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  Her sister sounded shocked. In truth, Violette was a little shocked herself. She pushed up from the floor.

  Josselyn looked down into the pit. “They told me, but…”

  “What is it?” Violette glanced down into the rectangular chamber beneath the room. Steep stone steps led down the side. Bodies had been stacked on the floor, and now only the old bones remained. Gil lay on top of the pile, his lifeless eyes staring up at them. His neck had broken in the fall. Someone had dumped the corpses into the hole in the floor to cover up the crime.

  No. Not somebody. Violette knew who was responsible.

  “It was the castle treasury, hidden beneath the sewing looms.” The sadness in Josselyn’s voice was palpable. “Now it’s a grave.”

  Isaac moaned.

  “He’ll need a medic,” Violette said. Her wounds ached. She swayed, a little lightheaded from the blood loss. “We need…Dev.”

  Josselyn gasped. “You need a medic. I’m sorry. I…” She gestured down and then slid an arm around Violette’s back. Yelling, she called, “Jackson? Lucien? Viktor? Rick? Can any of you hear me?”

  “Joss?” Lucien yelled. “Where are you? This place is a maze. We heard a shot.” The sound of footsteps came and soon Viktor and Lucien were standing before them. “What in all the star blazes happened down here?”

  “We were in the tower and lost communication. We came down to find Rick and Jackson unconscious and—who stabbed Violette? Josselyn! Why did you stab Violette?” Viktor instantly went to help support Violette’s weight.

  “It wasn’t me,” Josselyn protested.

  “Dev,” Violette insisted, breathing harder.

  “Dev stabbed you?” He frowned, clearly not believing it.

  “Evan and Dev are in the dining hall,” Josselyn explained. “They don’t have snowsuits. Please, hurry. Help them. I’ve got her.”

  “I’m on it.” Lucien ran from the room.

  Viktor looked down into the body dump and then nudged Isaac with his foot. “What about him?”

  “We’ll contact his ship and have them come for him,” Violette answered. Isaac would never forgive her, but she wasn’t about to kill him for it.

  Viktor pulled out a handheld medic. “I’ll patch him up and keep him sedated, but let me help you first. You’re in no condition to walk, let alone run to Dev’s side. Lucien will get him. I promise.”

  Violette grunted as she tugged at her snowsuit. Blood trickled down her arm and side, wetting the black underclothing.

  “I’m not a doctor,” Viktor warned. “It might not look pretty.”

  “No sedatives. I’m already lightheaded. Just patch me up.” Violette gritted her teeth as he brought the medic to her side to stop the bleeding. The laser burned, but it did its job.

  “Thank you, Violette,” Josselyn whispered. She didn’t have to elaborate.

  Violette nodded. In the moment, the choice hadn’t been hard. She’d chosen to protect what remained of her family.

  Josselyn went to pull the bolt of material to activate the switch to hide the bodies in the floor.

  “What were you thinking?” Violette demanded of Josselyn. “Did you think Lucien and Viktor heard us through the broken coms and would come to our rescue?”

  “I thought I’d buy some time so we could save ourselves,” her sister answered.

  Viktor finished his crude doctoring. Her body ached, but Viktor had stopped the bleeding.

  “He’ll be out for awhile,” Viktor said, gesturing toward Isaac. He lifted his hand to his ear.

  “What is it?” Violette asked, as she pulled her snowsuit back on. She couldn’t hear a faint voice broadcasted on the com like she had with Dev’s unit, and figured the brothers had the frequency on a private channel setting due to the attackers. “Lucien has Dev and Evan. He’s getting them out of their shackles and…” Viktor stiffened in horror and looked at Violette. “Go. Run. Dev isn’t moving.”

  Violette hurried as fast as she could, limping her way toward the dining hall. She found Dev unconscious on the floor next to a shivering Evan. Lucien struggled to put his snowsuit back on him. Evan tried to help, but his shanking hands were more of a hindrance and Lucien pushed them out of his way.

  “Blast it, Dev, you better not die on me cause I’ll spend the rest of my life figuring out how to resurrect your ass so I can tell you that I…” Violette limped to where he lay and collapsed on the stone floor next to him. She breathed hard, focusing past the pain of her injuries. “So I can tell you that I…” Her voice caught, and tears fell over her cheeks. “That I lo—”

  “What happened to you? Is that blood?” Evan demanded. His eyes moved to the doorway and Violette knew he worried about his wife.

  “Small skirmish. Everyone is whole.” Violette pulled off her gloves to help Lucien with Dev’s suit.

  “Grab the crate. We need to get him out of here,” Lucien said. “Dev’s internal temperature is naturally hotter and he can’t handle a sudden drop in heat.”

  Violette did as he bid and ran to get the crate with the tapestry. She pushed it over toward them.

