eyelids fluttered open. “Optima,”
he whispered, still weak from being ill for ten days.
    “ I know.” She laughed and
squeezed his hand. “You don’t have to say it.” She knew he wanted
to thank her. She wiped the tears from her eyes. “It’s over. The
horrible virus is gone forever. We will live as the Olympians do
now.”
    He squeezed her hand to show his
gratitude.
    “ Rest. We have plenty of
time to talk later,” she said.
    Time. What a wonderful word. With
their newfound immortality, the concept of time no longer
frightened them.

Chapter
Four
     
    Palace Gardens
    Planet: Raz
     
    Once Hathor had time to settle down, he
found Athen inspecting the gardens. “I need to ask you for a
favor,” Hathor said.
    Athen jerked. “Nice of you to sneak up
on me like that.” He made a mark on the paper that was attached to
his clipboard. “What is it?”
    “ I have to be here to meet
with the Augurs tomorrow, so I was wondering if you would accompany
the queen to Lone.”
    Athen didn’t hide his surprise. “Don’t
you always go with her on these trips?”
    “ She has decided I have to
be here instead.”
    “ You obviously have a
problem with that,” he commented.
    “ It doesn’t matter what I
want. It’s her will that prevails. My opinion doesn’t matter. But I
won’t let her go without someone there to protect her. The Palers
are great and will do a good job, but they aren’t familiar