Free Blue Galaxy by By Diane Dooley Page A

were…were…euthanized.”
    “He killed his own children? No. That’s not possible.”
    “You think he’s not capable?”
    Javan thought back on the fifty-five years the dictator had ruled Earth. He thought of the millions who had starved, of the millions who had been slaughtered, of the millions who had either obeyed or died. He rubbed his eyes. Of course the dictator was capable of killing his children. “But why?”
    “He has plans he won’t live to see realized. He requires an heir who’ll carry out his plans without compunction.”
    “His plans being?” But Javan knew. “Building alliances throughout the galaxy.”
    “Yes, and successfully. In another fifty years or so he’ll—”
    “Rule the galaxy.”
    “Yes, but he doesn’t have another fifty years of life left in him.”
    “How many children does he have left alive?”
    “Three sons and twenty-seven daughters. Twenty-five of those daughters are for marriage alliances. Two were possible heirs. I am— was— one of them. Five possible heirs altogether.”
    Javan gripped the armrests ferociously. “I thought you were being married off.”
    “No. That was just a cover story.”
    He sighed. More lies. “And all that pretend ignorance was—”
    “—pretend ignorance. You were so willing to believe I was ignorant. That I didn’t know about the massacres, the murders, the slaughters. You didn’t exactly make it hard.”
    He couldn’t disagree. What a fool he’d been, thinking her innocent, thinking her ignorant, feeling sorry for her. “So why didn’t you stick around? You might have been chosen as his heir.”
    “That’s not how it works. It’s not who is chosen. It’s who can survive the others.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “Seven attempts on my life—all orchestrated by my siblings.”
    Javan sucked in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “How many people have you killed?”
    “Too many.” She slipped out of the restraints and stretched. “I have no desire to rule the galaxy. I can kill if I need to, but I have no stomach for mass murder, genocide or any of my father’s other hobbies.”
    “Why me? You still haven’t told me.”
    Sola perched in his lap. “I’ve told you too much already. A wife should be able to keep some secrets from her husband, after all.”
    Javan laughed mirthlessly but absently stroked her hair.
    She looked into his eyes, no mischief left. “Take me to bed, Javan. We don’t have much time together. We need to find a safe place to hide you.”
    “Before your father comes looking for me?”
    “He’ll send one of my siblings after us both. It’ll be safer if we split up. I’m the one they’ll focus on.”
    “No, we should stick together.”
    Sola sighed. “Please don’t be difficult about this.”
    “Oh, so I’ve served my purpose, have I? You’re married, you’re pregnant and now I’m—”
    “Expendable.”
    “What about the child?”
    “Hidden. Brought up by people who I can trust. One anonymous baby in a galaxy of billions.”
    He stroked a stray lock from her face. “It doesn’t have to be like that.”
    “Javan, I’m supposed to kill you. I don’t want to.”
    “Can’t do it, huh?”
    “I could do it. I just—” she touched his cheek, “—don’t want to.”
    He tried to smile but knew it came out crooked.
    “Because you love me?”
    “Please. I’m incapable.”
    “I don’t believe that.”
    She shrugged. “Come on, husband. Let’s go to your cabin one last time. Then we’ll find a safe place for you.”
    He picked her up and strode to the cabin, where he placed her gently on the bunk. She closed her eyes, her bottom lip trembling. Before he could decide whether to make love to her or just hold her, the laser hit him right between the eyes.
     
    From far away, a voice said, “Come on. Drink.”
    The burning fire of brandy trickled down his throat. He spluttered and opened his eyes. Sola stood over him, looking down with concern.
    “Dammit, Sola. You shot