  “He wanted to get to you, Violette. He’d managed to pull the laser shackles from the floor before collapsing on the ground,” Evan told her through shaky lips. His mouth was edged with blue.

  “Evan!” Josselyn ran into the room.

  “I’m ok,” Evan answered. “It’s Dev.”

  “They didn’t hurt Rick and Jackson?” Violette asked. She again moved to touch Dev’s face, knowing he’d want his friends to be safe.

  “We treated them for head wounds, and they were drugged with some manner of heavy sedative. We left them where we found them in a hallway. They could barely walk in a straight line. But, luckily, they were left fully dressed, and haven’t suffered much beyond that,” Lucien said, before reaching to activate his com to talk to his brother. “Viktor, get the other two and see if you can’t help them into a crate for transport. I contacted Lochlann is on his way down to fetch us. He’ll meet us in the clearing by the gate. The temperature keeps dropping and we need to get out of here.”

  Violette hooked her arms under Dev’s back. Lucien and Josselyn were instantly by her side, helping her lift him into the container. Evan tried to lend a hand by standing beside the crate so it wouldn’t slide when they bumped into it. They set Dev down on the tapestry next to the portraits.

  “We’re never going to get to leave here with treasure, are we?” Lucien said, as they pushed Dev toward the castle entrance. “This place really is cursed.”

  “There is nothing to come back for,” Josselyn said. “The main treasury is empty, and there is nothing but heartache and pain left behind these frozen walls. Unless, you want to come back, Violette?”

  “I have my answers. I don’t need to revisit.” Violette refused to let go of the crate as she kept an eye on Dev’s breathing. She reached to touch his cool cheek. “I have all the treasure I want right here.”

  Chapter 23

  “It’s not fair, Dev,” Violette stated, not for the first time. “You’re not allowed to get out of this relationship by dying. I wasn’t kidding when I said I’d séance you back.”

  He didn’t answer her. She wasn’t surprised. He hadn’t moved for three days.

  She sat on the floor of the medical room aboard The Conqueror as she waited for the medical booth to its current cycle on Dev.

  “You have to eat something.” Rick stepped into the room and handed her a tray of food. “I can stay with him if you’d like to walk around and stretch your legs.”

  “I’m not leaving him,” Violette denied. She took the tray and set it on the floor. “Thank you, but I’m not hungry.”

  Rick frowned in disapproval but didn’t push the matter. “I was able to confirm that Racing Banana picked up Isaac. He’s alive. I transmitted those papers you wanted to the pilot, Jo. I think he responded something about finally getting his lady all to himself, but I couldn’t get a clear enough signal to hear the entire comment
.”

  “Don’t worry about it,” Violette answered. “I’m pretty sure I don’t want to know.”

  “What papers?”

  Violette gasped at the sound of Dev’s raspy voice. She shot up from the floor and rushed to his side. Rick was instantly at the medical booth’s system console pressing buttons.

  “Dev, you’re awake.” Violette started to reach in only to stop when she saw the medical lasers at work on his body. “Curse you for scaring me. I thought I lost you.”

  He gave a weak chuckled. “Um, sorry?”

  “I thought you were dying,” she accused. “You’re never allowed to do that to me again. Do you hear me? I lov—”

  “What papers?” he mumbled again.

  “I gave Jo the deed to my ship,” Violette answered. After what had happened, she really couldn’t rejoin her old crew. The ship would cover any back money she owed the pilot plus some. Isaac had forfeited his right to a paycheck when he helped Gil’s insubordination. She’d see to it Ghost got his share of past earnings. “It’s just me tying up some loose ends. I’m done with that part of my life. It’s time to move forward.”

  His eyes finally opened. The dark depths peered into hers. She wanted to touch him so badly, but her concern over his health kept her from interfering with the medical booth.

  “Dev, about time you got up from your nap, you lazy lophobian,” Rick said. The mischief was back in his tone, but she had seen the worry as he checked on his unconscious friend. Winking at Violette, he told her as he walked out the door, “I’m going to tell the others he’s awake. Holler if you need me, Vivacious Violette, and I’ll come running to your call.”

  Violette chuckled. “That is one strange man.”

  “You have no idea,” Dev answered. His voice was a little stronger than before. Relief filled her to see his eyes looking at her. She’d been so worried. He lifted his head. “What papers?”

  “I told you that I gave Jo the deed to my ship.” Violette’s relief was short lived as she watched his head drop. “Dev, what’s wrong?”

  “What papers?” His body jerked violently, and he began to convulse.

  “Rick,” Violette screamed. She reached her hands into the medical booth and grabbed hold of Dev’s shoulders. His temperature was so hot it nearly burned her fingers. “Rick, something’s wrong!”

  Rick and Jackson appeared in the doorway.

  “Get him out of there,” Rick ordered.

