The Realm

MIKHLAS

“How did she sleep?”

Mikhlas jumped as the sound of Silian’s voice broke his reverie. He turned annoyed eyes to the man. “Do not sneak up on me, First.”

Silian hesitated a moment before giving a short bow of apology. “Sorry, Captain. I assumed you heard me coming.”

The man grinned as his eyes flicked to the viewscreen showing Isabelle. “You must have been deep in thought with things that should not fill your mind.”

Mikhlas narrowed his eyes at his first officer and decided to ignore his insolence, turning back to the screen, which showed Isabelle doing a careful stretch as she woke.

The Queen…not Isabelle, not to me, remember that she is going to be the Queen. You cannot think of her like an ordinary woman, you fool. She is not for you.

Still, he couldn’t stop thinking about the way her lips felt when he kissed her to provide Prime with a DNA sample.

So soft and warm. But a mistake she might make you pay for later. When she ascends, she’s going to be able to break you across her knee.

Just the thought and as hard as he tried not to, he wondered if her knees would be as dainty as the rest of her. What they might feel like beneath his fingertips.

He concentrated on the image in front of him, wondering what she thought about that put that cute dimple between her eyebrows and gave her beautiful eyes such a faraway look.

He watched her jerk as the device in her hand lit up. “Prime, give me audio.”

“Hello?” By the Sentinels, even her voice is irresistible, he thought as she answered the communication device.

“It’s me. You okay?” Must be this Amy woman she spoke about.

“Yeah, I’m okay.”

“Did they come back?” Mikhlas wondered about the sound he could hear in the background before he placed it. One of those primitive combustion vehicles.

“No. I’m alone.”

“Good. Expect me by around nine o’clock tonight. It seems like every fucking tree between you and me has been knocked across the road.

“I’m seriously delayed, and the Mounties are being pains in the butt. Lock the doors and stay inside. Don’t open for anyone except me.”

Good, that gives me time to perform the healing.

“Prime,” Mikhlas called, standing from the chair and rolling his shoulders to release the tension from sitting still for so long. “I am going down to initiate the healing. Silian, you have the con. Now, Prime.”

He closed his eyes for the brief second of transfer.

When he opened them again, he could see her in front of him.

She sat in the old leather chair and faced away from him, her graceful neck held at an angle to listen, one curl of her long hair rested on her shoulder in a sinuous curve that traced her neck and outlined one shell-like ear.

He shook his head to clear his thoughts.

“Drive safe, Amy,” Isabelle said and put the phone down.

“Who is Amy?” he asked, scaring her into an abrupt turn that made her cry out in pain. He bit back the anger, shutting his eyes to stop the burn taking over, and stepped into her line of sight.

So much pain. Not her. Not anymore, and never again.

He sat down on the small chair in front of her, taking in her wounded body, and thankful that he could be the one to fix her. To help her, and to protect her forever.

That is not my duty. Do not dream of things you will never have.

Izzy looked around the room again, probably expecting Silian to be with him. He smiled. “I am alone.”

She met his eyes again, and he could see confusion rather than fear, “How did you get in here?”

That is an explanation for another time. For now, I need to fix you, before the rage of seeing you like this takes over my mind and I hunt down your ex-husband like a schofu.

He smiled at the thoughts of the many ways he could hurt the pathetic little man that did this to her, the countless unique and creative methods they learned in the academy to make a man suffer.

“What do you want?” she asked, frowning at him.

“I have come to heal you.”

Izzy shook her head. “You can’t. The doctors have already done everything they can. It’s up to me now.”

Your doctors are as primitive as your vehicles. They cannot do what Prime can do. What should not need to be done in the first place.

Mikhlas silently moved toward her. She leaned back in the seat, away from him and he knew she felt unsure of what he intended. Her heart raced, a quick constant tapping in her chest.

Is it me she fears, or the regeneration process? Or is it simply that since she suffered at the hands of a violent man, any man is viewed as a threat?

“Do not be afraid. I promise you the healing will not hurt.”

He bent down, his hands twitching with eagerness to touch her again.

The warmth of her body in his arms, the sweet flowery smell of her hair, and the gentle quiver that ran through her were all a cruel reminder that he would never again hold her like this, or be this close to her.

Once she is healed, I will have no reason to touch her again. To be so near to her. Doing so will cost me my life.

She moaned with agony as he lifted her as gently as he could while the fury in his eyes burned.

Just helping her is causing her pain. ~I wonder how her ex-husband would feel if he experienced pain with every movement for the rest of his tortured short life.~

“Forgive me, but you must lay down flat,” he said.

He listened to her heart thump out of control again as she looked up at his face, “Lay down flat? Why?”

She is so afraid. A fear born of mistrust, abuse, and broken loyalty. She would never have that with me.

Mikhlas didn’t say anything, for fear of speaking out of line.

Keep your mouth shut, and do what you were sent here to do. No need getting yourself into more trouble than you already have.

With fluid grace, he carried her toward the stairs, ducking his head at the threshold and coming dangerously close to her lips.

“No. Put me down. Don’t do this, please,” Izzy said, trying to wriggle out of his arms.

“You do not wish to be healed?”

“I don’t want you to hurt me.”

He stopped a few paces from the bed, looking at her and trying to communicate without words how that would never happen. She’d never know what it meant to him to hold her like this.

What a precious gift to be allowed to hold her in his arms. Yet the moment Prime confirmed her as the chosen queen, he knew he could never have her.

That moment in the kitchen, when their eyes met for the first time, and he could hear her racing heart, a burning desire, unlike anything he’d ever felt before, seized him. It was madness to kiss her.

As he lowered her onto the bed, he said, “Isabelle, I would never hurt you. Please, you need to trust me. What Silian said before…we would give our lives to protect you.

“It is true, while I have breath in my body, I will always protect you. Lie back.”

Should I tell her about her ascension? She will not need me to protect her once the Sentinels imbue her with their power. I will just be another faceless servant of the Crown.

She eased herself back slowly, watching his every move.

He closed the door and turned to her, trying to put her at ease with a soft, reassuring smile. “Prime, begin.”

He felt his own nanites pass into his uniform weave and saw the metallic film move first to his right arm, covering his limb in a heavy cloud of silver.

He touched her on her small and delicate hand with the melancholy thought that it would be for the last time.

She lifted her hand, and he saw the simple amazement in her eyes as Prime moved the nanites over her body. The numbing shimmer covered her arms and legs, and as it spread, he watched her relax.

As they climbed to her face, he saw the fear and confusion in her eyes drift away and took a moment to remember her sleeping form. You’ll never get to see her like this again.

He closed his eyes and sighed, breathing in the seductive fragrance of her and hearing her heart beat slow and strong, wishing she lay in his bed.

How could he feel so passionate toward a woman he’d just met? Not a woman, the queen. Get her out of your mind.

“Captain Mikhlas.”

“Yes, Prime?”

“I have local law enforcement logging a call to attend your location,” Prime said.

“Can you take care of that?” he asked.

“Of course,” Prime replied. “I’ll also do what I can to slow down the arrival of this Detective Costello.”

“Thank you, Prime.” Mikhlas sat down on a chair, waiting for Prime to heal the queen and tried not to think of things forbidden to someone like him.