  “No, wait.” Jackson held his hand out to stop Rick from touching the console while at the same time grabbing Violette to pull her away. “He’ll be fine. Just, wait…”

  Violette struggled to be free. “Something is wrong. He’s burning up.”

  “He’s not human,” Jackson said. “Not like us. He’s only half. Give his body a moment to reset.”

  Violette felt as if she couldn’t breathe. Days of anguish climaxed into this moment. She trembled, helpless to do anything to stop the forceful seizure unfolding in front of her.

  “Dev,” Violette cried. She elbowed Jackson in the stomach, but the act had little effect. “Let me go, Jackson.”

  Jackson waited a moment before he released her.

  “Dev,” Violette rushed to the medical booth. When she touched him, he stopped shaking but didn’t open his eyes. She whispered to him, “Dev, listen to me. I love you. I should have said it before now. I’ve thought it so many times, but I should have said the words. You were right, I was wrong. What do you need me to say to help you? I’m breaking your curse. I’m earth, or fire, or whatever you need me to be. Just wake up. Please. Open your eyes and wake up. I can’t live without you.”

  “You don’t believe in curses,” Dev said softly before opening his eyes.

  “There you are.” Violette caressed his cheek. “Stay with me.”

  Dev moved inside the booth. “It doesn’t look like I have much of a choice. You have me trapped.”

  Violette slid her hand down his chest. “Your temperature feels like it’s returning to normal. How do you feel?” As she said it, she felt the heat from his skin intensify.

  “Dev?” Jackson asked from behind her.

  “Readings are leveling out,” Rick offered from the console.

  “Is the ship secure?” Dev asked.

  “Yes. Everyone is on board. We’re secure.” Jackson motioned at Rick. “We’ll let everyone know you’re awake.”

  “Did you hear that? I was right. I predicted two for two, Dev and Evan,” Rick said as the men left the medical room. “She’s the one to break Dev’s curse. You all should be coming to me for predictions, not Evan.”

  Violette continued to stroke Dev’s chest.

  “I never thought I’d say this out loud, but I think Rick might be right.” Dev slid his hand over hers to stop it over his beating heart. “Without you I am cursed, so that must mean—”

  “I love you,” Violette interrupted. “Did you hear that part? I love you, Devekin. I need to know you heard that. I’m not very good at expressing emotions, but I can become better at it. I love you. I love you. And I hope you love me.”

  He smiled. “I was trying to tell you I love you, too.”

  Pleasure filled her.

  “There’s more.” She felt the need to rush and get everything out that she’d been thinking about for the last three days. “I want to marry you and live on this ship, if you can convince the others. I mean, I really don’t have anywhere else to go. I gave Jo Racing Banana. Josselyn and I are working on a friendship. I don’t know that we’re all the way there, but I’m trying, and I promise to stop threatening her. I also told her I would do whatever I could to make sure the truth is known about what happened on the Florencian moons. And I love you, Dev. I just love you.”

  “Violette,” Dev tried to reach his hand out, but the booth stopped him. “Can you unlock this contraption now?”

  Violette reached for the latch. The lock released, and Dev stepped out. His naked body radiated heat, and she instantly pressed against him. He wobbled on his feet but was able to stay upright as he leaned against the unit.

  He cupped her face. “It’s my turn. I’m also not very good at speaking my emotions, but I also want you to hear me. Yes to all of that. I’ve wanted you in my life since the first time I saw you on Rifflen. You’ve been in my head, and I think, maybe, there is such a thing as destiny because all the events, over a hundred years’ worth, that had to happen to bring us together. I love you, Violette.” He gave a helpless gesture. “That’s it. I just love you. I never want to let you go.”

  Violette moaned and lifted up on her toes to press her mouth to his. As it always did with them, primal instinct took over. He swept her up into his arms. Any protest she would have made about his health was lost in his deepening kiss. He strode naked through the ship toward his quarters. No more words were needed between them as bodies pressed together. They had each other, and it was perfection.

  The End

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  About the Author

  New York Times and USA Today Bestseller

  Michelle M. Pillow, Author of All Things Romance™, is a multi-published, award winning author writing in many romance fiction genres including futuristic, paranormal, historical, contemporary, fantasy and dark paranormal. Ever since she can remember, Michelle has had a strange fascination with anything supernatural and sci-fi. After discovering historical romance novels, it was only natural that the supernatural and love/romance elements should someday meet in her wonderland of a brain. She’s glad they did for their children have been pouring onto the computer screen ever since.

  Michelle loves to travel and try new things, whether it’s a paranormal investigation of an old Vaudeville Theatre or climbing Mayan temples in Belize. She’s addicted to movies and used to drive her mother crazy while quoting random scenes with her brother. Though it has yet to happen, her dream is to be in a horror movie as 1. A zombie
or 2. The expendable screaming chick who gets it in the beginning credits. But for the most part she can be found writing in her office with a cup of coffee in pajama pants.

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